0:01:00 A North Carolina midterm election preview We're one year into President Trump’s second term and people are already talking about 2028. But the 2026 midterm election, featuring a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in North Carolina, could have major impacts on the political landscape. Due South’s Jeff Tiberii is joined by WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell, as well as two political strategists, to talk about the March primary, and the stakes of November’s midterms – for North Carolina and beyond. Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC Kimberly Reynolds, co-founder and partner at Maven Strategies, former Executive Director, North Carolina Democratic Party Douglas Heye, Republican strategist and political commentator 0:33:00 Hillside High School alum marches in 137thannual Rose Parade Hillside High School graduate and former band director Jordan Jones discusses his experience performing at the 2026 Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. Jordan Jones, Hillside High School alumnus, former band director, Hillside High School

0:01:00 A Segment: Year in Review: A WUNC reporter recaps the biggest higher education stories of 2025   WUNC reporter Brianna Atkinson joins co-host Leoneda Inge to talk about the biggest higher education stories of 2025. Brianna Atkinson, Higher Education Reporter, WUNC 0:13:00 B Segment: HBCU 101: Enrollment by the Numbers In a post-affirmative action landscape, some HBCUs are seeing record high enrollment. North Carolina Central University is one of them. Due South sits down with Dr. Ontario S. Wooden, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, to discuss what keeps the university’s enrollment numbers high. Ontario S. Wooden, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, North Carolina Central University 0:33:00 C Segment: As the new year begins, ACA enrollees see significant changes to coverage and costs KFF Health News senior correspondent Julie Appleby joins Due South to discuss the changes to the Affordable Care Act in 2026 and how enrollees will be impacted. Julie Appleby, senior correspondent, KFF Health News

0:01:00 Meet the Mayors: Canton’s Zeb Smathers says Helene relief is taking too long, and shares his hopes for 2026 Efforts are still underway to rebuild roads, bridges, and parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina. The mayor of Canton wants to make sure his town in the Southern Appalachian Mountains is not forgotten. Meet Zeb Smathers – the long-time Mayor of Canton and his fight to make sure his community is rebuilt after Helene. Zeb Smathers, Mayor of Canton since November 2017, attorney at Smathers and Smathers Attorneys At Law 0:33:00 2026 resolutions: thinking big about family We’re starting off 2026 with a series of interviews with some of the big thinkers in our own backyard: about their resolutions and community-level solutions to help frame up the new year. First up, a conversation about family formation. Karen Guzzo, family demographer, sociology professor at UNC-Chapel Hill and Director of the Carolina Population Center

0:01:00 The Big Recount: Covering the 2000 presidential election ballot challenge Leoneda Inge and WFAE’s Steve Harrison talk about their experiences covering the 2000 presidential election ballot challenge. In 2000, Harrison was covering the Bush/Gore election for the Miami Herald. He shares stories from that time and reflects on an event that reshaped American politics 25 years later. Steve Harrison, politics reporter at WFAE-Charlotte’s NPR News Source, and former reporter for the Miami Herald and Charlotte Observer. 0:13:00 The Big Recount: A political scientist weighs in Leoneda Inge speaks with North Carolina Central University professor Dr. Jarvis Hall about the 25-year anniversary of the Bush/Gore election. Jarvis Hall, associate professor of political science at North Carolina Central University 0:33:00 The Big Recount: A radio diary from Florida, the center of the political universe, in 2000 Leoneda Inge speaks with a former student about her time covering the Bush/Gore election recount in a radio production course at Florida A&M University.  Kara Palmer Smith was a FAMU journalism student and radio producer at the time of the 2000 election ballot recount and following legal challenge. She followed the story as her final project in college. Kara Palmer Smith, FAMU journalism student and radio producer at the time of the 2000 election

0:01:00 And the South’s first Michelin Stars go to… One North Carolina restaurant in Charlotte has earned one of food’s highest honors. But the Triangle didn’t get completely left off the map. Plus, what the news and various Michelin lists and guides say you should check out in the state and region. Drew Jackson, food and restaurant reporter at The News & Observer 0:13:00 Celebrity chef and native Southerner Carla Hall launches ‘The Me Menu’ Emmy Award-winning chef and cooking show host Carla Hall has teamed up with entrepreneur and executive coach Deb Riegel to launch a new website and program – “The Me Menu” – to help other women find organization, direction and inspiration in middle age. Carla Hall, chef, author and television personality Deb Riegel, entrepreneur, executive coach and motivational speaker, co-founders of The Me Menu 0:33:00 Durham's oldest Black-owned restaurant just got a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation How the restaurant leaders will use the $50,000, and how The Chicken Hut fits into Durham history as host to famous and influential Civil Rights leaders. Tre Tapp, second-generation owner of the Chicken Hut

We're taking a short break, but will have new episodes for you again next week!

0:01:00 'Santas Just Like Me' Stafford Braxton was working as a photographer with a mall Santa when he noticed a trend: Black families would approach him and ask if there was a Santa their kids could visit who looked more like them. Braxton realized there was a need to fill and "Santas Just Like Me" was born. Braxton talks with co-host Leoneda Inge about getting that business off the ground, the joys and challenges of the work and the persistence it often takes to recruit his Santas. Later in the hour, Warren Keyes and Joe Griffin, also known as Santa Warren and Santa Joe, meet Leoneda in the studio to talk about how they got into their work with "Santas Just Like Me" and what it means to them to be part of this expanding group of Santas from Charlotte to Greensboro to Durham to Raleigh. (This interview originally aired on Dec 6, 2023.) Stafford Braxton, founder of "Santas Just Like Me" Joe Griffin, aka Santa Joe Warren Keyes, aka Santa Warren 0:33:00 The Lumbee Tribe's long journey to full federal recognition After more than 130 years, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has gained full federal recognition. Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with Sarah Nagem of the Border Belt Independent about that journey. We also hear from three past Due South guests who share their reactions to the news and their hopes for the future of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Sarah Nagem, editor, Border Belt Independent Brittany Hunt, Assistant Professor, School of Education at Virginia Tech Ronny Bell, Fred Eshelman Professor and Chair of the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Ryan Emanuel, Associate Professor, Duke University, and author of On the Swamp: Fighting for Indigenous Environmental Justice Listen to Due South's previous conversations with Brittany Hunt, Ryan Emanuel, and Ronny Bell and his brother Joseph Bell, MD. Dr. Joseph Bell, the first Native American pediatrician in North Carolina, passed away in June.

0:01:00 The Big Recount: Covering the 2000 presidential election ballot challenge Leoneda Inge and WFAE’s Steve Harrison talk about their experiences covering the 2000 presidential election ballot challenge.  In 2000, Harrison was covering the Bush/Gore election for the Miami Herald. He shares stories from that time and reflects on an event that reshaped American politics 25 years later. Steve Harrison, politics reporter at WFAE-Charlotte’s NPR News Source, and former reporter for the Miami Herald and Charlotte Observer. 0:13:00 The Big Recount: A political scientist weighs in Leoneda Inge speaks with North Carolina Central University professor Dr. Jarvis Hall about the 25-year anniversary of the Bush/Gore election. Jarvis Hall, associate professor of political science at North Carolina Central University 0:33:00 The Big Recount: A radio diary from Florida, the center of the political universe, in 2000 Leoneda Inge speaks with a former student about her time covering the Bush/Gore election recount in a radio production course at Florida A&M University.  Kara Palmer Smith was a FAMU journalism student and radio producer at the time of the 2000 election ballot recount and following legal challenge. She followed the story as her final project in college. Kara Palmer Smith, FAMU journalism student and radio producer at the time of the 2000 election

On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup, we widen our lens to talk about some of the biggest stories of the year: Lumbee recognition, immigration raids, the NC Supreme Court race, redistricting, Chantal and Helene recovery, and no state budget are just a few of the topics covered by co-host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of reporters. Danielle Battaglia, Capitol Hill correspondent, The News & Observer/The Charlotte Observer/McClatchy Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC Bryan Anderson, Statewide Politics Reporter for The Assembly, creator of the “Anderson Alerts” newsletter Claudia Rivera Cotto, Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer

0:01:00 Year in Review: WUNC reporters recap biggest stories of the year From data centers to gas pipelines to PFAS, WUNC reporter Celeste Gracia talks with co-host Leoneda Inge about the biggest North Carolina environmental stories of the 2025. Celeste Gracia, Environment Reporter, WUNC 0:13:00 Duke scholar discusses pipeline of international student-athletes to U.S. Exploitation in sports is nothing new. And when we think about power dynamics, marginalized athletes and missed educational opportunities, we often think of collegiate players. Yet the manipulation of young athletes is not confined just to college campuses. It can permeate into the youth ranks, and impact those arriving from outside America. Javier Wallace is a former athlete and now a postdoctoral associate of African and African American studies at Duke University. Wallace joins co-host Jeff Tiberii to talk about his new book, Basketball Trafficking: Stolen Black Panamanian Dreams. Javier Wallace, postdoctoral associate of African and African American studies, Duke University 0:33:00 A Politico reporter on the already-present political fallout from recent immigration actions in North Carolina Elena Schneider reports on concerns that congressional and local Republican representatives have, and discusses how North Carolinians’ response could shape the balance of power in Washington. Elena Schneider, a national political reporter, Politico

0:01:00 Year in Review: WUNC reporters recap biggest stories of the year WUNC's Race, Class & Communities Reporter Aaron Sánchez-Guerra talks about immigration raids, the climate of fear felt in many North Carolina communities, and the other big stories he covered in 2025. Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, Race, Class & Communities Reporter, WUNC 0:13:00 A new investigation by The Assembly finds North Carolina’s “…Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up” Federal judges repeatedly cited lack of professionalism and timeliness from state lawyers in federal court. Even after repeated efforts for change, judges worry there isn’t a clear mechanism for meaningful consequences that could change the behavior. The state says it doesn’t have enough lawyers, and those it does have are overworked. Jeffrey Billman, is a politics and law reporter for The Assembly Michael Hewlett, is a criminal justice reporter for The Assembly 0:33:00 Comedian Alonzo Bodden talks aviation, family and returning to Raleigh for New Year’s Eve Alonzo Bodden is a comedy veteran with more than 20 years in the stand-up game. A frequent guest on NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, Bodden got his start in aviation before pivoting to a career in humor. He will perform on New Year’s Eve at the Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh. Alonzo Bodden, stand-up comedian and actor

0:01:00  Year in Review: WUNC reporters recap biggest stories of the year WUNC Military Affairs Reporter Jay Price gives us a rundown of his top stories of the year. Jay Price, military and veteran affairs reporter, WUNC 0:13:00 Checking in with Durham's Hayti Heritage Center   As Hayti Heritage Center wraps its 50th year, the organization finds itself facing a need to reset, after financial and staffing issues have led to celebration postponements and cancellations. New artistic director Tyra Dixon talks about an ambitious roster of events slated for 2026 and the changes to both the center and the neighborhood surrounding it. Tyra Dixon, artistic director, Hayti Heritage Center Marcus Greene, board member, Hayti Heritage Center 0:33:00 Medicaid and autism therapy coverage  Families of children with autism faced uncertainty amid Medicaid reduction of payment for therapy. The Assembly’s Johanna Still joins us to discuss ABA therapy coverage cuts and their recent reversal. Johanna Still, investigative reporter, The Assembly

0:01:00 On the North Carolina News Roundup... President Trump offers a Truth Social endorsement of a leading state Republican in the face of an upcoming primary. With health care subsidies set to expire, a reversal of sorts within Medicaid. And credit card fees are on the rise this holiday season. Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of journalists cover the week in NC news. Guests Mary Helen Moore, reporter for Axios Raleigh Claudia Rivera Cotto, Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC Danielle Battaglia, Capitol Hill correspondent, The News & Observer/The Charlotte Observer/McClatchy Nathan Collins, investigative reporter, The News & Observer

0:01:00 Year in Review: WUNC reporters recap biggest stories of the year In this first installment of Due South’s Year in Review conversations with WUNC reporters, co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with K-12 education reporter Liz Schlemmer about the most memorable stories she covered in 2025 and what she’ll be watching for in 2026. Liz Schlemmer, K-12 Education Reporter, WUNC 0:13:00 A Duke anthropologist tackles race and football The college football bowl season starts this weekend. Then come the playoffs, which continue for a month until the national championship game in January. For fans, the football frenzy starts and ends with the games. But for the players at big time football schools, living the football life is all consuming. And for Black players in these programs – who comprise large portions of teams, but small fractions of the student populations – the football life can be particularly complicated. Duke professor Tracie Canada wrote the 2025 book Tackling the Everyday: Race and Nation in Big-Time College Football. She joins co-host Jeff Tiberii to talk about power dynamics, the “football family," and her ethnographic research on campus and the sidelines. Tracie Canada, Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology & Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, Duke University

0:01:00 NC water dispute highlights tensions between faster and slower growing regions Fast-growing Fuquay-Varina has requested to pull water from the Cape Fear River – and not return it. Communities from Fayetteville down to Wilmington object. Reporter Paul Woolverton talks with co-host Jeff Tiberii about the request, the dispute and the stakes for the municipalities, and the people, that would be impacted. Paul Woolverton, Senior Reporter, City View 0:13:00 A warmer winter weather outlook for North Carolina? Forecasting the local weather is challenging enough, but what about predicting the climate outlook for an entire state? That’s the task of Corey Davis, an assistant state climatologist at the North Carolina State Climate Office. He joins Due South to talk about what to expect this winter, and how he turns prediction into a playful practice. Corey Davis, Assistant North Carolina State Climatologist and editor of the State Climate office’s Climate Blog 0:33:00 Growing a more climate-resilient Christmas tree Frasier firs, which represent the vast majority of Christmas trees grown in North Carolina, face a lot of threats during their ten-year growing cycle, especially from climate change. Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with North Carolina State University assistant professor Justin Whitehill, who runs the NC State Christmas Tree Genetics Program, about his efforts to grow trees that can be harvested sooner, hold onto carbon more efficiently and look more like the “perfect Christmas tree”– with a goal to benefit growers, consumers and the environment. (This Due South encore conversation first aired April 10, 2024.) Justin Whitehill, Assistant Professor and Christmas Tree Genetics Program Lead, North Carolina State University

0:01:00 Secretary of State Elaine Marshall on the scams to watch out for during charitable giving season Leoneda Inge speaks with Secretary of State Elaine Marshall –- the first woman elected to statewide executive office in North Carolina –- about her career and the threat of scams this charitable giving season.  Plus, how to recognize scams to protect your finances from fraud when donating online and the state resources to find verifiable charities before you donate. Elaine Marshall, North Carolina’s Secretary of State 0:13:00 A Black student group at UNC loses its spot on campus. A look at the Black student experience two years after race-conscious admissions ends. What it means that UNC decided to end the group’s prominent space on campus, and where the student group will go now. Leoneda Inge speaks with the current president of the Black Student Movement at UNC-Chapel Hill. Plus, a report from WUNC’s Higher Education reporter Brianna Atkinson about the Black student experience at UNC-Chapel Hill two years after the end of race-conscious admissions. Brianna Atkinson, WUNC's higher education reporter Adam Sherif, 58th president of the Black Student Movement and a Pogue Scholar at UNC-Chapel Hill

0:01:00 Pioneering scientist Joseph L. Graves Jr.’s new book tackles the racial life expectancy gap A new book from North Carolina A&T biology professor Joseph L. Graves, Jr. interprets the gap in life expectancy between Black and white Americans and debunks the misconception that race can dictate disease prevalence. Joseph L. Graves, Jr., evolutionary geneticist and MacKenzie Scott Endowed Professor of Biology at North Carolina A&T State University and author of the new book, “Why Black People Die Sooner: What Medicine Gets Wrong About Race and How to Fix It” 0:33:00 ‘Black, White, Colored’ explores the hidden history of a 19th century insurrection in Laurinburg   Mother-daughter writing and research team Lauretta Malloy Nobel and LeeAnet Noble spent years traveling to Laurinburg, NC to corroborate the family stories they’d grown up hearing about the town and the affluent Black community there. The book blends history of Laurinburg’s Black and Irish neighborhoods and accounts of an insurrection that preceded the Wilmington massacre in 1898. Lauretta Malloy Noble and LeeAnet Noble, authors of Black, White, Colored: The Hidden Story of an Insurrection, A Family, A Southern Town, and Identity in America

On the North Carolina News Roundup... This week candidates officially filed their papers for big races like Congress and the U.S. Senate.  Leoneda Inge speaks with our panel of reporters about the week's top news, including the fire in Raleigh, a new law that allows teachers to carry concealed weapons at private schools, and Jason DeBruyn asks the group questions from the WUNC News Quiz (online at wunc.org/quiz). Plus, journalism professor and author Paul Cuadros shares how immigration enforcement actions in North Carolina are affecting his students, and the broader Latino community. Laura Leslie, Editor of NC Newsline Colin Campbell, WUNC’s Capitol Bureau Chief Gary Robertson, State House Reporter, the Associated Press Jason DeBruyn, WUNC’s Supervising Editor for Digital News shares WUNC’s Weekly News Quiz Paul Cuadros, UNC-Chapel Hill Journalism professor and author of, "A Home on the Field: How One Championship Soccer Team Inspires Hope for the Revival of Small Town America."

0:01:00 Riverside High School grad Wildin Acosta discusses new book about his 2016 deportation case In 2016,WildinAcosta, a senior at Riverside High School in Durham, was detained by ICE agents on his way to school. The Honduras native was kept in detention for months. Students and faculty at Riverside raised media attention about his case through protests, social media campaigns and news coverage, ultimately resulting in his release. Riverside journalism teacher Bryan Christopher worked with Acosta to write a new book about Acosta’s experience.  Bryan Christopher, author of Stopping the Deportation Machine: One Immigrant Student’s Arrest and the Kids Who Took on Washington to Get Him Back Wildin Acosta, Riverside High School graduate, who faced deportation as a student Aaron Sanchez Guerra, WUNC’s race, class and communities reporter This conversation originally aired on October 1, 2025.  0:33:00 As immigrant arrests continue across NC, experts and advocates see surge in mental health care needs Due South’s Jeff Tiberii talks with a panel of mental health experts and advocates about the impact of deportation fears in Latino communities, barriers to accessing mental health care, and strategies to support vulnerable populations during these uncertain times. Camila Angelica Pulgar, Assistant Professor, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Heather Ladov, Director of Clinical Services, El Futuro Yazmin Garcia Rico, Director, Community Engagement & Impact, Cone Health Foundation Yesenia Cuello, Co-Founder and Executive Director at NC FIELD This conversation originally aired on August 26, 2025.