thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Carol Swain Describes Tulsa Trump Rally, Predicts How Blacks Will Vote in the 2020 November Election

Live from Music Row Monday 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 Dr. Carol Swain to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Swain joined the show to recount the Trump rally this past Saturday in Tulsa .
She went on to describe the events leading up to the rally as a VIP guest and predicted Trump would see an increase in the black vote by around 15-20 percent in November ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined on the line now by the hardworking and always accommodating , always right , Carol Swain .
All-star panelist and former Vanderbilt professor who was on stage with the President Saturday in Tulsa .
Good morning Carol .
Swain : Good morning how are you ?
Leahy : I will say it Carol that you are always right .
Because we did actually ask you to be on at 7:30 am and we called you at 7:15 am and you are accommodating us so thank you .
Swain : Well , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the road .
( Chuckles ) Leahy : See .
This is what true friends do .
Even when you make a mistake they help you out .
Tell us about the rally .
Swain : I thought the rally was awesome .
So I ’ m very disappointed to read in the news that it was a complete failure .
( Chuckles ) Leahy : Well , the mainstream media might kind of have a little ax to grind wouldn ’ t you say ?
Swain : I would say so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal .
( Leahy laughs ) There were a few masks but for the most part , people were just living their lives as Americans .
There was not a lot of fear .
And there was a lot of hope and optimism .
And I just believe that the President is exactly what America needs and that he understands us .
Our freedoms and the threat that comes from the Democrats .
And I felt one of the strongest points the President made was , look at the cities and states that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want them running the country ?
Leahy : It ’ s interesting because literally just a few minutes ao here on the program Crom Carmichael who is in the studio made that very point .
Carmichael : Carol how are you ?
Leahy : What is that like being up on stage with the President ?
Swain : On stage with the President , that article that Channel 2 published , that photograph was from October .
So I periodically would Tweet out the photograph with a statement .
I Tweeted out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope he wins in November in a landslide .
And someone saw the photo and said I was on stage .
I was not on stage with the President .
I was behind the President situated in the camera view .
Swain : I had his back .
I had his back .
Leahy : You had the President ’ s back !
Leahy : We appreciate that a lot .
The logistics of getting in and out of the rally like that , kind of troublesome ?
You took a COVID-19 test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You were negative .
That ’ s great .
Congratulations .
Swain : The thing about it is that when you are an invited guest the logistics of it is a very different situation .
As soon as I was brought to my hotel I was put on board a bus and that bus took us to the testing site .
Everyone that was likely to be near the President or other VIPs were tested .
And so it was my first COVID test .
And I was relieved that I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I was positive I might have to self-quarantine in Tulsa for 14 days .
And that ’ s not on my schedule .
( Leahy laughs ) Leahy : You ’ ve been traveling a lot and you ’ ve been in great demand .
You went to the premiere of the great documentary Uncle Tom in Dallas on Friday .
I bought that by the way and I watched it over the weekend .
It featured your story .
It was a very compelling documentary .
How was that documentary received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought it did a great job and initially I had been told that my story was going to be the central feature .
But , I really liked the young man that they chose to sort of frame the film around .
And I thought it made it even more powerful .
There were so many young conservative voices that they give us hope .
I think the film is a game-changer .
And it ’ s a game-changer because you here all this negative narrative about black America and systemic racism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Herman Cain , Colonel Allen West , and Larry Elder , we were born and grew up in systemic racism .
I was born in 1954 and so anything that young people are encountering today it ’ s not systemic racism .
And I made the point in the roundtable that we had before the film that if there is systemic racism it ’ s against whites .
I had to explain that it has to do with the social justice warriors .
They are from institutions and I ’ m familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly white retire and they are elderly they are going to majority-minority departments .
There is an institutional transformation that ’ s taken place .
And then we have these situations where white people some of them feel like they need to get down on their knees and beg for forgiveness .
Then you have the little white kids selling lemonade to give money to black businesses .
The world is upside down .
These young black people all they wanted was an opportunity .
They have been very successful because they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just as important as everyone else ’ s narrative .
And I think since the left wants to say that personal experience and the narrative is important , we ’ re getting our narrative back .
Carmichael : How involved are you with the Trump campaign ?
Swain : I ’ m a member of Black Voices for Trump ’ s advisory board and the Mighty American Strike Force that sends out volunteers .
The Mighty American Strike Force has gone from to the outreach director for black Americans to the outreach for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m involved in a lot of ways .
And the GOP , they are using me more for media .
And I did a One America News interview over the weekend that will air sometime today .
Carmichael : How well is the Trump campaign going to do among black voters ?
Swain : I think that they are going to greatly increase their support among black voters despite all of this turmoil taking place around America .
I think that President Trump is poised to get 15 to 20 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well among black men .
Black men see him as a friend .
And so I am encouraged .
I ’ m so encouraged by the young people that I see .
And I ’ m encouraged by the fact that he gets it .
And he doesn ’ t just get it about America .
He understands black men .
And black women , you know , God bless them .
I ’ m a black woman but God bless us .
Some of them have just swallowed hook , line , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line and that they are involved in all these reproductive rights and reproductive freedom that ’ s killing their babies .
Black women are 13 percent of the population getting 77 percent of the abortions .
That would be genocide if the Republicans were doing it .
Leahy : Carol , you are going to meet with the Vice President tomorrow is that right ?
Swain : Well , I ’ m going to be in D.C. , and with the schedule of the Vice President things always change .
So I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The luncheon itself has been re-scheduled but I ’ m supposed to go and he ’ s working on details .
I ’ m expecting to meet with the chief of staff either having lunch with him or meeting with other people .
So I will be going to D.C. tomorrow .
Flying to California on Wednesday .
And we ’ ll be recording some more Prager U videos .
Leahy : That ’ s Dennis Prager , Prager University .
You know the group that Google doesn ’ t like or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth which is too controversial for them .
Swain : I have 40 million views with my existing four Prager U videos .
I will do an interview for the Prager book club on a book that impacted my life .
I chose Booker T. Washington ’ s Up From Slavery .
Leahy : Carol , when are you back in Nashville ?
Swain : I ’ ll be back on Friday and then I leave again next week .
But I ’ ll be back next week on Thursday .
( Chuckles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much for accommodating us .
Carol was right I was wrong on the time .
Carol , you are always right .
Thank you .
Listen to the full third 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 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Eight More Key ‘Russiagate Investigators’ US Attorney John Durham is Likely Investigating

The multiple investigations of the U.S. government ’ s intelligence-gathering activities against the Trump campaign have typically focused on the actions of the same small group of former officials : James Comey , Andrew McCabe , Peter Strzok , Lisa Page , John Brennan , James Clapper and a few others .
But just as significant to the efforts to get to the bottom of the government ’ s Trump-related surveillance are a handful of current and former FBI and Justice Department employees whose names are not as well known to the public .
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government employees as part of a sprawling investigating into the origins of Crossfire Hurricane .
The Senate Homeland and Government Affairs Committee voted to subpoena another 35 individuals , some of whom are on the Judiciary panel ’ s list .
The investigations occur against the backdrop of a probe that U.S. Attorney John Durham is leading into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe .
Durham is reportedly investigated some of the information revealed in a Justice Department inspector general ’ s report that said the FBI made at least 17 “ significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrants against Carter Page .
Attorney General William Barr has said that Durham ’ s investigation is looking into potential criminal wrongdoing .
Some of the FBI and DOJ employees discussed in the IG report are identified as pseudonyms .
But the subpoenas from Senate Republicans provides clues as to who some of those FBI and Justice Department employees are .
The Daily Caller News Foundation has identified eight individuals on those lists who were key figures in the Trump-Russia probe .
Steve Somma , FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office .
Somma is reported to be an FBI counterintelligence agent referred to as “ Case Agent 1 ” in the IG report .
The report said that “ Case Agent 1 ” was “ primarily responsible for some of the most significant errors and omissions ” in the FBI ’ s applications for surveillance orders on Page .
Somma played a role in several key developments in the investigation .
He opened the case file on Page , he first proposed surveillance on the Trump aide , and was the FBI handler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human source who was tasked with meeting Page and George Papadopoulos .
Somma also took part in a January 2017 interview with the primary source for Christopher Steele , the former British spy whose dossier was a key aspect of the FISA applications .
The IG reported identified six areas where Somma withheld information from the investigation .
He failed to disclose exculpatory statements that Page and Papadopoulos made to Halper during secretly recorded conversations before the 2016 election .
He also received information from the CIA in August 2016 that Page had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The IG report says that Somma did not divulge that information to others at the FBI .
Somma also withheld information that Steele ’ s source divulged in the January 2017 interview that undercut key allegations in the dossier .
The FBI relied heavily on the document to obtain spy warrants against Page .
The Steele source said that Steele embellished or misinterpreted information that was in the dossier .
He said that he provided Steele with information that was based on “ rumor and speculation , ” but that Steele passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
David Laufman , former Justice Department chief of counterintelligence and export control .
Laufman was the DOJ official who arranged a January 2017 interview with Steele ’ s primary source .
Somehow , Laufman and other meeting participants failed to disclose in the FISA applications that Steele ’ s source disavowed aspects of the dossier .
Laufman , who retired in 2018 and has become an outspoken critic of Trump and Barr , also played a key role in the investigation of Hillary Clinton ’ s private email server .
He interviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as deputy chief of FBI counterintelligence .
Stuart Evans , deputy assistant attorney general for the National Security Division ’ s Office of Intelligence .
Evans is one of the few government officials discussed in the IG report who raised concerns about the effort to surveil Page and the decision to rely on Steele to obtain FISAs .
Emails cited in the report show that Evans asked FBI agents to provide additional evidence to back up claims in the report .
The IG report says that Evans ’ s “ persistent inquiries ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential bias in Steele ’ s information .
Evans “ placed a temporary hold ” on the initial FISA application while his office evaluated information regarding Steele .
Evans ’ s reluctance was offset by eagerness by Peter Strzok and Lisa Page to obtain the FISA authorization .
“ According to Evans , he raised on multiple occasions with the FBI , including with Strzok , Lisa Page , and later McCabe , whether seeking FISA authority targeting Carter Page was a good idea , even if the legal standard was met , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that he did not believe there was a compelling benefit to obtaining the warrant because Page was unlikely to put any incriminating information on email or in a telephone call .
Evans was not informed of several other red flags related to the dossier .
According to the IG report , Steele told FBI agents on Oct. 3 , 2016 that he believed that a key sub-source for his dossier was a “ boaster ” and “ egotist.
” The IG report says that a supervisory intelligence analyst played a key role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The analyst took part in the Oct. 3 , 2016 interview with Steele , and the January 2017 interview with Steele ’ s primary source of information for the dossier .
Both of those interviews yielded information that called the dossier ’ s credibility into question , but none of the interview participants disclosed the information in FISA applications .
The IG report does not identify Auten by name as the FBI analyst , but the Senate Judiciary Committee included him on its list of potential witnesses .
The DCNF reached out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to decline comment on his behalf .
The IG report does not identify Pientka by name , but it says that a Supervisory Special Agent — “ SSA 1 ” — took part in a Jan. 24 , 2017 interview with Michael Flynn .
Pientka is also the FBI agent who the bureau sent into an Aug. 17 , 2016 briefing for the Trump campaign related to Russia ’ s election meddling .
The IG report said that Pientka was sent into the briefing in order to gauge Flynn ’ s demeanor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn to the list of Trump associates who were targets of Crossfire Hurricane .
The IG report also said that SSA 1 supervised the Carter Page investigation and signed an authorization to submit the initial FISA warrant against the Trump aide .
Pientka was also responsible for confirming the completion of a document known as a Woods File , “ and for double checking the factual accuracy review to confirm that the file contained appropriate documentation for each of the factual assertions in the FISA application.
” The IG said that the Woods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsupported by appropriate documentation , ” raising questions about how thoroughly Pientka reviewed the evidence .
Moffa managed the Crossfire Hurricane probe alongside Peter Strzok , the deputy chief of counterintelligence .
The pair also worked closely on the FBI ’ s investigation of Hillary Clinton ’ s use of a private email server .
According to the IG report , the analysts on the Crossfire Hurricane team reported up to Moffa .
The report also says that Moffa described Steele as “ reliable ” in a December 2016 email even though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidential source and the FBI had information that called his credibility into question .
That same month , Moffa said the CIA viewed Steele ’ s reporting as “ Internet rumor ” Sean Newell , deputy chief of counterintelligence and export control at the Justice Department .
Newell may have been the assistant to Laufman who took part in the January 2017 interview with Steele ’ s source .
The IG report said that a deputy to Laufman conducted the second half of the interview with the Steele source .
Kevin Clinesmith , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office of general counsel .
The IG report says that an FBI lawyer identified as Clinesmith altered an email in June 2017 to say that Carter Page was “ not a source ” for the CIA .
Page had been an “ operational contact ” for the spy agency until at least 2013 .
Clinesmith also played a key role in several aspects of Crossfire Hurricane .
He was also an attorney on the special counsel ’ s investigation .
He took part in a February 2017 interview with George Papadopoulos .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s investigation of Hillary Clinton cited anti-Trump text messages that Clinesmith sent after the 2016 election .
Clinesmith wrote “ Vive [ sic ] le Resistance !
” in one message .
The New York Times has reported that Michael Horowitz , the Justice Department inspector general , referred Clinesmith to prosecutors for potential criminal charges .

Gov. Bill Lee said more than 23,000 Tennesseans have received a free COVID-19 test at one of 67 drive-through testing sites over the past three weekends.
“Testing remains one of the most important tools for gaining more information in our fight against COVID-19, and the 23,000 tests we’ve completed over the last three weekends have provided incredibly valuable data,” Lee said in a statement. “We’re grateful to the thousands who came out to receive a test this weekend and we continue to remind Tennesseans: when in doubt, get a test.”
Last weekend alone, 5,153 Tennesseans received a free COVID-19 test. Lee said the free testing is part of the Unified Command Group’s efforts to widen access to testing regardless of symptoms.
“Our weekend sites have been equipped to meet the demand for free testing across the state,” said Dr. Lisa Piercey, Tennessee Department of Health commissioner. “With ample capacity at our county health departments during the week, we continue to encourage Tennesseans to take advantage of free testing at these locations.”
The Tennessee Department of Health has a map of testing sites published on its website. As of Thursday, Tennessee had completed 236,328 COVID-19 tests. That’s more than double the number of tests performed in states like Minnesota, which claims it has the ability to test up to 20,000 individuals in a day, but has yet to surpass 6,000 daily tests.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, Tennessee tested an additional 9,227 residents, according to the Department of Health.
Tennessee has also performed more than twice as many tests as Kentucky, which had tested 81,391 residents as of Thursday.
Most of Tennessee’s COVID-19 tests have been performed by non-state health labs, which account for 225,427 of the state’s 236,328 total tests.
Tennessee now has 14,096 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 237 deaths, and 6,783 recovered patients.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “North Carolina National Guard Members” by the National Guard. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Crom Carmichael and Caller Bernadette Discuss Racism and Democrat Designed Victimhood Mentality in t

Crom Carmichael and Caller Bernadette Discuss Racism and Democrat Designed Victimhood Mentality in the Black Community

Live from Music Row Monday 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 the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
At the end of the second hour , Carmichael discussed a recent Wall Street Journal article written by Ian Rowe who has brought charter schools to New York City in an effort to offer a better education for black children .
Later in the segment , the duo took a call from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Black Lives Matter and the continued victimhood mentality in the black community .
Leahy : Crom Carmichael , the original all-star panelist .
Crom , apparently racism , racism , racism , is what all this election is about .
You made a very interesting comment that there is institutional racism against black people and Hispanics .
Fomented by the teachers ’ unions and the public school boards in America .
Carmichael : And blue cities in general .
They tax productive people at a high rate .
The crime rates in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Has been trending that direction now for the last few years after a 30-year decline .
And what ’ s happening is it is white upper-income people who are fleeing the cities .
Leahy : And so the people that are left that are experiencing the higher crime are.. Carmichael : Are the ones who can ’ t leave .
Carmichael : Yes .
And so you have the politicians as indirect institutional racism because what they are essentially doing is driving out all of the money that would be there to either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reasonable rate .
And then help on the business side of things to give black people more opportunities to either start businesses or to become employed and rise in the ranks .
Ian Rowe , do you know Ian ?
Leahy : I don ’ t know him but I know the people who he ’ s working with at the 1776 Project which is the push back at The New York Times 1619 Project .
He currently runs a chain of public charter schools in New York City for elementary and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for high schools .
Carmichael : And he battles the Democrat establishment in New York City every day .
Carmichael : He battles Bill De Blasio .
He battles the school board .
Leahy : Virtue signaling Bill De Blasio who ’ s efforts on racist justice involve removing the Teddy Roosevelt statue from the Museum of Natural History .
Not meaningful in a substantive way .
Carmichael : When it comes to meaningful things , Bill De Blasio is a racist .
It ’ s pure and simple .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of the government to force black children to go to inferior schools .
And Ian Rowe is a black man , highly educated who is doing everything he can to help black children .
But he wrote a fascinating article about personal agency .
Leahy : Where did he write it ?
Carmichael : He wrote it in the Wall Street Journal .
Carmichael : Yes .
Essentially what he said is that if black people , if any people say that white people hold all of the power .
That there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t give up their power that black people can not possibly do well .
Carmichael : That is racist .
It also is false .
Because there are many black people who have been quite successful in the United States .
And they have done so not because white people necessarily overtly said , I ’ m going to bestow on you the opportunity to succeed .
They did it themselves .
And that ’ s Ian Rowe ’ s point .
Leahy : A very very compelling article by Ian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now and weigh in on this issue .
Welcome , Bernadette .
Caller Bernadette : Good morning Michael Patrick .
Good morning Mr. Crom .
How are you ?
Carmichael : I ’ m good how are you ?
Leahy : Always delighted to hear from you Bernadette .
Of course we know you ’ re going to be very calm and reserved .
Leahy : Lacking in passion in what you say .
Bernadette : Ya ’ ll know how I do .
Shoot .
You all know .
What I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m tired of hearing this word racism and this topic because this is all I ’ ve heard all my life racism and I ’ m sick of it .
Number two , to all ya ’ ll white people , please please everyone of ya ’ ll stop telling me how much ya ’ ll believe in Black Lives Matter .
Because this is one black person that don ’ t care .
( Leahy laughs ) And I appreciate it .
I really really do .
But on the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it because I hate it for you all because you fell like you have to walk on eggshells and pacify and let us know that you have at least one black .
And that ’ s just unnecessary for me .
I hate this for ya ’ ll .
I really really hate it .
Number three , this is not an indirect hing from the Democrats .
This is direct .
They know exactly what they ’ re doing when they set up this system of racism towards black people .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct but it was direct not indirect .
Number four , there ’ s too many successful millionaires and billionaires in this country and business owners for America to be oppressed .
What ’ s the point in setting up all this good education whether it ’ s charter schools or not if the black race isn ’ t going to be here to benefit from it .
Why ?
because we ’ re what ?
Killing more of our babies in black on black crime .
It ’ s still not being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the education because we are killing up each other .
Leahy : Bernadette , Crom wants to weigh in on your extensive and on point comments .
Carmichael : Bernadette thanks very much for your call .
Let me ask you some questions .
How old are you ?
Carmichael : 52 .
Do you think things have gotten better for black people since you were 20 ?
Bernadette : It all depends by what you mean by better .
Carmichael : Do you think the opportunities are greater ?
Bernadette : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any different now than what they were when I was 20 no .
The opportunities for me have always been there .
It ’ s been us that have been keeping us down .
The victim mentality that the Democrats have given us .
Before I was born mentality .
That was the mentally that was keeping us down .
Leahy : Bernadette thanks for that great call .
Crom , as always , Bernadette brings it .
Carmichael : That ’ s a good call .
And I want to talk more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to what Ian Rowe is writing about .
They both feel that victimhood is a terrible problem .
That ’ s the bigger problem .
Listen to the full 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 .
Photo “ Millions More March 2006 ” by Elvert Barnes CC2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Police Push Protesters Back From Andrew Jackson Statue in Front of White House as They Attempt to Pu

Police Push Protesters Back From Andrew Jackson Statue in Front of White House as They Attempt to Pull it Down

The attack against American history continued Monday evening as police blocked protesters attempting to tear down a statue of Andrew Jackson in front of the White House .
Reporter Shomari Stone tweeted , “ BREAKING : Metropolitan Police and US Park Police move demonstrators back from Lafayette Square Park .
Two separate protesters tell me the groups want to tear down the Andrew Jackson statue near the White House .
@ NBCNews @ MSNbc @ nbcwashington ” .
Another person tweeted , “ Police have arrived at the White House where protesters were trying to tear down a statue and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high ” .
The protesters attempted to set up a “ Black House Autonomous Zone ” or “ BHAZ ” near the White House at Lafayette Park , the Washington Examiner reported .
The attempted desecration was captured on videos posted on Twitter , showing the statue .
Protesters attached ropes to it in their attempt to topple it .
One Twitter user tweeted , “ # dcprotestors preparing to take down the andrew jackson statue in front of the # whitehouse at # bhaz # blackhouseautonomouszone # dcprotests # wadcprotests ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D.C. tearing down a statue of Andrew Jackson , the president responsible for the Trail of Tears and a hero to President Trump .
Video courtesy of @ jonathanchase_ ” .
In attacking the statue of Tennessee-born Jackson , protesters were protesting against the seventh American president , the first considered to be popularly elected by the people and the forerunner of the Democratic Party .
A statue of Jackson in Jacksonville , Florida , was vandalized with red paint Sunday night or Monday morning , News4Jax reported .
A Confederate calvaryman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Building in Nashville , where state legislators have offices and hold hearings , was vandalized .
Confederate statues have been removed in North Carolina .
American politicians and Confederate soldiers are not the protesters ’ only targets .
Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King called Monday for the removal of statues , murals and stained glass windows that depict Jesus as a “ white European , ” which he claimed “ are a form of white supremacy , ” The Tennessee Star reported .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all sizes .
Image “ Andrew Jackson Statue Targeted for Takedown ” by Jonathan Chase .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Kudlow Echoes Pence, Says ‘No Second Wave’ of Coronavirus Coming

White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Monday that there “ is no second wave ” of the novel coronavirus coming , as states across the country reported rapid increases in new virus cases .
Kudlow touted the progress that the country has made in combating the COVID-19 virus during an interview with CNBC .
“ There are some hot spots .
We ’ re on it , ” Kudlow said .
“ We know how to deal with this stuff now , we ’ ve come a long way since last winter and there is no second wave coming.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Mike Pence , who wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal June 16 titled , “ There Isn ’ t A Coronavirus ‘ Second Wave.
’ ” “ All in all , I think it ’ s a pretty good situation , and of course reopening the economy is the key to economic growth , and we ’ ve had a whole bunch of green shoots that are showing recovery probably coming on faster than a lot of people thought , ” Kudlow said .
Kudlow blamed the increasing case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument to what President Donald Trump said during his Saturday rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
Kudlow ’ s statements stand in contrast with those made administration official Peter Navarro , who said on CNN Sunday that the administration was preparing for the possibility of a second wave as cases skyrocket in states across the country .
Public health experts in the CDC and the Trump administration have said that the rise in cases , which have been primarily in states throughout the south , but added can not alone be attributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising cases were at least in part due to states ’ reopening while still in the first wave , The Hill reported .
Kudlow ’ s comments are the latest that appear inconsistent with some members of the Trump administration ’ s coronavirus task force .
Last week , Dr. Anthony Fauci warned of a growing “ anti-science bias ” that was driving Americans to not take proper precautions and contributing to the country ’ s climbing case count as a result .
“ One of the problems we face in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a combination of an anti-science bias that people are — for reasons that sometimes are , you know , inconceivable and not understandable — they just don ’ t believe science and they don ’ t believe authority , ” Fauci said June 18 on a Department of Health and Human Services podcast .
“ And that ’ s unfortunate because , you know , science is truth , ” Fauci said .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Manny Sethi Applauds Trump Steps to Limit Immigration

U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi issued a statement Monday regarding President Donald Trump ’ s executive action on immigration .
“ I agree with President Trump taking steps to limit immigration .
As I have said for the last two months , America needs to put Americans first , ” Sethi said in an emailed press release .
“ As our country gets back on its feet , we must prioritize Americans and make sure every American has a job before we allow workers from other countries to come to our country .
I will be a Senator who always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star reported last week , Sethi released a statement about the U.S. Supreme Court ’ s DACA decision and he also touched on his parents ’ experiences as immigrants .
“ This is a travesty : My parents waited seven years to immigrate to America legally , and they gave back to the community here in Tennessee , ” Sethi said .
“ It ’ s incredibly offensive to me as a first generation American to see other people break the law get benefits , and their children be rewarded for it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ building the wall , ending chain biased migration , and pausing all legal immigration until we get our economy back on track.
” As reported Thursday , the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Trump ’ s effort to end legal protections for 650,000 illegal immigrants , a stunning rebuke to the president in the midst of his reelection campaign .
For now , these individuals retain their protection from deportation and their authorization to work in the United States .
The 5-4 outcome , in which Chief Justice John Roberts and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seems certain to elevate the issue in Trump ’ s campaign , given the anti-immigrant rhetoric of his first presidential run in 2016 and immigration restrictions his administration has imposed since then .
It was the second big liberal victory at the court this week , following Monday ’ s ruling that it ’ s illegal to fire people because they ’ re gay or transgender .
The justices rejected administration arguments that the eight-year-old Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program is illegal and that courts have no role to play in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
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thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Dean Phillips Challenger Says Single-Parent Homes ‘Chief Barrier’ to African-American Advancement

Republican congressional candidate Kendall Qualls said the “ chief barrier to the advancement of the African-American community is the rise of single-parent households , ” not “ racism , police brutality or white privilege.
” Qualls is running against Rep. Dean Phillips ( D-MN-03 ) , a first-term Democrat who unseated former Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen in 2018 .
In a statement released last week , Qualls said the country will not meaningfully resolve the significant disparities between African Americans and other groups “ until we address the single-parent household crisis plaguing the African-American community.
” “ Children born to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educationally , emotionally , and financially .
Children born in single-parent homes are more likely to have contact with the criminal justice system , resent authority , join a gang , and have substance abuse issues , ” said Qualls .
“ They are also more likely to suffer from mental health issues , obesity , poverty , homelessness , and child abuse .
The effects are multigenerational : less-educated parents are less likely to marry and it begins a cycle of entrapment in the underclass .
I don ’ t need the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve seen it firsthand in my own family , ” he continued .
As a five-year-old , Qualls moved with his mother and four siblings to live with his grandparents in an apartment in Harlem .
His parents divorced in 1968 after his father returned home from the Vietnam War .
“ There was a common theme in the public-housing project that we lived in and the school I attended : there were mothers and children , but an absence of fathers .
The only men in the neighborhood were drunks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Qualls .
Of his four siblings , three went to prison and all four used drugs , including one who became addicted to heroin and died after contracting HIV/AIDS from intravenous drug use .
As the youngest in the family , Qualls said he was able to watch his sibling and cousins “ over the decades and see how their fatherless existence and personal decisions impacted their lives.
” “ The outcomes were similar to what is emblematic in the African-American community : poverty , crime , drug addiction , and joblessness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had kids outside of marriage .
If they did marry , the marriages were short-lived and ended in divorce , ” he said .
The Republican said his nieces and nephews followed a similar path , revealing that his 42-year-old niece died from a drug overdose last year .
“ The story of my extended family is emblematic of the crisis plaguing the African-American community .
America has made significant strides in combating racism .
However , the African-American community is mired in self-inflicted wounds and a mindset of victimization .
The Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only exacerbated the issue , ” Qualls continued .
He said the crisis can be addressed through community engagement and legislation , such as a federal bill to “ remove the marriage penalty in government programs and provide a tax deduction for those who complete marriage preparation.
” Qualls encouraged Minnesotans to support and promote non-profits that “ include education on the value of marriage and the negative impact father absence has on children and the community.
” He also called for partnering with “ schools , community leaders , and Black churches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and for married couples.
” “ The flashpoint of the last several weeks does not have to be a repeat of the flameout in 1968 , 1992 , or 2014 .
Instead , we should turn George Floyd ’ s tragic death to a re-examination of the single-parent crisis in the African-American community and the government policies enabling men to abandon their responsibilities , ” Qualls concluded .
“ As Barack Obama rightly declared , the ‘ hole a man leaves when he abandons his responsibility to his children is one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember this lesson as we seek to rise up from the ashes of Lake Street , pursue policing reform , and rebuild our community.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--University of Michigan to Offer In-Person and Remote Classes This Fall

The University of Michigan will start the fall semester on Aug. 31 at its Ann Arbor campus with a mix of in-person and online classes , President Mark Schlissel said in a video Monday .
“ Thanks to the thoughtful and deliberate efforts of hundreds of members of the U-M community , our cautious optimism about the fall has coalesced into a path forward , ” Schlissel wrote .
“ Their work has given me confidence that we can do this safely , and we will continue to plan and prepare in the months ahead .
We now have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , equipped with the very best guidance and ideas from our leading scholars , innovative students and expert staff.
” Ann Arbor ’ s semester will look different than past years as it implements safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , and won ’ t include fall or winter breaks .
There won ’ t be a December commencement ceremony , but graduates can join the spring ceremony .
Schlissel said they will encourage high-risk students and employees to learn or work remotely .
“ Generally , large classes will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held in person , and medium-size classes will be a hybrid of the two , ” Schlissel wrote .
“ This and other means can be used to diminish classroom density.
” Most students will have a choice to return to Ann Arbor and study in a hybrid model or study from home remotely , Schlissel said , but not all classes will be offered in every format .
Residence and dining halls will be open on its Ann Arbor campus , but dining halls will have reduced density , more boxed meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UM-Flint will have campus-specific plans .
The university said it will reserve some housing as quarantine units as needed .
“ We will protect our students , faculty and staff with a broad array of research-based public health measures and tools , ” Schlissel wrote .
“ We will make full use of our longstanding excellence in teaching and learning , both in person and online , and tap our innovative spirit to deliver a world-class Michigan educational experience in these most unusual times .
And we will ask all of you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will embody our commitment to caring for one another.
” Classes will begin for the winter term on Jan. 19 , 2021 .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Photo “ University of Michigan ” by Ken Lund CC2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Ohio Dem Accuses State House Republicans of Failing to Address ‘Hostile Work Environment’

An Ohio Democrat claimed last week that current House Speaker Larry Householder ( R-Glenford ) and his two predecessors “ ignored requests dating back several years ” to address “ a hostile work environment in the Ohio House.
” State Rep. Stephanie Howse ( D-Cleveland ) , president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus , said she has repeatedly asked for “ racial equity and implicit bias training for lawmakers and staff , ” but her requests have been “ ignored by three different Speakers of the House.
” She pointed to state Sen. Steve Huffman ’ s ( R-Tipp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got him fired from his job as an ER doctor , and the defeat of a bill that would have banned Confederate memorabilia from county fairs as evidence of a hostile environment .
“ The fact remains that racism is the bedrock by which our country was built and it pervades our institutions , including the Ohio Legislature .
A denial of that fact does not make it any less true and recent events prove how deeply engrained it truly is , ” Howse said in a statement .
“ Just because some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an aversion and discomfort to talking about race , this does not make the problem go away.
” She further criticized Republicans for refusing to “ hold a single hearing ” on a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis .
“ As we have seen this past week with Sen. Huffman ’ s comments , implicit bias and racial prejudices persist in 2020 .
And we will never be rid of them if we do not first acknowledge and discuss them .
My workplace is no different than most other workplaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just arise , ” Howse added .
“ If recent events prove anything , it is the immediate need for these conversations to be happening in not only this workplace , but in all workplaces.
” She concluded by calling on the Ohio House and Senate to hold racial equity and implicit bias training for all lawmakers “ as soon as possible.
” “ Let ’ s turn what has happened recently into a teachable moment and grow as a more compassionate governing body together , ” she said .
Anthony Gockowski is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ State Rep. Stephanie Howse ” by State Rep. Stephanie Howse .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--In Minneapolis, Talk of Changing the Police Department Means Taking on the Union

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota ( AP ) — The fiery leader of Minneapolis ’ police union has built a reputation of defying the city , long before he offered the union ’ s full support to the officers charged in George Floyd ’ s death .
When the mayor banned “ warrior training ” for officers last year , Lt. Bob Kroll said the union would offer the training instead .
When the city restricted officers from wearing uniforms at political events , he had T-shirts made to support President Donald Trump .
He commended off-duty officers who walked away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s professional women ’ s basketball team , the Minnesota Lynx , wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts .
And after Floyd ’ s death , he didn ’ t hold back as he called unrest in the city a “ terrorist movement.
” As Minneapolis tries to overhaul its police department in the wake of Floyd ’ s death , city leaders will collide with a pugnacious and powerful union that has long resisted such change .
But that union and Kroll are coming under greater pressure than ever before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in support of change and police leaders vowing to negotiate a contract tougher on bad cops .
Other unions have publicly called for Kroll ’ s removal , while public opinion polls show more Americans are shifting their views on police violence and believe offending officers are treated too leniently .
“ People recognize that this just can ’ t just be half-baked measures and tinkering around the edges in policy reform .
What we ’ re talking about right now is attacking a full-on culture shift of how police departments in Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Jacob Frey said .
Floyd , a handcuffed Black man , died May 25 after Derek Chauvin , a white officer , used his knee to pin Floyd to the ground .
Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder , third-degree murder and manslaughter .
Three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter .
All four officers were fired , but Kroll issued a statement saying they had the union ’ s full support and warned against rushing to judgment .
The Minnesota AFL-CIO and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for Kroll to quit .
Kroll , whom the Star Tribune reported is planning to step down when his term ends in 2021 , hasn ’ t responded to interview requests .
Floyd ’ s death sparked outrage in Minneapolis and beyond , as protests erupted around the world amid emphatic calls for police reform .
In Minneapolis , the first steps are being aimed at the union , long seen as a barrier .
Chief Medaria Arradondo said he would withdraw from union contract negotiations to consider structural changes , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fix an arbitration process that he said reverses roughly half of police terminations in the state .
In an interview Sunday on “ 60 Minutes , ” Arradondo said Kroll is “ absolutely … an influencer.
” “ He and others are going to have to come to a reckoning that either they are going to be on the right side of history or they ’ re going be on the wrong side of history… or they will be left behind , ” the chief said .
One of the union ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persuaded the city to curtail the power of the Minneapolis Civilian Review Authority by shielding from public view a finding that a complaint had been sustained against an officer .
The union ’ s power has consistently stymied change , community leaders say .
“ It makes it very hard to implement reforms if … the federation is in the background saying , ‘ Don ’ t worry about this , we ’ ll file a grievance , ’ ” said Steve Fletcher , one of nine City Council members who pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sends a strong signal that you can just ignore leadership .
That has , over time , created a culture that is very resistant to change.
” When the City Council declined last year to put additional officers on the street , Fletcher described police pushback as a “ protection racket.
” He said business owners began calling him to complain that officers were slowing response times or not resolving issues , and telling businesses to call their council members .
Police unions across the country are seen as just as powerful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of crimes , including such special privileges as allowing them to wait 24 hours to be interrogated .
They also have fought against making public misconduct claims , and traditionally lawmakers have been reticent to battle them over fears of being seen as anti-police .
There are signs that the power of police unions may be eroding .
In New York , lawmakers passed on party lines a reform bill for the nation ’ s largest department and others that makes major changes to officer security reviled by the union .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter condemning Chauvin , saying they “ stand ready to listen and embrace the calls for change , reform and rebuilding.
” The move was seen as a big deal for a police department where such public dissent is rare .
A recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that when compared with five years ago , more Americans believe police brutality is a very serious problem that unequally targets Black Americans .
The poll also found that Americans are far more likely now than they were five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who cause injury or death in the course of their job are treated too leniently by the justice system .
Allen Berryman , a retired police sergeant and president of the union for most of the 1990s , said the union is doing its job .
“ People like the idea of due process for themselves when they get arrested … or anything like that , but they don ’ t seem to like it ” for officers , he said , adding that a lack of progressive discipline by management is part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emailed questions from The Associated Press , Assistant Chief Mike Kjos said issues involving discipline are complex and the union ’ s involvement is just one piece .
One hurdle , he said , is that discipline handed out in past cases may be used as precedent for present cases that results in light punishment .
“ It ’ s not impossible , but it does present challenges for increased levels of discipline when previous administrations may have operated from a different lens on accountability , ” he said .
Michael Friedman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years , said the union ’ s history of supporting officers “ without any common regard for community standards for what policing should be ” is a problem “ that rightfully frustrates many.
” “ But it ’ s also very convenient for others to say , especially right now , ‘ Hey , it ’ s a union problem , ’ ” Friedman said .
“ And say if we change the union , or get rid of the union , or remove a right or two , that changes everything.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press .
AP writer Doug Glass contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : In this July 30 , 2018 file photo , Minneapolis Police Union President Lt. Bob Kroll speaks during a news conference in Minneapolis .
Talk of changing the Minneapolis Police Department is everywhere in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death in an encounter with four officers .
But real change may depend on confronting a powerful union that has resisted similar attempts for years .
Local politicians and police leaders have long blamed an entrenched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP ) .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--DeWine Opines on ‘Fast Reopening’, Walks With His Dog in Exclusive Dispatch Interview

What ’ s a newspaper to do when given an exclusive interview with the governor during a pandemic that has ravaged the state ’ s economy and rioting that has ravaged the capital city ?
Would you push against answers that are not true ?
If you ’ re The Columbus Dispatch , you allow Gov .
Mike DeWine to talk about the “ quick ” reopening of the state , his walks with his dog Dolly and how he social distances with his grandkids .
In other words , you write an Ode to DeWine .
Oh , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump , and then you ask if the governor has cried in the past few months .
In an interview on the governor ’ s farm in Cedarville , reporters Lucas Sullivan and Mike Wagner allowed DeWine to paint himself as a compassionate leader who emphasizes with down-on-their-luck unemployed folks and those who hope to attend Ohio State football games in the fall .
The interview is available here .
What ’ s your message to the hundreds of thousands of folks who have lost their jobs , or response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who point to an expected increase in suicides and mental health problems , an increase in domestic violence rates or other ussies ( sic ) that factor into the cost of the shutdown ?
This is why we have been fairly fast to open up .
Now we have Ohioans who think we are opening up too fast .
We have Ohioans who think we are opening up too slow .
And there are some Ohioans who think we are opening up OK. We know we couldn ’ t remain shut down .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you stated that life has to go on .
But our ability for life to go on , and our ability to work and do some of the things that they find enjoyable , for that to happen we have to keep the spread down .
DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton opened the state so “ fast ” that gym owners and other businesses had to take them to court for the right to reopen and try to save their livelihoods , and the administration assembled restaurant police to force eateries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Dispatch reporters asked DeWine if he was troubled by police ’ s use of tear gas in the Columbus riots , not whether the governor should have protected public property .
DeWine said the protests were “ hijacked ” by a few .
He also said he does not know if he would kneel to protesters .
Meanwhile , last Friday , DeWine issued a statement saying he shared with the Ohio State Patrol his “ anger and disgust ” at the defacement of the Statehouse , The Ohio Star reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Tech Leads the Way as US Stocks Head for a Third Month of Gains

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street Tuesday , extending the market ’ s recent winning streak after another strong showing by technology companies .
The S & P 500 rose 0.4 % and is on pace for its third straight monthly gain .
The Nasdaq composite , which is heavily weighted with technology stocks , climbed to an all-time high for the second day in a row .
Bond yields rose , another sign of increasing confidence in the economy .
Health care stocks and companies that rely on consumer spending were also among the big gainers , while safe-play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell .
Investors have been focused on the prospects for an economic recovery as more businesses reopen after being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Encouraging economic data , including retail sales and hiring , have helped stoke optimism that the recession will be relatively short-lived .
Plus , Wall Street has grown confident that the Federal Reserve and Congress are prepared to continue providing a historic amount of support to the market and economy , said Sam Stovall , chief investment strategist at CFRA .
“ All of the negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices , ” Stovall said .
“ If we are to stumble , then the Fed and Congress are likely to step in to put a fiscal and monetary floor underneath the economy and the markets .
And now , with the likelihood that the economy will not be shutting down entirely should we end up with a second wave , the market is basically saying it ’ s ‘ onward and upward.
’ ” The S & P 500 rose 13.43 points to 3,131.29 .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 131.14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26,156.10 .
The Nasdaq climbed 74.89 points , or 0.7 % , to 10,131.37 .
The index has only fallen twice so far in June .
The Russell 2000 index of small company stocks picked up 5.81 points , or 0.4 % , to 1,439.34 .
The market has continued to climb , despite bouts of volatility , even as a rise in new coronavirus cases in the U.S. and other countries clouds the prospects for an economic recovery .
The World Health Organization said over the weekend that the pandemic is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is seeing rapid increases in cases across the South and West , has the most infections and deaths by far in the world , with 2.3 million cases and over 120,000 confirmed virus-related deaths , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
On Tuesday , Federal health officials told Congress to brace for a second wave of coronavirus infections in the fall and winter of this year .
While the virus remains a concern as businesses reopen , new cases aren ’ t yet that concerning , said Jason Draho @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UBS Global Wealth Management .
“ Right now , that ’ s something to monitor , but when you look at the underlying data , it ’ s all still at levels that are not too concerning as opposed to where we were back in March and April , ” he said .
Investors have been placing more weight on economic data releases that suggest economies that have reopened are making strides to emerge from a deep recession .
On Tuesday , the Commerce Department said sales of new U.S. homes jumped 16.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 676,000 , exceeding Wall Street ’ s forecasts .
Further updates on the U.S. economy are expected toward the end of this week , when the government will issue data on consumer spending , weekly unemployment aid applications and durable goods orders .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 0.72 % from 0.70 % late Monday .
It tends to move with investors ’ expectations for the economy and inflation .
Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 9 cents to settle at $ 40.37 a barrel .
Brent crude , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close at 0.5 % to $ 42.63 per barrel .
The market rally followed solid gains in Europe , where indexes marched higher after some encouraging economic data .
France ’ s CAC 40 gained 1.4 % , while Germany ’ s DAX rallied 2.1 % .
Britain ’ s FTSE 100 rose 1.2 % .
Asian markets overcame some early turbulence caused by reported comments by White House trade adviser Peter Navarro that appeared to suggest the U.S. trade deal with China was in trouble .
President Donald Trump later said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Veiga and Damian J. Troise are reporters at The Associated Press .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-23--Housing Spark and Clothes Shopping is Back, at Least Online

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed .
The following are developments Tuesday related to the national and global response , the workplace , the spread of the virus , and the marketplace economy .
Travel is resuming slowly with hotels and airlines operating under new rules .
There is already some uneasiness about crowding and the lack of social distancing .
The Transportation Security Administration screened 607,540 people at U.S. airports Monday , the highest total since March 19 but 78 % lower than a year ago .
Lufthansa will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its first regular scheduled flights to mainland China since late January .
The German carrier will offer one flight from Frankfurt to Shanghai every Wednesday , and in the opposite direction every Friday .
Delta plans its first flight to Shanghai since early February on Thursday , when it resumes service from Seattle via Seoul .
Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea will reopen on July 1 after being closed for four months .
The parks will operate under government safety guidelines , said owner Oriental Land Co. , with limits in attendance , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Disney plans to reopen its parks in Florida and California next month .
New York , a COVID-19 hot spot for months , is relaxing rules for beleaguered retail stores .
But some of the push toward online shopping may become permanent .
Millions of people in Britain will be able to go to the pub , visit a movie theater , get a haircut or attend a religious service starting July 4 , in a major loosening of coronavirus lockdown restrictions .
But they will have to wait a bit longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tattoo or go to the gym .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that a swath of businesses can reopen , including restaurants , bars , hotels , hairdressers , cinemas and museums .
Businesses including indoor gyms , pools , spas and tattoo parlors have to stay shut .
Restaurants , gyms , swimming pools , libraries and kindergartens resume operation in Moscow on Tuesday as the city is emerging from a tight coronavirus lockdown in place since late March .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced ending the lockdown in the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stay-at-home orders and allowed beauty parlors to reopen first .
Last week , dental clinics , museums and outdoor spaces of cafes and restaurants resumed operation .
Shoe Carnival has reopened all but one of its 390 stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico .
The company said that comparable store sales are up 28.1 % for the second quarter-to-date compared with the prior-year period .
At brick-and-mortar locations , those same-store sales are up 4 % .
Online sales have soared nearly 470 % .
Alibaba ’ s logistics affiliate Cainiao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 141 million ) in expanding its global reach and reducing delivery times around the world , as more people go online to shop during the pandemic The company plans to quintuple its chartered flights to nearly 1,300 , and double the amount of its overseas warehouse space over the next three years .
There are mixed messages in housing data being released by the U.S. this week .
There is pent up housing demand , but millions of people have lost jobs during the outbreak , potentially slowing any rebound for the market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in forbearance fell to 8.48 % as of June 14 , from 8.55 % in the prior week , according to a survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association .
About 4.2 million homeowners are now in forbearance plans , down from nearly 4.3 million homeowners the previous week .
“ Fewer homeowners in forbearance underscores the continued improvements in the job market , and provides another sign of the fundamental health of the housing market , which has rebounded considerably over the past several weeks , ” said Mike Fratantoni , MBA ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But he warned that it ’ s unclear whether stimulus payments created a temporary bump in those numbers .
Stocks on Wall Street got off to a solid start Tuesday with broad gains for the market following a rally in Europe , where indexes marched higher after some encouraging economic data .
It appears that pandemic-driven online shopping is shifting from the pantry to the closet as millions prepare to emerge from lockdown .
The number of people that purchased groceries online dropped from 31 % last week to 29 % this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survey .
At the same time , Coresight said the focus for those shopping online has shifted to clothing .
Although the number of respondents who bought clothing in stores was still lower than those who bought online , the figure increased about six percentage points , week over week .
About the Headline Photo : A woman looks through an art installation of Rattana Sudjarit at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Center in Bangkok , Thailand , Tuesday , June 23 , 2020 .
Daily life in the capital is resuming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ease restrictions related to running business and activities that were imposed weeks ago to combat the spread of COVID-19 .
( AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe )


thetennesseestar--2020-06-24--State House Passes Resolution to Address Adjourning with Unfinished Legislation

As Tennessee ’ s 111th Tennessee General Assembly wound down to adjourn , the House passed a resolution recognizing the need to address legislation passed by one chamber but left unfinished by the other .
When the General Assembly came back to their second session after the three-month COVID-19 recess , the Senate only wanted to take up bills that were budget-related , time-sensitive , or COVID-19 related , while the House planned to complete all of their work .
The difference in approaches became evident early on when the House returned to a heavy committee schedule the week of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as four and five hours , while the Senate had just one committee meeting scheduled that week .
The trend continued over the following two weeks , with only slightly more committee meetings scheduled for the Senate , while the House had heated debates on a variety of bills .
As a result , Representative Micah Van Huss ( R-Jonesborough ) filed House Resolution 343 on June 11 , addressing a more permanent solution to the situation .
HR 343 congratulates the House of Representatives for being the people ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amend the Tennessee Constitution as follows : When a bill or resolution passes a house of the General Assembly , then that house shall not adjourn until the other house has voted on the bill or resolution ; the other house shall vote on the bill or resolution regardless of whether it lies in the chamber or in a committee of that house ; the house considering the bill or resolution in committee shall have at least five members eligible to cast a yes or no vote in that committee ; and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be voted upon based on a procedural motion or lack of a procedural motion .
With regard to his resolution , Van Huss told The Tennessee Star , “ If one body passes a bill , then the other body should have to vote it up or down .
We ’ re here to serve our constituents , not ourselves.
” He went on to say , about being self-serving , “ I want to go home to my family as much as everyone else , but my constituents sent me here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the approach taken in the House , Van Huss said , “ I ’ m thankful that House leadership didn ’ t limit the number of bills that we considered after the break.
” In light of his resolution , fellow House members brought a number of their important bills to the attention of Van Huss that either passed only in the House or were held in the House due to inaction by the Senate .
While Van Huss shared the list with The Star , he made sure to point out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2134 by Cepicky – Teacher ’ s Discipline Act establishing a disciplinary process for students who have been removed from the classroom by the teacher .
– House Vote 91-0 / SB 2252 by Hensley in Senate Education Committee • HB 1689 by Cepicky – Transgender Sports prohibiting a student from participating in a single-sex interscholastic sport or athletic event provided by the student ’ s public school unless the student verifies with the public school that the student is of the respective sex .
– House Vote 73-13-2 / SB 1736 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 38 by Van Huss – Eliminates state mandated testing for grades K-2 for the purposes of teacher evaluation .
House Vote 78-14-3 / SB 0496 by Bowling in Senate Education Committee • HB 1839 by Daniel – Prohibits public higher education institutions from contracting or affiliating with a foreign nation .
House Vote 80-10-2 / SB 2339 by Gresham in Senate Education Committee • HB 77 by Van Huss – Heartbeat Bill .
House Vote 65-21-7 in 2019 / SB 1236 by Pody Senate Judiciary Committee even following a Summer Study in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allows members of the U.S. armed forces and honorably discharged veterans who received certified occupational training to receive equivalent credit toward occupational licensing .
House Vote 94-0 / SB 1915 by Bowling in Senate State & Local Government Committee • HB 2007 by Daniel – Authorizes the release of public records related to an audit or investigation by the Comptroller of the Treasury or other government audit staff used during the audit or investigation prior to the conclusion of the process , if such disclosure will not prejudice the audit or investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pody in Senate State & Local Government Committee • HB 1951 by Daniel – Requires state agencies to hold rulemaking hearings when promulgating proposed administrative rules that may affect a person ’ s right or imposes fees , penalties or fines and allows a person to file suit if rules are not properly adopted .
House Vote 91-0 / SB 2322 Roberts in Senate Government Operations Committee • HB 2785 by Daniel – Gives the Tennessee General Assembly greater control over rules promulgated by state agencies , including suspension of any or all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
House Vote 91-1 / SB 2593 Senate Government Operations Committee • HB 2910 by Grills –Changes the compensation of the Reelfoot Lake regional utility and planning district from no more than $ 1,000 annually to no more than $ 200 per month .
House Vote 74-1-4 / SB 2920 by Jackson Senate Delayed Bills Committee Bills held in the House because of delays in the Senate : • HB 2113 by Grills – Requires acceptance of handgun carry permits as valid forms of government-issued photo identification , the same as a driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Haile Senate Calendar Committee • HB 2091 by Hulsey – Increases penalty for the offense of voluntary manslaughter from a Class C felony to a Class B felony .
– House Finance / SB 1966 by Crowe in Senate Judiciary Committee • HB 2291 by Hulsey – Prohibits the Governor form using law enforcement to enforce unconstitutional executive orders that require a private business entity to close , restricting the freedom to peaceably assemble or restricting the freedom to travel– SB 2368 by Pody in Senate Judiciary Committee • HB 2339 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a detainer to serve a term of imprisonment in another jurisdiction , primarily federal , and have served more than 50 percent of their term and they are eligible for parole , they will be considered eligible for parole under certain conditions so they can be transferred , saving the state the cost of their incarceration .
/ SB 2257 by Crowe in Senate Judiciary Committee • HB 2380 by Hulsey – Increases the penalty for statutory rape , based on certain ages of the victim and the defendant .
/ SB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • HB 1948 by Daniel – Makes evidence obtained in an illegal manner inadmissible in a civil proceeding .
/ SB 1992 by Stevens in Senate Judiciary Committee • HB 2536 by Doggett – Creates a violation of an individual ’ s civil rights to infringe upon or deny an individual the full exercise and enjoyment of any right recognized and protected by Article I , Section 26 of the Tennessee Constitution or any right recognized and protected by the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution , and allows enforcement by means of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
/ SB 2614 by Hensley Senate Judiciary Committee • HB 2539 by Doggett – Makes changes regarding restitution for victims of crime .
/ SB 2452 by Roberts in Senate Judiciary Committee • HB 2540 by Doggett – Requires that a court clerk offer a reasonable payment plan for fees and fines to person ’ s who were convicted of an offense and completed their sentence .
– H Cal / SB 2460 by Roberts in Senate Judiciary Committee • HB 2454 by Terry – Medical Marijuana .
/ SB 2334 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HB 1947 by Daniel – Clarifies state statutes related to retaliatory termination of an employee for refusing to participate in or be silent about illegal activities .
/ SB 2909 by Bailey in Senate Commerce & Labor Committee • HB 1949 by Daniel – Allows certain state agencies to use a portion of their reserve fund to cover a deficit in the current fiscal year .
/ SB 2074 by Pody in Senate Finance , Ways & Means Committee • HB 2580 by Hulsey – Requires the state executive committees for each statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule of a candidate ’ s public appearance to their website within 48 hours , instead of as soon as it is available , after such information is available to the respective SEC .
/ SB 2530 by Southerland in Senate State & Local Government Committee In presenting the resolution on the House floor , Van Huss said to his colleagues , “ The citizens of Tennessee sent us here to do a job .
We should be focused on doing that job and not looking for ways to quickly finish and quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what ’ s right and what ’ s wrong and not what will get us re-elected .
Thank you House leadership for not limiting the number of bills that we are going to consider after this recent recess.
” House Republican Majority Leader William Lamberth thanked the sponsor for bringing the proposal and then gave his thoughts on the resolution .
I just want to say that even though we ’ ve had some tumultuous times over the past few weeks , this chamber ’ s worked very hard to work on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which have not yet proceeded in the Senate .
I do hope that our Senate colleagues over the next few days , or however long it takes until we sine die , will take up many of these ideas that you have all worked so hard to be able to pass .
So I appreciate the nature of this resolution , I appreciate your feelings on it , and I join you in saying that in a bicameral legislature obviously we can ’ t tell the other chamber what to do , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work of the people and take up not just the budget and not just the bills that are already slated to come up and the additional ones that quite frankly they ’ ve added on , but just go ahead and finish the full slate of legislation that we ’ ve worked hard on .
Representative Jim Coley ( R-Bartlett ) , who is not seeking re-election in 2020 , said he wanted to reiterate sentiments of the leader and express his appreciation for the sponsor bringing the bill .
He added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kits , that had the support of Nashville Democrat Representatives Bob Freeman and Bill Beck as co-sponsors .
Coley said that with a young lady coming to testify before the House Judiciary Committee about her experiences , “ It ’ s things like this that don ’ t need to be overlooked.
” Coley expressed his displeasure with the Senate .
“ I think it ’ s disgraceful that the Senate has chosen not to deal with issues like this , ” and , therefore , supported the resolution .
While the 99 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 33 State Senators are elected every four years , with those in even-numbered districts being up for election in 2020 .
Of the 16 up for re-election this year , only three have no primary or general election opponent and one is not seeking re-election .
In seeking the support of Democrat as co-sponsors , Van Huss told The Star , they declined , saying that the Senate is needed to kill conservative legislation from the House as the only way to stop it .
The resolution passed the House with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nays and 8 Present and Not Voting .
With the 111th Tennessee General Assembly adjourning last week , all of the unfinished bills will have to be started anew when the 112th General Assembly convenes in 2021 .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .
Background Photo “ Tennessee General Assembly ” by the Tennessee General Assembly .

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--2020-06-24--Commentary: Today’s Cultural Revolution Will Not Stop at Elections, They Want Your Minds

The cultural revolutionaries who have begun marching in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin have opened a widespread assault on history itself , toppling statues across the country including those of Confederate generals like Albert Pike in Washington , D.C. but also Union generals , too , like Ulysses S. Grant in San Francisco , who won the Civil War to abolish slavery and later went on to become President .
The vandals have even begun targeting religious symbols , with some calls to go after statues of Jesus , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol of white supremacy .
Quickly , a protest that began as a push to address police brutality has devolved into a violent radical movement seeking to supplant American culture itself .
The breakaway democratic republic of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ( CHAZ ) in downtown Seattle had its first shooting as the occupation enters its third week after the city abandoned a police precinct , with one dead and another in critical condition .
Now Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is calling for police to return to the area and reclaim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to emergency calls .
Durkan says it can be done “ peacefully , ” and surely let us hope so .
Some see this in merely a political context , but the violent revolutionary ideology being pursued here if allowed to flourish will not stop at elections or toppling statues .
They want our very minds .
If you disagree with them , you ’ re not a free-minded individual , no , you ’ re a fascist .
A racist .
A Nazi .
In that sense , they are not much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose career of murder 9 million of his perceived enemies gives a peek into what can happen if violent revolution is allowed to be waged against a country unchecked — and just how long it can take to recover from those crimes .
Stalin ’ s reign is surely the worst case scenario .
Could such a thing happen here ?
The only way to find out is to grant the revolutionaries power .
It is certainly hard to imagine how such a thing could happen today from the comfort of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today .
It all depends on if anything is done as the radicals seize power .
At a certain point , it becomes too late , and the error can not be seen but in hindsight .
The civil society today and the rule of law and courts can hold officers like Chauvin to account .
The mob can destroy that system of justice , as imperfect as it is .
And how bad it gets depends on what if anything society does to stop it .
In 1956 , three years following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a secret speech to Communist Party officials described the horrific crimes that had been committed by Joseph Stalin during the purges and mass internment when millions perished : “ Stalin acted not through persuasion , explanation , and patient cooperation with people , but by imposing his concepts and demanding absolute submission to his opinion .
Whoever opposed this concept or tried to prove his viewpoint , and the correctness of his position was doomed to removal from the leading collective and to subsequent moral and physical annihilation.
” Khrushchev would go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purges and “ fabricated court cases ” against those who had committed no crimes .
This was a program for mass imprisonment of 18 million in the gulag system based on mere thought crimes or imagined crimes in the gulags .
The Khrushchev speech would not be officially released until 1989 by Mikhail Gorbachev during the program of glasnost but its impact at the time was major .
True , Khrushchev ’ s criticism was still couched in the context of preserving ideological purity of the state .
It ’ s just that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was even killing loyal communists and innocent bystanders , from the perspective of the Party .
His words were weak by the standards of a civil society and yet were still revolutionary within the one-party system , representing perhaps its first significant crack .
But the Soviets were not necessarily in a hurry to release all the prisoners .
Although the gulag system began being dismantled as early as 1954 , first cases were reviewed in a long process .
My wife ’ s aunt who was born and grew up in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until 1958 , even then the ordeal was not over .
First , they were not allowed to immediately return to their home country of Moldova without a proper passport and propiska .
And even when individuals could get home — bribes helped — upon returning to society , former gulag prisoners , many of whom had committed no crime , were discriminated against for employment and other matters , a relic of the Stalinist era .
Once imprisoned , they never stopped being enemies of the state .
Still , the forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political prisoners even as millions were being let out of the camps .
It would not be for a full 34 years after Stalin ’ s death , and 63 years after he had first assumed power in 1924 , that the last gulag at Perm-36 in Kuchino would be closed in 1987 under Gorbachev .
Stalin ’ s acts were never nullified in his lifetime .
That would not come about until after his reign of terror was over , and even then it took several years .
Would it take despotism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they might really be up against with the current rebellion ?
Do we want to wait around to find out ?
Or , perhaps , are enough Americans finally ready to embrace violent revolutionary ideology today by looking the other way ?
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .
Photo “ Defund the Police-Black Lives Matter Supporters ” by Backbone Campaign .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-24--#WalkAway Campaign Founder Brandon Straka Describes His Undercover Time in CHAZ/CHOP

Live from Music Row Tuesday 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 # WalkAway Founder and President Brandon Straka to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Straka reflected on his four days undercover in the Seattle CHAZ/CHOP seven-block radius described as an autonomous zone free of government and police .
He noted that capitalism was very alive in the zone with people selling items and suggested that these people are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for limited government .
Leahy : We are joined now by the man from O ’ Neil , Nebraska .
The founder of the WalkAway movement .
Brandon Straka .
Good morning Brandon .
Straka : Hey , how are you doing ?
Leahy : I understand you have some information to report to us about the I don ’ t know what they call it , the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone .
What is it ?
The CHOP thing ?
Tell us a little bit about that .
Straka : Well yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my team and I went to Seattle and we kind of infiltrated the CHAZ/CHOP zone undercover to try to just gather some information and get some interviews and talk with people and find out where their heads are at and what their intentions are .
First , they were calling it CHAZ which stood for Capital Hill Autonomous Zone .
And then for whatever reason , they wanted to change the name to CHOP .
Which means Capitol Hill Occupied Protest .
And what we found out inside and for anybody that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Seattle in which anarchists have completely cornered it off and took over .
And basically insisted that this was a zone that would be free from police .
From government .
Totally anarchy .
So we went inside to try and find out what was going on in there .
It was very fascinating .
There were things that stood out to most immediately and that struck me was that there was no common philosophy or any common messaging that ’ s coming from the people inside .
They themselves argue with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a lot of inciting .
There is a lot of racial division inside the autonomous zone .
Leahy : Hold it .
The mayor there Jenny Durkan said it was an example of the summer of love .
Is that not right ?
Straka : No , it ’ s not right whatsoever and the footage that I took would show that quite clearly .
At one point there was a man who walked , there is a large field there .
Like a baseball field which they ’ ve also taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But a fully naked man walked out onto the field and he was either a White or Asian man .
It was kind of hard to tell .
This became a huge issue for a Black man who was out there on the field .
And once the Black man started expressing being upset about this it became sort of the mandatory duty for all of the White people around to make sure that the Black man was not upset any longer .
They went to the naked man ( Leahy laughs ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he was refusing to leave .
And then at one point the Black man actually attacked the naked man .
And all of this I captured on video .
When we came out with our cameras then the Black man again became very upset that it was being filmed .
It then began the duty and obligation was split to getting the naked man off the field and getting the people with a video camera off of the field .
Yeah , it ’ s not really like that chill groovy 1960s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s more like a dumpster fire kind of feel .
Leahy : Yes .
Well apparently the mayor of Seattle Jenny Durkan , did you see this ?
She ’ s decided that the summer of love just ain ’ t happening there .
( Laughs ) And she ’ s going to start negotiations with whoever is involved there to shut it down .
Did you see that story that just came up late last night ?
Straka : I did .
I saw that they are trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people start getting murdered and the EMT ’ s and the public safety officials are unwilling to go inside .
This is what they wanted .
They wanted an area of the city where they rule and there is no such thing as public assistance .
That ’ s what they got .
And now they have dead people on their hands .
I mean people were actually murdered inside of there .
Leahy : There was a 19-year-old man shot dead there and one seriously wounded .
Did you feel safe when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did .
Actually I did .
But that ’ s mostly because we went during the day time .
And we were told , I hired bodyguards to go in with me .
You have a good amount of knowledge ( Chuckles ) the deep history of CHAZ .
But the bodyguards actually told me that it ’ s very very dangerous at night time .
And much less dangerous during the day time .
What I experienced was mostly just a feel of , honestly , it felt like wandering into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill people had taken over .
And not everybody .
By the way , just to be fair , there were some very very nice people there .
One of the first people that we met was a guy who ( Chuckles ) had created a lounge area on the street by pulling various pieces of furniture together where people could have conversations about White privilege and Black oppression and things like that .
( Leahy laughs ) But he himself was very very nice and was really coming from a good place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As I said , you wander around and you see all of these little sections that are set up by people , by the way , let me just say , capitalism is alive and well in CHAZ and CHOP .
Straka : People are selling t-shirts .
People are selling merchandise .
Oh yes .
Everywhere you go there is somebody that ’ s got their hustle on trying to make buck inside of there which I thought was very interesting .
The more that I talked with people the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys realize that you are actually conservatives ?
Because they want less government .
They want the least amount of government whatsoever involved in their daily lives .
They want to be able to live their lives and do what they want free form any sort of tyranny in government and they want to be able to make money inside the CHAZ .
I thought to myself , I don ’ t think you guys are ready for it yet but one day , you will realize that we actually have a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : How many security guys did you have with you ?
Straka : I had two security guards and then I had three members of my team that came with me to assist in getting footage and doing interviews and photos etc .
Leahy : Is that footage available or will you have it out there in a bit ?
Straka : It will be soon .
This was a very crazy week for me .
I literally went straight from getting that footage that day and then over to Tulsa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredible .
Then the very next day had to drive to Dallas .
And I just got back to New York City which is where I live last night .
Today I will be dicing up that footage and putting it together .
And my goal is to get it out by tomorrow and at the very latest but hopefully tonight .
Straka : I thought the Trump rally was amazing .
I encourage people not to listen to the media because they are just doing what they do .
I was there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes , there were some empty seats in the upper upper level .
There were three levels .
And the first two levels were completely jammed packed .
Then the third level had a scattering of empty seats .
I ’ m reading stories that we ’ re saying it was half full which is insane .
Leahy : Inaccurate right ?
It looked to me about two thirds full or three fourths full .
With 10 or 11,000 out of 15,000 .
If you listen to the mainstream media it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full .
Then you see the FOX News broadcast .
Record broadcast numbers .
Seven point seven million people watched it on FOX News Saturday night .
A record in the history for FOX News on Saturday night .
Straka : Wow .
That doesn ’ t surprise me at all .
But there ’ s a lot of other factors that people need to take into account too .
First and foremost the idea , even if and don ’ t believe this whatsoever , even if Donald Trump support was waning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Donald Trump would not be able to draw 15,000 people and fill a stadium is absurd .
He has millions and millions of supporters from coast to coast .
And people more now than ever with everything that is going on in the country .
This has nothing to do with waning support or anything like that .
What is has to do with primarily is a couple of things .
Nearly every older person in this country supports Donald Trump .
Older people are the most at risk for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to throw caution to the wind right now and we feel like it ’ s safe .
That ’ s a lot of us that are 55 years or younger are perfectly willing to get into an arena and sit jammed packed next to people .
Older people don ’ t want to do that .
And that ’ s understandable .
Not to mention that there were a huge number of Black Lives Matter protesters outside who were threatening and bullying people .
Leahy : Tell us where people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more about you Brandon .
Straka : You bet , walkawaycampaign.com .
You can go on there and find out more information and please give me a follow on social media at Brandon Straka on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram .
Go to walkawaycampaign.com .
Listen to the full third hour : 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 .
Background Photo “ CHOP Zone ” by Alex Glidewell @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-06-24--Project Veritas Exposes Rampant Anti-Conservative Bias of Facebook’s Content Moderators: ‘I Am Going

Project Veritas Exposes Rampant Anti-Conservative Bias of Facebook’s Content Moderators: ‘I Am Going to Delete Them for Terrorism’

A shocking new undercover video from Project Veritas exposes the rampant anti-conservative bias of Facebook ’ s content moderators , the employees who are responsible for deciding what posts are censored .
Zach McElroy , a former Facebook employee who worked as a content moderator in Tampa , Florida , told Project Veritas that he ’ s willing to testify before Congress about Facebook ’ s bias against Trump supporters and conservative causes .
“ We are essentially in charge of what gets said and what gets stifled , ” he explained of the “ content moderator ” position , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posts selected for moderator review by Facebook ’ s algorithm are from “ Republican pages , ” including politicians and journalists .
In the undercover footage obtained by Project Veritas , one content moderator said she deletes every Republican post that appears in her queue .
“ Yes !
I don ’ t give no f–ks .
I ’ ll delete it , ” she confirmed , revealing that she allows anti-Trump content in violation of Facebook ’ s policies to remain on the site .
“ You got ta take it down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ If you see something that ’ s not supposed to be up , it ’ s probably me.
” Another content moderator , Lara Kontakos , was asked what she does when she sees posts in support of the president .
“ If someone is wearing a MAGA hat , I am going to delete them for terrorism , ” she said .
“ I think we are all doing that.
” Steve Grimmett , a content review lead , said Facebook has a “ very progressive ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McElroy ’ s story raises serious doubts about the Capitol Hill testimony of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg , who gave lawmakers the impression that his company only takes down content that could cause harm , such as relating to terrorism or hate speech , but never for politics , ” James O ’ Keefe , Project Veritas ’ founding CEO , said in a statement .
“ Facebook and other social media platforms are protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act , because they claim that unlike traditional publishers they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are like the phone company just stringing wires on poles , ” he added .
“ Facebook ’ s $ 400 billion market capitalization is tied to this protection and our report shows for the first time anywhere Facebook ’ s robust and human-directed process for restricting the marketplace of ideas , which calls into question their CDA 230 immunity.
” U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) , who called for an investigation into the anti-conservative bias of Google ’ s search function over the weekend , addressed the new Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I just found out about the Project Veritas video and their latest that they have brought out .
And it shows how Facebook chooses to censor people that they do not agree with , ” said Blackburn .
“ I ’ ve been censored more than once .
Other conservatives have .
I have friends that are in the conservative media business , friends that do conservative entertainment .
They have all experienced censorship.
” She said the Project Veritas video proves that Facebook ’ s content moderators “ bring their liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Project Veritas-Facebook Investigation ” by Project Veritas .
Editors ’ note : Neil McCabe , The Tennessee Star and Star News Network National Correspondent , also serves as a contract communications manager for Project Veritas .