One Man's Trash, Another Man's Treasure

CNBC ranked all fifty states based on quality of life, and Tennessee came in last. Tennessee ranked low because of the high crime rate (68 percent above the national average), the plethora of anti-LGBTQ laws, and the fact that we’re a right-to-work state. Crime aside, the other two will be interpreted positively by many people.

I like to imagine that there exists a reader out there who, considering a move to the Volunteer State, Googles Tennessee, comes across an article like this, and changes his mind. We don’t want people like that in our state anyway, so this is great PR. I don’t know why left-wing outlets and personalities continue to try to portray Tennessee as a terrible place to live, because it’s so easy to debunk. 

My favorite stat to make this point – and if you’re a regular, you’ll know where I’m going – is that between April 2020 and July 2022, there were only five states in the country in which the number of children aged 0 to 4 increased. Tennessee, of course, is among the five. In other words, people are moving to Tennessee to raise children.

If people feel comfortable starting a family in a state, it’s an excellent indicator that the state is doing something right – especially amid growing concerns about birth rates and economic insecurity. DAVIS HUNT

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🏳️‍🌈 Rebranding DEI Congressman Andy Ogles has called for an investigation into Belmont University following the release of leaked recordings featuring Jozef Lukey, the university’s Assistant Director of Student Success and Flourishing. In the recordings, Lukey claimed that school officials simply rebranded their DEI program as Hope, Unity, and Belonging (HUB), while quietly continuing the same policies. He also explained how the university actively shields illegals.

“We're always gonna keep doing what we're doing,” said Lukey. “We just change on how we talk about it.” He continued by explaining that HUB is conscientious about ICE raids and actively shields undocumented students by “navigating in the shadows” because “nobody's paying attention to Belmont.” Damning words.

In a letter Ogles sent yesterday to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the congressman requested a full investigation into the university and suggested federal funding cuts if necessary. It appears he may have already found a smoking gun.

“Within HOURS, multiple professors have contacted my office, blowing the whistle on just how aggressively Belmont University’s administration is pushing DEI indoctrination behind the scenes,” he posted on X shortly after news broke about his commitment to an investigation this morning. Ogles says he has already obtained internal documents confirming that Belmont has an active Faculty DEI Committee that is holding DEI Chair elections for the upcoming school year.

💸 Metro Payouts: Will We Pay Millions For Battle’s Alleged Bullying? In June, the nonprofit government watchdog OpenTheBooks exposed the “170 cases of Metro being sued or Metro suing others” last year and into the first quarter of 2025. Of the $9 million spent, the largest payouts include $2 million to fire captain Tracy Turner in a free speech lawsuit, $1.3 million to Euna McGruder over race discrimination and retaliation, and $1 million to the family of a high school student who sued MNPS over harassment.

This morning, an article in the Banner recapped the circumstances leading up to the latest $6.5 million settlement on the table for a lawsuit against Metro Nashville Public Schools and Superintendent Adrienne Battle. Five years after the case was filed, lawyers have reached an agreement regarding claims that Battle retaliated against five former MNPS administrators by stripping them of their positions.

According to the article, the plaintiff’s claims range from being dismissed after questioning the age-appropriateness of a Black History Month lesson, to being targeted for investigating alleged grade falsification, to suggesting that Battle’s brother step down from his position as a basketball coach after getting in an altercation with a parent. The settlement will be considered by the Metro Nashville Public Schools board on Tuesday.

⚡️ Race Towards Energy Dominance The Tennessee Valley Authority is considering alternative sites in Middle Tennessee to establish a 900 MW simple cycle combustion plant. After extensive public input in Cheatham County, the TVA board is no longer favoring the site off Lockertsville Road for the new gas turbine.

“Natural gas continues to be a vital part of the TVA generation portfolio, and TVA will still need to build gas to meet demand and unleash American energy,” reads Tuesday’s TVA press release. “Today, TVA has 6,200 megawatts of new generation builds planned, with 3,570 megawatts currently under construction.”

DEVELOPMENT

• A. Marshall Hospitality plans oyster bar, cocktail lounge for downtown (NBJ)
• Party Fowl plans four new locations under new ownership (Post)
• Status uncertain for proposed Midtown project (Post)

✹ SUMMER SPOTLIGHT: LIQUOR LAB

In a city of wayward pedal taverns and $12 PBRs, many a Nashvillian has vowed to drink more at home. But few have the type of innate Patterson House mixology prowess that seemed so easy for Don Draper and The Dude. Thankfully, Liquor Lab has remained dedicated to improving locals’ bartending skills since its opening off 2nd Avenue in 2019. This month, the training ground for all things cocktails has announced a robust summer schedule just in time for the latest heat wave.

With locations in Nashville and Louisville, Liquor Lab aims to provide, according to its website, a “hands-on, interactive craft beer, wine, spirits and cocktail event space where guests can experience custom beverages like never before.”

Liquor Lab’s latest endeavor is a class in celebration of Daddy’s Dogs’s 10th anniversary that will pair the spot’s hot dogs with a series of summer cocktails. Kicking off tonight at 6 p.m., “Tinis & Weenies” promises to make cocktail creation accessible with drinks inspired by the restaurant’s signature dishes. “With Daddy's Dogs, we're aiming to showcase our creativity by creating a one-night-only cocktail menu to pair with three of their signature dogs,” Liquor Lab’s Nashville Head of Operations, Jeff Helion, said.

For those who can’t make tonight’s event, Liquor Lab offers a multitude of other classes from “Summer Sips” to “Boat Drinks” to “Tequila Cocktails: Beyond Margaritas.” Nashville’s go-getters can even start planning their holiday party drink menus early with this month’s “Christmas in July” classes. In Helion’s view, Liquor Lab’s mission of making mixology accessible grows out of the singular nightlife that has made Music City a culinary destination. 

A full calendar of classes and events are available on Liquor Lab’s website.

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

🎸 40 Watt Sun w/ Serpentent and Dan Spencer @ DRKMTTR, 8p, $23.51, Info

🎻 The Goonies with Members of the Nashville Symphony @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $30+, Info

🎸 Deep Sea Diver @ The Blue Room, 7p, $23.41, Info

🎸 Jason Aldean @ Bridgestone Arena, 7p, $76+, Info

🪕 An Evening with Vince Gill @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $150+, Info

🍀 Live Irish Music @ McNamara’s Irish Pub, 6p, Free, Info

🎸 Kelly’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

🎸 Open Mic @ Fox & Locke, 6:30p, Free, Info
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Who’s Afraid of a Little Old Organizing

🗣️ The worst word in politics · Homeless removal · D7 ballot grows · Gun theft map · Week in streaming · Much more!

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Money in, money out

🛣️ How free is Nashville · Taxpayer-funded lobbying · Antioch lawsuit · Comically criminal blunder of the day · Much more!

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⭕️ The Case for Ring County Rights · O’Connell hides on Bluesky · Illegals in Nashville · Saturday night in Music City · Weekly film rundown · Much more!

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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Megan Podsiedlik (Nashville), Edward Landstreet (Local Noise), and Davis Hunt (everything else).