This is the Wilmington Standard Daily Update for Monday December 22nd, 2025.

As Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest wraps up in Phoenix, the big headlines that captured the attention of the country is that the conservative movement is in the middle of a civil war.  On one side you have the Ben Shapiros of the world who bring a deeply analytical viewpoint to the conversation, and on the other side is Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens who seem to delight in causing controversy and consternation with their own fiery rhetoric.  Add to that a rising sense of populism that has never quite fit in with conservatives, division over Israel, and the rising influence of GenZ in the GOP that may have different values then the established ones of that party – and you can see why there is some worry about the direction of conservatism in this country.

Donald Trump won both the popular and electoral vote not because he is a conservative – which he isn’t – but because he understood the needs of the country and focused on practical answers to those challenges.  He is getting things done – certainly not as a conservative idealogue – but understanding that the principles that conservatives hold dear – limited government, reduced taxes, strong borders, and strong foreign policies among others – are exactly what the country needs to heel from the disastrous years of Democrat control. 

New Hanover County heads into midterms in March – and into the general elections in November.  The question of what is a conservative will plague us well. Those from the far right in our county will never be able to answer questions of whether they can govern – they cannot because the purist right is never able to govern – but they will throw around accusations that other people on the ticket – who are good Republicans – are not conservative enough, don’t care about “We The People”, are members of the establishment, or will be called that most useless of names – RINO – Republican In Name Only.  None of this does anything other than fracture conservatives and sully the good name and achievements of those who have governed well.

So, the question in these elections should not be who can win the prize for being the most conservative.   Their tallies of calling other Republicans RINOs, and calling every Democrat a Socialist should mean nothing.  The only question should be can they govern – and make our county, our state, and our country better.

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