Hosts Jonathan Owens and Ardis Watkins unpack the Duke–Aetna contract dispute, explaining how secret hospital reimbursements affect State Health Plan members and push up premiums, and why members should urge State Treasurer Brad Briner and state lawmakers to demand transparency.

The episode also previews the General Assembly’s return and the criminal justice measures under consideration, from magistrate authority to renewed debate over the death penalty, while raising broader concerns about budget priorities and staffing shortages.

In a Gen Z Takeover interview, Latoya Satterwhite, a teacher assistant in Granville County, shares her experience working with exceptional children, the challenges of public‑school pay and career advancement, mental‑health stresses, and how membership in SEANC supports state employees and retirees.