Donna King, editor-in-chief of Carolina Journal and executive vice president of the John Locke Foundation, joins Carolina Newsmakers to break down a new poll of likely GOP voters, reaction to President Trump’s State of the Union and what the U.S. Supreme Court’s tariff ruling could mean for North Carolina’s economy. They also examine the UNC tuition hike, the high-stakes Berger-Page primary and whether national media attention on a Rockingham County Senate race reflects real national impact or just political hype.

Dr. David McLennan, Professor of Political Science at Meredith College and Executive Director of the Meredith Poll, joins Carolina Newsmakers to discuss the political landscape in North Carolina and react to the U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting former President Donald Trump’s tariff authority. He breaks down what the ruling could mean politically and economically while offering insight into shifting voter attitudes, the issues shaping upcoming elections and what to watch as North Carolina continues to play a pivotal role in national politics.

Former state Supreme Court justice Robert Orr joins Don Curtis to discuss whether a federal government shutdown is a real possibility, what’s driving the latest budget standoff in Washington and what it could mean for North Carolina. Orr also breaks down the legal and political dynamics shaping funding fights, executive authority and the broader constitutional stakes.