Grand Divisions: A Politics Podcast

A tumultuous week for House Speaker Glen Casada and a push for disabled Tennesseans

02.26.2019 - By USA TODAY NETWORK - TennesseePlay

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A secretly recorded video, an unusual editorial, a confrontation with a protester and a no show at a town hall. This week was arguably House Speaker Glen Casada's most difficult since becoming the chamber's leader last month. The Franklin Republican is facing mounting pressure for his continued support of Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, who last year face allegations from three women who said he sexually assaulted them in the 1980s. We break down Casada's tumultuous week and hear from USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee's opinion and engagement editor David Plazas about the decision to run the speaker's controversial editorial. Later in the episode we hear from Sarah Sampson, deputy director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, and Tennessean storytelling columnist Jessica Bliss about an ongoing effort to get lawmakers to fund program that serves more than 1,000 disabled children.

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