Trump supports Michael Whatley in visit to Eastern North Carolina

Good morning! It’s Danielle Battaglia with your latest edition of Under the Dome focused on the Trump administration.

First, I hope all of you are having a great holiday season!

Last week was a busy one in Washington, from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina getting full federal recognition after 137 years to President Donald Trump announcing a late Friday night campaign speech in Rocky Mount to North Carolina’s senators voicing concerns about the nomination of former Rep. Mark Walker to oversee international religious freedom.

All of that is linked below.

But first, lets talk about Trump’s speech in Rocky Mount. The more than 90-minute, sometimes rambling speech addressed the economy, immigration and Trump’s support of former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

We covered the official White House event that felt more like a campaign rally, and put together coverage to keep you informed up-to-the-minute.

We wrote a live blog, as well as a story about Trump’s snubbing 1st Congressional District Republican candidates for an endorsement.

What else we worked on this week

• Trump signs Lumbee recognition into law, capping tribe’s decades-long effort
• Trump just granted NC federal workers 2 days off around Christmas. Here’s whe
• How Thom Tillis and allies maneuvered past 137 years of obstacles to aid Lumbee
• Far-right activist Michele Morrow enters NC’s GOP primary for Senate vs. Whatley
• NC’s Sen. Ted Budd voices blunt concerns about Mark Walker nomination
• Senate votes for recognition of Lumbee, as NC tribe nears end of 137-year fight
• Trump administration ends $285 million CHIPS award for Durham semiconductor site
• NC Sen. Thom Tillis says it’s time to move on from Trump-nominated Mark Walker
• Ban Congress from trading stocks? NC Senate candidate Roy Cooper says yes

Thanks for reading and for supporting local journalism.

Be kind to each other.

If you have any feedback or tips for this edition of the newsletter, feel free to reach out to me directly at dbattaglia@mcclatchydc.com.

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Danielle Battaglia

McClatchy DC

Danielle Battaglia is the congressional impact reporter for The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer, leading coverage of the impact of North Carolina’s congressional delegation and the White House. Her career has spanned three North Carolina newsrooms where she has covered crime, courts and local, state and national politics. She has won two McClatchy President’s awards and numerous national and state awards for her work.