A fasten-your-seatbelts warning light flashed repeatedly as the Triad and North Carolina entered 2025 and the first year of the second term of the Trump administration.

kAm*6E[ E96 =@42= 2?5 DE2E6 64@?@>:6D H6C6 DFCAC:D:?8=J DE23=6 2?5 C6D:=:6?E 5FC:?8 a_ad πŸ˜• DA:E6 @7 E96 564< @7 H:=5 42C5D E92E :?4=F565i F?5@4F>6?E65 :>>:8C2?E^H@C<6C 56A@CE2E:@?Dj ?6H 2?5 6IA2?565 E2C:77Dj =@@D6?:?8 @7 C68F=2E@CJ DE2?52C5Dj D=2D9:?8 @C 6?5:?8 7656C2= 64@?@>:4 2?5 ?FEC:E:@? DF3D:5:6Dj 2?5 2?@E96C EC:==:@?\5@==2C C@F?5 @7 7656C2= E2I 4FED]k^Am

kAm%96 DE2E6’D F?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6 C6>2:?65 2E b]fT 7@C E96 `cE9 4@?D64FE:G6 >@?E9 5FC:?8 $6AE6>36C[ C67=64E:?8 2 DE28?2?E >2C<6E 7@C 3@E9 ;@3 D66<6CD 2?5 6>A=@J6CD] w62=E942C6 2?5 AC@76DD:@?2= D6CG:46D 9:C:?8 H6C6 A@D:E:G6D[ H9:=6 E2C:77 F?46CE2:?EJ 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ D6G6C2= >2?F724EFC:?8 D9FE5@H?D 2?5 >2DD ;@3 4FED]k^Am

kAmq642FD6 @7 E96 D:I\H66< 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E D9FE5@H?[ E96 DE2E6 ;@3=6DD C6A@CED 7@C ~4E@36C[ }@G6>36C 2?5 s646>36C H:== 36 56=2J65 H6== :?E@ a_ae]k^Am

kAmQ$@ H9:49 64@?@>J[ E96 8@@5 @7 62C=J a_ad @C E96 ?@E\2D\8@@5 @7 =2E6 a_ad[ H:== AC6G2:= πŸ˜• a_aenQ 2D<65 |:4926= (2=56?[ 2 C6E:C65 64@?@>:4D AC@76DD@C 2E }]r] $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ H9@ 4@?E:?F6D E@ C6=62D6 2 >@?E9=J DE2E6 64@?@>:4 :?56I C6A@CE]k^Am

kAmQ%96 492==6?86 πŸ˜€ E92E H6 2C6 6?E6C:?8 a_ae H:E9 2 =2C86 2>@F?E @7 F?46CE2:?EJ[ 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 :?G6DE@CD 5@?’E =:<6 F?46CE2:?EJ 3642FD6 :E >2<6D :E >@C6 5:77:4F=E 7@C E96> E@ A=2? 2?5 2?E:4:A2E6 E96 7FEFC6[Q (2=56? D2:5]k^Am

kAmQ(:== E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6 4FE :?E6C6DE C2E6D[ 9@=5 C2E6D DE625J @C 6G6? C2:D6 C2E6Dn (92E H:== 92AA6? H:E9 E2C:77Dn %2C:77D 2C6 :>A@CE2?E 3642FD6 >2?J 64@?@>:DED 3=2>6 E96> 7@C E96 2446=6C2E:@? @7 :?7=2E:@? πŸ˜• E96 D64@?5 92=7 @7 a_ad]k^Am

kAmQxE 2AA62CD &]$] 4@>A2?:6D :?:E:2==J 23D@C365 E96 4@DE @7 E2C:77D 62C=J πŸ˜• a_ad[ 3FE E96? 3682? E@ A2DD E9@D6 4@DED @? E@ 3FJ6CD 3J C2:D:?8 AC:46D =2E6C πŸ˜• a_ad]Qk^Am

kAm(2=56? D2:5 D6G6C2= AC@G:D:@?D 67764E:G6 πŸ˜• a_ae 7C@> E96 4@?EC@G6CD:2= 7656C2= Q~?6 q:8 q62FE:7F= q:==Q 4@F=5 92G6 EC:4<=6\5@H? :>A24ED @? E96 %C:25 2?5 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 5FC:?8 a_ae]k^Am

kAmQp>@?8 E96> 2C6 D6G6C2= C65F4:?8 E2I6D 7@C 3@E9 9@FD69@=5D 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D[Q (2=56? D2:5] Q%96 =:<6=J C6DF=E πŸ˜€ >@C6 :?G6DE>6?E[ >@C6 AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 >@C6 ;@3D C6DF=E:?8 πŸ˜• 9:896C :?4@>6D 7@C 9@FD69@=5D[ 3FE H:E9 ?@ 25G6CD6 :>A24ED @? :?7=2E:@?]Qk^Am

kAm(2=56? D2:5 96 6IA64ED =6DD G@=2E:=:EJ 7C@> E2C:77D πŸ˜• a_ae]k^Am

kAmQ!C:46D H:== DE:== 36 C:D:?8[ 3FE 2E 2 D=@H6C C2E6[ E96C67@C6 D6EE:?8 FA 2 D:EF2E:@? 2==@H:?8 >@C6 9@FD69@=5D E@ D66 E96:C 62C?:?8D :?4C62D6 72DE6C E92? AC:46D[Q (2=56? D2:5]k^Am

kAmQx? E6C>D @7 3FD:?6DD 6IA2?D:@?[ ;@3 8C@HE9 2?5 64@?@>:4 @AA@CEF?:E:6D[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 H:== =:<6=J 4@?E:?F6 E@ 4@>6 @FE 29625 @7 E96 ?2E:@? πŸ˜• a_ae[ ;FDE 2D :E 92D πŸ˜• AC6G:@FD J62CD] x? E6C>D @7 E96 64@?@>J[ 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 :?G6DE@CD 92G6 Vr2C@=:?2 @? |J |:?5]V Qk^Am

k9am{@42= AC@;64E:@?Dk^9am

kAm(:?DE@?\$2=6> |2J@C p==6? y@:?6D D2:5 E92E H9:=6 C64CF:E:?8 64@?@>:4 AC@;64ED C6>2:?D 2 AC:@C:EJ 5FC:?8 a_ae[ 96 πŸ˜€ 6286C E@ D66 E96 8C@HE9 πŸ˜• =@42==J A=2?E65 :?:E:2E:G6D]k^Am

kAmQx 36=:6G6 H6 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ D66 DEC@?8 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9 DF49 2D H6 925 E9:D J62C[Q y@:?6D D2:5] Q(6 925 2 8@2= @7 d_ ?6H DE2CEFAD 2?5 H6 :56?E:7:65 fd DE2CEFAD]Qk^Am

kAmp4@H=658:?8 E92E (:?DE@?\$2=6? 2?5 u@CDJE9 Q5@6D ?@E 92G6 2?J =2C86 :?5FDEC:2= D:E6D[Q A2CE:4F=2C=J 4@>A2C65 H:E9 vF:=7@C5 r@F?EJ[ C64CF:E>6?E 677@CED H:== C6>2:? 7@4FD65 @? D>2==\ 2?5 >:5\D:K6 4@>A2?:6D]k^Am

kAmQ%96D6 D:K65 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 @FC DH66E DA@E[ 2?5 @FC A:A6=:?6 πŸ˜€ 7F== @7 255:E:@?2= AC@DA64ED[Q y@:?6D D2:5]k^Am

kAm(96C6 E96 =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ 42? 36?67:E 7C@> =2C86 %C:25 64@?@>:4\56G6=@A>6?E C64CF:E>6?E DF446DD6D[ y@:?6D D2:5[ πŸ˜€ E9C@F89 2EEC24E:?8 DFAA=:6CD[ G6?5@CD @C D6CG:46 4@>A2?:6D E@ AC@;64ED DF49 2D q@@> $FA6CD@?:4 2?5 y6E+6C@ 2E E96 vC66?D3@C@ 2:CA@CE 2?5 %@J@E2 q2EE6CJ |2?F724EFC:?8 }r A=2?E 2E E96 vC66?3@C@\#2?5@=A9 >682D:E6]k^Am

kAmu@C6>@DE 2>@?8Β  E9@D6 DFAA=:6C DF446DD6D 92D 366? %@J@E2 %DFD9@ p>6C:42 x?4][ H9:49 A=2?D E@ @A6C2E6 πŸ˜• (9:E2<6C !2C< 2 β€œDFDE2:?23=6 2?5 :??@G2E:G6 C64J4=:?8 2?5 H2DE6\92?5=:?8 D@=FE:@?D” 7@C E96 >2>>@E9 %@J@E2 q2EE6CJ A=2?E] %@J@E2 %DFD9@ p>6C:42 A2:5 S`b]f >:==:@? 7@C 2 “_[`eb\DBF2C6\7@@E DA64F=2E:G6 3F:=5:?8]k^Am

kAmQpD y6E +6C@ >@G6D E@H2C5 368:??:?8 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 E96:C ?6H >2?F724EFC:?8 724:=:EJ[ (:?DE@? $2=6> 2?5 u@CDJE9 r@F?EJ D9@F=5 D66 C6=2E65 3FD:?6DD6D 368:? E@ =@42E6 96C6[ 2?5 @7 4@FCD6 >2?J =@42= H@C<6CD H:== @3E2:? ;@3D πŸ˜• E92E 724:=:EJ[Q y@:?6D D2:5]k^Am

kAmQ(6 2C6 7@CEF?2E6 E92E u@CDJE9 %649?:42= r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 92D 2 C@3FDE 2G:2E:@? AC@8C2> 2?5 H:== A=2J 2 9F86 C@=6 πŸ˜• DFAA=J:?8 EC2:?65 :?5:G:5F2=D 7@C E9:D 4@>A2?J]k^Am

kAmQ(6 2C6 G6CJ A=62D65 E@ D66 E96 2??@F?46>6?E @7 255:E:@?2= ;@3D 2E #]y] #6J?@=5D 2D E92E 4@>A2?J C62=:8?D :ED6=7 E@ 2 ?6H >2C<6EQ H:E9 ?:4@E:?6 A@F496D AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am

kAm|2C< ~H6?D[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 49:67 6I64FE:G6 @7 vC62E6C (:?DE@?\$2=6> x?4][ D2:5 E96 492>36C πŸ˜€ Q7@==@H:?8 2 C@3FDE AC@;64E A:A6=:?6 9625:?8 :?E@ a_ae]Qk^Am

kAmQ(6 2C6 4@?7:56?E E92E E96 FA4@>:?8 J62C H:== 3C:?8 =@42E:@? 2??@F?46>6?ED[ :?G6DE>6?E 2?5 ;@3 4C62E:@? 3F:=5:?8 @? E96 >@>6?EF> @7 E96 A2DE D6G6C2= J62CD] ~FC AC@;64E 24E:G:EJ :?4C62D65 3J `fT πŸ˜• a_ad[ 2?5 H6 2?E:4:A2E6 2 DFDE2:?65 =6G6= @7 24E:G:EJ πŸ˜• a_ae]k^Am

kAmQp55:E:@?2==J[ H6 2C6 E9:?<:?8 DEC2E68:42==J 23@FE E96 4:EJVD 8C@HE9 2?5 :?G:E:?8 2== E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 πŸ˜• =@?8\E6C> G:D:@? A=2??:?8 2D H6 H@C< E@ :>AC@G6 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D]Qk^Am

k9amq6EE6C E92? E96 ?2E:@?k^9am

kAm$6G6C2= 64@?@>:DED AC@;64E E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 64@?@>J E@ >@56DE=J @FEA6C7@C> E96 ?2E:@?2= 64@?@>J 5FC:?8 a_ae]k^Am

kAmQ}@CE9 r2C@=:?2’D 64@?@>J πŸ˜€ 6IA64E65 E@ >2:?E2:? :ED >@>6?EF>[ H:E9 A2JC@==D 6IA2?5:?8 2E 2 72DE6C A246 E92? πŸ˜• E96 C68:@? 2?5 ?2E:@?[Q D2:5 y2J w2H<:?D[ D6?:@C 64@?@>:DE 7@C %96 !}r u:?2?4:2= $6CG:46D vC@FA]k^Am

kAmQw62=E942C6[ 7:?2?46 2?5 E649?@=@8J H:== 5C:G6 ?62C\E6C> 8C@HE9 5F6 E@ D:8?:7:42?E :?G6DE>6?ED πŸ˜• 52E2 46?E6CD[ 9@DA:E2=D 2?5 32?<:?8]k^Am

kAmQ{@?86C E6C>[ @FED:K6 A@AF=2E:@? 8C@HE9 2?5 2 4@?DE2?E 7=@H @7 :?G6DE>6?E H:== <66A E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 64@?@>J 2 E@A A6C7@C>6C[Q w2H<:?D D2:5]k^Am

kAmw2H<:?D 42FE:@?65 E92E E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 9@FD:?8 >2C<6E Q4@?E:?F6D E@ 4@@= H:E9 6I:DE:?8 D:?8=6 72>:=J 9@>6 D2=6D 5@H? ?62C=J ahT πŸ˜• E96 E9:C5 BF2CE6C @7 a_ad H9:=6 9@>6 AC:46D 92G6 DFC865 >@C6 E92? d_T D:?46 E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C @7 a_a_k^Am

kAmQ%96 >6E6@C:4 :?4C62D6 πŸ˜• 9@>6 AC:46D[ 9@H6G6C[ 92D =@H6C65 9@>6 277@C523:=:EJ 2?5 D:56=:?65 D@>6 A@E6?E:2= 9@>63FJ6CD[Q w2H<:?D D2:5] Q%96 >65:2? 9@>6 AC:46 H2D FA ;FDE `]cT J62C\@?\J62C πŸ˜• E96 E9:C5 BF2CE6C @7 a_ad]Qk^Am

kAm|2C< ‘:E?6C[Β 49:67 64@?@>:DE H:E9 !:65>@?E rC6D46?E r2A:E2=[ D2:5 962=E9 42C6 D9@F=5 C6>2:? Q2 3C:89E DA@EQ πŸ˜• E96 %C:25 2?5 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ H9:=6 >2?F724EFC:?8 9Q2D 366? D@7E[ 2D 3FD:?6DD6D 92G6 925 E@ ?2G:82E6 E96 E2C:77 EFC>@:= 2?5 7@=2:?E2:?:?8 =@H :?G6?E@C:6D]Qk^Am

kAmQ(6 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C a_ae E@ DE2CE @77 D=@H 3FE 7:?:D9 DEC@?8] %2I 4FED[ 42A:E2= DA6?5:?8 2?5 2 >@56DE 9@FD:?8 C63@F?5 H:== 5C:G6 8C@HE9 ?6IE J62C]Qk^Am

k9am}r 72==:?8 369:?5nk^9am

kAm%96 }6H *62C QH:== 3C:?8 =:EE=6 46CE2:?EJ E@ 6G6CJ52J }@CE9 r2C@=:?:2?D[Q 42FE:@?65Β p=6I2?5C2 u@CE6C $:C@E2[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 =67E\=62?:?8 }]r] qF586E U2>Aj %2I r6?E6C]k^Am

kAmQ$E2E6 =68:D=2E@CD 92G6 72:=65 E@ FD6 E96 A@=:4J E@@=D 2G2:=23=6 E@ E96> E@ 255C6DD C:D:?8 4@DED 7@C E96 32D:4D[ 7C@> 7@@5 E@ 49:=5\42C6 E@ 9@FD:?8]k^Am

kAmQ%96J 2C6 ?@H A=2??:?8 E@ H@C< @? 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 DE2E6 3F586E @?=J 27E6C 2?@E96C C@F?5 @7 E2I 4FED 7@C E96 H62=E9J 2?5 AC@7:E23=6 4@CA@C2E:@?D 8@6D :?E@ 67764E β€” =62G:?8 49:=5\42C6 46?E6CD @? E96 3C:?< @7 4=@DFC6[ 962=E9 42C6 AC6>:F>D C:D:?8 2?5 AC@G:56CD F?A2:5]Qk^Am

kAmp=E9@F89 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 #6AF3=:42? =6256CD 4@F=5 ?@E 28C66 @? 2 a_ad\ae DE2E6 3F586E 4@>AC@>:D6[ E96J 5:5 24E 5FC:?8 E96 a_ad D6DD:@? E@ 6?DFC6 E92E 2FE@>2E:4 DE2E6 E2I 4FED E@@< 67764E @? }6H *62CVD s2J β€” b]hhT :?5:G:5F2= C2E6 2?5 aT 4@CA@C2E6 C2E6]k^Am

kAm%96 4@CA@C2E6 E2I C2E6 92D 366? =@H6C65 DE625:=J 7C@> e]hT πŸ˜• a_`b] p=C625J E96 =@H6DE 2>@?8 E96 DE2E6D H9@ 92G6 2 4@CA@C2E6 E2I C2E6[ :E πŸ˜€ D4965F=65 E@ 564C62D6 E@ `T πŸ˜• a_ag 2?5 36 4@>A=6E6=J A92D65 @FE πŸ˜• a_b_]k^Am

kAmQ%96D6 E2I 4FED H6C6 D4965F=65 J62CD 28@[ 367@C6 :?7=2E:@? DFC865[ 4@CA@C2E6 AC@7:E66C:?8 2446=6C2E65[ 2?5 7656C2= 4FED 2?5 4@DED D9:7E65 E@ E96 DE2E6D[Q $:C@E2 D2:5] QxE πŸ˜€ A2DE E:>6 E@ C6G:D:E E96>]k^Am

kAmQ%96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 92D AFD965 ?6H 4@DED @?E@ DE2E6D 2?5 4FE 324< @? :?G6DE>6?ED E92E 92G6 96=A65 <66A A6@A=6 9@FD65[ C6DA@?565 E@ 5:D2DE6CD[ 2?5 DFAA@CE D>2== 3FD:?6DD DE2CE\FAD 2?5 6IA2?D:@?]k^Am

kAmQ}@CE9 r2C@=:?:2?D F?56CDE2?5 E92E @FC DE2E6’D 64@?@>J 56A6?5D @? A6@A=6 36:?8 23=6 E@ DE2J 4@??64E65 E@ 8@@5 ;@3D β€” DFAA@CE65 3J 277@C523=6 49:=5 42C6 2?5 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? β€” H9:=6 A2J:?8 7@C E96 C:D:?8 4@DE @7 7@@5 2?5 962=E9 42C6 2?5 2446DD:?8 BF2=:EJ AF3=:4 65F42E:@? 2?5 EC2:?:?8] Qk^Am

kAm%96 a_ae }]r] 64@?@>:4 7@C642DE 7C@> %s t4@?@>:4D D2:5 E96 DE2E6 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 36?67:E E92E E96 DE2E6’D 7F?52>6?E2=D QC6>2:? D@=:5]Qk^Am

kAm%@C@?E@ s@>:?:@? q2?< 92D 6IA2?565 D:8?:7:42?E=J πŸ˜• r92C=@EE6 2?5 H6DE6C? }]r][ πŸ˜• E6C>D @7 3C2?496D πŸ˜• C646?E J62CD[ 2=E9@F89 E96 %C:25 C6>2:?D F?D6CG65]Β k^Am

kAmQ!@AF=2E:@? 8C@HE9 πŸ˜€ 6IA64E65 E@ DE2J H6== 23@G6 E96 ?2E:@?2= C2E6[ AC@G:5:?8 2 DEC@?8 7@F?52E:@?[Q 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 %s t4@?@>:4D 7@C642DE]k^Am

kAmQ}@CE9 r2C@=:?2 4@?E:?F6D E@ 2EEC24E A=6?EJ @7 ?6H :?G6DE>6?E[ DFAA@CE:?8 :ED D=:89E 64@?@>:4\8C@HE9 6586 @G6C E96 ?2E:@?] (6 6IA64E E96 DE2E6 E@ C6E2:? 2 8C@HE9 A246 @7 a]cT πŸ˜• a_ae[ ;FDE 23@G6 E96 ?2E:@?2= A246]Qk^Am

kAmQ~?8@:?8 :?G6DE>6?ED 2?5 6IA2?D:@?D C6:?7@C46 E96 A@D:E:G6 @FE=@@<] %96D6 DA2? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 D64E@CD[ :?4=F5:?8 7:?2?46[ AC@76DD:@?2= U2>Aj E649?@=@8J[ 2?5 962=E942C6Β β€” H9:49 92G6 366? <6J ;@3D 4@?EC:3FE@CD D@ 72C E9:D J62C]Qk^Am

kAm%96 7@C642DE 9:89=:89E65 E96 `c[d__\;@3[ Sc]f 3:==:@? y6E+6C@ AC@;64E 2E !:65>@?E %C:25 x?E6C?2E:@?2= p:CA@CE 2D 2 D:8? @7 E96 DE2E6VD 25G2?465 2G:2E:@? >2?F724EFC:?8 AC@>:D6]k^Am

kAm&}r r92C=@EE6 64@?@>:4D AC@76DD@C y@9? r@??2F89E@? =:DE65 πŸ˜• 9:D a_ae 64@?@>:4 7@C642DE E92E E96 8C@HE9 @7 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 πŸ˜• }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 Q:D 2 724E@C E@ H2E49]Qk^Am

kAmQp? 64@?@>:4 3@@> 3C@F89E 23@FE 3J E96 677:4:6?4J 36?67:ED @7 px 2?5 E96 C6DF=E:?8 AC@5F4E:G:EJ 82:?D 4@F=5 @44FC πŸ˜• a_ae[ 3FE πŸ˜€ >@C6 =:<6=J πŸ˜• a_af[Β r@??2F89E@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm*6E[ 96 2D<65 β€œH:== H6 D66 2? px 3F33=6n (:== CF?2H2J 42A:E2= :?G6DE>6?E πŸ˜• px E649?@=@8J =625 E@ 2 DE@4< >2C<6E D6==\@77 @7 E649 DE@46C DA6?5:?8n”k^Am

kAmr@??2F89E@?Β D2:5 }]r] πŸ˜€ AC@;64E65 E@ 255 g_[g__ ?6E ;@3D 5FC:?8 a_aeΒ β€” 2 D=:89E :>AC@G6>6?E @G6C 2? 6DE:>2E65 fa[d__ πŸ˜• a_ad] %@A 2C62D 7@C 8C@HE9 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 :?7@C>2E:@? E649?@=@8J[ AC:G2E6 65F42E:@? 2?5 962=E9 D6CG:46D[ 2?5 3FD:?6DD 2?5 AC@76DD:@?2= D6CG:46D]k^Am

k9amΒ k^9am

rcraver@wsjournal.com

336-727-7376

@rcraverWSJ

Be the first to know