OPINION: PEOPLE ARE CRAZY AND TIMES ARE STRANGE (AKA PLEASE VOTE!)

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“People are Crazy and Times are Strange” – Bob Dylan

Never did those lyrics strike closer to home than here in Tennessee where recent FBI data now ranks this state as having the 3rd highest rate of violent crime, robbery, aggravated assaults and homicides. Fortunately, the November 8th election provides Tennessee voters an opportunity to change those frightening statistics by electing a new governor together with state and federal legislators.

Around the country other states will be doing the same, the results of which will decide which political party has majority control over the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. This election will be definitive in determining the values, direction, and type of government American voters wish to have and which political party they feel best serves those interests. It’s not mere hyperbole to state that now more than ever, democracy is on the ballot.

However, equally notable is Tennessee’s poor record for voter participation – 46th worst in 2020 – as highlighted by an abysmal 17% voter turnout in the August mid-term elections. Such voter apathy may well come back to haunt Tennesseans since according to analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice, it
can be expected that should MAGA-Republicans maintain legislative control in Southern states, particularly those with diverse racial populations, more restrictive voting laws will be enacted in an effort to decrease voter turnout among those most likely to vote for Democrats.

With that in mind, it’s important to note that despite the fact that 62% of Americans remain in favor of abortion, Republican lawmakers, beholden to their far-right religious base and emboldened by their success in outlawing abortion in half the country, have now set their sights on making criminalization of abortion the law of the land. Therefore, the outcome of November’s election will be critical to protecting the lives and well-being of millions of Americans, men and women alike since passage of the legislation needed to restore reproductive privacy and freedom of choice hinges on the election of a Democratic congressional majority.

So what can we expect should a Republican majority take control of both houses of Congress? Undoubtedly in typical fashion they will continue obstructing whatever bills Democrats might propose, regardless the benefits to the American public. Additionally, we shall see ongoing attempts to “stack” the judicial system and the Supreme Court with unqualified, but like-minded conservative judges.
However, their first order of business will likely be the disbanding of the January 6th Committee and the dismissal of further investigations, accountability and/or prosecution for those responsible in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

There is also a cockamamie scheme to impeach President Biden for unspecified “high crimes and misdemeanors.” More disturbing are Republican threats to cut the programs at the heart of our social welfare system: Social Security and Medicare. Republicans have also said they would pass a law to make the 2017
Trump tax cuts for the wealthy and corporate entities permanent, which economists say would further exacerbate inflation.

Then there are ongoing threats to refuse to raise the debt ceiling serving as a cudgel to enable the “reform” of Social Security and Medicare including raising the age of eligibility. And should they achieve a legislative majority, Republicans are also signaling withdrawal of support for Ukraine.

It should also be remembered that this GOP, nationally and locally, aided by Fox News, continues to cast aspersions on the sanctity of our electoral process by clinging to and promulgating the Big Lie that Joe Biden stole the 2020 presidential election, despite widespread and definitive evidence to the contrary.

Reflective of an increasing atmosphere of social and political intolerance are legislative attacks on Tennessee’s LGBQT community by extremist Republican legislators which helps to foment and encourage anger and hate-mongering as seen by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s recent report ranking Tennessee 2nd highest nationally for number of hate groups.

All of which increases the importance of who will be Tennessee’s next governor. Governor Bill Lee is campaigning for reelection on the basis that he has helped Tennessee families. Sadly, that seems remarkably disingenuous when one considers that Tennessee’s lack of gun safety laws have resulted in a firearm mortality rate which is 10th highest nationally. Indeed, Everytown reports that guns and gun violence are the leading cause of death for Tennessee children and teens. Lacking sensible gun control, those numbers continue to climb.

Under this administration, aided by an extreme ultra-conservative legislature, the well-being of Tennessee families has garnered scant attention since NoKidHungryTN reports that more than 19% of children in Tennessee live in “food insecure” homes.

World Population Review figures for 2022 rank Tennessee as having the 10th highest rate of poverty and the 2nd highest number of minimum-wage workers laboring for $7.25 an hour. Certainly not figures to be proud of.

Also alarming is the fact that while Tennessee families struggle to feed, house and educate their children as a means to escape a life of poverty, this governor is committed to creating a religious autocracy which includes siphoning off tax-payer dollars from our public schools to for-profit charter schools which emphasize a conservative “Christian”curriculum.

These are just a few of reasons why it’s critical for Tennesseans to vote in this
election. Early voting runs from October 19 through November 3rd. Election Day is November 8th.

Voter information can be obtained at GoVoteTN.com and at the League of Women Voters’ nonpartisan website VOTE411.org.

Vote as if your life depended on it. It very well may.

Chloe Cerutti lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Alan Levine Lashes Out At Phil Williams Over “Conflicts of Interest” Piece

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These are the times we save receipts for. Ballad Health CEO Alan Levine took the time to lash out at Phil Williams for calling out the conflicts of interest of Governor Lee’s handpicked charter schools appeal board – but Phil is absolutely right.

Levine is hardly the best messenger for this, having been the subject of a 60 Minutes medicare fraud piece when he worked at HMA.

HOLLERFEST 2022 HIGHLIGHTS!

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HOLLERFEST 2022 TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

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2ND ANNUAL HOLLERFEST 2022 AT EXIT/IN OCTOBER 3RD
Tickets on sale now HERE
(Sponsored by SEIU)
Hollerfest 2022 is here! Join us for a night of inspiration and music in support of the Tennessee Holler as we host the 2nd annual “Hollerfest” Monday night, October 3rd at Exit/In in Nashville beginning at 7pm CST.
Hear from some of the most powerful progressive voices in Tennessee, and some of the candidates running to make a difference. Billed as “a night of inspiration and music”, Hollerfest will feature a series of brief speeches from powerful progressive voices from around Tennessee, including candidates for congress Odessa Kelly and Senator Heidi Campbell, newly elected representative Justin Jones, the Equity Alliance’s Tequila Johnson, Matthew “Coach” Hawn, Rep. Gloria Johnson, Comedian Josh Black, Levi Black, candidate for governor Dr. Jason Martin and more – plus the music of local Nashville artists Lou Ridley & Chuck Indigo.
“The first Hollerfest was all digital during the pandemic, and it was a lot of fun,” said Justin Kanew, founder of the Holler. “We’re excited to be able to get all of these great voices together in person this time to lift up their stories and provide some inspiration to all the Tennesseans working hard to make Tennessee a better place at a time when those in power seem to be doing all they can to drag us backwards in so many ways.”
It’s a night you won’t want to miss. Space is limited, so get your Tickets on sale now HERE, and sign up to subscribe and support the Holler HERE. 
ABOUT THE TENNESSEE HOLLER:
The Tennessee Holler is an independent, reader-supported network of progressive accountability journalism sites with 10 regional Hollers across Tennessee “Yelling the Truth” about what’s going on here in our state, lifting up voices and shining a light on injustices in Tennessee.
​

WELCOME TO FORCED BIRTH TENNESSEE

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WELCOME TO FORCED BIRTH TENNESSEE

Yesterday the Trigger Ban triggered. Now any doctor performing an abortion in Tennessee can be charged with a FELONY, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

You heard us right. There are no exceptions.

Not for rape. Not for incest. Not to save a mother’s life. Nothing.

Republicans like Governor Lee continue to say there are exceptions, but they are either lying, or they haven’t read their own bill. The bill says doctors can claim they were saving the mother’s life as an “AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE”, but that means the doctor will be on trial, charged, having been arrested, and the burden will be on THEM to prove the mother was at risk as opposed to on the state.

This means doctors will have to take that into consideration when deciding to perform life-saving health care. Which means women will die. Period. We’re already seeing examples of care being withheld throughout the country.

As a TN DOCTOR said yesterday at the “Healthcare in Handcuffs” rally in NASHVILLE: “Sadly, termination of the pregnancy will put me at risk of being charged with a felony… despite misinformation, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS… this law is dangerous to the women of Tennessee.”

During the rally one young anti-abortion loudmouth was heckling the doctors, cheering for the idea of them going to prison, so we eventually confronted him.
WATCH: “YOU’RE NOT ACTUALLY ‘PRO-LIFE’ — YOU’RE FORCED BIRTH.”

Holler founder Kanew’s confrontation with the heckler continued after it was over, driving home the point that opposing Medicaid expansion & universal health care is not “pro-life”. The heckler was 20 years old and proudly “saving himself for marriage” as he seeks to stop everyone from having sex by telling women to “close their legs” (maybe the virgin thing isn’t voluntary with that kind of talk buddy) and dismissing the Old Testament as irrelevant because numbers 5:11-30 hurts the argument he’s making since God instructs a priest to have a woman drink something  which would make her miscarry if she was unfaithful, which sounds pretty abortion-y to us.🤔

The Heckler did, however, eventually concede there should be exceptions for life of the mom.

READ THE BILL. THERE ARE NONE. If you don’t believe us, believe the Tennessean👇🏽😳 

As Rep. Gloria Johnson points out, Republicans need to fix this NO EXCEPTIONS mess by calling a special session by calling a special session: “There are 0 exceptions… that Republicans don’t understand their bill should terrify everyone. CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND FIX THIS MESS YOU MADE THAT WILL KILL PEOPLE.”

It’s a frightening, dangerous, deadly situation that Republicans have put us in. It’s hard to know if they did it knowingly and lied about it, or if they didn’t understand the bill they passed. Neither is good. Call your reps and tell them it must be fixed.

We’ll keep yelling the truth about all this. Please consider chipping in monthly if you can. We depend on your support.

– The Holler
(CHIP IN MONTHLY HERE)
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Set your clocks back…

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TODAY’S HOLLER:
WE SEE YOU CHATTANOOGA: “We’re standing up for our rights, and our bodies, and autonomy.” Nooga also rallied for women’s rights yesterday as the draconian No-exception TN GOP trigger ban went into effect. #BansOffOurBodies

JASON MARTIN: This bill is radical. There are no exceptions, even for rape or life of the mother… Governor Lee is lying or he doesn’t know what bill he signed. Either is disqualifying.” Governor candidate Dr. Jason Martin was in Nashville for the rally against the TN GOP trigger ban. He also CHALLENGED HIM TO A DEBATE.

WATCH: “That weighs on me. I voted for that bill. These are affecting people. That whole week I didn’t sleep.” S. Carolina Republican Neal Collins regrets his abortion ban vote now that life-saving care is (PREDICTABLY) being denied. #BandOffOurBodies #RoeRoeRoeYourVote

FLASHBACK: “This is gonna let a violent rapist choose the mother of his child, but not let a victim of rape to determine if she’s going to carry that child?” Rep. Lynn told Rep. Gloria Johnson the truth — that THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS in the TN GOP abortion ban… then walked it back👇🏽🤥

Kaiser Health News reporter Brett Kelman says the TN GOP abortion ban has his family thinking about leaving 👇🏽 Really sad what this radical extremist supermajority is doing to our state. 😳

🔥ODESSA KELLY: “This is white supremacy. Class warfare. State-sanctioned violence… Republicans have given us a moment in time to say we defeated FASCISM.”
TN-7 candidate Odessa Kelly didn’t hold back today. Tennessee becomes a forced birth state TOMORROW. #BansOffOurBodies

As Tennessee becomes a FORCED BIRTH STATE under this Republican supermajority we just got more evidence that treating women as 2nd class citizens will getcha beat. #BansOffOurBodies

😳FRANKLIN, TN: “Teens teach themselves sex Ed BECAUSE THE ADULTS WON’T” TN Republicans (JACK JOHNSON) banned anything but abstinence-only education (which doesn’t work) — so now in Jack Johnson & Governor Lee’s home county teens try to protect themselves.

FLASHBACK: “FOX 17 investigation found 17 TENNESSEE REPUBLICAN lawmakers who supported unemployment cuts accepted PPP loans for their businesses — a combined $12.4 MILLION.” So spare us the student loan crocodile tears. 🐊

😂 #studentdebtrelief

The White House is bringing the thunder on these Republican student debt PPP loan hypocrites 🔥 👀

“271,000+ TENNESSEANS WILL HAVE THEIR STUDENT LOANS CANCELED UNDER BIDEN’S PLAN…” No wonder Republicans are so upset.

TRAE CROWDER: 🔥 “I’d like to think experiencing a form of suffering would make you sympathetic to those in a similar plight, as opposed to resenting them when they’re relieved of it… but what do I know? I never read the Bible or nothin’.”

Williamson County pastor 👇🏽

SSSSSHAPIRO: We’re honored to be included in this article about tweets ripping Ben Shapiro’s loan forgiveness hypocrisy.


REMINDER: The same Republicans complaining about student debt cancellation cheered as Trump let them write off 100% OF THEIR PRIVATE JETS. (while slashing trillions in taxes for the wealthy)

PRESIDENT BIDEN: “I will never apologize for helping working Americans & the middle class — especially not to the same folks who voted for a $2 trillion tax cut that mainly benefited the wealthiest Americans and the biggest corporations.” #CancelStudentDebt

Biden’s plan to forgive student loan debt — $10,000 for anyone making under $125,000 a year, $20,000 if you went to school on Pell Grants.

REPORTER: “Is this fair to people who didn’t take out student loans?” — 🔥BIDEN MIC DROP: “Was it fair to people who didn’t own multi-million dollar businesses to watch those guys get huge tax cuts?” 👀 🎯 *moonwalks away*

The NY TIMES picks up the story of disgraced ex-speaker Glen Casada and his chief of staff Cade Cothren getting arrested by the FBI and facing 20 counts.

CASADA LEAVING THE COURTHOUSE: “Glen, do you owe Tennesseans an apology? Do you feel bad? Should the Governor be worried?” Disgraced ex-speaker Casada leaving the federal courthouse after pleading not guilty to all 20 counts… they face many years and fines, 20 count indictment includes bribery, laundering, conspiracy, kickback…

CADE COTHREN SPEAKS ON HIS WAY OUT THE COURTHOUSE AFTER PLEADING NOT GUILTY TO 20 COUNTS: “The truth will come out, Phil.” —- Or maybe it already did, Cade? 🤔

🤣 CASADA IN CUFFS REACTION: GOV. LEE – who hands out no-bid contracts like candy, didn’t remove an admitted sexual abuser, maybe offered a military promotion to pass his vouchers, betrayed teachers, etc… now has “no tolerance” for lack of integrity? LOL. 🤷🏻‍♂️ #CasadaInCuffs

😳MUST-WATCH SUPERCUT: FOX TRASHING TEACHERS.  Again — it isn’t just HILLSDALE & @GovBillLee. The war on our teachers & schools is the right-wing’s core agenda.

CHATTANOOGA: Republican school board member RHONDA THURMAN (a regular focus for us) complains “Hispanic students who speak little or no English are overwhelming Hamilton County schools” calls them a “mind-boggling burden” on schools 🤔😳

⚾️ NOLENSVILLE advances to the 🇺🇸 Little League World Series championship to face HONOLULU Saturday (winner faces the winner of Chinese Taipei vs. Curaçao)

WATCH: “Elections are about choices. There has never been a clearer difference between 2 candidates.” TN-5 congress candidate senator Senator Heidi Campbell says she’s trying to unite while far-right extremist Mayor Andy Ogles tries to divide, and says a new internal poll has her ahead.

Priorities. 🇺🇸 #CancelStudentDebt

CARTOON OF THE DAY

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INTERVIEW: REP. MIKE STEWART (On Knocking doors for Cheney)

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Rep. Mike Stewart tells us why he knocked doors for Cheney despite disagreeing with her on pretty much every issue – because we’re in a crisis of democracy, and without a democratic system we won’t make progress on anything. PODCAST

WATCH:

TODAY’S HOLLER: BEACON SAYS THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD ABOUT TISA

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THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD



As Governor Lee pushed his TISA education funding overhaul, many of us were hollering from the Smoky Mountaintops that the new “student-based funding formula” was intended to enable MORE money to follow kids OUT of the public schools system MORE EASILY to private schools through vouchers, charter schools and the like.

We knew this because we saw it happen in OHIO, where step 2 of their plan is already in progress, and already harming public schools.

We repeatedly asked Governor Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn if their Ed funding overhaul TISA will help steer public money to private schools. They denied it. 

But this week, The Beacon Center of Tennessee, a group behind much of the TISA push, just admitted in an op-Ed in the Washington Examiner that Governor Lee’s Ed funding overhaul TISA is in fact intended to help steer PUBLIC💰TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

There it is in black and white.

It seems with the formula passed, they now feel comfortable saying what it was really all about.

We warned about this. We posted about it daily. We even asked Governor Lee about it-– ⚡️FLASHBACK: “Isn’t this just the VOUCHERIZATION of our public education system?” (of course, he ran from us)

But Education commish Penny Schwinn denied this repeatedly when we asked her🤥 SHE LIED RIGHT TO OUR FACE: “Step 2 after Ohio’s funding overhaul was private school vouchers & charters—can you guarantee it won’t happen here?”

COMMISSIONER SCHWINN: “I haven’t been part of any of those kinds of conversations.”

So many lies. Right to our faces.

And the marketing blitz now being unleashed on Tennessee to sway public opinion in favor of PRIVATIZERS should tell you how much taxpayer 💰 is at stake. #HillsdaleHeist

Who is paying for this marketing? Us? Is this where that $32 million in the budget went that you gave them in the budget, Governor Lee?

Yes. Governor Lee gave teacher-trashing Hillsdale $32 MILLION of our money — for what, Exactly? Where’d that go?

And now HILLSDALE is texting Tennesseans that they’re not getting taxpayer money 🤥 ?

The lies never stop.

As a reminder, Lee’s RIGGED STATE CHARTER APPEAL BOARD is poised to help Hillsdale-affiliated schools overturn rejections by local school boards.

Meet the (Privately Run) Charter School commission Governor Lee picked to overrule locals that reject (Hillsdale) charter schools seeking taxpayer💰👇🏽
email: [email protected]

We’re going to keep yelling the truth about this, but the truth is a lot of damage has already been done.

If your reps supported TISA, and vouchers, and the creation of the state charter commission, they supported the dismantling of our public schools, which Republican Rep. Bob Ramsey told us last week is Governor Lee’s goal. 

And they should be held accountable for it.

People need to know. Spread the word. You can’t support Governor Lee if you support public schools. Period. Hopefully Tennessee will choose another option, which they have in Dr. Jason Martin.

We’ll keep yelling the truth about all this. Please consider chipping in monthly if you can. We depend on your support.

– The Holler
(CHIP IN MONTHLY HERE)
Please consider chipping in even just $5 or $10 monthly to help us continue this work.

BUYING OR SELLING A HOME IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE? HOLLER AT REALTOR ELISA PARKER!
SERVING MIDDLE TN FOR 20+ YEARS… SUPPORT US BY SUPPORTING HER!  CLICK HERE:

Interested in sponsoring? Email:[email protected]

REPUBLICAN REP RAMSEY: “GOV. LEE WANTS TO END PUBLIC EDUCATION”

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REPUBLICAN REP: “GOVERNOR LEE WANTS TO DO AWAY WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS”

Yesterday, for the first time ever, we had a Republican legislator on the Holler.

The lack of Republicans hasn’t been by choice – we’ve invited them, they just haven’t accepted our invitations. Until now.

Rep. Bob Ramsey out of Maryville agreed to come on, having just been unseated in a primary by a challenger backed by a big war chest from school privatization PACs who were mad at him for standing against Governor Lee’s efforts to steer public dollars to private schools through privately run charter schools, vouchers, and his TISA ed funding (privatization) overhaul.

The main takeaway from Ramsey’s appearance was that he confirmed everything we’ve been warning about when it comes to the privatization attacks on our public schools, which Governor Lee is spearheading. Rep. Ramsey, a Republican, even SAYS LEE WANTS TO END PUBLIC EDUCATION: “I do believe Governor Lee’s goal is to do away with public education.”

Here’s the FULL PODCAST (19 mins) with Rep. Ramsey, the first Republican legislator ever to come on the Holler. (FULL STREAM)

REP. RAMSEY also says “Preparations have been made to make overturning local rejections (of Hillsdale-affiliated schools) a slam-dunk, and that LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITIES REALLY HAVE NO POWER.” 

As we’ve been saying, Lee’s state appeal board is rigged to strip local control and push Charter Schools through even where locals have rejected them.😳

And Ramsey’s reward for standing up for public schools? He lost his seat. Governor Lee and his privatization pals sent a message to Ramsey and Weaver that standing against their attacks on public schools will not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, GOVERNOR LEE is out there blatantly lying about his connection to Hillsdale, telling reporters “I’m not engaged in Hillsdale’s efforts.”🤔 

Lee tries to distance himself from Hillsdale’s teacher-trashing as their (privately run) charters try to get local rejections overturned by his rigged state board, but he already gave them $32 MILLION of our💰in the budget.

Ramsey is telling the truth. Governor Lee wants to do away with public education. You can’t support Lee and public schools, which is why we hope people will get behind Jason Martin in November.

We’ll keep covering this attack on our schools, and trying to talk to Republicans like Bob who will tell us the truth.

Please consider chipping in monthly if you can. We depend on your support.

– The Holler
(CHIP IN MONTHLY HERE)
Please consider chipping in even just $5 or $10 monthly to help us continue this work.

SEN. CAMPELL: IRA’S HISTORIC CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT WILL PAY OFF BIG FOR TN

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Sen. Campbell: Inflation Reduction Act’s historic clean energy investment will pay off big for Tennessee

Legislation would lower costs, cut prescription drug prices and boost manufacturing jobs in Tennessee

NASHVILLE — Clean energy incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act will pay off big for Tennessee workers and the state economy, says state Sen. Heidi Campbell.

Campbell, a candidate for Congress in the state’s Fifth District, says the U.S. House should send the bill to the president’s desk.

“This is the boldest climate package in U.S. history and the clean energy incentives are a perfect match for the investments we’ve made in the electric vehicle industry,” Sen. Campbell said. “This legislation will lower costs for families, cut prescription drug prices and create thousands of good-paying jobs in Tennessee — all without raising taxes on working people.”

The Inflation Reduction Act passed the U.S. Senate 51–50 on Sunday with both Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Bill Hagerty voting against it. The measure heads to the U.S. House this week.

The bill allows roughly $374 billion in climate and energy spending, including an extension and improvement of the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit. Under the act, the tax credit is renewed for a decade starting in 2023 and, for the first time, all EV manufacturers will have access to unlimited credits — but the vehicles have to be made in North America.

“No state economy is better positioned to benefit from the electric vehicle incentives than Tennessee,” Sen. Campbell said. “We’re going to build a stronger middle class with American manufacturing jobs and our working families are going to build the world’s clean energy future right here in the Volunteer State.”

Tennessee is already the top state in the Southeast for electric vehicle jobs and investment with General Motors, Nissan and Volkswagen all producing electric vehicles here, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Additionally, Ford Motor Company has begun work in West Tennessee on its $5.6 billion BlueOval City project, a partnership with SK Innovation that will produce the next generation of F-Series electric trucks and electric vehicle batteries.

Also, Tritium DCFC Limited, an international manufacturer of electric vehicle charging stations, announced in February it will establish a U.S. manufacturing base in Lebanon, Tenn.

The Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives for electric vehicles complement Tennessee’s plan to deploy electric vehicle infrastructure announced in February.

Inflation Reduction Act, Beyond EV

As important as the electric vehicle incentives are in Tennessee, the Inflation Reduction Act does a lot more for working families. This economic plan would lower costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, bring down health insurance premiums on HealthCare.gov, and make investments in clean energy, like wind and solar power.

The legislation, which will also reduce the federal deficit by $300 billion, is funded by creating a minimum 15 percent tax on the corporate profits of giant companies and by cracking down on tax cheats.

“Americans deserve solutions from Congress and the Inflation Reduction Act delivers by putting freedom for families first,” said Sen. Campbell.

Campbell, a results-driven mom, former mayor and Tennessee senator representing parts of Davidson County, faces Republican Andy Ogles in the General Election for Congressional District 5 on Nov. 8.

Tennessee’s 5th Congressional is now the most closely watched race in the state.

This is Sen. Campbell’s fifth race in a purple area of Tennessee. She’s undefeated and headed into the General Election in a position of strength having raised about $430,000.

###

(THIS WAS A STATEMENT SENT OUT BY THE CAMPBELL CAMPAIGN)

TODAY’S HOLLER: THE INSUR-REACTION

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INSUR-REACTION

Last night the FBI executed a surprise search at Mar-A-Lago. The former president put out a statement confirming it, doing all he could to paint the FBI as a “radical left”-controlled agency out to get him – which is, of course, absurd.

If you actually believe the FBI is “Radical Left”, you are dangerously gullible. 


Not much is known about the nature of the search, but word is it has something to do with classified documents, which ironically is exactly what they used to chant “lock her up!” about when Hillary was in the mix.

Of course, now that it’s their guy’s day in the barrel his wildly hypocritical flock is calling for “civil war” and talking about how the Department of Justice and FBI are being “weaponized” – despite the fact that TRUMP APPOINTED THE CURRENT HEAD OF THE FBI, and a Trump-appointed judge would’ve had to sign off on the search warrant.

Many, like Marsha Blackburn, are attempting to use Hunter Biden as a shield, essentially saying if Hunter isn’t imprisoned that means Trump should be able to get away with anything and everything.

But what they leave out is the pesky fact that Hunter WAS federally investigated, and has not yet been found guilty of any crimes.

And we don’t remember Democrats threatening civil war over it.

None of this has anything to do with Hunter. The law is the law. If you’re viewing this through a political lens rather than what’s right and just, you’re already doing it wrong and proving that “law and order” is not what you actually value.

We also can’t help but notice how none of the people bringing up Hunter Biden today seem to care that Trump’s daughter’s husband got $2 BILLION from the Saudis months after leaving office. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The reactions here in Tennessee from Republicans are very troubling. Knoxville Rep. Jason advocating for a sheriff to defy the law to protect a corrupt president, and county mayor Glenn Jacobs, Chuck Fleischmann, and Diana Harshbarger are all implying Trump should be above the law.

Never let the TN GOP claim to be about the rule of law ever again.

As horrific as Trump’s obvious crimes have been, It’s really the reaction to this that should alarm everyone.

Trump’s people are not saying he’s innocent. They’re not saying he has nothing to hide.

They’re saying he should be above the law, and they’re proving that their loyalty is not to the country or the constitution, but instead to the most corrupt president this country has ever seen.

Their reaction is an INSUR-REACTION. The insurrection is ongoing, and the cover-up is part of it.

The irony is actually holding a corrupt former president accountable IS what makes America great, as this Russian will tell you.👇🏽 🇺🇸

If you’re more upset about an obviously corrupt former president getting searched by law enforcement under judges and officials he appointed than you were about him leading a violent insurrection against our country, you have lost the thread.

Nobody should be above the law.

If Trump his guilty, the process needs to play out and prove it. And in the meantime, we will watch as Republicans across the country tell on themselves and reveal how little they actually care about the Rule of Law.

Please consider chipping in monthly if you can. We depend on your support.

– The Holler
(CHIP IN MONTHLY HERE)
Please consider chipping in even just $5 or $10 monthly to help us continue this work.

🇺🇸

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TODAY’S HOLLER:

NEW: Trump wanted American generals to be more like Hitler’s generals. Any questions?

WATCH: “Republicans have been completely overwhelmed by the extremist MAGA branch… I wish we had more bravery in the GOP.” On WZTV FOX 17 News, Nashville the Holler’s Justin Kanew says the GOP is now an extreme party, and claiming that to be true of both parties is wrong and runs cover for them.

BLACKBURN & HAGERTY OPPOSE AN INSULIN CAP: “IT WOULD MEAN LIFE… more people will die… Republican senators Blackburn & Hagerty voted to take out a provision that would also cap insulin costs for those with private insurance…” 😳

-1 in 3 Tennesseans have medical debt
-4 out of 5 diabetics went into debt to pay for insulin
-700,000+ Tennesseans have diabetes
-100,000+ die yearly of diabetes
TLDR: Tennessee’s senators are cruel and don’t care about human suffering.


HOW IS THIS LEGAL: So former senator Brian Kelsey – who is under federal investigation for campaign finance issues – is now the lawyer representing Gov. Lee’s voucher program he helped pass? 🤔 Get a law passed, then go get rich being a lawyer for it?

“CLEAR THE LIST” — while Gov. Lee brags about a budget surplus and steers millions of public dollars to private schools “Tennessee teachers are facing a financial crisis in the classroom, reaching into their own pockets to pay for school supplies…”

KANEW: “Glen Casada is no longer in the legislature, and Justin Jones is.” – On Fox Nashville The Holler’s  Justin Kanew highlights the fall of ex-speaker Glen Casada vs. the rise of Rep Justin Jones — says “Justin needs to be Justin” and not worry how petty GOP leadership will treat him. (Just ask Gloria Johnson)

BIDEN: “There’s a whole range of things in the Inflation Reduction Act that are really game-changing for ordinary folks.” Blackburn & Hagerty just voted against lowering health care costs for seniors & diabetics.🤔😳

👀FOX’S DOOCY: “The Inflation Reduction Act let’s Medicare negotiate lower drug prices —- if you’re on a fixed income and older you love that, regardless of party.” Even Fox hosts are on board, as Senator Mike Lee struggles to frame a negotiation (capitalism!) as “price fixing”🤔

Everything Marsha says is a lie. 🤥

Hard to argue. Dems are governing while republicans try to make us afraid of one another.

⛽️ GAS PRICES DOWN: Interesting how quiet Marsha & co. Have gotten about gas prices lately…

WATCH: Tennessee’s Senator Bill Hagerty calls a booming jobs report (and low unemployment) “VERY DISCOURAGING” 🤔 He’s being honest — Adding jobs is bad when all you care about is your side clinging to power. When they tell you who they are, believe them.

LOL 😂

MEANWHILE ON THE BULLSHIT FACTORY:  Fox says the Inflation Reduction Act means the IRS will Come rob you at gunpoint 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫🥴🥴

Even Manchin isn’t having it from the Republicans. #InflationReductionAct

🚨👇🏽BANNON: “The school boards are the key that picks the lock.” Texas CFO: “We took over four school boards.” (By “we” he means anti-public school extremists who want to keep our kids ignorant… should sound very familiar and frightening to Tennesseans)

SUMNER COUNTY: A Commission race in the most diverse district is TIED between Brenda Dotson (D) & Terry Boyt (R) – Word is Rep William Lamberth is pressuring the commission to CHOOSE Boyt, not allow a run-off🤔 Worth mentioning: The County Commission is entirely white and Republican. Email them here.

TN-5 —- Rep. Jim Cooper wastes no time endorsing Senator Heidi Campbell over far right extremist Andy Ogles as his replacement👇🏽

WATCH: “Ogles is as extreme as it gets. Senator Heidi Campbell is the adult in the room and the unifier.” The Holler’s Kanew on the TN-5 face-off between Sen Campbell and far-right election denier Ogles (called the pandemic “fake”, racist to Asians, wants to impeach Biden, etc.)

Hey TN-5, THIS is the choice you face 👇🏽 Do you want a Rep like Andy Ogles who thinks we’re at “war” with each other? Or Rep Campbell who wants to find common ground and bring us together? Pretty easy choice if you ask us.

TEACHER SHORTAGE: Reminder, The teacher shortage is a feature not a bug for PRIVATIZERS like Gov. Lee who want to see public funds redirected to private schools.

🔥DR. JASON MARTIN: “BILL LEE HAS FAILED YOU ALL.” Newly minted Democratic nominee for Governor Dr. Jason Martin didn’t hold back about Gov. Lee in his victory speech, listing ways lee has failed Tennessee. #WarOnSchools #WarOnTeachers #ExpandMedicaid #BansOffOurBodies

Reminder: It’s not just an insulin cap we need… #MedicareForAll

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