Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Phil Bredesen
We're a Democrat and a Republican. Here's how both parties can start on gun reform – together.
Democrats and Republicans may be at an impasse on gun law reform and assault rifles, but that doesn't mean progress can't be made. Red flag laws and personal responsibility good places to start. Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen We’re two former Tennessee governors, we both served eight years, one of us is a Democrat, the other a Republican. We have different views on various issues, and we’re friends. For the past year, we’ve done a podcast together.
We're a Democrat and a Republican. Here's how both parties can start on gun reform – together.
We’re two former Tennessee governors, we both served eight years, one of us is a Democrat, the other a Republican. We have different views on various issues, and we’re friends. For the past year, we’ve done a podcast together. The animating principle of our conversations with guests grew out of the words of former Tennessee Sen.
Exclusive: Why small steps are first steps for Democrats, Republicans on gun reform | Opinion Original
Democrats and Republicans may be at an impasse on big picture gun law reform and assault rifles, but it doesn't mean progress can't be made. Red flag laws, personal responsibility good places to start. Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen Guest Columnists Gov. Bill Haslam was the 49th Governor of Tennessee and former mayor of Knoxville. Gov. Phil Bredesen was the 48th Governor of Tennessee and former mayor of Nashville.
'Change is driven by the Iranian people'
ANALYSIS/OPINION: Your ideas are compelling. The awareness of the dreams and the struggle of ordinary Iranian people is moving beyond a world of insiders in the corridors of power, and into the consciousness and conscience of millions of Americans. I support and admire your work. I’ve learned a lot about your strategies—promoting democracy, the separation of church and state, gender equality, the rule of law.
Hard work recognized with national Land Trust Alliance Award
Phil Bredesen was the 48th governor of Tennessee. America is a land of open spaces and distant horizons, and Tennessee is fortunate to be rich in these, from our farmlands to our wilder mountains and lakes. Tennessee is also fortunate to have an organization that is passionate to preserve this richness for future generations: The Land Trust for Tennessee.
Phil Bredesen: Protect our borders without partisan pandering | Opinion
The United States will face a challenge over the next few weeks. A caravan of several thousand individuals who are seeking to enter the United States is approaching our Southern border. When it arrives, the potential for chaos is high. We need to handle this well and not let it become an opportunity for politicians from either party to inflame passions and sow discord among Americans. This is an occasion for everyone to act like grownups.
Midterm Election Poll: Tennessee Senate, Blackburn vs. Bredesen
Can a former Democratic governor flip a Senate seat in a deep red state? We made 28670 calls, and 593 people spoke to us. This survey was conducted by The New York Times Upshot and Siena College. Hey, I’m Alex Burns, a politics correspondent for The Times. I’ll give you the latest reporting and intel on the midterms and take your questions from the campaign trail.
Invest in Tennessee's fifth utility: Broadband for all | Opinion
In today’s world, the internet is quickly becoming as vital as telephones, or electric power, or roads, or water and sewer services — a fifth utility. We use it to stay connected and informed, to shop, to communicate with others. It’s an important tool for nearly every business, which puts any place without reliable broadband internet access at a disadvantage on many fronts. In Davidson County, broadband internet access is solid for the majority of the population.
Guest View: Utilize TVA in getting broadband to rural communities
In today’s world, the Internet is quickly becoming as vital as telephones, or electric power, or roads, or water and sewer services — a fifth utility. We use it to stay connected and informed, to shop, to communicate with others. It’s an important tool for nearly every business, which puts any place without reliable broadband Internet access at a disadvantage on many fronts. In Trousdale County, about 30 percent of the population does not have access to reliable broadband.
Phil Bredesen: Broadband becomes the fifth utility
In Trousdale County, about 30 percent of the population does not have access to reliable broadband. Almost 15-20 percent of the population of Smith and Wilson counties are without broadband internet. This affects the quality of life and the ability to attract and retain jobs in these counties. It’s not just a problem in Middle Tennessee, there are rural counties across Tennessee in the same predicament.
Bredesen: The fifth utility
In today's world, the internet is quickly becoming as vital as telephones, or electric power, or roads, or water and sewer services — a fifth utility. We use it to stay connected and informed, to shop, to communicate with others. It's an important tool for nearly every business, which puts any place without reliable broadband internet access at a disadvantage on many fronts. In Hamilton County, broadband internet access is solid for the majority of the population.
Phil Bredesen: Broadband becomes the fifth utility
In Trousdale County, about 30 percent of the population does not have access to reliable broadband. Almost 15-20 percent of the population of Smith and Wilson counties are without broadband internet. This affects the quality of life and the ability to attract and retain jobs in these counties. It’s not just a problem in Middle Tennessee, there are rural counties across Tennessee in the same predicament.
The Fifth Utility
In today’s world, the internet is quickly becoming as vital as telephones, or electric power, or roads, or water and sewer services—a fifth utility. We use it to stay connected and informed, to shop, to communicate with others. It’s an important tool for nearly every business, which puts any place without reliable broadband internet access at a disadvantage on many fronts.In both Cocke and Jefferson counties, 32% of the population are without broadband internet.
The Fifth Utility
In today’s world, the internet is quickly becoming as vital as telephones, or electric power, or roads, or water and sewer services—a fifth utility. We use it to stay connected and informed, to shop, to communicate with others. It’s an important tool for nearly every business, which puts any place without reliable broadband internet access at a disadvantage on many fronts.In Greene County, broadband internet access is solid for the majority of the population.
Donald Trump's tariffs are help from Washington we don't need
Remember the old joke, “I’m from Washington and I’m here to help you”? The fact that this is indeed a joke helps explain the frustration and anger that is building here in Tennessee over the latest political game in Washington – imposing tariffs on American imports from other countries. These new tariffs are nothing less than a stealthy new tax on Tennesseans. It might barely be possible to justify them if they really did protect the jobs we have or create new ones. But they do just the opposite.
Bredesen: Tariffs are a stealth tax on Tennessee
Remember the old joke, "I'm from Washington and I'm here to help you"? The fact that this is indeed a joke helps explain the frustration and anger that is building here in Tennessee over the latest political game in Washington — imposing tariffs on American imports from other countries. These new tariffs are nothing less than a stealthy new tax on Tennesseans. It might barely be possible to justify them if they really did protect the jobs we have or create new ones. But they do just the opposite.
Asian Carp Invasion Is a Real Problem
I was in Paris last week for the World’s Biggest Fish Fry. A funny thing happened, though — a lot of people I talked with had fish on their mind, but it wasn’t catfish, it was Asian carp. I’ve always found it more useful to talk with people to find out what is going on in their communities and this was a perfect example. One person even had video on his cellphone of dozens of Asian carp jumping out of the water in one of our lakes. I learned a lot.
Opinion | Congratulations to Dolly Parton for her Imagination Library
Dolly Parton is not only a renowned singer, songwriter and actress; she is also a visionary. Her Imagination Library — providing a free book each month to children from birth to age 5 — has just hit a major milestone. It has distributed 100 million books to children across the United States and around the world. Book number 100,000,000 is going to the Library of Congress.
Two shutdowns show Congress is out of touch with America
One of the first things we learn in life is the value of a dollar. Families across Tennessee need to balance what they earn with what they spend, and in many households that means having to make sacrifices every day. Last week, the puzzling news from Washington was that Congress found itself at an impasse about funding the government and avoiding a shutdown once again. They can’t accomplish what all of us back here in America do every day — figure out how to pay for what they bought. The worst part?
How Democrats really feel about free and fair trade
If you’ve been following the 2016 presidential election at all, you’ve heard plenty about free trade and its impact on our economy – for months trade has been center stage for both nominees. While the focus on trade has provided a real platform for Americans to voice their concerns about past deals, it has also politicized the discussion overall — and left the impression that Democrats in particular oppose the major trade agreement currently on the table, the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Phil
Contact Phil, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack