THE CASH COMMENTARY FOR THURSDAY, NOV. 5TH, 2026

                                                         CASH MICHAELS
                   

                 DON'T CRY, REPUBLICANS. I HAVE AWARDS FOR YOU!

                                                by Cash Michaels

Republicans, your collective, arrogant behavior during the 2026 midterm elections was so bad, so disgusting, you deserve my custom-made 2026 Midterm Election Losers Awards - the only political awards in the world dedicated to recognizing the worst politicians, if not worst human beings, on the planet. 

Our very first “worst” honor is the “You Wasted Our Damn Time with Nasty and Worthless TV Campaign Ads” award. Needless to say, most of the award winners for nastiest campaign commercials are any and every Republican who ran for office who actually thought using spineless scare tactics with blatant transphobic rhetoric, racism, and out and out lies about your Democratic opponent, instead of telling voters what your plan is to get Americans back on their economic feet, was going to work.

You clowns thought more voters would be concerned with fighting your stupid culture wars instead of caring about feeding their families and struggling to afford the high cost of living you created. Well, YOU were dead wrong!

So big Republican losers like you, Michael Whatley, you Ken Paxton, and you, Mike Rogers, not to mention tons of other Republicans across North Carolina and nation, make room in your home for this distinguished honor, because history will show that during the 2026 midterm election season, all of you outdid yourselves with the worst gutter politics imaginable.

You should be proud…NOT!

The next honor for you crafty Republicans is the heralded “Thought You Were Too Slick By Half” award. This goes to what is now the outgoing Republican majority of the NC House which, along with the Republican-led NC Senate, redrew the once predominately Black First Congressional District into a predominately White Republican voting district, thinking doing so would be political manna from Heaven. Boy did Democratic incumbent Congressman Don Davis prove you clowns wrong, beating your lame GOP candidate Laurie Buckout for a second time in a row… this time in a Republican district, no less! Talk about shame of shames (tee-hee)!

Next, the singular winner of the “I Can Buy as Many Republicans as I Want” award goes to none other than the touted richest man in the world, Tesla and Space X industrialist Elon Musk, who reportedly dropped an insane $200 million+ into crazy Ken Paxton’s failed Texas Senate campaign alone. And that was just some of the multi-millions Musk has pumped into GOP campaiges, hoping to keep Republicans in control of Congress. 

What a waste!

Another negative, but well-deserved recognition to give worthy Republicans is the “Who You Callin’ Crazy ?” award. Since the GOP was painfully devoid of any positive recommendations to offer the American people for solving the affordability crisis (primarily because along with Trump, you allowed it to happen), you began referring to Democrats as “crazed lunatics and radicals,” and “communists and extremists” who would “destroy America.”

Didn’t work, Einsteins!

Apparently the era of just having strong public policy disagreements and debates is long over for Republicans. Violent, senseless language and juvenile political labels seem to be the coin of the realm for you guys. The vile, racist, islamophobic taunts thrown at Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, for example, were extremely disturbing and disgusting, and should never have a place in American politics.

Period!

Then there’s the special “Just Whose Side Are You On?” award, and surprise, this one is given to a now former Democrat, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, the whack job sore loser who most distinguished herself recently as another petty, two-faced and despicable political turncoat, second only to North Carolina representatives Tricia Cotham (who was finally ousted election night) Carla Cunningham, Nasif Majeed and Shelly Gillingham. Stevens’ bizarre post Halloween /pre-Election Day betrayal of former Democratic colleague Dr. Abdul El-Sayed by suddenly endorsing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, despite all of Rogers’ history with Donald Trump, and racist campaign ads against Sayed, was jaw dropping. This crackpot should never, and I mean NEVER, hold political office again. I trust the good people of Michigan will make sure that happens!

Before we go  on any further, I bet you’re wondering if we have any “good behavior” recognitions for Republicans? The answer is Hell no! Especially if they were Trump MAGA! That brings us to our last “honor” for Republicans -  the “How Low Can You Go” award, given to Republican politicians who displayed a propensity for scraping the absolute bottom of the morality and decency barrel.

And it’s a three-way tie, ladies and gentlemen! Both Pres. Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have long distinguished themselves as mean-spirited and totally clueless clowns long before the 2026 midterms. Both are proven cold-blooded liars who lead with their corrupt politics, not with a scintilla of human decency or common sense. Add to that dynamic duo absolute loser Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy who sponsored an extremely crass political ad you’ll recall, featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent openly calling her a liar about the fact that she was an alleged child rape victim of her father

Trump and Vance actually defended this monstrosity of a campaign tactic. In fact, they usually have a very bad habit of defending the indefensible, like racism, sexism and blatant falsehoods about their Iran war, the high cost of living, and the needless economic suffering most Americans are going through because of their senseless policies. 

Talk about low. This is an administration that was responsible for innocent American citizens and undocumented immigrants being fatally shot down in the streets by ICE and Border Patrol officers; billions of dollars of government corruption; hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars spent on ridiculous self-glorification projects; and a runaway war in Iran that is costing the nation dearly in lives and money. 

And of course, these two-faced GOP’ers never hesitated to bellow that “God is on our side,” even if they were up to the most evil and corrupt schemes possible. 

So those are the well-earned awards Trump, Vance and the Republicans deserve for much of the low, hateful crap they pulled during this election season. They didn’t care who they hurt with their lies, rhetoric and attacks. Well, I guess the midterm “blue wave” election proved the joke is on them.

Oh, and let’s not forget, speaking of going low, the unbridled hatred displayed by the Trump Administration towards anything that smacked of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or celebrating any American history that honored the vital contributions of African-Americans to this country. Trump’s efforts to erase Black people from America’s history and achievements were disgraceful.

Well guess what? Black voters from North Carolina and throughout the South wrote Trump and the Republicans a new chapter in American history Election night. And it was a hard lesson, baby, wasn’t it?

As awful as the Republicans behaved, that’s how great the Democrats here in North Carolina and the rest of the nation were. They were strong, tough, focused and stayed on message. Democrats were also smart and unflinching in the face of adversity. When it looked like Trump, the Republican majority in Congress and the conservative-led US Supreme Court would just roll over them with disabling laws, racial gerrymandering and ridiculous rulings, Democrats hunkered down, got their act together, and paid attention to the mindless mistakes a power hungry and corrupt president and co. were making, taking advantage of those errors and opportunities.

Democrats were unified in their message promising to stand up for Americans suffering from high prices at the pump and the grocery store, as well as putting a stronger check on Trump’s corruption in office. 

The result - Democrats won big time Tuesday night, making historic gains all over the country, including here in North Carolina, where they took over the NC House for the first time in sixteen years, and even unseated several Republican congressional incumbents like Tim Moore and Virginia Foxx. That’s why we proudly award Democrats the “Keep Standing Strong” award.

Dems, I have no bad awards for you after that boffo performance. Only the gratitude of a grateful nation that feels good about itself again.  

But make no mistake, voters fully expect that you’ll get right to work improving the economy like you promised, and making life better for all. Sure, give the crook-in-chief Holy Hell during his last two years in office, but just don’t forget why we put you back in control.

There can, and will be a better America again, Democrats, but only if you keep your word. On Election Day, America struck back!

-30- 

 

THE CASH STUFF FOR THURSDAY, NOV. 5TH

DEMOCRAT “BLUE WAVE”

SWEEPS COOPER, DAVIS AND 

EARLS INTO OFFICE

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, unofficially won the U.S. Senate seat vacated by outgoing NC Republican Sen. Thom Tillis in commanding fashion Tuesday night, joining other Democrats across the country in reclaiming Congress from Republican control, thanks to an historic  “blue wave” of Democratic voters fueled by the Black vote that swept North Carolina and the nation.

Former Gov. Cooper, who hasn’t lost an election in 40 years, beat former National Republican Committee Chair Whatley in unofficial results 59% to 41% with over 80% of the vote. Cooper becomes the first North Carolina Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat since 2008.

“North Carolinians made their voices heard, and they were loud,”

 Cooper, a two-term former governor, said to cheers during his victory speech. “North Carolina, I accept your job offer!”

Cooper’s victory was seen as an important pickup in the Democrats’ hunt to pick up 4 seats from the Republican 53 seat majority in the US Senate.

North Carolinians voted to elect mostly Democrats to a statewide ballot Tuesday night that featured races of one U.S. Senate seat, 14 U.S. House seats, 1 NC Supreme Court Associate Justice seat, 50 state Senate seats, 120 N.C. House seats, local judges and district attorneys, county offices for sheriff, county commission boards and local boards of eduction; and local municipal elections.

That Democratic “blue wave”  lifted Associate NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls to win a second eight-year term on the state’s high court, defeating Republican challenger Sarah Stevens, 63% to 38% unofficially, and setting up the possibility of Democrats winning three more seats in 2028, and reclaiming the court’s majority.

Justice Earls is the high court’s only African-American, and one of two Democrats there.

The wave also helped Democratic First District Congressman Don Davis win in a voting district that had been redrawn to give Republicans the advantage, similar to other formerly majority Black congressional districts across the country after the consequential U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that gutted the 1965 voting rights Act. Davis overcame that obstacle, defeating Republican Laurie Buckout, 49 to 47%.

In the 12th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Alma Adams of Mecklenburg County won her seventh full term in Congress overwhelmingly, 86% to 14% over GOP challenger Jack Codina.

And two-term Democratic incumbent Valerie Foushee won another term representing the Fourth Congressional District by 83% over Republican Max Ganorkar, 16%.

All three of North Carolina’s Black Democratic congresspeople were reelected unofficially Tuesday night. Second District Democrat Rep. Deborah Ross was also re-elected by 80% over Republican Eugene Douglass, 19%.

Nationally, Democrats won back control of the US House, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies of New York most likely becoming the next House Speaker, and the first African-American to do so.

In the US Senate, Democrats won North Carolina, Texas, Ohio , Kansas and South Carolina by press time Tuesday nightto take the majority in January.

Another historic first, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, an African-American, won her race to become governor of Georgia.

Most political observers credit the Black vote throughout the South for  the massive Democratic Blue wave that swept the nation.

-30-

 NC NAACP CHALLENGES

VOTER ID LAW AT THE N.C.

COURT OF APPEALS

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

As over 2.7 million North Carolinians were casting their early votes across North Carolina last week, lawyers for the NC NAACP appeared before the NC Court of Appeals stating their case was to why the state’s oldest civil rights organization still believes the voter ID law is unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Supporters of the law say it is not, but is necessary to stop voter fraud.

The NC NAACP appealed a decision by a federal judge earlier this year that ruled against its lawsuit to end the requirement for North Carolina voters to display official photo identification at the polls, which has been in effect since 2023. Despite that ruling, the NC NAACP still believes African-American and other voters of color, along with many of the elderly and some young people, are less likely to have official photo identification like a driver’s licenses, thus making the law discriminatory.

The NC NAACP lawsuit that is being appealed also challenged the 2018 constitutional amendment the voter ID law is based on, maintaining that the  North Carolina General Assembly which ratified it in 2018 was the result of racial gerrymandering, which is illegal.

Lawyers for the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is representing the NC NAACP, told the state three-judge appellate panel that it wants its evidence against the legality of the voter ID law to be heard, and to have their day in court.

Meanwhile, voters considered another constitutional amendment on the 2026 midterm election ballot that would require voter photo identification for all voters, even those using mail-in ballots, which is not the case now. If passed, that amendment would become part of the state constitution.

-30-

THE CASH STUFF FOR OCT. 29, 2026

                                                              ERNIE PITT

                                        PUBLISHER PITT AND THE NC BLACK PUBLISHERS' ASSOCIATION HOSTS SEN. BARCK OBAMA DURING 2008 CAMPAIGN

ERNIE PITT, FORMER

OWNER/PUBLISHER OF

WINSTON-SALEM CHRONICLE

DIES AT AGE 80

By Cash Michaels

Another pioneer of North Carolina’s Black Press has passed on.

Ernest Harold “Ernie” Pitt, the original owner, cofounder and publisher of The Winston-Salem Chronicle died Oct. 23rd.

He was 80 years old.

“He was a pioneering publisher, a Vietnam veteran, a community leader, and a member of the North Carolina Media & Journalism Hall of Fame,” said Pitt’s son, Wali. “For 43 years, he led The Winston-Salem Chronicle.”

Founded in 1974, The Chronicle, as it is more commonly known, became the voice of Winston-Salem’s African-American community under Ernie Pitt. Starting as a four-page weekly with no money or investors, it not only reported news most important to its community, but also challenged the Twin City’s political power structure when needed on behalf of the Black community.

Along with his then wife, Elaine, working behind the scenes to keep the newspaper afloat, Pitt hit the streets in search of stories and events he could put in The Chronicle so that his community was kept abreast rneyre were plenty of copies to cover the community. And of course, just like the Black newspaper owners of yesteryear, Pitt made sure he sold as much advertising as possible to build The Chronicle, and keep it viable and alive.

For Ernie Pitt, publishing The Chronicle was a fulfilling journey in creating a Black enterprise that built wealth, provided a platform for community leadership, and carefully built a legacy for others, especially young people to follow. Through The Chronicle, publisher Pitt became nationally known for his vision and commitment to excellence.

In 2017, Pitt sold the newspaper to The Chronicle Media Group.

In April 2022, Pitt was inducted into the North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame.

On April 29th, 2008, as president of the NC Black Publishers Association, Ernie Pitt led a roundtable of NC Black Publishers from across the state in welcoming then presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who would go on to become the first African-American president of the United States. That historic meeting was captured in a YouTube video that remains on the site (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1NA4T0F-rU).

Long before Ernie Pitt started The Chronicle, he led an interesting life.

In 1965, the U.S. Army sent him  as a teenager to Vietnam. He admits to be a young man with no direction at the time. ‘The Army seemed to be a holding ground….to get yourself together,” he recalled. When Pitt left the Army, he got into trouble, ending up in prison for two to three years. But he taught school to inmates while there. It was Ben Ruffin, a special assistant to then Gov. Jim Hunt, who helped to get him a pardon.

It was at NC A&T University in Greensboro where Pitt Realized he had a writing talent.

Pitt ultimately decided to start a Black newspaper in Winston-Salem b because it was the only major city in North Carolina without one. It was a hard task, but ultimately Pitt succeeded in building The Chronicle into a community institution.

“You can only be resurrected when you’ve gone through the fire,” Ernie Pitt Once said. “And I’ve been through the fire several times.”

-30- 

                                      ILLEGAL GUNS SEIZED BY FEDS IN NORTH CAROLINA 

                                      TO WASHINGTON, DC. PIPELINE

FEDS SHUTDOWN ILLEGAL

GUN PIPELINE FROM

NORTH CAROLINA TO DC

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

Federal law enforcement officials from both North Carolina and Washington, D.C. announced last week the shutdown of an illegal pipeline of firearms that pumped guns from North Carolina onto the streets of Washington and other cities up and down the East Coast.

“A conveyor belt of weapons feeding violence up the East Coast, putting illegal guns onto our streets — today that conveyor belt has stopped,” D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanne Pirro told reporters during a Washington, D.C. press conference. Pirro was flanked by officials from North Carolina’s Eastern District, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

All of them, including U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyce of North Carolina’s Eastern District, were there to also announce a 13-count indictment against five defendants - Brian “B” Agee, age 40, charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms, six counts of firearms trafficking and aiding and abetting and six counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer; Arnis Lecresha Young, 33, charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms, six counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer, and six counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer; Frank “Fatboy” Rayvonne Harris, 38, charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms; Antonique Whitaker, 34, charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms;, two counts of aiding and abetting firearms trafficking, and two counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer;  Christian Shedetta Atkinson, 30, charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms, and one count of making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for conspiracy to traffic firearms from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., and 10 years federal imprisonment for making false statements to federally licensed firearms dealers.

“It’s a little bit embarrassing that they’re getting some of these guns from North Carolina,” Boyce said. “But thanks to the great work of our ATF partners, they found the pipeline and they let us know about it.”

          “If you’re selling guns in eastern North Carolina to other places and you want to go gun trafficking from there, we’re going to be looking for you, we’re going to find you, and we’re going to prosecute you,” Boyce warned.

-30-

BLACK CHURCHES MOBILIZE

“SOULS TO THE POLLS”

WEEKEND TO MAXIMIZE

BLACK VOTE

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

Even though Sunday early voting was eliminated in at least 20 North Carolina counties across the state this year, Black churches in other counties like Mecklenburg, New Hanover and Guilford mobilized their congregations after church services for "Souls to the Polls" last weekend so that African-Americans could join upwards of over 340,000 early Black voters out of over 1.6 million total voters across the state as of October 25th who cast their ballots going into the final week of early voting before the November 3rd midterm elections. 

        At that same point in 2022, only 1.04 million total had early voted in that midterm. Registered Black voter turnout in 2022 was only 42%, the lowest since 2010. That percentage is expected to improve this midterm election.

Highlighting current Black turnout efforts, the North Carolina Association of Educators partnered with the New Hanover County NAACP to host a "Souls to the Polls" event at St. Luke AME Zion Church in Wilmington where congregants were encouraged to wear a red shirt, vote at the nearest early voting site to the church, then enjoy food together after they voted.

In Durham, it was "Social Justice Sunday" as members of St. Joseph AME Church and the surrounding community gathered at the church, and either walked or rode to the early voting site on the nearby campus of North Carolina Central University to cast their ballots after church service.

“We have a huge caravan of people from our church, from our community, from neighboring churches where we worship together,” the Rev. Dr. Abdue Knox, pastor of St. Joseph’s told ABC-11 news.

In Greensboro, the Black Action March sponsored by New Light Baptist Church and Pastor Greg Druemwright drew large groups of marchers to the Barber Park Polling Place so people could vote.

There were also "Souls to the Polls" events in Alamance, Forsyth, Johnston, Rowan, and Wake counties.

Mecklenburg County held its "Souls to the Polls" event on Saturday.

October 25th was the last Sunday per the midterm elections for early voting to be held. Early voting ends Saturday, Oct. 31st at 3 p.m.. Those who were not able to take advantage of early voting can still cast their ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd. Polls open at 6:30 a.m., and close at 7:30 p.m.. Make sure you have your photo identification with you. All absentee mail-in ballots are required to be at your local county board of elections office by 5 p.m. on Nov. 3rd. 

-30-