CBS News | May 7, 2026 “Tennessee’s Republican lawmakers on Thursday approved redrawing the state’s congressional map to carve up the lone Democratic represented district, the latest state to scramble to redistrict as both parties seek control of the U.S. House in November.” “The new map splits Memphis, a Black majority city, and the county…
Who Will Stand Up to the Supreme Court Justices?
The New York Times | May 2, 2026 By Nikolas Bowie and Daphna Renan “With its decision this week in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court gutted a core part of the Voting Rights Act, Congress’s landmark prohibition on voting rules that have the effect of excluding people of color from the political process. And…
How the Voting Rights Act Bolstered Black Representation in the House
The New York Times | April 30, 2026 The central tenet of American democracy is the right to vote. But in practice, for Black voters, especially in the South, it wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that their access to the voting booth was fundamentally improved. The law eradicated many Jim Crow-era intimidation…
North Carolina Congressman Chuck Edwards Subject to House Ethics Investigation
NC Newsline | May 5, 2026 North Carolina Congressman Chuck Edwards is subject to a House Ethics investigation. Details on the investigation are limited, but this marks a significant development for the Republican representative from North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
Louisiana Republicans Are Taking Attacks on New Orleans Voters to a Shocking Place
Slate | May 5, 2026 Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry is pushing a slate of bills through the state Legislature framed as “right-sizing” the state’s judicial system. But they are hard to see as anything more than an effort to punish the majority-Black, majority-Democratic New Orleans voters for making decisions state officials dislike, and to…
Trump DOJ Agrees to ‘Return or Destroy’ Evidence Seized from MAGA Congressman Andy Ogles
NewsChannel 5 Investigates | May 6, 2026 The U.S. Department of Justice appears to be preparing to drop a nearly two-year criminal investigation of Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles, agreeing to return or destroy evidence seized from him. The criminal investigation had focused on potential fraud involving campaign finance reports filed by the Maury County Republican…
How Abortion Shield Laws Are Routing Around Red-State Bans — Even in Texas
Off the Kuff / Mother Jones: “Nearly 4,200 women in Texas managed to access abortion care via telehealth in a single month — despite an almost total ban. ‘Anti-abortion extremists thought we’re going to ban abortion and trap people where they live, and they’re not going to get care,’ says Lizzy Hinkley of the Abortion…
Institute Index: What Trump’s Attack on National Forests Means for the South
Facing South: “There are 31 National Forests in Southern states covering 13.6 million acres. For every 1% reduction in forests in the Southeastern U.S., water treatment costs increase by 1.7%. Under Trump’s ‘reorganization’ plan announced March 2026, 57 of the Forest Service’s research facilities will close — 74% of the total. In Mississippi alone, 5…
Southern Unions Are Growing — Slowly, But Against Heavy Headwinds
Facing South: “Labor unions added 166,000 workers in 13 Southern states in 2025, with Georgia registering the biggest gains: 62,000 more union members than in 2024. Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia also saw small increases. Southern states continue to lag significantly — about 4.9% of workers in the South belong to a union, vs. 12.7%…
Alabama Prison Audit Flags Repeated Financial Failures — Legislature Taking Notice
Alabama Political Reporter: “A newly released state audit of the Alabama Department of Corrections documents repeated failures. Auditors found only two evaluations of the Community Corrections Program during the entire audit period — neither met the statutory annual requirement. This was a repeat finding from prior audits, meaning the issue was already flagged and not…