Headlights: Voices From the Progressive South

When Reconstruction ended in the South in 1876, white political leaders moved swiftly to establish what they called a “redemption” — the re-establishment of white supremacist rule. Now, 60 years after the Civil Rights Act, white conservative political leaders are again moving to roll back advances toward racial and sexual equality. Are we in a second “redemption”?

We talk about that with Princeton historian Kevin Kruse, who grew up in the South and has studied its political currents in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement. He also discusses the lessons — and hopes — provided by the history of resistance and liberation movements in the South.

In our news roundup, we look at the explosion of crypto mines and massive AI data centers across the South — often with the enthusiastic support of state and local officials. One operation in Texas is poised to become the first 1-gigwatt crypto mine, using enough energy to power a city of 250,000 homes.

And our arts and culture segment checks in on this weekend’s Florida Folk Festival — a celebration of the complex state’s cultural diversity.

Immigration sweeps are picking up steam in states across the South, often with the help of state and local agencies. In this week’s roundup, we look at an unprecedented enforcement action in Florida called Operation Tidal Wave, which led to the arrest of more than 1,000 immigrants, along with operations in Tennessee and along the Interstate 10 corridor through Louisiana and Mississippi.

The conversation this week is with union leader Vonda McDaniel (pictured), president of the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. She talks about the connections between labor rights and all civil rights, the importance of the Black church in social justice work, and why football Sundays are the most union days of all.

Plus: an appreciation of Percival Everett, whose book James won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction last week.

Our second episode brings us to our first road trip: Richmond, Va., where Jesse talks to local organizer Quinton Robbins (pictured) with the grassroots progressive group Richmond For All. They have had success both electing candidates to local office and pushing back against big-dollar development plans that threatened local communities.

Our weekly news roundup from across the South looks at a fight over library books in Arkansas; the rocky tenure of Louisiana’s top environmental official; and an attempt to block undocumented children from Tennessee public schools.

In the arts and culture segment, Jesse checks in on the first-ever Biscuits & Banjos Festival in North Carolina, organized by musician and scholar Rhiannon Giddens.

Welcome to Headlights! In our first episode, Jesse Mayshark — the founder and publisher of The Progressive South — introduces the podcast and project. What do we mean by “progressive”? What do we mean by “South”? And who are we, anyway? Then he takes to the streets of Knoxville, Tennessee, to hear from some of the thousands who came out earlier this month to protest the actions of the billionaires at the top of the federal government — including a Navy veteran, health care workers, union members and more. And in an arts & culture segment, he notes a milestone for Florida native Ethel Cain — the first openly transgender artist to hit the top 10 of Billboard’s album chart.