Civil Rights
The Living South's top 5 of 2025
In the first year of The Living South, I did my best to tell the stories that captured this complicated place. In year two, I want to go bigger and deeper.
Why 'Born in the USA' could be the soundtrack of America, again
In the north, south, the midwest, and the west—anywhere someone has ever felt like they were getting ripped off—"Born in the USA" spoke directly to the same disaffected white men who are voting for President Trump.
I'm gonna try to explain North Carolina
Introducing a new video series called "Billy Ball Explains North Carolina"—the point being to cut through all the noise and make some sense in my home state.
Video: How to fix social media in America
Talking with "Capitol Tonight" about the relatively simple fix that could make social media much better in America.
Audio: Nathan Kousol, K-pop star from Arkansas, tells his story
Nathan Kousol is a member of the new group 1Verse, which also includes two defectors from North Korea, a Chinese-American from California, and a Japanese national.
The federal government shutdown hurts the South a lot more
When it comes to health care, which is what the federal government shutdown is about, some states will bleed. The South will gush.
Nathan Kousol is a budding K-pop star from, of all places, Arkansas
A kid from Arkansas and two North Korean defectors make up a new K-pop group with a remarkable origin story.
Iryna Zarutska and the doom loop of social media and politics
In 21st century America, our politicians take their cues from social media, and not the other way around. It's made debate more performative, less nuanced, and much, much dumber.
The case for breaking social media in America
Social media is breaking us in America. You could argue it already has. But there is a solution.
Q&A: The Living South's full conversation with climate educator Caroline Lewis
The Living South's conversation with climate educator Caroline Lewis, founder of the nationally-recognized CLEO Institute.
We can't give up hope on climate change, one of the South's top climate educators says
Caroline Lewis, "the Jane Goodall of climate change," says there's room for hope, but there's a hard road ahead.
Gutting PBS and NPR is a big deal in the South
Instead of defusing the "liberal media," this is going to prevent good information from reaching the places that many Republicans represent in Congress.
The Living South has a logo now
Why I chose a lighthouse to represent The Living South.