April 4 is remembered in history books not banned by Republicans as the day Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. They would also like you to forget that Dr. King was there to support a sanitation workers strike, as part of his understanding that the economics in the US were a huge part of the problem in the struggle for equality.
This week Tennessee is in the news due to the political reverberations arising out of the mass shooting at The Covenant School. High school and college students from around the state have engaged in mass protests supportive of gun control at the state capitol building.
Three Democratic state representatives have been formally expelled for their support of the student demands, as GOP leaders tried to convince the public that a peaceful–if raucous– protest was comparable to the January 6 insurrection in DC.
During the protests in Tennessee, no one was injured or arrested, no property was damaged, and when protesters entered the state Capitol, they did so by going through security.
The thing you need to understand here is that the Volunteer State is essentially already ruled by a theocratic government. When Nashville decided against hosting the 2024 GOP convention, the legislature reduced representation in the city.
They recently passed a law banning drag shows anywhere in the state (currently blocked by a federal judge). They’ve banned gender-affirming care for trans kids. Two years ago, they legalized the carrying of firearms without a permit. And a bill allowing officials to refuse to perform marriages based on their religious beliefs is making its way through to the governor’s desk.
Here’s Knoxville Rep. Gloria Johnson on how crazy her expulsion is:
"We had a child molester on the floor for years, they helped him get reelected and did nothing to expel him," Johnson said, describing behaviors that haven’t gotten members expelled from the Tennessee House. "We've had members pee in each other's chairs. We've had members illegally prescribe drugs to their cousin-mistress, and nothing happened. But talk on the floor without permission, and you'll get expelled."
Side Note: All the tough talking politicians urging more guns and armed guards in schools are conveniently ignoring the fact that Covenant School actually had two armed guards on the property.
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Two elections are occurring today (April 4) with potentially national implications.
In Chicago, voters have a clear choice in the final run off for the mayor position.
Should Brandon Johnson, a Cook County commissioner, win Chicago’s mayoral election on Tuesday, it will be one of the most consequential victories for the United States’ progressives in recent history.
Her victory would be the next step in the mostly successful Chicago Teachers Union effort at building public support for a progressive agenda that goes beyond educational issues.
Running against her is Paul Vallas, a former education executive turned politician, and a “lifelong Democrat” with support from many reactionary elements in Chicago. He’s running on a law and order campaign. Members of the Chicago Police Department have threatened mass resignations/walkouts should Vallas lose the race.
Johnson is Black. Vallas is white. And the racial element is a large part of the divisions in political sentiment in Chicago.
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In Wisconsin, an election determining the political balance of the State Supreme Court has attracted nationwide attention.
The contest is between Judge Janet Protasiewicz and far-right candidate Dan Kelly.
Judge Janet (you try and remember the spelling of her last name) has attracted support from Democratic activists. The reason for nationwide interest is a case the Wisconsin Supreme Court will be hearing a lawsuit about: the state’s 174-year-old abortion ban, which went into effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Kelly has the endorsement of multiple anti-abortion groups, while Judge Janet has made it clear she supports abortion rights.
Kelly has benefited from a flood of outside spending on his behalf, including an anti-Semitic ad tying Judge Janet to the perennial target of anti-Semitic political advertising, George Soros. Republicans sent out an “emergency alert” text message opposing her while parts of the state were under a tornado watch. Instead, there was a video mimicking an official emergency alert saying, “This is a State of Wisconsin voter alert. Attention citizens: our Second Amendment rights are under attack.”
Democratic turnout in Wisconsin, which is a purple state these days, is critical for a state Senate race to determine whether Republicans have the supermajority needed to start impeaching and removing Democratic officials from office. One of those removed from office should Republicans win would be Judge Janet, because Republicans are the best at cheating election results.
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And in Texas…
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Finally, the ‘lock her up’ crowd is freaking out about ‘locking him up,’ proving that pronouns do matter.
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, fresh off her low-rated soft-ball 60 Minutes interview and social media ad calling Joe Biden a pedo, was supposed to lead the cheerleading squad outside the New York City courthouse where Dear Leader is being arraigned.
Despite all the bluster and disparaging remarks designed to turn out the MAGA faithful, there were more reporters and counter protesters than Trump supporters at the scene. She fled after five minutes. I’d love to say she was embarrassed, but MTG has no shame and was making up excuses as she drove away.
Many on right wing social media called the New York demonstration ‘a trap,’ proving that the arrests for January 6 had a deterrence effect.
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Oh, and one other detail about the courthouse spectacle: prosecutors in New York offered to let the charging and arraignment happen via zoom, but a certain drama queen turned them down.
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