E01-Justin Kanew: Always Yell the Truth
Air date: 07/21/2026
Host: Gloria Johnson: Tennessee State Representative, District 90
Guest: Justin Kanew: Founder, The Tennessee Holler Episode Summary
Episode Summary
Gloria Johnson talks with Justin Kanew, founder of the progressive news outlet The Tennessee Holler, about the state of Tennessee media and politics. Kanew traces his path from a 2016 congressional run against Marsha Blackburn's seat to founding the Holler, and the two dig into press access at the Capitol, the 2023 expulsion of the "Tennessee Three," the erosion of floor debate under recent House speakers, corruption in the legislature (with a focus on school vouchers and a troubling judicial confirmation story), and what gives them hope, including youth political engagement and the rise of figures like Zohran Mamdani.
Topics Covered
Kanew's 2018 congressional run in TN-7 against Marsha Blackburn's open seat, and the founding of The Tennessee Holler
How the Holler relies on tips from Tennesseans and has turned local stories (like the "McMinnville mouse") into national news
The 2023 expulsion of Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, and how the backlash elevated their profiles
Press corps access at the Capitol: why Speaker Cameron Sexton's press corps has voted to exclude the Holler
The erosion of floor debate under Speakers Glen Casada and Cameron Sexton, compared to former Speaker Beth Harwell
Gloria's own history: being the lone vote against Sexton for speaker, and being assigned a converted closet as an office in apparent retaliation
A judicial confirmation story: a judge who gave 12 years (of a requested 72) to a pastor convicted of child sexual abuse, and Republican colleagues who didn't know the details when they voted
School vouchers and predatory lending as examples of "corruption" politics, versus culture-war scapegoating
Youth political engagement, Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral win, and Hasan Piker's influence
Kanew's perspective as a Jewish American on Gaza, antisemitism, and why he sees the issue as a "flashpoint" for who voters trust
What it means to be an effective legislator in the superminority: "amend, delay, and defeat" rather than pass bills
Guest & People Mentioned
Guest
Justin Kanew
Instagram: @justinkanew (https://www.instagram.com/justinkanew/)
X: @Kanew (https://x.com/Kanew)
The Tennessee Holler
Instagram: @thetnholler (https://www.instagram.com/thetnholler/)
X: @TheTNHoller Website: tnholler.com
Host
Rep. Gloria Johnson
Instagram: @votegloriaj https://www.instagram.com/votegloriaj/
X: @VoteGloriaJ https://x.com/VoteGloriaJ
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/VoteGloriaJohnson/
Notable people/entities mentioned:
Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson: the other two members of the "Tennessee Three"
Cameron Sexton: current Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, Beth Harwell: former Tennessee House Speakers referenced for contrast
Rep. Gabby Salinas: mentioned re: a 2025-session legislative victory on an immigrant-children bill Zohran Mamdani: NYC mayoral race, referenced as a model for youth-driven campaigns
Hasan Piker: political streamer referenced in the discussion of youth media consumption and the Israel/Gaza issue Marsha Blackburn: incumbent U.S. Senator in Tennessee
Phil Williams: investigative journalist referenced re: coverage of white nationalist activity at the Capitol