South Carolina Lede

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 23, 2025: we look at the abrupt removal of the state election commission director Howard Knapp; we get an update on illicit drug trends in the state from the DEA; we also have some new polling on the governor’s race; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 20, 2025: we continue to look at the political and constitutional fall out of the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk; we hear from a leading constitutional law professor discuss the First Amendment; we recently spoke with strategic communications consultant and former campaign hand Rob Godfrey who gives his initial read on the 2026 governor’s race; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 16, 2025: we continue our look at the fallout of the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk; we hear from Sen. Lindsey Graham who was on NBC’s Meet the Press, as well as Utah Gov. Spencer Cox; gubernatorial candidate Rep. Nancy Mace yells at a colleague on the House floor over gender affirming care; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 13, 2025: a special back-to-school edition of the Lede recorded live at Rock Hill Brewing in Rock Hill, S.C., featuring Associated Press national politics reporter Meg Kinnard and Winthrop University political science professor Dr. Scott Huffmon.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 9, 2025: updates on statehouse activity, including the latest with former state Rep. RJ May who is set to go on trial in a month; a new CBS News poll on how Americans feel about National Guard troops in Washington and potentially other cities; a look at some economic data ahead of the Fed’s meeting next week on interest rates; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 6, 2025: we look at the new hands-free cellphone driving law; the Epstein files were the talk of the first week back in Washington, including among several of our lawmakers in the delegation; we have some spicy campaign trail activity as gubernatorial candidates continue to vie for President Donald Trump’s endorsement; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 2, 2025: we’re looking at the ad wars that are heating up and we’re on the campaign trail with Lt. Gov. Pam Evette in Walhalla; Rep. Joe Wilson was recently in Syria; we find out what Gov. McMaster thinks about Taylor Swift’s engagement; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 26, 2025: we have a small, dedicated pod on infrastructure; we welcome special guest SCDOT Secretary Justin Powell; we catch you up on all things roads and bridges; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 23, 2025: we brief you on what four of the five Republican gubernatorial candidates discussed at a recent Republican gathering in Myrtle Beach; we caught up with Sen. Lindsey Graham on the campaign trail in the Pee Dee; two big endorsements also dropped this week—who got a the political equivalent of a Bachelor rose from whom; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 19, 2025: we have several major campaign announcements to bring you, including two new Republican candidates and the first Democratic candidate; we also have another Republican candidate who has jumped into the attorney general’s race; updates from two congressional races; and more!

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.