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.

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