Commentary/Opinion
D.G. Martin Was A Class Act
By John Hood RALEIGH — In 1984, the first year I was eligible to vote, North Carolina had 11 congressional districts. Most were hotly contested by the majority-party Democrats and…
You Decide: Should You Be Smiling Or Frowning At 2026?
By Mike Walden It’s that time of year for economists to emerge and present their economic forecasts. Some say it’s like the economic version of Groundhog Day. Will economists see…
Opinion: Washington Can’t Come To The Rescue
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina needs $120 billion worth of new investment in water, stormwater, and sewer systems, according to a recent report from the U.S. Water Alliance.…
Cherish Our Free State Of North Carolina
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina isn’t quite First in Freedom. But over the past decade and a half, we’ve taken tremendous strides in the right direction. Those are…
Social Security Matters – About Tax Filing Status And Medicare
By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens Dear Rusty: I’m trying to figure out if I should change…
Independent Audits Serve The Public Interest
By John Hood RALEIGH — During my first reporting job in the nation’s capital, I read a lot of fantasy. No, I wasn’t goofing off. And no, I’m not making…
Liberating Nurses Won’t Harm Patients
By John Hood RALEIGH — Given our state’s population growth and ever-rising cost of medical services, North Carolina ought to be a leader in health care innovation. Alas, we are…
You Decide: How To Cope With The Affordability Crisis?
By Mike Walden There’s a term that we’re hearing more frequently today — the “affordability crisis.” It implies that a significant number of households today are finding it difficult to…
25 Things I’m Thankful For In 2025
By Governor Josh Stein Thanksgiving gives us time to hit pause and to reflect on all our blessings. I’ve had the privilege of serving as Governor of North Carolina for…
State Tax Reform Remains On Track
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina has one of the best-performing economies in the country. We also have one of the country’s most competitive tax codes. That’s no coincidence.…
Opinion: Community Ties Boost Social Mobility
By John Hood RALEIGH — For a state accustomed to faring well on many economic and policy comparisons, North Carolina’s middling score on social mobility ought to make us uncomfortable.…
Opinion: A Big Tent Still Has Sidewalls
By John Hood RALEIGH — Having spent most of my career building, financing, and leading conservative institutions — in North Carolina and around the country — I’ve learned many critical…
