This week, we bid Civitalk farewell as we prepare for the exciting transition ahead: Civitas and John Locke Foundation’s new union! Ray and Brooke reflect on the lessons they’ve learned during their time at Civitas, as well as consider the less

Shifting sentiments, woke Santa, and the best part of 2020

Dec 19th, 2020 34m 38s

This episode, Ray and Brooke get into the Christmas cheer by discussing “Woke Santa” and his dalliance with political correctness at the expense of a child, as well as the changing demographics across the state and our nation, and reflect on th

Tis the season for political intrigue

Dec 8th, 2020 48m 6s

Ray is joined by Bob Luebke, director of policy for the Civitas Institute. They talk the good and bad of Christmas, the current political realignment going on in the nation, the 2022 U.S. Senate race in North Carolina, education, and voter ID.

Turkeys, toilet paper droughts, and looming shutdowns

Nov 25th, 2020 31m 56s

Thanksgiving is on the horizon and Ray and Brooke sit down to discuss cherished Thanksgiving traditions and edibles, as well as venture into the uncertainty and disruption COVID and government shutdowns have created during this special time of

The future of travel and conservative gains in North Carolina

Nov 18th, 2020 41m 41s

“Even though Cooper won, a lot of the issues he ran on lost.” – Ray Nothstine On this episode of Civitalk, Ray and Brooke discuss the dynamics of the election results. Does Trump continue to remain a force of influence on the political Right? H

Elections in limbo, the future of the GOP, and the changing NC judiciary

Nov 9th, 2020 35m 16s

This week, Ray and Brooke are joined by election policy analyst Andy Jackson to dive deep into the Election Day results. They discuss the impact President Trump has had on the GOP’s ability to expand its base and what the future might hold. The

When the polls go sour: An interview with Joseph Campbell

Oct 29th, 2020 38m 9s

What went wrong with the polls in 2016? This week, Joseph Campbell, author of Lost in a Gallup, joins Ray and Brooke to examine this question that has perplexed many voters and experts. They discuss lessons learned, as well as consider what rol

Confirming ACB, presidential visits, and the politics of celebrating Halloween

Oct 27th, 2020 31m 15s

This week, Ray and Brooke discuss unscientific political prognostications based on which homes decide to observe Halloween and which cars they drive, Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden’s

Cooper-Forest showdown and Civitas Action Freedom Rankings

Oct 21st, 2020 32m 22s

This week, Ray is joined by Leah Byers to discuss the recent gubernatorial debate between Gov. Roy Cooper and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, sharing what they believe were the evening’s hits and misses. They also examine the special Civitas Action Freedo

Mansplaining, scandals, and socialists

Oct 13th, 2020 36m 25s

This week, Ray and Brooke examine the substance of the Vice Presidential debate and issue a definitive ruling on the accusations that Vice President Mike Pence was Mansplainer in Chief. They also discuss the latest developments in the Cal Cunni

Funding students, not systems: A discussion with Corey DeAngelis and Bob Luebke

Oct 7th, 2020 34m 5s

This week, Corey DeAngelis director of school choice at Reason Foundation and Bob Luebke, Civitas’ director of policy, join the show as we discuss the release of a brand new Civitas-Reason study titled, “Funding Students Instead of Systems: The

Election “collusion” and Cal’s conservative voters

Sep 28th, 2020 31m 36s

Was there collusion between the Democrats and Gov. Cooper’s North Carolina State Board of Elections that led to administrative changes, effectively overturning significant election integrity protections enacted by the legislature? Andy Jackson,

Northern transplants and political football with Joe Catenacci

Sep 22nd, 2020 34m 31s

Joe Catenacci, host of Mornings with Joe Catenacci on Big Talker FM, joins the program to give our audience a taste of what Wilmington’s political climate is like, from the increasing “Northernization” of Wilmington’s voting population and the

Life after COVID-19, voter confidence, and urban flight

Sep 15th, 2020 37m 30s

This week, Ray and Brooke discuss their favorite food trucks (Redneck BBQ Lab, for the win!), the mass exodus out of cities, making predictions about life after COVID, declining voter confidence in the election, and the justifiable controversy

Hispanic voters and values with Gil Pagan

Sep 7th, 2020 33m 57s

Ray and Brooke are joined by Gil Pagan, the leader of Hispanos Del Sur (Southern Hispanics) to discuss how Latin culture and faith play into voting patterns among Hispanics. They touch on a variety of issues, from the differences between first

Conventions, Cooper’s budget, and rising crime

Sep 4th, 2020 35m 49s

This week, Ray and Brooke talk the Republican and Democratic national conventions, scan Gov. Cooper’s budget, and camp on how rising crime and civil unrest might play into how voters cast their ballots this November. Of course, they kick off th

Education freedom: The disconnect between progressive politicians and the public

Aug 27th, 2020 32m 49s

The electorate wants more education options, not fewer. So, why is Governor Cooper trying to limit options for lower-income families? And what’s going on with the North Carolina Association of Educator’s highly political platform and how does i

Kamala chooses Joe, the Civitas Poll, and famous campaign slogans

Aug 20th, 2020 37m 33s

What do we make of Kamala Harris’ decision to run with Joe Biden, someone she suggested was guilty of championing racist policies and harassing women? And what does the latest Civitas Poll tell us about where the North Carolina electorate curre

Cooper’s upper hand and Biden’s gaffes

Aug 12th, 2020 34m 5s

Ray is joined by North Carolina writer Andrew Donaldson this week. They discuss the politics surrounding Gov. Roy Cooper’s extension of Phase Two and then jump into the governor’s race in North Carolina and the presidential race. Ray and Andrew

Joe Biden, Jeff Bezos, and the American Dream

Aug 4th, 2020 34m

This week, Brooke is joined by Leah Byers, Civitas policy analyst and government affairs coordinator. They make guesses as to former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden’s imminent VP announcement, examine the scrutiny Amazon fou

Parental rights in education and regulating homeschooling

Jul 27th, 2020 31m 27s

What is the role of the government in education? How much liberty and freedom should parents have when it comes to how and where their child is schooled? This week, Ray and Brooke explore these questions, as well as share their favorite books a

Flawed people, the fight to educate our kids, and 100 episodes

Jul 20th, 2020 33m 4s

This week, Ray and Brooke celebrate 100 episodes of Civitalk, opening up with what they believe life will be like 100 years from now and their favorite 100-year-old individuals. They also discuss heavier topics such as learning lessons from fla

Voter ID, Madison Cawthorn, and election safety

Jul 12th, 2020 32m 11s

This week, Brooke is joined by Dr. Andy Jackson, Civitas’ elections policy analyst, to discuss the 11th Congressional District Republican primary win of Madison Cawthorn, a 24-year-old political newcomer, over Trump-endorsed Lynda Bennet. They

Censoring conservatives and mandating masks

Jul 2nd, 2020 48m 13s

This week, Eric Peterson of Pelican Institute joins Ray and Brooke for a robust debate on online censorship. Should social media platforms be completely content-neutral or should community standards exist? And if community standards should be e

Sex and the Supreme Court

Jun 22nd, 2020 34m 51s

This week, attorney Daniel Gibson makes his third guest appearance on Civitalk, helping us make sense of the recent Supreme Court decision, Bostock v. Clayton County. After Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered the surprising majority opinion, there h