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Hello, everybody. I'm Todd Serns. Great to have you with us today here on the Mighty Nine Ninety, and we have really just another jam-packed program for you. As a matter of fact, several candidates are expected to drop by. A Jerry Green, who is the Democrat nominee for governor of Tennessee, will be here in just a little while.
Also, we're going to be talking to Mitchell Morrison, who is a right and Candidate for Tennessee House District ninety three, a fascinating story about what happened with that House District race. Mitchell Morrison will be here in just a little while. We're also going to be taking your calls on this very important day. Today is the first day of early voting in Shelby County, so this is the opportunity for you to save the Republic from the communist and. The radical political Islamist, and the way you can do that is get out and vote today.
Early voting starts, and of course, Election Day, November third. There are a lot of big races, and three proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot.
So we want you to get out there and engage your rights as an American citizen to vote in the election.
Now, we also want to hear from you, those of you. Who are going out? Maybe you're already on the way to early vote. Give us a call. Let us know what the lines are looking like, and let us know what your experience was like on this first day of early voting.
Our telephone number: nine zero one two six zero five nine two six. That's nine zero one two six zero five nine two six. In the meantime, there is some wild and weird political drama going. On within the Republican Party in Shelby County, and multiple, and we don't have an exact number, but we do know that multiple candidates who say they are bona fide Republicans, and we've been able to verify with our sources that these individuals are in fact bona fide Republicans, were left off of the. the The GOP ballot guide that is provided to voters as they go into the ballot booth, and let me explain what that is.
That's not the official. That's not the ballot that you actually vote with. This is a guide provided by the Republican Party to let you know, hey, these are who the Republicans are. Many people vote straight party, and they want to make sure they're voting for a Republican.
Well, it's our under. Understanding that a number of those or multiple people were left off of the ballot.
Now the question is: Was this a matter of gross incompetence, or was there something nefarious or intentional about it? We don't know. But the Northeast Shelby Republican Club says, "quote We've been working diligently with the Republican Party of Shelby County to investigate and correct potential inconsistencies." Regarding bona fide candidates in Bartlett and Lakeland, it is our understanding that the following candidates do, in fact. Meet the requirements under the bona fide standard, but were not included in the list that was provided to the Shelby County Republican Party by the Shelby County Election Commission. And those two individuals.
So, if you're going to be voting today, be aware that these two are bona fide Republicans: David Reeves, who's running for Bartlett Alderman Position Three, and Sarah Castellaw, who is running for the Lakeland School Board. There is also controversy in. Collierville, where a a very outspoken conservative by the name of Jason Leaderfine was left off of the ballot as well. And Mr. Leaderfine is in fact a bona fide Republican.
We were able to verify that information by or through rather the Shelby County Election Commission.
So all that to say, there are some shenanigans going on, and I suspect it's not just in Shelby County. But all I can tell you is, you've got to do your homework, ladies and gentlemen, and make sure you're voting for legitimate candidates. You do wonder what the underlying, you know, reason was here. Again, these are good, hardworking Republicans, and they feel like they were really slighted by their own party. There's also in the Germantown school board race controversy, as the Republican.
Nominee for on the ballot has now been facing problems from within her own party, as some of the party leaders and club members are now endorsing or supporting covertly an independent candidate in the school board race. And by all indications, Vicky Gandy is the only bona fide Republican who was. Elected in the primary to be the nominee for the school board.
So again, if you're going to be voting for the Republican in that race, well, her name is Vicky Gandy. Her name was, in fact, on that sample ballot.
So that was good news. Otherwise, I think all you know what would be breaking loose.
So really, unforced errors. Who knows or something intentional? We don't know. But a lot of very upset Republicans in in Shelby County. Nine zero one two six zero five nine two six zero telephone number.
That's nine zero one two six zero. Five nine two six.
So we're going to be taking your calls today. We want to know who are you voting for? Who are you supporting? As as we move into the midterm elections, my advice that I shared on the national show: don't believe any polling data. Don't believe any of it.
All of the polling data out there is meant to demoralize you and depress you. They don't want Republicans going out and voting on. Election Day, and that's ultimately the goal of these polls. But we also know this: history has taught us that the polling data has always been wrong when it comes to Donald Trump and the Republicans.
So what's happening now? And this started yesterday. We're starting to see the polls, and there's the pollsters are saying, "Oh, wait a second, the Republicans are gaining some ground." So now all of the races are within the margin of error because now the pollsters are. Are going to come out after the election, and when the Republicans win big, the pollsters are going to say, "See, we told you so. It was just too close to call." It's a load of hooey.
Don't believe any of it. I've been encouraging folks: just act like you're ten to twenty points behind. You got to work your tails off. Get your people out to the polls, and everything's going to be fine. I mean, that's that's really how it works.
All right, I want to play this audio, and this is from from Mississippi. And I'm just curious about you, good people of Mississippi. What in the world is going on there? Cindy Hyde Smith is running for the Senate, and her opponent is a guy by the name of Scott A. Collum.
And what I find fascinating about this guy—he just posted an ad because Cindy Hyde Smith was asked, like all the Republicans are being asked about about grocery prices. We had Charlie Hatcher on, and Charlie Hatcher said, "Let him eat, let him eat turkey. If you can't afford ground beef, let him eat turkey." Here's what Cindy Hyde Smith had to say: Cut thirty-three. On the price of beef continuing to go up. You know you have so many proteins to choose from.
Pick another protein. I'd rather pick another senator instead. Pick another protein. She done lost her damn mind. I'd rather pick another senator.
Pick another protein. What the? Pick another senator instead. Yeah.
So look, Cindy Hyde. Thank you, Cindy Hyde Smith, telling people to pick another protein. That's that's. I'm telling you, it's. I just can't.
It's too early in the morning. I just can't. Let's go to the phones here nine zero one two six zero five nine two six. Dean in East Memphis wants to weigh in on this sample ballot scandal. Dean, what's your take on all of this?
This is just crazy. If if it needs to get, I mean, if if it wants to get cleared up real quick, why didn't why didn't somebody with the CEC call into the show and explain what happened? Simple.
Now, what is the CEC for? Just the average listener out there. That's the County Executive Committee. Those they're the ones that run the Shelby County GOP. Yeah.
Do I mean and again at this point, you know, until we get an explanation from them, you know, we it's just all conjecture. Was it? I mean, clearly a mistake was made. My question is, was that mistake made out of gross incompetence or was it made intentionally to maybe help other candidates on the ballot? Because in some of these suburban races, and that that's predominantly what we're talking about here, Dean.
Right. There are multiple Republicans running for those seats. Exactly, exactly.
So let's find out what the answer is. I mean, don't let it keep going on and on and on, and everybody just wondering what the hell is going on, Dean. I think it look it's a it's a it's a good word you have, and again, we have too much at stake, and I just know that we have got to focus on getting Republicans elected and stopping these communists. Sir, have a good day. All right, Dean.
Thank you for that call. Nine zero one two six zero five nine two six our telephone number. That's nine zero one two six zero five nine two six. Want to pass this along from the National Weather Service? There could be a few severe thunderstorms across the mid south today.
Damaging winds, the greatest concern. Again, there is a cold front approaching, so we we're going to have some cooler temperatures. I was out at Shelby. Farms yesterday, and a lot of us were us were sweating, sweating like a pig at a barbecue out there. It was mighty warm.
So again, we'll keep you updated. And of course, if breaking news happens, severe weather happens, we will immediately break into programming and let you and your family know about that. All right, let's check in with Commander Chuck, standing by with a look at the roads this morning. Hey guys, this is Joe. It's Nick and Kevin Jonas from Hey Jonas.
Sponsored by Edible Arrangements. They are also bringing us our first bowl question. Oh, we're doing the bowl. We're doing the bowl. All right, let's get into it.
Okay, the question is: What's your chocolate dipped move to show up for someone's birthday? That's weirdly specific. Feels like there's only really one right answer for this one. Edible, edible. I mean, Nick did famously send an arrangement to Bob Iger.
Yeah, sure.
So you know it's good. And they've got a lot more than fresh fruit. Birthday arrangements, baked goods, flowers, chocolate dip treats. A lot of options. And if somebody's birthday sneaks up on you, uh oh, they've got delivery today, tomorrow, or even in an hour, which is great because Kevin's birthday's coming up real soon, very soon.
I'm getting an arrangement, aren't I? Yep, we kind of have to. You know, I'm okay with that. All right, we just answered our first ever edible. Question: We don't typically like puns, Joe, but we'll allow it for edible.
So, if you want to show up with something thoughtful this birthday, edible's the move. Order yours today at edible dot com. Wow! It was a huge night at the Memphis Zoo yesterday. Over thirty-five hundred fans gathering at the Memphis Zoo to show their support for the men's and women's basketball teams at the University of Memphis.
It is just a it was a great event. Memphis Madness at Zoo Hoops.
So, folks had a lot of fun, and there was a Of entertainment and a lot of people there, a lot of folks very excited about the possibilities for basketball and for Coach Penny Hardaway. I suspect, unless we're you know, if you're reading between the lines here, Hardaway needs to have a very good season here, especially with how the Memphis football program has literally been transformed under the leadership of Coach Huff. By the way, just got a note from. The Secretary of State Trey Hargett about elections today. Early voting.
Now, here's what you need to understand: If you're going to vote today, you need to make sure that you have a current or expired photo ID that's been issued by the federal or state government when you vote in person. College student IDs, non-U.S. citizen IDs, and IDs issued by local governments or other. Are not accepted, so you need to make sure that you have an ID, whether it's current or expired, that was issued by Tennessee or the federal government. And all of that information on GovoteTN.gov.
That's GovoteTN.gov. Nine zero one two six zero five nine two six. Our telephone number this morning. That's nine zero one two six zero five nine two six. Coming up.
Our exclusive interview with Jerry Green, the Democrat nominee for governor, also Mitchell Morrison, who is a right-end candidate for Tennessee House District 93. Want to play some audio from a voter in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, really talking about the struggles they are facing. Cut 22. Talked to more than a dozen people in downtown Morristown. Everyone was mad about prices.
Sometimes things is four times what they was a year ago. Roast I used to get for twelve, fifteen dollars, thirty-five dollars. It's awful. Everything you know just keeps going up.
Well, used to spend forty dollars a week.
Now it's a hundred and forty or something like that. I just don't think it's going to go down for a long time. They're not concerned with people like us. They said. These tariffs that they've got on, it's gonna bring prices down.
They're not, because it's gonna have to charge more to make up for them having to pay to bring it in. And I just say everything's going downhill. Did you vote for Trump this last time? No, I didn't.
So, so let me explain what CNN did there. They went out and they found a bunch of Democrats in Morristown, Tennessee, who hate Donald Trump, and they they don't tell you that, but that's exactly what they did.
Meanwhile, I want to go back to the Clarksville, the Clarksville event, and President Trump because he did have something to say about Memphis and the incredible successes that we have seen here, thanks to President Trump. Sending in the Memphis Safe Task Force, cut number one, please. But I have a guy talking to me that's a friend of mine. He said, "You know, I've been in Memphis for years. I was leaving.
It was just absolutely leaving." He said, "The job you've done in Memphis. Does anyone have any idea what you've done? You've made Memphis like a safe city. We got rid of twelve thousand." Career criminals, and my favorite stat, maybe of any stat, two percent of the people create ninety-one percent of the crime. We can handle two percent.
We couldn't handle if it was fifty percent, but we can handle two percent, and we got them out of here. We got them out, and you have a safe Memphis. You know, we we do have a safe Memphis, a safer Memphis. That's not to say crime is still. Big because it is.
As a matter of fact, two shootings this morning. One just before six o'clock in Binghamton. Also, another shooting in Solsville. We have absolutely no information other than that police are responding to shootings in both of those locations. But regardless, the the crimes that we have seen a dramatic drop in carjackings, robberies, burglaries, break-ins, things of that nature, and that.
Is because of the work of the Memphis Safe Task Force nine zero one two six zero five nine two six our telephone number that's nine zero one two six zero five nine two six. Yesterday on the national show, we had a guy named Andre call in from Memphis. He is a pastor of of a congregation here. And he is just really enraged over Justin Pearson, and he's really embarrassed by Justin Pearson as well, and is frustrated that so many Black Memphians continue to vote Democrat when people like Justin Pearson have done absolutely nothing to help the community. And the pastor his his comments really resonated with a lot of our listeners on the national.
Radio show, which you can listen to at eleven o'clock here on KWM, but I am wondering if there are others. I was talking to State Senator Brent Taylor. He did not divulge names, but he told me that that some very prominent Democrats that we would know if I mentioned their names, you would know them.
Some very prominent Democrats are privately saying, "You know what? You are going to win this thing." And they've got their they've he's getting their support.
So folks may not be coming out and marching in the streets for Brent Taylor, but I think the average Memphian understands what's really at stake here. And so the question then becomes: Okay, what happens on election day, and what does what does Senator Taylor need to do to ensure that he wins that ninth congressional district race? I think Senator Taylor is going to win, and I think he's going to win big because his message is resonating with the people.
Meanwhile, when you look at someone like a Justin Pearson who sends his wife out to fight his battles, you know this is a guy where it's all about him. It's always about him. And if you notice, he loves to get the crowd riled up, and then he steps to the side because he doesn't want to be hauled off to jail.
So this guy instigates a lot of stuff, and then turns around and steps out and takes full credit for it after the fact. That's who Justin Pearson is, and I think a lot of people have finally figured out. What this guy is really all about, because when it comes to Justin Pearson, it's all about Justin Pearson. He doesn't care about you; he cares about himself. All right, gotta take a break here.
Nine zero one two six zero five nine two six. Coming up: Mitchell Morrison and Jerry Green, right here on KWM. Hey guys, this is Joe. It's Nick and Kevin Jonas from Hey Jonas. Sponsored by Edible Arrangements.
They are also bringing us our first bowl question. Oh, we're doing the bowl. We're doing the bowl. All right, let's get into it.
Okay, the question is: What's your chocolate dipped move to show up for someone's birthday? That's weirdly specific. Feels like there's only really one right answer for this one. Edible, edible. I mean, Nick did famously send an arrangement to Bob Iger.
Yeah, sure.
So you know it's good. And they've got a lot more than fresh fruit. Birthday arrangements, baked goods, flowers, chocolate dip treats. A lot of options. And if somebody's birthday sneaks up on you, they've got delivery today, tomorrow, or even in an hour, which is great because Kevin's birthday's coming up real soon, very soon.
I'm getting an arrangement, aren't I? Yep, we kind of have to. You know, I'm okay with that. All right, we just answered our first ever edible. Question: We don't typically like puns, Joe, but we'll allow it for Edible.
So, if you want to show up with something thoughtful this birthday, Edible's the move. Order yours today at Edible dot com. And welcome back, everybody. This is Todd Stearns, and just a reminder: National Weather Service said things could get a little bumpy today. Severe storms moving into the area.
Laura Huckabee will have your full forecast coming up. Also, you good folks in South Haven, there is a great opportunity for you today. There is a free community document shredding event coming. Up, Southaven residents can safely dispose of sensitive documents at this event organized by the AARP of Mississippi. It's going to happen starting eight o'clock Saturday morning at Planters Bank on Getwell Road.
You can bring up to two bags or boxes of documents, and they will be more than happy to shred those for you free of charge. A great way to prevent identity theft and recognizing scams.
So good information there from South Haven.
Well, many of you remember the tragedy of State Representative G. A. Hardaway passing away. He is a longtime representative of District 93. His son T.
J. had announced a campaign to run in his dad's race as a write-in candidate, but he has since ended that write-in campaign. And our next guest. Believes he's got a shot to win that race, also as a write-in candidate for Tennessee House District 93. Mitchell Morrison joins us.
Mitchell, good to have you with us. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Starnes. Thank you for giving me a few minutes to speak to the voters.
Well, yeah, yeah, absolutely. And let's get right to it. Why do you why do you want to run for the state house?
Well, I've been in business for for thirty years, and I look at things from the with a business angle, logistics, PR, diplomacy, contract fulfillment, dealing with people from from all over the world.
So this is my background.
So it would be very easy to to operate in that same. Same thread, but my my hobby for thirty years has been paying attention to politics, and I grew up in a family that had a deep love and appreciation for Christianity and the Constitution.
So you know, while a lot of people are focused on sports and and different things like that, it was always legislation that I followed and would talk about it at the water cooler versus sports.
So.
So this is just an opportunity to, to plug in and and further strengthen constitutional values. I listen to radio programs like yours all the time, you know, in the background when when I'm working or cleaning house or whatever, and you hear constant stories about corruption, and I hate it. And so, I'm close to retirement, and this situation, this unique situation, came up, and I said, "Well, you know, I pay attention to politics for for decades anyway. I want to see constitutionalists get in there.
So, so I decided to put my name down and ask the voters to consider me and write my name in on November 3rd." The website, ladies and gentlemen, vote mitchellmorrison. dot com. Mitchell, I'm curious, what is the top issue? Let's say you get elected, what is on your mind? What is the top issue that must be addressed?
Schools. I remember watching programs 20 years ago. Like 2020 and 60 minutes, where they would do a deep dive into some experiments that the the Catholic schools were doing, and they would compare it to the government schools, and they would show that they spent less money, that children were better behaved, the children were happier, the children had more play time, their their scores were better, they had a better comprehension. Decades ago, and here we are now, and it's it's constantly in the news about how children can't read and how they treat their teachers. When we've had this experiments going on that have worked forever, and and while I was very young in the in the Reagan years, I remember that he had a report conducted to see what the result had been since Jimmy Carter created the.
the The federal education program, and I remember it was something about it. It was, they said it was the equivalent of a terrorist act against America, and so just now, you know, four decades later, the Department of Education is being dismantled.
So that's disgusting. I see a lot of the issues today of single parent homes. That that can create other problems and lead to crime, and not people not paying enough attention to children. They just kind of left to their own in the neighborhood, or sat in front of the television because there's only one parent who has to work. And I think a lot of that comes from a culture of the children being with each other all day instead of more adults.
And see in a more mature way. You know, when you put young people together with young people, you'll get a certain culture. And when you put young people with more adults, where they're more focused on. On more mature things and more mature behavior towards adults, they'll pick up on that, and it'll just become the culture. All right, let me jump in here.
Yeah, let me jump in because we do not have a lot of time, and I do have a question about the state takeover of Memphis Shelby County Schools. Do you believe that was the right call to make? Yes.
Okay. Yes, we we we we can't we can't if we if we've done something for for years and decades and grades continue to fall and crime continues to rise, someone who has a better track record of of having better scores and happier children has got to step in and do something. All right, well, Mitchell, we wish you the very best out there. Of course, early voting starts today. You can write in Mitchell Morrison on your ballot for Tennessee House District 93 if you live in District 93.
If you'd like information on his platform, you can find all of that information at vote mitchellmorrison dot com. That's vote mitchellmorrison dot com. Mitchell, thank you. Good luck. Thank you, sir.
All right, there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Mitchell Morrison, who is hoping to make it to the statehouse, we do need. I liked his answer on the the education stuff. All right, we've got to take a quick break. When we come back, Jerry Green wants to be the next governor of Tennessee.
We'll explain why. Coming up next. All right, welcome back. This is the Mighty Ninety. I'm Todd Stearns, and I told you that when it comes to politics, we bring everybody to the table.
And this week, you've already heard from Chaz Molder, who was in town, and he'll be back with us again next week. And now we have the Democrat nominee for governor, and also our Memphis City Council member Jerry Green hanging out with us.
So you and Chaz Molder needed to set up office space here at. The building we do actually share a headquarters down on Poplar, but yes, we should just hang out here. One of the things that was interesting yesterday we had Brent we had Brent Taylor on the show. Brent is going downstairs. Chaz is coming up, and that was the very first time they had actually met in person out on the campaign trail.
So we were glad to bring. I told him we we are the fair and balance of the campaign.
Well, you know, Brent and I our districts overlap, and we work together all the time, so. That's that's funny that they haven't met yet. You know, I just for again when I was at Fox News, I was embedded with the Obama campaign, so I was the guy that traveled with Barack Obama for that entire campaign. We were somewhere in Iowa, I don't know, some far flung place. We're on the bus, and you know they have you in that big bubble with the cops and all that stuff, and people were literally.
I was just kind of gazing out, and people were literally. They had pulled their pickup trucks and cars. And they were sitting in the backs of the you know of the of the truck beds, wanting to capture history. And I think you know, as a journalist, you know, I don't want to get too corny, but it really is something special. Elections where the people get to have a say.
Yeah, and we've been feeling that on the road. I mean, we're getting huge crowds. We've made I think over two hundred and ten stops now, and everywhere we go, we're getting that same sort of thing: the lines to shake my hand and take pictures. People bringing their kids, their daughters. In particular, to take pictures of me, yeah, we're we're definitely feeling that people since there is some history about to be made in Tennessee.
You were and and we played this we played this clip yesterday on the show. You were in Jackson, I believe. Yes, massive crowds. You were. I mean, these are very large crowds, and we are.
We made I made the the observation that your crowds are a lot bigger than what we're seeing on the Republican side of the Iowa.
Now, what is going on in Tennessee? I think people are fed up. They're fired up for change. You know, I think they hoped that President Trump and others would bring change, and they're not seeing it in their daily lives. You know, it's just still so unaffordable, and they're sick of the chaos and the corruption, and they're ready for somebody who's just going to like listen to working people.
I mean, that's the other thing is I go out and I take questions and and respond back.
So I think that's part of it. But yeah, there's definitely an energy. A momentum out there in Jackson, the restaurant was so full they had the patio open, but it was when the hurricane was coming through and people stood on the patio way in the back with umbrellas in the pouring down rain to hear us too. Everywhere we go, you know, Paris, Tennessee, we had three hundred people come out on a college football Saturday when it's still a hundred degrees. I went up to a place called Caryville.
You've never even heard of it. It's a plus ninety Trump district, plus ninety. Their normal meetings are four people. Four people show up to their democratic meetings. We had 125 show up on a Tuesday night after three days' notice.
Something is happening out there. We we've seen this with with Mayor Molder, who again has been really making a play for Shelby County. The Republican nominee Charlie Hatcher has not been here much at all, and we've noticed that a lot of independents are beginning to look at Molder as a possible contender in that race. Who are you? Who's being attracted to your campaign right now?
Where are you getting support that you normally don't get?
Well, of course, the Democrats are pretty slithy and excited about their candidate, but we are getting independents. We're getting Republicans. I hardly go to a stop where somebody doesn't say, "I'm a lifelong Republican. I voted for Trump three times, and I'm voting for you." You know, Marcia is a pretty polarizing figure, one way or the other. Why do you think that is?
I think it's a combination of things, but I think the biggest thing is they see how much dark money, PAC money, corporate money that she gets from out of state, and then. That combined with she doesn't hold town halls, she doesn't talk to people, she doesn't talk to the press. Right? You saw that in the primary. We were all ready to come in and debate me, you, Moni, John Rose, and and Marsha wouldn't show up.
So I think people just feel like they're not going to be heard. Speaking of debates, you have agreed to one. The Tennessee Press Association holding one at MTSU. David Hatley, our Pinkston, the three of you will be up on that stage. Senator Blackburn will not be on that that stage.
What's what? What do we need to be looking for at that debate?
Well, you know, we have held three debates already that we invited Marsha Blackburn to. Speaking of crowds, the first one was in Brentwood, a couple of miles from her home, and four hundred people showed up. She didn't. We also agreed to David Hatley's debate where he said he'd write a million dollars. I said, please write a check that is good, and I'll embarrass you both.
But he didn't show up either for that one. And so, of course, I've agreed to the other one. Look, I'm a Georgetown-trained trial attorney. I'm ready to debate anybody. You should be looking at people who have experience.
In government, it's one thing to have experience in business; it's one thing to have experience in the nonprofit world, but government's a different animal. And somebody who is actually got plans that will help Tennesseans.
So, I think it's not just wishes and dreams and hopes, but somebody who has done the work and has a proven track record. I see what you did there with the see if the check clears. Jeez, Lou! Look, I used to.
So, you know, I'm the chief public defender, and I used to go around the state and say. I'd spent more time in prison, so I knew more about how to fix crime than anybody else running for governor. And then Hatley got in, and you know we knew he didn't have a voting record, but we just didn't know why. Until Marcia started attacking him, but yeah, I guess I can't say that.
So, I mean, you know, that happened thirty something years ago. I think they're absolutely fair attacks. You wouldn't let the the fox guard the henhouse, so why would you put somebody who's been charged and convicted, spent time in prison for fraudulently managing money in charge of billions of dollars in the state? I know he likes to say he's bought not built, but he's literally trying to buy an election. The very basic thing that I believe, of course, is that people who have records, it shouldn't have to follow them for the rest of their lives.
And I believe in second chances. I am a Christian. I believe in redemption. But at the same time, there are limitations on what we should tolerate. And I don't think we should put somebody who has been in charge of financial fraud in front of our budget.
Jerry Green joining us in our studio today. One of the big issues that sort of popped up on the on the campaign trail, the botched execution of. Of Krista Pike, and now we understand the governor coming out. There have been another scheduled execution that has been moved to, I believe, next year, is what Governor Lee said. Where do you stand on the issue of executions?
Well, I would do exactly as Governor Lee has done and continue the moratorium during my time period. I'm not here to commute anybody's sentence or put myself in the place of a jury, but my faith does not allow me to be. Part of killing anyone. I mean, it says, "Thou shall not kill." Not parentheses. If you're a governor, and this is part of the sentence.
I know from my time as a public defender, the system is inept. It is biased. It is not a deterrent. Study after study will show you that, and it's really costly.
So, for all of the reasons that, whether it is an intellectual, this is a bias system. I mean, this is the first woman we were trying to kill in 200 years. Why are we only killing men, right? It is so incredibly costly, and it doesn't deter people in the heat of the crime.
So.
I say this as somebody whose best friend was murdered, and I tell you that I would not have wanted that person put to death. It's just not what my faith teaches me, so I won't be a part of that. I will continue what our Republican governor has said, and look, we're going to continue to have these problems. We have medical, non medical staff doing a medical procedure. We have compound drugs because drug companies don't want to be a part of it, like.
This will continue to happen if this is the only procedure we have. I want to move on to an issue that's a lot closer to home and impacts you as a city council member, and that's this: the data center moratorium. I thought it was interesting. All the people complaining about the data centers all had their smartphones out and they were recording everything. Where do you stand on the moratorium?
Was that the right call for the mayor to finally step in and say we're going to we're going to hold off for a little bit? Where do you stand on that? I think the mayor's late to the party. I think that we've been calling for this for a while. I'm one of the co-sponsors of the moratorium.
I would also work to have a moratorium statewide. And it's simply this: I think this is like being at the beginning of the industrial revolution, right? The industrial revolution gave us a lot of great things, but the same time at the beginning, we had plumes of black smoke, we had child labor, we had people losing limbs, we didn't have 40-hour work weeks or weekends, like, and all of that. Came at a lot of human harm before we put in the EPA and OSHA and child labor laws and things like that.
So I want us to pause and get our hands around this before there is human harm, whether it's our air, our water, our soil, our jobs. I don't even want to talk about what AI can do, and to make sure we're getting the benefit we should be getting out of it. Right now, here in Memphis. Grok, the brain of XAI, is being rented out to Anthropic for one point two billion dollars a month. A month.
And the city of Memphis receives fifty million a year. All right, so that is just a portion of the interview, the conversation with City Council Member Jerry Green, running as the Democrat nominee for governor. We'll have more of that tomorrow, and of course, we're going to be bringing you conversations with as many of the candidates running, no matter their political persuasion, right here on the Mighty Nine Hundred and Ninety. You need to understand, and by the way, you heard her. What embracing Bill Lee and going after Paul Young?
So you never know what's going to happen in these conversations. All right, kwmradio dot com. Go check it out. Eleven o'clock right here on the mighty nine ninety. Have a great day, everybody.
