If you haven’t listened to last week’s Between the Headlines podcast, do yourself a favor. The latest episode, dropped Thursday, is already one of the show’s most-streamed – and for good reason. Hosts Zack Plair and David Chism didn’t expect fireworks, but that’s exactly what incumbent Rep. Kabir Karriem and challenger Pierre Beard delivered.
Karriem, the three-term District 41 representative, came in leaning on his experience and seniority in Jackson. He talked about his record – particularly his work to protect Mississippi University for Women and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science from political meddling. Beard, the former Ward 4 councilman, didn’t hesitate to go on offense, claiming Karriem has gone missing in action and is more focused on his own accolades than the needs of the district.
The two sparred over nearly everything – public transportation, the amphitheater project, even each other’s arrest records – yes, that came up unprompted and in detail. It got personal. Beard accused Karriem of being a no-show for the district. Karriem shot back that Beard isn’t ready for the big leagues, calling him inexperienced and ill-prepared. At one point, Beard flatly asked him, “Where have you been?” while Karriem reminded everyone, “Experience counts, seniority counts.”
Policy-wise, they actually agree on some big-ticket items. Both candidates say moving MSMS off the MUW campus would be a terrible mistake, a blow to Columbus’ economy and culture. Beard insists the school needs a louder advocate. Karriem, meanwhile, pointed to years of fighting for funding and giving state leaders tours of the campus.
But beyond the talking points, what stood out was how little love is lost between these two. The back-and-forth was less a polite debate and more like a grudge match – the kind of raw, unfiltered exchange that gives voters a real sense of the stakes and the personalities involved.
Outside the candidate slugfest, Plair and Chism also touched on other local headlines. They unpacked the ongoing “mold madness” at Columbus Fire Station 5, where frustrated firefighters and city leadership have been clashing over safety and staffing. They also hit their new “Three Things to Know” segment – covering the Highway 45 improvement project starting in September, famed chef Jeff Henderson coming to the Welty Gala, and city attorney Jeff Turnage moving into an in-house role.
This week, the podcast plans a sit-down with MUW President Nora Miller to discuss efforts to move MSMS. You can listen to all episodes by searching “Between the Headlines” on Apple Podcasts or by visiting cdispatch.com/podcast.
This summary was written with the help of AI.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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