Politics Episodes

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Peter Pappas and Laura Mussler open the live show with two Cumberland County parents, Michelle Cazarez and Michel Santana, who pushed back when the district moved to end E.E. Miller Elementary's year-round calendar and Spanish immersion. They describe learning about the change from a February voicemail, why principals were left out of the loop, what a year-round calendar means for military families, and how pa...

Peter Pappas and Laura Mussler sit down with Judge Toni King, a Cumberland County District Court judge for 17 years, who is running unopposed this fall. A military kid whose father served 30 years, King first came to Fort Bragg in middle school and came home to Fayetteville after college and law school. Most of the conversation is about the human trafficking court she runs, with separate juvenile and adult dockets. She explains why Fayetteville's spot on I-95 makes trafficking a local problem, ...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Host Peter Pappas sits down with Quincei Lovejoy, a CPA, financial planning manager at Fayetteville PWC, and one of 16 candidates for three at-large seats on the Cumberland County Board of Education. Lovejoy explains why her own family's experience with the IEP process pushed her to file, and says a parent asking for an evaluation should get one in under 30 days. She and Peter get into school safety beyond lo...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Peter Pappas and Laura Mussler open the live show with two Cumberland County parents, Michelle Cazarez and Michel Santana, who pushed back when the district moved to end E.E. Miller Elementary's year-round calendar and Spanish immersion. They describe learning about the change from a February voicemail, why principals were left out of the loop, what a year-round calendar means for military families, and how pa...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Host Peter Pappas sits down with Dr. Kimberly Hardy, an associate professor of social work at Fayetteville State University and the Democratic nominee for Congress in North Carolina's 7th District. Hardy talks about her decade as a school social worker, beating a six-term incumbent in the 2020 NC House primary before losing to Diane Wheatley, and why she says a candidate's platform should be shaped by the peo...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Host Peter Pappas sits down with State Rep. Diane Wheatley, who has represented NC House District 43 since 2021. Wheatley talks about growing up in a military family — born at Fort Campbell, the daughter of an Army paratrooper — and the path that led her from the Cumberland County Board of Education to Raleigh. Peter presses her on bringing state tax dollars home, the 8% average teacher raise in the new state...

Welcome back to another edition of Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio! In this episode, host Peter Pappas sits down in the studio with Greg West, a longtime public servant and current candidate for Cumberland County Commission at Large. With 24 years of experience on the school board, Greg West shares insights from his decades in education, discusses the challenges and victories throughout his tenure—including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic—and explains how his b...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County’s smartest hour of talk radio. In this episode, Peter Pappas sits down with school board candidate Bryan Moore for an in-depth discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing local education. From the urgent need for greater transparency and communication in school board operations to a push for trade programs and hands-on career pathways for students, Bryan Moore brings fresh ideas shaped by his experience as both a parent with child...

Welcome to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Host Peter Pappas and co-host Laura Mussler are joined by Miles McKeller-Smith, Director of Public Relations for the Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County, and Tanner Port of the VFW Department of North Carolina. Miles previews the 48th annual International Folk Festival — opening on a Friday for the first time, with El Centro Hispano performances on Hay Street Friday night, the Parade of Nations Saturday...

Welcome back to Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. In this episode, host Peter Pappas and co-host Laura Mussler sit down with returning guest Commissioner Glenn Adams for an unflinching look at local leadership, big projects, and the future of the Cape Fear region. They dig into the challenges and controversies surrounding public projects like the Crown Event Center, school board responsibilities, economic development, and the promise (or pitfalls) of new infrastr...

Welcome to another lively edition of the Carolina Cabinet, recorded live and delivering Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Host Peter Pappas and co-host Laura Mussler are joined by Commissioner Glenn Adams for a wide-ranging discussion on the issues shaping Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, and beyond. The conversation kicks off with a Greek Festival recap before diving into Cumberland County's $161.5 million PFAS settlement with Chemours and what it means for local residents. The panel t...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet! In this episode, Peter Pappas sits down with Judge Toby Hampson, who is running for reelection to North Carolina’s Court of Appeals. Born in England and raised in Moore County, Toby Hampson shares his journey from public schools to Campbell Law, providing insights into his path to the appellate bench. The conversation navigates the ins and outs of the appellate court, highlighting how North Carolina’s judicial system works to ensure the law makes sense in th...

On this episode of Carolina Cabinet, host Peter Pappas and co-host Laura Mussler welcome special guest Lia Hasapis for an energetic and wide-ranging conversation spotlighting Fayetteville's 36th annual Greek Festival. Lia Hasapis gives us an inside look at organizing this beloved cultural event, sharing what to expect in food, music, and community when the festivities kick off this weekend. But the Cabinet crew doesn't stop there—frank reflections on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 set a serious t...

Episode Introduction Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, where we give a voice to the conservatives of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and beyond. In today’s special episode, Peter Pappas sits down with Doug Turpin, Charlotte parent, CEO of Coalition for Liberty, and the driving force behind a high-profile lawsuit against Charlotte Latin School. After noticing significant curriculum shifts and alleged retaliation for raising concerns, Doug Turpin and his family became the face of a battle o...

Episode Introduction The conversation focused on the vital but frequently underestimated work of the Cumberland County Soil and Water Board, featuring candidate Jeremy Stanley in discussion with host Peter Pappas. One concept discussed was how this low-profile, down-ballot office has a significant impact on everyday issues, from helping local farmers remain viable through grants, to addressing flooding and expanding access to safe public water. A key theme that emerged was the pressing need for...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet! In this episode, the conversation focused on the journey and campaign of Maad Abu Ghazala, a Libertarian candidate running for Congress in North Carolina's 7th district. The discussion explored Abu Ghazala’s unique upbringing in Saudi Arabia and the West Bank, his immigration to America at age 17, and the cultural perspectives that shaped his political views. A key theme that emerged was the role of government overreach, civil liberties, and anti-establishme...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet! Host Peter Pappas and co-host Laura Mussler sit down with Paul Taylor, candidate for North Carolina Senate District 21. In this episode, Paul Taylor shares his journey from military service and government work to his campaign for public office. The conversation dives into issues like education funding, economic development, the impact of minimum wage increases, PFAS water contamination, and the responsibilities of government in supporting communities. Paul T...

Welcome back to another edition of The Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County’s smartest hour of talk radio, hosted by Peter Pappas alongside the ever-engaging Laura Mussler and joined tonight by guest Paul Taylor. In this live episode, your hosts dive into the Fayetteville Police Department’s newly released crime report, scrutinize the implications of rising local utility rates and downtown parking fees, and dissect the latest developments and controversies swirling around the Board of Elections. ...

🎙️ NEW EPISODE: The Carolina Cabinet with Caitlin Marsh 🎙️ This week on The Carolina Cabinet, Peter Pappas welcomes back Caitlin Marsh for an unfiltered conversation about local politics, real-world advocacy, and the future of Johnston County. 🔍 From her headline-making primary run—where she took on the establishment as a single mom—to her current race for Soil and Water Supervisor, Caitlin Marsh reveals what it takes to create change in your own backyard. Hear her honest lessons on breaking b...

Welcome back to another edition of the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. I'm your host, Peter Pappas, joined in studio by the always insightful Laura Mussler. In this live segment, we're diving into the biggest headlines and controversies shaping our region—from the long-overdue connection of clean water to local schools in Gray's Creek, to Spring Lake's split votes and ongoing struggles with local governance. We'll also break down the kerfuffle surrounding Mayo...

Welcome to another lively episode of the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County’s smartest hour of talk radio! This week, Peter Pappas and Laura Mussler welcome back Janene Ackles, candidate for House District 43, for her second appearance on the show. The conversation kicks off with lighthearted banter about home-cooked meals and local favorites, then pivots to tackle pressing issues facing the region. Janene Ackles draws on her experience as a grant writer and community advocate to offer insights...

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County’s smartest hour of talk radio! In this episode, Peter Pappas and co-host Laura Mussler sit down with Tom Hatch, a veteran educator with 32 years of experience in Cumberland County Schools—and now a candidate for an at-large seat on the school board. Together, they dig into the pressing challenges facing local education: declining public school enrollment, the unique struggles of middle schoolers, and the evolving landscape of choice program...

Welcome to another lively edition of the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio, where we dive headfirst into the pressing issues shaping our region. This week, hosts Peter Pappas and Laura Mussler are joined by guest Broxy Pone for a spirited discussion about local politics, community activism, and the controversies swirling around Fayetteville's proposed data centers. You'll hear first-hand accounts from city council meetings marked by tension, passionate public com...

Welcome back to another edition of The Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County’s smartest hour of talk radio. In this episode, Peter Pappas and Laura Mussler sit down with Broxie Pone, a longtime educator, pastor, and real estate professional who’s now running for the Cumberland County Board of Education at-large seat. With over 30 years in the classroom and a commitment to putting students first, Broxie Pone shares her journey from teacher to school board candidate, her philosophy on respect and st...