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.”
Statement from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press on the arrests of independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for their coverage of a protest inside a Minneapolis church:
“It’s obviously concerning any time journalists are arrested in connection with their reporting….”
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“It’s obviously concerning any time journalists are arrested in connection with their reporting….”
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January 30, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Statement from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press on the arrests of independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for their coverage of a protest inside a Minneapolis church:
“It’s obviously concerning any time journalists are arrested in connection with their reporting….”
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“It’s obviously concerning any time journalists are arrested in connection with their reporting….”
1/
“These are communists.” Jackson County TN’s Christian nationalist podcasters, C.Jay Engel and Andrew Isker, mock the attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar, the killing of Alex Pretti, even the civil rights activism of Rosa Parks.
January 29, 2026 at 9:47 PM
“These are communists.” Jackson County TN’s Christian nationalist podcasters, C.Jay Engel and Andrew Isker, mock the attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar, the killing of Alex Pretti, even the civil rights activism of Rosa Parks.
Everything that happened to Alex Pretti is horrible, but there is one part that I just cannot get out of my mind! What do you think? #AlexiPretti #Minneapolis
January 27, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Everything that happened to Alex Pretti is horrible, but there is one part that I just cannot get out of my mind! What do you think? #AlexiPretti #Minneapolis
These may be the two most critical images from the latest killing by CBP in Minneapolis.
January 24, 2026 at 11:11 PM
These may be the two most critical images from the latest killing by CBP in Minneapolis.
PLEASE WATCH: Video posted so far from today’s killing in Minneapolis shows the victim recording video with his smartphone, coming to the aid of two women and trying to stand between them and an ICE agent. He does not show a gun at all. Then, I count 10 shots.
January 24, 2026 at 9:39 PM
PLEASE WATCH: Video posted so far from today’s killing in Minneapolis shows the victim recording video with his smartphone, coming to the aid of two women and trying to stand between them and an ICE agent. He does not show a gun at all. Then, I count 10 shots.
Jackson County TN Christian nationalists C.Jay Engel and Andrew Isker are eager to give up a sacred American principle - trial by jury - if juries will not convict people resisting the Trump administration.
January 24, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Jackson County TN Christian nationalists C.Jay Engel and Andrew Isker are eager to give up a sacred American principle - trial by jury - if juries will not convict people resisting the Trump administration.
Had a great coffee meeting in NYC with my literary agent Abby Okin from Creative Artist Agency! Would you buy a book written by Phil Williams, aka “Nashville’s Nosiest Bitch”? Looking forward to big things in 2026! 🤞
January 23, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Had a great coffee meeting in NYC with my literary agent Abby Okin from Creative Artist Agency! Would you buy a book written by Phil Williams, aka “Nashville’s Nosiest Bitch”? Looking forward to big things in 2026! 🤞
“John Abernathy, a photographer from Minneapolis, was flat on the ground. He had the knees of at least one federal officer on his back…. He was surrounded by dozens of officers deploying something ― tear gas, he thinks ― that made it hard to see or breathe. He felt like he could puke or pass out.”
January 22, 2026 at 2:31 PM
“John Abernathy, a photographer from Minneapolis, was flat on the ground. He had the knees of at least one federal officer on his back…. He was surrounded by dozens of officers deploying something ― tear gas, he thinks ― that made it hard to see or breathe. He felt like he could puke or pass out.”
The worst of American humanity is being fully revealed. These FB comments are jaw-dropping. www.facebook.com/share/p/1C5Y...
January 22, 2026 at 12:35 AM
The worst of American humanity is being fully revealed. These FB comments are jaw-dropping. www.facebook.com/share/p/1C5Y...
Thanks to Donald Trump and his obsession with seizing Greenland, it appears that America is now in a cold war with the very European allies who came to the country’s aid following 9/11. Tell me if/why I am wrong.
January 18, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Thanks to Donald Trump and his obsession with seizing Greenland, it appears that America is now in a cold war with the very European allies who came to the country’s aid following 9/11. Tell me if/why I am wrong.
Thanks to Donald Trump and his obsession with seizing Greenland, it appears that America is now in a cold war with the very European allies who came to the country’s aid following 9/11. Tell me if/why I am wrong.
January 18, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Thanks to Donald Trump and his obsession with seizing Greenland, it appears that America is now in a cold war with the very European allies who came to the country’s aid following 9/11. Tell me if/why I am wrong.
Also, Christian nationalists Andrew Isker and C.Jay Engel imagine people on the right don’t attack police because they “have families and jobs and mortgages and something to lose.” J6’ers, Isker says, “walked into open doors in the U.S. Capitol.”
January 17, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Also, Christian nationalists Andrew Isker and C.Jay Engel imagine people on the right don’t attack police because they “have families and jobs and mortgages and something to lose.” J6’ers, Isker says, “walked into open doors in the U.S. Capitol.”
“We shouldn’t use her name.” Jackson County, Tennessee’s Christian nationalist pastor Andrew Isker says Renee Nicole Good is dead because “women have authority with no accountability” in America. His sidekick C.Jay Engel does not disagree.
January 17, 2026 at 5:12 PM
“We shouldn’t use her name.” Jackson County, Tennessee’s Christian nationalist pastor Andrew Isker says Renee Nicole Good is dead because “women have authority with no accountability” in America. His sidekick C.Jay Engel does not disagree.
If this is all I had, I would NOT have gone with the story. Sources have motivation to lie/obfuscate. “Torso” is very broad. There is no supporting evidence. And there is no reason that the sources could not have been on the record.
January 15, 2026 at 12:45 AM
If this is all I had, I would NOT have gone with the story. Sources have motivation to lie/obfuscate. “Torso” is very broad. There is no supporting evidence. And there is no reason that the sources could not have been on the record.
Looks like the protests in Nashville and Middle Tennessee today were smaller than other recent events - probably because of the short notice. Am I right? (BTW, no one sent me any counter-protest pics.)
January 12, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Looks like the protests in Nashville and Middle Tennessee today were smaller than other recent events - probably because of the short notice. Am I right? (BTW, no one sent me any counter-protest pics.)
This breakdown by the @startribune.com answers one question for me. The vehicle stopped in front of Renee Good’s SUV apparently belonged to Jonathan Ross. Did ICE stop her simply because they thought she was following them? Following them would not be illegal. Does anyone have the answer?
January 10, 2026 at 11:02 PM
This breakdown by the @startribune.com answers one question for me. The vehicle stopped in front of Renee Good’s SUV apparently belonged to Jonathan Ross. Did ICE stop her simply because they thought she was following them? Following them would not be illegal. Does anyone have the answer?
A fantastic night in Nashville and great company to join me in celebrating another trip around the globe! I am so grateful for the life I have - including the people in my life! 🙏
January 9, 2026 at 1:03 AM
A fantastic night in Nashville and great company to join me in celebrating another trip around the globe! I am so grateful for the life I have - including the people in my life! 🙏
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.
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.
Signing off for the holiday! Merry Christmas!
December 21, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Signing off for the holiday! Merry Christmas!
Hits on the word "Trump" are photos of books about Trump or by Trump.
December 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Hits on the word "Trump" are photos of books about Trump or by Trump.
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."