Statehouse urgency with public-radio bite.
The gist
South Carolina Lede is a brisk South Carolina politics and public affairs show centered on the Statehouse, statewide campaigns, and policy decisions. It blends reporting, interview clips, budget and legislative updates, and quick asides that keep dense civic news moving.
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About South Carolina Lede
South Carolina Lede treats South Carolina politics as a living, crowded beat rather than a weekly civics lecture. The center of gravity is the Statehouse. Around it, the show follows budget writing, transportation modernization, judicial updates, abortion legislation, hemp-derived consumable regulation, campaign filings, gubernatorial debates, and the constant pull of national politics into the state. Gavin Jackson keeps the pacing clipped. He moves from interview tape to field notes to context, often with a quick joke or a self-aware aside before returning to the harder reporting. The result is public-radio news with more visible seams of personality. Episodes can open in Columbia, swing through other parts of the state, and land back in legislative procedure without losing the thread. The show is especially attentive to calendars: sine die, primary deadlines, debate dates, committee versions of the budget, and countdowns to major votes. It also watches infrastructure closely, from a major bridge project to congestion and SCDOT modernization. Energy gets sustained treatment, including nuclear power, data centers, demand growth, and the legacy of past utility controversies. Campaign episodes track Republicans competing for statewide office, Democratic endorsement questions, and figures testing South Carolina’s presidential waters. 2028 Watch gives the national-politics material a recurring home. The reporting also makes room for the institutional details that often decide outcomes, such as courthouse conditions, Supreme Court races, and the numerical leverage of the House and Senate. It is serious about process. It is not precious about tone. Listener call-ins, wind-down chatter, pledge-drive reminders, and producer exchanges give the show a familiar rhythm without overwhelming the news. The best fit is someone who already cares about South Carolina but wants help following the machinery behind the headlines. It rewards regular listening because names, bills, rivalries, and deadlines accumulate from episode to episode.
Made for: For South Carolina listeners, reporters, policy watchers, campaign followers, and politically curious residents who want state-level context at close range. It also fits national politics listeners tracking why South Carolina keeps mattering early.
What sets it apart: The show combines hard Statehouse reporting with campaign-trail texture and a lightly irreverent delivery. It gives legislative mechanics, local infrastructure, and 2028 political positioning the same working-room immediacy.
In their own words
South Carolina Lede is a podcast about the people, issues, and events shaping the Palmetto State. Join host Gavin Jackson and reporters from across the state each week for in-depth discussions of the biggest news affecting you, your family, and your fellow South Carolinians – from state politics and legislative happenings inside the state house to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and more. It’s the factual and timely information you need, with a dash of irreverent fun to keep it all interesting.
As heard by us
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · August 2026
South Carolina Lede makes Statehouse process, campaign movement, and local policy fights usable for South Carolina politics watchers.
South Carolina Lede is built for people who want South Carolina politics in plain view, not flattened into headlines. Gavin Jackson moves through Statehouse developments, campaign trail reporting, budget fights, transportation policy, court business, and the state's…
Why you'd press play
Statehouse procedure gets easier to swallow when Gavin Jackson gives you campaign receipts with the pizza crumbs.
Press play if you want
- South Carolina legislation translated before the gavel falls, with the personalities and procedural stakes left intact
- candidate tape plus filing fees, endorsements, and enough context to know who is actually jostling whom
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Episodes
- 1
House Legislative Preview with Speaker Murrell Smith LIVE IN COLUMBIA
·30m - 2
SC: It's Electric! Pt 1
·29m - 3
2026 First Gubernatorial Debate Breakdown
·20m - 4
Sanford Shocker
·15m - 5
Offseason Abortion Debate
·26m - 6
Campaign Ad Nauseum
·34m - 7
DEA, Drugs, Data, and You!
·27m - 8
Kirk First Amendment Fracas
·33m - 9
First Amendment War of Words
·35m - 10
LIVE IN ROCK HILL
·42m - 11
Fall Fiscal Vibe Check Y’all
·31m - 12
The Epstein SC Connection
·26m - 13
The Ad Wars Begin
·27m - 14
It’s Bo Time, Baybee
·29m - 15
Reddy or Not, Here Comes the Campaign Trail
·32m - 16
The Gang Spills the THC
·39m - 17
TBD THC
·24m - 18
Stick to Your Gummies
·31m - 19
Spring Forward into the Governors Race
·38m - 20
A Few Good Men
·26m - 21
America At War in Iran
·30m - 22
Amendments & Endorsements & Commandments, Oh My!
·29m - 23
SC Lede Book Review Episode
·32m - 24
High Court Curveball
·29m - 25
Super Minority Report
·30m - 26
Be My Valentine?: Governor Candidates and the Legislature
·35m - 27
LIVE in Mt Pleasant at Hobcaw Brewing with Caitlin Byrd
·38m - 28
Spicy Spin Cycle
·28m - 29
Trump Endorses MAGA Warrior
·26m - 30
Poller Vortex
·33m - 31
McMaster’s Victory Lap
·29m - 32
Transportation and Healthcare Infrastructure Deep Dive
·33m - 33
SC Legislative Session, 2 Weeks In
·26m - 34
King Day at the Dome 2026
·30m - 35
We’re So Back, Folks!
·31m - 36
Senate Legislative Preview
·28m - 37
It's Electric! Pt 2
·30m - 38
New Year’s Economic Outlook
·32m - 39
SC Lede Year-End Savings Event Spectacular 2025
·25m - 40
Pre Preview Season Season Preview
·25m - 41
Big Shrimp Energy
·38m - 42
‘That Dog Don’t Hunt’
·34m - 43
You Down with DOT? Yeah You Know Lede
·33m - 44
Breaking News: Gobble Gobble Ledesgiving Spectacular!
·26m - 45
Abortion Bill Stalls in Subcommittee
·32m - 46
Post Shutdown with Lindsey Graham
·28m - 47
Less than a Year to Election 2026
·34m - 48
SC 'Fede'- Askin' Hanna Raskin about Michelin Stars
·32m - 49
Shutdown Soybean Ripples and Mace Drama
·35m - 50
AirPorts of Authority
·32m - 51
Campaign Trails from the Crypt
·36m - 52
Fresh Meat for the Campaign Trail
·24m - 53
Gavin Out Sick Oops All Wind Down Halloween Edition with Sean and AT
·11m - 54
On The Ground at the No Kings Rally
·30m - 55
The Thousand-Year Flood 10-Year Retrospective
·32m - 56
Lede Goes 1-on-1 with Lindsey Graham
·40m - 57
The SC Lede Shutsdown DC
·33m - 58
Clemson: Free Speech Ground Zero
·30m - 59
Uh Oh! Big Infrastructure Pod Alert!
·28m - 60
Deep Fried Rose Ceremony
·30m - 61
Campaign Ketchup
·30m - 62
Special Oops Our Bad Alert!
·8m - 63
No Rest for the Campaign Trail Weary
·29m - 64
Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham Busy in the Dog Days of Summer
·31m - 65
It's Pam!
·28m - 66
“Golden Age” of Campaign Trail is Upon Us
·23m - 67
Doctor! Help! I’m Seeing Double Gavins!
·33m - 68
Campaign Trail CHURNETH
·22m - 69
The Ken Burn-isode: The American Revolution
·24m - 70
The 2026 Campaign Trail Cometh
·35m - 71
Remembering Mother Emanuel 10 Years Later: Part II
·32m - 72
Remembering Mother Emanuel 10 Years Later: Part I
·38m - 73
Aiken Breakin' Heart with Shane Massey
·34m - 74
Gavin Gets Gaslit
·29m - 75
Grand Strand with Pam
·29m - 76
What is this? A Democratic wrap up for Ants?
·28m - 77
Dems vs the L.O.G. Jam
·39m - 78
South Carolina Check up with MUSC President
·27m - 79
Bountiful Big Beautiful Bills and Budgets Bonanza
·24m - 80
Gavin’s Geopolitical News Grab Bag
·23m - 81
Session Debrief Part II
·38m - 82
Rapid Fire Round Table Wrap up
·36m - 83
Sine Die Conclave
·33m - 84
Family Caucus Matters
·36m - 85
Maayan Schechter & The Sine Die Sprint
·29m - 86
See You Next January
·29m - 87
Curtis Loftis: Don’t’ Call it an Impeachment
·32m - 88
Econ Spring Break
·23m - 89
State Budget: A Tradition Unlike Any Other
·27m - 90
Simmer & Stocks Sink—Buy the Dip
·33m - 91
Tax Reform Hits the Skids
·27m - 92
Talkin’ Tax Cuts- No April Foolin’
·30m - 93
Torts, Boondoggles, and Forrest Fires
·32m - 94
Simmer Down Now
·31m - 95
TORTal Recall
·29m - 96
That Thing You scDOT
·34m - 97
Big Ol Budget Bigtimes Torts
·38m - 98
The Budget Vote-a-Rama Cometh
·22m - 99
All Tort No Chaser
·30m - 100
Shutdown Breakdown with Lisa Desjardins and Josh Dawsey
A Washington Week wrap-up featuring interviews with reporters on Congress and the Trump administration, plus campaign fundraising and polling data.
·30m - 101
Crossover Crossroads
Hidden gemSouth Carolina Lede's April 17, 2026 episode is built around the last stretch before May 14 sine die, with Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey saying there has been "zero conversation" about the abortion bill and that budget week will crowd the calendar.
Apr 18, 2026·36m·2 clips - 102
Budgets, Bridges, and the Boys turn 701
Hidden gemThis episode covers South Carolina's state budget, a major bridge project, and political updates including primary races and 2028 election speculation.
Apr 14, 2026·37m·2 clips - 103
It's Electric! Pt 2
Gavin Jackson discusses the future of nuclear energy and data center regulation in South Carolina, with a pitch for his Statehouse gavel coverage.
Apr 11, 2026·30m - 104
SC: It's Electric! Pt 1
Gavin Jackson introduces a deep dive on energy in South Carolina, covering electricity demand growth, data centers, and nuclear power.
Apr 7, 2026·29m - 105
2026 First Gubernatorial Debate Breakdown
A breakdown of the first South Carolina GOP gubernatorial debate in 2026, including highlights and interviews.
Apr 4, 2026·20m - 106
Sanford Shocker
Mar 31, 2026·15m - 107
It’s Bo Time, Baybee
Hidden gemPamela Evatt says the April 1 SCGOP debate is too expensive for grassroots supporters.
Mar 28, 2026·29m·2 clips - 108
Reddy or Not, Here Comes the Campaign Trail
Hidden gemLindsey Graham says Iran is "two weeks away" from 90% enriched uranium and tells Trump to "keep it up for a few more weeks."
Mar 24, 2026·32m·2 clips - 109
The Gang Spills the THC
Host Gavin Jackson covers South Carolina's Senate passing hemp bill H-3924, which caps retail THC drinks at 5mg behind the counter and restricts stronger drinks and 40mg gummies to liquor stores, after a marathon debate that failed near midnight before passing 35-4 the next day.
Mar 21, 2026·39m·3 clips - 110
TBD THC
Mar 18, 2026·24m - 111
Stick to Your Gummies
Mar 14, 2026·31m - 112
Spring Forward into the Governors Race
Mar 10, 2026·38m - 113
A Few Good Men
Mar 7, 2026·26m - 114
America At War in Iran
Mar 3, 2026·30m - 115
Amendments & Endorsements & Commandments, Oh My!
Feb 28, 2026·29m - 116
SC Lede Book Review Episode
Hidden gemSouth Carolina Lead's book-review episode pairs Jesse Jackson memorial coverage with interviews about Jim Clyburn's The First Eight and Vincent Shaheen's The Concise Guide to South Carolina State Government.
Feb 24, 2026·32m·2 clips - 117
High Court Curveball
Feb 21, 2026·29m - 118
Super Minority Report
Feb 17, 2026·30m - 119
Be My Valentine?: Governor Candidates and the Legislature
Feb 14, 2026·35m - 120
Spicy Spin Cycle
Feb 10, 2026·28m - 121
Trump Endorses MAGA Warrior
Feb 7, 2026·26m - 122
Poller Vortex
Feb 3, 2026·33m - 123
McMaster’s Victory Lap
Jan 31, 2026·29m - 124
Transportation and Healthcare Infrastructure Deep Dive
Jan 27, 2026·33m - 125
SC Legislative Session, 2 Weeks In
Jan 24, 2026·26m - 126
King Day at the Dome 2026
Jan 20, 2026·30m - 127
We’re So Back, Folks!
Jan 17, 2026·31m - 128
Senate Legislative Preview
Jan 13, 2026·28m - 129
House Legislative Preview with Speaker Murrell Smith LIVE IN COLUMBIA
Jan 10, 2026·30m - 130
New Year’s Economic Outlook
Jan 6, 2026·32m - 131
SC Lede Year-End Savings Event Spectacular 2025
Dec 20, 2025·25m - 132
Pre Preview Season Season Preview
A preview of the 2026 South Carolina legislative session with House Republican leadership, plus updates on a US Senate confirmation, a new Senate race poll, and a measles outbreak.
Dec 16, 2025·25m - 133
LIVE in Mt Pleasant at Hobcaw Brewing with Caitlin Byrd
Dec 13, 2025·38m - 134
Big Shrimp Energy
Dec 9, 2025·38m - 135
‘That Dog Don’t Hunt’
Dec 6, 2025·34m - 136
You Down with DOT? Yeah You Know Lede
Host Gavin Jackson previews a live taping event and introduces an exclusive interview with SC DOT Secretary Justin Powell about transportation infrastructure.
Dec 2, 2025·33m - 137
Breaking News: Gobble Gobble Ledesgiving Spectacular!
Nov 25, 2025·26m - 138
Abortion Bill Stalls in Subcommittee
Nov 22, 2025·32m - 139
Post Shutdown with Lindsey Graham
Senator Lindsey Graham discusses the end of the government shutdown, upcoming health care debates, and potential conflict in Venezuela, along with his views on Governor McMaster's successor.
Nov 18, 2025·28m - 140
Less than a Year to Election 2026
Nov 15, 2025·34m - 141
SC 'Fede'- Askin' Hanna Raskin about Michelin Stars
Nov 11, 2025·32m - 142
Shutdown Soybean Ripples and Mace Drama
Nov 8, 2025·35m - 143
AirPorts of Authority
Nov 4, 2025·32m - 144
Campaign Trails from the Crypt
Nov 1, 2025·36m - 145
Fresh Meat for the Campaign Trail
Oct 28, 2025·24m - 146
Gavin Out Sick Oops All Wind Down Halloween Edition with Sean and AT
Oct 25, 2025·11m - 147
On The Ground at the No Kings Rally
Oct 21, 2025·30m - 148
The Thousand-Year Flood 10-Year Retrospective
Oct 18, 2025·32m - 149
Shutdown Breakdown with Lisa Desjardins and Josh Dawsey
A Washington Week wrap-up featuring interviews with reporters on Congress and the Trump administration, plus campaign fundraising and polling data.
Oct 14, 2025·30m - 150
Lede Goes 1-on-1 with Lindsey Graham
Oct 11, 2025·40m