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Empower Mississippi is committed to helping all Mississippians rise by removing barriers to opportunity. In this podcast, we talk with state and national experts about ways the Magnolia State can grow and thrive. These conversations help shape the debate for future legislative sessions and highlight policy changes that are necessary to make Mississippi the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family.
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Interview Library
Written by Empower Mississippi Mike Hurst: Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party Part two of the series with the party chairmen, host Grant Callen sat down with the recently elected chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, Mike Hurst. A Newton County native, Mike discussed growing up in rural Mississippi, raising a large family, and the momentum…
Written by Empower Mississippi State Rep. Cheikh Taylor: Chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party Part one of a two-part series with the party chairmen, host Grant Callen sat down with State Representative, Cheikh Taylor, newly reelected Chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party. The Starkville native, with his community in mind and the backing of his predecessor,…
Written by Empower Mississippi Andy Taggart: Forty Years In Mississippi Politics Taking the Empower Podcast on the road, host Grant Callen traveled to Ocean Springs to sit down with Andy Taggart to discuss his forty years in Mississippi politics. Andy’s political career started as Political Director at the Mississippi Republican Party, then Executive Director of the…
Written by Empower Mississippi 2024 Legislative Session Recap with Wil Ervin The 2024 Legislative Session has finally come to a close. As we look back at this 125+ day session, there were some really good bills passed, but there were also a lot of things left on the table. Generally, we saw a lot of progress made across…
Written by Empower Mississippi State Rep. Rodney Hall: Military Leader to the Mississippi Capitol When he was sworn into office in January, Rodney Hall became the first black Republican to serve in the Mississippi House of Representatives since the Reconstruction Era. With nearly 20 years of military service and experience as Legislative Director for Congressman Trent…
Written by Empower Mississippi State Rep. Zakiya Summers: Jackson Roots Run Deep Elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2019, Summers serves on the County Affairs, Drug Policy, Technology, Tourism, and Workforce Development Committees. Her Jackson roots run deep, as her grandfather, William Bill Summers, owned and operated The Summers Hotel, the city’s first black-owned…
Capitol Chat Library
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 4 A shortened week at the Capitol didn’t significantly stall progress ahead of a critical deadline next week. In this episode, we dive into the latest on House Bill 2 and highlight some intriguing bills that are already making their way through the legislative process.
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 3 With an ice storm looming and the bill introduction deadline behind them, lawmakers shifted gears during week three of the legislative session. We highlight a few bills drawing early attention and break down this week’s action, including a couple of celebrity appearances and the latest on House Bill…
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 2 A sweeping education bill, hours of debate, and a narrow House vote put school choice at the center of Week 2 action. In this edition of Capitol Chat, we unpack what happened with House Bill 2, take a quick look at early budget hearings, and highlight a few…
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 1 Capitol Chat is back for the 2026 legislative session, which is off to a quick start after only one week! Host Wil Ervin highlights early Senate action on teacher pay and public school choice, a sweeping House education bill, and a major Senate proposal to shore up PERS, setting the…
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Special Session Lawmakers were called into Special Session to adopt a $7.135 billion budget for State Fiscal Year 2026 after failing to adopt a budget during the 2025 regular session. Although it lasted only two days, the Special Session was not without drama and excitement. We break down all the…
Written by Empower Mississippi Capitol Chat: Week 13 In the Sine Die episode of Capitol Chat, we’re wrapping up the 2025 legislative session, which finished a bit ahead of schedule. However, lawmakers did not agree on a budget before adjourning, which means a special session is on the horizon. We break down the key details,…