Bill Lee to sign Protest Criminalization Bill

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Governor Bill Lee announced that he will be signing a draconian anti-protest bill which includes making it a felony punishable by up to six years in prison to pitch a tent outside the Capitol overnight. This flies in the face of his claims of wanting to pass meaningful criminal justice reform, a term that House Majority Leader William Lamberth had the gall to use when referring to this bill.

Not only will this legislation have severe implications for protesters, but it will have far-reaching ramifications on the people in Tennessee who are experiencing homelessness.

Republican Legislators drafted this bill with the protesters who have been occupying the plaza outside the State Capitol in mind in an effort to silence them and their demands. We are left wondering if any members of the Tennessee Republican Party have learned from the late great John Lewis, or if they have considered that perhaps they are participating in government overreach, which they are so quick to decry when Democrats propose regulations.

Tennessee’s Criminalization of Protest with Senator Jeff Yarbro

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Justin Kanew talks with State Senator Jeff Yarbro about the Tennessee State Legislature’s new draconian anti-protest laws that specifically target the protesters who have been occupying the plaza outside of the State Capital, and the far-reaching implications these laws will have on the citizens of Tennessee.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Why All Dems Support Medicaid Expansion with Sheila Younglove

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Senate Candidate District 16, Sheila Younglove, joins us again to answer the question: Why Medicaid Expansion is supported by every Democrat running for state office. It is because it is outrageous that affordable health care for thousands of Tennesseans has barely been discussed in the General Assembly since Governor Haslam’s Insure Tennessee was rejected in committee in 2014. With the pandemic, an estimated 750,000 Tennesseans could become uninsured! It is unlikely that the 3rd legislative session will even consider adopting Medicaid Expansion as have 38 states.  We really need some change in our state government. Vote wisely.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts here, and wherever else you like to listen here.

INTRODUCING “A Case of the Mundays” with Wade Munday

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Host Wade Munday talks with public defender Keeda Haynes on the first official episode of A Case of the Mundays. Fresh off her campaign for Congress in District 5, Keeda talks about what went right and what went wrong in her race, and what she’s thinking of doing next. Keeda managed to receive over 40% of the vote in a difficult race against longtime incumbent Jim Cooper, so if she decides to run again she’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

Learn more about Free Hearts.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Officer Briggs RIPS MASK off Man Recording Cops

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Officer Briggs, a Tennessee State Trooper, harasses Andrew Golden who had stopped to film other officers making an arrest. Briggs approaches Golden, hand on his gun, and proceeds to intimidate Golden, eventually ripping Golden’s mask off his face.

Briggs has a history of harassing protesters.

Original video

UPDATE:  BRIGGS HAS BEEN FIRED. Relevant article.

INTRODUCING Porch Politics with The Equity Alliance

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Porch Politics hosts Tequila Johnson and Charlane Oliver, Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors of The Equity Alliance, are here to bring you the sweet tea in their first episode of Porch Politics. They get real and go deep in their discussion about the hard but rewarding activism that they’re doing through The Equity Alliance, and they give their honest perspectives on the state of Tennessee Democratic politics.

Be sure to fill out The Equity Alliance’s Our Fair Share survey if you or your small business has been affected by COVID19.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Standing Tall meets Scrappy Time

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Gloria Johnson’s STANDING TALL collides with Jay Clark’s SCRAPPY TIME in this latest episode!

Representative Johnson and Jay Clark chill and chat in Gloria’s luxurious pool talking healthcare, the upcoming special session, and our Governer’s refusal to meet with the peaceful protesters occupying the plaza outside the State Capitol.

Jay is running for State House in District 8 and has his own show “Scrappy Time,” which y’all should be on the lookout for because Jay is joining The TN Holler Podcast Network!

You’ll see Gloria and Jay on “Scrappy Time” THIS WEEK, stay tuned! ?

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

Schools Reopening during COVID19 with Civil Miller-Watkins

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Civil Miller-Watkins is running for State Senate District 26  and joins host Sandra Rice to discuss TN’s plan for students to return to school amid a pandemic. She is a mother of 8, a current school board member, and is very familiar with homeschooling and virtual learning. The lack of state plans for managing COVID19 and school reopening as well as a lack of broadband in all rural areas makes learning more difficult in Tennessee.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts here, and wherever else you like to listen here.

Interview with Meg Gorman, Democratic Candidate for TN3

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Kanew interviews Meg Gorman about her vision for the 3rd District of Tennessee. She is running against Chuck Fleischmann in the general election and could use your support!

Bill Lee’s COVID19 Response Failure

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Our Governor’s weak, feckless response to COVID19 is costing lives. He can’t name a single expert that supports his decision to reopen schools. They don’t have the testing ability to follow CDC guidelines, yet Lee says they are “safely” reopening schools (“to the degree that it’s possible”). His administration has dragged its feet with regard to transparency throughout this crisis, and lab turnaround times are still severely lagging, putting more lives at risk.

And yet the special session called for the week of August 10th will be focusing on weakening worker protections within the context of COVID19 and further criminalizing the protesters who have been occupying the plaza outside the State Capitol. They will also be strategizing ways to expand telehealth, which is the one positive aspect of the upcoming special session.

Watch the videos below to see just where our Governor’s priorities lie: