Sponsored by Tennessee TitansWednesday, December 3, 2025Good morning! 
Last night, Republicans were able to hold onto a congressional seat the party has held for more than four decades. Tennessee’s 7th district remains red — but not solidly. Former state commissioner Matt Van Epps fended off Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn by nine points, compared to a 22-point margin last year.
I covered that race last year, and I can tell you the Republican candidate then, incumbent Mark Green, did not have many campaign events. He didn’t acknowledge his Democratic opponent, former Nashville mayor Megan Barry.
For Van Epps, the path to victory meant a lot of door knocking, hand shaking and a renewed focus on the biggest issue facing voters.
WHAT TO KNOW
Photo: AP News
Affordability is the issue. And the word of the week — President Donald Trump criticized the term during a tele-rally he hosted for Van Epps Monday night.
“They like to talk about affordability,” Trump said. “To them it’s just a con job, it’s just a word.”
Voters’ concerns about affordability shaped both campaigns. Van Epps ran ads on it, and Rep. Behn used her failed push to end the state’s grocery tax as the cornerstone of her campaign.
In his victory speech last night, Van Epps said, “Together, we’ll bring down the cost of living. I’m tired of too many Republicans ceding affordability to the Democrats.”
Voters I spoke with at the polls were worried about everything from grocery prices to rent to the cost of healthcare. It’s an issue both parties have to speak to now, said John Geer, Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University and co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll.
This race’s competitiveness, Geer said, has given Tennessee voters more access to their representatives.
“Competition keeps both parties responsive and honest, and we need more of it,” Geer said. “It forces the candidates to respond to each other, it informs the electorate, and Tennessee has been missing that over the last decade or so.”
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What’s in a place name? Now that several big developments on the East Bank are moving forward, we’re getting a taste of what we’ll call the city’s soon-to-be new neighborhoods. Plus the local news for December 3, 2025 and this week’s edition of What Where Whens-Day.
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MORE TO KNOW
- The state of Tennessee cannot use the National Guard in the Memphis law enforcement surge while a lawsuit questioning that deployment goes forward. That’s the ruling passed down from a judge last night. The order from Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal grants the temporary injunction that was requested by local leaders from Shelby County. In her order, the judge references the conditions under which the state constitution gives a governor broad powers to deploy the guard. She says, quote, “there is no rebellion or invasion currently taking place in Memphis.” The order also points out that the federal government did not make a formal written request for Governor Bill Lee to deploy the guard. The state has five days to appeal the decision. [Nashville Banner]
- A former Metro employee has been indicted after a comptroller investigation found more than $62,000 dollars in misappropriated taxpayer funds. Investigators say that Mark Eatherly, while he was deputy executive director at the Metro Human Relations Commission, directed city funds to organizations that he was operating. They also found improper reimbursements for personal expenses. WPLN’s Tony Gonzalez says the probe also looked into the campaign to preserve a high-profile historic building downtown.
- The Bonnaroo festival will stick to the summer, returning to Manchester June 11-14 with a newly announced lineup and some upgrades to the site. The once mostly bluegrass and jam band festival seems to go farther into dance and EDM every year, and major names Skrillex, Rüfüs Du Sol and GRiZ will each co-headline for a night. And this year there is an emphasis on pop. Nashville’s own Kesha presents a superjam on Saturday and is then a co-headliner on Sunday. There are more locals than last year, which isn’t saying much. Alabama Shakes and Rainbow Kitten Surprise are playing sets. And indie music is not dead at Bonnaroo. Baltimore breakout Turnstile made the jump to the big letters, co-headlining on Friday. And WNXP favorites Geese, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Wet Leg will be playing.
FROM WNXP
Holiday shopping for the music lover in your life can be hard—but we’re here to help! First, shop local when you can, not just for Black Friday Record Store Day, but anytime this season. Here’s a list of great stores to choose from. Second, you might not know their specific wishlist, but there’s a chance their record-loving type might be on our list.
Starting with those who love to support local! You can double your support for Nashville by buying one of these locally-affiliated releases at a local store.
Peruse the gift guide now!
FROM THIS IS NASHVILLE
There aren’t many states like Tennessee with three distinct regions so unique each has its own star on the state flag. West, Middle, and East Tennessee are not just general directions to help explain where we’re from. They’re lines drawn in state law representing our cultural heritage and political history. Because Mountain City is a long way from Memphis — in fact, it’s closer to Canada than the western corner of our state — we’re talking with historians about how we divided ourselves up this way.
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