SuperTalk Mississippi Media is a dynamic media force, connecting the state through a robust digital and broadcast footprint. The company’s talk and music stations, plus its news efforts, make for an over 70-dial reach and are also available on the SuperTalk Mississippi app and supertalk.fm. Add in a thriving digital advertising subsidiary and a deep commitment to Mississippi’s progress, STMM is the state’s go-to multimedia platform.
And if you haven’t downloaded the app, preset your local stations, or bookmarked the website, I highly encourage you to stop reading and do that right now.
The reason I say that is because STMM is undoubtedly where leaders and listeners go to for conversations vital to Mississippi. As a former media executive, I’m proud to be part of this team. My colleagues Richard Cross and Gerard Gibert, hosts of statewide programs Mornings with Richard Cross and MidDays with Gerard Gibert, both do their homework and excel at drawing out meaningful policy discussions. Richard’s recent interview with Gov. Tate Reeves, particular on the contentious issue of school choice, showcases his skill in asking insightful questions while keeping the exchange constructive – a quality echoed in Gerard’s incisive conversations on his daily program.
Go to YouTube, social media, or your favorite podcast platform and listen to that conversation with Reeves, and you’ll see why STMM dominates when it comes to important conversations in Mississippi.
I recently went back and listened to the governor’s interview while mowing the lawn (it’s that easy to go back and find any interview conducted on an STMM platform) and found it to be a conversation that every, single person who calls Mississippi home should check out.
From soccer dad wisdom to economic wins, Reeves used the sit-down to blend personal drive with policy triumphs. Here’s the rundown of what I gleaned from the interview.
Family and drive
Reeves, whose daughter is headed to UT-Chattanooga to play soccer, shared how sports teach resilience.
“I do two things: work and watch my kids play sports,” he said, noting athletics teach young people how to win and lose, both of which are key life lessons.
That competitive drive, Reeves contended, shapes his leadership that has spanned from state treasurer to lieutenant governor and now governor.
Economic discipline
Private sector investment since Reeves became governor in 2020 is now nearing $37 billion, easily a record for anyone who has ever held the keys to the mansion. He and Bill Cork of the Mississippi Development Authority play smart, too. Reeves used the interview to discuss an example of the two deciding to pass on a deal that South Carolina was willing to pay over $3 billion more for.
“No taxpayer [return on investment]? No deal,” Reeves said.
Success fuels more wins, the governor said while comparing the state’s recent economic run to that of Nick Saban’s recruiting run as head football coach at the University of Alabama.
No matter if it’s large like Amazon’s $10 billion-plus investment in Madison County or less headline-grabbing like a recent Camgian expansion in Starkville that created 15 six-figure jobs, Reeves said every new project transforms households and communities across Mississippi.
Reeves said he competes with – and borrows ideas from – fellow governors like Sarah Huckabee Sanders in Arkansas. Aerospace and defense projects are always priority, backed by U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker’s influence. Small businesses, often overshadowed by megaprojects, are the economy’s “lifeblood,” he emphasized.
He further stressed that existing businesses employ most Mississippians are easier to expand than attracting new ones, as they already know the state’s strength: its people. Expansions like the aforementioned Camgian or GE Aerospace create high-value jobs in place like Starkville and Batesville, often without the fanfare of larger deals, driving growth that ripples across the entire state.
For regions like the Delta and southwest Mississippi, the continual creation of workforce training programs and site-readiness spark opportunity with Natchez’s revival as proof.
Policy moves
Reeves, a supporter of President Donald Trump, commended the commander-in-chief’s decision to nominatetwo sitting Mississippi Supreme Court justices to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.
On health, Reeves said he’s considering a federal waiver that would ban junk food from being purchased with SNAP benefits, aiming to cut obesity and diabetes costs – a potential repeat of Mississippi’s education turnaround.
School choice battle
School choice, a polarizing yet pivotal issue, will dominate the 2026 legislative session – say a special session is not called between now and January, something Reeves didn’t rule out.
Cross kicked off the conversation by noting the topic’s prominence at the recent Neshoba County Fair, where both Reeves and House Speaker Jason White addressed it. Cross asked Reeves where he stands, how hard he’ll push lawmakers, and whether he’s open to hybrid models like district-to-district transfers, given the Senate’s hesitation and the national push from the Trump administration for universal school choice. This question, rooted in Cross’s awareness of recent political events, set the stage for a revealing response.
The governor leaned in, reaffirming his commitment to school choice since his days as lieutenant governor. He highlighted Mississippi’s education leap – from 49th to 9th in fourth-grade reading and strong gains for African American students – crediting reforms like the Literacy-Based Promotion Act. He stressed that “education freedom” isn’t new, pointing to a decade of ESAs for special-needs students and public charter schools.
“The sky hasn’t fallen,” he said, arguing competition drives success. Aligning with Trump’s vision, Reeves vowed to push for more options to empower parents and kids, noting it’s core to the Republican platform. He said Mississippi needs to take a page from nearby states like Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee in finding a way to implement school choice.
Looking ahead
With Reeves set to be term-limited, the 2027 gubernatorial race is buzzing early. When asked about, he laughed and said, “I’m too busy playing governor now.” His focus for the next two years and change? An economy that thrives under any conservative successor.
For more conversations like the one with Reeves, tune in to SuperTalk Mississippi Media. With a statewide reach, it is seriously a powerhouse where the biggest conversations continue to thrive. Stay tuned for more!
