Under the Dome
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
Episodes
April 22, 2025 • 22 mins
Four Senate Democrats voted for the Republican-written Senate budget last week, setting up seats at the negotiating table for them as the budget progresses. Host Dawn Vaughan talks to legislative reporting colleague Avi Bajpai and higher education reporter Korie Dean to break down the budget, including how the Senate’s budget impacts the UNC System.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
...
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April 15, 2025 • 22 mins
North Carolina is getting closer to a resolution in the N.C. Supreme Court case between Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin. Host Dawn Vaughan and politics reporters Kyle Ingram and Avi Bajpai talk extensively about the latest in the race between Riggs, who is the Democratic incumbent on the court, and Griffin, the Republican candidate and a Court of Appeals judge. Plus, another court case about the composition of the State Board ...
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April 8, 2025 • 23 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan and McClatchy DC's Danielle Battaglia discuss how President Donald Trump’s tariffs are costing Americans money, and not all Republicans are falling in line behind the president’s costly decisions.
So what do North Carolina’s members of Congress say about the tariffs? And who’s not talking yet, and what does that mean?
Stay tuned to the end for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Danielle Battaglia
...
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April 1, 2025 • 30 mins
Democratic Sen. Woodson Bradley from Mecklenburg County discusses a debate over concealed carry gun permits on the Senate floor. Bradley talks about how she won a close, and closely watched, race last year in a swing district, and her priorities in office.
Stay tuned to the end for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Sen. Woodson Bradley
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
Want even more North Carolina politics news? ...
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March 25, 2025 • 20 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan talks to fellow political reporters Kyle Ingram and Avi Bajpai about new developments in the still-unresolved North Carolina Supreme Court race and how a Senate floor debate showed what how debate may go the rest of this session may look like. Vaughan shares that the governor’s budget proposal has landed on lawmakers’ desks.
Stay tuned to the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest...
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March 17, 2025 • 22 mins
For the week of March 10, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks to politics team colleague Avi Bajpai and higher education reporter Korie Dean. They discuss Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s State of the State speech and House Speaker Destin Hall’s Republican response, and what’s going on in the UNC System scrubbing language related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean
Executive Producer: Laura ...
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March 10, 2025 • 22 mins
For the week of March 10, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks to colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram about upcoming Senate action on legislation about the attorney general and President Donald Trump executive orders, diversity, equity and inclusion in K-12 schools, along with immigration bills moving in both chambers.
Plus, what to expect with the upcoming Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s State of the State Address, and the Trump firing of...
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March 3, 2025 • 21 mins
For the week of March 3, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks to politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram about the latest news from the North Carolina General Assembly and what to expect this week.
The House Oversight Committee has started a series of hearings about state agencies, particularly the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles and agencies using any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs or practices. House Oversigh...
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February 24, 2025 • 23 mins
For the week of Feb. 24, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks to politics team colleague Avi Bajpai and newsroom colleague Brian Gordon, who is The N&O’s business and technology reporter.
New Republican House Speaker Destin Hall’s cryptocurrency bill. House Bill 92 would allow State Treasurer Brad Briner to invest in “qualified digital assets.” Gordon explains why Republicans and others are supporters of Bitcoin, what it actually is, and ...
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February 17, 2025 • 23 mins
For the week of Feb. 17, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks to new N.C. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley, a Republican about everything from elevators, the Labor Building itself, the 10% raises he wants for inspectors, eliminating DEI in his agency to getting Cherie Berry’s endorsement and more.
Stay tuned until the end for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: N.C. Commissioner of Labor Luke Farley
Executive Producer: Laura ...
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February 10, 2025 • 22 mins
For the week of Feb. 10, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks to Washington correspondent Danielle Battaglia about the fire hose of President Donald Trump orders, comments and decisions over the past few weeks, including giving Elon Musk power, and the subsequent protest in downtown Raleigh against it all. Plus what people should know about Washington-area federal employees.
After the break, they talk about the recent Black Hawk helicopte...
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February 3, 2025 • 22 mins
Dawn Vaughan, The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief, is joined by her politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram along with Korie Dean, who covers higher education to talk about the General Assembly session business beginning for 2025, the redistricting trial, and UNC Board of Governors.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean and Kyle Ingram
Producer: Kevin Keister
Want even more North Carolina politics ne...
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January 27, 2025 • 19 mins
For the week of Jan. 27, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks with legislative team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram about the General Assembly beginning its work and what's first on deck.
They also talk about the recent death of Rep. Joe John and President Donald Trump’s flurry of executive orders during the first week of his term, and a trickle-down effect in state government.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram
...
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January 20, 2025 • 22 mins
For the week of Jan. 20, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks to N&O politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi about what North Carolina and the country can expect in the first weeks of the new Trump administration. Some of the issues at play include immigration, taxes and the pressure to lower costs for Americans. After the break, Guinassi shares what she’s learned from an interview with new State Treasurer Bra...
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January 13, 2025 • 22 mins
For the week of Jan. 13, 2025, podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks to Washington D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia about the five new members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation. They also discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for immigration policy and how that may impact our state.
Stay tuned to the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Gues...
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January 6, 2025 • 21 mins
For the week of Jan. 6, 2025, host Dawn Vaughan talks with reporters Kyle Ingram and Korie Dean about what you need to know this week with the General Assembly and new governor beginning their work with ceremonial events. They talk about what we are already seeing about how the legislature may interact with new Gov. Josh Stein.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Korie Dean, Kyle Ingram
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
Want even more Nort...
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December 23, 2024 • 21 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan and reporters Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean talk about their picks for Headliners of the Year, from the UNC protests to Gov. Cooper leaving office to changes at the legislature.
Guests: Korie Dean and Avi Bajpai
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 Tuesday to Friday and S...
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December 16, 2024 • 21 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan talks with Claudia Rivera Cotto, a reporter at Enlace Latino NC who covers political, government and immigration issues, about concerns facing immigrants in North Carolina with recent legislation and president-elect Donald Trump's campaign promises.
Stay tuned to the end for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Claudia Rivera Cotto
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
Want even more North Carolina poli...
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December 9, 2024 • 22 mins
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 o...
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November 25, 2024 • 25 mins
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
Guest...
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