Ashton Pittman

Hattiesburg

News Editor at Mississippi Free Press

News Editor @MSFreePress •Head of the Mississippi Chapter of the Rainbow Supremacists •Husband+Pibble dad •Opinions=Mine •Tips: [email protected]

Articles

Bryant Defamation Lawsuit Against Mississippi Today Dismissed

2 weeks ago | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

A judge has dismissed former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s defamation lawsuit against Mississippi Today, which he first filed in 2023 over the publication’s reporting on the welfare scandal that began during his time in office. The ruling comes after a federal court dismissed a separate defamation lawsuit the former governor filed against Sports Illustrated.
Tornadoes Possible Across Mississippi Friday and Saturday

1 month ago | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

Fast-moving storms could bring severe weather across Mississippi starting on Friday afternoon and throughout Saturday, with the possibility of damaging winds and tornadoes, the National Weather Service and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency say. Forecasts say the most severe weather will likely arrive Saturday, with enhanced risks for tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail. Some wind gusts Saturday could exceed 70 mph, forecasts say.
Why the Mississippi Free Press is Leaving X

1 month ago | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

From the time we launched the Mississippi Free Press at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly five years ago in March 2020, Twitter served as a vital tool for us to share our stories, build an audience and grow as a publication. It made it easy to get potentially life-saving information to people—not only in Mississippi, but around the country and the world—in mere minutes.
Why the Mississippi Free Press is Leaving X

1 month ago | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

From the time we launched the Mississippi Free Press at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly five years ago in March 2020, Twitter served as a vital tool for us to share our stories, build an audience and grow as a publication. It made it easy to get potentially life-saving information to people—not only in Mississippi, but around the country and the world—in mere minutes.
Mississippi Changes 54 Voting Precincts, But Errors Remain

2 months ago | messenger-inquirer.com | Ashton Pittman |William Pittman

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Federal Employees Told to Report Coworkers in Anti-DEI Effort

Jan 24, 2025 | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

Trump officials have ordered federal employees to turn over the names of colleagues whom they suspect of subverting the Republican administration’s effort to root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs. “We are aware of efforts by some to disguise programs by using coded or imprecise language.
In America, Some Were Always Above the Law

Jan 10, 2025 | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

It’s official: Donald Trump will reenter the White House without facing any punishment for his 34 felony convictions in New York after Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan, a Democrat, sentenced him with an unconditional discharge. Meanwhile, his former attorney, Michael Cohen, served three years in federal prison, received a $50,000 fine and was disbarred for his role in the same scheme.
Thompson ‘Should Go to Jail’ For Jan. 6 Investigation

Dec 10, 2024 | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

Incoming President Donald Trump says U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, “should go to jail” for leading the congressional investigation into Trump’s actions leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. While speaking to NBC Meet the Press anchor Kristen Welker on Sunday, he said that “Cheney was behind it” and “so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee.” U.S. House Rep.
High Court Denies Publication’s Appeal in Defamation Case

Dec 6, 2024 | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

The Mississippi Supreme Court will not grant Mississippi Today’s request for an appeal after a lower court ordered the newsroom to turn over documents that could identify confidential sources to the court as part of former Gov. Phil Bryant’s defamation lawsuit against the publication.
So Long, Twitter: Why I’ve Moved to Bluer Skies

Nov 27, 2024 | mississippifreepress.org | Ashton Pittman

From the moment I heard Elon Musk was considering buying Twitter, I knew things were going to go downhill. My husband had clued me in years earlier with his scathing criticisms of the tech billionaire’s behavior, and while I’m prone to try to see the best in people until absolutely proven otherwise, Liam turns out to be a pretty good judge of character the vast majority of the time.