Mississippi citizens often left in the dark on special-interest lobbying of politicians
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Release Date: 04/28/2025
Hurricane Katrina 20 years later -- the politics, allowing casinos to rebuild onshore and a special Mississippi Today documentary
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Veteran editors Bobby Harrison, Geoff Pender and Emily Wagster Pettus recall the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and a monumental special legislative session to address storm recovery 20 years ago. They are joined by multimedia and video editors Michael Guidry and Richard Lake for a preview of "The Bulletin," a Mississippi Today video documentary that will premiere Aug. 29th, the anniversary of the destructive, killer storm. .
info_outline
MUW president says all taxpayers should be concerned about idea to relocate school for gifted students
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Nora Miller, the president of the Mississippi University for Women, is pushing back on a recommendation from the state Board of Education to relocate the Mississippi School for Math and Science off the campus of MUW to another of the state universities. MSMS, a gifted program for high school juniors and seniors, has been located on the Mississippi University for Women’s campus since its inception. Miller tells Mississippi Today’s Taylor Vance and Candice Wilder why the program is crucial to the city of Columbus and why taxpayers across the state should be concerned...
info_outline
Elections, EVs, gambling and the proper way to pronounce mobile -- a roundtable roundup of the week's news
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today's politics and government team breaks down the week's news, including the special legislative primaries held across the state and the Magnolia State's exposure to any slump in EV sales and production. Also, Ole Miss has a new study out about college students' online gambling habits as lawmakers consider making "mo-bile" sports betting legal.
info_outline
Temperature was hot, political stumping was mild at Neshoba County Fair
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today’s politics team recaps the 2025 Neshoba County Fair. This year’s political speaking lacked some of the fire and brimstone of big election years, but state leaders laid out some major policy plans sure to dominate debate in the next legislative session.
info_outline
Brain Drain in Mississippi
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today editor-in-chief Adam Ganucheau sits down with Jake McGraw, a policy analyst and researcher who runs Working Together Mississippi's Rethink Mississippi initiative, to discuss the state's brain drain crisis. Together with the University of Mississippi Center for Population Studies, the organizations launched the state's first-ever scientific survey to better understand the brain drain problem and develop solutions. Ganucheau and McGraw discuss what the data shows about the problem, the economic and political implications of it, and what more could be done to...
info_outline
Rep. Wallace tees up special House committee on Mississippi voters' rights
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Rep. Price Wallace, a Republican from Mendenhall, is co-chair of a House select committee Speaker Jason White created to tackle restoration of voting rights to former felons, reinstituting voters' right to put issues directly on a ballot and allowing early voting before Election Day. Wallace tells Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance that the work of several special committees over the summer and fall will provide more transparency for the public on legislative work and allows more input on important issues.
info_outline
Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson on why he's running for governor, his platform
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Republican Andy Gipson, the first candidate to publicly announce a run for Mississippi governor in 2027, outlines his five-plank platform. No. 1 is fighting crime, which Gipson says is rising in what were once quiet rural areas, because "If people don't feel safe, nothing else matters." He also offers a brief sampling of his baritone crooning from his just-released two studio albums.
info_outline
School choice’ chances in 2026 and another Democratic defection
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today’s Geoff Pender, Taylor Vance and Michael Goldberg discuss political news of the week, including House Speaker Jason White announcing “school choice” issues as his top priority for 2026 and perennial U.S. Senate candidate Ty Pinkins departing the Democratic Party.
info_outline
Mega merger: Business, industry groups join forces as Mississippi Business Alliance
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
John McKay, chairman and CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, talks with Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender and Bobby Harrison about MMA, the Mississippi Economic Council and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee merging into a single organization to represent business and industry across the state. The new Mississippi Business Alliance is expected to be a powerful voice at the state Capitol in policy and spending decisions and even in statewide elections. McKay, who will lead the new organization, says it expects to be up and running by the beginning of 2026.
info_outline
Horhn transition chairman discusses what challenges new Jackson administration faces
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Robert Gibbs, chairman of newly elected Jackson Mayor John Horhn's transition team, discusses what issues the team has found with city administration and changes that may be forthcoming with Mississippi Today's Jackson coverage team.
info_outlineWith Mississippi's lack of laws and transparency, citizens are often in the dark about special-interest spending to influence politicians. Mississippi Today's politics team discusses its recent article shedding light on efforts by DraftKings and others lobbying for legalized online sports betting, including the speaker of the House and his staff being treated to the Super Bowl game this year.