South Carolina Lede

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 5, 2025: we close out the Table Rock Complex fires with a final update; we take a look at the utility bill that moved through the Senate late Wednesday as well as the anti-DEI bill that went through the House; the major tax reform and reduction bill hits the skids as the financial impact is revealed; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 1, 2025: we’re catching you up on the Republican push to reform and lower taxes in the state; we look at what is on tap this week at the Statehouse; Winthrop Poll director Dr. Scott Huffmon joins us to break down his latest poll findings and get our first look at the 2026 race; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 29, 2025: tort reform is done—in the Senate, for now; we catch up with Sen. Larry Grooms on his subcommittee’s report over the 1.8 billion dollar boondoggle and the recommendation to impeach Treasurer Curtis Loftis; the Table Rock Complex fires continue to burn more than 10,000 acres in the Upstate; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 25, 2025: Gov. Henry McMaster declares a state of emergency for an ongoing forest fire in Pickens County; we preview the week at the Statehouse, including a major report on the $1.8 billion accounting discrepancy; Russ McKinney reports on Dr. Ed Simmer’s confirmation to lead the state Department of Health; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 22 2025: we look at week three of the tort reform debate, which resulted in some movement on the massive bill S. 244; state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver talks anecdotally of the impact of the no cell phones in schools ban; an anti-DEI bill gets changed and moves to the House floor; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 18, 2025: we look at the state of the SCDOT and catch you up on some of the major things happening at the agency; we preview the week ahead with all eyes on what is set to happen with S. 244, the major tort reform bill; Sen. Lindsey Graham and Congressman Jim Clyburn hit the Sunday shows; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 15, 2025: week nine of the legislative session just wrapped up, which means we are more than half-way done with the legislative session; the House passed its $14.5B general fund budget; the Senate was a bit quiet on its tort reform debate this week; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 11, 2025: lawmakers in the South Carolina House are debating the $14 billion spending plan that will soon head to the Senate; Sen. Lindsey Graham was in Columbia on Monday where he spoke about a federal government shutdown and other priorities; former 1st District Republican candidate Katie Arrington has a major, new gig; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 08, 2025: we look at Senate bill S. 244 that’s still being debated in the Senate, and House’s H. 3497 liquor liability bill, which passed the chamber on Thursday with unanimous, bipartisan support; a deep dive on tort reform; a reminder to spring forward this weekend; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 04, 2025: the latest involving the $1.8 billion boondoggle accounting error involving the state treasurer; House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bruce Bannister shares his thoughts as the House is less than a week away from debating the massive spending bill; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 01, 2025: we’re recapping major bills and action in the state Senate and House from this week including the school voucher bill; an interview with House Education Committee Chairwoman Shannon Erickson; what the House did to the Senate’s plan and where it goes next; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 25, 2025: we look at a different version of the school voucher bill that’s poised to move in the Statehouse; Sen. Stephen Goldfinch continues our conversation on the $1.8 billion boondoggle accounting discrepancy involving the state Treasurer’s Office; Senate LCI Committee Chairman Tom Davis breaks down the energy generation needs our state faces; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 22, 2025: Maayan Schechter has two deep dives on legislation from the Statehouse as we focus on education funding and vouchers; we have a small tidbit for our 2026 WATCH and some action from Washington on the budget reconciliation process; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 18, 2025: we look at what’s on tap this week at the Statehouse; we catch up with USC Law Professor Derek Black to discuss his new book on Black literacy traced over the centuries in the South; comments from Sen. Lindsey Graham who was in Europe and the Middle East; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 15, 2025: we look at the abortion debate that played out in state Supreme Court this week; in Washington Congresswoman Nancy Mace made serious allegations from the House floor; Sen. Lindsey Graham continued his work on budget reconciliation to advance the Trump administration agenda; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 11, 2025: we look at statehouse activity for this week, including a bill that would allow Scout Motors and Teslas to be sold in South Carolina, which is currently illegal; a state Supreme Court hearing this week on the six-week abortion bill; Rock Hill Rep. Brandon Guffey discusses his efforts to keep children safe online; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 8, 2025: a look at some big bills from the state version of DOGE to anti-DEI and the K-12 voucher bills that moved this week; Sen. Lindsey Graham gets the green light for his budget reconciliation process; a 2026 watch update and break down the tariff turmoil; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 4, 2025: Sen. Lindsey Graham talks about recent moves and cabinet confirmations out of Washington; Statehouse reporters Maayan Schechter and Jeffrey Collins give us some insight on the first month of the legislative session and the governors annual address; we also have an economic update that includes interest rates, U.S. GDP and our state’s unemployment rate; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 1, 2025: we take a deep dive into the latest surrounding the $1.8 billion accounting discrepancy boondoggle error involving the state’s books; the Senate passed its school voucher bill; Gov. Henry McMaster gave his annual state of the state address; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 28, 2025: Sen. Lindsey Graham gives his take on budget reconciliation, immigration, infrastructure funding, and presidential pardons; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina has detained a man who allegedly sextorted Rep. Brandon Guffey’s son who took his own life as a result; we share an excerpt of our interview with U.S. Attorney Adair Ford; and more!