Potholes, Traffic, and Safety: How Tennessee Maintains Roads Debt-Free

Potholes, Traffic, and Safety: How Tennessee Maintains Roads Debt-Free

Roads and bridges aren't just something you use every day. They're how you measure whether your government is working. Good roads mean commerce flows, commutes are manageable, and your state feels like it has its act together. Will Reid is the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. In this episode, we discuss how TDOT decides which projects get funded and what most people don't understand about congestion: TDOT doesn't control land use, so when your city approves a new subdivision or shopping center, that creates traffic on roads the state has to manage. We also discuss specific Chattanooga projects like the Wilcox Bridge and I-59 around Moccasin Bend, why building more lanes doesn't always solve congestion, and what it means for taxpayers that Tennessee refuses to take on debt for roads. About the Guest: Will Reid was appointed Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation by Governor Bill Lee in 2025. He's a Bartlett native who earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Memphis and worked in transportation consulting for over 15 years before joining TDOT in 2011. He oversees a statewide transportation system including highways, rail, airports, waterways, and transit. – Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing info@bofortn.com [info@bofortn.com]!

When to Trust a Political Poll (and When to Be Skeptical)

Every election season, you see polls that contradict each other. One says Candidate A is ahead by 10 points, another says it's a dead heat, and a third says Candidate B is surging. So which one is right? Randy Ellison is president of Targoz Market Research and has spent decades conducting polls for political campaigns and Fortune 500 companies. In this episode, we break down how polling actually works, what makes a poll credible (and what makes it unreliable), and how to be an informed consumer of polling data so you can make educated decisions as a voter. Key Takeaways: * Why different polls about the same race show completely different results * Red flags that a poll is designed to manipulate rather than inform * How AI is changing polling * What to look for when you see poll results on the news or social media * Why a poll that nailed the presidential race might be totally wrong about your local election * How pollsters decide who to call, and why that matters more than you think About the Guest: Randy Ellison is the president of Targoz Market Research, based in Nashville. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a graduate degree in practical political management from George Washington University. His firm works with both private sector clients and public affairs/political campaigns, allowing him to apply insights from both worlds. Randy has been conducting polling and market research for over two decades. – Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing info@bofortn.com [info@bofortn.com]!

Standing Up for Conservative Values on College Campuses with Turning Point USA

What does it take for a college freshman to start a conservative organization on a campus where liberal voices dominate? Sophie Fuller is the chapter president of Turning Point USA at UT Chattanooga. She started the chapter as a freshman, knowing she’d be in the minority and might face backlash, but believing conservative students deserve to be heard just as much as anyone else. In this episode, Sophie and I discuss what inspired her to take that risk, how she's built a student movement from scratch, and why she believes young people standing up for their beliefs is critical to changing the future.  We also talk about free speech on college campuses, the growth of Turning Point USA after Charlie Kirk's assassination, and whether universities are doing enough to protect all voices. About the Guest: Sophie Fuller is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, studying criminal justice. She is the chapter president of Turning Point USA at UTC, which she founded as a freshman in March 2025. – Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing info@bofortn.com [info@bofortn.com]!

What a Former FBI Agent Wants You to Know About Human Trafficking, Gangs, and Terrorism

Beth Kreppein is a former FBI agent with 20+ years of experience investigating gangs, human trafficking, terrorism, and violent crime. Now she’s the Chief of Police for two airports in Nashville. In this episode, Beth and I discuss what Tennesseans need to know about these threats, and why law enforcement collaboration is critical to keeping communities safe. Beth explains how human trafficking works in Tennessee and why the I-75/I-40 corridor makes our region a hotspot, how gangs have evolved their communication methods, and the alarming rise of nihilistic violent extremism targeting kids on gaming platforms like Roblox and Minecraft.  Key Takeaways: * How law enforcement agencies coordinate on task forces, and why it matters * The challenge of recruiting and retaining quality law enforcement officers * The 764 group and nihilistic violent extremism: what parents need to know about online radicalization * Labor trafficking vs. sex trafficking: understanding the different types happening in Tennessee * Transitioning from federal to airport law enforcement: what's different and what stays the same About the Guest:  Beth Kreppein began her career as a prosecutor in Indiana before joining the FBI, where she served for over 20 years. Her FBI assignments included the Chicago Hispanic gang squad, international kidnapping and hostage cases, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Violent Crime and Gang Task Force in Nashville. She is currently Chief of Police at Nashville International Airport (BNA) and John C. Tune Airport (JWN). Beth is also an adjunct professor at Belmont University, where she teaches Evolution of Domestic Terrorism. – Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing info@bofortn.com [info@bofortn.com]!

The Obscure Laws Making Healthcare More Expensive

America spends 18% of GDP on healthcare (more than any other developed nation) yet ranks second worst in outcomes. So what's broken? In this episode, Dr. Patrick Bailey of the Goldwater Institute joins me to break down why these healthcare laws have cost Tennessee an estimated $700 million in healthcare services, the tension between expanding access and maintaining quality standards, and why he believes healthcare reform will require market-based solutions rather than government-run systems. Key Topics * How can states increase transparency and competition to lower healthcare costs? * What's REALLY causing the physician shortage in Tennessee? * How do Certificate of Need laws restrict healthcare competition in Tennessee? * Should patients with rare diseases have the right to try experimental treatments? About the Guest: Dr. Patrick Bailey is the Director for Healthcare Policy at the Goldwater Institute. He practiced as a pediatric surgeon for nearly 20 years before transitioning to healthcare policy work, where he served for 10 years as Medical Director in the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy at the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Bailey holds a medical degree, a Master of Legal Studies from Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. He's also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).   –   Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing info@bofortn.com [info@bofortn.com]!