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This week, a huge legal ruling from the North Carolina Supreme Court affirms Republican-drawn election maps that had been challenged by Democrats as unconstitutional. Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson explains the import of the decision, which means the maps will be used through the 2020 Census. The two discuss continuing calls from across the political spectrum for moving to a so-called independent redistricting commission. Henderson also weighs in on the big political stories of 2014, including Kay Hagan’s defeat to Thom Tillis in an environment that was unfriendly to President Obama, with whom Hagan was closely aligned. Next is a look at the role Tillis may play in the Republican-led U.S. Senate in light of his high media profile and two key committee assignments. NC State Political Science Professor Andrew Taylor offers Martinez his view on Tillis’ likely working relationship in the chamber. Taylor also weighs in on 2016 politics, including the potential matchup between Gov. Pat McCrory and Attorney General Roy Cooper. Then Martinez provides an update on 2014 midterm election turnout, as well as new polling data from Public Policy Polling that shows likely Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with a 51 percent disapproval rating in North Carolina. And finally, Gov. Pat McCrory weighs in on recent economic news that shows the state’s unemployment rate has dropped again and now equals the national rate.