The Tennessee Conservative · Brandon Lewis

Bill Lee’s COVID Star Wins District 7 GOP Primary “Going Through God’s World With Man’s Blueprint” Playing Whack-A-Mole With Leftist Professors… Abortion Is STILL A Problem In Tennessee

October 9, 2025·13 min·1 clip

Why Brandon Lewis worries about a COVID czar winning a GOP primary in Tennessee.

This episode of The Tennessee Conservative analyzes recent political and cultural developments in Tennessee, featuring host Yaffe and contributor Brandon Lewis. Brandon Lewis is the founder of TennesseeConservativeNews.com and provides political analysis from a conservative perspective. The conversation centers on a GOP primary result, campus activism, and ongoing abortion statistics. The hosts first dissect Matt Van Epps's victory in Tennessee's 7th District GOP primary, where he won roughly 52% of the vote in a crowded field. Lewis notes Van Epps was previously Governor Bill Lee's COVID czar, a role that concerns some voters given their view of the pandemic response. Van Epps secured endorsements from Governor Lee, outgoing Congressman Mark Green, and former President Donald Trump. Lewis states his preferred candidates were Jody Barrett or Geno Bolso, whom he views as more willing to push back on party leadership. The Democratic nominee is Afton Bain, whom Lewis describes as a competent candidate who understands turning out her base. The discussion then shifts to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where Turning Point USA faced initial rejection before gaining approval. Lewis criticizes university departments focused on subjects like "queer anthropology" and "decolonization," which he views as nonsensical. He connects campus protests over dismantled diversity offices to students worried about their degree's value and staff protecting "do-nothing, hate factory jobs." A surprising claim is that over 10,000 women traveled out of state for surgical abortions in 2024, with another 6,000 terminating pregnancies via pills from telehealth appointments. Lewis argues these numbers show the abortion fight continues despite Roe v. Wade being overturned. He expresses frustration that society gets wound up over free speech issues while, in his view, overlooking the loss of these "innocents." Another memorable moment is Lewis's critique of higher education, stating professors fill students with feelings not conducive to building a happy, productive life. He characterizes this as trying to "go through God’s world with man’s blueprint." Lewis also references a UT Knoxville professor who made controversial statements about commentator Charlie Kirk, speculating she will easily find another job in a "leftist organization." The tone is conversational and opinionated, blending political strategy talk with cultural commentary from a firmly conservative stance. The style is direct and critical of left-leaning institutions, with Lewis offering personal anecdotes about his own college experience. Listeners interested in Tennessee Republican politics and conservative critiques of higher education and abortion policy would find this episode engaging. Those seeking a neutral analysis or who disagree with the hosts' foundational perspectives on these issues would likely want to skip it.

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