Michael Patrick Leahy, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Tennessee Star, and public affairs specialist Clint Brewer discussed Thursday’s appearance by U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alongside U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), describing the visit as a significant political development that occurred on Tennessee’s Republican primary election day.
Leahy, who attended the event at Susan Gray Head Start in Nashville, noted during The Michael Patrick Leahy Show that Kennedy’s appearance with Ogles had received little attention outside The Star before the event took place.
“There’s a big story here in Tennessee on Election Day no one has covered except for The Tennessee Star,” Leahy said. “And that is Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is here in town to hold a press conference with Andy Ogles.”
Brewer agreed with Leahy’s assessment of the event’s significance.
“It’s a huge story, and I have not seen it reported anywhere but The Tennessee Star,” Brewer said.
The discussion came before Kennedy announced a proposed rule that would scale back federal regulations governing the Head Start program, leaving requirements beyond those established in federal law to the states. The proposal would also reduce the amount Head Start programs may spend on administrative costs from 15 percent to 5 percent, with administration officials saying the savings could be redirected to expand enrollment.
Kennedy, Ogles, and Administration for Children and Families Assistant Secretary Alex Adams toured the Susan Gray Head Start facility before holding a press conference outlining the proposal.
During the radio segment, Brewer characterized the timing of Kennedy’s Nashville appearance as politically notable given that it coincided with Ogles’ Republican primary contest.
“Stumping for Congressman Ogles. The White House putting its thumb on the scale in the final hour,” Brewer said.
Leahy called the visit “a big story” before discussing the sequence of political events leading up to the appearance. He noted that Governor Bill Lee had endorsed Ogles’ Republican primary opponent, former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, despite President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Ogles.
“So Tuesday night what happens is the Governor Bill Lee… says, ‘No, I’m going with my buddy, Charlie Hatcher,'” Leahy said. “Wednesday morning, we get the notice that RFK Jr.’s coming to town today.”
Leahy then offered speculation about how the visit may have come together.
“Now, I’m gonna speculate how that happened,” Leahy said before describing a hypothetical conversation between Ogles and President Trump that he suggested could have resulted in Kennedy being sent to Nashville. Brewer responded by saying, “I need some air support.”
Brewer also questioned whether there was an official policy reason for Kennedy’s visit.
“Is there an ostensible legislative, congressional, or policy reason that he’s here?” Brewer asked. “Is there some fig leaf of respectability… Normally what happens is that they come up with some incredibly well-timed federal purpose to be in town to talk about congressional-led, administrative branch business.”
Leahy replied, “There is a fig leaf. The fig leaf is the Susan Gray Head Start Center. That’s where they’re gonna be.”
Brewer responded, “So this is official business.”
“It’s as official as can be,” Leahy said. “It’s federal business.”
As the conversation continued, Brewer joked about the timing of the visit.
“But see, that’s just so… brilliant. It’s great. I love stuff like that, though. I love, ‘Oh, magically, on election day, we have the most well-known member of the cabinet coming to the district,'” Brewer said.
Later in the segment, Brewer added, “I gotta say, I think it’s brilliant politically. I agree… RFK’s a very popular guy.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Image “Rep Andy Ogles and RFK Jr. In Nashville” by Rep Andy Ogles.
