Yesterday, our investigation exposed misreported statistics and disparaging conduct in an immigration raid conducted in Nashville last May by ICE and the THP. Now, state lawmakers and city leaders are calling for accountability from the governor and law enforcement. ✍️ @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social

Detailed (and appalling) account by @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social at @nashvillebanner.bsky.social of officer conduct during immigrant dragnet in Nashville last May ‘Huntin’ Time’ — How ICE and Tennessee State Troopers Targeted Immigrants, Inflated Safety Claims nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/19/i...

And here’s our story on the aftermath of the ICE/THP — following up with those deported and the families they left behind in Nashville — in Spanish.

P.S. Our stories are also available in Spanish. Here’s our investigation into the operation, analyzing more than 50 hours of footage from THP.

I promise we wouldn’t ask you to read 8,000 words if it wasn’t important. Every article we write and conversation we have about detention facilities or immigration policies in Nashville need to be informed by what already happened here:

Today we're sharing an investigation into the Nashville ICE/THP traffic operation. (Thread) I viewed over 50 hours of footage from the raid, which showed law enforcement calling targets "wet," "bodies," "illegals," physically writing on arrestees and competing to make the most arrests:

"An Associated Press reporter was beaten by the police and detained along with three other journalists on Tuesday in Cameroon while reporting on a secretive Trump administration program to deport migrants to the Central African country, according to two of the people detained." (gift link)

ICE to open second Tennessee immigrant detention center in Lebanon, about 30m from Nashville Details were scarce Friday, including the size, exact address and capacity. The plan caught local/state officials by surprise Friday. tennesseelookout.com/2026/02/13/i... @tennesseelookout.com

Did a bonus pod with our education reporter Lillian Avedian about the bills she’s been following at the state legislature — including vouchers, communism curriculum, the Ten Commandments — and also romance at the Winter Olympics. nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/13/b...

A new Metro Council resolution calls for Nashville Electric Service CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin to be fired after “systemic leadership failures” related to last month’s historic winter storm and the power outage crisis that followed. nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/11/m...

“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?” There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.

Whether you're a longtime Nashville resident newly interested in your city government or a recent transplant hoping to keep up with what's going on, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville-Davidson County can be hard to follow. That's why we put together this guide. ✍️: @stelliott.bsky.social

The clankers are coming, and they move at 20 mph with googly eye headlights.

Since the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits expired, marketplace enrollees are seeing significantly higher insurance costs. Here’s how that’s playing out in Tennessee. 📝 @ejturner02.bsky.social

Bezos isn't destroying the Washington Post because it isn't profitable. He's destroying the Washington Post because he's calculated that a robust free press threatens the ability of his class to warp society around their interests

Good morning and fuck Jeff Bezos. Nothing led by a billionaire is good for journalism. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...

Exclusive: Border Patrol “Commander at Large” Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role and is expected to retire soon, sources tell Nick Miroff.

Ai companies need to minimally temporarily block any production of images related to terms in the news like “Alex Pretti,” “ICE,” etc. But again, it’s ridiculous that even with video to compare it to, people are not validating things before they share them.

I talked to Nashville Police Chief John Drake about falling crime rates, local debates about surveillance technology and ICE. nashvillebanner.com/2026/01/22/m...

We sat down with Nashville Police Chief John Drake about five years leading the MNPD, what he sees contributing to falling crime rates and how he feels about local surveillance debates and the conduct of ICE agents. 📝: Steven Hale

Araceli rules. Got to work next to her on many legislative issues last year and she’s a pro. Glad she’s with the Banner.

As the Tennessee Department of Children's Services grapples with a shortage of transitional and foster homes, the number of kids sleeping in DCS offices has skyrocketed. I looked into what's driving the spike at the highly-scrutinized department. www.tennessean.com/story/news/e...

There’s an Ai video circulating on Instagram today that, if you just watch it and scroll, is reasonably passable as a real police interaction. With no shame to anyone who believed it, let’s pick it apart so we can spot other ai videos later. (Warning, longish thread)

Got to shoot the shit with @iamstevenhale.bsky.social and call it work:

Listening to @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social and @iamstevenhale.bsky.social for @nashvillebanner.bsky.social is probably the most fun I've ever had listening to anyone talk about state politics. nashvillebanner.com/2026/01/16/d...

A bill called the "Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Measure" wouldn't make the task force accountable but would add reporting requirements for felony arrests that Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy calls a logistical "nightmare." From @cstephenson.bsky.social.

“We’re not spending taxpayer dollars on you unless you’re in jail,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) said of immigrants as Tennessee lawmakers introduced a broad, punitive set of immigration bills this morning: nashvillebanner.com/2026/01/15/t...

journalists never take the cops at their word 2026 challenge

Mayor Freddie O’Connell has placed Dept of Emergency Communications leader Stephen Martini on leave after an outside investigator reported "Director Martini's management practices and management style have also created a pervasive culture of fear, dissatisfaction and disengagement.”

A few dozen people have gathered outside an ICE field office in Nashville this morning after the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis yesterday.

Bulso wants to ban pride flags, takeaway discrimination protections and undermine same sex marriage in Tennessee. nashvillebanner.com/2026/01/08/g...

From continued immigration and voucher debates to newly introduced bills about electric cars and artificial intelligence, here’s what to expect as the Tennessee General Assembly returns next week. ✏️: @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social nashvillebanner.com/2026/01/06/t...

lol

Advocates say Tennessee failed to address access to care, housing and education, among other issues that impact those with disabilities. ✏️: @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social

We’re keeping tabs on/trying to verify ICE encounters in Nashville. If you see something, let us know. I’m on signal at sgtaylor.01, email [email protected] or you can DM me. @iamstevenhale.bsky.social is at iamstevenhale.88 @stelliott.bsky.social is stephen.81

While you're waiting for TN-7 results you can read: In 2001, a 72-year-old woman named Etta Etheridge was killed in her Paris, TN home. In 2019, a beloved street newspaper salesman in East Nashville was charged with the murder despite maintaining his innocence. nashvillebanner.com/2025/12/02/d...

Behn outperformed previous Democrats in the district and forced unusual defense from national Republicans, but fell short of other dem special election gains this year and couldn’t flip the district: nashvillebanner.com/2025/12/02/r...

There are two kinds of friends in my group chat this Giving Tuesday/Special Election morning:

Star power, door knocking, hints of election denialism and a speakerphone call with the president on the homestretch of the D7 special election: nashvillebanner.com/2025/12/01/m...

An accidental leak revealed that Flock, which has cameras in thousands of US communities, is using workers in the Philippines to review and classify footage. www.wired.com/story/flock-...

Metro Councilmember Zulfat Suara filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against her former employer, Meharry Medical College, shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday.

A proposed agreement quietly filed before the Thanksgiving holiday could bring increased police capabilities and surveillance technology to downtown Nashville. The Metro Council is set to consider it this week. ✏️: @iamstevenhale.bsky.social

Following the recent pause in SNAP benefits, Nashvillians are coming together to support their communities and feed their neighbors for Thanksgiving.

NEW from @nashvillebanner.bsky.social: The primary contractors for the Music City Loop walked off the project, alleging months of nonpayment, safety concerns and attempted “poaching” of employees. I talked to the Nashville contractor and the VP of the Boring Co. nashvillebanner.com/2025/11/25/b...

Proud of this one. Kenny doing important work.

1/ THREAD: This year ICE has sent a record 600 immigrant kids into federal shelters, more than in the previous four years combined. Data suggests some are being separated from their families. For one 15-year-old, it began with a cracked windshield 👇

I can honestly say I’ve never worked anywhere as focused on deep, meaningful coverage over chasing clickbait or low hanging fruit as the @nashvillebanner.bsky.social. Here’s just one of the topics I covered this year with that in mind. If you value that coverage, please consider becoming a member.

Leave the country or risk your kids going into state custody is an unthinkable position to put someone in. Important story by @iamstevenhale.bsky.social about what so-called voluntary self-deportation looks like right here in Nashville.

At @nashvillebanner.bsky.social it’s our end of year fundraiser. Nonprofit news with no paywall and this helps us stay that way. Please subscribe or give $$ if you can. Or repost this and I will offer a Thing To Do In Nashville for each one. nashville-public-media.fundjournalism.org/makeagift/?c...