'We Use Everything': Democrat Justin Pearson Tells Velshi 'Nothing's Off the Table' to 'Fight Back' Against Trump

Source: MEDIAite

Aug 16th, 2025, 6:17 pm


Tennessee State Rep. Justin Pearson, a Democrat, said on MSNBC Saturday that no measures are out of bounds or off the table for the “resistance” against President Donald Trump, drawing enthusiastic agreement from MSNBC host Ali Velshi. On the latest episode of MSNBC’s Velshi, the host spoke with Pearson on the subject of “fighting fire with fire,” as Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has put it when discussing gerrymandering his own state to get back at Republicans for redistricting in Texas.

Pearson, who made a name for himself when he and two other state representatives helped lead protesters in occupying the Tennessee House to protest against gun violence. Pearson was subsequently expelled from the House, but was reinstated a week later after blaming the vote on racism. The activist politician has been a public voice on other issues as well since those events, and on Saturday was equally unreserved in his commentary.

After a glowing introduction of Pearson as someone who has been “standing up to Republicans” for years, “Brother Jones, welcome back to the show,” Velshi said. “You are living this. Not only have you done it, but you actually got reelected by your constituents to go back and fight some more. You have set this flavor out there a while ago that people want fighters.” Velshi further prompted his guest by stating in the question that people are willing to forego some good morals if opponents are “burning the house down” and “you need to do something.”

“I mean, that’s exactly right, Brother Ali,” Pearson said. “You know, the house is on fire, we have to stop pretending like we don’t smell the smoke. It’s time for America to wake up and put our morals above our manners.” “Now is not the time to engage in trying to play patty-cake with a party that’s been captured by fascists and neo-Confederates,” Pearson said. “There is no bipartisanship anymore with a party that is intent on maintaining minority rule between tech oligarchs, White supremacists, and Christian nationalists.”

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/we-use-everything-democrat-justin-pearson-tells-velshi-nothings-off-the-table-to-fight-back-against-trump/