Conspiracy or Dud?
❄️ Will after-action reports hold anyone accountable? · Local reporters target Blackburn · Will Judge dismiss TN charges against Abrego Garcia? · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. Does anyone honestly believe that after-action reports will hold anyone accountable for Nashville's winter storm debacle?... Local reporters target Blackburn... Will Judge dismiss TN charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia?... 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 city's post-disaster assessment is all bark and no bite.
From Davis Hunt
It’s been over a month since the winter storm debacle, and the city continues to move at a glacial pace as they spread blame thin enough to be cut with a whisper. To achieve this, multiple boards and commissions have been set up, each with its own vague missions and others with open and obvious conflicts of interest.
Metro’s Winter Storm Response Commission is headed by Phil Bredesen, who is the Chairman of Silicon Ranch, a solar energy company. Silicon Ranch has active and open contracts totaling tens of millions of dollars with Nashville Electric Service.
The mayor’s response to this plainly obvious fact was that “the commission has no formal authority over NES" and they are tasked with “review[ing] the entire winter storm response.”
So what’s the point of the commission? Why even bother?
At the inaugural meeting, Bredesen said the quiet part out loud: “My own experience of these has been that there tends to be a lot of comments at the outset, but it falls off pretty rapidly after people have said what they want to say.”
In short, six months from now, by the time this commission winds up their “review,” the vast gulf in time and action will ensure the public’s sabre-rattling for scalps will dwindle, no real changes will be made, and everyone involved will keep making money.
NES has also set up its own investigative body, enlisting two law firms, Adams & Reese and Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, to lead an “independent after-action review of the utility’s storm response.”
Does anyone honestly believe either of these review boards will hold anyone accountable?
✹ 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)
✹ CONSPIRACY OR DUD?
The Nashville Scene published a story yesterday based on a public records request revealing that Senator Marsha Blackburn's office called NES CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin two days after the storm hit to inquire about the status of power restoration at her Brentwood home.
The conversation prompted Broyles-Aplin to query her operations manager about its status and asked to be kept abreast of efforts in her area. It’s difficult to judge the nature of the exchange because the Scene didn’t release the emails in full, and thus, we’re forced to decide whether or not trust their judgment.
The writer describes how the operations manager “intervened" to get a crew working on Blackburn's neighborhood earlier than expected. A lot rests on that single word.
HEADLINES
- ⚖️ Will Judge dismiss TN charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia? Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw heard arguments on whether to dismiss the human smuggling charges against the El Salvador native after defense attorneys say he was the victim of vindictive prosecution. (News Channel 5)
- 👕 Titans tease March 12 reveal for new logo and uniforms. The Tennessee Titans' new logo has been leaked multiple times in recent weeks, though full uniform details remain under wraps until the official reveal. It looks like we’re getting a white T. (Sports Logos)
- 🏞 Edwin Warner Park reopens following recent ice storm. The park was able to reopen on Wednesday following help from volunteers and the Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation Maintenance Division who worked around the clock to clear storm damage at the Park and the Warner Park Nature Center. (NewsChannel 5)
Noteworthy: Radnor Lake State Park will reopen at 1 p.m. on Monday following winter storm cleanup. - 🏘 The Nations named Nashville’s friendliest neighborhood. Last week, Nextdoor released its 2026 list of Friendliest places to live in Nashville. The Nations topped the charts with a score of 100 for friendliness and 95 for affordability. Sylvan Park came in second, followed by Caldwell-Abbay Hall, Charlotte Park, and Crieve Hall. (Nextdoor)
DEVELOPMENT
- Famous D.C. hospitality group plans Music Row restaurant (NBJ)
- Titans to fund Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge work (Post)
- NADC Burger to open in The Arcade (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
🩰 Swan Lake @ Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Jackson Hall, 7:30p, Info
🎸 Waxed @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, 8p, $15, Info
🎙️ Goldie Boutilier @ The Basement East, 8p, $33.44, Info
🪕 The Creekers @ Station Inn, 8p, $25, Info
🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SATURDAY
🩰 Swan Lake @ Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Jackson Hall, 2p & 7:30p, Info
🎸 Langhorne Slim @ The Basement East, 8p, $33.44, Info
🎸 Kenny Wayne Shepherd @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $135+, Info
🪕 The Creekers @ Station Inn, 8p, $25, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SUNDAY
🩰 Swan Lake @ Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Jackson Hall, 2p, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Jam @ Station Inn, 7p, Free, Info
+ a night for musicians and singers from all over the world to gather and enjoy making music together
🪕 Sundays Between with Easy Green @ Tennessee Brew Works, 1p, Info
+ a bluegrass celebration of the music of the Grateful Dead
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.