The Tri-Star State

By Nashville Public Radio

What's The Tri-Star State about?

What’s happening in Tennessee politics? Nashville Public Radio reporters break down what you need to know at the state capitol and beyond — in just a few minutes.

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The Tri-Star State episodes:

03.07.2021
Republicans Want To Remove A Nashville Judge For Making Voting More Accessible. Is That Constitutional?
Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, wants the legislature to remove a Nashville judge for doing her job — making a ruling. If successful, lawyers say it will create a chilling effect.
02.28.2021
The Legislature’s War On Transgender Students And Protests During National Anthem
This week, the Tennessee General Assembly moved through a bill that would limit the participation of transgender students in sporting teams. Meanwhile, Republicans in the senate want to ban student-athletes' protests during the national anthem. We explain how these proposals could end up in the...
02.21.2021
The Tri-Star State: Nashville LGBT Chamber Vows Fight Against Discriminatory Bills In The Tennessee Legislature
The Tennessee General Assembly is back this week after shutting down due to inclement weather. On the docket for their comeback: Gov. Bill Lee’s constitutional carry proposal. We break down what else to expect. Also in this episode: An interview with Joe...
02.14.2021
The Tri-Star State: What’s Behind The Latest Proposal In The Tennessee Legislature Targeting Transgender People
The Tennessee legislature is considering a bill that would limit the participation of transgender athlete’s in sports team. We break down why Republicans are pushing for it. Also on this episode: Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, explains why her caucus will...
02.07.2021
What To Expect From The 112th Tennessee General Assembly
House Speaker Cameron Sexton has been reelected to the position and, once again, he is in the middle of controversy. The Crossville Republican now has to deal with members of his own party being investigated by the FBI. WPLN’s politics reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán...
01.31.2021
The Tri-Star State: New Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Says He’ll Focus On Beating Gov. Bill Lee
For the first time, the person in charge of the Tennessee Democratic Party will be a Black leader. Hendrell Remus was elected earlier this month. He will now be in charge of the party’s strategy to win more seats in the state legislature —...
01.24.2021
The Tri-Star State: How Outspoken Tennessee Conservatives Are Reacting To The Inauguration
Underpinning the Jan. 6 insurrection was a slew of conspiracy theories about election fraud, even after the courts repeatedly struck down almost every attempt to call votes into question. These false claims were shared extensively by former President Donald Trump and members of the...
01.17.2021
The Tri-Star State: What To Expect In The Legislative Special Session On Education
The first week of the 112th Tennessee General Assembly is on the books. Lawmakers debated and passed an agreement for TennCare’s block grant. But, what happens now? Also on this episode: an interview with Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn.
01.12.2021
Tennessee General Assembly Goes Back Into Session Amid FBI Raids, Deadly Pandemic
The Tennessee General Assembly goes back into session on Tuesday — just days after FBI agents raided the homes and offices of three House GOP members. Also on this episode: an interview with Senate Speaker Randy McNally.
11.01.2020
Some Useful Tips For When You Vote On Election Day
The clock is ticking — we are just hours away from Election Day. Over a million people in Tennessee has already voted early or by mail. But, many more are expected to cast their ballots this Tuesday. And as Tennesseans get ready...
10.18.2020
Answering More Of Your Questions On Absentee Voting
Early voting started last week, and thousands of Tennesseans have already voted in person. But there are still WPLN listeners who want to vote absentee yet have concerns about it. So, WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán has been reading your questions regarding mail-in...
10.04.2020
A Flurry Of Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against Tennessee Over Absentee Voting. What’s The Latest?
During the last few months, Tennessee has been hit with a flurry of legal challenges over mail-in voting. This has caused some confusion during the final stretch of the November presidential election. So, to clarify any doubts, WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán breaks down...
09.20.2020
Answering Your Questions About Absentee Voting In Tennessee
Recent court rulings have created a lot of confusion regarding who can request mail-in ballots and voting in general. And, as a crucial election approaches, Tennesseans have reached out to WPLN News and Curious Nashville with their pressing questions. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán...
08.30.2020
What Gov. Lee’s Decisions Tell Us About His Conservative Credentials
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, including Gov. Bill Lee. Crisis response from the pandemic to protests have given Lee the opportunity to show what he values and how he wants to lead Tennessee. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán has been keeping...
08.16.2020
Recapping The Legislative Special Session
The special session for the Tennessee General Assembly has ended, but the controversy coming out of it is still going strong. The state extended wide ranging protection for businesses and schools from COVID-19 lawsuits. And one measure essentially ended a months-long...
08.02.2020
GOP U.S. Senate Primary Gets Fiery As It Hits Final Stretch
The August Primary Election is coming up this week and the Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate are in full attack mode. Ads are blanketing TV and social media and high-profile surrogates have been flooding the state to help out Manny Sethi and...
06.14.2020
The Tri-Star State: The Tennessee General Assembly To Finalize Revised Budget This Week
Tennesseans won’t know the full economic effects of the pandemic for a while but its impact on the state budget is becoming clearer. Over the last week lawmakers have been figuring how to cut hundreds of millions of dollars across all departments....
05.31.2020
Gov. Lee And The Legislature To Cut Spending Initiatives As Part Of New Budget Proposal
The Tennessee General Assembly is facing one of its biggest budgetary challenges ever. Sales tax revenue is down dramatically meaning more reductions to the state's spending plan. WPLN's Sergio Martínez-Beltrán has been talking to lawmakers to get a better sense of...
05.24.2020
Despite Back And Forth Between Tennessee House And Senate Speakers, Post-break Session Will Carry On
After two months of recess, the Tennessee General Assembly is getting back to business this week. And there’s already disagreements and controversy. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán is also going back to the capitol. But, even in quarantine, he’s been keeping up with...
04.05.2020
April 5, 2020
Throughout the coronavirus crisis Gov. Bill Lee has been criticized for being slower than other governors in calling for a stay-at-home order. Many have said he has not taken the issue seriously. But the governor is taking it very seriously personally, at least. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán...
03.23.2020
March 22, 2020
“Unprecedented” is being used a lot to describe the current time we’re living in, and it’s safe to say that can be used to describe what just happened in the state legislature over the past week. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán has been...
03.15.2020
March 15, 2020
The last two weeks in Tennessee have felt like four months. Deadly tornadoes ripped through Middle Tennessee on the same day as the Super Tuesday presidential primaries. Three days later, the state announced its first confirmed case of coronavirus. But all this...
03.01.2020
Democrats Make Their Final Pitches To Tennessee Voters Before Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday is around the corner — that’s when 14 states including Tennessee will hold presidential primaries. So far, about 337,000 Tennesseans have cast their ballots. But campaigns are still hitting the ground and knocking on doors to get people out...
02.23.2020
Why Gov. Lee Changed His Mind On How To Proceed With Paid Family Leave
The three-month paid family leave for state employees promised by Governor Bill Lee appears to be in limbo. Now it’s up to the Tennessee General Assembly to decide whether to move forward with it. And WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán says they’re not...
02.17.2020
Democrats Are Resisting Gov. Lee’s Education And Criminal Justice Reform Proposals
Democrats in the Tennessee legislature are a superminority. This means that most of their proposals will not become law. But that hasn’t stopped them from pushing Governor Bill Lee on certain issues such as education. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán talked to Senate Minority Leader...
02.09.2020
Dissecting Gov. Lee’s Criminal Justice Reform Plan For 2020
Governor Bill Lee has been talking about plans to reform the criminal justice system in Tennessee since the campaign trail. He studied the issue during his first year in office with the expectation that this would be the year for legislative...
02.02.2020
The Bipartisan Movement To Relocate The State Capitol Bust Of Nathan Bedford Forrest
The capitol bust of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest is, once again, at the center of controversy but the battle lines are a little different. This time, some Republicans are asking for it to be removed. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán has been...
01.26.2020
House Speaker Cameron Sexton Talks Priorities And Issues That Put Him At Odds With Gov. Lee
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton has made clear what his priorities are for the current legislative session. Healthcare, education, and criminal justice reform are on top of that list. But some of those issues have also put him at odds with...
01.21.2020
Understanding Tennessee’s Controversial New Adoption Rule
A soon-to-be signed adoption law in Tennessee is stirring fears of an economic backlash. Companies and conventions have threatened to stop doing business with the state because of legislation that allows faith-based adoption agencies to refuse placements based on their...
01.12.2020
What Tennesseans Can Expect Of This Year’s Legislative Session
It’s time to start all over again. After a couple of months recess the Tennessee General Assembly will reconvene this week. But WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán says lawmakers have been busy in the “offseason” and have already filed about 100 bills.
12.22.2019
Bill Lee Looks Back At His First 11 Months As Governor Of Tennessee
Criminal justice reform, school vouchers and refugee resettlement. Those are some of the issues Republican Governor Bill Lee has pushed for during his first 11 months in office. Lee recently sat down with WPLN's Sergio Martínez-Beltrán to talk about his first year....
12.08.2019
School Vouchers, Two New Speakers And A Governor — A Look At The 2019 Legislative Session
In 2019 Tennesseans saw a lot of “news” from the state Capitol. A new governor, two new speakers of the House of Representatives, and the state’s first ever school voucher law. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán covered the “news” and all the other stories...
11.17.2019
In Tennessee, Impeachment Procedures Might Not Change How People Approach 2020 Election
On a recent chilly afternoon last week at Nashville's Centennial Park, Sean Michel was walking his dog with a friend. This was also the first day of impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump. Michel didn't hesitate to share his thoughts on...
11.03.2019
With 4 Months Until Super Tuesday, Democrats Are Eying Tennessee
Four months. That’s how much time is left before Super Tuesday — the day in March when Tennesseans and people in 14 other states and two jurisdictions will vote on the next nominees. WPLN’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán has been covering the Democratic...
10.20.2019
It's Like Comic-Con, But Political — Why Is Politicon Coming To Nashville?
James Comey. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Ann Coulter. Al Franken. Those are some of the controversial figures that will take the stage next weekend in Nashville as part of a political conference.
10.06.2019
Why The UAW Strike Is Crossing Party Lines
The impact of the latest nationwide strike by union workers against General Motors is beginning to be quantified. According to multiple reports, the automaker has lost about $1 billion dollar since the strike started three weeks ago. In Tennessee, state officials...
09.23.2019
What's Going On Inside The Tennessee Democratic Party?
It’s been over a decade since Tennessee Democrats scored a big win in a state race. What’s the party doing to turn things around? That’s a question many in the state executive committee have asked. And they're not happy with the...
07.15.2019
The Tri-Star State: Political Outsiders, Trump Allies More Likely To Win Senate Race In Tennessee
The open U.S. Senate race in Tennessee just got interesting. Former Gov. Bill Haslam decided he will not run, opening the door for other Republicans who may have been holding back. And the next day, President Donald Trump tweeted that...
06.24.2019
The Tri-Star State: A New Administration Means New Priorities
A Tennessee initiative to boost literacy rates is in jeopardy. The Read To Be Ready program launched in 2016 and had an ambitious goal of increasing literacy among third graders. But its popular summer camp program has officially run out...
06.09.2019
The Tri-Star State: Lawmakers Push Back On House Speaker Glen Casada And Call For Special Session
There’s an official date for Rep. Glen Casada to leave his post as speaker but, for some lawmakers Aug. 2 is not soon enough. They want him to resign before then — some legislators fear Casada has ulterior motives for...
06.02.2019
The Tri-Star State: The Scorecard For Free-Market Health Care Reforms
Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives vowed to make free-market reforms in health care this year. The agenda was ambitious — reduce surprise billing, incentivize patients to be more cost conscious and deregulate the hospital industry. In the end,...
05.26.2019
The Tri-Star State: 3 Unresolved Matters As House Speaker Glen Casada Agrees To Quit Top Post
Just because Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, plans on stepping down as House speaker doesn’t mean there aren’t still lingering questions surrounding the scandal that led to his departure. WPLN’s political reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán and senior editor Chas Sisk say there...
05.19.2019
The Tri-Star State: GOP Lawmakers Weigh Their Confidence In House Speaker Glen Casada
Republican lawmakers in the Tennessee House of Representatives will soon decide the fate of Speaker Glen Casada. The embattled lawmaker has faced backlash after racist and sexist text messages between him and his former chief of staff were leaked to...
05.12.2019
The Tri-Star State: Answering Some Of The Questions About The House Speaker Scandal
House Speaker Glen Casada has been fighting for his political life. And it's not the first time his reputation has been on the line. Many lawmakers have called for the Franklin Republican to step down. That's after the leaking of...
05.05.2019
The Tri-Star State: School Vouchers, Block Grants And Other Big GOP Wins Of 2019
This year’s legislative session has come to an end, and a new wave of Tennessee Republicans scored some big wins during the last couple of weeks. WPLN’s political reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán has been on the hill for the last four...
04.28.2019
The Tri-Star State: Tennessee’s Top Lawmakers Flex Muscles In Final Stretch Of Session
It’s been quite a week in the Tennessee General Assembly. Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Account passed in the House on a narrow, last-minute vote. It also passed in the Senate.
04.21.2019
The Tri-Star State: Tennessee Legislature Keeps Tweaking Gov. Lee's School Voucher-Like Plan
There have been many changes in the last few weeks to Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Accounts proposal. The legislature is still workshopping the details of the school voucher plan. And GOP leaders are trying to convince rural lawmakers on...
04.14.2019
The Tri-Star State: Which Of Gov. Bill Lee’s Legislative Proposals Are Faring Better Than Others?
Many of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's initiatives are making their way through the state legislature, and some are faring better than others. In his first year, the governor’s proposals range from increasing vocational education to faith-based initiatives to implementing a...
04.07.2019
The Tri-Star State: Lawmakers Consider Potential Impact Of Anti-LGBTQ Bills In Tennessee
Equal rights advocates are warning Tennessee lawmakers about consequences the state could face if they move forward with legislation that targets the LGBTQ community. The General Assembly is considering about 10 measures that could impact whether LGBTQ people could adopt,...
03.31.2019
The Tri-Star State: 'Let's Make A Deal' Time In The Legislative Session
The Tennessee General Assembly is getting to the do-or-die point for new legislation. The end of committee meetings means lawmakers have to make important decisions regarding bills that could determine whether they’ll pass or they’ll fail. This also means, in...

What's The Tri-Star State about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Tri-Star State episodes:

Republicans Want To Remove A Nashville Judge For Making Voting More Accessible. Is That Constitutional?

The Legislature’s War On Transgender Students And Protests During National Anthem

The Tri-Star State: Nashville LGBT Chamber Vows Fight Against Discriminatory Bills In The Tennessee Legislature

The Tri-Star State: What’s Behind The Latest Proposal In The Tennessee Legislature Targeting Transgender People

What To Expect From The 112th Tennessee General Assembly

The Tri-Star State: New Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Says He’ll Focus On Beating Gov. Bill Lee

The Tri-Star State: How Outspoken Tennessee Conservatives Are Reacting To The Inauguration

The Tri-Star State: What To Expect In The Legislative Special Session On Education

Tennessee General Assembly Goes Back Into Session Amid FBI Raids, Deadly Pandemic

Some Useful Tips For When You Vote On Election Day

Answering More Of Your Questions On Absentee Voting

A Flurry Of Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against Tennessee Over Absentee Voting. What’s The Latest?

Answering Your Questions About Absentee Voting In Tennessee

What Gov. Lee’s Decisions Tell Us About His Conservative Credentials

Recapping The Legislative Special Session

GOP U.S. Senate Primary Gets Fiery As It Hits Final Stretch

The Tri-Star State: The Tennessee General Assembly To Finalize Revised Budget This Week

Gov. Lee And The Legislature To Cut Spending Initiatives As Part Of New Budget Proposal

Despite Back And Forth Between Tennessee House And Senate Speakers, Post-break Session Will Carry On

April 5, 2020

March 22, 2020

March 15, 2020

Democrats Make Their Final Pitches To Tennessee Voters Before Super Tuesday

Why Gov. Lee Changed His Mind On How To Proceed With Paid Family Leave

Democrats Are Resisting Gov. Lee’s Education And Criminal Justice Reform Proposals

Dissecting Gov. Lee’s Criminal Justice Reform Plan For 2020

The Bipartisan Movement To Relocate The State Capitol Bust Of Nathan Bedford Forrest

House Speaker Cameron Sexton Talks Priorities And Issues That Put Him At Odds With Gov. Lee

Understanding Tennessee’s Controversial New Adoption Rule

What Tennesseans Can Expect Of This Year’s Legislative Session

Bill Lee Looks Back At His First 11 Months As Governor Of Tennessee

School Vouchers, Two New Speakers And A Governor — A Look At The 2019 Legislative Session

In Tennessee, Impeachment Procedures Might Not Change How People Approach 2020 Election

With 4 Months Until Super Tuesday, Democrats Are Eying Tennessee

It's Like Comic-Con, But Political — Why Is Politicon Coming To Nashville?

Why The UAW Strike Is Crossing Party Lines

What's Going On Inside The Tennessee Democratic Party?

The Tri-Star State: Political Outsiders, Trump Allies More Likely To Win Senate Race In Tennessee

The Tri-Star State: A New Administration Means New Priorities

The Tri-Star State: Lawmakers Push Back On House Speaker Glen Casada And Call For Special Session

The Tri-Star State: The Scorecard For Free-Market Health Care Reforms

The Tri-Star State: 3 Unresolved Matters As House Speaker Glen Casada Agrees To Quit Top Post

The Tri-Star State: GOP Lawmakers Weigh Their Confidence In House Speaker Glen Casada

The Tri-Star State: Answering Some Of The Questions About The House Speaker Scandal

The Tri-Star State: School Vouchers, Block Grants And Other Big GOP Wins Of 2019

The Tri-Star State: Tennessee’s Top Lawmakers Flex Muscles In Final Stretch Of Session

The Tri-Star State: Tennessee Legislature Keeps Tweaking Gov. Lee's School Voucher-Like Plan

The Tri-Star State: Which Of Gov. Bill Lee’s Legislative Proposals Are Faring Better Than Others?

The Tri-Star State: Lawmakers Consider Potential Impact Of Anti-LGBTQ Bills In Tennessee

The Tri-Star State: 'Let's Make A Deal' Time In The Legislative Session