Chris Cooper
@chriscooperwcu.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science & Public Affairs at Western Carolina University. American politics, state politics, North Carolina politics, southern politics, elections. Recent book: Anatomy of a Purple State (UNC Press 2024).
http://www.chriscooperwcu.com
http://www.chriscooperwcu.com
And this from @michaelngraff.bsky.social
"Charlotte magazine matters. Or it mattered, I guess. It was bold yet modest, celebrated yet overlooked, much like our city when it’s at its best. In an age of doomscrolling and rage-baiting, that’s worth remembering
charlotteoptimist.com/the-magazine...
/
"Charlotte magazine matters. Or it mattered, I guess. It was bold yet modest, celebrated yet overlooked, much like our city when it’s at its best. In an age of doomscrolling and rage-baiting, that’s worth remembering
charlotteoptimist.com/the-magazine...
/
The Magazine Charlotte Can't Afford to Forget - The Charlotte Optimist
Charlotte magazine’s closure marks the end of an era in local storytelling—but its spirit lives on in the people and stories it inspired.
charlotteoptimist.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
And this from @michaelngraff.bsky.social
"Charlotte magazine matters. Or it mattered, I guess. It was bold yet modest, celebrated yet overlooked, much like our city when it’s at its best. In an age of doomscrolling and rage-baiting, that’s worth remembering
charlotteoptimist.com/the-magazine...
/
"Charlotte magazine matters. Or it mattered, I guess. It was bold yet modest, celebrated yet overlooked, much like our city when it’s at its best. In an age of doomscrolling and rage-baiting, that’s worth remembering
charlotteoptimist.com/the-magazine...
/
And, how about this from @tommytomlinson.bsky.social
tommytomlinson.substack.com/p/the-launch...
Makes me think about some of the magazines that meant something to me that are now gone or altered, including Dirt Rag, No Depression, The Sporting News, Velo News (yes, I have niche interests)
(4/5)
tommytomlinson.substack.com/p/the-launch...
Makes me think about some of the magazines that meant something to me that are now gone or altered, including Dirt Rag, No Depression, The Sporting News, Velo News (yes, I have niche interests)
(4/5)
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
And, how about this from @tommytomlinson.bsky.social
tommytomlinson.substack.com/p/the-launch...
Makes me think about some of the magazines that meant something to me that are now gone or altered, including Dirt Rag, No Depression, The Sporting News, Velo News (yes, I have niche interests)
(4/5)
tommytomlinson.substack.com/p/the-launch...
Makes me think about some of the magazines that meant something to me that are now gone or altered, including Dirt Rag, No Depression, The Sporting News, Velo News (yes, I have niche interests)
(4/5)
This from @ncrabbithole.com includes perhaps the best case I've ever read for the value of nostalgia.
“It allows me to trick myself and escape, for a moment, back to a time when things were no less complicated or hard but sure felt like they were”
www.ncrabbithole.com/p/pour-one-o...
(3/5)
“It allows me to trick myself and escape, for a moment, back to a time when things were no less complicated or hard but sure felt like they were”
www.ncrabbithole.com/p/pour-one-o...
(3/5)
Pour one out for Charlotte magazine
The publication that gave me a shot to be a writer is shutting down.
www.ncrabbithole.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
This from @ncrabbithole.com includes perhaps the best case I've ever read for the value of nostalgia.
“It allows me to trick myself and escape, for a moment, back to a time when things were no less complicated or hard but sure felt like they were”
www.ncrabbithole.com/p/pour-one-o...
(3/5)
“It allows me to trick myself and escape, for a moment, back to a time when things were no less complicated or hard but sure felt like they were”
www.ncrabbithole.com/p/pour-one-o...
(3/5)
They remind me a bit of Jason Isbell's "to a band that I loved"--an obituary of a band that's about more than that band.
(2/5)
(2/5)
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
They remind me a bit of Jason Isbell's "to a band that I loved"--an obituary of a band that's about more than that band.
(2/5)
(2/5)
I remember! One of the most memorable losing campaigns of the last few decades.
November 10, 2025 at 1:21 AM
I remember! One of the most memorable losing campaigns of the last few decades.
If you're curious about the context of close elections in #ncpol, see this post I wrote before the 2025 elections.
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Skip to "The Upside: Your Vote Counts" for the discussion of closeness.
Photo credit: @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social
3/3
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Skip to "The Upside: Your Vote Counts" for the discussion of closeness.
Photo credit: @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social
3/3
November 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
If you're curious about the context of close elections in #ncpol, see this post I wrote before the 2025 elections.
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Skip to "The Upside: Your Vote Counts" for the discussion of closeness.
Photo credit: @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social
3/3
chriscooperwcu.substack.com/p/its-munici...
Skip to "The Upside: Your Vote Counts" for the discussion of closeness.
Photo credit: @coryvaillancourt.bsky.social
3/3
The fine print:
These are hand-coded, so there could be a mistake. If you see 1, 🙏 LMK.
Some elections appear to be close, but are in municipalities split across multiple counties; the closeness disappears w/ full data
These are *unofficial results* & could change w/ provisionals & canvass
2/2
These are hand-coded, so there could be a mistake. If you see 1, 🙏 LMK.
Some elections appear to be close, but are in municipalities split across multiple counties; the closeness disappears w/ full data
These are *unofficial results* & could change w/ provisionals & canvass
2/2
a woman says fine print did you read it on a netflix ad
ALT: a woman says fine print did you read it on a netflix ad
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The fine print:
These are hand-coded, so there could be a mistake. If you see 1, 🙏 LMK.
Some elections appear to be close, but are in municipalities split across multiple counties; the closeness disappears w/ full data
These are *unofficial results* & could change w/ provisionals & canvass
2/2
These are hand-coded, so there could be a mistake. If you see 1, 🙏 LMK.
Some elections appear to be close, but are in municipalities split across multiple counties; the closeness disappears w/ full data
These are *unofficial results* & could change w/ provisionals & canvass
2/2
Those show up after canvas, but I've never seen them in a single statewide file. I *think* they are just available by contacting county boards.
If memory serves, @raleighreporter.bsky.social has done some stories in the past on some of the fun write-ins & he might have a better way.
If memory serves, @raleighreporter.bsky.social has done some stories in the past on some of the fun write-ins & he might have a better way.
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Those show up after canvas, but I've never seen them in a single statewide file. I *think* they are just available by contacting county boards.
If memory serves, @raleighreporter.bsky.social has done some stories in the past on some of the fun write-ins & he might have a better way.
If memory serves, @raleighreporter.bsky.social has done some stories in the past on some of the fun write-ins & he might have a better way.
I love these split tickets on sin.
In the Eastern Band of the Cherokee vote a few years ago more people voted for legal weed than liquor by the drink.
In the Eastern Band of the Cherokee vote a few years ago more people voted for legal weed than liquor by the drink.
November 5, 2025 at 2:11 AM
I love these split tickets on sin.
In the Eastern Band of the Cherokee vote a few years ago more people voted for legal weed than liquor by the drink.
In the Eastern Band of the Cherokee vote a few years ago more people voted for legal weed than liquor by the drink.
Yes, I am. Which is precisely why I think it's a fascinating margin to watch.
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Yes, I am. Which is precisely why I think it's a fascinating margin to watch.