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Rockingham County Republican Phil Berger is the most influential elected official in North Carolina politics. He has presided over the state Senate since 2011 and overseen a historic shift in state government. Berger returns to The Politics Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation, including election strategy, the judiciary, and what could be done to reduce the political temperature in our country.

North Carolina lawmakers criticized the slow pace of a state office charged with rebuilding homes following Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. Meanwhile, this week in state politics, the two major party candidates in an open U.S. Senate race agreed to an October debate. Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer discuss those stories, and also weigh-in on upcoming visits to the state by former President Donald Trump and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

In recent election cycles that results of political horserace polling has been deeply flawed. Pollsters have adjusted some of their methodology ahead of the 2022 Midterm, yet questions linger. And journalists continue to treat polls results like a sports scoreboard, even if the surveys are not designed to be predictive. On this episode of The Politics Podcast Scott Keeter, Senior Survey Analyst at Pew Research Center, and David McLennan, Director of the Meredith College Poll discuss recent lessons learned and what could be different this fall.

The North Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments in the decades-old Leandro case – again – last week. The litigation is all about public school funding in the state, and competing clauses within the state constitution. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, education reporter Liz Schlemmer reviews the hearing, forecasts some of the possible next steps, and reminds listeners what the practical impacts as for children.

A decades old legal challenge about the quality of public-school education landed before the state Supreme Court – again – this week. Meanwhile Vice President Kamala Harris stopped in Durham, however, one notable Democrat was no in attendance. Clark Riemer and Rob Schofield discusses those news events, as well as the North Carolina NAACP losing its tax-exempt status.

Among a number of interesting political races set to play out during this 2022 midterm, is an open congressional contest in the Triangle. And while plenty of money and attention will be spent in NC-13, the winner is hardly a homegrown candidate. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Meredith College Political Science Professor David McLennan discusses the state’s lone congressional race that is expected to be close this fall.

This week in state politics state Senate leader Phil Berger discussed the prospect of abortion legislation. Meanwhile one candidate for the NC General Assembly faces allegations that she doesn’t live in the district she hopes to serve. And the President eliminated some college debt, though a legal challenge could loom. Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer review on this episode of The Politics Podcast

With less than two months until early voting begins, campaign advertisements are increasing in frequency as attention turns toward the Midterm. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Rusty Jacobs speaks with GOP strategist Paul Shumaker, and Catawba College Political Science Professor Michael Bitzer about wedge issue, suburban voters, and a legislative supermajority that hangs in the balance.

The state Supreme Court halted two voter-backed constitutional amendments from taking effect on Friday, siding with an argument from the NAACP that a racially gerrymandered NC General Assembly lacks some legitimacy. Meanwhile, the Attorney General faces a criminal campaign investigation, and one Congressional hopeful may – or may not – know the difference between a department store and a development democracy. Clark Riemer and Rob Schofield seek to make some sense of this week’s state political news.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is in campaign mode. And although he’s not on the ballot this fall, the upcoming mid-term election will go a long way toward defining his political life – and that of the state itself – over the next two years. Cooper spoke with WUNC’s Rusty Jacobs earlier this week about the upcoming mid-terms and its importance in the debate over abortion.

Nearly two years after a campaign advertisement aired across the state, legal questions remain unanswered. Did the Attorney General’s campaign violate a near century-old law with a claim made during the ad? Will there be a prosecution? And what are the long-term political ramifications? On this episode of the Politics Podcast Raleigh News & Observer reporter Will Doran lays out what we know about an ongoing criminal investigation, and what might come next.

A notable number of North Carolina public school teachers are leaving. In Durham, one in five educators is departing, and other local districts are experiencing higher than usual turnover. On this episode of The Politics Podcast several teachers discuss their reasons for leaving the classroom, while others explain why they have stayed.

On Monday, Governor Roy Cooper signed a nearly $28 billion state budget into law. As is customary, a majority of the plan goes toward education. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, WUNC reporter Liz Schlemmer offers some analysis on the K-12 public education portion of the budget and what it means for educators and charter schools. Among the details: public school teachers will receive an average raise of 4.2%. Lawmakers have also doubled-down on investments in the Opportunity Scholarship program, pumping in an additional $500 million over the next seven years.

This week in North Carolina politics, Governor Roy Cooper signed an executive order related to abortion issues. Meanwhile, he did not yet act on the state budget, which the Legislature sent him a week ago. In our Friday review, Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer discuss those stories, America’s latest mass shooting, and the future of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Volunteers, staff and prospective candidates worked to secure thousands of signatures so that the Green Party would have a spot on the 2022 North Carolina ballot. However, a couple of hundred of signatures were deemed fraudulent. And last week the state Board of Elections voted not to certify the party. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, Green Party member Matthew Hoh discusses how this happened and the challenges of a political system dominated by two parties.

This week in state politics, legislators debate a spending plan that sets aside billions, provides raises, and seeks to weather an inflation storm. Meanwhile, at the U.S. Supreme Court, four justices agreed to hear a challenge related to the independence – and unchecked power – of state legislatures. In our Friday review, Donna King of the conservative Carolina Journal and Rob Schofield from the progressive NC Policy Watch review.

Republican legislative leaders have come to a budget deal. The nearly $28 billion proposal is expected to receive bipartisan backing by the end of the week. However, it does not include Medicaid Expansion, likely leaving the Governor less than thrilled. Meanwhile the General Assembly short session is nearing a conclusion. WRAL Statehouse reporter Travis Fain stops by size up the session, and talk about some pieces of legislation that are going nowhere.

It was a busy week in Raleigh and on Capitol Hill. The NC General Assembly failed to advance a sports gambling measure, or some to any agreement on Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a century-old gun law out of New York, as U.S. Senators approved a narrow set of gun reforms. Rob Schofield and Clark Riemer discuss in our weekly politics review. Note: this segment was recorded prior to the SCOTUS ruling ending the constitutional right to abortion

State lawmakers are considering two bills that would legalize mobile sports gambling across the state. If the measures become law it would put North Carolina in line with nearly two dozen other states, and potentially generate a few billion dollars in annual revenue. Still, it remains unclear if a deal will be brokered in the final weeks of the legislative session.

Tim Boyum has reported on North Carolina Politics for 20 years. He hosts a nightly TV program as well as a weekly podcast. Boyum discusses how he approaches a busy slate, overcoming some mental health challenges, and one exhilarating recent reporting trip, on this episode of The Politics Podcast from WUNC During the conversation Boyum discusses Frying Pan Tower, off the coast of North Carolina. You can learn more about his recent TV special here: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-sandhills/politics/2022/05/04/preserving-frying-pan-tower-