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Cardinal and Pine
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Where NC gets good info—we are a left-leaning news outlet putting facts first.
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The bill faces another formal vote in the Senate, then must be approved by the US House and signed by President Trump.

But Senate procedural rules were the only real option Democrats had to block a funding bill, so now that the party splintered, there is little they can do to stop final passage.
November 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The Democrats faced criticism for dropping the effort to protect healthcare subsidies tied to the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Without subsidies, premiums will double or triple for tens of thousands of North Carolinians and nearly 160,000 people in the state could lose insurance entirely.
November 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The longest shutdown in US history seems close to an end.

Seven Democrats and an independent who normally votes with Democrats broke from the party line to help pass an initial Senate bill that clears the way for the government to reopen. Keep reading. 👇
November 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Well, that’s a new one.
November 10, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Over the next two election cycles, North Carolinians, including plenty of Trump voters, will continue to be hit hard by Trump’s SNAP cuts, Medicaid cuts, rising grocery costs, and soaring Affordable Care Act premiums.

And then they will vote.
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Local elections in North Carolina are non-partisan, meaning candidates don’t have party affiliations listed on the ballots.

But both state parties made endorsements, and there’s little distance between local and national politics when the consequences of federal policies besiege communities.
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Voters in Charlotte and Greensboro ousted the lone Republicans on their city councils, and several towns chose Democrats over longtime Republican mayors, including Burlington, Graham, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and Wake Forest.
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
North Carolina didn’t have any high-profile elections last week, but the results still offer a glimpse of how voters feel about the state of things during President Trump’s second term.

Cardinal & Pine's Michael McElroy breaks it down. 👇
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
In North Carolina, roughly 19,500 children are enrolled in Head Start. Working families represent the vast majority of children enrolled in Head Start.
November 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Head Start is a federal program established in 1965 as part of the War on Poverty, and provides child care to children from low-income families.
November 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
These providers have closed:

1. East Coast Migrant Head Start Project
2. Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency Inc. temporarily closed in Rowan, Davidson, and Cabarrus counties.
3. Southeastern Community Action Partnership closed locations and emphasized the shutdown would delay services.
November 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Several child care centers closed this week.

That's because federal funding for Head Start programs didn’t materialize due to the government shutdown. Keep reading. 👇
November 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
While Republicans in D.C. are blocking renewed Affordable Care Act subsidies, NC is passing along steep rate hikes for health care coverage.

🔗below for the approved Affordable Care Act rate increases 👇
cardinalpine.com/2025/11/04/a...
November 4, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Who TF is Billy Ball (@billyball.bsky.social) and why is he trying to explain North Carolina? 🔥

For the full video series, click the 🔗 in the thread below.
October 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
For more on this important, developing story, follow this account and share to keep your friends and family in the loop.
October 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Here's what US Congressman Don Davis, a veteran of the Air Force from North Carolina, has to say about it.
October 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Democrats are holding out their support on a new budget until Republicans extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that help tens of millions of Americans get health care.
October 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
President Trump said the Pentagon would tap undesignated funds to ensure military members got their Oct. 15 paychecks, but it won’t be enough to cover Oct. 31 paychecks.
October 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The federal government shutdown is beginning to affect the public, but it’s also serious business for federal workers, who will go without paychecks for the duration.
October 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Important 🧵 North Carolina, please share

There are more than 91,000 active duty military members based in North Carolina, and they have more than 66,000 kids to feed and clothe. Keep reading 👇
October 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The program, which helps people with significant medical debt, impacts a quarter of NC residents and has surpassed expectations, says @joshsteinnc.bsky.social.
October 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Important 🧵, North Carolina, please share 🙏

👨🏽‍⚕️⚕️Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled a first-of-its-kind program in 2024 that, as of today, has wiped out $6.5 billion in medical debt, state leaders say.

Keep reading the thread to find out what to know. 👇
October 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
More gerrymandering would likely guarantee more legal challenges to North Carolina Republicans' politically-motivated maps.

So far, the GOP-dominated NC Supreme Court has taken a pass on gerrymandering.
October 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
NC is widely considered to be one of, if not the most, gerrymandered states in America.
October 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Many good government advocates are joining with Democrats to condemn the news.

Gov. Josh Stein also spoke out.
October 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM