It was also the first time since 1870 (back when Republicans were the progressives) that Republicans controlled all branches of North Carolina government. They moved quickly to assert their power. They removed environmental regulations, cut unemployment benefits, refused to expand Medicaid, decried immigration, and targeted trans people with a notorious bathroom bill, insisting that people use the bathroom facilities of their gender assignment at birth. Their brand of reform focused on targeting extremely vulnerable populations, exploiting widespread and unfounded fear and hatred. Many leaders
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