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Breaking With Brett Jensen

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Every weeknight from 7-8 PM, "Breaking Brett Jensen" comes off the beat for a deep dive into the day's top stories, and to answer your questions at 704-520-1110.

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Friday · 31 min
11-12-26: Fallout From Proposed CMS Breakup
Tune in here to this Thursday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking with Brett Jensen kicks the show off by talking about a proposal from North Carolina State Representative David Willis to potentially break up Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools into smaller school systems. Brett revisits his exclusive interview with Willis and discusses the growing concerns surrounding CMS, including ongoing state and federal investigations into the district's finances and leadership. Later he's joined by Congressman Mark Harris to discuss an upcoming congressional committee hearing taking place in Uptown Charlotte focused on restoring choice and accountability in the workplace. Harris explains how the hearing will examine workers' rights, union leadership accountability, and giving employees a greater voice in decisions involving contracts and potential strikes. He also discusses two pieces of legislation he has introduced, including the Ask the UnionMembers Act and the Fair Access to Justice for Union Members Act Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen’s exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Thursday · 28 min
EXCLUSIVE: Rep Willis Talks Breaking Up CMS
Tune in here to this Wednesday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks the show off with an exclusive interview with North Carolina State Representative David Willis, who is working on legislation that could bring significant changes to the state's largest school district. Willis discusses the growing concerns surrounding CMS, including ongoing investigations involving the DOJ, FBI, and state auditor, as well as allegations of mismanagement and a lack of accountability. Willis explains why he believes the district has become too large to effectively manage and why restructuring may be necessary to improve education for students, teachers, and families. Willis also addresses what a potential breakup could look like, emphasizing that any changes would involve a multi-year process with input from community leaders, educators, and other key stakeholders. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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November 6 · 29 min
11-5-26: More Election Info; Bessent Interview
Tune in here to this Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the ongoing political fallout from the midterm elections in North Carolina. He begins by focusing on the three constitutional amendments opposed by Gov. Josh Stein and the significant Democratic gains across the state. He emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding Republican Sen. Danny Britt’s narrow lead of just over 300 votes, explaining the factors that could determine the final outcome and how it would affect the state Senate. Later, Jensen interviews U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent begins by discussing large-scale fraud in Minnesota. He also discusses efforts to improve housing affordability, promotes Trump Accounts and highlights the Trump administration’s tax-cutting measures. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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November 5 · 24 min
11-4-26: Autopsy Of Election Night
Tune in here to this Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the surprising Democratic victories in North Carolina's elections. He also discusses unexpected Democratic gains in traditionally Republican states such as South Carolina, Kansas, Texas and Iowa. He argues that the results reflect national dissatisfaction rather than failures by individual Republican candidates in North Carolina. Additionally, he highlights a significant shift among unaffiliated voters, whose support for Democrats overwhelmed Republican advantages. He concludes that election results warrant a closer examination of voter turnout and political trends. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 31 · 28 min
10-30-26: NC Sen Overcash Joins
Tune in here to this Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with North Carolina Sen. Brad Overcash. Overcash, who represents Gaston County, begins the interview by discussing the upcoming midterm election and concerns about high Democratic turnout during early voting. He also highlights his accomplishments as a senator, including his work on state income taxes and securing funding for several projects across Gaston County. He concludes by encouraging all North Carolina voters to participate in the election. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 29 · 28 min
10-29-26: 1-on-1 With CMPD Chief Patterson
Tune in here to this Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson. The interview begins with a discussion of the controversy surrounding racist text messages, the department’s response and the impact on employee morale. Patterson highlights the department’s community initiatives while acknowledging public feedback about the situation. Patterson then explains the purpose of Charlotte’s teen curfew. She also addresses the recent violent weekend in the Queen City that saw five homicides. Additionally, she discusses efforts to reduce violence and credits community tips with helping investigators. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 28 · 29 min
10-28-26: Four Politicians Join
Tune in here to this Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with North Carolina Superior Court Judge Craig Collins, a Republican candidate for the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Collins distinguishes constitutionalist judges from activist judges, who he says may prioritize policy outcomes. He also discusses the importance of protecting constitutional rights, maintaining public safety and upholding the rule of law. Later, Jensen speaks with North Carolina Rep. Donnie Loftis, who begins by discussing voting trends in Gaston County. Loftis emphasizes the importance of clear voter guides to help voters understand the three proposed state constitutional amendments. He also urges voters to participate in the midterm elections and highlights early voting options. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 27 · 16 min
10-27-26: Rep McDowell Joins
Tune in here to this Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with Rep. Addison McDowell, who represents North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District. The interview begins with a discussion of the upcoming midterm election and concerns about Republican voter turnout in North Carolina. McDowell discusses his bid for reelection, along with his views on polling and media predictions regarding Republican support. He also contrasts Democratic policies and values with those of Republicans and concludes with a message urging voters to support Republican candidates. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 26 · 31 min
10-26-26: Why You Should Vote
Tune in here to this Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the upcoming midterm elections. He argues that voters should not be discouraged by polls that he believes favor Democrats. He also urges all North Carolina residents to vote, noting that three proposed state constitutional amendments will appear on the ballot. Later, Jensen is joined by Breitbart journalist Matt Mercer, who discusses the reliability of political polling and urges voters to fulfill their civic duty by voting early. Mercer also warns Republican and conservative-leaning voters in North Carolina and discusses the increased number of campaign appearances by prominent Republican figures. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 23 · 31 min
10-23-26: Early Voting Sets Record
Tune in here to this Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the historic surge in early voting turnout in North Carolina, where more than 1 million ballots have been cast. Jensen notes that it remains unclear whether the surge reflects increased voter participation or simply a shift in when people vote. He also highlights the potential political implications of the early voting numbers, including Democrats’ early lead in ballots cast. Additionally, he questions the reliability of political polls and emphasizes the importance of voter participation. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 22 · 31 min
10-22-26: EXCLUSIVE: Michael Whatley In Studio
Tune in here to this Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen is joined in the studio by U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley. Whatley begins the interview by discussing his campaign against Roy Cooper, highlighting campaign events and visits to all 100 counties in North Carolina. Whatley criticizes Cooper for avoiding debates and refusing to defend his record on several key policies. He also addresses questions about Cooper’s health and a cease-and-desist letter sent to the North State Journal in response to its inquiries about Cooper’s health. Additionally, Whatley describes his efforts to aid Hurricane Helene recovery in western North Carolina, reopen agricultural markets and promote economic growth across the state. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 22 · 31 min
10-21-26: EXCLUSIVE: Boliek Talks CMS Investigation
Tune in here to this Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing his exclusive report on North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek’s decision to prioritize an investigation into Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Jensen notes that Boliek said his office is accelerating its investigation into the district and that he has visited Charlotte at least four times in connection with the investigation. Boliek also emphasized the urgency of addressing public concerns about the district. Jensen praises Boliek for increasing government accountability and scrutinizing public spending across North Carolina. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 20 · 27 min
10-20-26: Early Voting Favors Dems
Tune in here to this Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen discusses early voting trends across North Carolina, highlighting early voting numbers among Democratic, Republican and unaffiliated voters and how they compare with recent voter registration figures. He then discusses factors that may be influencing voter behavior, concluding that economic uncertainty and fuel supply disruptions are motivating people to vote. Jensen then focuses on early voting trends in Mecklenburg County, noting that Democratic voters are currently outpacing Republican voters. He analyzes the competitive race for North Carolina House District 105 involving Tricia Cotham. He also examines voting trends among Republican voters, contrasting current patterns with those seen in 2024. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 19 · 33 min
10-19-26: CMPD Releases Officers Names
Tune in here to this Monday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking with Brett Jensen begins by clarifying that the CMPD officer's texts were not just about black people, and was about various cultures. Today CMPD released the names of the six officers involved in the controversy and Brett emphasized that the officers were white, black and hispanic. In addition, there is no evidence that they in fact acted on any of the texts.Brett discusses that the Panthers are winning the games they should win at the moment and that we need to temper our expectations for the moment as they have only beat one team with a winning record. Brett relates a health scare that he had several years ago to the current health challenges that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is going through. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 16 · 31 min
10-16-26 : Jail North To Take Federal Inmates
Tune in here to this Friday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking with Brett Jensen kicks the show off by talking about the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office reaching a new agreement with federal officials to house inmates at Jail North. Brett highlights remarks from U.S. Attorney for Western N.C. Russ Ferguson and Sheriff Gary McFadden about how the agreement will benefit defendants, law enforcement, and taxpayers. The arrangement is expected to reduce transportation costs, improve access to counsel, speed up court proceedings, and bring additional funding into Mecklenburg County. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 15 · 33 min
10-15-26: CMPD Gives Update On Racist Texts
Tune in here to this Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing Thursday’s Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department press conference. Jensen notes that the briefing was initially scheduled to address third-quarter crime statistics but largely focused on racist text messages exchanged among six officers. He says CMPD Chief Estella Patterson addressed the controversy at length, providing more information than he had initially anticipated. Later, he shares comments from Patterson addressing the allegations of misconduct. He also explains how crime statistics received only brief attention during the press conference, highlighting the figures that were reported. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 14 · 28 min
10-14-26: FBI Continues Look Into CMS
Tune in here to this Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing his reporting on alleged misconduct and investigations involving Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He analyzes the defiant responses of school board members Stephanie Sneed and Charlitta Hatch amid calls for their resignations, focusing on their public denials of wrongdoing and portrayals of themselves as victims. He also compares their approach with that of former North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, who threatened to sue CNN after a delay. Jensen then shares new reporting on the FBI investigation into CMS, clarifying details about the two separate ongoing investigations. He also criticizes the North Carolina State Board of Education’s investigation as ineffective. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 14 · 33 min
10-13-26: Cooper's Team Gives Odd Reply To Health Question
Tune in here to this Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with A.P. Dillon of the North State Journal about the cease-and-desist letter her publication received after asking North Carolina Senate candidate Roy Cooper whether he would serve his full six-year term if elected. Dillon explains that Cooper’s campaign responded with a legal letter within about five hours rather than answering the question. She notes that the letter came from Elias Law Group, run by Marc Elias, a former campaign lawyer who represented Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign. Jensen and Dillon argue that candidates’ health and ability to complete their terms are legitimate matters of public interest. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 13 · 35 min
10-12-26: CMPD Suspends Cops
Tune in here to this Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing his report on six Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers who were suspended without pay over alleged racist text messages. He notes that the messages were reportedly uncovered during an SBI investigation into CMPD officer Seth Elliott, who was investigated for allegedly misusing Flock camera data. Jensen says he has been investigating the matter since around August 10, but has not yet confirmed the specific content of the messages. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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October 8 · 31 min
10-8-26: CMS Names Interim Superintendent
Tune in here to this Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen! Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ decision to name Melissa Balknight interim superintendent. He explains how Balknight’s close ties to former Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill, her planned retirement and the difficulty of finding another candidate gave her significant negotiating leverage. He also criticizes the CMS school board’s record on leadership decisions and questions whether state authorities should intervene to ensure the district hires a qualified superintendent. Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen. To be the first to hear about Breaking Brett Jensen's exclusives and more follow him on X @Brett_Jensen! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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