What happened to the Southern values many men were raised to believe in, and how did MAGA become part of that identity? We talk with Robert Arnold about Southern masculinity, political identity, the appeal of anti-establishment politics, and why he believes voters need a stronger moral framework than party loyalty. We also get into why the left does not need its own Joe Rogan, how state and local politics shape everyday life, and what authenticity looks like in a political culture built around outrage. Robert also shares how his background in economics and writing influences the way he explains politics, government, and the forces shaping people's lives.

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

Why are the companies building the world’s most powerful AI systems suddenly asking governments to slow them down? We look at the growing debate over AI safety and regulation, why tech companies say competition makes it difficult to pump the brakes on their own, and what happens when technology advances faster than lawmakers can respond. We also connect the AI race to the rapid growth of data centers, the promises being made to communities, and the questions voters should be asking about jobs, energy, water, and public accountability. As AI becomes more powerful, we examine who should set the rules and whether anyone can actually slow the race down.

00:00 AI Leaders Want to Slow Down

02:29 Who Is Responsible for AI Safety?

04:46 Why AI Regulation Can’t Keep Up

09:10 How Dangerous Could AI Become?

12:47 Why AI Companies Are Getting Scared

17:13 The AI That Escaped Its Sandbox

19:39 Why AI Doesn't Think Like Humans

23:56 Could AI Regulation Lock Out Rivals?

26:16 The Global Fight Over AI Safety

31:00 Can States Regulate AI on Their Own?

35:13 Why Data Centers Became an AI Flashpoint

37:57 The Biggest Myths About AI Data Centers

41:32 Who Really Benefits From Data Centers?

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

There's more stew on Substack!

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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 does class really cost when government systems consume our time, test our patience, and make dignity feel conditional? We look at how bureaucracy, paperwork, long waits, and administrative complexity place a heavier burden on working and middle-class Americans, turning time itself into an unequal expense. From frustrating encounters with the IRS to the way public benefits are designed, we examine how government dysfunction can reinforce class divisions and shape the way we experience citizenship. We also ask what a more effective, humane government could look like if public services were designed around the people they are supposed to serve.

00:00 Introduction

02:28 How Class Shapes Work, Status, and Worth

06:55 How Bureaucracy Punishes the Working Class

12:45 Why Government Fails—and How to Fix It

17:14 Rethinking Government and Class Warfare

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

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 politics is heading into a record-breaking election season, while fights over data centers, energy costs, and local schools are giving voters even more to watch. Grace sits down with political content creator Nikki Hill-Johnson to look at why the 2026 election cycle could become the most expensive in state history and what changing voter attitudes could mean for races across South Carolina. They also examine the rapid growth of data centers, concerns about who will pay for their massive energy demands, and why local governments could become central to regulating them. Plus, they dig into the latest Charleston County school board drama, political outrage online, and the growing importance of local races.

Nikki Hill-Johnson

https://www.instagram.com/nikkihilljohnson

00:00 Introduction

04:05 SC’s Most Expensive Election Ever

12:01 Who Pays for South Carolina’s Data Centers?

16:29 Charleston’s School Board Drama

21:15 Why Online Politics Feels So Toxic

26:48 MAGA Cracks and Trump’s $5,000 Promise

33:10 How Nikki’s Politics Changed

38:33 Getting Political Content Right

41:28 True Crime, Politics, and What Comes Next

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

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/

Independent journalist Jeremiah Patterson uses history to investigate the stories and injustices that too often go overlooked across the South. He joins us today to discuss how an early fascination with history and firsthand encounters with major civil rights events shaped his path into journalism. He explains why he chose to remain independent, how censorship reinforced that decision, and why he rejects the rage-bait approach that dominates much of modern political media.

We discuss the influence of Ida B. Wells on Jeremiah’s work and his growing investigation into suspicious deaths involving Black Americans across the South. He shares what he has learned from families seeking answers, why historical context matters when reporting these cases, and how attacks on Black history can shape the way Americans understand what is happening today.

They also discuss Jeremiah’s transition into full-time investigative journalism and his mission to report on communities and stories that larger media organizations often overlook.

Jeremiah Patterson

https://tjpsnews.com/

00:00 How History Shaped Jeremiah’s Journalism

04:32 Why He Rejects Rage-Bait Journalism

09:05 The Censorship That Changed His Career

10:54 How Ida B. Wells Inspired His Mission

13:56 Investigating Modern Lynchings in the South

18:06 America’s Backslide on Black History

22:48 Investigating the Cases Others Overlook

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

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/

Right-wing media has grown into a powerful ecosystem that increasingly shapes political narratives, culture, and the stories that reach the mainstream. Howard Polskin of TheRighting explains how tracking conservative media reveals what the right is talking about, which stories are gaining traction, and why some narratives appear days before they break into wider coverage. We look at the rise of conservative websites, YouTube, talk radio, social media, and other alternative media, along with why Democrats have struggled to build a comparable infrastructure. Howard also makes the case for reading beyond your own political bubble to better understand how media influences what people believe.

00:00 Introducing Howard Polskin and His Media Project

02:29 Trump’s Victory Sparked a Dive into Right‑Wing Media

04:37 Creating a Daily Right‑Wing Headline Digest

06:42 The Vast Scale of Right‑Wing Media Outlets

08:52 Conservatives’ Early Adoption of New Media Platforms

12:36 Conservative Push to Capture Pop Culture

15:32 Media Echo Chambers Deepen Partisan Divides

18:15 Mission Behind the Right‑Wing Headline Newsletter

22:42 Exploring a Left‑Wing Media Tracking Initiative

24:48 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Howard Polskin

Editor in Chief, President and Chief Curator

https://therighting.com

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

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/

All roads lead through the South, and the region may be shaping America’s political future more than the national conversation realizes. Jen Palmieri and Erinn Haines join Grace and Katherine to examine the changing political landscape across South Carolina and the broader South, including rising voter engagement, new Democratic candidates, shifting coalitions, and the long-term infrastructure needed to compete. They explore why Southern politics is not as settled as it looks from Washington, how voting rights and gerrymandering are influencing participation, and why South Carolina could play an outsized role in the future of the Democratic Party. We also look at what national media gets wrong about the South and why understanding American politics increasingly means paying attention to the people organizing, voting, and building power there.

00:00 All Roads Lead Through the South

04:32 Why South Carolina Is the Political Epicenter

06:36 Why South Carolina Democrats Are Surging

08:42 Voting Rights Backlash Is Driving Turnout

10:51 A New Generation of Southern Candidates

16:13 Southern Politics Is Starting to Shift

21:19 What Southern Voters Actually Want

28:14 Building Political Power Across the South

35:08 Remembering Dolly Parton

Long Play Series

https://www.youtube.com/@longplayseries

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

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 do Democrats actually stand for when opposition to Trump becomes the party’s strongest unifying message? Michael Glawson joins us to examine the Democratic Party’s crisis of identity, the dangers of political resentment, and why winning elections without a larger sense of purpose may not solve the deeper problem. We also look at how political hatred reshapes both parties, what Democrats risk becoming if anger becomes their organizing principle, and why shared community still matters. Michael makes the case for radical love as a political discipline that can challenge opponents without losing sight of their humanity.

00:00 Meet Michael Glawson

02:24 Why Democrats Have Lost Their Message

04:32 How Democrats Became So Fragmented

06:38 When Politics Becomes Personal Identity

12:14 Why Political Hatred Is So Dangerous

19:00 How to Love Your Political Opponents

28:50 Rebuilding Politics Around Community

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 is in play, and Annie Andrews believes the political math proves it. She explains how Lindsey Graham’s death changed the Senate race, why the crowded Republican primary creates an opening, and how she plans to win support from independents and center-right voters. Annie also makes the case for a practical campaign focused on affordability, health care, wages, prescription drug prices, and getting Washington back to solving real problems.

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Lindsey Graham’s Sister Leads the GOP Field

04:47 Why Democrats See a Path to Victory

08:49 Why Voters Want New Leadership

10:46 Annie Andrews’ Plan to Break Gridlock

16:17 How Annie Andrews Would Lower Costs

19:18 Authenticity, Jon Ossoff, and the Final Push

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/

State House races are often overlooked, but they play a major role in whether elections remain fair and competitive. Amanda Nelson joins us to explain how YALLvote supports state legislative candidates across the South by raising money, building awareness, and helping voters understand why down-ballot races matter. The strategy is not simply about turning red states blue, but restoring political balance, challenging entrenched supermajorities, and building long-term infrastructure in districts that have gone uncontested for years. Real competition starts by giving voters a meaningful choice in every race.

00:00 Southern Voters Deserve Better

00:41 Meet Amanda Nelson and Why She Got Political

06:42 Building Democratic Power Through State House Races

13:30 South Carolina’s Senate Race Takes Shape

18:17 When Hate Becomes the GOP Message

21:44 South Carolina Politics and the “Radical Left”

26:16 Democrats Need Clearer Messaging

31:14 Building Campaign Infrastructure for the Long Term

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/