Michael Bitzer
@bowtiepolitics.bsky.social
Professor of Politics & History; Director, @ncpolitics.bsky.social. Manager, Old North State Politics blog (@oldnorthstpolitics.bsky.social). Interested in NC politics, Southern US politics, & US Politics.
Pinned
a man in a suit and tie is talking to another man with the words oh you have no idea behind him
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is talking to another man with the words oh you have no idea behind him
media.tenor.com
From a national reporter who emailed me: “You have a very exciting state (North Carolina #ncpol).”
My response:
My response:
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
New gerrymandered #ncpol congressional map can be used in 2026, judges rule:
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
November 26, 2025 at 10:56 PM
New gerrymandered #ncpol congressional map can be used in 2026, judges rule:
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
“A panel of federal judges on Wednesday rejected an effort to prevent North Carolina’s new Republican-favoring congressional map from taking effect before the midterm elections.”
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
#ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
#ncpol
Judges allow Republican-drawn NC congressional map to take effect for 2026
The challengers claimed the map illegally retaliated against voters in northeastern NC for electing a Democrat in 2024.
www.newsobserver.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
“A panel of federal judges on Wednesday rejected an effort to prevent North Carolina’s new Republican-favoring congressional map from taking effect before the midterm elections.”
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
#ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
#ncpol
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Fascinating article by Seth McKee, Dan Smith & Olivia Zhang showing that in-migrants to FL increasingly register as Republicans upon their arrival in the ☀️ State
The trend is uniform regardless of whether the in-migrants come from blue or red states
academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
The trend is uniform regardless of whether the in-migrants come from blue or red states
academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Fascinating article by Seth McKee, Dan Smith & Olivia Zhang showing that in-migrants to FL increasingly register as Republicans upon their arrival in the ☀️ State
The trend is uniform regardless of whether the in-migrants come from blue or red states
academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
The trend is uniform regardless of whether the in-migrants come from blue or red states
academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Having a hard time keeping up w/ the redistricting news from last week? I was, too.
So, I did what I do when I can't quite get my thoughts organized--I wrote.
Here's some takeaways from TX, NC, & a few other items:
open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...
So, I did what I do when I can't quite get my thoughts organized--I wrote.
Here's some takeaways from TX, NC, & a few other items:
open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...
Last Week in Redistricting
Last week was a doozy of a week in redistricting news. Here's a quick rundown of the highlights.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Having a hard time keeping up w/ the redistricting news from last week? I was, too.
So, I did what I do when I can't quite get my thoughts organized--I wrote.
Here's some takeaways from TX, NC, & a few other items:
open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...
So, I did what I do when I can't quite get my thoughts organized--I wrote.
Here's some takeaways from TX, NC, & a few other items:
open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Sign at the US Military Academy at West Point:
November 23, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Sign at the US Military Academy at West Point:
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
From The Washington Post:
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 10:05 PM
From The Washington Post:
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she is resigning from Congress in January
November 22, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she is resigning from Congress in January
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
BREAKING: Marjorie Taylor Greene announces that she is resigning from office effective January 5, 2026.
November 22, 2025 at 1:18 AM
BREAKING: Marjorie Taylor Greene announces that she is resigning from office effective January 5, 2026.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Thinking a lot lately about the simple fact that college allows people to spend about 15 weeks immersed in a disciplinary conversation with an expert in that field. And what a special thing that is.
November 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Thinking a lot lately about the simple fact that college allows people to spend about 15 weeks immersed in a disciplinary conversation with an expert in that field. And what a special thing that is.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Adults under 30 are more likely than older adults to use most of the social media platforms we asked about. The youngest adults particularly stand out in their use of Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Reddit.
November 21, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Adults under 30 are more likely than older adults to use most of the social media platforms we asked about. The youngest adults particularly stand out in their use of Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Reddit.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
It’s the only way to get Charlotteans riled up
Really messed up when ICE invaded a country club.
Dang - how bad was the Border Patrol invasion in North Carolina?
None other than Thom Tillis himself is blasting DHS for gross overreach, and demanding lists of those detained, property damage caused by CBP agents, and their plan for restitution.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
None other than Thom Tillis himself is blasting DHS for gross overreach, and demanding lists of those detained, property damage caused by CBP agents, and their plan for restitution.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
November 21, 2025 at 1:06 AM
It’s the only way to get Charlotteans riled up
Appears Operation 'Charlotte's Web' is coming to an end in the Queen City:
www.wsoctv.com/news/local/s...
#ncpol
www.wsoctv.com/news/local/s...
#ncpol
Sources: Border Patrol operation in Charlotte ends
Sources confirmed to Channel 9 Thursday morning that Operation Charlotte's Web is over.
www.wsoctv.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Appears Operation 'Charlotte's Web' is coming to an end in the Queen City:
www.wsoctv.com/news/local/s...
#ncpol
www.wsoctv.com/news/local/s...
#ncpol
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
@gelliottmorris.com's piece on what Americans actually want from parties is fascinating. It also (re-)produces a classic finding: Almost no one is in the "socially liberal but economically conservative" bucket, but those who are have very popular Substacks
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/not-just-l...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/not-just-l...
November 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
@gelliottmorris.com's piece on what Americans actually want from parties is fascinating. It also (re-)produces a classic finding: Almost no one is in the "socially liberal but economically conservative" bucket, but those who are have very popular Substacks
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/not-just-l...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/not-just-l...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Not the point of @gelliottmorris.com piece, but look at this divide among Republicans on social issues. Half of them look like normal people and the other half are way out of step with the rest of the country. There’s a bit of a mirror on the left but much smaller.
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Not the point of @gelliottmorris.com piece, but look at this divide among Republicans on social issues. Half of them look like normal people and the other half are way out of step with the rest of the country. There’s a bit of a mirror on the left but much smaller.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
ah, valence
(good stuff, you should read)
(good stuff, you should read)
Good morning. I've got a banger new post out today that develops a new method for placing voters on the left-right ideological spectrum, and adds a new, "non-ideological"/affordability axis to usual way we chart & think about US voters (esp swing voters). www.gelliottmorris.com/p/not-just-l...
Not just left vs right: Most voters think about affordability and material wellbeing, not in ideological terms
Most voters want a party that emphasizes cost of living issues and makes the world a better place. Few Americans think in solidly ideologically terms. "Moderates" are mostly non-ideological.
www.gelliottmorris.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
ah, valence
(good stuff, you should read)
(good stuff, you should read)
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
The Eric Schickler essay in Larry Bartel's symposium on "What Trump Has Taught Us About Political Science" is one of the most insightful pieces I've read in 2025.
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
November 19, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Eric Schickler essay in Larry Bartel's symposium on "What Trump Has Taught Us About Political Science" is one of the most insightful pieces I've read in 2025.
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
November 19, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
In a 2-1 decision (w/ a Trump-appointed judge part of the 2), a federal court blocked TX from using its new congressional map, which would have shifted 5 seats to be more Rep & reduced minority voting power
Here's the TL;DR description of the decision (copied from the order itself) ⤵️
1/5🧵
Here's the TL;DR description of the decision (copied from the order itself) ⤵️
1/5🧵
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
In a 2-1 decision (w/ a Trump-appointed judge part of the 2), a federal court blocked TX from using its new congressional map, which would have shifted 5 seats to be more Rep & reduced minority voting power
Here's the TL;DR description of the decision (copied from the order itself) ⤵️
1/5🧵
Here's the TL;DR description of the decision (copied from the order itself) ⤵️
1/5🧵
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Under the district+circuit three-judge panel procedure for redistricting cases, there's no appeal to the 5th Circuit on this, only direct to SCOTUS. The filing deadline for candidates is in 20 days.
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Federal judges block Texas from using redrawn congressional maps that would boost the GOP in the 2026 midterm elections.
November 18, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Under the district+circuit three-judge panel procedure for redistricting cases, there's no appeal to the 5th Circuit on this, only direct to SCOTUS. The filing deadline for candidates is in 20 days.
Bovino: "Those attacks almost coincided with Gov. Stein's heated rhetoric - it's starting again here in North Carolina, here in Charlotte - his heated rhetoric where he said we're racists & we were not conducting our operations in a lawful manner. I put a lot of the blame on our elected leadership"
November 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
NEW: A legislative committee requested the political affiliations and contribution records of the NC State Bar's employees and leaders.
The Bar denied that request, saying the agency is apolitical and does not maintain such records. #ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
The Bar denied that request, saying the agency is apolitical and does not maintain such records. #ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
NC legislative committee demands personal political records from State Bar
The Bar’s executive director denied the committee’s request, saying that the agency is apolitical and does not maintain such records.
www.newsobserver.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
NEW: A legislative committee requested the political affiliations and contribution records of the NC State Bar's employees and leaders.
The Bar denied that request, saying the agency is apolitical and does not maintain such records. #ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
The Bar denied that request, saying the agency is apolitical and does not maintain such records. #ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
BREAKING: In a 2-1 decision, the three-judge panel in Texas has blocked the state's new congressional map and ordered the state to use the 2021 map for next's year's midterms.
Opinion here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Af-Q...
#txlege
Opinion here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Af-Q...
#txlege
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
BREAKING: In a 2-1 decision, the three-judge panel in Texas has blocked the state's new congressional map and ordered the state to use the 2021 map for next's year's midterms.
Opinion here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Af-Q...
#txlege
Opinion here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Af-Q...
#txlege
Via @politico.com:
"A panel of federal judges has blocked Texas’ newly-redrawn congressional map — which made five districts in the state more favorable to Republicans — saying the plan appeared to be an illegal race-based gerrymander."
"A panel of federal judges has blocked Texas’ newly-redrawn congressional map — which made five districts in the state more favorable to Republicans — saying the plan appeared to be an illegal race-based gerrymander."
November 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Via @politico.com:
"A panel of federal judges has blocked Texas’ newly-redrawn congressional map — which made five districts in the state more favorable to Republicans — saying the plan appeared to be an illegal race-based gerrymander."
"A panel of federal judges has blocked Texas’ newly-redrawn congressional map — which made five districts in the state more favorable to Republicans — saying the plan appeared to be an illegal race-based gerrymander."
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
If Border Patrol asks you about someone else, you have rights, regardless of your immigration status.
Here’s what to do if Border Patrol comes to your home or workplace in Raleigh
If Border Patrol asks you about someone else, you have rights, regardless of your immigration status.
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
If Border Patrol asks you about someone else, you have rights, regardless of your immigration status.