Aftyn and Anna are joined by April Jarocki, the coordinator with the Southern Connected Communities Project, who along with members of the Clearfork Valley, built their own internet by establishing a wireless internet system at the Highlander Research and Education Center in Jefferson County, Tennessee. April highlights the role of the pandemic in exacerbating the digital divide and discusses what broadband justice looks like to her community.  Donate to SCCP by clicking here! #BroadbandGritty

Tressie McMillan Cottom in her piece examines the evolving Southern identity in the context of popular culture, the ebb and flow of "disdain and attraction" to the region. Aftyn and Anna address their own prodigal returns to the South post-college, and how they've navigated public opinion of the South in their professional capacities.  🍍BONUS 🍍Aftyn gives a dramatic reading of an interaction between Toby Keith and Kris Kristofferson. #NewSouthGritty

GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

With US student debt reaching $1.7 TRILLION, the girls deliver the state of play on student loans: what amount of relief Biden is considering; racial disparities in borrowing; and how privilege takes center stage in the debate whether to cancel it all. #StudentDebtGritty

🍍LINKS 🍍

New year, new… WTF. Aftyn and Anna are back for season 4 in the wake of the pro-Trump QAnon furry hat wearing insurrection identifying the Tennessee culprits and grappling with how to humanize those involved. BONUS: tips on how to talk to your people who believe in conspiracy theories

LINKS

For the final episode of the year, Anna and Aftyn dig into how the Democratic party should utilize three winning progressive policies to bring new folks in. Embrace an economic populist message and distribute LEGALIZE IT bumper stickers across the country: is it that simple? Happy holidays and the girls will see y'all in 2021! #KeepItGritty

NYMag, Democrats Have a Problem. ‘Workers, Wages, Weed’ May Be the Answer

Mother Jones, The $15 Minimum Wage Wasn’t the Only Progressive Ballot Measure That Passed in Conservative States

Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

#1 Grittle Rep. Gloria Johnson joins Aftyn and Anna to discuss the state of COVID19 in Tennessee, while the Tennessee Republican leadership points fingers at Venezuela for Trump’s loss. The girls apologize for the audio as they were not in Anna’s closet for this episode. 😁

CNBC article featuring Rep. Gloria Johnson

Rep. Johnson co-signed a letter about TN  student evaluations about a month ago

Martine Hope, Mountain City educator from Johnson City that passed away

Susan Keener, Murfreesboro special needs teacher that passed away in October

Daily Yonder, Nine out of 10 Rural Counties Are in the Covid-19 Red Zone

Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Yes, President Trump is finally out of office, but with 72 million Americans showing up to vote for him after four years, who is really the winner of the 2020 election? Anna and Aftyn look past the presidential victory, highlighting the role of white women in maintaining white supremacy at the ballot box this cycle. 

“White Women’s Support for Trump Remains High in 2020 Election”

The 53 percent issue

AOC Interview in NY Times

Grits is part of The TN Holler Podcast Network. Visit www.tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

Four days before the election, Anna and Aftyn provide the state of play for those wondering, "Does my vote even matter?" And if you live in a key battleground state like Texas, the answer is an absolute and resounding yes. Even if all of Aftyn's exes live in Texas, the girls uplift the work of southern states in the most important election of their lifetimes. Let's get #ElectionGritty. 🍍

GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.

We’re less than 20 days out in the election and it seems East Nashville, more than usual, is filled with Black Lives Matter yard signs. Anna and Aftyn unpack performative allyship and virtue signaling in this episode and ask their listeners to think about why they’re posting black squares on Instagram, and how they can truly be allies.

GRITS is part of The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network. Visit tnholler.com to keep up with The Tennessee Holler's relentless coverage that seeks to lift up progressive voices and shine a light on injustices throughout Tennessee.