The changes at the NCGA in 2025, with WUNC’s Colin Campbell | Under the Dome podcast
Good morning and welcome to our Tuesday Under the Dome politics newsletter, which is a preview of our latest Under the Dome podcast.
I’m Dawn Vaughan, Capitol bureau chief and host of Under the Dome. On this latest episode posting June 17, I’m joined by another Capitol bureau chief, Colin Campbell of WUNC, the local NPR affiliate radio station.
Campbell has covered the General Assembly for more than a decade, including at The News & Observer, so he has seen how the dynamics change depending on who is in power. We talk about how the 2025 long legislative session is going, especially with Republican House Speaker Destin Hall at the helm for the first time. We look at what and how policy, procedures, politics — and even the schedule — is different under Hall compared to former House Speaker Tim Moore, who is now in Congress.
“There’s so much still to be learned about Destin Hall,” Campbell said. “We haven’t had a veto override vote. That’s where the speaker really can wield some political power. Because if he’s really crafty about when do you call a vote when a certain number of lawmakers are absent — it can come across as sneaky, for sure.
“But it’s ultimately, when you’re in a closely divided legislature, how you can get a controversial bill across the finish line,” Campbell said.
“Whether it was that budget vote back in 2019 on Sept. 11 that surprised everyone, or just something more run of the mill, like a gun bill or an immigration bill,” he said.
We also talk about what you can expect as the legislature starts to wind down the session next week. Plus how Republican Senate leader Phil Berger and Democratic Gov. Josh Stein fit into what’s going to happen.
Stay tuned to the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week.
Where to listen
Listen to the Under the Dome podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, iHeart, Pandora and Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Thanks for reading, and listening. If you work in state government, politics or policy and are interested in being a podcast guest or have topic recommendations, email me at dvaughan@newsobserver.com.
This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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