Mark and Taylor are BACK with a recap of the July Beacon Poll, thoughts on the Olympics and Southwest’s change in seating policy, and—of course—your monthly dose of hot takes! Check it out now! READ MORE
Mark and Taylor are back with another episode of Decaf this week! From the WNBA to Elon Musk and so much more, get your hot takes here on Decaf! READ MORE
Mark and Taylor are BACK with hot takes on the WNBA, reality TV, national media, and more. Plus, we have a deep dive on the April Beacon Poll. Listen now! READ MORE
From baseball to Kate Middleton, March Madness to the Baltimore tragedy, we have it all on this episode of Decaf! Watch now! READ MORE
From the start of Beacon’s 20th anniversary celebrations to the uproar Taylor Swift has caused by attending NFL games, Mark and Taylor have all of the hottest takes on this week’s episode of Decaf! READ MORE
The January Beacon Poll results are here, and Mark and Taylor are ready to talk all about them! From the 2024 presidential election to New Years’ resolutions, you might be surprised about the responses to these questions. This is an episode of Decaf you do not want to miss! READ MORE
Mark and Taylor are here with a special episode of Decaf where they’re talking about all things Pork Report, and college football, of course. If you haven’t checked out the Pork Report yet, take a look here: https://www.beacontn.org/pork/2023 READ MORE
Justin joined Mark on the podcast this week to talk about the college football playoff controversy, school choice, Christmas songs, and so much more! You don’t want to miss this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
On this episode of Decaf, Mark and Taylor air their grievances about the “fall back” time change, make their predictions about the college football playoff, celebrate a new survey about the ESA program, and so much more! Listen now! READ MORE
Mark and Taylor dive into the results of the October Beacon Poll on this episode of Decaf! Check out the full poll results at beaconpoll.com READ MORE
Tennessee holds strong in state financial rankings; be careful what you believe in the media; a preview of next week’s poll release; and thoughts on one of the most important questions this time of year. Listen to it all on Decaf! READ MORE
It’s not just the seasons that are changing, but also Vanderbilt’s ranking on a popular list, the Senate dress code, and the SEC’s position of power. Plus, Dave Portnoy calls out a journalist on some questionable practices, and Mark and Taylor don’t hate to see it. All on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Stephanie joins Mark on Decaf this week to talk about Beacon’s new first amendment lawsuit, a looming government shutdown, and unlikely celebrity couples—including the one that has the whole nation talking. You won’t want to miss this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Mark and Taylor’s big takeaways on this episode of Decaf: – If you think Nashville property tax rates are bad, it could be worse (and it is in another big city in Tennessee). – If you are going to make a career of trying to take down school choice, maybe don’t send your kids to... READ MORE
✅ Knoxville residents are making moves toward more affordable housing. ✅ Should politicians have age limits? ✅ SEC teams were not looking great in week 1 of college football… ✅ Taylor has some controversial pizza-topping opinions. Get it all this week on Decaf! READ MORE
What do property rights, presidential debates, and college football have in common? Absolutely nothing! Other than that we talk about all of these things on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Another victory for Beacon’s legal clients, a catchy song (that might not be the favorite of politicians) sweeps the nation, a big blindside threatens to take down a famous football family, and so much more on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
A new hat might be thrown in the ring in Tennessee’s U.S. Senate race next year, and Mark and Taylor shudder at the thought of any more government lockdowns. Get you weekly hot takes about these topics and so much more on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Self-driving cars in Nashville? Will someone else from the Democratic party run against President Biden in 2024? What’s going on with the U.S. Women’s World Cup Team? Do any brands or celebrities know how to handle a PR crisis? READ MORE
In-n-Out is coming to Tennessee, and taxpayers are footing the bill. Are Facebook and Twitter switching roles? The Tennessee Titans are embracing a throwback this season. Skittles is making mustard-flavored candy, and Mark and Taylor are feeling conflicted about it. Listen to all the hot takes this week on Decaf! READ MORE
Beacon released our Conservative Budget for Tennessee this week. An interesting case of a missing woman from Alabama has swept the nation. HBO’s “Hard Knocks” is taking on the Jets this season, and Aaron Rodgers isn’t happy about it. This weekend is Taylor’s Super Bowl, with the premiere of Oppenheimer and Barbie. Listen to it... READ MORE
Mark and Taylor are still coming down from poll-release-week energy. Things are suspicious around the White House. SEC Media Days are coming to Nashville next week. Taylor gives her strongest movie recommendation of all time. READ MORE
Announcing the results of the first ever Beacon Poll! On this episode of Decaf, Mark and Taylor explain and discuss the results of the July Beacon Poll. From political to policy to cultural, what were some of the most surprising takeaways of this poll? Find out here here, and explore the data for yourself at... READ MORE
Wen joins the podcast again this week to give some insight into SCOTUS’s recent decision on college admissions. Plus, a teaser of the poll we’re releasing next week, our opinions of the best sports dynasties, and how to survive the heat wave in Tennessee this weekend. Listen to it all this week on Decaf! READ MORE
Taylor is joined this week by Beacon’s newest team member Wen Fa! The two of them offer takes on Nashville’s new budget, the Oceangate disaster, and college football this season. Plus, get to know Wen with a round of rapid-fire questions, all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Mark and Taylor make an exciting announcement! Plus, thoughts on the NBA Championship and who should replace Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune. Don’t miss this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
How much do you know about local zoning laws and how the affect the affordability in your area. Smoke from Canada is causing problems in the U.S. PGA and LIV are merging, and Mark and Taylor have differing opinions on it. Are you going to CMA Fest this weekend? We are… not. Get all of... READ MORE
A Hendersonville alderman draws needed attention to the city’s budget. A new travel warning for Florida leaves folks scratching their heads. Nickelback might be the reason one NBA team is making a historic run. HBO makes—what Mark and Taylor think is—a big mistake. Get your weekly hot takes on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
With Taylor on vacation, Ron joins Mark this week to talk about rising home prices in Middle Tennessee, the national debt ceiling, the creative way the Titans released their season’s schedule, and Ron’s growing family. Listen to it all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
A recent court ruling defends Nashvillians’ property rights. CNN is working on its ratings. Gov. Gavin Newsom spends a bunch of tax dollars just to… not spend tax dollars? Taylor Swift made Taylor’s weekend and ruined Mark’s. Listen to it all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Tennessee is trending up in state rankings. Another massive workers’ union goes on strike. Alabama baseball seems to be in big trouble. Twitter users enter accountability mode. Listen to Mark and Taylor talk about it all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Jordan joins Taylor and Mark for a recap of the 2023 legislative session—the good, bad, and in-between. And we couldn’t do an episode of Decaf without sports talk! What did we think would happen in the NFL draft, and were our predictions correct? Check it out on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
A local business turns down a job for a political cause. NPR and Twitter are in a fight. Baseball season is fully underway with some very impressive teams. A new sports movie gets five stars from Taylor. All this and more on Decaf! READ MORE
Beacon’s new report addresses some of the facts and myths about charter schools. What does the public think of President Trump’s legal trouble? The NCAA women’s final game stirred up controversy. Which of our favorite TV shows and movies wouldn’t be acceptable if they debuted today? Listen to it all on this week’s episode of... READ MORE
Hidden gems in Tennessee. A possible legal situation for President Trump. March Madness bringing the madness. Going back to college. Listen to Mark and Taylor talk about it all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
What’s really driving high housing costs in Tennessee? What did President Biden say this week that left us scratching our heads? How will Mark and Taylor’s March Madness brackets fare? Which Apple TV+ show gives us hope for the world? Listen to all of this week’s hot takes on Decaf! READ MORE
A new smoking ban is in effect in Nashville. Right-to-work is under attack in Michigan. Baseball season is upon us. Taylor and Justin have had some not-so-smart moments this week, and they talk about it all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
A message for the school choice critics. Big political shakeup this week in Chicago. Which Tennessee teams will make it into the NCAA Tournament? Certain shows that have been on the air for years have Mark and Taylor wondering why and how. Listen to it all this week on Decaf! READ MORE
Another Tennessee tax is on our radar as needing to go. Don Lemon offends the masses… again. The View is just as out-of-control as ever. A new movie in theaters this weekend has Mark and Taylor intrigued. READ MORE
Takeaways from this episode of Decaf: ✅ Beacon is trying to lower the cost of housing in Tennessee one reform at a time. ✅ Identity politics has got to go. ✅ Mark and Taylor have wildly different opinions on the Super Bowl halftime show. ✅ A murder trial in South Carolina has gripped the nation.... READ MORE
Have you ever heard of pending ordinance doctrine? What is everyone talking about following the State of the Union address? The Super Bowl is upon us—what do we expect to see? With Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel coming to Nashville on tour, it made Mark and Taylor think: what combination of artists would be their... READ MORE
✅ Setting the record straight on charter schools. ✅ More hypocrisy in Congress. ✅ March Madness is almost here. ✅ Mark and Taylor have some HOT takes on Nashville’s Mayor Cooper not running for reelection. Listen to it all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Beacon releases our Blueprint for a Freer Tennessee. Confidential documents everywhere…except where they’re supposed to be. Mark’s Super Bowl bet is still alive. There’s a new GOP congressman at the butt of every joke. Get all of your weekly hot takes on Decaf! READ MORE
A new report from the Beacon Center sheds some light on a little-known requirement for healthcare facilities that is preventing access to care for Tennesseans. Is President Trump’s influence on the Republican Party waning? What happened to TCU in the CFP National Championship game? All of this, plus Mark and Taylor’s hot takes on the... READ MORE
Happy New Year! Mark and Taylor are back to talk about innovation policy, hot takes on the chaos in Congress, predictions for the CFP national championship game, and one of the most-discussed crimes in America. READ MORE
The Pork Report is finally here, and Mark and Taylor give their thoughts on the most egregious examples of government waste and abuse in Tennessee this year! Read the full report at beacontn.org/pork2022 READ MORE
A sneak preview of the 2022 Pork Report. Thoughts on the Biden administration’s recent foreign policy decisions. A lively debate about the college football playoffs. Mark and Taylor’s favorite festive spots in Nashville to celebrate Christmas. All on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Victory for school choice in Tennessee! Drama around the World Cup. Who is going to end up in the college football playoffs? Mark and Taylor give their opinions on the best Christmas movies. All on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Happy Thanksgiving from Decaf! This week, Mark and Taylor talk about what they’re thankful for, both in Tennessee politics and in life in general. Plus, they’ve got big opinions on Taylor Swift’s Ticketmaster fiasco and who should end up in the college football playoffs. READ MORE
Tennessee election results bring a big win for right-to-work, but what do the results mean for the rest of the country? Taylor is in the process of grieving Alabama’s football season this year, and Mark isn’t making it any easier. The Beacon team took off for Charleston this week, and both of these co-hosts have... READ MORE
Mark your calendar for Election Day and Beacon’s live coverage! The White House gets fact-checked on Twitter. Alabama drops in the rankings, and Tennessee faces a challenge this weekend. And no, Twitter is not infringing on your free speech by asking you to pay for your blue check mark. Join Mark and Taylor on YouTube... READ MORE
New report from Beacon shows that some college majors aren’t worth the investment. Climate change activists get a lot of attention, but are their plans actually working? Mark has a hot take about Tennessee football this week. Celebrities have a lot to say about politics, but are people interested in their opinions? READ MORE
Potential taxpayer funding for the new Titans stadium has Mark and Taylor heated. Scandal strikes the LA City Council. Tennessee takes down Alabama, and Blink-182 is back. READ MORE
Nashville Metro Council continues to pander and uses our tax dollars to do it. Big names are leaving their political parties. MLB playoffs and college football might give Taylor a heart attack. Mark is a huge fan of a local business in Centerville. READ MORE
Certificate of need laws are restricting access to healthcare in Tennessee. Gas prices continue to go up with no end in sight. It’s baseball playoff season, the most wonderful time of the year (to Taylor and Jordan). The love lives of celebrities are making headlines. Get all of your hot takes of the week on... READ MORE
Southwest pilots picket on… Broadway? Beacon got some good news this week! Mark’s football picks are trending upward. Taylor has a change of heart about Adam Levine. READ MORE
Hundreds of kids’ lives will be changed through the state’s ESA program. Mark and Taylor share their thoughts on a prominent business owner who donated his personal fortune to solving climate change. Mark’s college football picks this week went a little better, while Taylor struggled. Who are the celebrities you find to be completely insufferable?... READ MORE
Nashville Metro Council passed an interesting law having to do with traffic cameras, and honestly, we don’t get it. Our hearts go out to everyone in Memphis. Mark is hoping for better college football predictions this week. Taylor is hyper-fixated on pop culture and the drama surrounding a new movie. READ MORE
Beacon’s new research report is getting a lot of attention. President Biden’s plan for student debt forgiveness isn’t being received well. Nolensville baseball players are competing in the Little League World Series. Moviepass is back, but is it worth the money? READ MORE
Tennessee has a newly-appointed attorney general. San Fransisco changed course on police funding. The NBA has decided not to play games on Election Day. Mark and Taylor relive their favorite childhood birthday parties. READ MORE
Nashville has earned the name “snitch city.” The FBI took unprecedented action this week. The NFL’s inconsistency on player accountability is atrocious. Taylor is determined to win a goldfish at the Williamson County Fair this weekend. READ MORE
The RNC is not coming to Nashville. Nancy Pelosi makes a courageous trip to Taiwan. The MLB trading deadline brought some surprises. And this week in celebrity hypocrisy, we’re looking at CO2 emissions from private planes. READ MORE
Mark gives insights on a high-profile interview he conducted this week. The economy is in a bad place—depending on who you ask. The media offered some hot takes on who is going to win the SEC this year. America is in mounring over Choco Tacos. Hear it all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
Federal funds are (unsurprisingly) being misused. The Great Resignation is in full swing. An American is in big trouble in Russia. Not all “hippie” things are bad. It’s your weekly dose of hot takes on Decaf with Taylor and Mark! READ MORE
The ESA program is finally ready to accept applicants. Following the science has never been more difficult. We have entered the superconference era of sports. Mark and Taylor are on the same page about one thing—Top Gun: Maverick is a must-see. READ MORE
TNReady scores are in. The Biden Administration is having some communication problems. Competition is getting heated at Wimbledon, but nothing is hotter than the 4th of July in Tennessee. READ MORE
Transpotainment vehicles under attack, EPA gets powers rolled back, Buc-ee’s has landed in Crossville, and Mark hates Taylor’s taste in music. READ MORE
SCOTUS rules in favor of school choice. Governor Haslam is buying a Tennessee sports team. Stranger things has our attention. Shows that Justin and Stephanie wish they could rewatch for the first time again. READ MORE
Inflation is causing nightmares. Mayor Cooper wants to ban… hot dog carts? Tennessee faces a tough upset in the College World Series. Mark goes to Vegas. READ MORE
Things are heating up with the Lookouts stadium. Gas is about to hit $5. Golfers are leaving the PGA for another option. WaWa is coming to Nashville! READ MORE
Costs on the rise are having a serious impact on labor and personal finances. Workers across the country are looking to unionize and more in Atlantic City are on strike. Nashville is losing residents seemingly as quickly as gaining them. Nostalgia over lost treasures is at an all-time high. READ MORE
Tragedy in Texas, a cruel decision by MNPS, “sharkcano” in the Pacific, and Mark’s three favorite things in Italy—hear it all on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE
