As the Electoral College formalizes the election of President-Elect Joe Biden and COVID-19 vaccines begin to rollout in NC and across the country, can we expect a turning point after what’s been a contentious year? We also discuss the growing trend of reparations in North Carolina with journalist Mary C. Curtis, Morrisville Town Councilman Steve Rao, and NCCU professor Brett Chambers.
POLITICAL WRAP: Electoral College Meets Monday; Latest on COVID Vaccine
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Monday, the Electoral College will meet to formally cast their ballots for President and Vice President of the United States.
It comes just days after the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit by the Texas Attorney General to overturn millions of votes.
Our political contributor Mary C. Curtis has more on this and the latest on the arrival of the COVID vaccine, in the video above.
Dec132020
Local News Roundup: COVID-19 Cases Continue To Surge With Vaccines On The Way; A New Curfew; CMS Returns To Remote Learning
Friday, Dec. 11, 2020
On the next Charlotte Talks local news roundup …
Gov. Roy Cooper imposes a statewide curfew of 10 p.m. beginning Friday as numbers for COVID-19 spike, and in Mecklenburg County, trends reach new highs. We’ll give a local and regional update on the coronavirus and what the new curfew means for businesses.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools opts to go back to remote learning until January in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the area. We’ll talk about the school board vote and what it will mean for all students, especially those about to take exams.
The Department of Health and Human Services has released the list of hospital systems that will receive the first shipment of a coronavirus vaccine. The state expects about 85,000 vaccine doses from Pfizer, which are going first to health care workers and residents in adult care facilities.
And Charlotte Moves recommended last week that the city put a 1-cent sales tax hike on the ballot for next year’s election. The tax would fund several transportation projects in Mecklenburg County. But for that to happen, legislators in North Carolina would need to authorize the increase and approve a referendum. We’ll hear what some of those legislators say about the proposal and its chances.
Those stories and more as Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters delve into this week’s top news on the Charlotte Talks local news roundup.
GUESTS:
Erik Spanberg, managing editor for the Charlotte Business Journal
Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time” and contributor at WCCB-TV
Steve Harrison, WFAE political reporter
Annie Ma, education reporter for the Charlotte Observer
Dec112020
Mary C. Curtis: Trump Signs Order on COVID-19 Vaccine
CHARLOTTE, NC — COVID-19 vaccines will be given to Americans just as soon as the FDA approves emergency use authorization.
President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday, which will prioritize the U.S. receiving doses over other countries.
This move comes after a New York Times piece claimed Pfizer offered to sell more doses to the U.S. over the summer, but the Trump Administration turned it down.
Political contributor Mary C. Curtis has more.
Dec092020
Donald Trump, Confederates and the GOP — brethren in the new Lost Cause
You can tell a lot about people by studying their priorities.
President Donald Trump is not spending too much time worrying about coronavirus surges and more than 270,000 Americans dead, as Dr. Anthony Fauci offers warnings about being vigilant while waiting for vaccine distribution. You did not hear the president express sympathy for those waiting in long lines for food over the holidays.
Instead, he has played a lot of golf and wailed on Twitter and television, refusing to accept his loss last month to President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. Oh, yes, and the Justice Department found time to amend protocols to allow firing squads and electrocutions as a means to execute as many federal prisoners as possible before a new administration takes over.
Trump is also forging ahead with his campaign promise to veto the annual National Defense Authorization Act if changes are not made. There are several items in both House and Senate versions, including on troop movement and, most recently, liability protection for social media companies, over which legislators themselves and the president are still haggling. However, a bipartisan provision that has set Trump off for quite awhile is one that would rename bases and remove symbols from military installations that honor Confederate generals and leaders. This is despite consensus not only from both parties but also from members of the
Dec032020
Mary C. Curtis: Biden Transition Begins
CHARLOTTE, NC — The White House has given its blessing for President-Elect Joe Biden to receive the president’s daily briefing.
The decision comes a day after President Trump gave the go-ahead to begin transitioning. Meanwhile, the president is still refusing to concede.
WCCB political contributor Mary C. Curtis has more.
You can also check out Mary’s podcast ‘Equal Time.’
Nov252020
The power of Jill Biden and the women Joe Biden trusts
When Barack Obama won the presidency, many tipped a hat to Michelle Obama, his wife and partner, including Barack Obama himself. It was true in 2008 that the candidate was a smart man, a gifted orator and an exceptional politician as he broke through to become the first Black president of the United States. But he could not have done it without Michelle Obama.
That’s my take, anyway.
Nov192020
Mary C. Curtis: Does Delaying Transition of Power Hurt COVID-19 Fight?
CHARLOTTE, NC — President Trump is facing pressure to allow transition talks to begin as coronavirus cases surge across the nation.
This week President-Elect Joe Biden warned that Trump’s delay in transition of power could lead to more COVID-19 deaths.
WCCB political contributor Mary C. Curtis weigh in.
You can also check out Mary’s podcast ‘Equal Time.’
Nov182020
POLITICAL WRAP: COVID-19 & the Presidential Transition
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dr. Anthony Fauci says “it would be better” if health officials in the Trump administration could start working with the incoming Biden-Harris team on the country’s efforts to battle COVID-19.
It comes as President Trump refuses to concede and marchers converge on Washington to support him.
Our political contributor Mary C. Curtis has more in the video above.
Nov152020
