NC State economist Mike Walden on the first two months of Trump 2.0
Over the past few decades, one of North Carolina's best known and most prolific economists has been Prof. Mike Walden. Walden, the Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NC State University, is an outspoken champion of free markets and a longtime regular contributor to the pages of the conservative John Locke Foundation.
As with a lot of traditional economic conservatives, however, Walden is not necessarily a cheerleader for the roller-coaster economic policies that President Trump has pursued since his return to office, and recently, Walden joined NC Newsline editor Rob Schofield to share his assessment of what's been going on thus far and some concerns about what Trump's trade policies could mean for North Carolina.
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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
Roy Cooper's Chances of Flipping North Carolina's GOP Senate Seat—New Poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper held a lead over Republican Michael Whatley in the latest poll of North Carolina's Senate race released on Thursday. Why It Matters Democrats view North Carolina as perhaps their best opportunity to flip a Senate seat in the 2026 midterms, when they are hoping a "blue wave" will give them a chance at winning back a majority despite a challenging map. The decision to run by Cooper, who enjoyed positive approval ratings during his time as governor, has fueled Democratic optimism about their chances. But Republicans believe Whatley, who serves as the RNC chair and is endorsed by President Donald Trump, will be a strong candidate against Cooper—and Democrats have not won a Senate race in the Tar Heel State since 2008 despite several close races. In the 2024 presidential race, North Carolina gave Trump a narrow victory of about three percentage points. The new poll underscores the competitive nature of the critical battleground race. What to Know The Harper Polling survey provided to Newsweek by the John Locke Foundation showed Cooper leading Whatley, but neither candidate had support from a majority of respondents. Cooper received support from 47.3 percent of respondents, while 39.1 percent said they planned to cast their ballot for Whatley in November next year. Forty percent said they would "definitely" support Cooper, while only 24.7 percent said they would "definitely" support Whatley. The poll surveyed 600 likely voters from August 11 to August 12, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.98 percentage points. Former Governor Roy Cooper speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 22, 2024. Former Governor Roy Cooper speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 22, found that 47 percent of respondents view Cooper favorably, while 40 percent view him unfavorably. Whatley was more unknown among North Carolina voters, with 51 percent saying they had never heard of him. Fifteen percent viewed him favorably, while 11 percent viewed him unfavorably. Voters were split about who they would support on the generic ballot for Congress—46 percent said they would support a Republican candidate, while 46.1 percent said they would support the Democratic candidate, according to the poll. Donald Bryson, CEO and president of the John Locke Foundation and publisher of the Carolina Journal, told Newsweek the poll findings are not surprising but provided a "great baseline" of the state of the race. "Roy Cooper has vast name ID having been attorney general for 16 years, governor for 8. He's been in elected office in North Carolina since 1986. With all of that resume, it would be strange if he had a lower name ID that Michael Whatley," he said. Whatley having lower name recognition is also not surprising as he has never held elected office in the state, Bryson said. He said that is not "necessarily a negative for Whatley," who will need to drive up Cooper's negative numbers and his own name ID over the coming year. What is more concerning for Whatley is the poll's findings that 62 percent of North Carolinians believe tariffs will make prices higher for everyday North Carolinians, Bryson said. "That is something that if I was working on his campaign as a consultant or a campaign manager, how do we answer this question on when the price of goods goes up due to the tariff regime put in place by the Trump administration—how do we spin this as good for the state of North Carolina?" he said. Whatley's fate and criticism will likely be "tied to Trump," Bryson said. Roy Cooper Leads Earliest Polls of North Carolina Senate Race The poll is in line with the other early surveys of the Senate race. An Emerson College poll released last month similarly showed Cooper with a lead over Whatley. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they would cast their ballots for Cooper, while 41 percent said they would support Whatley next November. The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters from July 28 to July 30, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. A Victory Insights poll showed a closer race, with Cooper winning 43 percent of respondents and Whatley winning 40 percent of respondents. It surveyed 600 likely voters from July 20 to July 30, 2025. While Cooper is not expected to face a competitive primary, as Democrats have cleared the field for him, it's unclear whether other high-profile Republicans will challenge Whatley, who has the support of Trump. Trump-backed candidates typically fare well in GOP primaries, giving Whatley an early advantage against other potential challengers. North Carolina—An Elusive Battleground for Democrats Democrats have made recent Senate races competitive in North Carolina but have struggled to prevail against Republicans in a state that has proven elusive for Democrats at the federal level in recent years. In 2022, Republican Tedd Bud, then a member of Congress, defeated Democrat Cheri Beasley by about three points. GOP Senator Thom Tillis narrowly defeated Democrat Cal Cunningham by less than two points in 2020. In 2016, former GOP Senator Richard Burr defeated Democrat Deborah Ross, now a member of Congress, by nearly six percentage points. At the same time, Democrats have held a grip on the governor mansion. Democrat Josh Stein, who succeeded Cooper, won November's gubernatorial race by nearly 15 points after Republican Mark Robinson faced a series of scandals on the campaign trail. Candidate quality is a key factor here, Bryson said, adding that the Republican base "tends to be more affected by national politics." What People Are Saying Bryson told Newsweek: "I think [Cooper is] in a really comfortable position now. I think it would be easy for the Cooper camp to feel like they're in a comfortable position and can coast for a little while. But I think what comes with that name ID and people being comfortable enough to say they would vote for him in this poll also comes with a long record." Roy Cooper in a video announcing his candidacy: "I never really wanted to go to Washington. I just wanted to serve the people of North Carolina right here, where I've lived all my life. But these are not ordinary times." Whatley wrote in a post to X: "President Trump asked me to run for Senate because North Carolina needs a strong, consistent conservative leader in the Senate. Someone who will fight to create jobs, protect our farmers, and make America the strongest country on the face of the Earth." What Happens Next The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball both classify the North Carolina Senate race as a pure toss-up.
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business Insider
The hot, new celebrity side hustle
Everybody wants to be Ryan Reynolds. Donald Trump wants to be Ryan Reynolds. The " SmartLess" podcast guys want to be Ryan Reynolds. Even Klarna wants to be Ryan Reynolds. I don't mean they want to star in "Deadpool" or marry Blake Lively (though neither of those is a bad deal). I mean that they're all slapping their brands on mobile phone networks in an attempt to make a little extra bank. If you're familiar with Mint Mobile, a mobile phone network that offers inexpensive prepaid plans, it's probably because you've seen Reynolds in an ad for it. The actor-turned-entrepreneur bought an estimated 25% stake in the company back in 2019, positioned himself as its spokesperson, and then sold it to T-Mobile for $1.35 billion in 2023, with Reynolds reportedly making $300 million off the deal. The concept of Mint Mobile isn't new: Virtual mobile network operators, which are telecom companies that offer mobile services without owning their own network infrastructure, like towers and stations, have been around for a long time. Some examples, besides Mint, include Cricket Wireless and Boost, though the latter is becoming a full-on wireless carrier and investing in its own 5G network. Reynolds offered a new spin by successfully attaching a big-name brand or celebrity to one. His achievement seems to have inspired others to get in on the game, including the president, some podcast hosts, and a buy-now-pay-later company. "It's all Ryan Reynolds' fault. Sort of," says Avi Greengart, the founder and lead analyst at Techspontential, a research and advisory firm. In June, the Trump Organization announced the launch of Trump Mobile. Its website says the service will offer "All-American performance" on a $47.45 a month plan that includes unlimited talk, text, data, and calls to 100 international destinations. The Trumps are also selling a $499 gold-colored phone to accompany the plan. Everyone else on this list is thinking that if Ryan Reynolds can do it, why can't they? The same month, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes, actors and the hosts of "Smartless," said they are starting SmartLess Mobile, which promises to be "direct-to-consumer, data-sane, and refreshingly BS-free." Their website boasts, "Friends don't let friends overpay." SmartLess' value proposition is that it offers inexpensive, limited data plans that start as low as $15 a month. The argument is that most people have plans that give them unlimited cellular data, but they don't actually need all that download capacity, given how widely available WiFi is, so they wind up overpaying. "The quick math is about half of the country use 10 gigs or fewer, but it's almost impossible not to buy unlimited," says Paul McAleese, the CEO of Smartless Mobile and a mobile industry veteran. "Why we did it is because we recognize that gap, that data gap, which is really unique compared to any other product category. You don't go into the grocery store and buy 40 gallons of milk and consume two and then do it again the next month." As The Wall Street Journal noted around that time, celebrity cellular brands seem to be everywhere. Consumer brands are joining in, too. Klarna, the Sweden-based buy now, pay later company, is launching a mobile network of its own, too. In June, it invited consumers to sign up for a waitlist to join its $40-a-month plan. It may seem strange for an installment lender to get in the wireless game, but the company says it's a step in continuing to build its "neobank offering." "Everyone else on this list is thinking that if Ryan Reynolds can do it, why can't they?" says Craig Moffett, a cofounder and senior research analyst at MoffettNathanson, an equity research firm. It's not dissimilar to the rich and famous hopping on the liquor train in recent years. There's Reynolds' gin, Snoop Dogg's wine, George Clooney's tequila, Kendall Jenner's tequila, Kevin Hart's tequila. In a way, telecom is the new tequila. "It's a sign of the times that every celebrity's reason for getting up in the morning is to think of ways they can monetize their celebrity," Moffett says. Mobile virtual network operators, which industry insiders call MVNOs, buy excess network capacity in bulk from major carriers — AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile — and sell it under their own brands. They profit from the differential between the wholesale rate they get and the amount they charge customers. "It is a capital-light alternative without having to invest considerable sums in acquiring a licence, constructing a network, and so forth," says Paolo Pescatore, a telecom analyst at PP Foresight. He says that it can also work for brands that have a similar business to tack on an extra service for their customers, such as Comcast's XFinity Mobile, which it can tie in with its broadband service. For carriers, MVNOs are a way to make money off of capacity they're not using and try to reach niche markets they may not be able to connect with on their own — customers of different demographics, who speak different languages, and who have different interests. Their brands are very general, and in their marketing, they have to appeal to the general population. It's low risk. If the thing fails, no harm, no foul. "Big carriers are not the most creative kind, and their advertising focuses on big customer segments. They don't have the time, effort, and focus to go after smaller customer segments," says Roger Entner, the founder and lead analyst at Recon Analytics, a research and analytics firm. "It's low risk. If the thing fails, no harm, no foul." MVNOs are just a small sliver of the mobile market. Entner estimates there are about 15 million MVNO customers in the US (that excludes people who use MVNOs tied to cable companies, which are an additional 19 million or so). By comparison, the major carriers have upwards of 340 million. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel, the author of "Cultural Intelligence for Marketers," says that because consumers tend to distrust the big telecom players, an MVNO may signal a "perception of independence" for potential users. It gives an "illusion of being separate from the major telco brands," she says, even if that's far from the case. Klarna is working with AT&T, SmartLess is with T-Mobile, and the Trump Organization says they're working with all three major carriers. For the brands and individuals trying to launch mobile networks, the hope is that they have enough clout with their existing fan bases to get them to switch networks and sign up. Maybe you love Jason Bateman so much you feel like you have to have his phone plan, or you're so entrenched in Klarna's payments system and app, you switch your network to them. Or, in the case of the Trump family, you're MAGA. And given the president's long history of putting his name on things and promoting them, from buildings to steaks to wine, the move seems like a natural extension. "The only surprising thing about Trump Mobile is that he didn't try this already," Greengart says. McAleese, from SmartLess, says that while he's aware this may look like following in Reynolds' footsteps, that's not what's going on. Arnett served as a spokesperson for the Canadian company Freedom Mobile, which he also ran, back in 2018. "Will did that job, frankly, before Ryan ever did," he says. Just because celeb-affiliated mobile networks are blooming does not mean they will flourish. It's a tough business to be in. ESPN failed at its MVNO efforts two decades ago, even with all the power of, you know, ESPN — though that attempt was also before the iPhone existed. It's an easy business to start, but it's a hard business to operate, Moffett explains. "The MVNO network operator provides almost everything you need to get started. But once you spend money on marketing and customer service, it turns out to be a really tough way to make money," he says. "To succeed, you need to achieve meaningful scale, and very, very few MVNOs ever do." Phone plans are sticky. It takes time and effort to switch your carrier from one brand to another, though the barrier is getting a bit lower these days. It's especially difficult if your phone plan is how you're paying off your device, or you're on a family plan with multiple lines. Many MVNOs don't offer plans with more than one or two lines, and few help customers finance their devices. Where a lot of them run into a buzzsaw is when there's not enough differentiation going on. As much as people may idolize certain celebrities or relate to certain brands, it's just not clear that they do so enough to want their entire consumer lives to reside in their ecosystems. Beyond the branding, a lot of these networks aren't particularly special in terms of the price or service they offer. Maybe they'll get some people, via social media posts and ads, but it may not be enough to grow and sustain a thriving business operation. "Where a lot of them run into a buzzsaw is when there's not enough differentiation going on," Entner says. "They bring nothing unique to it." He was skeptical of Klarna's move, too. "It's a lower-cost acquisition channel, because if you're already paying off your burrito, they can also say, 'Hey, by the way, I know you're broke. Here's cheap service on top of it,'" he says, referring to Klarna's BNPL deal that allows people to break up a DoorDash order into multiple installments. "'I know so much about you, so I can tailor my offer exactly for you.' That's the logic. I probably don't agree with it, but knock yourself out." A Klarna spokesperson says in an email that "unlike most new MVNOS, we're not starting from scratch, nor are we jumping on the bandwagon" and that its mobile offering has been in the works for many months as part of a multiyear strategy. "We're not trying to 'win' mobile or become the biggest carrier — this isn't about scale for its own sake," the spokesperson says. "It's about solving a very real problem for the tens of millions of consumers who already trust Klarna to help manage their finances." SmartLess's McAlease says they "wish everyone well" who's trying to launch an MVNO right now, because competition is good for the industry, but "they're just kind of on that unlimited train, and that might work for them and for their audience." Initial marketing efforts have focused on the SmartLess guys, for obvious reasons — you've got three big celebrities and a giant podcast in the mix, so why not? But it will soon shift more to what actually differentiates it. "You're going to start seeing much more product- and price-focused things over the course of the next while," McAelase says. "It's always tricky for MVNOs to break through the noise, and we're fortunate to have a brand and principles that are happy to do that." Pescatore says that MVNOs have been more successful in other countries, such as the supermarket Tesco's mobile network in the UK. But it's challenging. "There are opportunities in a mature market like the US, given the price of existing services from mobile network providers. Ultimately, it needs to tightly integrate and complement the existing service and offer something truly novel to attract subscribers," he says. The track record of these projects working out may not deter brands and public figures from trying. Entner says he knows of multiple MVNOs that are in development. Apple has long faced speculation that it might launch an MVNO, though it always denies it. Apple did not respond to a request for comment. Will all these projects work out? It seems unlikely, but it could happen. Some of these packages are pretty cheap, and hey, if you like some actor enough to switch your cellphone plan for them, by all means.
Chicago Tribune
10-08-2025
- Chicago Tribune
US Rep. Mrvan makes pitch to maintain Winfiled's postal substation
U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, continues to seek answers regarding the U.S. Postmaster General's decision in late May to close the Winfield contract postal unit. Mrvan, in his most recent inquiry, sent a letter on July 30 to United States Postmaster General David Steiner regarding the termination of the contract postal unit located in Winfield set for closure on Sept. 30. 'The planned closure of the Winfield (CPU) could hinder my constituents' ability to access convenient, reliable, and efficient postal services. I urge Postmaster General Steiner to clarify the postal service's reasoning for the termination of the Winfield CPU contract, provide a public comment period to allow community members to express their concerns and reconsider this decision,' Mrvan said in his letter. Other local, county and state representatives have also continued to seek answers, including Winfield Town Council President Zack Beaver and Winfield Township Trustee Cody Reynolds. 'It's pretty straightforward to me. I'm thankful that Congressman Mrvan has heard the appeal from his constituents in Winfield and was willing to write that letter. I'm not overly optimistic that this will reverse the course on the closure but if successful, it will be a pleasant surprise for a number of Winfield residents,' Beaver said. Reynolds said he sent letters early on, in support of keeping the post office, as have other representatives, including Lake County Republican Chairman Randy Niemeyer; State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point; State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell; and Lake County Commissioner Jerry Tippy, R-3. Ideally, given that the Winfield area is one of the fastest growing in the state, Reynolds would like to see residents have their own post office and not just a contract postal unit. 'I'd like to see this (letter) be an initiation of a conversation so that the town of Winfield and Winfield Township can receive local postal services going forward. We need full services,' Reynolds said. Reynolds said he understands the idea of making things more efficient but this boils down to the allocation of resources. 'Why should a community of some 15,000 (the population of Winfield and LOFS) be forced to drive to the Leroy post office, of 200-400 people, and it's not even full service, since it's only open four hours a day during the weekdays,' Reynolds said. Notice of contract termination was emailed by a U.S. Postal Service official in late May to Amy Culver, the customer service agent for the post office, and George and Diane Smith, owners of the building, which shares space with U-Haul Rentals. Susan W. Wright, Strategic Communications Specialist for the U.S. Postal Corporate Communications, responded with the following email when asked the reason behind the termination: 'The Postal Service sometimes contracts with retailers to host Contract Postal Units, or CPUs, within a retail establishment, operated by the retailer's employee. CPUs can provide communities with expanded access to postal services, but they are not operated by the Postal Service. In all instances, CPU agreements may be terminated by either party upon 120 days' written notice.' 'In the case of the Winfield CPU at 8380 E. 109th Ave., Crown Point, the Postal Service determined the nearby postal facilities are able to fully serve the community and the CPU was no longer needed.' Wright could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday. Culver and the Smiths, at the time, said they were blindsided by the email notifying them of the 120-day termination since they thought all was well. 'This came out of nowhere,' Culver said. The U-Haul Rentals and the post office had a 'permanently closed' sign on the front door on Friday morning during a drive-by of the property. Diane Smith, when contacted at home, said the post office and U-Haul were both closed on Aug. 6 because Culver, who managed both businesses, had gotten another job. In addition, postal officials have removed all their equipment from the building, which will be used as offices for the Smiths and their daughter. 'It's really sad,' Smith said. Mrvan, in his latest letter to the postmaster general, asked for answers to several questions, including: — Why was the Winfield CPU specifically selected for termination? Is this an isolated incident, or is it part of a wider USPS effort to terminate CPU contracts? — Given the USPS stated goal to improve 'efficiency,' what is the projected economic impact of the Winfield CPU closure on USPS? — What are the current average wait times for customers at the Leroy and Boone Grove post offices, and how is the closure of the Winfield CPU expected to affect wait times? — Local elected officials in Winfield Township have expressed their concerns that USPS is also having discussions about closing the Leroy Post Office, which would significantly exacerbate the impact of the Winfield CPU closure. Can you provide assurances regarding the continued operation of the Leroy Post Office and other nearby post offices operating in Indiana's First Congressional District? — While there is no statutory requirement that USPS provide a public comment period before CPU closures, I believe it is critical to gather stakeholder input and conduct an impact assessment before proceeding with the decision. 'On behalf of my constituents, I urge you to provide detailed answers to the above questions, conduct a stakeholder-driven impact assessment of this decision, and reconsider the planned closure of the Winfield CPU. I look forward to your prompt response, and stand ready to work together to ensure continued access to efficient, reliable and convenient postal services for residents of Indiana's First Congressional District,' Mrvan said in his letter. The Winfield postal substation was opened in April 2021 and before that, was housed for many years inside the former Fagen Pharmacy, now CVS Pharmacy, 10809 Randolph St., before Fagen's closed in 2017. The town of Winfield and nearby unincorporated Lakes of the Four Seasons, which use a Crown Point ZIP code, have mail delivered through the Crown Point Post Office on Summit Street in Crown Point.
