Under the Dome

By The News & ObserverNews Government

Under the Dome episodes

November 04 Bonus election episode: Aftermath of NC's blue wave.
On a bonus episode of Under the Dome out this morning, what the blue wave means for North Carolina's congressional and legislative power dynamics. Capitol bureau chief and host Dawn Vaughan was joined by congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia and two News & Observer breaking news reporters who were out in the field on election night: Faith Wardwell and Twumasi Duah-Mensah.

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23 min
November 03 It's Election Day in NC! What to know today
Today on a new episode of the Under the Dome podcast: What we're watching on Election Day, including major races and turnout. Capitol bureau chief and host Dawn Vaughan talks with democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia. Stay tuned until the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week.

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21 min
October 28 NC early voting + county view of property taxes
On this Oct. 27, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, Capitol bureau chief and host Dawn Vaughan talks with democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and local government reporter Andrea Galliano a week before Election Day. They share the latest on early voting totals in North Carolina and what Wake County commissioners candidates say about property tax increases. Stay tuned until the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week.

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21 min
October 20 Sen. Tillis' tell-all book + Congressional races to watch
On this Oct. 20, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances. What US Sen. Thom Tillis said in his tell-all book that North Carolinians should know about, plus the start of early voting and Congressional races to watch. Stay tuned to the end for our picks for Headline of the Week.

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24 min
October 13 Gas tax pause, early voting and Voter ID
On this Oct. 13, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances. What the gas tax pause means for your money and politics, plus explaining the Voter ID amendment and what to know for the start of early voting. And our picks for Headliner of the Week.

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25 min
October 06 A month before election, GOP shifts money from Whatley, lawmakers plan gas session
On this Oct. 6, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's politics podcast, Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan, Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia and democracy reporter Kyle Ingram talk about Republicans shifting money away from the US Senate race in NC, lawmakers planning a sudden gas tax session, and changing polls in Congressional races. Plus the Supreme Court race to watch and Headliner of the Week.
Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.
Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

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22 min
September 29 Politics of UNC Chapel Hill funding + NC House race to watch
Podcast summary: On this Sept. 29, 2026 episode of The News & Observer politics podcast Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances about political power and the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees -- and what the university is asking for from the General Assembly. Plus our election race to watch for this week, NC House District 62. And their picks for Headliner of the Week.

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22 min
September 22 UNC System athletics, tuition increases, and Wake County DAs
On this Sept. 22, 2026, episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell is joined by investigative reporter Dan Kane to discuss recent developments in a high-profile lobbying case and a shortage of prosecutors at the Wake County district attorney's office. Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Jane Winik Sartwel
Guest: Dan Kane
Producer: Kevin Keister
Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.
Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

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25 min
September 15 WUNC's Colin Campbell on state-owned vacant historic houses + election underway
On this Sept. 15, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and WUNC radio's Capitol bureau chief Colin Campbell. They discuss Campbell's coverage of several state-owned vacant historic houses in downtown Raleigh as well as Ingram's coverage of voting now underway in the 2026 election. Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Kyle Ingram & Colin Campbell
Producer: Kevin Keister
Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.
Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

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23 min
September 08 DMV, ferries and roads + NC11 race to watch
On this Sept. 8, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with transportation reporter Richard Stradling about DMV wait times, ferry tolls and major project updates as well as Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia about this week's Race to Watch: US House District 11. Plus our picks for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Richard Stradling & Danielle Battaglia
Producer: Kevin Keister
Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.
Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

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23 min

About Under the Dome

From the publisher's feed

Each week, the Under the Dome team at The News & Observer brings you the most in-depth analysis of topics in state government and politics for North Carolina. Learn more at newsobserver.com/dome