Long Play

Mississippi is a state with a complicated past, deep political divides and a long history of being overlooked. In the final episode of Long Play, Jen and Mitch look at Mississippi’s complex history, the lack of political investment in the state, and the people working to build power from the ground up. Discussing voting rights and the legacy of Emmett Till and Medgar Evers to the 2026 Senate race, they discover what happens when a state gets left behind and whether Mississippi is ready for something different.Guests: Wright Thompson, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Brandon Presley, Sen. candidate Scott Colom, journalists from Mississippi Today, Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable

South Carolina has long played an important role in Democratic presidential politics. Now, it’s moving to the front of the line.Jen and Mitch find out why electability matters here, and what it means for South Carolinians to be the first to vote in the Democratic presidential primary.They also look at the political changes already underway, from new candidates entering tough races to an unexpectedly open U.S. Senate seat.Guests: Rep. Jim Clyburn, Former Mayor Steven Benjamin, Jalisa Washington-Price, Congressional candidate Nancy Lacore, Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews

Tennessee wasn't always a reliably Republican state. Today, it's a case study in what one-party rule looks like.In Episode 4 Jen and Mitch explore how redistricting, political power, and grassroots activism are reshaping Tennessee's future. They examine who holds power, who gets represented, and what happens when communities fight to have their voices heard.Guests: State Rep. Justin Pearson, State Rep. Jeremy Faison, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Pastor J. Lawrence Turner, Justin Kanew (The Tennessee Holler)

North Carolina is one of the most closely divided states in the country. But when it comes to political power, the story is much more complicated.Jen, Mitch, and Errin explore the growing power of unaffiliated voters, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene's devastation, the fight over who controls state government, and why elections here are so often decided on the margins.Guests: Jason Isbell, Former Gov. and Sen. candidate Roy Cooper, former Gov. Pat McCrory, State Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch, Congressional candidate Jamie Ager

Every election cycle the question inevitably comes up - will Texas flip? But the biggest story in Texas isn't whether the state will turn blue. It's how the people who live there are redefining what Texas politics looks like. Jen, Mitch, and Errin travel across the state to explore immigration, education, faith, and the changing priorities of Texas voters through the voices of the people living those debates every day.Guests: State Rep. James Talarico, State Sen. Taylor Rehmet, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Benny Melendez and Mario Guerrero, Tarrant County Residents

Georgia has become one of the most closely watched states in America, but its story didn't begin with the last election. Jen, Mitch, and Errin explore the history, communities, and political forces that transformed Georgia into the center of the national conversation. Through interviews with civic leaders, elected officials, and everyday Georgians, they examine how the state's civil rights legacy, rapid growth, and changing electorate continue to shape both Southern politics and the future of the country.Guests: Sen. Jon Ossoff, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, LaTosha Brown (Black Voters Matter), Kyle Tibbs-Jones (The Bitter Southerner)

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.