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The work of Mississippi Today's nonprofit newsroom.

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Release Date: 12/01/2025

Anna Wolfe gives an update on Teddy DiBiase welfare scandal trial show art 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 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' show art 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? show art 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? show art 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 show art 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 show art 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. show art 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 show art 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.

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Senate Elections Chair England on early voting, late counting, ballot initiative show art Senate Elections Chair England on early voting, late counting, ballot initiative

The Other Side: Mississippi Today’s Political Podcast

Sen. Jeremy England, chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, says he plans to again introduce legislation for Mississippi to join most other states and allow in-person, no-excuse early voting. He also talks about the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear a Mississippi case challenging the counting of mail-in ballots after Election Day, and about major issues he foresees in the 2026 legislative session.

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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.