Jonathan Owens, Ardis Watkins, and Sammy Cline break down North Carolina’s unresolved Senate District 26 recount, Governor Stein’s new “critical needs” budget targeting raises for correctional officers, teachers, and state staff, and the $319M Medicaid rebase request.

We also discuss expanding the Lantern surgical program for state employees, Gen Z’s shifting political identity, the Ticketmaster antitrust fight, and a light St. Patrick’s Day conversation.