Headlights: Voices from The Progressive South

The Progressive South and Barberian Productions
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

The American South is much more than Spanish moss and plantation politics. In every city, town and rural county across the region, there are people working for a better future, continuing a centuries-long fight for real freedom, equality and opportunity. In every episode of Headlights, we bring you news, interviews and stories of people working for justice and progressive values all across the South. From community organizers to elected officials to artists and writers, business leaders and scientists, we amplify the voices of those making a difference in our Southern states.

  1. 3d ago

    Ep. 60: The Big Tech Backlash

    SYNOPSIS: Something remarkable has happened over the past 18 months across the U.S. and especially across the South: a mounting backlash against the explosion of data centers, surveillance cameras, and so-called artificial intelligence. This week, we talk to Tim Cywinski of the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club, who has been leading the fight against data centers in the state that has become their epicenter. Also: The bipartisan push to "get the Flock out," and efforts to put some guardrails around AI. And a remembrance of the beloved Kentucky writer, conservationist and farmer Wendell Berry. SHOW NOTES: Sierra Club Virginia Chapter "Unconstrained Demand: Virginia's Data Center Expansion and Its Impacts" Sierra Club Virginia Chapter  U.S. AI Law Tracker Orrick "The IJ Database of ALPR Abuse" Institute for Justice "Texas and Florida Step Back from ALPRs" Electronic Frontier Foundation "Lawmakers added $1 to Texans' car insurance policies. That money paid for thousands of Flock cameras." The Texas Tribune "Cities terminate Flock contracts at record pace in August" ArsTechnica "Data Center Moratoriums by State: Tracker and Statistics" Programs "Kentucky writer, farmer and advocate Wendell Berry dies at 92" Kentucky Lantern "The Peace of Wild Things" Wendell Berry  CONTACT: Jesse Mayshark jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org (865) 214-7764

  2. Aug 31

    Ep. 59: The Southern War on Academic Freedom

    SYNOPSIS: Classes are back in session at colleges and universities across the South, and in many conservative-dominated states students and faculty are returning to increasingly tense cultural war zones. This week, we talk to Teresa Klein, president of the Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors. The group has filed lawsuits against two Texas public university systems over restrictions on what can be taught and how. "People are afraid," Klein says. We also look at Tennessee's erosion of academic freedom, a Texas professor denied tenure for no obvious reason except that he studies immigration enforcement, and — in better news — a Florida judge's injunction against Gov. Ron DeSantis' "Stop WOKE Act." Plus: A tribute to the late great Dolly Parton, and what she meant to the LGBTQ community in particular. SHOW NOTES: Texas AAUP "'Positively dystopian': Florida judge blocks DeSantis' anti-woke law for colleges" Politico "Pernell v. Lamb: Opinion Affirming Preliminary Injunction" North Florida U.S. District Judge Mark Walker "New law changes University of Tennessee professors' tenure protections" Knoxville News-Sentinel "'I am very pleased with the outcome' | UT reaches tentative $1.9M settlement with professor fired over Charlie Kirk comments" WBIR TV "Dare to Obey? Censorship and the Attack on Tenure in Texas" Iván Chaar López, PEN America "Dolly Parton as a Gay Icon" Wikipedia CONTACT: Jesse Mayshark jmayshark@theprogressivesouth.org (865) 214-7764

  3. Aug 24

    Ep. 58: Blue Ballots in Red States

    SYNOPSIS:  We return from our summer hiatus with a look at some fascinating local and state races in recent weeks in Florida and Tennessee. Democrats in both states flipped multiple seats at local levels across both states this month, and took control of some major school boards. It's been a bad set of results for one group in particular — the Florida-based right-wing activist organization Moms for Liberty. We also take a look at progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon's surprising win in Florida's Democratic primary for state Senate. Plus: The Sidewalk Film Festival returns to Birmingham, Ala. SHOW NOTES: "Ron DeSantis, Moms for Liberty reshaped Sarasota school politics. Voters just gave them the boot" Florida Politics   "Moms for Liberty co-founder faces calls for resignation from school board amid sex scandal" ABC News "The Pendulum Swings: Moms For Liberty Demolished on Primary Night" Equality Florida "Florida voters deliver wins for LGBTQ+ candidates and losses for Moms for Liberty" The Advocate "Orange School Board: Angie Gallo and Democrat-backed candidates have big night" Florida Politics "Headlights Ep. 8: Watering the Roots" The Progressive South   "Democrats flip GOP Jacksonville City Council seat in Special Election, get boost ahead of 2027 elections" Florida Politics "Democrats Flip Knox County School Board" Compass "'They have to come to us now': Democrats flip 4 seats, win majority in County Commission" Clarksville Now "DNC launches effort to gain ground across the South" Gray Media   Sidewalk Film Festival "Take a look inside the new Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema" AL.com

  4. Aug 17

    Announcing Our Newsletter

    Our podcast, Headlights: Voices From the Progressive South has been on a summer hiatus while we've been working on other projects. We will be returning next week, with a look at interesting electoral indicators across the South from the past few months. In the meantime, we are preparing to launch our new newsletter. It will include links and more information about the issues discussed in the podcast, as well as other news and events across the South. You can get ahead of the curve by signing up now to receive it in your inbox. It's free, like all of our content. All you need is an email address. You can find a link to the sign-up form on our website.  Because we are a mission-driven nonprofit, you can rest assured that we will not sell or otherwise use your information for any nefarious purposes except to communicate with you directly. I'll be back with a full episode of Headlights next week. Talk to you then!

  5. Aug 10

    Headlights Archives 6: Steve Smith

    SYNOPSIS: This week, we're featuring an archive interview from 2025 with Steve Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. The nonprofit organization advocates for reduced carbon emissions and increased renewable energy across the Southeast. We talked about the Trump administration's embrace of fossil fuels and the growing energy demand from data centers. SHOW NOTES: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

  6. Aug 3

    Headlights Archives 5: Dom Kelly

    SYNOPSIS: In this archive interview, we talk with Dom Kelly, president and CEO of a nonprofit called New Disabled South, which works for equality and access for people with disabilities. Dom is a fascinating guy with a background in advocacy, music, and politics, and he has a lot of smart things to say about the barriers that remain throughout society — and especially throughout the South. SHOW NOTES: New Disabled South

  7. Jul 27

    Headlights Archives 4: Andrew Otazo

    SYNOPSIS: In this archive interview, we talk to Cuban-American writer Andrew Otazo about the historical, cultural and political mythologies and realities of his native Miami. Find out why he calls it a city built by and for grifters. SHOW NOTES: The Miami Creation Myth Andrew Otazo

  8. Jul 20

    Headlights Archives 3: Tessa Petit

    Synopsis: In this archive interview, we talk to Tessa Petit of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, which fights on behalf of the estimated 5 million foreign-born residents of the Sunshine State. SHOW NOTES: Florida Immigrant Coalition

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The American South is much more than Spanish moss and plantation politics. In every city, town and rural county across the region, there are people working for a better future, continuing a centuries-long fight for real freedom, equality and opportunity. In every episode of Headlights, we bring you news, interviews and stories of people working for justice and progressive values all across the South. From community organizers to elected officials to artists and writers, business leaders and scientists, we amplify the voices of those making a difference in our Southern states.

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