Author: Aaron Gulbransen

Tennessee National Guard Members, Supporters, and Representative Jerry Sexton Deliver Letter to Governor Lee’s Office Asking for His Help and Special Session

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – A group of off-duty National Guard members and supporters were led by Captain Mickey Shelton and State Representative Jerry Sexton (R-Grainger) in delivering a letter to Governor Bill Lee’s office imploring him to take meaningful action to save the jobs of guardsmen who are about to be fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine after the “Guard Freedom” event that was held at Legislative Plaza midday on Wednesday.

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Tennessee National Guard Soldiers and State Legislators Ask Governor Lee to Intervene at Public Event

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Tennessee National Guard soldiers and several state legislators held an event at Legislative Plaza right in front of the state capitol asking Governor Bill Lee to intervene on behalf of the soldiers who are about to lose their jobs over noncompliance with a COVID-19 mandate.

The National Guard soldiers that spoke and attended the event were off duty and spoke as private citizens, not on behalf of any government entity. Their ranks were stated for identification purposes only.

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Jody Barrett Talks Importance of Saving Tennessee National Guard Soldiers’ Jobs

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee Star spoke with Jody Barrett, the John Rich-endorsed candidate for Tennessee State House District 69 at the “Guard Freedom” event held by state legislators and off-duty guardsmen in support of soldiers who are about to lose their jobs due to their refusal to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Barrett expressed his hope that Governor Bill Lee and Attorney General Herb Slatery III will take action to save the guardsmen’s jobs.

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Davidson County GOP Demands Governor Lee Stand Up for Tennessee National Guardsmen

Aaron Gulbransen

Following an executive meeting of the Davidson County Republican Party (DCRP), Chairman James Garrett issued the following statement upon news that up to 10 percent of Tennessee Guardsmen face being discharged for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination.

“As the Republican Party of the State Capital, our leadership and members call upon Governor Lee to step-up and order Major General Holmes to halt the discharge of our Guardsmen,” he said.

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Governor Lee Says ‘We’ll See’ as Hundreds of Tennessee National Guardsmen Are Set to Be Fired over Vax Mandate

Aaron Gulbransen

Several outraged Tennessee National Guard members reached out to The Tennessee Star Wednesday morning immediately after Governor Bill Lee’s (R-TN) interview earlier in the day on Supertalk 99.7 on Nashville’s Morning News with Dan Mandis.

A message delivered by one guardsmen on behalf of several was simple: “We are even more outraged at Governor Lee’s lack of support and action than we were before he opened his mouth full of hot air on the radio. He doesn’t seem to care about us.”

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Tennessee COO and Potential Attorney General Brandon Gibson Refuses to Offer Support for National Guardsmen

Aaron Gulbransen

Brandon Gibson, the rumored frontrunner to succeed Attorney General Slatery, Governor Bill Lee’s Chief Operating Officer for the state of Tennessee, refused to comment when The Tennessee Star asked her to comment on the pending firings of many National Guardsmen due to their refusal to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The Star reached out to Gibson on Monday morning.

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Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs Criticizes Democrat Opponent’s Declaration That Abortion Opponents Are ‘Morally Deficient Minority’

Aaron Gulbransen

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs criticized his Democrat opponent’s declaration that opponents of abortion are “a morally deficient minority” on abortion.

“Democrats used to say that abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. My opponent says that abortion is popular and if you don’t see it that way, you are apparently among a morally deficient minority. You’d expect this kind of unhinged rhetoric from someone running for mayor of San Francisco or Chicago, but not Knox County, Tennessee,” Jacobs said on Tuesday.

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General Assembly Members Say Governor Lee’s Office Told Them He’s Working on Tennessee National Guard Issue but Affected Guardsmen Say ‘Useless Gesture’

Aaron Gulbransen

Several General Assembly members in both the state House and state Senate have shared a text message with The Tennessee Star that purports to be a message from Governor Bill Lee’s office that says the governor is working on the issue and specifically mentions “religious and personal exemptions.”

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Marsha Blackburn Supports Tennessee National Guard Soldiers: ‘Working on Legislation That Would Prohibit’ Funding to Implement Mandate

Aaron Gulbransen

Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn told The Tennessee Star Tuesday that she strongly supports the Tennessee National Guard soldiers who are about to be fired due to noncompliance with a vaccine mandate on Thursday. 

Blackburn also mentioned she is working on federal legislation to help them.

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Chorus of Tennessee Legislators Calling on Governor Lee to Help National Guard Members Continues to Grow

Aaron Gulbransen

The chorus of Tennessee legislators calling on Governor Bill Lee to take action to help save the jobs of Tennessee National Guard members continues to grow.

Several additional Tennessee legislators have come forward to The Tennessee Star, issuing statements in solidarity with the Tennessee National Guardsmen who are about to lose their jobs due to noncompliance with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

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Speaker Cameron Sexton Blasts Biden Administration and Stands with National Guard Members

Aaron Gulbransen

Tennessee Speaker of the House of Representatives Cameron Sexton, in a statement issued to The Tennessee Star, expressed his support for the Tennessee National Guard members who are scheduled to lose their jobs on June 30 due to their refusal to comply with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate. 

Sexton additionally had sharp criticism for the Biden administration’s handling of COVID-19 policies and mandates. 

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Metro Council to Consider 2024 Republican National Convention Contract Agreement at Next Meeting

Aaron Gulbransen

Nashville Metro Council will begin the legislative process on approving a contract with the Republican National Committee, considering a bill on first reading sponsored by Councilman Robert Swope on July 5.

Bills or ordinances must pass three readings in order to take effect. Bills will typically pass on first reading and without much discussion, although this one may generate more than usual, given the partisan nature of the event.

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Nashville DA Glenn Funk Vows to Violate State Law and Defend Abortion

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk issued a statement on Friday in which he vowed to violate Tennessee’s Human Life Protection Act in the wake of the SCOTUS decision returning the power to regulate abortion to the states.

In a statement reacting to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Funk said, “Today’s Dobbs decision joins Dred Scott and Plessy v. Ferguson to create an unholy triumvirate of the most hateful and hurtful Supreme Court decisions that will forever stain the Court and this nation.”‘

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Lt. Governor Randy McNally: ‘Hopeful Our State Will Take Any and All Steps’ to Save Tennessee National Guardsmen Jobs

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Lt. Governor Randy McNally issued a statement to The Tennessee Star in support of saving the jobs of the Tennessee National Guard members who are scheduled to lose their jobs on June 30 due to their refusal to comply with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

“The mission of our National Guard is the defense of our state and our homeland, not political correctness. The Biden administration is once again putting left-wing woke politics ahead of our national interest. While COVID-19 is still with us, it has moved past the pandemic phase and become endemic,” he said.

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Bulk of TN-5 Republican Primary Field Stands with Tennessee National Guard Members

Aaron Gulbransen

Most of the Republican field in the August 4 primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat has now voiced their support for the National Guard members who are scheduled to be fired on June 30 due to their defiance of a COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

Previously reported, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell was the first TN-5 candidate to issue a statement in support of the National Guard soldiers, saying:

The Biden Administration’s forced COVID-19 vaccination policy for men and women in the military is absolutely wrong and it’s another example of more overreach by the federal government. I stand with the hundreds of National Guard members who could be removed from service and urge those who can help them to do so.

We shouldn’t fire these brave soldiers serving our country by keeping Tennessee safe. They made the decision to serve and I believe they can make their own personal medical decisions.

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Former Speaker of Tennessee House Beth Harwell Issues Statement in Support of National Guard Members

Aaron Gulbransen

Former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell issued a statement in support of the National Guard members who are scheduled to be fired on June 30 due to their refusal to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

“The Biden Administration’s forced COVID-19 vaccination policy for men and women in the military is absolutely wrong and it’s another example of more overreach by the federal government,” said Harwell.

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TN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles Says SCOTUS Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade is ‘Answer to Prayer’

Aaron Gulbransen

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, a candidate in the August 4 Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat, said in a statement, the “SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and return decision-making authority to the people is an answer to prayer.”

Ogles talked about the historic nature of the decision and the importance defending the unborn.

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Several Tennessee General Assembly Members Publicly Oppose Tennessee National Guard Firings

Aaron Gulbransen

Several members of the Tennessee General Assembly provided comments to The Tennessee Star in support of the National Guard members who are about to be fired due to their refusal to comply with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

State Senator Ferrell Haile (R-SD18) was the first to provide The Star with a comment. Haile exclaimed, “I do not support the firing because of refusal to be vaccinated by TN National Guard!”

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Exclusive: Beth Harwell Lauds SCOTUS Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade

Aaron Gulbransen

TN-5 candidate and former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell, in an exclusive statement sent to The Tennessee Star, lauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

“The Supreme Court made the right decision by overturning Roe v. Wade. I believe we must protect the right of the unborn and make sure those who can’t defend themselves have a voice,” Harwell said.

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Exclusive: Tennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson Supports National Guard Members, Encourages Governor Lee to Help Them

Aaron Gulbransen

Tennessee Senate Republican Leader Jack Johnson issued a strong statement in support of Tennessee National Guard members who are due to be fired on June 30 because of their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging Governor Lee to help these guardsmen.

In a statement issued exclusively to The Tennessee Star, Leader Johnson excoriated the Biden administration’s COVID-19 mandates and said, “It is a travesty that the Biden Administration is prepared to fire brave men and women who faithfully serve our state and nation in the TN National Guard because of their COVID-19 vaccine status.”

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Exclusive: Tennessee National Guard Supporters Announce June 29 ‘Guard Freedom’ Event

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – A group of supporters of Tennessee National Guard members informed The Tennessee Star of their intention to host a Wednesday, June 29 event outside the Capitol at Legislative Plaza in downtown Nashville.

The event is called “Guard Freedom” and will feature letter readings by surrogates from active duty National Guard members who cannot speak publicly for fear that they will immediately lose their jobs, a reading of requests for Governor Lee to take immediate action on their behalf, and likely several speeches.

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Nashville Mayor John Cooper Declares July 31 ‘Ric Flair Day’

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Nashville Mayor John Cooper, in a news conference, declared July 31 ‘Ric Flair Day’ in honor of the 73 year-old 16 time world heavy champion professional wrestling legend and two time WWE Hall-of-Famers’ last match.

On July 31, the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair will enter the ring for the very last time. In honor of the occasion, Cooper also announced that the property at 500 Wedgewood Avenue for the weekend of July 29-31 will be known as the “Nashville FLAIRgrounds,” in conjunction with the three-day professional wrestling fanfest known as STARRCAST V.

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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee Refuses to Comment as National Guard Members Plead for Their Jobs

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Governor Bill Lee refuses to comment as Tennessee National Guard members plead for their jobs.

Sources inside the Tennessee National Guard estimate there will be much as a 10 percent force reduction from soldiers who are about to be discharged on June 30 due to refusal to accept a COVID-19 vaccination and have called on the governor to take action to protect their jobs.

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Community Outrage over ‘Franklin Pride’ and Mayor of Franklin’s Woke Proclamation

Aaron Gulbransen

FRANKLIN, Tennessee – Gabrielle Hanson, who is a Franklin alderman-at-large, told The Tennessee Star that her office and the offices of her peers are being flooded with outraged complaints about the June 4 “Franklin Pride” event and Mayor Ken Moore’s woke proclamation that was read at the event that included drag queens and children.

“Our phones and emails have been blowing up,” Hanson said.

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Exclusive: Beth Harwell Describes What She Learned at U.S. Southern Border

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Tennessee 5th Congressional candidate and former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell shared with The Tennessee Star what she learned during her trip to the U.S. southern border.

Harwell visited to Naco, Arizona on May 26th to visit the wall and attain firsthand experience on the problems that arise on the southern border.

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Exclusive: TN-5 Candidate Kurt Winstead Announces ‘Strong American Families Plan’

Aaron Gulbransen
Family

In an exclusive statement provided to The Tennessee Star, Kurt Winstead’s campaign in the Republican nomination contest for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District unveiled its “Strong American Families Plan.”

“Out of control gas prices and inflation, in addition to historic crime rates, are threatening American families. Joe Biden and the Democrats caused this problem. But conservative Republicans are going to be the ones to fix it,” said the retired general.

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Exclusive: TN National Guard Sources Demand Governor Lee Take Action on Vaccine Mandate Firings and Stop ‘This Injustice Now’

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee Star has obtained exclusive information from sources inside the Tennessee National Guard that are calling for Governor Bill Lee to take immediate action because “His Adjutant General is about to discharge hundreds of his National Guard Soldiers before the end of the month for not complying with an unlawful order.”

This group of Tennessee National Guardsmen provided The Star with their message for Governor Lee on the condition of anonymity:

The Governor needs to IMMEDIATELY order Major General Holmes to halt the discharge of these honorable men and women. He needs to order Attorney General Slatery to IMMEDIATELY coordinate with other state AGs to file an emergency injunction against the DoD, forcing them to reverse adverse actions against any National Guardsman for refusal to vaccinate. Governor Lee is the Commander in Chief of the Tennessee National Guard and he has that authority. It’s time to put a stop to this injustice now!

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TN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles Condemns Draft SEC Rule That Threatens Farmers and Others

Aaron Gulbransen

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, a Republican candidate in the August 4 primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, announced Tuesday that he is joining U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-6) in criticizing proposed Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations that impose requirements on public companies regarding their non-financial activities. 

“The proposed enhanced reporting requirements that will pressure public companies to pursue liberal political objectives regarding their environmental, social impact, and governance (ESG) policies rather than sound profit and business objectives is quite simply an assault on capitalistic and free-market principles,” Ogles said.

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Tennessee Department of Education Seeks Public Input by August 2 on Rules Governing School Funding Formula

Aaron Gulbransen

The Tennessee Department of Education is seeking public comment by August 2 on rules that govern the funding for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) public schools.

In a tweet amplifying a previous request for public input, TNDOE said, “Informed by input from a variety of stakeholders, all Tennesseans are encouraged to submit public comment on the proposed rules on the TISA public school funding formula by 8/2.”

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Senator Hagerty Promotes Participation in Letter Telling SEC to Back Off ESG Regulation Affecting Farmers

Aaron Gulbransen

Tennessee U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty touted his participation on Saturday in a letter signed by more than 30 senators to Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler  pushing back against a proposed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) regulation that would harm America’s farmers.

The proposed rule is entitled, “Enhanced and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors.”

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Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life on Post-Roe World and Pelosi Communion Denial

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life spoke with The Tennessee Star about what the landscape is going to look like in a post-Roe world and addressed the denial of communion to Speaker Nancy Pelosi because of her pro-abortion views and actions in government.

“We’re going to have to work with lawmakers, first of all, in those states that have either trigger laws or pre-existing pro-life laws that have been blocked by the courts – do whatever is necessary quickly to get those laws activated,” he said. “In some cases it’ll take some legislative action, not to the same extent as starting from scratch, but the steps that need to be taken,” Father Pavone said.

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Marsha Blackburn on Inflation, Gas Price, and Border Emergencies: Biden Administration Is ‘Doing This Intentionally’

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – In an exclusive interview with The Tennessee Star, Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn blasted the Biden administration, saying regarding the inflation, gas price, and border emergencies that “they are doing this intentionally.”

Blackburn spoke with The Star backstage at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference.

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Billboard Chart-Topping Conservative Hip-Hop Artist Topher Tells Americans to ‘Keep the Faith’ and ‘God Is the Answer’

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Billboard topping conservative hip-hop artist Topher has a simple message that he shared with The Tennessee Star in an exclusive interview for Americans going through tough times due to the Biden administration’s disastrous governance of our nation: “Keep the Faith.”

Topher emphasized to The Star that Americans need to rely on God and that conservatives are not alone in their beliefs.

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North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson Says ‘The American Dream Is Absolutely Not Dead’

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson told The Tennessee Star at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority Conference on Friday that the “American Dream is absolutely not dead.”

“It’s like I said to a group today, they say that the American Dream is dead. People will tell me that to my face,” he said. “I’m living the American Dream. I’m literally the guy that’s from the wrong side of the tracks with all the so-called strikes against me. Here I am, making history in North Carolina, the first black Lt. Governor of North Carolina.”

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Executive Director Timothy Head Talks Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Midterm Elections Activities

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Faith and Freedom Coalition Executive Director Timothy Head spoke with The Tennessee Star about the impact he expects the organization to have on the 2022 midterm elections on Thursday.

“We now have a national database of faith-based conservative voters that’s about 43 million people. What we’ll do in the fall in election cycles is we’ll target those voters,” he said.

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Rick Morton of Lifeline Children’s Services Talks Calling to Adopt Children and Human Cost of Ukraine Conflict

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee Star spoke with the Vice President of Engagement for Lifeline Children’s Services, Rick Morton, at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference about his family’s adoption of children from Ukraine and how the current situation is affecting children in that nation.

Rick and his wife Denise have been married for over 26 years, and they have 3 children, all of whom became part of their family through international adoption.

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Secretary of State Tre Hargett Charged with DUI After Attending Bonnaroo Music Festival

Aaron Gulbransen

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett was charged with a DUI after attending the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Coffee County on Friday.

According to The Tennessee Journal, the secretary was at the event “from Friday afternoon through around 11:30 p.m. when he was stopped by Tullahoma police. He was given a blood test and charged with DUI.”

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National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Rick Scott on Bipartisan Senate Gun Deal: ‘If They Focus on Gun Control, There Won’t Be a Deal’

Aaron Gulbransen

FRANKLIN, Tennessee – The chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), told the The Tennessee Star at the Williamson County GOP’s monthly mix and mingle event on Friday that he thinks the bipartisan deal on guns and school safety won’t go through if the focus is gun control.

In response to a question asked by The Star if he thought the deal would come to pass, Senator Scott said, “I think if they focus on school safety, there’s an opportunity. If they focus on gun control, there won’t be a deal.”

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Former President Trump Speaks to Energized Crowd at FFC Road to Majority Conference in Nashville

Aaron Gulbransen

Former President Donald Trump addressed an energized crowd at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference on Friday.

While the former president addressed many issues during his address, Trump took strong aim at the January 6 Commission, blasting it in his speech.

“The committee is taking the testimony of witnesses who defended me for eight hours, chopping it up and truncating sound bites to make it sound like what they said was absolutely terrible,” he said.

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Senator Marsha Blackburn Talks Democrats Blocking Her Plan to Make the Military Less Woke

Aaron Gulbransen

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) spoke with The Tennessee Star on Friday about two measures she introduced which were designed to make the U.S. military less woke “by preventing military children from being indoctrinated by Department of Defense (DoD) teachers and keeping the force focused on lethal threats rather than servicemembers’ pronouns.”

Senate Democrats on the Armed Services Committee blocked both measures.

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Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life Talks Pending Supreme Court Decision on Abortion

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life spoke with The Tennessee Star on Thursday at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Policy Conference which is taking place from June 16-18 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

Pavone spoke with The Star about the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision potentially overturning Roe v. Wade.

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