Under the Dome

Latest Episodes:

What to know as North Carolina candidate filing for 2026 begins Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

Candidate filing for the 2026 election has begun in North Carolina. Under the Dome politics podcast host Dawn Vaughan talks with politics reporters Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram about what to know as filing gets underway, plus races we are watching. Plus new state laws, how the feds impact the hemp industry and our picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guests: Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram

Producer: Kevin Keister

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.

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

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Thanksgiving travel, RDU and the NC DMV Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Under the Dome podcast for Nov. 25, 2025, News & Observer Capitol bureau chief and host Dawn Vaughan talks with transportation reporter Richard Stradling about what's changed at the NC DMV, what's coming soon at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and what to expect as you travel in North Carolina this Thanksgiving week. Plus stayed tuned for their picks for Headliner of the Week.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Richard Stradling

Producer: Kevin Keister

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.

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

Federal shutdown ends, impact on NC lingers Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

On this new episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast for Nov. 18, 2025, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia about the end to the federal government shutdown and funding restarting, plus how Rep. Don Davis' vote factored in.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Danielle Battaglia

Producer: Kevin Keister

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.

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

How NC’s state budget delay is impacting K-12 education, teachers Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

This week, host Dawn Vaughan and News & Observer K-12 education reporter T. Keung Hui discuss how the long-delayed new comprehensive state budget is impacting education funding, including raises for teachers and other school employees.

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The federal shutdown hits 36 days. What is NC’s delegation doing? Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

This week, host Dawn Vaughan and McClatchy DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia discuss the ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its 36th day with no signs of a resolution. As The News & Observer has previously reported, the shutdown is affecting federal workers and social safety net programs, like SNAP and WIC, and public reception of the White House renovations during the shutdown haven’t been great.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Danielle Battaglia

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.

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

Nearing November, here’s why NC budget talks remain stalled Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

Just days away from November, North Carolina still does not have a new comprehensive budget. As Capitol bureau chief and host Dawn Vaughan explains, the battle is actually between Republicans this time — not Republicans and Democrats. The team discusses the reasons for the holdup, including tax fights, plus why a clean Medicaid rebase bill couldn’t make it across the finish line.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Avi Bajpai, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.

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

Monitoring the progress of the new GOP-backed congressional map Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

This week, host Dawn Vaughan and reporter Kyle Ingram discuss (so far, successful) efforts by Republicans in the legislature to redraw the state’s congressional map.

There’s a long history of redistricting and gerrymandering in North Carolina. In Monster: Maps, Math & Power in North Carolina — a four-part podcast series by former investigative reporter Tyler Dukes — The N&O explores how maps are drawn, their political impact on the state and the ongoing fight against gerrymandering. Find all four episodes here, or listen to them individually:

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Kyle Ingram

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.

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

A Conversation with Gabe Esparza, NC Department of Administration Secretary Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

As Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month comes to a close, host Dawn Vaughan sat down with North Carolina Department of Administration secretary Gabe Esparza, the first Latino member of Gov. Josh Stein’s cabinet. The two discuss Esparza’s journey from the private sector to public service and his background as a third-generation Mexican-American.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Gabe Esparza

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.

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

Why the budget stalemate also creates uncertainty in higher ed funding Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

This week, host Dawn Vaughan talks to higher ed reporter Korie Dean about the lack of a state budget impacting performance funding for universities, a new funding method recently approved by UNC Board of Governors. Vaughan and Dean also talk about how a lack of a budget affects current university employees and retirees.

Stick to the end for Headliner of the Week, and a professional update from Dean.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Korie Dean

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.

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

Why lawmakers didn’t fund Medicaid ahead of deadline, or pass a budget Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

This week, Dawn Vaughan, Avi Bajpai, and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi discuss the ongoing disagreement between House and Senate lawmakers over Medicaid funding. They also cover the state budget impasse, which some link to a disconnect between Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall, who has voiced his opposition to funding a new children's hospital. What are the potential consequences of cuts to Medicaid providers? And what’s the latest on the comprehensive state budget? Listen now.

Host: Dawn Vaughan

Guest: Avi Bajpai, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi

Executive Producer: Laura Brache

Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It’s sent to your inbox Sunday to Friday. Sign up here.
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

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