How Tennessee’s House speaker helped keep a payday lender’s struggling sports gambling company alive

By: Adam Friedman

Outlets: Tennessee Lookout

Published: January 27, 2026

Words: 2,196

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

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This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Tennessee Lookout. Sign up for Dispatches to get our stories in your inbox every week.

The powerful owners of a payday lending company faced a crisis in March 2021 when their other business, a now-defunct sports gambling operation, was under investigation by Tennessee regulators.

The couple, Michael and Tina Hodges, had already turned to Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton …

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