))
The 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.
The stories and people of North Carolina. Hosted by Frank Stasio.
is a hard look at how North Carolina and its neighbors face the day's challenges. Hosted by journalists Dave DeWitt and Leoneda Inge. Produced at North Carolina Public Radio, WUNC.
Sex and relationships are intimate – and sometimes intimidating to talk about. Host Anita Rao guides us on an exploration of our brains and our bodies that touches on taboo territory.
A sampling of stories and songs from our music discovery stream, WUNC Music
Dom Flemons presents new ways of listening to old music.
It’s been a year since the coronavirus began spreading in the U.S. and it shows no sign of slowing down. Tim Sheahan is a coronavirus researcher and assistant professor of epidemiology at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. He tells host Dave DeWitt about the relentless workload that comes with an unforgiving pandemic.…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
With Trump Gone From The White House, Where Do NC Republicans Go Next?
18:43
18:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:43
Donald 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. Now with Trump gone from office, conservatives are navigating how to proceed. A collection of Republican voices weighs in.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
Many African Americans have a healthy skepticism of a racist health care system. Now Black health professionals have an uphill battle to promote the COVID vaccine. Host Leoneda Inge talks about trust in both the medicine and messaging with Meharry Medical College President James Hildreth, Duke Medical Center nurse Faye Williams and clinical trial p…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Another Impeachment, More Threats Of Violence
22:02
22:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:02
Congress 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. Rob Schofield of the progressive N.C. Policy Watch and Becki Gray of the conservative John Locke Foundation discuss Trump’s second impeachment, and whether unity is really in the political forec…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
The Great Power And Great Responsibility Of Using Psychedelic Medicine
47:14
47:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:14
The world of psychedelics is painted with neon colors and smiling, white hippies with long hair who use hallucinogenic substances for wild, recreational trips. But psychedelics like LSD, MDMA (also known as molly or ecstasy) and psilocybin (also known as magic mushrooms) have a much richer history in their use as therapeutic medicines, which existe…
E
Embodied
1
Embattled: Trans Troops On A Mission For Equality
24:06
24:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:06
Anita says all the time "what's personal is political." So, she's interested to see how a new presidential administration will affect the ability of transgender Americans to serve in the U.S. military, which has long suffered from barriers to equity for troops and veterans from marginalized communities.…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Political Extremists: From Capitol Hill To Wilmington
19:31
19:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:31
The 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.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
Five people died after President Trump incited rioters to storm the U.S. Capitol. North Carolina Central University Law Professor Irving Joyner tells host Dave DeWitt that what happens next will help define this moment in our history.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
The deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol evokes memories of the only successful coup d'état on American soil, more than a century ago, when the government was overthrown in Wilmington, NC. Host Leoneda Inge talks with historians Jim Leloudis and Bob Korstad, co-authors of "Fragile Democracy," about how today's political landscape is haunted by ghosts of…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Should NC Republicans Shoulder Any Blame For The Attack On The US Capitol?
21:42
21:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:42
It was an extraordinary week in American history. After a failed i nsurrection on Capitol Hill, Congress certified the election of Joe Biden over Donald Trump. In our weekly political roundup, Clark Riemer and Aisha Dew discuss.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
It may feel like COVID-19 has been with us for eons, but there is still a lot we don't know yet about its potential effects on our health. Host Dave DeWitt asks Dr. Colin Smith of Duke University Medical Center about a small, but growing, number of cases of severe psychosis associated with the virus.…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Rep. Deborah Ross On A Chaotic Start To Congress
17:58
17:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:58
Democratic 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.…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Sex And Bodies Belong In Our Headlines. WUNC To Continue Broadcasting Embodied
30:56
30:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:56
Back in November, WUNC chose to discontinue “The State of Things,” North Carolina’s only live public radio program heard in the mountains, on the coast and in the Piedmont. Those of us who make the daily talk show were surprised and saddened by the decision — however, we are thrilled to continue offering the Embodied series into 2021 as a live week…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Hidden Symbols in Quilla’s New Album, ‘The Handbook of Vivid Moments’
20:23
20:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:23
Anna Luisa Daigneault, known as Quilla , is the audio muse that makes the Embodied podcast sparkle. WUNC collaborated with Quilla to craft the theme for Embodied and other background music for the recurring series, which approaches taboo topics through a feminist lens. Her music and the podcast amplify one another. To evoke the show’s emphasis on p…
Host Leoneda Inge rings in the new year with astrologer Tali Edut and asks what the stars have in store for 2021. Plus poet and cultural historian Darrell Stover shares his favorite Kwanzaa principle.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Frank Stasio’s Fondest Shows: Meet Little Brother
31:53
31:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:53
In 2003, Frank Stasio spent time in North Carolina guest hosting The State of Things, and one of the conversations from his early days on the show is one of his most-memorable from his 15-year tenure as host: sitting down with hip-hop group Little Brother.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Frank Stasio’s Fondest Shows: The Bucket Brothers Tune Their Talents
17:27
17:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:27
Logan Valleroy and Casey Valleroy might be teenagers, but their musical prowess makes them seem like professional musicians. The brothers have been playing music since they were young. Today, the pair play a myriad of instruments like the violin, keyboard, drums, saxophone and guitar, but started out as kids banging on pots and pans around the hous…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Will Anything In NC Politics Change In 2021?
18:59
18:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:59
2020 was an exhausting year for North Carolinians, and in the world of news and politics. Host Jeff Tiberii, Rob Schofield of NC Policy Watch and Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation review some of big stories from the past year, and turn their attention to 2021. Will it be more of the same, or different?…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Frank Stasio's Fondest Shows: North Carolina's Unions And Organized Labor Saved Lives In 2020
46:56
46:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:56
Union membership in the United States is at a record low. About 10% of workers nationwide are currently union members, and only 2.7% of workers in North Carolina are unionized , which places the state second-to-last in the nation.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
Host Dave DeWitt wraps nine months of Tested podcasts with a look at COVID-19 in North Carolina then and now with the show's first guest: Rose Hoban of North Carolina Health News .By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
‘Has The World Ended Yet?’ Students Reflect On Letters To The Future
28:58
28:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:58
The letters begin with various greetings. “Dear 50 year of age self.” “To my future children.” “Dear future me, It’s me, I mean you, but circa 2020.” These are the words of a group of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill undergraduates who processed the reality of a pandemic-dominated year through letters to the future as a class assignment …
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Not Your Old-Fashioned Bookworms: How Librarians Became Digital Connoisseurs In Pandemic
16:50
16:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:50
This March, our world turned digital. Zoom meetings, virtual school and video chats dominated work, school and home life. To ease this transition to computer-based life, the state’s public libraries stepped up for their communities.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Frank Stasio’s Fondest Shows: Meet Cecilia Polanco, Who Runs 'So Good Pupusas'
46:46
46:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:46
Cecilia Polanco’s parents did not dream of their daughter owning a food truck when they emigrated from El Salvador to the United States in the early 1980s. Their expectation was that she would get a respectable profession after college, or even better, a career, like her older sisters who work in law and insurance. So when she proposed the idea of …
It 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.…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Frank Stasio's Fondest Shows: Meet Surf Philosopher And Educator Maia Dery
47:17
47:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:17
For Maia Dery, sitting still has never been much of an option. Her teacher had her sit out in the halls to not disturb other students, and as soon as she had her precious drivers license, Dery routinely skipped school to escape to Duke Forest.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
This special episode is a gift from the team at Tested to you, the listener, with hopes for a wonderful holiday season and happy New Year. Enjoy " Occasional Shivers ," an original musical production from WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio featuring Branford Marsalis, Mike Wiley, Nnena Freelon and more.…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
A 'Black Economic Development Zone' Grows In Rural Durham County
11:54
11:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:54
Activist Skip Gibbs was in the midst of leading a protest in Durham this summer when he felt that something wasn’t right. In the crowd, which had gathered to demand that the city council redirect the police department budget into social services, he saw mostly white faces.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
All The Songs We Sing: A Celebration Of North Carolina’s Black Writers
19:14
19:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:14
By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Ben Phantom's Music Video 'Saigon' Documents His Father's Return To Vietnam
19:04
19:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:04
Asheville-based singer-songwriter Ben Phantom ’s father never talked about his time in Vietnam. So when he finally decided to go back for a visit after 42 years in the United States, Phantom brought a video camera.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
Several 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. Aisha Dew and Clark Riemer discuss the developments in our weekly review of state politics. They also share who makes their naughty and n…
The rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine is offering hope for an end to the pandemic. But for some who have had COVID-19, ridding themselves of the virus’s aftereffects still feels a ways off. Guest host Charlie Shelton-Ormond discusses the lingering physical and mental toll COVID-19 can take with two long-haulers and Dr. Max Taquet, a clinical fellow in …
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
In 'Broken Faith' Reporters Uncover Decades Of Abuse At Spindale Church
30:46
30:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:46
By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
With Rezoning Approval For Downtown South, Affordable Housing In Raleigh Remains A Concern
16:06
16:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:06
This week the Raleigh City Council approved rezoning for Downtown South, a $2.2 billion development project that will bring shops, housing and a soccer stadium to southeast Raleigh. The space was previously zoned as an industrial district. Downtown South’s mixed-use zoning clearance is just an early step in the project’s progress.…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Frank Stasio's Fondest Shows: Meet Bree Newsome, Who Removed South Carolina’s Confederate Flag
47:51
47:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:51
Activist Bree Newsome Bass gained national attention in the summer of 2015 when she was arrested for scaling the flagpole at the statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina, and removing the Confederate flag. The act of civil disobedience took place in the wake of the killing of nine African-American people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church …
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
#BackChannel: Celebrating 'This Christmas', Steve McQueen's Powerful Film Anthology & More
48:02
48:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:02
Academy Award-winning director Steve McQueen took over a decade to fully realize his vision of a collection of stories about the West Indian community in London in the '60s, ‘70s and '80s. That idea came to life last month with the release of a five-part film anthology called " Small Axe ." The films explore the joy and pain of life in this immigra…
Early public health messaging around COVID-19 widened a communication gap between officials and North Carolina's Spanish speakers. In this episode, we hear about efforts to bridge the divide from Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, director of health equity at Duke's Department of Family Medicine, and Eliazar Posada of El Centro Hispano.…
What 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?By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Frank Stasio’s Fondest Shows: Meet Lumbee Scholar And Filmmaker Malinda Maynor Lowery
46:57
46:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:57
Malinda Maynor Lowery is a Lumbee Indian whose family goes back more than 10 generations in Robeson County. Lowery was born in Lumberton, N.C. but raised in Durham, where from an early age, she often fielded the question, "what are you?" Although she grew up in a family with a strong sense of Native identity, this question stayed with her much of h…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
Black Businesses Continue To Innovate During COVID-19
45:02
45:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:02
When the first wave of federal COVID-19 provisions became available to businesses in April, Black business owners received a very small amount of relief funding. And the North Carolina Business Council estimates the number of Black businesses in the state has decreased by 41 percent since the beginning of the pandemic. There are several reasons for…
The pandemic has only added to the obstacles immigrants in the U.S. face. Volatile federal policies, growing fees, and information gaps are some of what is keeping more people from obtaining American citizenship. Host Leoneda Inge talks about what the path to that status looks like now with Juliana Cabrales of the NALEO Education Fund and Katherine…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Cooper's Curfew In Effect, And A Push For Loan Forgiveness
15:08
15:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:08
With hospitalizations and new cases of COVID infections surging, a curfew takes effect on Friday night. Meanwhile the Attorney General joined a lawsuit against Facebook. Becki Gray and Rob Schofield review those topics, and discuss what — if anything — to do with the more than $1 trillion in college loan debt.…
T
The State of Things on WUNC
1
More Protections Needed In NC State Prisons As COVID-19 Cases Rise
11:03
11:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:03
Increased coronavirus case numbers and deaths in North Carolina have taken a lethal toll on people inside state prisons. The number of coronavirus-related deaths has doubled since the end of September, and more than one of every six prisoners has tested positive, according to reporting by Charlotte Observer investigative reporter Ames Alexander . I…
Anita is all kinds of in love with her newborn niece, a relationship that has her thinking more about motherhood. Her thoughts on the matter are at least somewhat informed by listening to " The Double Shift " podcast, which challenges the status quo for moms. This episode explores the roles of gender and community in raising kids through the story …
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Congressman-Elect Cawthorn, A New Firebrand Of Conservatism?
23:56
23:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:56
Congressman-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.…
COVID-19 cases are spiking in rural areas, where hospitals have been dwindling over the past 15 years. Host Dave DeWitt learns more about the impact from Mark Holmes of the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. Plus, reports from the mountains, and an update from Gov. Roy Cooper.…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Mark Walker Is First Out Of The 2022 Senate Gate
13:02
13:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:02
Republican Congressman Mark Walker announced this week that he will vie for an open North Carolina Senate seat. Meanwhile this week in state politics, a federal appellate court ruled in favor of a photo voter ID requirement. And, the closest statewide race in North Carolina history isn't over quite yet. Aisha Dew and Clark Riemer speak with Jeff Ti…
A mask is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but choosing which mask to wear isn’t always about protecting oneself from the virus. It's a decision that can also affect the likelihood of encountering racial profiling.By North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC
COVID-19 has taken the lives of more than 5,000 North Carolinians, and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the disease has increased the state's death rate by 5%. LaKeisha Butts, an end-of-life doula, talks with Tested producer Rebecca Martinez about the challenges of comforting and offering spiritual guidance for a person ov…
W
WUNCPolitics
1
Representing The 6th: Kathy Manning Is Gearing Up For The U.S. House
14:44
14:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:44
In the beginning of the new year, the 117th Congress will be sworn in and North Carolina will welcome three new representatives to its delegation. Congresswoman-elect Kathy Manning will be among them, representing the state’s 6th District that encompasses most of the Triad. She'll be the first woman to represent that district and North Carolina's f…
You may still be full from all you ate off this year's holiday menu, but now's a perfect time to think about food — especially what certain gastrointestinal responses can tell us about our bodies. Some of those responses might surprise you, as our gut health is even connected to our brain in fascinating ways. This special episode features an explor…
