Mississippi’s warts-and-all approach to reflecting its history as part of the state’s official commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary is a stark contrast with what has taken place at the national level since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
Sophie Bates
Sophie Bates is The Associated Press's new video journalist in Mississippi. Sophie joins from the ABC affiliate in Toledo, Ohio, where she works as a multimedia journalist. Sophie is an aggressive reporter whose role in Ohio is a mix of breaking news and deeper off-the-news investigative stories. She recently worked on a five-part investigative series on homelessness and affordable housing in the Toledo area.
