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17. @ISSUE • The U.S. Supreme Court's Calais decision reinterprets the 1965 Voting Rights Act. What will the impact be for Mississippi?
29:00||Season 5, Ep. 17Last week the United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana's newly drawn congressional district should not have used race as a factor. Does the 1965 Voting Rights Act remain "substantially intact," as Republican Lucien Smith claims? Or has it been "nullified with the stroke of a pen," as Democrat Brandon Jones laments? Brandon and Lucien join host Wilson Stribling to discuss this momentous decision and its impact on Mississippi.
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16. @ISSUE • Mississippi’s Shield Act: Protecting election integrity or disenfranchising voters?
28:30||Season 5, Ep. 16Will the new Shield Act prevent non-citizens from voting in Mississippi elections? Or will it disenfranchise legal voters? Host Wilson Stribling interviews Senate Elections Committee chairman Jeremy England (R-Van Cleave) and University of Mississippi professor Marvin King for contrasting perspectives. Then Wilson welcomes Republican Lucien Smith and Democrat Brandon Jones for a spirited roundtable debate.15. @ISSUE • All about April 15: a very strange day at the Capitol
29:00||Season 5, Ep. 15The Legislature returned to Jackson last week, determined to override several of Governor Tate Reeves' vetoes. And then they didn't. Host Wilson Stribling welcomes analysts Brandon Jones and Lucien Smtih to discuss what was going on behind the scenes, who miscalculated, and what the results may mean for some of Mississippi's political leaders.14. @ISSUE • Mississippi’s Opioid Settlement Funds: How will the state spend its $400 million?
28:57||Season 5, Ep. 14Host Wilson Stribling interviews Drew Hawkins, the Gulf States Newsroom reporter who has closely covered Mississippi’s opioid addiction crisis and the state’s use of its opioid settlement funds. Analysts Brandon Jones and Lucien Smith then discuss the actions of the legislature, attorney general, and the opioid settlement advisory council as they plan how to spend the $400 million Mississippi will receive.13. @ISSUE • The 2026 Mississippi Legislative Session is over…for now.
28:17||Season 5, Ep. 13Host Wilson Stribling welcomes analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples for a look back at the recently concluded Mississippi legislative session. What were the biggest successes, failures, surprises, and lessons learned? With Republicans in control of state government, are the real battles now not between the parties, but between House and Senate, or even between the Legislative and Executive branches?12. @ISSUE • Storm Relief Veto Controversy • $7.4B State Budget • $2K Teacher Pay Raise • SHIELD Act • Pharmacy Benefit Managers • Supreme Court Redistricting
28:59||Season 5, Ep. 12The final week of the legislative session is upon us. Analysts Brandon Jones and Rebekah Staples join host Wilson Stribling to discuss the state’s $7.4 billion budget agreement, a smaller-than-hoped-for teacher pay raise, and the SHIELD Act, designed to ensure all voters are U.S. citizens. They also look at Governor Tate Reeves’ veto of a winter storm relief measure, and the confusion caused by a wording error in that bill.11. @ISSUE • Special Needs Education Tax Credits • PERS Changes • Jackson Water System • Medical Cannabis • Local & Private Bills
28:59||Season 5, Ep. 11Analysts Rebekah Staples and Brandon Jones join host Wilson Stribling for a look at multiple bills, almost all of which are now in conference committees. Highlights include a proposed amendment to the Children’s Promise Act creating new tax credits for special needs education, an explanation of Local & Private bills, and a look at the Jackson water system bill, and what it might mean for other municipalities.