Our lead story today is about children. 

Cardinal & Pine’s Michael McElroy spoke with a group of North Carolina moms who took their kids to DC to advocate against the big budget bill passed recently by Republicans in Congress. 

The bill, which President Donald Trump called “One, Big Beautiful Bill” is complicated, but it’s chiefly about tax cuts and the social safety net services that lawmakers are cutting to pay for them. Republican lawmakers passed it, and Trump signed it. 

One big cut is bound for Medicaid, the government health care program that is run by the states and the feds. As Michael reports, Medicaid dollars help these children, who have significant disabilities, live in their homes. 

According to their mothers, when they went to DC, some GOP staff locked their doors and others rolled their eyes. Check out Michael’s reporting below and make sure to share it with your friends and family.

Front row, Kinsley Stadler, Emma Staggs, Vivian Vaughn. Back row, Alexis Stadler, Stacy Staggs, Meredith Vaughn, Braelyn Vaughn. (Matthew Cortland/Little Lobbyists)

Hope your summer is rolling by nicely, NC. Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter: 

Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to run in the 2026 US Senate race, a new Axios report says.

Cooper, NC’s ex-attorney general and ex-governor, left the governor’s office in 2024 with broad support. He was considered as a potential running mate to Kamala Harris in 2024 too.

His entry in the race is a big win for NC Democrats, who are hoping to land a seat in the US Senate for the first time since the late Kay Hagan left office in 2015.

With Sen. Thom Tillis’ coming retirement, NC’s Senate seat is expected to be one of the most important in the nation in 2026. Follow Cardinal & Pine on social media for more breaking news like this.

You can almost hear the waves lapping the shore and the crickets buzzing in the tall grass. 

Thanks to Phyllis Stoller for bringing us this view from the beach access on Emerald Isle. 

Important news from Cardinal & Pine’s Jessica F. Simmons. 

The US Centers for Disease Control has been undergoing a big shakeup under President Trump’s administration. 

Recently, we learned that US Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped 17 vaccine experts from the committee that advises Americans on which vaccines to take. They include Dr. Noel Brewer, a professor in public health at UNC-Chapel Hill. 

Simmons reports that experts are concerned that these changes could lead to confusion for both doctors and patients about vaccination. RFK Jr., of course, is a longtime skeptic of many vaccines. He has a history of basing his skepticism on debunked “conspiracy theories.”

For more on this story, click below. 

1. The government stepped in to clean up a disaster in North Carolina. Then they created another one. Vox

“Debris removal after Hurricane Helene did more damage to the environment than the storm itself in some parts of the state, scientists claim.”

2. A voter targeted by Judge Griffin in 2024 NC Supreme Court race testifies before Congress. NC Newsline

“At a hearing on maintaining accurate voter rolls, Republicans talk about accurate voter lists, while Democrats warn of voter purges.”

3. North Carolina, RNC team up on new rule change to restrict student voting. Democracy Docket

“North Carolina election officials on Monday banned a digital form of in-person voter identification for students and employees of the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.”

Cardinal & Pine team members (from L-R) Michael McElroy, Jessica F. Simmons, and Billy Ball won five awards from the NC Press Association, including awards for best video, editorials, and multimedia reporting.

Well, this is fun. 

Every year, we submit some of our best work to the NC Press Association for recognition. 

Recently, we learned that Cardinal & Pine won five awards from the NC Press Association’s annual journalism contest, including two first-place awards for best video and best editorials.

Here’s what we won: 

Judging was done by journalists from Nebraska and a team of volunteers. Winners will be recognized at the NC Press Association convention in September in Cary. 

We are appropriately flattered. 😀

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. I’m a NC native and journalist. I tend to lean left on opinion, but I lean no way on facts. Cardinal & Pine is happily free to read for everyone. Your financial support means a lot to us. Donate here.

Send us your feedback and news tips to info@cardinalpine.com