The state Democratic Party heard the Republican Party was making automated calls, had heart palpitations, and filed a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s office.

The Consumer Protection Agency sent the complaint to the Republican Party – and asked for a response. When GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse read the Democrats were saying he’d violated the automated phone call laws, his blood pressure soared: He accused Attorney General Josh Stein of using the “full police powers of the state” to intimidate Republicans. (Dallas is almost as good at reality show politics as President Trump.)

Years ago, back in the days when Roy Cooper was Attorney General, a Republican campaign received a similar letter from the Consumer Protection Division – after a lady complained about receiving an automated call. The campaign explained it had done nothing wrong then, out of courtesy, wrote the lady, apologized, and didn’t call her again. It was a short story with a happy ending.

But that was years ago. Times have changed. This time Democrats hyper-ventilated, Republicans saw red, the newspapers jumped into the melee, hysteria reigned, and gave us another episode of reality show politics.