Drawing the Lines

From Megan Podsiedlik

Yesterday, the NAACP filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the redistricting of Tennessee’s U.S. Congressional seats. Congressman Steve Cohen, Tennessee’s lone Democratic representative whose district will be drastically changed by the new map, also plans to file a suit.

NAACP Lawsuit Though widely circulated as an attempt to block Tennessee’s new map based on claims that it racially targeted Memphis’ black voters, the NAACP’s argument relies heavily on technicalities. 

Up until yesterday, the Tennessee legislature was only allowed to redraw congressional district boundaries following the official U.S. Census and was not allowed to change them mid-cycle. During special session, state lawmakers passed a law removing that language so they could redraw the map.

In the emergency petition, the NAACP argues that the governor did not specify that the special session would be held to change that state law and therefore it was unauthorized. It makes a similarly technical argument about another law passed during special session that suspends the one-year district residency requirement for 2026 congressional candidates.

The suit is likely to move quickly. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti already filed a notice of a requirement for a special three-judge panel.

What about the ruling in Virginia? The Supreme Court of Virginia struck down a voter-approved redistricting map that heavily favored Democrats earlier today. That said, the ruling is based on the language in Virginia’s constitution. 

The Tennessee State Constitution is mostly silent on redistricting procedures for U.S. congressional districts, except for stipulating that the state must comply with constitutional equal population requirements and must abide by the Voting Rights Act and constitutional rules on race. 

Though Tennessee Republican lawmakers were not shy about the fact that they redrew the map for political gain, they denied any racial profiling. 

What Horrors We Wrought In 1973, French writer Jean Raspail published one of the most controversial novels of the 20th century. His novel, The Camp of Saints, has been consistently censored throughout its history.

Vauban Books recently published a new translation of the French story, accompanied by a lucid introduction by writer Nathan Pinkoski. Join us as we discuss the legacy of this controversial novel and what it says about the West.

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

🗺 A noticeably hoarse Pro Tempore Delishia Porterfield conducted announcements before yesterday’s Metro Council meeting, reflecting the tone of many members who’ve expressed devastation over Tennessee’s new U.S. Congressional map.

“I'm sitting here with no voice because I've spent the last three days at the Capitol,” said Porterfield. “While…we took a hit today, our heads are bloody but unbowed, and we will continue to fight.”

Vice Mayor Angie Henderson kept up the same energy when kicking off the main event.

“As elected officials, we will do our best, as always, to make sure Nashvillians have the information they need to exercise their vote in an increasingly confusing and unfair environment where partisan state officials are disenfranchising Tennesseans and choosing their voters,” said Henderson when opening last night's meeting.

She continued with a warning to Nashville students selected to travel around the world as Sister Cities ambassadors. 

“You will soon cross oceans to represent our city and our country, which used to be the envy of the world,” said Henderson. “Young people, I will tell you, you are going to get a lot of disheartened questions about what is going on in the United States.”

Between forwarding Mayor O’Connell’s proposal to ease zoning regulations for daycare centers on second reading, finally passing new outdoor sandwich sign regulations, buying up three flood-prone properties, and opining on the oppression of brown people while passing a resolution recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the council skirted around a few conversations.

There was no discussion before the members passed a resolution approving the Metro Arts Commission’s FY2027 grant criteria. The council also deferred the resolution to denounce the performance and leadership of the Electric Power Board, which expresses that the “Council has lost confidence in the ability of Electric Power Board of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County to operate and supervise Nashville Electric Service.”

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

🎟️ Voucher Expansion Governor Bill Lee on Thursday signed legislation expanding the Education Freedom Scholarship Program from 20,000 to 35,000 seats for the 2026-27 school year. The Tennessee Department of Education fielded more than 56,000 applications — a 31.8% jump over last year — and reserved all 35,000 scholarships through the priority queue, with another 17,735 applicants on a waitlist.

The per-pupil award rises to $7,530, up from $7,295. According to TDOE, 81% of new scholarships went to income-qualifying families or students already enrolled in the state's IEA or ESA programs, more than 300 private schools have registered to participate, and last year's inaugural cohort posted a 99% renewal rate.

TennesseeCAN, which lobbied for the expansion, framed the bill's passage as a response to runaway demand. "This expansion means that more families, regardless of their background or income, can choose to send their child to the public school, charter school or private school that will best support their individual learning needs," said Chelsea Crawford, Executive Director of TennesseeCAN.

• 🌤 Tennessee set to conceal identities of top public job candidates.

  The new law changes the state’s open meetings law to let government bodies hold private executive sessions when interviewing candidates for “director-level” jobs, but excludes police chief positions.

  Tennessean

• 🚶 Nashville pedestrian and roadway deaths have spiked in 2026

  . There have been 13 pedestrian fatalities on Nashville streets this year. As of this time last year, three people had died on foot in Nashville. Metro Nashville Police Department says traffic fatalities of all types have been higher so far this year, including two cyclist and six motorcyclist deaths.

  WPLN

• ⭐️ Lee Co. CEO steps down as governor's son takes over family HVAC business.

  The well-known company, founded more than 80 years ago, is returning to leadership from its founding family. Caleb Lee, son of Gov. Bill Lee, becomes the fourth generation to lead the Franklin-based company.

  NBJ

• 🗳 Brent Taylor announces candidacy for Tennessee’s new 9th Congressional District.

  State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) on Thursday officially submitted paperwork for his candidacy to represent Tennessee’s newly redrawn 9th Congressional District with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), challenging U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) for a seat Democrats have held for over 50 years.

  TN Star

• Belmont breaks ground on Music Row building

  Post

• 📅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 Fri, May 8

🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info

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

Saturday

Sunday

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.