Billy Ball
@billyball.bsky.social
Founder, TheLivingSouth.com; Senior Editor @CardinalandPine;
Seen On: @TheAtlantic @washingtonpost @MSNBC, others. @UNCHussman grad. Journalism is the best job ever.
Seen On: @TheAtlantic @washingtonpost @MSNBC, others. @UNCHussman grad. Journalism is the best job ever.
Pinned
Billy Ball
@billyball.bsky.social
· Jul 5
Why a lighthouse? Because it fits how I see thelivingsouth.com. I want it to be a beacon, illuminating a way home, a light on a stormy sea.
If you haven't signed up already for this free, independent journalism made for and by the South, hop on board. This should be fun!
If you haven't signed up already for this free, independent journalism made for and by the South, hop on board. This should be fun!
Reposted by Billy Ball
For 4 days from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the “We Ain’t Buying It” movement wants Americans to avoid shopping at Amazon, Home Depot, and Target.
Here's what to know. 👇
Here's what to know. 👇
November 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
For 4 days from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the “We Ain’t Buying It” movement wants Americans to avoid shopping at Amazon, Home Depot, and Target.
Here's what to know. 👇
Here's what to know. 👇
Reposted by Billy Ball
The first thing Border Patrol agents asked 18-year-old Fernando Vazquez was “Where are you from?”
Read how a U.S. citizen in Cary was handcuffed and detained amid the immigration crackdown in North Carolina:
Read how a U.S. citizen in Cary was handcuffed and detained amid the immigration crackdown in North Carolina:
‘They basically just kidnapped me’: US citizen taken by Border Patrol in Cary • NC Newsline
As Border Patrol agents swept the Triangle area, a construction worker born in the U.S. was among those detained.
ncnewsline.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The first thing Border Patrol agents asked 18-year-old Fernando Vazquez was “Where are you from?”
Read how a U.S. citizen in Cary was handcuffed and detained amid the immigration crackdown in North Carolina:
Read how a U.S. citizen in Cary was handcuffed and detained amid the immigration crackdown in North Carolina:
Reposted by Billy Ball
Important thread alert, NC. Keep reading. 👇
Border Patrol says they’re targeting “the worst of the worst.”
But the News and Observer reports that a woman they arrested in Raleigh, Fatima Issela Velasquez-Antonio, is 23, a high school graduate, a homeowner, with two traffic violations on her record.
Border Patrol says they’re targeting “the worst of the worst.”
But the News and Observer reports that a woman they arrested in Raleigh, Fatima Issela Velasquez-Antonio, is 23, a high school graduate, a homeowner, with two traffic violations on her record.
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Important thread alert, NC. Keep reading. 👇
Border Patrol says they’re targeting “the worst of the worst.”
But the News and Observer reports that a woman they arrested in Raleigh, Fatima Issela Velasquez-Antonio, is 23, a high school graduate, a homeowner, with two traffic violations on her record.
Border Patrol says they’re targeting “the worst of the worst.”
But the News and Observer reports that a woman they arrested in Raleigh, Fatima Issela Velasquez-Antonio, is 23, a high school graduate, a homeowner, with two traffic violations on her record.
(Share) Every Tuesday, I'm publishing my take on something important in the South at The Living South. This week, the topic was obvious.
Whatever their intentions, ICE and Border Patrol agents are acting less like cops and more like white terrorist groups.
www.thelivingsouth.com/the-south-bo...
Whatever their intentions, ICE and Border Patrol agents are acting less like cops and more like white terrorist groups.
www.thelivingsouth.com/the-south-bo...
The South has seen masked kidnappers before
ICE and Border Patrol agents are acting less like cops and more like the white terrorist groups that plagued the South for generations.
www.thelivingsouth.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
(Share) Every Tuesday, I'm publishing my take on something important in the South at The Living South. This week, the topic was obvious.
Whatever their intentions, ICE and Border Patrol agents are acting less like cops and more like white terrorist groups.
www.thelivingsouth.com/the-south-bo...
Whatever their intentions, ICE and Border Patrol agents are acting less like cops and more like white terrorist groups.
www.thelivingsouth.com/the-south-bo...
I wrote about the feds coming to Charlotte 👇
Trump has been exposed for what he is: a false populist, lifted to the White House by working-class voters he doesn’t appear to care about. The Border Patrol invasions are meant to distract voters from these truths.
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
Trump has been exposed for what he is: a false populist, lifted to the White House by working-class voters he doesn’t appear to care about. The Border Patrol invasions are meant to distract voters from these truths.
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
Trump's latest Border Patrol deployment will fail for all the same reasons
When the show’s over, what federal agents will leave behind is predictable.
www.ms.now
November 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I wrote about the feds coming to Charlotte 👇
Trump has been exposed for what he is: a false populist, lifted to the White House by working-class voters he doesn’t appear to care about. The Border Patrol invasions are meant to distract voters from these truths.
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
Trump has been exposed for what he is: a false populist, lifted to the White House by working-class voters he doesn’t appear to care about. The Border Patrol invasions are meant to distract voters from these truths.
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb...
One of the many problems spinning out of the decimation of local media:
Political coverage is dominated by national storylines. Bet you a $100 more liberals in NC know Zohran Mamdani more than they know the Democrats who won in NC.
Political coverage is dominated by national storylines. Bet you a $100 more liberals in NC know Zohran Mamdani more than they know the Democrats who won in NC.
What Democrats' domination of the 2025 elections tells us.
"Billy Ball Explains NC" premieres every Wednesday right here on YouTube. Make sure you're following Cardinal & Pine on YouTube so you won't miss an episode.
✏️ @billyball.bsky.social
🎥 Melanie Duran
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKwg...
"Billy Ball Explains NC" premieres every Wednesday right here on YouTube. Make sure you're following Cardinal & Pine on YouTube so you won't miss an episode.
✏️ @billyball.bsky.social
🎥 Melanie Duran
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKwg...
What Democrats' domination of the 2025 elections tells us — and what it doesn’t.
YouTube video by Cardinal & Pine
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:26 PM
One of the many problems spinning out of the decimation of local media:
Political coverage is dominated by national storylines. Bet you a $100 more liberals in NC know Zohran Mamdani more than they know the Democrats who won in NC.
Political coverage is dominated by national storylines. Bet you a $100 more liberals in NC know Zohran Mamdani more than they know the Democrats who won in NC.
Reposted by Billy Ball
Well, that’s a new one.
November 10, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Well, that’s a new one.
On Sunday night, seven Democrats and one independent made everyone forget for a minute that the least popular person in America is President Trump.
North Carolina didn’t have any high-profile elections last week, but the results still offer a glimpse of how voters feel about the state of things during President Trump’s second term.
Cardinal & Pine's Michael McElroy breaks it down. 👇
Cardinal & Pine's Michael McElroy breaks it down. 👇
November 10, 2025 at 6:56 PM
On Sunday night, seven Democrats and one independent made everyone forget for a minute that the least popular person in America is President Trump.
One more thing:
The SNAP freeze isn't JUST about the shutdown. This year's Republican budget bill—the "Big, Beautiful Bill"—included a $186B cut to SNAP.
It was one of many programs, including Medicaid, that got budget reductions to pay for Republican tax cuts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2gu...
The SNAP freeze isn't JUST about the shutdown. This year's Republican budget bill—the "Big, Beautiful Bill"—included a $186B cut to SNAP.
It was one of many programs, including Medicaid, that got budget reductions to pay for Republican tax cuts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2gu...
Who's really getting food stamps in NC? | Billy Ball Explains
YouTube video by Cardinal & Pine
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:35 PM
One more thing:
The SNAP freeze isn't JUST about the shutdown. This year's Republican budget bill—the "Big, Beautiful Bill"—included a $186B cut to SNAP.
It was one of many programs, including Medicaid, that got budget reductions to pay for Republican tax cuts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2gu...
The SNAP freeze isn't JUST about the shutdown. This year's Republican budget bill—the "Big, Beautiful Bill"—included a $186B cut to SNAP.
It was one of many programs, including Medicaid, that got budget reductions to pay for Republican tax cuts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2gu...
Putting on my education reporter hat (I did that for a long time 😅):
Early childhood ed is the game. You take it out and the pieces break down, not just for the children but for the parents too.
Early childhood ed is the game. You take it out and the pieces break down, not just for the children but for the parents too.
Several child care centers closed this week.
That's because federal funding for Head Start programs didn’t materialize due to the government shutdown. Keep reading. 👇
That's because federal funding for Head Start programs didn’t materialize due to the government shutdown. Keep reading. 👇
November 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Putting on my education reporter hat (I did that for a long time 😅):
Early childhood ed is the game. You take it out and the pieces break down, not just for the children but for the parents too.
Early childhood ed is the game. You take it out and the pieces break down, not just for the children but for the parents too.
It's not who you think.
Who's really getting food stamps in North Carolina. 🤔
"Billy Ball Explains NC" premieres every Wednesday on our YouTube channel. Follow us there so you won't miss an episode. 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2gu...
"Billy Ball Explains NC" premieres every Wednesday on our YouTube channel. Follow us there so you won't miss an episode. 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2gu...
Who's really getting food stamps in NC? | Billy Ball Explains
YouTube video by Cardinal & Pine
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:45 PM
It's not who you think.
In March 1965, eight days after police beat votings rights activists senseless on Alabama's Pettus Bridge, a reluctant President Lyndon Johnson told Congress there was a new legislative priority: Protecting voting rights.
Keep reading. This is important today. 👇
www.lbjlibrary.org/object/video...
Keep reading. This is important today. 👇
www.lbjlibrary.org/object/video...
The American Promise
Excerpt: LBJ's Voting Rights Speech "The American Promise". President Lyndon B. Johnson's special message to a Joint Session of Congress urging the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
www.lbjlibrary.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
In March 1965, eight days after police beat votings rights activists senseless on Alabama's Pettus Bridge, a reluctant President Lyndon Johnson told Congress there was a new legislative priority: Protecting voting rights.
Keep reading. This is important today. 👇
www.lbjlibrary.org/object/video...
Keep reading. This is important today. 👇
www.lbjlibrary.org/object/video...
👋 Every Tuesday, I'm writing about the South. I don't do paywalls, so sign-up is free. Please share.
This week, I wrote about the single most important bill of the 20th century, and what we have to do to save it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/saving-the-v...
This week, I wrote about the single most important bill of the 20th century, and what we have to do to save it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/saving-the-v...
The Voting Rights Act changed the South. Here's how to save it.
The Voting Rights Act, perhaps the most important piece of legislation in the 20th century South, is a shadow of its former self. Restoring it is an existential matter.
www.thelivingsouth.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:42 PM
👋 Every Tuesday, I'm writing about the South. I don't do paywalls, so sign-up is free. Please share.
This week, I wrote about the single most important bill of the 20th century, and what we have to do to save it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/saving-the-v...
This week, I wrote about the single most important bill of the 20th century, and what we have to do to save it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/saving-the-v...
Springsteen's most popular album could be a concept album about today, with the irony that the alienated, working-class men he sang to have adopted fascism as an ethos.
This album was about complicated patriotism. People still don't get it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/why-born-in-...
This album was about complicated patriotism. People still don't get it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/why-born-in-...
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 Pr...
www.thelivingsouth.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Springsteen's most popular album could be a concept album about today, with the irony that the alienated, working-class men he sang to have adopted fascism as an ethos.
This album was about complicated patriotism. People still don't get it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/why-born-in-...
This album was about complicated patriotism. People still don't get it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/why-born-in-...
Reposted by Billy Ball
In North Carolina, because of gerrymandering, you could argue we're not even a democracy anymore, but we're not powerless to stop it.
Here's the latest "Billy Ball Explains NC." Please share 👏
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5fS...
Here's the latest "Billy Ball Explains NC." Please share 👏
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5fS...
Rigging the 2026 election | Billy Ball Explains
YouTube video by Cardinal & Pine
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
In North Carolina, because of gerrymandering, you could argue we're not even a democracy anymore, but we're not powerless to stop it.
Here's the latest "Billy Ball Explains NC." Please share 👏
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5fS...
Here's the latest "Billy Ball Explains NC." Please share 👏
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5fS...
The name on this is mine, but this stuff is a team effort. It takes a lot of work from editor Kim Lawson, graphic designer Desirée Tapia, video editor Melanie Duran, and a lot of eyes and ears to tell me what works and what doesn't.
2nd "Billy Ball Explains NC" 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5p_...
2nd "Billy Ball Explains NC" 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5p_...
Why some politicians might literally be making you sicker
YouTube video by Cardinal & Pine
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
The name on this is mine, but this stuff is a team effort. It takes a lot of work from editor Kim Lawson, graphic designer Desirée Tapia, video editor Melanie Duran, and a lot of eyes and ears to tell me what works and what doesn't.
2nd "Billy Ball Explains NC" 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5p_...
2nd "Billy Ball Explains NC" 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5p_...
Reposted by Billy Ball
Full video 👇
Make sure to like and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLQh...
Make sure to like and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLQh...
Weed, gerrymandering, and political corruption -- Billy Ball Explains NC is back ✊🏻
YouTube video by Cardinal & Pine
www.youtube.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Full video 👇
Make sure to like and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLQh...
Make sure to like and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLQh...
Reposted by Billy Ball
Who TF is Billy Ball (@billyball.bsky.social) and why is he trying to explain North Carolina? 🔥
For the full video series, click the 🔗 in the thread below.
For the full video series, click the 🔗 in the thread below.
October 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Who TF is Billy Ball (@billyball.bsky.social) and why is he trying to explain North Carolina? 🔥
For the full video series, click the 🔗 in the thread below.
For the full video series, click the 🔗 in the thread below.
"Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents. They’ve had their necks kneeled on. They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear. At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them."
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents. They’ve had their necks kneeled on. They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear. At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them."
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
In September, following the killing of Charlie Kirk, I wrote about the way social media has broken political dialogue in the US, and what we can actually do about it.
Recently, I appeared on Spectrum News 1 NC's "Capitol Tonight" to talk about it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/video-how-to...
Recently, I appeared on Spectrum News 1 NC's "Capitol Tonight" to talk about it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/video-how-to...
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.
www.thelivingsouth.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
In September, following the killing of Charlie Kirk, I wrote about the way social media has broken political dialogue in the US, and what we can actually do about it.
Recently, I appeared on Spectrum News 1 NC's "Capitol Tonight" to talk about it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/video-how-to...
Recently, I appeared on Spectrum News 1 NC's "Capitol Tonight" to talk about it.
www.thelivingsouth.com/video-how-to...
Reposted by Billy Ball
Important 🧵, North Carolina, please share 🙏
👨🏽⚕️⚕️Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled a first-of-its-kind program in 2024 that, as of today, has wiped out $6.5 billion in medical debt, state leaders say.
Keep reading the thread to find out what to know. 👇
👨🏽⚕️⚕️Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled a first-of-its-kind program in 2024 that, as of today, has wiped out $6.5 billion in medical debt, state leaders say.
Keep reading the thread to find out what to know. 👇
October 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Important 🧵, North Carolina, please share 🙏
👨🏽⚕️⚕️Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled a first-of-its-kind program in 2024 that, as of today, has wiped out $6.5 billion in medical debt, state leaders say.
Keep reading the thread to find out what to know. 👇
👨🏽⚕️⚕️Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled a first-of-its-kind program in 2024 that, as of today, has wiped out $6.5 billion in medical debt, state leaders say.
Keep reading the thread to find out what to know. 👇
Reposted by Billy Ball
Important 🧵 alert, please share:
An impasse among GOP leaders in the General Assembly has delayed passage of a formal budget and caused a Medicaid $$ shortfall, but NC GOP lawmakers say their priority when they return next week will be keeping Republicans in power in Washington in 2026. More 👇
An impasse among GOP leaders in the General Assembly has delayed passage of a formal budget and caused a Medicaid $$ shortfall, but NC GOP lawmakers say their priority when they return next week will be keeping Republicans in power in Washington in 2026. More 👇
October 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Important 🧵 alert, please share:
An impasse among GOP leaders in the General Assembly has delayed passage of a formal budget and caused a Medicaid $$ shortfall, but NC GOP lawmakers say their priority when they return next week will be keeping Republicans in power in Washington in 2026. More 👇
An impasse among GOP leaders in the General Assembly has delayed passage of a formal budget and caused a Medicaid $$ shortfall, but NC GOP lawmakers say their priority when they return next week will be keeping Republicans in power in Washington in 2026. More 👇
Don’t have time to read?
👂 Listen to the incredible story of K-pop, an emerging K-pop star from the South, and, of course, “K-pop Demon Hunters” at the 🔗 below 👇
www.thelivingsouth.com/audio-nathan...
👂 Listen to the incredible story of K-pop, an emerging K-pop star from the South, and, of course, “K-pop Demon Hunters” at the 🔗 below 👇
www.thelivingsouth.com/audio-nathan...
October 14, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Don’t have time to read?
👂 Listen to the incredible story of K-pop, an emerging K-pop star from the South, and, of course, “K-pop Demon Hunters” at the 🔗 below 👇
www.thelivingsouth.com/audio-nathan...
👂 Listen to the incredible story of K-pop, an emerging K-pop star from the South, and, of course, “K-pop Demon Hunters” at the 🔗 below 👇
www.thelivingsouth.com/audio-nathan...
Reposted by Billy Ball
Sixteen school districts in NC have no full-time psychologists, including three counties in WNC: Cherokee, Mitchell and McDowell. Avery and Madison counties only have one full-time psychologist each, @blueridgepublic.bsky.social reports.
www.bpr.org/education/20...
www.bpr.org/education/20...
Are the kids alright? Mental health problems spike for students post-Helene
A year after Helene, students are wrestling with heightened mental health challenges, from anxiety and depression to an uptick in sleep issues and “externalizing behaviors” like aggression and substan...
www.bpr.org
October 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Sixteen school districts in NC have no full-time psychologists, including three counties in WNC: Cherokee, Mitchell and McDowell. Avery and Madison counties only have one full-time psychologist each, @blueridgepublic.bsky.social reports.
www.bpr.org/education/20...
www.bpr.org/education/20...
For my free, solo gig, instead of taking the bait and focusing on who's to blame, I wrote about who has more skin in the game.
Spoiler alert: It's the South. By a lot.
www.thelivingsouth.com/the-federal-...
Spoiler alert: It's the South. By a lot.
www.thelivingsouth.com/the-federal-...
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.
www.thelivingsouth.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:43 PM
For my free, solo gig, instead of taking the bait and focusing on who's to blame, I wrote about who has more skin in the game.
Spoiler alert: It's the South. By a lot.
www.thelivingsouth.com/the-federal-...
Spoiler alert: It's the South. By a lot.
www.thelivingsouth.com/the-federal-...