Casino-Mogul Trump Going Against the Odds With 'Muslim Ban'
Based on the odds of terrorism actually taking place (as calculated by the right-leaning Cato Institute) a blanket ban on immigrants (much less people actually holding a green card or visa waiver) coming into the country tackles a "problem" that presents a very small threat to most Americans.
California Ban on Travel to Mississippi Goes into Effect Due to HB 1523
The demise of the Mississippi picnic in Central Park, news the Jackson Free Press broke early last week, is not the only economic and public-relations fallout of Mississippi's passage of the anti-LBGT House Bill 1523. On Jan. 1, California's banned state-funded and state-sponsored travel to North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and …
NSA Chief: 'Nation State' Interfered in U.S. Election
The National Security Administration isn't big on public statements, so this one by Admiral Michael Rogers, the NSA's current chief, is raising some eyebrows.
Cheers from (Some) Mississippi Trump fans: 'Why did we ever give the vote to women and blacks?'
The conservative Heritage Foundation came to Jackson last night for a shindig at Gov. Phil Bryant's mansion a block from the Jackson Free Press. Apparently, at least one conversation happened there between a Crystal Springs, Miss., man and the former U.S. senator from South Carolina who now heads Heritage, which …
Trump Calls Clinton a 'Bigot' While Rallying to Whites in Mississippi
The Republican nominee for president chose Mississippi's solidly Democratic and majority-black capital city tonight to call the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, a "bigot." At a rally in the Mississippi Coliseum (with many empty seats) Donald Trump said Clinton is a "bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not …
Gov. Phil Bryant: Trump 'a Chance to Save Our Country,' Unborn Children, Guns, Supreme Court (Verbatim)
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant just emailed his supporters urging them to support Donald Trump as the Republican convention gets ready to launch in Cleveland, Ohio. Here is his email verbatim: Dear Friend, In just about every previous election, we’ve all heard people running for office say “this election is the …
Release: Ministers, Community Leaders Applaud H.B. 1523 Court Decision
Verbatim release: A group of Mississippi ministers, community leaders, civic activists, and a Hattiesburg church who filed the first lawsuit challenging House Bill 1523 on the ground that it violates the principle of the separation of church and state, today applaud the decision of U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves, who agreed with their arguments and issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the controversial law from taking effect on July 1.
Supreme Court Upholds Race-Aware Admissions
In a 4-3 vote today the Supreme Court upheld the University of Texas' admissions policy that takes into account the race or ethnicity of applicants who aren't automatically admitted under the school's "10 Percent" rule. (The top percentage of all Texas high school graduates are automatically qualified for admittance; it's …
Southern Dem Heads, Including Mississippi's, to Bernie Sanders: Stop Mischaracterizing Southern Voters
Today, several southern Democratic Party heads, including Rickey Cole of Mississippi, signed a letter asking Bernie Sanders to stop characterizing southern voters as people who "distort reality": The letter, posted on Politico, started in part: We commend you on running a spirited campaign that has energized and mobilized a new …
UPDATED: Mississippi Picnic in Central Park Cancelled Due to HB 1523, Expected Protests
Organizers today cancelled the 37th Annual Mississippi Picnic in Central Park, saying it would not happen this year due to passage of House Bill 1523. The picnic was planned for Saturday, June 11, Noon to 5:00 pm in Central Park at 5th Avenue and 72nd Street. The theme of the …
CEO of Corporation Started by pro-HB1523 Rep. Bomgar Comes Out Against Bill
Rep. Joel Bomgar started the very successful company that still bears his name, although he no longer owns it. The CEO of Bomgar has now come out against House Bill 1523—a bill that the Republican representative supported. Here is Matt Dircks' full statement, verbatim: Bomgar Corporation was founded in Mississippi …
Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association Creates Campaign in Response to HB1523
This morning, the Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association announced plans to create the Everyone's Welcome Here Campaign in response to HB 1523. Here is a press release, verbatim, from the association: The Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association has announced its plans to create the EVERYONE’S WELCOME HERE campaign. Mike Cashion, …
Corporate CEOs Call on Bryant, GOP Leaders to Repeal HB 1523
The Human Rights Commission has releases a statement that includes an open letter to Governor Phil Bryant, Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves and Speaker Philip Gunn, calling on them to repeal HB 1523.
U.S. Rep Bennie Thompson: HB 1523 Backers Paint Mississippi as 'Backwards, Insensitive and Discriminatory'
The responses to Gov. Phil Bryant's signing of HB 1523 today are coming fast and furious, but this one by U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson really stands out. Here it is, verbatim: “Last week, the Mississippi Legislature agreed on a version of House Bill No. 1523, the so-called “Protecting Freedom of …
Mississippi Manufacturers Association to Bryant: Veto the Anti-LGBT Bill
The Human Rights Campaign this evening announced in a release that the Mississippi Manufacturers Association—a frequent contributor to conservative candidates and supporter of "pro-business" legislation in Mississippi—is calling on Governor Phil Bryant to veto HB 1523, which has passed both houses and awaits the Governor's response.
Will New Anti-LGBT Laws in Mississippi, North Carolina Block Federal Funds?
The New York Times is reporting that new religious "conscience" law allowing discrimination against LGBTQ people, and perhaps others, could block federal funding for the states, such as Mississippi, that are considering such laws: The Obama administration is considering whether North Carolina’s new law on gay and transgender rights makes …
Brilliant SNL, Daily Show Videos Respond to Trump, Racist Supporters—As We All Must
This weekend, I've seen a lot of excuses for Donald Trump's bigotry and xenophobia from his supporters, who don't seem to have many reasons for supporting him other than they are sick and tired of the way things are now. One gentleman showed up on my Facebook page to defend …
Updated: Visual Guide to Super Tuesday & Results
Super Tuesday is here, with 865 pledged delegates up for grabs for the Democratic candidates and 595 available to the Republican candidates. Here's a visual guide to the states in play and the delegate counts. Super Tuesday Guide | InsideGov Here's the Presidential Primary tracker, updated as results come in: …
Clinton Leads Going into S.C., Sanders Leads Among Youngest Voters
Rolling into the South Carolina primary this weekend, here's a visual look at some of the polling data. While former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is favored by a significant margin (59-40), it is interesting to see the older candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, with stronger support among the youngest voters. …
Mississippi Solar Alerts Fans of Solar Power (and Energy Oversight) to Legislative "Power Grab"
Mississippi Solar LLC, a solar panel installation company, sent an "urgent alert" today to media and followers regarding House Bill 1139 and Senate Bill 2089 in the Mississippi legislature, which they say would gut the power of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, reverse recent moves toward net metering and widely …