Frogmore Stew

Grace sits down with Mike Lee, director of the College of Charleston’s Civility Initiative and host of When We Disagree, to talk about what happens when politics hits close to home. Grace reflects on navigating deep divides—with her father, her husband, and a country increasingly polarized by outrage. Together, they explore how laughter, empathy, and honest conversation can bridge ideological gaps...

Dr. Elizabeth Mack joins to expose the dangers of South Carolina’s proposed abortion ban, Bill S323. This sweeping legislation goes beyond criminalizing abortion—it redefines contraception, threatens IVF, and inserts politics into private medical decisions. We examine how the bill would increase maternal mortality, strip families of healthcare rights, and criminalize doctors, parents, and even pas...

Jaime Harrison joins Grace to explore why Democrats still have a path to victory in South Carolina, despite the state’s red reputation. He points to hundreds of thousands of unregistered voters, the importance of strong local infrastructure, and the power of a unifying message around economic dignity. Jaime also outlines the challenges Democrats face—from past setbacks to entrenched fear-based pol...

Kathryn sits down with political strategist, comedian, and creative force Josh Burstein for a wide-ranging conversation about politics, media, and resilience. From his early days with the Obama campaign to his stand-up comedy in Trump country, Josh reflects on how humor can help people process trauma and chaos in today’s volatile climate. The two discuss the fallout from political violence, the fr...

South Carolina Senator Margie Bright Matthews joins Kathryn Harvey to expose how partisan politics at the South Carolina State House endangers citizens, speaking as one of only two women in the South Carolina Senate. She discusses the fight against extreme abortion bans and threats to reproductive rights, plus a healthcare crisis driven by Medicaid cuts, rural hospital closures, and rising materna...

ACLU of South Carolina Legal Director Allen Chaney talks about civil liberties in South Carolina and why state constitutional rights matter. He covers partisan gerrymandering lawsuits using the "free and open elections clause" and fights over abortion law South Carolina and reproductive rights. Chaney explains how the South Carolina Declaration of Rights can give stronger protection than the feder...

Former U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs talks with Grace about gerrymandering, redistricting, and how partisan maps quiet moderate voters. They discuss the Supreme Court's shadow docket, emergency rulings, and what recent decisions mean for democracy and public trust. The talk covers executive power, the Venezuelan boat incident, and how narco-terrorism laws blur the line between crime and war. A...

Kathryn Harvey sits down with Dr. Michelle Carney, a veteran infectious disease physician and former Spartanburg Regional Infection Prevention Director. Together, they explore how South Carolina politics and public health intersect in today's challenging climate. Dr. Carney reflects on her decades fighting diseases from HIV to COVID-19, discussing science denial and CDC weakening. She warns about...

Grace and Kathryn sit down to reflect on hearing Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and her perspective on dissents, originalism, and the future of the Court. They highlight South Carolina’s upcoming December 23 special elections, why turnout matters, and the role of women in reshaping local politics. The episode also honors everyday civic hope—from the legacy of Spartanburg’s former mayo...

Grace sits down with attorney and political strategist Chris Kenney to unpack the history and future of South Carolina politics. From the legacy of gerrymandering and the unraveling of the Voting Rights Act to the challenges facing Democrats in a deeply red state, Chris offers insight into why the system feels broken—and how it might still be fixed. Together, they explore the role of authenticity,...

Grace and Caitlin are back on Second Helping with a fiery discussion on South Carolina politics, Trump’s latest moves in D.C., and how perceptions of crime shape public policy. They compare militarized responses with Baltimore’s community-based crime prevention, break down how tariffs are already driving up grocery and clothing prices, and look ahead to the 2026 governor’s race. Plus, they spotlig...

South Carolina Rep. Neal Collins joins Kathryn for a candid conversation about what it really takes to serve in the State House. From town halls in Easley to hard-fought battles over education funding, healthcare, and senior care, Collins shares why he stays focused on local needs instead of chasing viral headlines. He opens up about the frustrations of wasted time on political theater, the growin...

Today we unpack one of the most absurd yet impactful forces shaping American politics. Grace explores how state legislatures twist district lines into political strongholds, ensuring winners before voters ever cast a ballot. From South Carolina to Texas, we look at partisan maps, racial gerrymanders, and the role of independent redistricting commissions. The conversation dives into why elections f...

Senator Sophia Chitlik of North Carolina’s 22nd District joins Kathryn Harvey for a deep dive into the fight for fair representation and the urgent need to protect democracy at the state level. She shares how gerrymandering, voter suppression, and legislative power grabs in North Carolina have created a dangerous playbook now spreading nationwide, including to Texas and beyond. She outlines the “t...

Kathryn and Katelyn try to beat the Southern heat while diving into everything from brain-eating amoebas and fentanyl busts to hate crime ordinances and political showdowns. They unpack the high-profile visits of Ro Khanna, Gavin Newsom, and Andy Beshear, explore local action on national issues, and reflect on the power of female friendship. From public safety to party politics, it’s a reminder th...

In this episode of Second Helping, Grace and Katelyn tackle “The Find Out Part” of American politics, where abstract issues meet real-life consequences. From the bold campaign of Zohran Mamdani in NYC to the grim aftermath of Texas flood response cuts, they unpack the generational, political, and systemic failures driving today’s frustrations. They also dig into the gerrymandering mess in South Ca...

Former Spartanburg County Councilman Michael Brown joins Kathryn to unpack the local impact of the proposed federal budget bill, which threatens deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and energy efficiency programs. They break down how these cuts could hit South Carolina families and seniors hard, unraveling years of local progress while deepening economic divides. Michael also previews Spartanbur...

In this candid conversation, former Mark Sanford chief of staff Scott English joins Grace to unpack South Carolina’s shifting political identity, the rise of performative politics, and the deep roots of division fueled by algorithm-driven outrage. They explore why local politics no longer feels insulated from national storms, how gerrymandering and party purity tests have reshaped the state, and w...

In this episode of Second Helping, Grace and Katelyn unpack how the National Park Service is being used to rewrite history, why politicians like RJ May embody hypocrisy, and how conversion therapy fuels cycles of repression. They break down the “big beautiful bill” and Mike Lee’s plan to sell off public lands under the guise of affordable housing. Plus, they talk about Trump’s impulsive foreign po...

Political strategist Adam Brandon joins Grace to talk about the rise of independent voters and the movement to disrupt America’s two-party system. As senior advisor at the independent Center, Brandon outlines his plan to support moderate candidates, tackle gerrymandering, and bring fiscal responsibility and social tolerance back into focus. From insider lobbying to the myth of the political “middl...

As Trump and Elon Musk exchange political blows, Grace and Caitlin break down the latest intra-GOP power struggle and ask: who really holds the reins? From Supreme Court shakeups and Citizens United fallout to deep cuts in Medicaid and media manipulation, this episode unpacks the dissonance at the heart of American democracy. Plus, a look at protest music's vanishing voice—and why Patti Smith migh...

Rep. Justin J. Pearson joins us from the Tennessee General Assembly to talk movement-building, civic engagement, and the fight for democracy in gerrymandered Southern states. From grassroots organizing to the power of local elections, Pearson shares hard-earned insights on community resilience, policy battles, and honoring the legacies of those who came before. Together, we explore what it means t...

What happened to the Supreme Court we were promised Grace sits down with law professor and podcaster Leah Litman to unpack how the Roberts Court veered from constitutional principle into conservative grievance, fringe legal theories, and outright hypocrisy. From Citizens United to the shadow docket, they explore how decades of rightward drift have reshaped American democracy—often with devastating...

This episode dives deep into the political and moral battle over conversion therapy in South Carolina. Grace and Katelyn break down Columbia’s ordinance banning the practice, the state’s threat to strip millions in funding, and what it reveals about power, control, and LGBTQ+ rights. They explore how religious ideology and budget maneuvers collide, and why this fight is about more than therapy—it'...

What’s really going on under the dome in Columbia? Representative Chandra Dillard joins The Upstate Tea to break down the highs and lows of the latest South Carolina legislative session. From the challenges of working within a Republican supermajority to key battles over DEI, school vouchers, affordable housing, and tax reform, Rep. Dillard gives us an unfiltered look at policymaking in real time....