Customs and Border Protection could be reassigned to Charlotte as part of a federal security initiative, while President Trump has issued pardons to former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and attorney Sidney Powell in the 2020 election-interference case. Governor Josh Stein is calling on the General Assembly to fully fund the Medicaid rebase to prevent service disruptions and ensure stability in state healthcare programs. John Locke Foundation’s Brian Balfour is urging lawmakers to end the ongoing gridlock, emphasizing that North Carolina deserves a functional and effective legislature. With a House deal finalized, the federal government is expected to reopen today.