Opinion: Blackburn’s video was silly. The reaction was even sillier.

By , Guest Columnist Published: October 26, 2026 4:00 AM CT
John Covington
Guest Columnist

John Covington

John Covington is a lifelong Shelby County resident. He spent nearly two decades teaching history at both the high school and college levels before entering law enforcement, where he has served in the Memphis Police Department for more than a decade. He is vice president of the Memphis Police Association, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Memphis, and is active in local Republican politics.

“Blackburn’s critics turned a campaign joke into a racial indictment — and treated their outrage as evidence.”

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Guest Columns John Covington Marsha Blackburn

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