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PODCAST

WUNC Politics

The WUNC Politics 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.Sign up for our free, weekly WUNC Politics Newsletter here.

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All Episodes

28:48

NC Chamber leader talks economic policy from tolls to...

WUNC Politics ·

2026/01/02

The North Carolina Chamber serves as the voice for businesses large and small in this state, and when it endorses or opposes legislation, state lawmakers from both parties take notice. To get an update on the NC Chamber’s advocacy efforts in 2025 and what’s ahead in 2026, WUNC's Colin Campbell visited the group's office to speak with president and CEO Gary Salamido. Salamido also weighed in on the ongoing battle between House and Senate Republicans over scheduled income tax cut triggers and

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12:52

Gov. Josh Stein talks Helene, budget, Medicaid and more

WUNC Politics ·

2025/12/19

Gov.Josh Stein is wrapping up his first year in office. It’s been a year marked by hurricane recovery efforts in Western North Carolina and fights with the legislature over taxes, Medicaid and more in Raleigh. He joined WUNC's Colin Campbell to discuss the big issues of 2025 and what’s ahead next year, from the primary to property taxes

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28:01

Key races to watch as 2026 election filings get started

WUNC Politics ·

2025/12/05

The 2026 campaign season has officially kicked off (although many campaigns have been going for months now) with the start of candidate filing. With the primary less than three months away, we're digging into the races worth watching, from Congress to legislature to the Wake County district attorney. Two political reporters, Adam Wagner of the NC Newsroom and Dawn Vaughan of The News & Observer, join WUNC's Colin Campbell for the conversation.

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41:00

What's the future of NC's news media amid cutbacks?

WUNC Politics ·

2025/11/21

Local news is a tough business these days, with journalists routinely laid off and small-town newspapers closing up shop. But North Carolina’s journalism scene does have success stories. WUNC's Colin Campbell spoke with the leaders of two locally owned media companies that are seeing growth. David Woronoff owns The Pilot, a thriving newspaper in Southern Pines, and magazines including Business North Carolina and Walter. Kyle Villemain started The Assembly in 2021, and it’s since grown to a

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30:53

The legacy of former Gov. Jim Hunt

WUNC Politics ·

2025/11/07

At age 88, former Gov. Jim Hunt continues to be a prominent figure in state politics, but the state’s growth means that many North Carolinians weren’t around during his record 16 years in office. So to better understand what he accomplished and what lessons his political career offers for today’s landscape in state politics, WUNC's Colin Campbell spoke with longtime Hunt aide and biographer Gary Pearce. Pearce says Hunt's powers of persuasion helped him expand the influence of the

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26:43

A closer look at NC's new Congressional districts

WUNC Politics ·

2025/10/24

North Carolina no longer has any particularly competitive Congressional districts, thanks to the new map passed this week at President Donald Trump’s request. To get a better sense for how the new districts will play out in the courts and in next year’s midterm landscape, WUNC's Colin Campbell spoke with Western Carolina University political scientist Chris Cooper. Cooper says odds aren't favorable for Democrats to pull off an upset victory in any of the GOP-leaning districts.

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30:18

NC House Freedom Caucus wins on shrimp, guns

WUNC Politics ·

2025/10/10

The 33-member N.C. House Freedom Caucus notched some major policy victories this year, defeating a proposal from Senate leaders to ban shrimp trawling while getting a gun-rights bill to the governor’s desk.WUNC's Colin Campbell spoke with the Freedom Caucus’ chairman, Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort, to find out how the legislative process unfolded. Kidwell also weighed in on the ongoing budget stalemate, the Freedom Caucus' role in next year's legislative elections, and his work on the new

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22:47

Why Medicaid is facing big funding cuts in NC

WUNC Politics ·

2025/09/22

North Carolina’s Medicaid system is grappling with funding shortfalls, both from the state budget and from the Congressional megabill. The state Department of Health and Human Services says it will reduce provider reimbursement rates and cut coverage for popular weight-loss drugs if state lawmakers don’t approve additional funding.And beyond that issue, more funding will be needed in the future to handle new Medicaid work requirements that were part of President Donald Trump’s tax and

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24:48

New Progressive Caucus seeks a stronger voice on the...

WUNC Politics ·

2025/09/12

The state’s most conservative lawmakers have for years formed the House Freedom Caucus, and now there’s a similar caucus for legislators on the left.The House Progressive Caucus formed this year and has about a dozen members, as well as a political action committee that will be involved in legislative elections next year. Two caucus members, Reps. Marcia Morey of Durham and Pricey Harrison of Greensboro, spoke with WUNC's Colin Campbell about the caucus' efforts to make a difference in a

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26:56

Can the NC DMV fix its long lines?

WUNC Politics ·

2025/08/22

Can North Carolina’s troubled DMV finally turn the corner after years of long lines and finger-pointing about who or what’s to blame? Several months into his new job as DMV commissioner, Paul Tine says the agency is now making progress. Staff vacancies are being filled, and the legislature recently approved more staff positions and several new DMV offices. Tine spoke with WUNC's Colin Campbell after State Auditor Dave Boliek’s scathing audit report, which found that average DMV wait times

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37:41

What to expect from NC's expensive 2026 US Senate race

WUNC Politics ·

2025/08/01

North Carolina’s 2026 U.S. Senate race officially kicked off as former Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley have formally launched their campaigns for the seat where Sen. Thom Tillis isn’t seeking another term. To get a better sense of what we can expect from the campaign and the two leading candidates, WUNC's Colin Campbell sat down with two of the state’s top political strategists. Jim Blaine is co-founder of the firm The Differentiators and the

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28:39

A new NC political party seeks to find the middle

WUNC Politics ·

2025/07/25

North Carolina’s ballot access laws create an uphill battle for third parties seeking to get their candidates on the ballot, requiring more than 14,000 registered voters to sign their petition for access. Five of those parties were on the ballot in last year’s election, and six have started the petition process for the 2026 election cycle.But only one party so far has made any serious progress toward getting 14,000 signatures. That’s the North Carolina Forward Party, which had amassed 2,200

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27:43

NC's new healthcare laws you probably missed

WUNC Politics ·

2025/07/11

A wide-ranging healthcare bill that was recently signed into law would make it easier to get flu medications and make it easier for medical professionals to practice in North Carolina. It was among several noteworthy bills that made it across the finish line just before lawmakers left for their summer break. Because they were complicated and non-controversial, they got overshadowed by bills on hot topics like DEI and LGBTQ issues. Sen. Benton Sawrey, R-Johnston, helped develop the

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23:57

NC House's top Democrat says the legislature is...

WUNC Politics ·

2025/06/27

House Democratic Leader Robert Reives says the legislature has been “getting nothing done” this year as it heads to a summer break. He faults Republican leaders for focusing on culture war issues instead of getting a budget agreement. Reives spoke with WUNC’s Colin Campbell about his assessment of this year’s legislative session, the likelihood that his party can sustain Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes, and Democrats’ prospects in the 2026 legislative elections.

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28:00

State auditor talks elections, DMV and more

WUNC Politics ·

2025/06/13

Since Republican Dave Boliek won last year’s election, the position of state auditor has been getting more powerful. He’s now responsible for appointing and overseeing the State Board of Elections, and lawmakers want to put him in charge of a sweeping government efficiency review. He’s also been auditing the Division of Motor Vehicles and hurricane recovery spending. Boliek spoke with Colin Campbell about that work and other action in his first five months in office.

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29:17

'A diplomat': NC's longest-serving legislator on his...

WUNC Politics ·

2025/06/06

Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, is the only lawmaker who’s been in office since the early 1980s, but the former House speaker is no longer serving as Senate minority leader after his fellow Democrats backed Sen. Sydney Batch for that role instead. But Blue says he’ll still have a key role in Senate action, and he's "freed up to play diplomat" on issues like healthcare, education and affordable housing. He spoke with WUNC's Colin Campbell about his work this session, why he voted for the GOP budget,

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24:50

How a Democrat gets bills passed in a GOP legislature

WUNC Politics ·

2025/05/23

Amid all the culture wars and controversies at North Carolina’s legislature, some legislation features Republicans and Democrats quietly working together. There are plenty of examples of bills developed by lawmakers from both parties working together, ultimately leading to unanimous votes with no debate. Rep. Laura Budd, D-Mecklenburg, is one of the few Democrats who's sponsored bills that passed the House this year. She spoke with WUNC's Colin Campbell about how she's developed

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28:25

NC legislator makes the case for cryptocurrency in...

WUNC Politics ·

2025/05/09

The N.C. House recently passed a bill to allow the state treasurer to invest state pension funds in cryptocurrency and other digital assets. Rep. Mike Schietzelt, the first-term Republican who made the case for the bill on the House floor, speaks with WUNC's Colin Campbell about the advantages of cryptocurrency investments and the risk concerns raised by opponents. Schietzelt also discussed his bills to create tax exemptions for retired government employees and an "open enrollment" proposal

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25:30

Meet the only Democrat (so far) running for U.S....

WUNC Politics ·

2025/04/25

Earlier this month, former Congressman Wiley Nickel became the first Democrat to officially launch a campaign in North Carolina’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. He’s an attorney and former Barack Obama aide who represented Wake County in the state Senate before being elected to Congress in 2022 from one of the state’s only swing districts. He spoke with WUNC about how he plans to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, the prospects that former Gov. Roy Cooper could enter the race, and what

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20:46

A closer look at NC's broken-down DMV

WUNC Politics ·

2025/04/11

For years, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has been plagued by long wait times and poor service. It’s a major problem in one of America’s fastest-growing states. And in the age of DOGE and government efficiency, it's generating talk of some dramatic solutions. This week, we're sharing an episode on the issue from one of WUNC's other podcasts, The Broadside.Featuring:Bradley George, reporter at WUNC Larry Higgs, transportation and commuting reporter at NJ.com and the

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431 results

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