Sen. Paul Bailey sits down with recently retired journalist Chris Bundgaard and discusses Tennessee’s political climate throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s. Mr. Bundgaard recounts his interviews with several politicians over the years and goes into how he remembers the protests on Capitol Hill. Now retired, Mr. Bundgaard is enjoying the much deserved break from the fast paced life of being a TV journalist.
Show Notes
Some of the highlights of the show include:
- Discussion of experiences with being a reporter on fresh disaster scenes and the importance of being sensitive to those who have lost everything.
- Mr. Bundgaard’s father was a college coach and his mother was an English teacher and briefly a reporter. She was formative in how he looks at things as a journalist.
- The important questions: “Why do you do this, why do you want this?” - the questions he would ask politicians and how he would get authentic answers.
- He came to Nashville to work for WKRN as a producer, later moving on to covering more political matters.
- Discussions of Tennessee politics in the 90’s and early 00’s - transition from democrat to republican control.
- Goes into the Tennessee Protests- highlights Marsha Blackburn’s role.
- Discusses the era of sales tax vs income tax - how it changed the political climate in Tennessee.
- Mr. Bundgaard then recounts the protests on Capitol Hill.
- Moves on to discuss the differences between the protests back then vs. those that recently took place at the US Capitol.
- Mr. Bundgaard discusses the person he found most interesting and his experience of speaking with him.
- He goes on to discuss who he believed to be the most rogue politician.
- Discusses how he is adjusting to retired life and what he plans on doing in the future.
- The final question: Mr. Bundgaard explains his experience with Muhammad Ali back in the 80’s and then later covering his funeral in Louisville.
What is Backroads and Backstories with Paul Bailey?
Senator Paul Bailey started the Backroads & Backstories podcast to take a behind-the-scenes look at the issues and to better get to know the people who are shaping the future for the Volunteer State. In this series, we’ll explore the backstories along the backroads of our part of Tennessee. We invite you to join us on our journey to highlight these folks and what makes our area such a special place to live.