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On this April 21, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with reporters Brian Gordon and Kyle Ingram about the start of the NC General Assembly's short session, with a focus on downzoning law and data centers, and potential legislation. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Brian Gordon & 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this April 14, 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 about the 250th anniversary of the Halifax Resolves and America250 events in NC. Plus the latest in the US Senate race and their picks for Headliner of the Week. 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

On this April 7, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with Congressional reporter Danielle Battaglia about outgoing US Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who has become nationally known for his unfiltered take on those advising President Donald Trump, and other issues. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. 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

On this March 31, 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 about how outgoing Senate leader Phil Berger's influence extends across UNC and state government, including several former staff. Plus who wants to replace Berger, the lastest on NC State and our picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Jane Winik Sartwell 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

On this March 24, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by politics reporters Esther Frances and Kyle Ingram for the latest news on the still-undecided primary election between Republican Senate leader Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. The race is in a second recount. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests:  Kyle Ingram & Esther Frances 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

On this March 17, 2026, episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with Congressional reporter Danielle Battaglia about Vice President JD Vance's recent trip to Rocky Mount, what it means for the NC-01 Congressional race and why we'll get more campaign stops. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week. 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

On this March 10, 2026 episode of Under the Dome, The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan is joined by reporters Nathan Collins and Kyle Ingram to talk about the primary that isn't decided yet: Senate leader Phil Berger vs. Sheriff Sam Page. From what it was like being in the room with the candidates on election night to the latest in ballot counting and what's next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gear up for today's North Carolina primary on this new episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast for March 3, 2026. Host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with reporters Danielle Battaglia and Kyle Ingram about three major primary races: Republican Senate leader Phil Berger vs. Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page; both the GOP and Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate, and in the Durham area, the Democratic Congressional primary between U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee and Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests:  Danielle Battaglia & 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this new Feb. 24, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome podcast about North Carolina politics, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek about the growing auditor's office, DMV as its own agency, ROI on Smith Center location and what he's targeted next in audits, including the lottery and local bonds. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: State Auditor Dave Boliek 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

On this episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast for Feb. 17, 2026, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with Charlotte Observer politics reporter Mary Ramsey about how a NC House Oversight and Reform Committee about public safety turned into a grilling of Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, and what the fallout may be. Plus what to watch as primary early voting is underway, and Vaughan and Ramsey's picks for Headliner of the Week.  Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Mary Ramsey 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

On this Feb. 10, 2026 episode of The News & Observer's politics podcast, Under the Dome, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with politics reporters Danielle Battaglia and Kyle Ingram about the Republican primary for U.S. Senate and the Democratic primary for U.S. House District 4 in Durham and Orange counties. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests:  Danielle Battaglia & 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this latest episode of The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, Under the Dome, for Feb. 3, 2026, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with higher education reporter Jane Sartwell and Congressional reporter Danielle Battaglia. The UNC System and its schools are cutting job positions and programs to save money. In Washington, Congress is battling over the Trump administration's handling of ICE in Minnesota, which is factoring into the federal shutdown debates. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Jane Sartwell & 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

On this latest episode of The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, Under the Dome, for Jan. 27, 2026: Host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with democracy reporter Kyle Ingram and new higher education reporter Jane Sartwell about changes in early voting days at some voting sites, as well as a dispute over a candidate's party status. Plus UNC Trustees consider program cuts, and what to expect at the Board of Governors and House Oversight meetings this week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests:  Kyle Ingram & Jane Sartwell 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

On our latest episode of The News & Observer's North Carolina politics podcast, Under the Dome, for Jan. 20, 2026, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with Charlotte Observer local government reporter Mary Ramsey about the mayor and Mecklenburg County sheriff being called to Raleigh for a legislative oversight hearing on public safety. Plus more about Sheriff Garry McFadden and scrunity of his time in office, including from House Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Mary Ramsey 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

On this latest episode of The News & Observer's Under the Dome politics podcast, host and Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan talks with politics reporter Kyle Ingram about a state auditor report of vacant state government jobs and the costs of lapsed salaries. Plus what to expect this week at the General Assembly and our picks for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices