Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Fox Poll on Guns
If you don’t watch Fox News, you may have missed its poll on guns: “Voters favor gun limits over arming citizens to reduce gun violence.” The April 21-24 nationwide survey found: This time, Fox News isn’t fake news. Yet, Congress and the North Carolina legislature will do nothing. Thank the NRA.
Knock, knock. Bang, bang
Across the county, innocent people – including children and teenagers – are getting shot for ringing the wrong doorbell or turning into the wrong driveway. A reader asks: “Who in the world would want to do Meals on Wheels, sell Girl Scout cookies or knock on doors to campaign?” Don’t ask me to do any…
Family Feud
Our dysfunctional American family is picking a leader again, and we’re all tore up. My side of the family thinks Grandpa Joe has done a grand job. He fixed up the house nicely. He handles the dangerous neighbors on the next block with a firm, steady hand. We worry he’s a bit shaky at 80,…
Eve and the Apple
A long time ago a boisterous politician told a mean lie in the middle of a campaign; sitting in a lawyer’s office I learned politicians have a 1st Amendment right to lie – suing him would fail. So I was surprised Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox for repeating Trump’s lie that voting machines stole votes…
Defund the Schools?
The legislature’s expansion of private-school vouchers fulfills a nearly 70-year-old dream of North Carolina’s far-right. Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court declared segregated schools unconstitutional in 1954, ultra-conservatives here have wanted to replace integrated public schools with all-white private schools. Leading the charge back then were avowed segregationists I. Beverly Lake (pictured) and Tom Ellis.…
The First Sex Scandal
Opening a book I started reading: Brilliant, handsome, orphan, poor, Alexander Hamilton left St. Croix, landed in New York at fifteen, married a wealthy man’s daughter, joined the army in 1775, pursued glory, didn’t find it until he led a night charge in the last battle at Yorktown. George Washington made him Secretary of the…
We’re in Good Hands
Near the end of a Zoom meeting this week with Anderson Clayton and other new leaders of the state Democratic Party (and about 100 other people), I messaged the group: “AC, y’all are the best thing to happen to the party in a long time.” Clayton, the new party chair, and vice chairs Jonah Garson…
4,000 Kids Killed by Guns
Nearly 4,000 children and teens are killed by guns every year in America. 15,000 more are shot and injured, according to Everytown Research & Policy. Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens. In 2021–2022, there were 193 incidents of gunfire at preschools and K–12 schools. Over the last two decades, more…
Ron and Donald
Politics is funny: Trump picked candidates, Trumpsters lost last election, Trump dropped in polls, DeSantis surged up, led Trump. Trump branded DeSantis ‘Ron DeSanctimonious,’ a ‘RINO,’ said ‘Romney lost. Ron reminds me of Mitt’ – DeSantis sat silent. Watching two boxers in a ring, one punching, one not, voters studied DeSantis surprised – he didn’t…