In this episode, Adrian unpacks the certification of Trump’s presidential victory on January 6th and what it means for democracy, both nationally and here in North Carolina. He also breaks down the "Together We Rise" Rally in Raleigh on January 5th, highlighting its key messages and the grassroots energy driving progressive change in the state.

The topic shifts to Allison Riggs’ razor-thin victory in the Supreme Court race, a win with major implications for voting rights and judicial balance in NC. Finally, we're looking ahead to the 2025 municipal elections, discussing the key races, issues, and strategies that progressives need to focus on to build power at the local level.

Remember to subscribe and follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, etc, to stay up-to-date with the podcast and with NC politics!

Adrian and CJ take a close look at the new faces joining the NC General Assembly and the U.S. House—and the ones leaving. We discuss what these shifts mean for the future of North Carolina politics and how the Democratic Party must adapt to take back power after SB 382. Along the way, we dive into the importance of passing the torch to the next generation and why it’s time for a bold new vision to guide the party forward.

(We apologize for the audio quality. We had technical difficulties and had to make it work.)

In our first episode, we dive into SB 382—a so-called “Hurricane Relief Bill” that’s really a blatant power grab—and the lawsuit now challenging it. We share our firsthand account from last week’s protests at the vote, where demonstrators were thrown out of the chamber. We call out Representative Cecil Brockman for his absence and take aim at the Republicans who flipped their votes to overturn the Governor’s veto. Finally, we discuss the firing of a union leader at an NC Amazon warehouse and what it means for the fight for workers’ rights in the state.

Welcome to Left of Old North—the podcast that refuses to sugarcoat the political reality here in the Old North State. We’re here to give you the unapologetically progressive perspective our state deserves.

Every week, we’re diving into the issues that matter—whether it’s union-busting at an Amazon warehouses, power-grabbing politicians stripping away democracy, or legislators failing the people they swore to serve.

This isn’t the place for weak takes or middle-of-the-road excuses. We’re calling out bad actors, holding so-called leaders accountable, and shining a spotlight on the fights happening in the streets, out in the farmlands, and at the ballot box.

If you’re tired of the same old politics-as-usual, stick around. We’re here to fight for a better North Carolina, and we’re not pulling any punches.