It was a budget-heavy week under the Dome, with more than 100 appropriations bills clearing a critical hurdle. We unpack the latest on education funding, the lingering school choice conversation, and what to watch as the session heads toward its next deadline.

What does it look like to defend the Constitution with your life, and then keep defending it with your career?

In this episode, Grant sits down with Aaron Rice, a Mississippi Marine and Purple Heart recipient who was wounded in Iraq and later became a constitutional lawyer. Aaron is the Founder & CEO of American Dream Legal, a Mississippi-based public interest law firm that represents individuals for free when government action unlawfully blocks their ability to work, build, and provide for their families. Aaron shares where he was on 9/11, why he joined the Marine Corps, and the story of the explosion on March 18, 2005 that changed his life. From there, he walks through his journey home, marriage, recovery, law school, and the path that led him to take on cases that challenge anti-competitive barriers and government overreach.

Grant and Aaron also dig into a question that keeps resurfacing in Mississippi policy debates: Is school choice constitutional in Mississippi? Aaron explains Section 208, why ESAs differ from direct funding of private schools, and how state and federal legal precedent shapes the debate.

If you care about liberty, opportunity, and what it means to pursue the American Dream in Mississippi, this conversation is for you.

From floor votes to a few "spirited" House measures, Week 6 had a little bit of everything. We break down the education bills still moving, the buzz around a recent voice vote, and what's brewing as lawmakers eye the next big deadline.

Week 5 at the Capitol featured some of the most consequential policy and political moves yet. In this episode, we walk through some of the biggest developments, including shifts in the education debate, major House action, an update on the ballot initiative, and another big deadline on the horizon.

As the 2026 legislative session moves forward, the conversation around school choice continues to intensify. While much of the focus has been on ESAs and public school transfers, one form of public school choice has quietly served thousands of Mississippi families for years: public charter schools.

In this episode, Grant sits down with Dr. John Dixon, Executive Director of the Mississippi Charter Schools Association, to break down what charter schools are, how they differ from traditional and magnet schools, and who they are designed to serve. They discuss common misconceptions, how charter schools are performing, what accountability should really mean in education, and why parent demand is one of the strongest measures of success.

The conversation also explores how Mississippi's charter law could be improved, the potential for innovative and workforce-aligned school models, and why expanding high-quality public school options is an important next step in building on the state's recent education momentum.

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.

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 2.

In this episode of the Empower Podcast, Grant Callen sits down with Governor Tate Reeves for a wide-ranging conversation about the state's growing momentum and what comes next.

Recorded from the Governor's office overlooking the State Capitol, the discussion explores why Mississippi is climbing national rankings for wage growth, household income growth, and overall economic performance. A central theme of the conversation is education as economic development. Governor Reeves explains how Mississippi's historic education gains have strengthened workforce readiness, made economic recruitment easier, and drawn national attention to the "Mississippi model." He also discusses why continuing that progress through education freedom and school choice remains essential to sustaining long-term growth.

Throughout the conversation, Governor Reeves repeatedly emphasizes the dignity and necessity of work as the foundation for solving many public policy challenges. He offers a candid discussion of labor force participation, why that measure matters, and how connecting more Mississippians to work remains critical to sustained prosperity. Don't miss this episode!

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 things to look forward to next week.

Capitol Chat is back for the 2026 legislative session, and week one is already moving fast. 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 tone for a busy session ahead.