Free Republic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has become a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy after Republicans expelled two Black lawmakers from the state Legislature for their part in a protest urging passage of gun-control measures. The removal of the lawmakers, who were only recently elected, reflects a trend in dozens of states where Republicans are trying to make it harder to cast ballots and challenging the integrity of the election process. At least 177 bills restricting voting or creating systems that can intimidate voters or permit partisan interference were filed or introduced in dozens of...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen has taken some soft jabs at Republican opponent Marsha Blackburn for refusing to debate him in Memphis, Tennessee. He also unnerved some supporters when he said he could back policies made by President Donald Trump — as long as they help Tennessee. Bredesen, a Democrat, answered questions at a forum at Rhodes College in Memphis on Thursday. More than 400 people attended the session scheduled on the same day Bredesen wanted to debate Blackburn, who has represented a Middle Tennessee district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2002....