Under the Dome

Latest Episodes:

Another veto override is on the horizon. What does it mean for the power balance? Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

For the week of Dec. 9, 2024, Dawn Vaughan talks to News & Observer colleagues Korie Dean and Kyle Ingram about what you can expect this week on the House override vote of Senate Bill 382, the bill that adds money to the Helene relief fund and takes powers away from the executive branch, primarily appointment power on the State Board of Elections.

Plus, Ingram catches you up on the latest in the still-ongoing election results of of the N.C. Supreme Court race between Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin.

Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guests: Korie Dean, Kyle Ingram

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

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Senate Bill 382: The bill that’s less about Helene disaster relief and more about taking power Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

For the week of Nov. 25, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks with News & Observer colleagues Avi Bajpai, Kyle Ingram and Adam Wagner about the veto override of House Bill 10 on immigration and vouchers, as well as Senate Bill 382, the bill that is sort of about Helene disaster relief but mostly about taking power away from Gov.-elect Josh Stein and the next attorney general, Jeff Jackson, who are both Democrats.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guests: Avi Bajpai, Kyle Ingram, Adam Wagner

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What to expect from North Carolina's new superintendent + a legislative session preview Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

For the week of Nov. 18, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleague Avi Bajpai and News & Observer K-12 schools reporter Keung Hui.

For the first half of the episode, Hui explains the win and what to expect from the leadership of the winner of the superintendent of public instruction statewide race — Democrat Mo Green.

After the break, we talk about what we know is happening at the General Assembly this week as they return for a weeklong session, including a planned override of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of House Bill 10, which combines funding for the private school voucher backlog with a requirement for sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guests: Avi Bajpai, Keung Hui

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talking downballot NC races from Election Day: Courts, Council of State & General Assembly Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

For the week of Nov. 11, 2024, Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Kyle Ingram and Korie Dean in part two of our post-Election Day look at the North Carolina races that were on the ballot. They talk about the N.C. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, the General Assembly and the rest of the Council of State, from auditor to agriculture commissioner. Plus what the “working supermajority” means for swing Democrats in the House.

Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guests: Kyle Ingram, Korie Dean, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus Episode - Another North Carolina split ticket: The presidential, governor's & attorney general races Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

In this post-Election bonus episode of the Under the Dome podcast, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and podcast host Dawn Vaughan talks to D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia, state politics reporter Avi Bajpai and The Charlotte Observer's Josh Bergeron and Ryan Oehrli about the 2024 general election results. What do the outcomes of North Carolina's presidential, governor's, attorney general and legislative races tell us about the state? Plus, stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Election.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Danielle Battaglia, Avi Bajpai, Josh Bergeron, Ryan Oehrli

Producer: Kevin Keister

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election Week is finally here, and we’re ready for it. Here's what to know. Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

In our latest Under the Dome podcast episode for the week of Nov. 4, 2024, host Dawn Vaughan talks to politics team colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram about all the last minute information you need to know. From statewide voting information, the impact of Helene on voting in Western North Carolina and the flurry of presidential candidate campaign visits.

Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Kyle Ingram

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Under the Dome: Live! An Election 2024 Preview feat. NCCU's Jarvis Hall Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

For the week of Oct. 28, 2024, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by N.C. Central University political science professor Jarvis Hall, for a conversation about the upcoming election.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at the NCCU School of Education auditorium.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Jarvis Hall

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An early look at Early Voting turnout + presidential campaign visits in North Carolina Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

For the week of Oct. 21, 2024, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram to break down the totals from the first day of in-person early voting and bring a behind-the-scenes look at recent presidential campaign visits. Plus, the latest on two lawsuits.

Stay tuned to the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week.

ICYMI: Join The N&O for a live recording of the Under the Dome podcast on the campus of North Carolina Central University. RSVP here.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Avi Bajpai, Kyle Ingram

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

North Carolina lawmakers publicly address Helene response, relief and helping Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

On the latest episode of Under the Dome for the week of Oct. 14, 2024, host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics team colleagues Kyle Ingram and Avi Bajpai. share what it was like on the floor of the Senate and House as lawmakers put the focus not on themselves, but on the people of Western North Carolina. They also bring you up to speed on the latest in lawsuits.

ICYMI: Join The N&O for a live recording of the Under the Dome podcast on the campus of North Carolina Central University. RSVP here.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Avi Bajpai, Kyle Ingram

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What we know, and what we don’t, about Helene’s devastating flooding and damage in NC Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

For the week of Oct. 7, 2024, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by N&O colleague Adam Wagner, who covers the environment and climate change to talk about what we know, and what we don’t, about Helene's impact. Plus, what recovery might look like.

You can read all News & Observer coverage of Hurricane Helene with no paywall at newsobserver.com/topics/helene-nc.

Host and Executive Producer: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Adam Wagner

Producer: Kevin Keister

Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices