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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

LeBron’s Looks: Pearson and Jones didn’t cause a rift, they exposed a toxic status quo

FILE - Tennessee Reps. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, left, and Justin Jones, D-Nashville, speak to reporters outside the West Wing after meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, April 24, 2023. Pearson and Jones, who became Democratic heroes as members of the so-called “Tennessee Three,” are hoping to once again reclaim their legislative seats Thursday, Aug. 3, after being expelled for their involvement in a gun control protest on the House floor. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
FILE - Tennessee Reps. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, left, and Justin Jones, D-Nashville, speak to reporters outside the West Wing after meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, April 24, 2023. Pearson and Jones, who became Democratic heroes as members of the so-called “Tennessee Three,” are hoping to once again reclaim their legislative seats Thursday, Aug. 3, after being expelled for their involvement in a gun control protest on the House floor. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Rift in Tennessee Democrats?

Every House Democrat voted against new ticketing and speaking rules proposed by House Republicans.

Everyone except for Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar.

Shaw told the Tennessee Lookout that he is concerned that the new landscape in the state Capitol is the result of “confusion” months after state Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, and Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, were expelled from the state House.

Shaw told the Lookout that he thinks Jones and Pearson “like the cameras,” but he notes, “when you’re on camera, you need to be getting something done other than causing a lot of confusion.”