21: Reconstruction Radicals

During the rush to rig Congressional maps in May 2026, South Carolina delivered a rare piece of good news: We stopped the redistricting plan in its tracks (at least for now). We’re still processing how it all went down, but we know that South Carolinians from across the state and political spectrum played a part. Beyond the headlines about Trump and national politics, the winners of the redistricting fight were South Carolina voters, first and foremost. On today’s episode, Courtney Thomas and Matthew Butler from the ACLU-SC team join us to unpack how it all happened. If you would like to get involved in the struggle for representative democracy, we can always use your help. Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form, and we’ll be in touch: https://www.aclusc.org/volunteer Music on today's episode is by Daft Hartley.

From opening prayers to religious authoritarian laws to the pastors who show up to defend their transgender congregants, religion is an unavoidable fact in the South Carolina Statehouse. What does it mean when people from the same faith traditions find themselves at odds in the political arena?We've met some remarkable faith leaders and people of faith who joined us in the pursuit of civil liberties. Two of those people, Ginny Eiwen and the Rev. Alston Lippert, join us on today's episode to share what they have witnessed and how they keep going. Interested in joining the Faith & Justice Table? Fill out the interest form at aclusc.org/fj The March of Dimes Maternal and Infant Health Report Card mentioned in this episode is available here: https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/reports/south-carolina/report-card

What was Reconstruction, and why was it so radical in South Carolina? Historian Dr. Robert Greene II joins us to discuss the revolutionary expansion of democracy and civil rights that followed the Civil War, how it ended, and how we might pursue a new Reconstruction today.Check out Dr. Greene’s podcast Our New South and his work with the Modjeska Simkins School. Find him on Instagram and Threads @robgreene86, or on Twitter @robgreeneii

South Carolina lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill that would discriminate against transgender students by forcing them into restrooms according to their sex assigned at birth or, possibly, into porta-potties. H. 4756 is a dangerous and insulting bill that applies to K-12 schools and colleges alike. We have the chance to reduce the harm before it passes. In this emergency episode, we are joined by Cristina Picozzi of the Harriet Hancock Center and SC United for Justice and Equality. If you have 5 minutes, please help us rein in the self-appointed bathroom police. Use this link and we'll connect you with your state House representative by phone: https://aclusc.org/call 

A forced ICE collaboration bill advances in the Statehouse. Public discontent grows against the mass deportation regime’s secretive moves in Columbia. And we launch a statewide campaign with faith leaders proclaiming a simple message: Immigrants are welcome here. Joining us on today’s episode is Dulce J. López, Immigrant Rights Advocacy Strategist at the ACLU of South Carolina.  Tell your state lawmakers to vote No on the forced ICE collaboration bill, H. 4764: https://aclusc.org/iceout  Read the findings of the ACLU report "Deputized for Disaster" here: https://www.aclusc.org/news/5-ugly-facts-about-ice-collaboration-in-south-carolina/ Want to find more ways to advocate for immigrants’ rights? Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form and we’ll put you to work: https://aclusc.org/volunteer  

South Carolina lawmakers started 2026 with a barrage of bills attacking our reproductive freedom, voting rights, free speech rights, and more. But even on the ugliest days of the legislative session, South Carolinians showed up, spoke out, and wrote in to their lawmakers demanding something better. How do we keep showing up for this work, and just as importantly, why? We get into it with advocacy director Courtney. 

Public funding of religious schools. A victory for the rights of young voters at the DMV. A green light for partisan gerrymandering. A total abortion ban stopped in its tracks. On this episode, Jace and Paul try to remember all the highlights and low points of 2025. No victory is final, and neither are the losses.  Governor Henry McMaster has sent National Guard troops to Washington D.C. again. If you’d like to send a message telling him to bring the troops home for the holidays, visit https://aclusc.org/guard 

A total abortion ban is advancing in the South Carolina legislature. On today’s episode, we’re breaking down Senate Bill 323, which would equate abortion with homicide. Our guests are Courtney Thomas (Advocacy Director, ACLU of South Carolina) and Vicki Ringer (Director of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic). Send a message to your lawmakers using this form: https://www.aclusc.org/323  Learn more about S. 323 here: https://www.aclusc.org/legislation/total-abortion-ban-s-323/  Music on this episode is by Daft Hartley. The audio you hear at the beginning and end of the episode is from Courtney’s speech on the State House steps on October 1, the day of the first hearing on S. 323. The video is pinned on our Instagram page @aclusc: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPY6R_ljml2/  

As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) goes rogue and violates our civil liberties, South Carolinians are demanding that their local law enforcement agencies stop signing new ICE collaboration agreements under the 287(g) program. For the second half of our two-part series on the mass deportation agenda in our state, we’re headed to the Lowcountry to hear how locals are pushing back.  Curious if your local police have signed an ICE collaboration agreement? Check our map at https://aclusc.org/287g  If you or someone you know have experienced an immigration raid in South Carolina, we would like to hear your story. Hearing community members’ stories helps us understand how rights are being violated as part of immigration enforcement efforts. We have a form you can fill out, with bilingual instructions in Spanish and English, at https://aclusc.org/redada  Our petition against a proposed ICE detention camp in South Carolina has 13,000 signatures and counting. Add your name and share it with your friends at https://aclusc.org/ice25  For more information about the Charleston-area ICE verification hotline, follow @chs_hotline on Instagram. 

On June 18 at a strip mall in a small town in the far Upstate of South Carolina, Homeland Security Investigations arrested 10 people at Puerto Nuevo, a popular Mexican restaurant. What really happened that day? And why is communication breaking down between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve in places like Oconee County? Today's episode explores the way the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda is sowing chaos, fear, and confusion — and the way people in small towns like West Union, S.C., are pushing back to protect their neighbors.We had so much ground to cover, we decided to split this episode into two parts. Up next on Episode 16, we’ll continue unpacking what really happened at other immigration raids around the state, including the infamous June 1 raid in Ladson. We’ll also travel to Beaufort County, where hundreds of locals have shown up to oppose a 287(g) agreement signed by their sheriff. This fight is far from over. To see our map of 287(g) agreements and check the status of your local sheriff's office, go to aclusc.org/287g If you would like to sign a petition against the ICE detention camp being proposed by candidates for governor in South Carolina, go to aclusc.org/ice25If you would like to volunteer with the ACLU of South Carolina in support of immigrants' rights or other constitutional rights, we have a quick interest form you can fill out at aclusc.org/volunteerAnother way you can help out is by volunteering with one of the ICE hotlines being created by volunteers across the state. Currently the hotline covering Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties is up and running. If you are interested in learning more, follow @chs_hotline on Instagram or search for "CHS Hotline / CHS Linea Directa Comunitaria Inmigrante" on Facebook.