WUNC Politics

An increasing number of Americans are dying from drug overdose. Between April 2020 and April 2021 more than 100,000 people in the country died, a new ominous benchmark. One of the leading culprits is fentanyl, a synthetic opiate. On this episode of the Politics Podcast reporters Taylor Knopf from North Carolina Health News and WUNC's Jason deBruyn discuss the upward trend, and possible solutions.

Another date for North Carolina's 2022 Primary? Maybe. Host Jeff Tiberii looks at the week in N.C. politics, including another possible legislative standoff between the Democratic Governor and the Republican-led General Assembly over the date of the primary, and the possibility of judge recusals in the redistricting case, with Donna King from the John Locke Foundation and Rob Schofield with NC Policy Watch.

As a major redistricting cases lands before the state supreme court, calls are growing louder for some justices to recuse themselves. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, three former judges talk about the issue of recusal - and the importance of judicial independence.

By any measure, Robert Reives has had a meteoric rise in politics. An attorney from Chatham County, Reives was first appointed to the NC House in 2014. He won his first election that same year and rose to deputy minority leader and, finally, his colleagues unanimously chose him to lead their caucus as House Democratic leader in 2020. In this wide-ranging conversation with WUNC's Jeff Tiberii, Reives discusses his party's priorities, and why he thinks they can win big this November.

Judges heard arguments this week over whether North Carolina’s new Congressional and Legislative districts are unconstitutional and should be struck down. Meanwhile, Republican legislative leaders offered a hint that Medicaid expansion could receive serious consideration at the General Assembly later this year. Host Jeff Tiberii reviews the week in North Carolina politics with Rob Schofield of NC Policy Watch and Mitch Kokai from the John Locke Foundation.

On the political calendar this new year are mid-term elections, a short legislative session, and - already underway - a trial that will rule on whether new districts are constitutional. Dawn Vaughan of the News & Observer and WUNC Politics reporter Rusty Jacobs join this episode to preview 2022.

Pat Bagley has been sketching political cartoons at the Salt Lake Tribune since 1979. That makes him the longest continuously employed editorial cartoonist in America. On this episode of the Politics Podcast, Host Jeff Tiberii speaks with Bagley about his process, some of his favorite people to draw, and he even offers a trade secret.

Host Jeff Tiberii looks at the week in North Carolina politics with Mitch Kokai and Rob Schofield.

Jeff Jackson is one of two Democratic frontrunners seeking the nomination to replace the retiring Richard Burr in the U.S. Senate. He’s a state legislator from Mecklenburg County who is meeting with constituents across the state, building what he calls the most transparent and substantive Senate campaign in the modern history of the state. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Jackson discusses his strategy, how to combat misinformation, and the element of race in this political contest.

This week in state politics saw another significant development in the Leandro Case, while Governor Roy Cooper blocked an election law from going into effect. Host Jeff Tiberii reviews the latest happenings with Aisha Dew and Mitch Kokai.