The Other Side: Mississippi Today's Political Podcast

Mississippi Today's political team speaks with Rep. Ed Blackmon, a Democrat from Canton who has served 41 years in the Legislature. Blackmon shares his perspective on several controversial bills authored in 2023, as well as his decades of civil rights works and career legacy.

Mississippi Today's political team breaks down three major bills still very much pending in the 2023 legislative session — two of them very much expected, and the third a major surprise that no one saw coming.

Mississippi Today's political team breaks down an eventful 2023 legislative session that has produced controversial legislation, high drama and deep tension between lawmakers — a session far from the sleepy one many observers predicted a few weeks ago. 

Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender talk with Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, about how legislative leaders are trying to address issues dealing with crime and water in Jackson without getting input from lawmakers who represent the capital city. She laments how legislation is taking power from Jackson residents and their elected representatives and is causing more harm than good.

Why are lawmakers trying to ban gender-affirming care for trans kids? Mississippi Today's Molly Minta talks with Jensen Luke Matar, the director of the nonprofit TRANS Program, about gender-affirming care, what it is and what it is not, and why powerful lawmakers are trying to ban it for the small number of trans kids in Mississippi. While lawmakers say they're trying to protect kids, Matar says t...

State Rep. Sam Creekmore speaks to Mississippi Today about legislation to address Mississippi's long-running mental health issues, including those with mental illness being held in jails instead of receiving treatment. Creekmore has crafted a collaborative approach, with more law enforcement training, more court and county government support and changes to governance and funding of the state's men...

Mississippi Today's politics team discusses how the 2023 governor's race and lieutenant governor's race could provide more fireworks than any statewide cycle in recent memory.

Mississippi Today's politics team Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison, and Geoff Pender break down some key results from a new Mississippi Today/Siena College poll. The team focuses on an overwhelming percentage of Mississippians who support expanding Medicaid and who want a new governor in 2023.

House Education Chairman Richard Bennett discusses education issues before the 2023 Legislature. He wants to expand preschool in Mississippi, and differs with Lt. Gov. Hosemann on incentivizing 'modified calendars,' or year-'round classes for districts.

Sally Doty, director of Mississippi's broadband expansion office, stresses the importance of people logging on to  www.broadbandms.com , or calling or texting "Internet" to 601-439-2535 to report inadequate or nonexistent internet service. The data collected from this will be used to determine how much federal money Mississippi receives to expand broadband internet service.

Mississippi Today's politics team breaks down key issues lawmakers could address in the 2023 legislative session. They also discuss how the statewide and legislative election year could affect the outcome of certain policy debates.

Bo Eaton of Taylorsville says he still has the swizzle stick that he drew after his tie election with Mark Tullos of Raleigh in their 2015 bid for the House District 97 post. Eaton drew the winning stick in the unusual process that is spelled out in state law to decide tie elections, but the Republican majority seated their fellow party member, sending Eaton a five-term House veteran home. Eaton c...

Rep. Trey Lamar, who plays a pivotal role in setting tax policy as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, tells Mississippi Today political reporters Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender that he would prefer eliminating the income tax instead of providing a tax rebate during 2023 session.

Mississippi Today political reporter Bobby Harrison talks to House Constitution Chair Fred Shanks, R-Brandon, about the state's initiative process and why the Rankin County lawmaker is optimistic that legislation will pass during the 2023 session to revive it. Shanks also weighs in on other issues, saying the Legislature can both cut taxes again in 2023 and provide one-time rebates to Mississippia...

Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison reminisces with former Mississippi political reporter Mac Gordon about covering outspoken former Gov. Kirk Fordice and other political figures from state's past. Gordon, who now lives in Georgia, also talks about the current Senate race in the Peach State involving former football great Herschel Walker.

Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau and Geoff Pender analyze Speaker of the House Philip Gunn's decision to step down and not seek reelection to the House. Among topics they discuss: What will this decision mean for the 2023 legislative session, what is Gunn's legacy, who may replace him, and what will he do next?

State Sen. Hob Bryan, chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee, joins Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau and Bobby Harrison to discuss the state's growing hospital crisis. Bryan's committee is hosting a hearing to discuss potential long-term solutions.

Charles Taylor, recently named permanent executive director of Mississippi chapter NAACP joins Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau to discuss his new role, the 2022 midterms, and the 2023 statewide election cycle. Taylor also shared his thoughts on the state of the state after several scandals earned Mississippi some negative national attention.

Rep. Kabir Karriem, D-Columbus, talks with Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender about the positive impact on the Golden Triangle and the state of the new Steel Dynamics aluminum mill coming to Lowndes County after a special session where legislators approved $246 million in incentives for the project. But Karriem added the Legislature needs to address other issues now, such as fixin...

National NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson discusses Jackson's water crisis and the NAACP's Title VI discrimination complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency calling for an investigation into whether the state of Mississippi has over years diverted federal funds that should have gone to help the city's infrastructure.

Senate and House Democratic leaders Sen. Derrick Simmons and Rep. Robert Johnson provide a recap of their joint caucus hearing on the scandal-plagued Mississippi Department of Human Services and its administration of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. In the poorest state in the country, millions of federal welfare dollars have been squandered and systemic problems remain...

Shuwaski Young, a Democrat running for the third congressional district seat, joins Mississippi Today's political team to discuss his campaign, his opponent Rep. Michael Guest, and what he hopes to accomplish for Mississippians.

Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau and Geoff Pender break down an extraordinarily busy news week in the state. Topics covered: Medical marijuana drama, Katrina insurance case settlements, Jackson water woes and a conundrum about garbage collection. 

Mississippi Today's Alex Rozier, Geoff Pender and Bobby Harrison discuss future of Jackson's beleaguered water system, will it be fixed and what that fix might look like. It seems the federal government through the Environmental Protection Agency is on board for the long-haul fix. Will the state be?

Mississippi State Personnel Board Director Kelly Hardwick talks with Mississippi Today about the state government workforce, how workers are paid and whether a pay raise is in order.