Hello and welcome to this week's edition of Mississippi Happening's podcast.
My name is David Olds and I am your co-host and with me is my friend and cohort and partner in crime, could say Mr.
Jim Newman.
Jim, how are you my buddy?
I'm fine.
uh I've managed to stay out of jail and that's an accomplishment.
um And I don't know, getting started, I want to read you the cover of the New Republic magazine.
Let's hear it.
To count to one million without stopping takes 11 days.
To count to one billion without stopping takes 32 years.
We've got in this country, 15 Americans who have more than $100 billion.
To count Elon Musk's fortune without stopping would take more than 13,000 years.
Now,
bah.
Who in the hell needs that much money?
Elon Musk, I'm sorry.
That's the problem we've got in this country right now.
There's too much money in too few hands.
And I'll leave it at that.
Well, let me play Devil's Advocate with you again.
Let me do that.
uh
Aren't we a capitalist society?
We are, but there is a point at which...
You've got to capitalism with society and our society is suffering.
We used to be a country where there was a big, nice American dream that my kids would grow up and have a better life than I did.
That's not possible anymore.
It's just not possible.
We are getting back to the 1920s and 10s and so forth, where we had the Rockefellers, the Carnegie's, the Vanderbilts and monopolies.
And if you don't think that's true, take a look at Amazon.
They sell absolutely everything.
And if you
Put your product on there.
I'm told.
or I have heard, because I don't want to be sued, but I know that there's the possibility that Amazon can find a distributor that will make it cheaper.
uh But isn't that the American way?
One could argue ah Elon Musk earned his money.
He earned his money.
He did investments.
Now granted, we all know he didn't come up with the idea of the Tesla.
He didn't design a thing, but he financed it.
So.
He financed it with government money.
Okay.
Why can't average American do that too?
If I had an idea, can I go to the government and get money?
I don't know.
Probably not.
But I'm a capitalist, but they need to be taxed.
Gotcha.
not being taxed at a rate that allows for.
money to be available for schools and infrastructure.
ah I don't care whatever you want to call it.
Housing.
It's just, there's just.
on that, absolutely, know.
just too much money in too few hands.
Remember what I said?
15 Americans have more than $100 billion dollars
Is Trump in that 15?
Okay.
Was it sure?
I mean, we used to tax up to 60 % or so.
Mm-hmm.
But now it's...
If you talk about taxing the quote wealthy.
Uh-huh.
You raise all sorts of cane and pushback and everything else.
Nobody wants to lose what they've got.
And why?
I mean, what do do with $100 billion dollars?
Well, a lot of...
that in a lifetime.
But then you can give it to your kids and your grandkids and your great great grandkids.
of the problems.
We've created generational wealth.
And then there's not what uh the inheritance tax.
I'm not sure what's the latest on what they did with that.
I'm not here.
Yeah.
And by the way, for our viewers, today is just a conversation between Jim and I.
One of the things that we pride ourselves on is we have some very interesting guests.
uh We and you know, from uh Nancy Loom to former Governor Ronnie Musgrove to uh Republican Representative Becky.
ah and we listen.
Now occasionally I get on my soapbox and I talk about things that are really important as well as Jim.
But today what we just wanted to do, we wanted to have a conversation between us ah to let you guys know a little bit more about us, what we believe, ah and basically just have a
conversation among us.
So please.
indulge us oh with that.
So that's what we're doing today.
um So Jim, what else do you want to talk about?
You talked about, what about uh the oligarchy?
What is that?
The oligarchies, those are the people that I'm talking about.
A couple of things that I'd really like to talk about is first of all, em I grew up in a private school, grade school and high school.
My father paid for my education.
Now.
we've got in Mississippi is around the country.
ah People who believe that the government ought to pay for private school education.
And I don't agree with that.
I think if you want to go to a private school, that's fine.
You can put up your money and you can support that school and all of its facilities and teachers, etc.
But public taxpayer money should not be going to private schools.
It ought to be going to public schools.
but, and my kids grew up in public schools and my grandkids are in public schools.
But okay, let me once again, devil's advocate here.
But wait a minute.
If I'm a parent and my child wants to go to a private school, I want to send them to the private school.
But I'm also a taxpayer.
Why should my tax money be going to pay for your kid going to school?
Why can't I take that money and do it for private schools?
It's my money.
It's my tax money.
It's all of our money.
It's not just your taxes.
Your taxes wouldn't support one kid going to private school.
So public funds end up supplementing whatever the costs are.
we don't, I don't know where this idea.
ever got started that public taxes ought to pay for private schools.
Mm-hmm.
I realize that there are some public schools that are not as good as others.
And I think parents ought to have the opportunity to transfer their students to a better public school if that's necessary, particularly probably in ah some of the.
metropolitan areas ah where there's not a very large tax base and it's predominantly minorities.
They ought to have the opportunity to send their kids to another public school.
And that then brings up the problem.
Why are the public schools in metropolitan areas not equal?
Okay.
the here in Lee County when the county supervisors divide up their money to the public schools in Lee County, not Tupelo, but the public schools in Lee County.
The majority of it over the past few years has gone to the northern half of the county and the southern half, Shannon and Verona have suffered.
for lack of funding.
Mm-hmm.
that's not right.
I thought it was very interesting when we interviewed Nancy Loom with the Parents Campaign.
She brought out some very good points in support of, which people that know us and have heard us, that we are advocates and we support public education.
And we do not, and we know that it is against the Mississippi Constitution.
And this is something we also talked with Republican Representative Becky Curry.
It is unconstitutional to take public education funds and give it to school vouchers and give it to private schools.
We know that happens.
ah
And it does.
ah
just approved another academy last legislative session.
Yes, and a little history and history is history.
You can't change history.
You know, the reason why public, excuse me, private schools came to be in Mississippi and Jim, correct me if I'm wrong or if you think I'm wrong.
The reason why private education, private schools came about was because of desegregation in Mississippi in the seventies.
And I think that's a fact.
But one thing that Nancy Loom mentioned is it's important for the whole state to have an educated society, not just one group.
And there's a lot to be said sometimes that oh Mississippi wants to keep its
population uneducated.
Because if they're uneducated, they don't think and they're pretty much stuck in a rut.
And it's easy for them to possibly be manipulated for uh lack of a better word.
Well, not only that, it's a way of, I hate this word, voter suppression.
But if you don't educate the population, they don't go to the polls and vote.
those that get college educations or get...
I don't know, well-educated ah will be able to continue to control what's going on in the state for their own benefit.
And still on the subject, excuse me, of education, there was a report in the Mississippi Today dated August the 22nd, 2025.
So that was just a few weeks ago.
Daphna Bose, B-O-S-E, she was talking about a recent report that shows Mississippi is failing to comply
with federal special education requirements in 10 categories.
And this is including supervision of how well districts follow the laws and by allowing people to, with suspect qualification to conduct dispute resolution hearings.
and this is a quote from Danita Monday.
And she is a former Mississippi Department of Education employee.
And she is an advocate for, ah I had it up here a minute ago, for advocates.
She is with the Mississippi FAPE, F-A-P-E, which is Free, Appropriate Public Education Defense League.
And I love this.
People working within the system,
have been concerned Mississippi is not compliant.
And I love this quote.
This is validation that what we have been saying for years and she says, they're stepping on bugs.
uh They've been found out about non-compliance through complaints and writing corrective action to fix it, but they're stepping on bugs.
And I would love to.
hear her take on special education in uh Mississippi and also this 47 page uh report that Mississippi is not compliant.
I'd love to be able to talk to her and get her thoughts on that.
probably not the only thing Mississippi's not complying in.
You know, as long as we're talking about this, maybe we ought to just in case anybody hasn't figured it out yet.
ah David and I are kind of conservatives and progressives.
So ah
I don't know how what we're talking about comes over to you, but we think it's important for all of the children.
All.
That means every child should be educated to the most possible potential that the state can offer.
Absolutely.
uh
does not include segregating those with wealth to go to academies and have private education.
But it does call on all of us to insist that our public schools are number one and that the dollars necessary to go there and that there is
oversight to make sure that our kids are getting the kind of education they deserve.
And apparently it is available because every year we have high school graduates that are going to the military academies, that are going to some of the Ivy League schools.
And then we've got a majority or a lot or other that are staying at home going to our community colleges for two years and then moving on to four years.
So a good education is available without having to go to a private academy.
And it's getting to the point that
it almost sounds to me like we're going backwards and starting to reintegrate society.
So, uh, that's my thought.
ah
I'm with you 100 % on it.
And I'm glad you brought up the fact that, uh yes, we are progressives.
ah There are certain things that we support.
And it's interesting.
I had a conversation with a uh friend.
And yes, it was through Facebook.
And he and I are.
pretty much on opposite ends, but it was a good conversation.
What's that?
You have friends?
A few, you know, a But I had a lot more before Donald Trump was elected or before he walked down that uh Golden's whatever, you know, with, yeah, whatever it is, you know, I
had a lot more.
Yeah, I had a lot more before then, but you know, the ones that I've lost, I don't miss a bit, but a real good.
friend of ours, Edward Conley.
I think he lives up in New York state, but he was in Oxford for the summer, I guess you could say.
And he did a comparison, progressive versus conservative.
And this is a key areas of progressive versus conservative opposition 2025.
And there's 18 specific.
policies and what couple of things I do want to bring out education, progressives, support federal oversight, funding for public education, student loan forgiveness and equity in
education.
And we all know Donald Trump along with Linda McMahon and
and the conservatives are wanting to eliminate the Department of Education, which is going to be a disaster for states like Mississippi, states that are non-compliant based on the
Mississippi Today report that I just talked about.
Now, this is the education policy for a conservative.
Advocate for school choice.
school vouchers, reduce federal role, ending the Department of Education, and opposing student loan forgiveness.
Now, uh
like a Republican.
Absolutely.
But you know, this is the conversation I have with a friend of mine.
Does anybody know, somebody tell me what a conservative is nowadays?
You know, is it a, is it a physical conservative?
I'm sorry, go ahead.
I consider myself to be a fiscal conservative and a liberal social.
And I don't think I've got any problems in either area.
I want the federal government, actually, what I'd love to see the federal government have to do is the same thing the states do, have to have a balanced budget.
They can't just keep going.
I mean, we are at 37 trillion.
Trillion!
and
And I can't even think of the figure that has gone up since Donald Trump is back in the office.
Well, pick up your cell phone and try to punch in $37 trillion.
It won't take it.
Got it.
That ought to tell you something.
I don't know how many zeros that would be.
I don't either,
We don't have, and I'm.
Uh, no, I'm going to say it anyhow.
We don't have any.
Democrats?
Well, maybe we got a couple.
But basically, we don't have a Democratic party or a Republican party that has any spine.
I agree.
um
up there is looking out for themselves and their own reelection.
uh
Yeah, and that's sad.
And the Democrats have got to do something.
They've got to get off their ass, sorry, and do something.
They've got to speak up.
Now's the time.
And they just, they're just rolling over.
And I don't understand that.
Let's get, to get back to, you were talking earlier about the tax policies.
Progressive.
This is what progressive support, and I'm like you, I'm conservative.
You can't...
As far as fiscal, you can't spend money you don't have.
As much as I would love to, I can't do that.
uh Tax policy, progressive.
Support progressive taxation, higher rates for the wealthy, closing loopholes, and using tax revenue to fund social programs.
Now.
This is a conservative tax policy.
reads, favor lower taxes across the board, especially for corporations and high earners, flat or consumption taxes, and reducing or eliminating many tax credits and deductions.
And that burden is on the middle income.
I mean, on the middle, is there still a middle income?
And I forgot the word, the middle income, the middle group, the middle, what is it, Jim?
Middle class, thank you.
Yeah, that five little word class.
oh And once again, this comes from Edward Conley.
And oh the other thing that scares me in Mississippi,
and we've talked about this before.
We talked to Kara Roby about it and we talked to, I think, Cliff Johnson about it.
What is the elimination of the state income tax going to do for Mississippi?
It scares me.
Go ahead.
They, the Democrats fought that I believe.
But right now, if anybody is still listening, I hope they are.
Right now in DeSoto County, we have an opportunity, we being Democrats, if the state Democratic party would get off its ass and do something.
and help with some funds or people there are four ah legislative seats that are going to be up for election in November.
Yes.
It takes two of them.
We just got to win two of them to stop the super majority in the house.
just two.
I've been calling around to various people I know asking them to if they can spend a weekend up there ah knocking on doors or if they will send money to DeSoto County
Democrats.
ah This is an opportunity that we haven't had in years and
to stop a super majority is nothing better could, yes.
or 20 years or whatever.
I know and.
The people in DeSoto County are doing the work.
They need the help.
And I don't see the state Democratic Party out there really working hard to make things happen.
mean, two seats, two out of four, 50%.
And it's possible.
There's a potential to win three, but it's very possible to win two.
And that would break a super majority.
And what that would mean for the state is that we would get back at least to a two party system in the Mississippi legislature.
It's a two party system is good.
It's healthy.
It's accountability.
And there is no accountability in Jackson now.
There's no, it's a free reign.
And also, you know, for our viewers, no, we do not support a candidate.
We cannot, we do not support a candidate on Mississippi Happenings
But we do support a two-party system.
Would you agree, Jim?
absolutely.
But in this case, I'm supporting.
the Democrats that are running in Desoto County because I want to stop the super majority.
When you've got a super majority, it's like two partners in a business.
If both of them agree all the time, one of them isn't needed.
Well, we've got a legislature and a Senate where...
They both agree.
On the Republican side, they agree.
And they don't need any Democrats.
They can pass whatever they want.
And that's not good government.
Understood.
Okay.
Well, I was going to say, was going to promote a book, but I'm not going to do that right now.
It's How Fascism Works, The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley.
I'm not going to do that right now because we could talk for days about this, but this scares me.
and what's going on in Washington today.
What else?
Yes.
Why in the hell is Mississippi sending, and make sure I'm right on my numbers, 200, was it 200,000?
I'm sorry, 200, okay, sorry.
Why in the hell is...
Tate Reeves sending, I'm asking this question to Jim, because I know you're going to give me the answer and I can't wait to hear it.
Why is Tate Reeves sending 200 National Guard members to fight crime in the District of Columbia?
I have no idea when what I've heard and understand is that the crime rate in Hattiesburg and Jackson is higher than it is in Washington DC.
And if you're gonna send the National Guard to Washington, why don't you send it to your home state and let's clean up.
the crime that we've got here.
But ah all I can tell you is we've got a Republican governor.
He likes the president and he supports him.
So ah I think that's the answer.
ah And I keep hearing stories.
I try to ah watch various news media coverage.
and in more than one media uh or network, which you might want to call it, ah I've seen the National Guards in Washington doing gardening and making DC a little more beautiful
place to stay.
uh
The National Guard is not trained.
They are trained to do two things, break things and kill people.
That's what they're trained to do.
It's.
we don't need that training in any of our cities.
What we do need is that 800 billion that was cut out of the big beautiful budget to add more police officers and put these police officers walking the streets in areas where the
crime is highest.
Yeah, I agree with you on that.
And Trump did not ask Mississippi.
Trump did not ask Tennessee, but both, and I think maybe wrong, I think was Louisiana, but I know for a fact, Trump did not ask for Mississippi or Tennessee to send them, but they
did.
And that's, know, I just don't get it.
And yes, I don't have the figures in front of me, but yes, the state of Mississippi has a higher crime rate than DC.
And my guess is also, Tennessee has a higher crime rate.
now, Trump is wanting to send, oh could possibly send the National Guard.
to Memphis, which is an hour from you and oh five minutes away from me.
Do we really want the National Guard occupy our cities?
Are we becoming a police state?
Tell me I'm wrong.
Tell me we're not becoming a police state.
But that's what it seems like to me.
When you said National Guard,
And we see pictures of them and they're picking up trash.
The National Guard is not, well, I don't know.
I've never been in the National Guard, but I would think.
They've got a better use for their time than to pick it up trash in DC.
I think personally, I think the problem is we've elected mayors.
in so many cities.
who do not realize that the number one job of a mayor is to protect the people of his city.
and that just seems to go by the wayside with
an extremely large number of
social issues that need to be addressed of course but the number one job is to protect your citizens and if that requires more police you hire more police and take the money out
of your budget and cut the budget in other places.
But it also.
the National Guard is going to come to your city.
but it also appears...
TC has a black mayor.
Memphis has a black mayor.
oh I'm sorry.
Chicago does, LA does.
So.
Is he saying ah that all of these mayors are incompetent or is he sending them because they're all black?
Now, knowing
What I read about Trump, what Trump has said out of his own mouth, I don't think he gives a crap about the crime rate in any cities.
Only thing he cares about is that those mayors happen to be black.
And I say that as an older white male.
I see you.
Thank you, Jim.
What's up?
Talk to me.
My thought is that DC apparently the guards not being properly used, but I can see.
if the guard comes into a city and
Relieves.
the police department of some of the duties which would allow them to put more officers out in the crime areas.
I can see how that would be beneficial.
So you're okay with Trump sending National Guard to cities?
No, I'm not.
And yet...
I hear a but...
And I'm looking for words.
ah
I don't think it can continue as it has.
The numbers are coming down and I think that of course is good.
And I think Trump needs to wait and make sure that the numbers are continuing to come down.
And if they're not, then when...
the next mayoral election is held, the voters will have an opportunity to speak.
And if they're concerned about crime, and they've got a mayor, mayoral candidate, whose number one issue is crime, be it Chicago, be it Little Rock, Hattiesburg, New Orleans,
Oakland, wherever.
Memphis, then they have the opportunity to vote for that candidate whose number one priority is bringing down crime.
And that to me is the way that things ought to be solved.
I don't think sending the National Guard in is the way that you solve this problem because this problem exists.
because of lack of education and poverty and mental health, all things that the National Guard don't have anything to do with and can't do anything about.
So, no, I'm not in favor of the National Guard coming into cities, but I am in favor of
those cities that are having crime issues.
electing mayors and police chiefs who want to protect their citizens and are willing to do whatever it takes and put the officers out in the high crime areas of their cities.
bring about some justice.
And then at the same time, you know, me personally, I don't want to put my life on the line for $55,000.
Police officers need to be paid better.
Absolutely.
oh For those that are watching oh and if they see me looking away and if you see me looking, oh I have another laptop over here that I pull up some stuff and look at.
So I'm not disregarding Jim or the listeners, the viewers.
But I just pulled this up and this is from
This is a violent crime in DC.
Hits a 30 year low, and this was Friday, January the third, 2025.
So, and this is from the U.S.
Attorney's Office, District of Columbia.
Now.
So it doesn't make sense ah that Trump is doing this to DC.
I think he's only doing it as a political ploy.
I think he's only doing it because the mayor of DC and sidetrack, DCD has become a state, but that's a whole different thing.
But he's only doing it because there's a black mayor.
Now, Jim, let's do this.
OK, go for it.
It's amazing to me that none of this came about until the Epstein files showed up and people really started demanding accountability and transparency and everything else.
And then he tried multiple other things ah like meeting Putin in Alaska.
various other things to get the media off of the Epstein files.
And it didn't work.
And he finally got something that did, sending the National Guard to Washington DC.
If you notice, the Epstein files have not been front and center lately.
They're still hanging around, but they haven't been nearly as front and center.
And we got to get it back out to the front and center.
We got it.
But you're right.
ah
I personally, I believe that the Epstein files.
I mean, release the names of everybody that took flights on Epstein's airplane down to his private island.
I'd like to see who all went down there.
Yeah.
And I'm like you, I don't care if Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton.
I don't care if he's on there.
If he's on there, he's on there.
I don't care if Pope Francis was on there.
You know?
Well, I would.
Well, I mean, he'd be the he should be treated the same way as all of them, but release it, release it.
protecting some billionaires, some billionaires whose names they don't want to release because it will cause public embarrassment.
And you know, as far as I'm concerned, if you got on an airplane and went down to Epstein's Island to a party, ah I don't think very much of you.
Yeah.
And these are children, you know, children.
I'm sorry.
and I hate to, you know, they keep talking about young adults.
They're not adults.
They're young girls and maybe young boys.
I, it's absurd.
we got to forget, you know, in a way, forget the Epstein files.
Listen to the victims.
You know?
But anyway, let's do this.
I do want to kind of wind this down a little bit.
I do want to thank one of our sponsors, especially today, and that's uh Alpha Insurance in Olive Branch.
And Jim, I will turn it over to you to close this out.
now now oh i get the fun part i know i can't i i know that this past 45 minutes has been the most exciting time of some of your lives i just know that for a fact it can't possibly
be to see two clowns like us ah
agreeing on things ah that maybe you agree with too.
And I would like to say that the opportunity to watch these two clowns costs us money.
So.
We could use a little bit of assistance ah on a monthly basis.
ah We have to pay people to ah record this and then get it out.
uh
then we don't do this dog and pony show between David and I very often.
In fact, this is the first time.
But when we start getting, as we have in the past, ah people like Jamie Barnett, Rear Admiral, Nancy Loom, and Governor Musgrove, and everybody, it gives you an opportunity to
hear from the people.
who actually are doing the work.
This is an unusual show.
This is about, this is us talking to each other.
When we have a regular show podcast, we don't disagree with whoever we're having on.
We let them talk.
We let them talk about what their issues are or what their projects are.
And for us to be able to do that, it costs us money.
So I would ask if any of you have enjoyed today, if you've enjoyed it and have got a little bit of change around and you don't know what to do with it.
I would certainly appreciate it if you'd consider sending it to Mississippi Happenings.
because it does cost money to make these podcasts and we release them generally every Tuesday.
But this being a long weekend, it'll be released tomorrow.
So.
David, could you tell us where they can go to send their nickels and dimes or $5 bills?
Absolutely, absolutely.
uh Let's see, and I have to always look at this to make sure I'm doing it right.
The cash app is the dollar sign, MS Happenings, ah or PayPal is the at sign, MS Happenings.
That is Happenings with.
and S, so that is Cash App, the dollar sign, MS Happenings, and the PayPal is the oh at sign oh MS Happenings.
uh Also, will soon, also our website.
As MS happenings are and we do want to hear from you good bad end up and indifferent You know if you something you like, please send us an email if something you don't like Send
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It's so important that we get information out.
It's so important that we study our history, we learn from our history, and you can't change history.
I mean, you just can't, oh as much as I'd like to change my history.
anyway, oh and Jim, God, we all need to change Jim's history.
Absolutely.
ah
go ahead.
One of the things I was going to mention is that, yes, we're both Democrats and we're both somewhere progressive.
Yes.
I can't tell you the number of Republican legislators I have asked to come on.
not to do a hatchet job, but just to tell us what's coming up in the next legislature.
None of them want to come on.
We're not gonna question them.
We're not gonna disagree with them.
If they've got bills they wanna introduce, wonderful.
Let us know about them so that we are informed about what's going on.
And the public then will...
make their decision.
Maybe they'll call a legislator.
Maybe they won't.
But if you know some Republicans that are willing to come on and just have a conversation.
Let us know or call them and tell them to call us.
I mean, I don't understand.
Well, I really do understand the Republicans not wanting to come on.
but we need to them to putting out what they are planning on doing in the upcoming legislature.
And the only way we're gonna be able to do it is through media and getting them to come forward and talk to the public.
And that's what we're trying to do.
So
If you know one, please let us know or tell him or her to contact us.
and a prime example of that, and, I have so much respect for, for this woman and that was a house representative, Becky Curry.
and we had a good conversation when we're not recording and great conversation when we were, were recording.
And it was quite evident we are, you know, this, mean, we're far apart in politics, but we found that one thing.
She is a Trump fan.
That's fine.
I'm a never Trump-er.
But we found middle ground.
And that's what's so important.
yes, we do want to speak to the Republicans.
We do want to speak to those that don't uh necessarily agree with everything that we say.
But it's so important to keep the conversation going.
And with that, I am going to close and say thank you.
Thank you.
We do appreciate it.
Yes, we need donations.
Yes, we need sponsors.
Yes, we need subscribers.
oh But I also do want to leave this with you as well.
May we never become indifferent to the suffering of others.
Thanks so much.