Charlotte, We Need to Talk

Charlotte is negotiating a 10-year airport deal worth billions. But what about the workers keeping the airport running? After a contract worker’s death, a 24-hour strike, and growing concerns over safety, staffing, and pay, City Council faces a November 9 vote. We break down the money, the union fight, the new state law, and what Charlotte can—and can’t—do to hold the system accountable.

Six CMPD officers face termination amid a growing investigation into an officers’ group chat. We break down the allegations, traffic-stop data, and the questions Charlotte needs answered about police accountability.

Workers raised concerns about pay and favoritism. Audits identified gaps in contract documentation and billing controls. And millions of dollars are committed to the infrastructure Charlotte depends on. So who's making sure the system works for the people paying for it?

Four years of leadership changes, millions in spending questions, political divisions, and now the FBI. How did Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools get here? We trace the contracts, the people, and the power struggle behind CMS’s growing crisis—and the questions investigators still need to answer.

The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office have confirmed an investigation related to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In this episode, we break down what we actually know: millions in public money, questions surrounding CMS contracts and invoices, a $30,000-a-month consulting arrangement, the At Home in CMS housing project, county funding, major leadership turnover, and the firing of Superintendent Crystal Hill.

We also examine Charlotte’s history of public corruption and why federal investigators entering the story makes transparency more important.

No accusations. No assumptions. Just the money, the documents, the questions, and what we know so far.

Charlotte already has data centers—but the city is deciding how many more it wants. We break down the jobs, tax revenue, water use, questions about infrastructure demands, and the proposed extension of Charlotte's data center moratorium.

A look at Charlotte’s fight over I-77, toll lanes, public land, and whether the city did enough to protect its interests before giving in.