The Tennessee Democratic Party (TNDP) on Wednesday threatened a lawsuit against proposed congressional maps, if they are fully enacted.
The maps, unveiled by the the House Redistricting Committee, would split Davidson County into three different districts, likely eliminating Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN-05).
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U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) joined Representatives Mark Green (R-TN-07) and Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) and urged President Joe Biden to approve Governor Bill Lee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration due to flooding throughout in Middle Tennessee.
In the attempt to bridge the gap between the federal and state government, the group of lawmakers pledged to provide the Biden administration with any assistance needed to expeditiously approve the Governor’s request.
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The first street in the United States to be named after a “Drag Queen” will be located in Nashville, Tennessee, naming the road “Bianca Paige Way.”
The city held a dedication ceremony on Saturday after the measure was approved by the Nashville metro council earlier last week.
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Quincy McKnight, a Nashville businessman, formally entered the race against Democratic Representative Jim Cooper for Tennessee’s fifth Congressional District.
McKnight is the CEO of Covenant Pay Partners, a payment processing company. He grew up in Murfreesboro and attended Middle Tennessee State University.
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Monday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Republican Congressional candidate for Nashville’s fifth district Robby Starbuck to the newsmakers line to discuss his background and top priorities if elected.
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After remaining silent while cities were looted and burned by Black Lives Matter and Antifa last summer, Tennessee’s Democrat Congressmen are suddenly disgusted by “riots,” formerly known as “peaceful protests,” and they are calling for President Donald J. Trump’s removal via the 25th Amendment.
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A new Triton poll finds decidedly liberal Davidson County is solidly against Mayor John Cooper’s proposed 32 percent property tax hike. The poll is available here. It was conducted last Thursday and Friday by Triton Polling & Research and was paid for by Nashville Smart, a local 501(c)(4). Lonnie Spivak, an election expert, is with Nashville Smart. He spoke with The Tennessee Star about the poll Monday. Spivak also will be on Tuesday morning’s The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am. On Monday, Spivak said Nashville Smart, as a 501(c)(4), has no position on whether the tax increase should pass, and that it commissioned the poll for informational purposes. “We wanted to judge what the public opinion of the tax increase is going into the budget season,” Spivak said. “Metro Council doesn’t have the resources to poll.” The Triton poll sampled 769 registered voters, with 53.5 percent identifying as Democrat, 28.8 percent Republican, 15.3 percent Independent and 2.4 percent Not Sure/Undecided. Mayor Cooper had a 47.1 percent favorable rating, 25.6 percent unfavorable, and 25.7 had heard of him but had no opinion. Regarding Cooper’s…
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Belmont University announced Friday it will host the third and final presidential debate of 2020.
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U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) is in with the “Squad” in the move to impeach President Donald Trump. Cooper on Tuesday tweeted, “It’s time for the House of Representatives to begin the impeachment process against President Trump. The President’s invitation to yet another foreign power—this time Ukraine—to undermine U.S. elections requires that Congress begin the process in our” It’s time for the House of Representatives to begin the impeachment process against President Trump. The President’s invitation to yet another foreign power—this time Ukraine—to undermine U.S. elections requires that Congress begin the process in our — Jim Cooper (@jimcoopertn) September 24, 2019 The tweet continues, “Constitution to levy formal charges against him. This is a very serious step, but the President’s continuing misconduct requires that Congress uphold our Constitution and the laws of the land. No one, not even the President, is above the law.” Constitution to levy formal charges against him. This is a very serious step, but the President’s continuing misconduct requires that Congress uphold our Constitution and the laws of the land. No one, not even the President, is above the law. — Jim Cooper (@jimcoopertn) September 24, 2019 The calls for impeachment are based on allegations…
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Metro At-Large Councilman John Cooper will not run against Nashville Mayor David Briley in August and may not seek re-election to the council, he said Thursday. According to the Nashville Scene, Cooper said it is good to have a rotation of leaders in government. State Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-TN-55) is the only candidate running against Briley. According to the Scene: “Rotation of personnel in citizen government is a good thing,” Cooper told the Post. “Having a bench of personnel who have gone through this learning experience is also super for a community.” To that point, two new names have recently appointed treasurers to run for one of five at-large seats on the Metro Council: former state Rep. Gary Moore and Zulfat Suara, a controller at Meharry Medical College and chair of the American Muslin Advisory Council. Constitutional lawyer and civil libertarian Daniel A. Horwitz tweeted, “I’m very sad about this news. However, it makes going all in for @JRClemmons easy as can be. Everyone should be grateful for @JCooper4Council’s service on the Council and his contribution to an otherwise insane and clueless body.” https://twitter.com/Scot_Blog/status/1093611519202545664 Cooper is the brother of U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) and the son of former…
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U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) said he is planning to run for re-election in 2020 and 2022. Cohen made the announcement at a New Year’s Day prayer breakfast Tuesday, WMC said. WMC’s Kendall Downing also tweeted the news, saying, “Congressman Steve Cohen @RepCohen told reporters he’s running for re-election in 2020 and 2022… moments before he told the crowd at the Lowery prayer breakfast. Some pundits had speculated he would step aside in elections to come. Cohen says that’s not the case. @WMCActionNews5.” Congressman Steve Cohen @RepCohen told reporters he’s running for re-election in 2020 and 2022… moments before he told the crowd at the Lowery prayer breakfast. Some pundits had speculated he would step aside in elections to come. Cohen says that’s not the case. @WMCActionNews5 pic.twitter.com/MYvl80XJAI — Kendall Downing (@kendall_downing) January 1, 2019 In response, Cohen tweeted, “Always good to put false rumors aside. Republicans who haven’t been able to beat me started rumor I would retire due to health concerns. No such luck!” https://twitter.com/RepCohen/status/1080222044871163906 Cohen is not the first Tennessee Democratic representative to announce future re-election plans before even being sworn in for his 2019-2020 term that starts today. U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) announced his re-election bid…
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U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) announced his re-election bid for 2020. A statement by the congressman’s spokesman Chris Carroll said, “Jim is honored to represent Cheatham, Davidson, and Dickson counties in Congress, and he looks forward to running for re-election in 2020,” according to a story in The Tennessean. Cooper handily won re-election Nov. 6 against Republican challenger Jody Ball by a margin of 67.8 percent to 32.2 percent, Ballotpedia said. Cooper is not the only Tennessee politician to make an announcement about 2020 this week. When U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced Monday he would not run for re-election, Cooper said this in a statement: Lamar is finishing a stellar career in Tennessee politics. I honor him for his service, but I also hope he will use his last two years in office to challenge President Trump the way that Bob Corker has done. I am worried that the Tennessee Republican Party is losing the legacy of Howard Baker: his willingness to investigate his own president, to insist on fiscal discipline, open markets, and civil rights. America needs that fair-mindedness now more than ever.” Cooper’s voting record is available here. Last month Cooper signed a letter with 17 other…
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U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) says he will vote against Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, The Tennessean said. Cooper, recently elected to a ninth term, is among 17 House Democrats who signed a letter this week vowing they won’t support Pelosi’s bid for speaker. Other Democrats are also plotting to vote against Pelosi, according to reports. Cooper voted against Pelosi in 2011, 2013, twice in 2015 and 2017, each time after Democrats lost the House in 2010. “Now, with one of the largest, most diverse groups of new Democratic members ever elected, is the time to welcome a new generation of leaders to Congress, not just on the back benches, but in leadership,” Cooper said in a statement to The Tennessean. Cooper has previously voted for former Secretary of State Colin Powell as speaker since the leader does not have to come from the House. Despite the calls for a new House Speaker – nearly 60 Democratic candidates in 2018 called for new leadership – it is not likely a new party head will emerge in the chamber, The Tennessee Star recently reported, citing Fred Lucas of The Daily Signal. “I think there is a…
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President Donald Trump supported Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn Monday after pop superstar Taylor Swift “smeared” her, and he criticized the singer, Breitbart News said. “She’s a tremendous woman,” Trump said about Blackburn. “I’m sure Taylor Swift has nothing or doesn’t know anything about her.” Watch the latest video at foxnews.com Swift endorsed Blackburn’s opponent, Democratic former Governor Phil Bredesen, as well as U.S. Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN-05). She also took a swipe at U.S. Representative Blackburn (R-TN-0-7). “As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me.” (emphasis added) https://www.instagram.com/p/BopoXpYnCes/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link However, Blackburn is “leading substantially” in the polls, the president said. A CBS News poll shows her leading Bredesen by 50 percent to 42 percent. The president added that he liked Swift’s music less, Breitbart reported. “Let’s say that I like Taylor’s music about 25 percent less now,” he said. The president defeated Hillary Clinton in Tennessee by 26 points in 2016. The National Republican Senate Committee said in a statement, “If you haven’t heard, multimillionaire pop star Taylor Swift came down from her ivory tower to tell…
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Pop superstar Taylor Swift has a political crush on Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper, having used Instagram to endorse both Democrats in their races. The New York Daily News reported her saying: In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Democratic former Governor Bredesen is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Bob Corker (R-TN). U.S. Representative Cooper (D-TN-07) is running for re-election in Nashville, where he has served since 2003. If…
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On Wednesday Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) refused to vote in support of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency within the Department of Homeland Security.
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U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) blasted President Trump over the weekend for Trump’s pardon of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, calling Trump’s action “dangerous” and saying the president has “once against abused his authority and divided our nation.” Earlier this month, the Democratic congressman, whose district includes Memphis, said he would introduce articles of impeachment against Trump because of his comments following violent confrontations in Charlottesville, Virginia, between white supremacists and radical leftists. Trump pardoned Arpaio on Friday, praising the 85-year-old in a White House statement for his “admirable service.” Arpaio was recently convicted of misdemeanor contempt for defying a judge’s order stop traffic patrols that were said to unfairly target immigrants. As sheriff, Arpaio was known for his fight against illegal immigration. He lost re-election last year. Here is Cohen’s full statement released Saturday: President Trump’s pardoning of Joe Arpaio isn’t just bad, it’s dangerous. The President continues to show a callous disregard for the independence of our federal judiciary. Even worse, he did so in defense of a man who had been criminally convicted of failing to follow a court order in connection with a lawsuit involving racial profiling. This was not only a terrible decision, but if reports are accurate…
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Republican Sen. Bob Corker and Republican Reps. Marsha Blackburn, Scott DesJarlais and Chuck Fleischmann released statements in support of President Trump’s decision to keep troops in Afghanistan. Trump announced his decision Monday evening in a televised address. His decision is likely to disappoint some conservatives because he campaigned on pulling out of Afghanistan. “My original instinct was to pull out — and, historically, I like following my instincts,” Trump said in his address. “But all my life I’ve heard that decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk in the Oval Office.” Trump said that, as happened with the withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, “a hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists, including ISIS and al Qaeda, would instantly fill.” Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the following in a statement: I had the opportunity to talk with Secretary Tillerson in advance of this evening’s address, and while I look forward to receiving additional details, I support the direction President Trump laid out tonight for the U.S. role in Afghanistan. While there are certainly substantial questions about whether Afghanistan has the capacity over time to provide stable governance to its people, this more focused…
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Here is reaction from the only two Democratic members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation to President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday. They made their comments in official press statements and on social media. Rep. Jim Cooper, Democrat: The FBI is investigating Trump associates right now. This firing calls to mind the worst days of Nixon. It's time for a special prosecutor. https://t.co/Jx6VEvqFDH — Jim Cooper (@jimcoopertn) May 10, 2017 Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat: I have said to my colleagues and to the public for over four months that FBI Director James Comey would do the right thing in the Trump-Russia investigation. I also believed President Trump wouldn’t fire him unless he felt that Director Comey threatened his presidency. This is sadly reminiscent of the Saturday Night Massacre when President Nixon fired Justice Department officials that threatened his presidency. Two days ago, I tweeted that I hoped Director Comey would be next year’s recipient of the Profiles in Courage Award because of the Trump-Russia investigation, but President Trump has effectively vetoed that award. I call on Speaker Paul Ryan to immediately appoint a bipartisan, non-classified, public, and transparent commission to investigate the Trump-Russia relationship. Our democracy is…
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