Capitol Hill Conversation: Tennessee Lawmakers Confront Storm Of Protest

WPLN | By Chas Sisk

Published February 27, 2017 at 4:34 AM CST

An audience member holds up a sign criticizing U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn during a town hall in Fairview.

For the past several weeks, Republicans have been dealing with rambunctious crowds in town halls and in legislative corridors. It’s happening across the nation and in Tennessee.

They’ve sparked a debate: Are these authentic, grassroots protests of President Donald Trump, the Republicans in Congress and those controlling the Tennessee State Capitol? Or are they “Astro-turf” activists who’ve been paid to turn out?

Political reporter Chas Sisk and Jason Moon Wilkins discuss the debate.

Chas Sisk

Chas joined WPLN in 2015 after eight years with The Tennessean, including more than five years as the newspaper's statehouse reporter.Chas has also covered communities, politics and business in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. Chas grew up in South Carolina and attended Columbia University in New York, where he studied economics and journalism. Outside of work, he's a dedicated distance runner, having completed a dozen marathons

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