“My favorite part of the entire experience is just to really, like, have that representation of people with disabilities and on such a huge platform like the Super Bowl. I think our stories as people with disabilities are so often overlooked and not really showcased in such a large way.”
— Cory Lee, a wheelchair user from LaFayette, Georgia, who was featured in Google’s Super Bowl commercial.
“This is taken completely out of context. I was not talking about physical violence. Every preacher knows the difference between spiritual warfare and physical warfare.”
— The Rev. Steve Caudle of Greater Second Missionary Baptist Church while defending his sermon that criticized Elon Musk and DOGE.
“How can we bring this together and accomplish what they want to do, which is build homes, what we want to do is get property taxes, what the community wants is to have the quality of life they desire. How do we find the balance?”
— Hamilton County Commissioner Chip Baker, R-Signal Mountain, on tensions raised by the county’s growth.
“The gravy train for a lot of these folks has been on biscuit wheels, and it’s about to run off the dadgum tracks.”
— U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, on government waste being scrutinized at the House Oversight DOGE Subcommittee.
“Extremism, when it comes in the form of people with tattoos and fierce haircuts and swastikas, people say no. But when extremism comes in through the main door and looks normal and looks rich, it gets adherents.”
— Sociologist Arlie Hochschild, on the aesthetic dimension of politics.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Karitsa Jones Jones talks with meeting attendees between sessions Sept. 19, 2024. The Hamilton County school board welcomed five new members as several issues, chiefly school safety, were discussed.“We really need to be cognizant of how we think about trimming an already naked bird because we’re already in flesh and bone.”
— Hamilton County school board Vice Chair Karitsa Jones, D-Chattanooga, about potential ways of limiting health insurance costs.
“It would stick out — or up — like a sore thumb.”
— Helen Burns Sharp about a proposed 12-story building near Chattanooga’s waterfront downtown.
“Historically, our nights have ended with tears spilt in our coffee and the angel waitresses bringing over the carafe of chocolate chips so we can load up Hannah’s emotional support waffle.”
— Kate Marsella on why Waffle House is the best place to cry.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Southeast Tenn., speaks Feb. 3, 2025, during the Freight Mobility Coalition Meeting presented by Thrive Regional Partnership at McKee Foods.“I do think people in public life ought to be doing more than just what they do.”
— U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann on writing a novel while serving in Congress.