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
Two supreme courts and a surprise announcement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:32
This week on The Wrap, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain break down what’s next in North Carolina’s highly anticipated Moore v. Harper lawsuit, the election law case th…
Redistricting at SCOTUS preview; Tillis and LGBTQ and more [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:41
WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Bryan Anderson look ahead to what's at stake as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a North Carolina election law case. Plus, a plan to over…
NC Republicans weigh in on Trump’s big announcement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and WRAL State Government Reporter Bryan Anderson discuss fallout from the 2022 election. They also get into how Republican officials in North Carolina are responding to former Pres…
The Wrap @NCCapitol: Post-election -- and pre-2023 session -- thoughts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:14
Another election is in the books and it was … normal? WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain and WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie break down some of the results, including North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, Wil…
Debate: Should NC Republicans take more control? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:45
For four years North Carolina has had divided government: A Republican General Assembly and a Democratic governor able to veto some of their ideas – 47 of them since 2018. Republicans have a shot at a supermajority this…
Special edition: A Wrap conversation with NC politics icon Gerry Cohen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:52
Bonus show! Travis and Laura sat down with Gerry Cohen, the long-time lawyer to the North Carolina General Assembly with a photographic memory. We’d say he’s forgotten more about North Carolina law and politics than most…