In Episode 3 of The Political Pulse, hosts John Thompson and Hannah Rice recap the opening days of North Carolina’s legislative session and the healthcare issues already driving 2026 priorities.

Short Session Starts and Stakes Are Set

John Thompson and Hannah Rice open the legislative session recap by framing 2025 as a major year for North Carolina healthcare policy and warning that 2026 is shaping up to be just as consequential.

Medicaid Takes Center Stage

They highlight bipartisan movement to address a $319 million Medicaid funding gap and describe broad agreement among legislators that Medicaid is too expensive even as access-to-care problems persist.

What’s Next

They preview upcoming budget fights, continued negotiation of the CARE First Act, and ongoing monitoring of scope of practice, while urging members to share stories and cost-saving ideas.

That’s what Episode 2 of The Political Pulse is all about.

Host John Thompson is back with co-hosts Ashley Rodriguez, Jenni Hines, and Hannah Rice for an episode that blends Elections 101 with a deep dive into North Carolina’s primary results. Because if you want to understand what just happened at the ballot box, you first have to understand how the system works.

Start With the Fundamentals

Before the analysis, the team lays the groundwork. How do primaries actually function in North Carolina? How do candidates secure their party’s nomination? And how does voter turnout shape outcomes in ways that ripple far beyond Election Day? If you’ve ever felt like political coverage assumes you already know the rules, this episode is for you.

Then the Real World Results

Once the foundation is set, the hosts get into what voters actually decided. Who won? Who surprised? Where did voter energy show up and where did it fall flat? The team breaks down the results with an eye toward what they signal for the general election and the upcoming short session in Raleigh.

For health care providers and advocates, these results matter. The candidates moving forward will be the ones making decisions about payer policy, Medicaid, scope of practice, and a host of other issues that shape the environment you work in every day. Understanding who they are and how they got there is the first step to staying ahead of what comes next.

Why It Matters for Healthcare

Elections are the mechanism through which policy gets made. The primaries just told us a great deal about where North Carolina’s political energy is heading. The Political Pulse exists to connect those dots between the ballot box and the exam room, between the campaign trail and the committee room.

This episode does exactly that.

Health care doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Every decision made in a legislative chamber, every shift in payer policy, every budget negotiation in Raleigh has a ripple effect. These actions eventually reaches your exam room, your staff, and your patients.

That’s exactly why we built The Political Pulse.

This is the North Carolina Medical Society’s newest resource for cutting through the noise and getting to what matters with clear, informed analysis of the policy conversations shaping health care in our state. Whether you’re a physician trying to understand how the latest legislative session affects your practice, or a health care advocate tracking the evolution of payer policy, this podcast was made with you in mind.

Meet the Team

At the helm is John Thompson, who brings the experience, perspective, and sharp instincts needed to navigate North Carolina’s complex policy landscape. John is joined by co-hosts Ashley Rodriguez, Hannah Rice, and Jenni Hines who collectively bring depth, diverse viewpoints, and a genuine commitment to keeping North Carolina’s health care community informed.

Together, they’re not just reporting on policy. They’re helping you understand it.

Why Now

North Carolina’s health care landscape is in the middle of a significant moment. Legislative priorities are shifting. The decisions being made today will shape the environment providers work in and the care patients receive for years to come. The Political Pulse launches at exactly the right time, and we don’t intend to miss a beat.

We’re glad you’re here for it.