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The smartest briefing on national, Tennessee, and Memphis politics—written by someone who actually knows how power works.

Politics

+5

Race for Tennessee Governor About to Get Nasty?

Jun 12, 2026

•

3 min read

Race for Tennessee Governor About to Get Nasty?

Rose Campaign Seems to Have Little Choice about Attacking Blackburn

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

True Crime

+2

Accountability for the Death of Austin Metcalf Reached Further Than Karmelo Anthony

Jun 12, 2026

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3 min read

Accountability for the Death of Austin Metcalf Reached Further Than Karmelo Anthony

America needs to take a hard look at the culture of high school sports

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

MPD

+5

4 Ways the Memphis Safe Task Force Lacks Transparency

Jun 12, 2026

•

2 min read

4 Ways the Memphis Safe Task Force Lacks Transparency

Measuring the true impact of the operation requires more detailed data

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+2

Platner's Plight Disqualifying

Jun 5, 2026

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3 min read

Platner's Plight Disqualifying

Integrity demands Democrats cut their losses and invest elsewhere

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+3

Yes on 2 Will Pass

Jun 5, 2026

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3 min read

Yes on 2 Will Pass

But it doesn't mean that it's a good idea for Tennessee

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

MSCS

+5

DeBerry Partially Answers Urgent Questions. New Questions Arise.

Jun 5, 2026

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2 min read

DeBerry Partially Answers Urgent Questions. New Questions Arise.

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+1

It’s Not the Crime. It’s the Cover Up.

May 29, 2026

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2 min read

It’s Not the Crime. It’s the Cover Up.

Non-disclosure Proposal Designed to Hide Administration’s Transgressions

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+6

Two Offices are Better than One

May 29, 2026

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3 min read

Two Offices are Better than One

Haphazard redistricting leads politicians to seek two offices at once

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

MSCS

+5

What I got Right. What I got Wrong.

May 29, 2026

•

5 min read

What I got Right. What I got Wrong.

Update on 7 Predictions for the MSCS Takeover

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+2

A Duty to the Constitution

May 22, 2026

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4 min read

A Duty to the Constitution

Do Your Part No Matter How Small It Seems

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+2

Delay of Carruthers Execution Not an Act of Mercy

May 22, 2026

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3 min read

Delay of Carruthers Execution Not an Act of Mercy

Governor Lee's Decision is about Preserving the State's Death Penalty

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+2

MAGA Misses the Plot

May 22, 2026

•

2 min read

MAGA Misses the Plot

No Legal, Ethical, or Moral Line Trump Won’t Cross

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+2

U.S. Senate Can't Be Gerrymandered, and It's in Play

May 15, 2026

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3 min read

U.S. Senate Can't Be Gerrymandered, and It's in Play

The latest on 5 races Democrats can win

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+3

The Best Candidate for Governor You May Not Have Heard Of...Yet

May 15, 2026

•

2 min read

The Best Candidate for Governor You May Not Have Heard Of...Yet

Independent Lauren Pinkston is a legitimate candidate for Tennessee Governor

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+2

The Budget Dance Begins

May 15, 2026

•

2 min read

The Budget Dance Begins

County Mayor Lee Harris Presents His Final Budget

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+6

4 Observations from Tennessee’s Redistricting Vote

May 8, 2026

•

3 min read

4 Observations from Tennessee’s Redistricting Vote

What You May Have Missed

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+4

Shelby County Primary Elections

May 8, 2026

•

3 min read

Shelby County Primary Elections

Lowery, Buckner, Hall winners, Feagins Flunks Out

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Politics

+3

The Indefatigable Henri Brooks

May 8, 2026

•

3 min read

The Indefatigable Henri Brooks

Before the Tennessee 3, there was Henri

Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Vance Anchored in Hypocrisy Not Truth

Vance Anchored in Hypocrisy Not Truth


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 17, 2026

Omitting the ‘Local’ in Local Control

Omitting the ‘Local’ in Local Control


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 17, 2026

Failure to File Easy Disclosure Reveals Hard Truth about Transparency

Failure to File Easy Disclosure Reveals Hard Truth about Transparency


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 17, 2026

7 Predictions about the MSCS Takeover

7 Predictions about the MSCS Takeover


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 24, 2026

Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ Rally at the Core of SPLC Indictment

Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ Rally at the Core of SPLC Indictment


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 24, 2026

Accountability for Thee, Not for Me

Accountability for Thee, Not for Me


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 24, 2026

Appeals Court Leaves Guard Questions Unsettled

Appeals Court Leaves Guard Questions Unsettled


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

May 1, 2026

3 Reasons Comey Won't Be '86'd'

3 Reasons Comey Won't Be '86'd'


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

May 1, 2026

Two Things Can Be True at Once

Two Things Can Be True at Once


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

May 1, 2026

Mulroy Derangement Syndrome

Mulroy Derangement Syndrome


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 10, 2026

Gardenhire Strikes Out Sexton

Gardenhire Strikes Out Sexton


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 10, 2026

No Art in Trump Iran 'Deal'

No Art in Trump Iran 'Deal'


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 10, 2026


Saudi Tail Wags U.S. Dog

Saudi Tail Wags U.S. Dog


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 27, 2026

The Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act

The Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 27, 2026

Memphis Always Mattered

Memphis Always Mattered


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 27, 2026


7 Truths about the MSCS Audit

7 Truths about the MSCS Audit


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 3, 2026

3 Takeaways for No Kings Memphis

3 Takeaways for No Kings Memphis


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 3, 2026

President Trump Has Bondied Out

President Trump Has Bondied Out


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Apr 3, 2026

Young Pragmatism has an Old Problem

Young Pragmatism has an Old Problem


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 20, 2026

Gabbard Testifies No Imminent Threat from Iran

Gabbard Testifies No Imminent Threat from Iran


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 20, 2026

Sure as Shootin'?

Sure as Shootin'?


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 20, 2026


Why The 3AM?

Why The 3AM?


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 12, 2026

3 Urgent Questions for John DeBerry

3 Urgent Questions for John DeBerry


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 12, 2026

7 Reasons Iran War Not 'Very Complete'

7 Reasons Iran War Not 'Very Complete'


Mike Carpenter
Mike Carpenter

Mar 12, 2026

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