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Friday, March 20, 2026
Pro-Nazi Group Gives Andy Ogles A+
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Thursday, March 19, 2026
It is Time to Permanently Kill The Jones Act
The Jones Act of 1920 is a federal law requiring that goods shipped between U.S. ports be transported on ships that are U.S.-built, -owned, -flagged, and -crewed. It aims to support the domestic maritime industry. The law has had bipartisan support over the years with Democrats arguing it protects union jobs and Republicans arguing it was essential for national security. Most movement conservatives and free-market think tanks and pundits have opposed it.
Due to the oil supply disruption resulting from the war with Iran, President Trump has suspended enforcement of the Jones Act for 60 days. This will not replace lost oil but will remove a roadblock to supply chain bottlenecks. This was a wise thing to do, but it runs counter to Trump's protectionist instincts. Maybe after sixty days without it, even Trump will realize America would be better off without it.
I was pleased to see the Washington Post editorialize approvingly today that Trump’s 60-day suspension of the Jones Act may be the beginning of the end of this protectionist law. Portions are excerpted below:
The beginning of the end of the Jones Act
Editorial Board, The Washington Post, March 19, 2026- ...The law was supposed to encourage more domestic shipbuilding. But outside of mobilization during the world wars, commercial shipbuilding has not been one of America’s strong suits for 150 years, despite — or perhaps because of — near constant protectionism since the founding of the country.
The Jones Act has not made U.S. shipbuilding strong. .... Today, the Jones Act protects industry segments that hardly exist. Only 54 of the world’s roughly 7,500 oil tankers meet the law’s requirements. The sole U.S.-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker has to operate under an exemption because it was foreign-built. Not one of the world’s oceangoing dry bulk carriers — used to transport ore, fertilizer and agricultural products — are Jones Act compliant. ... The Jones Act vessels that do exist are primarily engaged in trade between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. The Americans who live in those places pay higher transportation costs ... Repeal would save U.S. consumers $769 million per year on petroleum alone, .. (read it all)
In addition to the above piece from the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and a lot of other news outlets approvingly editorialized on Trump's decision to temporarily suspend the act, although they did not address the merits of total repeal or substantial reform of the act. For a much more detailed explanation of what is wrong with the Jones Act, I suggest this piece from the Mercatus Center. Also see the Hoover Institute piece, How The Jones Act Harms America, or CATO's Latest Waiver Is Another Indictment of the Jones Act.
If you support the Jones Act because you think it is essential for national security, you can read a rebuttal of that argument in some of the sources above. If you support it because you want to protect jobs from market forces and increased efficiency, I do not share that value, and we will just have to disagree. That is the same argument buggy whip makers made against the introduction of the automobile.
In addition to the obvious arguments against the Jones Act, it is a significant contributor to increased greenhouse gases and roadway congestion. Since all produce between American ships must be carried by American ships, a foreign ship cannot unload part of a load in Boston and then move on to Baltimore and unload more. So, as a result, tractor-trailer trucks transport goods between Boston and Baltimore. This is replicated across the nation. This makes no sense.
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Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Vice Mayor Angie Henderson Counters Andy Ogles with Message of Welcome
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| Angie Henderson |
“Our Muslim neighbors are an integral and special part of our community,” said Henderson. “And so we want to be sure to express, as local elected officials and as a body—especially given that certain persons in higher levels of elected office have recently said otherwise—that our Muslim neighbors are welcome here.”
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Ogles Is One of 46 Members of the New Sharia-Free America Caucus
Ogles, is the only member of the Tennessee delegation to join the Sharia-Free America Caucus. “Islam is a religion of violence, abuse of women, and ruthless political conquest. Its laws and practices have no place in American society,” said Ogles about joining the Caucus. “Islam is conquering Europe, and I refuse to let it conquer America,” he added.
Of course, Sharia law as a moral code of conduct, dietary law, or rules for governing personal finances is a threat to no one. If a Muslim does not eat pork, that is no more of a threat to me than if a Baptist abstains from alcohol. If a Muslim woman wears a hijab, that is not more of a threat to me than if a Jew wears a yarmulke or a Mormon wears holy underwear.
As far as Sharia law as a system of general law governing society, there is no need to ban it. The Constitution already establishes our form of government, and any law contrary to the Constitution is already banned.
It would seem there is a much greater threat from White Christian Nationalism than Sharia law, but I don't think we necessarily need a White Christian Nationalism-Free Caucus.
I am concerned about the inroads of holocaust denialism, the acceptance of Nazis, and the historic revisionism sympathetic to Hitler that is being made in the Republican Party. I don't see a need for a special caucus to guard against this, however.
I'm not sure what is going on. Either Andy Ogles is virtue signaling and pandering to the Christian Bubba base of the MAGA movement, or he really is that dumb. Of course, it could be some of both.
Pandering or being just dumb about the threat of Sharia would not be new in Tennessee politics. You may remember way back in about 2010 to about 2015 when anti-Sharia hysteria was rampant in Tennessee, when there was a massive effort to stop a mosque from being built in Murfreesboro, or when Governor Bill Haslam was accused of plotting to impose Sharia law on Tennessee. You may remember when popular conservative firebrand radio host Steve Gill said Sharia Law was already here. That was because a Saudi airline leased space at an airport and stipulated that the restaurant in that space would be alcohol-free.
The best example of ignorance and hysteria around the issue of Sharia law is that of two lawmakers, state senator Bill Ketron and state representative Judd Matheny, who in 2013 reportedly raised questions about the installation of a new floor-level sink in the state capitol that, they theorized, could be for Muslims to wash their feet before prayer. These same two men had sponsored a bill in 2011 that made the enforcement of sharia law punishable by up to 15 years in jail in Tennessee. It tuned out the new floor-level sink was a mop sink.
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Republican to Solve Another Non-existing Problem: Strippers in School.
by Rod Williams, March 17, 2026 - Congress can't really govern anymore. It doesn't do much. I am old enough to remember when Congress actually passed an annual budget. It was debated and voted on. Now, they pass one big bill under reconciliation, and that is about it. Since they don't solve real problems anymore and just let the president run the country without their input, they make up stuff to do, such as banning Sharia Law, or protecting us from all of the illegal immigrants voting in our elections or strippers in school.
Representative Mary Miller (R-IL) introduced federal legislation in February 2026, known as the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act" (H.R. 7661), which aims to prohibit federal funding for schools that host performances featuring "nude adults, individuals who are stripping, or lewd or lascivious dancing". Reports indicate that there are no documented cases of schools hiring strippers for students, and Miller did not cite any specific instances of this occurring when announcing the bill.
To distract from the Epstein files, Trump family corruption, war, and the murder of citizens by Trump's paramilitary force, Republicans have to keep stoking the cultural wars. I guess they can just keep going back to that well; it keeps on giving.
Read full story: https://bit.ly/4aVW2C7
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Republican Bill Would Denaturalize US Citizens as Support Grows
citizens involved in terrorism are growing among Republican leaders following a spate of attacks on American soil and a heightened threat environment amid the Iran War.
One lawmaker, GOP Representative Riley Moore of West Virginia, announced on Friday that he would introduce a bill to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who commits an act of terrorism, plots to commit an act of terrorism, joins a terrorist organization, or otherwise aids and abets terrorism against the American people. ... Other Republican figures—including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt—shared similar sentiments on Friday.
... The SCAM Act, which Schmitt introduced in the Senate in January, would expand federal authority to denaturalize U.S. citizens who obtained citizenship through naturalization if later conduct—such as fraud against government programs, serious felonies, espionage, or terrorist ties—shows they were never eligible for citizenship in the first place.
... On Capitol Hill, the SCAM Act is already pending in both chambers: Schmitt’s S.3674 was introduced January 15 and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar on January 26, while Emmer’s companion H.R.7156 was introduced January 20 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. (Read it all)
Comment by W. H. Bernstein: W. H. Bernstein
This is the path of totalitarianism.
My father in law a'h was born in Germany in 1936. His ancestors had lived there demonstrably since the 1600s. But under the Nazis he and his family were stripped of German citizenship.
This bill only applies to naturalized citizens. But there is no reason it could not be extended to native-born citizens. And "terrorism" means nothing. People have been convicted of "terrorism" for wearing black at a demonstration. The government could pick any criterion it wanted as a way to strip citizenship from any disfavored group, rendering them non-beings.
Never mind, we already have procedures to strip naturalized citizens of citizenship in very specific cases.
Nothing good coming from this.
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Davidson County Democratic Party Candidates Forum, Thu. March 26th
Event by Davidson County Democratic Party
3810 Bedford Ave, Nashville, TN 37215-2514, United States
Public · Anyone on or off Facebook
Join the Davidson County Democratic Women and Davidson County Democratic Party to learn more about candidates on the ballot in the Democratic primary election taking place Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
Register to attend (FREE) at the ticket link below or here at: https://www.mobilize.us/tndavidsondemocrats/event/913450
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Sunday, March 15, 2026
In a World of Andy Ogles, be a Rep. Jeremy Faison.
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| Rep. Jeremy Faison |
On the same day, Andy Ogles posted the above X post, Rep. Jeremy Faison posted the one below. Rep. Faison is a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing Cocke County and parts of Hamblen and Jefferson counties in east Tennessee.
Jeremy Faison is Chairman of the House Republican Caucus, a role he has held since 2019. He is not some dreamy liberal who thinks we can just all hold hands and sing Kumbaya and all is well. He is clear-eyed about the threat of radical Islam. Nevertheless, he realizes it is wrong to judge people by the group to which they belong and that the First Amendment protects freedom of religion. I support the statement of Faison below. 
In a world of Andy Ogles, be a Jeremy Faison.
In a world of Andy Ogles, be a Jeremy Faison.
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Bill Requiring Tennessee to use 'Judea and Samaria' Instead of 'West Bank' Advances
House Bill 1446 would require all Tennessee state agencies that use taxpayer dollars for documents, press releases, or official communications to replace the term “West Bank” with “Judea and Samaria.” The bill has passed out of committee and now heads to the Calendar and Rules Committee for its next step in the legislative process.
Read more about it here and see the bill here.
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America needs immigrants as much as they need liberty’s blessings
by George F. Will, Washington Post, March 15, 2026 - Two dissimilar government agencies have inadvertently combined to clarify the immigration debate. Stomach-turning excesses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have turned many Americans’ abstract political preference into something uncomfortably concrete. And the Census Bureau has demonstrated that the nation needs immigrants as much as they need the blessings of American liberty. ....George F. Will
... Prior to the Biden inundation, most undocumented immigrants had arrived before 2010, 43 percent as of 2020 had been here at least 20 years, about one-third were homeowners, and their 5 million children born here were citizens. Talk of sending them “home” is nonsensical.
They are home. For which, give thanks:
The Census Bureau reports that between July 2024 and July 2025, the U.S. population grew by just 0.5 percent, ... for the first time since relevant census data began being collected in 1850, immigration accounted for the entire U.S. population growth.
As the U.S. population ages, those leaving the workforce enter Social Security and Medicare. The nation’s birth rate is below the replacement rate, so immigration must replenish the workforce whose tax contributions fund the entitlements.
Immigrants are 23.6 percent of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) workers. Nurses (15.9 percent foreign born) and health aides (28.4 percent foreign born) are crucial to an aging America.
... Immigrants “generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government.” They “created a cumulative fiscal surplus of $14.5 trillion in real 2024 US dollars,” including $3.9 trillion in savings on interest that did not need to be paid on debt that was not added.
Immigrants were, on average, more than 12 percent more likely to be employed than the U.S.-born population. Cato: “In 1994, the immigrant share of government expenditures was 18 percent below their share of the population; in 2023, it was 25 percent below.”
In 2023, immigrants constituted almost 18 percent of the civilian labor force, and more than a third of them were in management, professional and related occupations, almost double the 21 percent in service occupations (e.g., hospitality). In 2023, immigrant median household income ($78,700) was slightly above that of U.S.-born households ($77,600).
.... As Cato notes, many illegal immigrants who are employed under borrowed or stolen identities have taxes withheld by employers but are ineligible for many government benefits. And they are less likely than others to file returns in order to claim refunds. This is another reason why Cato says:
“Immigrants have created an enormous fiscal surplus for the US government … The $14.5 trillion in savings from immigrants is the equivalent of 33 percent of the total inflation-adjusted combined deficits from 1994 to 2023 without immigrants.” (read it all)
George F. Will (born May 4, 1941) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American libertarian-conservative columnist and political commentator known for his erudite prose and long association with The Washington Post. He was one of the most respected voices in the conservative movement prior to its Trumpification.
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Loss of Traditions of Freedom has Happened at Other Times and Places and Could Happen Here
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| Richard Upchurch |
Who can deny what is always and everywhere a part of our human nature---a certain primal urge for dominance in both style and substance that he himself seems to feel no need to deny. He quite openly covets personal power, and succeeds spectacularly in obtaining it, and in every possible way, always obvious and unashamed in enhancing his status and public image as a member of new class of world plutocrats---men who have mastered the new environments of world-wide business and technology to acquire immense amounts of personal wealth, power and in some instances fame and prestige.
Simply, without skipping a beat, Pres. Trump openly challenges our constitutional order whenever, by doing so, he thinks he can keep and enhance the extraordinary prerogatives he has succeeded in grasping, while at the same time very skillfully presenting himself as firmly on the side of a conservative social agenda with all the trappings and shows of traditional patriotism.
While at least sometimes seeming to work to gain recognition as a peacemaker and proponent of free institutions, whenever the devotion he covets seems to be waning, or whenever his party and his agenda seem to be losing, he quite openly challenges institutions most basic and most fundamental in our constitution, such as state and local control of election procedures and standards. And, incredibly, a large number of our fellow citizens seem ready to follow him, to respond to his very great oratorical skills, and seem to want to enhance rather than limit his growing power.
Things similar have happened in societies that seemed advanced and enlightened and seemed to value their constitutional norms but abandoned them to follow a strong leader into dictatorship---most notably in Germany and Italy, in early and mid 20th Century. I think I've read that ours is now the world's oldest democratic republic with a written constitution. Whether Pres. Trump is the originator or the creature of the dangerous urge of so many to follow and yield and to surrender to his ambition (and I believe he is both) our constitution could possibly be set aside in favor of "a strong leader."
There seem to be some signs that a loyal opposition is having some small hopeful successes, but now is the time for us to be reminded, and reminded again and again, that loss of traditions of freedom has happened at other times and places and could happen here.
Richard Upchurch is a scholar and a philosopher who lives in Nashville.
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