Nashville’s Cultural Moment

Good afternoon, everyone. Nick introduces us to Meriwether Academy, a new Nashville-based men’s group dedicated to reviving the ideal of the American man... MNPD makes recommendations to enhance school safety in Nashville... Republican lawmakers propose bills to empower surrounding counties serviced by NES... Local reporter detained by ICE... And much more!

Who funds your Councilmember? Checkout our new Council Watch tool. We analyzed every donation to every council member to show you whether they're funded by their constituents or someone else. Higher grades go to those who raise more money locally. (Explore)

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The Meriwether Academy Aims for Better Men and a Better Country

From Nick Gallo

It was an interesting week. I learned how to slaughter a hog at a farm in Dickson. I attended a Jeffersonian-style symposium dinner featuring the Chair of Belmont’s philosophy department. And I woke up early one morning to discuss the life of Poplicola, an ancient Roman aristocrat, with a small group of men in a West Nashville coffee shop.

These three events were eclectic but not random. They were all hosted by the Meriwether Academy, a new Nashville-based men’s group dedicated to reviving the ideal of the American man. How can we become better men today? How can we improve ourselves, our families, our communities, and, ultimately, our nation? What can we learn from the great men of our ancient and American past—such as the group’s namesake, Meriwether Lewis, famed explorer of the American frontier—to guide us on our journeys?

These are the questions that guide Meriwether Academy and many of the men like me who have come to its events. I met Warren Steury, twenty-eight year old founder of the organization, last year at a Pamphleteer event, which, inspired by recent successes in Oakland, advocated "robust civic engagement from ordinary citizens" in Nashville politics.

At this time, Meriwether was just getting started. I was inspired by Steury's vision, which, beyond hosting men’s events, includes founding a school for boys dedicated to classical and outdoor education—something like a cross between Plato’s Academy and the Boy Scouts, as he puts it.

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✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH

Who bankrolls your councilmember? We analyzed every donation to every council member to show you whether they're funded by their constituents or someone else. Higher grades go to those who raise more money locally. (Take a Look)

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MNPD recommends surveillance expansion on Nashville school campuses; will MNPS heed the advice?

From Megan Podsiedlik

After significant delays, a Metro Nashville Public Schools safety study was finally released this week. The assessment comes more than a year after Metro Council passed a resolution directing the Metro Nashville Police Department to evaluate safety within Nashville schools following the tragic Antioch High School shooting last January.

Recommendations MNPD provided 19 recommendations to enhance safety for students and staff. They include the creation of a School Safety Advisory Committee, using ID badges and badge readers for attendance and school access, adopting a clear bag policy, and other expansions on active-shooter training and protocols.

Surveillance Tech MNPD also recommended that MNPS increase the implementation of AI gun-detection camera systems and weapons-detection scanners; add license plate readers to campuses; integrate FUSUS monitoring; and increase campus safety personnel. School officials are expected to respond to the recommendations and decide on next steps.

Background In the wake of the Antioch shooting, it was discovered that the gun detection camera software installed in the school failed to detect the shooter’s weapon. Leading up to the tragedy, MNPS Director Dr. Adrienne Battle resisted traditional metal detectors and armed officer presence in Nashville schools.

Last January, Antioch parents filed a petition calling to make metal detectors mandatory and questioned the motives behind pursuing unproven technology over traditional public safety practices.

The Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education finally voted to install concealed weapon detection systems in all high schools throughout Davidson County last February. The Evol systems have a multi-layer monitoring mechanism that detects metal objects and uses AI technology to scan the size, density, and shape of concealed items. MNPS also significantly expanded its School Resource Officer (SRO) program for the 2025-2026 school year.

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HEADLINES

📜 Republicans propose two bills giving surrounding counties powered by NES more control over electric service in the wake of this year’s ice storm. One would create representation on the NES board of directors for counties outside Davidson County that are served by the municipal provider. The second would allow communities outside Davidson County to buy themselves out of NES by purchasing and taking control of their utility infrastructure. (NewsChannel 5)
🧊 Nashville reporter picked up by ICE in South Nashville stop. Nashville Noticias staffer Estefany Rodríguez was detained Wednesday morning. Rodríguez came to the US in 2021 on a tourist visa and overstayed, applying for asylum in the interim. (Banner)
🏫 House Finance Subcommittee advances bill to report noncitizen students. The forward momentum comes after House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) added an amendment removing a provision allowing districts to charge tuition to noncitizen students. (State Affairs)
🌿 Will Tennessee ban kratom? State lawmakers are advancing a bill to criminalize the herbal extract marketed as a mood-boosting stimulant. The FDA has flagged and taken enforcement actions regarding kratom products for over a decade due to safety concerns. Representative Esther Helton-Haynes (R-East Brainer) and Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) are sponsoring a bill that would make it a felony to buy, sell, manufacture, or possess, the substance that critics call “gas station heroin.” (State Affairs)