This week's column is a must read. Also, if you don't already know/follow @tressiemcphd.bsky.social this is your sign.

We keep hearing that a 2% tax hike on it's top earners will drive NYC's tax base out of the city. Hogwash. New York City is The Hometown to 20 million people who live there BECAUSE it is New York City. And the last time NY millionaires saw their taxes go up, in 2021, they moved LESS, not more.

"They referred to Black people as monkeys and 'the watermelon people' and mused about putting their political opponents in gas chambers. They talked about raping their enemies and driving them to suicide and lauded Republicans who they believed support slavery." www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Proud to discover that NC's Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) is one of the nation's airports where Kristi Noem's "all your problems are belong to Dems" video is *not* playing. The video would be hilarious...if violating the Hatch Act wasn't so unfunny. #ncpol www.newsweek.com/full-list-ai...

We considered some options for Bill Belichick if he loses his job. (this consideration involved photoshops) triangleblogblog.com/2025/10/09/w...

Our guy @milobaynes.bsky.social just dropped a fantastic Substack today. Its sharp, thoughtful, and absolutely worth your time. Go read it.

What. A. Discussion.

New Hometown Holler drop: We sit down with @tressiemcphd.bsky.social - scholar, writer, truth-teller. From North Carolina roots to national influence, Dr. Cottom talks about home, politics, and the power of paying attention. Don’t miss this one. #home #community #politics #whiskey

Our full conversation with Mayor Smathers on the one-year anniversary of Helene is out now. The most important conversations in NC are happening here on The Hometown Holler. Wherever you find us, smash that subscribe button & never miss an episode. #northcarolina​ #hurricanehelene​ #monday​

NC pastor saying Charlie Kirk was “martyred” & openly supporting public executions. But the worst part: his church runs a private school taking over $2M of your tax dollars through NC GOP's voucher scheme. This isn’t just preaching — it’s politics turned into a holy war, on your dime. #ncpol

Blaire doesn’t look back!

After a day spent upgrading some tech in the Hometown Holler studio, I was more than compensated by sticking around for the taping of an upcoming @thehometownholler.bsky.social podcast with the astonishing** @tressiemcphd.bsky.social **If I say more, I’ll gush, and don’t nobody need to see that

🚨New episode out today! Find out what the Democratic National Committee is all about as we sat down with @reynawaltersmorgan.com —Vice Chair of the DNC.

_I made the tough call to tweet inaccurate information from Rao's. Not everyone would have the guts to do that._

Listened to this on pocket casts. It’s not local news, but it almost feels like it. Been enjoying this show as a North Carolinian

Misinformation spreads fast, but the truth is simple: NC elections are secure, transparent, & trusted by record numbers of voters. Before you believe the rumors, you must hear this episode. Catch the full episode on our YouTube channel—don’t forget to smash that subscribe button! #northcarolina

We’re back! Tomorrow, September 8th, we're rolling out brand new pod episodes. Same laughs, same trusted voices, and even more conversations with the folks shaping our state. Tap in, tell a friend, and come holler with us — it all kicks off tomorrow! #TheHometownHoller #Podcast #ncpol #WereBack

Catty Corner time & we’re digging into Trump’s Fascist Pixie Dream Boys, his role as sidepiece & some folks big mad at new gen of left pols & media for being *GASP* popular & even paid. 🔗in bio & full eps on YT page of @thehometownholler.bsky.social youtu.be/J2rJ5wEcQpg?... LIKE,SHARE,SUBSCRIBE!

ALWAYS BE GRINDING YOUR SIDE HUSTLE, AMERICA! Can’t wait for the Trump Personal Tear Gas Canisters. full episode at @thehometownholler.bsky.social youtube page: youtu.be/uRU0eY1j0MQ?... #clawsout #meow #jdvance #cankles #merch

NC just opened the door for counties to cut Sunday voting — same playbook courts struck down in 2016. Different year, same aim. Which appears to be — suppress the vote. #ncpol #VotingRights

@milobaynes.bsky.social is back with his column! This one wraps up what happened during summer break! Dont forget to like and subscribe to the substack! open.substack.com/pub/thehomet...

From a kitchen table hobby to one of the fastest-growing media voices in North Carolina, your support powers the Holler and helps us reach more listeners while lifting up the voices and stories that matter most. #northcarolina #grateful #success

Just a bit of what MAGA America's been up to during summer vacation... thehometownholler.substack.com/p/what-we-di...

This week’s “Catty Corner” on @thehometownholler.bsky.social recapping the highlights of HOT FASCISM SUMMER! youtu.be/8eWphbHv1_4?... #musicfestivals #resist #catlady #clawsout

NC Rep Jordan Lopez & @rickyhurtadonc.bsky.social stopped by the Hometown Holler Stuidos to record a must hear conversation on community building and immigration — stay tuned! Episode airs in September. Listen anywhere you get your pods. #ncpol #immigration #community

195,000 North Carolinians stand to lose healthcare thanks to the Republican cuts. What does this mean for you and your community? Tell us below www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/... #ncpol

Daily Kibble: Gerrymandering is an issue in NC politics that affects every single citizens. It's insidious and has real consequences. #NC #VotersRights #Gerrymandering

Reminder: the NC Supreme Court flipped itself in under 2 years and then reversed rulings on gerrymandering and voter ID. Tell us again how courts don’t matter? #ncpol #democracy #nc #thehometownholler

We couldn't agree more. Sign up for Holler Highlights today and enjoy a weekly shot of Tar Heel politics poured right into your inbox! One email. No Spam. Link in bio. #ncpol

Headlines are easy to fall for. Data, on the other hand — that seems a little harder to digest and understand. #nc #podcast #mondayheadlines

Black and Brown North Carolinians are far more likely to be arrested for marijuana than white people—despite using it at the same rates. That’s not justice. That’s not fairness. That’s systemic racism. It’s time to end these disparities and move NC forward. #ncpol #cannabis #legalizeit

These folks @siembranc.bsky.social are doing TOP NOTCH work in NC and nationwide via defendandrecruit.org. I thoroughly recommend their resources & training events — for example, the Defend & Recruit zoom training for those interested in the immigration response described in the article.

They’re calling it the REINS Act (HB402). Cute. Because nothing says freedom like giving corporations the reins while tying up the public’s protections. 🙃 #ncpol

Looks like NC has got a few minutes of remaining gun sanity. Thankfully, SB 50, the bill to remove common sense rules & allow anyone >18yrs to walk around with hidden, loaded weapons of death, doesn’t have the votes to override Josh Stein’s veto. For now. #ncpol www.wral.com/story/new-nc...

School safety or more chaos? This bill would let private schools arm staff & volunteers with guns, skipping professional training requirements. Do you think untrained volunteers should be armed in schools? #ncpol #thehometownholler #podcast

A year and a half ago, we started The Hometown Holler — no budget, no studio, just a belief that folks deserved something real. If you’ve ever laughed with us or learned something new — now’s the time to help us grow. Pitch in here www.indiegogo.com/projects/50-...

In TX, the party of "but muh FREE SPEECH" just passed an anti-protest law that bans talking on campus after 10pm. "The new law is so absurdly broad it could theoretically be used to stop a group of students from discussing politics on a campus bench at night." www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Ricky Hurtado is hollerin’ with us — and he's asking YOU to join him! DONATE TODAY — it all counts the same in showing the world that everyday people are behind this movement! www.indiegogo.com/projects/50-... Holler Louder, Together #TheHometownHoller #NC

Historian @heathercoxrichardson says we’ve been through turbulent times before & we can fight our way out. But only if we understand what’s really happening. This is the conversation you NEED right now. Links in bio. #HeatherCoxRichardson #Podcast #TheHometownHoller #HistoryMatters #NorthCarolina

A year and a half ago we started The Hometown Holler — no budget, no studio, just a belief that folks deserved something real. If you’ve ever laughed with us or learned something new — now’s the time to help us grow. Donate here www.indiegogo.com/projects/50-... youtu.be/p6SRGSF8t1g?...

Ello Gov'nor! Josh Stein dropped by the Holler to talk weed to disaster relief and everything in between! #ncpol #nc #podcast #thehometownholler youtu.be/Q9vfy-yzpy8?...

Gov Josh Stein dropped by to share how he's tackling some big challenges from cannabis to disaster relief & why WNC is the most unforgettable place on Earth. He talks about how NC governors often lead with one hand tied behind their back & his go-to Jersey Mike’s feast. #ncpol

Boop.

David A. Graham of The Atlantic joins The Hometown Holler to break down Project 2025, Trump’s second-term, & what it means for everyday people. We dig into protests, fear vs. fact, and why the South may face the next hurricane alone. #ncpol @dgraham.bsky.social youtu.be/kU0Rm-KAWZs?...

This is about NC. But this is also true almost everywhere and nationally. I don’t know much history but there was a whole thing one time about representation and so on and so on www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjv9NqgY/

North Carolina's state legislature is a pay-to-play arena where special interests pay an "entry fee" to get meetings with policymakers. Via @thehometownholler.bsky.social

"No amount of identifying himself would have been enough because Senator Alex Padilla, D-CA, is not worthy of identification, not legitimately entitled to an identity." ...wrote @milobaynes.bsky.social over at the Holler Substack on Wednesday. (Yeah, we do kinda feel like he saw this one comin'.)

It's almost as if our boy @milobaynes.bsky.social TOTALLY NAILED IT earlier this week when he wrote that MAGA couldn't place Padilla "because he is not eligible for a place. No amount of identification is ever sufficient to confer recognition upon those who do not qualify to be seen and known."

Blair Reeves of @carolinaforward.bsky.social stopped by the studio and boy were there some hot takes! youtu.be/LG_AKkFkpoM?... #ncpol