Charlotte Talks

CMPD released crime statistics for last year. A petition to remove Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden had its first court hearing. Charlotte City Council voted to give the new Metropolitan Transportation Authority $4.3 million in startup funds, as the measles virus was detected in local wastewater.

Since the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis last week, people in the Twin Cities and across the nation have taken to the streets to protest what they view as unnecessarily violent and un-American tactics by federal agents. Shocked by what they're witnessing, protestors are calling for accountability. We look at who these ICE agents are, how they are recruited and trained, what they can and cannot do, and hear about your rights as well.

Congress is back in session for 2026, but as has been the case since January of last year, much of the action has been in the executive branch. Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without notifying Congress in advance of the military extraction. Still, some in Congress are working on the release of the Epstein files, and another shutdown is looming at the end of the month. Here's a look at what's happening on Capitol Hill.

After a 137-year struggle, North Carolina's Lumbee Tribe has received full federal recognition. It fulfills one of President Donald Trump's campaign promises and opens new opportunities for the tribe. The Lumbee are now eligible to receive federal funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which could support education, health care and housing. We look at why the process took so long and what comes next.

We're speaking with the three new faces on the Charlotte City Council. All ran on keeping communities safe, expanding affordable housing and improving transportation. Charlotte has been grappling with those issues for years — and now that Joi Mayo, J.D. Mazuera Arias and Kimberly Owens have started their terms, we'll see how their priorities translate into action.

State Rep. Carla Cunningham and others file a petition to remove Sheriff Garry McFadden from office. He responds, calling the allegations false. Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Stein endorses Cunningham's primary opponent, citing statements she made last year about immigrants. A Mint Hill teen is denied bail in an alleged plot and the Panthers are in the playoffs.

When Donald Trump returned to office, he took aim at scientific research and discontinued or disrupted funding, at one point cutting it to the lowest levels in decades. Our state has felt the impact and stands to lose billions of dollars. As the Trump administration refocuses its research priorities, we hear more about how North Carolina is navigating these shifts.

For years, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather has lobbied for more staffing in his office, which has not had a significant increase in nearly 15 years. With Iryna's Law now on the books, he should be able to hire 10 more prosecutors. Will that be enough? We will ask about that and about his impression of how the law might affect public safety, as well as other issues facing the DA's office.

On the next Charlotte Talks, Russ Ferguson. You may have seen him on TV recently, announcing the arrest of a Mint Hill man who allegedly planned an ISIS-style New Year's attack. Ferguson is the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. He has been in that position since March of last year, but was only confirmed by the Senate in December. We spent time with him early in his tenure and now we get an update on what he and his office have been focusing on.

CBD, hemp and other marijuana products legally sold in North Carolina are facing a nationwide ban in November 2026 — one that could tank the multi-billion-dollar industry. North Carolina ranks sixth nationally in the production of hemp-derived products. What does this mean for businesses and consumers?

The word "poetry" is often used as a metaphor. Many see the art form as something from the past, associate it with academics, or think of it as unapproachable, it is none of those things. Poetry is alive and well, and in North Carolina, it's promoted by the state's poet laureate, Jaki Shelton Green. She's the ninth person to hold that position and joins us to talk about the role of poetry in modern life.

It's impossible to review a year's worth of news in just one hour, especially after the year we just had. But the Charlotte Talks team wanted to highlight the significant news we brought you over the last 365 days. It seemed like there was never a dull moment.

Last year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children logged more than a half million reports of online enticement, manipulation and sextortion of children. This school year, districts are helping students spot this dangerous trend. We hear from a survivor of online grooming and those working to prevent it.

A conversation with Seth Harp, author of "The Fort Bragg Cartel," about his new book. It covers drug trafficking, murder, and a cover up involving members of the U.S. military.

Fallout continues after the arrest and rape charge of a Sycamore Brewing co-founder, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden warns Border Patrol may return, President Trump is set to speak Friday in Rocky Mount, and the Panthers face their biggest game of the season.

As 2025 comes to a close, we take a look at the public health developments shaping life in Mecklenburg County and what residents should know heading into 2026. Later in the show, we turn to mental health during the holidays, including exploring the impact of financial stress and practical coping tools.

Charlotte leaders have long committed to bringing more affordable housing to the region. In October, the city announced partnering with Enterprise Community Partners to start the Faith in Housing Charlotte initiative to transform underutilized land from faith-based organizations into affordable housing. We take a look at the intersection of faith, land and policy to reshape our housing future.

After nearly 27 years on the bench, Mecklenburg County's longest-serving judge — Lou Trosch — is stepping down. He served beginning in 1999 in the 26th Judicial District and later joined the Superior Court in 2018. In that time, he co-chaired the Race Matters for Juvenile Justice Initiative. We look back on that and other milestones as well as changes to the judicial system.

In 1944, Hickory became the epicenter of a polio outbreak. First one case, then dozens more until hospitals in Charlotte and Gastonia were overwhelmed. Hickory didn't have its own hospital, but a decision was made to build one. That's the Miracle of Hickory, but there's a lot more to it.

A second stabbing on the light rail leads to more questions about safety on public transit, Gov. Stein cancels Medicaid reimbursement rate reductions. CMS enrollment is at its lowest point in 14 years, and the Panthers return to the field after last week's bye.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a look ahead to the 2026 midterms. Will they be normal or engulfed in chaos?

From a buttery Bojangles biscuit to a classic cold bottle of Cheerwine — these brands do not just sell a product, they sell the “South.” Through commercials, slogans and stories, we're diving into the world of Southern brands and how they shape identity, nostalgia, and market the region to itself and all around the world.

Sportswriter Sam Smith and former NBA coach Phil Jackson are longtime friends and now co-authors. Their new book, "Masters of the Game: A Conversational History of the NBA in 75 Legendary Players," dissects the careers of some of the all-time greats, including Jordan, Shaq and Steph Curry. We sit down with Smith to talk about the book and take a look at some players on the list with North Carolina roots.

We look back on some of the biggest economic news of the year for the region. We also take a moment to consider what's in store for the region in 2026.

The new Charlotte City Council is sworn in, Iryna's law goes into effect with stricter bail rules for violent offenses, the state auditor plans to investigate the settlement paid by the city of Charlotte to the husband of the new police chief, and Mecklenburg County officials create a new transit authority.

It has been weeks since U.S. Customs and Border Protection descended on Charlotte. Homeland Security says agents detained about 400 people, but there has been very little transparency surrounding those taken into custody. We look at the impact of this operation on the Hispanic community and what the future may hold.

Marie Curie is the most famous woman in the history of science. She coined the term “radioactivity” and traveled the world to share its secrets. Her story is told in a new book by acclaimed Pulitzer Prize finalist Dava Sobel, but, along the way, she tells the stories of other women who trained in Curie's lab who would pursue their own scientific careers.

History buffs — the wait is over. The second volume of the American Revolution trilogy by author Rick Atkinson is here. In "The Fate of the Day," Atkinson covers the middle years of the Revolution. His account of the bloody conflict between the Americans and the British offers well-researched and spectacularly dramatic history, and explores the demands that a democracy makes on its citizens. He joins us to discuss the book and his collaboration with documentarian Ken Burns.

As her current “Takin' Care of Biscuits” tour stops in Charlotte, Fortune Feimster joins us to reflect on her Southern roots, her journey through comedy and the deep connections that have shaped her life and career. We also revisit a conversation on navigating politics around friends and family.

Few people understand the struggles and power of newspapers better than Rob Christensen, who spent decades at North Carolina's capital newspaper as chief political reporter. In his latest book, he recounts how The News & Observer shaped modern North Carolina in ways both profound and eyebrow-raising.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrests hundreds of people in Charlotte, pulling them from cars, chasing them down streets. Homeland Security and Republican lawmakers say it's making us safer by removing criminals from our streets, yet we haven't been informed of any of the charges against those they've detained. These arrests have spread elsewhere in the state. Details on the week of operations.

When the longest government shutdown in history ended, food assistance for 42 million Americans was restored. But the temporary and unnecessary suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may have long-lasting impacts — and there are new restrictions to those benefits. We look at SNAP, how it started, why it's needed, who it serves and more.

The Catawba Riverkeeper organization is one of the 10 largest of its kind in the country, but the person responsible for that growth — Executive Director John Searby — is stepping down. As he prepares to leave, we look at his contributions to the organization, its work in keeping the Catawba healthy, and the future challenges to that health. Also, as solar tax credits near expiration, what can you do before time runs out?

A conversation with the man who took Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant's careers to legendary heights. From the biggest deals in the history of sports marketing to a campaign against the NCAA, we sit down with Sonny Vaccaro and his co-author, Armen Keteyian, to discuss his new book "Legends and Soles."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection made arrests in largely immigrant neighborhoods of Charlotte. Residents protested their presence and tactics — such as throwing suspects to the ground, breaking car windows and pulling people out of vehicles. The Department of Homeland Security claims this is about ridding Charlotte of crime.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection may be turning their attention to Charlotte soon. With the transit sales tax approved, attention turns to appointing members of the new transit authority. And the trial in the 2019 murder of Scott Brooks in NoDa continues.

Drones are being used in new ways across the region. Police departments throughout the state have turned to drones as first responders. Winston-Salem began using them seven years ago, and now Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are considering their use for rapid deployment in emergencies. We look at the capabilities of drones, their increasing use and some of the concerns surrounding that use, like privacy and transparency.

Last week, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden announced he is running for reelection. That announcement follows a year of controversy with high-profile resignations, criticisms from staff members and how McFadden dealt with ICE. McFadden has insisted he is following the law when it comes to ICE cooperation and denies accusations by former staff members. Sheriff McFadden joins us to talk about that and more.

Charlotte's immigration court, which serves North and South Carolina, is among the busiest in the country. To ensure work continues, those courts remain open during the government shutdown and dozens of new judges have been sworn in, some with little to no immigration law experience. This follows firings of previous judges by the Trump administration. We take a look at our immigration court and its trials in tribulations.

It's no secret that it's increasingly difficult to maintain a lifestyle, much less get ahead, and that is particularly true of young people who, despite doing the right things, can't achieve their financial goals. But it's not all bad news. A recent survey shows that financial planning and professional advice can improve confidence and feelings of control. We look at what it takes to achieve a sound financial footing today and more.

Transit advocates pick up a big win, Democrats run the table in local elections, CMPD announces a new chief, and it's nail-biting time as Charlotte F.C. comes home to take on New York City in the final playoff game of a three-game series.

"Science Under Siege": That is both a fact and the name of a new book by two scientists who dissect the current attack on science. From a pandemic to climate change, to vaccine skepticism, to the ascendance of unproven theories, these researchers say we're on an unsustainable path buffeted by political and ideological challenges. We hear Dr. Michael Mann's theories as to why and what to do about it.

What did voters say in this off-year election where some key local races and the transit referendum were on the ballot? What will those decisions mean for the area's future? Republican spending in local races was up. Did it make a difference? We look at the outcome of the election and talk with former North Carolina governor and former Charlotte mayor, Pat McCrory, about a host of issues.

We explore what can be learned about character from seven former American presidents. Presidential historian Mark Updegrove profiles Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, the Bushes, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, illustrating the traits that made each suited to their time in the Oval Office.

During the COVID pandemic, Dr. Mandy Cohen was the face of North Carolina's response to the virus. Later, she would go on to serve as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Biden administration. Now, she is part of the newly formed Governors' Public Health Alliance, focusing on sharing information about health, emergency preparedness and more. She joins us to talk about all that and the future of public health.