The City That Atom Built
The Daily · · 7 min read
Good afternoon, everyone. Today:
- 1 Tennessee makes bid to become the home of a new DOE Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus
- 2 A look at new census data
- 3 Will Nashville host a Superbowl in 2030?
+ And much more!
Terrorism in America
Join us Thursday, April 16th for a discussion with domestic terrorism expert Kyle Shideler as we dig into the federal government's response to the Charlie Kirk assassination and what it means for us here locally. (Buy Ticket)
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)
State leaders hope to attract new government nuclear lifecycle campus to Tennessee.
Earlier today, Governor Bill Lee announced that Tennessee has proposed Oak Ridge as the potential site for a U.S. Department of Energy Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. If chosen, the hub would likely serve as a testing ground, handle nuclear waste disposal, and support the deployment of nuclear energy across the county.
Right now, the DOE has put out a formal request asking interested states to send in proposals. Tennessee already has some competition: South Carolina, Alabama, Utah, and others are already throwing hats in the ring. Submissions will be reviewed over the next several months. The DOE could ultimately decide to establish multiple sites instead of just one.
“As our state answered the call during the Manhattan Project and helped shape the course of history, Tennessee stands ready once again to lead in advancing safe, reliable energy solutions our Nation depends on,” said Governor Lee, expressing alignment with President Trump’s vision to secure America’s energy dominance.
Yesterday, the Senate passed a joint resolution in support of the bid and highlighted the advantages Oak Ridge has to offer. This includes Tennessee’s nuclear-friendly history; the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which houses the largest multi-program science and energy research facility; and the Y-12 National Security Complex, responsible for storing nuclear weapons components, uranium enrichment, and testing.
Tennessee is also home to the only commercial uranium enrichment centrifuge manufacturing plant in the country. It's also the number-one state in the nation for nuclear energy development and has attracted more than $8 billion in nuclear investment.
Fun Facts
If accepted, the campus would build on institutions that have existed in Oak Ridge since the government established the top-secret town out of thin air in 1942. During America’s nuclear arms race against the Nazis in WWII, the government started the Manhattan Project to develop nuclear weapons. The town of Oak Ridge was built from scratch to house more than 75,000 residents participating in the operation.
It was so secret, the township was omitted from maps. At the time, most who were part of the Manhattan Project didn’t even realize they were working on developing the atomic bomb. At one point, the site was responsible for consuming 10 percent of all U.S. electricity.
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.
BLURBS
👥 Census Updates In our previous reporting on the new census data, we actually underreported the amount that international migration to the city had decreased. Using an expired vintage for the 2024 numbers, we stated that international migration shrank by 33 from July 2024 to July 2025 compared to the previous.
That number is actually 58 percent after an updated count for the previous period showed 14,102 immigrants moving to the city. Despite the decrease, immigrants still accounted for 63 percent of Nashville’s growth. Statewide, international migration fell by 62 percent.
The story of international migration shrinking in states and cities is a national story. So local commentary on the latest data has played up Nashville’s numerical growth, noting that it gained more people than any other county in the state.
A more germane story for the state might be the domestic migration boom in the Nashville Metropolitan Area, which includes the fourteen Middle Tennessee counties that make up the Nashville MSA. While international migration to the Nashville area fell by nearly 60 percent, domestic migration grew by 17 percent.
This is big because from July 2023 to July 2024, the primary engine of growth was international migration which outpaced domestic migration. A strong increase in domestic migration to the region shows that, even as Trump’s immigration crackdown continues, Middle Tennessee is retaining its appeal to American citizens.
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
Nashville making a play for 2030 Super Bowl.
Titans leaders and city officials are pushing to bring the big game to Music City by 2030 with the new Nissan Stadium set to open in 2027.
WKRNBriley Parkway noise pollution.
Residents who live near the busy highway are fed up with the noisy traffic. Councilmember Jeff Gregg (District 15) is calling for more sound barriers along that stretch of Briley.
WKRNFBI Issues Urgent Warning: Cybercriminals Are Targeting Musicians.
According to a recent report from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the music industry saw a significant surge in criminal activity between early 2024 and late 2025.
FBI NashvilleGatlinburg wildfire lawsuits against U.S. government dismissed.
A federal judge has dismissed multiple lawsuits against the National Park Service stemming from the 2016 Chimney Tops fire that devastated Gatlinburg and the Sevier County area.
WVLT 8
DEVELOPMENT
Tiny parking lot next to record-breaking Lower Broadway site listed for sale
NBJFirst Beaman site tower, Albion Music Row, set to open this spring
NBJLocal firm, Green Trails, eyes 186 rooftops for Antioch
NBJNational flooring company taps midstate for headquarters
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 Thu, Apr 2
| Show | Venue | Time | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vincent Neil Emerson | The Basement East | 8p | $33.49 | Info for Vincent Neil Emerson |
| Final Fantasy: A Symphonic Reunion | Schermerhorn Symphony Center | 7:30p | $48+ | Info for Final Fantasy: A Symphonic Reunion |
| Bobby's Shorts & Co.: America's Most Reclusive Dead Tribute Band! | Brooklyn Bowl Nashville | 8p | $24 | Info for Bobby's Shorts & Co.: America's Most Reclusive Dead Tribute Band! |
| Ben Rice Trio | Vinyl Tap | 7p | Free | Info for Ben Rice Trio |
| Kelley’s Heroes | Robert’s Western World | 6:30p | Free | Info for Kelley’s Heroes |
| Open Mic+ vet community here | Fox & Locke | 6:30p | Free | Info for Open Mic |
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.
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