<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[The Hellscape Deconstructed]]></title><description><![CDATA[Commentary and analysis of the hellscape that is politics in the American South. Based in the buckle of the Bible Belt: Chattanooga, Tennessee.]]></description><link>https://deconthehellscape.substack.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yqxt!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0f72ba9f-eb28-4767-934c-701d2d910974_256x256.png</url><title>The Hellscape Deconstructed</title><link>https://deconthehellscape.substack.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 06:13:51 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeconthehellscape.substack.com%2Ffeed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Benjamin Sessoms]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[deconthehellscape@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[deconthehellscape@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Ben Sessoms]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Ben Sessoms]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[deconthehellscape@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[deconthehellscape@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Ben Sessoms]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[The Fight for the South Extends Well Beyond the Midterms]]></title><description><![CDATA[While a nationwide blue wave appears imminent, many Southern Democrats are likely to fall short. But any electoral shift could be the beginning of a leftward upswell&#8212;that is, if we keep up the fight.]]></description><link>https://deconthehellscape.substack.com/p/the-fight-for-the-south-extends-well</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://deconthehellscape.substack.com/p/the-fight-for-the-south-extends-well</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ben Sessoms]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:03:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstackcdn.com%2Fimage%2Ffetch%2F%24s_%21pH3_%21%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fpublic%252Fimages%252Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstackcdn.com%2Fimage%2Ffetch%2F%24s_%21pH3_%21%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fpublic%252Fimages%252Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pH3_!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pH3_!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pH3_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pH3_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstackcdn.com%2Fimage%2Ffetch%2F%24s_%21pH3_%21%2Cw_1456%2Cc_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fpublic%252Fimages%252Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg" width="1200" height="630" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:630,&quot;width&quot;:1200,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:638198,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://deconthehellscape.substack.com/i/223263233?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pH3_!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pH3_!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pH3_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pH3_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fad1e3f87-4c5b-4efb-acf3-2c89371466fc_1200x630.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Illustration of campaign signs photographed outside the Hamilton County Election Commission in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Oct. 27, 2026.</figcaption></figure></div><p>After a chaotic two years under Trump 2.0, the midterms are finally here &#8212; a chance for the American people to steer the political future of the country. And if the polls prove to be even somewhat accurate, President Do&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeconthehellscape.substack.com%2Fp%2Fthe-fight-for-the-south-extends-well">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Authoritarianism in Our Own Backyard]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trump, ever since he entered politics, has posed an existential threat to our democracy. But he did not create this crisis. Authoritarianism is as much a homegrown Southern tradition as any other.]]></description><link>https://deconthehellscape.substack.com/p/the-authoritarianism-in-our-own-backyard</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://deconthehellscape.substack.com/p/the-authoritarianism-in-our-own-backyard</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ben Sessoms]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:04:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93c67d4b-2325-4127-be0d-e742bf223371_1200x675.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstackcdn.com%2Fimage%2Ffetch%2F%24s_%215ohL%21%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fpublic%252Fimages%252F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5ohL!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5ohL!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5ohL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5ohL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstackcdn.com%2Fimage%2Ffetch%2F%24s_%215ohL%21%2Cw_1456%2Cc_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cq_auto%3Agood%2Cfl_progressive%3Asteep%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fpublic%252Fimages%252F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg" width="1456" height="971" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:971,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:10962620,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://deconthehellscape.substack.com/i/216844701?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5ohL!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5ohL!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5ohL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5ohL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c7b03fc-2a50-4a4c-ad88-ce665ac78c26_6000x4000.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">A statue of A.P. Stewart, a military officer for the Confederacy, sits in the front of the Hamilton County Courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Sept. 21, 2026.</figcaption></figure></div><p><span>Nearly two years into Donald Trump&#8217;s second term, the president&#8217;s authoritarian ambitions are undeniable. Trump has shattered so many norms and stretched the legal bounds of the executive offi&#8230;</span></p>
      <p>
          <a href="iframe.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeconthehellscape.substack.com%2Fp%2Fthe-authoritarianism-in-our-own-backyard">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>