Politics

Democratic Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville, backed by members of the House Democratic Caucus, talks to members of members media after House Republicans voted to silence him on Monday. The entire Democratic Caucus walked out with Jones in solidarity. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Democrats walk out over Jones silencing, as House-Senate remain in stalemate

BY: - August 28, 2023

House Democrats walked out of the chamber in protest Monday after their Republican colleagues voted to stop Rep. Justin Jones from commenting on legislation. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, ruled Jones, D-Nashville, was “off-topic” on two occasions, allowing the Republican supermajority to block him from commenting on any legislation for the rest of the day. […]

Maryam Abolfazli, left, with Allison Polidor. right, plaintiffs in a suit filed on their behalf by the ACLU Tennessee over the right to hold signs in Tennessee House of Representatives. (Photo: John Partipilo)

House Republicans lose decision on sign bans

BY: - August 28, 2023

(Editor’s note: This story has been updated.) Davidson County Chancery Court Judge Anne Martin has ruled that the holding of small signs in House of Representatives’ galleries and committee meeting rooms is likely protected by the First Amendment, keeping in place a temporary restraining order allowing members of the public to carry signs. “Although the […]

Members of the Tennessee Senate on Aug. 24, 2023. (Photo: John Partipilo)

As House-Senate remain stuck, finance commissioner warns about budget shortfall

BY: - August 28, 2023

Besides a House-Senate impasse over legislative “sticking points,” approving expensive bills during the governor’s special session will be difficult with the state hitting a $330 million “hole in the budget.” Even though sales tax revenues are coming in higher than initially projected, to the tune of $2.5 billion for fiscal 2022-23, Finance and Administration Commissioner […]

Actor Samual L. Jackson, Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist and Sherry Lansing, chair of Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group, at the Lewis-Tyson Pre-Fight Party hosted by Showtime Networks at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tn. Saturday, June 8, 2002. (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect, via Getty Images.)

Former Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist dies at 87

BY: - August 27, 2023

Don Sundquist, former U.S. Congressman and two-term governor of Tennessee, died Sunday at the age of 87 in Collierville.  At the request of the Sundquist family, Gov. Bill Lee’s office announced the Republican leader’s death.  “Gov. Sundquist was a connector. He delighted in bringing people together from all walks of life to work for the […]

Emergency hearing over House sign ban set for Monday

BY: - August 25, 2023

A Davidson County Chancery Court judge has set an expedited hearing for Monday in a legal dispute over a decision by the Tennessee House of Representatives to ban protest signs during a specially called session on public safety. In the order issued Friday, Chancellor Anne Martin said a temporary restraining order will remain in place, […]

House Speaker Cameron Sexton was surrounded by chanting protesters as he left the Tennessee House Chambers on Aug. 24, 2023 during a special legislative session. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee House Speaker Sexton challenges free speech ruling on signs

BY: - August 24, 2023

House Speaker Cameron Sexton is seeking a hearing within 24 hours to challenge a court’s temporary order allowing members of the public to display signs of protest in the Tennessee House of Representatives during the special legislative session on public safety this week. Lawyers for Sexton and other defendants argue the court overstepped its authority […]

Members of the Tennessee Senate on Aug. 24, 2023. (Photo: John Partipilo)

House-Senate impasse continues as senators adjourn until Monday

BY: and - August 24, 2023

Neither the House nor the Senate would budge Thursday, forcing a “standoff” to continue until next week as lawmakers try to negotiate an end to Gov. Bill Lee’s special session. Senators approved four bills requested by Lee, including a $30 million spending measure, then adjourned until Monday at 4 p.m. Meanwhile, in the House, lawmakers […]

Tennessee House spends legislative day pretending the Senate didn’t kill most of their bills

BY: - August 24, 2023

The Tennessee House of Representatives spent Wednesday debating dozens of bills unlikely to pass after the Senate closed its final committees, having passed only three new laws and a $30 million funding package. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, said senators told him they would only pass three bills, but he suggested it didn’t matter […]

CAPTION: Republican presidential candidates (L-R), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum participate in the first debate of the GOP primary season hosted by FOX News at the Fiserv Forum on August 23, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump absent but still dominates as GOP presidential rivals clash at first debate

BY: , and - August 23, 2023

Eight Republican presidential candidates gathered onstage Wednesday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a heated first primary debate heavily influenced by former President Donald Trump, though the party’s front runner refused to attend the two-hour event. Trump instead recorded a competing 46-minute interview with former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson that aired on X, formerly known […]

A group of women listen to a House committee meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (Photo: John Partpilo)

Senate passes bills, sets talks with House for adjournment

BY: - August 23, 2023

The Tennessee Senate passed four bills Wednesday, including a $30 million spending measure, but found itself in a standoff with House leaders before this week’s special session can end, according to Lt. Gov. Randy McNally. House leaders want the Senate to make concessions enabling it to pass more than the three bills the upper chamber […]

Jennifer Watson holds up a sign of the type that was banned during an Aug. 2021 special legislative session. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Judge issues injunction against Tennessee House, barring enforcement of sign ban

BY: - August 23, 2023

Davidson County Chancery Court Judge Anne Martin issued a restraining order on Wednesday, barring the Tennessee House of Representatives from enforcing a rule banning signs during the special session on public safety. A temporary injunction hearing has been set to hear the ACLU lawsuit on Sept. 5. The ACLU of Tennessee, representing three women ejected […]