For the second time in two weeks Kai Ryon joined hundreds of Buncombe County Democrats at a town-hall gathering to protest the Trump administration’s blitzkrieg attacks on federal programs.
Last week, Ryon was among the overflow crowd of protesters who jammed and surrounded the Ferguson Auditorium on Asheville’s A-B Tech campus to rain fury on Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards, who hosted the town hall despite warnings from GOP leaders that such meetings could turn ugly.
It did exactly that, prompting the congressman to leave amid tight security as some in the crowd — the 32-year-old Ryon among them — shouted “save our democracy” and a chorus of f-bombs in his wake.
Ryon was back in the same auditorium Thursday night, this time in a much smaller and more restrained audience of Buncombe Democrats. There were no throngs of counter-protesters, no angry placards or banners, and mostly respectful silence as Democratic speakers detailed their efforts to mitigate the massive cuts in federal programs and staff through the state’s budget.
Although these legislative actions may be worthy, Ryon said, they aren’t enough.
“I know I am not alone when I say that I’m frustrated, angry, shocked about what’s happening right now,” the lanky construction worker said when he was called on to speak from his seat near the back of the packed auditorium.
Kai Ryon, who lives in Candler, spoke at the Buncombe County Democratic Party’s Town Hall March 20 at A-B Tech in Asheville. Ryon, a construction worker, galvanized the crowd with a call for the party to “show some teeth” in opposing what he called the Trump administration’s illegal cuts to federal programs. // Watchdog photo by Katie Shaw
“I’m trying to figure out a way to leverage my privilege to help those that are less privileged,” Ryon said. “I am through with civil-engagement protest and, frankly, I’m looking to see the Democratic Party show some teeth.”
The audience erupted in cheers and applause, quieting only when Ryon continued to detail recent reprisals by the Trump administration on its policy critics.
“My question to you guys,” he said, addressing the panel of state legislators, “is: How concerned are you moving forward as things get worse, and, what can we do in the meantime?”
The legislators — state Reps. Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner and Eric Ager, and state Sen. Julie Mayfield — each explained a variety of bills working their way through the Republican-controlled state General Assembly, and the work of the party’s legislative delegation in countering the federal cuts.
“Show some teeth”
But it was Ryon’s demand for the Democrats to “show some teeth” that appeared to encapsulate the audience’s mood and trigger the loudest responses.
Ager replied directly to Ryon’s appeal, though with a modest recommendation. “We are all in a place where we are really wondering how and what we can do,” he said. “This is a great start. Showing up at these things shows you pay attention and want to make a difference.”
Ager and his colleagues urged the audience to channel their anger into community networking by joining clubs, attending school board meetings, befriending “people who don’t hold the same political views,” or doing public-service volunteer work for nonprofits and other agencies experiencing or facing budget and staffing cuts under the Trump administration.
Ager, a farmer and U.S. Navy veteran who represents District 114 south and east of Asheville, also said that mass protests and individual outreach might persuade even incumbent Republicans to find “the courage to stand up” against the Trump administration and exercise the constitutional role of oversight and budgeting.
Mayfield, an attorney who represents District 49 in the state Senate, urged Democrats to be willing to work with Edwards and the state’s Republican U.S. senators, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, who have been instrumental in steering federal money into the region to assist in the recovery from Tropical Storm Helene.
State Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Duncombe, in white blouse, center) watches March 19 as North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signs the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1, which includes $524 million in total aid for western North Carolina following Tropical Storm Helene. Mayfield spoke March 20 at the Buncombe County Democratic Party’s Town Hall. // Photo courtesy Governor’s Press Office
A self-described “practical progressive,” Mayfield said that while many residents may be angry with the Republican administration, if they phone these three GOP lawmakers, they would do well by starting the conversation by expressing gratitude for their efforts in sending federal dollars to the region.
“Then you can go ahead and fuss at them,” she said.
Prather also emphasized the value of direct involvement in countering the GOP’s policies. “Your Facebook screams and posting comments under [news media] articles doesn’t count,” she said. Among the actions people can take is to push back against bias and false information, to be willing to confront someone by saying, “that’s actually not true.”
“We all have to believe that truth still matters,” Prather, a former teacher who represents District 115 north and west of Asheville, continued. “If we don’t believe that, we’re absolutely lost.”
Change of mood
The Buncombe Democratic gathering was part of the party’s effort to build interest in advance of a protest rally planned for Pack Square in downtown Asheville on Sunday.
The mood at Thursday’s town hall suggested that local Democrats are shifting their posture from one of stunned shock to calls for action. Ager told The Watchdog in an interview that he sensed this change in mood.
“The Trump administration’s strategy has been to overwhelm their critics by throwing everything at them at once,” Ager said. “The Democratic Party has been pushed onto its back foot by these things. But I see that we’re getting off that back foot now and moving forward; we’re seeing things starting to change.”
One woman in the audience, identified only by her zip code, said she previously worked in programs supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) combating the spread of COVID-19.
“It was shocking to have an agency ended in 10 days, its website taken down and 13,100 projects cut with lighting speed,” she said. “The courts can’t even stay or keep up.”
Even if federal courts eventually rule against the Trump administration’s cuts, “the damage is done and the nonprofits doing the good, local work in the field for the poorest people, they’re gone.”
The woman placed the blame for this on billionaire Trump backer Elon Musk, who contributed $288 million to the president’s campaign and is orchestrating the federal cuts as the nominal leader of the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
She asked the legislative panel if anything can be done to stop or reverse Musk’s activities. “This is the dismantling of the federal government,” she said.
Mayfield, the sole lawyer on the panel, offered a blunt reply: “Almost everything he is doing is illegal, is unconstitutional, and there will be consequences for that.”
“We’re going to go through a messy, horrible time,” Mayfield said. “And then judges, I hope, will start throwing some people in jail.”
State Rep. Eric Ager (D-Buncombe, center) chats with constituents at a March 20 Democratic Party town hall called to discuss Tropical Storm Helene recovery efforts and efforts to mitigate GOP-ordered budget and staff cuts to federal agencies. // Watchdog photo by Katie Shaw
In an interview after the program, Ryon had a more measured response. “The Democratic Party is at a crossroads,” he said, adding that this was his reason for attending the meeting and speaking up.
“Maybe it’s naive, but I would like to think that my being here maybe helps steer it in the right direction,” Ryon said.
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Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Tom Fiedler is a Pulitzer Prize-winning political reporter and dean emeritus from Boston University who lives in Asheville. Email him at tfiedler@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
www.thecentersquare.com – By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 21:25:00
(The Center Square) – Authorization of sports agents to sign North Carolina’s collegiate athletes for “name, image, and likeness” contracts used in product endorsements is in legislation approved Wednesday by a committee of the state Senate.
Authorize NIL Agency Contracts, known also as Senate Bill 229, is headed to the Rules Committee after gaining favor in the Judiciary Committee. It would likely next get a full floor vote.
Last year the NCAA approved NIL contracts for players.
Sen. Amy S. Galey, R-Alamance
NCLeg.gov
“Athletes can benefit from NIL by endorsing products, signing sponsorship deals, engaging in commercial opportunities and monetizing their social media presence, among other avenues,” the NCAA says on its website. “The NCAA fully supports these opportunities for student-athletes across all three divisions.”
SB229 spells out the information that the agent’s contract with the athlete must include, and requires a warning to the athlete that they could lose their eligibility if they do not notify the school’s athletic director within 72 hours of signing the contract.
“Consult with your institution of higher education prior to entering into any NIL contract,” the says the warning that would be required by the legislation. “Entering into an NIL contract that conflicts with state law or your institution’s policies may have negative consequences such as loss of athletic eligibility. You may cancel this NIL agency contract with 14 days after signing it.”
The legislation also exempts the NIL contracts from being disclosed under the state’s Open Records Act when public universities review them. The state’s two ACC members from the UNC System, Carolina and N.C. State, requested the exemption.
“They are concerned about disclosure of the student-athlete contracts when private universities don’t have to disclose the student-athlete contracts,” Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, told the committee. “I feel very strongly that a state university should not be put at a disadvantage at recruitment or in program management because they have disclosure requirements through state law.”
Duke and Wake Forest are the other ACC members, each a private institution.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the legislative development regarding NIL (name, image, and likeness) contracts for collegiate athletes in North Carolina. It presents facts about the bill, committee actions, and includes statements from a state senator without using loaded or emotionally charged language. The piece neutrally covers the issue by explaining both the bill’s purpose and the concerns it addresses, such as eligibility warnings and disclosure exemptions. Overall, the article maintains a factual and informative tone without advocating for or against the legislation, reflecting a centrist, unbiased approach.
SUMMARY: Donald van der Vaart, a former North Carolina environmental secretary and climate skeptic, has been appointed to the North Carolina Utilities Commission by Republican Treasurer Brad Briner. Van der Vaart, who previously supported offshore drilling and fracking, would oversee the state’s transition to renewable energy while regulating utility services. His appointment, which requires approval from the state House and Senate, has drawn opposition from environmental groups. Critics argue that his views contradict clean energy progress. The appointment follows a controversial bill passed by the legislature, granting the treasurer appointment power to the commission.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 14:47:00
(The Center Square) – Called “crypto-friendly legislation” by the leader of the chamber, a proposal on digital assets on Wednesday afternoon passed the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Passage was 71-44 mostly along party lines.
The NC Digital Assets Investments Act, known also as House Bill 92, has investment requirements, caps and management, and clear definitions and standards aimed at making sure only qualified digital assets are included. House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said the state would potentially join more than a dozen others with “crypto-friendly legislation.”
With him in sponsorship are Reps. Stephen Ross, R-Alamance, Mark Brody, R-Union, and Mike Schietzelt, R-Wake.
Nationally last year, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act – known as FIT21 – passed through the U.S. House in May and in September was parked in the Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
Dan Spuller, cochairman of the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative, said the state has proven a leader on digital asset policy. That includes the Money Transmitters Act of 2016, the North Carolina Regulatory Sandbox Act of 2021, and last year’s No Centrl Bank Digital Currency Pmts to State. The latter was strongly opposed by Gov. Roy Cooper, so much so that passage votes of 109-4 in the House and 39-5 in the Senate slipped back to override votes, respectively, of 73-41 and 27-17.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article presents a factual report on the passage of the NC Digital Assets Investments Act, highlighting the legislative process, party-line votes, and related legislative measures. It does not adopt a clear ideological stance or frame the legislation in a way that suggests bias. Instead, it provides neutral information on the bill, its sponsors, and relevant background on state legislative activity in digital asset policy. The tone and language remain objective, focusing on legislative facts rather than promoting a particular viewpoint.
