Commentary
Editor’s column: GOP legislative leadership should police their own
The Tennessee General Assembly has come a ways since the days of Tommy Burnett. Burnett was a Democratic state representative of legendary proportions. An epic schmoozer and confidant to the late Gov. Ned Ray McWherter, Burnett was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1970, rising to become majority leader, and remained popular with […]
Stockard on the Stump: As the whistle blows, felonies could follow
To the untrained eye, it might appear that Rep. Brandon Ogles is sponsoring legislation making it a felony to assault a referee in reaction to the “pantsing” of an East Tennessee ref by enraged Rep. Jeremy Faison. You would be wrong, according to Ogles. Ogles, a Franklin Republican, claims he planned to sponsor the bill […]
Commentary: Republican maps are undermining democracy
The proposed electoral maps recently unveiled by Republicans represent not only a brazen partisan power move, but a party disconnected from and disinterested in the voices of the people. Despite both the House and Senate Redistricting Committees holding public hearings in the last few months of 2021 and accepting submissions from both private citizens and […]
Stockard on the Stump: Convicted state senator could be ousted
State Sen. Katrina Robinson could face removal from the state Senate based on a decision by the chamber’s Ethics Committee. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said this week the panel is reviewing Robinson’s legal situation. “I think what they’re looking at is the plea agreement where she did admit to committing felonies and whether it would […]
Editor’s column: The role of conservatives in denying equity to Black Americans
The approach of the federal holiday recognizing Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and work means this is a good time to think about the difference in equality and equity for Black Americans and the role conservatives play in the fight for equity. Equality offers all groups the same opportunities and resources without recognizing that […]
Commentary: Selling out democracy for political influence
One year ago, the foundation of our democracy was jeopardized in a full-blown coup attempt by seditionists egged on by former president Donald Trump. People died. Confederate flags were waved inside the Capitol. People with zip ties and weapons were ready to do harm or even kill members of Congress and the vice president. These […]
Commentary: A backsliding democracy and a civil war in the making.
The day Joe Biden was declared winner of the 2020 presidential election, my husband asked me why I wasn’t happier: He thought I’d be in a good mood. When Biden had taken the oath of office, I told him, I might — just might — feel a smidge of relief. You couldn’t have followed politics […]
Stockard on the Stump: Support needed for ‘pantsing’ victims
Amid the rancor over Rep. Jeremy Faison “pantsing” a basketball referee, a friend asked me if I’d ever been pantsed. To be honest, I’d never heard that term until Faison’s infamous foible. But, yes, I did get pantsed in high school. One day I was standing in the entrance to the gym waiting for the […]
Commentary: That’s what the money’s for
There’s a scene in an episode of the television series “Mad Men” that I haven’t been able to get out of my head recently. In the scene, anti-hero Don Draper is working late on a Friday night because he’s miserable and wants to make everyone else miserable, too. Copywriter Peggy Olsen is also staying late […]
Commentary: Just say no to GOP convention
A hypothetical: Imagine you’re the convention and visitors bureau maven for a good sized city with the tourism infrastructure to handle large meetings. An organization actively seeking to undermine the operational integrity of American democracy wants to meet in your city and rings you up seeking the kind of sweet deal on room nights and […]
The year in photos: Part Two
In our second gallery of photographs that defined 2020, we share works by photojournalists John Partipilo and Karen Pulfer Focht on topics including the environment, families with special needs children and immigration issues. While 2021 wasn’t characterized by the same type of demonstrations that marked 2020, the year nonetheless had its share of demonstrations by […]
2021: The year in photos
Great writing and excellent photojournalism go together like peas and carrots, and the Tennessee Lookout has the good fortune to work with excellent writers and photographers. 2021 was a lesser sibling to 2020, our launch year. If the latter gave us the opportunity to cover Black Lives Matter protests, COVID test sites and bombings, the […]