Under the Dome

On this episode for the week of June 12, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan, The News & Observer's state Capitol bureau chief interviewed Sen. Todd Johnson, a Union County Republican. They discuss budget priorities, including raises, and the timeline for passing the state budget. Johnson is on the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Committee and chairs one of the subcommittees. Listen to what Johnson’s favori...

On this episode for the week of June 5, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan talks with Washington, D.C., correspondent Danielle Battaglia about how North Carolina’s congressional delegation factored into the federal government’s debt ceiling dealings and deadline. Plus, what to expect at the General Assembly this week, including final votes on legalizing online sports betting. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Danie...

On this episode for the week of May 29, 2023, state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan interviews Ardis Watkins, executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina. SEANC and Republican state agency leaders are the latest to sound the alarm about the impact of North Carolina state employees’ vacancy rate, which is is nearing 25%. Stay tuned to the end for their picks for Headli...

On the latest episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer’s politics podcast, for the week of May 22, 2023, host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with politics reporters Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Avi Bajpai about the abortion veto override, tension on the House floor and what it means for the atmosphere at the Legislative Building. Listen to audio from the final, dramati...

On the May 15, 2023 episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer’s politics podcast, host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan interviews state Sen. Mary Wills Bode about the abortion bill veto and debate. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Sen. Mary Wills Bode Executive Producer: Jordan Schrader Produced and edited by: Laura Brache For more North Carolina government and politics news, subscribe t...

On the latest episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer’s politics podcast, for the week of May 8, 2023, host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan discusses what’s happening in North Carolina politics with colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Avi Bajpai. Vaughan, Perez Uribe and Bajpai talked about the House and Senate debate over Senate Bill 20, the abortion restrictions bill....

On the latest episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer’s politics podcast, for the week of May 1, 2023, host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan discusses what’s happening in North Carolina politics with colleagues Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Korie Dean. Monday is busier than usual in the legislature, and a big reason is a deadline known as crossover on May 4, when most bills ne...

On this new episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host and state Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan interview Republican Rep. Jon Hardister about being the House GOP caucus whip, caucus changes with Rep. Tricia Cotham joining the party, education issues and more. Plus Hardister's cafeteria go-to and their picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaugha...

On this Under the Dome episode for the week of April 17, 2023, host and Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan talks with D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia about Congressman Jackson's TikTok drama and what's ahead at the legislature now that Rep. Tricia Cotham is a Republican. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The News & Observer's politics podcast, Under the Dome, NC Insider editor Lars Dolder fills in as host for Dawn Vaughan and talks to politics team freelancer Kyle Ingram, Charlotte Observer local news editor Josh Bergeron and congressional correspondent Danielle Battaglia about Rep. Tricia Cotham defection from the Democratic Party to the NC GOP House caucus. Plus an update on t...

On this latest episode of the News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host Dawn Vaughan talks with politics teammate Lars Dolder about the dramatic House veto override, shining a light on a budget item and their picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Executive Producer: Jordan Schrader Producer: Laura Brache Audio editor: Laura Brache For more North Carolina government and...

On this episode of The News & Observer's politics podcast, Under the Dome, host Dawn Vaughan talks about the sports betting bill and corporate taxes with Sen. Lisa Grafstein, a Raleigh Democrat. Plus what's coming up this week at the legislature and their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the News & Observer’s NC politics podcast, host Dawn Vaughan and the rest of the state politics team talk about the N.C. Supreme Court, Cooper's budget, gun debate, plus Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of March 13, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan interviews Republican Sen. Vickie Sawyer of Iredell County. They talk mostly about high school sports, as well as the Senate Republican supermajority, abortion, the CROWN Act and more. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week, both about Senate words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of March 6, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan talks with Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi about the big Medicaid expansion deal between the House and the Senate. Plus the Senate puff-puff-passing medical marijuana, the upcoming State of the State and what else is coming up. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week, state symbols edition. Learn more about your ad...

On this Under the Dome episode for the week of Feb. 27, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan talks to Senate Minority Dan Blue about how he became the first Black speaker of the House in North Carolina, what it means today, what he thinks should happen with the long-stalled African Americans monument on the Capitol grounds and more. Plus what he said about playing basketball with Roy Cooper, what's good at the...

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Feb. 20, 2023, News & Observer Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan interviews Rep. Amos Quick about how he learned Black history, how he thinks it should be taught, how he'll decide to vote with Republicans, and why he's a pastor. Plus Quick's favorite snack bar food and Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Feb. 13, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan shares what the launch of the HBCU Caucus means for the lawmakers, the state and one of the schools: NCCU. Plus Headliner of the Week with Vaughan, Jordan Schrader and Avi Bajpai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Under the Dome is celebrating Black History Month with episodes about Black history, lawmakers and legislation. Host and News & Observer reporter Dawn Vaughan interviews N.C. Sen. Natalie Murdock and Rep. Vernetta Alston about themselves, their families, their stance on legislation and more. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week, and a bonus question about what lawmakers' get at the Legislati...

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Jan. 30, 2023, host Dawn Vaughan and DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia talk about what North Carolina's 14 U.S. House members have been up to lately, including the Speaker Kevin McCarthy drama. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Executive Producer: Jordan Schrader Producer: Laura Brache Audio editor: Laura Brache For m...

Didn't get a seat to The NC Insider/News & Observer's sold-out Legislative Preview event with House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger? Listen to the entire, unedited conversation here. -------- For more North Carolina government and politics news, subscribe to the Under the Dome politics newsletter from The News & Observer and the NC Insider at newsobserver.com/under-the-dome and nci...

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Jan. 23, 2023, N&O reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with former Republican Senate staffer Pat Ryan about what the supermajority means and his former boss, Senate leader Berger. Plus Vaughan and Ryan's picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Executive Producer: Jordan Schrader Producer: Laura Brache Audio editor: Laura Brache For more North C...

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Jan. 16, 2023, News & Observer politics reporter and podcast host Dawn Vaughan talks with health reporter Teddy Rosenbluth and politics reporter Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi about the latest developments with changing from Blue Cross NC to Aetna in the State Health Plan. Plus the start of the NCGA session and Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaugh...

In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Jan. 9, 2023, News & Observer politics reporters Dawn Vaughan and Will Doran tell you what to expect as the North Carolina General Assembly comes back for its long session. Plus what factors are at play in legislation, maps and 2024 — and their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Dec. 26, 2022, News & Observer reporter Dawn Vaughan interviews outgoing Cumberland County Sen. Kirk deViere, a Democrat who served four years. He lost his primary after Gov. Roy Cooper endorsed his opponent. What deViere says about the "political machine" and his time in office. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. Learn more about your ad...