Rigged maps are quietly reshaping who holds power and whether voters can truly hold leaders accountable. Kate Barr joins us to talk about why gerrymandering has become one of the biggest political fights in the South, how broken district maps fuel broken politics, and why so many communities feel ignored by the people meant to represent them. We dig into minority rule, the long-term consequences of noncompetitive elections, and why state legislatures in places like South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee could shape the future of democracy. Most importantly, we talk about what actually works, why the fight is not over, and what a real path forward could look like.

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Why Gerrymandering Is Surging

05:44 Operation REDMAP’s Lasting Damage

09:16 Minority Rule and Fighting Back

19:50 How the South Fights Back

26:41 How Money Broke Politics

33:31 Why Competitive Races Matter

Kate Barr

https://www.katebarrcanwin.com/

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

America watched people get beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the right to vote, and now the protections created in response are being dismantled piece by piece. This episode traces the path from Selma and the Voting Rights Act to Shelby County v. Holder and the latest Supreme Court decisions reshaping voting rights in America. It also asks a harder question: why do Democrats keep acting surprised by strategies Republicans have openly planned for years?

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

The fight one generation thought was settled is back on the table. Congressman Jonathan Jackson joins us to discuss the unraveling of the Voting Rights Act, modern gerrymandering, voter suppression, and why he believes America is sliding backward on civil rights. From South Carolina’s redistricting battles to the national fight over representation, Jackson argues that democracy depends on protecting access to the ballot and refusing to normalize inequality. Voting rights, racial justice, political power, and the future of representation all take center stage as the country faces growing questions about whether hard-won progress can survive.

00:00 Introduction

03:04 Voting Rights Under Attack

08:51 Gerrymandering, Race, and Economic Division

14:53 How Systemic Racism Still Shapes America

19:42 Voter Suppression and the Fight for Hope

Congressman Jonathan Jackson

https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

South Carolina lawmakers are moving toward eliminating the state income tax, but the shift raises serious questions about who really benefits and who pays more. We examine how replacing income tax revenue with higher sales taxes, property taxes, and fees could affect working families across the Palmetto State. Policy analyst Paige Knight explains what House bill H4216 could change and how tax structure decisions shape public services like schools and infrastructure. If South Carolina’s tax plan moves forward, the impact on taxpayers may be very different depending on where you sit in the income ladder.

00:00 Why Tax Policy Matters for Families

04:54 South Carolina H4216 Explained

07:42 Do Income Tax Cuts Boost Growth?

09:32 Revenue Triggers and Budget Risks

13:41 Kansas Tax Cut Lessons

17:39 Better Tax Relief Options

22:41 The National Push to Cut Income Taxes

Paige Knight

Policy Advisor

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-knight-8a15003a

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

Campaigns often talk about rural voters, but they rarely understand how rural identity shapes political trust and participation. Culture, belonging, religion, work, and community expectations all influence how rural communities respond to candidates and national messaging. When campaigns rely on stereotypes instead of lived experience, the result is a growing gap between strategy and representation. Understanding that gap helps explain why rural voters often feel overlooked in American politics and across the modern South.

00:00 Frank Spring and Identity

02:31 Narrative Truth and Storytelling

14:00 Rural Voters and Messaging

25:25 Rural Voters’ AI Concerns

33:58 How Does Trump Fit into Rural Values?

Frank Spring

Founder, Altum Insight

https://www.altum-insight.com/

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

South Carolina lawmakers can revisit major issues year after year, but many voters still struggle to have their voices heard in the decisions that shape state policy. Gerrymandered districts and low primary turnout shape who holds power and whose voices carry the most weight in the Statehouse. Recent action at the Statehouse shows how district maps and ballot access rules can limit how much influence voters really have in South Carolina. At the center is a simple question for Senator Richard Cash and the legislature: what does democracy look like when voters cannot decide the issues that affect them most?

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Why do Democratic candidates in South Carolina have to work harder to win trust from voters? Former Governor Jim Hodges joins Frogmore Stew to explain why Democratic candidates in Republican leaning states carry the burden of proof and how campaigns succeed by focusing on education, health care, and affordability instead of national talking points. Drawing on his upset win in 1998 and his record in office, Hodges shares lessons about message discipline, bipartisan governing, and earning credibility across party lines. This conversation looks at what it takes to persuade voters and compete statewide in modern South Carolina politics.

00:00:00 Jim Hodges' Road to Governor

00:04:33 South Carolina Education Lottery

00:07:16 Campaign Messaging That Wins

00:14:03 Rising Health Care Cost in South Carolina

00:19:14 Democrats Winning in South Carolina

00:26:28 Honest Campaign Voter Outreach

00:30:42 South Carolina Election Outlook

Jim Hodges

Former Governor of South Carolina

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

Casting a ballot should be the start of your voice in government, not the end of it. Ramon Perez of the Digital Democracy Project explains how verified voters can weigh in on real state and federal legislation between elections using secure mobile tools that connect citizens directly to lawmakers. The conversation explores gerrymandering, safe districts, and why many people feel their vote stops mattering after Election Day. It also shows how technology can help voters follow policy decisions and hold elected officials accountable year round.

00:00:00 Digital Democracy Project Vision

00:07:01 Mobile Voting Security

00:14:20 One-Party States and Safe Seats

00:19:10 Legislator Accountability Tools

00:26:53 Mobile Voting Identity Checks

00:38:17 National ID and Voting Access

00:43:17 Expanding Digital Democracy Nationwide

Ramon Perez

Executive Director, Digital Democracy Project

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramon-perez-97a87a41/

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

What happens when Washington stops solving problems and starts accepting failure as normal? Rahm Emanuel joins Frogmore Stew to explain why thousands of high paying jobs in America are still going unfilled and how community colleges and technical training can help rebuild the middle class. Drawing on his time as Chicago mayor, White House chief of staff, and U.S. ambassador to Japan, Emanuel says South Carolina is already showing what national leaders are missing. He argues that if Democrats want to compete in states like South Carolina, they need to focus on how people get trained, get hired, and move back into the middle class.

00:00 America's Skills Gap and American Dream

04:46 South Carolina's Community Education Blueprint

11:19 Washington Failure and Workforce Gaps

15:58 Innovation, China, and Global Competition

20:42 Democrats Competing in the South

25:20 Reinventing High School for Real Jobs

27:59 Why Emanuel Is Visiting South Carolina

Rahm Emanuel

https://x.com/RahmEmanuel

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

Candidates rarely jump into races at the last minute by accident. This episode explores how South Carolina candidate recruitment, filing season timing, party support networks, and early signals of campaign viability shape who actually enters elections across the state. We look at how political parties, independent groups, and local dynamics influence the South Carolina governor’s race field and other contests before voters ever see the ballot. If you want to understand how South Carolina campaigns take shape before filing closes, this conversation explains the quiet decisions that shape who runs.

00:00 PAC Ads and Campaign Money

04:37 South Carolina Filing Period

07:09 SC Governor Race Funding Issues

13:04 Democrats, Gerrymandering, and Voter Power

19:00 Local Candidates and Filing Deadlines

26:47 PACs, 527s, and Dark Money

34:33 Part-Time Lawmakers and Outside Influence

37:00 How Campaign Money Buys Attention

43:50 Baseball Opening Day

Sam Skardon

Former Chairman, Charleston County Democratic Party

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-skardon-42198b65

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/