WUNC Politics
417 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 36 ratingsThe WUNCPolitics Podcast is a free-flowing discussion of what we're hearing in the back hallways of the General Assembly and on the campaign trail across North Carolina.
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Episodes
Safe Bus: An undertold story of NC history
March 16, 2022 18:53 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBNearly 100 years ago a small business began operation in Winston-Salem. In the five decades that followed Safe Bus Company became a local fixture, and the largest transit system of its kind, in the world. Yet the story of Safe Bus remains a lesser-known portion of the city and state's history. On this episode of The WUNC Politics Podcast, Winston-Salem Transit Authority Marketing Director Tina Carson-Wilkins talks about the history of Safe Bus and recalls her memories riding on it a...
Against the Odds: Political organizers hope to buck expectations in 2022
March 09, 2022 21:37 - 17 minutes - 23.8 MBIt is not expected to be a particularly good midterm for Democrats, however, grassroots organizer Aimy Steele is undeterred. Meanwhile, in North Carolina's largest city, conservative city councilman Tariq Scott Bokhari wants company on his Republican island. Each face long odds for success in 2022, and both want to foster some change.
A VP visit, the latest Medicaid discussion, and an intriguing double-bunking
March 04, 2022 19:56 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBThis week in state politics proved to be anther busy affair with a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris, the conclusion of candidate filing, and more legislative wrangling of the still yet-to-be-expanded federal healthcare program. Clark Riemer and Rob Schofield review some of the biggest recent stories on this latest episode of The Politics Podcast.
Fatigued, avoidance and obsessed: the news consumption continuum.
March 02, 2022 23:04 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBBetween the pandemic, political polarization and the crisis in Ukraine, the news cycle these days is, well, even more chaotic than usual. On this episode of the WUNC Politics Podcast, Professor Benjamin Toff discusses his research around news avoidance and fatigue, as well as both the consequences - and benefits - for those who are not regular news consumers.
Fatigued, avoidance and obsessed: the news consumption continuum.
March 02, 2022 23:04 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBBetween the pandemic, political polarization and the crisis in Ukraine, the news cycle these days is, well, even more chaotic than usual. On this episode of the WUNC Politics Podcast, Professor Benjamin Toff discusses his research around news avoidance and fatigue, as well as both the consequences - and benefits - for those who are not regular news consumers.
As the world watches Ukraine, North Carolina's primary begins anew
February 25, 2022 22:14 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MBIt was another week of whiplashing news in the world of North Carolina politics. Following a flurry of court orders on redistricting, the candidate filing period resumed after a two month hiatus. Governor Roy Cooper vetoed another bill, and a war in Eastern Europe will soon have impacts close to home. Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer discuss those topics in our weekly review.
Term limits are not the answer
February 23, 2022 21:08 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBWhile popular with many Americans, term limits on elected officials have not yielded the results some had once hoped. On this episode of the WUNC Politics Podcast, Western Carolina University Professor Chris Cooper discusses what has been learned from the fifteen states that do impose legislative term limits, and why they are ultimately ineffective.
A conversation with Eva Clayton
February 16, 2022 21:47 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBEva Clayton has been in the North Carolina political sphere for 60 years. A former member of Congress, county commissioner, and advocate for voting rights and rural portions of the state, Clayton remains busy. In this podcast episode she discusses her own efforts to help integrate Warren County, the recent redistricting developments, and getting through the pandemic.
Easing guidelines, new districts, and legitimate discourse
February 11, 2022 20:35 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MBAcross the nation, some COVID-19 guidelines have been significantly changed in recent days. Here in North Carolina, there were some marginal changes. Meanwhile, state lawmakers prepare to draw new districts, and the GOP finds itself in another intra-party squabble. Donna King and Rob Schofield review it all in our Week In State Politics.
Following a landmark ruling, more redistricting uncertainty
February 09, 2022 22:21 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBState lawmakers must again draw new political districts, following a major ruling from the North Carolina Supreme Court last week. But just how much will the new lines change, and is the recent ruling likely to be revisited? WUNC Politics reporter Rusty Jacobs offers insight on the major decision and the likely next steps.
Awaiting a redistricting ruling, and checking for unclaimed valuables
February 04, 2022 21:45 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBIn our weekly review of state political news, Rob Schofield of NC Policy Watch and Donna King of the Carolina Journal anticipate that the NC Supreme Court will strike down new congressional and legislative districts. The analysts also offer reaction following a fire at a fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem, and share whether they've checked the state database for unclaimed property.
Will the NC Supreme Court strike down districts? And a deeper look at the Triad economy
February 02, 2022 21:01 - 22 minutes - 31 MBA major case moved through North Carolina’s high court this week. At issue are whether Congressional and legislative districts can be so partisan they violate the state constitution. Will justices strike down the districts? And if they do, then what? WUNC's Jeff Tiberii and Dave DeWitt discuss the case. Then later, Jeff talks with Greensboro economist Andrew Brod about what a major economic development announcement could mean for the Piedmont Triad.
Greensboro welcomes a sonic boom, as Governor Cooper upends a primary change
January 28, 2022 19:41 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBJet manufacturer Boom Supersonic plans to create more than 1,700 jobs and invest half a billion dollars in Guilford County. This week in state politics saw the major economic development announcement, new jobs numbers, rumblings of a Supreme Court pick from North Carolina, as well as the latest veto from Democratic Governor Roy Cooper. Rob Schofield and Donna King join host Jeff Tiberii to discuss it all.
With opioid overdose deaths again on the rise, what to do about fentanyl?
January 26, 2022 20:35 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBAn increasing number of Americans are dying from drug overdose. Between April 2020 and April 2021 more than 100,000 people in the country died, a new ominous benchmark. One of the leading culprits is fentanyl, a synthetic opiate. On this episode of the Politics Podcast reporters Taylor Knopf from North Carolina Health News and WUNC's Jason deBruyn discuss the upward trend, and possible solutions.
So, when's the primary? And what judges will decide redistricting?
January 21, 2022 14:37 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBAnother date for North Carolina's 2022 Primary? Maybe. Host Jeff Tiberii looks at the week in N.C. politics, including another possible legislative standoff between the Democratic Governor and the Republican-led General Assembly over the date of the primary, and the possibility of judge recusals in the redistricting case, with Donna King from the John Locke Foundation and Rob Schofield with NC Policy Watch.
Redistricting recusal?
January 19, 2022 19:56 - 19 minutes - 18 MBAs a major redistricting cases lands before the state supreme court, calls are growing louder for some justices to recuse themselves. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, three former judges talk about the issue of recusal - and the importance of judicial independence.
Rep. Robert Reives on The Big Lie, localizing politics, and how Democrats will try to win the mid-terms
January 12, 2022 19:43 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MBBy any measure, Robert Reives has had a meteoric rise in politics. An attorney from Chatham County, Reives was first appointed to the NC House in 2014. He won his first election that same year and rose to deputy minority leader and, finally, his colleagues unanimously chose him to lead their caucus as House Democratic leader in 2020. In this wide-ranging conversation with WUNC's Jeff Tiberii, Reives discusses his party's priorities, and why he thinks they can win big this November. ...
A smoking gun or courtroom theater? Lawmaker testimony undermines his own prior statements
January 07, 2022 20:20 - 24 minutes - 11.4 MBJudges heard arguments this week over whether North Carolina’s new Congressional and Legislative districts are unconstitutional and should be struck down. Meanwhile, Republican legislative leaders offered a hint that Medicaid expansion could receive serious consideration at the General Assembly later this year. Host Jeff Tiberii reviews the week in North Carolina politics with Rob Schofield of NC Policy Watch and Mitch Kokai from the John Locke Foundation.
A major trial underway as 2022 politics begins
January 05, 2022 21:47 - 24 minutes - 11.2 MBOn the political calendar this new year are mid-term elections, a short legislative session, and - already underway - a trial that will rule on whether new districts are constitutional. Dawn Vaughan of the News & Observer and WUNC Politics reporter Rusty Jacobs join this episode to preview 2022.
The craft of political cartooning
December 14, 2021 23:46 - 24 minutes - 11 MBPat Bagley has been sketching political cartoons at the Salt Lake Tribune since 1979. That makes him the longest continuously employed editorial cartoonist in America. On this episode of the Politics Podcast, Host Jeff Tiberii speaks with Bagley about his process, some of his favorite people to draw, and he even offers a trade secret.
A Primary pushed back, as legality of districts is considered
December 10, 2021 19:22 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MBHost Jeff Tiberii looks at the week in North Carolina politics with Mitch Kokai and Rob Schofield.
U.S. Senate hopeful Jeff Jackson on authenticity, value of town halls, and variable of race
December 07, 2021 21:36 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MBJeff Jackson is one of two Democratic frontrunners seeking the nomination to replace the retiring Richard Burr in the U.S. Senate. He’s a state legislator from Mecklenburg County who is meeting with constituents across the state, building what he calls the most transparent and substantive Senate campaign in the modern history of the state. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Jackson discusses his strategy, how to combat misinformation, and the element of race in this political ...
Another Leandro Twist, Another Cooper Veto
December 03, 2021 19:34 - 25 minutes - 11.5 MBThis week in state politics saw another significant development in the Leandro Case, while Governor Roy Cooper blocked an election law from going into effect. Host Jeff Tiberii reviews the latest happenings with Aisha Dew and Mitch Kokai.
NC gets a budget, and longtime congressman won't seek re-election
November 19, 2021 21:51 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBAfter three years without one, North Carolina finally got a two-year spending plan this week. In our review of the week's politics, host Jeff Tiberii talks about the budget with Becki Gray and Rob Schofield. They also discuss what's behind Eastern North Carolina Democratic Congressman G.K. Butterfield's decision not to seek another term.
A state budget is about to pass, finally
November 17, 2021 01:54 - 26 minutes - 36.6 MBWUNC's Jeff Tiberii, Rusty Jacobs, and Will Michaels dissect the proposed state budget.
Is a reckoning coming over North Carolina's new district maps?
November 09, 2021 21:57 - 21 minutes - 29.5 MBHost Jeff Tiberii analyzes and dissects the new maps passed by the North Carolina General Assembly with Allison Riggs of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and WUNC Reporter Rusty Jacobs.
Stalled budget negotiations and a fresh batch of gerrymandered maps
November 05, 2021 20:51 - 22 minutes - 10.3 MBHost Jeff Tiberii discusses the week in North Carolina politics with Becki Gray and Rob Schofield.
A national perspective on gerrymandering: How does NC rank?
November 02, 2021 18:00 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBHost Jeff Tiberii discusses maps and political trends with J. Miles Coleman, associate editor at Sabato's Crystal Ball.
It's Groundhog Day all over again at the General Assembly
October 29, 2021 18:18 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MBHost Jeff Tiberii discusses the week in North Carolina politics with Aisha Dew and Clark Riemer.
Behind The Lines, Part Four: A Fraught Past, An Uncertain Future
October 26, 2021 21:10 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBPart four in a four-part series that examines redistricting in North Carolina
Behind The Lines, Part Three: Reckoning With Reform
October 19, 2021 22:14 - 27 minutes - 37.4 MBPart three in a four-part series that examines redistricting in North Carolina
Behind The Lines, Part Two: The Pen vs. The Gavel
October 12, 2021 21:51 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBPart two in a four-part series that examines redistricting in North Carolina
Behind The Lines, Part Two: The Pen vs. The Gavel
October 12, 2021 21:51 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBPart two in a four-part series that examines redistricting in North Carolina
A Fast-Tracked Energy Bill And A Plodding Budget Negotiation
October 08, 2021 19:22 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBAn energy bill moves quickly, while budget negotiations plod along. Host Jeff Tiberii looks at the week in state politics with Rob Schofield with the progressive NC Policy Watch and Becki Gray from the conservative John Locke Foundation.
Behind The Lines, Part One: The Ultimate Exercise In Cultivating Political Power
October 05, 2021 20:09 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBPart one in a four-part series that examines redistricting in North Carolina
Behind the Lines, Part 1: The Ultimate Exercise In Cultivating Political Power
October 05, 2021 20:09 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBPart one in a four-part series that examines redistricting in North Carolina
Republican legislative leaders have a spending compromise. Will the governor accept it?
October 01, 2021 21:29 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MBThe state House and Senate have reached a deal on the budget. In our weekly political discussion, Clark Riemer and Aisha Dew share their optimism about a possible spending deal with the governor. Meanwhile, the ongoing negotiations could be impacted by a Leandro remediation order, and Democrats on Capitol Hill must now decide what to work on first.
What Do Boise, DC, And Raleigh Have In Common? A Political Reporter Explains
September 28, 2021 17:18 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBHost Jeff Tiberii speaks with Brian Murphy, the new editor of The Insider, about his career covering politics in two state capitols and Washington.
The Past, Present, And Future Of Voter ID In North Carolina
September 21, 2021 14:41 - 21 minutes - 29.5 MBPhoto ID is still not required to vote in North Carolina. Host Jeff Tiberii and WUNC reporter Rusty Jacobs break down the latest court ruling, including how the judges ruled last week, what role the history of racial discrimination played, and where the litigation goes next.
Where's The Line Between Personal Freedom And Public Health?
September 17, 2021 16:30 - 25 minutes - 34.5 MBWUNC's Jeff Tiberii hosts a conversation with Becki Gray from the conservative John Locke Foundation and Rob Schofield with the progressive NC Policy Watch about personal freedom vs public health/Covid vaccines and the scheduling of redistricting public forums on Yom Kippur.
'Like Nothing I've Ever Seen': Anti-Vaxxers In The Age Of Covid
September 14, 2021 23:39 - 25 minutes - 34.6 MBVaccine mandates aren’t new. Neither is the hysteria (by some) against them. Yet what was once a fringe argument has become a mainstream political position. Following months of comment-section debates, and the latest round of misinformation, Covid vaccine rates in the U.S. have sputtered. Host Jeff Tiberii talks with Dr. Jeffrey Engel, the former North Carolina state epidemiologist and state health director, and WUNC health reporter Jason deBruyn, about the struggle for public healt...
Biden's Latest Pandemic Plan And Memories From 9-11
September 10, 2021 22:09 - 11 minutes - 15.7 MBIn this week's review of political news, host Jeff Tiberii discusses President Joe Biden's six-pronged approach in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, an e-cigarette maker's plans to open a research facility in Durham, and reflections twenty years after September 11th with Clark Riemer and Aisha Dew.
School Shootings Raise More Questions Around Security, Gangs, And Guns
September 07, 2021 19:55 - 26 minutes - 36.4 MBTwo separate shooting incidents at North Carolina high schools in recent days have left many unanswered questions, adding to an already significant strain of public-school anxiety, and to diverging opinions about safety, bullying, possible gang involvement and guns in school. Host Jeff Tiberii speaks with Ben Schachtman, the News Director at WHQR in Wilmington; and Paul Garber, a reporter at WFDD in Winston-Salem, about what is known about the shootings at New Hanover High School an...
Is No News Still News?
September 03, 2021 16:58 - 23 minutes - 33 MBHost Jeff Tiberii looks at the lack of progress with the state budget - and who that may benefit - with Aisha Dew from the progressive organization Higher Heights, and Becki Gray from the conservative John Locke Foundation. They also discuss Rep. Madison Cawthorn's latest inaccurate and inflammatory comments and whether a Texas-like abortion law could ever come to North Carolina.
Grading The 2021 General Assembly
August 31, 2021 18:38 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBHost Jeff Tiberii looks at how the General Assembly has done in the 2021 long session with longtime political reporter Colin Campbell, formerly with the News and Observer and The Insider, and now at BusinessNC Magazine.
Voting Rights And Criminal Justice Reform Top The Week In State Politics
August 27, 2021 16:59 - 19 minutes - 26.4 MBCriminal justice legislation and a significant expansion of voting rights, for the time being. Those are just two of the topics that come up as host Jeff Tiberii is joined by Becki Gray from the conservative John Locke Foundation and Rob Schofield with the progressive NC Policy Watch.
A Victory For Voting Rights And Black Enfranchisement
August 24, 2021 18:06 - 19 minutes - 26.4 MBHost Jeff Tiberii speaks with Jordan Wilkie, a reporter with Carolina Public Press who covers election integrity, open government, and civil liberties, about the legal ruling in the CSI v. Moore lawsuit that enfranchises tens of thousands of North Carolina citizens.
Masks, Wagers, And Reconciliation
August 20, 2021 18:05 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBHost Jeff Tiberii looks at the week in North Carolina politics with Rob Schofield and Becki Gray.
Bipartisanship Is Back, Along With COVID Concerns
August 13, 2021 19:02 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MBLawmakers came together to pass major spending proposals at the state and federal levels this week. New U.S. Census numbers confirm North Carolina's growing urban and suburban populations. And school districts around the state continue to waver on mandating masks in the classroom. Guest host Anita Rao gets analysis from Clark Reimer and Aisha Dew on some of the big political stories of the week.
The Swine Spread: Meet The Feral Hogs Finding Themselves At Home In The South
August 06, 2021 17:52 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MBSample an episode of WUNC's new podcast CREEP, all about the creatures invading our state and region. Learn more at wunc.org/creep.