City Cast Nashville
City Cast Nashville offers a center-leaning, locally-focused perspective with a critical eye on national figures and progressive issues.
What This Tone Is Based On
The tone scores on this page come from analyzing how this show covers each political figure it mentions. Below is the breakdown of how many of those reads were positive, neutral, or negative.
Net media tone Slightly Negative across 102 figure-in-episode tone reads (not audience/impressions).
How City Cast Nashville Differs from Other Shows
Compared to 202 outlets · Sep 2025–Aug 2026This show's average tone sits near the field, but its coverage is far more split by figure. It rates Donald Trump +0.06 above the media average on the figures it favors and Marsha Blackburn -0.48 below it on the ones it criticizes — a 0.53-point gap between its most favorable and most critical coverage that a typical outlet doesn't show.
- Marsha Blackburn-0.48more critical vs. other showsShow↓↓ -0.25Other shows↑ +0.2211 eps
- Elon Musk-0.25more critical vs. other showsShow↓↓ -0.22Other shows→ +0.0314 eps
- Donald Trump+0.06more favorable vs. other showsShow↓↓ -0.20Other shows↓↓ -0.2610 eps
Delta = this show's tone toward the figure minus the average across all 202 other tracked outlets that covered them ≥3 times, Sep 2025–Aug 2026.
Positive = friendlier here; negative = harsher.
Editorial Identity
The editorial fingerprint of this center local news show — who it elevates, who it goes after, and where it breaks from the pack.
City Cast Nashville is a center-leaning local news program that maintains a critical stance on prominent national figures like Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Stephen Miller. The show is particularly focused on issues such as climate change, immigration, and technology, often exploring these topics with a policy-driven approach. It provides a platform for nuanced discussions, occasionally offering more favorable coverage to figures like Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders compared to the broader media landscape.
City Cast Nashville tends to champion progressive issues such as climate change and the economy, often highlighting the importance of these topics in its coverage. The show also provides more favorable coverage to figures like Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders, suggesting a supportive stance towards their political positions and actions.
The show is notably critical of figures such as Elon Musk and Stephen Miller, often questioning their actions and policies. City Cast Nashville also scrutinizes issues related to government ethics and corruption, maintaining a critical tone towards these topics.
City Cast Nashville stands out in its significant focus on climate change, covering it far more frequently than the average outlet, with a lift of 17.76 times. This emphasis on environmental issues, combined with a critical view of technological developments, marks the show as distinctively attentive to progressive and forward-thinking topics.
Who City Cast Nashville boosts and attacks
Tracked figures split by this show's average tone toward them, each with the clips behind the call — tap a quote to jump to the audio.
City Cast Nashville's prime targets are Elon Musk, Marsha Blackburn, Donald Trump.
“we have no idea what we're doing, declared Elon Musk, standing beside a yawning test trench in Southern California in 2017.”
“Elon Musk tweets randomly without any previous notice that he has received, quote, verbal government approval to build this hyperloop from D.C. to New York.”
“Governor Billy announced that state and federal officials had approved a lease and grading permit for Elon Musk's company to start digging 25 miles of tunnels under Nashville.”
“Our pain-killing pills wouldn't sell. So we paid Senator Marsha Blackburn to pass our bill.”
“Side effects of paying Marsha include an opioid crisis, over 20,000 overdose deaths in Tennessee, billions for Big Pharma, millions for Marsha Blackburn.”
“this week, News Channel 5 Investigates obtained records where Senator Marsha Blackburn's staffers alleged they were encouraged to break the law.”
“I'm curious how you all are managing to celebrate the 250th, the semi-quincidential, but also not feel that you're serving a Trump narrative, which I think probably a lot of people in Philly don't want to serve.”
“there was an executive order from President Trump to remove mentions of slavery from the president's house, which is an outdoor national historic site.”
“the latest Vanderbilt poll found that just less than half of Tennessee voters approve of President Donald Trump's performance and that his approval has slipped from their previous poll.”
Coverage Volume
Transcribed episodes per week — last 26 weeks
Sentiment Trajectory
Average weekly tone toward figures — green favorable, red critical
Whose coverage is ramping up — and dropping
Cooling on Marsha Blackburn.
Nothing ramping this window.
“Across N days” = distinct days behind the recent count; a single burst means it’s concentrated in ≤2 days — treat as one story, not a trend.
Top Issues City Cast Nashville drives
Top Issues ranked by lift — how much harder this show pushes an issue than the average outlet. ≥ 1.25× over-indexes.
City Cast Nashville pushes Climate Change hardest — 16.1× the average outlet's rate of coverage.
Show organizations & places →Organizations & Places They Focus On
Recent Stories
The Tennessee Titans have introduced a new mascot, replacing the previous raccoon character with a redesigned version. The change has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with some expressing disappointment over the new look.
The annual Iron Fork competition is set to take place in Nashville, featuring top chefs competing in a timed kitchen challenge. This event promises to showcase culinary talent and creativity, drawing attention to the city's vibrant food scene.
Senator Marsha Blackburn secured the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee, making history as the first woman to potentially hold the office. She will face Democratic candidate Jerry Green in the upcoming November election, who won her primary with a significant majority.
In a surprising turn of events, Congressman Andy Ogles lost his primary to former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. This outcome suggests a shift in voter sentiment, favoring candidates with public service backgrounds over those with controversial media personas.
Darden Copeland emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for Tennessee's 7th congressional district, setting up a contest against incumbent Republican Matt Van Epps. The election results reflect significant changes in voter demographics due to recent redistricting.
Tennessee's new hemp ban, effective July 1st, restricts the sale of various hemp-derived products, particularly those with higher THC levels. This legislation has forced many growers and retailers to pivot their business models, with some opting to leave the state altogether. The ban is seen as a response to concerns over unregulated THC products following the 2018 Farm Bill, which allowed for the legal sale of certain THC derivatives.
The episode featured a discussion on various urban living dilemmas submitted by listeners, including issues like open curtains, bike lanes, and emotional support animals. The hosts provided humorous and thoughtful insights on how to navigate these common city challenges, emphasizing the importance of neighborly behavior and personal responsibility in urban settings.
The results of the recent federal and state primary elections in Tennessee showed a clean sweep for Democratic municipal candidates, as there were no Republican contenders. Key victories included Senator Marsha Blackburn as the Republican candidate for governor and Jerry Green winning the Democratic primary. The reshaped congressional districts due to gerrymandering led to competitive races for several U.S. House seats.
Uncle Nearest Whiskey is currently in receivership, struggling with debt and management changes. Despite its historical significance and the longest bar in the world at Humble Barron, the distillery has not produced whiskey on-site and faces an uncertain future amid a changing market for spirits.
Nashville is home to a vibrant distillery scene, offering a variety of tours and tastings that highlight local whiskey production. Chris Chamberlain shares insights on the best distilleries to visit, including Leepers Fork, which emphasizes quality and local ingredients. The Tennessee Distillers Guild plays a key role in promoting these distilleries and their unique offerings.
Vanderbilt University is increasingly seen as a competitor to Ivy League schools, with rising academic standards and a growing reputation. Journalist Clara Suteth discusses how Vanderbilt has improved its status over the past 20 years, attracting students who would traditionally apply to Ivy League institutions. The university's expansion into New York City is part of its strategy to enhance its appeal and provide students with valuable internship opportunities.
The episode highlights various quirky roadside attractions in and around Nashville, including Kentucky Stonehenge and Bama Henge. Contributors discuss their experiences visiting these oddities and recommend several others, such as the world's largest cedar bucket and the giant pink elephant named Pinky.
Over 400,000 individuals in Tennessee are disenfranchised due to felony convictions, making it one of the states with the highest rates of disenfranchisement. Larry Turnley, a community organizer, discusses the challenges faced in restoring voting rights and the increased legal hurdles introduced by recent laws. He emphasizes the need for systemic changes to support reintegration and voting access for those affected.
Eli Sabin, an alder in New Haven, Connecticut, successfully led a campaign to reform restrictive zoning laws that hindered the construction of affordable housing in the downtown area. The changes aim to address a significant shortage of affordable housing units, with studies indicating a need for 8,000 additional units. Despite facing a lawsuit from local residents opposing the changes, the reform was passed unanimously, highlighting a community effort to tackle the housing crisis.
The use of AI in political attack ads has emerged as a controversial topic in the lead-up to the midterm elections. A notable example is an AI-generated ad targeting Senator Marsha Blackburn, which was pulled after she issued a cease and desist letter, highlighting the growing intersection of technology and politics in campaign strategies.
SACCO, a beloved Tex-Mex restaurant in Nashville, is changing ownership after 42 years, but fans can breathe a sigh of relief as reports confirm that the menu, name, and staff will remain the same. This news has been welcomed by the community, ensuring that the restaurant's legacy continues.
The popular Netflix reality show 'Love is Blind' is coming to Nashville for its next season, with casting currently underway. The announcement has generated excitement among locals, with many eager to participate in the unique dating experience that the show offers.
Early voting for the upcoming midterm elections has seen a significant increase in Nashville, with more than double the turnout compared to the last midterm. Analysts attribute this surge to the competitiveness of the races, particularly the gubernatorial election, as voters are increasingly engaged in the electoral process.
Recent incidents involving the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) have raised serious concerns about their conduct, particularly regarding the arrest of a man in a park. Following public outcry, MNPD leadership issued a training bulletin to remind officers of proper protocols, but skepticism remains about whether newer officers are adequately trained on these issues.
Rachel Yakovone, an award-winning journalist, joins the CityCast Nashville team as the new host. Her return to Nashville is framed as a homecoming, and she shares her excitement about reconnecting with the community and exploring the local food scene.