WUNC Politics
417 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month 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
NC Governor: It's Irresponsible To Not Be Vaccinated
July 30, 2021 17:05 - 14 minutes - 13 MBNorth Carolina's vaccination rate ticked up last week, but millions of the state's residents are still not vaccinated. WUNC's Dave DeWitt talks to Rose Hoban from North Carolina Health News about the doubts, the data and the Delta variant.
It's Redistricting Season
July 23, 2021 14:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBNorth Carolina's Republican-led legislature will soon start the decennial redistricting process. WUNC's politics reporter Rusty Jacobs looks at lessons learned from the past decade's legal battles over North Carolina's voting maps.
An Unprecedented Investment In America’s Youth
July 16, 2021 18:56 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBParents across the country began receiving monthly payments from the federal government this week. Meanwhile, the North Carolina legislature considers legislation about critical race theory and medical marijuana. Host Jeff Tiberii reviews the week in politics with Mitch Kokai of the John Locke Foundation and Rob Schofield from NC Policy Watch.
Black Scholars Scorned: The Echoes Of Pauli Murray's Battle With UNC In Nikole Hannah-Jones' Tenure Saga
July 09, 2021 14:00 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBNikole Hannah-Jones' bombshell decision to reject UNC's offer of tenure makes it easy to draw some parallels between the journalist's very public fight with the university and another Black scholar who took the school to task for equitable treatment decades ago.
Disagreeing On What Makes A "Fair, Free & Secure" Election
July 02, 2021 14:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBReporter Rusty Jacobs speaks with two North Carolina lawmakers about controversial GOP-backed voting legislation.
The Elusive State Budget
June 25, 2021 15:37 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBReporter Will Michaels interviews Jeff Tiberii about the state Senate's budget proposal and explains the many steps left in the budget reconciliation process.
Election & Energy Bills, Juneteenth & Vaccines
June 18, 2021 18:01 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBRepublican state senators passed three new measures along party lines that aim to change North Carolina election law. Meanwhile in the state house, a long-awaited 47-page energy bill made a controversial debut, and municipalities around the state celebrate Juneteenth for the first time against the backdrop of ongoing conversations about how to teach history in public schools.
Unpacking A Proposal To Double Jail Cells In Haywood County
June 11, 2021 14:00 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBHost Charlie-Shelton Ormond explores how a multimillion dollar jail expansion proposal in Haywood County is causing a rift within the community and raising questions about the importance of rehabilitation and the effectiveness of incarceration.
A Cooper Cabinet Pick Declined And Still No Budget
June 04, 2021 19:52 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBIt is a busy week in North Carolina Politics. Former President Donald Trump headlines the NCGOP Convention in Greenville; there are new revelations in the Nikole Hannah-Jones saga; and at the General Assembly: the governor’s pick to oversee environmental issues was turned away as budget talks remain stalled. Host Jeff Tiberii talks with Rob Schofield of NC Policy Watch and Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation about the state political stories of the week.
The Politics Of Nikole Hannah-Jones' Tenure Appointment
May 28, 2021 15:00 - 15 minutes - 21.7 MBHost Dave DeWitt speaks with WUNC education reporter Liz Schlemmer about the ongoing tenure controversy involving Nikole Hannah-Jones and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Safety Measure Or Scare Tactic? NC's Anti-Riot Legislation Explained
May 21, 2021 18:50 - 14 minutes - 20.1 MBAfter a year of protests in the name of racial justice, North Carolina legislators are considering bills that could significantly increase the penalty for engaging in riots. In this episode, WUNC's Rusty Jacobs reports on how pending legislation could affect both the future of demonstrations and relations between protesters and police.
How A Deadly NC Fire Catalyzed National Change
May 14, 2021 13:55 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBWUNC's Will Michaels examines how an early morning fire in Chapel Hill on May 12, 1996 changed the trajectory of dozens of lives and became a catalyst for change in fire safety ordinances across the country.
Unaffiliated: Meet North Carolina's New Growing Voter Demographic
May 07, 2021 15:59 - 7 minutes - 6.78 MBWUNC's Rusty Jacobs looks at what voters changing their Republican and Democratic party affiliations means for future elections in North Carolina and the South.
The Political Debate Behind Calls To "Release The Tape"
April 30, 2021 23:20 - 18 minutes - 25.9 MBGuest host Will Michaels returns from a reporting trip to Elizabeth City, NC where a community is contending with the recent police killing of Andrew Brown Jr. There is body camera footage of the incident, but who gets to see the tape and how much of it is made available is up to a controversial state law. | Support this show with a donation at wunc.org/give.
The Renewed Debate Over Voter ID
April 23, 2021 21:50 - 20 minutes - 28.4 MBA voter ID law is on trial again in North Carolina. Is it in line with the Constitution this time? Or is it once again targeting Black voters? Guest host Will Michaels talks to reporter Rusty Jacobs about the history of voter ID in the state and what arguments activists, lawyers and lawmakers have made before the court in the past two weeks. | Support this show with a donation to wunc.org/give.
Inclusive Or Indoctrination: The Debate Over New Social Studies Standards
April 13, 2021 21:47 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBSynthesizing American history is not a simple exercise. What periods, figures, and narratives should emerge in public school classrooms, and who gets to decide? Republicans are decrying some educational standards as having a leftist bent, lacking patriotism. While educators, and advocates for a more complete narrative say we must trust the teachers. On this episode of The Politics Podcast teaching our complicated history to our youth.
Anti-Trans, Medical Marijuana And Equal Time in the Classroom: A Week of NC Policy Proposals
April 09, 2021 21:49 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBA trio of Republican state senators filed an anti-transgender bill at the state legislature this week. Another new proposal calls for political parties to get equal time in classroom lessons, and a powerful lawmaker backs legalization of medical marijuana. Clark Riemer and Aisha Dew offer analysis on some of the big political stories of the week.
A Conversation With Roy Cooper
April 06, 2021 20:54 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBGovernor Roy Cooper joins the politics podcast to explain why he thinks his latest push for Medicaid expansion might yield a different result. The Democrat also reflects on the last 13 months of pandemic times and explains why he and Senate Leader Phil Berger owe it to North Carolina voters to seek middle-ground.
A Vestige of the Jim Crow South: North Carolina’s Literacy Test
March 30, 2021 21:36 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBWhen is the last time you read the North Carolina constitution? It’s an exercise generally reserved for the ... most passionate political followers. So, it may come as a surprise that our state still has a literacy test on the books. On The Politics Podcast, a law professor and state legislator explain why a literacy test — even if not enforceable — remains the law in North Carolina and what efforts are underway to remove it.
Governor Cooper Proposes A Budget, Conservatives Balk At Any Gun Reform
March 26, 2021 20:34 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBDemocratic Governor Roy Cooper rolled out his spending proposal this week. He asks again for Medicaid expansion and sizable teacher raises. And in the wake of our nation’s latest mass shooting, what – if anything – would help to reduce gun deaths in our country? Rob Schofield and Becki Gray review the week in politics.
Hundreds Of Bills Seek To Alter Voter Access
March 23, 2021 22:06 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBSince unfounded claims of election fraud proliferated last November, proposals to change election law have surfaced in nearly every state house in the country. Some restrict voting access while others expand a voter's ability to cast a ballot. On the latest WUNC Politics Podcast: why North Carolina has largely avoided controversy on this issue and a look at existing proposals from around the country.
Why Atlanta Shootings Are Unlikely To Move North Carolina Lawmakers
March 19, 2021 19:33 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBIn the wake of mass shootings in Atlanta, Democratic State Senator Jay Chaudhuri has renewed a push for a hate crime law in North Carolina. Will this legislation get a hearing? Plus, a resolution to call for a constitutional convention and set Congressional term limits advanced at the General Assembly this week. And Cheri Beasley will soon announce her candidacy seeking the Democratic nomination for a 2022 U.S. Senate race. Aisha Dew and Clark Riemer offer insights on some of the bi...
Can You Irrigate A News Desert?
March 16, 2021 20:00 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBMore than half of North Carolina’s counties are considered a news desert – with depleted local journalism. On this episode of The Politics Podcast: what could be done to fill the news void and how the emergence of social media has reshaped how politicians share their message.
A Rare Bipartisan Deal
March 12, 2021 22:02 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBSenate leader Phil Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore and Governor Roy Cooper gathered for an exceptional moment to mark a compromise deal on public school reopening. Meanwhile, an ex-Republican announced she's running in 2022 for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat. And on Capitol Hill, House Democrats passed a wide-reaching measure aimed at upending Republican state lawmakers' efforts to change election law. Rob Schofield and Becki Gray review some of the stories from this week in...
How Pauli Murray Wrote The "Bible" Of Civil Rights Law
March 09, 2021 22:19 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBHow Pauli Murray Wrote The "Bible" Of Civil Rights Law
How Pauli Murray Wrote The 'Bible' Of Civil Rights Law
March 09, 2021 21:30 - 24 minutes - 1.42 KBPauli Murray was a queer Black woman who put her stamp on nearly every aspect of human rights. She worked tirelessly to push for social change as an activist, a priest and a legal scholar. But despite influencing some of the biggest legal names on the bench, Murray rarely received the recognition she deserved during her lifetime. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, we’re featuring an episode of “ Pauli ,” a new podcast series about one person’s fight to upend the status quo and change wh...
More COVID Relief, Fresh Cawthorn Controversy
March 05, 2021 22:01 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBThis week in state politics, legislative Republicans approved a $1.7 billion package of federal COVID relief, as they continued to fight the details of how to reopen schools. Meanwhile Congressman Madison Cawthorn faced additional allegations of lying, as his party stood silently by. Aisha Dew and Clark Riemer offer insights on some of the biggest political developments of the week.
Traditional, Emerging, Slimy: The Fractured Ground of North Carolina Political News
March 02, 2021 23:05 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBNorth Carolinians have plenty of options for political news. From traditional newspaper and television outlets, to newer online-only non-profit outposts. And still more, in the form of organizations backed by dark money. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, an update on the array of news options, not all of which are created equal.
Reducing Restrictions, Releasing Thousands
February 26, 2021 22:34 - 20 minutes - 9.17 MBGovernor Roy Cooper is easing COVID-19 restrictions, following pressure from the legislature, small business owners and parents. Meanwhile, under a proposed settlement with civil rights groups, 3,500 people who are incarcerated will be released in the next six months. And, the new chancellor of Fayetteville State is not being welcomed by all. Rob Schofield and Becki Gray review some of the stories from this week in North Carolina Politics.
To Stay Or To Go? North Carolina Republicans Weigh Party Loyalty
February 23, 2021 23:14 - 21 minutes - 9.66 MBModerate Republicans join host Jeff Tiberii to talk party loyalty, Trump and the recent censure of U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.
Republicans Censure Burr, Eliminate Oversight
February 19, 2021 22:42 - 20 minutes - 9.18 MBU.S. Senator Richard Burr was censured by the state Republican Party this week, after he voted to convict Donald Trump for his role in inciting the insurrection on Capitol Hill. Elsewhere in state politics, a nonpartisan division at the General Assembly is being disbanded, and a bill to require schools to reopen now sits on the governor’s desk. Aisha Dew and Clark Riemer review some of the recent North Carolina political news.
Non-Discrimination Ordinances: A Symbolic Step Or Social Change?
February 16, 2021 23:07 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBOne of the lasting impacts of House Bill 2 was a ban on municipalities passing non-discrimination ordinances. That prohibition expired in December, and in recent weeks a number of cities and counties across the state moved to protect people in marginalized communities.
Pandemic Updates, An Improved Budget Forecast, And Calls For A Chancellor To Step Down
February 12, 2021 23:25 - 17 minutes - 12.6 MBFrom the next vaccination group to poor report cards, there were several pandemic developments in the state this week.
NC Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson On The Constitution, Teaching History, And Discrimination
February 10, 2021 01:19 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MBRepublican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is the highest ranking Black elected official in state history. And he does not shy away from sharing his opinions. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Robinson covers a range of topics as he settles into his post as Lieutenant Governor.
NC Republicans Vote Against Punishment For Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
February 05, 2021 23:09 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MBThis week on Capitol Hill, Republicans tried to downplay the social media posts of controversial new member Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Meanwhile, as state lawmakers appropriated billions of dollars in federal relief funds, the governor called on them to do more.
The Unrest That Led To Arrests Of The Wilmington Ten
February 02, 2021 23:54 - 18 minutes - 26.1 MBIn February 1971, an incident of racial unrest in Wilmington, N.C. ultimately led to the wrongful convictions of 10 people. “The Wilmington Ten” serves as title for one of the greatest chapters of injustice in North Carolina history.
Objections To A Trial, And Curriculum
January 29, 2021 23:39 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBNorth Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr joined 43 of their GOP colleagues in objecting to a Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump this week.
A 2021 State Politics Primer
January 26, 2021 23:43 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBIt's likely to be another bustling year in North Carolina politics. A U.S. Senate race is taking shape, redistricting is on the summer horizon, and Republican legislative leaders and the Democratic governor once again battle over the budget.
With Biden In, Major Parties Consider Their Next Moves
January 22, 2021 23:11 - 24 minutes - 33.6 MBJoe Biden was sworn in as the nation's 46th president on Wednesday, as Kamala Harris became the first female, Black and Asian vice president.
With Trump Gone From The White House, Where Do NC Republicans Go Next?
January 19, 2021 23:44 - 18 minutes - 25.7 MBDonald Trump was a divisive president, however his popularity persisted in North Carolina. Enthusiasm over the unconventional leader helped Republicans drum up a win in 2020.
Another Impeachment, More Threats Of Violence
January 15, 2021 21:54 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBCongress held an unprecedented impeachment vote this week, following the president’s role in the January 6th act of domestic terrorism on the U.S. Capitol.
Political Extremists: From Capitol Hill To Wilmington
January 12, 2021 23:22 - 19 minutes - 26.8 MBThe only successful political insurrection in American history took place in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898. On this episode of the podcast Duke professor Deondra Rose discusses that little-known dark chapter in U.S. history, and how it might help us understand the events of last week.
Should NC Republicans Shoulder Any Blame For The Attack On The US Capitol?
January 08, 2021 22:55 - 21 minutes - 29.8 MBIt was an extraordinary week in American history. After a failed insurrection on Capitol Hill, Congress certified the election of Joe Biden over Donald Trump. In our weekly political roundup, Clark Riemer and Aisha Dew discuss.
Rep. Deborah Ross On A Chaotic Start To Congress
January 05, 2021 22:14 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MBDemocratic U.S. House Representative Deborah Ross was sworn into the 117th Congress on Sunday. Ross now serves a redrawn Wake County district, and is optimistic about politics in 2021. On this episode she talks about crucial Senate runoffs in Georgia, and shares how many GOP colleagues she has cell phone numbers for.
Will Anything In NC Politics Change In 2021?
December 31, 2020 15:58 - 18 minutes - 26.1 MB2020 was an exhausting year for North Carolinians, and in the world of news and politics.
Journalists Reflect On 2020
December 22, 2020 22:14 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBIt was unprecedented, exhausting, unrelenting and — to at least one local reporter — bananas. The 2020 calendar will be remembered for a pandemic, racial reckoning and a once-in-a-generation election. On this episode of the WUNC Politics Podcast, journalists reflect on what they will remember most from this wild year.
Biden Eyes North Carolina Leaders
December 18, 2020 22:51 - 16 minutes - 22.3 MBSeveral elected officials from North Carolina are in the mix for positions within President-elect Joe Biden's administration. State Environmental Secretary Michael Regan, for one, has been tapped to lead the EPA.
Anatomy Of A Governor
December 15, 2020 21:03 - 18 minutes - 25.6 MBWhat is the typical gubernatorial profile in North Carolina? Are there patterns in the background, upbringing or political composition of those who have occupied the Governor's Mansion during the last 50 years? And what might these patterns tell us about who could be chief executive going forward?
Cooper's Curfew In Effect, And A Push For Loan Forgiveness
December 11, 2020 23:32 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBWith hospitalizations and new cases of COVID infections surging, a curfew takes effect on Friday night. Meanwhile the Attorney General joined a lawsuit against Facebook.
Congressman-Elect Cawthorn, A New Firebrand Of Conservatism?
December 08, 2020 23:36 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBCongressman-Elect Madison Cawthorn is set to steal the seat last held by former Representative Mark Meadows. Cawthorn, a Republican, will become the youngest member of the U.S. House of Representatives by six years. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Cawthorn discusses plans for Capitol Hill, and allegations of anti-semitism.