COVID Opened 4,200 North Carolina Prison Cell Doors

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson · Sep 14, 2026 · 11m

In this episode of the 47 Morning Update w Ben Ferguson, Ben examines Roy Cooper’s recent remarks, the political fallout in North Carolina’s Senate race, and the broader debate over prison population reductions during the pandemic. They discuss reporting surrounding the settlement agreement, Republican criticism of Cooper’s record on crime, and competing arguments about whether COVID was used to advance long-term criminal justice reform goals. North Carolina Senate candidate Roy Cooper is facing renewed scrutiny over a COVID-era prison release settlement that led to…