The Empower Podcast

Capitol Chat is back for the 2026 legislative session, and week one is already moving fast. Host Wil Ervin highlights early Senate action on teacher pay and public school choice, a sweeping House education bill, and a major Senate proposal to shore up PERS, setting the tone for a busy session ahead.

On this episode of The Empower Podcast, host Grant Callen sits down with Commissioner Andy Gipson—Mississippi's Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, former state legislator, Baptist minister, cattleman, and announced candidate for governor. Gipson shares how his journey into public service began with a desire to secure a better future for his children, and why he believes strong families are...

On this episode of The Empower Podcast, host Grant Callen sits down with Mississippi State Senator Rod Hickman, a lawyer, educator, and public servant representing a stretch of communities across East Mississippi from Macon to Louisville to Meridian. Sen. Hickman shares how growing up in Noxubee County shaped his passion for public service, why he left a law career in Jackson to return home, and t...

On this episode of The Empower Podcast , host Grant Callen talks with Dr. Brad Wilcox, Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and author of Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization . Dr. Wilcox shares striking research on how marriage shapes economic mobility, child wellbeing, and community stability—and why fami...

What does it take to turn around a city? In this special episode recorded at Jackson City Hall, host Grant Callen talks with Mayor John Horn about his love for Jackson, the lessons from his childhood and career in public service, and his mission to restore trust, safety, and opportunity in Mississippi's capital. From fixing potholes to fighting crime and strengthening schools, Mayor Horhn shares h...

On this episode of the Empower Podcast , Grant Callen sits down with Dr. Steven Skultety, Director of the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi. They explore the foundations of American democracy, the origins of rights, and why civil disagreement is essential to a thriving society. From natural rights vs. legal rights to the First Ame...

On this episode, host Grant Callen sits down with historian Jere Nash, a Greenville native, retired political consultant, and co-author of award-winning books. Jere's latest work, Reconstruction in Mississippi, 1862-1877 , offers a definitive look at a pivotal era. We discuss why Jere chose to explore Reconstruction, debunk common myths, and examine the era's lasting impact on Mississippi's racial...

More than just a paycheck, work is the foundation of prosperity and the pathway to earned success. This week, host Grant Callen sits down with Rebekah Staples President & Founder of Free State Strategies and a Contributing Fellow at Empower Mississippi. Hailing from The Free State of Jones (County), Rebekah shares her journey from working in Governor Haley Barbour's office during Hurricane Katrina...

On this episode, host Grant Callen sits down with Mississippi's 40th Attorney General Lynn Fitch. A Holly Springs native, General Fitch has 35 years in public and private legal service, made history as the state's first female Attorney General, and earned national recognition for her leadership. We talk about her roots, her legal career, and her pivotal role in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Orga...

With Speaker Jason White and Governor Tate Reeves signaling school choice as the top priority for the 2026 legislative session, momentum is building—but so is the opposition. On this episode, host Grant Callen sits down with the Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party for a deep dive into the heated debate surround school choice. Grant and Mike unpack the myths, address concerns like constitu...

Fresh off his speech at the Neshoba County Fair, Mississippi's 62nd Speaker of the House, Jason White joins host Grant Callen for this episode of the Empower Podcast. We recap his fair speech and talk about the experience of walking out on that storied stage at Neshoba. We discuss the impact of President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and the Speaker's plans for a similar omnibus bill, which will inco...

In this episode, host Grant Callen sits down with former Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn to trace his journey from Clinton's small-town roots to state leadership. Gunn shares how a personal tragedy at Ole Miss Law upended his life, yet God's faithfulness sustained him, strengthened his faith, and taught him resilience. From his 2003 House race to winning the Speaker's gavel, he reveals lesso...

Join us on the Empower Podcast as we dive into the transformative world of industry-specific high schools with Dr. Keri Ingraham, whose recent policy brief at the American Enterprise Institute, "The Case for Industry-Specific High Schools," is sparking conversation. In this episode, Dr. Ingraham explains why these specialized schools are a timely solution to align education with labor market deman...

In this episode, host, Grant Callen sits down with State Representative Lee Yancey, a seasoned lawmaker with 11 years of service in the Mississippi Legislature. A one-time Senator, Rep. Yancey now chairs the House Business and Commerce Committee and serves on eight other committees including Drug Policy. This conversation covered a litany of bills from the regular and special sessions, including b...

Representative Jansen Owen is a key leader in the Mississippi House of Representatives. In his six-year legislative career, he has already seen several of his bills signed into law. In this episode of the Empower Podcast, host Grant Callen speaks with Rep. Owen about the recently completed special session and the tension between the two chambers. Rep. Owen offers an insider's perspective on what r...

Lawmakers were called into Special Session to adopt a $7.135 billion budget for State Fiscal Year 2026 after failing to adopt a budget during the 2025 regular session. Although it lasted only two days, the Special Session was not without drama and excitement. We break down all the action in a special (session) edition of Capitol Chat.

State Senator Brice Wiggins (R-Pascagoula), Chairman of the Judiciary-A Committee, joins Grant Callen to discuss his journey from prosecutor to legislative leader. Representing Jackson County since 2011, Senator Wiggins shares insights into his proudest legislative achievements, including 2014's House Bill 585 that reshaped Mississippi's criminal justice system, reducing incarceration rates and sa...

In this jam-packed episode, host Grant Callen serves up a buffet of political topics with Russ Latino, Founder & CEO of Magnolia Tribune. From the highs and lows of President Trump's first 100 days—covering tariffs, taxes, and the "Big Beautiful Bill"—to Texas' groundbreaking $1 billion school choice program and Mississippi's historic income tax phase-out, no stone is left unturned. We dive into t...

Mississippi's economy is on fire! In this episode, host Grant Callen sits down with Bill Cork, Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, to discuss Mississippi's economic surge. With the state ranking No. 2 in the nation for GDP growth in 2024, record-breaking employment numbers, and over $32 billion in new business investments under Governor Tate Reeves' leadership, Mississippi...

This week, host Grant Callen dives into the world of charter schools with DeArchie Scott, Founder of Ambition Prep, Mississippi's top-performing public charter school located in west Jackson. Ambition Prep is a B-rated school (and climbing) and is the most academically successful open-enrollment public elementary school in Jackson. In this episode, we explore the impact of charter schools 12 years...

Sine Die!

The countdown is on! Only 9 days remain in the legislative session. This week, the Governor signed House Bill 1 into law, and this weekend is crunch time on appropriations and revenue bills. All that, and more, on this week's episode of Capitol Chat.

Following in the footsteps of the legendary radio host Paul Gallo, Richard Cross has quickly become a significant player in every public policy debate because he interviews the policymakers. Every morning Richard welcomes heavyweights like the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker, U.S. Senators, and lawmakers from across the state, asking insightful questions until he gets to the root of the issue. Thi...

A little luck of the Irish helped push an income tax elimination bill over the finish line this week. We'll dive into House Bill 1 and what it means for you, as well as what's next in the legislative session, on this week's episode of Capitol Chat.

Week 10 was filled with excitement and acronyms! On this week's episode we cover DEI, PBMs, and THC, as well as everything else you need to know from this week at your state Capitol.