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:
Two articles as an FYI on this #SCOTUS case on mail-in ballots & deadlines: www.mississippifreepress.org/supreme-cour...
From SCOTUSblog: www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/just...
From SCOTUSblog: www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/just...
November 10, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Two articles as an FYI on this #SCOTUS case on mail-in ballots & deadlines: www.mississippifreepress.org/supreme-cour...
From SCOTUSblog: www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/just...
From SCOTUSblog: www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/just...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
NEW: The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case over whether states can count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day.
The RNC and the Libertarian Party are challenging a Mississippi law that allows ballots to be counted so long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
The RNC and the Libertarian Party are challenging a Mississippi law that allows ballots to be counted so long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
Supreme Court to Decide if States Can Count Late-Arriving Mail Ballots
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether states can continue to count late-arriving mail ballots, a target of President Donald Trump.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
NEW: The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case over whether states can count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day.
The RNC and the Libertarian Party are challenging a Mississippi law that allows ballots to be counted so long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
The RNC and the Libertarian Party are challenging a Mississippi law that allows ballots to be counted so long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
From Oct. 16-24, 2025 Catawba-YouGov Survey of 1,000 North Carolinians:
"Who do you feel is responsible for the government shutdown?"
Democratic Party
Republican Party + President
All equally responsible
Overall & Partisan Self-ID (overall MOE +/- 3.79%; higher MOEs for subgroups)
#ncpol
"Who do you feel is responsible for the government shutdown?"
Democratic Party
Republican Party + President
All equally responsible
Overall & Partisan Self-ID (overall MOE +/- 3.79%; higher MOEs for subgroups)
#ncpol
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
From Oct. 16-24, 2025 Catawba-YouGov Survey of 1,000 North Carolinians:
"Who do you feel is responsible for the government shutdown?"
Democratic Party
Republican Party + President
All equally responsible
Overall & Partisan Self-ID (overall MOE +/- 3.79%; higher MOEs for subgroups)
#ncpol
"Who do you feel is responsible for the government shutdown?"
Democratic Party
Republican Party + President
All equally responsible
Overall & Partisan Self-ID (overall MOE +/- 3.79%; higher MOEs for subgroups)
#ncpol
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Remarkable that these pardons were announced the same day that a federal judge published this piece.
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Remarkable that these pardons were announced the same day that a federal judge published this piece.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
I'm not entirely sure how that changes the calculation but I am not sure a shutdown has ever seen a situation like this. It is the nature of authoritarianism: insulated from public opinion because people lie to him and/or he doesn't think it matters.
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
I'm not entirely sure how that changes the calculation but I am not sure a shutdown has ever seen a situation like this. It is the nature of authoritarianism: insulated from public opinion because people lie to him and/or he doesn't think it matters.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
I'm not happy about what Democrats are doing. But one argument for it is that they are not dealing with a normal negotiating partner but rather someone with no understanding that his position is unpopular and who is willing to inflict pain on ordinary people in order to win.
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
I'm not happy about what Democrats are doing. But one argument for it is that they are not dealing with a normal negotiating partner but rather someone with no understanding that his position is unpopular and who is willing to inflict pain on ordinary people in order to win.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
The Senate will convene at 1:30 pm for a rare Sunday session. Still no shutdown deal.
November 8, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The Senate will convene at 1:30 pm for a rare Sunday session. Still no shutdown deal.
We have just updated our flight cancellation info to reflect the U.S. airports status today. –Saturday, Nov 8. tinyurl.com/3sddyscd
November 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Here ⬇️, the California Republican Party is arguing the merits of diversity and the threats of racial gerrymandering for democratic norms.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
November 8, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Here ⬇️, the California Republican Party is arguing the merits of diversity and the threats of racial gerrymandering for democratic norms.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
November 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Here ⬇️, the California Republican Party is arguing the merits of diversity and the threats of racial gerrymandering for democratic norms.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Endlessly fascinating to watch political parties take on different positions in different states.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
NEW: The court in the cases challenging the new North Carolina congressional map has scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for 11/19. #NCPol
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZP6C...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZP6C...
November 7, 2025 at 10:35 PM
NEW: The court in the cases challenging the new North Carolina congressional map has scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for 11/19. #NCPol
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZP6C...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZP6C...
Kate Barr, a lifelong Democrat, changed her party registration to run in the GOP primary against North Carolina incumbent Rep. Tim Moore.
She says it’s the only way to compete for a gerrymandered seat whose boundaries were drawn to heavily favor Republicans.
She says it’s the only way to compete for a gerrymandered seat whose boundaries were drawn to heavily favor Republicans.
This North Carolina Democrat can’t win her district. So she’s running as a Republican.
In her crusade against gerrymandering, Kate Barr is challenging her Republican congressman in the GOP primary to make a point.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
The House will be out again next week. That's 20 work days in 19 weeks.
November 7, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The House will be out again next week. That's 20 work days in 19 weeks.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
A newly formed political action committee plans to spend millions of dollars to attack Senate leader Phil Berger's Republican opponent in next year's primary.
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
www.wunc.org/politics/202...
Outside groups spending big on NC Sen. Phil Berger's primary race
A newly formed political action committee plans to spend millions of dollars to attack Senate leader Phil Berger's Republican opponent in next year's primary.
www.wunc.org
November 7, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Today in life under competitive authoritarianism
A $30 million "fine" for no crime. Politically-motivated extortion of private institutions.
A $30 million "fine" for no crime. Politically-motivated extortion of private institutions.
Breaking News: Cornell University reached an agreement with the Trump administration that would restore hundreds of millions in funding to the university. It's expected to pay a $30 million fine to the government and to invest $30 million in agriculture and farming programs.
Cornell Reaches Deal with Trump Administration to Restore Research Funds
The Ivy League university had warned of layoffs after the Trump administration stripped it of funds this year. The cuts were among the deepest in higher education.
nyti.ms
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Today in life under competitive authoritarianism
A $30 million "fine" for no crime. Politically-motivated extortion of private institutions.
A $30 million "fine" for no crime. Politically-motivated extortion of private institutions.
Uh…did I miss a memo or something? #WhereisCLT
November 7, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Uh…did I miss a memo or something? #WhereisCLT
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
NC Department of Health & Human Services message to SNAP recipients: "Partial benefits were distributed today, Nov. 7. Beneficiaries should check the balances on their cards by going to ebtEDGE.com." #ncpol
November 7, 2025 at 4:14 PM
NC Department of Health & Human Services message to SNAP recipients: "Partial benefits were distributed today, Nov. 7. Beneficiaries should check the balances on their cards by going to ebtEDGE.com." #ncpol
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
A man collapsed in the Oval Office yesterday. The internet got the story wrong.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office. The internet got the story wrong.
A case study in how bad information can spread — and how hard it is to correct it.
dandiamond.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
A man collapsed in the Oval Office yesterday. The internet got the story wrong.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Dem gains in this week's elections erased the inroads Trump made with non-white, young, and low-income voters in 2024. In fact, the R-to-D shift from 24 to 25 is double Trump's gains from 20-24. Claims of a GOP political realignment have been highly exaggerated
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-win...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-win...
Trump's winning 2024 coalition has evaporated
Claims of a conservative realignment of non-whites, the working class, and young voters have been highly exaggerated
www.gelliottmorris.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Dem gains in this week's elections erased the inroads Trump made with non-white, young, and low-income voters in 2024. In fact, the R-to-D shift from 24 to 25 is double Trump's gains from 20-24. Claims of a GOP political realignment have been highly exaggerated
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-win...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trumps-win...
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
Join us next Wednesday (Nov 12) at noon for our "Lunch & Learn" November Zoom webinar to:
* review NC's 2025 municipal elections,
* what it all may mean for 2026's mid-terms, and
* the findings from the Catawba-YouGov October survey.
Register at: catawba-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#ncpol
* review NC's 2025 municipal elections,
* what it all may mean for 2026's mid-terms, and
* the findings from the Catawba-YouGov October survey.
Register at: catawba-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#ncpol
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Lunch & Learn on 2025 Elections & Catawba-YouGov Survey. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
The Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service will be hosting the second Lunch & Learn for this academic year with special guests Drs. Susan Roberts and Christopher Cooper.
Both panelists w...
catawba-edu.zoom.us
November 7, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Join us next Wednesday (Nov 12) at noon for our "Lunch & Learn" November Zoom webinar to:
* review NC's 2025 municipal elections,
* what it all may mean for 2026's mid-terms, and
* the findings from the Catawba-YouGov October survey.
Register at: catawba-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#ncpol
* review NC's 2025 municipal elections,
* what it all may mean for 2026's mid-terms, and
* the findings from the Catawba-YouGov October survey.
Register at: catawba-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#ncpol
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
The Center released two findings from the October Catawba-YouGov Survey of 1,000 North Carolinians.
You can review the newsletters covering the releases at:
From Tuesday: myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Catawba-...
From Thursday: myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Catawba-...
#ncpol
You can review the newsletters covering the releases at:
From Tuesday: myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Catawba-...
From Thursday: myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Catawba-...
#ncpol
New Catawba-YouGov Survey: Trump Still Underwater in Approval
Email from Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service Stay Informed on NC Politics! Register for Our Upcoming Lunch & Learn. CATAWBA-YOUGOV SURVEY FINDS NORTH CAROLINIANS DISAPPROVE OF TRUMP,
myemail.constantcontact.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The Center released two findings from the October Catawba-YouGov Survey of 1,000 North Carolinians.
You can review the newsletters covering the releases at:
From Tuesday: myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Catawba-...
From Thursday: myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Catawba-...
#ncpol
You can review the newsletters covering the releases at:
From Tuesday: myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Catawba-...
From Thursday: myemail.constantcontact.com/New-Catawba-...
#ncpol
Reposted by Michael Bitzer
BREAKING: Federal judge orders the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits in November.
Federal judge orders Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits in November
A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November.
bit.ly
November 6, 2025 at 9:12 PM
BREAKING: Federal judge orders the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits in November.