The AM/DM

The AM/DM is a quick morning podcast full of Memphis news brought to you by The Daily Memphian. In addition to daily news about government, education, public safety, food and sports, Mary Cashiola sits down with The Daily Memphian's journalists to get the scoop behind the stories.

Ask Me Anything edition 12/31/2025

Ask Me Anything edition Just call this The AM/DM AMA. To wrap up 2025 and answer some of our readers’ most burning questions from the year, we decided to do an “Ask Me Anything” style segment. Today, digital director Holly Whitfield brings questions derived from social media channels, and we talk about media bias, and the would-be liquor store on White Station Road. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39571370

What Memphians think about the task force 12/30/2025

What Memphians think about the task force In the three months since the Memphis Safe Task Force began in Memphis, the operation has impacted almost everything in some way, whether it’s crime rates, court dockets, school transportation or even restaurants and nightlife. We know how many of Memphis’ elected officials feel about the task force, Today, we’re joined by metro editor Jane Donahoe to talk about what our reporters recently learned. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39559845

2026 begins 12/29/2025

2026 begins The year begins officially on Thursday, and we’ve got a list of things for you to do on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, . Mary Cashiola and Bianca Phillips set up the week for you. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39550615

What to do on the last weekend of the year 12/26/2025

What to do on the last weekend of the year If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, hopefully you like music or comedy. Or both. Today, Mary Cashiola and Bianca Phillips talk about Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39535305

Collierville looks to its future 12/24/2025

Collierville looks to its future Collierville is currently developing a blueprint for what its residents’ hope to see in the suburb over the next 25 years. The process will replace the old 2040 plan and take Collierville into 2050, but what that will look like — and what it will mean for the town — is still up in the air. Today, suburbs reporter Abigail Warren joins us to talk about Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39524495

BlueOval's pivot to gas-powered trucks 12/23/2025

BlueOval's pivot to gas-powered trucks In mid-December, Ford Motor Co. announced new plans to build affordable gas-powered pickup trucks at BlueOval City, instead of the electric trucks it had initially planned to build in West Tennessee. The change to gas-powered trucks also means West Tennessee isn’t tied to the nation’s shifting EV market. So, what do people living near BlueOval think? Today, business reporter Sophia Surrett joins us to talk about Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39510215

The 2026 election season starts ... now 12/22/2025

The 2026 election season starts ... now This week marks But today is also the day when candidates in the first of three 2026 elections in Shelby County can begin filling out qualifying petitions to run for office. And because of term limits, Shelby County will see a new mayor, new sheriff and new clerk — positions currently held by Lee Harris, Floyd Bonner Jr. and Wanda Halbert, respectively — elected in 2026. Shelby County is also guaranteed eight new County Commissioners in the year’s upcoming election. And then there are the school board races, which will have local partisan primaries for the first time ever. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and political reporter Bill Dries dive a little deeper into this first step of the elections. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39490405

Christmas music and holiday spirit 12/19/2025

Christmas music and holiday spirit We’re wrapping ourselves in holiday music and movies this week. Between Victorian caroling at The Peabody Memphis with Opera Memphis, and a supergroup of Memphis musicians performing the soundtrack from the 1965 animated classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Lafayette’s Music Room, you’re bound to at least hear the holiday spirit. And you can see ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ at the Orpheum Theatre. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and digital producer Kelsey Bowen discuss some of the fun to be had. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39463180

The future of Liberty Park 12/18/2025

The future of Liberty Park The City of Memphis has spent $13.7 million over the past five years to bring a hotel, apartments and an entertainment venue to Liberty Park, as a way to spark economic development in the area. But years into the project, the hotels and the apartments haven’t been built, the tax growth hasn’t come to fruition and the city has had to use other money to pay its debt on the project, for three consecutive years. Today, Mary Cashiola, editorial director of The Daily Memphian, and enterprise reporter Samuel Hardiman look at what’s going on with the property and why it’s so important to the city. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39446635

The Station's next stop, back to the alcohol board 12/17/2025

The Station's next stop, back to the alcohol board Ethan Edwards’ vision for a high-end liquor store in East Memphis — one that goes far beyond shelves of wine and spirits — has been stalled for more than a year. The Station is currently open but court rulings, denied licenses and a bitter legal fight with nearby competitors have kept the business from selling liquor. The Station is headed back to the City of Memphis’ Alcohol Commission at 9 a.m. this morning, and Edwards’ hope is that he’ll be granted a license today. But as those who have been following this story know, it’s not yet a done deal. This morning, reporter Jody Callahan and editorial director Mary Cashiola discuss. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39431845

MSCS opens security facility and active shooter simulator 12/16/2025

MSCS opens security facility and active shooter simulator Last week, the Memphis-Shelby County Schools debuted its new “Real Time Safety Center” to the public. Located in a vacant elementary school, the new safety center will serve as a training hub for school resource officers and provide round-the-clock surveillance on the district’s more than 200 facilities. But the real goal is to prevent tragedy. Today, we’re talking to enterprise reporter Laura Testino about her first-hand look inside the facility and what the district hopes to accomplish. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39420690

What will Collierville look like in 2050? 12/15/2025

What will Collierville look like in 2050? It’s the last full, holiday-free week of the year and time to get business done. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners and the Memphis City Council will have their last meetings of the year. Editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips talk about those meetings as well as Collierville starting its 2050 vision process. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39406300

Wheel of Fortune, 'Friday' party and Phillips on a float 12/12/2025

Wheel of Fortune, 'Friday' party and Phillips on a float Bianca Phillips and Mary Cashiola suggest , including a “Friday After Next” party — on Friday, natch — and a live action murder mystery at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39374805

Inside the FBI's Operation Viper 12/11/2025

Inside the FBI's Operation Viper Before there was the Memphis Safe Task Force, , an FBI operation that occurred very quietly over the past summer. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and enterprise reporter Sam Hardiman talk about what The Daily Memphian learned about Viper through an open records request, including the operation’s very speedy strategy. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39361550

Tales from inside 201 12/10/2025

Tales from inside 201 For the past year and a half, the Shelby County Jail — commonly known as 201 Poplar — has been over its 2,400-inmate capacity. And with the recent surge in local arrests tied to the Memphis Safe Task Force, conditions inside 201 seem to be deteriorating. Recent inmates . Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and public safety reporter Aarron Fleming talk about conditions inside the jail, what’s causing them and what suggestions have been made to fix the issues. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39353200

At U of M, Huff is in 12/09/2025

At U of M, Huff is in Former Tigers head football coach Ryan Silverfield initially joined the program in 2016 as the offensive line coach, becoming head coach four seasons later. But news broke a little more than a week ago that and would be leaving the University of Memphis. Now, we know that Southern Mississippi coach Charles Huff will join the U of M as its new head coach, and he’s bringing some members of his coaching staff with him. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola talks to University of Memphis football reporter Frank Bonner about where the program is now, how important the new coach is for the university and what to know as the Tigers go into the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39336110

The year's best networking and holiday rom-coms 12/08/2025

The year's best networking and holiday rom-coms The week starts out very serious, with two public meetings to discuss the plan to close Chickasaw Middle School and fold it into Westwood High School to create a new Westwood school serving sixth through twelfth grades. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss that, as well as the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Annual Chairman’s Luncheon, one of the best local networking events of the year — if you ask Cashiola. They also discuss a recent trend of the season, the holiday rom-com, and . Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39321250

The 'crystal show,' tree lighting and latte art 12/05/2025

The 'crystal show,' tree lighting and latte art It's St. Jude Memphis Marathon weekend, but that doesn’t mean the fun stops. It some ways, it just keeps going ... for 26.2 miles. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss some of what’s happening this weekend, including the Stumbling Santa pub crawl, the latte art throwdown and one of Phillips’ favorite events, what she calls “the crystal show.” Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39289675

'A Christmas Carol,' 'Rudolph' and 'Die Hard' 12/04/2025

'A Christmas Carol,' 'Rudolph' and 'Die Hard' When it comes to going to the theater, December has some very popular — and very traditional — offerings. Think the Mouse King or Tuna, Texas, and you’ll know what we’re talking about. Today, The Daily Memphian’s resident theater kid Alys Drake, who also writes our monthly theater roundup, takes us through . Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39259310

Riding with a task force warrant team 12/03/2025

Riding with a task force warrant team The Memphis Safe Task Force, the massive federal, state and local law enforcement operation in Memphis, has now been operational for more than two months. Public safety reporter Aarron Fleming recently got an inside look at the day-to-day operations during a ride-along with Warrant Team Bravo, as they moved to find and arrest a homicide suspect. Today, Fleming and editorial director Mary Cashiola talk about how he was able to do the ride-along, what he learned from the U.S. Marshal he rode with and what it felt like to be on the ground with the task force. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39249335

The return of Jennifer Chandler 12/02/2025

The return of Jennifer Chandler Longtime local food writer and chef Jennifer Chandler joined The Daily Memphian in 2024 and left the news site about a year later due to family obligations. But now she’s back as a freelancer and bringing Daily Memphian readers delicious recipes as part of our long-running “Recipe Exchange” series. Since she’s returned, for example, we’ve gotten recipes for , and . Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola talks to Chandler about the best advice she has for home cooks, nostalgia dishes, the most important thing for a dinner party and what, exactly, is a tart pan. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39235150

Why The Daily Memphian is a nonprofit 12/01/2025

Why The Daily Memphian is a nonprofit GivingTuesday is one of a few Thanksgiving-related holidays, such as Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. But, GivingTuesday, started in 2012, differs from those other holidays because it’s not about consumerism. In advance of GivingTuesday, editorial director Mary Cashiola and Sarah Leach, The Daily Memphian’s director of fundraising and development, talk about the news site’s role as a nonprofit, the free content the site provides despite the paywall and their own goals for GivingTuesday. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39219265

Black Friday and more weekend fun 11/28/2025

Black Friday and more weekend fun Today is Black Friday, the day people traditionally start shopping for holiday gifts — and retailers try to capitalize on that by offering consumers heavy discounts. In honor of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Museum Store Sunday, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips talk about some of the ideas listed in The Daily Memphian’s gift guide. They also talk about other fun events happening this weekend, such as Flyway Comedy Club’s Friendsgiving special. /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39195940

Dating, apps and the Bluff City 11/26/2025

Dating, apps and the Bluff City If you’re not “on the apps,” you’re not really trying. That’s the message single people get these days as they try to navigate the dating world. The apps in question, of course, are Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Grindr, Her, OkCupid, eHarmony, Match.com and others. The Daily Memphian’s Nick Lingerfelt recently to get a sense of how locals think about the apps and the dating pool in the Bluff City. He joins the show today to talk about that, real life relationships and five first date ideas. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39173460

In an open carry state, here’s how a gun becomes illegal 11/25/2025

In an open carry state, here’s how a gun becomes illegal The Memphis Safe Task Force has seized more than 400 guns during its time in Memphis, in what could be a major milestone in reducing violent crime. But Tennessee is an open carry state, meaning most adults can legally carry a gun without a permit. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and enterprise reporter Sam Hardiman talk about — and thus actionable for the task force — what happens to weapons that are seized, what else we know and what remains unclear. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39161210

Setting your holidays up for success 11/24/2025

Setting your holidays up for success , and with it Black Friday. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss everything from some of The Daily Memphian’s recipe offerings to family traditions to what restaurants are open on Thanksgiving Day. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39147885

Tree lightings, Christmas concerts & Juliet 11/21/2025

Tree lightings, Christmas concerts & Juliet It’s not quite Thanksgiving yet, but the holiday season begins in earnest this weekend, with Graceland turning on its holiday lights and the City of Memphis lighting its official tree on the Main Street Mall. Plus, “& Juliet” opens at the Orpheum Theatre. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss . Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39115455

Just how bad are the county's cash flow woes 11/20/2025

Just how bad are the county's cash flow woes Earlier this week, — and to make sure that the government could make payroll in a few weeks. The county has experienced cash flow problems at this time of year before, but this time around, it’s raising bigger questions about the county’s long-term financial stability. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and politics and government reporter Bill Dries talk about what’s driving the shortfall and if there are larger problems, or solutions, on the horizon. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39103730

With Tigers and Grizz struggling, what's a fan to do? 11/19/2025

With Tigers and Grizz struggling, what's a fan to do? It’s not a great time to be a Memphis sports fan. The Memphis Grizzlies have been struggling this season, and that’s before star point guard Ja Morant injured his calf. The Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team just experienced its worst home loss since the team lost to South Florida in March 2018. And, the defeat came at the hands of UNLV, headed by none other than former Memphis coach Josh Pastner. Memphis Tigers football has also been lackluster. The team is facing its sixth year in a row to not make the conference championships. To put this all in context for us, Daily Memphian editorial director Mary Cashiola talks with sports editor David Boyd. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39092680

South City represents the end of an era for Memphis housing 11/18/2025

South City represents the end of an era for Memphis housing In South Memphis, an array of art projects are bringing color — and an renewed identity — to a local neighborhood near Downtown. It’s perhaps the culmination of more than 25 years of transformation, but even in the middle of the celebration, there are visible reminders of the pain the community carries. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and veteran reporter Bill Dries talk about the city’s former public housing projects and what has risen in their place. Plus: /episode/index/show/dmdailyupdate/id/39065635

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