Mississippi Republican Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tate-reeves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tate Reeves</a> fended off a challenge from Democrat Brandon Presley on Tuesday after weeks of media speculation that Democrats might take the governor’s mansion for the first time in 20 years. 
Reeves defeated Presley by about 39,000 votes, taking 51.8% of the vote. Presley <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/us/politics/tate-reeves-mississippi-presley.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conceded</a> around 11 p.m. CST on Tuesday. 
“This victory belongs to you,” Reeves said on Tuesday. “This victory is more than just who will occupy the governor’s mansion over the next four years. It’s really about the direction that our state will go over the next four years. Mississippi has momentum.”
Republican candidates for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mississippi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mississippi</a> lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general all won their races with around 60% of the vote.
During the campaign, Reeves tied Presley to President Joe Biden, whose approval rating remains low across the country.
&#8220;My opponent has outsourced his entire campaign to the Democratic National Committee,&#8221; Reeves <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/mississippi-election-governor-tate-reeves-brandon-presley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during a debate. &#8220;Joe Biden and his buddies have funded his campaign to the tune of 80% of the money that he has raised has come from California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. It ain&#8217;t charity.&#8221;
Presley <a href="https://mississippitoday.org/2023/10/31/brandon-presley-outraised-tate-reeves-election/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> about $5 million more than Reeves during the campaign, taking in $11.2 million to Reeve’s $6.2 million. 
Presley, a second cousin to musician Elvis Presley and member of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, said that his campaign had left no “stone unturned.”
“This is bigger than one man,” he said. “We can lose this race tonight recognizing good on the other side.”
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During the campaign, Presley pointed to a $77 million welfare scandal in Mississippi <a href="https://apnews.com/article/welfare-scandal-mississippi-phil-bryant-brett-favre-172c836b2cbb13ac1c509782221c5976" target="_blank" rel="noopener">where</a> federal money intended for low-income people ended up with people and organizations not qualified to receive the aid. The money was misspent by the state&#8217;s Department of Human Services. 
In the days leading up to the election, many media outlets speculated that Presley might pull off an upset. For example, Business Insider ran an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-governor-election-presley-reeves-democrats-upset-gop-rural-medicaid-2023-11#:~:text=So%20in%20order%20for%20Presley,his%20rural%20visibility%20is%20key." target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> titled “How Democrat Brandon Presley could win the Mississippi governor&#8217;s race and pull off one of the biggest political upsets of 2023.”
In the end, Reeve’s margin of victory was similar to 2019 when he was first elected governor and won by about 42,000 votes. 
Republicans struggled in other high-profile races across the country with Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-wins-second-term-in-kentucky-governors-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeating</a> Republican challenger Daniel Cameron, Democrats <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-take-virginia-legislature-neutering-gov-youngkins-agenda-and-putting-felon-in-charge-of-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taking full control</a> of the state legislature in Virginia, and Ohio voters <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/big-abortion-won-ohio-voters-add-abortion-to-state-constitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adding abortion</a> to the state constitution.

Republican Tate Reeves Wins Reelection In Mississippi Governor Race

Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves Wins Re-Election

Elections

Mississippi

Politics

Tate Reeves

Voters across the country head to the polls on Tuesday to decide key elections, including a bid by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kentucky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kentucky</a> Republicans to flip the governor’s office and a referendum in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ohio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a> on whether to establish abortion as a constitutional right. 
In Kentucky, Democratic Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/andy-beshear" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andy Beshear</a> is facing a challenge from Republican Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/daniel-cameron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daniel Cameron</a>, with recent polls showing a <a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/11/03/andy-beshear-daniel-cameron-tied-kentucky-governors-race-emerson-poll/71435638007/">tight race</a>. One survey released on Friday from Emerson College Polling showed Beshear and Cameron tied, with both taking 47%. 
Cameron had been behind by 16 points in the previous Emerson poll before appearing to close the gap in recent weeks. Emerson College Polling executive director Spencer Kimball said the gap seemed to narrow because Cameron &#8220;appears to have gained ground by consolidating Republican voters who supported former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.”
During his campaign, Cameron highlighted former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Trump won Kentucky by 26 points in 2020, and Republicans have a supermajority in the legislature, overturning Beshear’s vetoes on a number of occasions. 
Last year, Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/historic-republicans-gain-voter-registration-advantage-in-another-state-for-the-first-time-ever" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gained an edge</a> in voter registration in the commonwealth for the first time, as it has trended red in recent years. 
In Ohio, voters will decide whether to place a right to an abortion in the state constitution. Pro-life advocates say that the initiative would allow abortions at all stages of pregnancy.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-attorney-general-proposed-constitutional-amendment-would-legalize-all-abortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that, if passed, Issue 1 would effectively legalize all abortion in the state.
“[T]he Amendment would give greater protection to abortion to be free from regulation than at any time in Ohio’s history,” analysis from Yost said. “That new test includes definitions and other terms that likewise make it harder for any law covering ‘reproductive decisions’ to survive.”
Since August 9, more than $18 million has been spent in favor of the pro-abortion initiative, with just $7 million being spent in opposition, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/ohio-abortion-backers-victory-unbroken-winning-streak-issue-1-rcna122831" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to NBC News. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year, seven states have put abortion rights on the ballot, and pro-life advocates <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/abortion-rights-won-every-election-roe-v-wade-overturned-rcna99031">have lost every time</a>. 
Ohioans will also vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana for adults.
In Virginia, political control of the state legislature is up for grabs with Republicans looking to hold on to the House of Delegates and take a majority in the state Senate. Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/full-panic-mode-biden-asks-dnc-to-help-out-virginia-dems-amid-record-fundraising-from-youngkin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broken fundraising records</a>, prompting President Joe Biden to ask the Democratic National Committee to donate to Virginia Democrats. A win for Republicans would give Youngkin the opportunity to get some conservative legislation passed before his term expires. 
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Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves is also on the ballot on Tuesday, facing a challenge from Democrat Brandon Presley, who has accused Reeves of corruption. Reeves won his first race in 2019 by five points, and the state consistently voted Republican in presidential elections, with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-governors-race-election-2023-28ed92be2af47c1f3573eb364846c2d4#:~:text=The%20last%20time%20a%20Democrat,compared%20with%20Reeves%27%20%246.3%20million." target="_blank" rel="noopener">the last</a> Democrat to win the state being Jimmy Carter.
Voters in Pennsylvania will also vote to <a href="https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-voters-to-decide-who-fills-vacant-seat-on-state-supreme-court/45758517#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fill a vacant</a> state Supreme Court seat, which could either increase or narrow the Democrat&#8217;s 4-2 advantage on the court. Republican Carolyn Carluccio is facing off against Democrat Dan McCaffery.

Republican Candidate For Governor Of Kentucky Daniel Cameron Holds An Primary Election Night Event

Election Day: Ohio Votes On Abortion, Kentucky Republicans Look To Flip Governorship

Abortion

Andy Beshear

Daniel Cameron

Kentucky

Ohio

Pennsylvania

President Joe Biden approved federal aid in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/03/26/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-mississippi-disaster-declaration-3/">major disaster declaration</a> after a powerful storm with straight-line winds and deadly tornadoes ripped through parts of Mississippi and Alabama over the weekend, killing at least 26 people and injuring many more.
According to reports, an EF-4 tornado with wind gusts up to 170 mph leveled most of the Rolling Fork community, a town of about 2,000 near Mississippi&#8217;s western border. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tornadoes reaching EF-4 or EF-5 levels are considered violent and extremely rare.
White House officials said the aid would go toward temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Biden administration officials approved the aid for the Mississippi counties of Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe, and Sharkey to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations.
&#8220;Jill and I are praying for those who have lost loved ones in the devastating tornadoes in Mississippi and for those whose loved ones are missing,&#8221; Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/25/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-devastating-tornado-deaths-in-mississippi/">said</a>. &#8220;The images from across Mississippi are heartbreaking. While we are still assessing the full extent of the damage, we know that many of our fellow Americans are not only grieving for family and friends, they&#8217;ve lost their homes and businesses.&#8221;
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. Reeves asked for prayer in a tweet posted Saturday morning after the death toll surpassed more than 20 from the violent tornados.
&#8220;The loss will be felt in these towns forever,&#8221; Reeves said. &#8220;Please pray for God&#8217;s hand to be over all who lost family and friends.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
At least twenty three Mississippians were killed by last night’s violent tornados. We know that many more are injured. Search and rescue teams are still active. 
The loss will be felt in these towns forever. Please pray for God’s hand to be over all who lost family and friends.
&mdash; Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) <a href="https://twitter.com/tatereeves/status/1639594749442048002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Rolling Fork Mayor Eldridge Walker told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/26/weather/us-severe-storms-sunday/index.html">CNN</a>, &#8220;the city is gone.&#8221;
Rolling Fork Vice Mayor LaDonna Sias told the outlet that she heard residents screaming as they took shelter in closets and bathrooms as the storm swept through the town and destroyed her property.
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&#8220;It seemed like forever until that noise stopped,&#8221; Sias said. &#8220;It was just totally devastating. Even though we lost everything, this stuff can be replaced. Material things can be replaced, but to lose a loved one – it was just heart-wrenching.&#8221;
First responders reported the town looked &#8220;unrecognizable&#8221; after knocked-down power lines and debris filled what was left of the city.
&#8220;Houses [were] completely demolished, businesses demolished … pretty much most of the town is unrecognizable right now,&#8221; Baeley Williams, one of the first responders in Rolling Fork, told AccuWeather.
Chilling security footage from a high school in Amory, Mississippi, that news outlets obtained shows the tornado damaging parts of a ceiling and sending debris flying across the highway as a tornado rips through Friday evening.
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NEW VIDEO: Security camera footage at the high school in Amory, MS shows the ceiling falling apart and debris getting strewn across the highway as a tornado rips through Friday evening.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tornado?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tornado</a> <a href="https://t.co/kgngm23Pus">pic.twitter.com/kgngm23Pus</a>
&mdash; WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1639944136500580358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Mississippi Emergency Management Agency <a href="https://twitter.com/MSEMA/status/1639746472819273730" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> of an &#8220;enhanced&#8221; risk for severe weather patterns for parts of the state to continue Sunday night, which includes winds over 70 mph, hail storms, and a few &#8220;<a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSPC/status/1639911213709631490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1639911213709631490%7Ctwgr%5E9d1dca5ac3a7d3b16868978ddab2d01456b27724%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fjoe-biden-emergency-declaration-torndao-mississippi-alabama%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">possibly strong</a>&#8221; tornadoes.
Parts of northern Alabama and south-central Tennessee also experienced tornadoes and severe weather events over the weekend.
The National Weather Service&#8217;s Huntsville office said at least three tornadoes touched down over the weekend.
Morgan County Emergency Management officials confirmed to <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2023/03/alabama-severe-weather-1-man-dead-in-morgan-county-after-being-trapped-under-trailer-during-storm.html">local media</a> that a 67-year-old man was killed in the area after getting trapped inside his mobile home.
An EF-2 tornado touched down just north of the Tennessee-Alabama border near Fayetteville, Tennessee, on Saturday, with peak winds of 118 mph that caused minor roof and shingle damage to single-family homes.
Atlanta weather service officials told <a href="https://www.ksbw.com/article/30m-southerners-are-at-risk-of-dangerous-weather-sunday-after-tornadoes-and-storms-killed-26-people/43421082?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot#">local media</a> a &#8220;large and extremely dangerous tornado&#8221; struck Sunday morning south of LaGrange, Georgia, leaving at least three people injured.
&#8220;It was awful &#8230; a lot of homes were destroyed,&#8221; LaGrange Mayor-elect Willie T. Edmondson told <a href="https://www.wsbtv.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">CNN affiliate WSB</a>.
The National Weather Service&#8217;s Storm Prediction Center issued a warning Sunday, saying, &#8220;a few strong tornadoes and very large hail may occur with the most intense storms, particularly from central Louisiana across central/southern portions of Mississippi and Alabama this afternoon and evening.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Here is a look at some of the tornado damage in Rolling Fork, Mississippi from the storm on March 24, 2023. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/gRZfySOjdd">pic.twitter.com/gRZfySOjdd</a>
&mdash; msema (@MSEMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSEMA/status/1640030616333832192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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At least 25 killed as tornado rips through US state of Mississippi

Biden Admin Declares ‘Major Disaster’ In Mississippi After Dozens Killed By Tornadoes

Biden Administration

Severe Weather

Tornado

U.S.

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mississippi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mississippi</a> meteorologist appealed to God while on air to help those who were in the path of a vicious <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tornado" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tornado</a> that was ripping through the state.
WTVA meteorologist Matt Laubhan said a prayer on air as a tornado headed toward the small city of Amory, which was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/severe-weather" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crushed by the storm</a> alongside other areas of western Mississippi. 
“Here&#8217;s the thing about this, y&#8217;all trust me too much,” Laubhan said. “I tell you where it&#8217;s going to go and some of you guys are like: &#8220;That&#8217;s where it&#8217;s gonna go.’ The reality of this, this could be changing direction. So, Amory, we need to be in our safe place.”
Laubhan, who was monitoring the tornado’s trajectory, got a new scan and appeared very disturbed by its path. “Oh man, north side of Amory, this is coming in,” he said. “Oh, man. Dear Jesus, please help them. Amen.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WATCH: WTVA meteorologist Matt Laubhan overwhelmed as major tornado hits Amory, Mississippi <a href="https://t.co/JDd8n46X31">pic.twitter.com/JDd8n46X31</a>
&mdash; BNO News Live (@BNODesk) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1639490172952936448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Laubhan put later posted footage of damage to buildings in Amory, including the National Guard armory.
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Storm damage at the National Guard armory and nearby buildings in Amory, MS. <a href="https://t.co/niRpolWwwP">pic.twitter.com/niRpolWwwP</a>
&mdash; Matt Laubhan WTVA (@MattWTVA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWTVA/status/1639508379629649920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Daylight scene of storm damage in Amory, MS. <a href="https://t.co/meOSNXPzgj">pic.twitter.com/meOSNXPzgj</a>
&mdash; Matt Laubhan WTVA (@MattWTVA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattWTVA/status/1639628485626048512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, at least 23 people were killed and four people went missing due to the tornado. “Unfortunately these numbers are expected to change,” the agency <a href="https://twitter.com/MSEMA/status/1639591354966704130" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> on Saturday. 
The tornado, which was around a mile wide and <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/7-dead-mississippi-tornado-official/story?id=98117564">traveled</a> for over 100 miles, <a href="https://www.wapt.com/article/search-and-rescue-ambulances-dispatched-to-help-mississippi-tornado-victims/43415196#">devastated</a> the small towns of Rolling Fork, Anguilla, and Silver Creek.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/at-least-23-dead-after-tornado-rips-through-mississippi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">devastating storm</a> ripped off roofs, leveled homes, and knocked out power for thousands of Mississippians. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves warned his state’s residents, gave an update on what actions the state is taking, and asked for prayer in a tweet just after 10:00 p.m. Friday.
“Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God’s protection tonight,” Reeves said. “We have activated medical support — surging more ambulances and other emergency assets for those affected. Search and rescue is active. Watch weather reports and stay cautious through the night, Mississippi!”
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President Biden <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/25/readout-of-president-joe-bidens-calls-with-mississippi-governor-tate-reeves-and-members-of-the-mississippi-congressional-delegation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the tornado by expressing his condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and saying that FEMA would “ensure the fullest possible Federal response to those in need.&#8221;
Zach Jewell contributed to this report.

Tornado and Lightning Bolt

Video Shows Meteorologist Appealing To God As Tornado Ripped Toward Mississippi Town

Joe Biden

Mississippi Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tate-reeves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tate Reeves</a> (R) <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tatereeves/videos/594400035726241">said</a> Monday he is open to privatizing the water system for the City of Jackson following multiple water pumps failing last week after severe storms caused the Pearl River to flood, which increased the risk of bacterial contamination.
&#8220;Privatization is on the table,&#8221; Reeves said. &#8220;Having a commission that oversees failed water systems as they have in many states is on the table — I&#8217;m open to ideas.&#8221;
Reeves’ comments come after officials announced that improvements have occurred since the governor said the prior week that the state would take &#8220;historic and unprecedented&#8221; steps to intervene in the city&#8217;s water supply after reaching crisis levels.
&#8220;Not only were there issues with the quality of the water, but with the quantity of the water,&#8221; Reeves said. &#8220;The city could not produce enough running water for Jacksonians.&#8221;
Flooding in Jackson has left approximately 150,000 residents without clean water to drink.
However, health officials informed the governor that the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant had begun pumping out cleaner water than the city had seen in a &#8220;very, very long time.&#8221; Reeves added that he hoped authorities could measure potential clean water and remove the “boil water” notice within days.
The city has been under the “boil water” notice since July 29, 2022.
&#8220;We know that it is always possible that there will be more severe challenges,&#8221; Reeves said. &#8220;This water system broke over several years, and it would be inaccurate to claim it is totally solved in the matter of less than a week.&#8221;
Reeves reminded residents to prepare for &#8220;more bad days in the future,&#8221; but said that officials have reached a place where Jackson residents could trust the water &#8220;will come out of the faucet, toilets can be flushed, and fires can be put out.&#8221;
The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3631062-mississippi-gov-on-jackson-water-crisis-privatization-is-on-the-table/">reports</a> that Deanne Criswell, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, said Sunday that the date when residents could access drinkable water remains unknown.
Criswell further noted that distributing bottled water to impacted residents remains the agency&#8217;s primary focus with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Jackson&#8217;s water supply has faced multiple interruptions over the past several decades. Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of noncompliance to city leadership for not &#8220;repairing and maintaining equipment necessary to reliably produce drinking water.&#8221;
The governor accused city officials of failing to notify federal and state governments of a plan to fix the water system&#8217;s issues and claimed the water plant staff abandoned the post where the failure happened.
Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/06/jackson-mississippi-water-crisis-lumumba?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=editorial">reports</a> that Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba responded to Governor Tate Reeves&#8217; criticism on Tuesday, saying that the city is currently working to stabilize the plant&#8217;s low water pressure.
Lumumba had also shared documents requesting funding to improve the water treatment plant with a list of critical repairs needed.
 Ben Zeisloft contributed to this report.

Mississippi Votes To Remove Confederate Symbols From State Flag

Mississippi Gov. Open To Privatizing Water Supply Following State’s Water Crisis

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Open To Privatizing Water Supply Following State's Water Crisis

Drinking Water

Infrastructure

Natural Disaster

Government leaders in Jackson, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mississippi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mississippi</a>, have declared a water system emergency after a major pump at a water treatment facility was damaged.
The hindered water treatment facility could leave up to 180,000 people without reliable running water for fighting fires and flushing toilets, according to Republican Governor Tate Reeves on Monday, as the area deals with the aftermath of recent flooding across the central region of the state.
“The O.B. Curtis plant is not operating anywhere near full capacity,” Reeves <a href="https://mississippitoday.org/2022/08/29/jackson-water-system-fails-emergency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during an evening press conference, reported Mississippi Today. “We may find out tomorrow it’s not operating at all. We’ll have better visibility on that when we get in there tomorrow.”
The shortage could lead to widespread unmet needs across the area.
“Until it is fixed, it means we do not have reliable running water at scale,” Reeves said. “It means the city cannot produce enough water to fight fires, to reliably flush toilets, and to meet other critical needs.”
Reeves was made aware of the possible shutdown of the water pump on Friday, though the treatment plant was uncertain how much longer it could operate. The Monday announcement said the concern could last for “the next couple of days.”
State health officials are advising residents not to drink the city&#8217;s water or use it to brush their teeth until further notice. Water will not be cut off, but the shortage could cause disruptions until repairs are completed.
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The water shortage is likely to last the next couple of days. Contrary to some reports, the City is NOT cutting off water to residents. The City remains in contact with the state Department of Health and the EPA over continued issues with the system.
&mdash; City of Jackson Mississippi (@CityOfJxnMS) <a href="https://twitter.com/CityOfJxnMS/status/1564391832259289091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Jackson Public Schools (JPS) will not meet in person, with classes moving to virtual learning starting Tuesday.
“We will continue to closely monitor the water conditions on a day-by-day basis at our schools while conferring with city officials to determine when scholars and staff can safely return for in-person learning,” a <a href="https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&amp;DomainID=4&amp;ModuleInstanceID=779&amp;ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&amp;RenderLoc=0&amp;FlexDataID=38563&amp;PageID=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from JPS said.
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The governor’s announcement also comes after Jackson Democrat Mayor Chokwe Lumumba <a href="https://www.wjtv.com/mississippi-flooding/jackson-mayor-declares-water-system-emergency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> a water emergency following the Pearl River flooding last week. The city remains under a water boil notice.
The Pearl River crested at more than 35 feet last week, though it avoided hitting the major flood stage level of 36 feet. Roads remain flooded across the area.
Reeves declared a state of emergency on Saturday for central parts of Mississippi that forced some residents to evacuate.
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Today I declared a State of Emergency for areas that have been or may be affected by the recent flooding. 
This will allow our state agencies to better assist in our response efforts and carry out their emergency responsibilities. <a href="https://t.co/WSjvmeCJzQ">pic.twitter.com/WSjvmeCJzQ</a>
&mdash; Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) <a href="https://twitter.com/tatereeves/status/1563572109435371520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Water distribution sites are also continuing across Jackson, with two locations operating on Monday, according to the city&#8217;s Twitter account.
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Jackson, Mississippi

Water Emergency In Mississippi As Pump Shuts Down

Nearly two dozen Republican governors slammed a massive spending bill that Democrats are trying to ram through the U.S. Senate in a statement Thursday, saying that the bill will worsen inflation.
The statement comes as Senate Democrats rush to make last minute changes to a massive $740 billion spending bill that they will try to pass before the August recess by using the reconciliation process because the bill lacks bipartisan support.
&#8220;The Democrats’ solution to 40-year high inflation is passing another reckless tax and spending spree to the tune of $740 billion, affecting Americans in every tax bracket,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;While denying recession, Democrats want to raise taxes on businesses and manufacturers, which will force higher costs onto consumers, worsen inflation, and aggravate shortages.&#8221;
&#8220;With sky high prices at the pump, the last thing Americans need is for Democrats to punish energy producers, which will ultimately hurt working families struggling to pay for gas, goods, food, and utilities,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;Our citizens cannot afford Joe Biden’s broken promises on taxes and Democrats’ inflationary spending that will only exacerbate the economic crisis they created.”
Governors Henry McMaster (R-SC) and Brian Kemp (R-GA) led the 22 Republican governors in issuing the joint statement.
The other Republican governors who signed onto the statement included Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Doug Ducey (R-AZ), Asa Hutchinson (R-AR), Brad Little (R-ID), Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Tate Reeves (R-MS), Mike Parson (R-MO), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Kristi Noem (R-SD), Bill Lee (R-TN), Greg Abbott (R-TX), Mark Gordon (R-WY), Chris Sununu (R-NH), Kevin Stitt (R-OK), Doug Burgum (R-ND), Kay Ivey (R-AL), Spencer Cox (R-UT), Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), and Eric Holcomb (R-IN).
The statement from the governors comes after the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rogan-slams-democrats-for-trying-to-claim-economy-is-not-in-a-recession-what-a-bunch-of-weasels">released</a> data last week showing that the U.S. economy shrank for the second straight quarter, satisfying the traditional requirement of a recession.
The Biden administration has downplayed the poor economic news by claiming that the economy is transitioning out of a fast-paced, post-pandemic recovery to a more stable environment. The White House’s claims come as Americans continue to be battered by inflation, which measured over 9% in June.
Tim Pearce contributed to this report.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Holds Election Night Watch Party In Columbia

22 Republican Governors Blast Democrats’ Spending Bill, Warn About Impact On Inflation

Asa Hutchinson

Bill Lee

Brian Kemp

Doug Ducey

Glenn Youngkin

Greg Abbott

Greg Gianforte

Kristi Noem

Ron DeSantis

Following the U.S <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/supreme-court">Supreme Court&#8217;s</a> historic decision to overturn <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/roe-v-wade">Roe v. Wade</a>, the case that legalized <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/abortion">abortion</a> across the United States, Mississippi Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tate-reeves">Tate Reeves</a> announced on Wednesday the state officially recognizes the month of June as &#8220;Sanctity of Life Month.&#8221;
&#8220;We have a firm conviction that each life is precious and each individual is created in the image of God,&#8221; Reeves wrote in his <a href="https://twitter.com/tatereeves/status/1542175797305286657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1542175797305286657%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fyallpolitics.com%2F2022%2F06%2F29%2Fgovernor-reeves-proclaims-june-2022-as-sanctity-of-life-month%2F">proclamation</a>.
Reeves said the state encourages all citizens to celebrate the sanctity of life from the unborn to natural death, adding its dedication to the profound truth that all life is a gift from God.
Mississippi&#8217;s battle to protect the unborn began gaining momentum in 2018 when former Governor Phil Bryant (R) enacted an abortion ban called the Mississippi Gestational Age Act. The law would prohibit clinics within the state from performing an abortion on babies after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But Jackson Women&#8217;s Health Organization — the state&#8217;s lone licensed abortion clinic — sued to stop the act from going into effect.
&#8220;This is the way that they chip away at abortion until it goes away,&#8221; Jackson Women&#8217;s Health Director Shannon Brewer recently told <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/12/01/1060023038/supreme-court-abortion-restrictions-mississippi">NPR</a>. &#8220;It&#8217;s 15 weeks, and then it&#8217;s gonna be 14 weeks, and then it&#8217;s gonna be 10. This is the way that they do it.&#8221;
However, the law wouldn&#8217;t have changed much, as the abortion clinic said it already did not perform abortions after 16 weeks of pregnancy.
But the southern state defended the Mississippi Gestational Age Act in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women&#8217;s Health Organization case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which began hearing arguments in December 2021.
In its petition to the nation&#8217;s highest court, Mississippi questioned whether the Supreme Court&#8217;s precedents set by Roe v. Wade and the affirming Planned Parenthood v. Casey — which prohibited states from banning most abortions — were constitutional, arguing, &#8220;The conclusion that abortion is a constitutional right has no basis in text, structure, history, or tradition.&#8221;
Nearly six months later, the nation&#8217;s highest court overruled the Dobbs case, 6-3, which changed both Roe and Casey, and vindicated Mississippi&#8217;s augment holding that &#8220;the Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.&#8221;
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, individual states — like Mississippi — have enacted complete bans or other laws they see fit regulating abortions. Mississippi banned abortion unless the mother&#8217;s life is in danger or she was a victim of rape and reported the incident to law enforcement. Anyone who attempts to perform an abortion in the state faces felony charges punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 or up to 10 years in prison, or both, according to The Guttmacher Institute.
&#8220;Mississippi must now turn to the work ahead, to take every step to support mothers and children through policies of compassion, to ensure every baby has a forever family that loves and cherishes them, and to build and sustain our pro-life agenda,” Reeves said.
Reeves’ agenda promotes a culture that values the inherent dignity of every individual and restores the wonder of life.
&#8220;Elective abortion has ended the lives of over 63 million unborn children, and in some cases, their mothers as well — nearly a complete generation lost to humanity.&#8221; Reeves wrote.
&#8220;Standing on the shoulders of giants in the pro-life movement, we rejoice and press on knowing our work is not done yet.&#8221;
Zach Jewell contributed to this report.

‘We Have A Firm Conviction That Each Life Is Precious’: Mississippi Governor Declares June ‘Sanctity Of Life Month’

Mississippi Governor Declares June ‘Sanctity Of Life Month’

Pro-Abortion

Pro-Life Movement

Pro-life Mississippi Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tate-reeves">Tate Reeves</a> spoke with The Daily Wire for an interview, detailing his reaction to the Supreme Court&#8217;s monumental decision to overturn <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/roe-v-wade">Roe v. Wade</a> while explaining what comes next for the pro-life movement.
On Friday, the Supreme Court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-states-supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade-leaves-abortion-restrictions-to-states">voted</a> 6-3 in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in the process. Dobbs originated in Mississippi after The Magnolia State enacted a law in 2018 that banned <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/abortion">abortion</a> in most instances after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Reeves was lieutenant governor when the law in question went into effect, but he told The Daily Wire that this ruling is about so much more than a simple legal victory.
&#8220;It&#8217;s never been about just simply winning a court case,&#8221; Reeves said in a phone conversation. &#8220;It&#8217;s always about the next phase — which is creating that culture of life in our state and across the country.&#8221;
Reeves said that such an effort has already started in Mississippi and around the country.
&#8220;The things that we have already done, we&#8217;ve already started that process in Mississippi. We&#8217;ve invested millions and millions and millions of dollars over the last couple of years in our child protection services, and agency,&#8221; he continued.
This spring, Reeves <a href="https://www.djournal.com/news/state-news/reeves-signs-bill-that-will-help-mississippi-foster-children-find-homes-attend-college/article_723ba6b3-98bd-5dac-9207-f5dbf542a087.html">signed</a> legislation that geared millions of dollars toward helping children in foster care have access to higher education, while <a href="https://www.djournal.com/news/state-news/reeves-signs-bill-that-will-help-mississippi-foster-children-find-homes-attend-college/article_723ba6b3-98bd-5dac-9207-f5dbf542a087.html">establishing</a> a private-public partnership with The Dave Thomas Foundation to improve rates of adoption in the state.
&#8220;We are making it easier to adopt a child in our state,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;We are doing things to support — not only the unborn babies — but also those moms who are expecting and whether … they want the child or they don&#8217;t want the child — again making it easier for adoptions because we want to help every child find a forever home.&#8221;
Reeves, who is Christian, also emphasized that the government cannot continue the culture of life alone. The governor said that the faith community across the country will have to increase their commitment to unborn children and their mothers.
&#8220;But we&#8217;ve also got to continue to challenge those in the faith community and those in our churches across our state, and most of the country from town to town to step up,&#8221; Reeves said.
The governor also cautioned activists against resting on their laurels.
&#8220;Now is not the time to celebrate victory and quit because, for most of the pro-life movement, our work is just beginning,&#8221; he declared.
When asked what he would say to young women and girls who may find themselves pregnant and in a difficult situation, Reeves expressed a message of love and support.
&#8220;My message to those individuals is that there are people that love you, there are people that love that child, and that every single human, every single child is created in God&#8217;s image and God loves you,&#8221; Reeves said. &#8220;And it&#8217;s incumbent upon us as believers in the Christian world, it&#8217;s incumbent upon us to make it easier for those individuals.&#8221;
Reeves continued, pointing out that one of the ways the government can assist in that effort is by making it easier for groups like pregnancy resource centers to operate. In May, Reeves <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/mississippi/mississippi-governor-signs-pregnancy-resources-act-into-law-offering-tax-credits/article_2954d83c-cd48-11ec-8a74-13f8f7a5b921.html">signed</a> the Pregnancy Resource Act into law, &#8220;which provides $3.5 million in tax credits to pregnancy resources centers across the state,&#8221; according to The Center Square.
The governor explained that the purpose of the law is so that mothers who need help can have access to &#8220;pregnancy resource centers so that loving and caring people can help walk that expectant mother through the process — everything from having the ability to help them sign up for government insurance, if that is something that is of interest to them, to helping them navigate the process to — if it is their choice to have the baby and then give it up for adoption — then help get those services.&#8221;
The governor also emphasized that there are &#8220;millions&#8221; of Americans looking to help those individuals.
&#8220;Again, we&#8217;ve got to show compassion and show that we care. Because I know that I represent millions and millions of Americans that absolutely do care and do love not only that baby but also love that mother who may or may not be in an unexpected pregnancy,&#8221; he added.
The governor also said that Friday was a &#8220;watershed moment&#8221; for the U.S.
&#8220;There&#8217;s no doubt that this is one of the most important days in the history of the United States of America,&#8221; Reeves told The Daily Wire.
When asked specifically if he had any pride in the fact that a case from Mississippi helped to overturn Roe, Reeves beamed, &#8220;Yes, I do have pride. In fact, I&#8217;ve never been prouder to be a Mississippian than I am today.&#8221;
He credited the people of Mississippi for making the case possible in the first place.
&#8220;And the reason for that is, because the reason I was able to fight for life, and the reason I was able to get this piece of legislation through the legislature, and the reason I&#8217;ve been able to defend this case all the way up to the United States Supreme Court is because of the convictions of the people of Mississippi,&#8221; he explained.
Reeves also gave credit to God.
&#8220;We are a state that believes in life. We are a state that believes in the power of God Almighty,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;And because of that, that they gave all of our elected officials in our state the ability to fight this battle, and we absolutely believe that we&#8217;re fighting this battle because it&#8217;s God&#8217;s will to do. So, just honestly, Glory to God.&#8221;
The governor added, &#8220;It is a joyous day for literally millions and millions and millions of Americans because we are going to save millions and millions and millions of American babies in the immediate future.&#8221;

‘We Want To Help Every Child Find A Forever Home ’: Mississippi Governor Says Next Phase In ‘Culture Of Life’ Has Already Started

Mississippi Governor Says Next Phase In ‘Culture Of Life’ Has Already Started

Adoption

Supreme Court

Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves defended his state&#8217;s abortion laws and discussed the future of the pro-life movement.
Speaking with Chuck Todd on NBC&#8217;s &#8220;<a href="https://www.nbc.com/meet-the-press/video/full-mississippi-gov-there-is-an-american-child-in-that-womb/550277552">Meet the Press</a>&#8221; Sunday, Reeves discussed the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-supreme-court-strikes-down-roe-v-wade-decision-in-draft-of-majority-opinion-report-says">leaked early draft</a> of the Supreme Court&#8217;s majority opinion in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-takes-up-mississippi-abortion-case-that-could-limit-roe-v-wade">Dobbs v. Jackson Women&#8217;s Health Organization</a>, which is based on a 2018 Mississippi law banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The Supreme Court agreed to take up the case in May 2021. Mississippi is also one of 13 states with so-called &#8220;<a href="https://reproductiverights.org/maps/what-if-roe-fell/">trigger bans</a>&#8221; on abortion that go into effect if the Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
Todd began the interview by asking if the 2018 law at issue would ever go into effect, since Mississippi passed a trigger ban in 2007. &#8220;The whole point of this was to get a case to the Supreme Court to overturn Roe,&#8221; Todd claimed, &#8220;so will the 15-week ban, if Roe is overturned, be implemented in the state of Mississippi?&#8221;
Reeves responded, mentioning that the trigger law passed in 2007 was enacted by the Mississippi State Legislature with a Democratic Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Public Health Committee, representing the shift between the two major parties on the issue of abortion.
Reeves then dismissed Todd&#8217;s claim about the 2018 law, saying: &#8220;When we enacted the 15-week ban, our initial intent and our goal was really just to save babies&#8217; lives,&#8221; Reeves said. &#8220;We believe that if Roe was not ever overturned, that it was certainly the viewpoint of Mississippians that if we could enact laws that would save babies&#8217; lives, that it would be an, an endeavor to do so.&#8221; He then reiterated that the 2007 law would go into effect if the Court&#8217;s early draft held up.
Todd went on to challenge Reeves on the issue of contraception, asking Reeves if the trigger ban would apply to contraceptives. Reeves denied that it would.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think that it is going to apply to those that choose to use birth control,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I believe that clearly a life begins at conception, and I am trying very hard to make sure that everyone in America knows that the overturning of Roe certainly puts the decision-making on abortion policy back in the elected representatives in each of the 50 states.&#8221;
&#8220;If there is legislation brought to you to ban contraception, would you sign it?&#8221; Todd asked.
&#8220;Well, I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s going to happen in Mississippi,&#8221; Reeves responded. &#8220;I&#8217;m sure they&#8217;ll have those conversations in other states.&#8221;
&#8220;But you&#8217;re not answering the question,&#8221; Todd cut in.
Reeves dismissed the question. &#8220;There&#8217;s so many things that we can talk about,&#8221; he said. &#8220;What the next movement in the pro-life movement in my view, Chuck, is simple. And that is we must prove that being pro-life is not just about anti-abortion.&#8221;
To do this, Reeves cited two important priorities for his state. First, making resources available for expectant mothers, including investing in pregnancy resource centers and working toward a statewide system. Secondly, putting more resources into adoption and foster care programs, including the $100 million Mississippi invested to improve state programming.
Reeves also discussed the challenges facing his state if the law goes into effect.
&#8220;There is an American child in that womb,&#8221; Reeves concluded. &#8220;And it&#8217;s incumbent upon those of us who are elected to stand up for the rights of those individuals that can&#8217;t stand up for themselves.&#8221;

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves

‘There Is An American Child In That Womb’: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Defends Abortion Ban, Discusses Future Of The Pro-Life Movement

SCOTUS

Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves said he had some “optimism” that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, adding that he would “do everything I can to protect the lives of unborn children.”
Reeves was <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/05/mississippi-governor-abortion-ban-523770">interviewed</a> on CNN where he discussed the oral arguments made before the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which is a challenge to a pro-life Mississippi statute which prohibits the abortion of an unborn child after 15 weeks. 
“If you believe, as I believe very strongly, that innocent unborn child in the mother&#8217;s womb is, in fact, a child, the most important word when we talk about unborn children is not unborn, but it&#8217;s children,” the governor said. “And so, yes, I will do everything I can to protect the lives of those children.”
The Supreme Court could possibly overturn Roe in this case, which would allow Mississippi’s law to stay implemented. Reeves noted that he had “some reason for optimism” that the 1973 abortion ruling would be overturned. Nearly 60 million unborn babies have been aborted since that case. 
“They could consider potentially overturning Casey, which was the Planned Parenthood vs. Casey case, dating back to 1992, or they could overturn Roe v. Wade in 1973,” Reeves <a href="https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sotu/date/2021-12-05/segment/01">said</a>, “And the commentary around the oral arguments on Wednesday certainly give people like me who hope that they do both of those things some reason for optimism.”
He also argued that the Constitution did not provide for a right to abortion.
“If you read the Constitution, in my opinion, there is no guaranteed right to an abortion in our U.S. Constitution. And, furthermore, not only is there not a guaranteed right, there&#8217;s also nothing in the Constitution that prohibits individual states from enacting their own laws,” Reeves said. 
He continued, “[Since] Roe was enacted in 1973, there have been 62 million American babies that have been killed through this process. And I think that those babies in their mother&#8217;s womb don&#8217;t have the ability to stand up for themselves. And that&#8217;s why they have to have people like me and others around this nation that, for years, have tried to stand up for unborn children.” 
Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban was<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/06/politics/tate-reeves-mississippi-abortion-supreme-court-cnntv/index.html"> signed</a> back in 2018 by then-Governor Phil Bryant. The law was subsequently struck down by a federal judge before the Supreme Court decided to hear the case. 
At the time the high court decided to examine the case, Reeves said that he hoped Mississippi’s law would be used to overturn Roe. 
&#8220;The question is not are you going to overturn Roe v. Wade, the question is, the science has changed and therefore it makes sense for the court to review their decisions from the past and this is a vehicle in which for them to do it,” he said at the time. 
After oral arguments last week, many pro-life advocates were optimistic about the possibility of Roe being overturned. 
“In short, I’m hopeful that it will be overturned,” Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/susan-b-anthony-list-president-on-pro-life-activism-at-supreme-court-realistic-hope-roe-will-be-overturned">told</a> The Daily Wire. “I think it’s a realistic hope that it will be overturned.”

President Trump Speaks On Coronavirus Testing Strategy

‘Reason For Optimism’: Mississippi Governor Hopeful Roe Will Be Overturned, Defends State’s Pro-Life Law

Roe v. Wade's Long And Brutal Legacy

NBC&#8217;s Chuck Todd pressed Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) to accept vaccine mandates as &#8220;pro-life&#8221; actions, while simultaneously suggesting that access to abortion should be protected as an individual liberty.
Reeves made an appearance Sunday on &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; joining Todd for a discussion on the emergence of a <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/biden-fauci-urge-americans-to-get-vaccinated-as-omicron-concern-grows/">new coronavirus variant</a> and Mississippi&#8217;s vaccination rate as well as the 15-week abortion ban that will face the scrutiny of the Supreme Court in the coming weeks.
Todd began by asking Reeves whether he felt the Mississippi law — which bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy — could be enacted without overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, asking also whether Reeves believed Roe had been wrongly decided.
Reeves said that in addition to believing that the 1973 decision was wrong, he also believed that there was nothing limiting individual states from <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/texas-abortion-ban-back-in-effect-after-suspension/">imposing their own restrictions</a>. &#8220;I believe very strongly that if you read the Constitution there is nowhere in the Constitution that prohibits individual states, states like Mississippi to limit access to abortions,&#8221; he said.
Reeves also pointed out that even if the 15-week ban was allowed to stand, Mississippi&#8217;s law would still be less restrictive than the abortion laws in 37 of 42 European countries, adding, &#8220;When you look at, for instance, abortion laws in California and New York, they are much more similar to those abortion laws in China and North Korea than they are to Europe or many other countries around the world.&#8221;
Todd then attempted to use Reeves&#8217; own comments about his <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/governors-immediately-push-back-on-unconstitutional-biden-plan-will-fight-them-to-the-gates-of-hell/">opposition to vaccine mandates</a> to argue that a vaccine mandate was actually a &#8220;pro-life&#8221; position.
&#8220;This is a power grab by the federal government. We’ve seen this time and time again by the Biden administration, and now we’re seeing their strong desire to trying to make decisions on behalf of individual Americans. We believe in freedom and individual liberty,&#8221; Reeves said of the vaccine mandates.
&#8220;&#8216;Freedom and individual liberty,'&#8221; Todd repeated. &#8220;Why should the state of Mississippi tell a woman what they should do with their body? Why shouldn’t they have that individual freedom on their body, particularly in the first 20 weeks?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, this is a prime example, and the far left loves to scream, &#8216;My body, my choice.&#8217; What I would submit to you, choice, is they absolutely ignore the fact that in getting an abortion there is an actual killing of an innocent unborn child that is in that womb,&#8221; Reeves replied. &#8220;Here is what we know about babies that are 15 weeks. We know that they have a heartbeat. We know that those babies at 15 weeks actually can open and close their hands. We know that they have developing lungs, and we know that those babies at 15 weeks can feel pain, and so when you talk – the difference between vaccine mandates and abortions is vaccines allow you to protect yourself. Abortions actually go in and kill other American babies. Let’s just put this in perspective –&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chuck Todd didn&#8217;t exactly push back as Tate Reeves recited right-wing talking points to defend Mississippi&#8217;s abortion ban <a href="https://t.co/s7Nc05ooKZ">pic.twitter.com/s7Nc05ooKZ</a>
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1464985388355883013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Governor, hang on a minute. A vaccine is about protecting a larger community, about preventing spread. You could argue a vaccine mandate is a pro-life position,&#8221; Todd interrupted.
Reeves agreed that one could make that argument, but he went on to argue that despite the fact that most agree vaccines are effective at preventing severe disease and death, vaccinated people were still spreading COVID-19.
&#8220;Conversely, when you’re talking about the pro-life position of protecting unborn babies, let’s put it in perspective,&#8221; Reeves said, turning back to abortion. &#8220;The fact is, during this very horrible and challenging time since I was sworn into office in January of 2020, Chuck, we’ve had 800,000 American lives lost because of COVID. My heart aches for every single one of those individuals that has died because of COVID. Over 10,000 Mississippians. My heartbreaks for every one of them. Since Roe, 62 million babies have been aborted and, therefore, killed. That’s why I think it’s very important that people like myself stand up for those unborn children because they don’t have the ability to stand up for themselves.

Chuck Todd Says Vaccine Mandates Are ‘Pro-Life,’ Abortion Access Is ‘Freedom To Choose’; Tate Reeves Crushes Him

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