Gene Bryant

‘Walking a fine line’: Ohio bill would let chaplains counsel public school students New legislation forcing school boards to vote on religious chaplains in classrooms raises questions about local control and the separation of church and state.

Religious chaplains could soon be offering “counseling” in Ohio’s public schools under a new bill that’s raising serious questions about the line between faith-based guidance and mental health support. www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

Gayle King to Quit Morning Show After Network’s Trump Takeover King the latest anchor said to be leaving the network.

“CBS Mornings” anchor Gayle King will reportedly leave the show next year.

New Oklahoma schools chief is erasing the Walters legacy – Baptist News Global The new superintendent of schools in Oklahoma formed a “turnaround team” to help restore public education in the state.

The new superintendent of public schools in Oklahoma has formed a “turnaround team” to help restore public education in the state after the departure of Christian nationalist leader Ryan Walters. baptistnews.com/article/new-...

TN Rep. Gloria Johnson joins Democrats at town hall during Turning Point USA’s tour stop in Oxford Several organizations, elected officials, and community organizers spoke with students and citizens, including Tennessee State Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville).

Two town halls were held on the Ole Miss campus Wednesday evening. One, Turning Point USA, was headed by Vice President JD Vance. The other, “Mississippi Rise Up” by campus Democrats, was headed by Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville). www.actionnews5.com/2025/10/30/t...

Reynolds noncommittal to queries on school vouchers Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds remains noncommittal on increasing enrollment in Tennessee's statewide school voucher program next year.

Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds was noncommittal when asked about increasing enrollment in the statewide school voucher program. pro.stateaffairs.com/tn/news/educ...

On Thursday (Oct. 30), the Sumner County (Gallatin, TN) Library Board could not move forward with a controversial ban on transgender books for all county-run libraries. The vote was 4-4. The board chair indicated the issue will likely be back at a future meeting. www.tennessean.com/story/news/l...

Don’t Be Misled During Medicare Open Enrollment #Medicare Open Enrollment is here, and so are the often-misleading ads. 📺 If you've been seeing TV commercials promising "free" benefits or limited-time offers, you need to read this. Learn how to spo...

Unlike original Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are administered, marketed, and sold by private insurance companies. These companies actively and aggressively promote their plans. Some of their promotions may intentionally or unintentionally mislead. www.ncoa.org/article/misl...

The Education Of Diane Ravitch Diane Ravitch is one of the biggest turncoats in education policy history, and American education is better for it.

Diane Ravitch is one of the biggest turncoats in education policy history, and American education is better for it. She tells the story in her newest book, her memoir An Education. www.forbes.com/sites/peterg...

VA hospital employees allegedly told not to wear rainbow items because of president's order - LGBTQ Nation “Anything rainbow like lanyards can get us fired on the spot.”

Employees at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Virginia say they were warned earlier this month that wearing/displaying LGBTQ+ Pride-themed items violates a Trump executive order and could result in firing. www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/va-h...

Here's what's going to crush Trump Trump and the billionaires and foreign fascists he’s aligned with are both stronger than most think and weaker. Today I’ll deal with the stronger part; tomorrow, the weaker.We’re living in a moment wh...

THOM HARTMANN: It’s impossible to ignore how much template was laid out by Viktor Orbán to the Heritage Foundation, which embedded core strategies of his authoritarian rule over Hungary into Project 2025, and is now being executed step-by-step by Trump.... www.alternet.org/alternet-exc...

Cartoon by Tim Campbell

A '24/7 corruption machine': Anger as Trump family acquires a new racket President Donald Trump’s family has long generated controversy and criticism for running a cryptocurrency business during his second term in office, and now they’re adding an online betting business t...

President Trump’s family has long generated controversy and criticism for running a cryptocurrency business during his second term in office, and now they’re adding an online betting business to their portfolio.
www.alternet.org/trump-gambli...

Mayor Freddie O'Connell said if current trends hold, Nashville could end the year with its lowest homicide rate in 60 years and lowest robbery rate since 1972. www.tennessean.com/story/news/l...

Why Trump really just pardoned a terrorist enabler When Donald Trump delivered a full pardon to cryptocurrency billionaire Changpeng Zhao last week, the president didn't mention the enormous financial favor that Zhao bestowed on the Trump family last ...

When Trump delivered a full pardon to cryptocurrency billionaire Changpeng Zhao last week, the president didn't mention the enormous financial favor that Zhao bestowed on the Trump family — an investment of $2 billion in World Liberty Financial crypto. www.alternet.org/trump-zhao/?...

After Nov. 1, health insurance costs in Tennessee are poised to see their steepest rise in 15 years. www.tennessean.com/story/news/h...

Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year.

UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.

Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.

This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.

Sen. Blackburn Blasts Tennessee Professors Over "Horrendous" Posts About Charlie Kirk U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) used a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday to call for the immediate removal of several Tennessee university

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) used a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing this week to call for the immediate removal of several TN university professors for statements following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. www.tampafp.com/sen-blackbur...

Appeals Court Heightens Stakes Over Ten Commandments School Laws A full federal appeals court will review Texas and Louisiana laws requiring Ten Commandments displays in schools.

Appeals Court Heightens Stakes Over Ten Commandments School Laws: A full federal appeals court will review Texas and Louisiana laws requiring Ten Commandments displays in schools.

YouTube video by Forbes Breaking News 'Bigger Than Watergate': Marsha Blackburn Threatens Jack Smith With Subpoena Over Arctic Frost

During remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) threatened to subpoena Jack Smith for his role in Operation Arctic Frost. youtu.be/lXq0BdH0vMI?... via @YouTube

LETTER TO EDITOR:
Marsha Blackburn’s loyalty to the MAGA leader is much greater than representing the people of Tennessee or upholding her pledge to the Constitution. Mr. Jim Henry wants Marsha to be our next governor. Really? I don’t.
Frank Schingle, Knoxville
www.knoxnews.com/story/opinio...

Opinion: The U.S. Labor Department’s anti-DEI propaganda campaign | Chattanooga Times Free Press In September, the U.S. Department of Labor launched Project Firewall, an objective aimed at employers abusing the visa process to get skilled workers.

The Labor Department, in its zeal to win over the American public — or at least some of that public — is pushing an ad campaign with numerous posters evoking another era: very 1950s, very Caucasian, very idealistic. "A dream worth fighting for.” www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/oc...

In Walters' wake, Oklahoma pushes back against Christian nationalism (RNS) — No Bibles in public school classrooms for now.

A month ago, Oklahoma Supt. Ryan Walters resigned to head a national anti-teachers-union organization, leaving as his most notable legacy his Bible education mandate... His legacy did not last long…. religionnews.com/2025/10/29/i...

Speaker Johnson says clergy protesting deportations have no right to 'get in the face' of DHS agents (RNS) — Johnson initially claimed he was not aware of the instances, despite having been directly asked about one of the incidents in a press conference earlier this month.

House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed religious freedom concerns on Wednesday (Oct. 29) about clergy protesting mass deportations being shot with pepper rounds and pepper bullets by Department of Homeland Security agents…. religionnews.com/2025/10/29/s...

Cartoon by Matt Wuerker

Never in the history of the US has any president openly and repeatedly called for the investigation, arrest & prosecution of his political opponents. While many continue to shrug these things off and normalize them, I will never stop pointing out that this is what autocrats do.

Cartoon by Matt Wuerker

Can Democrats flip Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District? • Tennessee Lookout Polling for Rep. Aftyn Behn, the Democratic nominee in Tennessee Congressional District 7, is favorable, but will enough Democrats vote?

The upcoming special election in the 7th Congressional District, triggered by Mark Green’s decision to vacate the seat in the middle of his term, affords Tennessee Democrats a rare and precious opportunity to flip an otherwise safe red seat blue…. tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/30/c...

John Cole’s Tennessee [for TENNESSEE LOOKOUT]: Halloween treats? The federal government shutdown will halt distribution of SNAP funds to needy families as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee blames Democrats and refuses to use any state funds to alleviate the crisis.

Confused Trump, 79, Asks How to Walk Off Stage The president looked lost as it was time to leave introductions with China’s Xi Jinping.

President Donald Trump’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping got off to an awkward start as the president looked lost trying to walk off the stage after the two leaders were introduced.

Opinion | How Trump and Biden Dismantled the Justice Dept.

The Department of Justice under Donald Trump is still standing. But inside, he and his lieutenants have taken a wrecking ball to this core pillar of our nation’s governing system. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/o...