thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Trump Approves TikTok Deal with Oracle and Walmart, Wants the App to Support Pro-US Education Progra

Trump Approves TikTok Deal with Oracle and Walmart, Wants the App to Support Pro-US Education Program

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he approved a transaction between Oracle and TikTok that allows the Chinese application to stay in the United States .
Part of the arrangement requires the newly U.S.-based TikTok company to direct $ 5 billion toward teaching American children “ the real history of our country , ” Trump told reporters at the White House , Bloomberg reported Saturday .
The president later told rally attendees in North Carolina Saturday that he is establishing a “ large fund for the education of American youth.
” Trump told rally goers that he told company leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could you put up $ 5 billion into a fund for education , so we can educate people as to real history of our country — the real history , not the fake history.
” The president criticized the 1619 Project during a speech Thursday , the project The New York Times developed that redefines the U.S. ’ s origins as starting from the date slaves first arrived in the country .
Historians lambasted the project ’ s conclusions , with Brown University professor Gordon Wood calling it “ wrong in so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president wants to use money from the deal for the “ patriotic education ” program , sources told Bloomberg Saturday .
TikTok will use the proceeds from a public listing next year for the $ 5 billion grant , the report noted , citing sources familiar with the matter .
The app ’ s Chinese parent company , ByteDance , first heard about the education fund from news reports , a company spokeswoman told Bloomberg .
“ We will stop the radical indoctrination of our students and restore patriotic education to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally Saturday , according to Bloomberg .
“ Patriotic education , ” he repeated , describing it as teaching children “ to love our country , honor our history and always respect our great American flag.
” Meanwhile , some lawmakers believe a deal between Oracle and TikTok will not satisfy concerns that the app poses a threat to national security .
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said in a Sept. 14 letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that the partnership won ’ t prohibit the Chinese Communist Party from controlling the app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ partnership ’ that allows for anything other than the full emancipation of the TikTok software from potential Chinese Communist Party control is completely unacceptable , and flatly inconsistent with the President ’ s Executive Order of August 6 , ” Hawley wrote after suggesting the app might have to undergo a ban if ByteDance does not find a buyer .
Many lawmakers and American officials believe the app is a threat to national security through its collection of user data .
Trump signed a pair of executive orders Aug. 6 prohibiting individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The orders barred “ any transaction by any person , or with respect to any property , subject to the jurisdiction of the United States , ” with ByteDance and Tencent Holdings , the parent company of WeChat .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Robert W. Gore, the Inventor of Gore-Tex Fabric, Dead at 83

NEWARK , Delaware ( AP ) — Robert W. Gore , whose invention of what created the breathable-yet-waterproof fabric known as Gore-Tex revolutionized outdoor wear and helped spawn uses in numerous other fields , has died .
He was 83 .
Gore , who was president of W. L. Gore & Associates for almost 25 years and company chairman for 30 years , died on Thursday at a family home in Maryland following a prolonged illness , company spokesperson Amy Calhoun confirmed Saturday .
Gore discovered a new form of a polymer in 1969 at a company lab in Newark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began the company , asked Bob Gore to research a new way to manufacturer plumber ’ s tape at a low cost using PTFE , commonly known as DuPont ’ s Teflon , The News Journal of Wilmington reported .
The son figured out that by stretching PTFE with a sudden yank , the polymer expanded by 1,000 percent .
The resulting product , known as ePTFE , created a microporous structure .
The introduction of Gore-Tex technology came seven years later .
“ It was truly a pivot point in this company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , W.L .
Gore & Associates ’ chief technology officer , said last year .
“ Without which we would be much less significant of an organization than we are today.
” The membrane within Gore-Tex fabric has billions of pores that are smaller than water droplets , leading to waterproof but breathable raincoats , shoes and other clothing .
The patents ultimately led to countless other uses with medical devices , guitar strings and in space travel , the company said .
Gore was born in Utah , the oldest of five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who both founded the company in 1958 .
Bill Gore had previously joined DuPont ’ s workforce and ultimately came to Delaware .
Bob Gore earned his bachelor ’ s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and advanced degrees from the University of Minnesota .
He succeeded his father as the company ’ s president and CEO in 1976 .
Gore and his family contributed funds for buildings and engineering laboratories at the University of Delaware .
Gore is survived by his wife , Jane , as well as children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weren ’ t immediately announced by the company .
About the Headline Photo : This photo provided by W.L .
Gore & Associates shows Robert Gore .
Robert W. Gore , whose invention of what created the breathable-yet-waterproof fabric known as Gore-Tex revolutionized outdoor wear and helped spawn uses in numerous other fields , has died , Thursday , Sept. 17 , 2020 .
He was 83 .
( Eric Crossan/W.L .
Gore & Associates via AP )

The Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) recently revealed that 22 Arizonans have been indicted for drug-related charges following a multi-year investigation of a South Phoenix criminal street gang.
“According to the criminal complaints filed last week, in January 2020, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) began an investigation targeting a drug and firearms supplier in South Phoenix. In February 2021, in conjunction with the DPS investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Violent Street Gang Task Force began investigating the Lindo Park Crips (LPC), a criminal street gang operating in South Phoenix,” according to a press release from the USAO.
The release outlined that DPS and FBI investigators targeted LPC members and drug suppliers, ultimately leading to a major bust. Investigators reportedly found over 2,000 grams of cocaine, 35,000 counterfeit pills suspected to contain fentanyl, 26 grams of methamphetamine, four and a half grams of crack, 32 doses of MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy or XTC), and weapons, including 17 firearms and eight Glock conversion devices.
All 22 defendants are charged with either conspiracy to distribute cocaine or fentanyl, and some are charged with actual possession of the drugs. Furthermore, several are charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking.
According to the release, these charges incur heavy fines and jail time if convicted. For the drug charges, a conviction for conspiracy to distribute or intent to sell the amount of cocaine charged in the complaint carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine, while a conviction for the amount of fentanyl can be up to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Moreover, a conviction for illegally possessing a firearm carries jail time up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
Most of the 22 individuals come from Phoenix, but others hail from cities across Arizona, including Avondale, Florence, Buckeye, and Goodyear. The youngest defendant is Jesus Salazar, 24, of Avondale, while the eldest is 62-year-old Terry Lee King of Phoenix.
The USAO stated that this case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCFETF) operation which seeks to dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
As The Arizona Sun Times reported, Border Patrol agents recently seized 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl and 2.1 kilograms of heroin at a highway checkpoint at the El Centro Station. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBS) said the drugs confiscated had an estimated street value of $190,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on the person’s tolerance. Based on that statistic, this bust alone involved enough fentanyl to kill over 2 million people.
According to statistics from CBS, 3,513.15 kilograms of illicit fentanyl were confiscated in May, which would hypothetically be enough to kill 1,756,575,000 people under the DEA’s metric.
– – –
Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Phoenix Police Department” by Phoenix Police Department.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--History Professor Rips New York Times’ 1619 Project for Not Telling ‘The Whole Story’

University of New Hampshire Professor Eliga Gould participated in a webinar series at the beginning of the fall semester in which he and other faculty members discussed the New York Times Magazine ’ s 1619 Project .
The 1619 project was created by New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones in 2019 , a project that later received a Pulitzer Prize .
As Campus Reform previously covered , the 1619 Project , in which Hannah-Jones made the claim that American colonists sought independence from Great Britain because “ they wanted to protect the institution of slavery , ” was subject to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alike .
At the time , Northwestern University history professor Leslie Harris wrote an op-ed for Politico titled , “ I Helped Fact-Check the 1619 Project .
The Times Ignored Me.
” Like many others , Gould appeared to criticize certain parts of the project in the Zoom discussion .
Gould notes the project claimed in its opening essay , “ one of the primary reasons the colonists decided to declare their independence from Britain was because they wanted to protect the institution of slavery.
” While Gould said the 1619 Project “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that not all Americans were free at the time of the American Revolution , “ where the 1619 Project errored…was overlooking or ignoring several very important complications.
” Gould said that while “ there is truth ” in the assertion that , particularly in Southern states , there were a certain number of American patriots who wanted to gain independence from Great Britain to be able to secure the ability to own slaves .
“ That , however , is not the whole story , ” Gould said .
Ashley Carnahan is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is student at the University of California Berkeley , Haas School of Business , majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Russian .
Ashley is also a member of Berkeley ’ s Turning Point USA chapter .
Photo “ New York Times ” by Wilson Rivera CC2.0 and “ Professor Eliga Gould ” is by University of New Hampshire .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Crom Carmichael Explains Stunning Similarities Between Reagan’s Administration and President Trump’s

Crom Carmichael Explains Stunning Similarities Between Reagan’s Administration and President Trump’s Today

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 .
During the third hour , Carmichael explains distinctive similarities between the Reagan administration and his world view to that of present-day President Donald Trump .
He added that the upcoming presidential election is the Democratic Party which is the establishment versus Donald Trump .
Leahy : I am with the original all-star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about the presidential race .
A report just in that the president is expected to announce his Supreme Court nominee Friday or Saturday this week .
But that ’ s going to really impact the presidential race significantly and that whole confirmation fight .
We are now 43 days until the election .
What is your take on it ?
Carmichael : Well you know over the last week I have watched a documentary called The American Experience .
And it was made by National Public Television .
I think , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is narrated by Dan Rather .
Leahy : It sounds like Dan Rather ?
Carmichael : It sounds like Dan Rather in terms of the voice .
Doesn ’ t matter , because the narrator had to read what he was told to read .
But it was fascinating to go back and look at the life of Reagan .
At that time I was 32 in 1980 .
Carmichael : I was a mere child .
( Leahy chuckles ) But for people who are 30 years old today , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ronald Reagan is a piece of history for them like FDR is a piece of history for me .
I was born in 1948 and FDR ’ s presidency ended in 1945 .
It ’ s interesting to look at Reagan in the review mirror for me .
And Reagan and Trump have many many similarities .
Reagan called the Soviet Union the evil empire .
And the press went crazy .
Went absolutely crazy saying that he was going to start a war .
And he stood up in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gorbachev , tear down this wall.
” And the press went crazy again .
In fact , his state department and his own people took that phrase out of that speech two or three times .
And finally , he just quit putting it back in and then just used it anyway .
Leahy : Because after all , he was elected president .
Not the staffers .
Carmichael : The point is that the advisors tend to not be visionaries .
The nature of an advisor is not to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a list of ways of thinking about another country .
And I think it ’ s important .
Also just in a historical sense , but also in examining this presidency and the choice between President Trump and Joe Biden .
And there are four levels .
And then there are levels in between .
But there are four levels .
A nation in terms of the United States , another nation can be either a , an ally .
It can be a competitor .
It doesn ’ t mean these are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ally .
They can be a competitor .
They can be an adversary .
Or they can be an enemy .
Iran is an enemy .
Carmichael : And I say that , because Iran has a policy of trying to kill Americans .
Carmichael : That is their official policy .
So they are an enemy .
Leahy : Pretty hard not to say that .
Carmichael : And an adversary would be China .
China is a competitor , but they are also an adversary .
They have a world view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And there are people in this country who share the communist party of China ’ s world view .
And so that is part of what this presidential contest is about .
It is , do you want our world view to prevail ?
Is that the one that you support ?
Which is centered around individual rights that are granted by God ?
Or , do you want the Chinese Communist Party ideology , which is the central authority , who is the master of all major decisions ?
That God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the central government is the pinnacle of power and the pinnacle of moral clarity .
I don ’ t believe that , and that ’ s why I am for Trump .
That ’ s why I was such a big supporter of Reagan ’ s .
Now you look at Biden .
And let me go back to one other thing about Reagan .
Reagan went through a rough patch on the Iran-Contra Deal .
And he didn ’ t know , and I ’ m absolutely convinced that Reagan did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in using Iranian money to help support the contras .
Then when he found out about it , he didn ’ t know exactly what to do about it .
Then he tried to deny that they were doing it .
He came back just a few weeks later and held a speech saying that we were doing it .
And it was wrong .
And blah , blah , blah .
So he did a complete mea culpa .
Now at that point , or right around that point , Don Regan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And Howard Baker came in .
Howard Baker in this program on The American Experience .
Reagan ’ s own advisors , some people around Reagan , didn ’ t say who , but they told Howard Baker that the president was losing it and he needed to evaluate Reagan ’ s cognitive thinking abilities .
And determine whether or not the 25th Amendment should be invoked .
This is all part of the documentary .
And Howard Baker talks about it .
He says when I came in I was told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting .
Reagan did not realize it , but we positioned ourselves around the room so we could watch him .
Listen to him .
Watch him in action .
And at the end of that , we concluded that he was just fine .
And it was after that , Reagan concluded the great treaty that he had with Gorbachev , that led to the demise of the Soviet Union .
But isn ’ t interesting that you have Ronald Reagan and they are trying to use the 25th Amendment .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were trying to use the 25th Amendment .
And if there is anyone that the 25th Amendment should apply to , it ’ s Joe Biden .
Leahy : If he were to be elected .
Carmichael : What I ’ m saying is they ought to apply the 25th Amendment to him right now .
( Leahy laughs ) They ought to have a bunch of people sit around him without notes and ask him questions and declare him ineligible to run for president , because he literally is suffering from dementia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about that , it ’ s a very interesting idea that you pose , Crom .
And it would make good common sense to do that .
However , the amendment applies only to the President .
Carmichael : Well I know that .
Leahy : Part of the transition team should include , if he were to be elected , should include the 25th Amendment game plan .
Carmichael : That ’ s why it ’ s the Harris-Biden administration .
Both of them had said the Harris-Biden administration .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now take that and let ’ s move forward to President Trump .
Ronald Reagan called the Soviet Union the evil empire .
Everybody goes crazy .
Donald Trump said I ’ m going to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem .
Leahy : Every president since ’ 67 has said that and hasn ’ t done it .
Carmichael : But everybody goes crazy .
Carmichael : Everybody says you are going to create a war in the Middle East .
Donald Trump has done something that no president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is to bring Arab parties to the table to sign treaties with Israel .
Leahy : Those treaties have been signed .
Carmichael : Two of them .
And there are apparently more in the works .
There was a treaty between Egypt with Sadat .
Carmichael : That was back during Clinton ’ s administration .
Carmichael : Led to his assassination yes .
Sadat ’ s assassination .
But it ’ s so interesting when you look at Ronald Reagan ’ s world view , which was contrary to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when Jimmy Carter was president I remember our intelligence people telling us , and Jimmy Carter repeating , that communism and free markets can both lead to prosperity .
And that is fundamentally false .
They both can not lead to prosperity .
In fact , communism can ’ t possibly lead to prosperity because it stifles the very nature of innovation .
Leahy : And it leads to just economic disaster .
Carmichael : It does because it stifles innovation , and innovation is the key to increasing productivity .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so different from the establishment ’ s world view .
Donald Trump ’ s view of the world is so different from the establishment ’ s .
This is the establishment against Donald Trump .
The Democratic Party represents the establishment .
It represents the unions .
And I ’ ve said that the people that run these government employee unions , which I ’ ve equated to thugs .
Which they are .
Carmichael : The similarities between Reagan and Trump are really compelling .
Listen to the full third hour here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
Photos “ White House ” by Diego Cambiaso and “ Donald Trump ” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--CDC Removes COVID-19 Transmission Guidance it ‘Posted in Error’

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday removed updated COVID-19 airborne transmission guidance that it says was “ posted in error.
” The transmission guidance was updated on the CDC ’ s website on Friday , and said that “ droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others , and travel distances beyond 6 feet , ” according to CNN .
The guidance posted Friday has been removed from the agency ’ s website .
“ A draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the CDC said Monday .
“ CDC is currently updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 ( the virus that causes COVID-19 ) .
Once this process has been completed , the update language will be posted.
” The retracted guidance would have marked a significant change in the existing transmission guidance , which currently says the virus is “ thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person ” within six-feet of distance or less .
CDC data from last month reported that 94 % of COVID-19 fatalities had comorbidities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 as “ the only cause mentioned.
” “ For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19 , on average , there were 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death , ” the CDC reported .
No vaccines to combat the virus have been approved yet , but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Defense last week released distribution plans for vaccine doses .
The United States has 6.8 million COVID-19 cases and over 199,000 reported deaths , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Steve Bannon on The John Fredericks Show: How Democrats Plan to Steal the Election

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon appeared on a special broadcast of The John Fredericks Show ( JFRS ) to share how Democrats are undermining the election .
The exchange is part of Bannon ’ s newest national tour , “ Plot to Steal 2020.
” Bannon unveiled the tour in his first interview since his arrest .
The War Room – Pandemic host claimed that the fraud charges against him are part of a bigger plan targeting Trump ’ s associates ahead of the election .
New York Young Republican Club President Gavin Wax hosted Monday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of a group of Young Republicans at The 3 West Club in New York City .
“ [ The Democrats ] understand they have a crisis .
Remember – the managed decline of our elites is the reason Donald Trump is president.
” Bannon said that Democratic candidate Joe Biden is in trouble .
He pointed out Biden ’ s “ disorganized and listless ” campaign , inability to be a “ closer ” like Hillary Clinton , and reliance on mass hysteria amongst low-income voters .
According to Bannon , Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says that ’ s why they ’ re planning to do everything in their power to undermine this election .
“ We ’ re going to have a blood-red fact : and that is Donald Trump is going to win the game-day vote , okay ?
Everything that they ’ re going to try to do is to try and turn that around .
They ’ re going to try to install an illegitimate and unelected administration to run the United States and to take away all the gains we had with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump.
” Bannon stated that Democrats have three tactics to influence the election : law , crime , and media .
He predicted organized “ lawfare , ” such as lawsuits popping up all over the country around polling places .
And , he said leftist leaders would ensure that the possibility of a Trump win would incite street mobs – the Left ’ s muscle – to commit civil disobedience nationwide .
“ Not just in D.C. and D.C. ’ s Capitol and the White House .
In all the big cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Donald Trump must be removed from office , ” said Bannon .
Bannon added that the media and social media are the left ’ s third tactic .
He said that the “ oligarchs in Silicon Valley are going to use their ultimate muscle with mainstream media to stop all communication ” and silence conservative media .
“ They are prepared to strip away any rule of law – anything this republic has stood for – in order to win this , ” Bannon emphasized .
“ They are prepared to strip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 20th of January .
That ’ s the fight.
” Bannon explained the recent $ 100 million surge into backing Biden as a “ panic move ” reacting to Trump ’ s impending victory .
According to him , former President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland lost out because of Hillary Clinton .
Bannon said Clinton thought she ’ d win the 2016 election : she wanted to pick a “ less moderate ” justice of her own .
The former strategist ended his interview by appealing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in election efforts .
“ Men and women of this club , I don ’ t think you realize how important you are to the conservative movement , to the Trump movement , and particularly to the country .
It ’ s all on the line , ” said Bannon .
“ We ’ ve got , what , eight weeks , nine weeks of pure hell .
And they don ’ t care what they have to put us through .
But they will consider it a victory if Nancy Pelosi is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20th of January 2021 .
And that will be a catastrophic defeat for our country , and I got ta tell you – we will have ourselves to blame .
We know what they ’ re going to do , we now have to stop it .
In the courts , in the media , and in the streets .
And we can do this.
” Corinne Murdock is an author at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Commentary: How Trump Can Win the Election ‘Bigly’

Will Sleepy Joe even show ?
Will he be slow ?
Can he pull it off even with the lowest bar imaginable ?
How will the media spin it ?
Are you ready for the Big Show ?
It will be bigger than the Rumble in the Jungle and more dramatic than the Thrilla in Manilla .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) and other Democrats say they want to cancel the three scheduled presidential debates .
They are desperately afraid their candidate , Joe Biden , is not up to it .
He is senile , gaffe-prone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Wilmington , Delaware mansion .
He can ’ t even read off the teleprompter .
Donald Trump , meantime , is ready , willing , and more than able .
Much is at stake—for both sides .
The U.S. presidential debates , a legendary institution , are sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates every four years .
This year ’ s debates are scheduled for September 29 , October 15 , and October 22 .
The vice presidential debate is scheduled for October 7 .
The September 29 debate is supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campus ( HEC ) Samson Pavilion at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland .
Chris Wallace of Fox News will moderate .
The kick-off debate originally was scheduled to occur at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana , but university officials backed out , feebly citing COVID-19 concerns .
It ’ s their loss , although it would have been fun to have Coach Lou Holtz as the moderator rather than Wallace .
The October 7 vice presidential debate will play out at Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah in Salt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today will moderate the face-off between nasty Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence .
The second presidential debate will be a town hall-style event at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami .
This , too , is a change of venue .
Originally , the debate was supposed to occur in the key battleground state of Michigan , but university officials in Ann Arbor also backed out citing COVID-19 worries foisted upon them by their lame governor .
Steve Scully of C-Span will moderate .
The third and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Curb Event Center at Belmont University in Nashville , Tennessee .
Kristen Welker of NBC News will moderate .
The first and obvious question is : Will Sleepy Joe even show up ?
Will he be slow ?
Can he pull it off even with the lowest bar imaginable as his measuring stick ?
How will the lamestream media spin it ?
Will the debates be fair ?
Could someone slip Biden the questions ( and likely , the answers in advance ) ?
Will the moderators do their jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the stage , beating down on President Trump ?
Wallace is a known Trump-hater and repeatedly has shown his NeverTrump bias on “ Fox News Sunday.
” Kristen Welker hails from the furthest left mainstream news organization , NBC .
And C-Span ’ s Scully was actually a senate intern for Biden early in his career .
No bias or conflict of interest there .
So with the odds and moderators stacked against him , what ’ s a guy like Trump to do ?
We all know he is a hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attempted knock out .
If not in round one , certainly an eventual TKO .
The image created and the memorable one-liners that go viral will make or break this election .
Trump will win if he scores ; Biden , if Trump doesn ’ t and he merely survives the beating .
Recall Ronald Reagan ’ s humor in debating Walter Mondale on the “ age issue.
” His immortal quip about not taking advantage of the youth and inexperience of his opponent stuck .
Or Richard Nixon ’ s profuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handsome and relaxed John G. Kennedy .
Gerald Ford slipped up on the Soviets ’ domination of Eastern Europe and it cost him in 1976 .
There are more than a few memorable lines from these debates that were consequential .
Poor Dan Quayle was forever described as a “ deer in the headlights ” after Senator Lloyd Bentsen told him , he was— “ no Jack Kennedy.
” Trump did well but seemed less than fully prepared against Crooked Hillary the last time around .
This time don ’ t think he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is on the line .
He will be ready and eager to land a series of blows , maybe even a sucker punch , from which Joe will never recover .
In boxing parlance , this won ’ t be a rope-a-dope and Trump should employ an unexpected left upper cut to catch his opponent off guard .
It is with some humility and trepidation then , that I offer our experienced president these six zingers to employ as he sees fit against Biden , if and when the time is ripe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ One : Take out a copy of your Montreal Cognitive Abilities Assessment Test and give it to Biden .
Ask him to do the same thing so the American people can judge his ability and acuity to hold high office .
Challenge him right there and then .
He will have to produce or admit ineptitude .
Two : Ask Biden , “ If one of your sons took $ 85,000 a month from a corrupt Ukraine oil and gas company and $ 1.5 billion from the Chinese government in investment funds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opponent ?
” Close with the proverbial : Where is Hunter tonight ?
Three : Quote the entire Pledge of Allegiance and see if Biden can do likewise .
Four : Biden says he would shut the entire economy down again and mandate wearing of masks at all times ( even during sex ) .
Quiz him on which day he would initiate that plan .
Is it so ?
Nail him down .
Five : What is the correct tax rate ?
Biden wants to raise taxes by $ 3.5 trillion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even higher tax increases .
His socialist colleagues want a 70 percent income tax on some Americans .
“ How deep into the American people ’ s pockets do you want to go , Joe ?
A number , please ?
” Then state how you have and will continue to cut taxes for the American working family .
Compare and contrast : which does the American public want—more or fewer taxes ?
Six : Ask , “ Do any police or law enforcement groups endorse you ?
Why not ?
” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rioting , lawlessness , and violent conflict in American cities .
Challenge Biden to say it ain ’ t so—here and now .
Will he disclaim Black Lives Matter and Antifa ?
Ask him if he has the nerve to scold his radical supporters for supporting slogans like “ ACAB .
Does he even know what the acronym stands for ?
Then tell him : “ All cops are bastards.
” The people who think so are his base .
If Hidden Biden does show , if he makes a fool of himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or his canned lines , offer an alternative .
Say , “ Joe , I have seen dementia in my own family and in the lives of older friends .
It is nothing to be ashamed of.
” “ Retire Joe .
Get the help you truly need .
I will support you and so will the loving American people.
” Ultimately , Americans need to see who has the wisdom , the wit , and the capacity to be president .
It isn ’ t Joe Biden .
Theodore Roosevelt Malloch is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was active in the Trump campaign in 2016 .
Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Michael Vadon CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--CEO and President of Newsmax Chris Ruddy Describes His Company’s Concept and How the Country is Bett

CEO and President of Newsmax Chris Ruddy Describes His Company’s Concept and How the Country is Better Served with More Voices, Not Less

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed CEO and President of Newsmax , Chris Ruddy to the show .
During the show , Ruddy described how he ’ s structured Newsmax TV and Newsmax Magazine citing that the mainstream media was dominated by liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that as FOX News steers left as indicated by President Trump that it has left a void for people to find conservative news that was not managed by the corporate advertising czars .
Fredericks : Joining us now is Chris Ruddy .
He ’ s the Chairman and CEO of Newsmax .
Hey , Chris , great to have you with us well .
Rudy : Well , John , with that introduction I don ’ t even need to come on .
I just need to take a bow .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president is absolutely right .
Fox News is not what it used to be .
And it ’ s very sad .
The president used those words .
I mean you can ’ t talk about George Soros , Newt Gingrich .
The House speaker was reprimanded by two hosts that nobody ever really knows .
Dick Morris said that Victoria Toensing , Joseph diGenova , that they were all asked to not go on FOX anymore if they ever talk about George Soros .
Newsmax is not afraid to do that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ called our troops ’ dead servicemen suckers and losers .
Which even general Kelly ’ s chief of staff , a guy named Zack Fuentes , said was a lie .
So you know , you have to wonder what is going on at FOX ?
And I ’ ll tell you , Newsmax stands with our president .
And I think that ’ s why our ratings are booming .
We ’ re up to 10 million people .
We were just at three million a few months back .
And a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They don ’ t even need cable , which is amazing .
You can go on all these free devices , or on your app , and just download the Newsmax app from your smartphone .
And people are gon na weigh on their voting with their feed for Newsmax .
Fredericks : Well here ’ s what you ’ ve done , Chris Rudy .
You ’ ve done three things .
Number one , you ’ ve created a news and information cable channel that ’ s straight up .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of going against George Soros .
Not really putting their finger in the wind trying to judge who might win the next election .
Not fear of some advertiser getting upset because of something that someone says .
So that ’ s number one .
The second thing you ’ ve done is you ’ ve been able to have the visionary foresight to break the mold and put this on free formats .
A lot of people are afraid to do that because their revenue comes from the cable subscriptions .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know that that ’ s going away eventually , right ?
People can just stop paying for that .
Eventually , you ’ re on the free platform .
Your viewership is going up .
And the third thing you ’ ve done is , Chris , at the end of the day , content is king .
You ’ ve got great content .
And so you ’ ve kind of , to me , you ’ ve figured out the trifecta here .
That ’ s why you guys are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know when you look at it , Fox News , which owns half the cable news market , it ’ s the only thing on the right side that ’ s a major player .
Newsmax is now emerging quickly in that area .
and you ’ re right .
There ’ s a lot of FOX that is not free on all on these free platforms .
Newsmax is .
We ’ re getting about eight million viewers a month according to the data on all these free platforms .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So we ’ re becoming , I think , we ’ re a juggernaut .
And I think the problem is , you know , there are so many liberal channels .
Think about all the major networks .
All the major cable channels .
There are 11 cable news and information channels , even comedy channels are a news channel now for millennial ’ s .
And that ’ s all liberal .
They ’ re all liberal except for FOX and Newsmax .
And FOX is going the way of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , I think the country ’ s better served with more voices not less .
And that ’ s why Newsmax TV has been , I think , just growing like crazy .
Fredericks : Your revenue model is sustainable for the future , which is why you want traditional advertisers .
Advertisers want to be involved in order for their ads to serve up .
And so yeah you don ’ t get the revenue , the subscription revenue when it ’ s free , but you ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because people want those kinds of numbers .
They want to be able to reach that audience .
That ’ s the same model that we have .
Everybody said , you know , look it ’ s the same thing when I started this on a tiny little scale everybody said it would fail .
You know you couldn ’ t do this .
You couldn ’ t do that .
You had to have paid subscriptions .
You had to do all this stuff .
You have to get outside money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right thing , advertisers will come because they have one entrance , one interest .
They want to sell services or their product .
And they can do that if you can get people to watch .
That ’ s what I think you guys have done .
Ruddy : Well and we have Newsmax Magazine , I might add , if anybody is interested they can call 800-Newsmax and they can also get a free copy of the new book Blitz , which is David Horowitz ’ s book .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Trump calls it the hot book of the election season .
Horowitz is , as you know , a former radical liberal .
He ’ s a Jewish thinker .
He ’ s a radical liberal , and he ’ s become conservative .
And he ’ s predicting Donald Trump is going to win a landslide .
He predicted the riots over the summer in Blitz .
He said that they were going to start up a race war before the election .
It all happened .
He said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national monuments .
It happened .
And he is saying that this election is the most pivotal election in our time .
Now interestingly enough , David Horowitz is a New York Times bestseller .
I know you ’ ve had him on , a lot , and other people have .
FOX News won ’ t touch him .
Newsmax has , and that ’ s why we ’ re promoting his book Blitz .
With Newsmax Magazine you can get it for free by calling 800-Newsmax .
Fredericks : We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You ’ ve got a big studio here .
Tell us a little bit about your plans in New York City and how has your team been able to react to the shutdown and the pandemic and everything else going on , Chris ?
Ruddy : Well our headquarters for TV is in New York .
It is booming up there for us , even though the rest of New York is quiet and silent .
As you know , the mayor does not want to put the city back online because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no other explanation .
There ’ s very hardly any COVID .
The restaurants even aren ’ t open indoors yet .
I mean it ’ s really crazy stuff going on .
And Newsmax , our team has been operating through the pandemic .
And we ’ ve been breaking a lot of stories .
Our ratings have been going up .
And we ’ ve been covering the coronavirus well beyond any of the other major networks .
We have medical doctors on all the time talking about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides on some of these stories they ’ re getting .
You know Sweden has had tremendous success and they never started masking everyone in society .
They never went into an official lockdown .
They never closed down clothing stores , bars , restaurants , or cafes .
They took normal conservative steps with social distancing and other public health debt .
And their numbers are lower than most of the other numbers in Europe .
So it shows you that this is like a lot of hype that ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be careful because it does affect older people .
There needs to be sensitivity to that .
But if you ’ re 40 years old , in good health , then you don ’ t have anything to worry about with this virus .
Fredericks : Chris , what is in between now and January for Newsmax ?
What ’ s your number one objective ?
What do you want to see happen with your company ?
Ruddy : I think right now the number one thing is to give the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election .
And we don ’ t have to be pro Donald Trump or anti-Donald Trump or Biden .
We just need to tell the truth because Donald Trump has an incredible record .
You know our cover story for October Newsmax Magazine , which is read by about a half-million people is Promises Kept .
It ’ s a picture of Donald Trump .
No other president has fulfilled his campaign pledges like this president .
And I think he wants to get the job done in the second term .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--U.S. Senate Candidate Jason Lewis and Incumbent Tina Smith Square Off on the Issues

Incumbent Democrat Tina Smith will battle Republican Jason Lewis for a U.S. Senate seat in November .
Neither candidate answered The Center Square ’ s questionnaire , so it ’ s unclear where they stand on some taxpayer issues , but here ’ s where they seem to stand according to public records and past interviews .
Lewis is pro-life and supports the Second Amendment , while Smith is pro-choice and supports banning semi-automatic rifles .
Lewis supports police and has criticized Minneapolis for voting to dismantle the police , and then questioning law enforcement ’ s effectiveness upon rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for deep police reform but has stopped short of advocating for their abolition .
Smith wants to expand Medicaid and Medicare .
Smith ’ s Free COVID-19 Treatment Act aims to give “ free ” COVID-19 treatment and vaccines , with a $ 100 million cost funded by the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Trust Fund – mainly funded through payroll taxes , Social Security benefits taxes , general tax revenue , and the premiums .
Lewis has advocated for lifting COVID-19 restrictions on businesses and has advocated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Lewis supports budget cuts , including reductions in Medicare , Medicaid , and to defense spending .
It appears Lewis is mostly against raising taxes and prefers instead to cut spending and reform the tax code .
Lewis voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and has advocated for reforming and simplifying the tax code .
“ But the fact is you can ’ t tax , spend or borrow your way to prosperity .
It ’ s time to get our economy working for all Americans who want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work pay again by cutting taxes and regulations , ” his 2016 House campaign website stated .
He voted against the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 that increased spending by billions .
Post-vote , he said , “ I ran for Congress to get the economy going again by reducing taxes , regulations , deficits and debt .
A $ 300 billion increase in discretionary spending along with hiking the debt ceiling fails on all accounts.
” Lewis has advocated for “ across-the-board budget reductions because no matter how you finance big government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or printing money – it all comes out of your pocket , ” Lewis said on his 2016 Minnesota House campaign website , via ontheissues.org .
Lewis has called the growing federal budget “ the single biggest drag on economic growth and job creation , because wasteful government spending crowds out productive private investment.
” Smith has criticized how tax cuts increased the national debt , saying , “ We ’ re borrowing that money from the children in the audience — no offense to the adults in the room , ” via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Dayton , who was Smith ’ s boss , in 2017 vetoed a bill aiming to create a school voucher program to encourage school choice .
Lewis supported The Safe , Accountable , Fair and Effective Justice Act , which seeks to streamline the federal justice system to focus on high-risk offenders , slash federal overcriminalization , and the costs associated with the high number of people in prison for nonviolent crimes .
“ The bottom line is the budget is getting out of control and the number of people being incarcerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis said , via the Star Tribune .
His Juvenile Justice Reform Act was signed into law in 2018 , and gives a second chance to at-risk youth who enter the juvenile justice system through other programs .
“ Real compassion is moving people from dependence to independence , ” Lewis said in a statement .
Lewis co-sponsored , unsuccessfully , the Compassionate Access Act , which directed the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) to reschedule marijuana from Schedule 1 , alongside heroin , to allow additional medical research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warrants ; ending police chokeholds ; ending qualified immunity for police officers ; and ending the 1033 program that allows local police to receive military weapons at no additional cost .
In July 2020 , Smith introduced the Substance Regulation and Safety Act to legalize cannabis and regulate cannabis federally .
Smith also supported the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act to end the “ failed policy ” of cannabis prohibition that “ contributes to mass incarceration and over-policing of communities of color.
” Real Clear Politics polling places Smith in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread .
Republicans haven ’ t won a Minnesota U.S. Senate seat since Richard Nixon won the 1972 presidential race against Sen. George McGovern by a landslide .
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 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Thirty-Six Orders Issued Banning People From Possessing Guns Under New Red Flag Law

Officials have issued thirty-six orders under Virginia ’ s new red flag law since it went into effect in July .
The law allows judges to classify individuals as being a ‘ substantial risk ’ to themselves or others , and bans them from possessing firearms .
The law was passed in January following a party-line vote with no Republicans voting in favor .
Ten of the orders issued under the new law so far are permanent ; the other 26 were 14-day restrictions , according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch .
Similar laws have been supported nationally by both Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws are a common-sense way to increase gun safety .
In August 2019 , President Trump said , “ We must reform our mental health laws to better identify mentally disturbed individuals who may commit acts of violence and make sure those people not only get treatment but when necessary , involuntary confinement .
Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger , not the gun.
” Trump added , “ We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be taken through rapid due process .
That is why I have called for red flag laws , also known as extreme risk protection orders.
” However , gun rights advocates warn that red flag laws circumvent due process and protections granted by the Bill of Rights .
The Virginia Citizens Defense League ( VCDL ) warns on their website , “ The person accused of being ‘ dangerous ’ has not committed a crime and has no notice there is a problem until the police show up , pre-dawn , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s firearms .
The accused is not given due process to defend himself or herself in court from the accusation for weeks or months after the confiscation .
It is up to the accused to prove that he or she is not dangerous !
” The VCDL is also concerned that the laws could be weaponized by citizens to harm other people .
“ In Maryland , which recently enacted such a law , two-thirds of the requests for confiscation were deemed frivolous .
In other words , most of the requests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ get even ’ with someone else by making their lives miserable !
” Unlike Maryland , Virginia ’ s version of the law only allows law enforcement officers or Commonwealth ’ s attorneys to petition the court to declare someone a substantial risk , and trigger the law .
“ If a person is ‘ too dangerous ’ to own a gun , then why is that person left walking around with the rest of us ?
Can ’ t that ‘ dangerous ’ person still commit suicide or harm others if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to both questions is that Red Flag laws are about confiscating guns , not saving lives , ” the VCDL ’ s website declares .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--TRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for September 22

Welcome to a new Tuesday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update !
We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 ( and after…if need be ! )
.
It ’ s officially 42 days until the election on November 3 – and one week until President Trump and Joe Biden square off in the first presidential debate .
President Trump is set to formally announce his Supreme Court nominee as early as Friday , according to reports .
As it was reported in the September 21 edition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate would like to see the replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s seat on the high court sworn in before the November 3 election .
We now know who is on President Trump ’ s short list , and among the candidates making the cut is Judge Allison Rushing .
Rushing was nominated to the 4th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals by President Trump in 2018 .
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals is located in Richmond .
It ’ s looking like the president will go with either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Rushing , but for a judge like Rushing , who sits on the bench in Virginia , to be considered a finalist for this kind of judgeship is absolutely worth noting .
President Trump also tweeted over the weekend that he intends to come to Virginia for a rally in the lead up to the election .
The president last made a speech in the Commonwealth back on August 21 , when he delivered remarks at a Council for National Policy conference in Pentagon City .
“ The president ’ s commitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to battleground state status , ” said John Fredericks , chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .
No formal details on the rally in Virginia have been announced yet , but keep it here for the latest on when voters can expect to see and hear from the president in person .
Republicans young and old across the state are working harder than ever to connect with voters and make sure the vote swings in favor of the president in November .
Thomas Turner is the chair of the Virginia Young Republicans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ younger voters are focused on two key policy issues .
“ The economy is the main item , ” Turner said .
“ The president has helped kickstart the economic comeback , and young Republicans are concerned about the jobs and how the economy is doing.
” He added that criminal justice reform is another key policy issue that younger Republicans have been paying attention to .
But as the race in the Commonwealth kicks into high gear , Turner said the large focus for young Republicans is making sure they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out meeting with voters and connecting with people over the phone , ” Turner said .
“ The Biden campaign has given us a great opportunity to get out and be with voters , and we ’ re taking full advantage of it.
” In addition to the work Team Trump Virginia is doing here , the national Team Trump campaign is going to continue dominating the digital space this week with a number of online broadcasts available to view live for free .
President Trump will be speaking in Ohio today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Hampshire .
Events will stream on Team Trump ’ s Facebook and Twitter accounts , on the Donald J. Trump Facebook , YouTube , and Twitch accounts , and at www.donaldjtrump.com/online .
Check back every day for more Trump Virginia campaign updates !
If you want to join the volunteer team or if you need signs email John Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more information , or to sign up to become a volunteer , click here .
John Fredericks is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Gov. Northam Announces Rebuild VA Grant Fund Eligibility Expanded

The eligibility for the REBUILD !
VA Grant Fund for businesses , nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 has been expanded to a wider scope of small businesses , according to a news release from the Governor ’ s office published Monday .
The expansion of the grant program , administered by the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity ( SBSD ) , now includes small hotels , bed and breakfast facilities and Virginia film companies as well as companies that provide goods or services to eligible businesses .
The decision to expand eligibility was made from analysis of received applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first 30 days of the program launch , the release said .
Overall , eligible businesses include restaurant and beverage services , fitness gyms , non-essential brick and mortar retail , entertainment and public amusement , personal care and grooming services and overnight summer camps , according to the program website .
Originally launched on August 10th , the fund ’ s criteria for businesses are that they must have 25 or less employees , have made less than $ 1.5 million in annual gross revenue in the last fiscal year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Corporation Commission , according to the program website .
Approved businesses may receive up to three times their average monthly expenses with a cap of $ 10,000 , but grant funding can only be used on the recurring expenses such as employee salaries , rent and utilities , loan payments as well as other costs related to COVID-19 response , according to the website .
There is a discrepancy about which businesses may be eligible or not , however .
On a frequently asked questions document about the grant program , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CARES Act – Paycheck Protection Program or Economic Injury Disaster Loan – are not eligible .
Yet , it says in the news release from the Governor ’ s office that businesses which received money from the CARES Act would be eligible , but can only use funding from REBUILD !
VA for the aforementioned recurring expenses .
Once Virginia are small business expert said the eligibility expansion is in response to a report from the Joint legislative Audit and Review Commission ( JLARC ) published last week , which said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a poor job issuing loans to small businesses , and subsequent backlash from JLARC ’ s findings .
“ This program is a joke , it ’ s way too late , ” the he said .
“ They launched it and it has been a failure , and [ now ] they are trying to scramble to do something to make it work .
The idea of [ the program ] is a good one , but it is a failure of the Governors.
” The Virginia Star made multiple attempts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story , but did not get a response by press time .
In 2019 , there were 745,886 small businesses operating in Virginia , according to the U.S. Small Business Administration office of advocacy .
Under the restrictions of REBUILD !
VA , it is extremely hard to know how many businesses are eligible , even with the expansion , therefore it ’ s also hard to determine the number of businesses that will actually receive grants .
Additionally , it ’ s unclear who makes the final decision on whether a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that fall solely onto the SBSD or are the partners , like the Department of Housing and Community Development , involved as well ?
All relevant information on REBUILD !
VA and a link to the application can be found here .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Outside Prosecutor Investigating Stoney’s Contract Removing Monuments

Augusta County Prosecutor Timothy Martin will investigate a contract used by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney earlier this summer to remove parts of eight of Richmond ’ s Confederate monuments .
In August , Richmond City Councilmember and candidate for Stoney ’ s seat Kim Gray called for investigation into the contract .
The contract paid $ 1.8 million to NAH LLC , which has ties to Devon Henry who , in 2016 , donated $ 4,000 to Stoney ’ s campaign for mayor .
Richmond Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Colette McEachin declined to investigate , noting that Henry had previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As a result , Martin was called in , according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch .
Stoney ’ s spokesperson Jim Nolan told The Virginia Star in an email , “ Contractors locally , regionally and up and down the East Coast were contacted .
The city received a written proposal from only one firm that was willing to do the work and assume the risk it would entail.
” Nolan added , “ In fact , NAH was not initially contacted by city or administration officials but was referred to the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work .
Politicians who refused to act sooner could learn a thing or two from the courage shown by this black-owned firm and the crew that did the work in the face of white supremacist threats.
” Without consulting the city council , Stoney used emergency powers to remove the monuments before the Virginia General Assembly had authorized local jurisdictions to remove their Confederate monuments , according to reporting by NPR .
“ Our mayor had already made the decision to remove them and started doing that prior to our vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop .
She also criticized Stoney for spending $ 1.8 million to remove the monuments .
“ The size , scale and number of monuments removed in Richmond is not comparable to other cities , which have largely removed smaller monuments , ” Nolan told The Virginian Star .
“ But consider that New Orleans paid more than $ 2 million to remove four statues .
Dallas paid roughly $ 450,000 to remove one.
” “ Considering that the city removed 14 parts of eight monuments to the Lost Cause over a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Civil War , “ we firmly believe the city got a fair price for the services rendered.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Steve Cortes Discusses Positive Virus Trends, the Economy, and How Trump Can Win Big in November

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Senior Strategist to the Trump-Pence 2020 Campaign , Steve Cortes to the show .
During the show , Cortes weighed in on positive coronavirus news and how that type of news is directly correlated with improving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many mayors and governors of cities were using the COVID as a depression tactic with the public in order to defeat Trump .
Fredericks : Joining us now , Steve Cortes .
Steve is the senior strategic advisor to the Trump-Pence 2020 campaign .
Steve , the poll ’ s looking and good running in our favor but I want to talk a little bit about COVID .
Steve with us right now and this coming from the health and human services testing guru Admiral Giroir today on the very encouraging virus trends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake news legacy media won ’ t talk about it .
What ’ s going on Steve ?
Cortes : That ’ s right John .
Thanks for having me .
By the way , I ’ m so glad I was listening to you and I now know what I ’ m doing tonight from six to eight .
I ’ m gon na be listening to you and my friend Steve Bannon talk about this critical issue of the election .
So thank you for doing that show .
And yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giroir and I believe it ’ s pronounced Giroir is how you say it .
Admiral Giroir who is the HHS testing czar and physician .
Of course , he was on with Jake Tapper on CNN and he said this and I think you know obviously Tapper didn ’ t want to hear it and most people in the media and don ’ t want to hear it .
How good are the trends right now regarding the virus ?
And look , nobody ’ s saying it ’ s over .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all-clear however we should also recognize that the trends are right now very constructive and very optimistic trending toward health .
So to give you his exact stats that the Admiral cited .
He said from the peaks in July the number of cases went down 40 percent .
The number of ICU people in ICU down 62 percent .
The number of deaths and not surprisingly given those other two stats down almost 30 .
So these are fantastic trends .
The virus is trending the right way toward health in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to talk about that so we have to John on shows like yours and people like me working for the campaign have to make sure that news gets out there .
And that again we can ’ t declare victory by any sense .
However , the great news is that as a country we are learning how to deal with this virus .
We ’ re learning how to protect the most vulnerable .
We ’ re learning how to mitigate risks .
And our amazing doctors and nurses are learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do get infected .
And our therapeutics are so much better than they were even just weeks or months ago .
And of course , we ’ re very optimistic .
We can ’ t count on it yet but we ’ re very optimistic .
But the silver bullet that a vaccine is in the offing .
But I think we as a country we need to celebrate that good news and know about it .
I also believe John to connect us to the economy the economic numbers lately you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I spent 25 years on Wall Street before I got into this game of politics .
And because of that , I pay a lot of attention to the economic data .
And the economic data lately has been just astounding .
And I think part of the reason why is it ’ s very much related to the virus news .
As the virus news improves the economic news improves because people are more willing to go out and to purchase things .
In terms of business owners to hire somebody you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you won ’ t know that I know you ’ re in New York City .
You won ’ t know that if you ’ re in Manhattan because it doesn ’ t seem like it at all .
It doesn ’ t seem like in Washington D. C where I am right now .
However , when you get away from these coastal cities and these lockdown cities a lot of America is largely back .
Not entirely , but largely back to normal economically .
Fredericks : How do we get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better ?
I mean I ’ ve got Michael Patrick Leahy from Nashville coming up .
Mayor Cooper there in Nashville hid the positive information from the public .
Hid it so that he could continue with the lockdowns and destroy people ’ s lives .
Who would do that ?
Why would you do that ?
Cortes : That ’ s just honestly and I don ’ t use this word much in politics that ’ s evil .
I mean that is outright evil right ?
That ’ s not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not you know .
That is evil for you to say we are going to suppress information that we know that the bars and restaurants of Nashville , a major industry there right it ’ s such a big tourist town , we know that the bars and restaurants are not significant sectors for spreading the virus but we ’ re going to suppress the information so that we can keep them closed .
So that we can keep the very people we ’ re supposed to serve the citizens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of business and unemployed .
And that we can make some of these business owners go permanently out of business .
I mean this , I don ’ t know another word for it other than evil .
Thank goodness that it ’ s been revealed .
Unfortunately John I don ’ t think it ’ s rare .
You know in my hometown of Chicago Lori Lightfoot is I think perhaps the worst mayor in America .
Although a lot of New Yorkers would probably argue with me that De Blasio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make as well .
But Lori Lightfoot you know not only did she use the virus as a pretext to seize a lot of power but it really became about punishing people .
For example , the Chicago lakefront which is glorious .
For listeners who ’ ve never been there , it ’ s glorious .
It ’ s about 18 miles long .
Cortes : It ’ s beautiful one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the world .
A lot of people don ’ t really realize that Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s almost an oceanfront .
And it ’ s expansive and beautiful all of it public .
All of its parkland .
Lori Lightfoot would close the entire Chicago lake area .
You could not go for a walk or a bike ride by yourself .
Now that has nothing to do with the virus right ?
That clearly it was not a virus transmission risk it had everything to do with seizing power and controlling people ’ s lives .
And quite frankly trying to make them miserable because unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw an avenue to political power .
It ’ s so that if they could depress the country enough economically and psychologically so they could defeat Donald Trump .
Oh and then places like Chicago by the way and the state of Illinois would get bailouts with a President Biden .
And that ’ s what they ’ re unfortunately banking on .
None of that ’ s going to happen because people like you patriots .
Like you and all of your listeners out there are going to fight against that and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win this election but as I ’ ve told you before John we ’ ve got to win big so we make it almost impossible for them to steal it afterward .
Fredericks : Define winning big on election night Steve Cortes .
What does that look like ?
Cortes : Well you know bigger than last time .
In other words , holding all the states we held last time plus adding three or four or five new states .
And I think is it likely ?
I ’ ll be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not likely but it is doable .
Yes it ’ s absolutely doable .
It ’ s not implausible that we can do that .
Can we flip New Mexico ?
The way we are trending with Hispanics right now in the latest Fox News poll , Fox News polling generally isn ’ t all that Trump favorable .
But it shows us on a nationwide basis 41 percent among Hispanics can we flip New Mexico ?
Nevada ?
New Hampshire and up on the Northeast ?
Can we flip Minnesota ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that that could happen .
If we flip all of those states then we are talking about the electoral math count going well over 300 .
Well well , North over the 270 we need .
I ’ m not saying that the Democrats might not still try but it makes it far far more difficult for them to try to flip the election that way… Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--House Committee Advances Police Reform Bill Package

The House Committee on Public Safety advanced multiple bills from the Senate relating to police reform on Monday as the 2020 special session enters its fifth week .
Through a legislative process called conforming , lawmakers will combine two similar bills that have both come out of the House and Senate , and are being considered by committees of the other legislative body .
On a “ motion to conform a bill , ” the committee will substitute out the language and replace it with the language of its own body ’ s similar bill , and then advance the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the updated version of the bill passes the floor vote again , Senators and Delegates will be assigned to a joint conference committee to come up with , if possible , compromised language for the bill to then be brought back to the bodies for one final passage vote .
One Senate bill that the House Committee on Public Safety decided to conform was SB 5035 , sponsored by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi ( D-Chesterfield ) .
The bill allowed for the establishment of law enforcement civilian review boards , which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on complaints against officers , inappropriate use of force and review internal investigations , among other things .
The civilian oversight panel would also be able to ask a circuit court judge to issue a subpoena against law enforcement as well as make binding disciplinary decisions in cases of serious violations of standards .
SB 5035 was conformed with House bill 5055 , sponsored by Del .
Charniele Herring ( D-Alexandria ) , and reported from the Committee by a vote of 13-Y 9-N along party lines .
Committee member Del .
Glenn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against HB 5055 and did so again on Monday citing multiple complaints .
“ That was the [ bill ] that mandates on every locality that they have to have an independent review commission , ” Davis told The Virginia Star .
“ There is no financial assistants to localities to support [ the oversight boards ] and there is no directive given as far as what significant training should be made available to [ people ] that are serving on the panels.
” Davis added that he thought reform was necessary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the economic downturn brought by COVID-19 was improper .
Another bill from the Senate conformed by the Committee was SB 5038 .
Sponsored by Sen. Jeremy McPike ( D-Prince William ) , the bill calls for the development of a mental health response and alert system throughout Virginia .
Under the response and alert system , a crisis call center would be able to mobilize a co-response team , consisting of mental health professionals and law enforcement , to situations where someone is having a mental health breakdown or similar episode .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ House bill 5043 , sponsored by Del .
Jeff Bourne ( D-Richmond City ) , and then reported and referred to the House Appropriations Committee by a vote of 14-Y 8-N. Del .
Ronnie Campbell ( R-Lexington ) said he voted against the legislation for multiple reasons .
The first being that he had spoken to mental health professionals from his district who did not support the legislation , and the second reason was he thought having healthcare workers out in the field creates an added burden on law enforcement who must ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one other Senate bill was conformed with a House bill during the committee meeting on Monday .
Because there is no clear timetable for when the special session will conclude , there is consequently no set date for the formation of the joint conference committee , Davis said .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ House of Delegates ” by the Virginia House of Delegates .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Trump Pushes in Swing States, Biden Attempts a Return to In Person Campaigning

With just 43 days before the election , President Trump has been hitting the campaign trail while his opponent appears absent from the important battlegrounds .
President Trump had two campaign stops in Ohio Monday , a state that Biden has largely been absent from since his nomination .
The events , the “ Great American Comeback ” in Swanton , and “ Remarks on Fighting for the American Worker , ” showcase just how valuable the state is to the Trump Campaign .
Biden has taken a more virtual approach to campaigning in the state , with the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s visit to Ohio .
The statement accused the president of failing Ohio , and of breaking promises to the Buckeye State .
Biden launched an ad campaign targeting Ohioans last month and has held several virtual events over the past few months ; However , unless his plans change in the next few days , Biden ’ s first visit to the state since March will be to take part in the first presidential debate on September 29th .
In July , Forbes reported that the former Vice President wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus .
In August , Biden ’ s absence was noted by several press outlets , with U.S. News and World Report stating that “ Biden ’ s visual absence from the campaign trail – driven by concerns about the coronavirus – deprives the candidate of perhaps his best asset : connecting with voters who tell him their troubles or share struggles similar to Biden ’ s own.
” The former Vice President seems to be walking back his commitment to not campaign in person during the pandemic , after making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
The LA Times has noted that the usually blue state has become a battleground , with President Trump campaigning hard with rural voters .
Fears of Trump taking the state he narrowly lost in 2016 and the start of early voting likely spurred Biden into action .
Even with a return to in-person events , the Biden Campaign is still relying heavily on virtual events .
Over the next week , the Biden campaign has several virtual events planned , including a prayer group and a volunteer choir event , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the O ’ jays famous song “ Love Train ” to show support for the presidential hopeful .
_ _ _ Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Ben on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Metro Nashville Coronavirus Task Force Chair Dr. Alex Jahangir on July 2: ‘Saturday I Got A Call . .

Metro Nashville Coronavirus Task Force Chair Dr. Alex Jahangir on July 2: ‘Saturday I Got A Call . . . 30 People Confirmed That Have Tested Positive . . . So This Was Atypical, Right?’

As The Tennessee Star reported on Monday , Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced at a July 2 press conference he was turning the city back to Phase Two from Phase Three , shutting all bars down for 14 days , temporarily shutting down all entertainment and event venues , and reducing restaurant capacity from to 75 percent to 50 percent due to “ record numbers ” of COVID-19 cases traceable back to bars and restaurants .
Mayor Cooper did not provide any specific details to substantiate his assertion of “ record numbers.
” He did however add at the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have found a record number of clusters originating from bars within the past week.
” At the time , about 20,000 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Davidson County .
The mayor clearly stated the “ record number of clusters originating from bars ” were discovered “ within the past week.
” Later in that press conference , WPLN ’ s Blake Farmer asked for details about the mayor ’ s claim of “ record clusters ” around bars .
Dr. Alex Jahangir , chair of the Metro Nashville and Davidson County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that question .
The full transcript of that question and response is as follows : Blake Farmer : Thank you .
This decision to move back to phase two , it feels like the primary issue is the bars .
You talked about record clusters around bars .
When did you start seeing this ?
And can you give us a little more detail on what kinds of clustering you ’ ve been seeing and over what time period ?
( emphasis added ) Alex Jahangir : Yeah .
Thank you .
Thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will tell you is Saturday afternoon [ June 27 ] I got a call from one of our leaders of our epidemiologists .
And this is not something that typically happens that I get a call .
They were like hey , we are starting to see something .
And very quickly this is right at the beginning .
They recognized that there was some trend they saw out there they were starting to see that was not typical .
They reached out to me .
Reached out to the mayor .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all weekend to get into the details here .
What we ’ re seeing is there are about at least 10 locations around the city that have had at least a total of 30 people confirmed that have tested positive .
And these are Davidson County residents .
And there may be others at these locations that live outside of Davidson County they may have been infected .
So this was atypical , right ?
( emphasis added ) So we are also starting to see a decrease in the age of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a difference again in zip codes of where people have been infected .
So these are the variables that alerted our very astute public health investigators to say hey , something different is happening here .
And so that ’ s kind of how we started becoming aware of this and started really quickly addressing this .
So thank you .
You can watch the full video of the July 2 , 2020 Mayor John Cooper press conference here below .
The exchange between Farmer and Jahangir begins at the 30:15 mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-22--Dangerous Police Reform Bills Keep Moving In Virginia House


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Tennessee State Rep. Bruce Griffey Wants No Confidence Vote on Penny Schwinn

State Rep. Bruce Griffey ( R-Paris ) on Tuesday announced he wants members of the General Assembly to issue a vote of no confidence in Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn .
Griffey announced this through an emailed press release as well as a statement he published on his Facebook page .
“ I don ’ t know where to begin with respect to the reasons why out-of-state transplant Commissioner Schwinn should be replaced immediately .
There are simply too many reasons to enumerate , ” Griffey said .
“ Schwinn , who grew up in California and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Berkeley , never should have been appointed TN Education Commissioner in my opinion .
She has a minimal amount of actual classroom teaching experience – only about two years based on the documents I have reviewed .
Additionally , prior to being appointed by Governor [ Bill ] Lee to her current position , she had no connection with our great state and had a legacy of controversy .
She left her prior position with the Texas Education Agency after awarding a controversial no-bid contract to a company known as SPEDx , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a personal relationship .
Sound familiar ?
It certainly seems like a pattern based on her actions here in TN.
” Griffey said that Schwinn , among other things : • Bypassed the legislature and a competitive bid process and awarded $ 2.5 Million ( which exceeded the $ 750,000 budgeted by the legislature ) in a no-bid contract to a Florida company known as ClassWallet to administer the financial aspects of the ESA/school voucher program .
• Recruited a woman , Katie Poulos , from New Mexico , who has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state , claiming mistreatment .
• Increased the number of chiefs or assistant commissioners from 13 to 23 and allowed them to draw an average annual salary exceeding $ 135,000 , an increase of $ 1.35 Million over the prior administration .
“ She has grown government , not limited or minimized it and limited government is what I believe the majority of Tennesseans desire .
Limiting government should certainly be an overriding goal of our Republican supermajority legislature , ” Griffey said .
Griffey also said he faulted Schwinn for proposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ essentially promoted Common Core standards.
” “ The icing on the cake has been Schwinn ’ s flawed handling of COVID-19 .
She has completely lacked any leadership on this front in my opinion .
She drug her feet in sending out a reopening plan for Tennessee schools .
She has pressured schools into reopening while keeping the doors to the TN Department of Education closed and allowing employees to work from home , ” Griffey said .
“ The ‘ do as I say , not as I do ’ model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my understanding that she has failed to timely provide PPE and cleaning supplies to schools .
The nail in the coffin was her ill-conceived monthly child well-being inspections that sparked a controversy wave across TN due to not only unreasonably expanding teacher workload , but also due to unreasonably expanding government into an overly intrusive , big brother model.
” As The Tennessee Star reported this month , Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles called on Lee to remove Schwinn .
Ogles said he formally called on Lee to do this only hours after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three former TDEC higher-ups .
Those former employees , speaking anonymously , denounced Schwinn and her alleged on-the-job behavior .
They said she falsified government records , ridiculed Lee at TDEC staff meetings , and lied to avoid appearing in public alongside U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Tennessee Capitol ” by F McGady .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .

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--2020-09-23--Julie Strauss Levin Commentary: It’s Our Suburbia, Let’s Keep It That Way

We moms treasure suburban life .
We dream of having a home where our children can ride their bikes and play safely with their friends .
We save our money for that special home on that special street in that special neighborhood and that special school district to educate our children .
We live in the suburbs because we know what ’ s best for our families .
And dads do , too .
We had no idea that in 2015 the Obama-Biden Administration snuck in a federal rule cryptically titled Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing ( AFFH ) and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That rule would have allowed the feds to pack the suburbs with high-density , low-income housing and dictate federal influence over suburbia .
Thank goodness , President Trump slammed the door on this Obama/Biden federal power grab .
As HUD Secretary Carson succinctly stated , AFFH was a “ ruse for social engineering under the guise of desegregation — essentially turning HUD into a national zoning board.
” Biden loves AFFH .
He says he ’ ll bring it back if he wins because he ’ s all for federal control over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DC Swamp yank decision-making away from us .
He wants to tamper with single family zoning .
Stanley Kurtz , Ethics and Public Policy Center senior fellow , explained Biden ’ s AFFH rule : “ It would allow bureaucrats in Washington , in [ HUD ] , to control zoning laws , to control the placement of transportation and business districts , even to some degree the drawing of school districts — In other words , almost every important local governmental responsibility could , under AFFH , fall into the de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our suburbs aren ’ t some “ Not for Me but Okay for Thee ” board game that Biden and his big government cronies get to play .
We can not allow Biden to outlaw single-family homes , build high density , low-income or other multi-family housing in our backyards , over-crowd our schools , and increase our tax base .
Essentially it ’ s good-bye , Main Street , USA if Biden gets his way .
His way isn ’ t the American way .
For those moms and dads who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it on their bucket list , it ’ s our choice , and we want to keep it that way .
American suburbs are proudly diverse without federal control because all Americans have dreams regardless of our color .
President Trump was right to strike AFFH .
He understands how we treasure our suburbs , that the suburbs are our American Dream , and the federal government shouldn ’ t mess with the aspirations we have for our families .
Julie Strauss Levin is a mom , wife and attorney who loves her @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Obamacare Loophole Allows Medicaid Fraud, Costs Taxpayers, Report Says

The Affordable Care Act mandated that states accept a hospitals ’ decision on the eligibility of all able-bodied adults who verbally report their income to be below the Medicaid level , which has led to many fraudulent eligibility claims , according to a report published Monday .
The Foundation for Government Accountability ( FGA ) report examined recently released data from state Medicaid agencies .
It specifically looked at the government Medicaid funds that were wasted through false hospitals ’ presumptive eligibility ( HPE ) determinations .
“ Hospital presumptive eligibility for able-bodied adults is fraud by design , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ Medicaid already has a huge problem with improper payments and this bad policy pours gasoline on that fire.
” He continued , “ Even worse , states can not recoup any of the tax dollars that are misspent as a result of this policy , and at a time when Medicaid is already breaking their state budget , that is just unacceptable.
” HPE existed before the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ) became law in 2010 , but the new law made it mandatory for a state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report .
Once a person is presumed eligible for Medicaid after hospital staff questions them , they have until the last day of the next month to submit a full Medicaid application .
The ACA made this change to HPE policy to make it easier for people with income below a certain level to obtain immediate health care services and put them on a path toward permanent coverage , according to Health Affairs .
States are required to set up oversight systems to ensure their HPE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , data released by states showed that 70 % of people who were presumed eligible for Medicaid insurance in 2018 , were found ineligible or didn ’ t submit an application by the next month deadline , according to the FGA report .
Some states have more HPE fraud than average .
Just 23 % of those presumed eligible in California were found eligible a month later , according to the FGA .
In Indiana , 25 % were eligible despite the fact that most recipients submitted an application .
Federal regulations put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states from disqualifying certain hospitals with a bad HPE track record as well , according to the report .
There are also no performance standards or guidelines that states must communicate to hospitals .
“ Even when states identify hospitals improperly enrolling individuals through HPE , they must provide those hospitals with additional training , and take other corrective action steps prior to suspending their ability to improperly enroll people in the program , ” the report said .
Further , states and federal agencies aren ’ t allowed to recoup HPE-related improper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from hospitals , according to the report .
This loophole incentivizes hospitals to be lax in how they determine patient eligibility knowing payments would not be recouped , the report argued .
“ ObamaCare opened the door even wider to fraud in the Medicaid program , ” the report said .
Medicaid , which was signed into law in 1965 along with the Medicare program , costed $ 593 billion in 2018 , according to the Kaiser Family Foundation .
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Over 60 Percent of Americans Say They Will Not Get a First Generation Coronavirus Vaccine

Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed now say that they would not get a first-generation coronavirus vaccine as soon as it available , an Axios-Ipsos poll shows .
The percentage is eight points lower than a month ago , a drop that is reflected among both Democrats and Republicans , the Ipsos index shows .
The United States is approaching 200,000 coronavirus deaths , according to a Johns Hopkins University database .
Only 43 % of Democrats surveyed said that they would receive a vaccine as soon as it became available , down 13 points from August .
Only a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflecting an eight-point drop from a month ago , Axios reported .
Most Americans not only expect to pay little out of pocket for a vaccine but have little willingness to spend money to receive the vaccine , according to Ipsos .
Fifty-one percent of those surveyed said that they would not pay more than $ 50 for a vaccine , and 33 % said that they were unwilling to pay anything at all .
The survey also represents a deepening partisan rift regarding the pandemic .
While 69 % of Republicans trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information , only 7 % of Democrats said the same , the survey shows .
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was trusted by 80 % of Democrats but only 12 % of Republicans .
Independents break towards the former vice president 43 % -27 % .
Only 31 % of voters trust Trump to deliver accurate information , compared to 46 % who said they trust Biden .
The metric comes after a recent Politico report alleged that the Trump administration interfered with the Centers for Disease Control ’ s reports on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some prominent Democrats to announce their hesitancy towards a vaccine as well .
While Trump has floated the possibility of a vaccine being ready before the November election , administration officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci and CDC Director Robert Redfield have said that a vaccine may not be created and distributed until mid-2021 .
The margin of error for the poll is 3.0-3.4 percentage points .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Vaccine ” by KMOUnews CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Commentary: COVID Authoritarians Got the Science Wrong

A dozen generations or so ago , the scientific method gradually began superseding the method of authority as the most reliable way of knowing the world .
We no longer had to accept without question what powerful individuals and institutions asserted ; we could observe and test and measure , relying on a more objective approach .
This profound shift in focus helped the human family take steps away from darkness and toward light .
But apparently the light was too bright .
In recent years , we ’ ve taken half a step backwards .
We ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the methods of science and authority .
Sciority ?
Authorience ?
Whatever we call it , it isn ’ t good .
Nowadays when a science representative speaks , we ’ re expected simply to nod in agreement .
One would think that the key element of science — skepticism — would be encouraged among the hoi polloi .
But it ’ s not .
If we question what the scientific community proclaims , we are labeled “ science deniers ” by our superiors .
And if we critically evaluate research-based opinions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments like “ the debate is over.
” The purveyors of this type of science — some of them scientists and teachers , some of them celebrities and pundits and former politicians — have made it clear that science is the new ultimate authority .
It is pure and above reproach .
It employs precise measurement .
And it uses statistical analysis .
So obviously it must be revered and never challenged .
Respect for science is justifiable .
After all , it has given us rockets and vaccines , Roombas and hoverboards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter .
As we over time have elevated science , it has morphed from one of several methods of learning about the world into the arbiter of truth .
The traditional scientific method can be summarized like this : observe , hypothesize , test , analyze , interpret .
The new and unimproved scientific method replaces “ interpret ” with “ declare truth.
” But science doesn ’ t uncover truth , and it never has .
Truth emerges over time as we employ all of our capacity for knowing , including intuition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes , even authoritarianism in certain contexts .
I recently learned from a virtue-signaling yard sign in my neighborhood that “ science is real.
” Yes , science is real .
But so are the people who conduct science .
And real people , I ’ ve been told , sometimes are inept or careless .
They occasionally are biased or rigidly ideological .
They from time to time value prestige and professional advancement more than conventional ethical and moral standards .
So as authority figures , scientists are no more reliable than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are exhorted to mindlessly “ follow the science ” whenever the latest study is announced , without regard for how and why and by whom “ the science ” has come about .
The people who chant the mantra “ follow the science ” do not epitomize the scientific spirit .
If they did , they would insist that everyone be skeptical .
They would encourage us all to be intelligent and careful consumers of scientific information .
They would stress the value of critically examining the implications of touted studies , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by scientists and science worshipers .
The fact is that the wary are not science deniers ; they are science embracers .
By being “ hard sells , ” they reflect the essence of the scientific approach .
They know instinctively that a valid result is not an irrefutable result .
They understand that a reasonable conclusion is not an unassailable conclusion .
They grasp that support for a theory is not proof of a theory .
And they recognize that a reliable methodology is not an infallible methodology .
In short , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than assigning it a place on a pedestal .
We ’ ve taken half a step backward in recent years as science has become increasingly authoritarian .
A few more steps backward will lead us to a place where scientists decree and we agree lest we be punished .
But a few steps forward at this critical point will lead us once again toward light .
We can ’ t rely on governments or institutions or media to move us in the right direction .
We the people must do it .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to scrutinize the science before , and if , we agree to follow the science .
Robert Harris is an author and inventor who occasionally constructs crossword puzzles .
He can be reached via his website , artspace5.com .
Photo “ COVID Science ” by NIH Image Gallery CC1.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Just the News Launching TV Initiative, Partnering with Real America’s Voice Network

by Just the News Staff Just the News announced Tuesday it is getting into the television business , forging a strategic partnership with Real America ’ s Voice ( RAV-TV ) to provide daily news content and original shows for the fledgling digital news channel founded in 2018 .
Real America ’ s Voice is owned by Performance One Media , a successful media solutions company that operates several successful digital content channels , including the popular Weather Nation .
The two companies said the partnership is designed to expand their commitments to honest journalism and events-driven broadcasting while creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content .
“ In our commitment to deliver honest journalism , we are delighted to join forces with Real America ’ s Voice to expand the reach of our online , podcast , and new TV content from Just the News , ” Just the News founder and Editor in Chief John Solomon said .
“ This is a match made in the cloud , as our truth-in-news content can reach millions more Americans across a growing array of broadcast and streaming content channels.
” Howard Diamond , CEO of Performance One Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a first-class news engine is over , and we ’ re pleased to team up with Just the News to form a successful media partnership that creates a multiplying effect for our two companies .
This network is the perfect platform for the JTN shows , and their news is the most authentic journalism we ’ ve seen in a generation .
We are thrilled to get started with John Solomon and his team.
” Just the News will serve as the news engine for RAV-TV , and RAV-TV will broadcast a line-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which also delivers podcasts to a growing national audience at JustTheNews.com .
The new TV programs will feature the talents of four show hosts : John Solomon ( @ jsolomonReports ) on “ Just the News Sunday with John Solomon , ” Sunday ’ s , 10-11:00 a.m .
ET ; former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens ( @ EricGreitens ) on “ Actionable Intelligence , ” 6-7:00 p.m .
ET daily ; Christian TV news personality David Brody ( @ DavidBrodyCBN ) on “ The Water Cooler , ” 4-5:00 p.m. daily ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ carriesheffield ) on “ Just the News AM , ” 9-10:00 a.m. daily .
Just the News correspondents will begin contributing content to RAV-TV programing immediately and the new shows will begin airing over the next few weeks .
“ I can ’ t imagine being a part of a better media partnership for launching my new TV show , ‘ Actionable Intelligence , ’ ” said Greitens , the former Missouri governor and former U.S. Navy Seal .
“ Nowhere else can you find the kind of cutting-edge programming we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issues that matter most to Americans .
Tune in !
” he concluded .
Photo “ John Solomon ” by Just the News