thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Crom Carmichael: ‘Masks Are Inherently Unhealthy’

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 to weigh in on the unhealthiness of mask-wearing and Sweden ’ s COVID-19 health position compared to the rest of Europe and United States .
Leahy : We are joined now as we almost always are Monday , Wednesday , and Friday at 6:30 am by our good friend , the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good morning .
Leahy : Well Crom , eight days until the election .
We ’ re going to talk about that but in a second .
But I want to say congratulations to the winners of the National Constitution Bee .
It was a great event held Saturday in Brentwood , Tennessee at the Spring Hill Suites-Marriott in Brentwood .
They were gracious hosts .
We had students from all around the country .
Some drove in from , Illinois , Chicago , Georgia , Knoxville , and other parts of Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine young man .
Jackson Carter .
Jackson Carter is a senior at Spring Hill High School in Maury County .
And he won , and we wrote a check to him and delivered it to him for $ 10,000 from the Star News Education Foundation .
Carmichael : So , is that a scholarship or is that $ 10,000 in cash ?
$ 10,000 .
It ’ s for educational purposes , so it ’ s not taxable income to him .
Leahy : It is not taxable .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congratulations to him .
Leahy : And he ’ s going to the University of Alabama .
He wants to be an attorney .
The second-place winner was a freshman named Gianna Ross from Independence High School here in Thompsons Station here in Williamson County won a $ 5,000 educational scholarship .
And third place went to Alea Vandevelde from Golden , Illinois who won a $ 2,500 educational scholarship .
She wants to go to Liberty University in Virginia .
And Alan Dershowitz was a man of his word .
He showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it at the Tennessee Star .
He had a 15-minute Zoom call and the kids got to ask some questions .
He was very interesting .
Grace Estes who is a junior at Stewart asked a great question .
And she is now his best friend because she asked , what was it like defending the president when he was impeached .
And he said , you know , I ’ m here in isolation on Martha ’ s Vineyard .
None of my liberal friends will talk to me .
They won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And so we ’ ve invited him to Nashville and he will come to Nashville and have dinner with us and all the students after the COVID-19 because he wants some friends .
Carmichael : Well good .
So it was a great event .
Leahy : Now the news of the day .
Eight days until the election Crom .
What are we to make of it ?
Carmichael : Well , you know , this is truly an election of the battleground states .
This is not a national election now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules are set up .
And so when you go state by state my sense of it is that last week Trump was gaining and had significant momentum .
He ’ s holding three or four rallies a day , which is absolutely incredible .
How many people show up at each rally 15 , 20 thousand ?
Carmichael : So then they go home and they ’ re energized and they talk to their friends and family and more people go out .
And so and he ’ s and he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One is he ’ s going to the battleground states the other is he ’ s using the weather map because wherever he goes is not raining .
So he ’ s paying attention to the weather .
Carmichael : Because all of his rallies are outside .
But what ’ s also interesting to me and this doesn ’ t have to do directly with the campaign and that is the increase in COVID outbreaks in Europe .
And let me go back to March if we could Michael .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not trying to say that I ’ m that I was prescient per se .
And it ’ s conceivable that what I ’ m about to say turns out to be false .
But I said back in March I thought that this would require herd immunity in order Leahy : You did say that .
I recall you saying that .
Carmichael : What would solve the problem faster than herd immunity would be a vaccine .
But masks and let ’ s just think about this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement here and people on the left can disagree with it , but they can ’ t disagree with the logic .
It ’ s not possible to disagree with the logic .
Masks are inherently unhealthy .
That ’ s my statement .
Masks are inherently unhealthy .
Now , why do we know that ?
How do we know that ?
We know that because people don ’ t wear masks normally .
And if they did wear masks normally it would be because they aren ’ t a problem .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ own breath over and over .
Your own exhale , over and over again for long periods of time every day is not healthy .
It is just simply not healthy .
Now , what we also know in Europe is that they ’ ve been much more regimented on wearing masks .
Haven ’ t they ?
Much more .
Leahy : Double in the U.S .
But yet the spike in coronavirus cases in Europe is double what it is over here .
Leahy : By the way , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Denmark on the efficacy of masks .
Okay , and guess what ?
Not a single academic journal will publish it .
Hmm .
I wonder why .
Could it be it shows that masks don ’ t have any impact ?
Carmichael : It could be negative .
What I ’ m saying is that what I think is true is it it ’ s not whatever it is not positive .
And breathing your own breath every day has to be a bad thing .
And I say it has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were a good thing people would wear masks all the time regardless of COVID .
It would be a fashion statement and a health statement .
I wear a mask because it ’ s healthy .
It ’ s good for the environment .
I ’ m not exhaling CO2 or whatever it is that we exhale them supposed to create global warming .
But the point I ’ m trying to make here is it could be that this whole effort to try to and I believe it is an effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole effort actually is extremely harmful .
That ’ s a possibility .
And so when I look at the headlines , I see that Europe is imposing new COVID restrictions and that the second wave accelerates .
Well , what will they do now ?
Sweden never did a lockdown .
I don ’ t believe Sweden is having the same kind of problems .
Leahy : They are not .
They ’ re doing better .
They ’ re doing better than all the rest of Europe .
Carmichael : And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I believe is that this virus is contagious A .
B it is fatal to a very small percentage of the population .
And that if you protect that part of the population the number of people who are not in the elderly or pre-morbidity part of the population where you have significant pre morbidities .
If you ’ re over 80 , it ’ s a risk .
If you ’ re under 70 and in fact , even if you ’ re under 75 and you ’ re in good health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease or address the disease pretty quickly .
So Sweden made the decision is that their economy is an important part of their lives .
Carmichael : And except for those people who get paid even in lockdown , it ’ s an undeniable fact .
And the one thing that I wish Trump had done if he had it to do over again is to require that everybody who has worked for an organization that is controlled by the FTC that none of them get and no employee all the way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid normal no more money than the lowest-paid cameraman until we are out of the problem .
And that would have focused those news organizations on the same kinds of problems that millions of other Americans are facing rather than on the pure politics of the situation .
To answer your question on the election , I don ’ t think that COVID , as much as the media is now trying to make make our entire election now about COVID .
Leahy : They ’ re trying to make it about COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it will work because I don ’ t think the American people want the economy shut down .
In fact , it might even have the opposite effect because if it ’ s if it is going up Biden has already said if we have a second wave he will shut down the entire economy of all 50 states .
Leahy : Even though he doesn ’ t have the legal authority to do it or assert it .
Carmichael : He will assert it and try to do it anyway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ car rallies held by Obama and Biden .
Carmichael : I understand those are self-driving cars too .
Listen to the second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Masks ” by U.S. Department of Agriculture .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Legendary Pollster Scott Rasmussen Weighs in on Recent Polls and Outlines Voting Models That Differ

Legendary Pollster Scott Rasmussen Weighs in on Recent Polls and Outlines Voting Models That Differ Between Democrats and Republicans

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 Political Consultant Scott Rasmussen to the show .
During the program , Rasmussen discussed current polling numbers in the battleground states and the need for a heavy election day turnout by Republican ’ s for Trump to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best-case scenario for Republicans in this election right now would come down to states like Pennsylvania , Michigan , and Wisconsin .
Fredericks : Joining me now , Scott Rasmussen .
One of the best pollsters ever in the history of polling ever .
You can go to ScottRasmussen.com .
ScottRasmussen.com .
And Scott also has his daily tracking polls and he ’ s with us now .
Scott , great to have you .
Rasmussen : John always good to be with you .
And it ’ s a crazy time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All right Scott I want you to give it to us straight you ’ re one of the most accurate posters out there .
We ’ re getting a lot of let ’ s call it disinformation , fake news , and fake polls .
I mean when I see a CBS poll five days after Joe Biden basically said he was going to eliminate the oil and energy industry that he ’ s up by five in Texas , you know that poll is a complete and utter joke .
So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now in this race ?
Rasmussen : Well nationwide for the last several weeks leading up to the debate my polling showed the President was consistently down by about eight points .
I ’ ll be releasing some new numbers this afternoon at justthenews.com showing the president has made just a little bit of progress .
But John the big question here there ’ s two issues that people need to focus on .
Number one if the race is very close it comes down to some key battleground states .
And second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best of circumstances to predict turnout .
And none of us have ever predicted turnout before or during a pandemic .
So what I ’ ve been doing is releasing three sets of numbers .
What if it turns better for Republicans ?
What if it ’ s a little bit better for democrats ?
And right now if I take a look at my strong Republican turnout model the President is just outside the area where he could actually pull off an upset in the electoral college .
So you know it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildly out of reach but it ’ s very clear the President is trailing somewhat .
Now let me talk about specific states and this gets to the question of turnout .
and turnout is not about a polling technique it ’ s about who ’ s actually going to vote .
In Florida , my baseline polling shows the President is down by two points but he can win that state with a stronger than projected Republican turnout .
In North Carolina , the exact same thing is happening .
In Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point but could pull off a victory with a stronger than expected turnout .
All my battleground state polls are being released to PoliticalIQ.com .
New numbers every day .
But they all tell the same story .
The President is trailing by a little bit and needs a very strong Republican turnout to win .
Fredericks : Well he certainly seems to be getting that in Florida when we look at the early voting numbers there .
They ’ re exceeding expectations especially in the rural areas republican strongholds .
Like last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week of October 26th .
Eight days out in 2016 we were in Trump Tower that week looking at the numbers .
We were in a lot worse shape in Florida than we are now as far as the early balloting is concerned .
So it looks like we ’ re getting a big turnout in Florida .
Also , you know what Scott what everybody is underestimating here is trump ’ s ground game .
And that ’ s never going to show up in any polling anywhere .
But when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s basically dragging or pulling or pushing or cajoling lower propensity voters to come out .
We ’ ve got like just in Virginia for example , will have knocked down 750,000 doors by November third with a 37.5 home rate .
We ’ re targeting low propensity voters .
That ’ s the turnout model .
We will have contacted via phone and in-person over three million people .
There are only four and a half million people gon na vote so those don ’ t show up anywhere .
Biden doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ ve knocked on zero doors in America .
Could that make a difference ?
Rasmussen : It could make a difference .
I mean that ’ s the reason you do a get out the vote effort .
Ind I think mike you know what I was trying to convey is a sense that while the president is down a small change can make a huge difference .
I mean think about this if the President is down by a couple of points in Florida , North Carolina , and Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each , he can ’ t possibly win the White House .
But if there ’ s a ground game that boosts his performance by just a couple of points he wins those states uh that ’ s why it ’ s so critical a close race .
Now there ’ s another side to it and this is the thing that keeps me up at night as a pollster .
When you look at the models we ’ re talking about you know and you mentioned you go back to four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other earlier , times that ’ s the way we normally look at models to see how they ’ re doing .
To see how they compare .
But the last time that there was a pandemic in America was in 1918 there was no polling industry so we don ’ t have data on this .
So yes , turnout at all levels is breaking records this year .
The question I have is how many mail-in ballots are actually going to be submitted .
Because among people who tell us they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden is winning by huge margins .
You know we know that people who ’ ve already voted tend to be a little bit pro-Biden overall .
We know that people who tell us they are going to vote on election day are very heavily pro-trump .
But these mail-in voters are so heavily invested in Joe Biden .
The question is will millennials who don ’ t use snail mail as part of their daily life actually get those ballots in .
And then will they be properly filled out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the turnout nightmare from a polling perspective is keeping me , it ’ s causing me some angst .
Fredericks : You know it ’ s interesting you bring that up Scott because historically those people that request mail-in ballots historically not obviously everything here is different .
But if you go back in history and if you believe that history can repeat itself .
If you go back and look at every model an average across the nation for the past 20 years 20 percent of mail-in ballots requested either a don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ b are tossed out because they are not signed , not sealed , checked the wrong box or didn ’ t put their address on it .
And you know whatever else the stipulations are .
20 percent get thrown out .
I mean even if you cut that in half and you say okay this time people be a bit more aware of it even if you cut that number in half I mean that could turn into Trump right there if 15 or 18 percent or 12 percent of the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it back .
Rasmussen : Sure .
And look that ’ s something we ’ re trying to address in my turnout models .
We ’ re trying to estimate that .
We also know that people who are voting by mail for the first time are three times as likely to have their ballot rejected .
But let me tell you where this is leading us .
The best-case scenario for Republicans in this election right now is a close election that comes down to states again like Pennsylvania , Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have a little bit of a feel like four years ago if we get to that point .
But the difference is we won ’ t know the winner in that case for three or four weeks .
We won ’ t know who wins the presidency and the senate .
We won ’ t know who controls some key state legislatures .
And the reason is all these mail-in ballots will be counted and there will be legal challenges to just about all of them .
Now some states have done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the time .
But when you talk about a state like Pennsylvania which is a pivotal state they have never dealt with this .
It is going to be a bonanza for the lawyers if the race comes down to Pennsylvania .
But for the rest of the nation , it will be weeks and weeks of uncertainty where every day Donald Trump ’ s election day lead is chipped away at by a mail-in balance .
Fredericks : That ’ s going to cause anxiety for Trump supporters right ?
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because every day you get up you ’ re going to start with this big lead and every day you get up it ’ s going to dwindle .
And it ’ s a matter of are you going to make it over the finish line .
Listen to the full show here : Photo “ Scott Rasmussen ” by Scott Rasmussen .
Background Photo “ Rockefeller Election Night ” by Marco Verch Professional Photographer CC BY 2.0 .

by Thomas Catenacci
A group of 27 Republican congressmen urged President Donald Trump to order a Justice Department-appointed special counsel investigation of “legitimate questions” about election irregularities.
The Republican congressmen asked Trump to direct Attorney General William Barr to appoint the special counsel, according to a letter obtained by Politico that was sent to the White House on Wednesday. Reps. Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Louie Gohmert, Scott Perry and Jody Hice were among the 27 congressmen who signed onto the letter.
“The American people deserve a definitive resolution to the uncertainty hovering over the outcome of our election, but legitimate questions of voter fraud remain unanswered,” the congressmen wrote.
Barr said on Dec. 1 that the Department of Justice has yet to find any evidence of election fraud that could sway the result, sparking criticism from conservatives. Trump hesitated when asked if he still had confidence in Barr.
“The Department of Justice has been asked on multiple occasions to launch an investigation into this matter, but inaction from the Department along with public comments made by the Attorney General indicate a lack of willingness to investigate the irregularities your campaign and other elected officials across the nation have alleged,” the Republican congressmen continued.
“The appointment of a Special Counsel would establish a team of investigators whose sole responsibility is to uncover the truth and provide the certainty America needs,” they added.
Several news organizations including The Associated Press and Fox News declared former Vice President Joe Biden the winner of the election on Nov. 7. Trump’s campaign has filed numerous lawsuits alleging widespread fraud, but courts across the country have handed the campaign many defeats.
Texas filed a new lawsuit against Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin Tuesday arguing the states altered their election procedures illegally. Alabama and Louisiana have expressed interest in joining the suit, according to Newsweek.
“Our Country stands at an important crossroads,” the lawsuit said. “Either the Constitution matters and must be followed, even when some officials consider it inconvenient or out of date, or it is simply a piece of parchment on display at the National Archives.”
“We ask the Court to choose the former,” it continued.
– – –
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Conservatives Critical of VP Hopeful Kamala Harris Stop at Cuyahoga County Polling Place

With just 10 days before the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election and President Donald Trump ’ s approval numbers increasing , U.S .
Senator Kamala Harris toured northern Ohio on Saturday to rally voter turnout in the battleground state .
One of the stops the Vice Presidential candidate made was to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections in downtown Cleveland – on the first day of early voting in one of Ohio ’ s largest counties .
The visit was criticized on social media – some claiming that Harris violated Ohio election law by campaigning at a poll location .
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been at odds with Harris ’ s actions , it is not clear that the letter of the Ohio election law was violated .
The Ohio Star reached out over email to Secretary of State Frank LaRose – the secretary was asked whether Harris violated Ohio election law and if the state election officer was looking into the matter .
Ohio Revised Code 3501.35 No loitering or congregating near polling places .
( A ) During an election and the counting of the ballots , no person shall do any of the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or engage in any kind of election campaigning within the area between the polling place and the small flags of the United States placed on the thoroughfares and walkways leading to the polling place , and if the line of electors waiting to vote extends beyond those small flags , within ten feet of any elector in that line ; The county board of elections can help you with the rest of your questions .
The Star reached out to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to determine whether Harris was within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to video shot at the scene on Saturday it can not be determined whether Harris was within the “ small flags ” leading to the polling location – or whether the traffic cones were used for flags .
However , since the line is said to have extended several blocks as Cuyahoga County residents waited at the only spot for early voting in the county , it seems as though Harris was not within 10 feet of any elector in the long line – making the stop and short speech legal .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for voting and voting early .
Your vote is your voice .
Your voice is your vote .
There is so much at stake ; ” lines Harris later repeated at several stops on her Saturday tour .
Harris concluded : “ don ’ t ever let anyone take your vote .
Your voice is so important .
You are going to make the difference .
You are going to make the decision about your future , about your family ’ s future – and it ’ s through the voice of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The power is with the people and you know that and that ’ s why you ’ re standing in this line today – and I just came to say thank you !
” The Star will report back when Cuyahoga County Board of Elections responds – inquiries were made to both Anthony W. Perlatti , Director and Mike West , Director of Community Outreach .
The Star did reach back to the Secretary of State ’ s Office indicating that the Cuyahoga County Board was not responsive and asking , again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Larose ’ s position that Senator Harris was not within 10′ of electors and not between the polling place and the small flags ?
( Video makes it hard to see ) .
Is she ok on the letter of the law ?
” Sheehan responded : “ that is a question for the Cuyahoga County board of elections.
” If Harris was in violation of Ohio election law for loitering or interfering with the conduct of the election , the offense is a first-degree misdemeanor – punishable by up to 180 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 1,000 , or both jail time and a fine .
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--TRUMPDATE: Latest From the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 27

Welcome to the 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 seven days until the election on November 3 – and four days until early voting in Virginia closes .
President Trump spoke at rallies in Pennsylvania on Monday before traveling back to Washington to swear in Judge Amy Coney Barrett as an associate justice on the United States Supreme Court .
Barrett was confirmed by the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sworn in during a ceremony at the White House in front of family , friends and distinguished guests .
Barrett joins Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch as the third Trump appointee to serve on the nation ’ s highest court .
The successful confirmation is another pivotal promise kept by the president in his first term , with one week to go until the polls close .
Members of the media also heard from Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien , who provided an update on what the campaign is doing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We continue to show a tightened race , ” Stepien said .
“ Polls matter less these day because more and more votes are being cast every single day.
” Stepien said it wasn ’ t surprising that early votes would favor Democrats , but he noted that in battleground states , Florida in particular , the data says that it ’ s a six-point margin .
He pointed to the low return rate for absentee ballots as one of the main reasons .
Stepien also laid out the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
President Trump will be in Michigan , Wisconsin and Nebraska today , with stops in Arizona and Nevada on Wednesday .
“ Our calendar reflects what the official pathway to 270 electoral votes is , ” Stepien said .
In Virginia , the Team Trump Virginia campaign is in maximum overdrive .
Volunteers will continue to knock on doors and get people to the polls between now and November 3 .
The campaign will focus its attention in heavily populated areas like Richmond , Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia then fan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What we ’ ve been saying for months is ground game matters , ” Stepien said .
“ Seeing the results of the grassroots operation , which is the largest in American political history , we continue to see positive trends every single day.
” Check back every day for more Trump Virginia campaign updates !
If you want to join the volunteer team or if you need signs email Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more information , or to sign up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump Campaign in Virginia Needs Poll Watchers !
Don ’ t let them steal the election !
Get paid , too !
John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Washington and Lee Survey on School Name Change Garners More Than 14,000 Responses

A survey distributed by Washington and Lee University ( W & L ) last month designed to give the board of trustees ’ community feedback and to help decide whether or not to remove Confederate general Robert E. Lee ’ s name from the school received more than 14,000 responses .
The survey , which opened on September 16th and closed on October 15th , was sent to undergraduate and law students , faculty and staff , alumni and even parents .
As part of the boards of trustees ’ ongoing examination on issues of diversity , equity and inclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee back in July tasked with assisting that effort and gathering data from the W & L community .
“ While it is still early , it is evident that these issues evoke strong emotions , particularly in this historical moment , and that our community is deeply divided about the university ’ s name , ” Mike McAlevey , rector of the board of trustees ’ , wrote in an update message last Thursday .
Those 14,000 plus responses on the survey represented an overall response rate of 44 percent , McAlevey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 46 percent of alumni , 47 percent of undergraduate students , 61 percent of law students , 51 percent of faculty and staff and 35 percent of parents , according to the email .
The survey asked respondents a number of questions relating to associations with the school ’ s name , how important the name is and what the name represented to them .
It also asked if respondents would continue to donate money and feel pride in the university were the name to be changed , and vice versa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who filled out the survey .
“ I ’ ve gone back and forth on this quite a bit because I do think there are important points on both sides .
The thing that worries me about the whole name change and this discussion is I feel like it overshadows larger problems , ” the alumna said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ I think [ W & L ] should be focusing [ more ] on the environment of the school , the course offerings and even the rhetoric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if they did or did not go through with the name change , that would be the focus instead of being on the systemic issues with the school.
” Another W & L alumna who graduated from the school in 2016 also offered their opinion on the potential renaming .
“ My stance on it is if changing the name [ is just ] to tick a box without any tangible or reasonable goals in mind and purely as a superficial move , I wouldn ’ t recommend it , ” She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would only serve as a cultural pawn instead of an actually thoughtful and fully-fledged acknowledgement of what is going on in the world , and an actual step toward making real progress.
” The alumna added : “ I think it ’ s great to hear from the community by doing surveys and because it ’ s a part of their past that they want to feel like they have ownership of and a say in , but if we are trying to be more inclusive of people of different races , ethnicities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sun , the people who are actually living those experiences need to be the ones who are a part of the policy and decision making process at the end of the day.
” The survey is just one part of the board ’ s considerations , however .
The committee has also scheduled 13 listening sessions involving students , faculty , staff and alumni , and have read “ thousands of communications ” on the subject , according to McAlevey Another aspect that may be under consideration is the fact that Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campus .
Currently , there is no time table for when the board of trustees ’ final decision might come , Drewry Sackett , associate director of communications and public affairs for W & L , said in an email .
“ We are making progress , but our process is not yet complete , ” McAlevey wrote .
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 “ Washington & Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Grassroots Volunteers Rally Voters in Swing State of Ohio

CINCINNATI , Ohio ( AP ) — Something changed in Yana Duke this year .
She came to the U.S. as a youth from Ukraine , had never been involved in politics before .
But during the 2020 campaign season , she felt she had to do something .
“ What I ’ m afraid is coming to this country is what I ’ m running away from , ” she said .
“ I ’ m really worried about socialism.
” The 49-year-old suburban Cincinnati woman is campaigning for President Donald Trump on social media , helping distribute yard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting up for a recent visit to Cincinnati by his daughter Ivanka .
She also admires the Republican president because “ he gets things done.
” With perennial swing-state Ohio appearing to be a toss-up in recent polling , the roles of campaign volunteers and grassroots groups in generating enthusiasm and turning out the vote will likely be crucial in the battle for the state ’ s 18 electoral votes .
Other than the Republican president , most candidates are eschewing rallies , and the traditional meet-the-candidates nights and forums in community rec @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
Volunteers who normally would spend their weekends going door-to-door now are reaching out to registered voters by texts , emails and on social media .
Katie Paris , of suburban Cleveland , has been involved with politically progressive organizations much of her adult life .
But not like the one she founded a year ago , called Red , Wine & Blue .
It ’ s a female-oriented online community which she calls “ pro-Mom , pro-democracy , ” and this year , pro-Joe Biden , the Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said her social media group has seen an explosion in engagement .
“ Many of them balance full-time work , raising kids and now , a little home school on the side , ” the 41-year-old Paris said .
“ Yet people want to do something ; they want to make a difference.
” She added : “ There ’ s no question that this is not a normal election year , but women are good at adapting.
” In Cleveland , the co-founder of a nonpartisan group that promotes and facilitates voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of outreach such as setting up booths at summer festivals or doing door-to-door have been replaced by interactive infographics and a livestream town hall with rapper David Banner .
“ I would say … it ( the pandemic ) really has pushed us to be more creative , ” said Erika Anthony , of Cleveland Votes .
“ There ’ s a bit of a learning curve here.
” For Richard Asimus , 76 , who helped start a small but vigorous organization called Bold New Democracy that had met weekly and staged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , his phone now is his key campaign tool .
He spends hours every day texting , calling , sending emails .
“ I ’ m an organizer , ” Asimus said .
A Democratic congressional campaign wanted some friendly faces at a press conference on short notice , so Asimus turned out a half dozen or so after a round of calls .
In another short amount of time , he also helped raise $ 2,000 to buy social media ads for local candidates .
Asimus got involved a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican-dominated gerrymandering of congressional seats in Ohio — a federal panel of judges declared Ohio ’ s U.S. House districts were unfairly drawn , but the Supreme Court ruled that redistricting was up to state legislatures .
Diane Cunningham Redden , 66 , helped start SHELeads four years ago in the Cincinnati area .
Its primary mission is to identify , mentor and provide support for female candidates .
“ We ’ re not like a ladies ’ club that ’ s getting together for lunch , ” said Redden , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Party .
There were no Labor Day parades or picnics for candidates to drop in on this year , so pro-Trump activists have put on vehicle parades and gathered to wave placards at passing motorists at busy intersections .
Ohio ’ s Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose said recently that voting statewide is on a record pace .
And the grassroots activists have no plans to slow down .
“ I ’ m old and you ’ ve got keep some balance , ” Asimus said , before adding that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours a day , seven days a week , through Nov. 3 .
Duke will be volunteering Election Day .
And she ’ ll be busy on social media .
She saw the power of it a few weeks when she made a post complaining that someone had stolen her Trump yard sign .
Soon , more Trump signs were sprouting in her neighborhood .
Paris said Red , Wine & Blue , which often uses humorous content that satirizes suburban mom stereotypes , has created an online community “ with a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power , ” as women reach out to their friends and neighbors with videos and other messages about voting .
In Cleveland , Anthony said volunteers are setting up ride shares and providing other transportation to the polls for those who want to vote in person , and making sure that people have personal protective equipment for going out amid the pandemic .
Redden said there are a number of grassroots activities planned to build excitement .
But she said energy is already high among Trump fans .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be , ” Redden said , chuckling .
Dan Sewell is a reporter for The Associated Press .
Photo “ Red Wine & Blue ” by Red Wine & Blue Facebook .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Morrissey: Gray’s Going to Upset Stoney on First Ballot in Richmond Mayor Race

Despite raising twice as much money as either of his two closest challengers , Mayor Levar Stoney has struggled to get his polling above 40 percent .
Two weeks ago , Councilmember Kim Gray recently saw her polling drop from 33 to 16 percent , with a high undecided voter rate .
That poll placed her just ahead of the third-closest competitor , Alexsis Rodgers , who has failed to poll significantly better than 15 percent .
As a result , Stoney may win despite polling at less than a majority .
However , on Monday , Senator Joe Morrissey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fredericks Radio Show and laid out a potential path to victory for Gray .
“ She is ahead in [ districts ] one , two , and four .
The third district , which is north side , the Ginter Park area , it ’ s tied , but she ’ s gaining momentum , and she ’ s gaining momentum in both the eight and the ninth where she was eight points behind.
” In order to win the election outright , a candidate needs to win the most votes in five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate wins five wards , the top two candidates go to a runoff .
According to pundit Paul Goldman , that forces the candidates to campaign in each ward in Richmond , instead of relying on high turnout in a few districts .
It also creates a ward-by-ward calculation — if a candidate has just 15 percent support spread across the city , can they carry a majority in a single ward ?
Morrissey described why he thinks Gray ’ s chances are improving in Stoney ’ s traditional territory , the eighth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost support among white voters over how he removed the city ’ s Confederate monuments , and he said Stoney lost support among black voters with his handling of the police during Richmond ’ s protests .
“ The fact that there were three people opposing Stoney really , really helped him.
” Morrissey said , “ The anti-incumbent vote , and it is large , is now being split by three other candidates.
” Morrissey said that Rodgers is taking votes away from both Stoney and Gray , and underdog Justin Griffin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodgers has had strong grassroots support , receiving 651 donations of $ 100 or less in September , according to The Virginia Public Access Project .
Morrissey predicted that Gray would narrowly win .
“ At the end of the day , she should prevail in one , two , three , and four , and it will be a nail-biter on election night to see if she takes eight , ” Morrissey said .
Full disclosure : In September , the John Fredericks Radio Network donated $ 400 to Kim Gray ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Joe Morrissey ” by Ballotpedia .
Photo “ Kim Gray ” by Kim Gray for RVA Facebook .
Background Photo “ Richmond ” by Jim CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Virginia Sheriffs Demand Northam Amend Anti-Law Enforcement Language

The Virginia Sheriffs ’ Association ( VSA ) sent a letter to Governor Ralph Northam on Monday asking him to amend two bills to allow law enforcement agencies to acquire armored military vehicles , which they argue are vital in extreme weather rescues as well as the protection of officers and citizens from gunfire .
Written by John Jones , VSA executive director , the letter recommends that Northam amend House Bill 5049 and Senate Bill 5030 , both of which were sent to the governor ’ s desk last week .
The bills specifically restrict law enforcement agencies from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambush-protected ( MRAP ) vehicles , through a federal surplus program called 1033 run by the Department of Defense .
“ The language in both bills limits the use of MRAPS , and when we went through the [ legislative ] process we thought that MRAPS are used for SWAT only , but I ’ m finding out that sheriffs across the state actually use these vehicles for rescue because they can drive through deep water , ” Jones told The Virginia Star .
“ The language that we have submitted just clarifies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other than aggression or protection.
” Overall , the VSA does not have any other issues or concerns with the two bills .
They just want the acquisition of weaponized military vehicles to be prohibited instead of armored ones , according to Jones .
The letter also included brief explanations from nine sheriffs in different localities on how they specifically have or would use an MRAP .
Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor said they have had an MRAP for eight to ten years and have used it for transporting citizens away from flooded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a safe surrender of a suspect with a gun after a deputy had been shot .
“ We have been able to get those vehicles for almost no cost to the locality and the sheriffs , so we think it makes sense to allow those localities to continue to use the vehicles once they have them for the purpose of doing rescues , ” Jones said .
“ If a sheriff had to get rid of the vehicle and go buy one , it would be a waste of taxpayer money.
” Purchasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1033 program , would cost around $ 1 million , and the price of the same vehicle from a civilian seller could be much higher .
When SB 5030 was advancing through the Senate , several Republican members opposed the restrictive provision for the same reasons outlined by Jones .
“ There is just no doubt in my mind that these vehicles perform an enormous function for a lot of jurisdictions where the terrain dictates these types of vehicles to give our first responders the ability to go on some of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , ” said Sen. Bryce Reeves ( R-Spotsylvania ) , a former law enforcement officer .
“ More importantly , I think these vehicles perform a function with regard to officer safety .
“ To me , if you don ’ t allow [ those vehicles ] then you ’ re putting people ’ s lives at risk and at some point those first responders are just going to throw up the white flag and say we quit.
” Sen. Steve Newman ( R-Bedford ) , who , like Reeves , supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be a terrible move to knowingly increase the risk for law enforcement officers by taking away an asset that can be used for protection .
The Star reached out to the governor ’ s office to get comment on the VSA ’ s letter , but did not hear back before press time .
With a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday , Northam only has a short window to decide whether or not to make those changes .
As of Monday night , it is not clear what the governor will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Police Unions File Complaint Against Ramsey County Officer Who Endorsed John Thompson

Three Ramsey County police unions filed a formal complaint with the county against an officer who publicly endorsed DFL House candidate John Thompson .
“ John is wonderful .
John is a leader .
John is somebody that speaks truth to power , ” Ramsey County Sheriff ’ s Office Public Information Officer Roy Magnuson said of Thompson , who threatened to burn down a neighborhood during a protest in August .
Thompson ’ s behavior at a protest outside the home of a police officer in Hugo , Minnesota , caused the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who refused to condemn the actions of their colleague .
In a January video posted to the Thompson campaign ’ s Facebook page , Magnuson said Thompson has “ a lot of reason to harbor a lot of anger.
” The video of the endorsement has been removed from the campaign ’ s Facebook page , but Magnuson “ has refused to acknowledge or address the endorsement , ” according to a complaint filed against him .
“ Magnuson clearly intended to use the color of the Sheriff ’ s Office , bolstered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters and department employees to garner support for Thompson , ” states the complaint , which was submitted by the Ramsey County Commanders ’ Union , the Ramsey County Sergeants ’ Union and the Ramsey County Deputy Sheriffs ’ Union earlier this month .
According to the complaint , internal policies prohibit employees from representing the department or identifying themselves “ in any way that could be reasonably perceived as representing the Ramsey County Sheriff ’ s Office ” while appearing in any video or public broadcast to endorse a political campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public information officer in the endorsement video , which displayed the department name and Magnuson ’ s official job title .
“ Our unions condemn Thompson ’ s appalling and violent behavior .
Further , employees felt Thompson ’ s actions were hateful and offensive , not only to law enforcement but , more importantly , to the public , specifically women and children , ” the complaint says .
The complaint contains an enclosure with the signatures of “ upwards of 60 employees , including deputies , sergeants and commanders , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate their frustration with Magnuson ’ s endorsement of John Thompson.
” “ Many of the remaining members gave us their verbal support , but out of fear of retaliation , they were unwilling to publicly denounce Magnuson ’ s endorsement , ” it says .
Thompson was endorsed by Gov .
Tim Walz and the Minnesota DFL Party , and is expected to easily win in the general election next week .
“ We echo the sentiments of other law enforcement associations and call for those supporting Thompson to publicly withdraw their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Anyone that continues to support Thompson ’ s candidacy can not be considered a supporter of law enforcement , including Roy Magnuson.
” Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News .
He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller .
Photo “ John Thompson ” by Alpha News Twitter .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Corey Lewandowski Reflects on Huge Crowds in New Hampshire Rally Sunday Night and Trumps Chances to

Corey Lewandowski Reflects on Huge Crowds in New Hampshire Rally Sunday Night and Trumps Chances to Take the State

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 Corey Lewandowski to the show to discuss the 25,000 people that showed up to see President Trump in New Hampshire at his rally Sunday night .
Fredericks : Joining us now live in New Hampshire and back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewandowski Senior Advisor Trump-Pence 2020 .
Three-time New York Times bestseller .
Let Trump Be Trump .
Also Trump ’ s Enemies .
And he ’ s got a new book out , Trump ’ s America .
First , you get it all on Amazon .
And he ’ s been crisscrossing the country now every day as a key trump pence surrogate .
Hey , Corey great to have you with us again .
Lewandowski : Good morning John .
Great to be back with you .
Fredericks : Corey I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today October 26 , 2020 , than I did October 26th , 2016 .
I thought we were going to win .
Then you look at these early voting numbers Corey in Florida they ’ re stunning .
They ’ re stunning numbers .
And I think we ’ re going to win Florida by four or five based on what I ’ ve seen .
Are you seeing this as a harbinger ?
Lewandowski : Well John let me tell you where we are .
We have set early voting records for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have been very aggressive in getting people to show up early .
But we also know that republicans historically like to vote on election day .
We almost always win election day in every state .
And that ’ s a real problem for the democrats .
So our numbers in Florida are very strong .
They know that Joe Biden isn ’ t going back to Florida anytime soon .
He ’ s going to go down to Georgia I think maybe tomorrow if he can get out of the basement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working today .
He didn ’ t work yesterday .
You contrast that with the president who was in New Hampshire yesterday then he went up to Maine yesterday and then he flew back to Washington last night .
Did an event at the white house for Halloween for all the kids in Washington D.C. Today three stops in Pennsylvania .
He ’ s got another trip out west .
And you know I have tried to keep up with the president ’ s calendar and his schedule and it ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very very good about where we are right now .
The path is clearly there for us .
And the American people want somebody who ’ s willing to work 24 hours a day seven days a week to make this country great again .
Again .
So that ’ s what they respect and that ’ s why you ’ re seeing these massive crowds everywhere .
Fredericks : Why is Biden going to Georgia ?
Lewandowski : It ’ s a great question .
John , I turned on the computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the numbers they say it ’ s a dead-even race in Texas .
Joe Biden is winning in Georgia .
It ’ s the exact same false narrative that we saw four years ago .
Let me take you back to October 24th , 2016 .
The headline in The Washington Post on October 24th , 2016 .
Almost exactly four years ago was ‘ Donald Trump ’ s Chances of Winning the Election Are Approaching Zero.
’ That was a headline four years ago .
Obviously , we know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what it is .
Joe Biden is on the offense so he ’ s putting states in play that Democrats don ’ t historically win .
That ’ s what the media narrative is trying to say to suppress the Republican vote .
But the truth is Joe Biden is not going to win any state that Hillary Clinton lost in 2016 .
There ’ s no path for joe .
His debate performance was an utter and unmitigated disaster .
He ’ s spending time now trying to articulate what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gon na get rid of fossil fuels .
How do you think that plays in Texas John ?
Do you think the guys in Dallas ( Fredericks chuckles ) are really excited about Joe getting rid of the oil business ?
I don ’ t think so .
Fredericks : That ’ s ridiculous .
And CBS has a poll that says Biden ’ s up by five in Texas .
I mean Trump is going to win texas by five .
I mean all you have to do is see that and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re all designed to deliver the narrative that you just said .
Cory , let ’ s talk about the rally last night in New Hampshire .
Lewandowski : John it was a monster rally last night .
The president showed up up here at an airport rally in manchester on a fairly chilly afternoon in late October .
We put about 18,000 people through the magnetometers which was the inside section .
It was another probably eight or nine thousand people outside the magnetometer area that couldn ’ t get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a sudden you ’ re looking north of you know potentially 25,000 people who show up at a rally for Donald Trump outside .
Some people had camped out overnight .
New Hampshire is a battleground state .
It is a state that Donald Trump lost by less than 2,800 votes four years ago .
He has delivered for this state .
And I believe the people of New Hampshire are going to turn out and show their support by voting for him .
We ’ re also a state John that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ file .
We don ’ t have a lot of early voting .
So it ’ s a state that breaks very late , and when you look at what this president ’ s been able to achieve let alone the Middle East peace process John which he ’ s now got you know multiple countries involved in .
Today we ’ re going to see Amy Coney Barrett confirmed as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court sworn in this afternoon .
So the people of New Hampshire know the successes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rally yesterday .
I flew on air force one up to the off the record stop we call it up in Maine for the president to buy some pumpkins and some donuts and some squash and some other items up there .
And at an off the record stop John , meaning it wasn ’ t announced and it was not scheduled .
4,000 people showed up to see the President of the United States come into Bangor , Maine .
It was pretty amazing .
Fredericks : Because it wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they just had a couple of hours notice ahead of time for that right ?
Lewandowski : That ’ s exactly right John .
We were up in Bangor , Maine .
It was fairly rural .
We drove about 15 minutes from the airport .
The president stopped at this farm .
It was a working farm .
They had a corn maze there .
I mean it was quintessential Maine .
It was amazing .
And the outpouring of support up there was just incredible .
People came from all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In literally a few hours when we were at the Manchester rally , I was getting updates about every 15 minutes of how many people showed up because we finally said we ’ re coming up there .
At first , we thought we ’ d get a hundred people then they said there are 200 people then they said there are about 250 people .
John , we showed up there were 4,000 people sitting there uh on this farm waiting for the president to arrive .
They were in full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has done .
They were so grateful to see him .
Joe Biden could plan a rally an election night rally and he can ’ t get 4,000 people there John .
And everyone knows what date that ’ s coming .
Donald Trump shows up with two hours ’ notice and puts 4,000 people on a farm .
It was amazing .
Fredericks : And the rally last night in New Hampshire Corey , I mean , 25 to 30,000 people were there and 18,000 like you said inside .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 26,000 to 27,000 people in total in an airport .
And it was a raw night in New Hampshire .
It was relatively chilly out .
You got people waiting all day and like you said some overnight .
How does New Hampshire look ?
Lewandowski : Well John it ’ s going to be a battle I ’ m not going to kid you .
We take nothing for granted .
But it ’ s a small state and a small number of votes make the difference in a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out knocking on doors .
We have done more work on the ground in the state of New Hampshire than Joe Biden has done in the entire country .
We ’ ve got more voter contacts in the state of New Hampshire than Joe Biden has done in the entire country .
And people say well Joe is you know respecting the notion of COVID-19 and not contacting voters .
John , we ’ re doing it safely via doors .
We ’ re doing it via phones .
We ’ ve had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire .
Not only are we going to be very competitive in New Hampshire but we ’ re also going to be very competitive in the second congressional district of Maine which is a district that allocates their electoral vote proportionately .
So we ’ re battling there .
Our path to 270 John is very clear .
You know the president ’ s in Pennsylvania today .
He ’ s got three stops there .
After Joe Biden ’ s disgusting terrible failing debate performance now when he said he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the energy industry .
I don ’ t see how Joe does well in Pennsylvania anymore .
And the president ’ s going to go talk about .
The other addition John that we ’ ve seen um which has been an add-on to the president ’ s rallies is Joe Biden in his own words .
Now John when he says I never said get rid of fracking put it up on your website .
Boom !
Everywhere we go the president is now playing his message .
It ’ s Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to get rid of fracking .
Get rid of the energy industry and transition away from fossil fuels .
Do you know what that means John ?
It means transitioning to six dollars a gallon for gasoline for your car .
And in a state like my home state where you get home heating oil , that means those prices go through the roof and people won ’ t be able to afford to heat their homes under a Joe Biden administration .
Listen to the show here : Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube .
Background Photo “ Trump Rally ” by Michael Vadon CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Minnesota Launches COVID-19 Home Saliva Test Pilot Program

by The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota ( AP ) — Minnesota health officials announced a pilot program Thursday that will provide at-home COVID-19 saliva tests for residents in two dozen counties and tribal nations statewide in an effort to expand access to testing as the state experiences a surge in cases in recent weeks .
The program allows people to order a saliva test through the mail and perform the test in their own home with virtual help from a health care professional .
The test will then be shipped to the state ’ s saliva lab in Oakdale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Having more options helps to remove barriers , ensuring all Minnesotans have access to quick and reliable testing , ” Jan Malcolm , the state ’ s health commissioner , said in a statement .
“ The continued increase in COVID-19 cases across Greater Minnesota , tied to small , everyday gatherings , is very concerning .
Testing is one way we slow the spread of COVID-19 , and the mail order program provides yet another method for Minnesotans to access testing.
” The saliva test the state is using is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnostic tests now in common use , but without the discomfort , Malcolm said .
Both tests check for whether someone currently is infected with the coronavirus , as opposed to antibody tests that check for whether someone was previously infected and might have developed some immunity .
Minnesota has four saliva testing sites statewide in Duluth , Moorhead , Winona and Brooklyn Park .
A fifth is scheduled to open in Mankato on Friday , and up to five more sites are expected to be opened in the coming weeks .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Minnesotans after the pilot program , aimed at areas with limited access to testing .
Those who order a saliva test will be asked for their health insurance provider , but the test will be made free to the uninsured and those whose insurance does not cover it .
The states reported 1,574 new cases of the coronavirus and 20 deaths on Thursday after matching its single-day record of 35 deaths the day before .
The updated numbers brought the state ’ s totals to 128,152 cases and 2,301 deaths since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to climb since mid-September as the virus spreads throughout the Upper Midwest .
According to data from The COVID Tracking Project , the 7-day rolling average positivity rate in Minnesota has risen over the past two weeks from 4.54 % on Oct. 7 to 6.19 % on Wednesday .
Minnesota continues to show slower case growth than its neighboring states , with North Dakota , South Dakota and Wisconsin persisting in the top five for most new cases per capita .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-27--Hunter Biden Group Touted Joe Biden in Investment Pitch to Chinese Firm

In 2017 , Hunter Biden and a group of business partners seeking a $ 10 million investment deal with a Chinese energy firm touted Joe Biden ’ s friendly relations with Colombia ’ s president in their sales proposal , which suggested a series of oil investments in the South American country , according to documents obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation .
Hunter Biden and four other businessmen , including his uncle James Biden , highlighted the former vice president ’ s positive relationship with Juan Manuel Santos in a May 15 , 2017 investment outline for CETC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Biden consortium , which would be called SinoHawk , sought a $ 10 million seed investment from CETC China Energy , with a goal of eventually securing billions of dollars in investments in the U.S. and around the world .
The report is part of a trove of records held by Tony Bobulinski , a California-based businessman who was part of the consortium with Hunter Biden , James Biden , and two other partners .
Bobulinski has provided the documents to a Senate committee investigating Hunter Biden ’ s business dealings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week that the records show that the Bidens “ aggressively leveraged ” their family name to secure foreign business deals .
Bobulinski also said that he met with Joe and Hunter Biden in early May 2017 to discuss the Chinese deal .
Joe Biden has long denied discussing business with his son .
The Bidens ’ involvement in the partnership was a key selling point to CEFC China , according to other documents obtained by the DCNF .
But the 42-page investment outline is the only document from Bobulinski ’ s records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign leaders .
The investment outline , which is marked “ Sensitive and Confidential , ” mapped out prospective investment opportunities for CEFC China Energy in Oman , Romania , Luxembourg and Colombia .
A section of the sales proposal entitled “ Colombia — Gateway to Latin America , ” features a photo from Dec. 1 , 2016 , of then-Vice President Joe Biden shaking hands with Santos , who served as president of Colombia through 2018 .
“ The relationship between Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos and Joe Biden has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” reads the document .
The investment prospectus highlights Biden ’ s positive remarks about U.S.-Colombia relations and economic reforms in Colombia that he said made the Latin American country an attractive investment option .
“ With this in mind , EEIG has built he [ sic ] framework for partnership between CEFC China and local partners in Colombia , with a solid basis starting at the very foundation of the country ’ s administration , ” the document says .
EEIG is a company operated by one of SinoHawk ’ s partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden pledged his strong personal support of the peace process and offered congratulations to Mr. Santos while underscoring ‘ the importance of maintaining bipartisan support for Colombia in the United States Congress , ’ ” the investment outline says .
Several “ target opportunities ” for the SinoHawk-CEFC partnership are identified in the document .
A Colombian oil field owned by a company called Rattan Holding is proposed as a potential investment .
The SinoHawk team also flagged an investment in the Buenaventura port on the Pacific Ocean , asserting that the port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEFC because it would allow the company to avoid having to ship goods through the Panama canal .
The outline also suggests an investment in a pipeline that would ship oil from Venezuela , which has since come under U.S. sanctions .
“ We have a great project to bring an oil pipe from Venezuela to this port to fill huge tankers that can ’ t go through Panama Canal , ” the sales pitch reads .
CEFC China Energy ended up not partnering with SinoHawk .
Bobulinski ’ s records show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 after CEFC failed to wire a $ 10 million startup investment that it had pledged to make in May 2017 .
The Chinese firm did however strike a deal with Hunter and James Biden .
A Senate report regarding Hunter Biden ’ s foreign business dealings released on Sept. 23 said that CEFC affiliates wired $ 5 million to Hunter Biden ’ s law firm over the course of a year beginning in August 2017 .
The report said that some of the wire transfers were flagged by banks for potential criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Biden ’ s partnership with CEFC posed an extortion and counterintelligence risk because the firm ’ s chairman , Ye Jianming , has ties to the People ’ s Liberation Army and the Chinese Communist Party .
Bobulinski said last week that he was unaware of the Bidens ’ side deal with CEFC China Energy .
He sent James Biden a text message on Sept. 24 accusing him and his nephew , Hunter , of lying about the partnership with CEFC .
Bobulinski has provided his records to the Senate Homeland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , which wrote last month ’ s report with the Senate Finance Committee .
Bobulinski also met with the FBI on Friday , according to Sen. Ron Johnson , the chairman of HSGAC .
Bobulinski disputed Joe Biden ’ s longstanding denial that he has ever discussed business with his son .
“ I have heard Joe Biden say he ’ s never discussed business with Hunter .
That is false , ” Bobulinski said at a press conference on Thursday .
“ I have firsthand knowledge about this because I directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden.
” Text messages from Bobulinski ’ s trove of records show Hunter Biden setting up a meeting for Bobulinski and Joe Biden on May 2 , 2017 in Los Angeles .
Bobulinski said last week that he talked with the Bidens about the plans for business in China , and that Joe Biden was familiar with those plans at “ a high level.
” Hunter Biden suggested to Bobulinski in a text message a day before the meeting that their partnership with CEFC should involve the use of a U.S.-based company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign agent .
One email from Bobulinski ’ s trove of documents suggests that Joe Biden was initially intended to have an equity stake in the partnership with CEFC .
In a May 13 , 2017 email , James Gilliar laid out the planned equity stake for all the investigators .
He , Hunter Biden , Bobulinski and another partner , Rob Walker , were supposed to receive 20 % equity apiece in the partnership .
The remaining 20 % was to be divvied up between James Biden and “ the big guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that “ the big guy ” was a reference to Joe Biden .
A spokesman for the Biden campaign denied last week that Joe Biden had any business dealings with his son .
“ Joe Biden has never even considered being involved in business with his family , nor in any overseas business whatsoever .
He has never held stock in any such business arrangements nor has any family member or any other person ever held stock for him , ” Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates in told The Wall Street Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not responded to requests for comment .
Chuck Ross is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Images “ Biden with Columbia President ” and “ Biden Texts ” by DCNF .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-28--Senator Marsha Blackburn and Other Republican Senators Have ‘Concern’ About the College Board’s with

Senator Marsha Blackburn and Other Republican Senators Have ‘Concern’ About the College Board’s with Chinese-Backed Confucius Institutes

Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) along with six other Republican Senators sent a letter Tuesday to the College Board ( CB ) questioning the organization ’ s relationship with the Chinese-backed Confucius Institutes .
In the letter , the senators expressed “ concern ” about CB ’ s relationship with the Confucius Institute .
The CB is a non-profit organization that administers college placement examines including the SAT and Advanced Placement Program .
According to its website , CB works with over 6,000 universities around the world and more than 7 million students yearly .
On August 13 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese-backed institutes as “ a foreign mission of the People ’ s Republic of China.
” The State Department described these institutes as “ organizations primarily located on U.S. college and university campuses that push out skewed Chinese language and cultural training for U.S. students as part of Beijing ’ s multifaceted propaganda efforts.
” The State Department also said Confucius Institutes are funded by Hanban , which is an organization connected with the People ’ s Republic of China ’ s ministry office .
As of September , 67 Confucius Institutes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Scholars ( NAS ) reported .
Five of these locations will close by the end of 2021 .
Middle Tennessee University is the only college in Tennessee to have a Confucius Institute .
Furthermore , there are 500 Confucius Classrooms existing on K-12 campuses across the country , the U.S Department of State said .
The NAS released another report in August that showed CB helped launch 20 Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in America .
Also , the Chinese government paid the CB almost $ 700,000 to develop an AP Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide answers to these seven questions pertaining to its relationship with these Chinese-backed institutes .
• What is Hanban ’ s role in the Chinese Guest Teacher Program ?
• What is the Chinese government ’ s involvement in the AP Chinese Language and Culture test ?
Does the Chinese government have to approve of the test ?
• How much money did the College Board receive from the Hanban or from the Chinese government more broadly ?
• What oversight practices does College Board implement to mitigate the risks of undue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How does College Board screen funding from foreign sources ?
• What contracts , memoranda of understanding , or other agreements did the College Boardsign with the Hanban or other Chinese government-backed entities ?
• Did the College Board receive or use any federal funding in the creation or promotion of Hanban-affiliated programs ?
Two weeks ago , the Trump administration encouraged U.S. schools and colleges to rethink their ties to the Confucius Institute .
In letters to universities and state education officials , the State Department and Education Department said the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and poses a threat to free speech .
Schools are being advised to examine the program ’ s activities and “ take action to safeguard your educational environments.
” “ The presence of this authoritarian influence on our campuses has never been more concerning , nor more consequential , ” officials wrote in the letters , which were signed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos .
In March , Blackburn along with six other Republican senators proposed legislation called the Transparency for Confucius Institutes Act .
This bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between American institutions and the Confucius Institutes , according to Blackburn ’ s press release .
The agreements would seek to understand how China “ exerts undue influence.
” Congress has not taken action on this piece of legislation .
“ The Chinese government has no right to influence American education the way Confucius Institutes have for the past sixteen years , ” Blackburn said .
“ Confucius Institutes as they currently operate are an affront to academic freedom , and we should not bow to repressive Chinese propaganda systems , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put some serious distance between Confucius Institutes and American Universities.
” Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] .
Follow Zachery on Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .
The Associated Press contributed to this story .
Photo “ Confucius Institute ” by Kreeder13 .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .

by Peter Hasson
Twenty-eight congressional Democrats signed a letter Wednesday condemning the Department of Education for ruling that public schools that allow biological males who identify as transgender to play girls’ sports are violating Title IX civil rights legislation.
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined 27 House Democrats in signing the letter, which charged that the department’s order “discriminates against transgender youth” by restricting girls’ sports to biological females.
“The decision of the Department of Education to issue a determination targeting transgender student athletes on the eve of Pride Month is not coincidental. It is a transparent example of their campaign against the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ children,” Connecticut Rep. Jahana Hayes, the letter’s lead signer, said in a press release.
The DOE on May 15 issued a ruling stating that public schools that allow biological males into girls’ athletics are violating Title IX, which protects women’s access to education and athletics.
The Department of Justice previously backed a lawsuit filed by high school girls in Connecticut who said the liberal state’s transgender policies violated their rights.
Sports across the country are on hold due to the novel coronavirus, but biological males who identify as transgender have previously racked up accomplishments in female athletics.
Franklin Pierce University runner CeCe Telfer, for example, won an NCAA DII women’s track championship in May 2019. Telfer is a biological male who identifies as transgender.
University of Montana runner June Eastwood, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was named the Big Sky Conference’s female athlete of the week in October 2019. Both Eastwood and Telfer previously competed on their university’s men’s team before switching to the women’s team.
Rachel McKinnon, a biological male who identifies as transgender, won women’s cycling world championships in both 2018 and 2019.
Wednesday’s letter isn’t the first instance of Democratic politicians arguing in favor of allowing biological males into female athletics.
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar in February 2019 called for an investigation into USA Powerlifting for barring biologically male athletes from women’s events.
A piece of Democratic legislation called the Equality Act, which passed the House with unanimous support from Democrats, would require schools to allow biologically male athletes into girls’ sports, if the male athletes identify as transgender.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, pledged to get the Equality Act passed into law within his first 100 days in office, if he wins the November election.
“Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time,” Biden wrote in a January tweet. “There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights.”
– – –
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-28--Commentary: With Justice Amy Coney Barrett Confirmed, Will Joe Biden Pack the Supreme Court If He Wi

Commentary: With Justice Amy Coney Barrett Confirmed, Will Joe Biden Pack the Supreme Court If He Wins?

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court by a vote of 52 to 48 , creating a new 6 to 3 majority of Republican-appointed justices on the nation ’ s highest court—and the Democratic Party is in an absolute panic over the outcome .
Almost as soon as Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away , Democrats were already threatening to abolish the filibuster in order to amend the Judiciary Act of 1869 and pack the Supreme Court — increasing the threshold way beyond the current nine justices set by law .
And the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has refused to tell the American people what he will do on packing the court if he wins the election .
On Oct. 10 , Ross DiMattei on KTNV told Biden that “ packing the courts ” is “ the number one thing I ’ ve been asked about from viewers in the past couple days ” and asked , “ Don ’ t the voters deserve to know ?
” To which Biden declared , “ No they don ’ t [ deserve to know ] — I ’ m not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d love me to talk about , and I ’ ve already said something on pack [ ing ] the court .
He ’ d love that to be the discussion instead of what he ’ s doing now.
” That followed Biden in Phoenix on Oct. 8 similarly refusing to answer the question on court-packing , stating , “ You ’ ll know my position on court-packing the day after the election.
” And should Biden win , the American people will get to find out exactly what his administration might do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House , they similarly sweep the House and Senate , as every Democratic President since Franklin Roosevelt has done in his first term since 1932 .
And there won ’ t be much the American people can do about it .
The Constitution simply states , in Article II , Section 2 , “ The President… shall nominate , and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate , shall appoint … judges of the Supreme Court… ” Nothing , however , sets the number of justices in stone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass and the States would have to ratify a constitutional amendment proposed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) , stating , “ The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices.
” And nothing in the Constitution is said about the Senate filibuster except for Article I , Section 5 , which states , “ Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings.
” That ’ s it .
That makes the question of Senate rules a political question with which the Senate has full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decides to alter its own rules about how many votes it takes to end debate on legislation , it can do so with the same nuclear option Senate Democrats used in 2013 , on lower judicial and executive appointments , and then Senate Republicans in 2017 on the Supreme Court itself .
There ’ s nothing to stop it .
Now , with Barrett safely , and easily confirmed , the issue will be forced should Joe Biden win the election .
In the meantime , Justice Barrett ’ s confirmation is certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) , who can now return to their states , making the case to their voters that they delivered a solid constitutionalist majority on the court .
Barrett served on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals , clerked for the late Antonin Scalia and shares his textualist philosophy of constitutional and legal interpretation on upholding the meaning of its words in federal courts .
In her review of Randy Barnett ’ s “ Our Republican Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of originalist interpretation of the Constitution and of the law , urging “ fidelity to the original public meaning ” : “ The measure of a court , then , is its fidelity to the original public meaning , which serves as a constraint upon judicial decision making .
A faithful judge resists the temptation to conflate the meaning of the Constitution with the judge ’ s own political preference ; judges who give into that temptation exceed the limits of their power by holding a statute unconstitutional when it is not.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis for originalism and textualism is the need for judicial restraint per se , but because the Constitution under Article VI is the supreme law of the land : “ The Constitution ’ s original public meaning is important not because adhering to it limits judicial discretion , but because it is the law .
And because it is the law , judges must be faithful to it.
” That is why President Donald Trump nominated Barrett , to ensure the Supreme Court ’ s commitment to safeguard the Constitution and the Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the American people expect from a justice , upholding Marbury ’ s command for judges to “ say what the law is ” .
Barrett writes , “ At the same time , fidelity will inevitably require a court to hold some statutes unconstitutional .
When a statute conflicts with the Constitution , the fundamental law of the Constitution must take precedence , and the ordinary law of the statute must give way — because , properly understood , it is not law at all .
A court does not overstep simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversteps if it does so without constitutional warrant.
” Fundamentally , upholding the Supreme Law of the land is the rule of law , and there is no limited government without the Constitution .
Without the Constitution , and good justices , the federal government could quickly devolve into arbitrary and tyrannical rule .
To prevent that from happening , the Keep Nine Amendment would help a lot in the long-term — but in the short-term it appears the only way to keep the Supreme Court to nine justices would if the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Stay tuned .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .
Photo “ Barrett Confirmation ” by The White House .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-28--With Multiple Rallies a Day for Trump, Biden Takes off Lid and Heads to Warm Springs, Georgia, Clint

With Multiple Rallies a Day for Trump, Biden Takes off Lid and Heads to Warm Springs, Georgia, Clint Brewer Examines

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer to the studio to outline the differences between the rallies of Joe Biden and President Trump .
Leahy : Tuesday , October 27th .
27 days until the election in the studio with us our good friend All-Star panelists recovering journalist Clint Brewer .
Clint put on your hat as The campaign manager for Joe Biden and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you spend your time for the next seven days ?
And I bring that up because yesterday Donald Trump held rallies and I think four battleground states flying all around the country .
Today another four battleground states .
Rallies rallies rallies .
I think they look at the weather forecast and say where is it not raining in a Battleground state ?
I ’ m going there for an outside rally .
Joe Biden yesterday called a lid on the campaign .
A lid meaning we got nothing else going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like at nine o ’ clock yesterday .
The president made fun of him and he got in his SUV and drove 60 miles to some non-event in Pennsylvania gave a speech and drove back home .
Where is Joe Biden going today ?
Leahy : So he ’ s going to Warm Springs , Georgia .
And the president is doing like three or four rallies around the country apparently Biden is only going to one place today .
Why Clint ?
Why is he going to Warm Springs , Georgia ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , if you look at the numbers George ’ s in play , I mean , it ’ s one of the southern states that ’ s in play for the Electoral .
Leahy : According to Real Clear Politics the average of polls show to be like even Steven there .
Leahy : And so by the way , I don ’ t believe that but right but that ’ s what they think .
Brewer : Well and , you know Republicans there have been able to follow Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the score in rural counties to win .
And so , you know Warm Springs has two significant meanings .
One , I think it ’ s in Meriwether County , which is a rural County that was pretty on the fence for Trump .
But it ’ s just outside of Atlanta so some of Atlanta ’ s politics or to bleed into some of these rural counties or nearby counties .
So I think , first of all , he ’ s vying for rural votes in Georgia .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about .
Leahy : But there ’ s more historical significance in Warm Springs .
Brewer : It is .
It is FDR ’ s retreat .
There are two hospitals there that are named after FDR .
It was where he went to have as you know , the Warm Springs .
It ’ s called Warm Springs because there are natural springs .
Leahy : He had polio .
We think it was polio , but he was crippled .
Brewer : He would go there to ease the symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died there in April 1945 .
Brewer : He did and the presidential casket was taken on the highway from Warm Springs to D.C. Leahy : There ’ s also a little bit of scandal there .
He was there with his mistress at the time .
He died and it was a well-known secret that he had a mistress .
Brewer : The press didn ’ t report on things like that back then .
Leahy : Not exactly the kind of thing that I think historical circumstance that Joe Biden would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going down there .
Brewer : He ’ s going down there .
Leahy : What ’ s his message going to be there ?
Brewer : I think his message is going to probably appeal to rural Democrats .
Hopefully , he ’ s going to talk about jobs and bring the economy back and just a better management style .
A more focused management style that he can offer then the president now debatable .
( Leahy chuckles ) But I mean , you know , I think he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic lines to roll Democrat or rural Republicans who were suffering right now is all people are in this country economically for the most part .
Particularly in rural places .
He might try to pick up on some of the resonance of FDR with people in his age group .
Baby boomers .
Leahy : I think that ’ s what he ’ s going to do .
I think he ’ s going to I think I think you ’ ll hear a lot of FDR .
You ’ ll hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll hear a lot of Social Security , right ?
Because I think what they ’ re going after here and the polling seems to indicate this is the case .
Tell me what you think .
I ’ ve seen a lot of polling that shows for the first time , you know , Donald Trump did very well with voters 65 years old or older in 2016 .
Most polls say that ’ s flipped this year .
Brewer : It has and I ’ ve seen those polls too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a population center .
I mean , it ’ s a very very very small town .
So I think this is a symbolic place and of course , he ’ s got the national press covering him just like the president does everywhere it goes .
So he ’ s got a press pool with them .
So the message is going to get out whether it ’ s a town of four million or 400 , right ?
So he ’ s going there as a symbolic gesture .
He can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s out there campaigning for their votes .
And you know , one of the biggest airports in the world is 72 miles away .
So he gets in and gets out .
So logistically it ’ s not as far-fetched .
Leahy : Will he take questions from the Press ?
Brewer : He needs to .
Brewer : I don ’ t know .
I mean he should .
Leahy : And if he does will anyone ask this question ?
Do you know Tony Bobulinski ?
And did you ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Brewer : I can ’ t imagine they will know but isn ’ t that a legitimate question to ask ?
Brewer : You know , I mean , I don ’ t see the press or the editors they report to getting bogged down in anything beyond the macro at this point .
It ’ s going to be all horse race coverage from here on out .
Leahy : But isn ’ t that the center of the issue of whether or not Joe Biden is corrupt ?
Brewer : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean it can be but it ’ s not something the press is going to pursue at this point .
Leahy : See I would ask them that question .
Brewer : Well , I know you would .
Leahy : But they ’ re not inviting me by the way .
Brewer : Yes .
I ’ m aware .
The mainstream press and the legacy media that covers him .
And so if I showed up you think they ’ d let me in ?
Brewer : I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to the county line .
Brewer : Yeah , right .
The local sheriff would escort you to the county line .
Leahy : Well speaking of Tony Bobulinski now the storyline is , you know , he was featured he is claimed he was the head of Sino Hawk .
This was a venture between the Chinese communist government and various folks and the Biden family .
That ’ s what he says and he was asked to be the CEO of that company by Hunter Biden .
He says that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May of 2017 for an hour with Joe Biden and went over the details of that business deal with the Chinese Communists and he says Joe Biden said , yeah , he was very well aware that it supported it .
To you , is that a relevant campaign issue ?
Brewer : I mean , it should be .
Anything like that should be but it won ’ t be unless you know , the Trump campaign decides to make it one .
And the fact that you ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is because of the gracious gift that the former vice president gave them during the debate .
Leahy : So they think the only oil is more significant in your view ?
Brewer : They are not going to go with what is intellectually curious at this point .
They ’ re going to go with what is tactically superior , which is you know , macro issues like jobs and you know .
I mean , they ’ ve been hammering the Joe Biden China thing for a while and you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a gift that keeps on giving though it seems .
Brewer : It is .
I mean , it ’ ll make headlines to a certain extent but the closer you get to election day , the more macro , you know , the more macro they ’ re going to get .
And they ’ re just not going to not focus on things like that .
I don ’ t want to say it ’ s down in the weeds .
I mean , it ’ s certainly relevant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re just not going to see the press take the time to tease that out and help people understand it .
And you ’ re not going to see the campaign go with it unless they think it ’ s going to move votes in the state they need .
Leahy : Tonight on Tucker Carlson Tonight , Tony Bobulinski .
The entire hour will be devoted to Tony Bobulinski ’ s statements and emails that he says show that Vice President Joe Biden knew about this China deal .
Brewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting .
It is incredibly interesting , and Carlson ’ s probably one of the few people with the mic that big who ’ s going to pick it up .
But yeah , I mean it I think that the Chinese connections are things that should the vice president win are going to follow him into his term .
Leahy : You know , it ’ s interesting to me , you know , who ’ s not really said a lot to defend him on these things ?
Kamala Harris .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be .
Mmm-hmm .
( Brewer snickers ) Brewer : Senator Harris is an attorney and she probably knows better than to get bogged down into talking points on something that she has no first-hand knowledge of .
I ’ m sure that and the fact that you know if Biden is going to stick to one term as he said should he get elected , you know , she ’ ll be the heir apparent .
Leahy : Should he get elected , what do you think the odds that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oh , I think they ’ re pretty .
I think really pretty good .
Leahy : So when I played electoral college roulette this morning in the six o ’ clock hour my current take is Trump wins 274 to 264 over Biden .
What do you think ?
Am I in the right ballpark ?
Brewer : I think that ’ s it .
If he ’ s going to win if the president ’ s going to win that ’ s going to be the kind of margin he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it goes the other way Biden could win by a lot more .
I think that ’ s I think it ’ s either Trump wins narrow Biden wins big .
I don ’ t think there ’ s a lot of middle ground .
Leahy : I don ’ t think Biden wins big .
But hey , what do I know ?
It ’ s 2020 .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-28--Tennessee State Sen. Jack Johnson to Host Annual Boots & Jeans, BBQ & Beans Event in Franklin

Tennessee state Sen. Jack Johnson ( R-Franklin ) is scheduled to host a fundraiser on Sunday in Franklin .
Johnson will host the event , titled Boots & Jeans , BBQ & Beans , at 4 p.m. Sunday , at the Factory at Franklin – Liberty Hall , according to his campaign ’ s website .
Johnson told The Tennessee Star Tuesday that this is an annual event he holds for his state senate campaign .
“ This being an election year it is a giant pep rally for the Republican ticket in Tennessee showing our support for President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hagerty and all Republican candidates on ballot , ” Johnson said .
“ I am very excited this year that everyone who is on the ballot in Williamson County will be at my event except for President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
” Scheduled guests , according to Johnson ’ s campaign website , include Hagerty , Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee , Lt. Gov .
Randy McNally , U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) , and U.S. Rep. Mark Green ( R-TN-07 ) .
Organizers are asking $ 50 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website .
“ We will have live music from the Austin Brothers band and barbeque from Martin ’ s Bar-B-Que , [ and this will be ] a very casual family friendly event , ” Johnson said .
“ There will be speeches , but we take pride in keeping the program short because we like people to visit and fellowship and enjoy each other ’ s company.
” Johnson told The Star Tuesday that Liberty Hall is a large venue .
Because of COVID-19 , organizers will spread out tables and encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can , Johnson said .
As The Star reported in August , Tennessee Republicans elected Hagerty as their nominee to compete in November ’ s general election .
Hagerty wants to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) .
Also , as reported that month , Hagerty ’ s opponent , U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Marquita Bradshaw , is an environmental activist , social justice advocate , and a former AFL-CIO organizer .
Johnson , according to his website , graduated from Texas State University represents the 23rd District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-28--Oil and Gas Production to Account for 68 Percent of Energy Consumption Over Next Two Decades

Over the next two decades , oil and gas production is projected to account for 68 percent of energy consumption in the U.S. and will play a key role in the energy transition to a low carbon future , according to a new report published by the U.S. Department of Energy .
Natural gas is increasingly powering plants to produce electricity , but oil and natural gas are revitalizing the U.S. petrochemical industry , growing the liquefied natural gas industry , and boosting high-tech materials , the report states .
“ Oil and natural gas provide more than two-thirds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deputy Energy Secretary Mark Menezes said when the department released the 37-page report earlier this month in Albuquerque , New Mexico .
“ In addition to meeting our energy needs , these fossil fuel resources are integral to our standard of living .
This report delves into the importance of these resources , the five key technologies that have supported the industry ’ s advancement , the opportunities for future domestic energy growth , and more , ” Menezeas said .
The DOE says it will work with the industry , academia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and non-government organizations “ to drive innovation forward , to underpin U.S. economic growth and energy security.
” Innovation in the industry includes expanding resource development in the Bakken Shale , the Permian Basin , and the Eagle Ford Shale , while improving oil and gas safety and mitigating environmental problems , the report notes .
In New Mexico , tax revenue from the oil and gas industry contributes to 39 percent of the state ’ s budget – generating $ 16.6 billion in annual economic activity , employing more than 134,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion for the state ’ s public schools .
Ryan Flynn , executive director of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association , explains that any federal ban on oil and gas leasing , fracking or on federal permitting would be “ devastating for New Mexico.
” He said in response to the Biden/Harris plan to ban fracking and transition away from oil and gas development that , “ Any proposal restricting oil and gas development on federal lands would only result in the elimination of thousands of jobs , massive cuts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a greater reliance on foreign energy imports.
” The industry is committed to reducing emissions and protecting the environment , he says , “ but we can not slap millions of Americans with proposals that destroy jobs and ravage communities .
Any serious energy proposal must recognize the fact that oil and gas will continue to play a major role in meeting our basic daily energy needs well into the future.
” On July 31 , 2019 , during the second Democratic Party presidential primary debate , when asked if there would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including coal and fracking , in a Biden administration , ” Biden replied to CNN ’ s Dana Bash , “ No , we would — we would work it out .
We would make sure it ’ s eliminated and no more subsidies , for either one of those , either — any fossil fuel.
” Last week Biden repeated his position in the presidential debate stating his administration would “ transition away from the oil industry , yes.
” A recent analysis by NMOGA and the American Petroleum Institute projects that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Mexico in 2021 , more than 62,000 jobs would be lost by 2022 .
“ For our state , that means over 100,000 working families will be out of a job and nearly 40 percent of our entire state budget would disappear , ” Larry Behrens , Western Director for Power The Future , says .
“ The latest rankings place New Mexico with the eighth-highest unemployment in the country , a standing that will be more permanent if Joe Biden decides nearly 15 percent of our state ’ s workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job to poverty.
’ ” Bethany Blankley is a contributor to The Center Square .
Photo “ Oil Drilling ” by Alan Levine .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-28--Backup Plan in Place in Case Judge Rules Against Taxpayers on Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act

Attorneys submitted their final arguments Tuesday at the trial debating the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act , and the attorney representing taxpayers said he has a backup plan in case the judge rules against them .
This , according to Nashville attorney Jim Roberts Tuesday .
As reported , Roberts is fighting the Davidson County Election Commission to get the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum on the December 5 ballot .
The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum , if approved , would roll back Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s 34 to 37 percent tax increase .
“ The question in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials ] find some newfound technicality to keep it off the ballot then what is our next step ?
I have talked to several different people about this .
There is the appeal .
But we also might just fall back and redo it , just whatever tiny little technical nitpickings they come up with .
We fix those and come back and do it again , ” Roberts said .
“ Now we [ will ] know what they think is wrong with it , every little complaint that they have .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , and we will come back and mail out 100,000 petitions and have it on the ballot in 30 days.
” Roberts told The Tennessee Star Monday that two witnesses testified at the trial Monday — Davidson County Election Administrator Jeff Roberts and former Metro Nashville Council member Duane Dominy .
Roberts said that Davidson County Chancery Court Judge Ellen Hobbs Lyle will issue a ruling by Tuesday , November 3 .
As reported last month , members of the Davidson County Election Commission voted to neither approve nor reject the Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter on to a chancery court to guide them on how to proceed .
They also moved the “ conditional ” date of the election from December 5 to December 15 .
Roberts , on Tuesday , said members of the Election Commission seem indifferent to the plight of taxpayers .
“ They don ’ t seem to have any concerns at all about what is happening to the taxpayers , ” Roberts said .
“ They really treat this idea that the citizens are being harmed by this tax increase as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are disregarding what the people want , and it is really unbelievable.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]