Chris Kromm
@chriskromm.bsky.social
Director, Institute for Southern Studies | Publisher, Facing South
Unions made slight gains in the South last year, mirroring national trends. But the share of Southern workers in unions is still less than half of the union density found in the rest of the country. My new analysis at southernstudies.bksy.social: www.facingsouth.org/2026/04/unio...
Support fearless reporting and a powerful voice for change in the South — donate to our spring fundraiser today! www.facingsouth.org/defend-democ...
It's been 18 months since Hurricane Helene stormed through the South. Western North Carolina is still rebuilding, and meager federal funding and FEMA chaos has slowed the recovery. A by-the-numbers look by @chriskromm.bsky.social: www.facingsouth.org/2026/03/inst...
INSTITUTE INDEX: FEMA chaos and North Carolina's Helene recovery
18 months after Hurricane Helene stormed through the South, the recovery in western North Carolina is seeing progress. But federal support has been small compared to other disasters, and chaos at…
facingsouth.org
The South's political clout is growing: @chriskromm.bsky.social looks at new data showing Southern states could gain up to 9 Congressional seats and Electoral College votes after the 2030 census count:
South’s national political clout projected to grow after 2030 census
New Census Bureau data suggests that population growth in Southern states will lead to significant gains in U.S. House seats and Electoral College votes after the 2030 census count. But the Trump…
facingsouth.org
ICE has arrested and detained a Nashville journalist who reported stories critical of ICE. She’s married to a U.S. citizen and has been seeking asylum here after fleeing death threats in Colombia because of her journalism there. They’ve already sent her to Louisiana.
ICE detains reporter Estefany Rodríguez in Nashville - Nashville Banner
Reporter Estefany Rodríguez, detained by ICE with no arrest warrant, may face deportation. Her attorneys seek immediate review of the legality of her case.
nashvillebanner.com
This week's primaries made clear: Texas is a key battleground. The national importance of Texas and other Southern states is already growing. @chriskromm.bsky.social looks at new projections into the South's growing clout as we head towards the 2030 census: www.facingsouth.org/2026/03/sout...
South’s national political clout projected to grow after 2030 census
New Census Bureau data suggests that population growth in Southern states will lead to significant gains in U.S. House seats and Electoral College votes after the 2030 census count. But the Trump admi...
facingsouth.org
Remember when Trump yanked funds from Mississippi after learning that the state's welfare chief had directed millions in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to sports celebrities, including not only Brett Favre, but the Million Dollar man and his two pro-wrestler sons? Wait. He didn't.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5mo agoJD Vance: "We're announcing today that we have decided to temporarily halt certain amounts of Medicaid funding that is going to the state of Minnesota in order to ensure that the state of Minnesota takes its obligations seriously to be good stewards of the American people's tax money."
Who is making big money on ICE and Border Patrol contracts? In the 2nd installment in our series at Facing South, @chriskromm.bsky.social details 58 companies in Georgia that stand to receive $10 billion from 2025-2026 fiscal year contracts alone. www.facingsouth.org/2026/01/geor...
Georgia companies poised to bring in $10 billion from ICE and Border Patrol contracts
As public outrage mounts over federal immigration operations, new analysis shows a key Southern state is home to companies that could bring in more than $10 billion to assist Border Patrol and ICE.
facingsouth.org
Imagine how much they’d be lying about what happened without all the videos showing it from multiple angles.
Can’t wait to see how many right-wingers get fired for making hideous comments about the people killed in Minneapolis.
NEW VIDEO: this appears to be the footage from the woman in the pink coat.
"Just stay cool and don't make trouble until the midterms" is not going to cut it as an opposition response to a murderous regime whose masked thugs are killing people in the streets and then attempting to round up witnesses and destroy evidence.
Who's making big money off ICE and Border Patrol contracts? After recent operations in Charlotte and New Orleans, I looked at the top contractors in Louisiana and North Carolina for @southernstudies.bsky.social: www.facingsouth.org/2025/12/whos...
Who's making big money off Border Patrol and ICE contracts?
In the wake of high-profile immigration operations in Louisiana and North Carolina, a Facing South/Institute analysis looks at more than 50 businesses in both states receiving money from U.S. Border P...
facingsouth.org
I recently talked to Tram Nguyen of @newvamajority.bsky.social about lessons from last November's elections in Virginia and what progressives are planning for 2026. See my interview for @southernstudies.bsky.social here: www.facingsouth.org/2025/12/tram...
Tram Nguyen on what's next for progressives in Virginia
Tram Nguyen of New Virginia Majority talks about her takeaways from the 2025 elections, lessons they learned the last time progressives held power in the state, and their plans for moving a bold agend...
facingsouth.org
BREAKING: WATCH the full 60 Minutes CECOT segment here. This was sent to me anonymously. It appears to be the segment CBS' Bari Weiss killed. www.muellershewrote.com/p/watch-the-...
WATCH: The 60 Minutes CECOT Segment
I was sent the CECOT segment anonymously in a group chat.
muellershewrote.com
70 years ago, the Montgomery Bus Boycott launched, energizing the Southern freedom movement. In 1981, Southern Exposure featured oral histories with people connected to the boycott to discuss its origins and legacy: facingsouth.org/1981/03/mont... @southernstudies.bsky.social
Montgomery Bus Boycott
facingsouth.org
What's next for progressives in Virginia after their big wins in the 2025 elections? I talked with Tram Nguyen of New Virginia Majority for @southernstudies.bsky.social about key lessons from 2025, and their plans for moving a bold agenda in 2026: www.facingsouth.org/2025/12/tram...
Tram Nguyen on what's next for progressives in Virginia
Tram Nguyen of New Virginia Majority talks about her takeaways from the 2025 elections, lessons they learned the last time progressives held power in the state, and their plans for moving a bold agend...
facingsouth.org
New at @southernstudies.bsky.social: Who's making money off Border Patrol and ICE contracts in Louisiana and North Carolina? A look at $340 million worth of contracts in the wake of Border Patrol's immigration actions in LA and NC: www.facingsouth.org/2025/12/whos...
Who's making big money off Border Patrol and ICE contracts?
In the wake of high-profile immigration operations in Louisiana and North Carolina, a Facing South/Institute analysis looks at more than 50 businesses in both states receiving money from U.S. Border P...
facingsouth.org
70 years ago, the Montgomery Bus Boycott launched, energizing the Southern freedom movement. In 1981, Southern Exposure featured oral histories with people connected to the boycott to discuss its origins and legacy: facingsouth.org/1981/03/mont... @southernstudies.bsky.social
Montgomery Bus Boycott
facingsouth.org
From Georgia to Virginia, the 2025 elections revealed a data center backlash. 40% of centers are in the South, with many more on the way, straining land, water & energy resources. My by-the-numbers look for @southernstudies.bsky.social at the growing opposition: www.facingsouth.org/2025/11/inst...
Institute Index: Data center backlash
Number of data centers that have been built across the U.S.: 4,225* Percent of data centers nationally that are in Southern states: 4o%
facingsouth.org
BREAKING: Democrats have flipped a conservative state House seat in Georgia in yet another upset. It's a 14-point overperformance *and* the 25th legislative flip of the year for Dems. Republicans? Zero. Read our complete writeup here -->
Breaking: Georgia Democrats flip conservative seat in yet another upset
That's 25 pickups for Democrats nationwide this year—and zero for Republicans
the-downballot.com
SCOOP — Gregg Phillips, a conspiracy theorist with no emergency management experience who helped produce the election-denying documentary ‘2000 Mules’ with Dinesh D’Souza and has faced numerous legal inquiries, has been named head of FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery. My story:
Conspiracy theorist election denier given FEMA’s second-most important role
Gregg Phillips will lead the Office of Response and Recovery, “the heart of what FEMA does.”
thehandbasket.co
It's that time of year: Support an independent voice for change in the South! #GivingTuesday2025 www.facingsouth.org/defend-democ...
The data center backlash, by the numbers. The 2025 elections in Georgia and Virginia revealed growing push-back to data centers, especially due to rising energy demands. Via @southernstudies.bsky.social: www.facingsouth.org/2025/11/inst...
Institute Index: Data center backlash
Number of data centers that have been built across the U.S.: 4,225* Percent of data centers nationally that are in Southern states: 4o%
facingsouth.org
My latest, about @siembranc.bsky.social and how they organized in North Carolina to counter Operation Charlotte's Web and Border Patrol's latest anti-immigrant crackdown, co-published in @thenation.com and @southernstudies.bsky.social www.thenation.com/article/poli...
How North Carolina Rose Up Against Trump’s Latest Anti-Immigrant Crackdown
“Operation Charlotte’s Web” may mobilize North Carolina’s working-class Latino members and allies to shift the political balance of power at the local, state, and national levels.
thenation.com
In the wake of the Department of Homeland Security's "Charlotte's Web" operation in North Carolina, a look at the top contracts being carried out in the state for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) @southernstudies.bsky.social
Press conference this evening in Durham, NC led by @siembranc.bsky.social in response to arrival of ICE in the city. Strong showing of elected officials and faith leaders condemning ICE’s secretive attacks on schools and businesses in the area.
A key issue animating the 2025 elections in the South: data centers, and their growing pressures on land, water, and especially energy. Virginia has the most centers in the country, and Georgia ranks 7th.
