GOP escalates campaign to weaken donor transparency in NC

A North Carolina bill is the latest effort by GOP donors and advocates to hide Big Money political spending from public view. As they try to overturn the governor's veto, they're lobbying Democrats to join the anti-transparency cause.

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Institute Index: Big bill's blow to Southern health care

The reconciliation bill passed by Republicans this month will cut close to $1 trillion from health care programs, potentially causing hundreds of thousands of Southerners to lose insurance and putting rural hospitals at risk.

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From the Archives: Medicaid expansion could be a lifeline for rural hospitals in the South

In 2022 amidst the COVID pandemic, Facing South writer Elisha Brown looked at the precarious state of hospitals in the South, and the key role of Medicaid expansion in keeping them afloat.

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From the Archives: Lessons from a history of struggle

In 1980, amidst an upsurge in Klan and far-right movements, long-time Southern organizer Anne Braden wrote in Southern Exposure about how such movements take root in moments of economic and political turmoil — and when progressive people's movements aren't organized to offer an alternative.

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Dear friends,

It's been an exciting and busy summer at the Institute for Southern Studies! Here are a few recent highlights and updates:

DURHAM RISING: This spring, the Institute has partnered with the Union of Southern Service Workers and others to support Durham Rising, an innovative campaign to ensure Duke University invests in the Durham community and supports its workers. Institute director Chris Kromm spoke at a Durham Rising town hall in May about the challenges faced by working families in Durham, see video here.

LABOR SOUTH: We're proud to announce the launch of a new Institute sponsored project, Labor South: The Center for Working Class Studies. Founded by Mississippi native and long-time worker advocate Melinda Wiggins, Labor South brings together students, workers, organizers, educators, and artists to provide training, education, and support for Southern organizers.

MEET OUR SUMMER INTERNS: The Institute has two interns on board this summer, both based in Durham, N.C. Lauren Frey and Kaiya Taylor are working on economic justice and worker issues, focused on Durham Rising. 

OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN: In 2024, the Institute began a planning process to explore how we could heighten our reach and impact as a force for democracy and justice in the South. We're excited to share our new five-year strategic plan, which outlines how the Institute aims to hold the powerful accountable, shift the narrative about the South, and build leadership for change. 

INVEST IN CHANGE FOR THE LONG HAUL: August is National Make-A-Will Month, and the Institute invites you to consider the power of creating a will and establishing a lasting legacy. In addition to creating an estate plan online free of charge, you can choose to include the Institute and other people and causes close to your heart. Get started today. You can visit here for more information or email us at PlannedGiving@southernstudies.org.

GET YOUR INSTITUTE SWAG: Haven't had a chance to get one of our snazzy new tote bags? Don't worry, there's still time: Donate $100 or more, or become a monthly sustainer, and and you'll receive our inspiring "Eyes on the Prize" organic tote, featuring an iconic image and slogan from the civil rights movement!

Chris Kromm, Executive Director and Publisher

Largely under the radar, red states — including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas — have pushed a series of new voting restrictions since the 2024 elections. (Democracy Docket)

On the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act, a look at how the U.S. Supreme Court has steadily chipped away at the law — and will likely do further damage in the years to come. (Slate)

Before the deadly flooding in central Texas earlier this month, Congress and successive presidents failed to fully fund a nationwide system for monitoring rivers for flash floods. (The Lever)

More than a dozen state bills — including three state laws mandating the 10 Commandments in public schools — can be traced to a Christian right "bill mill." (The 74)

A deadly measles outbreak — fueled by anti-vaccine conspiracies and cuts to public health programs — is hitting Texas hard. (More Perfect Union) 

Since 2021, the Eastern Kentucky Remembrance Project has been memorializing Black residents killed by lynchings and racist violence. (The Guardian)

In West Virginia, a coal miner's daughter is taking on DOGE and its cuts to the National Institute For Occupational Safety and Health to protect miners affected by Black Lung. (Capital & Main)

Hundreds of thousands of people mobilized around the country for the "Good Trouble Lives On" day of protest on July 19, honoring civil rights veteran and founding Institute board member Rep. John Lewis. (UPI)

Legendary TV journalist and Texan — and friend of the Institute for Southern Studies — Bill Moyers passed in late June. Monika Bauerlein remembers Moyers as a fearless critic of corruption and corporate injustice. (Mother Jones)