Gulf States Gumbo

The communities caught in the crossfire of redistricting

On this week’s episode, community engagement reporter Elise Catrion Gregg talks with Greg LaRose, editor of the Louisiana Illuminator, about the local effects of redrawing electoral maps. Redistricting is playing out across the Gulf South following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. Most of the redrawing is occurring at the state level, but local representation is just as vulnerable without protections under the Voting Rights Act. Elise speaks with local officials in Mississippi about their concerns with redistricting on the horizon, and Greg breaks down what cuts to local representation are already taking shape in New Orleans. This episode is hosted by Elise Catrion Gregg. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Joseph King is our social producer. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme. To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org [connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org]. And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO [https://wwno.secureallegiance.com/wwno/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WEB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=nTVTsCAcZKMVQycLjeawDdW0piuR9ZMb], MPB [https://www.pledgecart.org/home?campaign=EBABB0FB-5C8E-4F49-A51B-CB12FA1FE3C5&source=&_gl=1*p9nank*_gcl_au*Mjg5MDYzNTc1LjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga*NTYzNzY4MTMxLjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga_2FEM5FVN6S*MTc0NDIxMDk3MS43LjAuMTc0NDIxMDk3MS42MC4wLjA.], or WBHM [https://wbhm.secureallegiance.com/wbhm/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=BASIC&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=9dD3CJn2bYniQl%2byqVkEd4HJipnY8PNT].

Jefferson Parish has the most opioid overdoses in Louisiana. How is it spending money intended to help?

On this week’s episode, we take a look at how the parish with the most opioid overdoses in Louisiana is spending its opioid settlement money.  Jefferson Parish is receiving the largest share of money from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers, marketers and distributors. But an investigation [https://www.wwno.org/public-health/2026-05-28/jefferson-parish-is-using-opioid-settlement-money-for-a-new-drug-court-is-it-the-best-use-of-funds] from senior reporter Drew Hawkins and Verite News senior reporter Katie Jane Fernelius [https://veritenews.org/author/katie-fernelius/] shows, so far, the parish has spent little of the money. And some believe what it has been spent on may not be the best investment.  This episode is hosted by Drew Hawkins. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Joseph King is our social producer. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.  To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org [Connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org].  And support our local station partners by donating to  WWNO [https://wwno.secureallegiance.com/wwno/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WEB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=nTVTsCAcZKMVQycLjeawDdW0piuR9ZMb], WRKF [https://wkrf.donorsupport.co/page/P26S], MPB [https://www.pledgecart.org/home?campaign=EBABB0FB-5C8E-4F49-A51B-CB12FA1FE3C5&source=&_gl=1*p9nank*_gcl_au*Mjg5MDYzNTc1LjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga*NTYzNzY4MTMxLjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga_2FEM5FVN6S*MTc0NDIxMDk3MS43LjAuMTc0NDIxMDk3MS42MC4wLjA.], or WBHM [https://wbhm.secureallegiance.com/wbhm/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=BASIC&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=9dD3CJn2bYniQl%2byqVkEd4HJipnY8PNT].

The state of FEMA with On the Media’s Micah Loewinger

On this week’s episode, community engagement producer Nellie Beckett talks with Micah Loewinger about his recent podcast "American Emergency: The Movement to Kill FEMA [https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/projects/american-emergency-movement-kill-fema]" — On the Media [https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm]’s four-part series on the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the beleaguered federal agency that handles natural disasters, including hurricanes. Loewinger discusses FEMA’s response to Hurricane Katrina, the experience of reporting on the historic tragedy and the media’s role in disaster preparation and response. This episode is hosted and written by Nellie Beckett, who is also our community engagement producer. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Joseph King is our social producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme. To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org [connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org]. And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO [https://wwno.secureallegiance.com/wwno/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WEB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=nTVTsCAcZKMVQycLjeawDdW0piuR9ZMb], MPB [https://www.pledgecart.org/home?campaign=EBABB0FB-5C8E-4F49-A51B-CB12FA1FE3C5&source=&_gl=1*p9nank*_gcl_au*Mjg5MDYzNTc1LjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga*NTYzNzY4MTMxLjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga_2FEM5FVN6S*MTc0NDIxMDk3MS43LjAuMTc0NDIxMDk3MS42MC4wLjA.], or WBHM [https://wbhm.secureallegiance.com/wbhm/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=BASIC&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=9dD3CJn2bYniQl%2byqVkEd4HJipnY8PNT].

Hip-hop and social-emotional learning at a New Orleans high school

On this week’s episode, we learn about an organization that uses hip-hop and a social-emotional learning curriculum to better connect with students. Jamila Sams created We Do It 4 The Culture five years ago. The organization went to New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School for its first-ever School Cypher Summit, and partnered with rising rap star La Reezy — who’s from New Orleans and a Sci High alumnus. This episode is hosted by Joseph King, who is also our social producer. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Drew Hawkins, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme. To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org [connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org]. And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO [https://wwno.secureallegiance.com/wwno/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WEB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=nTVTsCAcZKMVQycLjeawDdW0piuR9ZMb], MPB [https://www.pledgecart.org/home?campaign=EBABB0FB-5C8E-4F49-A51B-CB12FA1FE3C5&source=&_gl=1*p9nank*_gcl_au*Mjg5MDYzNTc1LjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga*NTYzNzY4MTMxLjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga_2FEM5FVN6S*MTc0NDIxMDk3MS43LjAuMTc0NDIxMDk3MS42MC4wLjA.], or WBHM [https://wbhm.secureallegiance.com/wbhm/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=BASIC&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=9dD3CJn2bYniQl%2byqVkEd4HJipnY8PNT].

How Jarvis DeBerry covers the Gulf South

On this week’s episode, we hear from veteran journalist Jarvis DeBerry on the latest news coming out of the Gulf South. DeBerry discusses the case of Calvin Duncan, and what it says about how Louisiana treats the people it has wronged, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, and what it could mean for voting rights across the region, and whether the Gulf South is once again leading a national reversal — and what that pattern tells us about where we are as a country. This episode is hosted by Drew Hawkins. The podcast is produced by Matt Bloom, Elise Catrion Gregg, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Joseph King is our social producer. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme. To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org [connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org]. And support our local station partners by donating to WWNO [https://wwno.secureallegiance.com/wwno/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WEB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=nTVTsCAcZKMVQycLjeawDdW0piuR9ZMb], MPB [https://www.pledgecart.org/home?campaign=EBABB0FB-5C8E-4F49-A51B-CB12FA1FE3C5&source=&_gl=1*p9nank*_gcl_au*Mjg5MDYzNTc1LjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga*NTYzNzY4MTMxLjE3NDE3MTgyNDQ.*_ga_2FEM5FVN6S*MTc0NDIxMDk3MS43LjAuMTc0NDIxMDk3MS42MC4wLjA.], or WBHM [https://wbhm.secureallegiance.com/wbhm/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=BASIC&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=9dD3CJn2bYniQl%2byqVkEd4HJipnY8PNT].