Catherine Sweeney
@catherinejsweeney.bsky.social
Okie in Nashville. Health reporter at WPLN. Also write about social services and lethal injection. @cathjsweeney.38 on Signal
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
You and I are watching protests and babies being tear gassed on social media.
They are not.
And part of that is because the media they consume - like the NYT - isn't really showing it.
They are not.
And part of that is because the media they consume - like the NYT - isn't really showing it.
January 22, 2026 at 2:01 AM
You and I are watching protests and babies being tear gassed on social media.
They are not.
And part of that is because the media they consume - like the NYT - isn't really showing it.
They are not.
And part of that is because the media they consume - like the NYT - isn't really showing it.
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
Secondly, we are 100% supported by donations, using two methods Patreon and Paypal. The website costs us money every single month and has never generated a penny. Now that that's behind us, back to regularly scheduled programming. And, thanks for being here. Really. (3/3)
January 21, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Secondly, we are 100% supported by donations, using two methods Patreon and Paypal. The website costs us money every single month and has never generated a penny. Now that that's behind us, back to regularly scheduled programming. And, thanks for being here. Really. (3/3)
WPLN was part of this lawsuit.
The current protocol doesn't allow media to see almost any setup. A curtain obscures the chamber until after the IV line is established and meds are running.
A judge says the curtain has to be open from the time they enter til TOD announced.
wpln.org/post/tenness...
The current protocol doesn't allow media to see almost any setup. A curtain obscures the chamber until after the IV line is established and meds are running.
A judge says the curtain has to be open from the time they enter til TOD announced.
wpln.org/post/tenness...
Tennessee judge grants expanded media access to state-run executions
A judge has ruled that Tennessee prison officials must grant expanded access to media members to view state-run executions. The ruling Friday comes after a coalition of news organizations sued on clai...
wpln.org
January 20, 2026 at 8:59 PM
WPLN was part of this lawsuit.
The current protocol doesn't allow media to see almost any setup. A curtain obscures the chamber until after the IV line is established and meds are running.
A judge says the curtain has to be open from the time they enter til TOD announced.
wpln.org/post/tenness...
The current protocol doesn't allow media to see almost any setup. A curtain obscures the chamber until after the IV line is established and meds are running.
A judge says the curtain has to be open from the time they enter til TOD announced.
wpln.org/post/tenness...
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
My love for em dashes is as old as the hills and as mighty as my inability to make a transition between thoughts literally any other way and I will be damned if I let the clankers take that from me
December 10, 2025 at 3:00 AM
My love for em dashes is as old as the hills and as mighty as my inability to make a transition between thoughts literally any other way and I will be damned if I let the clankers take that from me
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
As expected, Gov. Bill Lee has announced that he will not grant Harold Nichols clemency.
December 9, 2025 at 10:39 PM
As expected, Gov. Bill Lee has announced that he will not grant Harold Nichols clemency.
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
New story out this morning about this week's scheduled execution in Tennessee, the state's third this year.
Harold Nichols pleaded guilty to rape and murder in 1990 and received unexpected grace from a victim’s mother. On Thursday, Tennessee will execute him by lethal injection.
✏️: @iamstevenhale.bsky.social
✏️: @iamstevenhale.bsky.social
Harold Wayne Nichols' execution looms amid call for clemency - Nashville Banner
Harold Wayne Nichols is set to be executed for the rape and murder of Karen Pulley. The governor and courts have shown no inclination to intervene.
nashvillebanner.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
New story out this morning about this week's scheduled execution in Tennessee, the state's third this year.
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
Tennessee faith leaders gather at Downtown Presbyterian Church to protest the upcoming execution in Tennessee on Thursday, and are emphasizing recent statements from TN’s Catholic and Episcopal bishops opposing the state’s death penalty.
December 8, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Tennessee faith leaders gather at Downtown Presbyterian Church to protest the upcoming execution in Tennessee on Thursday, and are emphasizing recent statements from TN’s Catholic and Episcopal bishops opposing the state’s death penalty.
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
There are so many terms that I'm convinced exist solely on the internet that articles to use to avoid saying "people are working multiple jobs because they can't afford to live on one."
December 8, 2025 at 6:19 PM
There are so many terms that I'm convinced exist solely on the internet that articles to use to avoid saying "people are working multiple jobs because they can't afford to live on one."
From earlier this year:
In 2019, 117 women who were infected with Hepatitis B gave birth in Tennessee, according to the CDC.
The state’s overall infection rate more than doubled from 2006 to 2013, according to a state viral hepatitis report released in 2023.
wpln.org/post/wpln-di...
In 2019, 117 women who were infected with Hepatitis B gave birth in Tennessee, according to the CDC.
The state’s overall infection rate more than doubled from 2006 to 2013, according to a state viral hepatitis report released in 2023.
wpln.org/post/wpln-di...
December 5, 2025 at 6:16 PM
From earlier this year:
In 2019, 117 women who were infected with Hepatitis B gave birth in Tennessee, according to the CDC.
The state’s overall infection rate more than doubled from 2006 to 2013, according to a state viral hepatitis report released in 2023.
wpln.org/post/wpln-di...
In 2019, 117 women who were infected with Hepatitis B gave birth in Tennessee, according to the CDC.
The state’s overall infection rate more than doubled from 2006 to 2013, according to a state viral hepatitis report released in 2023.
wpln.org/post/wpln-di...
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
Tennessee law protects lethal drug seller identities. A judge will decide how broad that secrecy is.
wpln.org/post/tenness...
wpln.org/post/tenness...
Tennessee law protects lethal drug seller identities. A judge will decide how broad that secrecy is.
Tennessee is set to execute Harold Wayne Nichols. His attorneys want to confirm the state's lethal injection drugs are safe.
wpln.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Tennessee law protects lethal drug seller identities. A judge will decide how broad that secrecy is.
wpln.org/post/tenness...
wpln.org/post/tenness...
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
💬Viewpoint: Eliminating universal hepatitis B birth dose vaccination risks an estimated 8% increase in annual perinatal #HepatitisB infections in the US, increasing preventable chronic disease burden. ja.ma/3Me0zHh
December 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
💬Viewpoint: Eliminating universal hepatitis B birth dose vaccination risks an estimated 8% increase in annual perinatal #HepatitisB infections in the US, increasing preventable chronic disease burden. ja.ma/3Me0zHh
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
Communities need used-book shops.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
November 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Communities need used-book shops.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
As the trends in our world are increasingly standardized and entrenched by "predictive" technologies that stifle innovation and reduce human actions into economic categories...
We need a full range of possibilities for readers and communities to explore and share.
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
it feels incredibly ridiculous I spent a good chunk of my career working on developing skills and experience in feature writing when there are very few jobs doing this anymore and then learning how Olivia Nuzzi got her job at Vanity Fair despite truly terrible ethics and questionable writing skills
November 24, 2025 at 6:07 AM
it feels incredibly ridiculous I spent a good chunk of my career working on developing skills and experience in feature writing when there are very few jobs doing this anymore and then learning how Olivia Nuzzi got her job at Vanity Fair despite truly terrible ethics and questionable writing skills
Made whipped brie and fig macarons
November 23, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Made whipped brie and fig macarons
Lost my mind at Warner Park today
November 22, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Lost my mind at Warner Park today
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
This is a wonderful time to support journalists who do the work, don’t fuck sources, and actually have moral clarity.
i promise i don’t mean to high horse this but if you’re thinking about giving lizza ten bucks there are a lot of good independent journalists whose work you could subscribe to for a month instead
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is a wonderful time to support journalists who do the work, don’t fuck sources, and actually have moral clarity.
Latest on TN executions:
- Harold Wayne Nichols scheduled for lethal injection Dec. 11
- His attorneys want records TDOC refuses to hand over. A Knox Co. judge wants to review the docs, gave a Dec. 3 deadline
- TDOC fighting records release in a separate challenge
- Media witnesses selected today
- Harold Wayne Nichols scheduled for lethal injection Dec. 11
- His attorneys want records TDOC refuses to hand over. A Knox Co. judge wants to review the docs, gave a Dec. 3 deadline
- TDOC fighting records release in a separate challenge
- Media witnesses selected today
November 21, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Latest on TN executions:
- Harold Wayne Nichols scheduled for lethal injection Dec. 11
- His attorneys want records TDOC refuses to hand over. A Knox Co. judge wants to review the docs, gave a Dec. 3 deadline
- TDOC fighting records release in a separate challenge
- Media witnesses selected today
- Harold Wayne Nichols scheduled for lethal injection Dec. 11
- His attorneys want records TDOC refuses to hand over. A Knox Co. judge wants to review the docs, gave a Dec. 3 deadline
- TDOC fighting records release in a separate challenge
- Media witnesses selected today
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
If every book I read this year costs $15.99 each…
I would have spent over $3,000 on books alone.
Instead, I borrowed them from my library.
Go support and help your local library
I would have spent over $3,000 on books alone.
Instead, I borrowed them from my library.
Go support and help your local library
November 21, 2025 at 1:26 AM
If every book I read this year costs $15.99 each…
I would have spent over $3,000 on books alone.
Instead, I borrowed them from my library.
Go support and help your local library
I would have spent over $3,000 on books alone.
Instead, I borrowed them from my library.
Go support and help your local library
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
Tennessee’s three Episcopal bishops have released a joint statement on the death penalty. The state is set to execute Harold Nichols on Dec. 11.
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Tennessee’s three Episcopal bishops have released a joint statement on the death penalty. The state is set to execute Harold Nichols on Dec. 11.
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
It shouldn't need to be said that it isn't "insubordinate" in the United States for a free press to ask questions about government leaders. And in the United States, the president isn't allowed to silence news outlets for asking questions he doesn't like.
This isn't Saudi Arabia. Yet.
This isn't Saudi Arabia. Yet.
November 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It shouldn't need to be said that it isn't "insubordinate" in the United States for a free press to ask questions about government leaders. And in the United States, the president isn't allowed to silence news outlets for asking questions he doesn't like.
This isn't Saudi Arabia. Yet.
This isn't Saudi Arabia. Yet.
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
While the government is back up and running, some aid programs — like utility bill assistance — are still facing disruptions.
wpln.org/post/the-shu...
wpln.org/post/the-shu...
The shutdown is over, but Tennesseans are still waiting for funds to help pay utility bills
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history impacted or cut off many federal programs that help Americans. And while the government is technically
wpln.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM
While the government is back up and running, some aid programs — like utility bill assistance — are still facing disruptions.
wpln.org/post/the-shu...
wpln.org/post/the-shu...
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
While Medicaid is by far the biggest player for children's coverage, the Marketplace has become increasingly important.
New brief from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social finds that 453,000 children will become uninsured if subsidies expire.
ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/11/14/n...
New brief from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social finds that 453,000 children will become uninsured if subsidies expire.
ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/11/14/n...
New Data Highlight Risks to Children and Parents if Enhanced Marketplace Subsidies Expire
Marketplace subsidy enhancements which have been in place since 2021 are set to expire at the end of December 2025, and their fate is currently uncertain. Since 2014, when Affordable Care Act (ACA)…
ccf.georgetown.edu
November 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
While Medicaid is by far the biggest player for children's coverage, the Marketplace has become increasingly important.
New brief from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social finds that 453,000 children will become uninsured if subsidies expire.
ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/11/14/n...
New brief from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social finds that 453,000 children will become uninsured if subsidies expire.
ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/11/14/n...
If you drape an electric blanket on the couch before sitting on it, it’s like heated seats
November 18, 2025 at 2:42 AM
If you drape an electric blanket on the couch before sitting on it, it’s like heated seats
Reposted by Catherine Sweeney
