On this episode of The News & Observer's politics podcast, Under the Dome, NC Insider editor Lars Dolder fills in as host for Dawn Vaughan and talks to politics team freelancer Kyle Ingram, Charlotte Observer local news editor Josh Bergeron and congressional correspondent Danielle Battaglia about Rep. Tricia Cotham defection from the Democratic Party to the NC GOP House caucus. Plus an update on the state budget and their picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Lars Dolder

Guests: NC politics freelance reporter Kyle Ingram, The Charlotte Observer local news editor Josh Bergeron and congressional correspondent Danielle Battaglia

Executive Producer: Jordan Schrader

Producer and editor: Laura Brache

For more North Carolina government and politics news, subscribe to the Under the Dome politics newsletter from The News & Observer at newsobserver.com/newsletters and NC Insider at ncinsider.com. Qualified business users are eligible for a short free trial of the daily NC Insider newsletter, as well as a demo account for our Insider Legislative Tracking service. Submit this form: t.co/2ivpV5NSuY

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices