Taking my editor hat off, and putting on my Tennessean hat. Most Thursdays this year, I do a rundown on legislative happenings. Today, the Tennessee General Assembly expelled two democratically-elected young Black men,
I'm a native Tennessean. Today, I'm sad and embarrassed about the way we look on the national stage. I'm angry a lot. I'm glad my folks aren't here now to see what has happened to our home.
To talk about decorum now is ridiculous. This wasn't about decorum. People who peed in chairs, were convicted of domestic assault, bugged their colleagues' offices, sent racist and sexist texts with staff members, admitted to sexually assaulting high school girls they coached --
Students from Nashville-area high schools and colleges, including
@BelmontUniv
and
@VanderbiltU
, are pouring into downtown Nashville to gather at the Capitol for another rally to call for safe gun laws following last week's mass school shooting.
As a note: Rep. Justin Lafferty, who just shoved
@brotherjones_
is the same representative who defended The Three-Fifths Compromise in 2021, the federal measure that counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person.
Another representative, a white woman -- who has a strong voice, don't get me wrong -- wasn't expelled. Was it about her race? This was a vote about race alright.
The last time a representative was expelled was in 2016, a Republican who sexually assaulted or harassed at least 22 women. The state attorney general investigated and confirmed. He was only expelled AFTER he was pushed out the GOP primary and considered unhelpful.
Republicans don't like her, either. The House Speaker gave her a closet as an office two years ago. But she was defended by two white male lawyers, both former state representatives.
We confirmed this with other sources. On one of the hottest days of the year, state officials turned off water fountains. This is not normal democratic behavior.
My wife was at the Capitol to protest today, and she reports that they were confiscating water bottles at the door AND they turned off all the water fountains in the Capitol.
Fascist cowards. They are so afraid of us.
Keep going.
It didn't help that they are Democrats but I am not at all convinced a white Democratic member would have faced expulsion. The members named to be expelled were notified Monday. No investigation.
As has been pointed out, I am no spring chicken and times have changed, but I was taught in politics not to mention your opponent's name lest you give them more exposure. But dadgum,Gloria Johnson launches a Senate race and every Tennessee Republican has her name in their mouths.
Many of you have asked for follow up on this story.
@anitawadhwani
, who broke the news five children were taken from their parents by
@TN_DCS
, reports the children have been reunited with their parents.
For years, I've said no one outside Tennessee cares about Tennessee. Not national Republicans, who know it's a sure thing. Not national Democrats, who think it's a lost cause. For damn sure, people are paying attention to Tennessee now.
Next up, Sergeant at Arms is reading the expulsion charges for
@Justinjpearson
. I predict he gets expelled and to expel two young, Black men is a really, really, really, really bad look in the state where the KKK was founded.
Apparently, the house, Republican caucus in Tennessee is in another damage control session. One source with a caucus told me: "Cameron's (Sexton's) response? Let's take the members to Top Golf so they remember how much they love me."
Looks like
@glencasada
and Cade Cothren are involved - but to be clear, not indicted. “Individual 1 was a member of the Tennessee House. . . Served as Speaker of the Tennessee House from in or around Jan. 2019 until or around Aug. 2019.”
Hundreds of teenagers came to the Tennessee Capitol to rally for safe gun laws three days after an elementary school shooting. This video is when state troopers were clearing the crowd so legislators could go to the bathroom.
I am floored. This is one of the most gracious things I've ever encountered in my career--especially these days, when journalists are routinely harassed beyond normal and fair criticism. I'm proud to be part of this group. Cc:
@TNLookout
.
After several tough weeks covering elections in Franklin TN, anonymous Westhaven residents take out a full-page ad in the
@wherald
, thanking local media who displayed “utmost professionalism, even when they encountered threats to their personal safety.”
Thank you! 🙏
It's early in primary season and a lot will change, but I'll say this:
@BetoORourke
has been a big damn hit in Tennessee and won fans. Thanks for the time you've given us.
Oh tweeps. The Williamson Families PAC, which supports Gabrielle Hanson, misspelled the link to their website in a text the group sent. Now, someone has bought the domain and -- well, see for yourself.
Last week, I addressed the question of whether Tennessee is a democracy and questioned how the legislature would behave this week. As it gavels into session, restricting citizens from entering the Capitol, we now know.
I had not intended to comment on this Telegram post, but since others have posted it, I will offer two brief observations: This is a story that is important to this community. I will not be deterred from continuing to do my job. 1/
"WE HAVE TO REBRAND THAT!" Want more evidence that Tennessee Republicans are worried about the far right of their party and the gun lobby following the
#CovenantSchoolShooting
?
Listen to how Majority Leader
@SenJohnson
tells constituents they cannot use the words "red flag."
"I'm Gloria Johnson and I'm running for U.S. Senate," says
@VoteGloriaJ
. She chose Central High to announce as she taught there --including in 2008 when a student was shot to death there.
YOU GUYS. My county gets stranger all the time. James O'Keefe, who was fired from the Veritas Project, went to the Williamson County School Board meeting.
After the 4/25/23 Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Alderman Gabrielle Hanson threatened to have me (a journalist) "arrested" for asking her for a comment in public. Guess she's not a fan of the 1st Amendment.
Tonight, I was trying to sum up the week in Tennessee politics and here's what I came up with: I can't think of one single damn productive thing that happened in the legislature.
Last night, I joined faith leaders at COGIC’s Civic Night in Memphis.
Government isn’t the answer to the greatest challenges we face, & I commend the unwavering partnership of this faith community to strengthen TN children & families in need across our state.
Davidson County Chancery Court Judge Anne Martin has just issued a temporary restraining order barring the TN House of Representatives from enforcing their sign ban
The media was there. Every member of the Capitol Hill Press has photos and video: there was no danger and it's ludicrous for representatives to say they feared for their lives. Most stayed at their desks or walked around during the recess.
Interesting results for local political junkies: In Sumner County, every member of the Sumner County Constitutional Republican -- who over the weekend were predicting big wins -- on the ballot lost, several by large margins.
Well, I went with the homeless column. And the more I’ve thought about Tennessee’s bill and our lawmakers who profess to be Christian and treat the homeless poorly, the crankier I’ve gotten.
Got a story coming in
@TNLookout
about a Tennessee Republican lawmaker who is unilaterally ordering state universities to suspend protections of LGBTQ students. For all their talk about obsessions, seems to me Tennessee Republicans spend a lot of time thinking about LGBTQ folks.
Today's random/weird/pleasant thing: I got a call from the former -- as in mid-80's--lieutenant governor of Delaware. He called to tell me he wants to stage a campaign to get Dolly Parton to run for Senate against Marsha Blackburn.
The Tennessee House Republican Caucus is leaking like a sieve. One of my sources told me several days ago there is a lot of angst over how this was handled--including anger with Speaker Sexton.
⚡️NEW LEAKED AUDIO: TN House Republicans infighting over
#TennesseeThree
votes.
CEPICKY: “You gotta do what’s right even when you think it might be wrong.”🤔
Leadership says Barrett made them look racist, Cepicky says they're at "war", etc. must-listen.
This, in my opinion, is the biggest win of the election. Leaders of Tennessee Legislature and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn headlined an anti-transgender rally on Sept. 19, 2022 in Nashville.
I just spoke to Olivia Hill (
@Oliviafornash
), who has apparently made history as the first transgender person ever elected to public office in Tennessee.
“It feels like every horrible thing that people have said about trans folks has just washed away," Hill says.
OMG.
@jaketapper
on
@cnn
discussing the disgraceful episode in which House Republican Caucus Leader Jeremy Faison pantsed a high school basketball referee.
Meanwhile, in downtown Nashville, students from Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet School, Hume Fogg High, Hillsboro High and Belmont University, among others, are walking out at 10 a.m. and meeting for a protest of a Tennessee House Bill to arm teachers.
Press advisory from
@VoteGloriaJ
: the state rep & member of the "Tennessee Three," will make announcements in Knoxville, Nashville & Memphis on Tuesday--one would certainly think this may be an announcement of a bid for the US Senate.
I’m a little angry today. I love Tennessee but once again, in the space of 24 hours, we look like hicks and police thugs. And where are elected official? Radio damn silence. We need leaders in Tennessee, not mealy-mourners who only want credit for the good.
Tonight, Franklin, TN is set to take a vote on a permit for the city's Pride festival.
Here's some of the public comment.
"It started out as Pride coming in and I thought everything would be ok...it ended with a rainbow room where 8-12 y/o kids were given butt plugs and dildos."
Oh damn. You don't tug on Superman's cape. You don't spit in the wind. You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Phil.
Might get suspended from Twitter, as I just called someone an a-hole for implying my friend made up a story about his house being shot at. I am in no mood for bullshit.
If no one else has pointed this out, I will be the one to go there. Today, six Nashvillians are dead from gun violence, including 3 elementary school kids. Tennessee GOP lawmakers are proceeding today with bills to take authority from 2 Nashville commissions.
Who is providing Tennessee House Republicans with their communications/PR advice? That person needs to be fired. Every step they take seems calculated to make them look incompetent.
On February 16, 2012, I walked into a Nashville 12-step meeting a wreck. Thirty days was daunting, much less 12 years. Every single day, I am so grateful to be sober.
At a candidate forum in Franklin, Tennessee, where members of the white supremacist group Tennessee Active Club are here, saying they are providing security for Gabrielle
@HansonforMayor
. 1/
Jussst screenshotting all the tweets with nearly identical language from Tennessee GOP lawmakers outraged that a Trump-appointed judge upheld the Constitution.
Just left a wedding in Austin and what did everyone want to talk about? Tennessee expelling two Black lawmakers and - my hand to God -
@NC5PhilWilliams
. One guy even imitated his accent.
Covenant Families Action Fund: "What we witnessed is a disappointing rules package that limits our ability to identify who we are in the gallery. . . we felt we lost a bit of dignity in our identity as parents of survivors."
Meanwhile in WEST TENNESSEE
MONDAY — Ex-Benton County coach & youth pastor sentenced to 45 years for exploiting children:
TODAY — DCS employee arrested for solicitation of a minor in Bolivar:
Not drag performers.
@GovBillLee
Oh boy.
@NC5PhilWilliams
is talking election law and residency regarding Franklin mayoral candidate Gabrielle Hanson, including a video of her husband in Chicago, giving a Chicago address, as Hanson sits by his side.
I'm a big believer in the practice of gratitude. Today, I have gratitude for Gabrielle Hanson and her cohort of alderman candidates. You see, some of us in Franklin/Williamson County have been writing/talking about unhealthy elements in local politics for years. (1)
With all due respect to Mr. Hayes, the Tennessee Legislature has always been about the rural-urban divide--but the Democrats used to have the rural vote as well as the urban. (See: Ned Mcwherter, Jimmy Naifeh.) That changed about 20 years ago.
Obviously race is and racism is front and center in the events in the Tennessee, but another axis of conflict is the accelerating rural / metro divide, and the degree to which Republicans view growing, thriving metro areas as a threat.
Call me picky, but I think if you have egregious campaign finance violations, you might shouldn’t be allowed to run for office for at least some period of time.
My independent thought: Would be interesting if every member of
@TNDemocrats
decided to step into the well of the House with a bullhorn and forced the majority to expel the whole caucus.
Tennessee Republican lawmakers have the numbers to expel three Democratic colleagues but as one GOP representative pointed out, the act will make "martyrs" of them --and they will get re-elected. (1)
We asked Committee chair Senator
@lundbergjon
if it gives him pause that no other states have rejected billions in federal k-12 funds.
His response was to go after
@Kanew
personally, bringing up a DUI from over 20 years ago.
Just talked to
@JRClemmons
: Not only is the rotunda of the Tennessee Capitol cordoned off but half the House gallery has been closed. Only "credentialed" visitors will be allowed -- that's shorthand for lobbyists.
WATCH: “Transgender people are people, Representative.”
Rep.
@Justinjpearson
gives Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) a lesson on the constitution as he rips his latest anti-trans youth bill — again focusing on athletes, which has not been an issue in Tennessee.
@HansonforMayor
Gabrielle
@HansonforMayor
now calling out a young Democratic activist by name. He is a Franklin resident and official poll watcher, as provided by state law. There is NOTHING nefarious about that.
#FranklinTnElection
From
@JRClemmons
on an injunction restoring the right to have signs in the Legislature: "It is troubling how often the citizens of our state have to return to the courthouse just to protect their basic constitutional rights from being violated by this GOP supermajority."
Man, my first experience in the legislature was in 1980 when I was a 15-year-old page. I've covered it and I've been part of the politics around it. Today might not be the ugliest/meanest/worse episode but it ranks pretty high.
Our very own
@NC5PhilWilliams
received the John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism today!
Each year, the chosen recipient of the $25,000 John Chancellor Award is selected "by a distinguished panel of journalists who look across the media landscape to identify a