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Mississippi Protestors Decry DOGE and Trump’s Policy Barrage

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1 year ago

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Mississippi Protestors Decry DOGE and Trump’s Policy Barrage


JACKSON, Miss.—Anna Corcoran had grown exhausted with just complaining about national politics. She wanted to share her frustrations in a way that felt meaningful.

Although the 18-year-old Brandon, Miss., native grew up in a staunch Republican household, she found herself at odds with President Donald Trump’s policies targeting immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community and women’s reproductive rights.

So on Feb. 5, she took to the streets for a protest outside the Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss. She joined about two dozen other demonstrators who wanted to express their outrage over Trump’s policies.

As other protestors shouted in unison that “no one is illegal on stolen land” and to “never forget January 6,” Corcoran told the Mississippi Free Press that it was her first time exercising her First Amendment Right to protest.

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“I’m here to fight not only for myself and my sister but all of those who can’t fight. I grew up thinking that voting red was the Christian vote but I don’t want to let that man in office represent what a Christian is,” she said, standing with fellow protestor, 18-year-old Leslie Reeves.

While the Trump administration appears “focused on immigrants and abortion,” they should be drafting policies to tackle “mass shootings and climate change,” Corcoran added.

Anna Corcoran (left) and Leslie Reeves, both 18, told the Mississippi Free Press on Feb. 5, 2025, that they’re against President Donald Trump’s policies targeting transgender people, immigrants and women’s access to abortions. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad

The protesters also expressed their frustration with the involvement of tech billionaires like Elon Musk in the federal government’s affairs. “It’s been three weeks and we’ve gotten rid of essential departments in unconstitutional, unlawful moves that should not be allowed to happen,” a protester named Samantha, who only wanted to share her first name, told the Mississippi Free Press. “We’ve got things challenging in court, but where are our representatives?”

Musk leads The White House’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as DOGE. With a purported mission to slash government spending, DOGE has led the mass layoffs of workers across the federal government, including an attempt to eliminate the federal humanitarian agency, USAID. Musk has drawn heavy criticism, with people accusing him of having a conflict of interest and of using DOGE to attempt to access private data about citizens.

As protestors hold up a DOGE sign during an anti-Trump rally outside the Mississippi Capitol Building on Feb. 5, 2025. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad

A federal judge on Tuesday, Feb. 18, declined to immediately block Musk and DOGE from accessing government data systems or laying off federal workers but expressed concerns about the scope of his role—a role Congress did not approve in which he leads an entity that Congress did not create.

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“Plaintiffs legitimately call into question what appears to be the unchecked authority of an unelected individual and an entity that was not created by Congress and over which it has no oversight,” U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote in her ruling. “In these circumstances, it must be indisputable that this court acts within the bounds of its authority.”

Attacks on Diversity, Trans Americans

Several of the demonstrators gathered outside the Mississippi Capitol Building on Feb. 5 told the Mississippi Free Press that they were not representing any particular organized group. But the protest in Jackson was one of many anti-Trump rallies that took place around the country on the same day.

Donald Trump has signed a litany of executive orders since his second term began on Jan. 20. He has focused on repealing Biden-era policies, such as those designed to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the federal government.

President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order barring transgender women athletes from competing in women’s or girls’ sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Since Trump took office, a flurry of companies—including Google, Amazon and Target—have announced plans to modify or eliminate initiatives furthering DEI in the workplace. Other companies, like Costco and the Atlanta-based Delta Airlines, have openly declared that they will keep their DEI policies in place.

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Though Trump claimed during his campaign to have had no knowledge of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 agenda, many of his executive orders have lined up with directives outlined in the document—including orders to advance “school-choice” initiatives, impose sanctions on countries that refuse to accept deportees and change U.S. foreign aid policy.

The anti-Donald Trump protest outside the Mississippi Capitol Building on Feb. 5, 2025, was one of several held around the country on the same day. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad

In an effort to prohibit federal recognition of transgender people’s gender identity, Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20 proclaiming that the United States government will recognize only two biological sexes, male and female. Weeks later, on Feb. 5, Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. Mississippi lawmakers previously banned transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports in 2021.

Trump’s Feb. 5 order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” allows the U.S. Department of Education to ensure that schools receiving federal funding under Title IX are penalized for not aligning with Trump’s priorities.

“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump declared at a signing ceremony, the Associated Press reported on Feb. 5.

‘What We’re Becoming’

That same day, as protestors rallied outside the Mississippi Capitol Building, Rev. Jim Becker told the Mississippi Free Press that he joined the demonstration in solidarity with those who are too afraid to protest themselves.

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Becker leads the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson and said that many of the families in his congregation are fearful of how rhetoric and policies targeting transgender people will impact them. 

Rev. Jim Becker, who leads the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson, told the Mississippi Free Press on Feb. 5, 2025, that he joined the anti-Trump protest outside the Mississippi Capitol Building in a show of solidarity with the transgender and non-binary congregants of his church. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad

“We have transgender folks in our congregation (and) non-binary (folks). … We have some parents with trans children and some of them are living in fear,” Becker told the Mississippi Free Press. “I said as the minister I will not be afraid to talk; I will not be afraid to be arrested.”

“What he’s done in just three weeks … it’s amazing what we were and what we’re becoming. It’s absolutely tragic,” Becker continued, adding that he hoped the demonstration would inspire more people to organize and not let Trump’s policies go unchallenged.

“We need to double, triple, quadruple this. Week after week we’re going to see more and more stuff going on and it’s going to hit closer and closer to home for a lot of people,” he said.

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Mississippi

Why Rebels are keeping pace for Mississippi State CB commit Brandon Allen Jr

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6 hours ago

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March 3, 2026

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Why Rebels are keeping pace for Mississippi State CB commit Brandon Allen Jr


Ole Miss is working to eventually flip Mississippi State cornerback commit Brandon Allen Jr. (Atlanta, Ga.). Ahead of a packed spring travel schedule, visiting multiple programs, Allen speaks on his current recruitment with Rebels247.com.



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Carpenter Pole and Piling invests $5M in Mississippi, creating 10 jobs

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18 hours ago

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March 2, 2026

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Carpenter Pole and Piling invests M in Mississippi, creating 10 jobs


Staff
 |  Mississippi Clarion Ledger

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  • A Mississippi wood products manufacturer is investing nearly $5 million in an expansion.
  • Carpenter Pole and Piling’s project is expected to create 10 new jobs in Wiggins.
  • The expansion includes a new treatment plant and an additional 20 acres for storage.
  • Construction is anticipated to be completed by September 2026.

A wood products manufacturer is set to create new jobs as part of a major expansion.

Carpenter Pole and Piling is investing nearly $5 million into its Wiggins, Mississippi, operation.

The expansion will add 10 new positions and support long-term growth in the region.

“Carpenter Pole and Piling is a true Mississippi success story, and we’re proud to see the company continue investing right here at home,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said.

“This expansion in Stone County is creating new opportunities for hardworking Mississippians while strengthening a company that has long contributed to our state’s economy,” Reeves said. “When Mississippi businesses grow, our communities grow with them, and we remain committed to fostering a business environment where companies can thrive.”

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Carpenter Pole and Piling produces utility poles and pilings for marine and foundation use.

The project includes construction of a new treatment plant, investment in a 2,600-cubic-foot autoclave and an alternative treatment option to improve production capacity.

The company is also clearing and preparing an additional 20 acres for a new pole storage yard.

Stone County is also contributing to the project.

The company expects to complete construction by September 2026.

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The new roles are expected to be filled by January 2027.

Carpenter Pole and Piling specializes in the production of utility poles. It also manufactures foundation and marine pilings.

The new autoclave will increase production and add an alternative treatment option.

This story was created by business and development writer Ross Reily, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.



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CBSB: Southern Miss sweeps again, Mississippi State shines in Texas, Ole Miss struggles – SuperTalk Mississippi

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1 day ago

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March 2, 2026

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CBSB: Southern Miss sweeps again, Mississippi State shines in Texas, Ole Miss struggles – SuperTalk Mississippi


Southern Miss earned its second consecutive sweep, rounding out a mostly successful weekend of college baseball for Mississippi’s major programs.

The No. 12 Golden Eagles (10-1), fresh off a mercy-rule victory over Alabama, exited a hostile Louisiana Tech environment with three straight wins versus a former conference counterpart. Christian Ostrander’s crew won 8-3 on Friday, cruised to an 11-0 run-rule victory through seven innings on Saturday, and was on the good side of a 6-2 scoreboard in Sunday’s finale.

A three-run bomb by Kyle Morrison in the top of the fourth of Friday’s game put the black and gold up 5-3, and solid pitching carried the team the rest of the way. A six-run top of the fourth of Saturday’s game, in part due to a Matthew Russo 2 RBI single, broke a scoring stalemate and fueled Southern Miss to a win in a shortened matchup. A two-run long ball by Joey Urban in the top of the ninth of Sunday’s battle gave the Golden Eagles a buffer that would not be eclipsed.

Kros Sivley (2-0) was Friday’s winning pitcher after logging a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Grayden Harris (2-0) got the win on Saturday after fanning five batters and surrendering no runs through six complete innings. Camden Sunstrom (1-0) closed out the finale with the win after striking out two batters and not giving up a hit or a run in the final two frames.

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Mississippi State wins two in Texas

The No. 4 Bulldogs (11-1) had a solid weekend in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series. Brian O’Connor’s club handled the weekend test with an 8-4 win over Arizona State, a 15-8 victory over Virginia Tech, and a heartbreaking 8-7 extra-innings loss to No. 1 UCLA.

Mississippi State broke a scoring hiatus on Friday with a strong bottom of the fifth. A Bryce Chance RBI single scored the game’s first run, then a Gehrig Frei homer put the Bulldogs up 4-0. Three insurance runs were added in the next offensive frame, and Mississippi State did not look back. On Saturday, an Ace Reece longball gave the maroon and white a 4-0 lead in the top of the second. Virginia Tech chipped away, cutting the deficit to two runs, until a five-run top of the seventh put things out of reach.

Sunday’s finale was a battle between two teams vying for bragging rights as the nation’s best. The Bruins took an early 3-0 lead, but Mississippi State quickly countered. A two-run bomb by Reed Stallman and an RBI double by Ryder Woodson knotted things up 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. The Bulldogs added a run in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to lead 5-3.

A two-out home run by UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky tied the ballgame in the top of the ninth. Mississippi State, with runners on second and third and no outs in the bottom of the ninth, could not send a runner home. A wild pitch and a 2 RBI triple scored three Bruins in the top of the 10th. Stallman hit his second home run of the day to inch the Bulldogs within one run of their foe, but it was not followed up with more scoring.

Winning pitchers for Mississippi State this weekend were Ryan McPherson (2-0) and Tomas Valincius (3-0), while Ben Davis (0-1) was tabbed with the lone loss.

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Ole Miss struggles in neutral-site tournament

In its first set of tests versus power conference opponents, the Rebels (10-2) struggled mightily, dropping two of three outings in the BRUCE BOLT College Classic. Mike Bianco’s club fell to Baylor 6-5 in extra innings on Friday before bouncing back on Saturday in an 8-0 win over Ohio State and suffering a 9-2 loss to Coastal Carolina in Sunday’s finale. Ole Miss was a combined 0-18 at the plate with runners in scoring position in the two losses.

Though the weekend didn’t play to the Rebels’ advantage, a few individual performers stood out. Murray State transfer Dom Decker, who entered his junior campaign without hitting a home run, hit three balls over the outfield wall at the Houston Astros’ Daikin Park. Hunter Elliott had a career-high 11 strikeouts on Friday, while Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe collectively fanned 16 batters in Saturday’s shutout.

Next up

Southern Miss will play a pair of home midweek games, the first being against Mississippi State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and the second versus Nicholls on Wednesday at 6 p.m., before hosting North Alabama over the weekend.

Mississippi State will host Lipscomb over the weekend after facing the Golden Eagles.

Ole Miss will host Memphis on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and North Alabama on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., before welcoming Evansville for a weekend series.

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