Pathos For The Plebes

Davidson County Election Commission prepares for two different Congressional races.

From Megan Podsiedlik

During last night’s DCEC meeting, Administrator of Elections John Richardson updated the commission on how his team will tackle the new district lines. Currently, Davidson County is in the rigorous process of making sure that the database correctly reflects the new boundaries. The DCEC also saved the old voter registration roll from the previous congressional district map in the event that a court ruling reestablishes the old lines.

“Whichever road or path we go down, we are prepared as the Davidson County Election Commission moves forward,” said Richardson.

Though the administrator expressed confidence in the county's ability to properly execute August and November’s elections, Commissioner Kenny Byrd had a few bones to pick during the meeting.

“You know, we just suffered an ice storm where the electric commission said they had it under control, and apparently they didn’t,” said Byrd. “I appreciate that we're saying, ‘We're going to work our tail off to do it right,’ and 'It's going to be tough, but we're going to do it’…but to not acknowledge to people that this is too much. We are going to have a travesty. We're going to have a chaotic election. We're not being honest.”

Correlating Davidson County’s potential election rollout during this year’s congressional races to the NES disaster was one of Byrd’s tamer comparisons. After recanting the tragic story of Elbert Williams—who was found dead in Tennessee’s Hatchie River after attempting to register to vote in 1940—Byrd suggested that Tennessee lawmakers are repeating history.

“Tennessee does have a history, and we have to live with it,” said Byrd. “And there is a history of silencing African American voters and other voters. And what we saw in this past week or so, where the legislature decided that they're going to pick their voters instead of letting voters pick their representatives, is a travesty, and it takes us back to a time we don't want to go to.”

After allowing him to say his piece and ask questions, DCEC Chairman Will Burns slapped Byrd on the wrist.

“I do not equate, in any shape, form, or fashion, the motivations of the General Assembly and doing what they did to the disgusting history of Brownsville, many years ago,” said Burns. “That was the suggestion you made. I find that wrong, and I terribly disagree with that characterization.”

Every registered voter in Davidson County will receive a new voter ID card reflecting their new district along with a sample ballot sometime in late June or early July. Richardson estimates that the process to adjust for the new lines will cost about $300,000 and hopes the full amount will be reimbursed by the state.

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.

✹ METRO COUNCIL WATCH

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)

HEADLINES

• ⚖️ Metro Legal Director Wally Dietz to retire. Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced the appointment of Tyler Yarbro to serve as the next Director of the Metropolitan Government’s Department of Law following the decision by current Director of Law Wallace “Wally” Dietz to retire from the position in July 2026. (Mayor’s Office)
• 🥾 Democratic lawmakers removed from House standing committees and subcommittees following special session. In a letter addressed to House Democratic Leader Karen Camper dated May 12, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton accused members of the Democratic Caucus of actions aimed at “disrupting the democratic and legislative processes and creating disorder on the House Floor.” Individual letters were sent to lawmakers informing them they had been removed from committee assignments. (Fox 17)
• 🧊 Nashville’s sheriff says he’s exempt from bill lawmakers passed mandating agreements with ICE. Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall was advised by Metro Legal that his office is exempt from having to join 287(g) agreements based on a technicality. Hall noted his department cooperates with federal immigration officials on an ongoing basis. In the past 12 months, 632 individuals arrested on local criminal charges were transferred from Nashville jails into ICE custody, he said. (Lookout)
• 📚 TN tops national rankings in math and reading recovery. A new Education Scorecard report from researchers at Harvard and Stanford University found that Tennessee ranks first among measured states in post-pandemic math recovery and third in reading recovery from 2022 to 2025. The report says Tennessee students have nearly returned to pre-pandemic math achievement levels, with districts such as Johnson City, Putnam County, White County, and Maury County leading the state in academic gains, while Memphis-Shelby and Montgomery County continue to face the biggest recovery challenges. TennesseeCAN credited the state’s education policies and investments for the progress, though chronic absenteeism remains above pre-pandemic levels despite improving since 2022. (TCAN Press Release)

DEVELOPMENT

• Strato Capital Acquires Industrial Building Near Downtown Nashville (Now Next)
• Plans progress for proposed Wedgewood-Houston project (Post)
• East Nashville commercial property offered for $4.95M (Post)
• Frothy Monkey owners sell bakery business (Post)
• Kroger distribution center sells for $23M (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

🥁 Live Jazz: Parker James, Paul DeFiglia & Anson Hohne @ Vinyl Tap, 7p, Free, Info

🎸 Jim Keller @ The 5 Spot, 6p, $10, 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.