Adam Tamburin

5 days ago | axios.com | Adam Tamburin

Pope Leo XIV was elected yesterday as the first pontiff from the United States. He was previously known as Robert Prevost, a Chicago native and White Sox fan. What they're saying: The Rev. Bruce Morrill, a professor at Vanderbilt University, tells Axios that the name Leo is a significant choice. "Leo XIII in late 1800s issued the first papal encyclical on a modern social justice issue: On Human Labor."The big picture: Leo is also the second consecutive pope to come from a religious order.

6 days ago | axios.com | Adam Tamburin

When Maren Morris first moved to Nashville in 2013, she lived in a "creepy Craigslist apartment" and worked as a Music Row songwriter. What she's saying: In an interview this week with Howard Stern, Morris said one of her first big breaks as a writer was booking a cowriting session with Carrie Underwood. "It was an amazing opportunity," Morris said. "It was pretty storybook."The intrigue: Morris and Underwood wrote two songs together. Neither of them have been released.

6 days ago | axios.com | Adam Tamburin

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/AxiosTennesseans across the political spectrum strongly oppose federal spending cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, according to a new poll released Thursday by Vanderbilt University. The poll also found more than two-thirds of Tennessee voters oppose cutting research funding, especially at teaching hospitals.

1 week ago | axios.com | Adam Tamburin

Illustration: Allie Carl/AxiosA push to save more shelter animals and make Nashville the largest no-kill community in Tennessee got a turbocharge this week. Why it matters: Mayor Freddie O'Connell signed a declaration Tuesday making May "No-Kill Shelter Month." Advocates say that kind of buy-in from the government is pivotal to cementing long-term change.

1 week ago | axios.com | Adam Tamburin |Alex Fitzpatrick

Starting tomorrow, U.S. residents who don't have a passport will need a Real ID to board domestic flights or enter some federal buildings. Why it matters: That includes most Tennesseans. By the numbers: About 4.4 million Tennessee residents don't have a passport. That's nearly 65% of the population. The state has already issued more than 2.7 million Real IDs, and that number will certainly climb once the most recent applicants are figured in.