On this episode, we break down the latest developments with Rep Rick Staples, as well as the newest forms of Gov. Bill Lee's controversial education savings account legislation. 

To coincide with the new budget, we sit down with Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, who serves as chairman of the House finance subcommittee. 

Holt offers an explanation of the budget process, including how decisions are reached on providing funding for legislative initiatives.

A Democratic lawmaker has been accused of sexual harassment, but it remains to be seen exactly what type of action will be taken as a result.

On this episode of Grand Divisions, we talk about the latest in the Staples scandal, his response the day after USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee's story broke, and hear from Sharon Roberson of the YWCA in Nashville about how the legislature should handle allegations of sexual harassment.

We also hear from Brett Kelman, who reported last week that more than 128,000 Tennessee children have been unenrolled from TennCare and Cover Kids, state government healthcare programs, in the past two years.

Gov. Bill Lee's biggest piece of legislation and the House's most significant distraction collided last week, leading to unpredictable action that could resonate throughout the remainder of the session. 

On this episode we discuss the latest developments and also visit with Charlane Oliver of the Equity Alliance about a newly filed measure aimed at voter registration. 

The bill, spearheaded by Secretary of State Tre Hargett, comes after a massive voter registration effort last year that led to legal action in Shelby County. 

Although Hargett says the bill is aimed at ensuring Election Day goes smoothly, Oliver questions the merits of the measure.

In an effort to gauge support for Rep. David Byrd, the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee recently attempted to survey members of the House Republican caucus.  This week, we break highlight some of the findings in the survey. 

We also have a conversation with Michele Johnson, executive director of the Tennessee Justice Center, about the ongoing effort to require Gov. Bill Lee to request a block grant from the federal government for health care money.

This week, we discuss the controversial legislation passed by the Tennessee House commonly referred to as the fetal heartbeat bill, the floor debate and where it stands in the Senate, which has yet to taken up the proposal.

And finally, we chat with Dan Pabon, of the Tennessee Medical Cannabis Trade Association, about the ongoing effort to legalize medical marijuana in the Volunteer State.

In his first State of the State address, Gov. Bill Lee outlined his vision for the state, which he said includes bolstering the state's Rainy Day Fund, creating a pilot school vouchers program and funding pay raises. 

On this episode, Tennessean justice reporter Adam Tamburin helps us break down the governor's education and criminal justice initiatives.

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.

This week, we talk with state Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, and Rep. Michael Curcio, R-Dickson, about the ongoing voter restoration efforts and how Tennessee is an outlier compared to other states. 

They say that's because there's a heavy-handed bureaucratic process that often prevents many from even trying. 

Later on the podcast, we discuss a newly released campaign finance audit that found Rep. Harold Love, D-Nashville, used donors' money inappropriately.

On this episode, we'll share with you audio from that GOP Senate conversation and discuss the block grant effort. 

We will also highlight some of the bills that caught our attention in recent weeks. 

Among them is SB 1243 and HB 1016, which would require students to pass an exam using all 100 questions on the U.S. civics test. To test out the idea, we give a quick exam to our history buff/politics editor Duane Gang.