As autonomous vehicle company Waymo faces scrutiny following reports of driverless cars stalling in traffic after its recent Nashville launch, The Tennessee Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy and Chris Burger, founder and CEO of Rotunda Public Affairs, highlighted a broader divide over the technology’s future.
The discussion, aired Friday on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, comes amid viral videos showing Waymo vehicles halting mid-turn or stopping in active lanes.
Burger, an enthusiastic early adopter, praised the service based on repeated use in both Phoenix and Nashville.
“Waymo is an autonomous vehicle, like an Uber, but they’re…small SUVs. I first took them, I had no idea what they were,” Burger said. “I was at a conference in Phoenix the other year and ended up taking about a dozen out there… and in the last week, I’ve taken, give or take about a dozen of them.”
Despite initial unease, Burger said the experience quickly became routine.
“It was a little weird the first time, but then, no driver… sometimes I want to be on a conference call or listen to music or do work,” he added, further arguing the service often outperforms traditional ride-hailing.
“Honestly, it’s been a better experience than most Uber drivers,” he said. “Are they gonna be perfect? No. Are there gonna be issues? Sure… but by and large, my experience has been a net positive one.”
Leahy, however, voiced strong reservations, framing the issue as both practical and generational.
“When you tell me, yeah, we’re gonna lock you into a driverless car and you’re just gonna hope you get to your destination, my immediate thought is what could possibly go wrong?” he said.
Referencing the recent Nashville incidents, Leahy pointed to operational hiccups.
“The launch of Waymo in Nashville did not go so well. There were some Waymos that didn’t know what to do… that caused traffic jams,” he said.
Burger acknowledged the reported issues but countered with his own positive experience navigating adverse conditions.
“Last night… there [was] a big storm… some power lines were down, and a couple of the lights were just out,” he said. “The Waymo came to a complete stop… then it turned left and then stopped at the next light. Then continued to go forward. So my experience was positive.”
He conceded imperfections remain, noting, “I’ve seen some of the other videos out there that have been less than positive… but I think it’ll get better. And is it perfect? No, but I have largely felt safe and comfortable.”
Beyond safety, Burger highlighted cost savings and convenience as key advantages.
“They’re also about a third to a half to quarter of the price, depending upon an Uber,” he said. “To go downtown was $12 or $14 versus $52 to park.”
Expressing skepticism while acknowledging the inevitability of technological change, Leahy cautioned that early problems shouldn’t be ignored, saying, “At the risk of being labeled a Luddite… I will point out that the launch did not go so well…I think the arc of history is going to be more Waymo, but that arc will not have me as a rider.”
In the end, Burger emphasized his openness to innovation while respecting differing views.
“I like the technology,” he said. “Good people can disagree.”
Tune in now to The Michael Patrick Leahy Show – your AMERICA FIRST news talk!
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https://t.co/dM5ELYBaVO— Michael Patrick Leahy (@michaelpleahy) April 17, 2026
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Waymo” by Waymo.
