Paul Blest
Reporter
I'm a reporter based in the South covering labor, politics, and breaking news. I was previously a news editor at Splinter and a reporter at INDY Week, and I cofounded the newsletter Discourse Blog. I've also written for The Nation, The New Republic, In These Times, and more.
Trump’s Ridiculous CNN Town Hall Proves They Have Learned Nothing
It is insulting to claim CNN’s decision—to air 70 minutes of the former president riffing, lying, and insulting the network’s own moderator—was about anything other than money.
America Is Obsessed With Vigilantism
The mainstream response to the killing of Jordan Neely has been shockingly callous, and it’s part of a growing and disturbing strain of vigilantism.
Republicans Just Banned Montana’s First Trans Legislator From the House Floor
Rep. Zooey Zephyr had been banned from speaking for nearly a week, after saying the GOP would have “blood on their hands” for a ban on transition care for minors.
Republicans Are Trying to Expel the First Trans Legislator in Montana
GOP leaders have refused to recognize Rep. Zooey Zephyr in floor debates after she said they’d have “blood on their hands” for passing a ban on gender-affirming care.
Texas Agency Threatens to Fire People Who Don’t Dress ‘Consistent With Their Biological Gender’
The internal department memo is just the latest attempt by state officials in Texas to crackdown on trans and gender non-conforming people.
The Cop Who Killed Breonna Taylor Is Now a Sheriff’s Deputy
“We felt like he was a good candidate to help us in our county,” the new employer said of a cop who was fired after he shot and killed an unarmed woman.
Republican Who Voted to Kick Out Tennessee 3 Accused of Sexually Harassing a Teen Intern
The student reportedly said in the email that Campbell made repeated sexual comments and “grabbed me around my neck.”
The Florida GOP Wants to Keep DeSantis’ Taxpayer-Funded Jet Flights a Secret
The Florida Legislature is set to shield the governor’s official travel records from public records laws as his presidential campaign looms.
The GOP Kicked Justin Jones Out of the Tennessee House. Two Days Later, He’s Back.
Rep. Justin Jones was sworn in last night, and a vote on the seat vacated by former Rep. Justin Pearson is set for Wednesday.
Greg Abbott Says He’ll Pardon a Man Who Killed a BLM Protester, Before He’s Even Sentenced
The Texas governor hasn’t handed out many pardons in nearly a decade in office, but says he will approve this one “as soon as it hits [his] desk.”
Why the Hell Is It So Hard to Get Adderall Right Now?
The shortage announced in October is still ongoing, and it’s making patients, providers, and psychiatrists’ lives much more difficult.