Under the Dome

On this Oct. 27, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, Capitol bureau chief and host Dawn Vaughan talks with democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and local government reporter Andrea Galliano a week before Election Day. They share the latest on early voting totals in North Carolina and what Wake County commissioners candidates say about property tax increases. Stay tuned until the end for their picks for Head...

On this Oct. 20, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances. What US Sen. Thom Tillis said in his tell-all book that North Carolinians should know about, plus the start of early voting and Congressional races to watch. Stay...

On this Oct. 13, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances. What the gas tax pause means for your money and politics, plus explaining the Voter ID amendment and what to know for the start of early voting. And our pi...

On this Oct. 6, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's politics podcast, Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan, Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia and democracy reporter Kyle Ingram talk about Republicans shifting money away from the US Senate race in NC, lawmakers planning a sudden gas tax session, and changing polls in Congressional races. Plus the Supreme Court...

Podcast summary: On this Sept. 29, 2026 episode of The News & Observer politics podcast Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances about political power and the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees -- and what the university is asking for from the General Assembly. Plus our el...

On this Sept. 22, 2026, episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell is joined by investigative reporter Dan Kane to discuss recent developments in a high-profile lobbying case and a shortage of prosecutors at the Wake County district attorney's office. Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week. Host:...

On this Sept. 15, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and WUNC radio's Capitol bureau chief Colin Campbell. They discuss Campbell's coverage of several state-owned vacant historic houses in downtown Raleigh as well as Ingram's coverage of voting now underway in the 2026 election. Stay tuned to the end for their pick...

On this Sept. 8, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with transportation reporter Richard Stradling about DMV wait times, ferry tolls and major project updates as well as Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia about this week's Race to Watch: US House District 11. Plus our picks for Headli...

On this Sept. 1, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with longtime reporter Gary Robertson, who covered the General Assembly for 25 years for the Associated Press and is the most recent Press Corps president. Major changes in power over the decades, and what the major names today were like before th...

On this Aug. 25, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances about what early voting decisions were made by the NC Board of Elections' marathon meeting and why the ABC Commission wanted a liquor price floor. Plus our picks for Headline...

On this Aug. 18, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell and democracy reporter Kyle Ingram. As major universities begin the fall semester, what UNC faces as enrollment grows. Plus other higher ed news, NC Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes of elections and courts bills, and our...

On this Aug. 11, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia to talk about the future of the 11th District of the US House after Rep. Chuck Edwards dropped out of the race. Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest:&nbsp...

On this Aug. 4, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with legislative/lobbying reporter Esther Frances and politics intern Ronni Butts about the House's return. What the Senate sent them to vote on, including elections, reg reform and budget corrections bills, before the General Assembly wraps for th...

On this July 28, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances and politics intern Ronni Butts. They talk about the potential impact a new ICE detention center reportedly coming to Eastern NC, as well as DEQ regulation changes in the budget and ABC Commission considerin...

On this July 20, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with Congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia and democracy reporter Kyle Ingram about the latest developments in the US Senate race betwee Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley, plus the Dallas Woodhouse dustup at the auditor's office and ot...

On this July 14, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell is joined by democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances to talk about the new state budget, a recent veto from the governor's office, early voting and a high-profile reassignment at the state auditor's office. Stay t...

On this June 30, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell. As all of #ncpol waits for the state budget bill to move toward votes this week, there are other factors at play. Recent veto overrides ban DEI programs in education, and pas...

On this June 23, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances and democracy reporter Kyle Ingram. Listen to what pending legislation about bans on coastal sea walls means for North Carolina and the environment. Plus budget negotiations and an election bill. Stay tuned...

On this June 16, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell and politics intern Ronni Butts. Hear the latest news on UNC System education legislation in the General Assembly, plus development projects like Carolina North and what's being demolished at NC State. Plus the...

On this June 9, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances and democracy reporter Kyle Ingram, looking at State Board of Elections upcoming hearing and the dustup at the Jackson County Board of Elections. Plus what to expect at the General Assembly this week, from Ja...

On this June 2, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by Charlotte Observer politics and government reporter Mary Ramsey for a closer look at the upcoming House Oversight hearing about legislation in the wake of a 6 year-old girl's death. And the NC General Assembly's two unaffiliated lawmakers both represent Cha...

On this May 26, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by congressional impact reporter Danielle Battaglia and democracy reporter Kyle Ingram to talk about ballot amendments, taxes, rising costs and how the U.S.-Iran war may affect gas prices. Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headliner of the Week. Host:...

On this May 19, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell and UNC athletics reporter Shelby Swanson. It's a politics and sports crossover episode. We focus first on pending state legislation about NIL, plus talk about the UNC System bill and other higher ed and UNC new...

On this May 12, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by legislative reporters Esther Frances and Kyle Ingram. The NC General Assembly is three weeks into the short session: What have lawmakers done so far, what's cooking and what's next? Plus our picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Esther...

On this May 4, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by Rep. Erin Paré, a Holly Springs Republican, as they discuss the House GOP majority, property taxes, the budget and a new bill Paré is sponsoring. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Rep. Erin Paré Producer: Kevin Keister Want even more North Carolina politics news? Ou...