South Carolina Lede

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.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 17, 2025: the first of two episodes dedicated to the 10-year commemoration of the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting where nine black parishioners, including the pastor of the church state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, were murdered in a racially fueled massacre; we’ll share reflections from South Carolinians who participated in our Voices Collected initiative as well as from folks who participated in the Charleston Forum last week.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 14, 2025: our live event recorded Thursday, June 12 at Good Girl Brewing in Aiken featuring host Gavin Jackson, reporter Maayan Schechter, and special guest South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June10, 2025: we look at some action happening this week in the Statehouse; we hear about a new gas-fired energy plant that Duke Energy is proposing in the Upstate; we begin bringing you stories from our Voices Collected series commemorating the 10 year anniversary of the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 7, 2025: state Democrats got a boost with a big special election House seat win; Lt. Gov. Pam Evette continues to test the waters; we look at some of the ramifications of the tariffs on businesses in our region; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 3, 2025: we recap the big state Democratic Party weekend which included big party names like Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore; also, a development in the 2026 gubernatorial race as Richland Democratic Rep. Jermaine Johnson announces the formation of an exploratory committee; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 31, 2025: details on our live taping event coming up June 12 at 6 p.m. at Good Girl Brewing (early registration recommended); take part in Voices Collected, honoring the legacy of the Emanuel Nine; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 27, 2025: lawmakers return to Columbia to take up the $14.7 billion state budget for the coming fiscal year; state Democrats have a big week with their convention and major events featuring two prominent voices in the party; we bring you one of the Voices Collected for our Mother Emanuel remembrance initiative; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 24, 2025: we have a budget agreement for the $14.7 billion spending plan; there was also agreement in Washington over the tax and spending Republican megabill this week; Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham gives his take on the megabill and his new bipartisan bill to sanction Russia further; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 20, 2025: a look at a state Supreme Court decision upholding the six-week abortion ban law; what is holding up the big, beautiful tax and spend bill in the House; the latest on a threat against Congresswoman Nancy Mace; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 13, 2025: we continue our legislative session debrief with two big House names to discuss big legislative accomplishments, the politics of the 2025 legislative session, and what they want to see move when lawmakers return next January.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 10, 2025: a wrap up of the first year of the 2 year legislative session!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 06, 2025: we preview the final week of the legislative session, including what major bills are where, and what will have to wait until the 2026 session; we have some state party news, including which rising star is headlining a Democratic fundraiser this month and who the Republicans chose as their state leader this weekend; we talk with a USC history professor who has been watching the papal developments from Rome; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 03, 2025: we look at what lawmakers accomplished this final week of the legislative session, including two major education bills; House Family Caucus Chairman Rep. John McCravy is in hot water for past antisemitic and homophobic comments; Vice President JD Vance visited Nucor Steel Berkeley to celebrate domestic manufacturing; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 29, 2025: we have six legislative days left in this year’s session and with much to look at we talk with reporter Maayan Schechter about the Sine Die sprint—something you can follow along with by reading the State House Gavel I co-author with Maayan and THE Russ McKinney!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 26, 2025: we look at the Senate approved budget and what briefly stalled the school voucher bill in the chamber; we also follow up with Sen. Larry Grooms for more details on that historic hearing on Monday to remove state Treasurer Curtis Loftis as we await clarity from the House; we have our we have our monthly Gavin Open Seas Maritime Report; and more!

This episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 22, 2025, is dedicated to the historic and unprecedented removal from office hearing of Treasurer Curtis Loftis, a statewide constitutional officer, by the state Senate for “willfully neglecting his duties” over the handling of the $1.8 billion discrepancy in state funds. We take you through the machinations of the hearing that took place in the South Carolina Senate on Monday.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 15, 2025: we’re on spring break this week, so we’re giving you a special episode featuring host Gavin Jackson and guest Dr. Joey Von Nessen for an economic update amid global uncertainty and volatility.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 12, 2025: the Senate Finance Committee approves its version of the $14.5 billion state budget and eliminates earmarks; what’s in the hands-free device driving bill that moved out of the House for the first time ever; Scott Morgan has a feature on electric busses; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 8, 2025: we catch you up on the budget action in Washington as Republicans get closer to implementing major Trump Administration priorities; in Columbia, we take you through the confirmation hearing of Dept. of Public Health nominee Dr. Ed Simmer; we also hear from DAODAS Director Sara Goldsby about what’s fueling a decline in drug overdose deaths; and more!