Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast
Hosted by veteran campaign operatives and HBCU alums Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel, The Southern Comfort Podcast delivers unfiltered political analysis with a Southern perspective, drawing from over 40 years of combined experience shaping campaigns from City Hall to the White House. Each week, they break down complex policies, share insider stories, and explore the intersection of politics and culture, offering listeners a front-row seat to the strategies and wisdom that drive American politics.
Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast
Episode 22 | Family Reunion
A virtual summer session brings Rich and Kevin together to unpack the cultural legacy and modern challenges of Black family reunions, reparations research debates, political disillusionment, and historical philosophies that still echo today. From grassroots fundraising to federal policy, they reflect on how far we've come—and how far we still need to go.
📍 00:36 – Family Reunions and the Nuance of Kinship
Rich and Kevin reminisce about week-long reunions, fish fries, and talent shows—then explore how COVID, cost, and cultural shifts have caused traditions to fade.
📍 09:21 – Reparations: From HR 40 to Wes Moore’s Veto
The hosts analyze the renewed fight for reparations, including Maryland’s controversial decision to veto a reparations study and what that reveals about political courage.
📍 21:11 – Booker T. vs. Du Bois: Echoes in Killer Mike
The historic tension between accommodation and resistance resurfaces through Killer Mike’s advocacy for trades—showing that the same philosophical rift still shapes Black progress today.
📍 26:28 – Why Misinformation Still Wins Elections
From ICE raids to rural hospital closures, Rich and Kevin break down how race and misinformation manipulate voters into supporting policies that harm them.
📍 30:13 – The System Ain’t Broken, It’s Working As Designed
They argue that political gridlock isn't about a lack of solutions—it's about a lack of will. Real change may require investing in new voters instead of chasing the old.
🐍 Mamba Mentality Award
Malcolm-Jamal Warner - Rich and Kevin reflect on the cultural impact he had on Black families across generations and why his legacy feels personal to so many.