Episodes

  • UNC Charlotte professor tells the story of how one man helped liberate Ukraine from the Nazis in WWII

    UNC Charlotte professor tells the story of how one man helped liberate Ukraine from the Nazis in WWII
    Feb 3 2026
    Moshe Gildenman was a civic leader and musician in a small Ukrainian town until — one day in 1942 — Nazis murdered 2,000 Jews in his village, including his wife and daughter. He escaped with his son, carrying a revolver, a handful of bullets and a Yiddish songbook. His story of resilience, resistance and revenge is told in a new book by UNC Charlotte musicologist James Grymes.
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    51 mins
  • Capped: From credit card interest rates to credit card late fees, does capping them help with affordability?

    Capped: From credit card interest rates to credit card late fees, does capping them help with affordability?
    Feb 2 2026
    In January, President Trump urged Congress to cap credit card interest rates at 10% and said Americans are being “ripped off” by credit card companies. Bankers quickly opposed the idea, with some calling it an economic disaster. There is also debate over capping credit card late fees. We look at the pros and cons of these proposals and whether any of them would lead to more affordability.
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    51 mins
  • Local News Roundup: More winter weather possible this weekend; another measles case in Mecklenburg County; Sen. Thom Tillis suggests Kristi Noem depart

    Local News Roundup: More winter weather possible this weekend; another measles case in Mecklenburg County; Sen. Thom Tillis suggests Kristi Noem depart
    Jan 30 2026
    It's been a rough week for parents, teachers and students as school goes virtual again, with another winter event possible this weekend. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis calls for Kristi Noem to be ousted from her job. Another measles case has been reported in Mecklenburg, with dozens more in upstate South Carolina. Those stories and more with our roundtable of reporters.
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    51 mins
  • 'Everybody Loses' author discusses the meteoric rise of sports gambling

    'Everybody Loses' author discusses the meteoric rise of sports gambling
    Jan 29 2026
    Two years ago, Americans bet $120 billion on sports, a 27% increase from the previous year. That figure grew to $150 billion in 2024. Journalist Danny Funt investigates what's considered one of the most consequential — and least scrutinized — shifts in modern American sports in his new book, "Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling."
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    51 mins
  • One year into President Trump’s second administration, press freedoms are under attack

    One year into President Trump’s second administration, press freedoms are under attack
    Jan 28 2026
    On the next Charlotte Talks: freedom of the press. It’s a bedrock principle of American democracy and yet, one year into the second Trump administration, it is under attack. The Associated Press was banned from the White House Press room, journalists refused to comply with Pentagon rules controlling the narrative, the government defunded Public Broadcasting and Trump is suing and threatening networks and newspapers. We look at the damage done and what might be next.
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    51 mins
  • NC teachers have an important job and want better pay and benefits. Why is it such a big ask?

    NC teachers have an important job and want better pay and benefits. Why is it such a big ask?
    Jan 27 2026
    On the next Charlotte Talks, teachers aren’t holding back their frustration over delayed pay raises. Earlier this month, hundreds stayed out of work to hold protests across the state, calling out the General Assembly for not passing a budget. Our state’s teachers regularly rank near the bottom of the country for teacher pay. They say they have an important job and want — need — better pay, so why is this such a big ask? We search for answers.
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    50 mins
  • Eyes in the sky: Police drones and public safety

    Eyes in the sky: Police drones and public safety
    Jan 26 2026
    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.
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    51 mins
  • Local News Roundup: Charlotte braces for winter storm; flu deaths spike in NC and SC; person found dead during count to assess homelessness

    Local News Roundup: Charlotte braces for winter storm; flu deaths spike in NC and SC; person found dead during count to assess homelessness
    Jan 23 2026
    Gov. Josh Stein has declared a state of emergency as the region braces for a major winter weather event. Also raising concern, the flu has been more deadly than last year, with 67 deaths so far in South Carolina and 181 deaths in North Carolina. Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, a person was found dead during a count to assess homelessness.
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    51 mins