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North Carolina News You Can Use

Billy Ball Explains NC: NC GOP outraged over gay Santa book

By Billy Ball, Staff Reports

December 23, 2025

NC Republicans’ fury about a gay Santa book is one big performance, but it hurts real children.

Conservatives don’t have to hate LGBTQ people.
In the new Billy Ball Explains NC, we take a look at North Carolina Republicans’ attack on one school district in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. State Rep. Brenden Jones, a Republican representing Columbus and Robeson counties, talked about one LGBTQ-friendly children’s book as if it was pornographic or “woke.” But the book ISN’T EVEN IN the school system.
Senior Editor Billy Ball (@thelivingsouth) says it’s all a choreographed performance, but it hurts real kids. Take a look.
Billy Ball Explains NC premieres every Wednesday on YouTube. Make sure to like and subscribe!
Written by Billy Ball
Produced by Dylan Courbat

Authors

  • Billy Ball

    Billy Ball is Cardinal & Pine's senior newsletter editor. He’s covered local, state, and national politics, government, education, criminal justice, the environment, and immigration in North Carolina for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary have earned state, regional, and national awards. He's also the founder of The Living South, a journalism project about the most interesting people in the American South.

    Have a story tip? Reach Billy at [email protected]. For local reporting that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Billy’s newsletter.

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Billy Ball Explains NC
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