Under the Dome: Budd, Tillis call for increased protection for Trump
Good morning! ☀️ Are you searching for a new book to read? “Beyond the Big Lie” by Pulitzer Prize winner and Duke University journalism professor Bill Adair caught our attention as he tackles the political topics listed in his subtitle: “The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How it Could Burn Down our Democracy.”
Adair is the creator of PolitiFact and co-founder of the International Fact-Checking Network.
Here’s a look at what you need to know about North Carolina politics today, from correspondent Stephanie Loder and our politics team.
Increased Secret Service protection
North Carolina’s senators are both calling for increased security protection for former President Donald Trump after a Greensboro man is in custody following what investigators say was an assassination attempt.
“His security must be increased to the highest level of presidential protection,” said Sen. Ted Budd, a Republican from North Carolina.
Budd was speaking with a group of Republicans at a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol.
On Sunday, Trump was playing golf at his course in West Palm Beach when his advance team noticed the barrel of a gun pointing through a fence. Law enforcement fired and the would-be shooter ran from the scene.
But a witness took photos of the man’s license plate and vehicle, leading to charges against 58-year-old Ryan Routh. This is the second time in nine weeks someone tried to kill the former president, after a bullet fired by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks grazed Trump in the ear.
“All leaders receive threats, but President Trump has now been the target of two assassination attempts,” Budd said. “Now, we’ve been briefed about real threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies targeting President Trump; leftist activists are out there who have a history of targeted political violence; over-the-top rhetoric from Democrats.”
Budd called on Democrats to stop with “reckless” and “unhealthy” rhetoric that he said has raised the national temperature to a dangerous level.
“... Right now in this election, President Trump needs more security, and he needs it now,” Budd said.
Budd’s colleague, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, the senior senator from North Carolina, announced Monday he plans to introduce a bill to ensure that happens.
“I will be introducing legislation to ensure both presidential nominees receive the same level of Secret Service protection as a sitting U.S. President,” Tillis wrote on X. “Congress can and must provide the resources to ensure the safety of President Trump, Vice President Harris, and all future nominees.”
In August, President Joe Biden requested Congress increase Secret Service spending. Secret Service officials have made similar requests due to increased demands.
Congress has until the end of the month to fund the government, risk a government shutdown or pass a continuing resolution that keeps funding levels where they are. House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to put a continuing resolution bill forward Wednesday that is expected to fail.
— Danielle Battaglia
MARK ROBINSON SAYS LITTLE ABOUT ABORTION
The Charlotte Observer’s Mary Ramsey attended North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s address Tuesday of Charlotte-area business and civic leaders at an event hosted by the Hood Hargett Breakfast Club. Here are some takeaways:
Questioned about his position on abortion, Robinson said, his “opinion on that right now matters very little.”
He considers North Carolina’s abortion law settled because there is “consensus” around the current law’s 12-week ban with exceptions for rape and incest.
Asked Tuesday to explain his 2019 Facebook livestream comment that abortion “is about killing the child because you weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down” he said clips used by Democratic nominee Josh Stein edited him out of context.
FORUM ADDRESSES HIGH COSTS OF WEGOVY, SAXENDA
The State Health Plan voted in January to stop covering weight loss medications for thousands of state employees in 2024, but the battle over the high costs aren’t over, reports Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi.
Republican North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell on Tuesday questioned the expense of the drugs at a forum held by progressive U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Americans pay $969 a month for Ozempic, Sanders said.
The same drug costs $59 in Germany, $71 in France, $122 in Denmark and $155 in Canada, he said.
ELECTION 2024
Here’s what our colleagues at other media outlets are reporting:
NC Newsline reported on Tuesday afternoon that Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for North Carolina governor, is pushing for a debate with his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Josh Stein. So far, no debate has been scheduled.
North Carolina is one of a handful of swing states – including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – where Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump still need to win over voters, the BBC reported Tuesday.
Fayetteville State University hit record-breaking enrollment rates for the third consecutive year, with 12% growth since 2018, the Fayetteville Observer reports.
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