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Special Election May Reveal Early Warning Signs for the 2026 Midterms

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. . .Democrat Aftyn Behn is trying to tip the scales in favor of her party in a district which President Trump carried by about 20 points and former Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., won by a similar percentage last fall.

Behn faces GOPer Matt Van Epps. It’s a Republican district. But political observers are watching the race to gauge potential weakness by President Trump, a softness in the Trump coalition, issues with the Republican brand or early indications of a possible blue wave in the 2026 midterms.

Depending on who you ask, the race for Tennessee’s 7th congressional district – between Republican nominee Matt Van Epps, former state Department of General Services, and Aftyn Behn, a Democratic state representative – may be headed for a photo finish. . .

About all Behn left out in her animus toward Music City was dissing The Grand Ole Opry, hot chicken and Goo Goo Clusters. But if voters go goo goo over Behn Tuesday, Republicans face a cluster of another sort. A Behn victory may signal major problems for Republicans and President Trump heading into the midterms.

Behn is characterized as the “AOC of Tennessee,” a reference to progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Republicans have been sure to boomerang that against Behn, suggesting she’s not in tune with the district, leans too far to the left and is closer to the liberal values of New York or Los Angeles than Nashville. Republicans believe Behn is just a bad fit for Nashville. Kind of like having Bad Bunny perform at the Ryman Auditorium.

“It shouldn’t even be close. But it is,” mused Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., on Fox. (Read more from “Special Election May Reveal Early Warning Signs for the 2026 Midterms” HERE)

Tennessee Bomb Factory Explosion Leaves as Many as 19 Feared Missing or Dead

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As many as 19 people are missing and feared dead after a “devastating blast” leveled a Tennessee bomb factory Friday, according to officials.

The massive explosion was reported around 7:45 a.m. local time at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant at the Hickman-Humphreys County line, west of Nashville.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed there were “some” fatalities and that there are people still missing, without providing numbers — though he referred to the 19 people working in the building at the time of the tragedy as “souls.”

“There’s nothing to describe. It’s gone,” Davis said. “It’s the most devastating scene that I’ve seen in my career.”

The blast impacted “one whole building” of the McEwen property, he said. The factory, which makes and tests explosives for the government, is located miles away from any residences and businesses. (Read more from “Tennessee Bomb Factory Explosion Leaves as Many as 19 Feared Missing or Dead” HERE)

University Dean Fired For Saying She Had ‘ZERO Sympathy’ For Charlie Kirk

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Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) fired its assistant dean on Wednesday after she blatantly said she had “zero sympathy” for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s death.

Laura Sosh-Lightsy, the now-former assistant dean, wrote on Facebook that Kirk “spoke his fate into existence” by getting shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University, screenshots posted by Arlington GOP chairman Matthew Hurtt show. A statement from MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee announced that the university instantly fired Sosh-Lightsy for the “inappropriate and callous comments” made about Kirk.

“Looks like ol’ Charlie spoke his fate into existence,” Sosh-Lightsy said. “Hate begets hate. ZERO Sympathy.”

“An MTSU employee today offered inappropriate and callous comments on social media concerning the horrific and tragic murder of Charlie Kirk. The comments by this employee, who worked in a position of trust directly with students, were inconsistent with our values and have undermined the university’s credibility and reputation with our students, faculty, staff and the community at large. This employee has been fired effective immediately. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Kirk family,” McPhee said in the statement.

The fired assistant dean wrote in a follow-up Facebook post that “hate begets hate” and that she does not feel sorry for the death of Kirk. She appears to have deleted her Facebook account. (Read more from “University Dean Fired For Saying She Had ‘ZERO Sympathy’ For Charlie Kirk” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

‘Drunk’ GOP Rep, 77, Caught on Video Failing Field Sobriety Test After Alleged Hit-And-Run Crash

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A Tennessee state senator has been arrested on a DUI charge after he was filmed allegedly failing a sobriety test following a drunken hit-and-run crash in Georgia.

Rep. Ken Yager, 77, was caught on camera stumbling around as troopers tried to make him walk in a straight line on Jekyll Island at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, footage obtained by WTVF shows.

The Republican lawmaker was nabbed after authorities spotted his Ford Edge with Tennessee-issued Senate tag license plates in a supermarket parking lot following reports the vehicle had been involved in an earlier hit-and-run crash, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said.

Yager — who is the GOP’s Senate Caucus Chair — allegedly smelled of alcohol and admitted to being involved in the earlier wreck, according to authorities. (Read more from “‘Drunk’ GOP Rep, 77, Caught on Video Failing Field Sobriety Test After Alleged Hit-And-Run Crash” HERE)

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Workers Forced to Stay at Factory Drowned During Hurricane Helene — While CEO Snuck Out and Survived: Scathing Lawsuit

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The family of a Tennessee factory worker who was killed during Hurricane Helene is suing the company and its CEO — claiming that the bosses sneaked out of the factory to escape catastrophic weather conditions while they ordered employees to stay.

Johnny Peterson, 55, was one of two workers at Impact Plastics who are now confirmed dead in flooding that engulfed the factory in the rural town of Erwin on Sept. 27. Of 11 employees who were swept away, five were rescued and another four remain missing, according to reports.

According to an explosive lawsuit filed by Peterson’s family on Monday in Tennessee state court, the facility’s managers denied employees’ pleas to leave work as the hurricane bore down on the area.

That’s despite the fact that workers began receiving notifications from the National Weather Service around 10 a.m. urging all who could to evacuate to higher ground, according to the suit.

Around 10:30 a.m., company managers told employees to move their cars because the parking lot was flooding, the suit claims. (Read more from “Workers Forced to Stay at Factory Drowned During Hurricane Helene — While CEO Snuck Out and Survived: Scathing Lawsuit” HERE)

After Orchestrating Telegram Takedown in France, Feds Begin Direct Attack on First Amendment in U.S.: DOJ Indicts Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool’s ISP for “Russian Collusion”

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In a move that has raised significant concerns about First Amendment rights, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed a controversial indictment accusing a prominent Tennessee-based media company of involvement in a Russian influence operation. The indictment, revealed Wednesday, alleges that the company, widely identified as Tenet Media, was covertly funded and directed by Russian nationals to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda across U.S. social media platforms.

Tenet Media, which describes itself as a network for “fearless voices” focusing on Western political and cultural issues, features high-profile conservative commentators such as Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, Lauren Southern, Tayler Hansen, and Matt Christiansen. The DOJ’s indictment claims that two Russian nationals, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, orchestrated a scheme to infiltrate U.S. media by funneling nearly $10 million through a network of foreign shell companies to finance Tenet Media.

The DOJ’s press release emphasizes that Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, operating under multiple fake identities, used their financial and editorial influence to promote narratives that allegedly align with the goals of the Russian government and its state-funded media outlet, RT. According to the indictment, the Russian operatives were involved in editing and directing content posted by Tenet Media on platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Since its inception in November 2023, the company has reportedly posted nearly 2,000 videos, garnering over 16 million views on YouTube alone.

The indictment accuses Tenet Media of disseminating content that exacerbates domestic divisions on sensitive issues like immigration and inflation, purportedly to further Russia’s agenda of sowing discord in the United States. Notably, the indictment claims that Tenet Media did not disclose its foreign funding or register with the Attorney General as an agent of a foreign principal, as required by law.

Critics argue that the DOJ’s actions against Tenet Media and its associated commentators represent a troubling precedent for governmental overreach into free speech and press freedom. Supporters of the indictment, however, contend that it is a necessary step to combat foreign interference and safeguard the integrity of American media and democracy.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Red State Gov Signs Bill That Paves Way for Arming Teachers Under Conditions

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Just a day after the end of the Tennessee legislative session, the state’s governor signed a bill Friday that will allow teachers and school staff to carry handguns on public school grounds.

Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed HB 1202/SB 1325, which would enable trained teachers and school staff to carry handguns in the classroom and around school, the bill noted. They would be required to complete 40 hours of training “specific to school policing that has been approved by the peace officer standards and training,” it said. Teachers and staff would also be required to submit their fingerprints, as well as pass a background check and psychological evaluation, the bill also said.

The bill drew attention from parents, teachers and students, especially those connected to the Covenant School, which faced the state’s deadliest school shooting in March 2023, where the perpetrator reportedly killed three children and three adults, according to News Channel 5 Nashville.

While the Firearms Policy Coalition applauded the bill, it also drew protesters who did a “die-in” demonstration at the state Capitol.

(Read more from “Red State Gov Signs Bill That Paves Way for Arming Teachers Under Conditions” HERE)

Will School Choice Win Out in Tennessee? Lawmakers Have Two Weeks to Finalize ‘Education Freedom’ Act

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Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee is determined to make his state the latest to overhaul its education system to embrace school choice, but with a deadline to get it done just a few weeks away, several hurdles remain.

With two weeks remaining before the legislative session of the Tennessee General Assembly comes to a close, lawmakers in the state House and Senate have put forward two very different versions of Lee’s proposed school choice measure, known as the “Education Freedom Scholarship Act.” Despite the differences, both legislative leaders and Lee tell The Daily Wire they are confident they will get a school choice measure passed, though precisely what it will look like won’t be known until the end of the session on April 25.

Lee’s school choice plan calls for scholarships worth $7,000 to be made available to 20,000 students in the 2024-2025 school year. Of the available scholarships, half would be reserved for poor people, with the remaining half allocated on a first come, first serve basis. The goal for the next school year would be for universal eligibility for all students in the state to use at private schools, charter schools, or for homeschool families.

“A parent ought to decide where their kid goes to school and what they learn, and not the government,” Lee told The Daily Wire in an interview. “That’s what choice is really about: the government not deciding everything about a kid’s education in a state, but the parents deciding that.”

The House and Senate versions of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act have been working their way through committees over the last several weeks. Both versions set aside around $144 million for the 20,000 scholarships and do not automatically expand the amount of scholarships, meaning the cap would need to be lifted by future General Assemblies. They both also reserve 10,000 for lower-income students and 10,000 more broadly open for anyone. However, who and where the scholarships can be eligible depends on which version gets passed. (Read more from “Will School Choice Win Out in Tennessee? Lawmakers Have Two Weeks to Finalize ‘Education Freedom’ Act” HERE)

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Pro-Lifers Face Prison Time After Being Convicted in Federal Court

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Four pro-life Christians were convicted on Tuesday of FACE Act violations after they were charged by the Biden administration over a peaceful protest at a Tennessee abortion facility.

The four found guilty are Eva Edl, Eva Zastrow, James Zastrow, and Paul Place. They face a year in prison and thousands of dollars in fines upon sentencing. They are currently sent to be sentenced on July 30.

The decision came after a one day bench trial, meaning that the defendants’ fate was in the hands of Middle District of Tennessee Magistrate Judge Chip Frensly. Frensly agreed with the Justice Departments allegations that the pro-lifers had violated the law and found them guilty.

The judge deliberated for less than half an hour. Immediately after the convictions, the defendants and their families went outside the courthouse to sing and pray.

DOJ prosecuting attorney Amanda Klopf said that the case was about the rule of law and that the four had engaged in criminal activity and not a protest. During the DOJ’s final arguments, lawyer Brian Boynton said that the four were “not on trial for their beliefs,” but for their actions.

(Read more from “Pro-Lifers Face Prison Time After Being Convicted in Federal Court” HERE)

Tennessee Senate Passes Bill to End Chemtrails

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It seems the Tennessee Senate has made headlines by passing a bill that appears to target chemtrails, suggesting a move towards cleaner air. But, as usual, there’s more beneath the surface. Let’s dive into what this legislative action really means for cleaning up our skies.

Tennessee conservative activist Robby Starbuck shared this about the new law. . .

The debate over “chemtrails” is just dripping with controversy. On the one hand, the idea of stopping harmful chemicals from being released into our air seems like a no-brainer. Yet, the issue is way more complex than that and is entangled with a whole ‘nother layer of suspicions surrounding government agendas. A significant group believes “chemtrails” are used as a veiled tactic to push the left’s tyrannical “green agenda.”

(Read more from “Tennessee Senate Passes Bill to End Chemtrails” HERE)

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