Kristi Noem took the stage at a conference in Nashville on March 5 just minutes after Trump announced he was replacing her. @vivianejones.bsky.social is reporting on Noem's appearance at the Sergeant Benevolent Association on March 5 at the Grand Hyatt hotel: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

As part of a larger effort to lend legitimacy to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, TN lawmakers are pushing a bill to use “Judea and Samaria” in state agency records. Myself and @vivianejones.bsky.social cover the context and a subcommittee debate yesterday: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Hey #NICAR26 @ire.org folks I’m here in Indy to improve my data and investigative reporting skills and find ways to integrate it better in religion reporting. If you’re interested in brainstorming more on religion reporting and data journalism, come find me!

"Literally a paperwork issue,” pastor Greg Locke told my colleague Andy Humbles after turning himself into the Wilson County Sheriff's Office March 3 for driving with a suspended driver's license. www.tennessean.com/story/news/l...

A Tennessee bill, with a fiscal note of $18 million, would require Charlie Kirk plazas on public university campuses that display the Ten Commandments along with other historic U.S. and state documents, @angelelatham.bsky.social reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...

The Knoxville diocese never confirmed a Vatican sanctioned disciplinary visit when reporter Tyler Whetstone was investigating the late Bishop Richard Stika, who ultimately resigned from his role. But a new diocesan obituary confirmed the apostolic visit. www.knoxnews.com/story/news/l...

At First Baptist Church Capitol Hill in Nashville, where the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee is addressing state legislative issues dealing with healthcare and SNAP benefits following reductions in the wake of the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Anglicans in Africa are meeting in Nigeria to elect a rival leader to Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, whose position on same-sex marriage inspired a coalition of churches in Africa and Asia to announce a split back in October. From @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/world/conser...

A grouping of conservative Anglican churches will meet in Nigeria this week to elect a leader to rival the Archbishop of Canterbury, an unprecedented step that is likely to deepen a widening theological split within the Anglican Communion.

Tennessee Republicans are considering allowing religiously affiliated charter schools, despite explicit prohibitions in the state constitution and a SCOTUS decision against a similar attempt in Oklahoma. @vivianejones.bsky.social on a new bill: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Inbox: Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville's most influential PCA congregation and that Sen. Marsha Blackburn has considered her church home, has affirmed a new senior pastor, Paul Goebel, following Scott Sauls' resignation in 2023.

In this month's @theatlantic.com print issue, Robert Worth traces Rod Dreher's spiritual journey as a Catholic-turned Eastern Orthodox, who now writes on the supernatural and demonic, and its role in influencing the likes of Vice President J.D. Vance. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

The federally funded "Freedom 250" mobile museums, which emphasize the role of Christianity in America's founding, are meant to counteract a "woke agenda," the CEO of PragerU told me at NRB. My story with Karissa Waddick on these six, 53-foot-long museums: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Via Aleja Hertzler-McCain: Hundreds of United Methodists rally to dismantle ICE outside Capitol religionnews.com/2026/02/25/h...

Amid a post-Super Bowl debate about defensive ends with short arms, my Titans colleague Nick Suss interviewed a paleontologist about T. rex's short arms. "Make fun of the guy with the short arms," Padian says. "Until he bites your (expletive) head off." www.tennessean.com/story/sports...

Undocumented immigrants in Tennessee overwhelmingly faced charges for traffic infractions in 2025, according to a new report that challenges GOP legislators' claims as part of a push for new immigration enforcement bills. From @vivianejones.bsky.social: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Last week, Pete Hegseth's address to the NRB was the latest display of the Trump administration's embrace of a campaign that cites certain claims about U.S. history and that positions certain religious factions in top government roles. From our coverage: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Two TN Republicans introduced a bill that would charge women with fetal homicide, punishable by the death penalty. SBC President Clint Pressley, a North Carolina pastor, endorsed it. It’s not on the calendar to be considered, @vivianejones.bsky.social reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth marched to the podium at the conservative Christian media summit with the heraldry of a general, while the crowd received him as a beloved pastor to a congregation. More of our coverage on Hegseth, NRB: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is addressing the NRB in Nashville this evening for a forum on “Freedom 250 Celebration.” I expect Hegseth and other speakers (i.e. David Barton) to describe Christianity as foundational to the country’s origins. nrb2026.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions...

On other National Religious Broadcasters-related news amid its Nashville gathering this week, @baptistnews.com looked at how former NRB president Jerry Johnson (past well-known SBC leader) went public about his conversion to Catholicism. baptistnews.com/article/a-hi...

Panelists at a NRB forum yesterday that paid homage to Charlie Kirk said the late conservative activist wasn't fueled by a desire to go "viral." They said that contrasts with a wave of new social media influencing in the wake of Kirk's death. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

SBC leaders this week pointed to examples of Southern Baptist consensus re finances, political rifts and how that might foreshadow less fiery debates going forward. Top-line items out of the SBC Executive Committee meeting this week: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Religion reporter David Anderson was editor of @rns.org and later a consultant on a PBS show on religion. He also worked at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and received the RNA Lifetime Achievement Award. From @bmietana.bsky.social, @adellembanks.bsky.social: religionnews.com/2026/02/18/d...

In even more NRB news, Pete Hegseth to address the Nashville summit tomorrow. x.com/nrbconventio...

Now at the Woolworth Theatre for a launch event for the Rev. James Lawson’s posthumous memoir. Coauthor Emily Yellin is speaking with Lawson’s son, John, and Vanderbilt Divinity dean Yolanda Pierce and historian Dennis Dickerson.

At Gaylord Opryland for the National Religious Broadcasters gathering, where I’m tuning into a panel with Megan Basham, William Wolfe, Joel Berry and Seth Gruber on “Faith in the Digital Square: Winning the Information War.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson's advocacy was rooted in his background as a Baptist minister, and it extended to his work with the nation's major Black Baptist groups. Leaders within the National Baptist Convention shared more about Jackson's legacy for the church: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

I’m here at Hilton BNA for day 2 of 2 of the SBC Executive Committee meeting, where I’ll cover something afterward. Alas, no live tweeting — I missed last night’s plenary and am juggling Jesse Jackson news. But per usual, this is when the EC finalizes responses to the convention for June.

With Republican lawmakers upset over certain legal challenges to state laws/actions, GOP leadership is pushing a bill that makes it harder for residents to challenge unconstitutional legislative actions. From @evanmealins.bsky.social & @vivianejones.bsky.social: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

The late civil rights leader Rev. James Lawson's memoir releases next week, coauthored by journalist Emily Yellin. I interviewed Yellin and Vanderbilt scholars about the book's relevance today and how it counteracts a "deification" of icons like Lawson. www.tennessean.com/story/news/l...

TN House Republicans and 4 Dems advanced a Ten Commandments in classrooms bill. “I’m old enough to remember a time when Republicans and Democrats alike recognized that this is a Judeo Christian society," the House Majority Leader told @vivianejones.bsky.social: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

TN Republicans advanced a bill that would allow private citizens and businesses not to recognize same-sex marriages. The LGBTQ+ community worries it could affect eligibility for parental leave, for example. @vivianejones.bsky.social on Rep. Bulso's latest: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

@newyorker.com recently delved into the story of the Moonies' (aka the Unification Church) hold over Japanese politics following Shinzo Abe's assassination, and a journalist that's been tracing the Korean-based church's influence worldwide. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

For those with continued interest in the fallout of Uncle Nearest whiskey's financial/business woes, my colleague @evanmealins.bsky.social traveled to Knoxville to interview the founders as they testified in a court case about unpaid taxes and loans. www.tennessean.com/story/money/...

A new anti-drag bill would expand restrictions to proximity within 1,000 feet of churches or schools, making it difficult for businesses with drag or cabaret performances to get licenses, my colleagues @keithsharontn.bsky.social & @angelelatham.bsky.social write: www.tennessean.com/story/news/2...

ICYMI: "Everybody is writing that this political posturing has to be bad. Well guess what? Maybe it’s not. Maybe on balance, the inflows and the outflows are evening out," @ryanburge.bsky.social told me about the SBC's push to the right re his new book. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

Gospel musician Moses Tyson Jr. is barred from further publicizing allegations of theft & abuse in the Memphis-based COGIC (nation's largest Black Pentecostal group) per a preliminary injunction in a federal defamation case, @lucasfinton.bsky.social reports: www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/l...

More bad bourbon news (technically whiskey) from @evanmealins.bsky.social on the extent of Uncle Nearest's financial woes, per new court filings. (I suppose you could also say "more bad booze news"). www.tennessean.com/story/money/...

@ryanburge.bsky.social's new book, "The Vanishing Church," helped me think differently about trends I've long been writing about. So, I interviewed him about polarization in Nashville's major denominations and how nondenominational churches complicate that all: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

I sat down with Rev. Derrick Jackson about his new role as American Baptist president as he still leads the nation's most historic Black religious publishing house, and how his experience there will inform the way he adjusts one of Nashville's four HBCUs. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

A bilingual church in Rutherford County first canceled its 5 p.m. service in the wake of a major ICE operation, discontinued a partnership for a housing ministry due to a state law, and is now reeling from ICE’s arrests of two parishioners. My latest: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

"Vrabel returned a bottom dweller into the class of the league. The Titans, meanwhile, are bottom dwellers." My colleague Nick Suss on comparing where the Pats will be this Sunday versus the Titans' performance this past season: www.tennessean.com/story/sports...

Much of Nashville remains in disarray with 130,000+ power outages remaining, and the death toll rising with dangerously low temps and many other disruptions to daily life. The Tennessean newsroom is stepping up, here's where you can find our live news today: www.tennessean.com/story/weathe...

As conditions worsen here in Nashville, I'm helping with covering breaking news today. You can keep up with The Tennessean's coverage and other important safety updates at this live blog: www.tennessean.com/story/weathe...

Southern Baptists and other evangelicals' outcry over the anti-ICE protest at Cities Church (SBC-affiliated) in Minneapolis has grown beyond concerns of religious liberty, and fueled calls for churches to beef up protective measures. A roundup: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

ICYMI: The Nashville and Metuchen, Trenton dioceses are facing a lawsuit over the alleged abuse of a deceased former Tullahoma priest, who is also at the center of other lawsuits in New Jersey. I review this case and other ongoing ones re Nashville: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...

GOP Rep. Gino Bulso is attempting to directly challenge a 2020 SCOTUS decision strengthening employment nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people. Another bill allows private entities to stop recognizing same-sex marriage, @vivianejones.bsky.social reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

GOP lawmakers unveiled 10 bills yesterday inspired by conversations with the White House that would require gov't agencies to verify individuals' legal status before distributing assistance and track students' immigration status, @vivianejones.bsky.social reports: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

Greg Locke's former head of security told @danielsilliman.bsky.social the 2024 shooting at Locke's former house was partly why he resigned because of how Locke used the story "for his own self-aggrandizement." Daniel reported out the real reasons behind the event: julieroys.com/2024-shootin...