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

News
Government
1
Changes at the NCGA in 2025, with WUNC’s Colin ...
21 min
2
GOP Rep. Allen Chesser on how 9/11 and COVID-19...
23 min
3
What’s next for Trump's ‘big beautiful bill’ an...
17 min
4
A Q&A with Paul Tine, North Carolina’s new DMV ...
15 min
5
NC House’s budget plan for education and public...
20 min
6
Rep. Jake Johnson on budget, oversight and his ...
28 min
7
NC’s crossover deadline is here. Here's what bi...
20 min
8
The NC elections board control and power shifts...
18 min
9
NC Senate Democrats vote for the GOP state budget
19 min
10
What the latest NC Supreme Court election rulin...
19 min
11
Trump’s tariffs — who in Congress is talking, a...
20 min
12
Freshman Sen. Woodson Bradley on concealed carr...
27 min
13
The latest on the (still) unresolved NC Supreme...
18 min
14
Breaking down NC Gov. Josh Stein’s first State ...
This week’s Under the Dome episode is about N.C. Gov. Josh Stein’s first State of the State and DEI language cuts at UNC system schools.
19 min
15
A closer look at upcoming Senate action on the ...
In this week’s episode, host Dawn Vaughan, Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram talk about NC Senate action on attorney general lawsuits, DEI in schools and immigration.
20 min
16
The NC DMV, DOGE and DEI come up in House Overs...
N&O politics team members Dawn Vaughan, Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram talk about the latest news from the General Assembly and what to expect this week.
18 min
17
What to know about a new cryptocurrency bill at...
Reporters panel on House Speaker Destin Hall’s Bitcoin bill, the state budget ahead, and Attorney General Jeff Jackson's latest move.
20 min
18
New N.C. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley talks e...
Host Dawn Vaughan interviews new N.C. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley, a Republican, in the Department of Labor building downtown.
21 min
19
Trump's fire hose of executive orders, federal ...
Host Dawn Vaughan and McClatchy DC reporter Danielle Battaglia talk about Donald Trump's latest executive orders, Elon Musk and the D.C. aircraft crash
19 min
20
Upcoming redistricting trial, UNC BOG’s requests
Dawn Vaughan, Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean and Kyle Ingram talk about the latest North Carolina politics and the General Assembly's upcoming week.
19 min
21
Under the shadow of Helene and Trump, legislati...
Dawn Vaughan, Avi Bajpai and Kyle Ingram talk about the latest North Carolina politics and the General Assembly's upcoming week.
16 min
22
Donald Trump's second inauguration, presidentia...
Dawn Vaughan, Avi Bajpai and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi talk about what North Carolina and the country can expect in the first weeks of the new Trump administration, including on immigration, taxes and the pressure to lower costs for Americans.
19 min
23
North Carolina’s congressional GOP freshmen & T...
Dawn Vaughan talks to Washington correspondent Danielle Battaglia about the five new members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, plus President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for immigration policy.
19 min
24
The long legislative session, inauguration and ...
Host Dawn Vaughan talks with reporters Korie Dean and Kyle Ingram about what to expect in the long legislative session that starts this week.
19 min
25
Headliners of the Year for 2024
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.
19 min