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
October 14, 2025 • 22 mins
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
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October 7, 2025 • 19 mins
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:...
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September 30, 2025 • 21 mins
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? ...
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September 23, 2025 • 20 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan and politics reporter Avi Bajpai discuss the omnibus crime bill that Republicans filed late Sunday, also known as Iryna’s Law, in response to the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte last month. They also talk about other legislative happenings, including mini budget bills awaiting House action, including law enforcement raises and bonuses for the National Guard. Plus, a controversial bill to defund Plann...
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September 16, 2025 • 22 mins
This week, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by reporters Mary Ramsey and Julia Coin from our sister paper The Charlotte Observer. Ramsey covers Charlotte area politics, and Coin covers courts and public safety.
Last month’s fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte light rail by DeCarlos Brown Jr. has drawn national attention. Coin and Ramsey have been part of the team at the Observer covering the ...
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September 9, 2025 • 22 mins
This week, host Dawn Vaughan talks to McClatchy D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia about what she’s keeping tabs on on Capitol Hill, namely the impending Sept. 30 deadline for Congress to pass 12 appropriations bills in order to prevent a government shutdown. They break down the potential impacts of the federal budget on North Carolina. You’ll also hear about the latest developments in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District...
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September 2, 2025 • 20 mins
This week, Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan and Mary Ramsey discuss prominent figures in Charlotte-Mecklenburg politics, particularly Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham and Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham: From Cunningham's controversial speech on immigration, which could lead to a primary challenge, to Cotham's undisclosed surgery and changed political standing and key issues in Charlotte's local elections.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Mary ...
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August 26, 2025 • 20 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan talks to higher ed reporter Korie Dean about why North Carolina universities like UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and Davidson College have significantly increased their spending on lobbying in the first six months of Donald Trump’s second term amid federal funding cuts.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Korie Dean
Producer: Kevin Keister
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
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August 19, 2025 • 21 mins
This week, state politics reporter Kyle Ingram is your guest host. He talks to D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia about the anticipated matchup between two high profile candidates in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race: Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Party leader Michael Whatley.
Host: Kyle Ingram
Guest: Danielle Battaglia
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
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August 12, 2025 • 17 mins
The Trump administration has enacted several policies and procedures that are making it more difficult for students to obtain visas. That could mean some students aren’t able to make it to the U.S., or North Carolina, in time for fall classes. On the podcast, Korie Dean and Sophia Bailly discuss the short- and long-term impacts of a potential drop in enrollment, covering the implications for on the state’s economy, research and glo...
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August 4, 2025 • 24 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan is joined by Rep. Brian Turner, a Democrat from Buncombe County. First elected in 2014, Turner served the House and then took a term off, then came back. We talk about why he left and why he came back, and his career from Mills Manufacturing to UNC Asheville. More than a decade later, Turner has a unique perspective of serving under different Democratic House leadership, different governors and with a lot of diffe...
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July 29, 2025 • 22 mins
Dawn Vaughan, Capitol bureau chief and host of Under the Dome is joined by politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Ronni Butts to talk about the incredibly busy day of veto override votes expected Tuesday in both the House and the Senate of the North Carolina General Assembly.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Avi Bajpai and Ronni Butts
Executive Producer: Kevin Keister
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July 22, 2025 • 23 mins
This week on Under the Dome, host Dawn Vaughan interviews Staci Meyer, director of the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources. Meyer has spent her entire career in public service across various state agencies. Vaughan and Meyer talk about vacancy rates, recruitment and retention efforts by the state, plus the latest on state employee pay raises.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Staci Meyer
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
Wa...
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July 15, 2025 • 19 mins
On this week’s Under the Dome podcast, Kyle Ingram and Danielle Battaglia break down the aftermath of Thom Tillis dropping out of the 2026 Senate race and the impacts of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” on Medicaid, SNAP and other social safety net programs.
Host: Kyle Ingram
Guest: Danielle Battaglia
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all th...
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July 8, 2025 • 22 mins
This week on the Under the Dome podcast, join host Dawn Vaughan and reporters Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean for a deep dive into veto overrides, diversity, equity and inclusion conflicts, and swing votes shaping state policies this summer.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol ...
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July 1, 2025 • 22 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan talks to politics team colleague Kyle Ingram and N&O summer interns, Ronni Butts and Sophia Bailly, about U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis announcing he won’t be running for reelection, what this could mean for the remainder of Tillis’ term, and who could step into the race next.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Sophia Bailley, Ronni Butts, Kyle Ingram
Producer: Gabi Hartlaub
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
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June 24, 2025 • 21 mins
This week at the North Carolina General Assembly is going to be jam packed. We are in the final week of the legislative long session — sort of. Most policy will be passed during this last week, but not the biggest bill of all: the state budget. Host Dawn Vaughan breaks it all down with politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guests: Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
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June 17, 2025 • 22 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan and WUNC's Colin Campbell talk about how the 2025 long legislative session is going, especially with Republican House Speaker Destin Hall at the helm for the first time. They discuss what and how policy, procedures, politics — and yet, even the schedule — is different under Hall compared to former House Speaker Tim Moore, who is now in Congress.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Colin Campbell
Producer: Gabriella Har...
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June 10, 2025 • 24 mins
Host Dawn Vaughan interviews North Carolina Rep. Allen Chesser of Nash County about the family tragedy that led to his run for the state House, and the status of his bill about foster care, and why he recruited Democratic Rep. Vernetta Alston to cosponsor.
Stay tuned until the end for Headliner of the Week.
Host: Dawn Vaughan
Guest: Rep. Allen Chesser
Executive Producer: Laura Brache
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June 3, 2025 • 19 mins
On this episode, host Dawn Vaughan talks with McClatchy DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia about Congress’ Big Beautiful Bill and what it means for the state, plus the roles of Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd.
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...
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It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
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