Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell's political career has taken her from Raleigh City Council, to the North Carolina Senate, to serving as State Treasurer, and now back to leading the Capital City.

Janet reflects on her time in the Senate — including her decision to hold out on the state lottery vote as one of the “Lottery Five,” a group of Democrats who initially opposed the measure — and how that experience shaped her independence and leadership style. She also discusses her vision for Raleigh’s future, from sustainable growth and smart financial management to the ambitious effort to attract a Major League Baseball team to the City of Oaks.

Plus, Skye and Brian break down an extraordinary week in #ncpol: a sharp Senate press release aimed at House leadership, a school system facing scrutiny, the latest congressional maps lawsuit, how the federal government shutdown is affecting the state, and the political community mourning two recent deaths in North Carolina politics.

The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the NC Pork Council, and the NC Healthcare Association.