As you read this, I’ll hopefully be taking in some sun along the coast (because Labor Day weekend travel is vastly overrated).
Here’s what you need to know on this fine Friday.
— Bryan Anderson
🧑⚖️ Roll Call
- As the anniversary of Helene approaches, N.C. leaders ask for more money
- Josh Stein responds to UNC-CH’s blowout loss, and campaign updates
- Kash Patel’s Krispy Kreme problem
- Around the State: Ketanji Brown Jackson visits Fayetteville
Helene Holdup
It’s been nearly a year since Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, and the region continues to grapple with a slow recovery.
Some N.C. Democrats and Republicans blame federal red tape for what they see as a sluggish response to a disaster that caused an estimated $60 billion in damage.
“When you have a disaster of this scale, you need the federal government to step up,” Gov. Josh Stein said this week. “Frankly, that has been the biggest thing that’s lacking.”
First, a brief explanation of how a large share of federal disaster funding works (with help from The Assembly’s Ren Larson). The federal Disaster Relief Fund supports disaster recovery nationwide, and its balance is dwindling. Two months ago, the DRF had $19 billion that had not been obligated; since then eight major disasters were declared, such as the July floods in Central Texas, all of which will compete for remaining funds unless Congress appropriates more.
The programs FEMA administers include payments to individuals, as well as grants to municipalities and reimbursements for work already undertaken by local governments. Stein’s recent complaints have been about the latter categories.
In July and August, Stein pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to sign off on releasing FEMA-approved funds for local debris removal and other recovery projects. (A policy shift under the Trump administration requires Noem to give final approval for the release of funds in excess of $100,000.) In late August, FEMA said it was releasing some of that money.
“There were a period of weeks, maybe even months, where we were not getting reimbursed by FEMA for expenditures that local governments made to do disaster cleanup… I will note and appreciate that in the last two weeks, the state’s received over $150 million of that reimbursement,” Stein said this week, adding that there’s an additional $50 million in pending requests.
Separately, Stein wants FEMA to release $90 million for local governments for resiliency projects, such as voluntary housing buyouts and land stabilization, that would be funded in advance.
Noem’s office in a statement to The Caucus emphasized both the public and individual assistance that has been extended to North Carolinians. FEMA records show that as of September 1, North Carolina residents impacted by Helene received $508 million in direct payments to more than 160,500 households.
“The Trump administration is committed to ensuring Americans affected by emergencies will get the help they need in a quick and efficient manner,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, FEMA has prioritized supporting recovery efforts in North Carolina and delivering resources to those impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
Some local leaders say they’d like Congress to send more money straight to the state.
Rep. Jake Johnson, a Polk County Republican, said he wants Congress and the Trump administration to provide block grants for the General Assembly to appropriate and oversee.
“Sitting around waiting on FEMA has been extremely frustrating, and a lot of times it had nothing to do with what was going on at the state level,” Johnson said. “It’s just the federal bureaucracy. … When we are just sitting around waiting on those federal funds to come down, there’s so much of it we can’t control.”
Stein said he has asked for an additional $11.5 billion from Congress and will work to secure more aid.
“My concern isn’t so much whether the agencies are doing a good job getting out the money that Congress appropriated last December,” Stein said. “We’ve been working well with them in that regard. My concern is whether this Congress and this administration is going to do a supplemental disaster appropriation because that’s where we need real money.”
He also plans to release a proposal for state lawmakers for a third Helene recovery package this year: “We’ve worked well on the first two. What they funded has been positive. In my view, it just hasn’t been enough.”
— Bryan Anderson
Thanks for reading The Caucus, a politics newsletter anchored by Bryan Anderson. Reach us with tips or ideas at politics@theassemblync.com.
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Another Disaster
On Tuesday, I also asked Stein about another big mess: Bill Belichick’s college coaching debut, in which UNC-Chapel Hill suffered a 34-point loss to Texas Christian University.
The governor smirked, bowed his head, and paused. I then graciously allowed the die-hard sports fan who grew up in Chapel Hill to dodge the question. “Thank you for the reprieve,” he replied.
Out of the Basement
After nearly 15 years at the TV station, today is the last day Laura Leslie will be on air as WRAL’s Capitol bureau chief, The News & Observer reports. It comes as the latest in a string of prominent anchor and reporter departures over the past year. Her presence will be greatly missed around the Capitol Press Corps room in the basement.
Laura, best of luck with the next endeavor!
On the Trail:
State Sen. Chris Measmer of Cabarrus County, who was tapped to fill the seat of former Sen. Paul Newton, will run in 2026 for a full two-year term.
State Sen. Bobby Hanig of Currituck County said he would seek the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis in what is currently the state’s only swing congressional district, The AP reports.
Republican Supreme Court Justice Trey Allen updated his campaign organization so that he can accept funds for a 2030 reelection bid.
Republican Court of Appeals Judge John Tyson filed paperwork for a 2030 state Supreme Court run.
— Bryan Anderson
Kash’s Krispy Kreme Problem
FBI Director Kash Patel has a lot on his plate.
Including donuts, our NOTUS partners report.
Patel recently purchased up to $50,000 worth of Krispy Kreme stock, according to a personal stock transaction document he filed with the Office of Government Ethics.
In a disclosure to the ethics office, Patel said that “no current conflict exists” between his Krispy Kreme investment and his work leading the nation’s preeminent federal law enforcement agency.
But Patel became a Krispy Kreme stockholder in May, immediately before the North Carolina-based company found itself the target of shareholder lawsuits related to a 2024 data breach that exposed the personal data of more than 160,000 people. Krispy Kreme did not respond to a request for comment.
— Dave Levinthal
Around the State: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson focuses on family during Fayetteville visit (CityView). N.C. town removes Confederate statue at center of long-running protest (Washington Post). Local school leaders are frustrated by federal funding whiplash (Border Belt Independent). Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn plots return to Congress (Axios). Pitt County Residents Rally Around a Native Son (The Assembly).
Let us know what’s on your radar at politics@theassemblync.com.
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