Daily Update - April 23, 2026

Operation May Day

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In this episode of The Wilmington Standard Daily Update, Reuel Sample breaks down how the New Hanover County Board of Education stood firm against pressure to close schools for a far-left NCAE–backed political rally. He explains how the teachers union and local Democrats have launched a relentless intimidation campaign targeting Republican board members who put kids over politics. Reuel lays out Operation May Day—a concrete plan for parents and citizens to push back by supporting good teachers and flooding board members with encouragement instead of hate. You’ll hear why unified resistance is the only way to confront political bullies in our schools and how you can help show these leaders they are not alone.

What You’ll Learn / Key Moments

00:00 – “Show them they are not alone” — why Operation May Day matters
00:04 – New Hanover school board rejects shutting schools for a union political rally
00:09 – How the far-left teachers union and Democrats are targeting GOP board members
00:39 – The schoolyard bully analogy and the need for unified resistance
00:54 – Launching Operation May Day: moving beyond social media outrage
01:07 – Step 1: Thank your child’s teacher and urge them to be in the classroom
01:18 – Recognizing hard-working, underappreciated teachers while rejecting political walkouts
02:18 – Step 2: Email GOP board members and counter the intimidation with support
02:00–02:15 – “Kids over politics” in New Hanover County and why your voice matters
03:39 – Closing appeal: stand with the board so they are not in the breach alone

Resources

Full transcript:
https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/podcast/the-daily-update/daily-update-april-23-2026
Email for New Hanover County Board Members:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What You Can Do

If you’re tired of union bullies and partisan activists using your children as leverage, Operation May Day starts with you. Email the New Hanover County Board members today, thank them for putting kids over politics, and let them know they are not standing in the breach alone. Then reach out to your child’s teacher, express your appreciation, and ask them to stand with parents by being in the classroom—not at a political rally. Share this episode and the transcript with friends and neighbors so they can join the pushback and help reclaim our schools for students, not special interests.

Show them they are not alone.

This is the Wilmington Standard Daily Update for Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Last week, the New Hanover County Board of Education rejected the idea of closing schools so teachers could attend a political rally hosted by the most far left and radical organizations at work in this country – the teachers union. The North Carolina Association of Educators is not backing down, and is launching a relentless and coordinated attack – sponsored and participated by the local Democrat Party of course - on the Republican school board members who decided to put kids first in education.

In the school yard, a bully is put in his place only by a unified resistance. The teachers union and their allies have shown they have no problem using intimidation to try to get their way. It is time to stand up and confront that bully.

It is time to launch Operation May Day.

Instead of harassment, intimidation, or just posting your thoughts on social media, we are encouraging you to do two things.

First, contact your child’s teacher and thank him or her for everything they do. Teachers do work very hard at their jobs – and quite often go unappreciated. Let that educator know that while you understand they might be frustrated over a budget impasse in Raliegh, it is very import that they be at work next Friday. Let them know they can count on you for support in your child’s education, but ask can you count on them to be in the classroom for your child next week.

Second, drop a note to Pete Wildeboer, Pat Bradford, Melissa Mason and Josie Barnhart. Their emails are bursting with attack messages and intimidation. But they have not really heard in any substantial way from their constituents who support their decision to not alter a school calendar for a political rally. We need to change that. Before you do anything else today, please let them know how much you appreciate their courage to put kids over politics in New Hanover County. Let them know you stand with them, and they are not in the breach alone. We will put a list of their emails in the show notes.

For the Wilmington Standard, I’m Reuel Sample. Thanks for listening.

Reuel Sample is the Editor-in-Chief of The Wilmington Standard. A graduate of Grove City College and Princeton Theological Seminary, he has served as both a Presbyterian Pastor and a Navy Chaplain. He is the product of a classical liberal arts education combined with real world experience in politics and business and conservative Christian worldview firmly rooted in the Reformed tradition. He is the host of several podcasts including the NHC GOP Podcast, the Pastor's Voice, and co-hosts the Nikki and Reuel Podcast Experience. An avid sailor, he has sailed around the world as a youth and to the Azores as a teen as well as extensive trips up and down the east coast of the United States. He is honored to be married to his wife Pam and makes his home in Wilmington, NC.