
Show Notes
To win America, you need to win the South. The South is the new epicenter of American politics and culture. Population growth, economic investment, cultural influence, and political realignment are reshaping the region and, in turn, the nation. For both major parties, these states have become central to their political future. Changes to voting rights have fundamentally altered the political landscape, with consequences that extend far beyond the South. Those effects are already shaping elections nationwide and will continue to influence the political map through 2026, 2028, and beyond. At the same time, rapid population growth is shifting political power southward, increasing the region's influence in Congress and the Electoral College. The stakes could not be higher. To win in the South, you have to understand the South. Across six Southern states, Long Play will explore the people, communities, institutions, and forces shaping one of the most dynamic regions in America. We’ll examine the issues driving voters, the assumptions that no longer hold, what the rest of the country is missing about the South, and the leaders who may shape politics and public life in 2026, 2028, and beyond.
More from Long Play
Florida is changing, but are its politics keeping up with the people who live there? In the Season 2 premiere of Long Play, Jen and Errin head to the panhandle to examine the battle for Black voters, the rising cost of living and the competing visions of David Jolly, Byron Donalds and Angie Nixon. And local students discuss how party loyalty takes a back seat to more immediate concerns about affordability, opportunity and whether candidates will deliver on their promises. Guests: Rep. Angie Nixon, David Jolly, Rep. Byron Donalds
Jen and Errin speak with Mississippi Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom about the recent buzz around his race, how his work as a District Attorney has prepared him for this campaign, and why Democrats need to stop ignoring Mississippi. You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.
Jen and Errin speak with Arkansas Democratic Senate candidate Hallie Shoffner about the struggles Arkansans are facing, why her campaign is resonating in a deep red state, and how the difficult decision to close her family's farm led her here.
Jen and Errin sit down with Texas State Representative and Democratic candidate for governor, Gina Hinojosa, to discuss the impact of the recent ICE shooting in Austin, how public schools have become a cornerstone of her campaign, and why Texas is over MAGA's super-partisan rhetoric. You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.
Jen, Errin and special guest Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Pod Save America, sit down to discuss the key races they are watching in the South heading into November, what it means to “win” the South, and their biggest political questions of the cycle. You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.