School choice’ chances in 2026 and another Democratic defection
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Release Date: 07/07/2025
Senate education chairman DeBar says school choice vouchers remain a no-go n the Senate.
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Senate Education Committee Chairman Dennis DeBar says he will allow his committee to vote on the House's school choice measure, but he's still convinced the proposal to spend public money on private schooling will not pass in the Senate. Why are senators opposed to this? He explains.
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Anna Wolfe gives an update on Teddy DiBiase welfare scandal trial
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today Jackson Editor Anna Wolfe, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her investigative reporting on Mississippi's massive welfare scandal, provides insight on the first -- perhaps only -- criminal trial from the federal investigation into misspending of millions of dollars meant to help the needy, fight poverty and feed the hungry as it enters its third week in court.
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Jackson Mayor John Horhn and the "prototype for what ails America"
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Jackson Mayor John Horhn gives an update on city issues to "The Other Side," including an arrest in the Beth Israel Congregation arson attack, the latest on the water system, the search for a new police chief as crime rates move in a positive direction and what the city hopes to get from the state legislative session. Hohrn says there are many challenges ahead for the state's capital city, and "We are a city that is a prototype for what ails America."
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Happy New Year, and a Happy Mississippi legislative session from 'The Other Side'
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today's team prognosticates on some major issues the state Legislature will tackle in this year's session, which kicks off Jan. 6. School choice and teacher pay, workforce development, prison health care reform and health care in general, and legalized online sports betting are all clear-and-present issues. Will there be any surprise issues at the Capitol this year?
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Will Mississippi see meaningful prison health care reform?
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today reporters Gwen Dilworth and Michael Goldberg recap some of the findings from their series “Behind Bars, Beyond Care,” which uncovered widespread accusations of lack of adequate health care in Mississippi prisons and the suffering it causes. They discuss the potential for passage of reform in the upcoming 2026 legislative session.
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Will Mississippi spend its opioid settlement dollars in a way that helps address the crisis and prevent deaths?
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today health reporter Allen Siegler and health editor Laura Santhanam give an update on the state’s plan to spend its initial pot of opioid lawsuit settlement money. Siegler’s in-depth reporting has chronicled some issues and raised serious questions about how the state and local governments are spending the money, which is supposed to help address the scourge of opioid addiction, which has cost at least 10,000 lives in Mississippi since 2000.
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Mississippi first responders want separate pension plan after changes to PERS
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers and New Albany Fire Chief Mark Whiteside said pending changes the Legislature made to the state employee retirement system will make it even harder to hire and retain first responders. They want the Legislature to revisit an overhaul of the Public Employee Retirement System set to take effect in March for those who serve in high-stress, low paying and dangerous first-responder jobs.
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Senator-elect Johnny DuPree says keeping constituents informed, educated on issues is vital
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Newly elected state Sen. Johnny DuPree is no stranger to state politics. He was longtime mayor of Hattiesburg and is a former Democratic nominee for governor. He outlines issues he’ll tackle in his new job, and vows to keep his constituents informed of what’s happening at the Capitol.
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The work of Mississippi Today's nonprofit newsroom.
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
Mississippi Today CEO and Executive Director Mary Margaret White, Jackson Editor Anna Wolfe and Editor-in-Chief Emily Wagster Pettus discuss Mississippi Today's mission as a nonprofit newsroom and how donors' support helps pay for expenses such as public records that journalists use in their work.
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Early education advocate Cathy Grace outlines dire issues facing childcare in Mississippi
The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast
The link between good, affordable child care and economic development is discussed by Cathy Grace of Tupelo, the early childhood program specialist with the non-profit North Mississippi Education Consortium. She praised Gov. Tate Reeves and other Mississippi political leaders for acknowledging the need for an additional commitment to child care, but said much more of an effort by the state is needed than what is currently being proposed.
info_outlineMississippi 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.