Unions made slight gains in the South last year, mirroring national trends. But the share of Southern workers in unions is still less than half of the union density found in the rest of the country. My new analysis at southernstudies.bksy.social: www.facingsouth.org/2026/04/unio...

Support fearless reporting and a powerful voice for change in the South — donate to our spring fundraiser today! www.facingsouth.org/defend-democ...

It's been 18 months since Hurricane Helene stormed through the South. Western North Carolina is still rebuilding, and meager federal funding and FEMA chaos has slowed the recovery. A by-the-numbers look by @chriskromm.bsky.social: www.facingsouth.org/2026/03/inst...

The South's political clout is growing: @chriskromm.bsky.social looks at new data showing Southern states could gain up to 9 Congressional seats and Electoral College votes after the 2030 census count:

ICE has arrested and detained a Nashville journalist who reported stories critical of ICE. She’s married to a U.S. citizen and has been seeking asylum here after fleeing death threats in Colombia because of her journalism there. They’ve already sent her to Louisiana.

This week's primaries made clear: Texas is a key battleground. The national importance of Texas and other Southern states is already growing. @chriskromm.bsky.social looks at new projections into the South's growing clout as we head towards the 2030 census: www.facingsouth.org/2026/03/sout...

Remember when Trump yanked funds from Mississippi after learning that the state's welfare chief had directed millions in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to sports celebrities, including not only Brett Favre, but the Million Dollar man and his two pro-wrestler sons? Wait. He didn't.

Who is making big money on ICE and Border Patrol contracts? In the 2nd installment in our series at Facing South, @chriskromm.bsky.social details 58 companies in Georgia that stand to receive $10 billion from 2025-2026 fiscal year contracts alone. www.facingsouth.org/2026/01/geor...

Imagine how much they’d be lying about what happened without all the videos showing it from multiple angles.

Can’t wait to see how many right-wingers get fired for making hideous comments about the people killed in Minneapolis.

NEW VIDEO: this appears to be the footage from the woman in the pink coat.

"Just stay cool and don't make trouble until the midterms" is not going to cut it as an opposition response to a murderous regime whose masked thugs are killing people in the streets and then attempting to round up witnesses and destroy evidence.

Who's making big money off ICE and Border Patrol contracts? After recent operations in Charlotte and New Orleans, I looked at the top contractors in Louisiana and North Carolina for @southernstudies.bsky.social: www.facingsouth.org/2025/12/whos...

I recently talked to Tram Nguyen of @newvamajority.bsky.social about lessons from last November's elections in Virginia and what progressives are planning for 2026. See my interview for @southernstudies.bsky.social here: www.facingsouth.org/2025/12/tram...

BREAKING: WATCH the full 60 Minutes CECOT segment here. This was sent to me anonymously. It appears to be the segment CBS' Bari Weiss killed. www.muellershewrote.com/p/watch-the-...

70 years ago, the Montgomery Bus Boycott launched, energizing the Southern freedom movement. In 1981, Southern Exposure featured oral histories with people connected to the boycott to discuss its origins and legacy: facingsouth.org/1981/03/mont... @southernstudies.bsky.social

What's next for progressives in Virginia after their big wins in the 2025 elections? I talked with Tram Nguyen of New Virginia Majority for @southernstudies.bsky.social about key lessons from 2025, and their plans for moving a bold agenda in 2026: www.facingsouth.org/2025/12/tram...

New at @southernstudies.bsky.social: Who's making money off Border Patrol and ICE contracts in Louisiana and North Carolina? A look at $340 million worth of contracts in the wake of Border Patrol's immigration actions in LA and NC: www.facingsouth.org/2025/12/whos...

70 years ago, the Montgomery Bus Boycott launched, energizing the Southern freedom movement. In 1981, Southern Exposure featured oral histories with people connected to the boycott to discuss its origins and legacy: facingsouth.org/1981/03/mont... @southernstudies.bsky.social

From Georgia to Virginia, the 2025 elections revealed a data center backlash. 40% of centers are in the South, with many more on the way, straining land, water & energy resources. My by-the-numbers look for @southernstudies.bsky.social at the growing opposition: www.facingsouth.org/2025/11/inst...

BREAKING: Democrats have flipped a conservative state House seat in Georgia in yet another upset. It's a 14-point overperformance *and* the 25th legislative flip of the year for Dems. Republicans? Zero. Read our complete writeup here -->

SCOOP — Gregg Phillips, a conspiracy theorist with no emergency management experience who helped produce the election-denying documentary ‘2000 Mules’ with Dinesh D’Souza and has faced numerous legal inquiries, has been named head of FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery. My story:

Democrats flip Miami mayor’s office, winning control for first time in nearly 30 years

#BREAKING: Over dissents from the three democratic appointees, #SCOTUS puts Texas's new House maps back into effect for (and, presumably, through) the 2026 midterms. The three Democratic appointees, in an opinion by Justice Kagan, dissent. I'll post the ruling shortly.

It's that time of year: Support an independent voice for change in the South! #GivingTuesday2025 www.facingsouth.org/defend-democ...

The data center backlash, by the numbers. The 2025 elections in Georgia and Virginia revealed growing push-back to data centers, especially due to rising energy demands. Via @southernstudies.bsky.social: www.facingsouth.org/2025/11/inst...

My latest, about @siembranc.bsky.social and how they organized in North Carolina to counter Operation Charlotte's Web and Border Patrol's latest anti-immigrant crackdown, co-published in @thenation.com and @southernstudies.bsky.social www.thenation.com/article/poli...

In the wake of the Department of Homeland Security's "Charlotte's Web" operation in North Carolina, a look at the top contracts being carried out in the state for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) @southernstudies.bsky.social

Press conference this evening in Durham, NC led by @siembranc.bsky.social in response to arrival of ICE in the city. Strong showing of elected officials and faith leaders condemning ICE’s secretive attacks on schools and businesses in the area.

A key issue animating the 2025 elections in the South: data centers, and their growing pressures on land, water, and especially energy. Virginia has the most centers in the country, and Georgia ranks 7th.

North Carolina has been pulled into the national redistricting wars. Watch/read our @southernstudies.bsky.social interview with Tyler Daye at @commoncausenc.bsky.social breaking down how we got here, and where we go from here #ncpol #ncga www.facingsouth.org/2025/10/nc-a...

Key elections to watch in the South this week - my latest at facingsouth.bsky.social www.facingsouth.org/2025/10/key-...

one of the things i think is that policies answer the question of “what will you do” but they don’t answer the question of “why should i vote for you” and i think there is a tendency in this broad conversation to equate the two

NEW VIDEO: What does Duke owe Durham? Historian and urbanist @davarianbaldwin.bsky.social breaks down the role of universities like Duke and why they should invest more to support workers and communities. www.facingsouth.org/2025/10/watc...

Southern states are being disproportionately hard-hit by the government shutdown. Analysis finds 8 of 20 states most affected are in the South, based on indicators including share of federal jobs and contract dollars per capita. More: wallethub.com/edu/governme...

Trying to imagine the furor if Democratic leadership had called the Tea Party protests "Hate America" protests. Every day a new lesson in how different the rules really are.

🌟 TODAY 🌟 What Does Duke Owe Durham? Forum with author @davarianbaldwin.bsky.social about why universities should support workers and communities. 2pm, Asbury United Methodist, Durham. Sponsored by @southernstudies.bsky.social + @durhamrising.bsky.social www.southernstudies.org/davarianbald...

Institute Index: One year after Helene, western N.C. is seeing progress — but a weak FEMA under Trump has slowed recovery www.facingsouth.org/2025/09/inst...

What Does Duke Owe Durham? Free talk with @davarianbaldwin.bsky.social on Friday, Sept. 26, 2-3pm at Asbury United Methodist in Durham. Sponsored by @southernstudies.bsky.social and @durhamrising.bsky.social. More information and RSVP: www.southernstudies.org/davarianbald...

NC advocates unveil 'Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy' in North Carolina, with 40 proposals on issues ranging from improving voting access to combating corruption, protecting court independence, and defending the right to protest. @southernstudies.bsky.social www.facingsouth.org/2025/09/nc-a...

What Does Duke Owe Durham? Join us Friday 9/26 at 2pm for a forum featuring @davarianbaldwin.bsky.social about how Duke University can support workers and the community. Visit here for more info and to RSVP: www.southernstudies.org/davarianbald... @durhamrising.bsky.social

Southern states will feel brunt of attacks on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: 49% of complaints filed with CFPB since 2011 have come from 13 states in the South @ddayen.bsky.social @warren.senate.gov @southernstudies.bsky.social @crlonline.bsky.social www.facingsouth.org/2025/08/inst...

A Georgia judge said this week he will toss racketeering charges against 61 "Cop City" protesters. For Facing South I interviewed attorney Devin Franklin at @thesoutherncenter.bsky.social about the flimsy state RICO charges when they were first brought two years ago @southernstudies.bsky.social

Southern states will feel brunt of attacks on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: 49% of complaints filed with CFPB since 2011 have come from 13 states in the South @ddayen.bsky.social @warren.senate.gov @southernstudies.bsky.social @crlonline.bsky.social www.facingsouth.org/2025/08/inst...

New at Facing South: New NC election board chair Francis De Luca, a key operative in Art Pope's network, has long peddled election denial and unsubstantiated claims of "voter fraud" to push for voter restrictions - by chriskromm.bsky.social www.facingsouth.org/2025/05/nc-e...

Damon Hininger, CEO of private prison giant Core Civic, just told investors: " I've worked at CoreCivic for 32 years, and this is truly one of the most exciting periods in my career ... we're anticipating .. the most significant growth in our company's history." theintercept.com/2025/02/11/c...

The union election at Amazon’s RDU1 warehouse in Garner, NC begins today. At @facingsouth.bsky.social union president Rev. Ryan Brown describes what’s at stake: www.facingsouth.org/2025/02/voic...

The union election at Amazon’s RDU1 warehouse in Garner, NC begins today. At @facingsouth.bsky.social union president Rev. Ryan Brown describes what’s at stake: www.facingsouth.org/2025/02/voic...

*A Renewed Case for Funding the South* “We ignore the South at our own peril. ... It has to be a long-term, at-scale investment in this region,” said Emily Timm, the deputy executive director of Way to Rise. Via @rebekahbarber.bsky.social nonprofitquarterly.org/a-renewed-ca...

On the 65th anniversary of the Greensboro sit-ins, a pivotal moment in the Southern student movement, sharing oral histories of key figures in the movement from the Southern Exposure archives www.facingsouth.org/1981/03/gree...