Did the Confederate States of America ever really exist as a nation? In “The Confederacy Myth,” historian Connor Williams argues that it didn’t. His book reframes the Confederacy as it actually was — a failed insurrection that never governed much of anything and had the support of only about 1/6th of the population of the United States. We talk to him about the realities of the slave-holders’ rebellion, and how a concerted effort to glorify it after the fact still colors our understanding.
Plus: What we can learn from a bizarre smear against James Talarico in Texas; a ProPublica investigation shows how easy it is to open a private school in Arkansas; and Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s first Black female police chief confronts a scandal involving her officers and racist text messages. Also, the Coffee and Art Festival returns to Tampa Bay.
Show Notes:
The Confederacy Myth: How an Insurrection of Slaveholders Tried to Destroy the United States Connor Williams
Connor Williams
“MAGA’s Talarico Mental Breakdown Conspiracy Implodes—Instantly” The Bulwark
“New evidence debunks Talarico psych hospital rumor after ‘mind-numbing malpractice’ fuels firestorm” Fox News
“We’re Reporters, Not Teachers. We Were Able to Start Private Schools Anyway” ProPublica
“Alleged racist texts uncovered in CMPD Flock investigation” Spectrum News 1
“Six CMPD officers face firing amid alleged racist text messages” WCNC
“Calls grow for change after report about racist CMPD texts” Axios Charlotte
NC CopWatch
Tampa Bay Coffee and Art Festival