Under the Dome - podcast cover

Under the Dome

The News & Observerwww.newsobserver.com
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
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Interview with Senate Minority Dan Blue, also NC's first Black Speaker of the House

On this Under the Dome episode for the week of Feb. 27, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan talks to Senate Minority Dan Blue about how he became the first Black speaker of the House in North Carolina, what it means today, what he thinks should happen with the long-stalled African Americans monument on the Capitol grounds and more. Plus what he said about playing basketball with Roy Cooper, what's good at the cafeteria and Vaughan and Blue's picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices....

Feb 27, 202329 minSeason 1Ep. 140

Teaching Black history and not using it as 'a political football' (with Rep. Amos Quick)

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Feb. 20, 2023, News & Observer Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan interviews Rep. Amos Quick about how he learned Black history, how he thinks it should be taught, how he'll decide to vote with Republicans, and why he's a pastor. Plus Quick's favorite snack bar food and Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 202323 minSeason 1Ep. 139

There's a new caucus at the NCGA. What that could mean for NCCU and other HBCUs.

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Feb. 13, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan shares what the launch of the HBCU Caucus means for the lawmakers, the state and one of the schools: NCCU. Plus Headliner of the Week with Vaughan, Jordan Schrader and Avi Bajpai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13, 202314 minSeason 1Ep. 138

Black History Month with lawmakers who are living it: Sen. Murdock and Rep. Alston

Under the Dome is celebrating Black History Month with episodes about Black history, lawmakers and legislation. Host and News & Observer reporter Dawn Vaughan interviews N.C. Sen. Natalie Murdock and Rep. Vernetta Alston about themselves, their families, their stance on legislation and more. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week, and a bonus question about what lawmakers' get at the Legislative Cafeteria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 06, 202336 minSeason 1Ep. 138

Congress, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and the NC delegation

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Jan. 30, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan and DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia talk about what North Carolina's 14 U.S. House members have been up to lately, including the Speaker Kevin McCarthy drama. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Executive Producer: Jordan Schrader Producer: Laura Brache Audio editor: Laura Brache For more North Carolina government and politics news, subscribe to the Under the Dome politics newsletter...

Jan 30, 202325 minSeason 1Ep. 137

Bonus episode: NC Insider's legislative preview with Tim Moore and Phil Berger

Didn't get a seat to The NC Insider/News & Observer's sold-out Legislative Preview event with House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger? Listen to the entire, unedited conversation here. -------- For more North Carolina government and politics news, subscribe to the Under the Dome politics newsletter from The News & Observer and the NC Insider at newsobserver.com/under-the-dome and ncinsider.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 29, 202344 minSeason 1Ep. 136

How Senate Republicans will operate in 2023 (feat. former GOP staffer Pat Ryan)

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Jan. 23, 2023, N&O reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with former Republican Senate staffer Pat Ryan about what the supermajority means and his former boss, Senate leader Berger. Plus Vaughan and Ryan's picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Executive Producer: Jordan Schrader Producer: Laura Brache Audio editor: Laura Brache For more North Carolina government and politics news, subscribe to the Under the Dome politics newsletter from T...

Jan 23, 202323 minSeason 1Ep. 135

What’s happening with the North Carolina State Health Plan?

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Jan. 16, 2023, News & Observer politics reporter and podcast host Dawn Vaughan talks with health reporter Teddy Rosenbluth and politics reporter Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi about the latest developments with changing from Blue Cross NC to Aetna in the State Health Plan. Plus the start of the NCGA session and Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Executive Producer: Jordan Schrader Producer: Laura Brache Audio editor: Laura Brache Learn m...

Jan 15, 202321 minSeason 1Ep. 134

First episode of 2023: The NC General Assembly is back this week!

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Jan. 9, 2023, News & Observer politics reporters Dawn Vaughan and Will Doran tell you what to expect as the North Carolina General Assembly comes back for its long session. Plus what factors are at play in legislation, maps and 2024 — and their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 09, 202325 minSeason 1Ep. 133

Outgoing Democratic Sen. Kirk deViere talks about his party's "political machine"

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Dec. 26, 2022, News & Observer reporter Dawn Vaughan interviews outgoing Cumberland County Sen. Kirk deViere, a Democrat who served four years. He lost his primary after Gov. Roy Cooper endorsed his opponent. What deViere says about the "political machine" and his time in office. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 27, 202228 minSeason 1Ep. 132

Senate Republican Whip Jim Perry talks budget forecast, abortion and Medicaid legislation in 2023

Content warning: The following episode contains discussions of rape and abortion. Listener discretion advised. On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Dec. 19, 2022, News & Observer politics reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with Sen. Jim Perry, a Kinston, NC Republican, about his views about legislation on Medicaid expansion, abortion, the state budget and more looking ahead to the 2023 legislative session. Plus how he became a senator, what he knows about Rep. John Bell, and Perry and ...

Dec 19, 202226 minSeason 1Ep. 131

What U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross says about NC Congressional freshmen, Moore v. Harper

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Dec. 12, 2022, News & Observer politics reporter talks with U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, about North Carolina's Congressional freshmen, what it was like inside the U.S. Supreme Court last week, what's in common between state and federal lawmakers and more. Plus our picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 12, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 130

The politics of NC's Big Poultry and its impact on neighbors and the environment

This week on the Under the Dome politics podcast, host Dawn Vaughan talks with the main reporting team behind a project by The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer, “Big Poultry.” Plus a sneak peek of what’s to come in their coverage. Listen to the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 05, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 130

Write-ins, freshmen and vetoes. Oh, my!

In this episode for the week of Nov. 28, 2022, N&O reporters Dawn Vaughan and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi talk about write-in votes, the former state senators who are now Congressional freshmen and Gov. Cooper's vetoes. Plus our picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 28, 202216 minSeason 1Ep. 129

Enough 2022 rehash, what's next? (Feat. politics professor Chris Cooper)

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Nov. 21, 2022, N&O politics reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with Western Carolina University politics professor Chris Cooper. Cooper is oft-quoted by reporters, but they talk more about what the legislative session dynamic will look like in 2023... And that time he shot hoops with Hubert Davis. Plus, both their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 21, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 128

From mayoral race to Congress, N&O reporters share their Election Night dispatches from the field

In another post-election episode, host Dawn Vaughan talks with several more folks on our Election Night coverage team to get behind-the-scenes looks at candidate watch parties. Plus what Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin's reelection means, including her new fellow City Council members. With N&O reporters Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Anna Johnson, Colleen Hammond and Korie Dean. And, of course, our Headliners of the Week, including the latest on lead found on the UNC campus. Learn more about y...

Nov 14, 202219 minSeason 1Ep. 127

Bonus episode: The biggest takeaways from Election Night

In this bonus episode of Under the Dome on Nov. 9, 2022, Dawn Vaughan, Danielle Battaglia, Will Wright and Will Doran give the big takeaways from Election Night in North Carolina politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 09, 202221 minSeason 1Ep. 126

Election Day Eve: Crunch time for US Senate and downballot races

Election Day has arrived! In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Nov. 7, 2022, we look at the US Senate race and downballot races, and what to expect. Dawn Vaughan, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Danielle Battaglia break it down for you. Plus our picks for Headliner of the Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 07, 202220 minSeason 1Ep. 124

The Sups: Chances of a GOP legislature supermajority and the NC Supreme Court races

In this Under the Dome podcast episode for the week of Oct. 31, 2022, News & Observer reporters Dawn Vaughan, Will Doran and Lars Dolder give the latest on chances of a General Assembly supermajority and what to know about NC Supreme Court races, a week before Election Day. Plus Headliners of the Week about NC State vs. Virginia Tech, Halloween and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 01, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 123

Election final stretch: Early voting turnout, Charlotte races and political ads

In this Under the Dome episode for the week of Oct. 24, 2022, News & Observer reporters Dawn Vaughan and Avi Bajpai, and Charlotte Observer reporter Will Wright talk about early voting turnout so far, the races to watch in Charlotte, fact checking political ads, common ground on gun bills and their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 202221 minSeason 1Ep. 122

Violence in the news: January 6th Committee investigation of lawmakers' actions and remembering Raleigh shooting victims

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Oct. 17, 2022, News & Observer politics reporter Dawn Vaughan and D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia talk about the recent violence in the news: both the January 6th Committee hearing that gave details of violence and response at the U.S. Capitol; as well as the names of the people shot and killed in the mass shooting in Raleigh. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 17, 202221 minSeason 1Ep. 121

What happens if Republicans win a supermajority in the NCGA and NC Supreme Court?

In this episode, News & Observer reporters Dawn Vaughan and Will Doran talk about the N.C. Supreme Court, Voter ID and judges' races, plus what Democratic and Republican legislative leaders are saying about how the election results will impact their governing in 2023. Plus Headliners of the Week: marijuana and Kernersville! PROJECT 170: As part of our 2022 election coverage, we sent out hundreds of candidate questionnaires for all 170 races for the North Carolina General Assembly. Compiling ...

Oct 10, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 120

Project 170: Questioning candidates of all 170 General Assembly races

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Oct. 3, 2022, News & Observer politics reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with Kyle Ingram about our Project 170, which brings coverage of legislative races statewide. Hear previews of three significant races plus our picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 03, 202219 minSeason 2Ep. 119

Loan taxes, beach pizza politics, and what Reps. Saine and Reives are doing

On Under the Dome for the week of Sept. 26, 2022, find out what N&O reporters Dawn Vaughan and Lars Dolder said about the latest in Medicaid expansion, what you missed at Politics at the Pub with Rep. Saine and Leader Reives, loan taxes, beach pizza and golf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 26, 202219 minSeason 1Ep. 118

Scouting Out a Former President

In this episode of Under the Dome for Sept. 19, 2022, News & Observer politics reporters Dawn Vaughan and Will Doran talk about why former President George W. Bush was in Raleigh, plus the latest on Voter ID and our Headliners of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 202221 minSeason 1Ep. 117

Why Don't You Just Meet Me in the Middle?

In this Under the Dome for the week of Sept. 12, 2022, N&O politics reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with Congressional reporter Danielle Battaglia about candidates moving toward the middle -- or are they? -- as Election Day gets closer. Plus our picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 116

Elections countdown: Why Democrats need Kamala Harris, plus the Trusted Elections Tour

In Under the Dome for Sept. 5, 2022, Dawn Vaughan and Avi Bajpai talk about why Vice President Kamala Harris made yet another trip to North Carolina and what that means, plus the Trusted Elections Tour and our picks for Headliner of the Week. Spoiler: Dogs and basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 05, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 115

Look Ahead: First Day of School and Eyes on Midterms

In this Under the Dome Look Ahead for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, Dawn Vaughan and Lars Dolder discuss education as the school year begins and what legislative leaders are saying about top of mind midterms issues like abortion. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 29, 202221 minSeason 1Ep. 114

Look ahead: NC's 20-week abortion ban and a farewell to N&O politics intern Kyle Ingram

In this episode, reporter Luciana Pérez Uribe Guinassi dives into the 20-week abortion ban reinstated by a federal judge in North Carolina last week. Plus, Danielle Battaglia sends off summer politics intern Kyle Ingram on his last day at The News & Observer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 22, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 113

Look ahead: Women and children first?

Longtime News & Observer reporter Tammy Grubb joins Under the Dome to talk about her new series Women & Children First? highlighting single mothers raising children under the age of 18 who make up more than a third of the families meeting outdated federal poverty guidelines in North Carolina. Read the first installment of the series here https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article263097898.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 08, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 112
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android