The 2020 Boner Awards

Lax Management

It’s not like management from the state legislature has been something particular within the months since, however our representatives on the Capitol have been particularly bumbling within the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. When a reporter requested in regards to the “public well being disaster” in March, state Home Speaker Cameron Sexton laughed and mentioned “you need to use that phrase.” On the identical day that Gov. Invoice Lee was asserting a state of emergency, lawmakers have been upstairs debating a nonbinding decision congratulating President Trump for warding off efforts to take away him from workplace. A gaggle of center faculty cheerleaders was available — free for the day as a result of their very own faculty was closed because of the unfold of the virus. Since then, a nonzero however unknown variety of legislators have themselves caught the virus, and 1000’s of Tennesseans have died. The legislature, in the meantime, returned to Nashville for a particular session — to not assist the unprecedented numbers of unemployed Tennesseans or throw a lifeline to hospitals underneath siege, however as an alternative to make it a felony to spend the evening on state property and make it simpler for companies to squash coronavirus-related lawsuits. 

Not Nice, Bob

Bob Corker was gone. The previous United States senator had retired and will have been merely having fun with his immense wealth in relative silence. Alas. It’s arduous to imagine this actually occurred now that we’ve seen the pandemic’s devastating toll within the months since, however Corker emerged in late March to specific his assist for Donald Trump’s batshit thought of reopening the nation by Easter. In doing so, he proudly contradicted public well being specialists and supplied folks up for a sacrifice he will surely not should endure — that’s, sickness with worry of crushing medical debt or an absence of entry to enough care. The Easter reopening didn’t occur, in fact, however maybe Corker is happy now to see that the nation’s leaders have largely given up on stopping the unfold of the virus. We will solely urge you now as we did again then: Ignore Bob Corker.  

It’s the Finish of the Boner as We Know It

OK, let’s state for the file that running a full-page ad in the Sunday paper that says Nashville will be nuked by Islamic jihadists on July 18 is a foul factor. We will all agree on that, proper? (Put your hand down, state Rep. Susan Lynn.) Some nutbag end-of-the-worlders snuck a full-page advert previous the very stringent Gannett requirements in June and claimed that the Bible foretold these occasions. There are two methods to take a look at this debacle. The primary: This may very well be thought of a teachable second for Gannett about their advert course of and the way few individuals are really taking a look at these items earlier than they money the checks. One advert supervisor bought shitcanned, and we’re positive very stern issues have been mentioned to everybody in what’s left of the advert division over there. However the larger downside is that the advert ran within the paper the Wednesday earlier than AND NOBODY NOTICED IT. Positive, it’s a difficulty that the content material of the advert is hateful and cuckoo-for-Cocoa Puffs loopy, however the deeper problem for the corporate — one that’s hemorrhaging money and giving buyouts to staff — is that no one reads their advertisements. That may do extra injury to the paper than any nuke ever will.

You’re Doing a Heckuva Boner, Mikey

Like George W. Bush together with his FEMA chief, untimely congratulation is usually a downside in males. Simply ask Michael Anastasi, The Tennessean’s vp and editor who’s additionally chargeable for the USA At present Community in Tennessee. He ordered up a front-page editorial not simply in Nashville, however in each Gannett paper within the state on March 18. The headline on that unsigned piece? “Tennessee leaders’ steps are decisive, accountable.” Sure, there’s nothing like bending over backwards to suck as much as authorities leaders and reward them within the first weeks of what, even then, we knew could be an enormous pandemic. How a lot hubris did it take to not solely order up that editorial, but in addition make it the centerpiece of a state’s value of papers? This got here per week after Gov. Invoice Lee’s administration needed to be publicly shamed into releasing county-level knowledge on the results of the virus. If you wish to appear like a participant to the elite, strive to not make it look so apparent. There are a selection of remedies for that now.

Schoolhouse Crock

Ah, Sen. Marsha Blackburn — the perpetual Boner machine. Frankly, should you wanna see a smattering of groan-worthy gaffes, simply take a gander on the Trump-adoring uber-conservative legislator’s Twitter profile on any given day. One particular tweet, nevertheless, stood out again in September: “We’ll by no means rewrite the Structure of the US,” she proudly proclaimed. The factor is, we’ve executed that already. Twenty-seven occasions, to be actual. Not solely did the longtime Williamson County resident and, , sitting United States senator not appear to understand that constitutional amendments are, by definition, a way of rewriting that so-called dwelling doc — she additionally apparently forgot that she herself has been a co-sponsor on multiple tried modification. Whoops!

Spines? Who Wants Spines!

Sadly, Donald Trump’s refusal to concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden comes as little shock. Simply as miserable and solely barely extra shocking, although, is Tennessee lawmakers’ willingness to go along with the sitting president as he continued (and continues) to make fully unfounded claims about widespread voter fraud. Probably the most highly effective folks within the state (together with Gov. Invoice Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Sen.-elect Invoice Hagerty) refused to name out Trump’s clear makes an attempt to undermine democracy. Blackburn, Hagerty and the state get together begged their supporters to donate to Trump’s “authorized protection fund.” State Rep. Bruce Griffey went as far as to point out up at a “Cease the Steal” rally in downtown Nashville and tackle the group whereas sporting a MAGA hat. Blackburn did name Biden “the president-elect” in late November, however a spokesperson shortly instructed press that the senator “misspoke” in doing so. Cool. Nice work.

What Goes Round

On this problem and former ones, we’ve been blissful to provide shit to Tennessee Republicans who refused (and nonetheless refuse) to just accept actuality: Joe Biden gained the presidential election. So it’s solely honest that we spotlight a Trumpian flip by one of many 12 months’s most sudden candidates. Marquita Bradshaw thrilled some on the left by profitable the Democratic nomination for Tennessee’s open U.S. Senate seat. However on election evening, the race was referred to as for her Republican opponent nearly instantly after polls closed. She in the end misplaced by almost 800,000 votes, however wouldn’t concede defeat, both on election evening or within the days after, holding out hope for “votes within the basement,” a reference to a Nineteen Seventies Memphis congressional race. Generally it’s good to struggle, however not whenever you’re in search of 800,000 “votes within the basement.”

Stuffed with Beans

State Rep. Jerry Sexton fairly presumably would have made our illustrious Boner checklist only for making an attempt and failing — for a second time — to have the Bible named Tennessee’s official state ebook earlier this 12 months. However the honorable consultant from East Tennessee’s Bean Station earns double Boner standing due to a weird and rambling apart he issued again in June. Whereas ostensibly arguing in protection of preserving the bust of Accomplice common and Ku Klux Klan chief Nathan Bedford Forrest within the state Capitol, Sexton meandered off on a diatribe about how “we’re killing hundreds of thousands of infants yearly on this nation by abortion” earlier than in the end delivering this weird-as-hell line: “Who is aware of, possibly a few of us can be slaves one in every of lately. Legal guidelines change.” When you’re having a tough time parsing Sexton’s logic there, uh, you’re not alone. Solely time will inform what sort of nonsensical jibber-jabber Mr. Bean will provide throughout subsequent 12 months’s legislative session, however we are able to’t wait to listen to it. 

Illustration: Holly Carden

A Toast for the Douchebags

This Boner goes out to a really particular set of Nashvillians — 2,601 of them, to be exact. In response to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s workplace, that’s what number of residents of Davidson County voted for impartial presidential candidate Kanye West in November’s election. That’s what number of Nashvillians — in a world pandemic, with a disastrous incumbent POTUS actively trying to undermine the election — went to the difficulty of casting their votes for the man who as soon as tweeted, “Mark Zuckerberg make investments 1 billion {dollars} into Kanye West concepts.” Even worse, Tennessee led the nation in complete votes for the (admittedly very gifted) producer and rapper with 10,279. To loosely paraphrase the would-be POTUS himself, this specific man ought to positively not have all that energy. Darkish twisted fantasy certainly! 

Rocks Exhausting

In February, the Basic Meeting took a break from their ordinary endeavor of passing legal guidelines that in the end get the state sued and as an alternative debated the relative deserves of the Cumberland Plateau. No one is aware of why. It began with John Ray Clemmons, whose district is nowhere close to the Cumberland Plateau, submitting a decision honoring the plateau. Clearly, the plateau wouldn’t be capable to present as much as the Capitol to obtain a finely calligraphed copy of this decision, so we’re unsure what the purpose of this was. However the legislature does all types of pointless issues, like cross legal guidelines that aren’t even in the identical time zone as the US Structure, so let’s not get hung up on the small print. Despite the fact that most of those resolutions get scooted alongside by way of the consent calendar, this one was pulled and Clemmons was pressured to defend the decision in entrance of the Aristotelian surprise that’s the Home Ag Committee. Throughout this colloquy, he was challenged by state Rep. Chris Todd. Todd, who holds a bachelor’s diploma in biology from Union College, took specific umbrage to the outline of the plateau as “an unlimited tableland of sandstone and shale courting way back to 500 million years,” saying we “don’t have any strong proof that the Earth is that outdated.” There’s, in fact, mountains of proof the earth is not less than 500 million years outdated. Certainly, there’s loads exhibiting it’s about 4 billion years older than that. It’s in books. Books Todd most likely needed to learn — or not less than ought to have learn — to get that bachelor’s diploma in biology. Bonus geology Boner for Clemmons: The sandstone and shale on the Cumberland Plateau are “solely” 300 million years outdated. Dummy!

Hale. No.

It’s powerful sledding for Tennessee Democrats, destined for second place in most elections — even when going through off in opposition to Republican and a number of Boner Award winner Scott DesJarlais (who’s pro-life but in addition suggested a secret abortion for his mistress). DesJarlais’ fundamental legislative accomplishment appears to be “is a member of the US Congress and votes on stuff (typically),” so we nearly should applaud sentient Coexist bumper sticker Christopher Hale, the world’s youngest perennial candidate. He developed a multipronged technique that went past the retail politics of door-knocking and telephone calls. He additionally got here up with the slogan “Hale Sure!” that should have come to him in a stroke of inspiration like Proust consuming his madeleine. However PG puns weren’t all Hale needed to provide. Seeing that Democrats have a tough time winning on their own merits in Tennessee, he thought it sensible to encourage voters to vote for him so they may vote for another person later, tweeting that conservatives — and in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District, that’s roughly everyone — ought to vote for him to rid themselves of DesJarlais, after which vote for some really conservative candidate the next time around. He supplied a parade of horribles that included loony Islamophobe Lou Ann Zelenik and monorail fanatic Joe Carr. He seemingly did this with no hint of irony, as a result of he wouldn’t know what irony was if it marched as much as him sporting a pink pussy hat and launched itself. Hale, maybe it doesn’t have to be famous, completed with a 3rd of the vote within the common election. He bragged he bought extra votes than any challenger Democrat in a Congressional race in Tennessee historical past. He disregarded the half about how there weren’t many challenger Democrats for the primary, oh, 160 years of the state’s existence, and in addition the half about how he had the bottom share of the vote of any Democrat who confronted DesJarlais, a person as soon as described by a Republican operative as a “terd.”

Boners on the Path

Marketing campaign season is the time to let 100 Boners bloom, and this 12 months didn’t disappoint.  Twice (not less than) this cycle, Republicans reached for assaults on their opponents that solely served to reveal their low opinion of the voting public. Throughout his major struggle with Dr. Manny Sethi, Bill Hagerty launched a website implying shady things in Sethi’s past — shady issues that amounted to nonprofit work and private relationships with different medical doctors who wouldn’t win a GOP major. (Hagerty went on to win.) Later, within the remaining weeks of the state Senate race between Republican Sen. Steve Dickerson and his Democratic opponent Heidi Campbell, the Senate Republican Caucus spent a great deal of money attacking Campbell. One advert sought to sully her repute within the intently divided district by highlighting her support for Gideon’s Army and demonizing the group as a dangerous sect of far-left extremists. The group has certainly supported calls to defund the police and empower different public security initiatives. However it was actually based in response to devastating gun violence in North Nashville, and the group’s most excessive motion this 12 months was organizing an amazing rapid response to the March 3 tornado. Swing and a miss. Campbell went on to unseat Dickerson. 

Lee’s Persistent Plaza Drawback

Gov. Invoice Lee may have simply ignored demonstrators’ plans to occupy the steps resulting in the state Capitol and arrange an “autonomous zone” in protest of racism and police brutality. Perhaps then it wouldn’t have lasted as lengthy. However as an alternative, the governor put out a press release hours earlier than the protest started that state troopers would arrest anybody violating anti-camping legal guidelines established years in the past after the Occupy motion, and this declaration of animosity solely served to embolden protesters. No arrests have been made the primary evening of the campout, and whereas demonstrators relocated throughout the road onto Legislative Plaza, the motion — which might quickly be referred to as the Individuals’s Plaza — continued for 62 days. Relatively than de-escalate the scenario, the state wasted taxpayer cash and lawmakers assaulted free speech (together with an early attempt by House Speaker Cameron Sexton to make chalk writing on state property a felony). Greater than $1 million was spent on time beyond regulation and journey prices for state troopers to watch the protests in June alone. In a special session in August — which was presupposed to be dedicated to COVID-19 response efforts — state legislators handed legal guidelines to reinforce penalties for violating anti-camping legal guidelines, which Lee signed. In a summer season outlined as a lot by protests in opposition to racial justice as this rattling pandemic, Tennessee’s assault on free speech garnered nationwide consideration. On high of that, this was an election 12 months — it wasn’t misplaced on native and out-of-state observers that in Tennessee having a felony conviction means you lose the suitable to vote.

Cease the Press

Whereas organizations throughout the nation reckoned with institutional racism, of us on the state Capitol tripped over their toes. In June, WPLN reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán mentioned in a tweet that he had twice faced obstacles from security personnel while trying to move around the Cordell Hull State Office Building to do his job. Martínez-Beltrán has been the station’s political reporter since 2018; he’s additionally the one individual of shade within the Tennessee Capitol Hill Press Corps. “I put on two press badges round my neck on daily basis,” wrote Martínez-Beltrán in a tweet. “I put on a swimsuit too. Why? In order that safety and lawmakers know immediately I’m press. Not an intern, not a random individual, not a prison. Press. This week confirmed that hasn’t been sufficient.” 

Trooper Stupor

When Tennessee Freeway Patrol Trooper Harvey Briggs noticed Andrew Golden filming a site visitors cease within the parking zone of the Capitol, he left his publish and began shouting on the man to not intervene. Golden, who had often joined in on the close by Individuals’s Plaza protest occupation, shouted again and used some blue language, which appeared to spark the trooper’s mood. Briggs bought up in Golden’s face, and the protester turned the camera on their interaction — the maskless trooper was inches away from the masked protester, in the course of a pandemic. After extra back-and-forth, Briggs ripped off Golden’s masks and shrugged off his complaints in regards to the act. Whereas the cellular phone footage didn’t seize the mask-ripping, surveillance footage did — and Briggs was terminated following evaluate. A disciplinary file obtained by the Related Press confirmed it wasn’t Briggs’ first mistake as a trooper, nevertheless it positive as hell was his final.

ACAB: A Cop, a Boner

Early within the spring, the pandemic and related lockdowns have been new, and all of us dealt with them otherwise. Some of us used the time to go on walks and luxuriate in the one locations the place issues nonetheless felt considerably regular. Others, like Metro Nashville Police Captain Jason Reinbold, took the chance to launch profane tirades at such folks. That’s what occurred in early April when Erin McDermott was strolling alongside a path in Brentwood with the kids she watches as a nanny. They stopped to eat some snacks and get some water, and the place the place they did so simply occurred to be behind Reinbold’s home. That’s when the longtime MNPD veteran and one-man Boner Squad started berating McDermott, telling her to go away and ultimately yelling to the kids, “You wanna keep and take heed to me fucking cuss all day?” Reinbold was later accused of sexual harassment and assault, simply one example of a variety of allegations that have surfaced about the culture inside the MNPD. He not too long ago retired whereas underneath investigation for one more misdeed involving copying division recordsdata. 

APB: All-Factors Bullshit

Just a few days after riots in downtown Nashville led to widespread confrontations with the police, the Metro Nashville Police Division introduced its intention to arrest two well-known native Black activists, Justin Jones and Jeneisha Harris, on costs of felony aggravated rioting. Police mentioned the 2 may very well be seen in images and video standing on the roof of a squad automobile that was later discovered to be broken. Metro Councilmember Dave Rosenberg referred to as the fees “absurd” and mentioned the story “reeks of vengeance.” Jones referred to as the fees “politically motivated.” Lower than three hours after MNPD’s announcement, as Jones and Harris have been getting ready to show themselves in, the police department released another statement. This one introduced that the warrants had been recalled after Davidson County District Legal professional Glenn Funk and the MNPD “reviewed extra data.” We’re glad the fees have been cleared up, nevertheless it sounds an terrible lot like they by no means ought to’ve been issued within the first place.

Reviled Little one

In late Could, absolutely righteous and justified protests over the police killing of George Floyd popped up across the nation, together with right here in Nashville. Although a Could 30 “I Will Breathe” demonstration in downtown Nashville was peaceable, it was adopted by calamitous occasions later that evening, together with one dangerous actor, a white man, setting fireplace to the Metro Courthouse as a crowd seemed on. Images and movies posted to social media confirmed the person — shirtless and bearing a tattoo studying “Wild Little one” — clearly igniting a hearth by one of many constructing’s smashed-out home windows. A 25-year-old named Wesley Somers was ultimately arrested for the crime and charged with felony arson, vandalism and disorderly conduct. Right here’s the factor: When you’re going to set fireplace to a historic public constructing whereas surrounded by dozens of camera- and smartphone-wielding onlookers, possibly pull that face masks up over your nostril, or not less than, , cowl up any extraordinarily figuring out tattoos you would possibly occur to have in your torso.

Frenemies

Metro Cops could have helped expedite the departure of Chief Steve Anderson after they cheesed it up with unmasked revelers crowded on Decrease Broadway this summer season. Police largely declined to implement the masks mandate as COVID-19 case numbers continued to rise. That’s, till they cited a man experiencing homelessness near the bustling Lower Broad bar district, resulting in outrage over the selective enforcement of the foundations. Anderson was out hours later. 

Below Strain

There have been numerous dangerous conferences in Metro historical past, however maybe the worst was a June public listening to relating to the town’s price range. Metropolis leaders have been proposing a big property tax improve so as to stave off doubtlessly drastic cuts to metropolis providers in the course of a raging pandemic, amid a debate about racism and prison justice, and lots of people wished to register their ideas. It was a ache within the ass navigating technical difficulties and preserving the handfuls of people that arrived to talk in individual adequately distanced. And due to that, the assembly lasted effectively into the following morning. Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, tasked with managing the present, misplaced his mood within the wee hours, scolding those that repeated related messages about defunding the police for taking over an excessive amount of time. After the fog cleared, the vice mayor apologized for his undemocratic exhibiting. 

Entre-Manure

When you’re in any respect acquainted with Dave Ramsey’s model of economic powerful love and conservative Christian discuss radio, you possibly can hardly be shocked by how he responded to the coronavirus pandemic. In March, after a staffer on the Williamson County workplaces of his firm Ramsey Options examined optimistic for COVID-19, Ramsey kept the offices open whereas acknowledging public well being tips discouraging massive gatherings. Just a few months later, when a Florida lodge determined in opposition to internet hosting his EntreLeadership Summit, Ramsey merely introduced the entire occasion to Franklin. In an e mail to workers, Ramsey Options government vp Daniel Tardy mentioned the lodge was “being immature, transactional and irrational.” Effectively, that actually describes somebody on this scenario. After the Scene reported on the conference, Ramsey despatched an e mail to workers encouraging them to not click on on the story and framing it as an assault on Christians. Lots of his staffers did click on on the story and leaked us his e mail. Hello Dave! 

Maintain It Tite

The Tennessee Titans weren’t going to let one thing as small as a worldwide pandemic preserve them from their pursuit of AFC South glory. After a mini-outbreak shut down team facilities (and led to the primary of what has been a sequence of complicated NFL schedule strikes) and the NFL subsequently barred the workforce from in-person contact, some Montgomery Bell Academy college students seen a “massive group of grownup soccer gamers” on the varsity’s area in the course of the day. As a result of they’re teenagers, they snapped footage on telephones which are nicer than the one you may have, and people footage made their solution to bald curmudgeon and longtime Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky. The clandestine observe was confirmed by MBA headmaster Brad Gioia, who apparently has no civic satisfaction and dimed out the Two-Toners. Regardless of some worries that the hush-hush observe, which happened underneath the quilt of mid-afternoon, would price the workforce draft picks and even result in a forfeit, the “solely” punishment from the league was a $350,000 wonderful.

Don’t Guess on It

Now that Tennessee has authorized sports activities betting, would-be touts are searching for recommendation and an edge from in all places. However one place to not look: the mayor’s workplace, as it’s clear John Cooper doesn’t understand how betting works. In the course of the Titans’ playoff run, he tried to arrange the normal mayor’s wager together with his Boston reverse quantity Marty Walsh, providing up a six-pack from East Nashville Beer Works if the Patriots prevailed (which they didn’t, by the way in which, only a reminder). Walsh famously believes mayors’ bets are a jinx and doesn’t have interaction in them. Much more famously, Walsh is a recovering alcoholic. In the course of the mayor’s star flip on the 2016 Democratic Nationwide Conference, actually the primary phrases out of his mouth have been, “My identify is Marty Walsh, and I’m an alcoholic.” As dangerous as this double-ended boner was, not less than it was a wager made in a recognizable method. When the Predators confronted the Stars within the NHL’s Winter Basic on New 12 months’s Day, Cooper — having apparently by no means made a wager earlier than or seen anybody make a wager or heard of betting — instructed Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, “If the Preds win, be a part of me on the world-famous Grand Ole Opry this spring!” (Bonus Boner for making an attempt to make plans for the spring, lol.) Primarily, Cooper mentioned, “If I win, you get a trip.” Exhausting to imagine the town is going through a price range disaster with that form of outside-the-box considering on the high.

Billy Ray Virus

Taking pictures, enjoying songs and kissing strangers at a home get together could also be all effectively and good underneath regular circumstances. However positively not throughout a world pandemic, and particularly not the weekend earlier than your Saturday Night time Reside debut. Morgan Wallen discovered this the arduous method. A passel of social media posts confirmed the rising nation star celebrating a College of Alabama win in shut quarters with maskless followers. When he arrived in New York for SNL rehearsals, Wallen found he’d been disinvited from the present for breaking its COVID-19 security protocols. Jack White assembled a trio on the final minute and stuffed in ably; Wallen issued a seemingly genuine public apology and bought one other probability to play the present in December. All the identical, that’s an enormous alternative that few different artists would blow so arduous.

Up within the Air

It’s arduous to know who ought to actually be accepting this Boner Award. Bobby Joslin, the Nashville businessman who reported his Cessna 172 lacking final December solely to find it parked within the incorrect hangar? Or the goofball who parked Bobby Joslin’s Cessna 172 within the incorrect hangar at John C. Tune Airport? Look, this mixup lasted lengthy sufficient to get the FBI concerned, so they need to most likely each come on up right here and take a bow. Congrats on the uncommon Scene double, showing in each the Better of Nashville Subject and the Boner Awards.

Right here We Go Once more 

This 12 months, our metropolis’s wonderful skilled theater firms have canceled their seasons and watched their funding dry up, TPAC has paused all performances, and Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre shuttered for good. However the thespians within the ’burbs continued to have a hootin’ good time, mounting in-person productions of the performs that nobody must see ever once more. Who may argue with the important nature of Metal Magnolias, carried out in individual by Hendersonville Performing Arts Firm? An August manufacturing of Mamma Mia! in North Platte, Neb., closed down as a result of 23 members of the cast tested positive for COVID-19. However what would the folks of Espresso County do with out one other viewing of the “smash hit musical,” which The Final Oldies Rock and Roll Present group carried out in September on the Manchester Arts Middle? The theater has a packed calendar of performances this winter, even though the city’s mayor, Lonnie Norman, tragically died of COVID-19 in October. The Fb web page of Lebanon’s Viewers of One Productions is filled with scripture — maybe that’s what has saved the solid, crew and viewers of The Addams Household musical secure. There are circuses in Brentwood, a homicide thriller in Smyrna and even Shakespeare in Murfreesboro (presumably the one of those reveals value seeing in regular occasions), all whereas circumstances of COVID-19-related diseases and deaths rise all through the state. It appears the enemies of artwork are additionally the enemies of science. 

The COVID Cowl-Up That Wasn’t

Fox 17 actually thought it had some type of smoking gun when it got here throughout an e mail correspondence regarding Tennessee Lookout reporter Nate Rau’s request for COVID-19 numbers at eating places and bars. The emails confirmed metropolis officers making an attempt to determine correctly share the low numbers of COVID circumstances traced again to these spots; out of context, it kinda-sorta appeared like a conspiracy to keep away from releasing the information — and reporter Dennis Ferrier shortly referred to as it a cover-up. With the context, although, it sounded extra like complying with well being care requirements to assist shield folks’s identities, because it’s simpler to establish folks from smaller outbreaks. Not solely that, the report fully missed that Metro did in actual fact share these numbers with Rau (who they mistakenly recognized as a reporter with The Tennessean, his former employer). Amid the mistaken cries of a cover-up was an look by Metro Councilmember Steve Glover, the one named supply within the story, who principally complained in regards to the tax fee improve and rules regarding downtown companies. Whereas journalists from different retailers shortly corrected the article’s misinformation — and Fox 17 surprisingly deleted after which undeleted the story from its web site —  Glover himself appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show to unfold the false story. In the future later, Fox 17 retracted the story and apologized for it, however the suitable had already had a area day with the false information.

{Dollars} and Nonsense

There’s loads to scrutinize in regards to the homeless shelters arrange on the Fairgrounds Nashville — and whether or not the town ought to examine extra socially distanced options. However WSMV’s current have a look at what it prices to run the operation got here throughout much less like accountability reporting and extra like a thinly veiled grievance by of us who need the financial system to reopen, in addition to flea market distributors feeling the monetary crunch of the pandemic. Actually, as soon as Metro Councilmember Steve Glover enters as a key supply for the story, it’s clear what the angle is. WSMV discovered it price $2.5 million, which incorporates bills like fencing and medical staffing. In a very cynical transfer, the report tries to name out homelessness service suppliers’ requires motel rooms to be offered as an alternative of shelters — a request that stemmed from security issues fairly than price range crunching. Some back-of-the-napkin math reveals that technique would have price $410,000 — however as Metro’s assertion factors out, that leaves out different working prices, like $1.1 million for contracted medical workers. Given that folks experiencing persistent homelessness additionally usually face medical circumstances, it’s essential to understand that it does take greater than only a spare room to look after a susceptible inhabitants — one thing service suppliers doubtlessly would have instructed reporter Nancy Amons had she bothered to achieve out to them. No matter Amons got down to do with this story, she missed the mark.

Be the Change You Want to See

Steve Smith and different homeowners of Decrease Broadway honky-tonks have spent a lot of this pandemic shouting loudly that the actual downside isn’t hordes of boneheads stumbling across the neon canyon, however fairly Mayor John Cooper’s administration being overly cautious. The declare that their bars weren’t contributing to the unfold of COVID-19 rested on a tiny quantity of data Metro launched in June. Huge quantities of extra contact tracing knowledge the town collected included data that would establish people, and releasing it might violate federal medical privateness legal guidelines, so it remained unreleased. Then, Smith and different bar homeowners filed swimsuit in opposition to the town, forcing Metro to de-identify contact tracing knowledge and make it public — which, as Tennessean journalist Brett Kelman’s report notes, pointed a finger proper at Decrease Broadway. 

Illustration: Holly Carden

Woman A-Holes

Naming their band Woman Antebellum was the inspiration on which the milquetoast pop-country trio constructed a towering Boner palace. Since 2006, Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and everybody of their orbit have ignored the racist implications of adopting a euphemism that glorifies a time earlier than the Civil Struggle introduced an finish to slavery. As protests over police violence in opposition to Black folks unfold this summer season following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the band introduced it might change its identify to Woman A. However somebody on the group’s workforce tripped over their Boner by failing to do a Google search. Or else they assumed that Anita White, a Black blues singer from Seattle who has carried out as Woman A since 1987, both wouldn’t care or wouldn’t be capable to do something in regards to the group appropriating the identify. When White refused to share “Woman A” underneath phrases of an iffy contract, the band filed suit, beginning a authorized battle that’s nonetheless ongoing — transcending Bonerdom into the territory of upholding the systemic racism that led to the protests within the first place. 

Boners by Affiliation

Boners spring everlasting from the Nation Music Affiliation’s annual awards ceremony. This 12 months, their media workforce began per week early with a tweet about how the efficiency was meant to be a “no-drama zone,” echoing the group’s 2017 attempt to ban discussions of gun reform. The Associated Press pulled out of protection, citing picture restrictions that may stop true journalistic documentation of the occasion (learn: making a file of which celeb company got here to this massive, invite-only indoor gathering in the course of the pandemic). In the course of the present, 86-year-old Charley Satisfaction — a legend whose age places him at excessive danger for struggling badly with the coronavirus — was honored onstage in mentioned room stuffed with unmasked celebrities. If extra proof was wanted that the CMA reads a room just like the writing’s in cuneiform, this system acknowledged late songwriter Mac Wiseman with hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker duetting on “Within the Ghetto.” And a bonus Boner of omission: John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker and Billy Joe Shaver, three not too long ago deceased singer-songwriters who had huge impacts on nation music, weren’t acknowledged within the present in any respect.

White Knights of the Boner Desk 

Following the CMA Awards, Jason Isbell tweeted that he and Amanda Shires have been returning their lifetime CMA membership playing cards, protesting its failure to acknowledge the aforementioned late legends Prine, Walker and Shaver. Journalist and writer Andrea Williams, a Scene contributor, pointed out that the couple did this in honor of white heroes, however hadn’t ever taken the CMA to activity for its refusal to assist Black musicians in significant methods. Indignant followers got here out of the woodwork to defend Isbell’s honor, incensed that somebody who has proven respect for Black lives was being requested to do extra. They might be taught loads from Isbell’s gracious response, which put his privilege in perspective. Many people have made the error of getting unnecessarily Mad On-line, however on this case, Isbell and Williams have been simply having a dialog. Perhaps take it down a notch, Twittersphere.

Excessive Alert

File this underneath Petit Boners, because it’s solely the fault of whoever scheduled the federally regulated Emergency Alert System for its month-to-month take a look at. They couldn’t know that the sign would interrupt nation supergroup The Highwomen singing a socially distanced rendition of “Crowded Desk” on The Tonight Present. However interrupt it did, coming in right on the first syllable of the opening line. A minimum of the efficiency is on YouTube. 

Superspreaders Certainly!

In November, an odd flyer began making the rounds on-line. “Island of Misfit Toys Christmas Occasion,” it learn. “Costume up as one in every of Santa’s horny mistresses, a naughty little elf, a spicy sweet cane, and even the new massive man himself!” The flyer promised a weekend-long non-public get together offered by the Vibe Social Membership to happen in early December at an unnamed lodge in Antioch. Tennessee Lookout reported that Vibe had beforehand hosted two different Nashville events (a “Again to College” get together in September and a “Again the Blue” get together in October). The homeowners declare the group just isn’t a swingers’ membership (positive looks like it’s!), however regardless, massive horny events aren’t precisely kosher within the midst of a world pandemic. Finally the party’s organizer told WSMV that the sensual soiree had been moved to a lodge in Mississippi. Hey Magnolia State — good luck with all that!

Eye of the Needle

Earlier than making a bunch of noise about bar and restaurant pandemic rules, John Wealthy triggered a special type of ruckus within the pre-COVID days of yore. Final December, the nation singer and Movie star Apprentice champ was upset to be taught that college students at Lipscomb Academy, the place his youngsters go to high school, have been studying about white privilege and racism. The Redneck Riviera proprietor and his spouse even canceled a fundraiser over the curriculum, and rallied like-minded white dad and mom who complained in a sequence of city halls on the non-public Christian faculty. There have been requires folks to be fired, together with Lipscomb’s first dean of intercultural growth, Brittany Paschal, a Black girl. Wealthy spouting off fragile-white-guy speaking factors wasn’t notably out of character — what’s extra embarrassing is that the varsity appeared to accommodate Wealthy and others’ requires heads to roll, transitioning some academy staff, together with Paschall, to the College. (Wealthy later mentioned he didn’t need Paschall fired, however did spotlight her previous writings in one in every of his mass-email complaints to folks.) Paschall has appeared to deal with the ordeal with as a lot grace as attainable, and not too long ago introduced she had transitioned to a job in Metro Nashville Public Colleges this fall.

Throwing Warning to the Boner

When a freak derecho slammed into the world with 70-mile-per-hour winds in Could, Chad Withrow did what any self-respecting sports activities discuss radio host would do — he picked a struggle on air about one thing he didn’t actually perceive. On the one hand, we should always most likely forgive Chad, as a result of he was about two months right into a pandemic sports activities desert and didn’t have a lot else to opine about each day. Then again, calling out Nashville’s favourite Tweeteorologists, @NashSevereWx, for failing to foretell an unpredictable storm is next-level oblivious. In any case, the NashSevereWx account actually saved lives with its warnings on the night of Nashville’s March 3 tornado. Given sports activities discuss radio’s sketchy relationship with science lately, possibly Chad ought to simply follow the video games.

Illustration: Holly Carden