For the week of Nov. 11, 2024, Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Kyle Ingram and Korie Dean in part two of our post-Election Day look at the North Carolina races that were on the ballot. They talk about the N.C. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, the General Assembly and the rest of the Council of State,…

In this post-Election bonus episode of the Under the Dome podcast, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan talks to D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia, state politics reporter Avi Bajpai and The Charlotte Observer's Josh Bergeron and Ryan Oehrli about the 2024 general election results. What do the outcomes of North Car…

In our latest Under the Dome podcast episode for the week of Nov. 4, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks to politics team colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram about all the last minute information you need to know. From statewide voting information, the impact of Helene on voting in Western North Carolina and the flurry of presidential…

For the week of Oct. 28, 2024, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by N.C. Central University political science professor Jarvis Hall, for a conversation about the upcoming election. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at the NCCU School of Education auditori…

For the week of Oct. 21, 2024, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram to break down the totals from the first day of in-person early voting and bring a behind-the-scenes look at recent presidential campaign visits. Plus, the latest on two lawsuits. St…

On the latest episode of Under the Dome for the week of Oct. 14, 2024, host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleagues Kyle Ingram and Avi Bajpai. share what it was like on the floor of the Senate and House as lawmakers put the focus not on themselves, but on the people of Western North Carolin…

For the week of Oct. 7, 2024, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by N&O colleague Adam Wagner, who covers the environment and climate change to talk about what we know, and what we don’t, about Helene's impact. Plus, what recovery might look like. You can read all News & Observer coverage of Hurricane Helene with no paywall at new…

For the week of Sept. 30, 2024, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by Jason Husser of the Elon University Poll. Vaughan and Husser talk about the latest polls in North Carolina on the governor’s race and presidential race, plus what issues are important to people being polled. They also break down wha…

For the week of Sept. 23, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by our Washington correspondent Danielle Battaglia, to discuss the continued fallout over a CNN report alleging Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson made many vulgar, racist and sexually explicit comments on a pornography website. Host:…

For the week of Sept. 9, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief is joined by her politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram. to talk about the mini budget and Rep. Destin Hall, the champion of a significant element of the mini budget: requiring sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs…

For the week of Sept. 9, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by News & Observer assistant sports editor Steve Wiseman, who is also a reporter on the Duke University sports beat. They discuss how sports and politics intersect on the regular, from state laws to state championship celebrations. Ho…

For the week of Sept. 2, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper. They talk about the North Carolina’s governor race and the latest news about where the campaign stands for Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attor…

For the week of Aug. 26, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and Capitol bureau chief, is joined by politics reporter Kyle Ingram and metro intern William Tong to talk about former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance's campaign rally in Asheboro, a counter-programming to the week of Democratic National Convention news. Host: Daw…

For the week of August 19, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by her politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram to discuss the latest presidential poll, fundraising in the NC House, third party candidates, and, seasoning salt news. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram …

For the week of August 12, 2024. Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief is joined by higher education reporter Korie Dean and summer intern Emmy Martin. to talk about UNC-Chapel Hill’s Friday announcement that interim Chancellor Lee Roberts has been chosen as the permanent chancellor. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Ko…

For the week of August 5, 2024. Dawn Vaughan your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief is joined by her politics team colleague Avi Bajpai to talk about what the rest of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s time as governor will bring, and what happened at the General Assembly during the House’s one-day voting session last week. Host…

For the week of July 29, 2024. Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief is joined by our Washington, D.C., correspondent Danielle Battaglia to talk about the state of the presidential race, and what a whirlwind of news the month of July has been. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Danielle Battaglia Producer: Kevin Keister W…

N&O producer/intern Gabi Hartlaub and Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan talk about what it's like covering Cooper and what he's known for, from Covid response to budget battles with the NCGA. Host: Dawn Vaughan Producer: Gabi Hartlaub Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and le…

For the week of July 22, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by Raleigh politics and government reporter Anna Roman to talk about who is running in local Raleigh races this fall. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Anna Roman Producer: Kevin Keister Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under …

For the week of July 15, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by now-former state Sen. Jim Perry, Kinston Republican. Perry had powerful influence in the General Assembly, particularly finance, health care and the budget, and in his former role as majority whip. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Fo…

For the week of July 8, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by politics reporter Avi Bajpai, higher education reporter Korie Dean and summer intern Emmy Martin. They discuss how abortion is a major issue in the governor’s race between candidates Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democr…

For the week of July 1, 2024, Kyle Ingram, this week’s podcast host and politics reporter for The News & Observer, is joined by his politics team colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Avi Bajpai, to discuss the House and Senate adjourning their short session on Thursday after passing a flurry of bills. Host: Kyle Ingram Guests: Luciana Perez …

For the week of June 24, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by her politics team colleague Kyle Ingram and N&O environment and climate change reporter Adam Wagner to discuss this summer’s budget stalemate and environmental policy changes. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Kyle Ingram, Adam Wagne…

Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of June 17, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined by my politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean and Danielle Battaglia to talk about UNC System chancellor searches, …

For the week of June 10, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks with her legislative team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram about Democrats walking out in the senate, early voting, and the abortion lawsuit. You’ll also hear a clip from Senate leader Phil Berger talking about what he would want for any future abortion legislation. Host: Dawn Vaughan Gues…

Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of June 3, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined by my legislative team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Avi Bajpai and Kyle ingram Producer…

Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of May 27, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined by Asheville Democratic Rep. Caleb Rudow. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Rep. Caleb Rudow Producer: Kevin Keister Want even more …

Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of May 20, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined by my colleagues Avi Bajpai and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Avi Bajpai and Luciana Perez Uribe …

For the week of May 13, 2024 Dawn Vaughan talks with colleagues Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean about how the recent protests at UNC-Chapel Hill factor in to significant legislation moving through the General Assembly right now: the SHALOM Act and a mask bill. You’ll also hear a clip from Senate leader Phil Berger about why he supports a new mask bill po…

For the week of May 6, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks to Republican Sen. Vickie Sawyer and Democratic Sen. Natalie Murdock during our Under the Dome: Live! event at the N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh. They discuss everything from the protesters at UNC to the law enforcement officers killed in Charlotte to transportation policy, the budge…

For the week of April 29, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks with fellow state politics reporters Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram about how the General Assembly budget process is already underway: you’ll hear audio from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget proposal and Senate leader Phil Berger’s reaction. You’ll also hear Republican Rep. Jason Saine’s take o…

For the week of April 22, 2024, host and News & Observer Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by fellow state politics reporter Avi Bajai and investigative reporter Tyler Dukes. Previewing the upcoming legislative session, they discuss potential bills addressing video lottery terminals and the state budget. Tied to the budget are the needs o…

This week on the Under the Dome politics podcast, host Dawn Vaughan and higher education reporter Korie Dean talk about the possibility of legislation that could defund diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities in North Carolina. After the break, we talk about the new copper dome and roof on the state Capitol building, and wha…

For the week of April 8, 2024, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team reporters Avi Bajpai and Danielle Battaglia to talk about a major issue at the state and national levels: immigration. The two have written stories about the issue that will publish this week. It’s part of a national se…

For the week of April 1, 2024, Kyle Ingram fills in as week’s host for Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan and is joined by politics team colleagues DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia and state politics reporter Avi Bajpai. They talk about North Carolina’s perennial status as a "purple state" and what each party's campaign strategies may be to sway …

For the week of March 25, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan here is joined by a state lawmaker as guest: Rep. Maria Cervania, a Cary Democrat. Cervania is a freshman representative who previously served on the Wake County Board of Commissioners. She’s also the first Filipino person to serve in the General Assembly, elected in 2022 along with a historic wave …

We are about a month out from the start of the 2024 legislative short session, which is always held during an election year, so that changes the tone of the entire session. First, it’s usually shorter not just by design of the work itself, since there’s a budget adjustment bill to pass, but also because lawmakers want to have time to go out and cam…

For the week of March 11, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by fellow state politics reporters Avi Bajpai, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram. The four break down post-primary analysis of the N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals primary elections, as well as General Assembly races. The legislative primaries had some surprises, and some…

In this post-primary bonus episode, originally recorded live on X (formerly Twitter), Charlotte Observer and News & Observer politics reporters share their biggest takeaways from Election Night: From some surprises in the Council of State primaries, to what last night’s results tell us about how NC’s congressional delegation might look different in…

For the week of March 4, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by fellow politics reporters Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram to discuss the latest fundraising numbers for the gubernatorial primary frontrunners and what it means for the general election. We also talk about the primary for attorney general, looks ahead to the probable candidates for the genera…

fFor the week of Feb. 26, 2024, podcast host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan shares outtakes from a recent interview with State Treasurer Dale Folwell, a longshot candidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Folwell talks about his views on abortion restriction legislation, his primary opponent Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and what he t…

For the week of Feb. 19, 2024, host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan shares excerpts of a recent interview Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, who is running for governor. Hear Stein talk about the primary election, his friend and mentor Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, and his likely general election opponent: Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Ro…

Ready or not, we’re days away from the North Carolina polls opening for the 2024 Primary Election. Early voting begins Feb. 15 with the primary on March 5. With that comes a deluge of information — often in the form of TV ads — about candidates, their positions and their endorsements. It can be hard for the average voter to discern who is behind th…

On this latest episode for the week of Feb. 5, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan and N&O politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram talk about campaign finance reports, the U.S.-Mexico border and immigration policy, and much more. Stay tuned to the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Avi Bajpai, Kyle Ingram Execut…

On this latest episode for the week of Jan. 29, 2024, Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean, and Kyle Ingram talk about Lee Roberts, the new interim chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill, and some important discussions that took place at last week’s meeting of the UNC System’s Board of Governors. We also talk about recent developments in a legal challenge against one of …

In mid-October, The News & Observer requested communications from all 170 members of the North Carolina General Assembly, after GOP state lawmakers moved to shield all former and current legislators from having to comply with the state’s public records law. Reporting this story involved several steps: filing initial requests, following up with lawm…

Snow is expected up in Washington, D.C., in the coming days, but it is unlikely to chill out the gridlock in Congress right now. Capitol Hill correspondent Danielle Battaglia explains the latest drama related to the impending federal government shutdown and what that means going forward. Yearning to be part of that congressional scene are several p…

In our first episode of the new year, we bring you up to speed with a primary primer. Host Dawn Vaughan is joined by legislative team colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram to talk about primary ballots. They both recently wrote about the top of the ticket, which will, in the North Carolina primary on March 5, include incumbent Pre…

Our end-of-the-year Under the Dome podcast has the full News & Observer Capitol Press Corps team that covers the General Assembly. That’s host Dawn Vaughan, along with Avi Bajpai, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram. Listen to hear our list of 10 moments we’ll remember, and the conversation around each news story. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests…

In the latest episode, for the week of Dec. 11, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan talks with reporters Korie Dean and Makiya Seminera about political interference in higher education in North Carolina, and how that compares to Florida, another state that has had partisan influence in universities. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Korie Dean, Makiya Seminera Execut…