Under the Dome

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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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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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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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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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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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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On this Sept. 1, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with longtime reporter Gary Robertson, who covered the General Assembly for 25 years for the Associated Press and is the most recent Press Corps president. Major changes in power over the decades, and what the major names today were like before they made it big. Plus Dawn and Gary's sports-themed picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Gary Robertson

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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On this Aug. 25, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances about what early voting decisions were made by the NC Board of Elections' marathon meeting and why the ABC Commission wanted a liquor price floor. Plus our picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guests: Kyle Ingram & Esther Frances

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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On this Aug. 18, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell and democracy reporter Kyle Ingram. As major universities begin the fall semester, what UNC faces as enrollment grows. Plus other higher ed news, NC Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes of elections and courts bills, and our picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guests:  Jane Winik Sartwell & Kyle Ingram

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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On this Aug. 11, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia to talk about the future of the 11th District of the US House after Rep. Chuck Edwards dropped out of the race. Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: 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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