Best Barberian Productions Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 22: Rising Appalachia 33:48

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2d ago33:48

33:48

SYNOPSIS: Leah Song of Rising Appalachia joins us this week to talk about music, activism and bringing people together in difficult times. Leah and her sister, Chloe Smith, founded the band nearly 20 years ago and have combined an embrace of many strands of Southern music — from Appalachian string-band to Gospel and soul — with a commitment to soci…

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Ep. 180 09/21/2025 1:37:14

3d ago1:37:14

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The wrangling over the proposal to sell a chunk of Chilhowee Park to Emerald Youth Foundation continues. Scott and Jesse talk about the latest developments, plus the political jockeying around the city’s proposed sales tax increase, Knox County Commissioner Kim Frazier entering the county mayor’s race, proposed changes to Knoxville City Council’s p…

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Ep. 21: Guns and Sanctuary in the South 48:09

10d ago48:09

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SYNOPSIS: In the wake of the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week, blame flew in multiple directions. As usual, nobody on the right wanted to talk about guns. But Kirk’s wasn’t even the first newsworthy shooting of the day — there was a school shooting in Colorado a few hours earlier — or the first American political assassination…

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Ep. 179 09/14/2025 1:15:47

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This week, Scott and Jesse talk about Emerald Youth Foundation's ongoing efforts to win public support for their purchase of property at Chilhowee Park; the attendance and, more importantly, tax receipts for the Knoxville Smokies' first season in their publicly-owned ballpark; the return of Kristi Kristy to her former position as school board chair…

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Ep. 20: Fossil Fuels and an AI Bubble 53:11

18d ago53:11

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SYNOPSIS: Up until January of this year, several Southern states were among the leaders in clean energy production, with big investments in solar and wind power in Texas, Florida and elsewhere. Then came the Trump administration, with its hostility to renewable sources and championing of fossil fuels. This week, we talk to Steve Smith of the Southe…

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Ep. 178 09/07/2025 1:21:59

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The Tennessee Valley Fair got underway last Friday with an uncertain future. Scott and Jesse talk about the strained relationship between city officials and fair organizers. They also review recent developments regarding the proposed sale of a portion of Chilhowee Park to Emerald Youth Foundation, the Knox County Commission’s leadership votes and t…

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Ep. 19: Labor Day in the South 14:54

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SYNOPSIS: It’s Labor Day, even in the South — the region of the country that has long been most hostile to workers’ rights. From slavery through Jim Crow, from “Right to Work” laws aimed at weakening unions to low or nonexistent minimum wages, right-wing leaders in the South have long conspired to disempower labor. But in recent years a few fights …

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Ep. 177 08/31/2025 1:09:00

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Knoxville City Council primary Election Day arrived last Tuesday. In this week’s installment, PR pro and political observer Mike Cohen joins Scott to break down the results and preview the upcoming general election. They also talk about the delayed Chilhowee Park-Emerald Youth Foundation land sale, the criminal case involving misuse of the Knox Cou…

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Ep. 18: What happened to Florida? 50:23

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SYNOPSIS: Florida was once the swing state that presidential elections hinged on. But over the last few decades, it has turned redder and redder. This week we’re joined by writer, educator and Progressive South board member Alfred Soto to talk about what has happened to his home state — and what (if anything) he sees that gives him hope. Also: Scho…

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Ep. 176 08/24/2025 1:40:46

1M ago1:40:46

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FREE CONTENT Free Content FREE CONTENT Go to CompassKnox.com for profiles on ALL CANDIDATES FOR FREE Knoxville City Council approved a deal for Muse Knoxville to move into the Jacob Building last week, while delaying action on Emerald Youth Foundation’s proposal to buy city property for a sports and activity center. In this week’s episode, Scott an…

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Ep. 17: The Undead Confederacy 47:01

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SYNOPSIS: The Confederacy ended in 1865, but it never really died. The iconography of the slavers’ secessionist rebellion has returned again and again through the succeeding 160 years, particularly in times of backlash against progress toward racial equality. This week we look at recent moves by the Trump administration, along with a Texas school b…

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Ep. 175 08/17/2025 1:13:29

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Compass co-founder and former podcast co-host Jesse Mayshark returns to talk with Scott about last week’s local events. They talk about the Tennessee Comptroller’s report that led to the indictment of Knox County Property Assessor Phil Ballard and another county employee. Scott and Jesse also look at two major investments in East Knoxville that Cit…

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Ep. 16: Miami's Myths 45:07

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SYNOPSIS: Miami is a Southern city by geography, but by history, demographics and culture it’s really not like anywhere else in the South — or, arguably, the world. In this week’s conversation, Cuban-American writer and environmental activist Andrew Otazo helps us understand the politics and personality of the South Florida tourist mecca. He’s the …

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Ep. 174 08/10/2025 1:13:31

2M ago1:13:31

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*** SPECIAL INFORMATION*** ALL CITY ELECTION COVERAGE 2025 is FREE at CompassKnox.com share this podcast and this election coverage with WITH EVERYONE, share the great service that IS Compass! ***SPECIAL INFORMATION*** A Knox County grand jury charged Property Assessor Phil Ballard with official misconduct, but declined to indict Trustee Justin Big…

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Ep. 15: Texas and the Gerrymandered South 47:01

2M ago47:01

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SYNOPSIS: All eyes were on Texas last week as Republican legislators moved toward drawing new congressional districts, effectively trying to steal five seats from Democratic incumbents. It’s part of President Donald Trump’s strategy to maintain control of the House of Representatives after the 2026 elections. But it’s far from the only blatantly pa…

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Ep. 173 08/03/2025 1:03:26

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Supply-and-demand isn't the only metric out of whack in Knoxville's housing market. In this week's episode, Scott looks at other disparities that East Tennessee Realtors has identified. He also covers a City Council candidate forum in Knoxville's 1st District, funding challenges for the region's public broadcasters, Congressman Tim Burchett's encou…

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Ep. 14: Florida's War on Immigrants 43:32

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SYNOPSIS: Florida has an estimated 5 million immigrants — more than 20 percent of its total population. It is also ground zero of the Trump administration’s mass deportation program. With the eager assistance of Gov. Ron DeSantis and state legislators, it has seen some of the country’s most aggressive enforcement round-ups and most enthusiastic coo…

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Ep. 172 07/27/2025 1:04:53

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City Council election activity has been gearing up with early voting set to begin on Aug. 6. This week, Scott goes through profiles of a trio of 6th District candidates and reports on candidate forums involving the 2nd, 3rd and 4th districts. He also talks about prominent West High School boosters attempting to get Rebels coach Lamar Brown reinstat…

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Ep. 13: Fighting Alabama Book Bans 46:56

2M ago46:56

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SYNOPSIS: Angie Hayden became an accidental activist when she stood up against censorship in her local library in Prattville, Alabama. Now she’s a founder of a statewide coalition called Read Freely Alabama, which is fighting efforts to ban books and restrict libraries across the state. We talked to her from the frontlines of a contentious fight ov…

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Ep. 171 07/20/2025 1:21:21

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Some trends emerge when you take a close look at campaign finance reports. In this week’s installment, Scott identifies some in the most recent disclosures in the Knoxville City Council election, including one tongue-in-cheek contribution. He also reviews the 3rd District candidates, the impact of federal budget cuts on Knox County Schools, the inv…

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Ep. 12: Meeting the Cast Iron Resistance 41:07

2M ago41:07

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Synopsis: What does U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett do in the bathroom? The privy proclivities of our East Tennessee congressman are among the issues on the minds of Jesse and the gang from “Cast Iron Resistance” in a special podcast crossover. Jesse joined the guys on their own show a few weeks ago, and here we present some relevant excerpts from the freew…

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Ep. 170 07/13/2025 1:23:57

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City Council members filed their 2nd quarter financial disclosure reports last week as campaigning is picking up. Scott takes a look at the numbers, and provides profiles of the candidates in the 4th and 2nd district contests. He also goes over the school board’s new cell phone policy, the city’s loss of a $42.7 million federal grant with the passa…

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Ep. 11: ICE in the Louisiana Heat 35:51

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CORRECTION: We inadvertently refer to ACLU Louisiana Executive Director Alanah Odoms as Alanah Combs. We apologize for the error! SYNOPSIS: Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in America. It is also home to the country’s second-largest population of immigration detainees. Last week, a group of workers from the Service Employees Internation…

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Ep. 169 07/06/2025 53:26

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The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees held its two-day annual meeting last week. In this week’s installment, Scott recaps the meeting, including the decision to move ahead with UT-Knoxville’s taking control of the bulk of Maplehurst neighborhood, the approval of a $3.74 billion system budget and the outlook for research funding in the Trump…

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Ep. 10: LGBTQ Rights in the South 46:54

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Synopsis: As we close out Pride month, we thought it was a good time to check in with two leading voices for LGBTQ rights in the South: Chris Sanders of the Tennessee Equality Project and Jeff Graham of Georgia Equality. We spoke just a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of U.S. v. Skrmetti, and Sanders and Graham had a lot …

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Ep. 168 06/29/2025 1:09:54

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Last week, Knoxville City Council approved putting a sales tax referendum on the November election ballot. In this installment of the podcast, Scott analyzed voters' choices. He also looks at Knox County Commission's approval of a new management structure for Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center, including a partisan tussle about oversight. Othe…

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Ep.9: Untold Stories 44:19

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Synopsis: Whose stories count in the South — and who gets to tell them? This week, we’re talking to Gwen Frisbie-Fulton, a social worker and author in North Carolina who writes about people in the rural and small-town South. She has a lot of insights about the importance of storytelling in Southern culture, and the absence of many voices in officia…

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Ep. 167 06/22/2025 1:13:57

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DONT FORGET TO SHARE Compass Points, a free service of CompassKnox.com Cottage courts could soon be allowed in the City of Knoxville. In this week’s installment, Scott looks at the middle housing concept. He also turns his attention to the school system’s response to the West High School football staff’s underage sex accusations, Juneteenth in toda…

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Ep. 8: Watering the Roots 45:08

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SYNOPSIS: Well before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. brought his vaccine skepticism to the federal government, many Southern states were already taking steps to weaken immunization mandates. This week, we take a look at recent moves in Florida, Louisiana and Texas to make it easier for parents to opt their children out of vaccines. Florida already leads the…

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Ep. 166 06/15/2025 55:15

3M ago55:15

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Knoxville City Council gave initial approval to putting a sales tax increase referendum on this year’s election ballot. Scott looks at the proposal, detailing the spending plan for $47 million in new revenue annually if voters approve the tax hike. He also looks at Knox County’s plan for the future of the juvenile detention center’s management, the…

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Bonus Episode: More with Adeem the Artist 53:56

4M ago53:56

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SYNOPSIS: Talking Southern History, Gender Identity and Politics With Adeem the Artist. As promised in our regular episode this week, here is an extended edit of our interview with Adeem the Artist. The critically acclaimed, politically engaged, non-binary singer-songwriter talks about their North Carolina childhood, their growing awareness of thei…

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Ep. 7: Songs from Queer Country 37:19

4M ago37:19

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SYNOPSIS: Bruce Springsteen once sang that “a king ain’t satisfied until he rules everything,” and Republican officials in one-party-rule states across the South are doing their best to prove the point. This week, we look at three examples of conservative attacks on the remaining pockets of liberalism in their states: Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackbur…

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Ep. 165 06/08/2025 1:00:40

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Knoxville City Council is poised to vote on whether to put a sales tax increase referendum on the November ballot. Scott digs into the details of the proposal, which would raise $47 million a year for infrastructure and housing needs. He also looks at the compressed time frame the county has to approve its zoning ordinance overhaul, the school syst…

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Ep. 6: Weed Whackers in the South 48:54

4M ago48:54

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SYNOPSIS: While much of the U.S. has given a green light to cannabis, the South remains mostly hostile to legalization. This week we look at recent moves in three states to restrict hemp-based THC products — and why Virginia still doesn’t have a commercial weed market, even though marijuana is legal. In our conversation, we talk with Ilham Askia, C…

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Ep. 164 06/01/2025 1:20:15

4M ago1:20:15

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The best way you can support Scott, Compass Points, and CompassKnox.com is to share this free podcast...text it to some...and tell people about how important good local news coverage is. Richard Bean, who has run the Knox County juvenile detention center that bears his name for 53 years, resigned on Friday amid accusations of retaliation against wh…

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Ep. 5: A "Pragmatic Progressive' in North Carolina 44:26

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Conservative legislators in the South have been attacking diversity programs for years, long before President Trump made a national priority of assailing “DEI.” This week, we look at some of this year’s anti-DEI bills in Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas — and why their allegations of anti-white discrimination are mostly bunk. This week’s con…

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Ep. 163 05/25/2025 1:27:51

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Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon has proposed raising the sales tax rate to fund infrastructure and affordable housing efforts. Scott reviews the proposal, which would require voter approval in a referendum, in this week’s installment. He also talks about the County Commission’s spirited discussion surrounding Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs’ budget …

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Ep. 4: A Second Southern 'Redemption'? 45:09

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When Reconstruction ended in the South in 1876, white political leaders moved swiftly to establish what they called a “redemption” — the re-establishment of white supremacist rule. Now, 60 years after the Civil Rights Act, white conservative political leaders are again moving to roll back advances toward racial and sexual equality. Are we in a seco…

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Ep. 162 05/18/2025 1:09:22

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By Barking Shark Media and Barberian Productions

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Ep. 3: A Union Veteran 42:21

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Immigration sweeps are picking up steam in states across the South, often with the help of state and local agencies. In this week’s roundup, we look at an unprecedented enforcement action in Florida called Operation Tidal Wave, which led to the arrest of more than 1,000 immigrants, along with operations in Tennessee and along the Interstate 10 corr…

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Ep. 161 05/11/2025 38:33

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Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs presented his $1.1 billion budget proposal last week. Scott breaks down the spending plan. He then looks at the local impacts of the Trump administration’s efforts to slash the budgets of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the looming effects of tariffs.…

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Ep. 2: Richmond for All 46:48

5M ago46:48

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In our second episode, Jesse offers the first Headlights weekly news round-up: a fight over library books in Arkansas, the rocky tenure of Louisiana’s top environmental official, and an attempt to block undocumented children from Tennessee public schools. He then heads out on the road to Richmond, Va., where he talks to community organizer Quinton …

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Ep. 160 05/04/2025 1:01:17

5M ago1:01:17

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The Trump administration's decision to gut Americorps resulted in 52 Knoxville members losing their jobs. Scott takes a look at the impact to nonprofits in the area. He also reports on a rare tie-breaking vote Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon cast at City Council, the city and school system's budgets, the initial effect of the new stadium on Old Cit…

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Ep. 159 04/27/2025 53:02

5M ago53:02

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Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon unveiled her $477.3 million budget proposal last Friday, and Scott breaks it down in this week’s episode. He also talks about philanthropists’ funding of affordable housing projects, the county swapping contractors to guide its zoning ordinance overhaul, and more. Scott also previews meetings of the County Commission…

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Ep. 1: Welcome to Headlights 33:40

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Welcome to Headlights! In our first episode, Jesse Mayshark — the founder and publisher of The Progressive South — introduces the podcast and project. What do we mean by “progressive”? What do we mean by “South”? And who are we, anyway? Then he takes to the streets of Knoxville, Tennessee, to hear from some of the thousands who came out earlier thi…

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Ep. 158 04/20/25 1:00:21

5M ago1:00:21

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Pro baseball returned to Knoxville last week after a 25-year absence, and Scott has a review of the Knoxville Smokies' opening day at Covenant Health Park. He also looks into a state investigation of extravagant spending in the Knox County Trustee's Office, the proposed Knox County Schools budget for next year, and more. Scott also previews meeting…

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Ep. 157 04/13/2025 56:32

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Clayton Home founder and philanthropist Jim Clayton has abandoned plans to build a science museum in East Knoxville. In this week’s installment, Scott looks at the decision and what’s next for the 11-acre site next to the Civic Auditorium and Coliseum. He also talks about the Justice Knox Nehemiah Action Assembly, a “rails to trails” lawsuit stemmi…

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Ep. 156 04/06/2025 42:58

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Knox County school board Chair Betsy Henderson confirmed she's running for county mayor in 2026. Scott takes a look at what her entry into the Republican Party primary means in the race. Speaking of the GOP, he also talks about former state Rep. Martin Daniel's election as county Republican chair, as well as current Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs' …

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Ep. 155 03/30/2025 54:22

6M ago54:22

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A group of prominent Democrats is circulating a petition in hopes of persuading Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon to run for Knox County mayor in 2026. In this week's episode, Scott looks at the effort and Kincannon's response. He also talks about Rural Metro's decision to charge a fee to non-subscribers for emergency responses, the regional draft mo…

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Ep. 154 03/23/2025 52:19

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The city of Knoxville’s middle housing program is one year old, and in this week’s episode Scott delves into a report from Knoxville-Knox County Planning on its progress. He also looks into a proposal to expand areas where festivals can serve beer in the city, a statewide business survey, and the importance of Black sororities and fraternities to p…