Frogmore Stew

South Carolina's 2026 election shattered expectations as Annie Andrews claimed a stunning U.S. Senate victory and Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the State House. Katherine Harvey and Brady Garvin join Grace to examine the Democratic gains across South Carolina, from surprising results in Greenville and Spartanburg to competitive congressional and statewide races. They explore how...

The American political system was designed for people who could afford to serve, and many of those barriers remain today. Vote Mama founder Liuba Grechen Shirley explores how campaign costs, low legislative salaries, and childcare expenses limit who can run for office and influence the laws that get passed. With a focus on South Carolina politics, Grace and Liuba examine political representation,...

The 2026 midterms are approaching, but are voters actually excited about either political party? Reid Galen, co-founder of the Lincoln Project and founder of Civic Forum, joins Grace to examine shifting voter loyalties, the growing influence of billionaires and dark money in elections, and why traditional campaign strategies are failing to connect with Americans. From the political disillusionment...

South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District has been represented by Joe Wilson since 2001, but Democratic challenger Zyon Khalifa believes voters are ready for a different approach. Zyon joins Grace to discuss his campaign for the U.S. House, his outreach to younger Republican voters, and the issues shaping the 2026 midterm elections. From housing affordability and education costs to generational...

South Carolina has faced billions of dollars in accounting errors, raising serious questions about financial oversight and accountability. Tiffany Boozer, Democratic candidate for South Carolina Comptroller General, joins Grace to discuss the state's financial reporting controversies, the responsibilities of the Comptroller General's office, and why the position requires no formal accounting quali...

Political campaigns are raising more money, reaching more voters, and still struggling to win. Jason Wong, Chief Technology Officer at ActBlue, joins Grace to explore how campaign fundraising, grassroots donations, and political technology are reshaping the election playbook. From the growing influence of big-money donors to the challenges facing down-ballot candidates in South Carolina, they exam...

South Carolina's $1.8 billion accounting error has raised serious questions about financial oversight, transparency, and accountability in state government. We sit down with Vincent Coe, candidate for South Carolina State Treasurer, to discuss his financial background, his challenge to incumbent Curtis Loftis, and his vision for managing taxpayer dollars. From investing state funds in local commun...

What does it take to challenge an incumbent Republican in South Carolina’s deeply conservative 3rd Congressional District? We sit down with Democratic congressional candidate Eunice Lehmacher to explore her campaign against Sheri Biggs, her approach to bipartisan cooperation, and the challenges of reaching voters who feel disconnected from government. From electricity rates and data centers to agr...

South Carolina's agricultural industry is facing growing pressure from rising costs, farmland development, and gaps in the state's food supply chain. We talk with DeShawn Blanding, Democratic candidate for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, about his plans to support local farmers, expand food processing infrastructure, protect agricultural land, and strengthen food safety oversight. Draw...

What happens when voters are fed up with both political parties but don't believe a third-party candidate can win? We sit down with Kasie Whitener, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, to discuss her campaign, the national debt, and why she believes the political establishment has lost sight of the people it's supposed to represent. We explore the influence of campaign mone...

South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Jermaine Johnson believes voters are ready for a different approach after more than two decades of Republican leadership. We talk with Johnson about his campaign for governor in the 2026 South Carolina election, his efforts to build a bipartisan coalition, and the challenges of running as a Democrat in a traditionally Republican state. From rising grocery pri...

What happens when South Carolina’s top law enforcement office becomes a political platform instead of an advocate for the people? We sit down with Democratic candidate and longtime Lowcountry attorney Richard Hrisick to explore his campaign to restore the rule of law, protect consumers, and hold powerful interests accountable. Hrisick challenges outgoing Attorney General Alan Wilson’s approach to...

South Carolina’s race for State Superintendent of Education is heating up as questions surrounding school vouchers, education funding, and student achievement take center stage. We welcome Democratic candidate Sylvia Wright back to Frogmore Stew to examine the controversy surrounding South Carolina’s school voucher program, the state’s literacy crisis, and her challenge to incumbent Ellen Weaver....

Can Mallory Dittmer bring a different approach to South Carolina's 5th Congressional District? We welcome the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in SC-5 to discuss the 2026 congressional election, rising living costs, political division, and her concerns about Republican opponent Wes Climer's record. We examine South Carolina's energy policies, public education funding, school vouchers, and the i...

What happens if Democrats win the 2026 midterms but fail to give voters a reason to stick around? We welcome Reed Galen, co-founder of the Lincoln Project and former Republican strategist, to examine MAGA's grip on the GOP, why a potential blue wave could be driven by Republicans staying home, and what Democrats are missing. From South Carolina voter turnout to economic inequality, affordability,...

Courtney McClain is challenging incumbent William Timmons for South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, bringing a grassroots organizing background and a focus on reaching voters who feel left behind. We talk with McClain about why she entered politics, how her experiences shaped her campaign, and why younger generations need a greater voice in government. She also discusses redistricting, heal...

John Vincent is running to represent South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, and he says restoring constitutional accountability is at the center of his campaign. We talk with the SC-7 candidate about congressional power, tariffs, war powers, government spending, health care, and his approach to being socially liberal while fiscally conservative. Vincent also explains why he believes Democrat...

Lobbying, organizing, and political power in the South Carolina State House look very different once you see how the work actually gets done. We talk with Zakiya Mickle about working inside the legislature, building relationships with lawmakers, centering the people most affected by policy, and turning grassroots organizing into real political pressure. We also get into South Carolina’s redistrict...

What happens when the political conversations already happening in our group chats become a way to organize? We talk with Sway founder Claire Shorall about how the platform creates voting groups around trusted relationships, helping people navigate their ballots, share recommendations, remember local elections, and see whether members of their group actually turned out to vote. We also explore Swa...

What happened to the Southern values many men were raised to believe in, and how did MAGA become part of that identity? We talk with Robert Arnold about Southern masculinity, political identity, the appeal of anti-establishment politics, and why he believes voters need a stronger moral framework than party loyalty. We also get into why the left does not need its own Joe Rogan, how state and local...

Why are the companies building the world’s most powerful AI systems suddenly asking governments to slow them down? We look at the growing debate over AI safety and regulation, why tech companies say competition makes it difficult to pump the brakes on their own, and what happens when technology advances faster than lawmakers can respond. We also connect the AI race to the rapid growth of data cent...

What does class really cost when government systems consume our time, test our patience, and make dignity feel conditional? We look at how bureaucracy, paperwork, long waits, and administrative complexity place a heavier burden on working and middle-class Americans, turning time itself into an unequal expense. From frustrating encounters with the IRS to the way public benefits are designed, we exa...

South Carolina politics is heading into a record-breaking election season, while fights over data centers, energy costs, and local schools are giving voters even more to watch. Grace sits down with political content creator Nikki Hill-Johnson to look at why the 2026 election cycle could become the most expensive in state history and what changing voter attitudes could mean for races across South C...

Right-wing media has grown into a powerful ecosystem that increasingly shapes political narratives, culture, and the stories that reach the mainstream. Howard Polskin of TheRighting explains how tracking conservative media reveals what the right is talking about, which stories are gaining traction, and why some narratives appear days before they break into wider coverage. We look at the rise of co...

All roads lead through the South, and the region may be shaping America’s political future more than the national conversation realizes. Jen Palmieri and Erinn Haines join Grace and Katherine to examine the changing political landscape across South Carolina and the broader South, including rising voter engagement, new Democratic candidates, shifting coalitions, and the long-term infrastructure nee...