The Loyal Opposition

S04 E15: Candidate Phil Barnes

Hosts Len Assante and Michele Harbin welcome candidate Phil Barnes, who is running for state house in District 35 and County Commission in District 22. We talk the issues and what its like running two campaigns! SUBSCRIBE!! Don’t miss an episode of The Loyal Opposition. We can be found on all the streaming and podcast platforms or on our website. Phil Barnes: https://trekforward.org/ [https://trekforward.org/] Visit our website: www.theloyalopposition.online [http://www.theloyalopposition.online] A one-stop-shop for navigating the current political environment. You will find: - Easy link to email your Representatives, - Upcoming take action events, - A list of Sumner County organizations doing great things, - Links mentioned in the show, and to our supporters and advertisers. We make it easy to write your representative or get involved. You can also stream our show. https://www.theloyalopposition.online/ [https://www.theloyalopposition.online/] Please support our advertisers and sponsors: Law Office of Amanda J. Gentry AmandaJGentry.com [http://AmandaJGentry.com] Artemis CPA https://artemis.cpa/ [https://artemis.cpa/]

S04 E14: Journalist Brandon Burley

S04 E14 Blue Wave BBQ, Sumner Turnout Shifts, and Brandon Burley’s Comparative Coverage of the Tennessee Governor’s Race Host Len Assante welcomes Megan Lang and Wyatt Basso to discuss Sumner County Democrats’ fourth annual Blue Wave Barbecue in Gallatin (May 16, 1:00 PM), featuring 20–25 candidates, $10 individual/$25 family tickets via sumnerdems.org [http://sumnerdems.org], and a request to bring lawn chairs and shared dishes. Basso explains his role as coordinating field director training volunteers for phone banking and canvassing and building targeted voter lists. Low primary voter turnout (10.54%) is noted but Democratic turnout and vote share increased while Republican share dropped, and emphasize that some very close races were decided by a few votes. Journalist Brandon Burley then describes his unpaid, comparative approach to the Tennessee governor’s race—asking all candidates the same questions—and announces a free livestream gubernatorial roundtable May 20 (9 PM ET/8 PM CT), plus his Redemption Project podcast on reentry and recidivism. SUBSCRIBE!! Don’t miss an episode of The Loyal Opposition. We can be found on all the streaming and podcast platforms or on our website. The Redemption Project https://www.youtube.com/@The-Redemption-Project [https://www.youtube.com/@The-Redemption-Project] Visit our website: www.theloyalopposition.online [http://www.theloyalopposition.online] A one-stop-shop for navigating the current political environment. You will find: - Easy link to email your Representatives, - Upcoming take action events, - A list of Sumner County organizations doing great things, - Links mentioned in the show, and to our supporters and advertisers. We make it easy to write your representative or get involved. You can also stream our show. https://www.theloyalopposition.online/ [https://www.theloyalopposition.online/] Please support our advertisers and sponsors: Law Office of Amanda J. Gentry AmandaJGentry.com [http://AmandaJGentry.com] Artemis CPA https://artemis.cpa/ [https://artemis.cpa/]

S04 E13: Strawberry Festival & Democratic Candidates Mosley and Cook

S04 E13 Loyal Opposition: Portland Strawberry Festival Preview and Democratic Candidate Spotlight Hosts Len Assante and Michele Harbin welcome Kristen from the Portland Chamber of Commerce to preview Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival events and resources, and directs listeners to the festival website and Facebook for schedules, vendors, lodging info, and parade details. The show then features Democratic candidates Chaney Mosley (TN-6) and Mandy Cook (TN House District 45), promoting a May 13 co-hosted voter event at The Co-Lab in Hendersonville, key issues including affordability, education/workforce, agriculture/rural investment, and democracy reforms. They also highlight early voting deadlines, and the May 5 election. SUBSCRIBE!! Don’t miss an episode of The Loyal Opposition. We can be found on all the streaming and podcast platforms or on our website. Chaney Mosley for TN 6 Congressional District chaneymosley.com [http://chaneymosley.com] Mandy Cook for TN House District 45 Mandycook4TN.com [http://Mandycook4TN.com] Visit our website: www.theloyalopposition.online [http://www.theloyalopposition.online] A one-stop-shop for navigating the current political environment. You will find: - Easy link to email your Representatives, - Upcoming take action events, - A list of Sumner County organizations doing great things, - Links mentioned in the show, and to our supporters and advertisers. We make it easy to write your representative or get involved. You can also stream our show. https://www.theloyalopposition.online/ [https://www.theloyalopposition.online/] Please support our advertisers and sponsors: Law Office of Amanda J. Gentry AmandaJGentry.com [http://AmandaJGentry.com] Artemis CPA https://artemis.cpa/ [https://artemis.cpa/]

S04 E12: Maria Brewer for US Senate

S04 E12 The Loyal Opposition: Local Election Turnout, Sumner County Democrats, and Maria Brewer for U.S. Senate Hosts Len Assante and Michele Harbin open The Loyal Opposition highlighting very low local-election turnout and urge voters to get to the polls, noting 16 Democrats are running for office. They welcome guest Maria Brewer, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, who explains she entered the race after seeing a lack of strong Democratic challengers and argues Tennessee needs an organized, grassroots movement to hold leaders like Sen. Bill Hagerty accountable. Brewer discusses campaign motivations rooted in ordinary working-family experience, healthcare and motherhood, and stresses issues including high cost of living, tax fairness for billionaires and corporations, Citizens United, and opposition to war with Iran and defense-contractor influence. She encourages in-person conversations across political divides, volunteering, donating, and voting in upcoming May, August, and November elections, and shares her site MariaBrewerForSenate. SUBSCRIBE!! Don’t miss an episode of The Loyal Opposition. We can be found on all the streaming and podcast platforms or on our website. Maria Brewer for Senate https://linktr.ee/mariabrewerforsenate [https://linktr.ee/mariabrewerforsenate] Visit our website: www.theloyalopposition.online [http://www.theloyalopposition.online] A one-stop-shop for navigating the current political environment. You will find: - Easy link to email your Representatives, - Upcoming take action events, - A list of Sumner County organizations doing great things, - Links mentioned in the show, and to our supporters and advertisers. We make it easy to write your representative or get involved. You can also stream our show. https://www.theloyalopposition.online/ [https://www.theloyalopposition.online/] Please support our advertisers and sponsors: Law Office of Amanda J. Gentry AmandaJGentry.com [http://AmandaJGentry.com] Artemis CPA https://artemis.cpa/ [https://artemis.cpa/]

S4E11: Lore Bergman, Rural Struggles, GOP Pay-To-Speak

S0411 The Loyal Opposition: Lore Bergman on Running for Tennessee’s 6th District, Rural Struggles, and GOP Fundraising Pay-to-Speak Host Len Assante opens The Loyal Opposition and discusses recent elections including Democratic swings in Georgia and a liberal win in Wisconsin. Len criticizes Sumner County Republicans’ “Reagan Day” fundraiser for requiring candidates to buy costly sponsorships to speak, and cites Millersville’s credit downgrade tied to prior management, warning about local far-right groups seeking power. Democrat Lore Bergman, running again for U.S. House in Tennessee’s 6th District, describes the district’s 19 counties, her in-person rural campaigning, and issues facing farmers and small businesses including tariffs, fertilizer disruptions, and high gas prices. She condemns proposed federal budget cuts to social programs, highlights disability and VA delays, supports universal healthcare, and opposes deregulation and voting changes. Bergman asks for donations, volunteers, and campaign help, and the show previews upcoming guests Sumner Votes and Senate candidate Maria Brewer. SUBSCRIBE!! Don’t miss an episode of The Loyal Opposition. We can be found on all the streaming and podcast platforms or on our website. Lore Bergman for Congress 6th District https://lorebergman.org/ [https://lorebergman.org/] Visit our website: www.theloyalopposition.online [http://www.theloyalopposition.online] A one-stop-shop for navigating the current political environment. You will find: - Easy link to email your Representatives, - Upcoming take action events, - A list of Sumner County organizations doing great things, - Links mentioned in the show, and to our supporters and advertisers. We make it easy to write your representative or get involved. You can also stream our show. https://www.theloyalopposition.online/ [https://www.theloyalopposition.online/] Please support our advertisers and sponsors: Law Office of Amanda J. Gentry AmandaJGentry.com [http://AmandaJGentry.com] Artemis CPA https://artemis.cpa/ [https://artemis.cpa/]