By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, Lookout readers:
Even while Tennessee Republican leaders were castigating a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding birthright citizenship, a tenet of the U.S. Constitution made plain in the 14th Amendment, some of us happened to notice that cases filed to challenge new state policies passed by those same leaders weren’t going so well, either.
Senior Reporter Anita Wadhwani writes that a Nashville judge has extended an order blocking the Tennessee Department of Health from turning over the personal information of immigrant children with critical illnesses or disabilities to immigration enforcement. “Suffer the little children to come unto me” might have been good enough for Jesus Christ, but in Tennessee, that motto gets boiled down to simply “suffer the children.”
And from Melissa Brown with Chalkbeat comes the news that a federal judge has put a temporary halt to a move by state lawmakers to replace the duly elected board of Memphis-Shelby County Schools with board members appointed by Gov. Bill Lee, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally.
In other news:
Blackburn dodges media questions. Ben Hall with Nashville NewsChannel 5, produced a story in which he approached U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a gubernatorial candiadate at the conclusion of a recent speech in Nashville. As Hall showed on video, Blackburn refused to answer his questions, giving him the same answer to each: “We’re talking to Tennesseans every day.”
Field day! The two other Republican candidates for governor had a virtual field day after the story came out. U.S. Rep. John Rose sent out a press release titled “Marsha Melts Down on Questions About Governor’s Debate,” with campaign manager Chris DeVaney saying, “She has been in politics for 34 years and cannot articulate why she wants to be Governor, or why she is even running.” State Rep. Monty Fritts threw shade via X, with a post saying “Pray for Sen. Blackburn - running for office and facing the media can be difficult. I understand, I do it very often.
THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY
A Davidson County Chancery Court judge on Wednesday extended her order temporarily blocking the state rom reporting sick and disabled immigrant children in a public healthcare program to a state immigration enforcement office. Pictured: the Nashville Courthouse. (Photo: John Partipilo)
by Anita Wadhwani
A Nashville judge on Wednesday extended an order from last week that blocks Tennessee health officials from reporting 400 immigrant children with disabilities and chronic illnesses, enrolled in a safety-net health program, to a state immigration enforcement office.
NEWS AND NOTES
A sweaty Fourth of July ahead for the US as extreme heat descends on 20 states | Sam Gauntt, States Newsroom
What Do We Do With All This Safety? | Toby Sells, Memphis Flyer
From Charlie Kirk to Immigration, new laws take effect in Tennessee | Ruby Rayner, Chattanooga Times Free Press
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
The Southwest Human Resource Agency distributed roughly 630,000 meals to children in 17 counties in West Tennessee over the summer in 2025. This year, the agency's Summer Nutrition Program is serving around 20 counties, and reached the 630,000-meal mark just five weeks in. (USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.)
by Cassandra Stephenson
The Southwest Human Resource Agency’s Summer Nutrition program, which provides meals to children in West Tennessee during summer months, is on track to deliver roughly double the number of meals it distributed last year.
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT
A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a state takeover board’s authority after Memphis school officials said it could delay the start of the school year or even force building closures as the district prepares to welcome students back to class in less than five weeks. (Andrea Morales for Chalkbeat)
by Melissa Brown, Chalkbeat
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Memphis school takeover board’s authority, after school officials said it could delay the start of the school year or even force building closures as the district prepares to welcome students back to class in less than five weeks.
COMMENTARY
ICYMI
Tennessee Democrats revive push on “Pot for Potholes” | Sam Stockard
Inside the race for Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District | Larry Griffin
Tennessee GOP senators seek review of botched execution | Sam Stockard
Tennessee taxpayers could foot bill for some SNAP costs if state’s error rate doesn’t improve | Cassandra Stephenson
COMMENTARY
The answer to challenging behaviors in kindergarten is support, not separation | Allison Oliver, Ph.D.
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