Phil Williams
@philinvestigates.com
Defending democracy. Confronting hate. Speaking truth to power - and the angry mob. NewsChannel 5 chief investigative reporter. Chancellor, duPont, Peabody awards. RTDNA Lifetime Achievement. Pulitzer finalist. Per John Oliver: “Nashville’s Nosiest Bitch.”
Pinned
Phil Williams
@philinvestigates.com
· Jun 10
Peabody Award Acceptance, 2025
Phil Williams accepts his fifth George Foster Peabody Award, this one for his “Confronting Hate” investigation.
vimeo.com
I was recently honored to accept my fifth Peabody Award for our “Confronting Hate” investigation! vimeo.com/1091958048
Social media breaks are indeed required - even from @bsky.app! @kevinmkruse.bsky.social’s post on that issue provides a classic example.
January 6, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Social media breaks are indeed required - even from @bsky.app! @kevinmkruse.bsky.social’s post on that issue provides a classic example.
Reposted by Phil Williams
Watched the America250 projection on the Washington Monument tonight. Mentioned: Columbus, Ford, Edison, Lewis & Clark, both World Wars, AI. Not mentioned: The Civil War, Lincoln, Native Americans, immigration, slavery, race, civil rights, MLK, Vietnam, or any woman.
January 6, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Watched the America250 projection on the Washington Monument tonight. Mentioned: Columbus, Ford, Edison, Lewis & Clark, both World Wars, AI. Not mentioned: The Civil War, Lincoln, Native Americans, immigration, slavery, race, civil rights, MLK, Vietnam, or any woman.
CBS’s Tony Dokoupil gets long interview with Pete Hegseth and fails to pin him on the use of U.S. troops to occupy/run Venezuela:
Q: Will you ask Congress for approval? Do you believe legally you need to ask Congress for approval?
A: Of course, we will keep Congress involved.
Q: Will you ask Congress for approval? Do you believe legally you need to ask Congress for approval?
A: Of course, we will keep Congress involved.
January 4, 2026 at 12:20 AM
CBS’s Tony Dokoupil gets long interview with Pete Hegseth and fails to pin him on the use of U.S. troops to occupy/run Venezuela:
Q: Will you ask Congress for approval? Do you believe legally you need to ask Congress for approval?
A: Of course, we will keep Congress involved.
Q: Will you ask Congress for approval? Do you believe legally you need to ask Congress for approval?
A: Of course, we will keep Congress involved.
Reposted by Phil Williams
Timezones are so weird. Australia is in 2026, Canada is in 2025, and the United States is in 1939.
December 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Timezones are so weird. Australia is in 2026, Canada is in 2025, and the United States is in 1939.
What a year it has been! Here are the highlights from NewsChannel 5's "Confronting Hate" investigation in 2025. vimeo.com/1145649279?s...
Highlights from NewsChannel 5's "Confronting Hate" investigation (2025)
GUIDE FOR REVIEWING VIDEO ENTRY: 00:00:00 - Goyim Defense League's online activities 00:32:17 - Patriot Front and American Renaissance Conference 00:59:21…
vimeo.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
What a year it has been! Here are the highlights from NewsChannel 5's "Confronting Hate" investigation in 2025. vimeo.com/1145649279?s...
Reposted by Phil Williams
BBC News couldn't be bothered to credit @philinvestigates.com
The fight over Christian nationalism in a small Tennessee town
Ellie House / Mike Wendling
BBC News 29 Dec 2025
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The fight over Christian nationalism in a small Tennessee town
Ellie House / Mike Wendling
BBC News 29 Dec 2025
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The fight over Christian nationalism in a small Tennessee town
A controversy kicked off after two religious podcasters moved into an Appalachian hill town deep in the Bible Belt.
www.bbc.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
BBC News couldn't be bothered to credit @philinvestigates.com
The fight over Christian nationalism in a small Tennessee town
Ellie House / Mike Wendling
BBC News 29 Dec 2025
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The fight over Christian nationalism in a small Tennessee town
Ellie House / Mike Wendling
BBC News 29 Dec 2025
www.bbc.com/news/article...
I am considering becoming more active on Substack in the coming year, perhaps even starting a newsletter. Any thoughts, suggestions?
December 29, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I am considering becoming more active on Substack in the coming year, perhaps even starting a newsletter. Any thoughts, suggestions?
Signing off for the holiday! Merry Christmas!
December 21, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Signing off for the holiday! Merry Christmas!
Thanks, @niemanlab.org, for asking me to join some of the smartest people in the business in looking ahead to the future of journalism in 2026. www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/the-...
The year journalism fights back in the courts
"Think of it as the Dominion Voting System strategy for journalism."
www.niemanlab.org
December 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Thanks, @niemanlab.org, for asking me to join some of the smartest people in the business in looking ahead to the future of journalism in 2026. www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/the-...
Reposted by Phil Williams
WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE!?
Where is Congress? Where are they?
I want to film this for my kids & my grandkids. I want them to see the day democracy died in Washington, D.C.
Even George is upset 🦮
& we should all be shocked!
No one is here to say this is wrong!
I was born here.
I'm Andrew Howard.
1/5🧵
Where is Congress? Where are they?
I want to film this for my kids & my grandkids. I want them to see the day democracy died in Washington, D.C.
Even George is upset 🦮
& we should all be shocked!
No one is here to say this is wrong!
I was born here.
I'm Andrew Howard.
1/5🧵
December 21, 2025 at 10:06 AM
WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE!?
Where is Congress? Where are they?
I want to film this for my kids & my grandkids. I want them to see the day democracy died in Washington, D.C.
Even George is upset 🦮
& we should all be shocked!
No one is here to say this is wrong!
I was born here.
I'm Andrew Howard.
1/5🧵
Where is Congress? Where are they?
I want to film this for my kids & my grandkids. I want them to see the day democracy died in Washington, D.C.
Even George is upset 🦮
& we should all be shocked!
No one is here to say this is wrong!
I was born here.
I'm Andrew Howard.
1/5🧵
QUICK SEARCH OF EPSTEIN FILES RELEASED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION:
109 hits on the word "Clinton."
2 hits on the word "Trump."
109 hits on the word "Clinton."
2 hits on the word "Trump."
December 19, 2025 at 11:46 PM
QUICK SEARCH OF EPSTEIN FILES RELEASED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION:
109 hits on the word "Clinton."
2 hits on the word "Trump."
109 hits on the word "Clinton."
2 hits on the word "Trump."
CONSIDER THIS: Donald Trump acts like the decision to rename the Kennedy Center after him was an unexpected decision of the board. A key claim by this administration is that the Executive has complete authority. If true, Donald Trump could overrule the KC board.
He won’t.
He won’t.
December 19, 2025 at 1:47 AM
CONSIDER THIS: Donald Trump acts like the decision to rename the Kennedy Center after him was an unexpected decision of the board. A key claim by this administration is that the Executive has complete authority. If true, Donald Trump could overrule the KC board.
He won’t.
He won’t.
Prayers for the fact checkers tonight! 🙏🙏🙏
December 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Prayers for the fact checkers tonight! 🙏🙏🙏
Reposted by Phil Williams
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Ok, @bsky.app veterans, is there a safe and reliable tool for analyzing your account's following - for example, grouping based on the number of followers they have?
December 17, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Ok, @bsky.app veterans, is there a safe and reliable tool for analyzing your account's following - for example, grouping based on the number of followers they have?
Reposted by Phil Williams
CNN has suddenly discovered Tennessee's Patriot Front compound that was a subject of an extensive NewsChannel 5 investigation back in March. Here is my report: 1/ www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
'This isn't your granddad's KKK.' Inside the hate group expanding its presence in Tennessee
They are the largest hate group in America, wrapping themselves in the red-white-and-blue of the flag, marching into the middle of American cities and claiming to be patriots.
www.newschannel5.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:34 PM
CNN has suddenly discovered Tennessee's Patriot Front compound that was a subject of an extensive NewsChannel 5 investigation back in March. Here is my report: 1/ www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
A neo-Nazi flipped us a bird in court, then the judge revoked his bond. www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
A Christmas bird? Neo-Nazi's raised middle finger may keep him behind bars for the holidays
While there is no guarantee that Sean Kauffman will be served turkey this Christmas, he may be thinking of a bird of another type as he spends Christmas in the Perry County Jail.
www.newschannel5.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:21 AM
A neo-Nazi flipped us a bird in court, then the judge revoked his bond. www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
HOW TO GET A TAXPAYER-FUNDED XMAS DINNER: White supremacist Sean Kauffmann was being taken into custody until he could post a higher bond on a DV charge. Then he shot a bird at NC5’s cam, landing himself 10 days in jail for contempt and getting his bond revoked. 🎥: Bryan Staples
December 16, 2025 at 6:10 PM
HOW TO GET A TAXPAYER-FUNDED XMAS DINNER: White supremacist Sean Kauffmann was being taken into custody until he could post a higher bond on a DV charge. Then he shot a bird at NC5’s cam, landing himself 10 days in jail for contempt and getting his bond revoked. 🎥: Bryan Staples
CNN has suddenly discovered Tennessee's Patriot Front compound that was a subject of an extensive NewsChannel 5 investigation back in March. Here is my report: 1/ www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
'This isn't your granddad's KKK.' Inside the hate group expanding its presence in Tennessee
They are the largest hate group in America, wrapping themselves in the red-white-and-blue of the flag, marching into the middle of American cities and claiming to be patriots.
www.newschannel5.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:34 PM
CNN has suddenly discovered Tennessee's Patriot Front compound that was a subject of an extensive NewsChannel 5 investigation back in March. Here is my report: 1/ www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
New York Young Republican Club gala draws white nationalist, far-right Germans - and Tennessee’s Andy Ogles politi.co/4pG0rzf
New York Young Republican Club gala draws white nationalist, far-right Germans as elected officials skip out
The annual soiree took place as young Republican groups across the country are reeling from POLITICO’s reporting on a racist and antisemitic chat group among prominent leaders.
politi.co
December 16, 2025 at 12:50 AM
New York Young Republican Club gala draws white nationalist, far-right Germans - and Tennessee’s Andy Ogles politi.co/4pG0rzf
To all who celebrate! 🕎
December 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
To all who celebrate! 🕎
Why is @CBSNews using the BBC to cover the Brown shooting?
December 13, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Why is @CBSNews using the BBC to cover the Brown shooting?