NC lawmakers target cell phones and DEI in schools, as Trump eyes federal education cuts

NC lawmakers target cell phones and DEI in schools, as Trump eyes federal education cuts

Author: WRAL News | Raleigh, North Carolina March 8, 2025 Duration: 23:57

Helene relief aid and a bill to invest the NC Pension Plan in Bitcoin and other cyrptocurrencies are moving forward in the legislature. So are bills to ban DEI in public schools or to crack down on students using cell phones during class time. But other education worries could be on the horizon: The state's biggest school district is implementing a hiring freeze, citing in part the efforts by President Donald Trump to eliminate the federal Department of Education, which gives North Carolina over a billion dollars every year.


Every week, the political landscape in North Carolina shifts with new debates, decisions, and developments. NC Capitol Wrap brings you directly into that conversation with the experienced journalists from WRAL News in Raleigh. This isn't just a summary of headlines; it's a focused discussion on the laws being crafted, the policies being debated, and the personalities driving it all under the dome. You'll hear clear explanations of complex legislative processes, analysis on how state government actions affect communities from the mountains to the coast, and interviews with key figures who are shaping the future of the Tar Heel State. For anyone who wants to move beyond the soundbites and understand the real stories behind North Carolina politics, this podcast serves as an essential, grounded resource. Tune in for straightforward reporting and context that helps make sense of the news emerging from the state capital.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

NC Capitol Wrap
Podcast Episodes
Teacher turnover, the daycare cliff and weight-loss drugs  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:28
WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran discuss a surge in teacher turnover in North Carolina public schools, and the end of coverage of weight-loss drugs by the State Health…
State school superintendent race keeps NC in national headlines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran talk about the terror watchlist suspect whose North Carolina arrest could turn into a referendum on immigration policy, plus the growin…
Post-election surprises and fights, plus WRAL polling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:22
Donald Trump leads Joe Biden in North Carolina their potential 2024 rematch for president, a new WRAL News poll found. But Republicans don't have the same lead in the race for governor, pitting Democratic nominee for gov…
Election upsets, Chamber concerns and runoffs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:50
The week's primary elections brought a spate of upsets by populist conservatives, and that's got the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce concerned. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and State Government Reporter Will…
Primary money, Leandro redux, historic capitol records [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:40
Dark money seeps into North Carolina primary races from some unexpected places. The decades-old Leandro public education lawsuit is back in court. And state historians unveil research into the enslaved people who built t…
Biden's visit and the battle over home insurance rate hikes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
President Joe Biden came to Raleigh to talk broadband internet investments and "Bidenomics" before grabbing a milkshake with Gov. Roy Cooper. WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will…
HOAs, gerrymandering and the campaign trail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:05
On this week's episode of The Wrap, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran have the latest on the multiple lawsuits against the state's new voting maps. Plus: Lawmakers' late…
Who won 2023 in NC politics? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:29
With another year nearly over we ask: Who won 2023? WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and State Government Reporter Travis Fain have lots of thoughts, and now you're gonna hear about them! Plus: Another redistrictin…