I’ve been getting a lot of emails this week from conservative organizations saying something along the lines of “it’s a new political landscape, but we have the same mission.”
That is a legitimate path forward from last week’s debacle. From everything we can gather from the results, voters in North Carolina have rejected the Republican Party (at the state and national level), but they still do appreciate conservative policy.
But what about Longleaf Politics?
If you’ve been here for awhile, you’re aware that I’ve been steadily evolving what this publication is and should be. What started in 2018 as a news blog dedicated to long-form explainers and short-form listicles has become something more like a platform promoting good government and smart policy in North Carolina.
That part of the mission doesn’t really change now, but it does get refined.
Why the Republican Party matters
Political parties are a means to an end, not an end unto themselves. For that reason, I’ve never considered myself particularly partisan.
But I do believe that conservative principles, properly understood and applied, are the best way to make North Carolina a better place to live, and the reality is that the Republican Party is the best vehicle to advance that type of policy.
Right now, that vehicle is broken down on the side of the road.
The party’s brand is in tatters, both in North Carolina and nationally, and needs a whole lot more than a new messaging strategy or a fresh batch of candidates. The rebuild means a return to first principles and a rethinking of how it earns the trust of voters.
I want to be part of that conversation, and I think Longleaf Politics has a role to play — and by extension, so do you1.
Building something bigger
A few months back, somebody asked me what I’d do with Longleaf Politics if somebody gave me a check for $500,000. No, they weren’t offering to do it; it was kind of a thought experiment.
What I said was that if you had asked me this five years ago, I would have put the money toward more news coverage and day-to-day journalism. That doesn’t particularly interest me anymore. My youthful dream of being a newspaper editor is pretty much dead now.
Where I do see room to grow is in the audio and visual production, research and advocacy that can win new hearts and minds.
Heck, I’d still love to have a $500,000 check, but I’m not going to wait around for it. I’m still working out the details, but I’d like to go bigger in the interim. I’d like to publish more voices, put more effort into the podcast and videos, and reach more people across North Carolina.
And I could use some help.
If you’re interested in writing for Longleaf Politics, helping with audio or video production, or contributing your talents in some other way, I’d love to hear from you. Just reply to this email and tell me what you have in mind. I’m open to ideas.
Of course, all of this is going to take some investment, and paid subscriptions are what make it possible. If you believe in what I’m trying to do here, I hope you’ll consider becoming a paid subscriber.
At a premium
In my Observer column last week, I wrote that N.C. Republicans put too much faith in power politics — and voters handed them a historic beat-down. I hope the party takes it to heart, because a defeat this sweeping can’t be written off as a bad national year. Read here, free with gift link: Voters just delivered a humbling message to NC Republicans
Question of the week
That doesn’t mean Longleaf Politics will become a cheerleading section for the Republican Party. I’m still interested in working with anybody, regardless of party affiliation, who genuinely wants to make North Carolina better.
That includes the incoming Democratic majority in the state House. I’ll give them exactly the same treatment I’ve given Republicans over the years. They’ll get credit when they do something good, and a whole lot of criticism when they go in the wrong direction. The principles don’t change depending on who’s in charge.
Done.