Mississippi Today's Editor had a conniption after Magnolia Tribune publisher Russ Latino got his own weekly radio show at Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Heavens to mergatroid, what is Mississippi coming to when a Republican activist is allowed on the airwaves? The horror. Check out some excerpts from Editor Adam Ganucheau's screed against Magnolia Tribune Publisher, Russ Latino:
Yup. Those are really radical policies. In case the esteemed editor did not notice, Republicans have a super-majority in the House of Representatives. They control the Senate and all statewide offices. Senator Roger Wicker just got over 60% of the vote against a Democrat. Mississippi is probably the reddest of red states, a thought that will drive him crazy to no end.Russ Latino, a former lobbyist and cheerleader for some of the most radical policies in Mississippi, has been no stranger to lawmakers at the Mississippi Capitol for the past decade.His extensive advocacy included promoting bills that would expand the flow of taxpayer dollars to private schools and drastically slash state spending, including for public education. In the summer of 2021, he was invited by legislative Republicans to testify in a hearing that Mississippi should eliminate its income tax, which funds about one-third of the state’s general budget. His political work is also notorious. He helped lead an alliance of Republican Party leaders and special interest groups who successfully fought against a 2015 statewide referendum that would have compelled lawmakers to fully fund public schools. (Um, Ganuchump did not mention MT owner Jim Barskdale funded that initiative. Indeed, it is said Barksdale created the digital newspaper as revenge against Republicans. However, Ganuchump is rarely about full disclosure.).
During the course of The Magnolia Tribune’s existence, Latino has published columns and fired off social media posts that are deeply critical of Mississippi journalists, news outlets and the American press at large.
Ah, now we are getting to the crux of it all. Latino and his little band of reporters subjected Mississippi Today to something does not like: scrutiny. Latino challenged Anna Wolfe's narrative on the DHS scandal as well as Ganuchump's sacred cow: Medicaid expansion. Can't have that, can we?
Of course, it was Magnolia Tribune's predecessor, Y'all Politics, that broke the story of how Ganucheau's mother, Special Attorney General Stephanie Ganucheau, approved the use of TANF funds for the construction of the infamous USM volleyball court.
Indeed, Mr. Ganucheau's "article" turned into a 3,300-word jihad against Mr. Latino and all things GOP. You read that correctly. 3,300 words spent over a conservative activist getting a one-hour weekly radio show at Mississippi Public Broadcasting, a network that is supposed to have a diversity of programming. 3,300 words. One can almost imagine Ganuchump foaming at the mouth, eyes bulging out to his glasses, screaming "Kill! Kill! Kill" as he pounded away on his keyboard.
A note from Mississippi Today Editor-in-Chief Adam Ganucheau: I’m a loyal listener of Mississippi Public Broadcasting and greatly respect the history of the organization that is committed to telling the full truth about our home state. For more than 10 years, I’ve worked in the same close quarters as many of MPB’s reporters and greatly respect their service to Mississippi. The newsroom I lead here at Mississippi Today also has close ties to MPB. Our Editor-At-Large Marshall Ramsey has had his own weekly radio show on MPB since June 2013, and our Managing Editor Michael Guidry formerly worked in the MPB newsroom from November 2019 through February 2024. I leaned on institutional knowledge from both Marshall and Michael while I worked on this article, and Michael contributed some of the reporting. I reached out to Russ Latino with several questions for this article, and he shared a statement and requested it be published in its entirety. You can read his statement here.
Ganucheau didn't even have the guts to include Latino's statement in his 3,300 word screed but instead just posted a link. Slight duly noted. The statement is posted below.
I welcome Mississippi Today’s advertisement of my new public affairs program, “The Sit Down with Russ Latino, ” on MPB every Wednesday at 10 am. I was excited this fall to be approached by management at MPB about the potential of hosting a public affairs program. The station has a diverse array of talent and perspectives, including Mississippi Today’s own Editor-at-Large, Marshall Ramsey. I accepted the offer on the express condition that I not be compensated for my time by either MPB or its Foundation. While other hosts are paid, I am uninterested in collecting taxpayer dollars for what I view as a public service. Our hope is to create content that makes people think deeply about the issues that matter and to more fully embrace the wonderful aspects of Mississippi’s culture. We were honored to have Governor Reeves join us for the first episode and hope your readers will tune in on Wednesday. We have many more great guests lined up in coming weeks. Finally, while most of your questions are better directed to MPB itself, I will answer what I can. Other than Mississippi Today’s effort to imply there’s something wrong with me occupying the same airspace as its Editor-at-Large, I am unaware of any external pressure on the agency related to programming. My agreement with MPB was reviewed and approved by counsel for the agency from the Attorney General’s office. And no, the Governor was not supplied with any questions prior to the interview, with the notable exception of our “Inside the Actor Studio” questions at the end of the program. Those include pivotal inquiries, such as “cornbread or biscuits?” Thank you for drawing attention to the program.
It's almost as if writing this piece was personal for the esteemed Editor of Mississippi Today.
The food fight is somewhat fun to watch. As a friend said: Mississippi Today is a bunch of reporters trying to be activists while Magnolia Tribune is a bunch of activists trying to be reporters. Hmmm...... methinks there is truth in those words.
47 comments:
You are confused Kingfish, NPR and MPB are publicly funded sanctuaries for Progressive ideology. Only liberal voices are allowed, but conservative voices are expected to pay.
Lest I be accused of hyperbole, the Director of NPR admitted they have 80 "journalists" and all are liberal.
MPB should be completely defunded today.
Coming from someone who regularly makes money off Republican advertising, this is a funny take.
Cry harder.
Attn. 12:42 p m. Did you get JoeBiden’s permission to use hie favorite word,”hyperbole”?
I would hate for Mississippi Today to be bothered with reporting on the crime spree running rampant in democrat-occupied Jackson. Better they flail and tilt at Republican windmills.
Like Saturday morning cartoons, MPB and NPR both served a purpose back in the days of three television channels, but we are long past that. If they can’t survive without government funding, let them fade away like most newspapers are.
When has JJ whined about someone get a show or being on a platform?
Diversity of thought is always good until the opposition gets a voice.
Coming from someone who regularly makes money off Republican advertising, this is a funny take.
JJ is a for-profit enterprise. It is obvious the distinction is completely lost on you.
No Pigott, No Pulitizer.
How great would it have been to have been able to eavesdrop on the Mississippi Today staff meeting last Wednesday morning? Abject dejection from people who are miserable little misanthropes on even their best days.
Why do liberals/ progressives always think MPB & NPR belong to them & not to the rest of us who are paying for those outlets?
NPR- National Proletariat Radio
If liberal ideas are so great, what is the harm is sharing airtime with conservative ones too?
For craps sake, Koestler Prime did not pitch a fit when Panera moved in next door.
The whole political ideology of the left is built on DEI type advancement because they know they are idiots who could never succeed in a meritocracy.
And thankfully Americans are no longer falling for the woke BS.
Kinda negates your whole point, Adam, when you admit in your postscript that MT has conflicts of interest itself with MPB.
I miss the days when news agencies just sat there and read the news, there was no slant, there was no political party, just regular folks..............presenting the news
this shit is absolutely exhausting
Mississippi Today is nothing more than a propaganda rag for the democrat party.
Not only does the MSGOP already have radio shows, it has radio stations throughout Mississippi. It's call SuperTalk Mississippi Media, a/k/a Telesouth Communications, Inc.
I though maybe Republican self-pity and persecution complex might ease up after the last election. I guess old habits are hard to break.
Get your acronyms right: NPR = Never Praise Republicans.
Barksdale needs to quit letting his wife dictate.
Come on, Adam. Complaints like this are EXACTLY why the Democrats lost this past election . You only want and approve of one opinion, yours, and any other opinions not like yours must be silenced and not allowed. Good Lord help us. You have obviously forgotten that America is the great melting pot of people, cultures, ideas, and opinions. That's what makes this country so great, not perfect but still great and the most free in the world. You may not agree with another's opinion, but it's still important to hear it even if you disagree. I watch Fox, CNN, NBC, etc. I read both Jackson Jambalaya and Mississippi Today. I may not agree with all of their opinions or positions, but it helps me learn to listen to them all.
What's even worse is the Editor at Large of your news organization, who respectfully is liberal, has his own show on MPB, but yet you don't think it's fair that a person with a more conservative opinion should be allowed. Seriously ? Wow, just wow.
And please remember that MPB is funded with government dollars, taxpayer dollars. So it's only fair that equal time be given to both sides of the aisle.
Your objection to Russ having an hour on MPB makes me question whether I really need to read MT any more.
12:50 must believe that JJ gets Federal and State tax funding. I'm confident JJ is on its own for survival.
TeleSouth keeps its doors open by selling ads, not from cashing government checks. Liberals are welcome to have for profit networks. Ever heard of CBS/NBC/ABC/CNN/MSNBC?
There is an easy fix to this argument. Shut down PBS/NPR.
Tax Payers SHOULD NOT, fund "Public Radio" !
So the 'kiss-my-ring, I am the enlightened one' editor of MS Today thinks only he should have a voice. He demonstrates his own version of "Good for me, but not for thee."
1:55 beat me to it. NPR and similar programs should be defunded TODAY. Absolute no-brainer and should have been done years ago.
Let’s not portray something Latino is not. He is a Liberal-Tarian. Far far from a conservative Republican.
Things were a lot easier when the biggest and most popular publication in the state was The Thrifty Nickle. Thursdays were the best day of the week.
MPB has outlived its usefulness.
2:36 PM, because hypocrite leftist Democrats…especially the elite white liberal Democrats living safely behind gates or in the much, much safer Republican controlled burbs…while poor people deal with the crime Democrats use to destroy cities in order to create the “flight” required to make said city Democrat controlled forever…can’t win the debate with fair news coverage and therefore must control the vast majority of media outlets.
Any chance SuperTalk would let a Dem have a show to balance things out? Seems fair.
SuperTalk seems to be fairly well funded based on the significant government "advertising" on its airwaves. So probably as public as MPB.
Covered the state advertising angle over there a long time ago. Result: Blackball at Supertalk.
Doesn’t matter now. Musk is about to cut that shit off!! Can’t wait.
4:19 PM, second time I’ve heard this. What’s extremely disheartening is the man we admired so very, very much, that took on the Bill Gates/Microsoft monopoly, is funding a leftist Democrat propaganda news organization. Mississippi Today is so “radical” that via Bobby Harrison (obviously suffering from a mental stupidity disorder) “blamed Jackson's murder rate on, wait for it, Republicans, a couple of years ago” (per KF).
You don’t have to be anywhere close to Jim Barksdale smart to absolutely 100% know better. Looking at MS Today’s donor list one can think – WOW – many of these folks could stand up for the poor, especially poor children that can’t get out, forced to deal with leftist Democrat system of crime and chaos…instead of funding a propaganda outlet lying about the causes of said crime and chaos.
Tragically for America and its sainted and vaunted “democracy,” there is only a “both sides of the aisle” when there needs to be a “other sides,” more representative of the varied collective interests of blacks, Hispanics, Asians, lesbians, transwhatevers, Haitians, illegal aliens, and maybe even whites. Unfortunately, however, Americans are apparently unable to entertain concepts with more than two alternatives.
I moved to Mississippi in 2009 for school and lived without TV for many years. I listened to a lot of MPB. I still do, but less than then.
The quality of the national programming has decreased. There used to be more cultural and arts programming, especially on weekday nights.
The national content is the definition of woke. A lot of identity stories.
I miss Garrison Keillor and Chris Thile so much. Grassroots with Bill Ellison is an institution.
I support this move. Super talk should do something similar. More panel shows.
For-profit vs non-profit vs government funded. Some of your commenters KF are clueless.
11/12 at 6:25 p.m., MSGOP mouthpiece SuperTalk was literally paid for by millions of welfare dollars when friends of a former governor siphoned almost $100 million from the TANF program, then bought a bunch of advertising on Supertalk radio stations.
So please spare me the holier-than-thou BS.
Many commenters here conflate NPR and MPB radio. There is zero locally produced radio content that could in any way be considered "liberal". The weekend productions are all music. On week days there's a medical information show every day at 11. On Monday there's a show about cooking and dining, and an interview show featuring writers, artists, etc. On Tuesday there are shows about legal rights, and financial matters. Wednesday it's a do it yourself show, and Russ Latino. Thursday, a show about wildlife and pets, and how to fix your car. Friday? A gardening show, and a show about events of interest in Mississippi. That's it. Commenters who say that's liberal programming have clearly demonstrated that they never listen to MPB radio.
I'll take Magnolia Tribune over Ms Today every day of the week.
Source? Leftie fake news?
Say it ain't so KF??? I thought they were "fair and balanced" like their good friends at fox???
11:00, Is an audit from the State Auditor a good enough source for you? In just one year, 2019, SuperTalk received $328,396 in TANF money from a single source.
https://kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2020/05/breaking-down-dhs-audit.html
Latino has long been distinguished in the annals of Ripley as being able to create sentences as long as 543 words without taking an oxygen break. Can't wait to hear him on-air.
Can't wait to hear him on-air.
Here you go. Stream also available. Put up.
It was like a flower shop moving in next door. Panera doesn't sell steaks.
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