thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Analysis: Disruption and Defamation in the Mortgage Industry

A few weeks ago , Anthony Casa began sending lewd text and video messages to Austin Niemiec , an executive vice president at the world ’ s largest non-bank lender , Quicken Loans and third-parties including other bankers .
In one video , Casa said , in her college days , Niemiec ’ s future wife , Theresa , had performed oral sex on a man in college named Mat Ishbia and congratulated Austin for “ marrying up.
” Casa followed that up with similar videos and texts until Niemiec ’ s wife filed a defamation lawsuit against him on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney for the Niemiecs , said in an interview , Theresa filed the suit because “ to stand up for her honor and principle.
” Casa has since apologized in an online video , attributed his behavior to “ being from New Jersey.
” The Niemiecs , who initially sent Casa a demand for an apology and retraction of his statements , are unsatisfied with Casa ’ s response .
According to Morganroth , Casa ’ s apologies were sarcastic in tone and “ Mr .
Casa followed up the next day with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Niemiec and others referencing Mrs. Niemiec and filled with ‘ emojis ’ symbolizing male and female genitalia recounting Mr. Casa ’ s prior lewd and vile statements directed at Mrs. Niemiec.
” Theresa Niemiec has disputed that she ever attended college with Ishbia , who attended Michigan State University where he played basketball – reaching three Final Fours in his time on the team in the early 2000s .
The Niemiecs ’ attorney said in an interview , “ [ Theresa ] was 11 years old when Mr. Ishbia attended college .
Needless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know him as a friend or acquaintance or anything .
She ’ s never had any contact , conversations , or communications with him at all – ever.
” But this episode is about much more than online sexual taunts , however .
Casa ’ s videos and texts also open a window into a mortgage market transformed by disruptive technology , ultimately demonstrating how social media can turn competition into a blood sport .
On one side of this dispute are traditional mortgage brokers , who since the financial crisis of 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-bank lenders such as Quicken Loans .
The 35-year-old Casa is a lobbyist for such brokers , serving as chairman of the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts ( AIME ) .
The man who Casa claims had sex with the wife of the Quicken Loans executive is a longtime financial backer of Casa : Matt Ishbia , the 40-year old CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage ( UWM ) , which relies on brokers to bring it business – and is thus a chief rival of Quicken Loans .
But beyond the broader industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and business animus .
Casa ’ s online fusillade is only the latest example , if not the most salacious , of his crusade against Quicken Loans .
Fueling that campaign is AIME , the organization Casa set up to challenge some industry players .
And even as Casa ’ s online escapades raise questions about him and his judgment , a four-month investigation of AIME reveals a litany of concerns about the organization itself .
Chief among them are what experts call questions about AIME ’ s finances and revenues , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brokers it claims to serve – or well-heeled corporate interests .
The ongoing defamation lawsuit suggests the enormous stakes behind Casa ’ s fatuous strategy , and hints at his obsession with Quicken Loans .
It alleges that “ Casa and his affiliates ’ key objective is to injure Quicken Loans ’ business activities in wholesale lending because Casa and his comrades fear the competition from QLMS [ Quicken Loans Mortgage Services ] and anything that is detrimental to Quicken Loans ’ wholesale lending business is viewed by Casa as beneficial to himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Casa , who initially agreed to be interviewed , later refused to make himself available for comment .
Mr. Ishbia did not respond to a request for an interview .
Independent mortgage brokers are a lot like travel agents .
They offer a concierge-type service and assemble a package , after reviewing options and perks , tailored to the customer ’ s needs .
Like travel agents , they often have special relationships and incentives with service providers ( banks rather than airlines ) that pay them a commission or fee for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , a would-be homebuyer had to rely on banks and professionals along the home-purchasing chain to achieve part of the American dream – homeownership .
But today any prospective buyer with a laptop or smart phone can compare options , research lenders , and even get pre-approved for a loan anytime , anywhere .
This disruption has flipped the home-buying advantage to consumers by driving down loan-related fees and expenses of home purchasing .
It has forced banks to lower what they charge , and even brought competition to real estate agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced commissions for buyers ’ and sellers ’ business .
The democratization of knowledge combined with the 2008 financial crisis to ravage the independent mortgage broker industry .
Traditional mortgage brokers , including those represented by Casa , have seen their market share fall by half in the last decade , to about 15 % , At the same time , big banks such as Wells Fargo and Chase Bank , have seen their share of the market fall to about 21 % from more than 50 % in 2011 .
The winners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ –institutions that can lend but can not accept deposits and their lending is secured by capital that itself is borrowed from another institution .
Those with the strongest online presence , such as Quicken Loans , SoFi , Better.com , and Loan Depot , now originate more than 50 % of new mortgages Hoping to champion smaller brokers amid this ferment , Casa stepped into the ring .
Anthony Casa , who is the son of Jimmy Casa , a successful middle-weight boxer who famously went the distance with Jake “ Raging Bull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1941 , started working in eight grade .
Later , Casa launched his own independent mortgage brokerage in Cherry Hill , New Jersey called Garden State Home Loans .
Casa and Ishbia struck up a friendship after a 2015 meeting at the Michigan offices of Ishbia ’ s United Wholesale Mortgage , an arm of the firm “ United Shore Financial ” started by Ishbia ’ s father , Jeff in 1986 .
Casa and Ishbia agreed that they should go all-in on the broker-led model .
The pair began to speak via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something to support brokers and wholesale lenders , the third-parties that actually extend the loan to borrowers after brokers package and process the loan .
The next year Casa , while again visiting UWM ’ s headquarters on separate business , told his counterparts that he felt jilted by so-called retail mortgage lenders ( i.e .
Quicken Loans ) , who he perceived as “ stealing ” his clients , by offering them services directly without a broker as go-between .
Ishbia told Casa that UWM had a similar issue with a competitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Loans .
Ishbia offered to back Casa ’ s so-called “ passion project ” to take on lenders that bypassed brokers .
Casa ’ s initial organization had a pugilistically resonant acronym : BRAWL , for Brokers Rallying Against Whole-Tail Lending .
It devised strategies for winning over customers doing their own research on the Internet .
In March 2018 it issued “ report cards ” that rated lenders ’ business practices .
Not surprisingly , Quicken Loans and other non-traditional lenders were rated poorly while UWM ranked highly among the 30 lenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Casa-Ishbia organization ramped up to more effectively raise funds and direct its pro-broker advocacy efforts .
Thus Association of Independent Mortgage Experts ( AIME ) was born .
Organized as a nonprofit trade association [ 501c6 ] , AIME launched in February 2018 on behalf of members who would sponsor events , share information , and support a lobbying effort .
But there are nagging questions surround AIME ’ s true agenda and the revenue sources of the supposedly member-driven , broker advocacy group .
The answer to how and why Casa is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inextricably tied up with AIME ’ s history and workings .
AIME ’ s Chairman , Anthony Casa was undeniably the face of the organization – appearing in social media posts and at conferences .
The group quickly racked up corporate sponsors and a growing broker membership .
Unsurprisingly , Ishbia ’ s UWM led the pack and remains the top sponsor of all its events .
But other nonbank lenders also joined the fracas , including Caliber Home Loans , Finance of America Mortgage , AFR Wholesale , and Flagstar Bank in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched .
At one point , AIME counted at least 20 major nonbank lenders as “ sponsors ” and dozens of vendors and exhibitors who offered members ( independent mortgage brokers ) specialty services for free or at a discounted rate .
The number of actual AIME members remains obscure .
The group has claimed steadily rising membership – as high as 50,000 – but last fall Casa and AIME refused to provide numbers for dues-paying members .
( Curiously , Casa ’ s recently said in July 2020 AIME had 40,000 members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year before . )
However , in AIME ’ s most recent financial disclosure filing from FY 2018 , AIME reported just $ 25,774 in dues and more than $ 1.3 million , or 94 % of its annual revenue , from corporate sponsorships ( i.e .
its nonbank lender “ partners ” ) .
Nonprofit tax law expert Rosemary Fei said this is unusual .
“ Trade associations ’ typical revenue model is membership dues , although as noted , they can generate income from other activities , and depending on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , net of expenses to generate it , ” she said .
Indeed , this may run afoul of IRS regulations , which state : The federal charitable tax filing also raises questions about how AIME spends its money and , separately , how Anthony Casa gets paid .
Casa filed for bankruptcy in 2012 listing nearly $ 750,000 in debts including $ 180,000 to the IRS , according to court records .
AIME ’ s largest expense , by far , is for hosting conferences – with nearly half of its annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Next highest is “ other salaries and wages ” accounting for more than $ 300,000 in 2018 .
Casa , however , isn ’ t listed as a paid employee of AIME – despite officially logging in 30 hours a week for the association .
Although how Casa receives any income is unknown , another passage from defamation suit by Theresa Niemiec , the wife of a Quicken executive , against Casa sheds some light on the issue : According to a February 2020 filing with the New York State Department of Financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Premier Processing with some other partners .
Among the partners is Alexsander Elezay , the Chief Strategy Officer at Ishbia ’ s company .
This raises questions about whether AIME may have violated another IRS regulation that 501 ( c ) 6 organizations , like AIME , “ can not benefit any private shareholder or individual.
” Casa and Ishbia claim AIME is representing the so-called “ beleaguered broker ” and is not just part of settling a business-related grudge .
But past antics tell a different story .
For instance , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside Quicken Loans ’ Detroit headquarters and taped to employees ’ windshields , deriding the company ’ s lending practices and corporate culture .
The unsigned flyers , Quicken Loans insisted , were distributed at UWM ’ s orders by its employees , which Ishbia denied while defending the flyers ’ content as “ true and accurate.
” AIME ’ s Casa similarly justified the flyers .
After initially agreeing to an interview for this article several weeks ago , Casa has ignored multiple attempts to reach him by phone , text , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text allegations surfaced .
But in October 2019 , Casa spoke candidly at a conference in Las Vegas about what drove AIME ’ s efforts : an abiding hatred of Quicken Loans .
The hour-long speech revolved almost entirely around Quicken Loans ’ threat to brokers , “ Quicken has so many angles to put us out of the game…Quicken is the boogie man .
Quicken is the Amazon of the mortgage industry.
” It begs the question : if Quicken loses , who wins ?
The answer seems to be the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group , including Mat Ishbia ’ s United Wholesale Mortgage .
Notably , Casa ’ s contempt was directed exclusively at Quicken Loans executives and invoked Ishbia by name .
And faced with the lewd text message revelations , Ishbia ’ s company is standing by AIME – though chastising Casa .
The rest of AIME ’ s sponsors weren ’ t so forgiving .
Over half of his lender-sponsors have abandoned the group over Casa ’ s antics including Caliber Home Loans , Home Point Financial , and Flagstar Bank – some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with AIME .
AIME president Mark Summers said Casa ’ s behavior was inexcusable and not reflective of AIME ’ s values , without defending Casa .
In Casa ’ s fight with Quicken Loans , he looks like he just KO-ed himself .
Less than a week after the suit was filed , Casa announced , “ Effective immediately , I will be taking a leave of absence from AIME.
” But the lawyer for the recipient of Casa ’ s alleged taunts says the Niemiecs aren ’ t satisfied and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than later .
Morganroth said , “ [ Casa ] is in a leadership position and no leader in any organization should be making such statements which are intolerable and outside the bounds of civilized society…he should permanently resign and get professional help.
” Morganroth claims Casa is back to posting on industry matters on social media .
So maybe , Casa is not down for the count , after all .
Sean Kennedy is an author , researcher , and investigator in roles at prominent media institutions , think tanks , nonprofit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he worked as a producer for CNN , a research director at the American Enterprise Institute , and a researcher for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich .
Kennedy ’ s work has been featured by CNN , Real Clear Investigations , Drudge Report , The Washington Post , The Wall Street Journal , The Chicago Tribune , The New York Daily News , Politico and The Baltimore Sun .
He is a graduate of the University of California , Berkeley and received a master ’ s degree from the University of Cambridge @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--State Rep. Grendell’s ‘Restore Ohio Now’ Bill Gains Momentum in Ohio House, Needs Speaker’s Guidance

Nineteen state representatives signed on to support a law that would effectively put an end to COVID restrictions , the bill ’ s author , State Representative Diane Grendell ( R-Chesterland ) told The Ohio Star Wednesday .
“ Government can not protect us from every single one of life ’ s risks , ” Grendell said .
The Star reported that the Representative-crafted a bill that would immediately cancel Governor Mike DeWine ’ s Executive Order declaring a state of emergency in Ohio .
Last week , Grendell announced the legislation after it was reviewed by the Legislative Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Grendell posted on Facebook that she officially filed the “ Restore Ohio Now ” bill .
The fate of the bill will rely on Ohio Speaker of the House Bob Cupp ( R-Lima ) .
As of Wednesday , September 23 the proposal has not yet been assigned to a committee – a task that falls on the speaker and the Rules and Reference Committee .
Without a committee assignment and subsequent release from the committee for a vote – “ Restore Ohio Now ” will not see the floor for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers .
The Rules and Reference Committee is comprised of : Bob Cupp ( Chair ) ; Niraj Antani ( R-Miamisburg ) ; Emilia Sykes ( D-Akron ) ; Kristin Boggs ( D-Columbus ) ; Richard Brown ( D-Canal Winchester ) ; Jamie Callender ( R-Concord ) ; Timothy Ginter ( R-Salem ) ; Paula Hicks-Hudson ( D-Toledo ) ; Laura Lanese ( R-Grove City ) ; Phil Plummer ( R-Lima ) ; Gary Scherer ( R-Circleville ) .
If passed , the law would strip from the governor and Ohio Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks , limit gatherings and other restrictions the executive branch has placed on Ohioans since March 9 .
Grendell told The Star Reggie Stoltzfus ( R-Paris Twp . )
is the bill ’ s joint sponsor and cosponsors are as follows : “ The factual reality is there is no emergency .
Originally , there was a threat to hospital capacity ; it never came to fruition , our hospital capacity for COVID was never more than 15 % .
Currently , it is de minimus , ” Grendell told The Star .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies are showing that we are being irreparably harmed as a state by these restrictions based off the so-called emergency .
There have been sharp increases in drug use , mental health issues , unemployment , and severe loss of businesses .
Daily , I speak with individuals that are affected negatively by the current restrictions .
Even more concerning is that over 40 % of individuals with complicating conditions ( heart issues , cancers , etc . )
are fearful to receive care from hospitals due to their fear of COVID : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Restore Ohio Now ” will need to pass both the House and the Senate by a two-thirds approval because DeWine ’ s spokesperson told The Star the governor would veto the bill if it passed the General Assembly , saying “ the pandemic emergency is not over .
We oppose this bill at this time.
” Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office now lists 24 individuals as collecting petitions in the campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
There are 16 Republicans, four Democrats, and four Independents collecting qualifying petitions for the TN-5 race.
Candidates of all parties have until noon on April 7 to turn in their qualifying petitions, a deadline which is fast approaching. Candidates must collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters in the district. Those seeking the Republican nomination must be verified as bona fide Republicans by the Tennessee Republican Party in order to appear on the GOP primary ballot.
Challenges have been filed against the bona fide Republican statuses of the three carpetbaggers in the race, Morgan Ortagus, David Vitalli, and Robby Starbuck. Action will occur on those challenges after the April 7 filing deadline.
On the Republican side, Morgan Ortagus, former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, Richie Lee of Nashville, General Kurt Winstead of Franklin, Tres Wittum of Nashville, Jeff Beierlein of Nashville, and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles are listed as collecting petitions.
Former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin is still listed as collecting petitions but he dropped out of the race and endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the GOP primary.
On the Democrat side, Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, Justicia Rizzo, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are collecting petitions.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, Daniel J. Cooper of Spring Hill, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents collecting petitions.
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office has been updating its list on a weekly basis. This list is current as of Friday, April 1.
Reports are expected to be available for the January 1 through March 31, 2022 Federal Election Commission campaign finance first-quarter period in the coming days. Those reports are expected to shed significant light on which candidates are considered viable. The bulk of the field entered the race after the December 31, 2021 reporting deadline.
The primaries are scheduled for August 4, 2022.
The newly-redrawn 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, as well as all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Andrew Can Huss.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz Dissects Bloomberg’s Plan to Buy Biden Votes, Hispanic Voters, and Hi

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz Dissects Bloomberg’s Plan to Buy Biden Votes, Hispanic Voters, and His New Book ‘Firebrand’

Live from Virginia Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Florida ( R ) Congressman Matt Gaetz to the show .
During the program , Gaetz discussed Bloomberg ’ s plan to pay off criminal restitution in order to buy their votes for Joe Biden in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weighed in on the mindset of Hispanic Florida voters and discussed his new book Firebrand .
Fredericks : Joining us now Congressman Gaetz of Florida – that ’ s a state where the President is pulling ahead slightly but it ’ s going to be very close .
Congressman , Firebrand is the name of his new book , by the way , Matt Gaetz Congressman great to have you back .
Gaetz : Hey , thanks for having me !
If you hear that buzzing in the background , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know about the buzzing system they mean different things like opening or closing business of the House .
But if there are 15 in a row that means there is a nuclear missile headed at the capitol .
But if it stops before then we ’ re fine .
Fredericks : So you keep that buzzer on , Congressman .
Look , we ’ ve got a lot to talk about today .
But the first thing I ’ ve got to do is , I ’ ve got to get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here accusing Bloomberg and his minions of bribery in Florida by paying off felons .
Paying their fines in order to get him to vote for Biden .
What is going on there , Congressman ?
Gaetz : So this really begins with The Washington Post acquiring the memo that the Bloomberg associates sent to raise money for their project .
And the underlying premise of the memo is that it ’ s very difficult to persuade people to vote for Joe Biden .
That is a very expensive very difficult endeavor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and finding people and giving them money to retire their debt to society through the form of restitution or court fines or costs who might already be registered to vote and then have the ability simply to mobilize people , not around a candidacy or a set of ideas but around the notion of getting their restitution paid .
That is the definition of bribery in Florida election laws .
Chapter 104 of Florida statutes say you can not offer anything of value to someone with the goal of impacting whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , here you have two principal things : one is paying off someone ’ s restitution – a thing of value .
Well , of course it is .
It would be a thing of value if you paid off a car loan , or auto loan , or a parking ticket , frankly .
And then the next question is , is it being done to impact the vote ?
And that ’ s why this memo drafted by the Bloomberg associates is the smoking-gun piece of evidence .
Because by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off everybody ’ s felony fines .
They ’ re just going to pay it off for a select group of Black and Hispanic felons who need their fines paid off .
Now that is the definition of paying the money to impact the vote .
And they admit it .
Fredericks : Okay , so let me get this straight : In Florida , Congressman Gaetz -so I ’ m a former felon an ex-felon however you want to classify it .
I ’ m registered to vote .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already registered .
But in order to vote according to Florida election law , I have to have made restitution .
That ’ s unlike some states that have already waived that .
But in Florida , it sounds like what you ’ re saying is , you know the various fines you have to pay or restitution to victims and things of that nature .
Court costs .
Those have to be paid before your voting rights are or reinstated .
Right ?
Gaetz : So yeah .
We take it literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society .
I mean we mean to pay all of it .
So if that ’ s not paid even though I ’ m a registered voter I ’ m ineligible to vote until that ’ s paid .
Right ?
Gaetz : So now Bloomberg ’ s raising money to pay whatever my restitution might be .
Debt to a victim .
Court costs .
Whatever .
They ’ re going to pay that get that off my back in exchange for that I vote for Joe Biden .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve literally written in their memo that according to their modeling Black voters in Florida are going to vote democrat 90 to 95 percent of the time .
Now , I don ’ t believe that .
But the fact that it ’ s their assumption is the evidence of the intent to use this money to impact whether or not these people vote .
And it ’ s you know this is not the way we do democracy .
People should be voting or not voting based on universal standards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ into some like subcategory for some oligarch billionaire to come and like help out your personal balance sheet so in exchange you go and cast a ballot .
You know , that ’ s what I have a problem with .
Like if you ’ re a White former felon in Florida you ’ re not getting the Bloomberg payment .
And if they were just paying these off for everybody with you know we would know what they were doing .
We would know that they were trying to impact the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so blatant and so obvious as is reflected in these documents reported by the The Washington Post .
Fredericks : Right , so they ’ re only paying off the debt of those that they have a higher propensity to vote Democratic .
So they ’ re targeting them .
So that ’ s why you have a real case here .
Because if they were just saying hey look we ’ re going to go to Florida and we ’ re going to pay off we ’ re going to raise money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody can vote for whoever you want that will be a little different .
That would be a tougher argument .
But the fact that the memo internal memos that was leaked that The Post got ahold of basically is saying that this is a bribe .
You know , pay off my debt to a person who is profiled to be a likely Biden voter .
I don ’ t know how much more plain that is ?
Gaetz : Yeah .
I mean like if Sheldon Adelson was gon na wipeout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casino if they weren ’ t voted Republican , I mean they would have the FBI encircling his home like it was Roger Stone 2.0 .
Fredericks : Right .
Exactly .
At 5:00 am banging on his door .
So how do you stop this , Congressman Gaetz ?
Gaetz : Well the attorney general of Florida has jurisdiction because this is an activity that is crossing jurisdictional prosecutorial lines .
So she could direct the statewide prosecutor to investigate this .
And look , there may be a perfectly reasonable explanation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innocent .
But I certainly think these are fair questions to ask given the evidence that is now available in the public square .
So I am preparing a sort of legal basis for that .
I will be transmitting that to her today .
I ’ ve already spoken to her last night .
She ’ s a pretty effective law-and-order attorney general .
And I ’ m hopeful that she ’ ll take this up and give it a thorough review that it calls for .
Fredericks : I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were able to file this and you know maybe get it stopped .
Tell us before we get to your book Firebrand , tell us about the state of the race right now in Florida .
Gaetz : The President is surging with Hispanic voters .
Miami-Dade County is an area where Joe Biden is going to substantially underperform Hillary Clinton .
And frankly , it ’ s because a lot of these first and second-generation Hispanic Americans fled socialism .
Their families fled socialism and they ’ re not ready to embrace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t trust Joe Biden to stand up to the woketopians that want to bring the policies of Portland and Seattle to the rest of the country .
You know a lot of our great Hispanic voters in Florida are builders , not burners .
they don ’ t like this you know whole Antifa tearing things down you know attacking our country .
A lot of these folks chose to come to America because they love our country and our values and they want to follow our laws and rules and they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And God bless them for their willingness to do so and for having chosen America .
You know , maybe just a generation or so ago .
And so I think there is a patriotic flare in Florida , we ’ re starting to see that will help the President .
He ’ ll be in Florida on Thursday and I suspect he ’ ll get a great reception .
Listen to the full segment here :


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Tony Pham Discusses His Transtion to Acting Director of ICE and His Visit From the Violent Left Wing

Tony Pham Discusses His Transtion to Acting Director of ICE and His Visit From the Violent Left Wing Mobs at His Home in Virginia

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Acting ICE Director Tony Pham to the show to discuss his transition and a disturbing visit from the left-wing mobs at his home in Virginia .
Fredericks : Joining us now Tony Pham .
Tony is from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a new interim ICE director since August .
He ’ s a Vietnamese refugee .
He ’ s been on my show .
He ran for office before when we used to have them all on all the time .
And his family just got harassed at their home .
And he ’ s the director of ICE .
Tony great to have you , man .
It ’ s been a long time .
Pham : John , thank you so much .
I ’ m grateful for the opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conversation with the American people .
Fredericks : Let ’ s talk about your transition from when you ran for office in Richmond to now being the interim Director for ICE in the Trump administration .
Walk us through how you got there .
Pham : Let me first John say I ’ m grateful for the president .
I ’ m grateful for the Department of Homeland Security and for this great opportunity to serve my country and serve my president and our president .
Forgive me .
The transition wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You know when I ran for office in 2015 I ran to be the chief prosecutor for the locality .
And the role was to apply the law as it was written .
The criminal law .
And hold individuals accountable .
Obviously now in my role as the Acting Director for Immigration Customs Enforcement , our role is to protect the American people and our communities from cross-border crimes .
Human trafficking .
Illegal immigration .
We cover the gambit .
So my role is to assist the organization moving forward by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , to those particular subjects uh for public safety purposes .
Fredericks : How long have you been there ?
Is it August ?
Pham : I was actually the principal legal advisor the chief attorney for ICE and I ’ ve received the opportunity to step into the breach as the acting director in the beginning of September .
So I ’ m getting ready to round out my fourth full week so far .
Fredericks : What has been your biggest shock since you ’ ve been there ?
Your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well my biggest surprise is just the misunderstanding that folks and the general public would have as to what we are really about .
And then also the vitriol that is out there right now against you know the honorable employees of ICE who come to work every day just to quietly apply the law as we have asked them to do in an enforcement capacity .
And I ’ m just surprised that how the issues of legal immigration and illegal immigration have been conflated by some individuals out there .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the minority who want to , you know mix the two bags and to confuse the American public .
You know we ’ re all for legal immigration .
You know we want folks to follow the process and the pathways to citizenship .
But we also have the rule of law which is what this country is built on that it protects individuals in our communities .
But you know we need folks to be able to honorably enforce those laws .
And that ’ s what the men and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I was a bit taken aback .
I shouldn ’ t say completely surprised , but I took it on as a challenge to do the best I can to do .
What we can to change the narrative of how our folks are being characterized out there in the community .
Fredericks : I ’ ve followed your career .
I ’ m so proud of what you ’ ve been able to do as the interim Director of ICE and part of the Department of Homeland Security .
I hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you bring a lot of maturity to it and certainly an experience .
Knowing what your parents went through in order to get to the United States and I remember you telling me that story .
Telling our audience I should say that story on the air of how your family escaped in the final minutes really on a helicopter .
And then you were on a ship and all that .
And how you were rescued .
It ’ s an amazing story of how you got to the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have now .
Let ’ s get to the incident at your home where mobs came to your home where your family is and berated your family .
Tell us exactly in your words what happened .
Pham : You know John like I said what happened was those are rioters who are anarchists and violent protesters .
I want to begin by saying as an attorney and you know me I value and I cherish the First Amendment just as much as I would cherish the second .
But that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest to articulate a particular position in a peaceful manner .
What happened on the eighth with no less than eight days in my role as I was still trying to figure out where the water cooler was these folks targeted my wife and my kids when they should have been taking their issues up with me at my office .
But instead , they chose to invade the sanctity of a person ’ s home and target children .
And that ’ s what happened .
They were screaming .
You know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things .
Encroaching on a person ’ s private property to try to harass and bully and intimidate to get to me by getting through my family .
And you know I ’ m going to spend a lifetime apologizing to my loved ones for what happened to them .
But I want the listeners to understand and recognize that if they ’ re allowed to do that and if that ’ s what they choose to do to me , then you know it ’ s no holds barred at this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target innocent people .
They elevated it to coming onto someone ’ s residence and that ’ s a bit beyond the pale .
and that ’ s what really happened .
Fredericks : Mobs came to your home about two weeks ago targeting he says his children and his wife .
Tony were you home at the time ?
And what time ?
Give us you about the exact time this happened .
Pham : It was in the afternoon and I wasn ’ t home .
You know I obviously being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement federal law enforcement component requires me to be present in my office the majority of the week .
And so I wasn ’ t home .
And that ’ s what added to some of the pressure and stress .
But you know we expected it to come down the pike .
I expected it to be me that they were protesting .
I just didn ’ t expect these individuals to have zero , zero respect for the sanctity of individual family members .
To target someone ’ s family with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain policies and practices that my organization have .
And I hope the listeners understand that you know we need to come out in a very unified and loud voice condemning that type of behavior because it has zero place in our American civilized society where regular folks like you and I John need to be able to engage in civilized discourse .
Fredericks : Tony for our listeners that know you from your time in Henrico , did this happen in Northern Virginia or did this happen at your home in Henrico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home in Central Virginia .
Fredericks : Okay so at your home in Central Virginia .
You ’ re at work in Washington .
And so mobs come and they harass your wife and your children in your home .
Fredericks : Was there a law enforcement response what happened ?
Pham : There was a law enforcement response .
And on that note , it ’ s a continuing open investigation right now .
And I certainly don ’ t want to comment any further obviously for my background in law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I kind of shy away from commenting further .
And not to , you know , not impact the progress .
Fredericks : Is it fair to say that during this mob rounding invasion I guess of your home where your family is .
Is it fair to say that your wife and your children were terrified by this ?
Pham : You know it ’ s fair to say that um but I don ’ t also want to mitigate and forget that this impacted an entire neighborhood .
And the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were fellow neighbors with their children outside .
But every other family that was out there in our neighborhood .
That to me just showed a complete uncivilized approach to having a meaningful or thoughtful discussion… Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Ohio AG Blocks Nuclear Bailout Payout

Ohio AG Blocks Nuclear Bailout Payout

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed to block the payment of nuclear bailout money from House Bill ( HB ) 6 .
HB 6 , a bill that bailed out of the nuclear company First Energy , is at the center of the corruption scandal that led to the ousting and arrest of former Ohio Speaker of the House Larry Householder .
Yost said in a statement Wednesday that the lawsuit seeks to prevent a large portion of the $ 1.3 billion earmarked for HB 6 bailout fund from being given to First Energy ’ s post-bankruptcy successor Energy Harbor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to prevent that money from being distributed… it is essentially ill-gotten gains .
Corrupt activities should not result in a monetary advantage for the people who acted corruptly.
” Yost stated .
Yost also said “ Ohio ’ s ability to governor itself ” had been harmed , and that “ Ohio citizens trust in their government to act in an ethical and honest manner has been eroded.
” As well as seeking to prevent the payment of the bailout funds , the 43-page lawsuit seeks to stop First Energy , First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Energy Harbor , Householder , and nine others defendants from lobbying related to HB 6 , and ban all parties from lobbying for 8 years .
The lawsuit echoes federal criminal complaints and alleges that the defendants formed an “ Unholy Alliance , ” that created a “ Political Action Committee in disguise ” and helped elect candidates on “ Team Householder , ” hand-picked allies of the now-former speaker to oust “ incumbent representatives who were not supporters of Householder.
” The suit goes on to claim that Team Householder and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ bullied , intimidated , and coerced legislators into supporting Larry Householder and H.B .
6.
” The complaint states that the “ public has a great interest in ensuring that any future legislation related to H.B .
6 is not tainted by the same or similar tactics which have already occurred.
” Yost noted that the suit is civil , not criminal , although it is connected to the existing federal charges .
| Householder has not made a statement on the lawsuit , and his Twitter has remained dormant since June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Miami Fort Power Station ” by FunksBrother .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--U.S. Attorney’s Office Drops Charges Against Visiting Chinese Scientist Accused of Trade Secret Thef

U.S. Attorney’s Office Drops Charges Against Visiting Chinese Scientist Accused of Trade Secret Theft

The Charlottesville U.S. Attorney ’ s office dropped all charges of trade secret theft and computer intrusion against visiting Chinese scientist Haizhou Hu .
The prosecution determined that some of the trade secrets were within Hu ’ s authorized access while at University of Virginia ( UVA ) .
Hu has ties to the Chinese military .
The researcher works for the Chinese Key Laboratory for Fluid Dynamics at China ’ s Beihang University , which the Chinese government and military both fund .
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations ( FBI ) , Hu also admitted that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access ” to the material and that those he ’ d worked for “ would not want him to have it.
” Prior to his arrest , Hu had been working under UVA professor Dr. Haibo Dong for five months .
Their research continued nearly two decades of work on understanding animal physics within flying and swimming .
The main sponsors of the research are the U.S. government ’ s National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research .
Their “ theoretical fluid dynamics ” produces information for military technology , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hu first approached Dong in 2017 , after the UVA professor gave a lecture on his research .
The Chinese national came onto Dong ’ s team in 2019 .
Hu told investigators that the Chinese Scholarship Council required him to relay his research every six months .
Authorities apprehended Hu when he attempted to board a flight to China with stolen research information .
All 17 years ’ worth of Dong ’ s computer code was in Hu ’ s possession .
Hu isn ’ t the only Chinese national involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
The FBI arrested another Chinese national earlier this month .
The researcher , Yang Zhihui , had agreed to serve as a witness against another Chinese researcher – her fiance , Guan Lei .
Guan was under investigation for possibly stealing information while researching at the University of California , Los Angeles ( UCLA ) .
Guan also attempted to fly back to China with a computer he refused to let the FBI examine .
Earlier this summer , a Chinese military member was arrested for posing as a researcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
UVA didn ’ t offer a comment on the matter of Hu ’ s trial .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Here’s What You’re Paying for: Zoom-Porn for Your Kids

Another school district has been hit by pornography being displayed in Zoom classes .
On Friday , Williamsburg-James City County Schools ( WJCCS ) had two incidents in high school classes .
“ During two separate live instruction sessions , someone used an inappropriate photo as their profile picture , ” WJCCS Strategic Communications Officer Eileen Cox told The Virginia Star .
“ In both instances , the image was up for less than a minute .
The teacher blocked the user and reported the issue to school administrators .
At Warhill High School , staff does not believe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the school .
The matter was reported to Zoom .
The incident at Jamestown High School is still being investigated.
” Other school districts including the Loudoun County Public Schools have been hit by similar attacks , called ‘ Zoombombing.
’ By the end of last March , the FBI was already warning about the trend , and in early April , the New York Times was reporting on zoombombing groups who coordinated attacks on businesses or schools .
Edweekly reports that it is difficult for schools to identify who is perpetrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just be students trying to interrupt their classes .
WJCCS is currently in the first phase of its COVID-19 response plan , involving full remote learning .
The school is expected this week to announce whether or not it will move to the next phase , giving PreK-3rd grades a blended learning model .
Eventually , the school plans to return to on-site learning , but it has no timeline for that move .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Congressman Ben Cline Looks Forward to Restoring Responsible Fiscal Order to the Virginia House When

Congressman Ben Cline Looks Forward to Restoring Responsible Fiscal Order to the Virginia House When Republicans Take it Back

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed ( R ) Congressman Ben Cline of Virginia ’ s sixth district to the show .
During the show , Cline discussed the enthusiasm for Donald Trump and how the Republicans need to regain the House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lust for the expansion of government .
Fredericks : Joining us now , Congressman of the Sixth District Republican Virginian Ben Cline .
Congressman thanks for the wait .
Thanks for your patience .
And thanks for being with us .
Cline : Good to be with you .
It sounds like Connor ’ s got some interesting data there to share .
I ’ m always interested in keeping up with the numbers and the percentages on absentees .
We know that early voting without any excuse for absentee balloting in Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people are out there taking advantage of it .
So we want people to get out there and vote whenever it ’ s convenient for them and just to make sure that we deliver Virginia for Donald Trump .
I ’ m excited he ’ s coming to Newport News because that ’ s where we need to light a fire under the eastern part of the state .
That ’ s similar to the fire that ’ s been lit for four years for him for out here in the western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oh I ’ d say , Congressman Cline , you ’ re absolutely right .
That ’ s why he ’ s coming to Newport News .
That ’ s why you know he ’ s looking at the same numbers we are .
This is what I ’ ve been saying for weeks that Virginia is in play .
And right now our surveys have us about three and a half behind .
We got a great ground game .
But I tell you , we ’ ve got the fake news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And sometimes you know it ’ s there and you kind of glaze over it .
But now it becomes again it just hits you in the face .
Politico does a piece when Trump comes to Virginia and the headline of their piece is well he ’ s not really coming to Newport News for Virginia he ’ s coming to reach North Carolina .
If you know anything , I live in Southeast Virginia .
Newport News is no more North Carolina media market than Wyoming is .
I mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Durham .
And it ’ s three and a half two and a half hours from Greenville .
I mean you can ’ t get to a major city .
There ’ s nobody there in that part of North Carolina .
There are no people there .
So if you ’ re going to go if you want to reach North Carolina you go to North Carolina .
Why would you go to Newport News , Virginia which is not a North Carolina medium market and it ’ s two tunnels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bridge , and two hours away ?
And the Post picks it up !
I got ta push back on it .
Thank God for Laura Vazela who covers this who at least gave my side of the story .
But that ’ s the fake news and then everybody amplifies it .
So they all pick the Politico story up and everybody then runs it as if it ’ s true .
And the thing that is so frustrating is that they have an unnamed source of the Trump campaign .
Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know .
Unnamed ?
Yet the person who ’ s in the Trump campaign says he ’ s coming to Virginia because he thinks he can win Virginia .
I mean what is that ?
This is what we fight every single day and it ’ s a tough battle man .
It ’ s tough .
Cline : The Trump campaign is fighting in every battleground state .
Virginia is a battleground state .
As much as the Left wants to convince Virginians especially conservative Virginians to give up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats .
We see what happens when we leave Virginia in the hands of the Democrats .
We see all of these horrible policies coming out of Richmond to reduce the penalties for assaulting a police officer .
To get rid of truth and sentencing put in place by George Allen that has led Virginia to be to have the lowest recidivism rate of any state in the country .
We are doing it right when it comes to criminal justice .
And the Democrats are trying to unravel it all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight in Virginia .
And I think we ’ re going to see a great youth turn in the direction of Virginia come next year when we elect a Republican governor and restore Republican dominance in the legislature .
But for now , Virginia is in play .
They ’ re angry .
Especially about their Second Amendment rights out west .
And we ’ re going to work hard to deliver Virginia for Donald trump here in November .
Fredericks : Congressman Ben Cline , when you were in the House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that political action committee for a long time got a lot of conservatives elected in there , did you ever see think you ’ d see a special session that goes on for I don ’ t know two months on the internet on Zoom ?
And the House is passing all of these crazy bills .
I thought the object of a special session was it was supposed to be special .
They just decided to convey and now they can ’ t stop .
It ’ s like they got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come in every day and pass crazy stuff .
Cline : Yeah .
They ’ re playing the Virginia people for rubes .
You know Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn thinks that they can continue to keep this special session which is supposed to be about balancing the budget of the coronavirus pandemic and to make sure that the economy when it hiccuped there during the coronavirus and we had massive unemployment and when we had massive businesses going out of business that the budget can still be balanced .
Now the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The revenues didn ’ t fall as much as they thought they did they would .
And with the Cares Act money they got about $ 3 billion from the federal government to help address coronavirus issues .
So the budget should be balanced by now .
They should be back in their districts .
But they can ’ t help themselves .
These liberals love government and they love to expand government .
So now they ’ re in there trying to find ways to expand government in Virginia more and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk here in November .
If Joe Biden wins and Nancy Pelosi stays in the House we know what the agenda is going to be if Mitch McConnell loses the Senate .
It ’ s going to be Nancy Pelosi ’ s agenda .
It ’ s going to be the Squad ’ s agenda that ’ s moving through the House and moving to the Senate and then getting signed into law by President Kamala Harris and Vice President Joe Biden .
And I said that on purpose .
Fredericks : Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it ’ s the Harris administration .
So I mean when Biden says that you know that ’ s what it is .
The House passed legislation yesterday to avert another government shutdown .
This is going to go through December 11 by sending the bill to the Senate with eight days to go before the current funding federal funding expires .
It passed from 359 to 57 .
Ben Cline , are we ever going to get a budget like in June or July ?
Like Rob Whitman has been asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
Or do these continuing resolutions just go on in perpetuity ?
Cline : Kicking the can down the road is harmful to our national defense because they can ’ t continue to modernize and develop new programs .
They have to just progress in fits and starts .
And this bill actually continued not only deficit spending but also expanded existing programs and created additional responsibilities for the federal government .
So they didn ’ t just kick the can down the road they kicked the can and dropped a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re expanding the scope of the federal government .
So all three Virginians who Virginia Republicans were there voted no .
We look forward to restoring a responsible fiscal order to the House of Representatives when Republicans take back the house in November .
We ’ ve got several great candidates .
Nick Freitas .
Scott Taylor .
Bob Good .
Everybody ’ s running to win these seats and retire Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House .
Fredericks : You know what ’ s amazing is ?
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the newspaper The Hill which of course we ’ re all familiar with .
So they kind of detail it out and they give the vote which is 359-57 And the only Congressperson out of 435 that they mention of how the person voted is Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez .
A one-term freshman congresswoman from the Bronx .
They don ’ t say how any other Republican voted .
They don ’ t say of any of the 57 people that voted no .
The only person they cite is AOC and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Letter to the Editor: Why I Am Voting Republican This Fall

I am not voting for a man .
I do not give blanket or tacit approval to everything our President has done or said in the past and certainly what he will say or do in the future .
I at times cringe at his tweets nor condone some of his actions .
Like the fireman who drops the “ f bomb ” and uses other “ salty ” language while putting out the fire in your house , I can live with President Trump ’ s foibles .
He gets the job done and at the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our Commander-in-Chief .
Nor do I approve of what Vice President Biden has said or done in the past or promises to do in the future .
He has had forty-seven years in government to get it right and he has failed miserably .
As Robert Gates stated , “ I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.
” I challenge you to name one of Joe ’ s accomplishments .
I am voting for Constitutional government .
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I am voting for a vibrant economy .
I am voting for the right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution .
I am voting for the freedom to worship .
I am voting for a national recognition that the founding of our nation was based on Christian principles .
I am voting for the ability for anyone to rise above their circumstances and become successful .
I am voting for my children and grandchildren to be able to choose their own path in life , including how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am voting for our borders to be open to everyone who enters under our law and closed to everyone who would circumvent or ignore the law .
I am voting for the Electoral College to remain in place , so that a few heavily populated liberal centers do not control the elections and the voices of the Shenandoah Valley are not ignored .
I am voting for a Supreme Court that interprets the Constitution rather than rewrites it .
I am voting to teach our history , with all its flaws , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fit a revisionist narrative .
I am voting for the sanctity of life from conception to birth and after .
I am voting for a party whose creed states that “ the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice ; that all individuals are entitled to equal rights , justice , and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society ; that fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government ; that the Federal Government must preserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that peace is best preserved through a strong national defense ; and that faith in God , as recognized by our Founding Fathers is essential to the moral fiber of the Nation.
” I am not voting against Joe Biden , but rather I am voting for a party that embodies the values and principles both my forefathers and I fought for over two hundred years to maintain .
This why I am voting Republican this fall .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Self Serve Is Back, at Risk No Longer Cautioned in Dine Safe Order

Ohio ’ s Interim Health Director Lance D. Himes released an amended version of the “ Dine Safe Ohio ” order Wednesday .
The new order has permitted the use of “ self-service ” food stations at “ retail food establishments.
” The order stated that all “ Retail food establishments that are regulated by the Ohio Department of Agriculture are permitted to resume use of their self-service food stations in accordance with guidance from the Department of Health.
” Previously , the order warned people with respiratory illnesses , the elderly , and people with other risk factors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other dining facilities This amended order changes the wording on masks from “ businesses must allow ” patrons to use face coverings to “ businesses must require ” patrons to use face coverings except for “ specifically documented legal , life , health or safety considerations and limited documented security considerations.
” The order keeps social distancing requirements in effect .
Patrons must space out at least 6 feet apart whenever possible .
Hand sanitizer and sanitizing products must be available for patrons and employees .
Still at these establishments , a readily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted , and businesses must ask customers to not enter their business should they be symptomatic .
This order maintains that maximum dining capacities must be established and posted using a COVID-19 compliant floor plan .
Parties and reservation sizes of larger than 10 people are prohibited .
Also , the order still makes employees isolate or seek medical care when they develop symptoms while working .
Should an employee be symptomatic , businesses are required to shut down and deeply sanitize the area if possible .
The order goes into effect on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until otherwise amended or rescinded by the Ohio Department of Health .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Child Abuse Reports Are Down, But It Might Be Because Schools Are Closed

Since COVID-19 hit , official reports of child abuse and neglect have decreased nationally and in Virginia , but pediatrics experts warn that might not mean fewer cases of abuse .
“ When families and parents are under greater stress , generally abuse increases , ” President of the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ) Michael Martin told The Virginia Star .
“ We are seeing the impact of stress on kids in the significant rise in mental health problems , particularly depression and anxiety .
So we know the stress triggers of abusive behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse are down which suggests that cases are not being reported.
” AAP spokesperson Robert Sege told The Virginia Star , “ There are two things that might be going on .
One is , the children are not being seen by their teachers , or their early childhood educators , or even friends and neighbors , people who typically might be noticing abuse or neglect .
So we ’ re all worried that children are being hurt , but no one is seeing them.
” Sege said that extra financial benefits during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , may also help reduce the stress and potential for abuse and neglect .
However , he added , “ The bottom line is we ’ re all really worried about it because [ traditionally , in ] families that are more stressed financially or when there ’ s more uncertainty , children get neglected or even abused .
There ’ s a lot of concern about it but we don ’ t have any real information about what ’ s going on.
” Sege said monitoring neglect is just one reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schooling , the academic part , the socialization , all of those things .
And this is a very difficult issue because it depends on the amount of virus in a community , on the physical structure of the schools , but wherever possible , we think that children should be going to as much physical school as they can safely.
” Samaritan House provides housing and support services to victims of abuse in Hampton Roads .
Marketing Manager Andrew Roberts said in an email , “ Since the pandemic began , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our services , especially during the lockdown , when victims were at home most of the time with their abuser .
Economic stress and general anxiety due to the pandemic have also triggered increases in domestic violence.
” Empowerhouse VA is a non-profit domestic violence resource in the Fredericksburg area .
Assistant Director Tammy Torres said that their hotline has seen a 28 percent increase in the past six months when compared to the previous six month period .
Sege said that with schools closed , neighbors and community members need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other , and that adults should provide safe places for kids to confide in responsible adults .
“ In general , children tell the truth .
They want to love their parents , they want to be loved .
If a child starts telling you something , it ’ s time to get involved.
” Sege said citizens also need to support safety nets , including food for children who normally eat at school , and housing for people who have lost jobs .
“ We need to make sure that our politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ COVID will end but this family disruption and the horrible things that will happen if society doesn ’ t support people whose lives have been so disrupted through absolutely no fault of their own , those effects will be with us for a very long time.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--TRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for September 24

Welcome to the Thursday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update !
We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 ( and after…if need be ! )
.
It ’ s officially 40 days until the election on November 3 – and five days until President Trump and Joe Biden square off in the first presidential debate .
The President of the United States is coming to Virginia for a rally on September 25 at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport .
Doors for the rally will open at 6:00 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Fredericks , chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation , will be the emcee .
Pamela Brown who is the secretary for the Norfolk Republican Party will attend her first ever Trump rally Friday .
She said it ’ s clear that if the Trump campaign didn ’ t think Virginia was in play November 3 , they wouldn ’ t have devoted the resources to come to the Commonwealth .
“ I think it ’ s pretty clear that it indicates Virginia can be won by the president , ” Brown said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking forward to hearing President Trump speak on the economic comeback amid the pandemic .
The Biden-Harris campaign continues to overlook Virginia in the lead-up to the election .
Brown said she has yet to see any signs or campaign volunteers out and about meeting with voters .
The Trump Victory campaign believes the president has a golden opportunity to win Virginia , and that ’ s why he ’ s coming to the Commonwealth on Friday night .
“ While President Trump heads to the Commonwealth to remind Virginians of his ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Joe Biden can ’ t even come forward with a list of potential Supreme Court nominees or step foot in the Old Dominion , ” Trump Victory Spokesperson Samantha Cotten said in a statement .
“ If you want to continue to put America First and complete the Great American Comeback , then your only option in November is President Trump and Vice President Pence.
” The Virginia Star will have full coverage of the rally and President Trump ’ s speech .
If you can ’ t make it to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to watch online for free on Team Trump ’ s Facebook and Twitter accounts , on the Donald J. Trump Facebook , YouTube , and Twitch accounts , and at www.donaldjtrump.com/online .
Check back every day for more Trump Virginia campaign updates !
If you want to join the volunteer team or if you need signs email John Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more information , or to sign up to become a volunteer , click here .
John Fredericks is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--More Than a Third of Michigan Voters Have Requested Absentee Ballots

A third of active Michigan voters have requested absentee ballots so far , a spokesperson from Michigan ’ s Secretary of State ( SOS ) office announced on Tuesday .
More than 2.39 million Michigan voters have requested ballots , more than 31 percent of the 7.7 million people registered to vote in Michigan and 35 percent of the state ’ s 6.7 million active voters , according to state data released by the SOS .
Detroit City has requested the highest number of absentee ballots at 109,561 ballots , followed by Ann Arbor City at 40,786 ballots and Sterling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also indicate that Michigan has sent more than 270,000 absentee ballots out so far and have received 340 back .
The number of absentee ballots requested so far this election year dwarfs the roughly 587,000 requested by around this time in 2016 , according to state data .
Although the numbers may have been influenced by the passage of Proposal 3 in 2018 — which expanded voting rights in Michigan , including allowing for absentee voting for any reason — a push for voting by absentee ballots has been a theme through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have sparred several times over absentee ballots in Michigan , with the president threatening to cut federal funding if absentee ballots applications were sent to every registered voter and criticizing Benson for misprinted overseas ballots that misidentified Trump ’ s running mate .
In response to growing concerns that the influx of absentee ballots could affect the process of verifying election results , the Michigan Senate recently passed a bill that would allow clerks in communities with at least 25,000 residents to begin processing absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early , according to MLive .
The bill , which includes a sunset clause that nullifies it after this year , has yet to be passed by the Michigan House of Representatives .
The remaining requested absentee ballots will be sent out beginning September 24 , MLive reported .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan Star and Star News Digital Media .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] Photo “ Absentee Ballot Drop Off ” by Jeff Knezovich .
CC BY-SA 2.0 @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--870,000 U.S. Workers File New Unemployment Claims, Overall Rate Dips Slightly

About 870,000 workers filed new unemployment claims last week , a slight increase from the week prior though the overall @ @ @ @ @ decline .
According to U.S. Department of Labor data released Thursday , the seasonally adjusted @ @ @ @ @ for the week ending Sept. 12 , with 12.58 million workers filing continued claims for @ @ @ @ @ down 0.1 percentage points from the week ending Sept. 5 .
In the week ending @ @ @ @ @ claims were filed , up about 4,000 claims from the revised numbers for the week @ @ @ @ @ to the labor department .
In late March , when government restrictions shutting down businesses @ @ @ @ @ the spread of COVD-19 were first put into place , new weekly unemployment claims peaked @ @ @ @ @ .
California , as it has through most of the pandemic , once again led @ @ @ @ @ week , with 230,443 .
Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square @ @ @ @ @ .
Contact Dan at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Ohio Football Mom Tased and Arrested for Not Wearing Mask at a Game

Alecia Kitts drove an hour and a half from Marietta to Logan , Ohio to watch her son ’ s football game .
In the first quarter she was approached by an officer from the Logan Police Department because she was not wearing a mask .
The video below shows the three-minute encounter between Kitts and the officer .
According to Tiffany Kennedy , the woman who shot the above video , Kitts had not been warned for not wearing a mask prior to the officer approaching her .
Kennedy also said that Kitts has asthma and that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There is no reason to tase someone and arrest them for not wearing a mask , ” Kennedy said .
Kennedy also pointed out the female officer who is shown running toward the Logan officer and Kitts at the end of the video was not wearing a mask – pulling one out of her pocket as she was in pursuit .
“ Alecia ’ s mom said that when the officer tased her , the current went through the bleachers and zapped the kid sitting there too.
” Kitts appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd and sitting with her family .
“ There were only 25 or 30 fans from our town on our side , ” said Kennedy .
The Logan Police Department declined comment and sent an inquiry to Captain Ryan Gabriel .
The Ohio Star left a message with Captain Gabriel and will report back after making contact .
Alecia Kitts was contacted but had not returned comment before press time .
Sources indicate that Kitts was charged with criminal trespass and released on her own recognizance .
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-25--Tennessee House Speaker Asks State Comptroller to Investigate Metro Nashville Use of State and Feder

Tennessee House Speaker Asks State Comptroller to Investigate Metro Nashville Use of State and Federal COVID Funds

Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Cameron Sexton and other members of the Republican leadership of the Tennessee House @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson and asked him to investigate the spending of federal and state @ @ @ @ @ government .
“ We worked with him [ Comptroller Wilson ] over the last couple @ @ @ @ @ told host Michael Patrick Leahy on The Tennessee Star Report , broadcast on TalkRadio 98.3 @ @ @ @ @ morning .
“ We expect to receive the results of the review in about two @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We went with a review because it can be conducted more quickly than @ @ @ @ @ he noted .
If the review suggests further investigation is necessary , Speaker Sexton said @ @ @ @ @ could follow .

One of the principles asserted by Governor Haslam in support of his IMPROVE Act and its proposed increase of 7 cents per gallon in the gas tax is that “users” of roads should pay for road construction.
The gas tax is proper, he argues, because people who purchase gas to fuel their cars are the users of roads, and the gas tax is the best mechanism to charge them for that usage.
For at least a decade, however, revenue sources originally designed to fund highway construction have been intermingled, and that “user” fee principle has not strictly been applied to the funding of road construction. The IMPROVE Act does not fully address the co-mingling of funds.
The Highway Fund receives road construction “user fee” revenues from gasoline tax, motor fuel tax, gasoline inspection tax, motor vehicle registration tax and the motor vehicle title fees. At least 25 percent of those road construction “user fees” go to the General Fund, Education and Debt Service.
Though the majority of these “user fee” revenues have been allocated to the Highway Fund, between 25 percent and 29 percent of those fees -ranging from $177 million to $196 million annually– have been diverted away from the Highway Fund between FY 2011-12 and FY 2017-18, as Table 1 below illustrates.
Table 1
Highway Fund ‘User Fees’ Allocated to Funds Other than the Highway Fund
FY 2011-12 to FY 2017-18
Fiscal Year Highway Fund”User Fees ” Directed to General Fund, Education & Debt Svc. As % of Highway Fund Total Sales & Use Tax Revenues Sales Tax $ to Highway Fund % Sales Tax to Highway Fund Data Source (Link to Document) Page of Data Source 2017-18 $187,100,000 26.2% $8,861,100,000 $22,600,000 0.26% Estimated 99 of 558 2016-17 $195,200,000 26.5% $8,564,100,000 $22,600,000 0.26% Revised Est. 98 of 558 2015-16 $189,572,000 26.2% $8,267,224,400 $22,625,400 0.27% Actual 97 of 558 2014-15 $177,611,900 25.1% $7,706,018,700 $38,165,000 0.50% Actual 97 of 550 2013-14 $196,234,300 28.9% $7,286,164,500 $53,797,600 0.74% Actual 97 of 542 2012-13 $194,365,000 28.4% $7,012,028,700 $60,902,800 0.87% Actual 97 of 545 2011-12 $193,243,800 28.2% $6,899,944,000 $64,574,000 0.94% Actual 111 of 656
The state of Tennessee budget documents detail the revenue sources and the basis of apportionment for those revenues. For every one of the “user fee” revenues, the Tennessee Code Annotated that directs funds away from the Highway Fund is cited.
There are also allocations to the Highway Fund, such as Gross Receipts Tax-Other and Beer Tax, that would otherwise be considered General Fund revenues, as the majority of those revenues are allocated to the General Fund. However, the increase of 25 to 29 percent to the Highway Fund is net the General Fund dollars.
In the upcoming 2017-18 budget year, the redistribution of “user fees” strictly to the Highway Fund would increase the Highway Fund by $187 million, and combined with the past six years would have added a total of $1.3 billion to the Highway Fund, all without a gas tax increase.
The co-mingling of funds goes both ways.
“Sales and Use Tax” revenues have been and continue to be allocated to the Highway Fund.
During Gov. Haslam’s administration, the percentage of state sales tax revenues allocated to the Highway Fund ranged between 0.26 and 0.94 percent. Essentially, the alternate “Hawk Plan,” named for Rep. David Hawk of Greenville, which allocates 0.25 percent of the sales tax revenues to the Highway Fund has been in effect for years to an even greater extent.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-25--Tennessee Projects 65 Percent Learning Loss in Math, 50 Percent Loss in Third Grade Reading After CO

Tennessee Projects 65 Percent Learning Loss in Math, 50 Percent Loss in Third Grade Reading After COVID-19 Closures

Reading proficiency among Tennessee third-graders is projected to drop by 50 % , and math proficiency is projected to drop by 65 % because of COVID-19-related school closures , according to preliminary projections released by the Department of Education .
Gov .
Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced the projected learning loss during a news conference at the state Capitol on Wednesday .
“ What we ’ re looking at is unprecedented , ” Schwinn said .
“ What we would traditionally refer to as the summer slide is compounded by the fact that we had three additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many students are learning remotely.
” As schools across the state have been closed for six months or more – three months of summer , and an additional three months last spring – learning loss is expected to be 2.5 times the normal summer rate .
Schwinn said learning loss is projected to have a similar effect on urban , suburban and rural students but hit early grade students and those in low-income communities hardest .
“ We know that this is impacting our younger learners more than anyone else .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read , but it is really hard to teach a child to read through a computer , ” Schwinn said .
Lee and Schwinn stressed the first priority to address learning loss is to get students back in the classroom .
“ If students are not in buildings … they are not getting that direct instruction from a highly qualified teacher in the classroom , ” Schwinn said .
“ We know that there is an extraordinary cost in things that we don ’ t measure in standardized tests , such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another , the way in which they think about how to solve problems , the way in which they are able to ask for help and get immediate feedback on their work.
” More than 90 percent of Tennessee school districts now are offering in-person learning .
Schwinn said 99.6 percent of schools offering in-person instruction have remained open .
“ This shows how important it is that our kids get back into the classroom , ” Lee said .
“ Through this report , an alarm has been sounded.
” Projections were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted with national researchers in June of how students were projected to perform this year .
That data was combined with results from more than 30,000 beginning-of-year student assessments voluntarily provided from districts across the state .
Schwinn said the department would work with school districts and the Tennessee Legislature in coming weeks to find policy solutions to address the learning loss .
The department also has received $ 40 million from the U.S. Department of Education in competitive grants to address COVID-19 learning loss – more than any other state in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to provide literacy support options to parents of vulnerable and lower performing students .
Parents will be able to choose from hours of literacy support that will be available from teachers , districts , after school providers and education nonprofits .
Schwinn told The Center Square the department is working to find a vendor to disperse the funds , and she anticipates a pilot program will launch in the spring .
The other $ 20 million from the U.S. Department of Education will go to in-school programs for teacher-level support to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss what to do with teacher assessments next year with stakeholders , and the decision on whether to pass a “ hold harmless ” deal on teacher assessments will be up to the Legislature .
“ I think that what ’ s most important is that we have an assessment this spring so that we know where they are , ” Lee said .
“ If we don ’ t know where our students are , then we don ’ t know how to improve.
” Vivian Jones reports on Tennessee and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her writing has appeared in the Detroit News , The Hill , and publications of The Heartland Institute .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-25--Commentary: No Reason for Senate GOP to Wait Until After Election to Confirm Trump’s Ginsburg Replac

Commentary: No Reason for Senate GOP to Wait Until After Election to Confirm Trump’s Ginsburg Replacement to Supreme Court

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) is under enormous pressure from his Democratic colleagues not to confirm whoever President Donald Trump may nominate to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court before the election .
But in truth , there is simply no reason , neither constitutional nor political , for Trump and McConnell to wait at all .
The Constitution simply states , in Article II , Section 2 , “ The President… shall nominate , and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate , shall appoint … judges of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law , when there is a vacancy on the nation ’ s high court , President Trump can make his nomination whenever he wants , and the Senate , led by McConnell , can confirm that nominee as soon as possible .
In 2018 , Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed just a month before the midterm elections .
And in 2016 , former President Barack Obama attempted to get Merrick Garland confirmed to the late Antonin Scalia ’ s Supreme Court seat even though it was an election year , but failed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and at that point lost the right to dictate what goes on the floor .
Elections have consequences .
Parties always play for all the marbles .
Meaning , McConnell was able to block Garland but pave the way for Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh and whoever replaces Ginsburg .
That ’ s the high stakes game and in every game there are winners and losers .
The only principle at stake is power .
The rest is just window dressing .
In both the cases of Kavanaugh and Garland , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had the Senate majority , the outcome was entirely different .
Since , 2014 Republicans have had the Senate majority , and so unsurprisingly , Kavanaugh was confirmed , and Garland was rejected .
The constitutional hurdle is set in stone : The President can make a nomination , and the Senate can either say yes or no .
And so will it be with whoever President Trump nominates to replace Ginsburg .
The only other hurdle for Trump and Republicans is merely political , but so far , it looks like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this process much easier than the Kavanaugh confirmation , which had little to no margin for error .
With Kavanaugh , Republicans had a narrow 51 to 49 majority , but after 2018 , they picked up a net two seats , where now it ’ s 53 to 47 .
This should be easy pickings for McConnell .
Senate Republicans can afford to lose , say , Sen. Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) and/or Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( R-Alaska ) , and still have more than enough votes to easily confirm the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and McConnell have the votes , then the only question is that of timing .
Should the confirmation be before the election , or afterward ?
Given the gravity of the vote — where it will cement a 6 to 3 Republican-appointed majority on the Supreme Court — it is probably safer for Republicans politically to push for the vote prior to the election .
After all , a lot can change after the election .
If the Supreme Court seat is on the ballot in November and the fate of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Joe Biden and Democrats can use that to drive turnout not only in the presidential race against President Trump , but also House and Senate elections .
In 2016 , Republicans successfully used the vacant Scalia seat to drive turnout and win to keep that seat .
In 2020 , it could work in reverse for Democrats , who are now playing defense — unless the seat is already filled .
If Trump and McConnell can successfully replace Ginsburg before the election , that could very well take the wind out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play is to vote on the nominee now and demoralize the opposition so that they feel like they have nothing left to fight for .
Stay tuned .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .
Photo “ Ruth Bader Ginsburg ” by the European University Institute .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-25--Commentary: Everyone Calm Down About Elections Breaking America Talk

First off and very quickly , if you ’ re into podcasts ?
Check out Joe Rogen ’ s interview with the UK Spectator ’ s Douglas Murray regarding how social justice warriors will undoubtedly double down during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic .
Worth the 20 minutes on background as you go about your day .
Second , let us dispense with the idea that we have ( or have ever had ) a 5-4 court .
At best , the court has been 2-4-3 , with Alito and Thomas anchoring the right , Kavanaugh , Gorsuch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Roberts in the center , and Sotomayor and Kagan on the left .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg just happened to be the progressive Scalia… and I ’ m sure one will agree , conservatives have yet to replace Scalia on the court due to Democratic chicanery .
The nomination of a true replacement will simply shift the balance the Democrats once enjoyed with RBG to the right with a 3-4-2 court .
Should we mention that Breyer is in his 80s ?
Third , it is perhaps time to dispel a few myths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Associated Press or with The Atlantic over “ what happens ?
!
” if the election results are murky .
Just in case we all collectively failed seventh-grade civics , the people do not elect the President of the United States .
We vote for Electors , and those individuals get to go to Washington and vote for the next president of the United States .
Should they not be able to reach a majority of 270 electoral votes — and God knows what sort of harassment those souls have in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure from BLM/Antifa mobs comes down on them and their families — then the selection of the next president is given to the U.S. House of Representatives , where each state delegation gets one vote .
At present .
there are 26 states where Republicans hold majorities on their state delegations , 23 where Democrats hold majorities , and one split state ( Pennsylvania ) .
This is a not-yet-tested process that was established after the so-called Revolution of 1800 , where Jefferson bested Adams for the presidency yet nearly stumbled over his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Aaron Burr .
For months each candidate received the same number of votes until “ faithless electors ” broke the tie .
Thus party politics nearly destroyed the adolescent republic until our current system — resplendent with safeguards — was in place .
Thus we received the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution .
This also means that every single U.S. House of Representatives seat is absolutely vital should by some means of engineering the vice-president ( selected by the U.S. Senate along similar lines ) serves as POTUS until the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadlocks in a tie ) .
If Scott Taylor ( VA-02 ) and Nick Freitas ( VA-07 ) win their respective seats , and if Bob Good ( VA-05 ) holds his seat ?
The Virginia delegation will flip to Republican .
Now this is where things get a little murky .
The constitution requires the House to meet before January 20th ( the date having been changed from March 4th by the 20th Amendment ) and after January 6th — ideally meaning that a new U.S. House ( and not the present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2016 , the GOP held 32-17 edge in state delegation majorities before the 2018 elections .
So advantage GOP .
But with BLM/Antifa mobs continuing their riots and bullying to the point of descending upon suburban neighborhoods and demanding American flags be taken down , fear can be one heck of a motivator .
But it also means we have a chance .
That means that — regardless of the popular vote in Virginia — if one really does believe that the election is going to be a mess ?
Taylor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the finish line if Virginia is going to vote Republican in a worst-case scenario .
Whatever differences folks might have had in the past ?
This one feels like it is for all the marbles , doesn ’ t it ?
The question here becomes whether or not the Democrats will consent to the peaceful transfer of power along a constitutional process .
Now that the Dems have successfully bungled how Election Day is done with a multi-month process of ballots , absentees , and even post-Election Day balloting , one gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Election Day that drives the election to the U.S. House .
Of course , should Republicans not be confident of the outcome — or if we feel as if we are cheated — the response could make the Tea Party of 2009-10 look like the polite sort you ’ d get at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond .
One last point .
This isn ’ t the first time the Democrats have pushed the country to the brink .
In Bush v. Gore ( 2000 ) the Democrats pushed this to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court to decide on Florida — a state Bush was eventually demonstrated to have won by 535 votes .
The majority opinion in Bush v. Gore is worth reading again : Translation ?
The U.S. Supreme Court ( and the courts generally ) should not be the final arbiter of law in the United States , but the legislatures themselves .
Over the last 20 years , the political left in this country has chosen to weaponize the courts to enact a social policy of change .
Forget the impact of Roe v. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to redefine marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges ( 2015 ) , to fund socialized medicine with NFIB v. Sebelius ( 2012 ) , forcing employers to fund abortifacients in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby ( 2014 ) , on affirmative action in Fisher v. University of Texas ( 2016 ) and the Citizens United case ( 2010 ) .
The left wasn ’ t always successful , but the ramifications of 20-years of Democrats continuing to escalate politics against the system seems to be spectacularly backfiring .
Rather than behave like centrists ?
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natured enough to give a screaming and ill-disciplined child some space in the supermarket during the meltdown , but at some point ?
Americans tend to have a breaking point before the reservoir bursts .
Oh , and just in case you were wondering about Biden ’ s 13 point lead in Virginia ?
Just a smidge closer , and that puts Virginia back into battleground state territory .
For a campaign supposedly winning by massive margins , the Biden campaign sure does seem to be on its back foot .
All the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lash out in anger .
Anger is all they have left .
Shaun Kenney is the editor of The Republican Standard , former chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Fluvanna County , and a former executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Virginia Capitol ” by Martin Kraft .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-25--Health Officials Seek to Block Trump Rally in Virginia

RICHMOND , Virginia ( AP ) — A Virginia health official is warning of a “ severe public health threat ” if a planned campaign rally for President Donald Trump goes forward Friday evening .
Dr. Natasha Dwamena , a Department of Public Health district director , said in a letter Thursday that the 4,000 people expected to attend Trump ’ s rally at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport would be breaking Gov .
Ralph Northam ’ s executive order generally banning gatherings of more than 250 people .
She said the rally should be canceled , rescheduled or scaled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s order .
“ The rally poses a concerning public health risk , ” Dwamena said in the letter , which was addressed to the private company that leases the hangar where the rally is set to take place .
Northam ’ s top health and transportation aides also sent letters Thursday to airport officials around the state reminding them that they have “ the authority to enforce ” the state ’ s laws .
But it ’ s unlikely to make a difference , as the Trump campaign has routinely flouted public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 .
Trump has tried to use this summer ’ s mass protests over racial injustice and police misconduct as cover for his rallies , making the case that , if demonstrators can gather en masse , so can his supporters .
John Fredericks , a conservative radio host and chairman of the Virginia delegation for the Trump campaign , said Democrats are trying to block the rally for political reasons .
“ Panic has set in amongst Virginia Democrats , ” Fredericks said .
Northam is a Democrat .
Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state has not been a focal point of either campaign this year .
But Fredericks said the internal polling data he sees each morning shows the race tightening to the point where he said it ’ s now winnable for Trump .
Trump ’ s campaign has insisted it takes appropriate health precautions , including handing out masks and hand sanitizer and checking the temperatures of rallygoers .
But many of his campaign rallies have seen thousands of maskless supporters standing shoulder to shoulder , something Dwamena noted in her letter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally , Tuesday , Sept. 22 , 2020 , in Moon Township , Pa. ( AP Photo/Keith Srakocic )


thetennesseestar--2020-09-25--Paul Summers and Carol Swain Discuss How the Constitution and Civics Are Missing from Education

Live from Music Row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Dr. Carol Swain to the studio along with former Tennessee attorney general Paul Summers on the newsmaker line .
During the second hour , Summers and Swain weighed in on how both private and public schools have been leaving out the instruction of the U.S. Constitution and civics citing that many of the protesters out there today are 30 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swain the all-star panelist and the former professor at Vanderbilt .
Good morning Carol .
How are you ?
Swain : Good morning .
It ’ s my pleasure to be here .
Leahy : A lot of stuff going on .
Leahy : A lot going on .
I don ’ t know if you know former attorney general of the state of Tennessee .
Paul Summers .
Paul and I had a great conversation about the Keep Nine Amendment .
And we ask him to stay over a little bit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have you met Carol Swain at any time in your career ?
Summers : Yes , I have .
And it ’ s my honor to know her .
Leahy : General Summers .
I guess that ’ s the proper way to refer to you as a former state attorney general ?
Summers : You can call me general .
You can call me a judge .
Just don ’ t call me late for supper .
Leahy : ( Laughter ) You are my kind of guy .
We were talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bee and the lack of civic education .
Have you noticed that kids today in secondary and elementary schools are not getting the kind of education on American history ?
On civics and the Constitution that Carol , you and I had when we were growing up ?
Summers : Absolutely .
And that ’ s one of the reasons I ’ m writing articles about our founding documents .
Particularly for our local newspapers all over Tennessee .
I ’ m trying to instill that education that we got when we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have it anymore .
Leahy : Carol as you know has been a tenured professor at Princeton University .
A tenured Professor at Vanderbilt and has talked a little bit about the problems in education .
Carol and I have you noticed when you had kids that would come in and as a professor for a long time , did you see the freshmen in college decline over your tenure as a professor ?
Swain : I think that it depends where they attended school .
Swain : It depends a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But one of the things that concerned me was that the Constitution was being taught as a living document that changes with the times and the culture and the people .
Much the way the political would argue that the Bible is today .
A living document that ’ s supposed to change with the culture .
Leahy : General Summers , are you familiar with how civics and the Constitution are being taught in Tennessee ’ s public and private schools today ?
And would you say it ’ s not being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not necessarily being taught properly ?
Summers : I think that Carol is correct .
I think that the textualism and interpreting the text of the Constitution is not as important as thinking that the Constitution is a living breathing document that changes over a period of time .
We want judges who don ’ t enact laws .
We want judges who interpret laws .
Leahy : Yes .
You are exactly right .
I have been shocked in dealing with the Tennessee Constitution Bee for three years .
And a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you how many scholarships we ’ ve given out to kids .
$ 3,000 for the winners for the first few years .
Now it ’ s up to $ 10,000 for the first winner this year and $ 5,000 for the second place and $ 2.500 for the third place .
It ’ s been difficult because we found that not a lot of public school teachers are not all that enthusiastic about learning about the Constitution because they have other things they ’ ve been taught .
It ’ s something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the teachers that are measured that makes it difficult to make the Constitution front and center in instruction in secondary schools within Tennessee and around the country .
Summers : One of the problems that we have is that when our 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence in the 1700s they didn ’ t know whether they were signing a Declaration of Independence from Great Britain or they were signing their death warrants .
And that ’ s what ’ s not taught in our schools .
It took 11 years plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our independence to be declared .
And in 1787 we had the constitution .
Once again , we don ’ t really appreciate what our Founding Fathers did when they signed the Declaration and then later signed the Constitution declaring our independence and our seeking freedom .
Leahy : Carol , you were just up in Virginia .
You visited Monticello of Thomas Jefferson and his house .
Did you go to Montpelier of James Madison ’ s house ?
Leahy : But they are in the same area .
Swain : Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that our universities and colleges have turned out teachers who disdain the Constitution and because of that they are not going to teach it to young people .
And where the Constitution is being taught , it ’ s being taught at the best private schools that have not been taken over by the progressive left .
That number has declined over the years .
And homeschoolers .
Homeschoolers are getting the best education in my opinion .
Leahy : And if you look at it , about 95 percent of kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or three percent in private schools and another two percent in homeschools .
I ’ m worried General Summers .
I ’ m very worried about this .
Since kids for 30 years have not been properly taught about America , civics , and our history they grow up with attitudes where they don ’ t understand America .
And frankly , if you look at the rioters in the streets last night in Louisville , Denver , and Dallas .
Most of them were about 30 years or younger .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you see that as well ?
The lack of knowledge of the Constitution and civics has led to civil unrest ?
Summers : I couldn ’ t agree with you more .
We live in a society where we want more jobs and no mobs .
We want to have peace .
We want to be able and as the Constitution says in the First Amendment , we want to be able to peacefully assemble and peacefully or peaceably protest and vent our frustrations .
But not through violence .
We don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools or more fundamentally in our families .
Leahy : I think you are absolutely right .
If you go to guidetotheconstition.org you can see our textbook there .
It ’ s a supplemental textbook .
There is a podcast there as well .
So if you have kids and grandkids you can listen to the podcast .
That ’ s the manual that kids that go to this Constitution Bee will use .
And of course , as a former attorney general of the state , I ’ m going to invite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , you can send corrections as they come about .
I ’ ve not yet asked Carol to apply her fine pen to that book .
We did by the way get the University of Wisconsin to fact check it and review it .
Leahy : Yeah .
And they aren ’ t exactly center-right .
Swain : The Constitution is not right or left .
It is what it is .
Leahy : We were talking about this Keep Nine Amendment which would be like the 28th amendment to the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say there would only be nine justices to the Supreme Court .
How do you see the political process moving in the next Congress ?
What do you think the odds are that you could get two-thirds in the House that would have to sign in favor of it ?
And then two thirds in the Senate before it goes out to ratification to three-fourths of the states ?
Summers : The first thing is to get the question asked at the presidential and vice presidential debates .
We know that politicians will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But we at least would like to lock in the candidate for both president and vice president as to what their position is to the Constitution amendment .
Leahy : Carol , what do you think ?
You play first Joe Biden and then Donald Trump .
And I ’ ll ask the question .
The question is simply this .
Would you support a constitutional amendment to limit the number of justices in the Supreme Court at nine ?
Play Joe Biden .
What would Joe Biden say ?
Swain : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
And Donald Trump would stick with tradition .
He would stick with nine .
Listen to the second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .