MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One is a moderate Democrat, the other a moderate Republican. They each served eight years as Tennessee governor – one succeeding the other. And they both won their respective reelections in a landslide. Now they are teaming up to host a new podcast that seeks to find common ground on today’s top issues and our political discourse.
Democrat Phil Bredesen and Republican Bill Haslam are launching the podcast Wednesday from the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The podcast is appropriately called “You Might Be Right,” which is a takeoff on Baker’s famous quote, “the other fellow may be right” and the 2017 Baker biography with the same title written by Memphis lawyer Bill Haltom.
Both Bredesen and Haslam said the point of the podcast is to seek civility in discussing political issues, even if they disagree. How refreshing is that? Plus, a bipartisan lineup of guests are expected to join them during the eight-episode season, including former senator and vice president Al Gore, former House speaker Paul Ryan, and former governor and senator Lamar Alexander.
Without question, our greatest problem in politics today is our lack of civility. We have allowed the divisive voices to control the narrative. And it’s high time moderate political minds bring the conversation back to sensible levels.
Bredesen and Haslam are well-equipped to do that. And I’ll be listening.