John,

I don’t get to write many emails like this.

In short:

Total victory.

Last month, I told you about the Department of Education suddenly freezing $165 million in funding for North Carolina schools — money that was supposed to arrive the next day.

No clear reason was given, and it would have meant laying off roughly 1,000 educators just a few weeks before school starts.

I told you it was unlawful because that money wasn’t the Department’s to cancel. It was appropriated by Congress, and we were going to court to enforce the law.

Well, faced with near-certain defeat in court, they folded — completely. All of the funds will arrive, a little late, but certainly welcome.

So, the question is, why?

Why the sound and fury to accomplish nothing?

As you’ve heard from me a few times, deliberate failure has become a media strategy. If the goal is attention, then picking high-profile losing battles works just fine for some folks.

Which means, this will happen again.

We’re already fighting similar battles — like FEMA’s cancellation of $200 million for water and sewer projects, which I wrote about last week. There are others. Not all are born-to-lose, but some clearly are.

Regardless, my job is to win. We did that here, and we’re gearing up for the next one.

Visiting the Dream Center, an after-school and summer program that would have lost half its funding if this freeze hadn’t been reversed.

Avery meets the sheriffs

North Carolina has 100 sheriffs — one for each county.

I spoke to a large group of them last week, and when I told my daughter Avery about it, she asked, “Can I come on stage?”

So she did.

I introduced her to the crowd, and Sheriff Roberson gave her a badge, which she proudly wore for the rest of the day. It was a great moment for her.

Many thanks to the sheriffs for being so kind to Avery and the rest of our family.

Did he sink it… or did he air-ball?

Here’s me lining up a shot with some students at the Dream Center:

So, did I make the shot?

Well, I’m giving you a chance to cast your vote one way or the other — with a donation of any amount.

You can pick one:

🟢 “He sinks it!”

🔴 “He air-balls!”

I just feel that, looking at my form here, this really could go either way. The footwear, the stance, none of this inspires confidence.

But then again, I’m not that far away, right? And even ugly shots can go in.

So it really is a tough call, and you’re going to want to weigh in.

A contribution of any amount let’s you cast a vote, and I’ll reveal the vote totals — and the correct answer — next week.

Best,

Jeff