Frogmore Stew

South Carolina’s Congressional District 1 primary is crowded, coastal, and deeply connected to the future of the Lowcountry. Meet the primary candidates sharing their visions for flooding, healthcare, affordability, immigration, transportation, and representation in one of the state’s most closely watched races. From climate resilience to working-class economics, this race shows how much is at sta...

What happens when longtime incumbents face challengers from inside their own party? In Part 2 of our look at South Carolina’s U.S. Senate primary, we sit down with Republican candidates Thomas Dismukes and Darius Mitchell as they make their case for taking on Lindsey Graham. From restoring civility and rethinking political power to public transportation, voter engagement, and frustration with the...

Who’s really trying to unseat Lindsey Graham and what do they actually stand for? In Part 1 of our South Carolina U.S. Senate candidate series, we sit down with Republican challenger Patrick Herrmann and Democratic candidates Dr. Annie Andrews and Kyle Freeman to hear their case directly to voters. From healthcare, infrastructure, and cost of living to gerrymandering, constituent services, and the...

South Carolina agriculture shapes what we eat, where we work, and how local economies survive. Jeremy Cannon, a fourth-generation farmer is running for one of the state’s most overlooked but deeply important offices. Cannon talks about local food markets, timber, farming, consumer access, and why South Carolina’s agricultural future needs a stronger voice. Silvia Wright https://www.cannon4ag.com/...

South Carolina’s public schools are on the ballot. With Meet The Candidates: State Superintendent of Education, Sylvia Wright talks about vouchers, book bans, teacher support, rural schools, and what real change could look like for nearly 800,000 students across the state. From public school funding to career-focused curriculum, this race could shape the future of education in South Carolina for y...

We take a hard look at one of South Carolina’s most overlooked but powerful statewide offices. From managing taxpayer dollars and safeguarding retirement funds to the fallout from the state’s missing $1.8 billion accounting scandal, Democratic candidates Vincent Kohn and Trav Robertson make the case for why they should oversee South Carolina’s finances. The conversation digs into transparency, pub...

What does the South Carolina Secretary of State actually do, and why should voters care? In this candidate spotlight, Edwina Winter explains how the office quietly shapes business registration, nonprofit oversight, fraud prevention, and consumer trust across the state. From making it easier to start a small business to improving transparency and protecting South Carolinians from scams, Winter lays...

Grace Cowan honors Memorial Day with a rare glimpse into her grandfather’s World War II service, reading his long-hidden account of life on the front lines. From the beaches of New Guinea to post-war Hiroshima, his experiences are raw, emotional, and unforgettable. This episode of Frogmore Stew is a tribute to memory, legacy, and the lasting impact of war.

South Carolina’s next governor could shape everything from healthcare and education to voting rights, infrastructure, and the future of the state itself. We have candid conversations with gubernatorial candidates on the issues driving the 2026 race, including Medicaid expansion, gerrymandering, abortion laws, government spending, roads, schools, and the growing divide between power and everyday pe...

Rigged maps are quietly reshaping who holds power and whether voters can truly hold leaders accountable. Kate Barr joins us to talk about why gerrymandering has become one of the biggest political fights in the South, how broken district maps fuel broken politics, and why so many communities feel ignored by the people meant to represent them. We dig into minority rule, the long-term consequences o...

America watched people get beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the right to vote, and now the protections created in response are being dismantled piece by piece. This episode traces the path from Selma and the Voting Rights Act to Shelby County v. Holder and the latest Supreme Court decisions reshaping voting rights in America. It also asks a harder question: why do Democrats keep acting surpr...

The fight one generation thought was settled is back on the table. Congressman Jonathan Jackson joins us to discuss the unraveling of the Voting Rights Act, modern gerrymandering, voter suppression, and why he believes America is sliding backward on civil rights. From South Carolina’s redistricting battles to the national fight over representation, Jackson argues that democracy depends on protecti...

South Carolina lawmakers are moving toward eliminating the state income tax, but the shift raises serious questions about who really benefits and who pays more. We examine how replacing income tax revenue with higher sales taxes, property taxes, and fees could affect working families across the Palmetto State. Policy analyst Paige Knight explains what House bill H4216 could change and how tax stru...

Campaigns often talk about rural voters, but they rarely understand how rural identity shapes political trust and participation. Culture, belonging, religion, work, and community expectations all influence how rural communities respond to candidates and national messaging. When campaigns rely on stereotypes instead of lived experience, the result is a growing gap between strategy and representatio...

South Carolina lawmakers can revisit major issues year after year, but many voters still struggle to have their voices heard in the decisions that shape state policy. Gerrymandered districts and low primary turnout shape who holds power and whose voices carry the most weight in the Statehouse. Recent action at the Statehouse shows how district maps and ballot access rules can limit how much influe...

Why do Democratic candidates in South Carolina have to work harder to win trust from voters? Former Governor Jim Hodges joins Frogmore Stew to explain why Democratic candidates in Republican leaning states carry the burden of proof and how campaigns succeed by focusing on education, health care, and affordability instead of national talking points. Drawing on his upset win in 1998 and his record i...

Casting a ballot should be the start of your voice in government, not the end of it. Ramon Perez of the Digital Democracy Project explains how verified voters can weigh in on real state and federal legislation between elections using secure mobile tools that connect citizens directly to lawmakers. The conversation explores gerrymandering, safe districts, and why many people feel their vote stops m...

What happens when Washington stops solving problems and starts accepting failure as normal? Rahm Emanuel joins Frogmore Stew to explain why thousands of high paying jobs in America are still going unfilled and how community colleges and technical training can help rebuild the middle class. Drawing on his time as Chicago mayor, White House chief of staff, and U.S. ambassador to Japan, Emanuel says...

Candidates rarely jump into races at the last minute by accident. This episode explores how South Carolina candidate recruitment, filing season timing, party support networks, and early signals of campaign viability shape who actually enters elections across the state. We look at how political parties, independent groups, and local dynamics influence the South Carolina governor’s race field and ot...

What happens when everyday creators become the bridge between the Statehouse and the public? In this conversation with South Carolina political influencers Laurie, Carrie, and Jessica, we explore how social media is changing political messaging, helping voters understand what lawmakers are doing, and connecting people across the state who thought they were alone in their views. From reproductive r...

What really happens when political leaders face breaking news and nonstop media pressure? Former Capitol Hill communications strategist Sarah Massey explains how crisis communication works inside the Speaker’s office and how political messaging reaches voters across the country. She shares how social media reshaped political communication, changed bipartisan relationships, and helped turn politics...

Safe politics is costing Democrats their connection to voters. We dig into why the Democratic Party feels out of touch, from a lack of authentic leadership to missed opportunities in rural communities and working class outreach. Drawing on real experiences in South Carolina politics, the episode explores how voter trust erodes when leaders fail to show up and address everyday struggles like health...

“I'm going back to South Carolina and asking them to send their sons and daughters to the Middle East.” That line from Senator Lindsey Graham raises a hard question for families across the state. Grace breaks down the history of the U.S.–Iran conflict, from the 1979 Iran hostage crisis and the Reagan era Iran-Contra scandal to decades of sanctions, diplomacy, and nuclear deal debates. This episode...

America’s political divide feels wider than ever, but what is really driving it? Former South Carolina state senator Penry Gustafson joins the conversation to talk about party loyalty tests, Trump support, and why Republicans and Democrats often misunderstand each other. The discussion explores how national politics shapes state politics, why voters feel pushed away from political parties, and how...

We take a hard look at the identity crisis facing the Democratic Party in South Carolina and across the country. Former Congressman Joe Cunningham joins the conversation to discuss rebuilding party credibility, reconnecting with working class voters, and why generational leadership change may be necessary for the party’s future. The discussion explores the fallout from the 2024 election, the limit...