Jackson Baker

Memphis

Senior Editor and Political Columnist at Memphis Flyer

Contributing Editor at Memphis: The City Magazine

senior editor and political columnist, The Memphis Flyer; contributing editor, The Tennessee Journal

Featured in: Favicon

memphisflyer.com Favicon

memphismagazine.com Favicon

tntribune.com Favicon

mlk50.com

Articles

Under the Weather

1 week ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

It won’t even be possible to pick up a petition from the Election Commission until December, but by now, most of the long-rumored hopefuls for Shelby County mayor in 2026 have taken some concrete steps indicating their candidacy — by appointment of a campaign treasurer, organization of fundraisers/meet-and-greets, or via social media, campaign signs, or ads in play.
Of Windfalls and Pratfalls

2 weeks ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

Over the last several days, local political leaders fell into rhetorical traps, some of their own making. Example: In an effort to be inspirational in his weekly online column last week, Memphis Mayor Paul Young had this to say: “We’re challenging all graduates and Memphians to take a Negativity Fast from May 17 to June 11: no trash talk about Memphis, share what you love about your city with others and post something positive.
Memphis Flyer | Two Verdicts

3 weeks ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

With almost complete unanimity, the Memphis community reacted with outrage and dismay to last week’s not-guilty verdict for three MPD officers in the Tyre Nichols case. What compounded the prevailing sense of justice denied was the fact that the verdict, on a crime committed against a young Black victim, was rendered by a jury that was all white.
Memphis Flyer | They’re Off!

1 month ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

Nothing official has occurred to signal the beginning of the 2026 Shelby County election, but the principal contest for that election — the race for county mayor — has begun all the same. Early salvos have been fired by contenders JB Smiley, the city councilman who, as council chair, challenged state disapproval of local gun-safety ordinances, and by Mickell Lowery, who chaired the county commission during a time of resolute action toward building projects.
Partisan School Board Controversy in Local GOP

1 month ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

As the executive committee of the Shelby County Republican Party prepares to meet on Thursday night at the Great Hall of Germantown to consider the issue of partisan school board races, a longtime GOP activist weighs in against the ideaIn a letter to the Flyer, Naser Fazlullah, a recent candidate for party chairman who held the office of vice chair, condemns the idea.
Memphis Flyer | A Tragic Loss

1 month ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

As I do every morning, I checked my phone on Monday for early-morning messages and overnight news. To say I was shocked by one piece of news would be an understatement. The venerable Clayborn Temple, where we then-serving members of the Rotary Club of Memphis shifted our weekly meetings for the run-up year to the 2018 MLK commemoration, was gone, consumed by fire. The sense of devastation and irredeemable loss was widely shared.
Memphis Flyer | Field Trip

1 month ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

NASHVILLE — For many years I would make a point of going to the state Capitol during the spring months to look in on the General Assembly. There were times when I was there almost from the opening gavel to the legislative session’s close. This was especially true during the years of the Income Tax Wars on Capitol Hill, roughly 1990 to 2001.
Memphis Flyer | Bonfire!

1 month ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

It’s been a matter of weeks since President Donald Trump single-handedly deprived the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board of its quorum, and the giant semi-public utility may come to figure in crucial decisions regarding Elon Musk’s controversial Colossus xAI project in Memphis. When Trump issued walking papers to two members of an already truncated TVA board, he effectively deprived the board of its ability to vote on policy shifts and other matters of consequence.
The Cycle Starts Anew

2 months ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

King Arthur was not present. In fact, the ranking attendee at the Roundtable in East Memphis last Saturday night for Brian Kelsey’s out-of-prison celebration was Brent Taylor, the fellow Republican who won a special election to succeed Kelsey in the state Senate.
Of This and That

2 months ago | memphisflyer.com | Jackson Baker

State Representative Justin Pearson, whose presence during this year’s legislative session has been fragmentary, has resumed regular attendance as the General Assembly heads into its stretch drive. Pearson, who has avowedly been dealing with the aftereffects of his brother’s death in December, was a speaker at the meeting of the Shelby County Democratic Party (SCDP) convened Saturday at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church to elect new party officers.