ChatGPT Politics

Tennessee legislature establishes new Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Authority.

From Megan Podsiedlik

The bill creates state oversight of underground projects in Tennessee, including Elon Musk’s Music City Loop project currently underway in Nashville. Senate Sponsor Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) says that the state’s governing authority would help streamline the safety and permitting processes for subterranean projects that cross county lines.

The state’s Authority will be made up of 12 board members and three employees—all non-legislative members—who will oversee permitting, inspection, and regulatory processes for underground projects in Tennessee. This includes The Boring Company’s (TBC) tunnel connecting the Nashville airport to downtown and any future subterranean projects.

“TBC representatives have stated their intention to expand the number of tunnel projects to include routes from Nashville to Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Memphis,” reads the fiscal memorandum. Currently, TBC is also considering another project in Hendersonville to help the city bury its utility lines.

During its final vote in the House, Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) attempted to rename the bill the “Elon Musk's Money Pit Protection Act.” Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) also engaged in a back-and-forth with House Sponsor Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville). 

“Tennessee is being asked to build public infrastructure for a private venture to benefit a small number of wealthy people and tourists that do not live here,” said Behn, scrutinizing The Boring Company’s environmental impact and track record related to projects in other states.

“I would invite the members to go to www.chatgpt.com for the answer, as she is finding those questions there,” said Garrett after being peppered by Behn. “I'm sure you can find the answers there as well.”

✹ TERRORISM IN AMERICA

Domestic Threats to Americans Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration declared its intent to counter domestic terrorism and organized political violence.​

These efforts have been ongoing and recently bore some fruit, including major federal convictions and an upcoming international summit focused on countering the left-wing movement Antifa and other groups.​

Join us to learn from an expert in the field on domestic threats to the American people, Kyle Shideler, and what the Trump administration's efforts mean for Nashville.

This event is for the benefit of The Pamphleteer, Nashville, and priced with that in mind. Bard-level subscribers receive free admittance.

AROUND THE STATE

🌈 Family Pride Last week, Governor Bill Lee signed a resolution establishing the month of June as “Nuclear Family Month."

“The nuclear family, consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children, is God's design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world,” reads the original legislation. 

Given that June is widely observed as Pride Month, the gesture has not gone over well within the LGBTQ community.

✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH

New Council Watch Features We've added additional features to Council Watch. In addition to who's funding your councilmember, you can now see how they vote and who they vote with most frequently. (Take a Look)

HEADLINES

• 📃 Courtney Johnston hit with ethics complaint over ties to Music City Children’s Museum. The complaint, filed by two East Nashville residents on Wednesday, says Johnston did not disclose her position on the board or recuse herself from a council vote on a proposed rezoning for the ownership of the East Bank property where the envisioned museum could be located. Johnston has dismissed the complaint as “nonsense.” (Banner)
• 🚓 Nashville Downtown Partnership swaps out security contract. Downtown's security enforcement contracted out by the NDP has been under scrutiny over the last year. The partnership previously contracted the security firm Solaren to pay for Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) officers to patrol the district. This year,NDP will replace Solaren with a firm called Civicity to maintain the same relationship with THP officers. (Banner)
• 🤖 Lyft starts Nashville robotaxi hub for Waymo fleet. Lyft's Flexdrive subsidiary will manage Waymo's newly deployed autonomous ride-share fleet. Longer term, riders in Nashville will be able to hail a Waymo on the Lyft app, as well. (Axios)
• 🗣 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine to headline 2026 Asness Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats. The Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security has announced that General Dan Caine, the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will headline the summer in Nashville on April 23–24. The event, themed "The Shadow of War, The Illusion of Peace: National Security in the Age of Asymmetry," will also include senior leaders for candid dialogue on global security. (Vanderbilt)

DEVELOPMENT

• Elegy Coffee will open a new Nashville location at Sylvan Supply this year (NBJ)
• Wedgewood-Houston commercial building sells for $13.22M (Post)
• Downtown office high-rise sells for $14M (Post)
• Berry Hill building offered for $2.2M (Post)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.

TONIGHT

🪕 Mike Mitchell @ Station Inn, 9p, Info

🪕 Andrew Montana @ DRKMTTR, 6:30p, $25.57, Info

🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

🎸 Open Mic @ Fox & Locke, 6:30p, Free, Info
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.