Do Politics Better Podcast

Dr. Robert Taber is a History professor at Fayetteville State University and the Chair of the UNC System Faculty Taskforce on Civil Discourse, which just released a report addressing challenges of fostering respectful political dialogue on college campuses. How can universities encourage students and faculty to engage across ideological differences, disagree constructively, and make room for difficult conversations? It’s a discussion about higher education, viewpoint diversity, and what it means to do politics better on college campuses.   Plus, Skye and Brian talk money, polls, a court case, the election underway, and yes, even basketball.   The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Pork Council, NC REALTORS®, Heal the System NC, and the NC Healthcare Association.

Before he became one half of The Differentiators, political operative Ray Martin was a journalist with a knack for covering the people and institutions that shape our local communities in NC. Ray got his start as a high school sports stringer for his hometown newspaper in Oklahoma. After college, he won a fellowship that gave him the opportunity to work in a newsroom, choosing The News & Observer, where he covered local government and developed an inside look at how decisions get made. In 2011, Ray made the jump from journalism to politics, going to work for Jim Blaine inside the General Assembly, who would become his business partner at The Differentiators. Ray reflects on the path from small-town sports reporting to North Carolina political consulting, the lessons he carried from journalism into politics, and the partnership behind one of the state's premiere political consulting firms. Often the more understated half of The Differentiators alongside the more publicly visible Blaine, Ray shares his own story and perspective on the business of politics and his passion for golf.   The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Pork Council, NC REALTORS®, Heal the System NC, and the NC Healthcare Association.

Election Day is less than four weeks away, and the balance of power in the North Carolina General Assembly is on the ballot. Skye and Brian talk with Alex Baltzegar of NCFREE, whose new 2026 General Election Report takes a district-by-district look at the legislative races most likely to determine control of the General Assembly. Which races are truly up for grabs? Can Democrats break the Republican supermajority? And what would it take for either party to actually win control of the House or Senate? Alex breaks down the numbers, the key districts and what to watch on Election Night. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Pork Council, NC REALTORS®, Heal the System NC, and the NC Healthcare Association.

John Drescher has spent a career telling the stories of North Carolina and American politics through journalism, with stops along the way at The Daily Tar Heel, The News & Observer, The Charlotte Observer, The Washington Post and more. As he prepares to retire from The Assembly on October 2, John looks back on a remarkable career in newspapers, the changes he’s witnessed, and what he believes the profession still gets right. John also talks about his role in helping usher The News & Observer into the digital age, the challenges and opportunities that came with transforming a traditional newspaper, and why good journalism still matters. And with retirement finally here, what comes next? Maybe more time for baseball, cycling and, most importantly, his grandchildren.  Or maybe John will write another book about NC politics.  (He wrote a book in 2000 about the Democratic primary for governor 40 years prior.).  Skye and Brian also unpack a week of news, including two great ads in the 11th district, polling, and more.  The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Pork Council, NC REALTORS®, Heal the System NC, and the NC Healthcare Association.

Steven Webb is Director of Legislative Affairs at the NC Home Builders Association, and Kimberly Reynolds is a Partner at Maven Strategies, a Democratic political consulting firm. Both have been around North Carolina politics for decades, and while they certainly have their political disagreements and agreements, they’re also very close friends. With Skye David on vacation, Brian brings Steven and Kim together to talk about this week’s political news and the three settle into a fun and expansive conversation about all things #NCPOL, including the days when conservative Democrats dominated the General Assembly to the 2026 election and plenty in between. And while you may come for the political talk, we hope you stay for the friendship. It’s evident throughout this conversation.  It’s a reminder that political disagreements don’t have to mean personal disagreements. The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Pork Council, NC REALTORS®, Heal the System NC, and the NC Healthcare Association.