North Carolina teachers are FINALLY getting a raise, but there's a big catch. At Cardinal & Pine, we broke it down in a new Billy Ball Explains NC + plus the big picture for public schools now that the budget is final. Watch it 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM9h...

People in 49 states know much, much more about a candidate in Maine than they do about their own local candidates. We need a local news revolution in this country.

Geriatric millennial post I'm 43 and my eyes said they can't take the news cycle anymore without some help. 🥸

No remorse. This is the face of a stone-cold biter.

The dominos are falling and our democracy is sick. You can really see it in the South, where the destruction of the Voting Rights Act is going to wreak havoc. This week, I talked about it on @wunc.org's "Due South." It airs Wednesday, May 13 around 12:40 pm on WUNC.

In the story of America, land has mostly moved one way—out of Native hands, and into the hands of white people. But recently, leaders in one western North Carolina town came to a remarkable decision. A new Billy Ball Explains NC has the story for Cardinal & Pine. 🔗 is in the thread.

Ok, believe it or not, here's your teaser for the new Billy Ball Explains North Carolina. The 🔗 is below. Your likes and views make a big difference. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gth...

According to Forbes, since the start of his presidency, Trump's net worth has more than doubled—from $2.3B in 2024 to $6.7B by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, many of the folks who voted for him are in a worse financial predicament than ever. Tap 👇 www.thelivingsouth.com/trump-is-get...

With all the news that's buzzing around right now, this is an important 🧵: Whenever the United States military moves, the South pays attention. Of the 10 states with the most active duty military personnel, 6 are in the South—Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.

Three years ago today, I lost my little boy. Jackson was a dream and I think about him every single day. No matter our daily battles, never forget the most important thing is the way you show your love to the people who matter.

At Cardinal & Pine, we can and will continue to make content for the same people on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and elsewhere, but the point was never to just preach to the choir.

Thread alert 🧵 Here's why we're doing "Billy Ball Explains NC." The point of these YouTube videos—aside from bringing facts to a medium that's light on those—is to speak with an audience that's getting too much of their information from the Joe Rogans and the Ben Shapiros.

For those tempted to dismiss this as an administrative curiosity, don't. It is intentional, part of an easily traceable pattern in the Trump administration. In public, Trump honors King because he has to. In actual practice and policy, he's undermined King's legacy many times over.

Astonishing. At thelivingsouth.com, I wrote about President Trump replacing the special "no-fee" day at the National Park Service with, among other things, a special day scheduled for his own birthday.

I represented Cardinal & Pine on PBS North Carolina's "State Lines" today. We talked about the healthcare hurdles ahead in North Carolina and the 2026 election. 🔗 in the thread to watch it now online. You can also watch it in primetime this evening on PBS NC.

There is no reason to believe in ICE and Border Patrol in the way we might local cops. Their power is derived not just from guns and uniforms, but from a bargain with the people they serve. They are supposed to work within certain boundaries. The boundaries are gone. The bargain is broken.

Here's the takeaway: Law enforcement isn't supposed to lie to us. They aren't supposed to wear masks, attack journalists, or beat up people exercising their constitutional right to protest. Law enforcement has limits and a code. They are not supposed to be ideologues.

I despise forced gratitude. This isn't that. But I want to talk about something I saw this month that's making me give thanks for the people of the South. (link in thread) Every Tuesday, I'm writing about the South for free at The Living South.

Don’t have time to read? 👂 Listen to the incredible story of K-pop, an emerging K-pop star from the South, and, of course, “K-pop Demon Hunters” at the 🔗 below 👇 www.thelivingsouth.com/audio-nathan...

My latest: In 21st century America, our politicians take their cues from social media, and not the other way around. It's made debate more performative, less nuanced, and much, much dumber. The right-wing debate around Iryna Zarutska is a perfect example. 👉 www.thelivingsouth.com/iryna-zaruts...

Most of us know bone-deep that there is something wrong with social media. I wrote about what we can do about it recently for my pet project, The Living South (link in the thread), and tonight, I'm on Spectrum News' "Capital Tonight" talking about it. Show airs at 7 pm.

This weekend, I thought about a lot of things and wrote about it. One of the few things left and right can agree on right now is that we're being played by social media companies. There is a solution. 🔗 below. www.thelivingsouth.com/the-case-for...

In 2024, I wrote a lot and went on tv talking about the lies Trump was telling about disaster relief in western NC after Helene. Some time has passed and a few things are clear. I wrote about them @cardinalandpine.bsky.social. Click and pls share 👇 cardinalpine.com/opinion/opin...

Important thread alert: We need our media to meet the moment. This story from WCNC in Charlotte, which reads like a re-written press release from the Trump administration, leaves out the context that federal officials have funded just a small percentage of Helene recovery in western NC.

This is what it's like sometimes to work in journalism.

I try not to write about myself when I write about public figures. But this week, when I wrote about @roycoopernc.bsky.social's entrance into the Senate race for @msnbc.com (link in the thread) while representing @cardinalandpine.bsky.social, I decided to include this bit.

Public service announcement: Don't use Google's AI function to fact-check things.

In some places, public broadcasting is the only game in town if you're looking for local news. They are especially crucial in rural regions that are reeling from a disaster, like in western NC, where locals relied on public radio dispatches to learn about the latest after Helene. 🔗 in thread 👇

Why a lighthouse? Because it fits how I see thelivingsouth.com. I want it to be a beacon, illuminating a way home, a light on a stormy sea. If you haven't signed up already for this free, independent journalism made for and by the South, hop on board. This should be fun!

Hi y'all, please share. I'm doing a new thing every Monday at Cardinal & Pine, curating the most interesting events, protests, and news of the week. Reading requires a subscription to our free, award-winning newsletter, but that's so worth it. CLICK 👇 cardinalpine.com/2025/06/16/3...