Bobby Trotter, chief sergeant-at-arms of the Tennessee House of Representatives, locks the doors to a House committee room as protesters of an anti-immigrant bill chant behind him. (Photo: John Partipilo)
Gov. Bill lee, laughed with house republican caucus chair jeremy faison, prior to lee’s final state of the state address on february 2. Faison is also retiring from the legislature. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)U. S. Health and human services secretary robert f. Kennedy, jr. , photographed on feb. 4, 2026 at the tennessee state capitol while talking about his make america health again plan. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)During a february 11 committee hearing on a measure that would allow private business to ignore a federal law permitting same sex marriage, steven phelps referred to a 2023 bill to outlaw marriage between first cousins. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Aidan pratt of wilson county swore at rep. Gino bulso after bulso argued in favor of a bill that says private citizens and businesses do not need to recognize same-sex marriage as provide for in 2015’s obergefell v. Hodges. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Rep. Johnny garrett, a goodlettsville republican, decked out in orange attire for university of tennessee day on the hill, recognizing the “big orange. ” (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Dr. Gary foresman of lebanon, tennessee, addresses members of the wilson county commission on feb. 17, 2026, about his distaste for having an immigration detention center in the area. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Secretary of defense pete hegseth salutes the crowd at the nrb international christian media convention at the gaylord opryland hotel in nashville on february 19. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Lt. Randy mcnally tells his colleagues in the tennessee senate he will not run for reelection in 2026. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)California gov. Gavin newsom, a rumored candidate for the 2028 democratic presidential nomination, promotes his book, “young man in a hurry,” at oz arts nashville on feb. 21, 2026. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)