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WUNC Politics

The WUNC Politics Podcast is a free-flowing discussion of what we're hearing in the back hallways of the General Assembly and on the campaign trail across North Carolina.

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Episodes

The craft of political cartooning

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.

Dec 14, 202124 min

U.S. Senate hopeful Jeff Jackson on authenticity, value of town halls, and variable of race

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....

Dec 07, 202127 min

Another Leandro Twist, Another Cooper Veto

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.

Dec 03, 202125 min

NC gets a budget, and longtime congressman won't seek re-election

After three years without one, North Carolina finally got a two-year spending plan this week. In our review of the week's politics, host Jeff Tiberii talks about the budget with Becki Gray and Rob Schofield. They also discuss what's behind Eastern North Carolina Democratic Congressman G.K. Butterfield's decision not to seek another term.

Nov 19, 202125 min

A Fast-Tracked Energy Bill And A Plodding Budget Negotiation

An energy bill moves quickly, while budget negotiations plod along. Host Jeff Tiberii looks at the week in state politics with Rob Schofield with the progressive NC Policy Watch and Becki Gray from the conservative John Locke Foundation.

Oct 08, 202125 min

Republican legislative leaders have a spending compromise. Will the governor accept it?

The state House and Senate have reached a deal on the budget. In our weekly political discussion, Clark Riemer and Aisha Dew share their optimism about a possible spending deal with the governor. Meanwhile, the ongoing negotiations could be impacted by a Leandro remediation order, and Democrats on Capitol Hill must now decide what to work on first.

Oct 01, 202119 min

The Past, Present, And Future Of Voter ID In North Carolina

Photo ID is still not required to vote in North Carolina. Host Jeff Tiberii and WUNC reporter Rusty Jacobs break down the latest court ruling, including how the judges ruled last week, what role the history of racial discrimination played, and where the litigation goes next.

Sep 21, 202121 min

Where's The Line Between Personal Freedom And Public Health?

WUNC's Jeff Tiberii hosts a conversation with Becki Gray from the conservative John Locke Foundation and Rob Schofield with the progressive NC Policy Watch about personal freedom vs public health/Covid vaccines and the scheduling of redistricting public forums on Yom Kippur.

Sep 17, 202125 min

'Like Nothing I've Ever Seen': Anti-Vaxxers In The Age Of Covid

Vaccine mandates aren’t new. Neither is the hysteria (by some) against them. Yet what was once a fringe argument has become a mainstream political position. Following months of comment-section debates, and the latest round of misinformation, Covid vaccine rates in the U.S. have sputtered. Host Jeff Tiberii talks with Dr. Jeffrey Engel, the former North Carolina state epidemiologist and state health director, and WUNC health reporter Jason deBruyn, about the struggle for public health during yet ...

Sep 14, 202125 min

Biden's Latest Pandemic Plan And Memories From 9-11

In this week's review of political news, host Jeff Tiberii discusses President Joe Biden's six-pronged approach in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, an e-cigarette maker's plans to open a research facility in Durham, and reflections twenty years after September 11th with Clark Riemer and Aisha Dew.

Sep 10, 202111 min

School Shootings Raise More Questions Around Security, Gangs, And Guns

Two separate shooting incidents at North Carolina high schools in recent days have left many unanswered questions, adding to an already significant strain of public-school anxiety, and to diverging opinions about safety, bullying, possible gang involvement and guns in school. Host Jeff Tiberii speaks with Ben Schachtman, the News Director at WHQR in Wilmington; and Paul Garber, a reporter at WFDD in Winston-Salem, about what is known about the shootings at New Hanover High School and Mount Tabor...

Sep 07, 202127 min

Is No News Still News?

Host Jeff Tiberii looks at the lack of progress with the state budget - and who that may benefit - with Aisha Dew from the progressive organization Higher Heights, and Becki Gray from the conservative John Locke Foundation. They also discuss Rep. Madison Cawthorn's latest inaccurate and inflammatory comments and whether a Texas-like abortion law could ever come to North Carolina.

Sep 03, 202124 min

Grading The 2021 General Assembly

Host Jeff Tiberii looks at how the General Assembly has done in the 2021 long session with longtime political reporter Colin Campbell, formerly with the News and Observer and The Insider, and now at BusinessNC Magazine.

Aug 31, 202125 min

Voting Rights And Criminal Justice Reform Top The Week In State Politics

Criminal justice legislation and a significant expansion of voting rights, for the time being. Those are just two of the topics that come up as host Jeff Tiberii is joined by Becki Gray from the conservative John Locke Foundation and Rob Schofield with the progressive NC Policy Watch.

Aug 27, 202119 min

A Victory For Voting Rights And Black Enfranchisement

Host Jeff Tiberii speaks with Jordan Wilkie, a reporter with Carolina Public Press who covers election integrity, open government, and civil liberties, about the legal ruling in the CSI v. Moore lawsuit that enfranchises tens of thousands of North Carolina citizens.

Aug 24, 202119 min

Bipartisanship Is Back, Along With COVID Concerns

Lawmakers came together to pass major spending proposals at the state and federal levels this week. New U.S. Census numbers confirm North Carolina's growing urban and suburban populations. And school districts around the state continue to waver on mandating masks in the classroom. Guest host Anita Rao gets analysis from Clark Reimer and Aisha Dew on some of the big political stories of the week.

Aug 13, 202126 min

NC Governor: It's Irresponsible To Not Be Vaccinated

North Carolina's vaccination rate ticked up last week, but millions of the state's residents are still not vaccinated. WUNC's Dave DeWitt talks to Rose Hoban from North Carolina Health News about the doubts, the data and the Delta variant.

Jul 30, 202114 min
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