thetennesseestar--2020-12-22--Raphael Warnock Opposed Donald Trump Tax Cuts that Helped Georgia Residents, New Study Says

A new study of the 2017 federal tax cuts said they will lead to lower taxes and higher wages as the average Georgia household will enjoy more than $ 39,000 in economic benefits over their lifetime .
Raphael Warnock , a Democrat who wants to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate , opposed those tax cuts , as Breitbart reported this month .
Boston University professor Laurence Kotlikoff released the new study .
The Dallas , Texas-based Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research funded the study .
An earlier study by Kotlikoff and economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of personal income tax cuts .
The new study adds the impact of lower corporate taxes , according to a Goodman Institute press release .
“ The Democrats may not repeal it all but they pretty well singled out the corporate income tax cuts .
And they really don ’ t like those .
Kamala Harris wants to get rid of all of the income tax cuts for corporations .
Joe Biden wants to get rid of half of it because they think it is going to rich people , ” Goodman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star News Monday .
“ In fact , when we look around the world we see that countries that have low taxes on corporations that get more capital .
They have more investment , and they have higher wages .
The ultimate winner from tracking capital to the United States is not a lot of rich people .
It ’ s workers .
The investors tend to get the same rate of return no matter where they are.
” Goodman said the United States needs to attract capital — as opposed to pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason why we lowered the corporate tax .
We had the highest corporate income tax rate in the world , at 35 percent and we have lowered it to 21 percent .
Even President Obama wanted to lower it because everybody recognized it ’ s not good for the country to encourage capital to go elsewhere , ” Goodman said .
“ Capital is what you need to have the buildings and equipment and everything that goes with a job that makes workers productive.
” As Breitbart reported , Warnock , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 , which even the New York Times admitted benefited most Americans.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
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thetennesseestar--2020-12-22--Rep. Ilhan Omar Urges Biden to Cancel $50,000 of Student Debt Per Person

Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN-05 ) has introduced a “ bold resolution ” asking President-elect Joe Biden to federally remove $ 50,000 of student loan debt per person .
The congress member introduced the resolution alongside Reps. Ayanna Pressley , Maxine Waters , and Alma Adams .
The resolution outlines a path for Biden to use “ excessive authority ” to remove student loan debt while simultaneously ensuring there are no tax liabilities for federal student loan borrowers .
“ Over 90 percent of student debt is held by the federal government , which President-elect Joe Biden can cancel with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omar stated in a release .
“ Young people have been devastated by this economic crisis , with more than half living with their parents .
Student debt cancellation would be a massive economic stimulus at a time when people desperately need it.
” The resolution is the companion to a Senate resolution introduced by Senators Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren earlier this year .
• Recognizes the Secretary of Education ’ s “ broad administrative authority ” to cancel federal student loan debt .
• Urges Biden to executively cancel $ 50,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ensure those borrowers don ’ t receive tax bills .
• Calls on Biden to ensure the debt cancellation “ helps to close racial wealth gaps.
” • Urges Biden to extend current payment relief on all Federal student loan payments and interest until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Omar , who recently promoted a petition asking Biden to remove student loan debt on his first day in office , believes that student loan debt is also a racial issue .
“ It ’ s also a racial equity issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take out federal student loans , and face higher rates of default .
That ’ s why I introduced the Student Debt Cancellation Act last year , and have called on leaders to make student debt relief a centerpiece of a coronavirus response package , ” Omar said in a release .
“ It ’ s why a majority of the country supports student debt relief .
And it ’ s why leaders from both Houses of Congress for substantial relief .
Student debt cancellation isn ’ t just an economic priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judah Torgerud is a freelance journalist working with Alpha News to keep the people informed and bring the truth to light .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-12-22--Ohio Sees Spike in Drug Overdose Deaths as Pandemic Rages

Nineteen counties in Ohio have exceeded or equaled records for the most overdoses in a year as the nation continues to see a spike in drug overdoses during the coronavirus pandemic .
Harm Reduction Ohio , a drug policy advocacy group which says it is the largest distributor of naloxone in the state , says the biggest increases in death caused by overdoses have occurred in central and east Ohio .
There have been more than 3,700 overdose deaths in the state , a number likely to rise by the end of the year , Harm Reduction Ohio said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 19 counties with overdose records are : Ashland , Belmont , Carroll , Coshocton , Fairfield , Franklin , Gallia , Licking , Mahoning , Meigs , Morgan , Morrow , Muskingum , Pike , Ross , Seneca , Tuscarawa and Vinton Counties .
Franklin County alone has already confirmed , 551 overdose deaths since the beginning of the year and is on track to be the first Ohio county to top more than 600 overdose deaths in a single year , Harm Reduction Ohio said .
“ It ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as things are in Franklin County , its overdose death rate is only about 25 % above the state average , ” the organization said in a statement on its website .
“ In other words , the record-breaking overdose level is partly a results of the county ’ s large population size.
” Franklin County is home to Columbus , the state ’ s capital .
Scioto County also had an overdose death rate more than twice the state ’ s average , while Pike , Gallia , Lawrence , Meigs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels , Harm Reduction Ohio said .
It also reports what it called “ a bit of good news : ” Montgomery County , home to Dayton , saw numbers 40 percent below what Harm Reduction Ohio said was a “ devastating ” surge in 2017 .
Harm Reduction Ohio said the spike in deaths was caused in part by the novel coronavirus pandemic , a sentiment echoed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The CDC on Thursday issued a warning about rising numbers of drug overdose deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 12 months ending May 2020 , the highest number ever recorded in a single year , the CDC said .
“ The disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard , ” said CDC Director Robert Redfield in a statement .
“ As we continue the fight to end this pandemic , it ’ s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways .
We need to take care of people suffering from unintended consequences.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufactured fentanyl — appears to be a driving force in the spike .
“ In a nutshell , the overdose epidemic is in overdrive .
There ’ s been some geographic change in where death is increasing or decreasing , ” Harm Reduction Ohio said .
“ But , for Ohio overall , things are as bad as ever — maybe worse.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-22--Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections Rejects Challenge to Remove Voters from Rolls

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections struck down a challenge to remove nearly 8,000 voters from the county ’ s rolls before Georgia ’ s January 5 U.S. Senate runoff election .
“ For the reasons I will discuss , I don ’ t believe there is probable cause to challenge these voters , ” Athens-Clarke County Attorney Judd Drake said to open deliberations .
“ First , the mere production of a voter registration date compared with the national change of address registry is not sufficient to establish probable cause , ” he continued .
“ The list that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t show that the voters in the registration database are the same person as in the national registry.
” Two challenges , one from December 16 , and the other from December 18 , were filed by Chairman Gordon Rhoden of the Clarke County Republican Party .
The first challenge related to the qualification 2948 voters registered for the Senate runoff .
The second challenge related to another 4943 more voters registered to vote in the same race .
Rhoden contented that the nearly 8,000 voters were not eligible to vote in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address change through the United States Postal Service , and they no longer resided in Georgia .
The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections was charged with determining whether “ probable cause ” existed to disqualify the voters .
Drake led the proceeding after Elections Board Chairman Jesse Evans opened the meeting by reading several public comments urging the board to strike down the challenge .
“ Probable cause means the existence of such fact or circumstance which would create a reasonable belief that the accused person committed the act alleged , ” Drake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began , noting that the bar for probable cause is higher than a simple rumor or suspicion .
He advised the Board that he did not believe probable cause existed to disqualify voters , and that if the Board did disqualify the voters , they might run afoul of the National Voter Registration Act .
Drake ’ s contention was that the lists provided to the Board were unreliable for determining whether the voters actually resided in Georgia .
“ The mere fact that an individual ’ s name is on this list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe from a legal perspective – establish probable cause in this matter , ” he said .
Evans noted before the final vote that several organizations had contacted the Board , urging them to vote against Rhoden ’ s challenge .
The list was a who ’ s who of far-left groups , including the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund , The Georgia League of Women Voters , and NAACP of Georgia , all of whom claimed that disqualifying the voters would not only amount to voter suppression , but might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 minutes of deliberation , four members of the Board voted against Rhoden ’ s challenge , and one lone member , Patricia A. Till , abstained .
A total of just over 51,000 votes were cast in Clark County on November 3 , according to the Georgia Secretary of State ’ s website .
The city of Athens , home to the University of Georgia , is located within the county .
Almost 19,000 votes in the county were cast as absentees .
More than 16,500 – about one-in-three – were cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abrosca is a contributor at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow Pete on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--New York Times Bungles Attempted Hit Piece on The Star News Network and The Georgia Star News

The New York Times bungled an attempted hit piece on The Star News Network and the Georgia Star News , and was forced to make several corrections within hours of the story ’ s publication on Tuesday .
The Times , however , failed to make all the factual corrections requested by Star News Digital Media , which owns and operates the Georgia Star News , part of its Star News Network .
“ Misinformation ‘ Superspreaders ’ Target Georgia Senate Races , ” said a hyperbolic headline in the once-serious “ paper of record.
” The piece , co-authored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sheera Frenkel , purposefully conflates conservative opinion commentary about the 2020 election and Georgia ’ s U.S. Senate runoff made by media personalities like The Hodgetwins and Dr. Sebastian Gorka , with verifiably factual news published in Georgia Star News .
In fact , The Times ’ story , which includes four paragraphs on the Georgia Star News , does not link to a single article published at that site , including any of the following examples of groundbreaking original reporting there : • No Chain of Custody Documents in Georgia for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After November 3 Election • Georgia Secretary of State and State Election Board Changed Absentee Ballot Signature Verification and Added Drop Boxes Without State Legislature ’ s Approval • State Rep. Alleges Georgia House Speaker David Ralston ‘ Lied to Trump ’ About Following Through on Efforts to Convene a Special Session • Ballot Transfer Forms Show 78 Percent of 89,000 Absentee Ballots from Drop Boxes in Cobb County , Georgia Were Not Transported to Registrar ‘ Immediately ’ As Election Code Rule Requires • Ballot Transfer Forms Show Cobb County Violated Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boxes ‘ Be Immediately Transported to the County Registrar • Georgia Begins Second Recount – No Audit of Absentee Ballot Signatures Early in their article that includes references to The Georgia Star , the duo cite a study by Avaaz .
Founded in 2007 , records show Avaaz received $ 25 million in funding in 2019 .
A self-described global human rights activist group , the 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) was started by a group of like-minded activists from organizations including Moveon.org , the labor union SEIU , among others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter page shortly after its publication , with the story ’ s original headline : About an hour after publication , The Times changed its headline without explanation , dropping the reference to COVID-19 , and replacing it with “ Misinformation Amplifiers ” : Alba originally reached out to The Star News Network for comment in the late Monday , but failed to provide a deadline for response .
The Times then published the story without comment from The Star News Network in the early morning Tuesday .
Alba provided The Star News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond to her comment request , an atypically short window in the news business .
The Times ’ own guidelines for integrity , “ No subject should be taken by surprise when the paper appears , or feel that there was no chance to respond.
” “ We ’ ve read the recent headlines on the site and found that some shared misleading information about the presidential election in Georgia and the upcoming runoff , including about possible widespread voter fraud in the state , ” Alba said by email Monday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NewsGuard , The Georgia Star News fails to present information ‘ responsibly ’ and falls short at ‘ avoiding deceptive headlines . '
” Alba also wrongly claimed that NewsGuard is “ a start-up that examines false stories , ” when in reality it is a browser extension that rates the reliability and trustworthiness of websites as a whole .
As of press time , NewsGuard has not reached out to The Star News Network about The Georgia Star News .
Further , Alba asked specifically for comment about a December 19 story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black ministry leader in Georgia , Gerard Henry , bucked Democrat U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
Henry said the following about Ossoff and Warnock , both of whom support abortion : Alba objected to The Star News ’ characterization of Henry ’ s comments in the December 19 story .
“ A Dec. 19 story on the website , for example , stated that a coalition of Black ministry leaders rebuked Democratic candidates Warnock and Ossoff for stances that ‘ hurt the Black community , ' ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But the conservative ministry leaders seem to be anti-abortion and opposed Mr. Warnock and Mr. Ossoff for not explicitly standing against abortion .
Still , the headline might have the effect of turning off the candidates to Black voters.
” But Alba inexplicably ignored her own line of questioning in The Times ’ Tuesday report , and did not report at all on The Star News ’ December 19 story .
Instead , she reported on a December 5 story where The Star News quoted a witness – a registered Independent – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County , a county that uses Dominion voting machines , were incorrectly assigned to Joe Biden instead of President Donald J. Trump .
The Times claimed that The Star News story was factually incorrect by citing its own report from November 11 about a lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud among Dominion machines .
But The Star News never claimed there was widespread evidence of fraud in its December 5 story , only that the 37 votes processed by Dominion voting machines in that specific county were wrongly assigned to Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about The Star News ’ December 5 story .
Worth noting , though , The Times had its own concerns of voter fraud in 2012 , when President Barack Obama was up for re-election , and the use of absentee ballots were on the rise .
“ Error and Fraud at Issue as Absentee Voting Rises , ” said a Times headline from October 6 , 2012 , just one month before that year ’ s presidential election .
“ Election experts say the challenges created by mailed ballots could well affect outcomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story said .
“ While fraud in voting by mail is far less common than innocent errors , it is vastly more prevalent than the in-person voting fraud that has attracted far more attention , election administrators say , ” it continued .
More Americans voted by mail during the 2020 election than any other election in American history .
After The Star News pointed out the multiple factual errors in The Times ’ piece and provided examples of factual news reporting on voting irregularities and legally-questionable voting practices in the state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical of Republicans – Alba conceded to some of the paper ’ s shoddy reporting .
“ We are printing your response that NewsGuard ’ s assessment includes ‘ subjective , nonspecific generalizations that lack any meaningful context ’ and that you ‘ reject their assessment as baseless , ' ” she said in an email response .
“ We are also noting that the title of your publication is ‘ The Georgia Star News , ’ not ‘ The Georgia Star.
’ Additionally , we are noting that a witness for President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an audit of election results found that voting machines flipped ballots.
” However The Times ’ has not yet followed through on Alba ’ s assurances .
At press time , the passages containing mention of The Georgia Star News state : At appending the end of the report is : John Fredericks , syndicated radio talk show host and publisher of the Georgia Star News , weighed in .
“ It ’ s the daily double of hypocrisy and irony that the kingpin of fake news , ” The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ The public confidence in the accuracy of Times reporting is below that of Congress and used car dealers .
Our reporting in the Georgia Star News has shined a light where there is darkness and is rooted in facts and truth .
I can see where the New York Times is threatened by that , ” Fredericks added .
“ They exist to protect Joe Biden ’ s fantasy election , ” Fredericks said .
“ We exist to bring facts and real news to our growing legion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biography at The Times says she is a “ reporter covering online disinformation and its global harms.
” She has previously written at a who ’ s who of leftist news outlets , including BuzzFeed , Wired , and Gizmodo .
Frenkel , a San Francisco resident , was a foreign correspondent for left-wing BuzzFeed and NPR among others before joining The Times , according to her biography .
She is the co-author of a book about Facebook , titled “ The Ugly Truth , ” scheduled for publication in June 2021 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg , one of the most powerful companies in the world tried to deny a damning fact—that Facebook has become a conduit for disinformation , hate speech , and political propaganda—while continuing to relentlessly pursue growth.
” In October , Alba accused conservative commentator Mark Levin , among others , of spreading “ misinformation ” which could lead to violence on Election Day .
“ A disgusting hit job was just published by leftwing New York Times hack Davey Alba , who ’ s trying to lay the radical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence on me , Dan Bongino , and others , ” he said .
“ Of course , one Democrat leader and liberal media type after another have been talking about using the military to remove President Trump .
But Dan and I have not promoted violence .
I have mocked the Left ’ s threats and sarcastically turned the tables in a single post , ” he said in a second Tweet .
“ Alba knows this but she writes a disgusting hit piece anyway .
I ’ ll address this on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a third Tweet .
Alba ’ s claim itself turned out to be “ misinformation.
” There was no violence on Election Day .
Just last week , The Times , was forced to issue a retraction of an entire podcast series called “ Caliphate ” after it found it had been duped by the series ’ protagonist , a Pakistani man living in Canada .
The man , who called himself Abu Huzayfah , claimed he was a member of ISIS who had killed people on behalf of the Islamic State in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose real name is Shehroze Chaudhry , in September .
He was charged with “ perpetrating a terrorist hoax.
” Police said the stories about his ISIS membership were completely fabricated .
In its official guidelines for integrity , The Times also claims that “ the journalism we practice daily must be beyond reproach.
” “ No one needs to be reminded that falsifying any part of a news report can not be tolerated and will result automatically in disciplinary action up to and including termination , ” the guidelines say .
Pete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Star News Network .
Follow Pete on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

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


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Commentary: The Left’s War on America is Just Getting Started

Joe Biden and his allies have condemned Donald Trump ’ s refusal to concede the election as an attack on democracy , the latest , most extreme violation of our most sacred “ norms ” by a tyrant and a party of traitors in his thrall .
The Supreme Court , lapsing momentarily out of a state of “ illegitimacy ” to which it had been corrupted by the appointment of a single conservative justice , made clear how low the Republican Party had sunk when it refused Trump ’ s Texas lawsuit .
It ’ s clear then : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for the Trumpers to accept reality .
But all is not lost .
In pious speech after pious speech , Biden is making his commitment to “ healing ” the country very clear .
The vanquished will be treated with mercy , not hostility .
There is still room in this country for all of us , liberal and conservative , Republican and Democrat , white and black .
True “ healing , ” though , requires compromise .
It means acknowledging that both sides are at least legitimate .
And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not before Trump ’ s presidency , that the Left has no desire to coexist with conservatives .
Listen carefully and Biden ’ s “ healing ” has an antiseptic resonance .
It seems that the task is not to unite a bitterly divided country , but to clear out an infection .
The idea that runs through the Left ’ s behavior the last four years is simply this : Trump and his supporters are like a disease .
They ’ re illegitimate , immoral , criminal , insane , racists who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Left doesn ’ t even conceal feeling this way anymore .
What did Trump and his supporters do that was so evil ?
Their transgression , the unforgivable act , was not against “ democracy ” but against the Left and their rules , most of all that holiest of “ norms ” which says that conservatism can only exist as controlled opposition .
For the Left , this is an unquestionable article of faith .
This is why they hate Trump so passionately : unlike the Republican Party , Trump at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise was an assertion of will by a part of the country that got sick and tired of being despised , when the accepted norm is that they are supposed to celebrate being despised .
They dared to say no to the Left and the Left ’ s plans to transform America .
How did the Left respond ?
By working constantly to destroy a democratically elected president by any means necessary , while attacking his supporters daily as subhuman scum who deserve to be chased out of society .
Now they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept the “ peaceful transfer of power.
” What is so extreme about believing that countries should have borders , that people can ’ t choose their gender , that elections should have rules ?
The Left talks about normal , decent people who believe what the average person readily accepted as true until roughly 2014 like they are beyond the pale .
They constantly raise the spectre of a dangerously out of bounds radical Right that is pushing America ’ s “ norms ” to the limit .
Nothing could be further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this factional crisis because the Left backed the rest of America into a corner with psychotic nonsense .
President Trump is their creation .
There ’ s a reason that the Left sweetens their agenda with lies : if the American people had a chance to appraise it honestly and fairly , they would reject it .
The Left is very careful to not let this happen .
They dismiss anyone who questions leftist orthodoxy at a given moment in time as a dangerously insane “ conspiracy theorist.
” They censor and harass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs .
While the Left tells America to fear the Proud Boys , everyone silently acknowledges that cities would be on fire right now if this election had gone differently .
Not satisfied with Trump ’ s defeat , whether Trump should be made into a political prisoner is held up by the Left as a matter of serious , fraught debate , rather than the vengeful reflex that it clearly is .
Trump supporters may have to atone as well for the crime of defending themselves against a vicious opposition that wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s political institutions , culture , and ethnic makeup by force .
Biden wants to immediately pass an amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants : a naked power grab , and surely not the last .
This election obviously was not “ the most secure in our history , ” and it certainly wasn ’ t fair .
We need only look to the media ’ s brazen effort to prevent the electorate from learning anything about Biden to know that .
But who cares what the Bad People think ?
“ Respecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heart of our democracy—even when we find those results hard to accept , ” says Biden .
It would do more to help the “ healing ” process if , instead of patronizing us with obvious lies , Biden ditched the creepy , false piety .
Here ’ s a modest suggestion : To the 70 million people who voted for my opponent , let me be absolutely clear .
The candidate you chose was a racist clown , the worst president in our entire history .
From now on , open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be around for long to see the consequences of this , but you ’ re just going to have to deal .
Hey , remember that time I blamed you guys for the riots my people were doing ?
That was fun .
Anyway , like I was saying , we ’ re going to do everything within our power to disenfranchise you , your children , and your children ’ s children , to turn this country into something you won ’ t recognize and can ’ t call home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already , didn ’ t you ?
That ’ s why you didn ’ t vote for me .
Well , you lost .
Please , for the sake of democracy , shut up and obey .
As far as Biden and his allies are concerned , in this “ battle for the soul of America , ” the good guys won and the bad guys lost .
Trump supporters hear Biden ’ s platitudes , see his phony , cadaverous smile , and expect nothing but unremitting hostility .
And they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Vernon fellow of the Center for American Greatness and a staff writer and weekly columnist at the Conservative Institute .
His writing has also appeared in the Daily Caller .
Follow him on Twitter @ matt_boose .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Tech Billionaire Who Bankrolled Numerous Disinformation Projects Linked to $620,000 Donation to Fusi

Tech Billionaire Who Bankrolled Numerous Disinformation Projects Linked to $620,000 Donation to Fusion GPS’s Legal Fund

An anti-Trump group funded heavily by Reid Hoffman , a liberal billionaire tech titan who ’ s bankrolled political disinformation peddlers , contributed $ 620,000 to a legal fund for Fusion GPS , the opposition research firm behind the controversial Steele dossier , financial filings show .
According to IRS filings , The group Integrity First for America ( IFA ) made the contribution in 2018 for the legal defense fund of Bean LLC , the holding company for Fusion GPS .
IFA , which launched in October 2017 , is the first entity to be identified as one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an anti-corruption group that planned to investigate Donald Trump ’ s business dealings , IFA has since turned it focus on litigation against white supremacist groups .
Fusion GPS ’ s founders , Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch , wrote in a book last year that the company received outside funding to help cover millions of dollars of legal bills it accumulated from dossier-related lawsuits and congressional investigations .
Simpson and Fritsch wrote that they received financial support from a “ few donors , ” but did not disclose who they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was aware that IFA has helped Fusion GPS .
The New York Times reported in October 2017 that Hoffman planned to give more than $ 1 million to IFA .
IFA ’ s board chairwoman , Monica Graham , told Agence France-Press in February 2018 that the initial funding for the group came from Silicon Valley funders .
She singled out Hoffman as a significant donor .
IFA received $ 2.9 million in contributions in 2017 and nearly $ 9 million in 2018 , according to its filings with the IRS .
Hoffman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some of which have faced accusations of pushing politically-charged disinformation .
Hoffman apologized in late 2018 after The New York Times reported that he was a top funder for a project spearheaded by the tech firm New Knowledge , which created fake online personas aimed at influencing conservatives voters in Alabama ’ s Senate special election in December 2017 .
According to The Times , the project ’ s operators created thousands of fake Russian accounts that followed Republican candidate Roy Moore .
The mass following generated national media coverage and fueled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favored most by Russia .
New Knowledge worked closely with Fusion GPS , according to a book by Fusion founders Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch .
The firm also contributed to a Senate Intelligence Committee report about Russia ’ s efforts to push disinformation on social media .
Hoffman was an early backer to ACRONYM , the progressive tech company behind the botched app used in the Iowa Democratic caucuses earlier this year .
Another Hoffman-funded entity , American Engagement Technologies , published misleading Facebook ads from accounts designed to stifle Republican voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced in January 2019 that it was investigating New for Democracy , another group Hoffman financed that was accused of publishing misleading news stories ahead of the 2018 midterms .
Dmitri Mehlhorn , who is reported to be Hoffman ’ s top political adviser , was on the board for News for Democracy .
He is also on the board of IFA .
Susie Buell , a Democratic activist who is close to Bill and Hillary Clinton , is also an IFA board member .
One of IFA ’ s founding executives is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producer who was fired in 2005 over her work on a report on fabricated documents that said George W. Bush dodged serving in the Vietnam War .
Dan Rather , the longtime CBS News anchor , aired a story about the documents on Sept. 8 , 2004 , two months before the election .
CBS retracted the story less than two weeks later , citing a series of errors in its handling of the fake Bush documents .
According to IFA ’ s tax filings , Mapes was paid $ 300,000 in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fusion GPS has also peddled false information about a Republican presidential candidate .
After hiring Christopher Steele in June 2016 , Fusion GPS ’ s founders disseminated the ex-spy ’ s memos to numerous heavy hitters in Washington , including to prominent Beltway reporters and to officials at the Justice and State departments .
Steele provided memos from his dossier to the FBI , which used the information to advance its investigation into the Trump campaign ’ s possible ties to the Russian government .
Several key allegations from the dossier have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since BuzzFeed published the document .
Special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s report said that investigators found no evidence to support Steele ’ s central theory of a “ well-developed conspiracy of cooperation ” between the Trump campaign and Russian government .
Steele alleged that former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen met with Kremlin insiders in Prague to discuss paying off hackers .
The special counsel ’ s report and a report from the Justice Department ’ s inspector general said Cohen never visited Prague and that no Trump associates were involved in hacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has since emerged that Steele relied on only one source , a Russian analyst named Igor Danchenko , to collect information about the Trump campaign and Russia .
Danchenko told the FBI in January 2017 that he did not verify many of the most damning allegations in the dossier .
The IG report also said that the FBI received evidence in 2017 that Russian intelligence operatives may have fed disinformation to Steele .
Fusion GPS faced multiple lawsuits over the dossier and squared off with House Republicans investigating the origins of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian bank Alfa Bank sued the company over a memo in the dossier that accused them of bribing Vladimir Putin .
While the lawsuit is ongoing , the bankers won its lawsuit in the U.K. against Steele .
A judge ordered the former spy to pay damages to the bank and said that his allegations about Alfa Bank were “ inaccurate or misleading.
” Fusion GPS also fought against Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee in federal court to block the release of bank records that showed who paid the company for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee paid Fusion GPS more than $ 1 million for the research .
Simpson and other Fusion GPS executives have also been called to testify before multiple congressional committees , including the House and Senate Intelligence committees , and the Senate Judiciary Committee .
Fusion GPS continued its investigations against Trump even after the release of the dossier .
Weeks after Trump took office , Fusion GPS partnered with a newly-formed nonprofit group called The Democracy Integrity Project to continue investigations of Trump and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s founder , Daniel Jones , told the FBI in March 2017 that his organization was set to receive $ 50 million in funding from a group of 10 wealthy progressive donors .
He offered to provide the group ’ s research to the FBI and said they would be sharing it with lawmakers and the media .
A group directed by billionaire financier George Soros contributed at least $ 1.5 million to TDIP in 2017 and 2018 , according to tax filings .
Other tax documents show that TDIP paid Fusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Steele ’ s firm more than $ 250,000 in 2017 .
Another nonprofit group founded by Jones called Advance Democracy Inc. paid $ 485,000 to New Knowledge in 2018 , according to tax records .
Campaign for Accountability , a liberal watchdog group , paid Fusion GPS $ 138,684 in 2017 and $ 550,580 in 2018 for research on unspecified projects .
In 2017 , the Campaign for Accountability ( CfA ) began investigating one of Fusion ’ s arch-rivals , then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes .
CfA accused Nunes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican ’ s investigation into who funded the Steele dossier .
Requests for comment submitted to Fusion GPS and Hoffman ’ s firm , Greylock Partners , were not returned .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Reid Hoffman ” by startupofyou .
CC BY 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Integrity First for America ” by Integrity First for America .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Trump Threatens to Veto COVID-19 Relief Bill, Calls It a ‘Disgrace,’ Loaded with Foreign Aid

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thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--BioNTech CEO ‘Confident’ That Coronavirus Vaccine Is Effective Against New European Strain

The CEO of BioNTech , the German drug maker who partnered with Pfizer in developing the world ’ s first approved coronavirus vaccine , said that he was “ confident ” it will be effective against a mutated strain of the virus found in the United Kingdom .
“ The likelihood that our vaccine works… is relatively high , ” Uğur Şahin told reporters during a Tuesday press conference , explaining that the mutated strain still shares approximately 99 % of the original strain ’ s spike protein .
Despite confidence that the original vaccine , which began distribution earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BioNTech are conducting tests to reaffirm the vaccine ’ s effectiveness , and aim to have the results published in early January .
If the vaccine proves to be ineffective then a new vaccine could be developed in just six weeks , Şahin said .
Though health experts believe that the vaccines will be effective against the new strain and that it is no more lethal than the strain that has spread across the globe , they have warned that it could be up to 70 % more transmissible .
In response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halted travel from the U.K. Monday .
The United States has not stopped travel , but multiple airlines announced that they would require travelers from Britain to provide evidence of a negative coronavirus test before flying .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a series of new lockdowns over the weekend following a dramatic spike in cases across the island nation .
The lockdowns are the strictest the country has seen since the beginning of the pandemic in March , and extend into 2021 .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Giuliani: Arizona GOP Will Attempt to Certify Trump the Winner of 2020 Election on Wednesday

President Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday morning that the Arizona legislature will attempt to pass a resolution this week demanding a joint session to certify President Trump as the winner of the 2020 election .
During an interview on Steve Bannon ’ s “ War Room : Pandemic ” podcast , Giuliani noted that Arizona lawmakers did not have the votes to declare Trump the winner on Monday , but was hopeful that they would be able to do it on Wednesday .
“ We have three other legislatures that are on the verge of considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted .
“ In the case of Arizona , they ’ re basically two votes away.
” On Monday , Georgia State Senator William T. Ligon , Chairman of the Election Law subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee , released a 15-page report calling the results of the 2020 election , “ untrustworthy ” and recommending that the certification of the results be rescinded .
Giuliani told Bannon that this development could be enough to encourage legislators in other states to join the decertification effort .
President Trump ’ s legal team has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contested states to take back their delegates and to certify to Congress a slate of electors that “ actually represents the will of the people ” in their states by Jan. 6 .
Giuliani told Bannon that they are pushing this strategy “ very very hard.
” He also said that there would be some major revelations coming out within the next couple of days regarding voting machines in the Georgia elections , hopefully enough information about “ the fraud and the cheating ” to push their effort to overturn the election “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York mayor maintained that the evidence of fraud in Georgia was “ greater than anywhere else.
” “ I don ’ t like what this [ Governor ] Kemp has been doing , I really don ’ t , ” Giuliani told Bannon .
“ He knows that he had a crummy election and terrible machines … he just brought on these new machines and we have all sorts of evidence that all over Georgia … they didn ’ t work.
” Giuliani pointed out that in rural Georgia , ballots were scanned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times and came up with three different results .
As a result , Board of Election officials in Coffee County stated on Dec. 4 that they “ can not certify the electronic recount numbers given its inability to repeatably duplicate creditable election results.
” Sec .
of State Brad Raffensperger announced the recount was certified on Dec. 7 , anyway .
Giuliani pointed out that even without the issues with the modern technology , it was easy to prove that the election was stolen .
“ According to the numbers in Arizona , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he explained .
“ That ’ s a lie .
That ’ s a false statement.
” Giuliani asserted that he could find 20 to 30 thousand illegal immigrant voters in Arizona within minutes using the Lexis Nexus search engine .
In fact , about 26,000 illegal alien voters in Arizona have already been discovered , he said—enough to turn the election .
“ It ’ s these little details that actually prove the case , ” he said .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Stacey Abrams Staffer Helping Biden Pick Justice Department Team

After winning the vote in the Electoral College last week , former Vice President Joe Biden said the election process “ should be celebrated , not attacked.
” Biden derided what he called “ baseless claims about the legitimacy of the results ” of the presidential election and said , “ Respecting the will of the people is at the heart of our democracy , even if we find those results hard to accept.
” Somewhat ironically , however , the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris transition team includes a deputy director of a group founded by losing Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own 2018 defeat .
Abrams established Fair Fight Action in 2014 , four years ahead of her gubernatorial bid , but the organization took a decidedly more political turn after her loss and sued the state of Georgia , alleging a rigged election that she lost by about 55,000 votes .
Jose Morales , the deputy director for voter protection at Fair Fight Action , is serving on the agency review team to pick Biden administration staffers for the Justice Department .
Morales is working for the Biden transition team as a volunteer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evaluate incoming staff for the department , as well as for the Federal Election Commission , the U.S. Election Assistance Commission , the Commission on Civil Rights , the National Council on Disability , the United States Access Board , AbilityOne , the State Justice Institute , and the Legal Services Corporation , according to the transition team ’ s website .
Morales formerly served as national constituency director for former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg ’ s 2020 presidential campaign , according to the Capital Research Center , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fight Action has opposed voter-ID laws and cleaning up voter-registration rolls of inactive or ineligible voters .
That ’ s somewhat to be expected on a Biden team , said J. Christian Adams , a former Justice Department lawyer , now president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation , an election-integrity watchdog group .
“ Stacey Abrams is the leader of the conspiracy wing of the Democratic Party , assuming every election they don ’ t win is rigged , ” Adams told The Daily Signal .
Still , the inclusion of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not surprising , he said .
“ I can think of 50 names for the transition team worse than his .
This is not unexpected , ” Adams added .
Before that , Morales was the community engagement and projects director at the National Democratic Redistricting Committee , a group dedicated to drawing up more favorable congressional maps for Democrats run by former Attorney General Eric Holder .
He also worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , and as a programs associate at the New Organizing Institute , a liberal group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and progressive political causes .
The Washington Post called the group “ the Democratic Party ’ s Hogwarts for digital wizardry.
” “ I would like to know : Does this gentlemen have anything to do with picking staff to oversee election law , and does he believe that Stacey Abrams is the rightful governor of Georgia ?
” Capital Research Center President Scott Walter told The Daily Signal .
Walter added that this could be one example of a more politicized Justice Department under Biden .
“ Everything he has done has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ What qualifications does he have for hiring people at DOJ ?
It could be a sign we are going back to the days of Eric Holder , when the DOJ was just a piece of the political machine.
” Founded as the Voter Access Institute in 2014 , the organization changed its name to Fair Fight Action after Abrams lost the 2018 governor ’ s race to now-Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp , a Republican .
The organization also changed its bylaws that prohibited it from getting directly or indirectly involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Georgia Secretary of State ’ s office in December 2018 .
Abrams has denounced what she calls voter suppression across the country .
Fair Fight sued the state of Georgia , claiming minorities were denied the right to vote because of “ discriminatory voting barriers reminiscent of the Jim Crow era.
” The lawsuit didn ’ t try to reverse the outcome of the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election , but did call for the state to stop updating voter rolls and to ban touch-screen voting machines .
The lawsuit also accuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of state , with oversight of state elections , of trying to prevent minority voters from casting ballots .
In a loss for Abrams in December 2019 , the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled it would not order the state to reinstate all of the voters removed from the registration rolls because of inactivity .
Fred Lucas is chief national affairs correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “ The Right Side of History ” podcast .
Lucas is also the author of “ Abuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Impeach Donald Trump .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Joe Biden Expected to Name Current Connecticut Education Commissioner to Lead Education Department

President-elect Joe Biden is poised to select Miguel Cardona , the current Connecticut education commissioner , to lead the Department of Education in his administration , CNN reported .
Miguel Cardona , who has served as head of the Connecticut State Department of Education ( CSDE ) since August 2019 , will be President-elect Joe Biden ’ s choice to lead the federal government ’ s education department , multiple sources told CNN .
Cardona would be the latest Latino to receive a high-ranking position in the incoming Biden administration .
“ My friend Miguel Cardona is everything you would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy tweeted Monday night .
“ A classroom teacher , a fighter for educational equity , a consensus builder .
He has risen quickly through the ranks for a reason.
” Cardona began his career in education as a public school teacher in Meriden , Connecticut before he served as a school principal , according to his official bio .
After more than a decade , Cardona transitioned to the school district ’ s central office to lead the work of performance and evaluation .
Cardona , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( AFT ) , would be a great choice to lead the Department of Education because of his past union affiliation , AFT President Randi Weingarten tweeted Monday , applauding the pick .
“ If he is [ President-elect Joe Biden ’ s ] pick just Imagine ( sic . )
a former [ AFT ] member , committed to collaboration , replacing [ current Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos ] , ” she said .
The AFT and National Education Association , which are among the largest unions in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March .
Weingarten said Biden shares AFT ’ s values in her endorsement message .
“ Joe Biden is the experienced and empathic leader our country needs right now , ” Weingarten said in a statement .
If confirmed by the Senate in 2021 , Cardona will likely find himself in the middle of a school reopening fight , according to CNN .
Cardona has been a strong advocate of reopening schools and has argued that virtual learning causes children to fall behind on classwork .
Biden , meanwhile , has pledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s schools within the first 100 days of his presidency .
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Miguel Cardona ” by Central Connecticut State University .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Governor Newsom Announces California Secretary of State Alex Padilla Will Succeed Harris in the Sena

Governor Newsom Announces California Secretary of State Alex Padilla Will Succeed Harris in the Senate

Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that Alex Padilla , California ’ s Secretary of State , will succeed Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the Senate .
Padilla , 47 , will be the first Latino senator in California ’ s history .
His selection was first reported by The Los Angeles Times .
“ Through his tenacity , integrity , smarts and grit , California is gaining a tested fighter in their corner who will be a fierce ally in D.C. , lifting up our state ’ s values and making sure we secure the critical resources to emerge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ He will be a senator for all Californians.
” Newsom also praised Padilla ’ s decades of public service .
He was elected to the Los Angeles City Council at age 26 , served two terms as a state senator and is serving in his second term as California ’ s secretary of state .
“ I am honored and humbled by the trust placed in me by Governor Newsom , and I intend to work each and every day to honor that trust and deliver for all Californians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though multiple California officials were floated as Harris ’ s possible successor , Padilla had been widely seen as the frontrunner and had already received a key endorsement from Sen. Dianne Feinstein .
“ I have given him my support .
I did that quite a while ago , ” Feinstein said in early December .
“ And my sense is that he ’ s going to represent California very well .
He ’ s someone I would be happy to work with , and also bring Hispanic representation to the Senate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus , who lobbied Newsom to tap a Latino for the position and has long pushed for greater Latino representation in the Senate .
The Caucus ’ s chair , California Rep. Tony Cárdenas , said in November that the Democratic Party ’ s message needed to change “ overnight ” after it underperformed in Latino communities across the country in November ’ s elections .
Though Padilla ’ s nomination was seen by many as groundbreaking in a state that is nearly 40 % Latino , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick a black woman to succeed Harris .
California progressives , already frustrated with Feinstein ’ s centrist demeanor , specifically pushed for Rep. Barbara Lee or Rep. Karen Bass , who was also vetted as a running mate for President-elect Joe Biden .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Knox County Commission Votes to Strip Its Board of Health’s Powers Over Policy

Knox County Commission voted to strip the county ’ s board of health of its powers to issue mandates on Tuesday .
Instead of having the power to impose regulations , the Knox County Board of Health would be limited to serving as an advisory group .
After a heated , divided exchange lasting eight hours , the commission voted 6-4 in favor of diminishing the board ’ s authority , with one commissioner abstaining their vote .
The decision followed the board ’ s latest regulations limiting social gatherings and in-person dining .
At the beginning of this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit of 10 people within 360 square feet , with limited exceptions including nursing homes .
Two weeks later , the board elected to limit restaurants and bars to 50 percent capacity , and impose a curfew limiting in-person services lasting from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m .
The sponsor of the amendment , commissioner Kyle Ward , said in a statement to reporters that the measure would protect the financial health of the community .
“ For me , it ’ s very simple as a constitutional conservative .
I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” explained Ward during the meeting .
Larsen Jay , the commission ’ s chairman , posted on Facebook afterwards to express his disagreement with the decision .
“ Tonight , despite the worst place for COVID in the world , several Commissioners took the first step in dissolving the Board of Health and dismantling our health infrastructure , ” wrote Jay .
“ I cringe at what January will look like in our community.
” Many of the community members who spoke during the meeting expressed dismay over the revocation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , others in the community have sided with the commission majority .
Nonprofit social advocacy organization Tennessee Stands organized a rally this past weekend to protest the board of health ’ s powers .
Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles spoke at the gathering , petitioning the commission to demote the board to an advisory role .
Spokespersons with the county commission didn ’ t respond with comment to The Tennessee Star by press time .
The commission will have another month before finalizing its vote to amend the board of health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Knox County Health Department Building ” by Knox County Health Department .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Harvard-Affiliated Researcher Admits He Tried to Smuggle U.S. Cancer Research to China

Zaosong Zheng , who worked in research at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center , pleaded guilty to lying to customs officials about his attempt to take biomaterial to China .
According to a Department of Justice press release , Zheng was arrested in December 2019 at Boston ’ s Logan International Airport , where he had attempted to board a flight to China .
Federal officers found 21 vials of biological research material stuffed into a sock in one of his bags .
According to the release , “ the charge of making false , fictitious and fraudulent statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five years in prison , three years of supervised release and a fine of $ 250,000.
” Charges of visa fraud and acting as an agent of a foreign government carry ten-year sentences and additional fines of $ 250,000 .
In his plea deal , Zheng agreed to leave the country after his January hearing , and prosecutors will drop the charge of smuggling research .
A judge will decide whether Zheng faces further penalties at his January 6 , 2021 hearing .
Campus Reform has covered several situations in which American academics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of the People ’ s Republic of China .
Recently , Song Guo Zheng , a former Ohio State University and Penn State University researcher , pleaded guilty to using federal grants to develop medicine for China .
Similar to Zaosong Zheng , Song Guo Zheng was arrested in Alaska as he tried to board a charter flight from Anchorage to China .
He was carrying “ three large bags , one small suitcase and a briefcase containing two laptops , three cell phones , several USB drives , several silver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family , deeds for property in China and other items , ” according to the Justice Department .
Campus Reform reached out to Harvard University for comment and will update this article accordingly .
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .
Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review .
Photo “ University of Harvard ” by Joseph Williams .
@ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Commentary: We Had the Vaccine from the Start—You Just Weren’t Allowed to Take It

Few people realize that the Moderna vaccine against COVID-19—which the FDA has finally declared “ highly effective , ” and which is now being distributed to Americans—has actually been available for nearly a year .
But the government wouldn ’ t let you take it .
The vaccine , a triumph of medical science known as mRNA-1273 , was designed in a single weekend , just two days after Chinese researchers published the virus ’ s genetic code on January 11 , 2020 .
For the entire duration of the pandemic , while hundreds of thousands died and the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly effective vaccine has been available .
But you , and all the people who died , were prohibited by the government from taking it .
There are some who claim that the FDA “ saves lives ” by putting the brakes on medical innovation with their requirements for years-long , and often decades-long , billion-dollar medical trial procedures .
Missing here is the obvious counterpoint—How many lives did the FDA sacrifice to disease in the meantime ?
In the case of COVID-19 we know the answer : more than 300,000 deaths so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So why was this vaccine delayed for a full year ?
Because the FDA prohibited rapid “ challenge trials ” —where volunteers take the vaccine and then expose themselves to the virus in a lab , rather than waiting agonizing months to see how many catch the virus “ in the wild.
” Challenge trials would have proven the vaccine ’ s effectiveness in a matter of weeks .
But the FDA considered the risk to trial volunteers too high .
But why ?
Why are hundreds of thousands of “ natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptable to the FDA—while the remote possibility of one or two deaths , in the absolute worst case scenario , among well-informed vaccine-testing volunteers are not ?
There is no rational answer .
The tragic truth is that we are ruled by a cowardly medical bureaucracy , one that would rather allow hundreds of thousands of people to die than face any potential criticism for allowing an accelerated vaccine trial .
By contrast , in a free society , immediately after the vaccine was created , volunteers would have been allowed to participate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been conducted either by the vaccine company itself , or more likely by third-party medical-trial specialists , to remove any concerns about bias in the results .
The first small group of volunteers would be vaccinated , and then exposed to the virus .
If the vaccine appeared to be safe and effective , then a larger group would be vaccinated .
As each challenge group proved successful , the number of volunteers for the next group would grow .
Week by week the challenge groups would grow larger , until after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year by the FDA ’ s “ in the wild ” method—the results would be definitive and the trials complete .
This means that in March or April of 2020—instead of the first wave of COVID deaths and lockdowns in the United States—we could have seen a wide vaccine rollout , leading to rapid herd immunity , nipping the pandemic in the bud .
But that path would have been possible only in a free society .
Instead , we have the FDA , backed by government force , dictating medical policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly a year , while death and economic destruction reign .
A free society , by contrast , would have a minimal government—one which leaves its people at liberty and which only exists to protect their rights against physical force and fraud .
Such a government would have no FDA slowing down medical progress .
Pharmaceutical companies would be free to invent new treatments as rapidly as possible , and consumers would be free to voluntarily test them—while being protected by civil and criminal penalties aimed at any company who caused harm or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost a tautology , but worth observing in this context : People , if left free , will by definition act in ways that they think best .
If they had been allowed to do what they thought best , free private volunteers would have proven the safety and efficacy of the Moderna vaccine by as early as April 2020 , ending the pandemic .
On the other hand , a government—an entity defined by its monopoly on the use of force—can only interfere with the free action of people .
It can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think best , and/or force individuals to do what they think is not best .
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic , the government did both : ( a ) It used force , via the FDA , to prevent people from voluntarily taking a highly effective vaccine that existed since the start of the pandemic ; and ( b ) it forced people to take actions which they did not think best—such as closing their businesses .
As a result , the economy was devastated in ways that will take years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from , and hundreds of thousands of Americans were told to sit , wait , and die .
Philip Steele is a California writer and teacher whose work has appeared in Reason , The Freeman , The Miami Herald , The Orange County Register , and many other international newspapers and magazines .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles Forms ‘Andy’s Army TN’ Facebook Group to Promote Liberty

Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles formed a Facebook group called “ Andy ’ s Army TN ” for “ patriots and Fans of Andy Ogles who believe in taking a stand for our Constitution and Liberties.
” The private group ’ s page is here .
Since it is a private group , people have to request to join .
Facebook showed the membership to be approximately 1,800 as of Monday .
The Daily Herald on Tuesday reported that “ Andy ’ s Army TN ” is part of Ogles ’ efforts to grow his social media following during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaging supporters while preparing to start his reelection campaign .
The newspaper said “ Andy ’ s Army TN ” is intended to fight a statewide mask mandate , but the group ’ s Facebook description does not mention that topic .
Ogles has long been opposed to mask mandates and government shutdowns out of COVID-19 fears .
After Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s Sunday address to the state , Ogles spoke to The Tennessee Star .
“ I am relieved the governor did not do a statewide mask mandate , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t sacrifice liberty and infringe on the Constitution , even though there ’ s a virus , and even though people are scared.
” On the Sept. 30 episode of 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. , Ogles also spoke about whether Lee can delegate authority for mask mandates to county mayors , among other topics .
You don ’ t have that authority to do that .
Now , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislature that they haven ’ t stepped up and really kind of rein this in , but it ’ s an election year .
And unfortunately , politics plays in here .
and so I ’ ve stood firm .
Look if you want to wear a mask , wear a mask .
I defend your right to do that , but also defend your right to make a choice .
But the thing is if you look at all of the events we ’ ve had in Maury County and I always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with , I could end up with COVID tomorrow .
The “ Andy ’ s Army TN ” page is separate from Ogles ’ public Facebook mayoral page , which is available here .
He promoted the “ Army ” on the mayoral page last week , saying on one post , “ Volunteer on social media , call a legislator or two , help Andy campaign , defend Freedom ?
?
?
… This group is for Patriots and Supporters of Andy Ogles who believe in taking a stand for our Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ready ?
” .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Andy Ogles ” by Andy Ogles .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Planned Parenthood Bid to Kill Hyde Amendment to Face Pro-Life Pushback

Planned Parenthood is preparing its wish list for former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s prospective administration , but pro-life forces are gearing up for a fight .
In a Roll Call interview , Planned Parenthood Action Fund President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson said her organization ’ s top goal in 2021 is abolishing the Hyde Amendment , which for 40 years has prohibited federal funding for most abortions .
“ A lot of , I think , the public conversation has to be around how a policy like Hyde , which discriminates against low-income people largely and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a moment where those same people are being disproportionately affected by a pandemic and access to health care broadly , ” McGill Johnson told Roll Call .
“ I think you can send a different message , that the very things that we ’ re trying to address , like racism , are also baked into our various policies , ” she said .
The Hyde Amendment is named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde , R-Ill. , who sponsored the amendment , first adopted in 1976 .
McGill Johnson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the incoming chairman of the House Appropriations Committee , Rep. Rosa DeLauro , D-Conn. , has said she also wants to do away with the Hyde Amendment .
In a statement to The Daily Signal , Jeanne Mancini , president of March for Life , said she is concerned about the obvious pro-abortion trajectory of a Biden administration .
“ Despite his pledge of unity , it is truly heartbreaking that Joe Biden is taking his policy direction from our nation ’ s largest abortion business , Planned Parenthood , a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and potential fraud , not to mention the trafficking of baby body parts , ” Mancini said , adding : Melanie Israel , a research associate in the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation , told The Daily Signal that a Biden administration will remove life-affirming policies set in place by the Trump administration .
“ The abortion lobby , along with its allies in Congress , is committed to [ rolling ] back the pro-life movement ’ s progress , ” Israel said , adding : From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home and overseas to rolling back conscience and religious freedom protections , pro-abortion actors are eager to remove critical guardrails through both legislative and administrative action .
Pro-life policymakers will , without a doubt , have their work cut out for them .
Regardless of who is in control of Congress and the administration , the pro-life movement will continue its crucial work serving women , children , and their families .
As far back as January , CNBC reported that Planned Parenthood was gearing up to support pro-abortion candidates for elective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would spend $ 45 million in the 2020 elections to help its chosen candidates win .
Dean Nelson , executive director of Human Coalition Action , told The Daily Signal that Planned Parenthood ’ s agenda is clear .
“ It ’ s plain to see that Planned Parenthood ’ s top priority is not protecting women ’ s health—as they want the public to believe—but in promoting abortions , ” he said , adding : Kristan Hawkins , president of Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortions isn ’ t as popular among the public as Planned Parenthood would like it to be .
“ Given all the interviews Planned Parenthood leadership is giving , with their shopping list for taxpayers , it ’ s clear that they expect some real payback for what they spent during the election , ” Hawkins said , adding : Rachel del Guidice is a congressional reporter for The Daily Signal .
She is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville , Forge Leadership Network , and The Heritage Foundation ’ s Young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supporters ” by The All-Nite Images .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Host Leahy and All Star Panelist Clint Brewer Ponder the Hierarchical Release of the COVID Vaccine

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 .
During the third hour , Leahy and Brewer speculated the calculated release of the COVID vaccine agreeing that frontline workers and the elderly should be at the top of the list .
They later discussed what level of prioritization would be under the 75-year-old threshold and the safety and distribution of the vaccine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is the executive vice president of CVS talking about the vaccine being distributed .
It ’ s out there and people have been taking it by the way .
I saw Alexander Ocasio-Cortez got the vaccine .
Brewer : Oh well !
And Marco Rubio got it as well .
Leahy : Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is like 30 years old , right ?
She ’ s not exactly in the risk population .
She was asked why are you at the head of the line ?
And her response was well , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m vital to the operation of the government .
She said it with a straight face .
Leahy : Now that is a very good line .
So the vaccine is coming out .
But now the vice president ’ s got it .
The Vice President Pence has taken it .
Joe Biden publicly took the vaccine .
Brewer : Mike , now would that be President-elect Joe Biden .
Leahy : No it would not .
Brewer : We ’ re not there yet ?
( Laughs ) Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be here on Tuesday , January the 5 .
And it will still not be president-elect and it still might not be .
Leahy : Where in the Constitution does it say that Mitch McConnell is the ultimate arbiter of that plan ?
Brewer : I ’ m just saying Mr. McConnell is saying that he ’ s president-elect Biden .
Leahy : We have a process and on January 6 and we ’ ll see what the Congress says .
Leahy : But on January 5 will be talking about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When you come back .
Leahy : The issue there is really in doubt .
But back to the vaccine .
So A lot of people are getting it .
Now I am in the danger group .
I ’ m 65 , you know .
I guess 65 maybe probably 70 .
Brewer : I think they said 75 and up should be vaccinated .
Brewer : I think the CDC ’ s sort of priorities were 75 and up .
Leahy : Well , I can understand that .
Yeah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : I ’ m still a spring chicken at 65 .
I feel like a spring chicken , sort of .
Brewer : Are you about to end up on the dinner table ?
Leahy : ( Chuckles ) You know everybody in their minds still think they are like 18 .
I do my occasional workouts .
I do a couple of workouts a week .
Let me just tell you something .
In the midst of those workouts , I am not 18 .
Nooo .
Not even close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would just say as soon as its available I ’ m taking it .
Brewer : I ’ m the same way .
The second I can get it and my family can get it we will take it .
Leahy : And some people have said well , it ’ s not a 100 percent proven and they ’ ve done clinical tests .
And it looks like the clinical tests are pretty high , you know level of efficacy .
Which is 95 percent just like any vaccines going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , the companies spent a lot of time doing it .
So frankly Clint , I mean if I could get the vaccine today I would do it .
Brewer : If there were somebody sitting in here and said , Mr .
Brewer , would you like it ?
I ’ d roll up my sleeve right now .
Leahy : And then I ’ d be right behind you .
The question is , when are you going to be able to take it ?
When am I going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will I be able to take it before you because I ’ m at such an advanced age ?
Brewer : Yeah , I think it ’ s you know , I think there ’ s a level of prioritization that can happen .
But beyond that , you know at some point they ’ re going to have to rely on the private sector and the need or want the market forces of healthcare to take over like anything else .
I mean , I you know , I think from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other state , you can you know do a cram down and get it into you know managed care facilities and nursing homes .
Leahy : They ’ re doing that now .
I think it ’ s going to first responders first.. Then medical professionals .
Brewer : It ’ s going to frontline medical personnel first .
Leahy : Which makes sense .
That ’ s very logical .
But the question is and now and this clip was from the head of the CVS Pharmacy , right ?
So that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : And there are others .
Basically anywhere where you get pharmaceuticals or you can you know , any medical office apparently will have those .
Brewer : Now one of those one vaccines you can distribute that way .
There ’ s another one that you may not be able to .
Leahy : Like the Pfizer that ’ s got to be like 95 degrees below zero .
Brewer : Yeah , and I don ’ t see commercial pharmacies , maybe I ’ m wrong , but I just I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having that capacity .
Leahy : When I got my flu shot , I only do it because my wife says get your flu shot .
Get your flu shot .
And until I get my flu shot I ’ m going to hear that .
So yeah , I got a flu shot about a month ago at CVS .
And they said well , you know , we are preparing to deliver the Pfizer vaccine .
Leahy : That ’ s what they said .
The guy said that to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brewer : So they ’ ll have the storage equipment .
Leahy : And apparently that ’ s one of the issues that they ’ re working on .
Brewer : Maybe these pharmacies have that and I just I don ’ t know .
This seems like a specialized piece of equipment .
Leahy : But the most important thing for me at the moment is this when can I get it ?
And so I have no idea when it will be available to me .
Do you have any idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Brewer : I don ’ t think so .
I mean , I think that ’ s the big question right now is that states are getting allotments .
I assume based on the population to some extent .
And you know , it ’ s going to be frontline medical personnel already .
I have relatives who are frontline medical personnel who have already gotten it .
Leahy : They ’ ve gotten it !
Well good for them .
Leahy : And that ’ s where it should go first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my mind .
Brewer : Yeah .
So I mean there ’ s that and I think nursing homes .
I have friends who have family in managed care facilities and nursing homes who were scheduling shots back , you know to three weeks ago .
So presumably that ’ s already happening .
But you know , you get beyond that , and then maybe you know firemen , policemen , and first responders that have to deal with the public to who are out .
Paramedics who are making physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , I think that ’ s a good thing .
Leahy : If you have physical contact with somebody who possibly has a medical issue you ’ re obviously going to consider that person might have COVID so you ’ re exposing yourself .
Brewer : So I mean then you got to think of what groups of people .
Are we going to continue to group people ?
Are we going to simply say then dispersement to the private sector and medical channels that normal drugs flow to people through ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : So it ’ s December 22 .
What ’ s the over-under as to the most likely time that you will be able to get the vaccine ?
Brewer : I ’ m sure it ’ s going to be early spring .
Leahy : Yeah , I ’ m afraid that ’ s the case .
March maybe .
I am open to figuring out how to move more towards the front of the line .
Because it ’ s sort of like if you look at it and if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfortable with that level of safety , which I do , you still can ’ t quite do a lot of the things that you ’ d like to do .
Like travel for instance .
Brewer : Well , I mean you can travel .
Leahy : But there ’ s more risk .
I ’ m not interested in risk at this point in time .
Brewer : Right .
Well , I think the economy will come back when the vaccine is promulgated broadly in the American population and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off .
Leahy : So the case counts , that keep going up .
All the reports are hospitalizations are you know nearer their peak .
And deaths are near their peak .
It ’ s what we ’ re hearing .
And everybody is wearing a mask .
Brewer : Well not everybody is wearing a mask .
I ’ ve been out in public and seen people not wearing masks .
Brewer : I feel like it ’ s a game going into the Mt .
Juliet Walmart to pick something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who don ’ t have masks .
Leahy : You know , it ’ s interesting .
Apparently the governor believes that private-public gatherings of more than 10 are a higher probability of spreading the virus than going to Walmart .
Because apparently , Walmart doesn ’ t apply to that .
( Laughs ) No comment .
Brewer : I can get away from it at Walmart .
Let ’ s put it that way .
Listen to the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Love It or Leave It: Resident Tennesseans Call in and Encourage Newcomers to Embrace the Culture

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 and took calls from Tennesseans who were tired of hearing people complain about the culture that have moved here from liberal states .
Leahy : The phones are lighting up !
People want to talk about the people coming into Tennessee from other states .
Rick in Franklin wants to comment on that .
Welcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Michael Patrick Leahy and Clint Brewer .
Caller Rick : Good morning .
Love your show .
Love your work .
I was born and raised in Franklin and I ’ ve lived on both coasts with my wife .
And during the course of raising children here in Franklin and involvement and sports and scouts whatever .
Especially during summertime folks would move in and invariably they would get around to how far advanced their children were academically and worried about you know , whether they were going to be adequately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some of them would even go so far as to say , you know , my kids going to probably have to skip a grade .
Leahy : Because he ’ s so much smarter than yours , huh ?
Rick : Oh , yeah .
They ’ re too smart for us .
So I always enjoyed about three weeks into the school year when those same parents would be in the schoolhouse moving little Johnny back to his correct grade or failing his AP courses in high school right and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of that .
Leahy : Hey , thanks for listening to the show .
Thanks for the comment .
We got a lot of callers today .
We want to get them all in before the end of this segment .
William in Kingsport moved to Tennessee from upstate New York .
A great club to be in .
I ’ m a member of that club .
William , welcome to The Tennessee Star Report .
Caller William : Yes how are you doing ?
I ’ ve been listening to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved from New York .
Upstate New York is a nice place .
I actually grew up in the metro area of New York first and then we fled there to go upstate .
Leahy : Where were you in upstate ?
William : I was in the southern Albany area .
William : Yeah .
Great place .
And then basically what happened was we were talking about it for a while how the cost of living kept going up and the quality of services kept declining .
And then the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minds up there .
All devoid of reality .
Watching neighbors call the police on other neighbors .
Other types of behavior .
It was just too much for us .
Plus my wife and I took a huge hit from COVID because of the lockdowns and everything .
We came down here and in three weeks and my wife got a job .
We came down here and we love it .
And the whole point is if you go to move somewhere because you want a change of life you should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By the way , did you move to Tennessee because you ’ d listen to our show and we told you what a great place it is here ?
William : I tell you what .
I remember walking my kids to the bus stop before we moved and I would listen to your show in the morning as I was still an upstate New Yorker .
( Chuckles ) Leahy : Well great and we ’ re delighted that you ’ ve moved here .
You got the right attitude .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that ’ s the right attitude .
Brewer : It is the right attitude .
And you know Mike I ’ m just glad you are recruiting people to the state .
Leahy : ( Chuckles ) I am .
I ’ m going to recruit the right kind of people .
People that agree with very conservative constitutionalism .
Hey William , thanks so much .
Call us again .
We got a lot of callers here .
We want to get them all in .
Greg from Hartsville wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois .
Greg , welcome to Tennessee Star Report .
Caller Greg : Good morning !
Thanks for taking my call .
Yes .
I moved here from the People ’ s Republic of Illinois .
And I want to echo the previous caller ’ s sentiment that you know , if you ’ re going to move somewhere you ’ re moving for a reason and embrace that change .
And you know when I tell people , you know , sometimes when people ask me where I ’ m from sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes I say I ’ m from your future if you adopt Democrat policies .
Leahy : That is a great line .
I ’ m going to have to write that down Greg .
Greg : Yeah , well it ’ s very true .
I ’ ve seen it up close and personal and you don ’ t want to go there .
It ’ s just like people that come here from communist countries and how adamant they are , you know about fighting against communism and they see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And sometimes people from here don ’ t recognize the threat as easily as somebody who ’ s seen it .
Greg : That ’ s the point I try to make .
Leahy : Thanks so much for your call , Greg .
Clint , we ’ re just getting callers that are delighted to be here in Tennessee .
Brewer : It ’ s nice to hear and they have no advice for us .
( Leahy laughs ) Leahy : Don in Nashville wants to weigh in .
Where did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s a great place .
A lot of my family and in-laws are down in the Dallas-Fort Worth area .
Don : Yeah , I did what they call a Texas no-no .
I married a girl from out of state .
We ’ re not supposed to do that .
I was curious .
Where is your tin-pot dictator mayor from ?
Is he from California or New York ?
Where ’ s he from ?
Leahy : You might think that but he ’ s actually born and raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say this , he went to a propaganda institution of higher learning called Harvard .
He was actually at Harvard like a year behind me .
So that probably didn ’ t help him I think .
Don : You think ?
( Leahy chuckles ) Man , people that live here in Nashville with the taxes and the stuff he ’ s trying to push .
Lord have mercy .
I ’ ll haul him to California for the right price and drop him off .
( Leahy laughs ) Leahy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don thanks so much .
Leahy : And Merry Christmas to you !
I really appreciate that .
Brewer : I guess our Texas callers , you know , they want to come to the motherland here because without Tennessee there is no Texas .
Leahy : So this is interesting that you mentioned that because there are no two states in the union that are more connected now than Texas and Tennessee .
I mean there is Davy Crockett .
Leahy : Sam Houston governor of Tennessee .
The first president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Texas .
Senator from Texas .
We are so connected .
And I think the attitudes towards freedom and liberty in Texas and Tennessee are very very similar .
In fact , I would argue , you know , Texas and Tennessee the ideas of people who live in those states are our most reflective of the basic American principles of individual liberty and constitutional government .
Brewer : I agree .
It ’ s very similar politics .
It ’ s very similar mindsets .
Of course , Texas is exponentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s like its own country .
Leahy : It was its own country for a while .
Brewer : Well it ’ s still like its own country .
Leahy : It has been a delight to have you here for the full year of 2020 .
When next we meet on Tuesday , January 5 it will be the new year .
2021 .
Will 2021 be better or worse than in 2020 ?
Brewer : I hope it can ’ t get any worse Mike .
Leahy : That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brewer : It ’ s got to get better .
Thanks for having me all year Mike .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Nashville Skyline ” by Spablab CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Virginia Senate Democrats’ Top Agendas for Upcoming Legislative Session

The Virginia General Assembly 2021 regular session is right around the corner on January 13 and the Democrats will again be calling all the shots for the legislature thanks to their majority in both the Senate and the House of Delegates .
This means that the agendas and priorities of Democrats in the Senate – as well as their counterparts in the House – have quite a good chance of passing through each chamber if broadly supported .
Yet , what exactly are Senate Democrats focusing on ?
The Virginia Star spoke with multiple Democratic Senators and discussed their top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Part of what we ’ ll be doing is picking up where we left off in the special sessions and dealing with the issues related to the pandemic and the economic impact of that on a lot of families across Virginia , ” Sen. George Barker ( D-Fairfax County ) said .
Barker , who specifically said his focus was on the budget and continuing in his role on the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee , added that a lot of work pertaining to COVID-19 will go toward extending support initiatives that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end before the new year .
“ I would just say as a group that we ’ re dynamic , diverse and determined in that [ we ] are recognizing the changing times and dealing with the situations that have presented themselves to us whether it ’ s through COVID or challenges in criminal justice that we dealt with in large measure [ during ] this summer ’ s legislative session , ” Sen. Adam Ebbin ( D-Alexandria ) told The Star .
Specifically , both Ebbin and Sen. Joe Morrissey ( D-Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marijuana as a top priority .
An issue that entered the spotlight last month when Governor Ralph Northam publicly expressed his support for legalization and bills to accomplish that .
The two lawmakers said they thought a bill legalizing marijuana would pass the legislature , but Morrissey admitted that there are still some issues needing to be resolved , such as social equity components .
Additionally , Morrissey said another subject he views as high on his legislative “ hierarchy ” is expungement , specifically getting misdemeanor convictions wiped off certain people ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the upcoming session , Sen. Chap Petersen ( D-Fairfax City ) simply said : “ Reopening schools .
That ’ s the number one issue , it ’ s also the number two issue.
” The Star reached out to Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw ( D-Fairfax County ) and Sen. Janet Howell ( D-Fairfax County ) to discuss their priorities for the session , but did not get responses before press time .
Sen. Scott Surovell , vice chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and one of the primary voices of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involves creating an equitable expungement and record sealing policy to replace Virginia ’ s restrictive existing policy , increasing the state ’ s minimum automobile insurance limits and expanding the jurisdiction of the Virginia Court of Appeals .
In terms of priorities for Senate Democrats as a group , Surovell said they have not discussed policy much at this point and that “ we ’ ve been mostly focused on the actual structure of the session and figuring how we ’ re going to get to a 45-day session.
” The issue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for legislators since Republican leaders from the House and Senate called for January ’ s regular session to not extend beyond 30 days , which has been the norm for many decades .
In order to extend a session , the state constitution requires two-thirds of each chamber to approve it and many Republicans have already said they would not vote for that .
Surovell and many other Democrats believe it is not possible to get an appropriate amount of work completed in 30 days , even with new limits on legislation put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use to extend the session would be to have Northam call another special session , and Surovell told The Star he did not think there is any doubt that Northam will do just that but it would be a waste of time and taxpayer dollars .
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 “ Virginia Capitol ” by Mike Fonseca CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Georgia House of Representatives to Hold Another Election Fraud Hearing

The Georgia House of Representatives ’ House Governmental Affairs Committee arranged another election fraud hearing for Wednesday morning .
Apart from issuing a brief press release sharing a time , date , and vague purpose for the hearing , the committee didn ’ t share any further explanation for calling the meeting or who would testify .
“ The committee will continue to work to ensure the security and efficiency of the January 2021 Senate runoff and future elections , ” read the press release .
The committee also announced that it created a specific email to receive reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The committee ’ s previous hearing was held nearly two weeks ago .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his office both declined to testify during the hearing , citing advice from their legal counsel .
However , some have claimed that Raffensperger would testify during this second hearing .
Those sources also claimed that those testifying would include the state ’ s Voting System Implementation Manager Gabriel Sterling , Elections Division Director Chris Harvey , and General Counsel Ryan Germany .
Raffensperger hasn ’ t issued any statements on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law Subcommittee Chairman , State Senator William T. Ligon ( R-White Oak ) , issued a report that condemned the election results as “ untrustworthy.
” Ligon ’ s report accounted for the information offered by the recounts , audits , investigations , and December 3 open hearing .
Spokespersons for the committee chair didn ’ t respond to The Georgia Star News request for comment by press time .
Monday evening , the Republican Party of Georgia ( GOP ) State Executive Committee issued an emergency resolution calling for Raffensperger to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer , the committee criticized Raffensperger ’ s promised statewide audit .
They alleged that procedures such as utilizing college students to conduct the audit would “ further undermine public confidence in Georgia elections.
” The hearing will take place at 9 a.m. EST , which will be live-streamed to the public .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BY-SA 4.0 .