@ISSUE

New laws passed during the spring legislative session went into effect on July 1. Host Wilson Stribling speaks with Clarion-Ledger legislative reporter Bea Anhuci and analysts Rebekah Staples and Brandon Jones, discussing how these new laws will affect you and what they say about Mississippi's priorities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Neshoba County Fair brought together political candidates, elected officials, and hundreds of fairgoers last week for one of Mississippi's great traditions. On this week's @ISSUE, host Wilson Stribling brings you highlights from the speeches, followed by expert analysis from Republican Rebekah Staples and Democrat Brandon Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mississippi's student population is shrinking. Some districts are struggling both academically and financially. Is school district consolidation the answer? Host Desare Frazier speaks with Rep. Rob Roberson (R-Starkville), chair of the House Select Committee on School Consolidation. We also hear from Nancy Loome, executive director of the Parents' Campaign. Then, analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah...

The Rural Health Transformation Program will bring more than $200 million to Mississippi in 2026, and as much as $1 billion over five years. But how will this money be used, and who will make the decisions? @ISSUE reports on the joint Senate-House hearing held last week. Host Wilson Stribling interviews Sen. Hob Bryan (D-Amory), chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Then, ana...

Jackson Mayor John Horhn sits down with host Wilson Stribling to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Mississippi's capitol city. Mayor Horhn talks about improved relations between city and state, public safety initiatives, infrastructure improvements, the water controversy, control of the airport, and more. Then analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples join Wilson to look at the work...

Congressional, judicial, and legislative redistricting are all on the table, but when? Governor Reeves has cancelled the special legislative session, but still promises to redistrict Congressman Bennie Thompson out of office. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court's recent Callais decision impacts state supreme court redistricting as well as recently redrawn state legislative maps. Analysts Brandon Jon...

In the wake of the Supreme Court's recent decision affecting the Voting Rights Act, Republican-led states across the South are redrawing Congressional districts. Will Mississippi do the same in the upcoming special session? Analysts Brandon Jones and Lucien Smith join host Wilson Stribling for an in-depth discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week the United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana's newly drawn congressional district should not have used race as a factor. Does the 1965 Voting Rights Act remain "substantially intact," as Republican Lucien Smith claims? Or has it been "nullified with the stroke of a pen," as Democrat Brandon Jones laments? Brandon and Lucien join host Wilson Stribling to discuss this mome...

Will the new Shield Act prevent non-citizens from voting in Mississippi elections? Or will it disenfranchise legal voters? Host Wilson Stribling interviews Senate Elections Committee chairman Jeremy England (R-Van Cleave) and University of Mississippi professor Marvin King for contrasting perspectives. Then Wilson welcomes Republican Lucien Smith and Democrat Brandon Jones for a spirited roundtabl...

The Legislature returned to Jackson last week, determined to override several of Governor Tate Reeves' vetoes. And then they didn't. Host Wilson Stribling welcomes analysts Brandon Jones and Lucien Smtih to discuss what was going on behind the scenes, who miscalculated, and what the results may mean for some of Mississippi's political leaders.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Host Wilson Stribling interviews Drew Hawkins, the Gulf States Newsroom reporter who has closely covered Mississippi’s opioid addiction crisis and the state’s use of its opioid settlement funds. Analysts Brandon Jones and Lucien Smith then discuss the actions of the legislature, attorney general, and the opioid settlement advisory council as they plan how to spend the $400 million Mississippi will...

Host Wilson Stribling welcomes analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples for a look back at the recently concluded Mississippi legislative session. What were the biggest successes, failures, surprises, and lessons learned? With Republicans in control of state government, are the real battles now not between the parties, but between House and Senate, or even between the Legislative and Executive b...

The final week of the legislative session is upon us. Analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples join host Wilson Stribling to discuss the state’s $7.4 billion budget agreement, a smaller-than-hoped-for teacher pay raise, and the SHIELD Act, designed to ensure all voters are U.S. citizens. They also look at Governor Tate Reeves’ veto of a winter storm relief measure, and the confusion caused by a...

Analysts Rebekah Staples and Brandon Jones join host Wilson Stribling for a look at multiple bills, almost all of which are now in conference committees. Highlights include a proposed amendment to the Children’s Promise Act creating new tax credits for special needs education, an explanation of Local & Private bills, and a look at the Jackson water system bill, and what it might mean for other...

House Education Committee chairman Rob Roberson (R-Starkville) sits down with host Wilson Stribling to look at the competing teacher pay raise bills and reflect on a difficult 2026 session. Then, analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples discuss the House and Senate teacher bills, the likelihood of a special session, and MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain’s contentious meeting last week with the Legisla...

The House unanimously passed a substantial education bill Friday, raising teacher and staff pay, and making changes to the Public Employees Retirement System. Analysts Rebekah Staples and Brandon Jones join host Wilson Stribling to look at the strategies in play, and the continued friction between House and Senate leadership. Wilson also sits down with Senator David Blount (D-Jackson) to discuss t...

Senator Bradford Blackmon (D-Canton) joins host Wilson Stribling to discuss his two artificial intelligence bills. One would require political ads using artificial intelligence to acknowledge the use of AI. The other would protect Mississippians from having their names, images, and voices used without permission. Then, analysts Rebekah Staples and Brandon Jones look at the legislative calendar, th...

House Bill 2 is dead, but a special session on school choice may be ahead. Analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples join host Wilson Stribling to discuss the prospect of a special session and recall how former Governor Hailey Barbour used special sessions strategically.  Wilson also interviews House Minority Leader Robert Johnson (D-Natchez), getting the veteran lawmaker’s perspective on th...

A major legislative deadline last week saw thousands of bills die while hundreds of others survived. Among those still alive are bills dealing with school prayer, immigration enforcement, abortion-inducing drugs, school attendance officers, literacy intervention, and prison health care. Senator Jeremy England (R-Van Cleave) and host Wilson Stribling discuss the challenges to reviving the ballot in...

The Senate Education Committee unanimously votes down House Bill 2, the omnibus education package. And Rep. Becky Currie takes on the Department of Corrections with multiple prison reform bills. Analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples join host Wilson Stribling to review these and other actions at the Mississippi legislature. In this week's interview, Senate Minority Leader Derrick Simmons...

As the first major legislative deadline approaches, analysts Rebekah Staples and Brandon Jones join host Desare Frazier for a wide-ranging discussion of pending legislation.  Topics include immigration enforcement bills, a registry for domestic abusers, expanded roles for certified nurse midwives, elections for all school boards, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Host Wilson Stribling interviews Speaker of the House Jason White, discussing House Bill 2, the Mississippi Education Freedom Act. Then, analysts Rebekah Staples and Brandon Jones debate some of the bill’s more controversial provisions and talk about its prospects for passage in the Senate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mississippi House and Senate both hit the ground running in the first week of the legislative session, but with very different strategies for school choice and other education legislation. Host Wilson Stribling welcomes political analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples to discuss the Senate’s multiple bill approach, as well as the House’s mammoth, 553-page House Bill 2. Hosted on Acast. See...

Welcome to @ISSUE 2026! Host Wilson Stribling and political analyst Brandon Jones welcome new analyst Rebekah Staples to the @ISSUE team. Rebekah gives a baseball-themed explanation of the legislative process, then the team dives into the issues of school choice, the ballot initiative process, and concerns about federal budget cuts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The two-day Special Session of the Mississippi Legislature picked up where the Regular Session left off: with more controversy and heightened tensions between House and Senate. Host Wilson Stribling recaps last week’s events. Analysts Austin Barbour and Brandon Jones join Wilson to discuss the legislative proceedings and the outlook for the state of Mississippi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...