Due South

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How the college sports transfer portal has upended player recruitment

Duke University recently agreed to a settlement with quarterback Darian Mensah. Duke said Mensah violated his contract, and tried to prevent him from entering the transfer portal before the settlement. This is the latest high-profile incident involving the NCAA portal.

Brian Murphy, WRAL Investigative Sports Reporter

0:13:00

Southern Mixtape: Rissi Palmer’s ‘Perspectives’

Country recording artist Rissi Palmer rings in 2026 with “Perspectives,” a new EP that pays homage to the strength of Black Southern women. She performs songs from her new project and reflects on nearly 20 years of career longevity.

Rissi Palmer, award-winning songwriter, musician and host of “Color Me Country”

One year into President Trump's second term, we hear from David Graham, author of The Project, about how closely Trump followed the Project 2025 playbook, and what he's likely to turn his attention to in 2026.

David Graham, staff writer for The Atlantic; author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America; Adjunct Instructor of Journalism & Public Policy, DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy, Duke University

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While South Carolina grapples with a measles outbreak, many in North Carolina are concerned about our own rise in cases — NC has 15 reported measles cases since December 2025.

Amid these rises, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reduced the number of vaccines it recommends. Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with a pediatrician and medical historian about vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, and addressing parents’ confusion and concerns in this moment of conflicting guidance.

Dr. Jeffrey Baker, practicing pediatrician, a Professor of Pediatrics and History, and the Director of the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and History of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine

0:27:35

A neuroscience and psychology professor talks about what we know – and what we don’t yet know – about how social media impacts adolescent brain development.

This Due South encore conversation originally aired December 3, 2025.

Eva Telzer, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Co-director of the Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

On the Friday News Roundup... Sen. Thom Tillis speaks out strongly against Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security – and Stephen Miller, one of the president’s closest advisers. A vigil in Durham honors the life of VA nurse Alex Pretti, who was killed by federal immigration agents in Minnesota on January 24. These stories and more lead this week’s North Carolina news.

Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC

Claudia Rivera Cotto, Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC

Bryan Anderson, Statewide Politics Reporter for The Assembly, creator of the “Anderson Alerts” newsletter

Danielle Battaglia, Capitol Hill correspondent, The News & Observer/The Charlotte Observer/McClatchy

Brad Panovich, Chief Meteorologist, WCNC-TV 

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Jeff Tiberii speaks with the reporters behind the scoop about what the audio recording proves, and what it doesn’t.

Jeffrey Billman, politics and law reporter for The Assembly

Michael Hewlett, courts and law reporter for The Assembly

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For decades, religious groups and everyday community members have gathered in Graham, NC, outside the courthouse, to uplift the name of Wyatt Outlaw. A new book by UNC Press seeks to uncover why Outlaw has been erased from mainstream history books.

Belle Boggs, author and professor of English at North Carolina State University

Sylvester Allen Jr., writer, composer and director 

0:33:00

In her new collection, The Book of Alice, poet Diamond Forde explores her Southern family roots through researching the life of her late grandmother.

Diamond Forde, poet, assistant professor of English at North Carolina State University and author of the new poetry collection, The Book of Alice

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Immigration enforcement has transformed from a campaign promise to a months-long campaign of intimidation. Federal ICE agents are ramping up their latest operation in Portland, Maine this week, following an astonishing effort in Minneapolis that killed two Americans. 

Federal agents carried out operations in North Carolina across November and December. There is new data available from those raids. 

We discuss that and how habeas corpus has played a role in North Carolinians being released from ICE detention.

Laura Lee, Editorial Director, NC Local, a statewide nonprofit news organization

Related:

0:13:00

Apex’s first Civilian Crash Investigator aims to ease the burden on the rest of the police department from traffic and accidents.

Julia Vanbuskirk, Civilian Crash Investigator for the Town of Apex

Officer Jeremy Short, Town of Apex Traffic Safety Unit

0:33:00

Comedian Ms. Pat joins Due South to discuss her tumultuous early life in Atlanta, her career in comedy and her upcoming tour, which is making its way to the Carolina Theatre in Durham on January 30.

Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, standup comedian, actress, and author

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The 2005 ice storm that kept thousands of Wake County Public Schools kids and staff at school overnight

School closures due to winter weather are a frequent reality here in central North Carolina, and when several inches of snow are in the forecast, it makes sense. But other times, parents are left scrambling for childcare when it’s not clear exactly what the weather threat is.

Today on Due South, the 2005 storm that many believe still has an impact on school closure decisions in the Triangle a generation later. Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with the superintendent of Wake County Public Schools during that ice storm about the decision to keep thousands of students overnight at school rather than risk the dangers of the gridlocked, icy roads.

Dr. Bill McNeal, former superintendent, Wake County Public School System

0:33:00

North Carolina isn’t (that) bad at coping with winter weather

Jeremy Markovich of NC Rabbit Hole takes a look at a viral moment from our region’s recent stormy past and explains why we might not be as bad at handling winter weather as we thought.

Jeremy Markovich, writer and journalist, NC Rabbit Hole newsletter

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The Triangle got hit with less ice and snow than anticipated. Where this storm measures up, and why these winter storms are so difficult to forecast in North Carolina.

Corey Davis, Assistant State Climatologist

0:17:56

Leoneda Inge speaks with an expert on American religious history to discuss the context of a group of Buddhist monks' 'Walk for Peace.' And a report from the march by WUNC’s Aaron Sanchez-Guerra.

Quinton Dixie, research professor and the Director of the Office of Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School

Aaron Sanchez-Guerra, Race, Class and Communities Reporter WUNC News

0:33:00

As part of our North Carolina New Year’s Resolutions series, Due South checks in with Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland about how the state’s churches and faith communities are preparing to meet what may be tumultuous economic,politicaland cultural times in the year ahead.

Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director for the North Carolina Council of Churches

On this week's North Carolina News Roundup...

A winter storm outlook from Assistant State Climatologist Corey Davis, an update on measles in North Carolina, the future of the Dean Dome, and the Walk for Peace comes to the Triangle.

Corey Davis, Assistant State Climatologist
Adam Wagner, reporter/editor covering state politics for the North Carolina Newsroom
Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer
Zachery Eanes, reporter, Axios Raleigh
Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, Race, Class & Communities Reporter, WUNC

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More than 10 cases of measles have been reported in the state since December. 

Jeff Tiberii speaks with a health reporter to get the latest details of the cases, and how best to protect your own health.

Michelle Crouch, Reporter NC Health News and The Charlotte Ledger

0:17:52

A debrief on the Cary Town Manager fiasco

Jeff talks with the News & Observer's Nathan Collins about the Town Manager debacle in Cary.

Nathan Collins, investigative reporter atThe News & Observer

0:33:00

As part of our New Year’s Resolution series, poet, activist and scholar Alexis Pauline Gumbs joins Leoneda Inge to share her strategies for greeting 2026 with a grateful heart and an open mind.

Alexis Pauline Gumbs, scholar, poet, author