Good grief! Another Monday.

• Today's weather: Sunny and crisp with a high of 72.

This newsletter is 969 words — a 3.5-minute read.

President Trump used Tennessee to send Republicans a loud message this month: Cross me at your own peril.

Why it matters: Trump's eleventh-hour decision to endorse Republican Matt Van Epps in the contested District 7 primary — which vaulted Van Epps to a decisive win — showed he has the power to decide GOP primaries with a single post on his Truth Social account.

Catch up quick: The president endorsed Van Epps on the afternoon of Oct. 3, just four days before the primary.

The intrigue: The move was risky. Just prior to Trump's announcement, his advisers had reviewed polling conducted by senior Trump strategist Tony Fabrizio showing Van Epps trailing a rival Republican candidate, state Rep. Jody Barrett, by 4 points.

The big picture: Barrett had the support of the House Freedom Caucus and country star John Rich. But Trump wanted to weigh in for Van Epps, who has been more consistently supportive of Trump than Barrett has.

• Trump's endorsement became the centerpiece of Van Epps' campaign during the final days of the contest.

It paid off. Van Epps ended up winning by 26 points, a stark reversal from the earlier poll.

What they're saying: "The impact of President Trump and his endorsement in Republican primaries was on full display," said Tennessee-based GOP strategist Ward Baker. "It's clear President Trump's endorsement was decisive in this race."

The intrigue: Trump's decision to wade into the primary shows he is willing to engage in seriously contested GOP nomination fights.

• So far, the president has only announced his opposition to one Republican member of Congress — Rep. Thomas Massie. The Kentucky lawmaker is soliciting signatures on a discharge petition to unseal files related to the government's Jeffrey Epstein probe.

State of play: Trump allies say there are currently no plans in the works to defeat additional GOP lawmakers.

Yes, but: The president is keenly aware of the Republicans who are opposing his agenda, say people familiar with his thinking.

• With filing deadlines still open, Trump could conceivably jump into other primaries and punish Republicans who defy him.

Read the full story

Vanderbilt charged into the top 10 in the AP Poll and clinched bowl eligibility after a thrilling win over LSU Saturday.

Yes, but: The team wasn't resting on its laurels.

What they're saying: "We have higher goals," coach Clark Lea said after the game, per the Tennessean.

• "I don't want to sound like I'm not excited about the fact that we've secured a postseason bid, but we're really interested in taking this as far as we can."

The bottom line: "This is the new Vandy," defensive end Khordae Sydnor said. "People expect us to win."

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, the lone Democrat in Tennessee's congressional delegation, told Axios he is not worried about the supercharged fundraising of his new challenger, state Rep. Justin Pearson.

Why it matters: This is proving to be a challenging fundraising cycle for older House Democrats, an Axios analysis has found. Several older representatives have fallen behind their younger challengers.

• The trend highlights an unusually large number of credible Democratic primary challenges this election cycle as younger party members mount a major push for generational change.

Between the lines: Pearson, 30, is a high-profile member of the so-called "Tennessee Three." He has been a fundraising juggernaut since 2023, who was briefly expelled from the Tennessee House for leading gun control protest chants during a floor session.

State of play: Pearson's campaign said he raised $200,000 in the 36 hours since launching earlier this month, while Cohen reported raising $41,151 in the three months since June.

What he's saying: "My fundraising isn't about the amount I raised in the third quarter but about what I have in the bank," said Cohen, 76, noting he has "conservatively managed" his $1.8 million in cash-on-hand.

• "I haven't fundraised over the internet and I've not had a major fundraiser in Memphis in two decades cause I haven't needed it other than for DCCC dues, and I didn't ask my constituents for money when I didn't need it," he added, "but I will ask in the forthcoming quarters."

Go deeper: Older Democrats are getting crushed in the cash wars

Home values in Nashville are high, which means you might be able to borrow more than you think with a home equity loan.

Complete one simple, secure form to receive personalized home equity loan quotes from a network of lenders in as little as two minutes or less.

Get your quotes now.