Is the South the Future of Democratic Politics?

Is the South the new epicenter of American politics? SUBSCRIBE to our channel 👉 ‪@AssemblyRequiredPodcast‬ National Association of Black Journalists President, The 19th Editor-at-Large, and host of Crooked’s new podcast Long Play, Errin Haines sits down with Stacey to unpack why the South is so fundamentally misunderstood and why expanding our imagination of what the region looks like could be key to winning Democratic elections. They also discuss the NABJ “Thumbs-Down Awards,” the Trump administration’s attacks on DEI, and the growing threat of media censorship. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS: STRAWBERRY.ME: http://www.strawberry.me/assembly HONEYLOVE: http://www.honeylove.com/ASSEMBLY ACTBLUE: http://www.actblue.com/crooked MINT MOBILE: http://www.mintmobile.com/assembly SMALLS: http://www.smalls.com/ASSEMBLY Learn & Do More: BE CURIOUS: If you enjoyed the conversation with Errin, check out her podcast Long Play, a six-part series on how to win power back in the South. SOLVE PROBLEMS: Many states, including North Carolina, will have new or stricter voter identification laws in 2026. VoteRiders helps people make appointments to get the right kind of ID and covers the costs. Visit Voteriders.org to get involved by volunteering or donating. DO GOOD: New Disabled South builds power with disabled people to advance justice, dignity, and collective liberation across the South. Visit NewDisabledSouth.org to find resources, take action, and donate. For a transcript of an episode of Assembly Required, please email transcripts@crooked.com. Subscribe to our channel! Photos courtesy of AP Photo Archive Crooked believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us—one that doesn’t just focus on what’s broken, but what we can do to fix it. At a time when it’s increasingly easy to feel cynical or hopeless, former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor have created a place where people can have sane conversations that inform, entertain, and inspire action. In 2017 they started Crooked with Pod Save America—a no-bullshit conversation about politics. Since then, we continue to add shows, voices, and opportunities for activism, because it’s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world. That’s it. End of mission. Want some pep talks, the most important things to do/know, and the occasional dog pic? Shoot us a text at (323) 405-9944 Written content at http://www.crooked.com Follow Crooked on Twitter   / crookedmedia   Follow Crooked on Facebook   / crookedmedia   Follow Crooked on Instagram   / crookedmedia