Thomas Mills

Exiting the stage they entered together Berger and Tillis took became dominant Republicans in 2011 and appear likely to leave together in 2017.

Phil Berger and Thom Tillis ushered in a new era of politics in NC and now look poised to leave together. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Restless Natives NC, post-primary episode Catch Anderson Clayton's energy. It's infectious. Travis Fain and I have some words of wisdom, too.

Catch Anderson Clayton’s energy. It’s infectious. Travis Fain and I have a few words of wisdom, too. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

More resignations, please Auditor Dave Boliek is undermining trust in our election system.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has credibility problem. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Ten million down and two votes shy A look at primary results across North Carolina.

In the most expensive primary in North Carolina history, the President Pro-tem of the Senate is two votes down. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Primary races A short list of some of the races to watch.

The races tomorrow will shape the general election and possibly influence the Democrats’ power in the legislature. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

To buy an election Once dark money seeps into an election ecosystem, it rarely goes away.

Once dark money enters an election ecosystem it rarely goes away. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

North Carolinians are in a bad mood A poll shows a pessimistic electorate unhappy with Trump and where he's taken the country.

An in depth poll shows a pessimist electorate in North Carolina with broad dissatisfaction of Donald Trump in a year that will be a referendum on his presidency. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Nationalizing local elections A shady dark money group from Washington, DC, is playing in Orange County's sheriff's race.

Why is a shady dark money group from Washington, DC, playing in Orange County’s sheriff’s race? open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Advantage Page Early numbers don't look good for Berger right now.

Berger will likely need to see a big increase in Guilford turnout to overcome Page’s advantage in their home county. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

To Morrow Michele Morrow may have run her course.

Have Republicans gotten their crazy under control? open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The generational primary The Democratic primary in in NC-04 has national implications.

The primary playing out in NC-04 has all the elements of the generational divide that’s pulling at the Democratic Party today. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The GOP crime problem Michael Whatley needs to let us know where he stands on the pardoning sex abusers, selling pardons, and covering up the Epstein files.

Democrats need to flip the script on crime. The GOP is covering up a sex scandal, pardoning felons, and putting sex abusers back on the streets. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Restless Natives NC, 2-12-2026 Bad Bunny, capitalism and other heady topics.

The latest podcast with Anderson Clayton, Travis Fain, and me delves into the Bad Bunny halftime show, problems with capitalism, and a DNC First in the nation update. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Clayton as the heavy The party is instilling discipline, not purity tests. There's a difference.

Democrats are imposing discipline on elected officials, not requiring purity tests. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Helping Berger out the door Berger falling in the primary could have a domino effect on the 2026 election.

If the top Democrat in the state was in a competitive primary, you can be sure Republicans would be helping their opponent. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Wile E. Coyote politics? The GOP gerrymandering schemes pioneered in North Carolina might backfire this year.

Trump thought he could gerrymander a House majority but that effort might blow up in his face. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The populism of the Epstein files Epstein has become the face of a system the protects some and not others.

The anger of the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street, and MAGA are all found in the Epstein saga. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

No permanent friends or enemies in politics Right now, Tillis is taking on Trump when the rest of his party won't.

Political pressure needs to come from within the tent. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Tillis steps up again He's not going quietly into the night.

Tillis is becoming the voice of Republican Senators too scared to speak for themselves. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

They are never going to deport them all Americans aren't going to tolerate ripping apart communities of law-abiding, hard-working people who have been here for decades.

For 20 years, Republicans have tanked every attempt at reforming our broken immigration system because their base insists on deporting everyone. It’s never going to happen. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

In Minneapolis, Trump picked the wrong target The city is not going riot and it's not going to back down, either.

Trump wanted to make Minnesota an example. It's backfired. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Restless Natives, Winter Storm edition Anderson Clayton, Travis Fain, and Thomas Mills talk primaries, the first-year anniversary of Trump's second term, and religion. Great show for the storm if you have power.

Anderson Clayton, Travis Fain, and I talk primaries, Trump, and religion. Great show if you have power. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Don't discourage people from voting Democrats should be pushing a message about the power of voting more than focusing on the threat to democracy. The goal is to win the election, not just the argument.

I’ve been concerned that Democrats are becoming too pessimistic about the election actually happening and it could hamper turnout, especially among younger voters. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

A swing state poll The political environment, including Trump's behavior and the economy, will probably determine the overall outcome.

North Carolina is a bit to the right of the country as a whole. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The things that matter Trump's enablers stayed silent as he damaged our country, hoping for narrow political wins while sacrificing the trust of our allies and further dividing our nation.

Conservatives traded narrow political wins for chaotic governance that's left us isolated, weaker, and more divided. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Deep and broad dissatisfaction with Trump A CNN poll shows indications of building wave.

The CNN poll says only 35% of the people believe Donald Trump is someone they can be proud to have as president. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Cooper's haul and Berger's poll Roy Cooper increases his fundraising advantage while Phil Berger tries to convince donors he can win.

The Republican primaries in North Carolina have national implications. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Jerome Powell's "Have you no decency" moment North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis stands with the Fed Chair against administration threats.

Tillis is finding his voice. It’s just a little bit late. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

Restless Natives NC, New Year edition. Anderson Clayton, Travis Fain and Thomas Mills talk primaries, predictions, and a rough start to the year.

Anderson Clayton, Travis Fain, and I discuss primaries, predictions, and rough start to the year. Also, a great shot of the top of my head. open.substack.com/pub/politics...

The enforcer Governor Josh Stein is playing in Democratic primaries to strengthen his position in the last half of his term,

NC Governor Josh Stein is playing in Democratic primaries to strengthen his political hand. open.substack.com/pub/politics...