Under the Dome podcast: Masks legislation, Shalom Act are pending after UNC protests

Start your week in North Carolina politics with our latest Under the Dome podcast, for the week of May 13, 2024. Dawn Vaughan here, your podcast host and The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. On this episode, I’m joined by my colleagues Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean.

We talk about how the recent protests at UNC-Chapel Hill factor in to significant legislation moving through the General Assembly right now: the SHALOM Act and a mask bill.

You’ll also hear a clip from Senate leader Phil Berger about why he supports a new mask bill post-pandemic and in the wake of protesters wearing masks.

Headliner of the Week

Stay tuned after the break; we talk about what interim UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts’ future may hold. Plus hear our picks for Headliner of the Week: college graduation season, appreciation for teachers and — wait for it — hip hop diss tracks.

Stay tuned until the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week. Two-thirds of our Headliners — so a supermajority — are about the legislative opening day, while the third is about a downtown Raleigh event.

Listen to our latest episode below and catch up on previous episodes. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon Music and Stitcher.

Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan

The News & Observer

919-829-4877

Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan is the Capitol Bureau Chief for The News & Observer, leading coverage of the legislative and executive branches in North Carolina with a focus on the governor, General Assembly leadership and state budget. She has received the McClatchy President’s Award, N.C. Open Government Coalition Sunshine Award and several North Carolina Press Association awards, including for politics and investigative reporting.