By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning and TGIF, Lookout readers:
“Silly season” is the term politicos use to describe the heated last month or so of any campaign, as candidates become desperate to make good impressions on voters while simultaneously besmirching their opponents.
And as sure as fall arrived days ago, silly season has also arrived.
Sam Stockard reports on the latest in the gubernatorial campaign during a week in which the Democratic nominee and and one independent candidate sparred over which one should drop out of the race (neither said they will) and the same independent posted a video that appeared to make excuses for President Andrew Jackson’s Indian removal policy.
Meanwhile, the other independent making a solid run in the race offered millions of dollar to charity if the Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, would commit to debate him and only him.
Blackburn, for her part, stayed on the down low, perhaps following the time-proven strategy of letting one’s opponents beat on each other while quietly driving up the middle to victory.
Ad watch: Independent gubernatorial candidate Lauren Pinkston on Thursday released her first ad to be run primarily on Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram. Featuring four people wearing ill-fitting red and blue shirts, the message is that two-party politics may not work.
Groups protest upcoming execution. Toby Sells with the Memphis Flyer reports groups, including the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, are urging Gov. Bill Lee to halt the execution of Christa Pike on Wednesday. In 1996 Pike, then 19, was found guilty of the 1995 murder of classmate Colleen Slemmer.
Trump lowers prices . . . According to a story from USA Today, tickets to the University of Tennessee — University of Texas football game in Knoxville Saturday have dropped by $100 since President Donald Trump announced he would attend the game.
THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY
A report from a Tennessee agency warns lawmakers they need to address a looming funding deficit for road construction. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Adam Friedman
Tennessee lawmakers likely need to increase taxes or allow borrowing if the state wants to meet its growing transportation cost needs, a recently released report by the state’s intergovernmental agency found.
NEWS AND NOTES
Millions of dollars of waste found in Trump administration push for immigration detention | Ariana Figueroa, States Newsroom
Flock surveillance cameras raise constitutional questions, bipartisan US senators say | Ariana Figueroa, States Newsroom
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
A Meta data center in Gallatin, Tennessee, was opened in 2024. Meta is one of a number of companies employing artificial intelligence that are lobbying the Tennessee General Assembly. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)(Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
by Sam Stockard
Between a fight involving Democrat Jerri Green and independent Lauren Pinkston, mud-slinging at independent David Hatley – and vandalism – and Republican Marsha Blackburn’s ham-fisted tactics, the race is growing weirder by the minute.
ICYMI
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