Author

Holly McCall

Holly McCall

Holly McCall has been a fixture in Tennessee media and politics for decades. She covered city hall for papers in Columbus, Ohio and Joplin, Missouri before returning to Tennessee with the Nashville Business Journal. Holly brings a deep wealth of knowledge about Tennessee’s political processes and players and likes nothing better than getting into the weeds of how political deals are made.

Gov. Bill Lee addressing the surge in COVID-19 cases and the vaccine at his regular press briefing. (Photo: Sam Stockard)

Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Piercey urges Tennesseans to forego even home gatherings

By: - December 20, 2020

Officials from the Tennessee Department of Health unveiled data Sunday afternoon showing the rise in COVID-19 cases filling the state’s hospitals, and intensive care units in particular, and strongly urged Tennesseans’ to forego any social gatherings even in the home.  “As you know, the latest numbers we’ve been dealing with are very dramatic and are […]

COMMENTARY
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee pictured with his wife, Maria, during a Memphis event in December. (Photo by © Karen Pulfer Focht)

Editor’s column: Gov. Bill Lee does his best Ebenezer Scrooge impression

By: - December 17, 2020

Nothing warms the heart at the holidays like viewings of Christmas fare like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and adaptations of the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.”  Each features a villain lacking in holiday spirit and empathy for his fellow man — or Who, in the Grinch’s case — but who comes to realize […]

Candidates for TNDP chair speak in a Thursday forum sponsored by the Tennessee Holler and Change Tennessee. From top left clockwise: Kate Craig, Robin Kimbrough Hayes, Dr. Jane George, Civil Miller Watkins and moderator Drew Dison.

Tennessee Democratic Party overhauls chair selection process

By: - December 11, 2020

The Tennessee Democratic Party is overhauling its process for choosing a new party chair.   For the first time, the TNDP Executive Committee has hired an outside human resources consultant to make the process more professional and akin to a hunt for the CEO of a statewide organization. Candidates typically send an announcement to the 66 […]

COMMENTARY
On Tuesday, Ben Shapiro critiqued Vanderbilt University football and soccer player Sarah Fuller's kicking skills. (Photo: YouTube)

Editor’s column: Welcome to Tennessee! Now y’all go home.

By: - December 3, 2020

In my Tennessee home town, every time there’s a move towards something progressive — removing the Confederate flag from the county seal, for instance, imposing a mask mandate or changing the name of a school mascot to something not offensive to a third of the school’s graduates — the comments on social media usually include […]

COMMENTARY
(Photo:Getty Images)

Editor’s column: Is that all there is?

By: - November 25, 2020

Saturday, I drove to Knoxville to see my brother and his family, after not seeing them since January. We sat outside on his deck for a few hours talking about work, about COVID-19, mutual friends, books and politics.  As I left, I found myself turning not towards the interstate ramp home but towards the University […]

Screen grab of Gov. Bill Lee at Wednesday's press briefing.

East Tennessee doctors to Lee: “Get up there and lead.”

By: - November 18, 2020

Two East Tennessee doctors said Wednesday most Tennesseans won’t be able to access a COVID-19 vaccine for a year and decried what they call a lack of leadership by Gov. Bill Lee.  Dr. Deaver Shattuck, an internal medicine specialist in Blount County and Dr. Kevin James, a geriatrician who also practices in Blount County, talked […]

McMurry, Councilmember Nancy Vanreece, and former Mayor Megan Barry in an untitled photo. (Photo: Facebook)

Community leader, political activist David McMurry dies Monday

By: - November 17, 2020

David McMurry, a member of the Metropolitan Nashville Convention Center Authority and former candidate for Metro Council, was found dead in his condominium Monday.  News of McMurry’s death spread rapidly via social media channels Monday night.  Russ Bradford, council member for District 13, said Metro Police were called for a wellness check on McMurry when […]

COMMENTARY

Commentary: Tennessee Democrats need to take off the rose-colored glasses

By: - November 11, 2020

Many Tennesseans, particularly Democrats, are rejoicing after Joe Biden clinched Pennsylvania’s electoral college votes Saturday, giving him the required 270 votes to win the presidency.  President Donald Trump has brought a particular kind of misery to Americans who saw gains in immigration policy, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights and healthcare trimmed back or threatened.  He horrified […]

Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 7, 2020: "Stop the Steal" event. (Photo: Alex Kent)

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat

By: - November 9, 2020

A truism of politics is that there’s always a winner and always a loser. In the case of the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden has emerged as president-elect, after clinching Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes Saturday morning. Sitting President Donald Trump has not conceded and shows no indication he is going to, with attorneys general […]

The House Democratic Caucus honors National Go Red Day for Women’s Health in Feb. 2019. (Photo: Facebook)

Shakeup in House Democratic Caucus: Stewart declines to run again, two reps announce run

By: - November 6, 2020

State Rep.Mike Stewart will not run for reelection as chair of the Democratic House Caucus and Friday, two Nashville state representatives announced they are running to lead the group.  Rep. John Ray Clemmons, who represents West Nashville District 55, was the first out of the gate. He shared a letter with the Tennessee Lookout he […]

A large group of people wait in line to early vote at the Howard Building before Polls opened at 8:00am.(Photo: John Partipilo)

Live Election Coverage 2020

By: , , and - November 3, 2020

Join the staff of the Tennessee Lookout as we bring you coverage throughout Election Day 2020 of the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Marquita Bradshaw and Republican Bill Hagerty, as well as state house and senate races.

COMMENTARY
U.S. President Donald Trump stands in the colonnade as he is introduced to speak to March for Life participants and pro-life leaders in the Rose Garden at the White House on January 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Commentary: Donald Trump exploits Southern class insecurities

By: - October 31, 2020

When venture capitalist J.D. Vance published his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy” in the summer of  2016, columnists aplenty critiqued the book as an explanation for white voters’ affection for Donald Trump.  Vance chronicles his childhood and youth growing up in a dysfunctional Appalachian family, rife with substance abuse, economic instability and class resentment but through hard […]