Ep. 24: 'America's Undoing' and the Right-Wing Message Machine

Headlights: Voices from The Progressive South

SYNOPSIS: In the South, the prospects for progressive causes and candidates can be daunting. But Corbin Trent thinks the answer is not to back down or dilute their messages — it's to take strong, bold positions on behalf of the region's working people. Trent has been fighting for progressive values for a long time. He was a cofounder of the influential PAC Justice Democrats, and served as communications director for New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A native and resident of Tennessee, he is now the creator of "America's Undoing," a new media project that is developing an ambitious progressive agenda in response to President Donald Trump's MAGA movement — and to the paralyzing inertia of what should be the opposition party. He talks about what Democrats are getting wrong, and how to move forward. Also, we take a look at a recent dust-up at Tennessee State University, the state's only publicly-funded Historically Black University. Two white internet provocateurs attempting to follow in the late Charlie Kirk's footsteps showed up on the Nashville campus recently. The result was an entirely manufactured confrontation designed to create clippable content for sharing across the right-wing media. We take a look at the incident, and at the way that seamless ecosystem works to generate endless right-wing outrage and, increasingly, to set the the agenda for conservative politicians in our Southern states. Finally, a tribute to Norman Jones, who died last week — a legendary drag queen and bar owner who was for decades a central figure in Arkansas' LGBTQ communities.

SHOW NOTES: America's Undoing Corbin Trent "How to beat MAGA in 2026, 2028 and beyond" America's Undoing "​​Charlie Kirk's Most SAVAGE Campus Moments of Spring 2025" Turning Point USA "Tennessee governor signs into law a bill that vacates the TSU board" WTVF Nashville "Norman Jones, drag legend and gay bar proprietor, has died" Arkansas Times "Norma Kristie Performing at Miss Gay Fayetteville 1988-89"

CONTACT: Jesse Mayshark [email protected] [phone]