Headlights Archives 2: Gwen Frisbie-Fulton

Headlights Archives 2: Gwen Frisbie-Fulton

SYNOPSIS: In this archive interview, we talk to North Carolina writer Gwen Frisbie-Fulton about the stories she finds in small towns and rural areas — and what her vision is of "a better South." SHOW NOTES: Working Class Storytelling [https://workingclassstories.substack.com/]

Headlights Archives 1: Kevin Kruse

SYNOPSIS: In this interview from the archives, we talk to Princeton historian Kevin Kruse about the arc of Southern conservative politics since the end of the Civil Rights Movement — and how they're aiming to roll back the gains of the 1960s, and even the 1860s. SHOW NOTES: Campaign Trails [https://campaign-trails.ghost.io/author/kevin/] Kevin Kruse

Ep. 57: Covering Queer Kentucky

SYNOPSIS: All states have queer people, but not all states have a statewide news outlet dedicated to telling their stories. That makes QueerKentucky stand out. The nonprofit LGBTQ newsroom covers state politics and issues, as well as culture and health. This week's conversation is with Executive Director Missy Spears, who talks about trying to reach and reflect queer communities from Louisville to Paducah. Also: Auburn ditches its faculty senate, Georgia tries to turn Democrats "nonpartisan," and North Carolina sees a big health insurance decline. Plus, it's FestivalSouth time in Hattiesburg. SHOW NOTES: QueerKentucky [https://queerkentucky.com/] "Auburn Board Takes Full Curricular Control, Dissolves Faculty Senate" [https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/trustees-regents/2026/06/05/auburn-board-takes-curricular-control-dissolves-senate] Inside Higher Ed "District attorney challenges new Georgia law that removes party labels in Atlanta-area elections" [https://apnews.com/article/georgia-district-attorney-elections-nonpartisan-republicans-kemp-9aeed6b014c27ae826533acef95805c6] Associated Press "Lost your ACA coverage in North Carolina? You're not alone" [https://nclocal.org/2026/05/26/affordable-care-act-enrollment-in-north-carolina/] NCLocal "More Texans have signed up for ACA health coverage despite expiring subsidies and falling national enrollment" [https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/13/texas-affordable-care-act-health-insurance-enrollment-record/] Texas Tribune CONTACT: Jesse Mayshark jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org [jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org] (865) 214-7764

Ep. 56: Pride in Arkansas

SYNOPSIS: It's another fraught Pride Month in the South, where LGBTQ rights remain under attack from conservative lawmakers. This week we talk to Dolores Wilk of Central Arkansas Pride about their advocacy for the state's queer population, and the importance of visibility — including a Pride celebration right in front of the state Capitol Building. Also: The Supreme Court lets Alabama go back to marginalizing Black voters; the troubled history of a for-profit immigrant detention center in Louisiana; and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger disappoints the state's cannabis industry. Plus, a look at gay Florida playwright Matthew Lopez, and a current production of his work in Jacksonville. SHOW NOTES: Central Arkansas Pride [https://www.arpride.org/] "Norman Jones" [https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/norman-jones-6511/] Encyclopedia of Arkansas "Supreme Court's Alabama redistricting ruling marks brazen reversal of its previous stance" [https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/supreme-courts-alabama-redistricting-ruling-marks-brazen-reversal-of-its-previous-stance/] Democracy Docket "Sanitation, use-of-force transparency lacking at Winnfield ICE facility, inspection finds" [https://lailluminator.com/2026/06/04/repub/winn-ice/] Louisiana Illuminator "Migrants detained at ICE facilities launch hunger strikes to protest conditions" [https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/migrants-detained-ice-facilities-launch-hunger-strikes-protest-conditions] Stateline "My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard" [https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/cca-private-prisons-corrections-corporation-inmates-investigation-bauer/] Shane Bauer, Mother Jones "ICE detention is growing in the South. This state was the first." [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/07/20/louisiana-ice-detention-immigration-border/84246870007/] USA Today "Record-Setting $7 Million Settlement Caps LaSalle's Legacy at Texarkana Jail" [https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2024/jan/1/record-setting-7-million-settlement-caps-lasalles-legacy-texarkana-jail/] Prison Legal News "Louisiana jury awards more than $40 million to family of man who died in privately-run jail" [https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-lasalle-jail-death-erie-moore-43d8141bf67542c6f2720c4468a7fbf0] Associated Press "Another year, another Va. retail cannabis market veto leaves businesses, the public with few options" [https://virginiamercury.com/2026/06/03/another-year-another-va-retail-cannabis-market-veto-leaves-businesses-the-public-with-few-options/] Virginia Mercury The Legend of Georgia McBride [https://the5anddime.org/s2026/the-legend-of-georgia-mcbride/] The 5 & Dime Theatre Co. CONTACT: Jesse Mayshark jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org [jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org] (865) 214-7764

Ep. 55: The Young, Gifted, and Green

SYNOPSIS: LaTricea Adams learned about environmental racism first-hand, growing up in Memphis and seeing the differences between Black and white neighborhoods. She now leads Young, Gifted and Green, a nonprofit that trains young people in organizing and environmental justice. In this week's interview, she talks about how the water crisis in Flint, Mich., turned her into an activist — and how resistance to data centers across the country is creating new alliances across regions and races. Also: Right-wing redistricting momentum sputters in South Carolina and Alabama; what Ken Paxton's primary win means in Texas; and why New Orleans is tired of hearing about its impending doom. And in our arts and culture segment, we pay tribute to the great transgender fantasy artist and Atlanta native Jeffrey Catherine Jones. SHOW NOTES: Young, Gifted and Green [https://www.younggiftedgreen.org/] "Federal judges block Alabama's use of 2023 congressional map" [https://alabamareflector.com/2026/05/26/federal-judges-block-alabamas-use-of-2023-congressional-map/] Alabama Reflector "Effort to redraw SC voting lines fails amid record start to early voting" [https://scdailygazette.com/2026/05/26/effort-to-redraw-sc-voting-lines-ends-amid-record-start-to-early-voting/] South Carolina Daily Gazette "Tala-freak-o vs. Ken the Criminal: Texas candidates sharpen attacks as U.S. Senate race locks in" [https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/27/james-talarico-ken-paxton-launch-attack-ads-in-texas-u-s-senate-race/] The Texas Tribune "Ken Paxton has amassed millions of dollars while in public office" [https://www.tpr.org/news/2025-10-10/ken-paxton-has-amassed-millions-of-dollars-while-in-public-office] Texas Public Radio "'Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level, study finds" [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/04/new-orleans-sea-levels-relocation-climate-crisis] The Guardian "Why The Guardian's new article about New Orleans feels like 'a modern day redlining of an entire city.'" [https://thelensnola.org/2026/05/06/new-orleans-climate-relocation-response/] The Lens "Mayor Helena Moreno: New Orleans is not in retreat, and that viral study doesn't tell our story" [https://www.nola.com/opinions/guest_columns/helena-moreno-tulane-study/article_5415425e-8e94-4319-a524-94a1dabe9ad3.html] NOLA.com ""Point of No Return?": A Conversation About Sea Level Rise and the Future of New Orleans" [https://thelensnola.org/2026/05/28/point-of-no-return-a-conversation-about-sea-level-rise-and-the-future-of-new-orleans/] The Lens "'Roots' Returns to School Libraries" [https://compassknox.com/2026/05/27/roots-returns-to-school-libraries/] Compass "Jeffrey Catherine Jones: An Appreciation" [https://darklongbox.com/2024/08/17/jeffrey-catherine-jones-an-appreciation/] Longbox of Darkness "Jeffrey Catherine Jones: A Life Lived Deeply" [https://www.tcj.com/jeffrey-catherine-jones-a-life-lived-deeply/] The Comics Journal CONTACT: Jesse Mayshark jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org [jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org] (865) 214-7764