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

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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

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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

INTERVIEW: Memphis Mayor Paul Young on his opposition to the referendums

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Memphis Pastor: “School & Board Upheld Constitution With Satanic Temple Decision”

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“This moment offers us, yet again, an opportunity to believe the gospel of the God who does not coerce or control, but can work grace into the world even through The Satanic Temple.”

When I stepped up to preach last Sunday, I never imagined that by the end of the week I would be penning an Op-Ed in defense of The Satanic Temple. But here we are.

Despite the objection of petitioning pastors, Chimney Rock Elementary and the local school board did the right thing by providing space for The Satanic Temple. They refused to infringe upon First Amendment rights. They refused to apply religious freedom inconsistently by allowing Christians special privileges they would not allow other groups.

Instead of criticizing and protesting their decision, Christians should applaud it.

Yes, we can disagree with The Satanic Temple’s atheism (they are, in fact, atheists not satanists). We can even feel revulsion at their choice of name. But what we cannot do, what we should not do, is force the school to act upon our religious beliefs. To do so would confirm for The Satanic Temple that Christians are, in fact, the fascists they think we are.

Schools give churches maximal latitude, inviting us to help fundraise, provide for underprivileged students, and even conduct after school Bible studies. This permeation of the wall of separation between church and state is a privilege they offer us not a right we can demand. To deny that privilege to others because we do not like their organization’s name is not only to deny them something that is not ours to deny, but it is also to resist the application of their constitutional rights. The American courts have affirmed this repeatedly.

But the courts should never have had to decide it. American Christians should excitedly support it. Early American Protestants argued for a Principled Pluralism, which affirmed the God-given rights of people to disagree with my religion and still participate in the American experiment. They determined that for this country to be a functional democracy, pluralism must be valued on principle. More than just good nation-building, Principled Pluralism flowed from Protestant theology: the Christian God is not interested in coercion or control. The Christian God honors free will and the freedom of conscience. The Christian gospel can stand on its own without legal force behind it. Authoritarianism undercuts the Christian message that God died on a cross rather than taking Satan’s temptation to control the kingdoms of the world.

In a state where voucher programs are threatening to cut the funds flowing to public schools in order to support private schools for the wealthy, the truly true evil at work in our educational system is not atheists trying to help our kids think rationally. With The Satanic Temple, the church might find a worthy partner in resisting the commodification of education, the exploitation of teacher labor, and the funneling of taxpayer funds to private schools. Indeed, we might find in The Satanic Temple, an ally in the education of our most vulnerable students. And in that they might be the unwitting agents of God’s grace in the life of a child. 

When I prayed before my congregation on Sunday, I never imagined that by the end of the week I would be writing an Op-Ed defending The Satanic Temple. But here we are. Fortunately, we do not have to stay where we are. This moment offers us, yet again, an opportunity to believe the gospel of the God who does not coerce or control, but can work grace into the world even through The Satanic Temple.

Tom Fuerst is the lead pastor of Memphis First UMC. He received his B.A. in Biblical Studies from Hannibal LaGrange University (2003), a M.A. in Religious Studies at the University of Missouri (2006), a M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary (2010), and a PhD. in Rhetoric from the University of Memphis (2022)

OP-ED: ‘TIL DEATH DO US PART – Being a Teacher in 2020

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‘TIL DEATH DO US PART

Being a Teacher in 2020

By Tiffany Crow

A Shelby County Schools teacher, parent, and a COVID survivor.

She wrote this letter to share her experience.

As schools across the nation prepare for the upcoming school year (whether it be in person, hybrid, or completely virtual) teachers and families are writhing in agony with a sense of impending doom. One minute, we hear from superintendents and elected officials that we will be following data and “science” in efforts to plan for the upcoming year, and the next, we are being threatened with reduced funding and told that we will be going back to school buildings, in person, regardless of climbing case numbers, increasing death rates, and individuals being left with lifelong residual health issues from a virus that we still know so little about.

The decision facing parents is certainly a difficult one, but I must ask you… What about the TEACHERS?

What about the teachers who have historically spent all of their own extra time and money to make up for deficits in funding and staffing capacity?

What about the teacher who has cancer, and will now be asked to enter into the world’s largest experimental petri-dish of infection?

What about the teacher who has a child at home awaiting an organ transplant, in a one income household?

What about all of the teachers who will get sick and experience lifelong health complications, financial ruin due to excessive absence, or death?

Have we really convinced ourselves that these people don’t matter?

What about teachers like myself, a Covid-19 “survivor?”

Did I survive Covid-19? Yes, I did survive, but I, a previously healthy 27 year old, am now faced with what could be lifelong and possibly debilitating health issues. I have been “well” for quite some time now, yet I am not “well.” Plagued with daily fatigue, muscle weakness, rashes, heart rate fluctuations, chronic head and neck pain, insomnia, PTSD, digestive issues, and cognitive/memory issues. I am still unsure just how extensive or lasting these issues will be, but now that I am two months out from having a “mild” case of Covid-19, I am STILL facing these health complications. I’ve read more about life insurance in the past two months than I ever have, which is something I never thought I would be doing at age 27.

But it’s not just me. Teachers across the nation are preparing for the worst. We are finalizing wills, upping our disability insurance, and maxing out on life insurance benefits. Those of us who don’t already have life insurance are trying to find more information on which policy is the best option for them. Many teachers are already purchasing PPE, cleaning products, plexiglass dividers, and other band-aid solutions to the astronomical catastrophe that awaits upon school re-entry. Of course, Covid-19 has made significant impacts on the way we used to live. Teachers are now having to purchase protective equipment to keep themselves, and the children, safe. Education is such an important sector though, so many teachers do understand that they are essential workers. More people are even looking to become teachers after this pandemic. People are contacting resume writers, such as those at https://www.arcresumes.com/local/michigan/, to help them create an engaging resume to increase their chances of getting hired.

Is virtual instruction anyone’s first choice, during normal circumstances? Most of us would say “NO!” I, too, believe there is no replacement for in person schooling, but I disagree with people who say virtual instruction cannot be valuable. I taught virtual summer school, and found it to be quite similar in strength and weakness to in person schooling. The advantages were great, however. My students were able to become true 21st century learners, and I was able to become a true 21st century teacher. I learned valuable tools that will work with virtual instruction, but will also be highly effective and enriching when we do return to “normal.” I was able to build community with students and parents, and my students were able to develop a sense of intrinsic motivation that I had not seen at large during the regular school year.

What began as a stressful virtual experience, ended with both student and teacher growth. I urge people to understand that planned virtual instruction is completely different from the patchwork crisis schooling that was offered last spring.

While I understand the need for schools to be open for working families, I respectfully ask that you remember that schools were never meant to serve as free childcare. Teachers are not trained or educated to serve as babysitters. We are also not trained or educated to serve as healthcare professionals or nurses. The bulk of our training and coursework centers around providing a service.

Although teachers and schools, for decades, have offered a variety of services outside of the realm of the service we actually offer (education), we have finally met our match with the coronavirus pandemic. This is a problem that may be beyond our efforts to “fix,” as teachers have done for so long. I certainly do not have the answers to solve the ills of a capitalist-obsessed society, but I want to be clear that the service we provide CAN and SHOULD be offered remotely until it is safe to physically enter school buildings.

The current state of our existence is filled with unrest, anxiety, sadness, and pain. It’s honestly not surprising to me that, according to this article looking at the target market of hemp products, Millenials like myself are spending more money on CBD solutions to help us manage our mental health during these uncertain times. Like the rest of the world, I wish that we could press a magic button and return to “normal,” but the reality is that we can’t, not for some time, anyway. What and who are we willing to risk in an effort to re-enter schools in person? How many deaths are acceptable? How many people, like me, who will live with health issues for the foreseeable future is acceptable? Does your fear of an educational setback outweigh my fear for my life?

For once, teachers are voicing hesitation, frustration, and fear, instead of just coming up with a self-sacrificing solution to the problem, and society is appalled. For once, we are begging to be able to put our own family and health first, and the backlash has been intense. Our passion is being weaponized, we are being accused of not caring about children, or not being flexible enough, or even being lazy and unwilling to work. How soon we forget the “backbone” of our society, along with all of the good work we have done. Teachers are strong, resilient, and creative, but this is one situation I don’t think we can “Donors Choose” our way out of.

INTERVIEW: REP. LONDON LAMAR

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Rep. London Lamar (D-Memphis) joins to talk about the protests and her VOTE BY MAIL FOR ALL amendment, which led to accusations of “stealing elections” by Rep. William Lamberth.

PODCAST ON ITUNES

HERE’S A CLIP!

TODAY’S HOLLER: “OBAMAGATE” EXPOSED, Memphis Election Commission Shenanigans

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TODAY’S HOLLER:

“OBAMAGATE” EXPOSED: At his press conference yesterday a REPORTER asked Trump: “You appeared to accuse Obama of a crime yesterday. What did he do?”

TRUMP’s response: “You know what the crime is. The crime is very obvious to everybody.”

TRANSLATION: “OBAMAGATE”, currently trending because of right wing desperation, is bullshit. ?

They want us to believe Obama is going to prison, but it’s Trump’s capos who are in prison, convicted, or having their charges dropped because of pure corruption. Non-Facebook Link

–MEMPHIS ELECTION COMMISSION QUESTIONS: The MEMPHIS Election Commission needs to be watched. Election administrator Linda Phillips has conflicts of interest with their voter registration software company, including her sons working there. This is in addition to their lawyer sharing office space with the lobbyist for the touch screen voting machine company they just awarded another contract to, even though touch screens take 3x longer, and they recently *miscounted* black votes. Voter suppression in minority-heavy areas continues.

OBAMA RIPS TRUMP’S RESPONSE: OBAMA calls Trump’s Pandemic Response “a CHAOTIC DISASTER”, adding “when that mindset of what’s in it for me and to heck with everybody else is operationalized inside our government.” Boy is he right. And boy do we miss him. Non-Facebook Link

ALSO:

–A CONTACT TRACING SHORTAGE is being reported in TN, where we have just 25% of the recommended amount of contact tracers – 1,500 people short for the critical disease mitigation effort. Rep. Mike Stewart is right… with so many unemployed, this is a win-win way to put folks to work.

-A BULLSEYE ? target was placed at NASHVILLE NAACP President Keith Caldwell’s house. He says the responding officer “shrugged” & said the target was “pretty cool.” Unacceptable… Racists sure are feeling emboldened lately.

-An unreleased White House report has VIRUS RATES SPIKING IN THE HEARTLAND — “10 top areas recorded surges of 72.4% or greater over 7-day period… They include Des Moines, Iowa; Amarillo, Texas and Central City, Kentucky… and NASHVILLE, TN.”

-Yesterday TRUMP had the nerve to say “We have met the moment, and we have prevailed.”Most cases in the world. Most deaths in the world. 80,000+ dead Americans and their loved ones would likely disagree. ??

-SEARING new Biden ad?:  “We have an economic crisis because we have a public health crisis… and we have a public health crisis because Trump refused to act…Trump didn’t build a great economy. His failure to lead destroyed one.” ??Non-Facebook Link

-And here’s another ad where Biden sets the record straight. ??Obama-Biden built a response pandemic apparatus. Trump tore it apart. HE WILL NOT REWRITE HISTORY. Non-Facebook Link

-‪WASH POST EDITORIAL BOARD: “WHISTLEBLOWER paints shocking picture of White House Bungling COVID Response”‬

–BROOKINGS: “As states reopen, COVID-19 is spreading into even more Trump counties”‬

-This is Katie Miller, Pence’s press secretary, who just tested positive for COVID-19, at the healthcare facility where Pence just *heroically* delivered masks. ‬The ONLY ONE not wearing a mask.‬ ??‬

-We took the liberty of fixing this for Trump:

-UC BERKELEY STUDY: a simple solution to help us emerge from this nightmarish lockdown? ALWAYS social distance in public and, most importantly, wear a mask… ‪There is no excuse not to mask up at this point. It’s not brave, it’s selfish. ? ‬

-It didn’t have to be this way.

-4 Americans Died At BENGHAZI — Hillary faced hours upon hours of interrogation. ‬80,000 Americans are dead. Worst outbreak on ? — yet Trump won’t let the task force answer questions? ‬ ‪What is he hiding? ?? ?? ‬ SHARE THIS

-RESIGN, BARR: “Nearly 2000 former Justice Department officials have signed onto a letter calling for Attorney General William Barr to resign over his improper intervention in the criminal case of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.” ‬

–CARTOON OF THE DAY: Obama’s Crime, revealed!‬ #Obamagate

-Tennessee says absentee ballots are now available “for those eligible”, but this isn’t good enough. We should all be “eligible” to not have to risk our lives to vote. Holler at Hargett: 615-741-2819 ☎️ ‬

‪-California will send ALL voters mail-in ballots for the November election. THIS is what states that actually want people to vote and believe in democracy do during a deadly pandemic. ‬We’re at the bottom in voter turnout by design. Voter suppression is real. ‬ ???‬
-Suddenly Marsha and the Republicans pretend to care about the debt again, right as folks need help and they know a Dem may be in charge soon?‬ ‪REMINDER: Blackburn voted to blow a $2 TRILLION HOLE in the deficit to hand a tax cut to corporations and the wealthy even before the virus. Spare us. ?‬

-Chris Hayes said it best…

-HOLLER GRAPHIC OF THE DAY: ‪Tennessee is #1 in MEDICAL BANKRUPTCIES… ‪#1 in RURAL HOSPITAL CLOSURES per capita… ‪We lose $1 BILLION EVERY YEAR we don’t EXPAND MEDICAID… ‪Not expanding Medicaid is POLICY MURDER.

-Senator Lamar Alexander called the DOJ’s anti-Obamacare lawsuit that would rip coverage from millions “REALLY FLIMSY” ??

-The President of the United States shared a video which concluded there had been a “silent coup” attempted against him. ‬This guy is reckless and dangerous in so many different ways. ‬

-‪Cool news—TODAY at 11AM CST we’ll have Congressman Steve Cohen LIVE!‬ Join on Twitter & Facebook. (Follow/Like our page to get reminded when we go live)

Don’t forget to FOLLER the new MEMPHIS HOLLER and the KNOXVILLE HOLLER if you’re in those areas! And please consider CHIPPING IN MONTHLY to help us keep GROWING THROUGHOUT THE STATE…  make it $10 and we’ll send you a holler hat!

We hope you all had a beautiful Mother’s Day.

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EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Deberry Not Calling For Casada’s Resignation Yet, Wants to Talk “Man To Man”

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We had a chance to catch up with Memphis Democrat Rep. John Deberry Jr. by phone this morning. Deberry was the lone Dem to vote in favor of the Governor’s School Vouchers, and one of the only Dems to support the “Heartbeat Bill”, which sought to ban abortions after 6 weeks.

Deberry says he’s an “independent-minded” legislator, and says he wanted to talk to Speaker Casada in person before either calling for his resignation or supporting his continued leadership. (Here’s our new VIDEO of what has happened on Casada’s watch this session, as a refresher)

Q: Can you tell us your thoughts on the Speaker Casada situation, and whether or not you think he should resign?

JD: “I’m going to keep my comments pretty short and generic on it because I’ve been traveling a lot since the end of session making a living… I’ve read the comments and statements that have been made, but I haven’t talked to Speaker Casada himself. Until I talk to the speaker, until I look at him man to man, eyeball to eyeball and find out what he has to say about current events I don’t have a whole lot of opinion. Basically I think a whole lot has been said that is premature. I know that some of the things that have been done have been repugnant, and I’m quite sure he knows that also – and unacceptable, and I’m quite sure he knows that also – but here again I have worked with Speaker Casada ever since he came into the legislature as a Freshman. He was on my committee when I chaired Children and Family. So I will give him the benefit of talking to him man to man before I make any type of statements as to what his future, that he decides what his future ought to be.”

Q: Do you think he’s in a position to be honest with you considering he’s been found to have been lying about this quite a few times already?
JD: “I’m not naive. I’m not saying I’ll approach him with any type of naiveté. I’ve been preaching for over 50 years, I’ve raised 2 children and I’ve dealt with all types of situations. Like I would do with any other individual that has been accused of something, I would give him the opportunity to explain. Whether I accept it or not would be my prerogative. I think he’s going to have a very difficult time explaining this away. I think he’s going to have a very difficult time regaining the trust of the public and of the legislature, and of his colleagues, and I think that’s going to be the test set before him in the coming days.”
Q: We’re going to ask the same question that was asked of the Governor — If Speaker Casada worked for you, and you knew someone under him had been doing cocaine in the office and he had covered up for him, and that he himself had participated in lewd text messages, would you ask him to resign?
JD: “It’s unacceptable, and I don’t think any of us condone it, but I’m not going to go on record and ask him to resign. I’m quite sure that it will be very difficult for him to survive it. And that’s what I will say.”
Q: The Democratic caucus has made their position that he should resign. Are you on board with that?
JD: “I haven’t made any type of vote, any type of collective statement with the Democratic caucus. My colleagues have the absolute right to think and say what they think and believe and say. I have always conducted myself in the legislature as a person who thinks independently and I try to look at situations on their merit. We’re all grown. We’re not naive. We know exactly what we’re looking at, and we know exactly what has to be done in order to correct the situation. The caucus has the absolute right to make those statements. So does the governor and everyone else. At the same time there is a human being involved here. And I am always – no matter who that person is, Republican or Democrat, I am always going to deal with that human being and try to do what I can to try to help them as they try to make that transition. If Speaker Casada resigns, he’s going to resign with at least one person trying to help him move on with life and be a better person and never make those mistakes again, and that’s the way I choose to approach it.”
Q: When do you foresee having the time to look him in the eye and talk to him?
JD: “I absolutely plan on talking with Speaker Casada. There’s no way something of this magnitude is going to happen without looking at him man to man and eyeball to eyeball and him understanding exactly where I stand. I do have a position. And it is not resignation or avoidance. It is simple that that’s the way I deal with people. I’ve been there for 25 years. I’ve watched men destroy themselves. We used to raise chickens on the farm. And when there was a spot on one chicken all the chickens pecked at it until the chicken was dead. It’s my responsibility as someone who’s been there, who’s senior, to step back and do everything I can to help the institution be better, and also help the person be better.”
Q: What about what happened to Justin Jones?
JD: “I repudiate that behavior. I think that that was wrong. I’m not justifying any of this. I’m simply saying if I had an opportunity to deal with that young activist, I’m proud of him. I marched with Dr. King. I was there when he made his last speech. I dodged a billy club and dogs on Beale Street. So don’t think for one second that I don’t understand the wrong on that side also. I do. And I would love to have an opportunity to talk to that young man because I’m proud of his bravery. But I’m simply saying whoever I get a chance to talk to, I’m going to do what I can to be encouraging. And I hope this young man doesn’t stop being active and vocal.”
Q: Do you feel that the sentiment that we saw, that we witnessed in those private conversations has echoed in some of the legislation that’s been passed this session? For instance the Voter Registration Criminalization bill?
JD: “I think what we have seen in America, and in Tennessee, is a resurgence of the ugly head of prejudice and bigotry and speech that does not necessarily build the country. For the sake of the world America has to be strong, and we’re never strong when we come after each other the way we’ve done the past several years. People think it’s in style to say things that were not in style in the 70’s and 80’s after the Civil Rights movement… for some reason some think that it’s ok. So if our legislation reflects that, that’s something we’re going to have to step back and take a look at. The thing about the legislature is it’s dynamic. We’ve straightened up a bunch of messes over the years. And if we have to go back and re-examine some of the legislation, and stand and fight and make sure it does not work against activists like that young man or the nation as a whole I think most of us are ready to do that without apology and without shame.”
Holler at Rep. Deberry HERE.

Rep. Deberry Questions Need For Anti-Discrimination Commission, Calls Minority & Human Rights “murky”

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This week at a budget meeting in the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, Rep. John Deberry Jr (D-Memphis) questioned the need for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission which was established to uphold the rights of Tennessee’s minority and disability communities.

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