TSU Hits the Mute Button

🫡 Mendes Leaves The Mayor’s Office Behind Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Chief Development Officer Bob Mendes will be stepping down from his position at the end of October. Mendes has not disclosed a reason for leaving, but according to the Banner, the former council member has not secured new employment. 

Mendes has faced criticism over his involvement in the East Bank Development and its Authority. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who serves on the East Bank Development Authority Board, has accused him of tying the hands of the board, making it nothing more than an oversight committee with no real authority.

This is the second key staffer who has left the mayor’s office in recent months. That said, O’Connell praised Mendes for laying a strong foundation in key development initiatives during the first half of his term.

“Bob’s legacy will no doubt be that of someone who worked tirelessly to deliver for Nashvillians and I’m grateful he chose to spend the last two years setting a strong foundation for this administration on some of our most important work,” the mayor told the Banner in a statement.

📣 Shouted Down at TSU A duo that hosts college campus debate-style forums in the mold of Charlie Kirk called Fearless Debates showed up at TSU yesterday. After only ten minutes, Cam Higby and David Khait were interrupted by a mob of students who stole signs reading “Deport All Illegals Now” and “DEI Should Be Illegal” from the group and followed them to their vehicle as they were escorted off campus by police. Video footage released by Higby shows students shouting at them and blocking and hitting their car as they attempted to leave.

TSU released a statement on the incident claiming the group had not received permission to be on campus. “In accordance with university police, any demonstration or protest requires advance approval and permitting,” reads the statement.

But at odds with the footage put out by Higby, it later claims that “at all times, TSU students conducted themselves in a professional and respectful manner.”

The NAACP even got in on the action. “This incident was not an isolated act of political expression it was an intentional effort to antagonize, disrupt, and instill fear in a space created to be safe, affirming, and supportive of Black students,” reads their statement. “While we recognize and respect that free speech is a constitutional right, there is a clear and urgent distinction between constructive dialogue and rhetoric deliberately designed to provoke, demean, and endanger the psychological safety of students at HBCUs.”

💸 New SNAP Requirements Are Kickin’ In Those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Tennessee will now have to engage in at least 20 hours per week of work, volunteering, or job training under a new federal requirement. On Monday, the Tennessee Department of Human Services announced that those who do not adhere to the updated requirements will lose SNAP benefits after three months. There are a number of exemptions for the work requirement, including individuals who are disabled, pregnant, caring for a child under 14, enrolled in school at least half‑time, or caring for someone ill or elderly.

⚖️ Casada Gets Three Years In The Clink Yesterday, former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada was sentenced to three years in federal prison for his role in a scheme to divert taxpayer funds through a political consulting company called Phoenix Solutions. Last week, his former Chief of Staff Cade Cothren was sentenced to two and a half years. Though some charges were later dropped, a jury found both men guilty on various charges of fraud and money laundering. According to the Associated Press, Casada and Cothren plan to appeal their convictions.

DEVELOPMENT

• Buds & Brews in Germantown closes, ending brand's Nashville presence (NBJ)
• California-based Mexican restaurant set for Nashville Yards (Post)
• Women's fashion retailer slated for 12South (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

🎸 Toad the Wet Sprocket w/ KT Tunstall @ Ryman Auditorium, 7p, $41+, Info

🎸 Russian Circles @ Eastside Bowl, 8p, $103+, Info

🎸 Kevin Denney @ Station Inn, 8p, $20, Info

💀 Tennessee Dead @ Tennessee Brew Works, 6p, Info

🪕 Bluegrass Night @ The American Legion Post 82, 7p, Free, Info

📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.

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