professional staff and hold their own hearings and inquiry into it. now, representative steny hoyer did indicate that he would only go for a general election, but the state statute here in north carolina says filling a vacancy for a u.s. house election would require a new primary as well. and that's a battle line that you see both democrats and republicans arguing over as well. so, there are so many moving parts and layers to this that i don't think we quite legally know where things are going to play out until more movement is done by somebody at some point. >> wow. i think this technically qualifies as a hot mess. michael bitzer, professor and leading analyst for this fascinating north carolina store/hot mess. thank you very much. appreciate your time. >> my pleasure. >> thank you. and still ahead, a new year does not always mean a fresh start. more on that ahead. stay with us. ♪