South Carolina Lede

A.T. and producer Sean say they're sorry, take listener calls, argue about the merits of DOTs as a candy, but mostly are very sorry and hope you understand.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 26, 2025: a new contender enters the governor’s race—Congressman Ralph Norman; we also pivot to some big statewide news this week dealing with infrastructure issues and a death from a brain-eating amoeba earlier this month; Scott Morgan has a report on how the so-called Big Beautiful bill, now law, will affect SNAP benefits in our state; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 22, 2025: we hear from both of our U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott on a variety of issues from international conflicts to the Epstein files and Medicaid cuts; we have a gubernatorial campaign trail update with announcements from two of the three candidates and a potential fourth candidate who is gearing up for a run; we also have some statewide economic data, including new unemployment numbers and a GOSMAR update; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 19, 2025, we converge 2026 coverage with 2028 coverage: in the 2026 column, we look at Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette’s campaign launch for her gubernatorial bid; in the shadow 2028 campaign column, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear made a multi-day swing through South Carolina, we caught up with him in Greenville; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 15, 2025: more Republican gubernatorial candidates enter the race, with one facing legal issues over allegedly diverting $2 million from his business partner; Sen. Lindsey Graham’s campaign is also out with its first TV ad; Russ McKinney brings us the latest on energy in the state; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 12, 2025: state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch becomes the first Republican to jump into the attorney general’s race; California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s two-day swing through S.C.; where the Confederate battle flag is 10 years after it was removed from the statehouse grounds; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 8, 2025: we catch you up on the latest campaign trail moves from the U.S. Senate and S.C. governor’s race; several big-name Democrats and one Republican are heading to the state over the coming weeks; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 5, 2025: Gavin Jackson’s interview with PBS legend, award-winning documentarian Ken Burns. The two discuss Burns' latest project The American Revolution that he co-directed with Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 1, 2025: we catch up on some big news, including the latest on suspended Lexington Republican Rep. RJ May; we OFFICIALLY have 2026 gubernatorial candidates with Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson and Republican Spartanburg Sen. Josh Kimbrell; Maayan Schechter brings us up to speed on all this news; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 21, 2025: we bring you part two of our 10-year commemoration of the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting featuring stories from our Voices Collected initiative, focusing on the downing of the Confederate flag, legislative issues like hate crimes, and gun reforms that have stalled in the state; and more.