Kelly McCullen

The 2026 US Senate race in NC could be one for the history books. @realDonaldTrump can influence the @NCGOP choice. The @NCDemParty has @WileyNickel w/ @RoyCooperNC now considering a run. Here's Mike McElroy from @CardinalAndPine to remind us that ANY race will be close.

One Big Beautiful Bill starts a 2-year countdown to reduced NC Medicaid funding. Mike McElroy of @CardinalAndPine says the worry is now and will remain over years. Hey @Billy_K_Ball, Mike's not on Twitter, but tell him he's getting really good with the on- camera stuff! #ncpol

In a sign this race is gonna get ugly fast, the messaging is already targeting family members #ncpol

Chantal's flooding in central NC, and the following week's rains, add to the recovery needs & possible NC budget stresses. @dawnbvaughan says disaster response is here to stay, for now, but is there optimism this Fall's storm activity could be lower? #ncpol #StateLines

Federal funding cuts are, at times, just "freezes" or delays pending review. @ChrisSinclair09 says we should examine the purpose of clawbacks & recissions & lawsuits to preserve all funding may be to sidestep meaningful fiscal oversight of how federal $$ are spent. #StateLines

Flooding has been a dominant calamity to strike NC homeowners over the past 9 months. Many NC homeowners don't carry flood insurance or find it unnecessary. @TravisFain believes NC's very low percentage of flood coverage is better than nothing. #StateLines #ncpol

We're talking funding cuts & recission on this weekend's State Lines on @mypbsnc. @NCInsuranceDept Commissioner Mike Causey defends grants for storm resilience & safety, but offers patience as freezes and cuts take effect, saying decisions can be reversed. #ncpol #StateLines

Will NC voters' attention shift from Congress passing "One Big Beautiful Bill" towards state legislators as the OBBB becomes "old news?" @dawnbvaughan of News & Observer thinks so and here's why... #ncpol #StateLines @MyPBSNC

Political rhetoric over federal funding cuts is very heated, but you know that already. @ChrisSinclair09 brings some levity to our debate on State Lines, by reminding us that federal debt is a math and finance struggle. #ncpol #StateLines

A new NC audit reports 90% of NC public funds employee salaries, so any cuts will affect jobs, so @JeffJacksonNC's suing to stop over $150 million in federal cuts. He say 1,000 jobs are on the line. @TravisFain outlines the "hit" to NC education. #ncpol #StateLines

Federal cuts will bring effects on state budgeting & management, including @NCInsuranceDept. Commissioner Mike Causey explains his senior healthcare program was threatened, but proved NOT to be a source of federal "waste, fraud & abuse." #ncpol #StateLines

Charlotte NPR station WFAE says it's cutting 6 staff members. This comes after Congress voted early this morning to cut $1.1 Billion from public broadcasting. #ncpol wfae.org/inside-wfae/20…

The vast majority of flooded homes from Chantal's rains in central NC didn't carry flood insurance, BUT it was 19% at least & much higher coverage than Helene victims. Commissioner Mike Causey of @NCInsuranceDept offers this about floods and insurance. #ncpol #StateLines

NC's Board of Elections will attempt to correct or "repair" over 100k voter registrations that are missing data. @ChrisSinclair09 explains why this task should be feasible for NC elections officials and is not heavily partisan as a task. #ncpol #StateLines @MyPBSNC

It's great to have this group out today for the show! I hear a little something different each week.

Federal funding cuts will push spending decisions to state & local gov't leaders. Congress saved money, but will taxpayers/votesr expect a local funding response? Reporter @dawnbvaughan thinks NC leaders may be handed the tough debates in coming years. #ncpol From State Lines

City water/runoff infrastructure projects are possibly canceled across NC as the Trump Admin. stops federal grants for flood resilience. @JeffJacksonNC is suing to release those funds. @ChrisSinclair09 tells State Lines this issue is more complex. #ncpol #StateLines

NC sports bettors are exceeding expectations in that the three-year, revenue projection was exceed in the first year of legalized betting in NC. @PatRyanNC (who reps some sports betting interests in PR) cautions against raising betting taxes, saying it would affect winnings.

Some NC leaders want @realDonaldTrump to pick the @NCGOP '26 Senate nominee. There's @markrobinsonNC & there's @LaraLeaTrump, @RepPatHarrigan , etc. Do GOP voters want a populist or Establishment-type? What does that mean anymore? Here's @PatRyanNC from State Lines. #ncpol

Only @SenThomTillis knows if he's leaving politics all together (to join us Civilians, again), there are other options to public service. @Bode4Senate recently "retired" from the NC Senate, so I asked her about walking away, even temporarily, in this State Lines Clip. #ncpol