Every week, we round up news and talk to interesting people doing important things across the Southern U.S.
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Headlights Ep. 7: Songs From Queer Country
Fittingly for Pride month, our interview this week is with indie country standout Adeem the Artist, a non-binary singer-songwriter who is part of a wave of “Queer Country” artists making space for diverse voices in the traditionally conservative genre. We talk about their North Carolina childhood and their growing awareness of their own gender identity…
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Headlights Ep. 6: Weed Whackers in the South
While much of the U.S. has given a green light to cannabis, the South remains mostly hostile to legalization. This week we look at recent moves in three states to restrict hemp-based THC products — and why Virginia still doesn’t have a commercial weed market, even though marijuana is legal. In our conversation, we talk…
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Headlights Ep. 5: A ‘Pragmatic Progressive’ in North Carolina
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…
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Headlights Ep. 4: A Second Southern ‘Redemption’?
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…
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Headlights Ep. 3: A Union Veteran
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…
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Headlights Ep. 2: A Richmond Road Trip
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…
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Headlights Ep. 1: Welcome to Headlights!
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?