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
101
Senate Republican Whip Jim Perry talks budget f...
On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Dec. 19, 2022, News & Observer politics reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with Sen. Jim Perry, a Kinston, NC Republican, about his views about legislation on Medicaid expansion, abortion, the state budget and more looking ahead to the 2023 legislative session.
24 min
102
What U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross says about NC Congr...
News & Observer politics reporter talks with U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, about North Carolina's Congressional freshmen, what it was like inside the U.S. Supreme Court last week, what's in common between state and federal lawmakers and more.
20 min
103
The politics of NC's Big Poultry and its impact...
21 min
104
Write-ins, freshmen and vetoes. Oh, my!
In this episode for the week of Nov. 28, 2022, N&O reporters Dawn Vaughan and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi talk about write-in votes, the former state senators who are now Congressional freshmen and Gov. Cooper's vetoes.
14 min
105
Enough 2022 rehash, what's next? (Feat. politic...
On this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Nov. 21, 2022, N&O politics reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with Western Carolina University politics professor Chris Cooper about what the legislative session dynamic will look like in 2023.
21 min
106
From mayoral race to Congress, N&O reporters sh...
In another post-election episode, host Dawn Vaughan talks with several more folks on our Election Night coverage team to get behind-the-scenes looks at candidate watch parties. Plus what Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin's reelection means, including her new fellow City Council members.
17 min
107
Bonus episode: The biggest takeaways from Elect...
Bonus episode: The biggest takeaways from Election Night
20 min
108
Election Day Eve: Crunch time for US Senate and...
We look at the US Senate race and downballot races, and what to expect.
18 min
109
The Sups: Chances of a GOP legislature supermaj...
In this Under the Dome podcast episode for the week of Oct. 31, 2022, News & Observer reporters Dawn Vaughan, Will Doran and Lars Dolder give the latest on chances of a General Assembly supermajority and what to know about NC Supreme Court races, a week before Election Day.
23 min
110
Election final stretch: Early voting turnout, C...
In this Under the Dome episode for the week of Oct. 24, 2022, News & Observer reporters Dawn Vaughan and Avi Bajpai, and Charlotte Observer reporter Will Wright talk about early voting turnout so far, the races to watch in Charlotte, fact checking political ads, common ground on gun bills and their picks for Headliner of the Week.
19 min
111
Violence in the news: January 6th Committee inv...
In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Oct. 17, 2022, News & Observer politics reporter Dawn Vaughan and D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia talk about the recent violence in the news.
19 min
112
What happens if Republicans win a supermajority...
In this episode, News & Observer reporters Dawn Vaughan and Will Doran talk about the N.C. Supreme Court, Voter ID and judges' races, plus what Democratic and Republican legislative leaders are saying about how the election results will impact their governing in 2023.
22 min
113
Project 170: Questioning candidates of all 170 ...
In this episode of Under the Dome for the week of Oct. 3, 2022, News & Observer politics reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with Kyle Ingram about our Project 170, which brings coverage of legislative races statewide.
17 min
114
Loan taxes, beach pizza politics, and what Reps...
On Under the Dome for the week of Sept. 26, 2022, find out what N&O reporters Dawn Vaughan and Lars Dolder said about the latest in Medicaid expansion, what you missed at Politics at the Pub with Rep. Saine and Leader Reives, loan taxes, beach pizza and golf.
17 min
115
Scouting Out a Former President
In this episode of Under the Dome for Sept. 19, 2022, News & Observer politics reporters Dawn Vaughan and Will Doran talk about why former President George W. Bush was in Raleigh, plus the latest on Voter ID and our Headliners of the Week.
19 min
116
Why Don't You Just Meet Me in the Middle?
In this Under the Dome for the week of Sept. 12, 2022, N&O politics reporter Dawn Vaughan talks with Congressional reporter Danielle Battaglia about candidates moving toward the middle -- or are they? -- as Election Day gets closer. Plus our picks for Headliner of the Week.
20 min
117
Elections countdown: Why Democrats need Kamala ...
In Under the Dome for Sept. 5, 2022, Dawn Vaughan and Avi Bajpai talk about why Vice President Kamala Harris made yet another trip to North Carolina and what that means, plus an elections trust tour and our picks for Headliner of the Week. Spoiler: Dogs and basketball.
20 min
118
Look Ahead: First Day of School and Eyes on Mid...
In this Under the Dome Look Ahead for Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, Dawn Vaughan and Lars Dolder discuss education as the school year begins and what legislative leaders are saying about top of mind midterms issues like abortion. Plus their picks for Headliner of the Week.
19 min
119
Look ahead: NC's 20-week abortion ban and a far...
In this episode, reporter Luciana PĂ©rez Uribe Guinassi dives into the 20-week abortion ban reinstated by a federal judge in North Carolina last week. Plus, Danielle Battaglia sends off summer politics intern Kyle Ingram on his last day at The News & Observer.
20 min
120
Look ahead: Women and children first?
Longtime News & Observer reporter Tammy Grubb joins Under the Dome to talk about her new series Women & Children First?
20 min
121
Special episode: Politics at the Pub
The News & Observer and NC Insider kicked off a new "Politics at the Pub" event series Wednesday. Our first gathering was at the Raleigh Times and was sponsored by Randolph Cloud & Associates and Fidelity Investments.
24 min
122
Look ahead: Mo Money Mo Problems? The latest ca...
New federal and state campaign finance reports show money is rolling in for candidates... Some more than others. The News & Observer's Will Doran and Washington DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia dive into what the numbers say about key races. Plus, Headliner of the Week!
17 min
123
Look ahead: North Carolina named No. 1 in Business
Danielle Battaglia and Will Doran discuss how North Carolina is honored with the distinction as the best state for business and lawmakers are credited with putting partisan politics aside.
21 min
124
Look Ahead: Ballot drama and control of the leg...
N&O politics reporters Dawn Vaughan and Kyle Ingram discuss the Green Party ballot drama, Democrats' midterm strategy and more North Carolina political news.
14 min
125
Look Ahead for July 5, 2022
In this week's Under the Dome episode, Dawn Vaughan and Lars Dolder of The N&O and Insider discuss the final votes of the state budget bill now on Gov. Cooper's desk and what happens next.
17 min