Vice President JD Vance visited North Carolina recently, and depending on which coverage you read, it was either a triumphant homecoming or a carefully managed photo opportunity. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between — and worth examining clearly.

Vance's visit touched on veterans' issues, rural economic development, and what the administration has framed as a return to common sense governance. On veterans, his remarks were broadly positive, and I will give credit where it is due: the bipartisan consensus on veteran care has held up better than most things in Washington.

But the specifics were thin. North Carolina has real, measurable challenges right now. Western NC communities are still rebuilding after Helene. Rural broadband gaps continue to hold back economic opportunity in dozens of counties. Healthcare access across the Piedmont and coastal plain remains a persistent issue. On none of these did Vance offer anything concrete.

What struck me most was the audience — carefully selected, carefully managed. The townhalls and listening sessions with ordinary North Carolinians that used to characterize political visits have largely given way to choreographed events with pre-screened participants.

I am not partisan about this. I have made the same criticism of visits from the other side of the aisle. North Carolina deserves engagement, not performance. We are a genuinely competitive state with real problems that require real solutions, not campaign trail narratives.

When the Vice President of the United States comes to your state, the bar should be higher than a good photo and a few applause lines. North Carolinians are smart enough to know the difference.