City Cast Nashville
🚨 Tracking ICE in Nashville
December 12, 2025 · 💌 Margaret Kingsbury
TGIF! It’s the last day of our membership campaign, and the last day to nab a City Cast Nashville beanie!
Of course, becoming a City Cast Nashville Neighbor is about so much more than a hat: It’s about community, and supporting local journalism. As news becomes ever more divisive and less about having conversations, covering local stories like we do here at City Cast Nashville becomes all the more important.
So what do you say: Want to become a member for only $10 a month, or $100 a year?
Thank you SO MUCH for reading the newsletter this year, and being part of what I love most about Nashville — its people. We take care of each other. I appreciate every single one of y’all.
What's CITY Talking About
🚨 ICE Spotted in Nashville
On Wednesday, locals spotted Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Inglewood and South Nashville, where they reportedly made at least eight arrests. We’re talking about that and other news from the week on today’s City Cast Nashville podcast. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
- Local and state law enforcement deny involvement, and ICE has not commented to verify the reports. [Nashville Banner]
🏫 Vanderbilt Cuts Program for Diverse Students
Vanderbilt University has ended its MOSAIC program, an annual event that offered overnight campus stays for prospective students from diverse backgrounds. The change comes amid President Trump’s continued pressure on universities to end diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. [🔐 The Tennessean]
- Earlier this year, we chatted with Vanderbilt Hustler journalists about how affirmative action bans were impacting the university. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
🧑⚖️ Lawsuit Filed Against Neo-Nazi Group
The Gordon Jewish Community Center has filed a lawsuit against neo-Nazi group Goyim Defense League. This comes after a GDL member, disguised as a Jewish man, made a video mocking the Holocaust in front of the center’s memorial in January. [🔐 The Tennessean]
- This is the group’s second lawsuit this year. [NewsChannel 5]
- Our chat with the Jewish Cowboy about his run-in with GDL. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
🍪 New SNAP Exclusions
Local Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients will no longer be able to purchase soda or sugary grocery items after the Trump administration approved Tennessee’s new SNAP waivers, as requested by Governor Bill Lee. [Tennessee Lookout]
- While SNAP benefits have returned, Nashville is still in a food crisis. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
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Test Yourself on Nashville Trivia
On Wednesday, thousands of people lined up for the opening of two In-N-Out Burger locations, and a third opens today, Dec. 12. But do you know where in Middle Tennessee the popular fast food restaurant has opened? Test yourself to find out!
Which of these is NOT an In-N-Out Burger location?
Furball Friday
As with most pet parents, Susan’s camera roll is filled with photos of her two furballs, and all the photos she sent me melted my heart. These two Siberian siblings (Kacper, all white, and Szymon, tan) are literally inseparable, though they are about two and a half years apart in age. Susan says it only took a day for the two beauties to become BFFs. They must be in the same room at all times, and travel through the house together! 😻😻
Want your pets featured in a future newsletter? Send me your pics!
What To Do
Friday, Dec. 12
- 🌿 Community Garden Volunteer | Cosecha Community Development | 9-11 a.m.
- 🎤 Tennessee Twisters, Becky Bueller & Griffin Winton | 3rd & Lindsley | Noon
- ✏️ Creative Writing Workshop with Cameron Mitchell | Hadley Park Library Branch | 4-5 p.m.
- 🍸 Holiday Spirits | The Factory at Franklin | 6-9 p.m.
- 🛍️ Porter Flea Holiday Market | Nashville Fairgrounds | 6-9 p.m.
- 😆 Nate Bargatze Big Dumb Eyes Tour | Bridgestone Arena | 7 p.m.
- 🎭 The Mini-Nutcracker | Harpeth Hall School | 7 p.m.
- 🧜 Sea Shanty Singalong | Primitive Coffee | 7 p.m.
- 🎨 Make Floral Ornaments | Fait la Force Brewing Company | 7-8 p.m.
- 🎶 Drew and Ellie Holcomb’s Neighborly Christmas | Schermerhorn Symphony Center | 7:30 p.m.
- 🎄 An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine | City Winery | 7:30 p.m.
- 🎸 LeAnn Rimes | Ryman Auditorium | 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13
- 📚 Gnu Tales: Improvised Fairy Tales | Third Coast Comedy Club | 10 a.m.
- 🎁 Toy Swap + Gift Wrap Party | Madison Library Branch | 10 a.m.-Noon
- 🖌️ Sort and Organize Art Supplies | Turnip Green Creative Reuse | 10 a.m.-Noon | Volunteer
- 🎄 Dickens of a Christmas Festival | Main Street, Downtown Franklin | 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- 🧑🎄 An Old Fashioned Christmas | Bell Buckle | 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- ⛄ Christmas Parade | Gallatin | Noon
- ⭐ Holiday Market | Broadcast Brewing | Noon-5 p.m.
- 🎁 KP’s Toy Drive | Mill Creek Brewery | 1-3 p.m.
- 🛷 Christmas Parade | Leiper’s Fork | 2 p.m.
- 😆 Nate Bargatze Big Dumb Eyes Tour | Bridgestone Arena | 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.
- 🎄 Christmas in the Park | Pegram City Park | 4-7 p.m.
- 🛍️ Winter Wreath Workshop + Holiday Market | Karpos Franklin | 4:30-6 p.m.
- 🐈 Family Feud | The Catio | 7 p.m.
- 🎻 ECHO Chamber Music | The Parthenon | 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 14
- 🌮 Taco Week ends | Various locations
- 🐶 Yoga with Shelter Dogs of MACC | Metro Animal Care and Control | 9:30 a.m.
- 🎭 The Mini-Nutcracker | Harpeth Hall School | 1 p.m.
- 🏠 Nashville Craft Club: Holiday Houses | Fait la Force | 3-6 p.m.
- 🌟 Holiday LIGHTS Volunteer | Cheekwood Estate & Gardens | 4:30-7 p.m.
- 🎸 Opry Country Christmas with Mickey Guyton | Opry House | 7 p.m.
- 🎶 The Everly Christmas Show | 3rd & Lindsley | 7 p.m.
- 🍻 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | Jackalope Brewing Company | 7-10 p.m.
- 🎹 A Charlie Brown Christmas Tribute | City Winery | 7:30 p.m.
- 🎤 Jon McLaughlin & Friends: Home for the Holidays | CMA Theater | 7:30 p.m.
- 🎻 ECHO Chamber Music | The Parthenon | 7:30 p.m.
- 🎷 Holiday Brass Spectacular | Schermerhorn Symphony Center | 7:30 p.m.
Thanks to new members Ishan W. and Bailey W.! I can’t wait to hang out with y’all at members-only events. Don’t forget to sign up today and join the neighborhood! Last chance!
Chag sameach to my Jewish readers! Hanukkah begins this Sunday, Dec. 14. May your menorah lights shine brightly, and the latkes be plentiful 🕎
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