On the latest edition of Nir & Rupar, our live weekly video show, David Nir of The Downballot and Aaron Rupar of Public Notice talk with Justin Kanew, the founder of the Tennessee Holler, who explains why his home state has emerged as a “laboratory for theocracy.”
Justin tells us:
Why Tennessee is the “tip of the spear” when it comes to the Christian nationalist assault on liberal democracy.
How the GOP makes a mockery of local rule by constantly meddling in the affairs of the state’s two largest blue cities, Nashville and Memphis.
Why even some Republican lawmakers are balking at efforts to deny an education to undocumented kids.
And much more!
If you missed our livestream, you can watch it by clicking above! You can also find a complete transcript by clicking here and looking for the “Transcript” button.
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Just a suggestion. I've always found it a head turning moment when people occasionally say "Happy Good Friday. "Happy" and "Good Friday" don't exactly go together. The crucifixion isn't exactly a happy time, as you know. Maybe wishing people a "thoughtful" or "meaningful" Good Friday or something along those lines.
AS USUAL, you negate the fact that THEY have destroyed MO after 20 yrs+ of picking away at our freedoms & rights. THE ENTIRE MIDDLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN IGNORED & WRITTEN OFF FOR OVER 20 YRS by the Democratic Party & they wonder why it turned red? FFS YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT US! You are wrong about "tip of the spear" IMHO! Rural communities are way more than just farmers, ffs! THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY has been remiss to offer rural communities ANYTHING! Some areas still don't have broadband infrastructure, our roads continue to crumble due to neglect, our hospitals & schools close or reduce educational opportunities, brain drain has destroyed MO - it is already like 1950 here, but you don't care, right? YOU NEVER HAVE!
We have a protest today (Saturday). Nonviolent. Take deep breaths, but be loud. Remember President Eisenhower was a patriot and demonstrably supported the Supreme Court’s order Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (May 17, 1954). I covered what he did in Little Rock, AR, in my post below. In September 1957, Eisenhower ordered the elite 101st Airborne to restore order in Little Rock. The picture of those troop driving from Fort Campbell in the dark of night sticks in my mind. Regular Army troops activated to restore order is a rare occurrence. We should not forget why: the cause of anti-racism. The racism that prevailed in my youth is disgusting to me, and has been not only unleashed, but also promoted by a lawless administration. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/forking-roads?r=3m1bs
I just attended the April 19th Earth Day/No Kings rally at the State Capitol in Saint Paul, MN, and was horrified to hear the emcee inciting the crowd to chant “Elon Musk . . . PUNCH THAT NAZI IN THE FACE!” multiple times, minutes apart. The crowd responded zealously.
It’s beyond belief that an officially sanctioned speaker would adopt Donald Trump’s vicious and dangerous rally language—and that none of the other speakers or organizers intervened.
Thug-speak from leaders will destroy this movement’s credibility, foment crudeness and extremism at its rallies, attract escalating counter-violence from militias, and make people afraid to demonstrate.
(Circulating purposefully among us today were young men in pairs—black ball caps, no protest signs—looking detached and intent as they reconnoitered the attendees and the site rather than anything going on at the podium.)
To all rally sponsors: Speakers must be better briefed and evidently more carefully selected.
I am a public school teacher in Tennessee. It’s been pretty bad. But the main point I want to amplify is that TN and other red states are being used as laboratories for oppressive legislation. Blue states need to pay attention to this. Out country has a history of being condescending to the South and rural America .we are often mocked and stereotyped as being stupid. As a result Red states are often written off. This is a huge mistake. The rest of the country needs to pay attention and be prepared to fight things that are coming down the pike for them, that we have already been living with. I am sure the Heritage Foundation and friends are supporting/funding efforts with oppressive legislation. BTW the bill to deny undocumented children did not pass. They gave a bullshit reason for why. (Look it up HB 793) I am sure it will be back. The goal is definitely to take it to Supreme Court and they will keep at it. They have been very clear about that from the start.