Latest news with #TennesseeVoices
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee Voices celebrates five years of interviews with leaders and newsmakers
On April 18, The Tennessean published the 446th episode of the Tennessee Voices video podcast, a now 5-year-old interview show born of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have hosted the program since the beginning in March 2020 shortly after the virus emerged in Tennessee and sent many employees — including me — home to work. COVID also led to the cancellation of live events — an important part of my job as an opinion and engagement journalist — where I sought to connect people on issues of public interest. It was disappointing and hard, but like many of you, I had to adapt, pivot and innovate. Thus, the Tennessee Voices video podcast launched on March 24, 2020, on The purpose was to record video interviews with leaders, thinkers, doers and makers from Tennessee for a 15-to-20-minute conversation about their work, their origin stories and how they were coping during the pandemic. In some cases, I learned about their reading and TV show preferences, including several who confessed to watching "Tiger King." The name "Tennessee Voices" pays homage to The Tennessean's long-time brand for its opinion columns. The goal was for the guest and me to model civil discourse during a politically polarized time and help each other and the audience understand the world during a pandemic. This was an extension of the work we had been doing through the Civility Tennessee initiative since 2017. I hustled to find the first few guests, who included Patrick Ryan, the former president of the Tennessee World Affairs Council; the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms; and Sharon Roberson, president and CEO of the YWCA of Middle Tennessee. Guests have run the gamut from politicians such as U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn to nonprofit leaders like reproductive rights activist Cherisse Scott as well as leaders in health care, education, business and nonprofit. Opinion: How Black and Latino Tennessee Voices Storytellers Live came to be in Nashville I have enjoyed hosting this show because it connects me on a one-on-one level with fascinating people who have a lot to offer in terms of achievements, wisdom and perspective, and I hope the audience gets a lot out of it, too. Speaking with each other — and not at each other — is fundamental to building a strong community and sustaining our democratic republic. April 17: Nick Ogden, founder and CEO of The Clear Blue Company April 15: Mo Sabri, Muslim country music artist (Check out his song "Married in a Barn" on YouTube) March 28: Winston Justice, ex NFL player and new finance CEO March 11: Pat Williams of iScribe on artificial intelligence and health care burnout Feb. 11: Melissa Hudson-Gant, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee Jan. 28: Ashley Blum, executive director of NAMI Davidson County Jan. 21: Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas, and Laurel Graefe, regional executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Jan. 14: Buddy Teaster, president and CEO of Soles4Souls Jan. 7: Delaney Shelton spoke about her son' Boston's fentanyl overdose death and her advocacy David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@ or find him on X at @davidplazas. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Voices video show celebrates its fifth anniversary | Opinion
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee should end capital punishment and cancel execution dates for five men
'The Tennessee State Attorney General has asked the Tennessee Supreme Court to set execution dates for the following five men…' I read that statement, took a deep breath, and read the names of the five men. My heart sank. I know all five of them. I regularly talk with three of the men. One of the men is a dear friend. Our church ordained him while he was on death row and then helped him start a church, The Church of Life, on Tennessee's death row. The fifth gentleman, I knew, but not very well. Once I caught my breath, I asked myself, 'Why, after a five-year hiatus, has the state of Tennessee decided to resume state sanctioned killings?' Proponents of capital punishment will tell you executions are necessary and just and reserved for the worst of the worst criminals. Some will add a Bible verse to their reasoning. 'Whoever sheds innocent blood, by humans shall their blood be shed' (Genesis 9:6). In the words of old-fashioned Baptist preachers, 'God said it. I believe it. That settles it.' However, if God said it, and capital punishment was meant to be an immutable law, God did not believe it because God did not follow it with absolute commitment. Cain killed his brother, Abel, and God did not require Cain to pay for it with his life. King David had Uriah killed, but God did not make him pay with his life. Saul, before he became Paul, killed several people. Yet, God never required him to be executed. Apparently, there is something else going on in Genesis 9:6 besides an absolute law that cannot be changed or altered. There is no doubt in my mind the God of the Bible is a God of justice who requires us 'to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly' (Micah 6:8). This leads me to believe the universal principle behind Genesis 9:6 is to make justice the top priority in any legal system and in any penalty for violating a law. Justice is the goal, but does justice require a person who takes a life to give his life? Apparently not! Opinion: Kevin Burns should be out of Tennessee death row. Our new book tells his story. If so, God would have violated a divine standard. Something God could never do. But I repeat, God does require justice in all circumstances. The writer of Proverbs states, 'To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice' (Proverbs 21:3). The question is not, 'Should justice be done?' The question is, 'If there is another way for justice to be done without taking another life, should we not do that?' Another question is, 'What type of justice does God require?' Considering the Bible in its entirety, the type of justice flowing from an all merciful and all loving God, is restorative justice. Opinion: Sign up for the Tennessee Voices newsletter showcasing opinion across the Volunteer State God is a God of reconciliation. Restorative justice seeks reconciliation for the victim, for the victims' families, for the communities in which the crime occurred, and for the perpetrator of the crime. Restorative justice is holistic and upholds the Imago Dei in all of us. Capital punishment if purely punitive, absent of any restorative virtue. Punitive justice is not divine justice. Restorative justice is. God is a God of restoration and reconciliation, and God requires us to be a people of restoration and reconciliation. The Apostle Paul writes, 'All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). As moral people. As people desiring 'To do what is right and just,' let's encourage our state not to resume executions. Let's fight for justice in all situations. But let's fight for restorative justice, not punitive justice which isn't really justice at all. We don't need more execution dates. We need more restorative justice practices in our legal system. Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs is pastor of Franklin Community Church. Reach him at kevin@ Submit a letter to the editor at this link. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Capital punishment is punitive, not restorative, justice | Opinion
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump declares war on First Amendment with arrest of activist Mahmoud Khalil
Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to the bottom to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree. We welcome diverse viewpoints. I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia Unversity in New York student for his participation in antiwar protests. Khalil is an immigrant with green card. Based on multiple media interviews that he was arrested for engaging in speech that is constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. This incident is not only a grave violation of individual rights but also a troubling affront to the core values upon which our nation was built. The First Amendment guarantees every person within the United States – citizens and non-citizens alike – the right to freedom of speech, a cornerstone of our democracy. The arrest of an individual for exercising this right undermines the constitutional protections we hold sacred and threatens the very principles that make this country a beacon of freedom. This troubling act sends a chilling message to immigrants and marginalized communities, many of whom have contributed immensely to the strength and diversity of our nation. It raises the specter of fear and silences voices that deserve to be heard. Such actions erode trust in our institutions and weaken the fabric of our democracy. Opinion: A year after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, we Jewish communities mourn, pray and hope I urge local, state, and federal authorities to address this incident promptly and ensure accountability. A robust and unequivocal commitment to upholding constitutional rights is essential to restoring public confidence and safeguarding the freedoms that define us as a nation. I call upon members of our community, public officials, and all who value justice to join in condemning this violation of constitutional rights. We must stand together to ensure that our freedoms are protected for all, regardless of immigration status. Furrukh Malik, Nashville 37203 More voices: Sign up for the Tennessee Voices newsletter showcasing opinion across the Volunteer State Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@ Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump administration violated the rights of Mahmoud Khalil | Letters
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee senator demands Epstein files. She should denounce Tate brothers too.
Before he was accused of running a sex trafficking ring and died by suicide in federal prison in 2019, financier Jeffrey Epstein was a politically connected billionaire who palled around with influential people including former President Bill Clinton and current President Donald Trump. His name is back in the news as Tennessee Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has called for the U.S. Justice Department to release full, unredacted records on Epstein. She told Fox News that Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Kash Patel are working with her to get the information out, including flight logs, showing that Epstein allegedly preyed on 250 victims. Blackburn consistently rails against sex trafficking and for more protections of children on online platforms, so this is not out of character. In a post on X Thursday, she wrote: "We must break these human trafficking rings apart. Let's get these vile predators apprehended. Let's get them prosecuted, and let's put an end to the horrific practice of abusing women." The senator is right to say this, and that is why she should also speak out vociferously on a related issue that hit the news this week. Recently, the Trump administration reportedly pushed to lift a travel ban on two brothers accused of sex trafficking, money laundering and rape. Andrew and Tristan Tate flew from Romania to Florida on Thursday after their travel ban was lifted. They are social influencers who spew misogyny. They also happen to be Trump supporters who, according to Romanian officials, have the attention of the president's adviser Richard Grenell. Romanian prosecutors say the brothers lured multiple women to the country and forced them to make pornography and undergo sexual and physical abuse. The brothers deny the claims, calling them "baseless." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed dismay at their arrival. "But the reality is, is no, Florida is not a place where you're welcome with that type of conduct," DeSantis said at a press conference. "And I don't know how it came to this." Blackburn has the ear of President Trump and she recently wrote on X Thursday that she met with his billionaire adviser Elon Musk to "discuss how to best DOGE our government!" On behalf of her constituents and the American people, she should be bringing up sex trafficking and the Tate brothers to Trump and Musk and tell the American people what she finds out. She should press the administration to give no safe quarter to anyone involved in heinous sex crimes against women and children. David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@ or find him on X at @davidplazas or BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN senator should speak out on Epstein and Tate brothers too | Opinion
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wicked or The Brutalist? Tell us which Oscar nominee should win Best Picture.
The 97th Academy Awards telecast takes place on Sunday, March 2. As a movie buff and member of my local community theater, The Belcourt in Nashville's Hillsboro Village neighborhood, I am eagerly working to watch all 10 nominees for Best Picture. As of this posting, I have watched nine of 10 and plan to see my 10th ('A Complete Unknown') within the next few days. I will be writing a column about my favorites and invite you to agree, disagree or offer your own picks. In 2024, my column naming "The Holdovers" as my favorite film over eventual winner "Oppenheimer" became one of our best read essays of the year. In the meantime, we want to hear from you. Take our survey for which Best Picture nominated movies will win and should win, and what was left out. Thank you for adding to the conversation. David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@ or find him on X at @davidplazas or BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Does Wicked deserve Best Picture at the Oscars? Tell us. | Opinion
