Under the Dome

By The News & Observer

What's Under the Dome about?

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

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Under the Dome episodes:

06.24.2024
Budget summer cooling, and environmental policy
For the week of June 24, 2024, Dawn Vaughan, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by her politics team colleague Kyle Ingram and N&O; environment and climate change reporter Adam Wagner to discuss...
06.17.2024
The House’s budget move, UNC leadership search and voters
Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of June 17, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined...
06.10.2024
Drama in the Senate over surprise mask/campaign finance bill
For the week of June 10, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks with her legislative team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram about Democrats walking out in the senate, early voting, and the abortion lawsuit. You’ll also hear a clip from...
06.03.2024
It’s already June and the NCGA still has a long to-do list
Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of June 3, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined...
05.27.2024
Asheville Rep. Caleb Rudow on bipartisan singing and his future
Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of May 27, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined...
05.20.2024
Masks, ICE and skydiving coming up at the legislature
Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of May 20, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined...
05.13.2024
Masks legislation and the Shalom Act are pending after UNC protests
For the week of May 13, 2024 Dawn Vaughan talks with colleagues Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean about how the recent protests at UNC-Chapel Hill factor in to significant legislation moving through the General Assembly right now: the SHALOM Act...
05.06.2024
Under the Dome: Live! feat. Sens. Sawyer and Murdock on police, UNC protests and transit
For the week of May 6, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks to Republican Sen. Vickie Sawyer and Democratic Sen. Natalie Murdock during our Under the Dome: Live! event at the N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh. They discuss everything...
04.29.2024
With the session underway, the budget and guns are already issues
For the week of April 29, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks with fellow state politics reporters Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram about how the General Assembly budget process is already underway: you’ll hear audio from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget...
04.22.2024
A legislative session preview, plus more NC eCourts problems
For the week of April 22, 2024, host and News & Observer Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by fellow state politics reporter Avi Bajai and investigative reporter Tyler Dukes. Previewing the upcoming legislative session, they discuss potential bills...
04.15.2024
DEI politics in higher ed, the upcoming NCGA session and the actual Dome
This week on the Under the Dome politics podcast, host Dawn Vaughan and higher education reporter Korie Dean talk about the possibility of legislation that could defund diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities in North Carolina. After the...
04.08.2024
Immigration and the return of the ICE-sheriffs bill in North Carolina
For the week of April 8, 2024, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team reporters Avi Bajpai and Danielle Battaglia to talk about a major issue at the state and...
04.01.2024
Trump and Biden target NC for 2024 wins and a new NCGOP leader elected
For the week of April 1, 2024, Kyle Ingram fills in as week’s host for Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan and is joined by politics team colleagues DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia and state politics reporter Avi Bajpai. They talk about...
03.25.2024
Rep. Maria Cervania on life as a freshman Democratic lawmaker
For the week of March 25, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan here is joined by a state lawmaker as guest: Rep. Maria Cervania, a Cary Democrat. Cervania is a freshman representative who previously served on the Wake County Board of...
03.18.2024
What primary results mean for the NCGA short session feat. WUNC's Colin Campbell
We are about a month out from the start of the 2024 legislative short session, which is always held during an election year, so that changes the tone of the entire session. First, it’s usually shorter not just by design...
03.11.2024
Primary results in NC court races and what it means for the general election
For the week of March 11, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by fellow state politics reporters Avi Bajpai, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram. The four break down post-primary analysis of the N.C. Supreme Court and Court of...
03.06.2024
Bonus Episode: Surprises, upsets and takeaways from the 2024 NC Primary Election
In this post-primary bonus episode, originally recorded live on X (formerly Twitter), Charlotte Observer and News & Observer politics reporters share their biggest takeaways from Election Night: From some surprises in the Council of State primaries, to what last night’s...
03.04.2024
NC Primary Day is here: Frontrunner fundraising, candidates and campaigns to watch
For the week of March 4, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by fellow politics reporters Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram to discuss the latest fundraising numbers for the gubernatorial primary frontrunners and what it means for the general election....
02.26.2024
Republican gubernatorial candidate Dale Folwell on what conservatism means to him
fFor the week of Feb. 26, 2024, podcast host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan shares outtakes from a recent interview with State Treasurer Dale Folwell, a longshot candidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Folwell talks about his views...
02.19.2024
Josh Stein talks labor issues, his opponents, and why he wants to be governor
For the week of Feb. 19, 2024, host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan shares excerpts of a recent interview Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, who is running for governor. Hear Stein talk about the primary election, his friend...
02.12.2024
Breaking down NC's upcoming primary: Endorsements, races to watch and the Black voter bloc
Ready or not, we’re days away from the North Carolina polls opening for the 2024 Primary Election. Early voting begins Feb. 15 with the primary on March 5. With that comes a deluge of information — often in the form...
02.05.2024
What we found in campaign finance reports, plus border politics
On this latest episode for the week of Feb. 5, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan and N&O; politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram talk about campaign finance reports, the U.S.-Mexico border and immigration policy, and much more. Stay tuned...
01.29.2024
Goings-on at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC elections bills, and Oscar noms
On this latest episode for the week of Jan. 29, 2024, Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean, and Kyle Ingram talk about Lee Roberts, the new interim chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill, and some important discussions that took place at last week’s meeting...
01.22.2024
The people's business: Inside The N&O’s reporting on government transparency in North Carolina
In mid-October, The News & Observer requested communications from all 170 members of the North Carolina General Assembly, after GOP state lawmakers moved to shield all former and current legislators from having to comply with the state’s public records law....
01.15.2024
What gridlock in Congress could mean for government shutdown, plus NC primary endorsements
Snow is expected up in Washington, D.C., in the coming days, but it is unlikely to chill out the gridlock in Congress right now. Capitol Hill correspondent Danielle Battaglia explains the latest drama related to the impending federal government shutdown...
01.08.2024
Primary primer: What to expect in NC primary ballots this election season
In our first episode of the new year, we bring you up to speed with a primary primer. Host Dawn Vaughan is joined by legislative team colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram to talk about primary ballots. They...
12.18.2023
The 10 moments we’ll remember from 2023 in NC politics news
Our end-of-the-year Under the Dome podcast has the full News & Observer Capitol Press Corps team that covers the General Assembly. That’s host Dawn Vaughan, along with Avi Bajpai, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram. Listen to hear our...
12.11.2023
Parallels with Florida seen in political influence on NC higher ed
In the latest episode, for the week of Dec. 11, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan talks with reporters Korie Dean and Makiya Seminera about political interference in higher education in North Carolina, and how that compares to Florida, another state that...
12.04.2023
Who’s in and who’s out for Congress as candidate filing starts
In the latest episode, for the week of Dec. 4, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan talks with our Washington, D.C., correspondent Danielle Battaglia. They discuss what we know, and what we don’t, about who will file to run for Congress in...
11.20.2023
Filling up on NC candidates filing for election for Thanksgiving
In the latest episode, for the week of Nov. 20, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan talks about the latest in the run-up to candidate filing with N&O; politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram. Stayed tuned until the end for...
11.13.2023
Big leadership changes in local government, housing a key issue
For the week of Nov. 13, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by News & Observer colleagues Mary Helen Moore, who covers Durham; Tammy Grubb, who covers Orange County; and Kristen Johnson, who covers western Wake County. Big changes on...
11.06.2023
Higher ed meets politics, plus the latest on statewide elections
For the week of Nov. 6, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleague Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean, who covers higher education. Even with the General Assembly out of session, there is still plenty of news in...
10.30.2023
U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross talks about new congressional maps and DC drama
In the latest episode, for the week of Oct. 30, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan sat down with U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat who just returned from quite the wild time in Congress this past month. Aside from the...
10.23.2023
A conversation with a Johnston County freshman lawmaker in the GOP supermajority
In the latest episode, for the week of Oct. 23, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and host Dawn Vaughan sat down with state Sen. Benton Sawrey, a Johnston County Republican. Sawrey talks about his beginnings in politics, being...
10.16.2023
Power, the environment and new state laws after veto overrides in NC
For the week of Oct. 16, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleague Kyle Ingram and environment and N&O; climate change reporter Adam Wagner. Our discussion centers around power:...
10.09.2023
New congressional and legislative maps on the horizon & what to expect this week at the NCGA
In the latest episode, for the week of Oct. 9, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleague Kyle Ingram and N&O; investigative reporter Tyler Dukes to talk about redistricting and what it means. By the end of...
10.02.2023
NC’s DHHS secretary Kody Kinsley on Medicaid expansion, COVID and the budget. Plus, the federal government shutdown
It’s three months late, but today is the day for the long-awaited North Carolina state budget to become law. Dawn Vaughan here, The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief and host of Under the Dome. Along with the budget comes...
09.25.2023
The budget has left The Building with policy, raises and power plays
For the week of Sept. 25, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan is joined (again) by politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram. The General Assembly is full of surprises, not just policy...
09.18.2023
North Carolina’s state budget drama-rama over casinos
In the latest episode, for the week of Sept. 18, 2023, Dawn Vaughan, your News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host, is joined by politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram. As much as everyone — especially...
09.11.2023
What the state budget arrival this week would mean for North Carolinians
For the week of Sept. 11, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Avi Bajpai to talk about the potential for the long-awaited, much...
09.04.2023
What’s next for online sports gambling in North Carolina?
For the week of Sept. 4, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan talks about the future of sports gambling in North Carolina with Scott Ward, vice president of the Sports Betting Alliance. The alliance...
08.28.2023
How ‘I Can’t Breathe’ ended up at NC Freedom Park
For the week of Aug. 28, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan talks with retired UNC Chapel Hill history professor Reginald Hildebrand and N.C. Sen. Natalie Murdock about the new North Carolina Freedom Park...
08.21.2023
Boards, overrides and elections power plays
For the week of Aug. 21, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast Dawn Vaughan talks with N&O; politics team colleagues Kyle Ingram and Korie Dean about the busy one-day voting session last week — from the veto...
08.14.2023
Talking state employees with SEANC lobbyist Suzanne Beasley
For the week of Aug. 14, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan talks with Suzanne Beasley, the government relations director for the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC). She’s been through delayed budgets...
08.07.2023
What’s next for Tim Moore, plus NC connections to Donald Trump's indictment
For the week of Aug. 7, 2023, N&O; politics reporter Kyle Ingram is podcast host for Dawn Vaughan. First up is a look into the North Carolina Speaker of the House position, which longtime Speaker Tim Moore recently said he...
07.31.2023
2023 local elections in Durham and Wake counties, ALEC and Florida vs. NC
For the week of July 31, 2023, we broke down our episode into two segments. First up are two of our local government reporters, because while statewide elections are more than a year away, local ones are coming up this...
07.24.2023
Stalled budgets of yore feat. WUNC’s Colin Campbell
For the week of July 24, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan talked with WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell, a longtime legislative reporter. The NC state budget is delayed again this summer. How...
07.17.2023
Rep. Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat, on court decisions, athletes and guns
For the week of July 17, 2023, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan interviews N.C. Rep. Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat who is also a former judge and Olympian, and the House Democratic whip. Stay...
07.10.2023
Three vetoed transgender bills are up for override and what else to expect at the General Assembly this week
For the week of July 10, 2023, Under the Dome politics podcast host and News & Observer Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with her politics team colleagues, legislative correspondent Kyle Ingram and summer intern Makiya Seminera, about three significant...
07.03.2023
Two major SCOTUS rulings for NC and update on the gubernatorial race
On this episode for the week of July 3, 2023, host Lars Dolder talks with politics team colleagues Korie Dean and Avi Bajpai about two landmark rulings delivered by the U.S. Supreme Court that have direct North Carolina connects. Plus,...

What's Under the Dome about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Under the Dome episodes:

Budget summer cooling, and environmental policy

The House’s budget move, UNC leadership search and voters

Drama in the Senate over surprise mask/campaign finance bill

It’s already June and the NCGA still has a long to-do list

Asheville Rep. Caleb Rudow on bipartisan singing and his future

Masks, ICE and skydiving coming up at the legislature

Masks legislation and the Shalom Act are pending after UNC protests

Under the Dome: Live! feat. Sens. Sawyer and Murdock on police, UNC protests and transit

With the session underway, the budget and guns are already issues

A legislative session preview, plus more NC eCourts problems

DEI politics in higher ed, the upcoming NCGA session and the actual Dome

Immigration and the return of the ICE-sheriffs bill in North Carolina

Trump and Biden target NC for 2024 wins and a new NCGOP leader elected

Rep. Maria Cervania on life as a freshman Democratic lawmaker

What primary results mean for the NCGA short session feat. WUNC's Colin Campbell

Primary results in NC court races and what it means for the general election

Bonus Episode: Surprises, upsets and takeaways from the 2024 NC Primary Election

NC Primary Day is here: Frontrunner fundraising, candidates and campaigns to watch

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dale Folwell on what conservatism means to him

Josh Stein talks labor issues, his opponents, and why he wants to be governor

Breaking down NC's upcoming primary: Endorsements, races to watch and the Black voter bloc

What we found in campaign finance reports, plus border politics

Goings-on at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC elections bills, and Oscar noms

The people's business: Inside The N&O’s reporting on government transparency in North Carolina

What gridlock in Congress could mean for government shutdown, plus NC primary endorsements

Primary primer: What to expect in NC primary ballots this election season

The 10 moments we’ll remember from 2023 in NC politics news

Parallels with Florida seen in political influence on NC higher ed

Who’s in and who’s out for Congress as candidate filing starts

Filling up on NC candidates filing for election for Thanksgiving

Big leadership changes in local government, housing a key issue

Higher ed meets politics, plus the latest on statewide elections

U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross talks about new congressional maps and DC drama

A conversation with a Johnston County freshman lawmaker in the GOP supermajority

Power, the environment and new state laws after veto overrides in NC

New congressional and legislative maps on the horizon & what to expect this week at the NCGA

NC’s DHHS secretary Kody Kinsley on Medicaid expansion, COVID and the budget. Plus, the federal government shutdown

The budget has left The Building with policy, raises and power plays

North Carolina’s state budget drama-rama over casinos

What the state budget arrival this week would mean for North Carolinians

What’s next for online sports gambling in North Carolina?

How ‘I Can’t Breathe’ ended up at NC Freedom Park

Boards, overrides and elections power plays

Talking state employees with SEANC lobbyist Suzanne Beasley

What’s next for Tim Moore, plus NC connections to Donald Trump's indictment

2023 local elections in Durham and Wake counties, ALEC and Florida vs. NC

Stalled budgets of yore feat. WUNC’s Colin Campbell

Rep. Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat, on court decisions, athletes and guns

Three vetoed transgender bills are up for override and what else to expect at the General Assembly this week

Two major SCOTUS rulings for NC and update on the gubernatorial race