Blue America is best for families. For years, America’s elites have insisted that <a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/32782">blue states</a> — with their higher incomes, better-<a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/32782">educated residents</a>, and expansive public services — are the best places to raise a family. Progressive policies such as paid family leave, childcare subsidies, and gender-neutral bathroom mandates, we were told, would draw parents in droves. Such policies prove “that one major party cares about children and families, and <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/30/jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies/?itid=lk_inline_manual_27">the other does not</a>,” according to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/30/jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies/?itid=lk_inline_manual_27">liberal journalist</a> Catherine Rampell. 
But the data tell a different tale. Across the country, families are packing up and leaving blue states for red states. They are also more likely to have children in red states to begin with. 
The <a href="https://familystructureindex.org/">2026 Family Structure Index</a>, just released by the Center for Christian Virtue and the Institute for Family Studies, tracks family health across all 50 states. It focuses on three measures: marriage rates, fertility rates, and the share of children raised by married parents. These factors shape everything from child poverty to the health of the American Dream. 
What it reveals is a growing divide in where families are choosing to live — and where they are choosing to start a family.
Call it the Great American Family Sort.
Married couples with children are increasingly moving to red and purple states. From 2019 to 2024, 840,000 married families with children moved from blue states to red ones, while 470,000 moved in the opposite direction — a net gain of 370,000 such families for red states. 
Red states also enjoy higher fertility rates, all of which helps explain why red states have <a href="https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-lefts-family-problem-marriage-and-kids-cratering-among-liberal-young-adults">seen</a> a 7.3% increase in their child population since 2000, while blue states have seen a 7.1% decline. That shift is another indicator that Red America is proving more hospitable to family life.
In other words, <a href="https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-blue-state-family-exodus-families-are-migrating-to-red-and-purple-states">blue states</a> long seen as the best places to raise children by liberal elites — states like California, Massachusetts, and New York — are steadily losing them.
Why? Start with what families actually need: jobs, homes, and safe neighborhoods. On each of these fronts, many red states are delivering. Over the past decade, states like Texas, Florida, and South Carolina have seen strong job growth, especially in sectors that support middle-class life. When young adults can find steady, well-paying work, they are more likely to marry and start families.
Housing is just as critical. Affordable single-family homes provide the space and stability families <a href="https://ifstudies.org/report-brief/homes-for-young-families-a-pro-family-housing-agenda">want</a>. Yet in many blue states, especially on the coasts, restrictive zoning and high costs have pushed homeownership out of reach for young families. In much of red America, that dream remains attainable.
Taxes also shape family <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/americans-moving-to-states/">migration</a>. Lower tax burdens in many red states leave families with more room in their budgets, whether for childcare, a good private school, or saving for the future.
<div id="attachment_1073407" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1073407" class="size-large wp-image-1073407" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-864x576.jpg" alt="San Francisco, CA, USA - August 17, 2020. Image of a moving truck parked in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1329602381-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />James Rice. Getty Images.</div>
Safety matters as well. Parents want to raise children in communities where they feel <a href="https://ifstudies.org/report-brief/homes-for-young-families-a-pro-family-housing-agenda">secure</a>. States and cities that keep crime and public disorder low have a clear advantage in attracting and retaining families, even as many blue states are “plagued by homelessness, crime and dysfunction,” all of which are turnoffs to families, as even the liberal columnist Nick Kristof has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/15/opinion/progressives-california-portland.html">admitted</a>.
Still, economics alone does not explain what is happening. Family culture also matters. In many red states, there remains a stronger expectation around marriage and family formation, often stemming from deeply held religious beliefs. Social norms shaped by churches, civic life, and local leadership still influence how people live. Faith remains a powerful driver of American family life.
The <a href="https://familystructureindex.org/">Family Structure Index</a> underscores this point. Frequent religious attendance accounts for 57% of the variance in fertility rates across states. States with high religious attendance, such as Utah and Mississippi, have far higher birth rates than states like Vermont or Massachusetts, where churchgoing is rare.
None of this suggests that red states have solved every problem. Marriage and fertility are down nationwide, and no region is immune. But the trend is clear: families seem more likely to thrive in some states rather than others. That should tell policymakers something important. If states want to attract and keep families, the formula is straightforward: make housing attainable, foster job growth, keep communities safe, and support a culture that encourages marriage and child-rearing. 
The deeper lesson is harder to accept. For too long, liberal elites have assumed that higher incomes and more government spending automatically lead to better outcomes for families. The evidence suggests otherwise. Public safety, good jobs, affordable homes, and culture matter just as much, if not more.
The Great American Family Sort is more than a demographic shift. It is a signal. Families are making their priorities clear through where they choose to live and have children. The question is whether the rest of the country is paying attention.
* * *
Aaron Baer is president of the Center for Christian Virtue. 
Brad Wilcox is Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia and senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies.

Asheville and Johnson City exit sign on highway in Tennessee on interstate 81 road

Turns Out Families Are Voting With Their Feet And Headed In One Direction

Blue States

Conservatives

Crime

Democrats

family

Florida

Homelessness

Jobs

Opinion

Red States

Social Issues

Tennessee

Texas

NFL quarterback and former Tennessee Volunteer Josh Dobbs agrees with Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) on the University of Tennessee — but do they agree on the moon landing?
The pro football player has a degree in aerospace engineering, so the rocket scientist wasn&#8217;t missing the historic Artemis II launch Wednesday in Florida.
Ahead of takeoff, Dobbs posted on <a href="https://x.com/josh_dobbs1/status/2039327238663893107?s=20">X</a>: &#8220;We go back to the moon today. Historic&#8221; — to which Burchett offered a short response that seemed to say a lot about the congressman&#8217;s views on space.
&#8220;Back?&#8221; Burchett posted on <a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/2039411215273783501?s=20">X</a>. And just like that, an unexpected tongue-in-cheek beef was born between sports and state.
&#8220;You can&#8217;t be one of those people,&#8221; Dobbs <a href="https://x.com/josh_dobbs1/status/2039454338003665390?s=20">replied</a> to Burchett.
Does Burchett really buy into the conspiracy that the United States has never actually made it to the moon?
No! Following the fun exchange, the congressman reminded his constituents that it was April Fools&#8217; Day.
&#8220;Breaking: Check the calendar. It was sarcasm,&#8221; Burchett <a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/2039510661009399937?s=20">said</a>.
So Dobbs, who is affectionately called the &#8220;Passtronaut,&#8221; is united with his fellow Vols fan in bringing attention to how important the Artemis II moon mission is.
Wednesday&#8217;s successful launch is sending the first crew back to the moon in more than 50 years. The spaceship will circle around the moon before returning to Earth.
Dobbs ended the online back-and-forth with a picture of Artemis II blasting through the atmosphere, inviting Rep. Burchett to the next NASA launch.
&#8220;Tim Burchett I’ll see you at the next one,&#8221; Dobbs <a href="https://x.com/josh_dobbs1/status/2039478858148176228?s=20">said</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/timburchett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@timburchett</a> I’ll see you at the next one <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/believe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#believe</a> <a href="https://t.co/LCim3KdRBH">pic.twitter.com/LCim3KdRBH</a>
— Josh Dobbs (@josh_dobbs1) <a href="https://twitter.com/josh_dobbs1/status/2039478858148176228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
Why is an NFL player so enthralled with space? Dobbs majored in aerospace engineering at Tennessee, where he graduated with a 4.0 on top of the grueling Southeastern Conference football schedule.
In 2020, Dobbs interned with NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he got to witness a SpaceX rocket launch.
&#8220;I really felt the nervousness watching the countdown, knowing what those astronauts have gone through to get to this moment,&#8221; Dobbs told <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jags-qb-josh-dobbs-was-at-nasa-spacex-launch-as-nasa-intern">NBC Sports</a> after the launch. &#8220;Being able to see the teamwork involved in preparation for this launch was incredible for me. It&#8217;s so much like a football team — you see how everyone doing their job fits together and makes something great happen. That&#8217;s what I really appreciated about the experience.&#8221;
The &#8220;Passtronaut&#8221; certainly lives up to his name. Dobbs started a <a href="https://www.astrordinarydobbsfoundation.org/">foundation</a> called &#8220;The ASTROrdinary Dobbs Foundation, Inc.&#8221; The organization&#8217;s slogan: &#8220;The Sky Is Not The Limit.&#8221;
Through his non-profit, he&#8217;s raising funds for youth-focused STEM initiatives and educational programs across Rep. Burchett&#8217;s state of Tennessee and beyond.
Despite a busy schedule, the 31-year-old has kept up with the Artemis program for years, telling NASA back in 2020 that he couldn&#8217;t wait for Americans to land on the moon &#8230; again.
&#8220;Obviously been a while since we’ve gone to the moon and obviously there’s a lot of reasons behind that. We were building the International Space Station, we were doing other missions. But for that to be a goal and just to see how that goal is basically the framework, the support to the next goal, the springboard to going to Mars, I think it’s extremely exciting,&#8221; Dobbs <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/welcome-to-rocket-ranch/episode-21-nfl-quarterback-rocket-arm-and-mind/">said</a>.
Artemis II is expected to land April 10.

Credit: Stephen Maturen/Aubrey Gemignani/NASA/Getty Images

‘We’re Going Back’: Rocket Scientist QB Josh Dobbs Jokingly Spars With Congressman Over Moon Landing

Artemis II

General

Josh Dobbs

Moon Landing

Sports

U.S.

Facing down leftist vitriol and activist-driven anger, a Tennessee library board voted to fire a library director who refused to follow a directive aimed at shielding kids browsing library shelves from transgender ideology. 
The Rutherford County Library board voted 8-3 on Monday to fire director Luanne James after she refused their direction to move transgender-themed books from the children’s section of the library to the adult section. Leftist activists showed up in force to the board meeting in Murfreesboro, a suburb of Nashville, where they repeatedly disrupted the meeting with yelling and screaming. 
The vote came after the board directed James to move books with transgender themes to the adult section of the library, where they could still be checked out by parents or by kids with parental approval. James refused to comply with the board, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11FG5BCECCya_Zj1K-XIHT9g16JDSMgOt/view">claiming</a> that moving the books to a different location in the library would violate the First Amendment. 
Books the board directed moved to the adult section included &#8220;The Gender Wheel,&#8221; &#8220;Who Are You? The Kids Guide to Gender Identity,&#8221; and &#8220;When Aidan Became A Brother&#8221; — a picture book about a gender-confused girl who started identifying as a boy.
&#8220;The law was made to protect the most vulnerable, which is children. Follow the law,&#8221; Rutherford County school board member Caleb Tidwell said during public comment at the meeting. &#8220;Protect the children. Hold the line.&#8221;
When given a chance to speak during the meeting, James said she would not change her mind. 
“I stand by my decision. I will not change my mind,” she said. In a later statement, she said she lost her job because she was fired for protecting &#8220;the rights of all community members to access books and information.&#8221;
&#8220;I refused to do so because I believe such action constitutes censorship, violates the First Amendment, and goes against my duty to uphold intellectual freedom under American Library Association guidelines,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Librarians should not be used as a filter for political agendas. I stood up for the right to read — standing for the citizens of Rutherford County. I believe my firing is an unlawful act of viewpoint discrimination. This action hurts library patrons, not just the librarian.&#8221;
Footage from the meeting revealed the crowd erupting in anger at the board&#8217;s decision to fire her. 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/poXqkA_MviU?si=n3hcQDTQV1HbRRFE&amp;clip=UgkxEBFbI_5utajAqHkMd2sYmzMoOA5Ag72R&amp;clipt=EPaCywEY1tfOAQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
After the vote, the crowd angrily yelled and gestured toward board members who voted to fire James. 
Footage captured by local news outlets showed how the balcony of the meeting room was filled with protesters wearing matching shirts and chanting. Leftist groups like the ACLU of Tennessee and the Rutherford County Library Alliance had organized support for James. 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Rutherford County Library Board fires director over book dispute" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nUEmuEeSoAI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Ultimately the board said they should be able to set library system policy.
&#8220;The Executive Director’s refusal to implement a lawful directive of the Rutherford County Library Board constitutes insubordination,&#8221; Board Chair Cody York said in the days leading up to the vote. &#8220;When a Director refuses to carry out a duly adopted Board decision, it undermines the governance of the institution and cannot be ignored.&#8221;
James said she was exploring all legal options after the firing while the library board has also retained a lawyer over the matter.
Advocates for moving the books argued that it was necessary to comply with state laws related to ensuring kids have access to age-appropriate materials and President Donald Trump’s executive actions on transgender ideology. 
Some media outlets have suggested books were directed to be moved because of themes related to “female empowerment” and “diversity and inclusion.” Those are references to notes put on lists of disputed books by library staff, not the board. 
Prior to the board’s directive to move the books related to transgender ideology, library staff at Rutherford County Library System compiled a list of over 2,000 books they had flagged for possible compliance with Tennessee law. Staffers flagged books about the Bible and Aesop’s Fables, among others, for review. 
This contrasted with books flagged by the board, which focused primarily on materials related to transgender ideology and graphic violence. 
The fight over books in Rutherford County has been ongoing for several years — and mirrors fights across the country — and pits concerned parents against left-wing activists for control of school and public libraries.
Last year, the Rutherford County Library board <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-town-faces-down-liberal-protests-votes-to-remove-books-promoting-transgenderism-to-kids">voted</a> to remove all books promoting transgenderism to children from its system as they passed a resolution to “remove material that promotes, encourages, advocates for or normalizes transgenderism or ‘gender confusion’ in minors.”
That effort was later withdrawn over fears of a lawsuit. The latest discussions involve only moving books, not removing them from the library system entirely. Several years ago, the board did <a href="https://wpln.org/post/rutherford-countys-library-system-bans-four-books-with-lgbtq-themes-after-a-murfreesboro-decency-ordinance/">direct</a> the complete removal of the book “Let’s Talk About It,” from the circulation. The book contains sexually explicit illustrations of sex and genitalia.

MixCollage-01-Apr-2026-01-48-PM-5308

Leftist Crowd Melts Down After Librarian Fired For Pushing Trans Agenda On Kids

Library

radical gender ideology

Transgender

Kid Rock got to show some love to the troops when he got a surprising flyby from United States Army helicopters over the weekend.
In the video posted by Kid Rock on X, the American icon is seen at his home in the Nashville area saluting the choppers as they flew near his pool.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is a level of respect that shit for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her. 🇺🇸 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/iD5mmkaXv1">pic.twitter.com/iD5mmkaXv1</a>
— KidRock (@KidRock) <a href="https://twitter.com/KidRock/status/2037987671671292134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;This is a level of respect that sh*t for brains Governor of California will never know,&#8221; Kid Rock captioned the <a href="https://x.com/KidRock/status/2037987671671292134?s=20">video</a> he posted of the helicopters. &#8220;God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her.”
The video has been viewed more than eight million times as of Monday, and it&#8217;s apparently sparking an &#8220;administrative review&#8221; into why the helicopters were hovering around Kid Rock&#8217;s compound.
“The Army is aware of a video circulating online that appears to show AH‑64 Apache helicopters operating in the vicinity of a private residence in the Nashville area,&#8221; Maj. Jonathon Bless, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs Officer, told The Daily Wire. &#8220;Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations. An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements. Appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found.&#8221;
In a second video, Kid Rock posted footage of a helicopter facing him as he again cheered on the military personnel inside.
According to <a href="https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/u-s-army-opens-investigation-into-attack-helicopter-activities-at-kid-rocks-home-no-kings-protest">News Channel 5</a> in Nashville, the helicopters could have been flying over the No Kings protest happening in Nashville, though Maj. Bless added that the 101st Airborne leaders were unaware of any reason the choppers might have done a flyover of the protests, either.
&#8220;Our pilots do regularly fly routes outside the Fort Campbell area,&#8221; the spokesperson said. &#8220;We just don&#8217;t know if it was incidental or if it was deliberate.&#8221;
&#8220;How much did American taxpayers pay for this flyby of Kid Rock&#8217;s house?&#8221; one woman wrote on <a href="https://x.com/TheRealThelmaJ1/status/2038394135556850056?s=20">X</a>.
Kid Rock&#8217;s home is widely known as &#8220;The Southern White House&#8221; as the mansion is modeled after the White House in the nation&#8217;s capital.
The Daily Wire has reached out to Kid Rock for comment.

Credit: Kid Rock/Gary Miller via Getty Images

Kid Rock Sparks Military Review After Wild Stunt At ‘Southern White House’

Kid Rock

News

U.S. Military

U.S.A.

NASHVILLE—It was a humid night in June 2024 when Matt Carney encountered a pair of men rummaging through his truck.
Carney, who owned the popular chicken restaurant Smokin&#8217; Thighs, went to confront the men. As he did, they sped out of the parking lot, striking Carney and knocking him onto the street. As police hunted for the men behind the fatal hit-and-run, Carney succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Eventually, Nashville police arrested Ulises Martinez, first confirmed by The Daily Wire to be an illegal immigrant from Mexico, and charged him with murder over the incident. Martinez <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-immigrant-confesses-to-killing-nashville-man-in-hit-and-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> to police that he was driving the car that fatally struck Carney, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement slapped a detainer on him.
Smokin&#8217; Thighs, which Carney built from the ground up, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/saying-goodbye-is-hard-nashville-restaurant-closes-doors-after-owner-killed-by-illegal-immigrant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closed</a> a few short months after his death. Martinez has yet to face justice as his case <a href="https://sci.ccc.nashville.gov/Search/CriminalHistory?P_CASE_IDENTIFIER=ULISES%5EMARTINEZ%5E09131999%5E624024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">makes</a> its way through the Davidson County court system.
The case quickly made headlines as then-candidate Donald Trump talked about the incident as he warned about a “migrant crime wave.”
“Look at what’s happening to our cities. Our cities are being overrun,” Trump said. “On July 4th, a 42-year-old Nashville man died after he tried to stop an illegal alien from stealing tools out of his truck. The illegal alien did a number on this man that nobody could even believe. The police officers said one of the most vicious crimes they’ve ever seen.”
<div id="attachment_1062437" style="width: 1287px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1062437" class="size-full wp-image-1062437" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM.png" alt="" width="1277" height="692" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM.png 1277w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-300x163.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-1024x555.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-768x416.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1277px) 100vw, 1277px" />Martinez/Smokin Thighs.</div>
The case illustrated how illegal immigration can impact even deeply red states like Tennessee. While Joe Biden was in office, conservative states struggled to respond as the federal government released millions of illegal immigrants into the United States. With the Trump administration, some Republican lawmakers see a golden opportunity to crack down on illegal immigration.
<h4>‘Once In A Generation Opportunity’ </h4>
Since Trump’s return to the White House, states like California and Minnesota have made headlines for resisting the president’s immigration agenda. Republican leaders in Tennessee, spurred on by cases like Carney’s, want the Volunteer State to be different.
“We have what I refer to as kind of a once in a generation opportunity, given the Trump administration&#8217;s emphasis on removing illegal immigrants and mass deportation,” Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson told The Daily Wire.
“When we look at states like Michigan, New York, and California, others that are literally fighting the Trump administration on those efforts, we wanted to send a very clear message that we were not only going to cooperate, but do everything we could to help make them successful in their efforts in Tennessee,” he added.
Johnson, alongside other state Republican leaders like House Speaker Cameron Sexton and House Majority Leader William Lamberth, introduced an immigration package at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session focused on reducing illegal immigration.
The legislative package, crafted with input from White House officials, includes bills that would make illegal immigration a crime in Tennessee; mandate legal status for public employees and citizenship verification for those who receive public benefits; protect ICE agents from being doxed; and increase cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.
Sexton says he had discussions with the White House after they began collaborating on a project to clean up crime in Memphis. He praised federal officials for their input on the legislative package and said they viewed Tennessee “as being the beacon of showing other states how to do something comprehensive and really transform your state.”
The White House said that it was happy to speak with all state lawmakers about how to fight illegal immigration.
“Illegal aliens should not be receiving federal welfare benefits while hardworking Americans foot the bill,” a White House official told The Daily Wire. “The President’s entire Intergovernmental Affairs team has been willing to speak with state legislators seeking advice on how to effectively enact the President’s agenda and protect the American people from fraud and abuse perpetrated by illegal aliens.”
<h4>A ‘Beacon’ To The Nation </h4>
Republican leaders are confident that most of the bills will make it across the finish line before the legislative session wraps up next month. The proposals are focused on increasing cooperation with the federal government and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.
One of the <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1710&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposals</a> making its way through the legislature would mandate that local governments verify legal residency before doling out benefits. It would also mandate reporting to ICE applicants whose citizenship couldn’t be verified. Under that bill, the Tennessee attorney general would be empowered to withhold shared tax revenue from entities that refuse to restrict public benefits.
“I want to help our people who are Tennessee citizens, who are here legally and lawfully, that need help and assistance,” Sexton told The Daily Wire, noting that reports show 20% of public housing is taken up by illegal immigrants. “That&#8217;s taken up space from someone who is here legally and lawfully in a Tennessee resident who&#8217;s homeless and on the streets, that&#8217;s a problem.”
Another <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1705&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">key plank</a> of the package is making <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-the-law-that-would-make-companies-who-hire-illegal-aliens-feel-the-pain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E-Verify</a> — a free platform from the Department of Homeland Security that employers use to authenticate the legal status of potential employees — mandatory for all state and local government employers, including schools. The proposals come as reports of illegal immigrants being hired as police officers throughout the country. Local entities that don’t implement E-Verify could lose out on shared sales tax revenue.
Some of the proposals are intended to assess the monetary cost of illegal immigration in the state, Sexton told The Daily Wire. He noted that the monetary costs of illegal immigration for the Volunteer State could be as high as $700 million.
One <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0793&amp;GA=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> from Lamberth would instruct schools to count how many illegal immigrants are in Tennessee schools. That would allow officials to determine how much taxpayers were paying to educate kids brought across the border illegally. Originally, the proposal would have required parents to pay tuition if they were illegally in the United States or disenroll their kids.
Other bills would increase the frequency of reporting for state agencies to increase tracking of illegal immigrants by both law enforcement and for the state finance report to produce a report on the cost of illegal immigration, drawing from places like schools, prisons, hospitals, and social services.
Another series of bills would require lawful status for nurses, teachers, contractors, and all licensed professions. One from Johnson and Rep. Jason Zachary <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1706&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would</a> make it a crime for a person illegally in the country to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Other components would make it a requirement to take the driver’s test in English and make it impossible for an illegal immigrant to register a vehicle with the state.
Sexton noted Republicans were also working on legislation to make sure reciprocal licenses are not issued to those from states where citizenship is not verified.
“If you come from a state that does not verify your legal status, then before you get the reciprocal license, you&#8217;re gonna have to show the state of Tennessee that you&#8217;re here legally and lawfully and if you can&#8217;t, then we&#8217;re not giving your license,” he said.
One bill sponsored by Johnson and Lamberth would make it a crime for someone with a final order of deportation to be in the state of Tennessee.
“If that deportation order has been issued for whatever reason and you&#8217;re out and about, but you set foot in Tennessee, we can arrest you and charge you,” Johnson told The Daily Wire, noting that the proposal was crafted to be in line with the Supreme Court on federal immigration enforcement.
Another <a href="https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB1486.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> would further require local law enforcement to hold illegal immigrants arrested for ICE.
<h4>Cost To Tennesseans </h4>
Thanks to reporting requirements implemented by the legislature last year, district attorneys across the state must produce a report every year on the number of crimes illegal immigrants are arrested and charged with.
The <a href="https://www.tndagc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-PC998-Immigration-Report-Final-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> for 2025 found that there were 11,344 illegal immigrants charged or convicted of a crime during the year. The defendants came from 119 different countries and were charged with a total of 21,648 charges. The report identified  2,183 violent offenses, including 41 murders.
Those crimes are in the minds of lawmakers as they advance their immigration package.
Johnson believes that the immigration package from the General Assembly will “demonstrate to our constituents and to the Trump administration that we welcome your efforts to come in and get violent, illegal aliens out of our communities.”
He noted that presidents have vowed for years to secure the border, but he said Trump was the first one serious about doing it. He said Trump is “serious about it” and “we want to be a good partner with [him] and his administration.”
Sexton said that even one crime by an illegal against a Tennessean is unacceptable.
“You still had thousands of victims in Tennessee who became victims because of an illegal, who came into our country illegally, and they&#8217;re still here,” he said. “One victim by one illegal immigrant is one too many still, so I don&#8217;t care if it&#8217;s a 3% number, a 1% number, or a 10% number. Just one crime committed by an illegal against someone in Tennessee should not happen.”

MixCollage-27-Mar-2026-01-03-PM-3477

Red State Seizes ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Chance To Crack Down On Illegal Immigration

Donald Trump

Illegal Immigation

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Nashville

Trump Administration

“Reacher” star Alan Ritchson posted a cryptic quote about enemies just after the physical altercation between him and a neighbor, Ronnie Taylor, went viral.
“Never interrupt an enemy while he is making a mistake,” the TV star shared on Instagram, attributing the quote to Napoleon. 
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWQDLtBDH3J/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
&nbsp;
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWQDLtBDH3J/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Alan Ritchson (@alanritchson)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
The comments section was filled with strong reactions from followers, who called out the self-professed Christian for his behavior. Others defended Ritchson, saying they believed he had been acting in self-defense. 
It was announced on Tuesday that the Brentwood Police Department would not be pressing charges against Ritchson after reviewing video footage. “Mr. Ritchson’s actions were found to be in self-defense. Although a potential reckless endangerment charge was considered, Mr. Ritchson declined to pursue charges,” they said, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-deliver-closure-on-reacher-stars-viral-fist-fight-case">reported</a>.
“This man was punching a guy face half of his size multiple [times] when the guy was already down but we all gonna make excuses for him?” one commenter wrote. 
“It doesn&#8217;t matter if someone pushed you first, you push back, you punch once. He was not in control of his emotions, especially with his kids around… he need[s] anger control and that is a fact. We shouldn&#8217;t make excuses for him because he is a celebrity.”
“Disgusting. Don&#8217;t talk about Church and Jesus ever again. You should be 100% canceled,” a third commenter agreed.
“He is trying to normalize what he did. if you are attack somebody it means you already lost. you have the money you have the fame and beating up someone in middle of the street? No man. This is not good. I am not gonna clap that,” another agreed.
Still, after seeing the full version of the video, plenty of viewers defended Ritchson’s reaction.
“The POLICE said it was self defense. The haters can pound sand,” one person argued.
“We’re all on your side bro… defending yourself and your children,” another wrote.
“Your neighbor challenged you in front of your family, no man accepts that, you did the right thing, congratulations,” a third person shared.
Ritchson made headlines when video of the bloody altercation circulated online, and TMZ published a story that included comments from Taylor explaining what happened.
Taylor blamed Ritchson, saying that he had confronted the “Reacher” actor over his loud motorcycle. He stated that he had not known prior to the interaction that Ritchson was an actor.
“It escalated quite quickly from there,” Taylor said. “I did push [Ritchson] because he was coming towards me on his bike.” Taylor then got in Ritchson’s face, as two kids watched, and the actor shoved Taylor to the ground. Taylor got up and pushed Ritchson off his motorcycle, prompting Ritchson to start swinging. He kept punching until Taylor stopped coming after him.
The whole interaction was recorded by a body camera the actor was wearing, with that footage being released later. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
😳 &#8220;Reacher&#8221; star Alan Ritchson&#8217;s body cam footage of his bloody fight with his neighbor is released. <a href="https://t.co/Hxixghh9e9">pic.twitter.com/Hxixghh9e9</a>
— TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/2036459930408919359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ritchson went viral for controversial comments he made about President Trump while <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/alan-ritchson-interview-reacher-faith-stardom-mental-health-1235864260/">speaking</a> with The Hollywood Reporter in 2024.
“I’m a Christian quite simply because of what Jesus calls us to do. Love other people until death. It doesn’t mean we’re all to be hung on a cross, but how can I suffer for you? That is a beautiful thing,” he told the outlet, going on to describe how he felt about the president.
“Trump is a rapist and a con man, and yet the entire Christian church seems to treat him like he’s their poster child and it’s unreal. I don’t understand it,” the actor said. “Christians today have become the most vitriolic tribe. It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do.”

Alan Ritchson

‘Reacher’ Star Posts Cryptic Message Following Bloody Brawl With Neighbor

Assault

Celebrities

Entertainment

Fight

&#8220;Reacher&#8221; star and outspoken Trump critic Alan Ritchson was allegedly caught on video getting into a fight with his neighbor.
The video originally <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/03/23/reacher-star-alan-ritchson-neighbor-explains-fight/">shared</a> on TMZ shows a man identified as Ritchson punching another man, reported to be a neighbor, as two children perch on motorized vehicles nearby. The actor’s neighbor then spoke with the outlet to give his side of the story. 
Ronnie Taylor said it all started on Saturday when he told Ritchson to slow down while driving his motorcycle, noting how he had been “revving and speeding through the neighborhood.” Taylor said he did not realize his neighbor was a Hollywood star when he confronted him.
Taylor said he approached Ritchson the following day, Sunday, after the actor sped by twice and told him he needed to stop, which is what led to the physical fight that was caught on film.
“It escalated quite quickly from there,” the Tennessee resident noted. “I did push [Ritchson] because he was coming towards me on his bike,” Taylor added. He said after pushing him a second time, Ritchson got off his bike and “kicked the crap” out of him.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨🎥 EXCLUSIVE: &#8220;Reacher&#8221; star Alan Ritchson might&#8217;ve thought he was still shooting an episode of his popular show Sunday, because he allegedly beat the hell out of a neighbor in Tennessee. 👀 <a href="https://t.co/ljz3oEFGI0">pic.twitter.com/ljz3oEFGI0</a>
— TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/2035932327562580399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He shared a <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/03/23/reacher-star-alan-ritchson-neighbor-explains-fight/">video</a> statement with TMZ, which showed facial injuries he allegedly sustained from the incident. “I don’t wish the guy any malice or ill will,” he added. “We just don’t need people riding through neighborhoods like this, and I just decided … I’m gonna take a stand.&#8221;
The outlet noted that sources allegedly connected to Ritchson disagree with this version of the story, saying that Taylor ran toward the “Reacher” actor in an “aggressive manner” before the altercation got physical.
The sources further stated that Taylor pushed Ritchson, which led to him crashing his motorcycle and sustaining minor injuries.
Law enforcement has not provided any further details other than to say the investigation is ongoing, as Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/reacher-star-alan-ritchson-allegedly-caught-video-throwing-punches-neighbor-his-kids-watch">reported</a>.
Ritchson, who is also vocal about his Christian faith, went viral for <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/alan-ritchson-interview-reacher-faith-stardom-mental-health-1235864260/">defamatory comments</a> he made about President Trump while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in 2024.
&#8220;I&#8217;m a Christian quite simply because of what Jesus calls us to do. Love other people until death. It doesn&#8217;t mean we&#8217;re all to be hung on a cross, but how can I suffer for you? That is a beautiful thing,&#8221; he told the outlet, going on to describe how he felt about the president.
&#8220;Trump is a rapist and a con man, and yet the entire Christian church seems to treat him like he&#8217;s their poster child and it&#8217;s unreal. I don&#8217;t understand it,&#8221; the actor said. &#8220;Christians today have become the most vitriolic tribe. It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do.”

WATCH: ‘Reacher’ Star Caught On Video Repeatedly Punching Neighbor In Front Of Kids

A foreign national from Peru with a history of violent crimes was detained by federal immigration authorities after a Tennessee school official alerted ICE to a child&#8217;s warning that her father might kill her mother.  
Earlier this month, a young girl in Nashville told school officials she feared Luis Meza-Olivera would kill her mother. The school reported the concern to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and federal agents arrested Meza-Olivera on March 14, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire. 
Meza-Olivera, who had recently been released from Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville, Tennessee, has an extensive criminal record. 
“Luis Meza-Olivera is a monster whose daughter feared he would kill her mother. This criminal alien from Peru should NOT be loose on American streets,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told The Daily Wire. “Thanks to a school official who left a tip for ICE, this individual is now in ICE custody and will enter removal proceedings.”
Bis added that others should follow the lead of the school official and report tips to ICE. 
According to DHS, Meza-Olivera entered the United States on a B-2 tourist visa in 2002 and became a lawful permanent resident in 2010. He is now subject to removal due to his criminal convictions.
Those convictions include aggravated kidnapping, arson, and aggravated assault in Tennessee, as well as a DUI conviction in California. He also faced charges for attempted first-degree murder, vandalism, and child cruelty. 
In 2017, Meza-Olivera was <a href="https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/luis_meza_olivera_cca_majority_opinion.pdf">convicted</a> in Tennessee of two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of aggravated kidnapping and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Court records show the charges stemmed from a December 27, 2015, incident in which deputies in Washington County found a woman “hogtied” in her bedroom with a rope tied around her neck.
“The deputies were dispatched to the victim’s home after her five-year-old son, J.S., called 911 and stated that he was locked in the victim’s bedroom closet. The victim had no memory of what had happened,” court records say. 
Meza-Olivera was arrested days later in Memphis and identified by the victim. Court filings describe multiple incidents of violence, including one in which the victim was locked in her bathroom while a fire raged outside. 
“The victim was unable to open the bathroom door,” court records say. “When firefighters arrived at the farmhouse, they found a rug on fire in front of the bathroom door and the head of an axe wedged underneath the bathroom door to prevent it from opening.”
A Tennessee Court of Appeals later rejected Meza-Olivera&#8217;s attempt to overturn his conviction.

MixCollage-20-Mar-2026-10-23-AM-666

A Child’s Tip To ICE May Have Saved Her Mom’s Life From ‘Monster’

Department of Homeland Security

Senator Marsha Blackburn warned Memphis District Attorney Steve Mulroy on Tuesday not to impede the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on crime after data suggest his office released dozens of violent criminals in December 2025. 
“President Trump and his administration are working around the clock to make Memphis the safest city in America,&#8221; the Tennessee Republican wrote in a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/3.10.26-Follow-up-Letter-to-DA-Mulroy2.pdf">letter</a> obtained by The Daily Wire, cosigned by Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor. &#8220;It is your obligation as Shelby County’s District Attorney to enforce Tennessee’s criminal code and hold violent criminals accountable — not to allow them to be released back onto the streets to reoffend.&#8221;
Data from the <a href="https://memphiscrimebeat.org/">Memphis Crime Beat</a>, a citizen-run website that tracks crime in the city, showed that only 84 defendants received prison time for the 514 “resolved” cases in December 2025. At the same time, Mulroy admitted to Blackburn in a March 6 <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/2026-03-06-SM-Response-to-Senate-Letter1.pdf">letter</a> obtained by The Daily Wire that 166 of the cases resolved in December were classified as violent offenses.
The rebuke comes amid a back-and-forth between Blackburn and Mulroy over the Democrats&#8217; “soft-on-crime” policies. Mulroy has long faced pressure from state and local Republican officials over his handling of crime. In recent years, Memphis has been ranked as one of the most crime-ridden cities in the country, with consistently high murder rates. The Trump administration has surged law enforcement to the city to assist in a federal operation to reduce crime in Memphis.  
The data team from Memphis Crime Beat found that in December 2025, there were 514 total cases resolved, including 144 cases where there was no prosecution. Of the other 370, 178 received a combination of suspended sentence and probation or probation, 84 received prison time, 63 received diversion, and 45 were released with time served, Memphis Crime Beat Executive Director Leslie Taylor noted in an analysis of the data.
“It would logically follow that, if there were only 84 defendants who received prison time in December 2025, but there were 166 violent cases in that same month, there appear to be dozens of violent criminal defendants — based on your own admission — that received no jail time in December 2025,” Blackburn and Sen. Taylor wrote.
Mulroy told Blackburn on March 6 that 166 of the 514 cases were “designated as ‘violent’ in our system.” He added that there were a total of 187 “serious” cases closed counting Class A, B, and C felonies. In Tennessee, a Class A felony has a prison range of 15 to 60 years, while a Class C felony has a range of three to 15 years. 
&#8220;Most of the cases the letter lists as receiving probation or diversion are either nonviolent cases, cases involving defendants without significant criminal histories, cases where defendants have already spent time (often significant time) in jail, or cases in which judges granted such relief without our agreement,&#8221; Mulroy added.
Blackburn’s letter asked for more information on how many of the 166 violent defendants were released onto the streets and how many of the violent or serious felony cases got diversion or probation. 
“We have made significant progress in making Memphis the safest city in the United States, and we will not allow you to stall the tremendous progress that the city of Memphis has made,” Blackburn said.
Mulroy has denied Blackburn&#8217;s claims that he is a George Soros-backed DA, despite the evidence that Soros <a href="https://www.actionnews5.com/2024/02/08/billionaire-behind-curtain-da-steve-mulroy-denies-funding-claims-after-billionaire-george-soros-revealed-possible-campaign-donor/">contributed</a> to a political action committee that backed his campaign. Senator Taylor, a Republican from Memphis, has attempted to remove Mulroy from office through the legislature.
Leslie Taylor, who said that crime data is often difficult to obtain, told The Daily Wire that what happens after someone is arrested is at least as important as the initial detainment 
“The most recent data from the Shelby County Jail shows that 80% of those booked into jail have been there before, and 49% have been in jail 6 or more times,” she said. “We are concerned that if criminals aren&#8217;t effectively prosecuted, we will be back to square one when federal resources are withdrawn.”

Examining the Live Entertainment Industry

Marsha Blackburn Warns Dem DA: Stop Releasing Dangerous Criminals

Marsha Blackburn

Memphis

Violent Crime

NASHVILLE—“You go into these positions understanding that your shelf life can be limited and you&#8217;re also always walking on eggs. We all work by the grace of somebody.” 
That was the response from Errol, a law enforcement officer from New York, minutes after listening to outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem address law enforcement from around the country shortly after she was reassigned by President Donald Trump.
At 1:41 p.m., Trump announced on Truth Social that he was moving Noem from head of the Department of Homeland Security to a special envoy for a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere. He said Noem would be replaced by Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin. 
Roughly 25 minutes later, Noem walked onto the stage in a conference room of the Grand Hyatt Hotel off Broadway to talk to law enforcement gathered for the Major Cities Conference organized by the Sergeants Benevolent Association. 
During her speech to law enforcement gathered for the Major Cities Conference, Noem spoke for roughly 35 minutes about the administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, efforts to work with local law enforcement, and support for the families of law enforcement officers. She did not discuss her new role or take questions about her replacement at DHS. 
&#8220;Thank you for all that you do to keep people safe and to hold your oath, to be out in our communities, protecting people from public safety threats, but also being an example to our next generation of Americans,&#8221; Noem said.
Noem touted the Trump administration&#8217;s efforts to crack down on crime in cities like Memphis and its partnership with local law enforcement agencies on immigration enforcement throughout her speech.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Noem just left. No questions about Trump reassigning her from being DHS secretary <a href="https://t.co/tDEDp7fZlt">pic.twitter.com/tDEDp7fZlt</a>
— Leif Le Mahieu (@leif_lemahieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/leif_lemahieu/status/2029643369920774339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Noem took a few questions after her speech from several attendees in front of the crowd of attendees and a few who were lined up by the staff. None of those who asked questions mentioned her replacement at DHS.
In the minutes leading up to the speech, attendees started buzzing as the news broke. One man walked by the section where the press was delegated to in the back and excitedly asked if reporters had seen Trump’s post. 
After the speech, The Daily Wire spoke with multiple attendees from coast to coast. They all praised the Trump administration’s strong support for law enforcement and said they appreciated Noem’s speech. 
Joel, a police officer from Milwaukee, said he thought the speech was “very good” and said he thought Noem did a “great job” as head of DHS. 
“He’s [Trump] done this with other people. I don’t necessarily think that it means that she didn’t do a good job. I just think Trump likes to shake things up,” he said. “Maybe with everything that’s going on, he just wants someone to get a different voice. I saw that he’s going to move her to another position, so it’s not like he’s firing her like people want to put out there and say, because they want to make her look bad.” 
He added that he had a “lot of respect” for Noem and that she still gave the speech despite the news breaking minutes before. 
Stephen, from Central California, said he saw the news break and was wondering if Noem would show up for the speech. 
“I thought she was doing a good job. You get politics at that highest level, which is kind of the nature of it,” adding that it was “pretty rare” for a cabinet secretary to make it the entire presidency. 
Errol from New York said he thought Noem’s speech was “excellent” and said it was nice to hear her speak. 
Noem’s tenure as head of DHS comes to an end after a heated Senate hearing, in which Noem blamed Trump for approving questionable contracts worth over $200 million for deportation ads, which raised <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/docs-show-dhs-specifically-steered-200m-ad-contracts-raising-questions-about-noems-testimony?author=Luke+Rosiak&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Docs+Show+DHS+Specifically+Steered+%24200M+Ad+Contracts%2C+Raising+Questions+About+Noem%E2%80%99s+Testimony">concerns</a> about potential conflicts of interest.

MixCollage-05-Mar-2026-03-35-PM-3998

Minutes After Trump Replaced Her, Noem Highlights Key Point About Her Work

Kristi Noem

Law Enforcement

When a crippling ice storm hit Nashville leaving hundreds of thousands in the cold and dark, customers could rest assured knowing that the utility company tasked with restoring power made sure its employees were trained to recognize their &#8220;implicit biases&#8221; and had a diverse friend group.
In January 2026, winter storm Fern slammed into Nashville, leaving a heavy coat of ice that took out trees and powerlines throughout the city. The resulting damage left 230,000 residents without power for days amid frigid temperatures. During the storm, the Nashville Electric Service (NES), a public-private utility responsible for powering the city, was lambasted by residents and elected officials alike for its confusing communication about its preparation and response to the historic storm.
Amid the chaos, Democrat Mayor Freddie O&#8217;Connell attempted to shift blame away from his office while top Republicans pointed to the utility&#8217;s documented focus on DEI and climate change. Republican officials questioned whether the utility had become more focused on politics rather than competency.
<div id="attachment_1052805" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052805" class="size-full wp-image-1052805" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2257840500.jpg" alt="Damaged ice-covered trees and downed power lines during a winter storm in east Nashville, Tennessee, US, on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. US power grids are expected to grapple with unprecedented seasonal demand and the threat of blackouts after a damaging winter storm coated parts of the South and Mid-Atlantic in ice - leaving brutal cold in its wake." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2257840500.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2257840500-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2257840500-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2257840500-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Photographer: Kate Dearman/Bloomberg via Getty Images.</div>
While previous reporting highlighted NES boasting about its DEI trainings, new documents obtained by The Daily Wire through public record requests reveal the actual trainings.
One training called &#8220;Building a Culture of Trust&#8221; focused on the concept of &#8220;implicit bias,&#8221; a theory that people are unintentionally prejudiced against others based on their identity. A training slide defined implicit bias as &#8220;a negative attitude, of which one is not consciously aware, against a specific social group.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1052633" style="width: 2054px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052633" class="size-full wp-image-1052633" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.20-PM.png" alt="" width="2044" height="1146" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.20-PM.png 2044w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.20-PM-300x168.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.20-PM-1024x574.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.20-PM-768x431.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.20-PM-1536x861.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 2044px) 100vw, 2044px" />NES slide obtained by Daily Wire.</div>
The training was facilitated in 2023 by Chandra Jarrett of the Nashville-based Joy Consulting Group, according to a schedule of trainings obtained by The Daily Wire. It was required for all supervisors and managers. The training did not appear on the schedule for the 2024-2025 training schedule provided to The Daily Wire.
The objective of the training was to &#8220;identify and create a culture of trust&#8221; and to &#8220;identify implicit or unconscious bias to become more aware of the impact on coworkers and customers.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1052625" style="width: 2068px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052625" class="size-full wp-image-1052625" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.40-PM.png" alt="" width="2058" height="1178" srcset="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.40-PM.png 2058w, https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.40-PM-300x172.png 300w, https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.40-PM-1006x576.png 1006w, https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.40-PM-768x440.png 768w, https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-12.00.40-PM-1536x879.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 2058px) 100vw, 2058px" />NES training obtained by Daily Wire.</div>
Another slide says that implicit bias can be &#8220;thoughts or feelings we have without our conscious knowledge,&#8221; &#8220;can be stereotypes about others,&#8221; or can be &#8220;negative attitudes or opinions about others.&#8221;  To combat implicit bias, employees were told to &#8220;intentionally&#8221; pursue &#8220;diversity in relationships.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1052679" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052679" class="size-full wp-image-1052679" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-53-AM-1619.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-53-AM-1619.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-53-AM-1619-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-53-AM-1619-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-53-AM-1619-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-53-AM-1619-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-53-AM-1619-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />NES slide obtained by Daily Wire.</div>
Employees were asked to consider whether they were &#8220;connected&#8221; to people of different races and sexual orientations than themselves.
<div id="attachment_1052687" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052687" class="size-full wp-image-1052687" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-56-AM-4043.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-56-AM-4043.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-56-AM-4043-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-56-AM-4043-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-56-AM-4043-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-56-AM-4043-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-10-56-AM-4043-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />NES slide obtained by The Daily Wire.</div>
Later in the presentation, employees were given multiple examples of &#8220;implicit bias in the workplace.&#8221; One of the examples of &#8220;sexual orientation bias&#8221; included a fictional scenario where a woman was fired for asking for time off for a &#8220;Pride&#8221; event.
“A woman tells her boss she would like to take off for Pride weekend. Her coworker says, &#8216;You shouldn’t have told him that because he’s not into that.&#8217; A few weeks later the woman is terminated,&#8221; the scenario read. 
<div id="attachment_1052701" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052701" class="size-full wp-image-1052701" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-04-AM-813.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-04-AM-813.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-04-AM-813-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-04-AM-813-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-04-AM-813-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-04-AM-813-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-04-AM-813-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />NES training slide obtained by Daily Wire.</div>
An example of &#8220;gender and professional bias&#8221; in the workplace was the common cultural assumption that men will provide for their families.
&#8220;Men are often seen as &#8216;providers&#8217; for their families, many times receiving higher pay and opportunities for promotion,&#8221; the slide says. &#8220;Women are not given the same opportunities, sometimes considered as inexperienced or unable to complete the same projects/tasks as men.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1052707" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052707" class="size-full wp-image-1052707" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-09-AM-3965.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-09-AM-3965.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-09-AM-3965-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-09-AM-3965-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-09-AM-3965-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-09-AM-3965-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-09-AM-3965-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />NES training slide obtained by Daily Wire.</div>
Another slide says that a hiring manager did not hire a Muslim woman because of her faith, even though the manager determined she did not have the skills for the job.
&#8220;A woman in a hijab applies for a position but she’s not considered because of your belief about Muslims,&#8221; the slide said. &#8220;Your assessment says she was not hired because of skills but the truth is that she was denied because of her ethnicity and faith.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1052713" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1052713" class="size-full wp-image-1052713" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-12-AM-9309.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-12-AM-9309.jpg 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-12-AM-9309-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-12-AM-9309-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-12-AM-9309-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-12-AM-9309-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-11-12-AM-9309-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />NES training slide obtained by Daily Wire.</div>
Another slide appeared to be a personal story from the training administrator claiming that a white man told her she would make a &#8220;good maid&#8221; and that a judge confused her son as a criminal defendent because of his hair.
&#8220;A few years ago, my son entered the court room with his client and the judge assumed he was the client because of his locs. My son is an attorney,&#8221; the slide said. &#8220;Early in my engineering career, while working in a production plant, I was told by a White man that I would make a good maid.&#8221;
The presentation concluded by telling employees to &#8220;be curious by asking questions of people who can teach you about your implicit biases&#8221; and &#8220;courageous in admitting your implicit biases with a willingness to grow and change.&#8221;
Several of the slides from the presentation have the logo of the GiANT consulting group. GiANT told The Daily Wire it was not involved in crafting the training and did not create the slides.
&#8220;As part of our Culture of Civility and Belonging Training Series, we implemented these comprehensive professional development programs designed to enhance interpersonal dynamics and operational excellence,&#8221; a spokesman for Nashville Electric Service told The Daily Wire. &#8220;These modules were completed by employees in 2023-2025. We are proud of our employees&#8217; commitment to these principles as they continue to serve our customers.&#8221;
Other trainings obtained by The Daily Wire showed that employees were trained in various leadership and communication styles, team dynamics, conflict resolution, and ways to increase &#8220;belonging&#8221; at the utility.
According to its 2024 Community Investment <a href="https://www.nespower.com/-/media/project/nes/common/pdfs/annual-reports/2024/nes-esg-2024-report-interactive.pdf">report</a>, Nashville Electric Service held 102 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) themed training sessions in 2023 and into 2024.
&#8220;These courses are the first step in a multi-year training series to foster DEIAB values throughout the organization,&#8221; the report boasted. The trainings were not mentioned in the 2025 community investment report.
As the historic storm left Nashville reeling, the Tennessee Star <a href="https://tennesseestar.com/politics/nashville-electric-service-receives-consulting-for-dei-projects-and-initiatives-from-field-superintendent-who-recruits-new-employees/tpappert/2026/01/29/">reported</a> that the board of Nashville Electric Service was considering the contract of a DEI consultant. That prompted backlash from locals and Republican lawmakers who questioned why the utility was discussing DEI amid the disaster.
A spokesman for NES told The Daily Wire that it does not do DEI training.
&#8220;We hire, train and promote employees in accordance with laws governing non-discrimination, merit-based promotion and overall qualification to execute a job&#8217;s duties. We have had a long-standing commitment to maintaining a workplace culture rooted in mutual respect, civility and trust,&#8221; the company said. 
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), currently running for governor, sent a <a href="https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/files/7D81B642-E140-4ABA-86C0-CD46005EBDCD">letter</a> to NES on January 30 demanding answers about the utility&#8217;s handling of the storm. In a post on X, Blackburn questioned its DEI initiatives.
&#8220;The Nashville Electric Service held 102 DEI-related training sessions by the end of 2024,&#8221; Blackburn said. &#8220;They should’ve been using those resources to trim trees and bury utilities. This is what happens when companies put woke politics over the needs of the people they serve.&#8221;
In the meantime, NES has <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2026/02/17/nashville-electric-service-lobbyists.html">hired</a> numerous lobbyists to combat the criticism.

MixCollage-03-Mar-2026-01-23-PM-8402

EXCLUSIVE: Before Historic Storm, Embattled Electric Service Asked Workers If They Had Gay Friends

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Implicit Bias

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
Two Tennessee lawmakers are looking to change the state’s criminal statute to treat abortion as a homicide. This is a misguided effort to punish women who end their pregnancies in a state where abortion is almost entirely banned, and it could endanger both women seeking care for a miscarriage and the crisis pregnancy centers that have stepped in to help women with unplanned pregnancies.
The addendum to Tennessee’s HB 570 is also so poorly written as to be almost inscrutable, casting doubt on whether the two Tennessee legislators, Rep. Jody Barrett of Dickson and Rep. Mark Pody of Lebanon, even authored the bill with Tennesseans in mind. Abortion is all but banned in Tennessee under a trigger law that went into effect immediately after the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs ruling sent the regulation of abortion back to the states. The two almost certainly didn’t consider the needs of women or the goals of the pro-life movement at large.
So-called “abortion abolitionist” bills are not new. Earlier this year, National Right to Life joined forces with unlikely allies, the ACLU and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, to defeat a nearly identical measure in South Dakota. Support for legislation such as the Tennessee amendment has festered recently in the same recesses of social media where men debate the utility of the 19th Amendment as a means to ensure women feel the fullest extent of possible punishment for their moral transgressions.
But while this sort of terminally online version of conservative politics captures clicks and the attention of paranoid leftists, it often fails to consider the real-world implications of its policies. The 19th Amendment, of course, prohibits discrimination in voting based on sex, not specifically the female sex, meaning if it were up for true debate, women, who make up the majority of reliable American voters, could just as easily disenfranchise men. 
The “abortion abolition” bills, similarly, would directly and negatively affect the very pro-life organizations that support women facing unintended pregnancies and put pro-life organizations in the untenable position of preaching compassion to pregnant women in a land of punishment — after years of work ensuring that Tennessee protects not only the most vulnerable among us, but also the women whose lives and futures are in the balance.
The Tennessee law is so unbelievably vague that it even puts the very people pro-lifers have always sought to protect — people like me who lived through the agonizing reality of a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy — at risk of being investigated, charged, or tried if they run across an authority who is confused or even vindictive.
In December 2022, right after the Tennessee trigger law went into effect, I ended up in the emergency room in downtown Nashville. What I’d thought was a case of food poisoning turned out to be my worst nightmare: My pregnancy, which I’d been overjoyed to learn about just a few short weeks before, was ectopic. My fallopian tube was either strained or had ruptured, and I was bleeding out. The hospital called a Catholic priest to give me last rites, just in case I didn’t make it out of emergency surgery. 
I survived. My child, then just shy of 12 weeks, did not. 
It was not my choice, and it was not by any definition, even the strictest interpretation of the Catholic faith to which I fervently ascribe, an abortion. But in the months-long haze that followed, I considered the “what ifs.” The trigger law in Tennessee, written decades ago, was vague, and while I’d gotten swift and competent care, the law left open the possibility that other doctors in lower-level trauma hospitals outside of a big city or unattached to a major university might not be willing to risk what could, in some people’s minds, be an abortion procedure.
It was a rare point on which the state’s pro-life and pro-choice organizations agreed: We could not let confusion endanger women. Tennessee’s law needed to be clearer and more specific about treating an ectopic pregnancy so that no woman would be denied the care I received. In the worst weeks of my life, I worked with those organizations and the doctors who saved my life to change that language.
Tennessee’s laws now protect both the unborn — the “heartbeat”-style statute proscribes any abortion after about six weeks, once fetal heart tones are detected — and women who need life-saving care. This is a perfect scenario for someone like me, such a hardcore and consistent pro-lifer that I can make both the Left and the Right deeply uncomfortable at cocktail parties.
Enter the “abolitionists.” The provisions of the <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0570&amp;ga=114">new Tennessee legislation</a> don’t say the word “murder,” but they theoretically extend the definition of “homicide” to include any taking of a life from the moment of fertilization — a definition so extreme it almost sounds like satire authored by Planned Parenthood’s communications department. It strips legal protections for pregnant women who currently reside in the state and makes an assault on an unborn child the equivalent of an assault on a born-alive one.
Here’s where it gets hairy, though. The bill’s sponsors claim that the bill includes protections for a “spontaneous miscarriage” and for the “unintentional” death of a child during “life-saving procedures,” so long as an adequate effort is made to “save the life of the unborn child.” But the language comes after and in response to the redefinition of “homicide,” meaning that the two scenarios are defenses to alleged crime, not situations where a woman would be excused from scrutiny.
Homicide isn’t the same as murder; it includes intentional, reckless, and negligent killings. Under this law, a woman who goes to a hospital for a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy could end up in a file on a prosecutor’s desk, where the state’s legal department — not the woman’s medical team — would be left to determine whether care that ended the life of an unborn child was actually needed and whether adequate effort had been made to save the child’s life. In other words, they could be asked to decide what type of homicide each woman had committed and whether that homicide was justified.
We already know that confusion over what interventions are legal puts women in danger of not receiving timely care, and that’s why pro-lifers were so adamant that the Tennessee law be clear. While states such as Texas that have similar laws have faced <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/josseli-barnica-death-miscarriage-texas-abortion-ban">allegations</a>, albeit mostly unsubstantiated, that abortion laws delayed or prevented adequate medical care, Tennessee has not. Given that Tennessee all but outlaws abortion, the only women likely to fall under the government’s scrutiny are women who show up to receive medical care.
The bill’s supporters claim the legislation is actually aimed at women who procure abortion medication through telehealth, but they seem to miss that most of these women, who will have abortions on Tennessee soil, will remain unknown. To curb these “loophole” abortions, abolitionist organizations could push President Donald Trump and the Department of Health and Human Services to impose stricter health and safety restrictions on drugs such as mifepristone and limit doctors’ ability to prescribe it for off-label uses.
Abolitionists, though, <a href="https://abolishabortiontx.org/abortion-is-still-legal-in-texas-even-in-2023/">have hamstrung those authentically pro-life efforts</a>, as well as efforts to get heartbeat laws passed in new states, standing in the way of any pro-life legislation that does not specifically punish women. This is not simply a side effect of their work; keeping pro-life legislation off the books is <a href="https://abolitionistsrising.com/the-antithetical-goals-of-the-abolitionist-and-pro-life-movements/">a feature for them, not a bug</a>.
These laws, quite simply, make the job of pro-lifers much harder. For years, only the Left worked against us in the legislature and the judiciary. Now, leading pro-life organizations, working to pass pro-life laws that limit access to abortion, face the opposition of abolitionists. And pro-life organizations doing the truly hard work — counseling and serving the women who are faced with unplanned pregnancies — now must publicly reckon with a movement that is everything we have, for years, adamantly denied we are not: cruel, cold, and motivated by desire to punish women.
The argument is, of course, that these women are cold-blooded killers, not victims, and should receive punishment in kind. But we know, from decades of work in the pro-life movement, that abortions are often coerced, directly and indirectly, and that mothers who find themselves considering abortion outside of coercion often have complex motivations. Life isn’t what you see on radical feminist TikTok; while some women could find joy in destruction, they are certainly not the majority. Pro-lifers have dedicated themselves to meeting women where they are — in desperation, in poverty, at critical junctions, in fear, and in danger — and to treating each woman as a human, worthy of dignity and care.
That message simply can’t coexist with a “pro-life” message that takes perverse joy in punishing women at their most vulnerable.
The law in Tennessee is unlikely to pass. But rest assured, the abolitionist movement is not dead. And pro-lifers should be prepared to defend what has made us successful: our commitment to both the unborn and the women who carry them.
***
Emily Zanotti is a Catholic writer, humorist, and professional chicken tender living in Nashville, Tennessee.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Editor&#8217;s Note: The bill does not allow for retroactive investigations and prosecutions, as this article previously claimed.

Silhouette of a pregnant woman with heartbeat graph in a medical concept illustration

A Radical Abortion Push Threatens Pro-Life Progress — And Women Could Pay The Price

Abortion

Pregnant women

Upstream

Menu