Former Spartanburg County Councilman Michael Brown joins Kathryn to unpack the local impact of the proposed federal budget bill, which threatens deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and energy efficiency programs. They break down how these cuts could hit South Carolina families and seniors hard, unraveling years of local progress while deepening economic divides. Michael also previews Spartanburg’s once-in-a-generation sheriff’s race and why local elections matter more than ever in protecting community health and opportunity. If you care about the Upstate’s future, it’s time to call the locksmith—and protect the keys to your community’s well-being.

In this episode of Second Helping, Grace and Katelyn unpack how the National Park Service is being used to rewrite history, why politicians like RJ May embody hypocrisy, and how conversion therapy fuels cycles of repression. They break down the “big beautiful bill” and Mike Lee’s plan to sell off public lands under the guise of affordable housing. Plus, they talk about Trump’s impulsive foreign policy and why Democrats keep missing the mark with voters. And finally, Grace learns what “shipping” means.

Political strategist Adam Brandon joins Grace to talk about the rise of independent voters and the movement to disrupt America’s two-party system. As senior advisor at the independent Center, Brandon outlines his plan to support moderate candidates, tackle gerrymandering, and bring fiscal responsibility and social tolerance back into focus. From insider lobbying to the myth of the political “middle,” this episode is a deep dive into what it will take to meet America’s voters where they are.

As Trump and Elon Musk exchange political blows, Grace and Caitlin break down the latest intra-GOP power struggle and ask: who really holds the reins? From Supreme Court shakeups and Citizens United fallout to deep cuts in Medicaid and media manipulation, this episode unpacks the dissonance at the heart of American democracy. Plus, a look at protest music's vanishing voice—and why Patti Smith might be the last one standing. All that and more in this week’s high-voltage Second Helping.

Rep. Justin J. Pearson joins us from the Tennessee General Assembly to talk movement-building, civic engagement, and the fight for democracy in gerrymandered Southern states. From grassroots organizing to the power of local elections, Pearson shares hard-earned insights on community resilience, policy battles, and honoring the legacies of those who came before. Together, we explore what it means to lead with purpose—and how everyday people can claim their proximity to power. Tune in for a heartfelt and urgent dialogue about faith, politics, and the future of the South.

What happened to the Supreme Court we were promised Grace sits down with law professor and podcaster Leah Litman to unpack how the Roberts Court veered from constitutional principle into conservative grievance, fringe legal theories, and outright hypocrisy. From Citizens United to the shadow docket, they explore how decades of rightward drift have reshaped American democracy—often with devastating consequences. With pop culture references and sharp legal insights, this episode cuts through the noise to expose how the Court really works…and who it’s working for.

This episode dives deep into the political and moral battle over conversion therapy in South Carolina. Grace and Katelyn break down Columbia’s ordinance banning the practice, the state’s threat to strip millions in funding, and what it reveals about power, control, and LGBTQ+ rights. They explore how religious ideology and budget maneuvers collide, and why this fight is about more than therapy—it's about who gets to decide how we live and who gets to belong. A sharp, urgent conversation about policy, precedent, and the stakes of silence.