South Carolina
The South has a lot at stake in what happens next in Venezuela
Of the 10 states with the most active duty military personnel, six are in the South—Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.
North Carolina
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.
North Carolina
Law enforcement isn't supposed to act like this
Law enforcement's power is derived from a bargain with the people they serve. They're not supposed to be ideologues. They're not supposed to wear masks and lie.
North Carolina
What the obsession with Bill Belichick's girlfriend says about us
The sexism and misogyny baked into the American media's fascination with Bill Belichick and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
North Carolina
Something to actually, really be grateful for in the South
Nobody likes forced gratitude. It's cloying and annoying. This season is filled with artificial pleas for it. So I'm not going to do that. But I want to talk about something I saw this month that's making me give thanks for the people of the South.
North Carolina
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.
Social Media
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.
Politics
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.
North Carolina
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.
Politics
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.
Black history
Video: What today's protesters learned from the Civil Rights Movement
There are hundreds of demonstrations planned across the South this weekend during the “No Kings” protests. Here's what today's marchers learned from the Civil Rights Movement.
Faith
Audio: NC pastor Isaac Villegas on giving sanctuary to undocumented people
Listen to The Living South's reporting on Isaac Villegas, a NC pastor who sheltered an undocumented woman for two years in his church.