INTERVIEW: California Governor Gavin Newsom

/0 Comments/in , /by

NEW INTERVIEW: California Governor Gavin Newsom

Governor Gavin Newsom sits down with The Holler’s Justin Kanew to talk about Trump’s masked ICE raids terrorizing California, and how authoritarianism is already here for immigrant communities. (:27) “It looks like martial law” (1:26) “How is this legal??” (2:06) “At what point does California stop paying for its own oppression?” (2:44) “Red State Outcomes underperform blue states” (3:33) On California withholding tax dollars (4:40) On Joe Rogan’s immigration change of heart (5:17) They’re not grabbing criminals (6:20) “Now Stephen Miller has one of the largest private armies in the world” (6:36) on banning masks (7:53) on Governor Abbott’s power grab and the importance of the midterms (9:20) “Do you think there’s an Epstein List?” (9:42) Gov. Newsom says “Foller the Holler”

Memphis-Based xAI’s GROK Spews Actual Antisemitism

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Elon Musk’s Memphis-based xAI supercomputer has been accused of pumping toxic chemicals into the Memphis air, but it turns out that’s not the only poison it’s spewing.

GROK, the AI chatbot on Twitter that Elon has admitted to adjusting himself towards answers he prefers when it disagreed with him that “the left is murderously violent”…

…has been pumping out actually antisemitic answers about Jews controlling Hollywood that echo clearly antisemitic sentiments, presented as fact.

Here are some examples:

Add this to the Elon’s controversial “salute” on election night, and his previous endorsement of a blatantly antisemitic post saying Jews “push hatred against whites”, and a troubling pattern emerges.

Will Elon be condemned the same way Zohran Mamdani was attacked as antisemitic for not condemning a phrase he himself had not even said?

Groups like the ADL have been quick to forgive/defend Elon. And they quickly moved on from Trump using the blatantly antisemitic term “shylock” last week.

Yet when it comes to Muslim mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who won a hotly contested primary riding a wave of youthful energy and a powerful message of affordability for the working class, it has become the central focus of coverage of the campaign.

Where is the consistency? Surely Elon building an AI weapon of mass antisemitism should be a greater concern than a mayoral candidate who disavows antisemitism and has vowed to fight against it not playing word police.

And is Memphis, largely run by Democrats and elected officials who profess to be against anti-Semitism, comfortable continuing to help Elon build this machine as it gives antisemitic answers, knowing he is bending it to his will and it is only as benevolent as its creator – who himself has portrayed them as “detrimental”?

This is what y’all are so willingly poisoning Memphis for?

Senator Taylor’s Full XAI Responses (Can’t Back Up Lofty Job Creation Claims)

/in , , , , , /by

Earlier this week we posted about the responses we received from Shelby County’s state reps and senators about where they stand on Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer project. Of the 17 we reached out to, we only got responses from 5. You can read those responses here. 8 Dems and 4 Republicans did not respond.

4 Dems told us they oppose the project: Rep. Pearson, Rep. Hardaway, Rep. Salinas, Sen. Kyle

2 Republicans support it that we know of: Rep. Gillespie, and Sen. Brent Taylor

Only Republican responded to us: Senator Taylor.

To his credit, Taylor is also always willing to talk to us up at the capitol also. Let’s just say he is not camera shy.

Senator Taylor has been a proponent of the xAI project since the beginning. His responses to us were lengthy (so much so that we joked it felt like he had asked Grok to write them for him), and we asked him some follow-up questions also, so we decided they warranted a post of their own.

Our full exchange is below.

The main thing we wanted to know is what evidence he has to support the claims that xAI is creating jobs specifically for Memphians. Supporters of the project (Taylor, the chamber, Mayor Young) continue to talk about the job creation, but have provided no specifics about which MEMPHIANS are benefitting. Until we see some evidence of that, it feels fair to keep poking and prodding that claim.

Here’s the full exchange:

US: Senator Taylor, Do you support the xAI project?

SENATOR TAYLOR: “Yes. I have been involved in some key aspects of the project both at the site, and off site since the announcement of xAI. I have toured the facility multiple times most recently last week. They are a great asset for Memphis. They are employing approximately 300 xAI employees and paying Silicon Valley wages. They are hiring from economically distressed areas of Memphis and are changing lives of people who are able to move from SNAP benefits to six-figure wages. Additionally, they are employing 1,100 independent contractors in perpetuity to continue to build out and maintain the super computer. These independent contractors are largely local contractors. As I have spoken to those contractors they have been able to grow their businesses two and three times due to work at the xAI facility. Lastly, this is the largest investment in Tennessee history. It is, so far, two and a half times the Blue Oval City investment. xAI is at roughly $13B and counting. All with no local or state incentives. They are doing this just like I did when I was in business, they are using their own money to invest in Memphis.”

There’s a lot to unpack there, but the main thing we wanted to focus on was the claim that the job creation they keep bragging about is actually helping people in Memphis, and not just people they are bringing in from outside Memphis – or even the country, which we know Elon Musk loves to do through the H1B visa program.

So, we followed up.

US: Saying people are going from food stamps to six figures is a lofty claim. Do you have one person we could talk to that is an example of that?

SENATOR TAYLOR: “I have no authority to provide an employee for you to talk with. I am only sharing with you what I have seen with my own eyes and ears when I toured the facility and spoke to employees myself. The Memphis Chamber can verify my claims. The Chamber might consider asking xAI if they would make an employee available for an interview, but that would be entirely up to them and xAI.”

Needless to say, that reply leaves us unconvinced. We would ask Memphis Chamber Ted Townsend to verify as he suggests, but Townsend has blocked us, so that seems unlikely.

We would however encourage local Memphis folks to pursue this.

US: Is there a way to verify that these jobs you’re talking about are actually going to Memphians? Feels like evidence of the employees and independent contractors you’re referring to would be helpful. Can you send whatever you have been shown that backs that up? 

SENATOR TAYLOR: “Again, these are based on conversations I have had with independent contractors multiple times and employees when I have toured the site. There are some really technical aspects of the construction that require them to bring in outside contractors, but they utilize local contractors as much as possible. Moreover, they will pay a $10,000 bonus to employees who live in Memphis. On my last visit, I spoke to the catering vendor. xAI provides free meals to the employees and independent contractors. It is a minority-owned business and she told me how the xAI contract has changed their lives by allowing them to grow their business exponentially. Since there is no government incentive going to the xAI, they are no more required to make such information available to the public than Brentwood Funeral Services, LLC when I owned it, or what expenses Tennessee Holler may have. xAI, Brentwood Funeral Services, and xAI are, or were in the case of my funeral homes, private businesses.”

So again: no evidence to support these claims of job creation going specifically to Memphians. Forgive us if we don’t just take Elon Musk at his word! (If anyone out there works at xAI or knows someone who does, please contact us. We will gladly preserve your anonymity)

Job creation aside, much of the community pushback has focused on the health concerns. xAI has been running gas turbines without permits, and appears to be dishonest about how many… as they plan to purchase more land, which will require even more energy.

 

As Rep. Pearson and his brother Keshaun say regularly, matter how many jobs they may or may not be creating, none of it is worth it if they are poisoning an area that is already struggling to survive with poor health quality. This Perfect Union piece says it better than we ever could. We highly recommend taking the 15 minutes to watch it.

So we asked Senator Taylor about that as well.

US: Do you share the concerns some in the community have expressed about the environmental issues?

SENATOR TAYLOR: “I certainly understand the concerns of the community relative to the environmental issues. However, the environmental concerns predate xAI’s arrival in Memphis and the efforts to address them thus far seem to be misguided. xAI has worked to overcome every environmental concern raised. First, it was the use of the aquifer. They announced they would not use the aquifer to cool the computers. It was suggested they use water from the nearby Mississippi River. They chose not to do that because it would disrupt the ecosystem of the river. They eventually decided to build a gray water facility to turn waste water into water to cool the computers and for the use of nearby industries. They currently use water that has been trucked in and is being used on a closed loop system to cool the computers and no water is coming from the aquifer. MLGW had plans to build the gray water facility but it would take years, so xAI is building the facility for MLGW. Then it was energy use. Data centers use a lot of power and it is a wildly fluctuating energy demand that can damage the electrical grid. So, they brought in battery packs to absorb the energy fluctuations and protect the grid from damage. Then, it was their agreement to come off the grid in peak demand periods. Most industrial customers agree to lower their usage during these peaks by 20% to 30%. xAI agreed to come off the grid at 100% if requested by the utility. Moreover, they just completed a new electrical substation and are in construction on a second substation now which will be given to MLGW after construction. xAI is also purchasing a decommissioned energy plant in nearby Mississippi to generate a portion of their own energy which they will agree to sell back to MLGW during peak demand times at the same price they purchase energy for.”

Taylor paints a pretty picture about xAI being good neighbors here, but we feel the need to jump in here and point out TVA and MLGW have been accused of doing the bidding of xAI, and many believe Trump’s changes to the TVA board have to do with kneecapping TVA’s ability to raise prices on xAI.

SENATOR TAYLOR: “To hear the critics of the facility you would think they plopped the xAI facility in the middle of a neighborhood. It is in the Frank Pidgeon Industrial Park which consists of 3,700 acres of industrial facilities that opened in 1967. After the industrial park and the nearby President’s Island Industrial Park opened, homebuilders built housing nearby so workers could live close to their jobs. In 2025 we now understand environmental concerns as it relates to nearby residential areas. The way I would address the concerns is not to attempt to close xAI or browbeat them to leave Memphis, but I would engage with them and local government to enter into conversations about potential buyout of nearby homes similar to what was done near the Memphis International Airport years ago when I was on the Memphis City Council. This would seem to be a much more constructive way to address the environmental concerns of the neighbors.”

While Taylor is correct that the facility is in the Industrial Park, it is still surrounded by communities that have reported smelling what they are putting out. Additionally, the new bigger facility they have planned is not far from a school. The bottom line is none of this excuses the way this has been handled, which was to announce this as a done deal without community input. Again, the Perfect Union piece sums this all up very well.

US: Do you believe the Shelby County Health Department should deny their gas turbine permits?

SENATOR TAYLOR: “I don’t know enough about their application to give an opinion except to say that in general industrial areas seem to be an appropriate place for this type of power generation. However, they are allowed to operate the turbines for 364 days without a permit. xAI is using turbines that significantly reduce emissions into the air. I don’t know if the turbines will be a permanent fixture at the xAI facility or if this is merely a temporary measure while other power generating methods are built out.”

US: Any other on the record so comments you’d be willing to share?

SENATOR TAYLOR: “If you want to know how Taylor is pissing you off, foller the holler!”

He says this every time. Again, not every senator or rep is willing to talk to us. Taylor will, so we appreciate it.

Here’s the list of who did and didn’t respond to our questions… we will be updating as new responses come in.

“DO YOU SUPPORT XAI IN MEMPHIS?” We Ask All 16 Shelby County Senators & Reps

/in , , , , , /by

Since the announcement that Elon Musk’s Supercomputer XAI would be setting up shop in Memphis, there has been a lot of blowback from the community. Locals feel they have been left out of the process, saying they are being exploited and harmed by the project’s pollution and hoarding of resources.

A recent Perfect Union piece about the environmental impacts on the air they breathe and other local resources shows why. Memphis already has extremely polluted air thanks to other companies moving in and taking advantage. The ease of that process and the chamber’s willingness to remove any and all barriers regardless of local health impacts seems to be at least part of the reason Musk chose Memphis as the place to set up shop.

TVA is not going to help protect the people. They are supportive of the project, and Donald Trump already kneecapped the board’s ability to raise prices on XAI.

The County Health Department has not yet stepped in either, despite calls for them to deny XAI’s gas turbine permits after it was discovered they have been operating 33 out of 35 without permits, and lying about it.

The pressure on the health department to take a stand was too much for Dr. Michelle Taylor, the head of the department, who just recently announced she’s going to abandon her post and flee to Baltimore rather than stay and make the tough decision. (Her announcement came one week after County Mayor Lee Harris called her the best Health Department Director in the country… life comes at you fast!)

The Greater Memphis chamber, led by Ted Townsend, has been more than willing to work with them to grease the skids, and was a big part of the recruitment process.

Both Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Memphis Mayor Paul Young are supportive of the project.

Most county commissioners and city council members have been unwilling to speak up.

But one group we haven’t heard much from is the 16 senators and reps who represent parts of Shelby County/Memphis in the state legislature.

Rep. Justin Pearson has been a vocal opponent, along with his brother Keshaun, who runs Memphis CAP. Their position against XAI is clear, and they have been adamant that the Shelby County Health Department should reject XAI’s gas turbine permits.

But what about the rest?

We asked all 16. So far, only 5 have responded. Their responses are below.

4 Democrats told us they are against the project: Rep. Pearson, Rep. Salinas, Rep. Hardaway, and Senator Kyle.

1 Republican, Senator Brent Taylor, tells us he is for it, and provided a number of reasons why – including claims about the jobs the project is allegedly creating for Memphians. We asked him for evidence to support it, which we have yet to receive, largely because he says he doesn’t have access to specifics himself. (We will share Taylor’s entire response in another separate post)

Rep. John Gillespie (R) posted his support for the project on his twitter feed.

It has been crickets from the other 11 – 8 Dems, 3 Republicans – despite giving them multiple opportunities to weigh in before we posted this. We will update this post if and when more responses come in.

AGAINST XAI:

Rep. Gabby Salinas (D)

FULL RESPONSE: “As a scientist that has studied toxicology and an elected official, I cannot support a project that hurts the health and well being of Memphians. As our country continues to fail to meet deadlines to halt climate change, it is robbing future generations from the basic necessities of life. This project is moving at the speed of light in the wrong direction.

Air and water are our most precious resources here in Memphis. We have worked hard to improve our air quality, and we are all proud of our drinking water. This project puts our most valued resources at risk for the sake of a billionaire winning an ego-driven race. The health of our people is worth more than that.

We know it is black and brown communities who will face the highest burden. The lack of transparency of the project is extremely concerning. Show us the meetings. Show us the permits. And especially, show us the science. Our kids and our families will not be able breathe or drink good profit margins and economic growth.”

REP. G.A. HARDAWAY (D)

FULL RESPONSE: “The awesome power of AI is the motivation behind Elon’s speed. He’s gotta be first out the gate, because whoever comes in second is losing. He had access to all the data in the United States Government. Nobody else has what he has. So when he builds this out, he becomes the most powerful man in the world.

When he develops this superpower, resistance will be futile. He can sabotage any message or policies that regulate him. We won’t get a second chance to regulate him. We need to push back on this before it’s too late. It’s now or never. Elon already told you he only cares about productivity, and couldn’t care less about human beings.”

REP. JUSTIN J. PEARSON (D)

For his FULL RESPONSE about why “we deserve clean air”, watch this press conference with the NAACP.

SENATOR SARA KYLE (D)

FULL RESPONSE: “There is credible evidence that xAI is already violating our clean air laws. Yes, the gas permits should be denied. Memphis doesn’t need Elon Musk’s xAI bringing pollution without accountability.

Our city already bears the burden of some of the worst air quality in the state—and we’re not interested in becoming a testing ground for billionaire science experiments. If XAI wants to operate here, they should meet the same environmental standards as everyone else. No shortcuts. No backroom deals. Memphis families deserve clean air, not corporate smog.”

SUPPORTS XAI:

SENATOR BRENT TAYLOR (R)

Senator Taylor responded quickly and at great length. We will share his FULL RESPONSES in a separate post.

NO RESPONSE:

Again, all other Shelby county reps did not answer, despite multiple messages from us.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Rep. Gillespie (R) is Clearly in Support

BOWMAN ON PENNY SCHWINN: “THE SWAMP THRIVES IN TENNESSEE!

/in , , /by

The Swamp Thrives in Tennessee!
by

JC Bowman

“Drain the swamp” is a phrase coined by President Trump, signifying the removal of corruption and special interests from government. Many conservatives oppose Penny Schwinn’s nomination as Deputy Secretary of Education, believing that she embodies the interests they want to eliminate from the agency.

A brief review of Schwinn’s controversial profile and record reveals a pattern of conflicts of interest and ethical issues. Sam Stockard of the Tennessee Lookout reports on a May 5 letter to Benjamin May from Schwinn. In the letter, she outlines her plans to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest by not participating in matters where she has a financial stake.

Stockard highlights: “Seeking a deputy secretary post in the Trump administration, former Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn is promising to eliminate financial conflicts of interest to get the job, including minimizing ties to a Tennessee lobbying firm.” The lobbying firm in question is BHA Strategy, a company founded by Bill Lee’s former chief of staff, Blake Harris; Lee’s former communications director, Laine Arnold; and Brent Easley, the governor’s former legislative director.

The response from the political and education establishment has been utterly dismissive of conflict-of-interest issues.
Rick Hess, from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank, does not see a conflict of interest as a significant issue.
Hess told Education Week: “I’d be really surprised if, for the No. 2 role in the Department of Education, it suddenly was a big deal.”

Hess was likely unaware that on March 24, 2025, Schwinn disclosed on her Executive Branch Personnel Public Disclosure Report that she received $6,000 from the American Enterprise Institute on June 17, 2024. This was likely for a speaking engagement.

However, it is a serious problem if conservatives do not regard conflicts of interest as a significant issue. As Russell Kirk pointed out in The Politics of Prudence, a society in which men and women are morally adrift, ignorant of norms, and focused primarily on the gratification of their appetites will be a troubled society.

Addressing conflicts of interest is essential, as they occur when personal interests intersect with professional responsibilities. This overlap can undermine judgment, objectivity, and fairness, emphasizing the ethical implications of the matter.

When government policies advantage a select few at the expense of the majority, it raises significant concerns. This often leads to a diversion of resources, drives up costs, and leaves taxpayers footing the bill. Such practices divert resources from public services, weaken trust in our institutions, and diminish the voices of the majority, ultimately undermining the principles of democracy and the common good.

As Commissioner of Education, Penny Schwinn experienced a significant disconnect with the Tennessee General Assembly on both sides of the political aisle. John Ray Clemmons, Chairman of the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus, claimed her tenure compromised public school integrity, and current U.S. Representative Andy Ogles, a Republican, had also called for her removal as Commissioner of Education.

Penny Schwinn will be confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of Education. Those who benefit from her conflicts of interest will continue to profit. The cheerleaders will continue to push out one failed education program after another, chasing dollars, and the swamp will migrate from Washington, DC, to state capitals.

As Ronald Reagan reminded us, “Man is not free unless government is limited.” There is a clear cause-and-effect relationship here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts. President Trump will not be able to drain the swamp until he stops appointing individuals who benefit from the swamp to positions in government.

Those in power greatly influence our lives. Conflicts of interest can have serious consequences, making it essential to address them. We must prioritize ethics, integrity, and accountability to build a stronger, more ethical American society.

JC Bowman is the executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Holler Hats!

/in , /by

MORE HOLLER HATS ARE HERE! To get yours, just become a monthly supporter and chip in $10 per month or more (or make a one-time contribution of $40) – then email us at thetnholler@gmail.com and say “I’m chipping in monthly, send me a hat, y’all!” – and include which color (see below for options… If paypal isn’t your thing you can also use square)

Your monthly support truly keeps us hollering, and we are deeply grateful for it.

ALSO: Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to get our 2x weekly emails… and spread the word!

The Holler

COLORS:

Blue & White

Orange & Black

Grey & Green

Black & Gold

Green & White

Blue

Gray & Neon Pink

Gray & White

Black & White

Gray & Aqua

Purple & White

Black

BOWMAN: Universal Vouchers Are Back (and Gov. Lee is mis-leeding folks)

/in , , /by
J.C. Bowman of Professional Educators of Tennessee says despite what privatizer polls say, Tennesseans don’t want vouchers when they have all the info: “It is concerning when Governor Lee does not clearly explain his universal voucher proposal when discussing his latest initiative. Many politicians use this tactic to mislead the public purposely.”

Let’s suppose Governor Bill Lee has the votes for his universal voucher bill. In that case, he will likely convene a special legislative session in the final week of January to advance his private school voucher bill. His latest proposal seeks to allocate $7,075 per student in Tennessee for private school attendance while providing financial aid to local school districts. The fiscal note will likely increase rapidly if no caps or limits are in place, like a similar program in Arizona.

Despite polling from various organizations or universities, school vouchers have consistently failed to pass when subjected to a popular vote in 2024. States such as Kentucky, Nebraska, and Colorado rejected them at the ballot box. School choice allows families to select schools outside their neighborhoods, but a lack of transportation can be a barrier. In Tennessee, 42% of rural districts do not have private schools, and 84% have three or fewer, which makes it challenging for students to participate.

“School choice” is a popular concept in various forms. In fact, over a quarter of students no longer attend traditional public schools, and this number continues to grow. According to Tulane Professor Doug Harris, this trend is mainly driven by inter-district and intra-district choice options and charter schools. Still, the local public school is considered an essential institution within every community in the state.

It is concerning when Governor Lee does not clearly explain his universal voucher proposal when discussing his latest initiative. Many politicians use this tactic to mislead the public purposely. As a result, the conversation surrounding universal vouchers does not align with state criteria for evaluating other public education policies or the values expressed by supporters of vouchers. Recipients of vouchers in the current ESA pilot project have demonstrated improvements, but they still underperform compared to their peers in public schools.

Tennessee taxpayers must understand that most of the funding under the new proposal will be directed toward children already enrolled in private schools. Private schools across Tennessee have a maximum of three to four thousand open seats. This indicates that the primary goal is not actually to improve public schools.

Universal voucher programs have been criticized for their lack of transparency and accountability. Many detractors, including some conservatives, argue that an actual free market requires parents to have access to information about schools’ backgrounds and performance history to make informed choices.

Parents should make informed decisions to ensure their child is educated to their full potential. The voucher program proposed by Governor Lee raises concerns. It does not require voucher schools to undergo vetting, which supporters say compromises their standards and oversight. Consequently, parents may enroll their children in schools without a proven track record or fundamental legitimacy, including those operating from unconventional locations. The minimal requirements and the absence of transparency and accountability measures are particularly alarming, especially since these institutions will receive public funding.

Prominent conservative voices, such as Michael J. Petrilli from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, argue that if taxpayer dollars fund private schools, they should adhere to the same standards as public schools. This statement highlights our position.

Many conservatives in Tennessee also suggest waiting for President Trump’s tax break proposal, which would offer tax credits to those who donate to private school scholarship funds, rather than pursuing new voucher legislation. This plan would not provide direct federal funding to private schools.

There are some excellent private schools across the state. However, the perception that all private schools are superior arises from their selective admissions, rejection, and expulsion policies rather than the actual quality of the classroom educational environment.

This situation highlights a double standard: private school parents can engage in public school governance. At the same time, public school parents will encounter barriers in accessing information about private institutions that will also benefit from public funds. Board meetings are not open to the public. For parents to fully experience education freedom, any legislative proposal must include robust transparency and accountability for taxpayer dollars.

Last session’s attempt to pass a universal voucher bill failed due to difficulties reconciling different proposals. Sam Stockard from the Tennessee Lookout points out that critics question the need for compromises if the plan is genuinely advantageous, suggesting it could be detrimental to public education. Parents and taxpayers should
consider this a valid concern. One legislator admitted, “We’re going to end up taking funds from public schools because the students won’t be there.”

We have seen Governor Lee’s political advertisement in support of his voucher legislation. It illustrates a concern that political donors and special interest groups exert too much influence in Tennessee, reducing the power of ordinary citizens. This creates a loss of trust in our government institutions. Concerns about money in
politics and potential corruption are compelling, as many believe financial interests motivate elected officials.

The upcoming trial of former Tennessee Speaker of the House Glenn Casada, scheduled in Federal Court in Nashville on April 22, 2025, could focus on that loss of trust.
Policymakers should openly share their decision-making processes, including how they plan to allocate taxpayer funds and disclose political contributions to taxpayers. They need to represent their constituents’ views and engage in discussions that support public education.

Voters need to feel that their voices are heard. Their
representatives must be attentive to their concerns, and the government must value their opinions. We strongly encourage policymakers to prioritize transparency during the ongoing debate surrounding universal vouchers.

#####

JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee. To schedule an interview please contact info@proedtn.org or 1-800-471-4867.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS. WILL DEMS ANSWER?

/in , /by

The MAGA Civil War Over the H-1B Visas Is a Chance for Dems/Progressives to Re-Establish Themselves As the Party of the American Worker And Drive A Wedge Between Trump And His Base


Trump hasn’t even taken office yet, and his besties are already at each other’s throats. It all started when he named Indian-American Sririam Krishnan, an Elon Musk aide, as Senior Policy Adviser for Artificial Intelligence, and Vivek Ramaswamy let loose with a Twitter post disparaging American workers as he and Elon Musk and the tech oligarchs issued full-throated support of increasing the supply of H-1B Visas to bring in foreign workers.

The Ramaswamy rant was unhinged and ill-advised, and caused an uproar among the MAGA faithful who oppose immigration in any form – some for obviously racist, xenophobic reasons, but also some in genuine defense of American workers, who have been largely left behind by many anti-union anti-worker policies our country has adopted over the years – on both sides of the aisle.

Granted, the story told about H-1B Visas sounds good: We don’t have enough skilled workers in the United States, and we want the best and the brightest, so we allow employers to poach 85,000 skilled workers yearly to come help our companies. Sounds great, right?

But there’s more to the story. As Senator Bernie Sanders says, these Visas are “abused” by tech oligarchs like Elon Musk, and “The main function of the H-1B visa program is not to hire “the best and the brightest,” but rather to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad. The cheaper the labor they hire, the more money the billionaires make.”

Bernie points out these are not just workers being hired for high level jobs – but also as massage therapists, dog groomers, cooks, etc… as evidenced by the fact that Trump admitted he has them working on his properties when he sided with Elon.


Trump said he hasn’t changed his position on H-1B Visas, but as usual Meidas Touch has the receipts👇🏽 – In 2016 he said it was “very bad for workers” and “I shouldn’t be allowed to use it, we shouldn’t have it”.

Elon & the tech bro money changed all that real fast.

That’s why there is actually a progressive, pro-American worker case to be made that Bannon, and Laura Loomer, and other MAGA loyalists have a point about the visas being abused by the oligarchy and the H-1B Visa program needs real reform – a position shared by the AFL-CIO: “Our unions will never accept policies that relegate millions of workers to an exploitable subclass.”

Elon has made it clear this issue is a big reason why he and his tech oligarch buddies helped buy Trump the presidency. A REPORT says “Tesla has replaced some of its US employees who were let go as part of a big wave of layoffs earlier this year with foreign workers using H-1B visas.”

Which is why Elon lashed out so hard at the Bannon crowd over this, calling them “Subtards” and saying he will go to “war” over it, and agreeing people who disagree are “the retarded right” and “unrepentant racists”.

Elon even went so far as to expose his “free speech absolutism” as hypocrisy by censoring conservatives on Twitter.


BANNON responded to Musk by saying “The converts sit in the back… We’re gonna rip your face off… You can’t beat us… we’ll never surrender… If you go low, we’ll go to the center of the earth.”

To which Elon eventually erupted with this “FUCK YOURSELF IN THE FACE” rant…

…and Bannon called Elon a “toddler”  👇🏽👀

Trump’s traveling buddy Laura Loomer even went in on Elon on a spaces, calling him a “liability” for Trump and a “national security threat” because of his ties to foreign governments.

NEWSWEEK calls it a “MAGA Civil War”.

And the headlines roll in.


And despite all that, Trump sided with Elon over his own base.

Money is a helluva drug.

The bottom line is it all creates a very real opportunity for Democrats to stand with Bernie, and the unions, and take up the mantle of defending American workers against the abuse of the H-1B visa system by Elon and the tech oligarchs.

The natural inclination for Dems will be to have an aversion to the idea of opposing legal immigration and siding with Bannon on anything – but to borrow a phrase, there are “not-so-fine people on both sides”. Defending Elon and the tech oligarchs isn’t a great place to be either.

As Bernie says, the system is being abused by the rich and corporations, and the very workers that are feeling left behind and voting for Trump because of it are the ones who are paying the price.

We all know Trump never actually cared about American workers. We all know he is a fraud. Now is a moment where he is showing that to be true.

If Democrats are still the party of American workers that they once were, this is a time to stand up for them.

Granted, it means standing next to, or at least near, the likes of Steve Bannon and others who are doing it with a not-so-subtle thread of racism and xenophobia. But there is a way to support immigration and what it means to this country while also calling for reforms to the H-1B Visa program so that it does not harm American workers by allowing tech oligarchs a supply of indentured servants.

This is an opportunity to show who really has the back of the American worker, and prove Trump never did.

Opportunity is knocking. Will Dems answer?

Please consider chipping in a few bucks to help – make it MONTHLY and get a Holler hat! (or on SQUARE) 

The Holler

PHD ED POLICY RESEARCHER TO THE TENNESSEAN: “ISSUE A CORRECTION FOR SEN. JACK JOHNSON’S FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT LEE’S VOUCHERS”

/in , , /by

Below is a letter from PHD Ed Policy researcher Ezra Howard to Tennessean opinion editor David Plazas, in reaction to a recent op-ed from Senator Jack Johnson, who is sponsoring Governor Lee’s voucher bill this upcoming session. Johnson parroted Lee’s claim that the vouchers will not negatively impact public school funding, which is simply not true. Public schools will only be held harmless for one year, but after that year their funding will drop if kids leave for private schools and take their funding with them. 

 

Hello Mr. Plazas,

My name is Dr. Ezra Howard. My day job is the data and evaluation manager for the Nashville After Zone Alliance within Metro Nashville. However, I came back to my hometown of Nashville after a career as an ESL teacher, then district ESL administrator, as well as educational researcher while completing dual PhDs.

I was reading Sen. Jack Johnson’s recent op-ed in the Tennessean. I must insist that the Tennessean issue a correction for his opinion piece as on the point of funding Mr. Johnson is either incorrect or sharing misinformation.

In particular, Sen. Johnson states:

“Despite the false claims of many critics, there will be no decrease in funding for any public schools as a result of this legislation. Two things can be true: we support public schools and school choice.”

This is not a false claim. In fact, it is the Senator misrepresenting the language of his own bill and he has done almost immediately after submitting the bill and saying himself funds would decrease over time.

As the language of the bill states on page 10:

“Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c), beginning with the TISA allocation for the 2025-2026 school year, an LEA’s allocated education funding shall not decrease from one (1) year to the next year due to the disenrollment of students from the LEA. If an LEA’s calculated TISA allocation decreases from the LEA’s TISA allocation for the prior school year, then the department shall allocate additional funds to the LEA in an amount such that the LEA’s TISA allocation for the current year is not less than the prior school year. For purposes of this subsection (i), “disenrollment” means that the LEA’s non-virtual average daily membership for the current school year is lower than the LEA’s non-virtual average daily membership for the prior school year.”

With a professional background both in ESL and as a researcher, I am well practiced in reading policy. Though I also practice due diligence and consulted with a local lawyer working within educational spaces as well as a colleague in higher education whose focus is on law and education. My reading as well as theirs is that Senator Johnson is patently mis-representing his bill. Funds will go down as enrollment goes down and the stated intent of vouchers is enrollment in local public schools decreasing. It is simply that there will be a year lag. 2025-26 TISA allocation will be based on 2024-25 enrollment. 2026-27 will be based on 2025-26 enrollment. So on and so forth.

Furthermore, House Speaker Cameron Sexton was recently on Inside Tennessee on a local affiliate in Knoxville to discuss this bill and Mr. Sexton goes into a good deal of depth explaining that funds will indeed go down in the exact manner I state above.

As such, I respectfully ask that the Tennessean issue a correction on Sen. Johnson’s piece and retract the false statements both in the excerpt above as well when he states “Public schools will retain their full resources, while families gain access to new opportunities that better meet their children’s needs.

There are other issues such as the “success of pro-school-choice candidates” when many purposefully either downplayed or did not run on school choice, but those can be construed as a matter of opinion. Funds decreasing over time is a matter of fact. And on that fact, Sen. Johnson is not correct.

Regards,

Dr. Ezra Howard

(If you would like to contact David Plazas and join Ezra in asking for a correction, his email: dplazas@tennessean.com)

EDITOR’S NOTE – TO EZRA’S POINT, JACK RECENTLY ADMITTED THE BILL WOULD HURT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AFTER 1 YEAR TO NEWSCHANNEL 5, THEN WALKED IT BACK:

“FIGHT LIKE A MOM” (Rep. Shaundelle Brooks Arrives)

/in , , , , /by