Confronting Hate

With local newspapers shuttering and local television news focusing on crime and traffic, many Americans are left without clear-eyed, probing news reports on political developments in their cities, counties, or states. Not so in Tennessee, where dogged reporter Phil Williams of WTVF-NewsChannel 5 has courageously investigated the rightwing extremists who have infiltrated the public square, even as he was targeted by their unhinged online accusations. Over the course of more than two dozen reports, Williams ferreted out neo-Nazis and white Christian nationalists gaining influence in the state, including an annual gathering of some of the nation’s most dangerous white supremacists. Williams’ reports also led to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe of a small-town police official who backed QAnon-aligned conspiracy theories and promised to use his position to go after those he smeared with his unfounded claims. For timely, in-depth reporting on a major issue in American politics—the rise of dangerous extremism—”Confronting Hate” wins a Peabody Award.