The Middle American
Far left. Far right. Conservative. Liberal. Republican. Democrat. Can't fully relate? Me either. But nearly all public discourse and media is centered upon the views share by one of the two political parties - and often those shouting the loudest from the extremes of both sides. This isn't just a political podcast. It's a podcast on life and society, with politics mixed in. But from a viewpoint we do not hear enough from - the middle.
Episodes
Zohran Mamdani seemingly came out of nowhere in 2025 to become Mayor of New York City. He's a self-described democratic socialist and his platform illustrates those views. Critics have labeled him a communist or a socialist and warned that NYC is going to become the next Cuba or Venezuela. But what, exactly, is democratic socialism, where has it worked, and why is it appealing? I'll explore those questions and why the...
The second episode in the series focuses on the race for Thom Tillis's open Senate seat in North Carolina. The race features a popular former Democrat governor versus a likely relative unknown, at least amongst most voters. I am interested as it will likely be the most-funded Senate race and is a microcosm of where the parties stand nationally.
The first in a series of topics I am most interested in heading into 2026. Immigration helped bring Trump back to the White House. But ICE and Border Patrol tactics have eroded that support and trust, with the most recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti fueling the downward trend. An issue that Republicans relied upon to win in 2024 may become an albatross in 2026.
ICE and Border Patrol came to Charlotte, Durham and Raleigh this week in a widespread raid as part of an ongoing nationwide effort to roundup, detain and deport illegal immigrants. We were told that the "Hannibal Lectors" of the world were coming across our border and these raids were going to get them off of our streets. While most of us envisioned Buffalo Bill being captured and sent back, more and more it is the jani...
The Democrats won. Bigly. It wasn't just that they won big races in blue states/cities like New Jersey, Virginia, California and NYC. It's by how much. But more telling is what happened in local races - both here in North Carolina and across the country. Republicans had a bit of a wake up call that redistricting may not fix. Will they listen in time for 2026?
Help nominate this podcast for Podcast of the Year in th...
Politics and Faith - two topics families tend to avoid discussing around the holiday dinner table. So let's delve into them here. Election season is here in the midst of an ever-growing political divide. Both parties claiming to be on the side of What Would Jesus Do? Both sides claiming you can't be a Christian if you support the other. Churches being attacked with political violence. What does the Bible have to say...
The North Carolina state legislature joins a handful of other states in the unprecedented mid-decade redistricting campaign to ensure Republicans maintain control of the US House of Representatives for the second half of the Trump Administration's second term. The cost? Making not a single vote count in North Carolina when it comes to voting for a US House Rep. Not one. 14 wholly uncompetitive districts. It's a sham....
Mike joins the pod to discuss his campaign for Mayor of Holly Springs. 14 years ago, he lost a state rep race in Virginia by 50 votes. He's thrown his hat back into the political ring with lessons learned from his prior campaign. Mike shares his vision on development, traffic, citizen engagement, and other issues facing the town. Learn more about his campaign here: https://www.mikeforhs.com/
Annie is the second Council member running for re-election this cycle. She joins the podcast to discuss lessons learned from her first campaign and her two-year stint in office, why she chose to run again, and what she hopes to accomplish in a second term. You can learn more about her campaign here:
https://www.anniedrees4hollysprings.com/
Tim is one of two current Council members who are running for re-election. He joins the podcast to discuss his experience on the Council, why he chose to run again, and what he is hoping to accomplish with a second term. Learn more about Tim's campaign here: https://timforrest4hs.com/
Sarah Larson joins the podcast to discuss her campaign for Holly Springs Town Council. People, policy and progress are the pillars of her candidacy. She is already involved in a variety of aspects within the town, and is hoping to translate those experiences into being a Council member. Learn more about her campaign here: https://larsonforgovernment.com/
Dr. Kara Foster joins the podcast to discuss her campaign for Holly Springs Town Council. The eye doctor has a vision for the town and sees potential for helping small businesses like her own grow and stay in the community. Hear her talk about her prescription for smart, people-first growth along with expanding our greenways and transportation options.
Learn more about Kara here: https://karaforcouncil.com/
Josh Prizer joins the podcast for a conversation about his campaign for Holly Springs Town Council. We discuss his background in public safety back in New Jersey, why he chose to move to Holly Springs, his experience on the Holly Springs Planning Board, and his vision for the town.
The first in my series of six conversations with candidates running for Holly Springs Town Council. Meet Joe Cuccurullo as he discusses his campaign and vision for Holly Springs. We talk about his experience running a small business in New York, why he chose to move to Holly Springs, and what he learned from his time on the Planning Board. Learn more about Joe's campaign here:
https://joeforhollysprings.com/
Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC tonight, but not without controversy. Republicans say he should be cancelled. Democrats says the ordeal is based upon an unconstitutional infringement on Kimmel's freedom of speech. In reality, it's a mixture of both. Everyone should be concerned about the federal government's yielding of power to influence speech. But this is not unique to the Trump Administration. And that should m...
This past week has not been America's best. Political violence. Hateful rhetoric. Social media comments leading to job terminations. Testing the limits of free speech. And it all started from a tragic public debate on a college campus in Utah. Many are going about it the wrong way. How about example of those that are (and have been) doing it the right way? Two Duke seniors join the pod to discuss the The Lemur, a publi...
Two times this week I've watched a person die online. Twice. 24 years after 9/11, we are more divided than ever before in my lifetime. A bullet took out Charlie Kirk in an effort to silence free speech. Killed because of his politics. Enough. We must do better as a country. Not "yeah but..." Not seeking revenge or retribution. We must unite as a society and stand for the idea that we are free to disagree wit...
A young woman boarded the light rail after her work shift at a local pizzeria in Charlotte only to be stabbed to death by the man sitting behind her. It happened two weeks ago, yet the public is just finding out about it now. Narratives are going viral regarding the black assailant murdering a white woman in Democrat-controlled city where crime is out of control just as it is in Chicago and Boston (but not Memphis and Kansas City...
Another school shooting. Are you as shocked as you were when you heard about Columbine? Sandy Hook? No? What does that tell you about where society has gone since those instances? Kids still being killed in school with no real solution in sight. It's beyond time for real dialogue, debate, deliberation and decisive action. The rush to blame and inflame rather than work to resolve this epidemic needs to end. It starts wi...
President Trump met with both Putin and Zelensky separately in an effort to broker a deal of a lasting peace agreement. What would a deal look like? Long-time WCPSS school board member resigned from her post. I take a look back a her tenure and why I am happy to see her leave. And MSNBC is rebranding, but why this move is indicative of the ongoing Democrat favorability and branding issues discussed in the last pod.
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