News & Commentary

May 12, 2025

State House Dispatch: May 12, 2025

Sneaky lawmaking via the budget, summer advocacy training, and bills to watch in 2026

By Paul Bowers

"State House Dispatch: May 12, 2025. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Text appears over a red and blue-tinted image of the South Carolina State House dome.
May 06, 2025

With 10 additional books removed, South Carolina leads nation in statewide school book bans

It's official: We're Number 1 when it comes to removing or restricting access to literature

By Paul Bowers

It's official: South Carolina leads the nation in number of state-mandated book bans. Update, 5/6/2025
May 05, 2025

State House Dispatch: May 5, 2025

Mandatory flag salutes, juvenile justice reform, and a unanimous vote for school proselytization — plus an update on the teacher criminalization bill

By Paul Bowers

"State House Dispatch: May 5, 2025. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Text appears over a yellow and blue-tinted image of the South Carolina State House dome.
May 02, 2025

5 things to know about ‘conversion therapy’ in Columbia, South Carolina

The capital city protects gay and lesbian kids from pseudoscientific ‘therapy.’ Why are state politicians threatening the city over this?

By Paul Bowers

"5 things to know about 'conversion therapy' in Columbia, S.C." Text overlaid on the official Columbia city flag with a pride rainbow color theme.
Apr 28, 2025

Action Alert: Teacher criminalization bill gets a hearing on 4/29

House Bill 4123 would subject educators to a 10-year prison sentence for the vaguely defined offense of 'disseminating harmful material to minors'

"Action Alert" in red text over a grayscale photo of the State House with protesters in front
Apr 28, 2025

State House Dispatch: April 28, 2025

State-funded discrimination against students with disabilities, an overly broad gang definition, and a push for anti-gay ‘therapy’

By Paul Bowers

"State House Dispatch: April 28, 2025. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Text appears over a green-tinted image of the South Carolina State House dome.
Apr 21, 2025

State House Dispatch: April 21, 2025

Police surveillance expansion, religious messaging in public schools, and a positive change for incarcerated pregnant women

By Paul Bowers

"State House Dispatch: April 21, 2025. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Text appears over a red-tinted image of the South Carolina State House dome.
Apr 16, 2025

Trump's Expanded Domestic Military Use Should Worry Us All

President Donald Trump's use of the military domestically is dangerous and deeply misguided

By Hina Shamsi

Photo of military personnel in tactical gear beside an armored vehicle in the street near a capital building
Apr 16, 2025

South Carolina asks 5% of voters to verify their registration or be marked inactive 

Check your mail, protect your right to vote

By Paul Bowers

"Check your mail. Protect your right to vote." An open envelope with a Voter Registration Confirmation Card inside. Background is a wood countertop.