HB1498: A New Legislative Session Opens With Big Student-Data Questions—and an Unsettling Process Glitch
TN’s new session opens with HB1498: a student “early warning” tracking mandate—plus a timeline glitch that raises privacy and process concerns.
Latest
Tennessee Attorney General Addresses Hughes v. Lee at Brentwood Meeting with Conservative Voters
AG Skrmetti defended Tennessee’s gun law on procedure, not constitutionality, arguing courts must defer to lawmakers despite acknowledged defects.
After All the Questions, Only Silence Remains
The record reviewed in this series indicates that when officials and vendors decline to answer basic questions, silence creates doubt—undermining confidence in election systems meant to earn public trust.
Voting Machines Get the Spotlight. Cybersecurity Experts Watch the Voter Rolls
Cybersecurity experts warn voter rolls shape elections long before ballots are cast, yet receive far less scrutiny than voting machines.
Tennessee Regulates Voter-Roll Systems. The Evidence of Oversight Is Missing
Tennessee law requires voter-registration systems to be examined and certified for cybersecurity, yet voters can’t see proof of how those safeguards are met.
Public Dollars, No Public Agreement: Tennessee’s Voter-System Contract Gap
Counties pay nearly $500K yearly for voter-roll software, yet at least one reports no written contract defining the work.
A Computer Repair Shop in a Cornfield Controls Voter Rolls in 91 Tennessee Counties
A small Tennessee firm quietly supports voter rolls in 91 counties raising questions about transparency, oversight and trust.
Why Tennessee Still Can’t Recall Its Politicians — And What Must Change in 2026
Tennessee’s decade-long battle for real recall power continues as lawmakers propose another restrictive bill that excludes state officials. After years of failed attempts, the question remains: will 2026 bring true accountability—or another stall?
FOLLOW THE MONEY: Marsha Blackburn’s $4.54 Million Federal War Chest and the 2026 Governor’s Race
Blackburn’s federal PACs spent $6.1M in 2025 on her TN governor team while her Senate account holds $4.54M from 96% out-of-state donors. TN “bans” transfers but lets PACs flood state races. Legal. Rigged. 2026 is already bought.
The $6 Million Loophole: How Federal Money Legally Buys Tennessee’s Governor Race
Tennessee bans direct federal-to-state cash transfers — but federal PACs can legally spend millions on consultants & ads that become the state campaign. Marsha Blackburn just spent $6M this way. It’s legal. It’s unfair. It’s how governors are chosen now.
McCainFeingold
The Federal Law That Broke American Elections: How McCain–Feingold Nationalized Political Money
McCain–Feingold didn’t clean up politics—it nationalized campaign money. The law rerouted donations into candidate war chests, digital platforms, and out-of-state networks, reshaping fundraising and paving the way for donor-class dominance in Tennessee.
Tennessee Campaign Finance
Bought and Paid For: Why Tennessee Keeps Getting Donor-Class Governors
Tennessee’s governorship keeps landing in the hands of donor-class elites. This piece exposes how mega-funding pipelines, federal loopholes, and donor influence—not voters—shape who leads the state.