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Michael Bitzer

@bowtiepolitics.bsky.social

3.1K followers 590 following 590 posts

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.

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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · Nov 15

From a national reporter who emailed me: “You have a very exciting state (North Carolina #ncpol).”

My response:

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

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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 4h

Via @upshot.nytimes.com:

“Democrats would be in danger of losing around a dozen majority-minority districts (in the US House) across the South if the court struck down part of the Voting Rights Act.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...

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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 4h

Talk to Elon, but it's a year out.

Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 4h

New Elon Poll released covering:

Trump approval/disapproval in NC

Perceptions of national economy, inflation, and job market

And name recognition of US Senate candidates Cooper & Whatley

eloncdn.blob.core.windows.net/eu3/sites/81...

#ncpol

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Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Chris Cooper @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social · 22h

Turned this (far too) long thread ⬇️ on recent efforts to draw new congressional maps in #ncpol into a more manageable and readable post:

open.substack.com/pub/chriscoo...

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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 6h

#ncpol

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 14h

15 US states and territories have formed a new Public Health Alliance, which will counter the absence of federal leadership by tracking outbreaks, issuing guidance, buying vaccines and more.

Members of the new alliance include CA, CO, CT, DE, GU, HI, IL, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OR, RI, WA.

Map: Governors Public Health Alliance
* Guam is also a member of the alliance
Updated October 15, 2025
Map: @luckytran • Created with Datawrapper

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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 7h

#ncpol

Center for NC Politics & Public Service @ncpolitics.bsky.social · 7h

🗳️ Cast the Facts!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing quick quizzes like this one to help NC voters understand how elections are run, know their rights, and clear up common myths about voting.

Follow along to make sure you’re ready and informed when it’s time to vote! 🇺🇸

#NCTrustedElections

Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Center for NC Politics & Public Service @ncpolitics.bsky.social · 22h

10/16: The NC Politics Center & other groups at @catawbacollege.bsky.social will host Patrick Brown for a public conversation on the regenerative & reclamation efforts he has pursued.

More info on Brown: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rwp...

Watch Thursday at 7 PM: youtube.com/live/45ycE3L...

#ncpol

Reposted by Michael Bitzer

John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 23h

NEW from @pewresearch.org: A majority of Republicans (56%) now say that calling out other people for offensive social media posts represents accountability. In 2022, a majority of Republicans (62%) said it was punishing people who didn't deserve it. www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

Bar chart showing Americans' changing attitudes about whether the act of calling out others for potentially offensive social media posts is more likely to hold people accountable for their actions or punish people who don't deserve it. The chart shows changing views among Americans overall, as well as among Republicans and Democrats. It is based on Pew Research Center surveys of U.S. adults conducted in 2020, 2022 and 2025.

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Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 1d

We were actually getting somewhere, too. 😞

@sbmitche.bsky.social
www.library.hbs.edu/working-know...

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Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 2d

PIMCO, on the #shutdown:

“.. At this point, this standoff feels like a war of attrition with neither side suggesting they will blink .. we think is likely to last until November and possibly extend to Thanksgiving.

“.. we are on the precipice of the longest full government shutdown in history.”

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Reposted by Michael Bitzer

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 2d

North Carolina said Monday that it will work on a new congressional map that could yield another GOP-leaning district in the state.

It's the latest state to heed President Trump’s call to redraw congressional maps five years earlier than usual.

North Carolina Republicans heed Trump’s call to redraw congressional map

State becomes latest to join a national redistricting battle sparked by the president’s urging to shore up the historically small GOP House majority ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Reuben Jones @reubenjones1.bsky.social · 2d

New:

Rep. @ross.house.gov, one of 4 Democrats in the NC Congressional delegation, has released this statement on the General Assembly considering a new Congressional map that adds a Republican seat.

Current delegation is 10 R's, 4 D's.

#ncpol

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Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Center for NC Politics & Public Service @ncpolitics.bsky.social · 2d

It's official: NC will yet again redraw its congressional map, from 10-4 Republican to 11-3 Republican.

But could they go for all 14 districts?

New Substack post from @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social:

#ncpol

open.substack.com/pub/ncpoliti...

In the words of The Joker: "And here we go..." yet again with NC redistricting

The Old North State enters the Nationalized Redistricting War

open.substack.com

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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 2d

NC Republican legislators to redraw congressional map "by drawing an additional Republican Congressional seat" to make the delegation 11-3 GOP.

Only one seat?

#ncpol

bergerpress.medium.com/general-asse...

General Assembly Heeds President Trump’s Call to Thwart Blue State Attempts to Take Congress

Raleigh, N.C. — Today, legislative leaders agreed to hold votes during the previously scheduled October legislative session to block the…

bergerpress.medium.com

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Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 5d

40% of Republicans & 85% of Democrats say Trump has improperly encouraged federal investigations of political opponents.

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Reuters @reuters.com · 6d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Reuters @reuters.com · 6d

BREAKING: Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 reut.rs/42uh3Aw

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Chris Cooper @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social · 7d

#ncpol #wncpol #nc11

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@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 6d

"no credible evidence that there is danger of rebellion in the state of Illinois."

It's mind boggling than in 2025 a federal judge in Chicago just uttered these words in court case between against the President of the United States. My god.

Perry: "I have seen no credible evidence that there is danger of rebellion in the state of Illinois."

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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 6d

“A federal judge on Thursday blocked President Trump from federalizing or deploying National Guard members to Illinois for at least two weeks, saying continuing to militarize the response to local protests was likely to cause civil unrest.”

Via @wsj.com

Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 7d

#ncpol

WUNC News @wunc.org · 7d

AP reports: The leader of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is set to join the state legislature. Robeson County Republican Party committee members unanimously recommended John Lowery on Tuesday to fill a state House seat most recently held by his brother.

www.wunc.org/term/news/20...

Lumbee leader to join North Carolina statehouse as tribe's federal recognition push gains attention

The leader of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is set to join the state legislature. Robeson County Republican Party committee members unanimously recommended John Lowery on Tuesday to fill a state ...

www.wunc.org

Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Lee Drutman @leedrutman.bsky.social · 7d

Not much left-wing violence in America, apparently.
(If you trust The Economist, that socialist rag.)
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...

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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 7d

BREAKING NEWS:

Since the dawn of cellular technology, my Silent Generation father has had a flip phone.

Never could pry it out of his hands.

"I don't need anything other than answering calls. That's it."

Today at noon from my mother:

"Don’t faint...Dad got a new phone that is not flip!!!!"

a man in a suit and tie is dancing .

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is dancing .

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Michael Bitzer

Rachel Porter @rachelporter.bsky.social · 7d

Just published at PNAS (@pnas.org): “Electing amateur politicians reduces cross-party collaboration”

We show that districts electing first-time members of the U.S. House experience substantial declines in bipartisan representation in the subsequent Congress.

🧵1/4

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Reposted by Michael Bitzer

FiftyPlusOne.news @fiftyplusone.news · 7d

new polls website just dropped fiftyplusone.news

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