Headline Hijinx

Good afternoon, everyone.

One of the more interesting things to observe about the media is how different outlets frame the same issues. There are the obvious comparisons between how Fox News and CNN cover the same issue.

A Pew Research Center study made the rounds last week showing that the well-known decline in Christianity in America has stabilized in the past five years. The New York Times published an article on the study headlined “Christianity’s Decline in U.S. Appears to Have Halted, Major Study Shows.”

Just anecdotally, this tracks as true for me having witnessed many acquaintances returning to or joining churches following the chaos and uncertainty that defined the past five years—from COVID to the gentle destabilization of the social fabric after the Summer of Floyd. 

Axios Nashville had a different take on the data. “Christianity's prevalence in Tennessee has shrunk over time, a new study finds” reads the headline for their blurb on the study in this morning’s newsletter. It is not news to anyone that Christianity’s prevalence is declining in America. But it is news that many signs point to a gentle resurgence.

In other media coverage, the Tennessee Lookout ran a story headlined “New energy secretary denies climate change a ‘crisis’ during Oak Ridge visit.” That’s one way to frame what new Secretary of the Department of Energy Chris Wright said during his visit to one of the state’s crown jewels, but I think it misses the point.

Here’s the full quote in question:

“Deaths from extreme weather, which is what you hear the press and politicians’ fear mongering about, it declined over 90% in my lifetime as the population’s grown. So climate change is a real phenomenon. It’s just not even remotely close to the world’s biggest problem.” 

Did he deny it’s a crisis or just bring some sanity to the discussion?

Up North in Clarksville, a dyslexic student is suing the public school system for failing to teachi him how to read despite receiving a 3.4 GPA on graduation.

And remember the Green Hills Mall Caper that shut down I-65 for an entire day at the beginning of February? MNPD issued a homicide warrant for the arrest of the man who was robbed in the parking lot. 

Onward.

🏘️ Last Chance To Weigh In On NEST A year ago, Councilmember Quin Evans Segall spearheaded an initiative that would introduce county-wide zoning regulations. The package included nine bills and was referred to as Nashville's Essential Structure for Togetherness (NEST). 

At the time, Nashvillians came out swinging against the one-size-fits-all legislation. Many blindsided council members and constituents argued that zoning should be adjusted within each district. Others claimed that the solution, which would encourage density to create affordable housing, is just “smoke and mirrors.” Ultimately, the conversation was pushed off when the council decided to conduct a Housing and Infrastructure Study before moving forward. 

This month, five community conversations are scheduled as Nashville Planning continues to collect information before it makes its final recommendations to the council. Last March, it was made clear that this study would be the last bout of community engagement before new legislation appeared on the docket. “This is very specifically a planning study, not necessarily an engagement study,” said Councilmember Burkley Allen. Metro’s Assistant Director of Land Development, Lisa Milligan, went on to explain how the analysis of the NEST initiatives will integrate the input gathered a decade ago during the development of the NashvilleNext plan.

There are three community conversations this week, starting with a 5:30 p.m. meeting tonight at the Edmondson Pike Public Library.

🐕 DOGE Suggests Cuts In Nashville The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website lists potential areas where the US government can trim the fat when it comes to spending. As it turns out, a few Music City leases held by three US administrations may be on the chopping block. Nashville offices for the Social Security Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Food and Drug Administration all made it onto DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts,” which displays suggestions for more than 2,300 contract terminations resulting in $8 billion in savings. 

Under the lease savings section, the site outlines 748 lease terminations totaling in about $660 million in savings. The termination of the Social Security Administration’s lease for one of their Nashville offices would result in an estimated $712,885 in savings, assuming they plan to occupy the space for 5 more years. Likewise, cutting short a local lease held by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is said to save $82,775, and a massive overhaul to the Food and Drug Administration could save $777,105 in lease payments set to be made by Nashville’s branch. For now, all lease terminations remain mere suggestions that aim to shrink the federal government’s real estate footprint.

🌀 Disaster Relief On March 1, 2025, nearly six months after Hurricane Helene, a four-mile section of Interstate 40 on the Tennessee-North Carolina border reopened with one lane per direction. The U.S. Department of Transportation allocated $32 million in emergency funds, managed by Tennessee DOT Commissioner Butch Eley with Trump administration and Secretary Sean Duffy’s support, to repair this critical supply chain route. The reopening aids Tennessee and North Carolina economies by restoring transport and tourism.

Flooding also damaged 60 miles of CSX railroad across the two states, a line carrying 14 million gross tons of freight annually. CSX is working with state and federal agencies to restore the Blue Ridge subdivision, targeting full service by fall 2025. While I-40’s permanent repairs may take two to three years, Tennessee’s recovery outpaces some post-Katrina projects, which took up to 15 years, due to effective state-federal-private collaboration.

DEVELOPMENT

• Young Buck to open a sports bar and restaurant on Buchanan St. (NBJ)
• Nashville Craft Distillery to close (NBJ)
• West Davidson County apartment complex sells for $101.1M (Post)
• Developer pays $3M for Music Row property (Post)
• Giarratana sells skyscraper penthouse for $9.62M (Post)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here and our weekly film rundown 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

🎸 Marc Ridge & The Revelers @ The Basement, 7p, $12.85, Info

🎸 Sam Grisman & Friends @ Dee's Lounge, 5p, $20, Info

🎸 Timbo & Lonesome Country @ Jane's Hideaway, 8p, Info
+ modern take on classic country, bluegrass & hillbilly Jazz

🪕 Val Storey, Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle & New Monday @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info

💀 Grateful Monday @ Acme Feed & Seed, 7p, Free, Info

🕺 Motown Monday @ The 5 Spot, 9p, $5, Info

📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.

The Pamphleteer’s Top Ten Films of 2024

Our picks for the best movies of the year on the eve of the Oscars

Jerod Ra’Del HollyfieldThe Pamphleteer

Book Review: Keanu Reeves and China Miéville’s The Book of Elsewhere

Though John Wick may have returned Keanu Reeves to the A-list, he has always done what he wants on his own terms, stretching his acting ability and extracurricular interests while unafraid of being the butt of jokes. Most actors would salivate at a multimillion-dollar Netflix deal. Keanu would much…

Jerod Ra’Del HollyfieldThe Pamphleteer

What Tennessee Gets Wrong About Food and Farms

Elizabeth Murphy of Nashville Grown talks about the need for a robust regional food system in the Volunteer State

Elizabeth MurphyThe Pamphleteer

The Nine Lives of Cars

🚗 Don’t we love our cars · State budget deep dive · Blackburn wants the black book · Week in streaming · Much more!

The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer