On Friday, all of the big three network morning shows had segments on Tennessee redistricting and the protests that followed, with special attention given to props used in the protests led by State Representative Justin Pearson (D). Of course, they loved the signs about “white supremacy,” a banner that read “Jim Crow 2.0,” along with the burning of a paper with the Confederate Flag on it in a seeming revival of the ‘Tennessee Three’ controversy from 2023.
First, CBS Mornings continued its comparison of redistricting to the civil rights movement with a continuation of Thursday’s segment by correspondent Ed O’Keefe.
Host Nate Burleson introduced the story as Republicans trying “to eliminate the state’s only black majority district.” Burleson described the protests, which included loud language and screams from Democratic representatives along with signs that claimed “white supremacy,” as a “passionate demonstration.”
CBS Mornings spent the most time of the network morning shows on the redistricting battle, as Ed O'Keefe highlighted protests in the Tennessee Capitol.
— Nick (@nspin310) May 8, 2026
O'Keefe also continued his likening of redistricting to the civil rights movement, as he talked to someone who "at 12 years… pic.twitter.com/XpM9tu97KI
O’Keefe’s news package began as his voice played over some protest audio from the Tennessee Capitol as he described the situation as “chaos,” as protesters tried to “stop legislation breaking up the state’s only Democratic House seat.”
The protesters' attempt to “stop legislation” was passed over as he then highlighted a banner on the house floor held by a Democratic representative that read “Jim Crow 2.0” and the paper Confederate flag burning by Pearson.
O’Keefe interviewed CBS election law analyst David Becker, who said the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act will “really minimize the impact of the minority population in a state.”
In a continuation of Thursday, O’Keefe returned to Democratic Congressman Shomari Figures of Alabama, who called all southern redistricting discrimination.
Then, O’Keefe interviewed civil rights activist Doris Crenshaw, as he connected the redistricting to Rosa Parks:
O’KEEFE: Civil rights activist Doris Crenshaw, who at 12 years old started working on civil rights issues with Rosa Parks, was at an information session hosted by Congressman Figures Thursday night.
[To Crenshaw] You've spent your entire life working for more representation, and they may be on the verge of taking it away.
CRENSHAW: It does not sit well with me, and it shouldn't sit well with the people of goodwill in this country.
ABC's Good Morning America highlighted "heated protests" in Tennessee as the report played with audio of protesters in the background. The visual selection included notable members of 2023's 'Tennessee Three' protest, along with a sign that read "Fight Against White Supremacy." pic.twitter.com/pzdBIzfvv2
— Nick (@nspin310) May 8, 2026
On ABC’s Good Morning America, fill-in anchor Rachel Scott introduced a story on redistricting focused on Tennessee, as the chyron read, “Push to Redistrict Sparks Protests.”
Reporter Jay O’Brien framed the redistricting as an end to black-district representation in Congress, as he ignored, like all the other shows, how Tennessee’s black majority district was represented by white Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN).
His report talked over images and videos of “heated protests” screaming and holding up signs, provided by organizations like the ACLU, with phrases such as “Protect the South: No Jim Crow Maps.”
Special highlight was, once again, given to Pearson, as the ABC package showed him walking through protesters while protesting, along with images of Democratic representatives holding up fists. At the end of the package, ABC showed another member of 2023’s ‘Tennessee Three,’ State Representative Justin Jones, as he held up a sign that read, “Fight Against White Supremacy.”
NBC's Today ensured all networks covered Tennessee redistricting protests, as host Willie Geist read the story as similar images of chaotic protests played. pic.twitter.com/eiKGXRmndv
— Nick (@nspin310) May 8, 2026
Lastly, on NBC’s Today, the Tennessee redistricting was briefly covered by fill-in anchor Willie Geist, as similar images of protests played on screen:
Back here at home, Tennessee lawmakers passed a new congressional map yesterday, dividing up the state's lone majority-black district. The redrawn district lines put Republicans in position to gain a seat in this fall's mid-term elections and to secure full control over Tennessee's congressional delegation.
CBS’s comparison of redistricting to the civil rights movement showed the true direction media coverage wanted to go on the topic. As the other networks highlighted protests in Tennessee, it seemed like the networks were hungry to return to the ‘Tennessee Three’ story from 2023 as they returned to highlight Pearson and Jones.
The transcript is below. Click "expand":
CBS Mornings
May 8, 2026
7:14:52 AM Eastern
NATE BURLESON: Republicans in Tennessee are giving their party a better chance to win every congressional seat in November. They voted to eliminate the state's only black majority district on Thursday. Opponents held a passionate demonstration. They say this will punish black voters. Supporters, though, say the new maps are not driven by race. Ed O'Keefe looks a how this fight is playing out.
[Cuts to news package]
ED O’KEEFE: Chaos at the Tennessee capital in Nashville Thursday, as Democratic lawmakers and protesters tried to stop legislation breaking up the state's only Democratic House seat.
[Protest audio]
Yelling, holding signs, calling the move ‘Jim Crow 2.0.’ Even burning a printout of the confederate flag.
STATE REP. JUSTIN PEARSON (D): [Holding up Burning Confederate Flag] We will not go back.
O’KEEFE: The change follows a Supreme Court ruling last week that narrowed the Voting Rights Act.
CBS News election law analyst David Becker says the ruling has this effect.
DAVID BECKER: And in some cases, that's going to mean that they blanche their entire state's delegation and really minimize the impact of the minority population in a state.
O’KEEFE: That's the concern for Democratic Congressman Shomari Figures of Montgomery, Alabama, where a similar pending Supreme Court decision could draw his majority-black district off the map.
REP. SHOMARI FIGURES (D-AL): What that translates into is this. It is okay to discriminate against Democrats who are black, but it is not okay to discriminate against black Democrats. Doesn't make a lot of sense.
O’KEEFE: Alabama's Attorney General says it is a question of reflecting the state's Republican tilt.
ALABAMA AG STEVE MARSHALL: Alabama is a conservative state. I expect we will have conservative representatives.
O’KEEFE: Civil rights activist Doris Crenshaw, who at 12 years old started working on civil rights issues with Rosa Parks, was at an information session hosted by Congressman Figures Thursday night.
[To Crenshaw] You've spent your entire life working for more representation, and they may be on the verge of taking it away.
DORIS CRENSHAW: It does not sit well with me, and it shouldn't sit well with the people of goodwill in this country.
[Cuts back to live]
O’KEEFE: As of yet, nothing in Alabama has changed. The Supreme Court could issue a ruling allowing the state to redraw its map as early as today. Now that Tennessee has acted, nine Republican- and Democratic-controlled states across the country have redrawn their maps. Three more in the deep south may do so ahead of November's elections. Gayle?
(...)
ABC’s Good Morning America
May 8, 2026
7:14:30 AM Eastern
RACHEL SCOTT: Now to the protests over the nationwide race to redraw congressional maps across the country for partisan advantage ahead of the midterm elections. Jay O'Brien is in Washington with the latest. And Jay, Tennessee now the latest state to approve a redistricting plan.
JAY O’BRIEN: That's right, Rachel. Good morning to you. Tennessee Republicans passed a new congressional map yesterday, likely to eliminate the state's only majority-black district which is the only House seat held by a Democrat there.
The move sparking heated protests inside the Tennessee state capitol as the votes were taking place.
Tennessee is now the first state to redraw its congressional maps after a Supreme Court decision last week weakened the Voting Rights Act protections against racial discrimination and gerrymandering. The Tennessee chapter of the NAACP has already filed a lawsuit to block these maps from going into effect. Other republican states, though, like Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina, are now also moving to redraw their maps.
It’s all just the latest in a months-long wave of redistricting that swept through Republican and Democrat controlled states ahead of the November midterms, Michael?
(...)
NBC’s Today
May 8, 2026
8:04:32 AM Eastern
WILLIE GEIST: Back here at home, Tennessee lawmakers passed a new congressional map yesterday, dividing up the state's lone majority-black district. The redrawn district lines put Republicans in position to gain a seat in this fall's mid-term elections and to secure full control over Tennessee's congressional delegation.
Tennessee now becomes the ninth state to enact a new congressional map ahead of the midterms. Republicans could pick up as many as 14 seats as a result of the changes compared with 10 for Democrats, though several maps face litigation.
(...)
