Diplomacy is known by some as simply the art of getting what you want. Pakistan has demonstrated mastery of this art by leveraging recent geopolitical developments in South Asia to reimagine, reconstruct, and bolster a once-strained relationship with the United States.

In a year when off-year elections finally captured statewide attention, North Carolina voters delivered one of the highest municipal turnouts in recent history. With housing pressures mounting and political tensions rising, communities across the state reshaped their local leadership. The ripple effects of this year’s “blue mist” could redefine the state’s political landscape for years to come.

North Carolina has the responsibility to protect its residents when politicians in Washington fail to do so, especially when it is regarding something as basic as food. SNAP isn’t optional; families can't wait it out. With the instability in Washington right now, and the uncertain future of SNAP, the state has to start treating food access like a core emergency service, not something entirely dependent on federal stability.