The Clay Edwards Show

I recently had the honor of appearing as a guest on The Rob Maness Show, hosted by Colonel Rob Maness—a true American hero with over 32 years of service in the U.S. military, rising from enlisted ranks to full colonel. He's commanded bomber squadrons, handled bomb disposal, worked on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and even authored the first theater nuclear war plan. If anyone knows about fighting for what's right and making tough decisions under pressure, it's Colonel Maness. We dove deep into a hot-button issue here in Mississippi: school choice, or as some call it, education freedom. As the host of The Clay Edwards Show on 103.9 WYAB in Jackson—Mississippi's most incendiary talk radio show and podcast—I was excited to bring my unfiltered perspective to the table, especially since the Colonel and I usually align on conservative issues, but this one's got some real friction.

 

The episode kicked off with Colonel Maness setting the stage, highlighting how school choice is a top priority for incoming Mississippi House Speaker Jason White. He played a clip from my own show where I was chatting with Jamie Smith, a 20-plus-year veteran educator turned insurance agent, about the realities of school choice. Jamie and I hammered home the point that if this is truly about the kids, we need to fix failing districts like Jackson Public Schools (JPS) and those in the Mississippi Delta instead of just gutting them by letting students bail to better areas. Why not start by addressing the root problems—poverty, lack of resources, and long bus rides that aren't feasible for Delta kids? We called out the conservative think-tankers and charter school investors who stand to profit big if school choice passes, often while their own kids are already in private schools. Let's be real: this isn't always about the children; sometimes it's about the money.

 

From there, the Colonel and I got into a respectful, no-holds-barred conversation—MAGA-style, marketplace of ideas, not shouting each other down. I made it clear right away: I'm not against choice entirely. In fact, I support about two-thirds of the typical school choice proposals. I'm fine with charter schools (even if I think the word "charter" only belongs in sentences about schools, whiskey, or NASCAR teams). I'm okay with money following the student for private options or homeschooling—hey, if you're paying taxes, you should have a say in how it's spent on education. I'd even love a tax credit for folks like me who don't have kids in school anymore (though I know that's a Hail Mary). But where I draw the line, and I made this my hill to die on, is the public-to-public transfer aspect. That's the 33% that's a non-starter for me.

 

I explained my "Jackson problem" in detail—without sugarcoating it, even if it risks sounding edgy in today's hyper-sensitive world. Jackson, our state's capital, is plagued by what I call "cultural rot" or "Democrat death culture," as my buddy Kim Wade puts it. It's a third-world Democrat hellhole where bad policies have led to sky-high crime, failing infrastructure, and schools that are beyond broken. Folks like me (I was one of the last to leave three years ago, basically turning out the lights) had to make huge sacrifices to escape it. I shared my personal story: after my nightclubs closed in 2010-2011, I hit rock bottom financially, lost everything, and had to move back in with my parents in Jackson with my daughter. We even had to legally relocate her to my grandmother's in Florence, Rankin County, just to get her into a better school district. It was humiliating, but that's the American way—pull up your bootstraps, make tough choices, downsize if needed, and move to safer, better communities like Brandon, Pearl, or Madison.

 

These suburbs in the tri-county area (Hinds, Madison, Rankin) are thriving because people chose discipline, law and order, and accountability. We don't want that cultural rot seeping in via public-to-public transfers, where Jackson parents can stay in their loosey-goosey, lawless environment (riding dirty with pot, shunning discipline) but send their kids to our schools. It's not racism—it's about preserving communities built on shared values. I pointed out how polls claiming 70-80% support for school choice are misleading; they're asking loaded questions like "Should parents have a say in their kids' education?" Of course, yes! But ask the real one: "Should kids from failing Jackson schools be bused to your suburb without the family moving?" The answer's a resounding no from conservatives and even Democrats I've talked to out here.

 

We touched on real-world examples: schools like Pearl using tag readers to catch Jackson parents faking addresses. I shared a conversation with a hardworking Jackson mom (a waitress with three jobs) who overheard me debating this—she cares deeply about her kids but can't physically shuttle them due to her schedule. Does she lack "skin in the game" just because she's grinding to make ends meet? That's the nuance think-tankers ignore. Colonel Maness brought up his own experience homeschooling his autistic son when public schools failed him, and we agreed on the need for tailored solutions, not one-size-fits-all policies like the disastrous busing he endured in Tennessee.

 

We also discussed incentives: why reward bad voting habits in Democrat strongholds? Fix JPS and the Delta first—incentivize teachers to move there (with 6,000+ vacancies statewide), offer relocation programs for families on assistance. I floated ideas like educational Uber vouchers for transportation if transfers happen, but emphasized prioritizing local kids and respecting district boundaries. On oversight, we debated accountability for public funds going to charters or privates—similar to Pell Grants or GI Bills—but private schools aren't lining up for government strings attached.

 

Things got intense when I shared stories of "culture rot" spillover: three Black teens from Jackson who recently moved to Northwest Rankin and got killed or shot a cop in separate incidents tied to "Democrat death culture." It's tragic, but it illustrates my fear—one bad apple can spoil the bunch, leading to pissing contests among impressionable kids. We can't cherry-pick "good" students or athletes (watch for NIL-style abuses in high school sports). Life isn't fair, and legislating equality feels like socialism to me—everyone doesn't deserve the same starting point; merit matters.

 

Democrats? Boots-on-the-ground ones in Jackson would love school choice if explained properly—it could boost property values and attract middle-class families. But their leadership clings to public schools like a lifeline. Even conservatives tied to think tanks or media push this as "Trump's agenda," but I called it out: Trump's out of touch here, as a billionaire with elite schools for his kids.

 

In the end, Colonel Maness and I agreed it's about the kids, not shoveling money to special interests. If public-to-public transfers are removed, I'd back the bill. But as is, it's a non-starter—Rankin County reps I've spoken to won't vote for it, fearing voter backlash (we've already seen candidates lose over it). We wrapped with a live question from California about positive inter-district transfers there, and I acknowledged the benefits but stressed our local context: community cohesion, merit over race, and protecting what works.

 

This was a fantastic, eye-opening discussion—proof that conservatives can debate respectfully without devolving into Democrat-style shutdowns. Big thanks to Colonel Maness for the platform; it's been too long since my last appearance. If you missed it, catch the full episode on World View Tube or X Spaces. Follow me

@SaveJXN on all platforms for more on saving Jackson and holding politicians accountable. Let's keep the conversation going—Mississippi's kids deserve real solutions, not half-baked policies. What do you think? Hit me up!

In this episode of The Clay Edwards Show, I sit down with Russ Latino from the Magnolia Tribune for a raw, no-holds-barred conversation that kicks off with some self-deprecating humor—we both own up to our "chronic fat ass syndrome" and share laughs about saying things that could get us canceled. We dive into the state of Jackson, starting with a caller's frustration over trash littering the highways, especially with the fair in town. I express my disappointment but give props to Mayor John Horn for hitting the ground running: filling potholes, paving streets, and searching for a solid police chief. Compared to the last administration, it's refreshing—they're focusing on basics without reinventing the wheel.

 

Russ and I discuss the optimism bubbling up, thanks to Horn's smarts and his ability to work across aisles, which could bring real help from the legislature and governor. I'm giving him a year to sort things out before getting nitpicky, but I'm still calling out the cultural rot and quality-of-life issues like unenforced code ordinances—overgrown yards, broken-down cars, illegal signage. We talk about fostering community pride: why enable bad behavior by cleaning up after litterbugs? I shout out volunteers like Casey Bridges for their interstate cleanups but admit I'm conflicted—it feels like rewarding slobs who should handle their own mess. We draw parallels to church mission trips and international aid gone wrong, where good intentions create dependency instead of self-reliance. Even MrBeast's well-digging in Africa gets a nod for trying, but we question if it's sustainable.

 

We wrap by teasing the Turning Point USA versus Clinton controversy—stay tuned for that fire. This one's packed with real talk on accountability, compassion, and turning Jackson around. Don't miss it!

Episode Description: The Clay Edwards Show - Chaos in Jackson, Steakhouses, and True Crime HorrorIn this fiery episode of The Clay Edwards Show, host Clay Edwards dives into a whirlwind of local headlines, cultural commentary, and hard-hitting discussions straight from the heart of Mississippi. Kicking things off with breaking news, Clay reacts to a wild overnight police chase involving a stolen SUV that started in Jackson, spilled into Pearl, and ended in a crash at the Jackson Airport parking lot. Labeling the suspects as "future rocket scientists" who clearly underestimated Rankin County's no-nonsense policing, Clay awards them his signature "FAFO" (F'd Around and Found Out) championship, complete with humorous predictions about their backgrounds and a plea for names and photos from authorities. He flips the script on typical chase narratives, noting how rare it is for criminals to flee east into Rankin County instead of bouncing back into Jackson's "criminal safe haven."Shifting gears, Clay addresses a viral brawl at Char, a upscale Jackson steakhouse, sparked by a listener's text. He calls out Sheriff Tyree Jones for posting on Facebook urging everyone to "wrap up the conversation" by 8:00 AM, comparing it to telling a woman to calm down—guaranteed to backfire. Clay questions why even fine dining spots aren't immune to "culture rot," emphasizing that if people can't behave at a white-tablecloth restaurant, where can they? He stresses there's no need to risk Jackson for good food anymore, with plenty of options in Rankin and Madison Counties.The show takes a lighter turn as Clay polls listeners on their favorite steakhouses, turning it into the "question of the day." Recommendations pour in via calls and texts, highlighting spots like Kessler Prime, Shapley's, Wendell Steakhouse, Gibbs in Learned, Henry's Team 10 in Pearl, Cypress Point Resort (with its ribeye sandwich blue plate special), Crooked Letter Kitchen, and more. A caller inquires about Gibbs' location, leading to a fun exchange about Rankin County dining gems. Clay even suggests Brandon needs its own top-tier steakhouse and shouts out local spots for their steaks and atmospheres.Clay then tackles national news, explaining why a potential government shutdown could be a silver lining for conservatives. He shares insights on how it might allow the administration to cut bureaucratic fat, terminate "untouchable" officials, and reshape programs—describing it as a "bloodbath for the bureaucracy." Dismissing fears for normies, he argues it's a chance to save taxpayer money and drain the swamp, while criticizing continuing resolutions as a symptom of a broken political system.The episode's most intense segment focuses on the horrific case of Daniel Callahan, dubbed a "demonic satanic meth-fueled demon." Clay recounts the Louisiana man's crimes: murdering his girlfriend, killing one of her young daughters, and sexually abusing the surviving 6-year-old "every way imaginable" before abandoning the girls in a South Jackson ditch. He blasts the justice system for opting for life without parole across states instead of the death penalty, questioning why prosecutors didn't pursue execution despite overwhelming evidence. Clay expresses outrage at the girlfriend's involvement in the abuse and calls for accountability, lamenting how Jackson's reputation as a "criminal safe haven" enabled the atrocities.Throughout, Clay weaves in sharp cultural takes, from mocking low-testosterone critics to linking higher testosterone levels with conservative voting tendencies (backed by studies). He defends his unfiltered style against accusations of racism, insisting he's a realist calling out "culture rot" based on lived experience in Jackson. Guest Andrew Gosser joins for the second hour, adding perspectives on military life, government inefficiencies, and societal moral decay.Packed with raw energy, listener interactions, and no-holds-barred opinions, this episode is a rollercoaster of local drama, food talk, and serious commentary—perfect for anyone tracking Mississippi's pulse. Tune in for Clay's unapologetic take on why chaos often reveals deeper truths.