Share
Mississippi Edition
1/14/21 - Vaccinations Reach Capacity | Impeachment and Insurrection | Book Club: The Prophets
Appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations through the health department has reached capacity following a surge in demand.
Then, we examine the latest effort to impeach and convict President Donald Trump, and how accountability for the insurrection at the Capitol could extend to lawmakers.
Plus, in our Book Club, “The Prophets,” by Robert Jones, Jr.
Segment 1:
Vaccine appointments available through the state's drive-thru vaccine locations are full. The Mississippi Department of Health says recent changes to the state's vaccine rollout have filled all 52 thousand appointments at the state's drive-thru vaccination sites. These changes also created technical difficulties and long wait times for residents hoping to schedule an appointment for themselves or a loved one. Dr. Mark Horne, President of the Mississippi State Medical Association, says the quick changes to vaccine availability caused a surge in demand that was difficult to accommodate.
Segment 2:
Following a day of debate and voting on Capitol Hill, President Donald Trump became the first President to be impeached multiple times yesterday. Lawmakers voted in a bi-partisan majority on a single article of impeachment - inciting insurrection - following the violent insurrection at the Capitol last week. 10 Republicans crossed the aisle to join Democrats in placing some of the blame at the feet of the President. That group did not include Mississippi's three Republican House delegates.
Matt Steffey is a Professor at the Mississippi College School of Law. We spoke to him ahead yesterday's vote on latest effort to impeach and convict President Donald Trump, and how accountability for the insurrection at the Capitol could extend to lawmakers.
Segment 3:
A debut novel by a black, queer writer is garnering a lot of attention for its story of a loving relationship between two enslaved men on a plantation in Mississippi. The book is being praised for its prose. Author, Robert Jones Jr., is already a well-known and respected writer and tells us about his work that precedes today’s Book Club choice, “The Prophets.”
More episodes
View all episodes
03/28/2025: Income Tax Elimination Signed | Recovery Efforts | Caregivers
23:29|Governor Tate Reeves signs a bill eliminating the state's income tax.Then, disaster response teams are on the ground in Tylertown and surrounding communities to help with recovery efforts from this month's tornadoes.Plus, Mississippi has the worst scores for long term care services for the elderly.
03/27/2025: Tornado Related Death | Tax Cut Negotiations | Storm Insurance Claims
23:36|Among the 7 Mississippians who died as a result of the March 14th and 15th tornadoes was a child. Their parents, and the community of Tylertown, are mourning the loss.Then, Lawmakers have until Saturday night to negotiate a new tax bill to fix an error-riddled Senate bill passed last week. Plus, insurance officials are sharing tips on when to file a claim in the wake of a storm.
03/26/2025: Tax Expert | Equal Pay Day | Foreign Aid
23:35|We speak with a tax expert about how lawmakers may have made a typo when passing a bill that would eliminate income tax in Mississippi.Then, for Equal Pay Day, black women from across Mississippi are seeking to draw attention to the gender wage gap.Plus, advocates for Mississippi's agriculture industry are calling on Washington to protect foreign aid.
03/25/2025: Tornado Survivors | Panhandling Bill | Congressman Thompson
23:58|Hear from survivors of the tornado that tore through Tylertown on March 15th. Our Michael McEwen takes us there as they continue recovery efforts.Then, Governor Tate Reeves has signed a bill into law that strictly regulates panhandling. But legal experts say it could violate the First Amendment.Plus, Mississippi's 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson reacts to some of the major changes happening in Washington.
03/24/2025: Rolling Fork Tornado | Tax Cut Legislation | US Dept. of Education
24:01|It's been exactly two years since an EF-4 tornado hit rolling fork. And last night, another tornado was spotted in the area.Then, lawmakers have passed a major tax cut bill that will eliminate the state income tax. But critics say it's not going to benefit the average Mississippian.Plus, we speak with a researcher about how a shutdown of the US Department of Education could affect Mississippi schools.
03/21/2025: Tax Bill Passes House | Social Security Concerns | Data Centers
23:30|House lawmakers have voted to concur with the Senate on a bill that will eliminate the state income tax.Then, concerns are being raised about the closure of several Social Security offices in Mississippi, even as the Administration is set to require in-person identity checks.Plus, data centers are bringing multi-billion dollar investments into communities, including those in the South.
03/20/2025: Thompson Town Hall | Parchman Poetry | Tornado Shelter Maps
24:14|Mississippi's 2nd District Congressman shares an update from Washington and hears feedback from his constituents.Then, Inmates in Unit 29 at Parchman Prison share stories of life behind bars through a collection of essays and poetry. Plus, a map of storm shelters across Mississippi shows the major gaps in safe places for folks to go during tornado warnings.
03/19/2025: Tax Cuts | Dems Opposition | Food Donations
23:40|Republicans in the Mississippi House are sharing their thoughts on the latest tax cut proposals.Then, House Democrats are speaking out against those tax cuts and legislation that would ban "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" initiatives.Plus, As residents in the southern part of the state clear out debris and salvage what remains of their lives, a nonprofit relief organization provides hot, chef-prepared meals.
03/18/2025: Tax Cut Changes | Storm Recovery | Postal Worker Rally
24:05|Mississippi legislators are moving closer to a compromise plan that could eliminate the state's income tax. Then, Mississippians are picking up the pieces after an outbreak of destructive storms roared through the state over the weekend. Plus, Mail carriers in South Mississippi are sounding the alarm on proposed changes to the U.S. Postal Service