Sen Ted Budd: A Life-Changing USSR Trip, Unlikely Friendships, & Listening

U.S. Senator Ted Budd talks about life before Washington, including his family roots in New Jersey and with the New York Knicks.  How a trip to the U.S.S.R. while at Appalachian State University changed his life and family forever and informs how he approaches public service today.

Sen. Budd also discusses life in the Senate, his unlikely across-the-aisle friendship with Sen. John Fetterman, and why he believes listening matters in politics.  The conversation offers a deeper look at the man who will be NC's senior senator in less than a year.  

Skye and Brian also break down #ncpol's first week of the New Year, including House oversight hearings, Governor Josh Stein’s latest endorsement, Republicans finding reasons to celebrate, and the passing of a former Speaker whose legacy shaped state politics today.

The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, the NC Realtors, and the NC Healthcare Association.