Podcast Summary: Full Measure After Hours
Episode: The Devil and the TVA
Host: Sharyl Attkisson
Guest: John Rich
Date: September 18, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of Full Measure After Hours dives into a modern-day “Grapes of Wrath” scenario unfolding in Tennessee. Host Sharyl Attkisson interviews country music star and activist John Rich, detailing his campaign to defend local farmers and residents against a controversial Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power plant project. The episode explores TVA’s unique power, alleged overreach, and how one celebrity’s advocacy—combined with political action—upended years of government momentum.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. John Rich’s Connection to the Issue
[02:33]
- John Rich is a long-time Cheatham County resident with deep local roots: “These are blue collar, hard working, farm lower to middle income type farmer communities ... My brother’s a farmer here. My dad has a blueberry farm here. Small one.”
- Rich felt compelled to act when he discovered the TVA’s plans would impact his family, neighbors, and local culture.
2. Explaining the TVA: Origin and Current Structure
[03:39]
- TVA was created in 1933 under Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a federal agency, but is structured as both federal and private, answering only to the President.
- Unlike traditional power companies, TVA funds itself through electric bills rather than taxpayer dollars and operates with little oversight:
“...nobody really knows how to influence them ... They only have to listen to the President of the United States.” — John Rich [04:27]
3. TVA’s Increasing Power and Accountability Loopholes
[05:51]
- TVA does not have to comply with local zoning laws or answer to state/local governments—creating a “rogue” agency dynamic.
- Their extraordinary eminent domain powers set them apart from all other U.S. energy companies.
4. Are Power Projects Inevitable?
[07:09]
- Rich disputes the idea that plant construction is unavoidable in sensitive areas:
“Well, that’s patently not true ... Why are they coming to Cheatham county and trying to tear this place to smithereens?”
- He notes there is already a decommissioned coal plant site with existing infrastructure that TVA could use—yet officials refused to explain the choice of Cheatham County.
5. Citizen Pushback and Political Intervention
[10:05]
- Rich became an activist, documenting neighbors’ stories and using social media to amplify their concerns:
“I became an investigative journalist, kind of like what you do. … hoping that the citizens could push back against TVA without the help of President Trump.”
- Secretary Brooke Rollins (USDA) notices Rich’s online advocacy, concerned about farmland destruction: ~6,000 acres and multiple “century farms” were at risk.
[11:30]
- Rich involved President Trump, who connected with Secretary Rollins and intervened to halt the project:
“Within about two weeks of that, I get word President Trump’s going to stop this. ... That is a horrible idea. There are other places to do it.”
- Rich explains the deeper implications for “how citizens get treated” by powerful entities.
6. TVA's Heavy-Handed Tactics
[13:20]
- Rich confronts TVA Senior VP Justin Meyerhofer about aggressive enforcement on farmers’ property:
“You cannot show up on old ladies’ properties with guns and bulletproof vests demanding to come on their property. … you have to have a warrant and probable cause.”
- Meyerhofer responds with “lip service and double talk,” leaving Rich even more resolute.
7. Systemic Change and Citizen Advocacy
[14:06]
- Rich expresses hope for broader reform with a new TVA board and increased transparency:
“If those men and women decide to, they can change the charter of the TVA ... put a heart and soul into the TVA for the first time ever in its existence.”
8. The Power of Music: "The Devil and the TVA"
[15:40]
- Rich writes and records a protest song inspired by the struggle:
“Music is my weapon of choice ... This Cheatham county story, this David and Goliath story, it’s a song. And so I wrote a song called The Devil and the TVA because that's how they operate and that's how they're thought of.”
- The chorus draws from a local’s heart-wrenching quote about property rights:
“‘You think you own something, but you don’t own nothing, when the government man comes around, puts his dirty old boots on your ground ... the devil ain’t got nothing on the TVA.’”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On TVA’s unaccountability:
“They only have to listen to the President of the United States.” — John Rich [04:27]
-
On TVA not using existing sites:
“Every single time I asked ... [about] New Johnsonville ... TVA won’t answer that question.” — John Rich [07:09]
-
On FHA enforcement tactics:
“You cannot show up on old ladies’ properties with guns and bulletproof vests demanding to come on their property.” — John Rich [13:20]
-
On citizen empowerment:
“The American citizen is the boss. You don’t get to treat people like that.” — John Rich [14:06]
-
Song lyric inspired by local resident:
“‘You think you own something, but you don’t own nothing’ ... the devil ain’t got nothing on the TVA.” — John Rich [16:38]
Key Segment Timestamps
- [02:33] John Rich’s background and why he’s involved
- [03:39] Origins and authority of TVA
- [05:51] TVA’s powers and lack of oversight
- [07:09] Questioning TVA’s choices and impact
- [10:05] Citizen activism and political escalation
- [11:30] Trump’s intervention, project halted
- [13:20] Rich confronts TVA about enforcement tactics
- [15:40] The story behind the protest song
- [17:54] Host’s postscript on TVA’s retreat and summary
Episode Tone & Language
The tone is candid, passionate, and direct—reflecting both John Rich’s country roots and Sharyl Attkisson’s investigative style. There’s a strong current of citizen empowerment and skepticism toward federal overreach, contrasted with a “can-do” spirit and a belief in local, grassroots resistance.
Conclusion
Through the story of Cheatham County, this episode uncovers the sweeping power of the TVA, the risks of unaccountable government agencies, and the transformative potential of community activism—amplified by a high-profile advocate. The successful campaign to protect rural Tennessee land not only stopped a major project but spotlighted systemic issues at the intersection of energy, governance, and citizen rights.
For full details, visuals, and more interviews with local residents, tune into Sharyl Attkisson's Full Measure TV cover story.