Author

John Cole

John Cole

John Cole's political cartoons on Tennessee topics appear in the Tennessee Lookout weekly. He is currently the staff cartoonist for the editorial pages of The Times-Tribune in Scranton, PA. Prior to this, he enjoyed a nearly 20-year run with The Herald-Sun in Durham, NC. His award-winning work is internationally syndicated by Cagle Cartoons.

COMMENTARY
A three-judge panel ruled Tennessee Senate maps violated the state Constitution after Republicans redraw districts to cut Democratic possibilities of winning a seat.

John Cole’s Tennessee: Restricted redistricted.
By: - December 6, 2023

COMMENTARY
The camel's nose: When a plan to allow school vouchers in two Tennessee counties passed, it was equated to an adage about letting a camel stick his nose in the tent: Eventually, the whole camel is in.

John Cole’s Tennessee: The camel’s nose
By: - November 29, 2023

COMMENTARY
John Cole's Tennessee: Tennessee Republican lawmakers considering rejecting nearly $2 billion federal funds for public schools may end up damaging themselves. A Tennessee Republican elephant dressed as a pilgrim for Thanksgiving swings an ax, inadvertently cutting off his own nose, as in 'cutting off his nose to spite his face.'

John Cole’s Tennessee: Happy Thanksgiving.
By: - November 22, 2023

COMMENTARY
U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy has held a grudge against U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee after the latter voted to boot McCarthy as House Speaker.

John Cole’s Tennessee: Push comes to shove
By: - November 17, 2023

COMMENTARY
Tennessee Republican lawmakers consider rejecting $1.8 billion in federal funds for public schools due to what they say are "strings attached.

John Cole’s Tennessee: Oh. Those strings.
By: - November 15, 2023

COMMENTARY
John Cole's Tennessee: With state tax revenue growth predicted to stagnate, Thanksgiving could be slim pickings for Tennessee political leaders. Cartoon shows state political leaders dressed as Pilgrims giving thanks for a tiny turkey, indicative of the shrinking budget.

John Cole’s Tennessee: Slim pickings
By: - November 8, 2023

COMMENTARY
John Cole's Tennessee: Another mass shooting -- in Maine on Oct. 25 -- has convulsed the nation and debate over gun safety continues.

John Cole’s Tennessee: The more you know
By: - November 1, 2023

COMMENTARY
John Cole's Tennessee: Nearly 10% of Tennessee’s electorate have lost the right to vote and the Tennessee Attorney General's office has moved to shut down efforts to restore those rights.

John Cole’s Tennessee: Bill of no rights
By: - October 25, 2023

COMMENTARY
John Cole's Tennessee: Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a gag order on former President Donald Trump on Monday, limiting what Trump can say about prosecutor Jack Smith's case against him.

John Cole’s Tennessee: Gagged
By: - October 18, 2023

COMMENTARY
Gabrielle Hanson, a member of Franklin, Tenn.'s board of mayor and aldermen and a candidate for mayor, invited members of an admitted Neo-Nazi group to serve as her "protection" at an Oct. 2 candidate forum.

John Cole’s Tennessee: We did Na-zi that coming.
By: - October 11, 2023

COMMENTARY
An illustration of a Monopoly card that says, "State grants you a hospital monopoly!" Five East Tennessee hospitals merged through a Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) to form a medical monopoly through Ballad Health, leaving patients little option but to use Ballad Services -- which fails to meet healthcare benchmarks.

John Cole’s Tennessee: Do not pass ‘Go’!
By: - October 4, 2023

COMMENTARY
John Cole's Tennessee: House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally announced they have formed a committee to consider the rejection of $1.9 billion in federal funds for public schools.

John Cole’s Tennessee: Unstrung
By: - September 27, 2023

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