R&D in the NC

With 69 applicants vying to become Charlotte's next interim mayor, only a handful are widely viewed as having a realistic path to the job. In this episode of R&D in the NC, we sit down with two members of what Larken Egleston has dubbed the "Serious 6" — Mike Evans and Rob Harrington.

We discuss their backgrounds, why they applied, what they believe Charlotte needs from its next mayor, and their views on some of the biggest issues facing the city today. From leadership style and council dynamics to growth, transportation, public safety, and economic development, both candidates make their case directly to Charlotte residents and the council members who will ultimately cast the deciding votes.

If you're trying to understand who could be leading Charlotte in the coming weeks, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Former Charlotte City Councilmember and Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Harold Cogdell joins us for a candid, long-form conversation as he seeks appointment as Charlotte’s next mayor.

With Mayor Vi Lyles stepping down and City Council preparing to choose an interim mayor from a field of more than 100 applicants, Cogdell has emerged as one of the leading contenders. We discuss his background, political career, why he decided to put his name forward, how he would approach the role, and the controversies and decisions from his past that continue to generate questions today.

Whether you're a council member evaluating candidates or a Charlotte resident trying to understand who Harold Cogdell is and what he stands for, this conversation provides an opportunity to hear directly from him in his own words.

This week on R&D in the NC, Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston sit down with Charlotte City Councilwoman Renee Johnson, the driving force behind the controversial vote to rescind support for the I-77 South toll lane project.

Councilwoman Johnson walks through what led to the vote, why she pushed for it, and what happens next as transportation leaders, elected officials, and residents debate the future of mobility in Charlotte.

The conversation also dives into several of the biggest issues facing the city right now:

• The I-77 toll lane controversy and its aftermath
• Charlotte's upcoming budget decisions
• The proposed data center moratorium and what it means for growth
• The race to select Charlotte's interim mayor
• The broader challenges of managing growth, infrastructure, and public trust

Whether you're following Charlotte politics closely or just trying to understand the decisions shaping the city's future, this episode provides a candid look at one of the most consequential moments at City Hall this year.

Subscribe for weekly conversations with the policymakers, business leaders, and community voices shaping North Carolina's future.

This week on R&D in the NC, we sit down with Charlotte City Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera for one of the most candid conversations yet.

We dive deep into the heated public hearing over Charlotte’s proposed data center moratorium, why tensions exploded Tuesday night, and why Ajmera has emerged as one of the leading voices pushing for stronger guardrails and community protections.

We also break down:

• The stunning collapse of the I-77 toll lane rescission effort
• What really happened behind the scenes at Council
• The growing divide over Charlotte’s future growth model
• The interim mayor process currently unfolding
• And we ask Dimple directly: Is she considering a run for mayor?

If you want the inside story on the biggest political fights shaping Charlotte right now, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

🎙️ R&D in the NC brings you the conversations, strategy, and behind-the-scenes insight driving North Carolina politics, business, innovation, and growth.

#Charlotte #NorthCarolina #DataCenters #CharlottePolitics #DimpleAjmera #RAndDintheNC #AI #EconomicDevelopment #I77 #MayorRace

Episode 16 of R&D in the NC is here, featuring special guest Charlotte City Councilwoman Dante Anderson.

This week, we unpack one of the most shocking transportation votes in recent Charlotte history as the CRTPO unexpectedly rescinded the I-77 toll lane plan, potentially killing the project entirely. What happened behind the scenes? Who saw it coming? And what does this mean for commuters, regional politics, and the future of transportation in North Carolina?

We also dive into the growing battle over the proposed Charlotte data center moratorium ahead of next week’s major public hearing. From misinformation around power and water usage to the economic and AI implications for Charlotte’s future, this debate is quickly becoming one of the most important development fights in the region.

And finally, we ask Councilwoman Anderson point blank: Is she running for Mayor?

Politics, growth, transportation, AI, economic development, and the future of Charlotte — all in one episode.

🎙️ R&D in the NC Ep. 16
📍 Recorded in Charlotte, North Carolina

#Charlotte #I77 #TollLanes #CRTPO #DataCenters #CharlottePolitics #NorthCarolina #AI #EconomicDevelopment #MayorRace

This week on R&D in the NC Episode 15, we sit down with Charlotte City Councilwoman Victoria Watlington immediately following one of the most chaotic and consequential Charlotte City Council meetings in recent memory.

We asked the question everyone is asking: Is she running for mayor?

From there, we unpacked the political earthquake currently shaking Charlotte:

• The stunning council vote on the $3B+ I-77 toll lane project
• The rapidly escalating push for a Charlotte data center moratorium
• The behind-the-scenes dynamics surrounding the interim mayor appointment process after Mayor Vi Lyles announced her resignation

This episode is part insider political strategy session, part breaking news analysis, and part look ahead at who may shape Charlotte’s future over the next decade.

If you care about Charlotte politics, growth, infrastructure, business, transportation, or where the city is headed next — this is one you don’t want to miss.

🎙️ R&D in the NC with Tariq Bokhari & Larken Egleston
Subscribe for weekly deep dives into North Carolina politics, business, growth, transportation, technology, and the stories shaping the future of Charlotte and beyond.

Charlotte politics changed overnight.

In Episode 14 of R&D in the NC, we dedicate the entire show to the shocking announcement that Vi Lyles will resign as Mayor of Charlotte months after winning reelection. With decades of inside experience in Charlotte government and politics, we break down what’s REALLY happening beneath the headlines.

In this episode, we dive into three major questions:

• What actually drove Mayor Lyles’ resignation
• Who is most likely to become Charlotte’s interim mayor
• What Vi Lyles’ long-term legacy will ultimately be for Charlotte

We also discuss the growing behind-the-scenes concerns that had been building for months, the political battle now forming around succession, and how this moment could completely reshape the 2027 mayoral race and the future direction of Charlotte.

This is the deep-dive conversation you won’t get from the headlines.

#Charlotte #ViLyles #CharlottePolitics #MayorViLyles #NorthCarolina #CharlotteNC #Politics #LocalPolitics #RNDintheNC

This week on Episode 13, we break down three major flashpoints shaping Charlotte’s future—and the surprising way they all collided in one week.

First, City Council used the typically routine “council topics” portion of the meeting to push for a potential moratorium on data centers. We unpack what’s driving the concern, and where the conversation is missing a more strategic path forward, including the role of community benefits and smarter negotiations instead of blanket pauses.

Next, the I-77 toll lane project is back in the spotlight. What happened inside the room, who’s holding the line, and whether this issue could once again become a defining political wedge in Charlotte.

Finally, we dive into the growing tension between the state legislature and local governments over efforts to cap property tax increases.

This episode connects the dots between policy, politics, and long-term growth—giving you the inside perspective on how decisions are really being made and what it means for the region’s future.

Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of the biggest stories shaping North Carolina.

In Episode 12 of R&D in the NC, we bring on our first guest of the rebooted podcast era: Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham.

And we didn’t ease into it.

We asked him point blank: Is he running for Mayor of Charlotte?
From there, we dive straight into one of the most defining issues in the city right now: what actually happens next with the I-77 toll project—and who owns the outcome.

This conversation goes beyond headlines. It’s a candid, inside-the-room look at how decisions are really made, where political alliances stand, and what could shape the next era of leadership in Charlotte.

We also hit the rest of what’s happening around town:

• The latest banking expansion news and what it means for SouthPark vs Uptown
• A quick sports check: Charlotte Hornets fall short in the play-in, while the Charlotte Checkers make a playoff push
• Other key local stories you should be paying attention to

If you want real context—not just surface-level takes—this is one to watch.

Subscribe for weekly deep dives on the people, politics, and forces shaping North Carolina.

Something big just started in Charlotte... and most people probably didn't even notice it.

In Episode 11 of R&D in the NC, we break down what we believe was the first unofficial mayoral debate of the next Charlotte election cycle… even though it wasn’t labeled that way.

Because of our experience inside City Hall, we spotted something others wouldn’t: multiple sitting incumbents (serious contenders for mayor) beginning to draw contrasts, test messages, and position themselves publicly. That moment likely marks the beginning of what will be an 18-month political battle to lead Charlotte.

And here’s why that matters: Charlotte hasn’t seen an open mayor’s race like this in the modern era. No clear successor. Multiple viable candidates. And it’s starting earlier than anyone expected.

If you want to understand where Charlotte leadership is headed—and who might emerge on top—this is the starting point.