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Transcript
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SPEAKER 1
Hi, I'm Thomas Mills. Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Politics NC Podcast. Words from Thomas Mills. If you've been reading my blog, you know that I have little regard for North Carolina Senator Tom Tillis. He's a person who got into politics for all the right reasons and stayed for all the wrong ones. Most recently,
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he went to the floor of the Senate to rail about Vladimir Putin, blaming him for the war in Ukraine and calling him the greatest threat to democracy in his lifetime. He got big headlines in local news and kudos even from liberal observers. But if you listen to the speech, Tillis never criticized Donald Trump. In fact,
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he praised him, saying he has good instincts about foreign policy and that he agrees with almost everything Trump has done. The only thing I know for sure is Tom Tillis is never going to vote for Vladimir Putin again. But Tillis got everything he wanted.

Inaugural Podcast and Tillis interview

Welcome to the PoliticsNC podcast, Words with Thomas Mills
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Discussion about this video

User's avatar
Frank McGuirt's avatar

Well said. I wish Tillis would answer your questions but he won’t. I emailed him yesterday telling him I know he fears Trump and being “primaried” by him & his money. I asked him similar questions. I know I’ll get only a canned response authored by a junior staffer but we must keep writing and emailing him. Keep calling him out!

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Marc Ohara's avatar

Fantastic! Finally, the true voice of Thomas Mills.

Hopefully, this new medium will lead to a broader audience. Spread the word, Thomas. Very good luck to you!

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Donna Somers's avatar

Excellent points! I'm sharing to my other social media.

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Mark Rodin's avatar

Completely agree.

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Eric Smith's avatar

Thanks for starting a podcast, Thomas. It is great to hear your spoken voice and to get to know you beyond your excellent political analysis. Thom Tillis does indeed know what is right; he also knows what is wrong and does it anyway. Tillis is even more infuriating that Susan Collins who does not seem to know anything about anything. I will give Tillis credit sticking his neck out on Putin and Ukraine. He has been more forthright on this than almost every other Republican senator besides Roger Wicker. It will be very hard for Tillis to back away from what he has said, although given his past behavior, he will probably try to. Perhaps Tillis and Wicker can get Lindsey Graham to stand up to Trump on Ukraine and NATO. I wonder if they are in communication with Marco Rubio (aka, Little Marco). Sarah Longwell said on The Bulwark, that Rubio looks like a man who has lost his soul. Rubio knows what is right and it ain't being Trump's bagman. Sigh.

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Doug's avatar

As mentioned before, the movie "Red Oct" highlights the pragmatic and often morally ambiguous nature of politics. The secretary of state says, "I'm a politician, which means I'm a cheat and a liar, and when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops." This reflects that political decisions are sometimes driven by personal career interests rather than the country's best interest. Tom Tillis exemplifies this by doing whatever it takes to stay employed, even if it means compromising his principles. North Carolina, remember there are more capable individuals who can do his job better.

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Gina's avatar

Demand Tillis and Budd hold town halls.

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Gina's avatar

Tillis is a spineless rubber stamper.

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Nicole Amundsen's avatar

Bravo Thomas!!!

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Leif Diamant's avatar

Thank you, Thomas, for your contribution in helping preserve/fight for democracy, truth, and courage.

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Cindy Lodestro's avatar

Precisely

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Phillip D Bailey's avatar

Brilliant! Tillis talks big, but he is basically spineless.

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tom's avatar

Excited about this podcast.

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Charles's avatar

Glad to see you on the interwebs. A few techical comments, use a external cameral or deviece that you can point dricecly at your face, and don't lean forward.

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Omega Generation's avatar

Perhaps I’m naive, but I’m so disappointed in Tillis, who I used to consider reasonable and mildly assertive.

Suporting RFK and saying nothing about these cuts is the last straw. North Carolina is standout economic success in the South because of our scientific expertise. Thom has vanished when his constituents needed him most. 🧬

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Sandra Tuttle's avatar

Speaks with forked tongue like most politicians.

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LuEllen  Huntley's avatar

Yay on this inaugural podcast dispatch. Quite by chance I happened onto tillis’s speechifying performance this week. I do not like it when someone ratchets up his/her NC dialect. tillis sounds so affected. tillis cannot pull off his try-to-be good ole boy act. So that’s one point. But damn I will say this out straight, when Mills speaks his most authentic lower Piedmont NC dialect, there is nothing but the real. And we are fortunate for Mills’ perseverance and uncanny tenacity to contextualize these times with sustained analyses. Because there’s a lot of writing and podcasting going on that do/does not get to the marrow or come across indicating the creator is up to the task of meaningfulness. Not so with PoliticsNC.

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Christine B in NC's avatar

Thank you for doing this. I have already forwarded this perfect distillation of Tillis' slimy speechifying to several friends. Don't fall for his lies, people.

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Annie's avatar

I too called Tillis to thank him for telling the truth about Putin. But I also Said that he needs to say that to the president’s face. I also blasted him for voting for the cabinet members you mentioned and how dangerous they all are for the safety of this country. Thank YOU for this video. I look forward to more .

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Jane Harwell's avatar

Thank you, Thomas. Your clarity and conviction in these horrible days are invaluable. You continue to teach and advocate and tell the truth. Thank you for strengthening all of us as we resist this dangerous administration.

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Sandra Tuttle's avatar

Thanks for the podcast Thomas, your words are truth.

My opinion, Thom Tillis is a liar and a coward. We had around 250 folks on Presidents Day protesting outside his GSO office.

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Annie's avatar

Indivisible Charlotte held a rally outside his Charlotte office two weeks ago. We need to start having rallies and protests weekly

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he praised him, saying he has good instincts about foreign policy and that he agrees with almost everything Trump has done. The only thing I know for sure is Tom Tillis is never going to vote for Vladimir Putin again. But Tillis got everything he wanted.