South Carolina Lede

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 04, 2025: the latest involving the $1.8 billion boondoggle accounting error involving the state treasurer; House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bruce Bannister shares his thoughts as the House is less than a week away from debating the massive spending bill; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 01, 2025: we’re recapping major bills and action in the state Senate and House from this week including the school voucher bill; an interview with House Education Committee Chairwoman Shannon Erickson; what the House did to the Senate’s plan and where it goes next; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 25, 2025: we look at a different version of the school voucher bill that’s poised to move in the Statehouse; Sen. Stephen Goldfinch continues our conversation on the $1.8 billion boondoggle accounting discrepancy involving the state Treasurer’s Office; Senate LCI Committee Chairman Tom Davis breaks down the energy generation needs our state f...

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 22, 2025: Maayan Schechter has two deep dives on legislation from the Statehouse as we focus on education funding and vouchers; we have a small tidbit for our 2026 WATCH and some action from Washington on the budget reconciliation process; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 18, 2025: we look at what’s on tap this week at the Statehouse; we catch up with USC Law Professor Derek Black to discuss his new book on Black literacy traced over the centuries in the South; comments from Sen. Lindsey Graham who was in Europe and the Middle East; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 15, 2025: we look at the abortion debate that played out in state Supreme Court this week; in Washington Congresswoman Nancy Mace made serious allegations from the House floor; Sen. Lindsey Graham continued his work on budget reconciliation to advance the Trump administration agenda; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 11, 2025: we look at statehouse activity for this week, including a bill that would allow Scout Motors and Teslas to be sold in South Carolina, which is currently illegal; a state Supreme Court hearing this week on the six-week abortion bill; Rock Hill Rep. Brandon Guffey discusses his efforts to keep children safe online; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 8, 2025: a look at some big bills from the state version of DOGE to anti-DEI and the K-12 voucher bills that moved this week; Sen. Lindsey Graham gets the green light for his budget reconciliation process; a 2026 watch update and break down the tariff turmoil; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 4, 2025: Sen. Lindsey Graham talks about recent moves and cabinet confirmations out of Washington; Statehouse reporters Maayan Schechter and Jeffrey Collins give us some insight on the first month of the legislative session and the governors annual address; we also have an economic update that includes interest rates, U.S. GDP and our state’s...

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 1, 2025: we take a deep dive into the latest surrounding the $1.8 billion accounting discrepancy boondoggle error involving the state’s books; the Senate passed its school voucher bill; Gov. Henry McMaster gave his annual state of the state address; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 28, 2025: Sen. Lindsey Graham gives his take on budget reconciliation, immigration, infrastructure funding, and presidential pardons; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina has detained a man who allegedly sextorted Rep. Brandon Guffey’s son who took his own life as a result; we share an excerpt of our interview with U.S. Attorney Adair...

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 25, 2025: we talk with Sen. Larry Grooms as we continue our look at the $1.8 billion accounting discrepancy that has claimed another state financial official; we also look at some moves up in Washington this past week involving our delegation; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 21, 2025: we take you through part of now former President Joe Biden’s final, full day in office that he spent in South Carolina; we get reaction from Sen. Lindsey Graham on inauguration day and hear his thoughts about how much it will cost to implement border security; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 18, 2025: the first week of the legislative session brought some surprises along the way, including the new bombshell forensic audit on the $1.8 billion accounting discrepancy on the states’ books; in the Senate, members kicked off debate on their new school voucher bill; the House took enlightening testimony on a utility reform bill; and more...

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 14, 2025: we continue to talk with top leaders about the priorities for the two year legislative session; we hear from Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, whose Republicans make up a supermajority of the chamber; we also hear from House Democratic Leader Todd Rutherford; Sen. Lindsey Graham staffs up for 2026; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 11, 2025: our exclusive interview with S.C. House Speaker Murrell Smith where he outlines his priorities for the 2025 legislative session, gives his take on school vouchers, taxes, and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 7, 2025: we catch you up on some of the Congressional drama kicking off the 119th congress; there’s early voting for a special election primary in one Lowcountry House district; reporter Scott Morgan speaks with Faith Fuller, whose parents created Habitat for Humanity, which became inextricably linked to the late 39th President Jimmy Carter; a...

On this special holiday episode of the South Carolina Lede for December 24, 2024: our “Hot or Not” 2025 list episode, a cultivated list of the hottest trends you need to be ready for in 2025, and the ones you can leave behind!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for December 21, 2024: our full interview with USC Research Economist Dr. Joey Von Nessen, recapping the economic year of 2024 and previewing 2025.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for December 17, 2024: we look at what’s going on this week from the statehouse to Congress; Sen. Lindsey Graham shares his thoughts on President-elect Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary; a look back on the lives of Congressman John Spratt and former state Sen. Kay Patterson; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for December 14, 2024: we look at why the federal government is suing South Carolina; reporter Maayan Schechter tells us of two South Carolinians among the 39 folks Biden pardoned along with nearly 1,500 people prison sentence commutations; Senate Republicans are going all-gas-no-brakes on a third attempt at a school voucher bill; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for December 10, 2024: we hear more from Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey on the upcoming session; two prominent South Carolinians weigh in on transgender issues in Washington; we hear about how President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs may affect South Carolina; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for December 7, 2024: a look at what lawmakers did when they returned to Columbia, briefly, this week, ahead of the start of the legislative session on Jan. 14.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for December 3, 2024: look at what lawmakers will be doing when they return to Columbia this week; we hear from two professors about more ramifications from Election 2024, including the role of social media, as well as how the geopolitical economy could shift; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for November 23, 2024: we look at the first estimate of how much money lawmakers will have to budget with next year; we look at the material and the process involved with a state education panel’s evaluation of four books to be removed from classrooms across the S.C.; we follow up on Nancy Mace and her part in a Congressional UAP hearing, as well as an up...