The Other Side: Mississippi Today's Political Podcast

Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley, who has been closely involved in discussions about a long-term fix for the Jackson water crisis, discussed several options and what may work or not. He also discussed the importance of leadership over the next three months, before the 2023 legislative session and election cycle begins.

State Rep. Chris Bell, part of Jackson's legislative delegation, discusses the Jackson water crisis and possible solutions both short and long term. Bell said that to find solutions, leaders at all levels need to "check their egos at the door" and work together.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson joins Mississippi Today editor-in-chief Adam Ganucheau to discuss his negotiations regarding the Jackson water crisis. Thompson, who represents much of Jackson, says the city needs to prove it can manage the water system moving forward, and he says he still hasn't seen a city plan for the long-term.

Melvin Robinson, the executive director of the Mississippi Cannabis Trade Association, joins Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau and Geoff Pender to discuss updates on the state's rollout of its medical marijuana program.

Brandon Presley, a Democratic public service commissioner and cousin of Elvis Presley, is mulling a run for governor in 2023. Mississippi Today's political team discusses what he is up to and what's going on with Republicans. 

Sen. Derrick Simmons of Greenville, the Senate Democratic leader, discusses with Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender ways he says the state can help improve the lives of working poor Mississippians.

Nicole Akins Boyd, R-Oxford, a first-term state senator, talks with Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender and Bobby Harrison about ways to improve the lives of mothers and children in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. She is chairing the nine-member Senate Study Group on Women, Children and Families created by Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.

Mississippi Today political reporters Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender recap what was a more eventful Neshoba County Fair political speakings than what normally occurs in off-election years. A lot of the talk centered around the overturn of Roe v. Wade and questions from the media about the ongoing scandal that has engulfed the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

Mississippi Today's political team discusses an important week that will officially kick off the anticipated 2023 statewide and legislative election cycle. 

Investigative reporter Anna Wolfe joins Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau and Geoff Pender to discuss a dramatic legal development in the state's ongoing welfare scandal case. The trio also break down where the investigation sits today and where it may be headed.

Mississippi Today reporters Isabelle Taft, Geoff Pender and Bobby Harrison discuss issues related to abortion and health care in Mississippi in light of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision saying abortion is no longer a protected right under the federal Constitution. But importantly, how does the 1998 state Supreme Court decision saying there is a right to an abortion factor into the new worl...

Mississippi Today political reporters Geoff Pender and Bobby Harrison discuss the results of the U.S. House party primary runoff elections where an unusual event occurred and also discuss some surprising twists in the aftermath of the landmark reversal of Roe. v. Wade.

Mississippi Hospital Association President Tim Moore says the state's health care providers are teetering financially and that once pandemic stimulus funds run dry "It's going to be time to pay the band." MHA has pushed for Mississippi, the poorest state in the nation, to adopt Medicaid expansion and accept about $1 billion a year in federal dollars to provide health coverage to Mississippi's work...

Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender talk litany of issues with state Rep. John Hines, D-Greenville, ranging from Gov. Tate Reeves' partial vetoes to Medicaid expansion to the scandal at the Department of Human Services.

Mississippi Today's Adam Ganucheau and Bobby Harrison break down the 3rd Congressional District runoff between incumbent Rep. Michael Guest and challenger Michael Cassidy, as well as the 4th Congressional District runoff between incumbent Rep. Steven Palazzo and challenger Mike Ezell.  

Mississippi Today's political team breaks down this week's congressional primaries and looks ahead to potential November general election matchups.

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has been the face of Mississippi's COVID-19 response. Mississippi Today reporters Bobby Harrison, Geoff Pender and Will Stribling spoke with Dr. Dobbs about his tenure at the health department, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization abortion case, and what comes next for him after he leaves the health department in July.

Ken Newburger, executive director and founder of the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association, gives an update on Mississippi's fledgling medical cannabis program, which was passed into law by the state Legislature in February. Newburger said it will probably be late this year or early next year before patients can receive medical marijuana.

State Auditor Shad White, whose welfare investigation has recently been called into question, is one in a long line of Mississippi state auditors with higher political ambition. Mississippi Today's political team breaks down that history and discusses how White's recent words and actions mirror the strategy of many of his predecessors.

Mississippi Today's political team discusses several high-profile vetoes of Gov. Tate Reeves that have raised questions and speculation. They also discuss how the vetoes could serve to further expand the Mississippi executive branch's power.

Mississippi Today reporters Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender interview – or more accurately listen – as longtime state Sen. Hob Bryan of Amory vents about massive tax cuts passed in the 2022 legislative session. Bryan says the state has too many infrastructure, education and other needs to be making such huge cuts in revenue.

Mississippi Today recently published "The Backchannel" investigation, which used never-before-published text messages to explore former Gov. Phil Bryant's role in the state's welfare scandal. Before the series published, Bryant sat down with Mississippi Today for a three-hour interview. Journalists Anna Wolfe and Adam Ganucheau discuss how the interview came about, what it was like inside Bryant's...

Mississippi Today's political team breaks down what lawmakers accomplished and ignored during the historic 2022 legislative session. They spent a record amount of money, passed the largest tax cut and teacher pay raise in state history, and redrew congressional and legislative districts. They also let several key issues fall by the wayside. 

State Sen. John Horhn of Jackson discusses how Mississippi's capital city fared in the 2022 legislative session. He said the delegation managed to secure more than $78 million for various projects across the city, but that state funding for drastically needed water and sewer infrastructure will fall far short. He said part of this problem is because of lack of leadership from city government.

Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison speaks with Senate Finance Chair Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, about the Legislature passing the income tax cut. Harkins was the Senate's top negotiator on the plan. It will be largest tax cut in state history, but does not eliminate the income tax as both Gov. Tate Reeves and Speaker Philip Gunn wanted.