R&D in the NC

104 days into the job, Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington is already making history.

Just one day after exercising one of the rarest powers in Charlotte politics, a mayoral veto, Harrington joins Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston for a timely conversation about leadership, City Council dynamics, and the future of the Queen City.

The mayor breaks down his decision to veto Council's move to delay the airport lease vote, what it means for his relationship with fellow council members, and how he's navigating a political landscape where several colleagues may have their sights set on his job.

Plus, with Election Day approaching, we put the mayor on the spot to explain Charlotte's $425 million bond referendum in plain English. What's the difference between these bonds and the transportation sales tax voters already approved? Where will the money go? And what should taxpayers expect in return?

From historic political decisions to the challenges of leading Charlotte, it's a conversation about what happens when a consensus builder suddenly has to make some tough calls.

Two former City Council members. One sitting mayor. Plenty to talk about.

🎙️ R&D in the NC is hosted by Republican Tariq Bokhari and Democrat Larken Egleston, bringing bipartisan perspectives and firsthand experience to the politics, policies, and personalities shaping North Carolina.

🏆 2026 Signal Awards Finalist: Best Video Podcast, Co-Host Team.

Charlotte politics has officially gone wild. 🦦

A brand-new nature museum is ready to open, but a multimillion-dollar standoff with Mecklenburg County has the doors locked and the otters caught in the middle. Welcome to OTTER MANIA!

This week on R&D in the NC, former Charlotte City Councilmen Tariq Bokhari (R) and Larken Egleston (D) are back for a guest-free episode breaking down the biggest stories shaking Charlotte and North Carolina — with plenty of laughs, a few disagreements, and the perspective of two guys who've actually been in the rooms where these decisions get made.

Here's what's on tap:

🏆 We're up against Michelle Obama?! R&D in the NC is a national Signal Awards finalist for Best Video Podcast Co-Host Team! We make our case for why a Republican and Democrat who can disagree without hating each other deserve your vote.

🦦 OTTER MANIA: Discovery Place's new nature museum is ready to open, but Mecklenburg County and the nonprofit remain locked in a financial standoff. Can taxpayers get every dime they're owed AND get the museum open? We break down the politics, the personalities, and the path to a solution.

🏫 CMS CHAOS: Leadership upheaval, investigations, and mounting questions about accountability at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Has the school board lost control of the narrative — and what happens next?

⛽ GAS TAX SHOWDOWN: Is suspending North Carolina's gas tax real relief for working families or just political theater?

🗳️ NC SENATE SHAKEUP: National Republican money is shifting away from North Carolina. What does that tell us about the state of the Senate race, and who's really winning the political chess match?

✈️ NEXT WEEK'S BIG STORY: The Charlotte airport debate is heating up, and we're previewing the discussion ahead.

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We're competing against some of the biggest names in podcasting, including Michelle Obama. If you believe America needs more conversations between people who disagree — and fewer people screaming past each other — we'd love your support.

Vote for R&D in the NC in the Signal Awards Listener's Choice competition:
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Subscribe and follow R&D in the NC for candid conversations about Charlotte, North Carolina politics, and what really happens behind the headlines.

Two parties. Two perspectives. One conversation.

Less than 24 hours after the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted 5–4 to fire Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill, Board Member Anna London — one of the four votes against her termination — joins R&D in the NC to take us inside one of the most consequential nights in recent CMS history.

We unpack what happened behind closed doors, why Hill was fired just weeks after being reinstated, the $379,000 investigation that found no evidence of improper conduct by the superintendent, and the growing questions surrounding CMS contracts, outside law firms, consultant Raki McGregor, and Board governance.

We also dig into the timeline: Who knew what, and when? Why was Hill brought back and then fired? What did Board members know about the Poyner Spruill/Qonnect arrangements? And where does CMS go from here?

R&D in the NC — Episode 28
Featuring CMS Board Member Anna London.

Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem James “Smuggie” Mitchell has seen a LOT in more than two decades at City Hall — and right now, Charlotte is facing some of its biggest decisions yet.

On Episode 27 of R&D in the NC, Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston sit down with “Smuggie” for a wide-ranging conversation about where Charlotte is headed — and whether the way the city gets things done is changing.

We get into:

• The changing “Charlotte Way” — and whether it still exists
• His bid to become Charlotte’s interim mayor and what happened next
• The I-77 toll lane fight and what should happen now
• Why his position on I-77 evolved
• Charlotte’s data center moratorium and the difference between good and bad growth
• Public safety and whether Charlotte residents feel safe
• The airport, workers and Charlotte’s economic future
• Growth, development and the relationship between neighborhoods and the business community
• What Charlotte needs to get right over the next five years
• And what comes next for James “Smuggie” Mitchell

After more than 20 years in Charlotte politics, Smuggie has a unique perspective on how the city used to work, how it works today — and where it goes from here.

R&D in the NC — where a Republican and a Democrat skip the talking points and get into how North Carolina politics actually works.

After months of headlines, speculation and unanswered questions surrounding the investigation of CMS Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill, we finally get a deeper look at what happened — and what Charlotte should expect to learn next.

CMS Board Member Dr. Charlitta Hatch joins R&D in the NC for what may be the most candid, extended public conversation yet about the superintendent saga.

Hatch explains why she led the charge this week to make the investigation findings public, why she believes the Board's handling of the situation has created a perception problem, and what she thinks parents and taxpayers may — and may not — ultimately find when the report is released.

Is there a major “smoking gun” coming? Why did the Board allow months of speculation to build? And what does transparency look like when personnel laws limit what elected officials can actually say?

We also zoom out to CMS's first week of school: what's going well, the enormous logistical challenge of getting students to and from school every day, and some of the bigger questions facing public education — including how AI should fit into the classroom.

It’s an unusually open conversation with the School Board member now pushing CMS to tell the public more.

Episode 26 of R&D in the NC with Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston.

Charlotte's biggest public safety debate may come down to just a handful of votes.Freshman City Councilwoman Joi Mayo joined us on episode 25 for one of the most consequential conversations yet on Charlotte's proposed youth curfew—and in the middle of our discussion, she revealed something newsworthy: she floated a compromise that she says could earn her support and potentially help build a broader City Council consensus.If the curfew's start time were moved from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Mayo explains why that could change her vote—and says she plans to reach out to fellow council members to see whether that adjustment could produce the votes needed for passage.It's one of those rare moments where a policy debate moves from talking points to live negotiations.We also spend time getting to know one of Charlotte's newest elected leaders:Joi Mayo's background and what inspired her to run for City Council-Her goals for the years ahead-How she's approaching difficult decisions as a freshman council member-Other major issues facing Charlotte beyond the curfew debateWhether you support the curfew or oppose it, this episode provides an inside look at how local policy is actually made—and how compromise sometimes determines the outcome.Chapters:00:00 Introduction02:24 Who is Joi?11:00 Curfew13:45 Her Compromise?27:40 Other Stuff

Charlotte City Council returns from summer break next week—and several of the city’s biggest unresolved issues will be waiting for them.

In Episode 24, Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston break down what to watch as the city’s new political chapter begins:

• What happens next in the I-77 toll debate
• Whether Charlotte is ready to regulate e-bikes
• The growing conversation around youth curfews
• Where the data center moratorium stands
• What the beginning of Mayor Rob Harrington’s term could mean for City Hall

We separate the political noise from the decisions that could actually affect Charlotte—and identify the questions elected leaders will have to answer when they return.

We also share where R&D in the NC is heading next: beyond Charlotte, into the communities, leaders and debates shaping North Carolina from the mountains to the coast.

Local issues. Different perspectives. A conversation that helps you decide what to think.

Subscribe as R&D in the NC expands across the state.

County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell joins R&D in the NC to discuss the biggest issues facing Mecklenburg County today—and what's coming next.

In this episode, we cover:

• The latest on the I-77 toll lanes battle as the decision shifts to Raleigh
• Mecklenburg County's newly adopted budget and the priorities behind it
• The biggest challenges and opportunities the County will face over the next year
• How county leadership is thinking about growth, infrastructure, and the future of the Charlotte region

Whether you follow local government closely or just want to understand the decisions shaping Charlotte's future, this conversation offers an inside look at the issues that matter most.

Subscribe for more in-depth conversations with North Carolina's policymakers, business leaders, and decision-makers, only on R&D in the NC.

Charlotte City Council's newest member, JD Mazuera Arias, has quickly found himself at the center of some of the city's biggest political battles.

In this episode of R&D in the NC, JD joins us for an in-depth conversation about:

• Why he cast the surprise swing vote that helped decide Charlotte's next mayor
• His perspective on the ongoing Charlotte Douglas Airport governance fight
• Why he believes leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani represent the future of the Democratic Party
• His vision for Charlotte and why he's challenging the political status quo

Whether you agree with him or not, this conversation offers an unfiltered look at one of the most influential new voices shaping Charlotte politics.

Subscribe for weekly conversations with the leaders making decisions that impact North Carolina before the headlines catch up.

Charlotte City Council will select the city's next mayor on Monday, and State Senator Caleb Theodros is one of the five finalists still standing.

In this special edition of R&D in the NC, Caleb joins us for a long-form conversation about his background, leadership style, vision for Charlotte, and why he believes he's the right choice to serve as mayor. We also discuss some of the biggest issues facing the city, including growth, transportation, housing, economic development, and the role of the mayor during this critical moment.

To close out the episode, Larken and Tariq break down exactly what happens next, how Monday's selection process works, and what council members will likely be weighing as they make their decision.

Whether you're following the mayoral appointment closely or simply want to get to know one of the finalists, this episode provides an unfiltered look at Caleb Theodros and the road ahead for Charlotte.