Mitch Kokai

Senior Political Analyst
Mitch Kokai is senior political analyst for the John Locke Foundation. He joined JLF in December 2005 as director of communications. That followed more than four years as chief state government reporter for News 14 Carolina, now known as Spectrum News. The job included extensive coverage of the General Assembly for the 24-hour local regional television news channel.

Before News 14 Carolina, Kokai worked as a radio news reporter for seven years. He started a radio news department at WENC-AM in Whiteville, then led Chapel Hill’s award-winning radio news team at WCHL-AM. He spent two-and-one-half years as news director and assignment editor for Raleigh’s WPTF-AM.

Mitch is a Columbus, Ohio, native, and a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate. He has lived in North Carolina since 1989.

Posts by Mitch Kokai (page 1)

  • Martin Center column highlights good professors forced from their jobs

    Giovanni Gravano writes for the Martin Center about the impact of today’s woke cancel culture on good college professors. With “cancel culture” running rampant on social media, in politics, and in the classroom, professors who put forth the effort to help students think critically and challenge their beliefs are…
    Mitch Kokai, June 18, 2021
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  • Left-Wing Elites at Aspen Institute Aim to Silence Dissent

    Christopher Bedford of the Federalist highlights a forthcoming plan targeting speech that bothers left-wing elites. Most people haven’t heard of the Aspen Institute. Others maybe recall some mention of their annual Aspen Ideas Festival. A few more might somewhat remember a minor political dust-up from 2020 when Michael…
    Mitch Kokai, June 18, 2021
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  • Biden’s Ongoing Goal of Proving He’s Not Trump

    James Antle of the Washington Examiner highlights President Biden’s latest anti-Trump activity. President Joe Biden sought to present himself as tough on Russia and in contrast with his base’s perceptions of former President Donald Trump during his Geneva summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as critics at…
    Mitch Kokai, June 18, 2021
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  • Lawsuits Challenge Race-Based Bailouts in COVID Stimulus Plan

    Kevin Daley of the Washington Free Beacon highlights a legal challenge for federal COVID-19 relief measures. Conservative legal groups are challenging the racially driven repayment programs Democrats included in their $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief act. The American Rescue Plan Act includes billions of dollars in direct payments and…
    Mitch Kokai, June 18, 2021
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  • Experts Share Concerns about Fed’s Role

    National Review Online highlights a letter from more than 40 economics experts. It raises concerns about an apparent change in the Federal Reserve’s role. The Fed is among the nation’s most important institutions. Its monetary and regulatory mandates are essential for economic stability. However, based on recent activity,…
    Mitch Kokai, June 18, 2021
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  • Fauci Tries to Rewrite His History

    Isaac Schorr of National Review Online highlights the latest pronouncements from America’s most famous COVID-19 scold. Dr. Anthony Fauci joined CBS This Morning on Wednesday for a segment in which he defended and misrepresented his record of public statements on the coronavirus’s origins. “If you go back then,…
    Mitch Kokai, June 18, 2021
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  • New Carolina Journal Online Features

    Jeff Moore reports for Carolina Journal Online on the Crystal Coast’s post-COVID Big Rock fishing tournament. Joshua Peters’ CJ Opinion examines false claims about race and poverty.
    Mitch Kokai, June 18, 2021
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  • The Right AOC on Point: Nuclear Energy Holds Key to Reducing Carbon Emissions

    John Locke Foundation CEO Amy Cooke, “The Right AOC,” explains why nuclear energy provides the only realistic solution to reduce carbon emissions. Contact Amy at [email protected] Follow her at https://www.facebook.com/TheRightAOC and https://twitter.com/TheRightAOC.
    Mitch Kokai, June 17, 2021
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