Author: Zachery Schmidt

SEC Does Not Discipline LSU, School Remains in Conference

Zachery Schmidt
LSU Stadium

The SEC announced Louisiana State University (LSU) did not receive any discipline for their actions regarding player eligibility after the conference held a meeting with its members.

“The presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference met Thursday by videoconference to discuss the recent matters involving conference expectations and responsibilities. Those discussions will continue as the conference and its member universities work toward an appropriate resolution,” the SEC said.

Read the full story

Memphis City Council Passes Data Center Moratorium on Second Reading

Zachery Schmidt
Memphis City Council

Memphis City Council unanimously passed an ordinance on second reading that would temporarily ban new data center development for 12 months.

If the ordinance becomes law, the City of Memphis will develop regulations for data centers and stop approving new data center applications during that time. The ordinance would not apply to data centers already lawfully operating in Memphis, except if they seek to expand their operations.

Read the full story

Tennessee Approves First-Ever License for Commercial Fusion Project

Zachery Schmidt
Type One Energy

Tennessee issued its first-ever fusion-specific byproduct material license to Type One Energy, clearing the way for the company’s planned fusion facility in Clinton.

Type One Energy intends to break ground on the new facility at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)’s Bull Run Energy Complex, which the company expects to be operating by 2034, according to a state press release.

Read the full story

Congressional Bill Seeks to Abolish Federal Insurance Office, Return Insurance Regulation to States

Zachery Schmidt
Blackburn Lee and Cruz

A congressional bill is attempting to change how the insurance industry is regulated in America.

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT), reintroduced the Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act, which would eliminate the U.S. Treasury Department’s Federal Insurance Office (FIO), removing the federal office responsible for monitoring and coordinating federal insurance policy.

Read the full story

Van Epps Introduces Resolution Condemning Afghanistan Withdrawal

Zachery Schmidt
Matt Van Epps

U.S. Representative Matt Van Epps (R-TN-07) introduced a resolution on the fifth anniversary of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, condemning the Biden administration’s handling of it.

On August 26, 2021, during the final days of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan after being in the country for almost 20 years and spending trillions of dollars, an ISIS-K suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the airport, killing 13 American service members and nearly 200 Afghan civilians.

Read the full story

Metro Nashville Sues Feds over Withheld Funds for Election Policies

Zachery Schmidt
election voting

Metro Nashville joined a lawsuit against the federal government for withholding millions of dollars in funds unless it implements election-related policies.

Metro Nashville, along with Harris County, Texas; El Paso County, Texas; and the City of Columbus, Ohio, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is using homeland security funding to require states and local governments to change how they administer elections.

Read the full story

Report: Nashville Lacked Proper Procedures to Deal with Winter Snowstorm

Zachery Schmidt
Winter Storm Fern

The City of Nashville lacked formal plans and procedures to handle a January winter snowstorm that left nearly half of its residents without power, according to an interim report.

Nashville’s Winter Storm Response Commission released a report on Friday detailing the city’s failures in a storm that left an estimated 85,000 people without power for nearly a week. Approximately 29 people experienced weather-related fatalities from Winter Storm Fern, according to the state Department of Health.

Read the full story

Memphis City Council Contemplating Temporary Ban on Data Centers

Zachery Schmidt
Memphis City Council

Memphis is considering implementing a temporary moratorium on data centers.

The Memphis City Council will discuss an ordinance in executive session at its meeting on Tuesday, August 18th, about a temporary ban on “ the acceptance, processing, approval, and
issuance of zoning, land use, building, and other associated infrastructure permits for data
center developments within the City of Memphis.”

Read the full story

Blackburn Supports Judiciary Committee Advancing Blanche’s Nomination

Zachery Schmidt
Todd Blanche

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said she supported the Senate Judiciary Committee advancing Todd Blanche to serve as the next attorney general.

On Tuesday, the committee voted 12-10 along party lines to have Blanche be the next attorney general. After passing the committee, all U.S. senators will vote on whether Blanche will become the attorney general. Senators will take the vote to confirm Blanche as early as Saturday.

Read the full story

Blackburn Introduces Bill to Keep Men Out of Daughters of the American Revolution

Zachery Schmidt
Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters

A new congressional bill seeks to prevent biological males from joining an organization dedicated to the American Revolution.

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Integrity Act, which would amend the Daughters of the American Revolution’s federal charter to ensure only biological females can become members.

Read the full story

Andy Biggs Proposes Ending Arizona’s Income Tax, Mirroring Tennessee’s Tax Policy

Zachery Schmidt
Andy Biggs

Andy Biggs, the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona, said he wants to eliminate the state’s personal income tax “incrementally.”

If Arizona were to fully remove its personal income tax, it would be the 10th state in America without an income tax, joining Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

Read the full story

Association of American Educators Partners with Professional Educators of Tennessee to Expand Teacher Support

Zachery Schmidt
Teacher and student

The Association of American Educators and Professional Educators of Tennessee formed a collaboration seeking to help support state educators.

The two organizations announced an affiliated partnership on Monday seeking to give Tennessee educators access to increased educator protections, stronger advocacy, and amplified professional learning services.

Read the full story

Gov. Bill Lee Signs President’s Data Center Ratepayer Pledge

Zachery Schmidt
Bill Lee

Gov. Bill Lee signed on to President Donald Trump’s pledge to make sure ratepayers are not paying for data centers. On Thursday, the Republican Governors Association announced Lee and 23 other governors signed on to the pledge. “Republican governors across the country understand the AI boom should cut your power bill, not spike it,” the association said on social media. “That’s why they’re backing President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection pledge, making sure American families come first.” The pledge says AI companies will “build, bring, or buy all of the energy needed for building and operating data centers, paying the full cost of their energy and infrastructure, no matter what.” “As part of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, companies agree to protect American consumers from price hikes due to data center energy and infrastructure requirements, and lower electricity costs for consumers in the long term, including by,” the pledge adds. No Democratic governor has signed on to Trump’s pledge. In addition to the Republican governors, the White House announced that over 200 data center-related companies have signed his pledge to ensure data centers will not raise electricity prices for ratepayers. The White House said the companies that have signed onto the pledge cover…

Read the full story

Bill Would Require Insurance Coverage for Detransition Care

Zachery Schmidt

A new congressional bill proposal seeks to improve healthcare coverage for detransitioners.

Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) introduced the Treatment and Restoration Uniformity and Transparency in Health Coverage (TRUTH in Coverage) Act, which would require health insurance companies that cover gender reassignment procedures to also cover sex-rejecting procedures for patients who experience complications from those procedures or who want to detransition.

Read the full story

Rural Tennessee Town Supports Ordinance Banning Data Centers

Zachery Schmidt
data center

A small town in Tennessee supported an ordinance this week to ban data centers, citing concerns about how they would affect its resources.

St. Joseph Board of Commissioners voted in favor of the ordinance on first reading. The action taken by board members comes as other data center projects are being discussed in Lawrence County, which has a population of nearly 50,000, according to the town’s press release.

Read the full story

Rep. Andy Ogles Introduces Bill Banning All Pregnant Noncitizens from Entering the U.S.

Zachery Schmidt
pregnant woman

A new congressional bill proposal seeks to prevent pregnant women who are noncitizens from entering America.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision in Trump v. Barbara, struck down a President Donald Trump executive order that sought to outlaw birthright citizenship. With this ruling, noncitizens who give birth in America will continue to have their children become American citizens regardless of whether they have any ties to the country.

Read the full story

Tennessee Professor Placed on Leave After Charlie Kirk Assassination Comments Wins Nearly $2M in Wrongful Termination Case

Zachery Schmidt
Tamar Shirinian

A former University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UTK) assistant professor who was placed on administrative leave for comments she made after Charlie Kirk’s assassination received nearly $2 million to settle her wrongful termination lawsuit. The UTK Board of Trustees’ Audit & Compliance Committee approved a $1.9 million settlement on Monday for Tamar Shirinian, who taught anthropology at the school, according to The Daily Beacon. UTK suspended Shirinian (pictured above) following the comments she posted online after Kirk, a conservative activist, was killed at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Two days after Kirk died on September 10th, 2025, Shirinian said the “world is better off” without him. “Even those who are claiming to be sad for his wife and kids,” wrote the professor, “his kids are better off living in a world without a disgusting psychopath.” She then called Kirk’s widow a “sick f*** for marrying him.” On September 15th, UTK began termination proceedings against Shirinian. The associate professor then sued the school in October 2025, alleging the school had violated her First Amendment rights. Shirinian’s lawsuit said she made the comments as a private citizen on her personal time and on her personal device without any reference to…

Read the full story