He Went on Fox News—and Turned Hannity's Script Against Him (w/ Justin Jones) | Bulwark Podcast

Following the Louisiana v. Vlay decision, Tennessee rapidly dismantled Black political power by redrawing congressional maps. Memphis, a city with a 51% Black population, was connected to a county 300 miles away to dilute its vote. Nashville's districts were carved so intricately that a 30-minute drive passes through five congressional districts. These actions, influenced by calls from Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, have resulted in all nine of Tennessee's congressional districts becoming majority white, despite 25% of the state's population being Black and brown.

Justin Jones states, 'Memphis, which is a 51% black population, is now connected to a county 300 miles away... My district... if you drive from one Crispy Cream in Nashville to another Crispy Cream on the outskirts of Nashville in Brentwood, you pass through five congressional districts driving just 30 minutes.' He also mentions, 'Donald Trump called the governor of Tennessee personally... Steven Miller is now celebrating with the speaker of the house... Every single one of Tennessee's nine congressional districts is majority white.'

The Tennessee legislature has engaged in actions described as a 'Jim Crow legislature' and 'state autocracy.' This includes the expulsion of the 'Tennessee Three' for advocating gun control and the recent removal of all Democratic House Caucus members (except white men) from their committees. These moves are seen as intentional efforts to suppress dissenting voices and consolidate power, reflecting a broader assault on multi-racial democracy in the South.

Justin Jones states, 'All Democrats except the white men in our caucus were removed from their committees... it shows that we are dealing with the Jim Crow legislature.' The host adds, 'This is a state autocracy, right? Like, it's not a democracy.'

Donald Trump's administration created a $1.8 billion 'slush fund' for individuals who claimed emotional distress due to leaked tax returns, which the host and guest frame as 'reparations for white insurrectionists.' This action rewards those who violently attacked the nation's democratic process, sending a dangerous message that such behavior can be financially compensated and excused, potentially inciting future violence around elections.

The host states, 'this is just basically like reparations but for white insurrectionists.' Justin Jones adds, 'It should alarm us that we are basically rewarding those who folks who violently attacked our nation and attacked our democratic process.'

Justin Jones deliberately appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show to 'meet them where they are' and speak directly to people being 'screwed over' by the administration. His strategy involved directly challenging Hannity's narratives and exposing the hypocrisy of the 'law and order' administration, aiming to reach viewers who might not otherwise hear alternative perspectives and to show them that figures like Jones are not their enemies.

Justin Jones explains, 'I went on Fox because I thought it was important to speak directly to the people being screwed over... I said Sean, are you going through Trump's crimes? What are you going whose crimes are you going through?' He aims for 'somebody on that show will hear that you know again that someone like me is not their enemy.'