Real Talk Memphis with Chip Washington

My guests include Shelby County Democratic Party Chairman Willie Simon. With the election in sight, I get his feelings on what the voters will say on Tuesday about the direction of our county and state. Next, Shelby County Commissioner Mark Billingsley has decided to return to the body. I ask him why and about the most pressing issues they face like jail funding, the pending MSCS lawsuit and a pos...

My guests include Memphis City Councilwoman Rhonda Logan. We follow up the last emotional council meeting with plenty of questions as to this moratorium issue leaving many confused and angry. I ask her what changed and what’s next. Next up, I speak with Sarah Houston, Protect Our Aquifer Executive Director who was at the meeting and had her own set of questions. She tells me what her biggest conce...

Guests include Linda Phillips, Shelby County Election Administrator. She gives us an update on early voting numbers, locations and what voters need to know before they cast their vote. Next, Anthony Buckner has been in law enforcement for over two decades, and was recently elected as the Shelby County Sheriff. He tells me about the challenges that lie ahead with the jail issues and a new recruitin...

On the next live and all new Real Talk Memphis my guest include; MSCS Board Chair Tamarques Porter. Joining him will be Semya Green, a senior and the student government president at Middle College High School. She joined the MSCS School board after being selected from the district’s student congress to represent them earlier this month. She will join me to share the importance of the student's voi...

My guests include Memphis City Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton. These days, the main topic of conversation has to do with the ever-increasing number of data centers, mounting distrust of xAI, and the $3.2 million community benefits fund to help area residents. Lots of questions, few answers not to mention the future of the Memphis Safe Task Force, we discuss. Next, the new school year is off an...

Guests include Maria Oceja and Gisela Guerrero, both community organizers representing the rights of the immigrant community. Whether its thru Vecindarios 901 or Micah, day or night they are advocating for the fair rights of others. They tell me about immigrant rights, the fear, ICE and a recent late-night raid that sent dozens to jail. Next, the County Clerk’s office performs a wide range of admi...

My guests include Rev. Dr. Earle Fisher. From the Importance of voting to the Memphis Safe Task Force, to the National Guard shooting death of 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson in the back near downtown Memphis, there is plenty to discuss. He will share his unfiltered thoughts. Redistricting is top of mind for several southern states. Mississippi has now taken up the issue of changing congressional distri...

My guests include Memphis City Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas. It has been quite a while since she has joined me so I thought it was time to catch up. She speaks on a variety of subjects like MATA, the Safe Task Force and an update on xAI data centers. Next, newly elected District 8 County Commissioner Will Richardson. His campaign was centered on three core priorities; public safety, educati...

My guests include Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green. She’s a busy woman no doubt with a singular goal of making things better for every citizen. This week, she and her colleagues will address the XAI data center situation and how they plan to slow things down.  She is also eying a much bigger challenge as she will explain. Next, the City of Millington is doing big things, and growing populatio...

My guests include Bartlett Alderman David Reaves. Recently, he has renewed a call for the Shelby County suburbs to break away and potentially form one of their own. But Reaves is also floating another option: the six outlying cities leaving Shelby and merging into adjacent counties. He joins me to talk about why he thinks it should be considered. Next, we just completed the municipal elections, an...

My guests include MSCS Superintendent Dr. Roderick Richmond. The new school year is just beginning and not without more than a few questions. We are still wondering about who will be in charge of the day-to-day operations, the appointed board or the elected one. Dr. Richmond will tell me what his focus will be and the most urgent priorities he’s looking at as all of this continues to unfold legall...

My guests include Linda Phillips from the Shelby County Election Commission. Election time is here and its importance cannot be understated. Early voting has started and she gives us an update on the numbers, locations and everything you need to know. Next, the new school year is upon us and there is uncertainty as to who is in charge. The state created an Oversight Committee to basically oversee...

My guests include Shelby County Commissioner Britney Thornton. She is winding up her first term and shares her experiences both good and challenging. I also ask her what she learned and what might come next. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner has been in law enforcement for over 40 years and as his time as sheriff winds down, we discuss his career highs and lows and if retirement and grandchildren...

My guests include State Senator Raumesh Akbari. With the redistricting issue at the forefront of the upcoming elections, I wanted to catch up with her to have her share why this is no time to be complacent. Also, her feelings about the MSCS oversight committee and what might this look like moving forward. Next, the County Commission just approved the new budget but not without a property tax incre...

My guests include Sarah Carpenter, a community and education advocate. She has been at the forefront and a passionate voice for the education of our children. I ask her how she feels about the new oversight management board and what she expects as they try to turn things around. Next, 1-year old Kohen Wiley was laid to rest after being shot and killed by police at a Senatobia Walmart. Many people...

Guests include Karen Vogelsang, former long time educator and the final member of the new MSCS Oversight management board. She tells me why she said yes and why this is a challenging yet necessary step forward for the future of our children’s education.  Next, The Souls to the Polls event was recently held to inform and educate the public about the redistricting issue and how critical it is for pe...

My guests include the Honorable Mayor Paul Young. It’s time for a check in on the pulse of the city, where things stand these days, how the city is doing and what else he’s working on. Next, we are all aware of the redistricting issue and how important it is to the future of our voting rights. He also talks about The Souls to the Polls event and the message for the people. Last but certainly not l...

Guests include TN Minority House Leader Karen Camper. The events of the last couple of weeks have been difficult and even transformative with more questions than answers. A Special Session was held which split the only Black district in the state (9), into three sections, redistricting and diluting the black vote. After that happened, the House Speaker stripped some House dems of committee assignm...

On the next live and all new Real Talk Memphis; Guests include Elaine Turner, civil rights activist, historian, educator and owner of Heritage Tours. As someone who marched with Dr. King and was even arrested, she remembers the bad old days of discrimination and shares her thoughts on why the recent redistricting move is dangerous. Next, Sr. Pastor Keith Norman of First Baptist Church Broad Avenue...

We are back with a live and all new Real Talk Memphis; my guests include Beverly Robertson. She is a well established community leader and businesswoman. Now, she is taking on a new challenge as an appointed member of the MSCS Oversight board as chosen by Governor Lee. She joins me to talk about why she accepted the offer and the challenges that might lie ahead. Speaking of the MSCS School Board,...

Episode Notes My guests include TN State Senator Raumesh Akbari. After an uneventful legislative session that concluded with the unexpected passing of G.A. Hardaway, we were even more shocked with a Supreme Court ruling that could change our city forever. A redistricting effort by the state that will split the 9th congressional district 3-ways turning it republican. We discuss. Next, the legislati...

Episode Notes On the next live and all new Real Talk Memphis; Guests include MSCS Board Chair Natalie McKinney. With the state takeover bill done and awaiting the Governor's signature the real question is what happens next. She tells me about exploring possible legal options. Next, DA Steve Mulroy has a difficult job but a recent decision by the legislature may have added more to it. He drops by t...

Episode Notes On the next live and all new Real Talk Memphis; My guests include Sarah Houston, Executive director of Protect Our Aquifer. Recently, what appears to have been paused is the planned water recycling or greywater facility that was supposed to reduce strain on Memphis groundwater. She explains what that could mean potentially mean. Next, its election time in Shelby County and early voti...

Episode Notes My guests include newly appointed 9th District County Commissioner Matthew Szalaj and he joins me for a chat since taking the position. He recently had a meet and greet in front of a packed house and shares what drove his decision, gaining community trust, his priorities and what he wants to accomplish in his short tenure. Last week, the State legislature held a press conference to a...