thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--California Fires Bring More Chopper Rescues, Power Shutoffs

SHAVER LAKE , California ( AP ) — Helicopters rescued more people from wildfires Tuesday as flames chewed through bone-dry California after a scorching Labor Day weekend that saw a dramatic airlift of more than 200 people and ended with the state ’ s largest utility cutting power to 172,000 customers to try to prevent more blazes .
Rescue helicopters pulled dozens of people from the Sierra National Forest through the morning , the California National Guard said .
California has already set a record with 2 million acres ( 809,000 hectares ) burned this year , and the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning .
The previous record was set just two years ago and included the deadliest wildfire in state history , which swept through the community of Paradise and killed 85 people .
That 2018 blaze was started by power lines amid strong winds and tinder-dry conditions .
Liability from billions of dollars in claims from that and other fires forced the Pacific Gas & Electric utility to seek bankruptcy protection .
To guard against new disasters , the company last year began preemptive power shutoffs when fire conditions are exceptionally dangerous .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , where high and dry winds are expected until Wednesday .
PG & E said it has learned from past problems and will seek this year to make the outages “ smaller in size , shorter in length and smarter for customers.
” More than 14,000 firefighters are battling more than two dozen fires around the state .
Two of the three largest blazes in state history are burning in the San Francisco Bay Area .
California was not alone : Hurricane-force winds and high temperatures kicked up wildfires across parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , burning hundreds of thousands of acres and mostly destroying the small town of Malden in eastern Washington .
In Southern California , fires burned in Los Angeles , San Bernardino and San Diego counties , and the forecast called for the arrival of the region ’ s notorious Santa Ana winds .
The U.S. Forest Service on Monday decided to close all eight national forests in the region and to shutter campgrounds statewide .
“ Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior .
New fire starts are likely .
Weather conditions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have enough resources to fully fight and contain every fire , ” said Randy Moore , a forester for the Forest Service ’ s Pacific Southwest region that covers California .
Lynne Tolmachoff , spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , known as Cal Fire , said it ’ s “ unnerving ” to have reached a record for acreage burned so soon .
September and October usually are the worst months for fires because vegetation has dried out and high winds are more common .
While the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely contained after burning for three weeks , firefighters struggled to corral several other major blazes ahead of the expected winds .
Evacuation orders were expanded to more mountain communities Monday as the so-called Creek Fire burned through the Sierra National Forest in Central California .
It was one of many recent major fires that displayed terrifyingly swift movement .
The fire advanced 15 miles ( 24 kilometers ) in a single day during the weekend .
Since starting Friday from an unknown cause , it has burned 212 square miles ( 549 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 other structures were confirmed destroyed so far .
Debra Rios wasn ’ t home Monday when the order came to evacuate her hometown of Auberry , just northeast of Fresno .
Sheriff ’ s deputies went to her ranch property to pick up her 92-year-old mother , Shirley MacLean .
They reunited at an evacuation center .
“ I hope like heck the fire doesn ’ t reach my little ranch , ” Rios said .
“ It ’ s not looking good right now .
It ’ s an awfully big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stream of cars and trucks leaving the community of about 2,300 on Monday afternoon .
Firefighters working in steep terrain saved the tiny town of Shaver Lake from flames that roared down hillsides toward a marina .
About 30 houses were destroyed in the remote hamlet of Big Creek , resident Toby Wait said .
“ About half the private homes in town burned down , ” he said .
“ Words can not even begin to describe the devastation of this community.
” A school , church , library , historic general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spared in the community of about 200 residents , Wait told the Fresno Bee .
Sheriff ’ s deputies went door to door to make sure residents complied with evacuation orders .
Officials hoped to keep the fire from pushing west toward Yosemite National Park .
Early Tuesday , California National Guard and Navy helicopters rescued 13 people from the China Peak area and 22 from Lake Edison and flew them to Fresno , the Guard said .
Late in the morning , a twin-rotor CH-47 Chinook landed with 46 more people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday , National Guard rescuers in two military helicopters airlifted 214 people to safety after flames trapped them in a wooded camping area near Mammoth Pool Reservoir .
Twelve people were hospitalized , two of them with seriously injuries .
One of the Southern California fires closed mountain roads in Angeles National Forest and forced the evacuation of the historic Mount Wilson Observatory .
Late Monday night , the Los Angeles County Fire Department told residents of Duarte , Bradbury and Monrovia near the forest to get ready for a possible evacuation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fire in San Bernardino County started Saturday morning when a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was used by a couple to reveal their baby ’ s gender .
Weber reported from Los Angeles .
Associated Press writers Frank Baker and John Antczak contributed from Los Angeles .
About the Headline Photo : Pacific Gas and Electric workers stand along Highway 168 as the Creek Fire advances Tuesday , Sept. 8 , 2020 , near Alder Springs , Calif. ( AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez )

by Marcio Jose Sanchez and Christopher Weber
SHAVER LAKE, California (AP) — Helicopters rescued more people from wildfires Tuesday as flames chewed through bone-dry California after a scorching Labor Day weekend that saw a dramatic airlift of more than 200 people and ended with the state’s largest utility cutting power to 172,000 customers to try to prevent more blazes.
Rescue helicopters pulled dozens of people from the Sierra National Forest through the morning, the California National Guard said.
California has already set a record with 2 million acres (809,000 hectares) burned this year, and the worst part of the wildfire season is just beginning. The previous record was set just two years ago and included the deadliest wildfire in state history, which swept through the community of Paradise and killed 85 people.
That 2018 blaze was started by power lines amid strong winds and tinder-dry conditions. Liability from billions of dollars in claims from that and other fires forced the Pacific Gas & Electric utility to seek bankruptcy protection. To guard against new disasters, the company last year began preemptive power shutoffs when fire conditions are exceptionally dangerous.
That’s the situation now in Northern California, where high and dry winds are expected until Wednesday. PG&E said it has learned from past problems and will seek this year to make the outages “smaller in size, shorter in length and smarter for customers.”
More than 14,000 firefighters are battling more than two dozen fires around the state. Two of the three largest blazes in state history are burning in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California was not alone: Hurricane-force winds and high temperatures kicked up wildfires across parts of the Pacific Northwest over the holiday weekend, burning hundreds of thousands of acres and mostly destroying the small town of Malden in eastern Washington.
In Southern California, fires burned in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, and the forecast called for the arrival of the region’s notorious Santa Ana winds. The U.S. Forest Service on Monday decided to close all eight national forests in the region and to shutter campgrounds statewide.
“Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior. New fire starts are likely. Weather conditions are worsening, and we simply do not have enough resources to fully fight and contain every fire,” said Randy Moore, a forester for the Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest region that covers California.
Lynne Tolmachoff, spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, said it’s “unnerving” to have reached a record for acreage burned so soon. September and October usually are the worst months for fires because vegetation has dried out and high winds are more common.
While the two mammoth San Francisco Bay Area fires were largely contained after burning for three weeks, firefighters struggled to corral several other major blazes ahead of the expected winds. Evacuation orders were expanded to more mountain communities Monday as the so-called Creek Fire burned through the Sierra National Forest in Central California.
It was one of many recent major fires that displayed terrifyingly swift movement. The fire advanced 15 miles (24 kilometers) in a single day during the weekend. Since starting Friday from an unknown cause, it has burned 212 square miles (549 square kilometers). Forty-five homes and 20 other structures were confirmed destroyed so far.
Debra Rios wasn’t home Monday when the order came to evacuate her hometown of Auberry, just northeast of Fresno. Sheriff’s deputies went to her ranch property to pick up her 92-year-old mother, Shirley MacLean. They reunited at an evacuation center.
“I hope like heck the fire doesn’t reach my little ranch,” Rios said. “It’s not looking good right now. It’s an awfully big fire.”
Mountain roads saw a steady stream of cars and trucks leaving the community of about 2,300 on Monday afternoon.
Firefighters working in steep terrain saved the tiny town of Shaver Lake from flames that roared down hillsides toward a marina. About 30 houses were destroyed in the remote hamlet of Big Creek, resident Toby Wait said.
“About half the private homes in town burned down,” he said. “Words cannot even begin to describe the devastation of this community.”
A school, church, library, historic general store and a major hydroelectric plant were spared in the community of about 200 residents, Wait told the Fresno Bee.
Sheriff’s deputies went door to door to make sure residents complied with evacuation orders. Officials hoped to keep the fire from pushing west toward Yosemite National Park.
Early Tuesday, California National Guard and Navy helicopters rescued 13 people from the China Peak area and 22 from Lake Edison and flew them to Fresno, the Guard said. Late in the morning, a twin-rotor CH-47 Chinook landed with 46 more people and four dogs from Lake Edison.
On Saturday, National Guard rescuers in two military helicopters airlifted 214 people to safety after flames trapped them in a wooded camping area near Mammoth Pool Reservoir. Twelve people were hospitalized, two of them with seriously injuries.
One of the Southern California fires closed mountain roads in Angeles National Forest and forced the evacuation of the historic Mount Wilson Observatory. Late Monday night, the Los Angeles County Fire Department told residents of Duarte, Bradbury and Monrovia near the forest to get ready for a possible evacuation.
Cal Fire said the so-called El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino County started Saturday morning when a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was used by a couple to reveal their baby’s gender.
– – –
Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Frank Baker and John Antczak contributed from Los Angeles.
About the Headline Photo: Pacific Gas and Electric workers stand along Highway 168 as the Creek Fire advances Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, near Alder Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Former Public Affairs Strategist Clint Brewer Weighs in on Zuckerberg’s Recent Comments Surrounding

Former Public Affairs Strategist Clint Brewer Weighs in on Zuckerberg’s Recent Comments Surrounding Election Night Result Timeline Revealing Facebook is a Publisher

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 public affairs strategist Clint Brewer in the studio .
During the third hour , Brewer gave his take on Zuckerbergs ’ s recent statement implying that he is now a publisher and described Facebook as the largest internet news platform void of any governmental regulations while crossing national borders .
He stated , “ His comments are something that in another time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s editorial page make a statement about it to try to manage expectations in a responsible way for the Populous.
” Leahy : Mark Zuckerberg preparing for what I ’ m going to say is the onslaught of the fraudulent vote by mail and trying to justify what may well happen here hereafter election night .
Clint , I ’ d be very curious about your thoughts on this .
You know , it was so much fun when Markell called us in who is a Democrat when I asked this question in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How did you react on election night in 2016 as the time went from midnight until 2:44 a.m. ?
All of the mainstream media hosts were gleeful .
And then each succeeding minute they became less gleeful .
And then each succeeding minute they became less gleeful .
And by two-thirty with crestfallen faces , they projected Donald Trump as the next president of the United States .
Do you recall that yourself ?
Leahy : Walk me through Clint if you would that evening from your perspective .
Did you think on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into it as you came home and started watching it at nine o ’ clock at night , did you think Clint Hillary Clinton would win ?
And what was your feeling about it as you watched it that night ?
Brewer : I think that the prevailing wisdom was that she was going to win , right ?
Like all the polls and all the things that institutionally who follow politics count on reinforced to all of us no matter what side of the aisle that we are on that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this sort of foregone conclusion .
Leahy : On election night , what was your internal expectation of how the night would play out ?
Brewer : I thought it was going to be closer than people were projecting .
I was the most surprised by some of the Midwestern states .
That ’ s what really got my attention was when the labor heavy Midwestern states and Rustbelt starting going for Trump .
Leahy : So at midnight , you are watching and at what point did you say , he just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t remember that .
I remember somewhere around 1:15 I was like this is not going as projected .
It was really clear that something very unique had happened .
Leahy : By the way , I was over the weekend I was looking at clips that line that phrasing , he just might win .
Kudos and a tip of the hat to Mel Brooks and The Young Frankenstein ’ s and Gene Wilder .
It just might work !
Talking about creating the Frankenstein monster .
Brewer : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a number of levels .
First of all , I personally think that Mr. Zuckerberg is happy with whoever wins the election and who ’ s going to leave his company alone the most .
I think the party that ’ s going to regulate him the least is probably the one he ’ s interested in seeing win .
I don ’ t find him to be a particularly political person .
He ’ s a capitalist .
He ’ s built one of the most powerful and profitable companies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me that in his comments , first , he says , other media including us .
So I mean he ’ s viewing himself… Brewer : It ’ s now The Washington Post , The Wall Street Journal , The New York Times , Fox News , and Facebook.
, Leahy : But doesn ’ t he have this Section 232 Communications Decency Act exemption ?
Brewer : Yes .
I believe so .
He is media certainly .
Certainly , Facebook is the prevailing channel through which people get information in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s accurate to call himself media .
But I think that self-realization is interesting .
And taking that mantle , his comments are something that in another time you would have seen a newspaper ’ s editorial page make a statement about it to try to manage expectations in a responsible way for the Populous .
I think with the pandemic and with mail-in voting and all the uncertainty , we are not really great at doing this in large cities anyway right now by getting results in .
I think he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra time .
I mean it took extra time before .
We had Gore and Bush go all the way to the Supreme Court .
Right ?
This isn ’ t new .
It ’ s not .
But I find it interesting the role Mark Zuckerberg assumes when he makes those comments .
That ’ s what I found interesting about it .
Leahy : Yes .
And what is that role ?
Brewer : It ’ s the role of what here to for would have been a national newspaper .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the publisher of the largest news organization on the planet and making a statement .
But he ’ s doing it without the formalities of the past .
Which is to commit it to writing and to put your name to it or put your organization ’ s name to it .
He ’ s just saying it .
And I don ’ t know what the venue was a panel discussion or a media interview .
I ’ m not sure .
It ’ s interesting that that is the most powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s got a viewpoint and he ’ s putting it out there .
Leahy : I know this will shock you Clint but I will disagree with one element of what you just said .
Brewer : Can I guess before you do it ?
Can I guess ?
Brewer : I think you believe Mr. Zuckerberg has a partisan view .
Leahy : I do .
( Brewer laughs ) You win the prize .
Brewer : I knew when you said it you were going to disagree with it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal reason for saying that .
Leahy : Because we ’ ve experienced his censorship here at The Tennessee Star and all of our outlets .
We will publish stories that they will not generate .
They will not duplicate or replicate or allow it to be shared .
We have no idea why .
We just experienced this at The Ohio Star .
And we have a whole bunch of hoops to jump through to be able to advertise or boost our stuff .
We are not going to jump through those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they are biased against us .
Plus , I don ’ t want to pay them any money because in my view I think they are the enemy .
A .
B , Facebook has gone out and had this big journalism grant program .
Leahy : And the journalism grants go to local left-wing publications .
They don ’ t go to conservative publications .
That ’ s one point .
But point two , we never apply and will never apply to bend the knee to beg for pennies from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money for a grant then A , can ’ t report on them accurately .
But B , they are looking for you to twist your storylines to the Left .
Brewer : Let me just give you a reaction to that .
I certainly understand your viewpoint .
I would say this .
I think that given the size of their company .
Brewer : The value of their stock .
Brewer : I think their overriding concerns that are largely monetary .
And I think that what you ’ ve experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a reaction to the current threat of regulation from the Left .
I mean that ’ s what I see .
I think they ’ ve listed to the Left to sort of as a strategy to curry favor with those who would regulate them .
Because I mean let ’ s be honest , whether its Facebook or Google or Twitter or any of these large consumer internet platforms you are talking about the most pervasive platforms for a person to person communication ever created in human history .
Brewer : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any government and they cross national borders .
Leahy : By the way , just competing against Facebook for advertising dollars I can tell you it is a fact that a small local retailer on a return on investment will usually get better results from any outlet if they go on Facebook and just spend like $ 500 bucks and do a localized communication .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Mark Zuckerberg ” by Anthony Quitano .
CC BY 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Mark Zuckerberg ” by Anthony Quintano .
CC BY 2.0 .

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 public affairs strategist Clint Brewer in the studio.
During the third hour, Brewer gave his take on Zuckerbergs’s recent statement implying that he is now a publisher and described Facebook as the largest internet news platform void of any governmental regulations while crossing national borders. He stated, “His comments are something that in another time you would have seen a newspaper’s editorial page make a statement about it to try to manage expectations in a responsible way for the Populous.”
(Mark Zuckerberg clip plays)
Leahy: Mark Zuckerberg preparing for what I’m going to say is the onslaught of the fraudulent vote by mail and trying to justify what may well happen here hereafter election night. Clint, I’d be very curious about your thoughts on this. You know, it was so much fun when Markell called us in who is a Democrat when I asked this question in the six o’clock hour.
How did you react on election night in 2016 as the time went from midnight until 2:44 a.m.? All of the mainstream media hosts were gleeful. And then each succeeding minute they became less gleeful. And then each succeeding minute they became less gleeful. And by two-thirty with crestfallen faces, they projected Donald Trump as the next president of the United States. Do you recall that yourself?
Brewer: I do. I do. Yeah.
Leahy: Walk me through Clint if you would that evening from your perspective. Did you think on the election night of 2016 and going into it as you came home and started watching it at nine o’clock at night, did you think Clint Hillary Clinton would win? And what was your feeling about it as you watched it that night?
Brewer: I think that the prevailing wisdom was that she was going to win, right? Like all the polls and all the things that institutionally who follow politics count on reinforced to all of us no matter what side of the aisle that we are on that she was going to win. So there was this sort of foregone conclusion.
Leahy: On election night, what was your internal expectation of how the night would play out?
Brewer: I thought it was going to be closer than people were projecting. I was the most surprised by some of the Midwestern states. That’s what really got my attention was when the labor heavy Midwestern states and Rustbelt starting going for Trump.
Leahy: So at midnight, you are watching and at what point did you say, he just might win!
Brewer: Oh, I don’t remember that. I remember somewhere around 1:15 I was like this is not going as projected. It was really clear that something very unique had happened.
Leahy: By the way, I was over the weekend I was looking at clips that line that phrasing, he just might win. Kudos and a tip of the hat to Mel Brooks and The Young Frankenstein’s and Gene Wilder. It just might work! Talking about creating the Frankenstein monster.
Brewer: On Zuckerberg I find his comments interesting on a number of levels. First of all, I personally think that Mr. Zuckerberg is happy with whoever wins the election and who’s going to leave his company alone the most. I think the party that’s going to regulate him the least is probably the one he’s interested in seeing win.
I don’t find him to be a particularly political person. He’s a capitalist. He’s built one of the most powerful and profitable companies in the world. But it was interesting to me that in his comments, first, he says, other media including us. So I mean he’s viewing himself…
Leahy: I caught that too.
Brewer: It’s now The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fox News, and Facebook.,
Leahy: But doesn’t he have this Section 232 Communications Decency Act exemption?
Brewer: Yes. I believe so. He is media certainly. Certainly, Facebook is the prevailing channel through which people get information in this country. So I think he’s accurate to call himself media. But I think that self-realization is interesting.
And taking that mantle, his comments are something that in another time you would have seen a newspaper’s editorial page make a statement about it to try to manage expectations in a responsible way for the Populous. I think with the pandemic and with mail-in voting and all the uncertainty, we are not really great at doing this in large cities anyway right now by getting results in.
I think he’s accurate it may take some extra time. I mean it took extra time before. We had Gore and Bush go all the way to the Supreme Court. Right? This isn’t new. It’s not. But I find it interesting the role Mark Zuckerberg assumes when he makes those comments. That’s what I found interesting about it.
Leahy: Yes. And what is that role?
Brewer: It’s the role of what here to for would have been a national newspaper. He’s essentially coming out as the publisher of the largest news organization on the planet and making a statement. But he’s doing it without the formalities of the past.
Which is to commit it to writing and to put your name to it or put your organization’s name to it. He’s just saying it. And I don’t know what the venue was a panel discussion or a media interview. I’m not sure. It’s interesting that that is the most powerful information source on the planet and he’s got a viewpoint and he’s putting it out there.
Leahy: I know this will shock you Clint but I will disagree with one element of what you just said.
Brewer: Can I guess before you do it? Can I guess?
Leahy: Yes. Guess.
Brewer: I think you believe Mr. Zuckerberg has a partisan view.
Leahy: I do. (Brewer laughs) You win the prize.
Brewer: I knew when you said it you were going to disagree with it.
Leahy: But I have a very personal reason for saying that.
Brewer: OK.
Leahy: Because we’ve experienced his censorship here at The Tennessee Star and all of our outlets. We will publish stories that they will not generate. They will not duplicate or replicate or allow it to be shared. We have no idea why.
We just experienced this at The Ohio Star. And we have a whole bunch of hoops to jump through to be able to advertise or boost our stuff. We are not going to jump through those hoops because we think they are arbitrary and they are biased against us. Plus, I don’t want to pay them any money because in my view I think they are the enemy. A. B, Facebook has gone out and had this big journalism grant program.
Brewer: Right.
Leahy: And the journalism grants go to local left-wing publications. They don’t go to conservative publications. That’s one point. But point two, we never apply and will never apply to bend the knee to beg for pennies from Facebook because the minute they give you money for a grant then A, can’t report on them accurately. But B, they are looking for you to twist your storylines to the Left.
Brewer: Let me just give you a reaction to that. I certainly understand your viewpoint. I would say this. I think that given the size of their company.
Leahy: Massive.
Brewer: The value of their stock.
Leahy: Huge.
Brewer: I think their overriding concerns that are largely monetary. And I think that what you’ve experienced and other conservative outlets have experienced has been a reaction to the current threat of regulation from the Left. I mean that’s what I see.
I think they’ve listed to the Left to sort of as a strategy to curry favor with those who would regulate them. Because I mean let’s be honest, whether its Facebook or Google or Twitter or any of these large consumer internet platforms you are talking about the most pervasive platforms for a person to person communication ever created in human history.
Leahy: Ever. And effective.
Brewer: And they are almost completely unregulated by any government and they cross national borders.
Leahy: By the way, just competing against Facebook for advertising dollars I can tell you it is a fact that a small local retailer on a return on investment will usually get better results from any outlet if they go on Facebook and just spend like $500 bucks and do a localized communication.
Brewer: Sure. It’s very empirical. It’s a well-built platform.
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 “Mark Zuckerberg” by Anthony Quitano. CC BY 2.0. Background Photo “Mark Zuckerberg” by Anthony Quintano. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Caller Markell Talks About the Chaos in America, Black Lives Matter, and How It’s up to God to Fix I

Caller Markell Talks About the Chaos in America, Black Lives Matter, and How It’s up to God to Fix It

Live from Music Row Wednesday 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 a call from Markell to the newsmakers line to talk about the state of the union and Black Lives Matter .
Leahy : We are delighted to have on our phones a caller named Markell from Nashville .
And Markell is a supporter of Joe Biden .
Welcome back , Markell .
Thanks for sticking around through the break .
Caller Markell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy to be here .
Leahy : First , let me just add how is it that a supporter of Joe Biden at six o ’ clock in the morning is listening to The Tennessee Star Report on Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC in the morning .
Because if you ’ ve listened you ’ d know that we come from a conservative pro-Trump perspective but you are listening to us .
Tell me why .
Markell : Believe it or not I just left the gym and I got into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of when I get out of the car , so when I got back into the care you all were on the radio .
And I listened to the show for a while and you are a really good host .
Leahy : By the way , the check is in the mail , Markell .
The check is in the mail .
( Laughs ) Leave Katie your address .
Markell : I just tuned in going down Gallatin Road and I was I had to call in .
And I really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So when you were talking about that it was laying on my heart to call .
Leahy : So you get up early and work out ?
What time do you get up typically ?
Leahy : Now Katie and I have admiration for this .
Because I get up at 3:30 .
Katie , what time do you get up ?
Three o ’ clock ?
Yes .
She gets up before 3:30 .
This is the early-bird crowd .
But you go and work out .
Do you do Orange Theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I go to Planet Fitness .
That ’ s my favorite gym .
I usually start off on the treadmill to lifting weights and then I ’ m out of there .
Leahy : Way ahead of me .
That ’ s great .
I do like a couple of workouts a week but you know , it ’ s just to keep the decline from getting worse .
( Markell laughs ) What kind of work are you in Markell ?
Markell : I ’ m in healthcare right now and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Healthcare is actually on the side level .
I ’ m happy to announce that .
I have my own business .
I have a brand Majestic Manifest .
You can look us up at majesticmanifest.com .
Leahy : See now , already we like you .
Already we like you because here ’ s this opportunity and now you ’ re promoting your own business .
Leahy : Are you sure you are a Democrat ?
Markell : ( Laughter ) Now I thought about that and I considered it at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not that big into politics but I really am all about the world being at peace .
And I want everyone to be happy .
And it ’ s just so much chaos right now and it really hurts my heart .
Leahy : It ’ s all going in the wrong direction , isn ’ t it ?
Markell : It really is .
I ’ m not saying that Biden necessarily can fix it all .
I really feel like God has to fix it all .
Leahy : I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree with you on that .
So it sounds like that you are more driven by your faith than you are by a political ideology .
Markell : Oh yeah .
And I would add in there that I am a minister .
Markell : Yes .
A young minister at that .
Leahy : It ’ s alright .
Let me ask you this question .
Are you ready for a little controversy ?
Leahy : You ready ?
OK .
So when you look at the Black Live Matter movement do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a violent organization that threatens to undermine our constitutional republic ?
What ’ s your view on Black Lives Matter ?
Markell : My view on Black Lives Matter , I do believe in that movement .
But here ’ s the thing .
I think people misunderstand .
I don ’ t think Black Lives Matter is a movement to say that we need to be recognized in a sense .
I think in theory it means that All Lives Matter .
Leahy : Be careful !
If you just said All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be able to go to any of those Black Lives Matter meetings because they ’ ll kick you out , right ?
( Laughter ) Markell : See , I ’ m such a leader saying , it ’ s like , OK.
I ’ ll put it like this in theory .
It ’ s kind of like saying OK , we can go to a breast cancer rally and yell all breast cancer matters .
Nobody does that .
Do you know what I mean ?
Because it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All Cancer Does Matter .
But we ’ re at a breast cancer rally right now .
We are recognizing breast cancer right now .
Leahy : So let me ask you this .
This is controversial .
Are you ready for it ?
Leahy : Are you ready ?
( Markell chuckles ) Up there in Kenosha , Wisconsin this guy Jacob Blake who is 29 years old with a history of past convictions on sexual assault .
The circumstances are where he goes knocking on a former victim ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his arrest .
He resists arrest .
They tase him .
He resists that .
Apparently reaches for a knife and they shoot him .
So they capture him after the shooting and he ’ s in the hospital .
That night there are riots in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
And ostensibly under the name of Black Lives Matter .
Leahy : How do you react to that ?
Markell : Let me just tell you , here in Nashville a couple of weeks ago I was coming out of my friend ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters was walking by , and not one of them was Black .
It was a group of about 15 White people .
It made me smile but they had also shown me that Black people aren ’ t the only ones that are supportive of this movement of Black Lives Matter .
And as far as the Kenosha , I ’ m really big into law enforcement and I ’ ve been through law enforcement training .
And the thing I feel about that after watching that video those officers could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off at gunpoint with someone you have a pretty good mindset of shooting them .
But I feel that at least one of those officers could have holstered up and manhandled him as opposed shooting .
Leahy : After the tasers didn ’ t work and as he was reaching for a knife .
Markell : Right .
I always wait to hear from a district attorney before I get the final say-so of what is actually going on because so many stories accumulate once everything hits the fan .
I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they are saying that there is a knife that was involved .
Leahy : That ’ s the report .
Again Markell , how do we know ?
We just see a video and we see reports .
One of the things that have always bothered me about this stuff is we try not to hold a trial in five minutes on the radio .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Reportwith Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at iHeart Radio .

Live from Music Row Wednesday 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 a call from Markell to the newsmakers line to talk about the state of the union and Black Lives Matter.
Leahy: We are delighted to have on our phones a caller named Markell from Nashville. And Markell is a supporter of Joe Biden. Welcome back, Markell. Thanks for sticking around through the break.
Caller Markell: No problem. I’m happy to be here.
Leahy: First, let me just add how is it that a supporter of Joe Biden at six o’clock in the morning is listening to The Tennessee Star Report on Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC in the morning. Because if you’ve listened you’d know that we come from a conservative pro-Trump perspective but you are listening to us. Tell me why.
Markell: Believe it or not I just left the gym and I got into the car and my Bluetooth kind of puts of when I get out of the car, so when I got back into the care you all were on the radio. And I listened to the show for a while and you are a really good host.
Leahy: By the way, the check is in the mail, Markell. The check is in the mail. (Laughs) Leave Katie your address.
Markell: I just tuned in going down Gallatin Road and I was I had to call in. And I really fear for our country right now. So when you were talking about that it was laying on my heart to call.
Leahy: So you get up early and work out? What time do you get up typically?
Markell: About 4:00 a.m.
Leahy: Now Katie and I have admiration for this. Because I get up at 3:30. Katie, what time do you get up? Three o’clock? Yes. She gets up before 3:30. This is the early-bird crowd. But you go and work out. Do you do Orange Theory? What do you do?
Markell: I go to Planet Fitness. That’s my favorite gym. I usually start off on the treadmill to lifting weights and then I’m out of there.
Leahy: Way ahead of me. That’s great. I do like a couple of workouts a week but you know, it’s just to keep the decline from getting worse. (Markell laughs) What kind of work are you in Markell?
Markell: I’m in healthcare right now and I also own my own business. Healthcare is actually on the side level. I’m happy to announce that. I have my own business. I have a brand Majestic Manifest. You can look us up at majesticmanifest.com.
Leahy: See now, already we like you. Already we like you because here’s this opportunity and now you’re promoting your own business.
Markell: Yes.
Leahy: Are you sure you are a Democrat?
Markell: (Laughter) Now I thought about that and I considered it at one point. Seriously I’m really not that big into politics but I really am all about the world being at peace. And I want everyone to be happy. And it’s just so much chaos right now and it really hurts my heart.
Leahy: It’s all going in the wrong direction, isn’t it?
Markell: It really is. I’m not saying that Biden necessarily can fix it all. I really feel like God has to fix it all.
Leahy: I think a lot of our listeners would probably agree with you on that. So it sounds like that you are more driven by your faith than you are by a political ideology.
Markell: Oh yeah. And I would add in there that I am a minister.
Leahy: You are a minister?
Markell: Yes. A young minister at that.
Leahy: It’s alright. Let me ask you this question. Are you ready for a little controversy?
Markell: I’m ready.
Leahy: You ready? OK. So when you look at the Black Live Matter movement do you consider them a legitimate movement or a violent organization that threatens to undermine our constitutional republic? What’s your view on Black Lives Matter?
Markell: My view on Black Lives Matter, I do believe in that movement. But here’s the thing. I think people misunderstand. I don’t think Black Lives Matter is a movement to say that we need to be recognized in a sense. I think in theory it means that All Lives Matter.
Leahy: Be careful! If you just said All Lives Matter you know you are not going to be able to go to any of those Black Lives Matter meetings because they’ll kick you out, right? (Laughter)
Markell: See, I’m such a leader saying, it’s like, OK. I’ll put it like this in theory. It’s kind of like saying OK, we can go to a breast cancer rally and yell all breast cancer matters. Nobody does that. Do you know what I mean? Because it’s specifically at a breast cancer rally. All Cancer Does Matter. But we’re at a breast cancer rally right now. We are recognizing breast cancer right now.
Leahy: So let me ask you this. This is controversial. Are you ready for it?
Markell: I’m ready.
Leahy: Are you ready? (Markell chuckles) Up there in Kenosha, Wisconsin this guy Jacob Blake who is 29 years old with a history of past convictions on sexual assault. The circumstances are where he goes knocking on a former victim’s door.
They issue a warrant for his arrest. He resists arrest. They tase him. He resists that. Apparently reaches for a knife and they shoot him. So they capture him after the shooting and he’s in the hospital. That night there are riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin. And ostensibly under the name of Black Lives Matter.
Markell: Right.
Leahy: How do you react to that?
Markell: Let me just tell you, here in Nashville a couple of weeks ago I was coming out of my friend’s condo downtown and the group of protesters was walking by, and not one of them was Black. It was a group of about 15 White people. It made me smile but they had also shown me that Black people aren’t the only ones that are supportive of this movement of Black Lives Matter.
And as far as the Kenosha, I’m really big into law enforcement and I’ve been through law enforcement training. And the thing I feel about that after watching that video those officers could have handled that differently. When you start off at gunpoint with someone you have a pretty good mindset of shooting them. But I feel that at least one of those officers could have holstered up and manhandled him as opposed shooting.
Leahy: After the tasers didn’t work and as he was reaching for a knife.
Markell: Right.
Leahy: OK.
Markell: Right. I always wait to hear from a district attorney before I get the final say-so of what is actually going on because so many stories accumulate once everything hits the fan. I’ve been waiting to hear the final story and they are saying that there is a knife that was involved.
Leahy: That’s the report. Again Markell, how do we know? We just see a video and we see reports. One of the things that have always bothered me about this stuff is we try not to hold a trial in five minutes on the radio.
Listen to the full second hour here:

– – –
Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Reportwith Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--San Francisco Salon Owner Who Checked Pelosi Raises $300k to Stay Open

The San Francisco hair salon owner who cried foul that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could get a wash-and-dry while her shop remained closed because of coronavirus restrictions says she ’ s received $ 300,000 in contributions .
“ I wish I could personally thank every person who sent me their prayers , words of encouragement and support , especially at a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet in their own lives , ” salon owner Erica Kious told FoxNews.com , which first reported on Pelosi ’ s hair appointment .
The $ 300,000 came through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi , a California Democrat , was seen Aug. 31 on security camera video inside the salon with wet hair and no mask to cover her mouth and nose .
Salons in San Francisco had been closed since March .
They were permitted a day after Pelosi ’ s appointment to reopen for outdoor services .
Pelosi has argued she was “ set up ” because she was told that her appointment , during which she got a wash and blowout , was compliant with city health-safety rules amid the pandemic .
Joseph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .

by Joesph Weber
The San Francisco hair salon owner who cried foul that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could get a wash-and-dry while her shop remained closed because of coronavirus restrictions says she’s received $300,000 in contributions.
“I wish I could personally thank every person who sent me their prayers, words of encouragement and support, especially at a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet in their own lives,” salon owner Erica Kious told FoxNews.com, which first reported on Pelosi’s hair appointment.
The $300,000 came through a GoFundMe page set up for Kious.
Pelosi, a California Democrat, was seen Aug. 31 on security camera video inside the salon with wet hair and no mask to cover her mouth and nose.
Salons in San Francisco had been closed since March. They were permitted a day after Pelosi’s appointment to reopen for outdoor services.
Pelosi has argued she was “set up” because she was told that her appointment, during which she got a wash and blowout, was compliant with city health-safety rules amid the pandemic.
– – –
Joseph Weber is a reporter at Just the News.
Photo “Nancy Pelosi” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Commentary: Yes, Vote Fraud Is Real

Commentary: Yes, Vote Fraud Is Real

Our friends at the Public Interest Legal Foundation ( PILF ) have just released briefs detailing the massive level of vote fraud in the past two elections – especially in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions .
PILF has filed two court briefs documenting that double voting by the thousands happened in 2016-2018 in Georgia and North Carolina .
PILF picked North Carolina and Georgia , where lawsuits are pending , to request a huge amount of voter data and then file two court briefs .
In North Carolina , auditors found nearly 20,000 voters who appeared to have voted twice in the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a widespread concern in North Carolina , ” PILF President and General Counsel J. Christian Adams said after filing a court brief in July .
“ We should be talking about how to strengthen our systems against misdeeds done out of the sight of election officials in 2020 instead of defending an imperfect system from total ruin .
The plaintiffs are only raising the threat of worsening the settled fact that voter fraud is most common in the mail.
” In Georgia , PILF not only found more than 4,000 dead people on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 registrants voted twice in 2016 and 2018 .
“ It is paramount that Georgia ’ s election officials investigate and confirm the registrations PILF flagged and further examine Georgia ’ s voter rolls for other duplicate entries prior to the entry of any injunctive relief that would exacerbate these defects , ” the group ’ s brief said , welcoming state officials to fact-check its audit .
PILF has been a fearless and effective advocate for cleaning up voter rolls , preventing vote fraud and election integrity .
Back in 2015 the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation ’ s efforts to clean corrupted voter rolls around the nation ahead of the 2016 Presidential election was filed in Mississippi .
The Obama Justice Department had shut down enforcement of Section 8 of the National Voting Rights Act ( NVRA ) and thus allowed voters rolls around the nation to remain corrupted and filled with ineligible registrations .
PILF filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Clarke County Election Commission in Mississippi because it had more voters on the rolls than living citizens .
The lawsuit alleged a violation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act ( NVRA ) in that the Clarke County Election Commission failed to reasonably maintain voter rolls .
The plaintiff in the case is the American Civil Rights Union .
The plaintiff originally sent the defendant a notice letter in June 2014 describing potential violations of federal election law , asking to review election records , and seeking a cure .
The defendant never replied to the letter .
The complaint stated : “ Voter rolls maintained by the Defendant for Clarke County contain more voters registered to vote than citizens eligible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Clarke County , Mississippi had 12,646 registered voters , despite having a voting age population of only 12,549 according to the United States Census .
More than 100 percent of living citizens old enough to vote were registered to vote in Clarke County in 2015.
” This has been going on for years in Democrat jurisdictions like Clarke County , Mississippi .
According to PILF , “ During the 2010 federal general election , over 101 percent of living citizens eligible to vote in Clarke County were registered to vote.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight counties , PILF found 1,046 alien non-citizens successfully registered to vote .
Mind you , these are just the aliens who were accidentally caught because when they renewed their driver ’ s license , they told the truth they were a non-citizen .
Mind you that ’ s only eight counties out of Virginia ’ s 95 counties and 38 independent cities ( that are considered county-equivalents for census purposes ) because a Soros-trained Democrat state election official directed county election officers not to cooperate with the study .
To read more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cover-up by Virginia election officials see J. Christian Adams “ Yes Virginia , Aliens Are Registered or Voting… ” for PJ Media .
Lawlessness in elections is a precursor for lawlessness across our government and culture .
The response of law enforcement officials to both single instances of voter fraud and the hundreds of examples documented in the PILF reports should be the same : swift , sure and unwavering .
No excuses should be made for the lawless who taint the electoral process .
We urge conservatives to support the Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to clean-up voter roles in North Carolina , Georgia and elsewhere .

Our friends at the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) have just released briefs detailing the massive level of vote fraud in the past two elections – especially in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions.
PILF has filed two court briefs documenting that double voting by the thousands happened in 2016-2018 in Georgia and North Carolina.
PILF picked North Carolina and Georgia, where lawsuits are pending, to request a huge amount of voter data and then file two court briefs.
In North Carolina, auditors found nearly 20,000 voters who appeared to have voted twice in the 2016 and 2018 elections.
“This is a widespread concern in North Carolina,” PILF President and General Counsel J. Christian Adams said after filing a court brief in July. “We should be talking about how to strengthen our systems against misdeeds done out of the sight of election officials in 2020 instead of defending an imperfect system from total ruin. The plaintiffs are only raising the threat of worsening the settled fact that voter fraud is most common in the mail.”
In Georgia, PILF not only found more than 4,000 dead people on the rolls but also calculated that about 10,000 registrants voted twice in 2016 and 2018.
“It is paramount that Georgia’s election officials investigate and confirm the registrations PILF flagged and further examine Georgia’s voter rolls for other duplicate entries prior to the entry of any injunctive relief that would exacerbate these defects,” the group’s brief said, welcoming state officials to fact-check its audit.
PILF has been a fearless and effective advocate for cleaning up voter rolls, preventing vote fraud and election integrity.
Back in 2015 the first case in the Public Interest Legal Foundation’s efforts to clean corrupted voter rolls around the nation ahead of the 2016 Presidential election was filed in Mississippi. The Obama Justice Department had shut down enforcement of Section 8 of the National Voting Rights Act (NVRA) and thus allowed voters rolls around the nation to remain corrupted and filled with ineligible registrations.
PILF filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Clarke County Election Commission in Mississippi because it had more voters on the rolls than living citizens.
The lawsuit alleged a violation of Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) in that the Clarke County Election Commission failed to reasonably maintain voter rolls.
The plaintiff in the case is the American Civil Rights Union. The plaintiff originally sent the defendant a notice letter in June 2014 describing potential violations of federal election law, asking to review election records, and seeking a cure. The defendant never replied to the letter.
The complaint stated: “Voter rolls maintained by the Defendant for Clarke County contain more voters registered to vote than citizens eligible to vote. In March 2015 . . . Clarke County, Mississippi had 12,646 registered voters, despite having a voting age population of only 12,549 according to the United States Census. More than 100 percent of living citizens old enough to vote were registered to vote in Clarke County in 2015.”
This has been going on for years in Democrat jurisdictions like Clarke County, Mississippi. According to PILF, “During the 2010 federal general election, over 101 percent of living citizens eligible to vote in Clarke County were registered to vote.”
In Virginia, in a study of just eight counties, PILF found 1,046 alien non-citizens successfully registered to vote. Mind you, these are just the aliens who were accidentally caught because when they renewed their driver’s license, they told the truth they were a non-citizen.
Mind you that’s only eight counties out of Virginia’s 95 counties and 38 independent cities (that are considered county-equivalents for census purposes) because a Soros-trained Democrat state election official directed county election officers not to cooperate with the study.
To read more on the Soros-funded Virginia voter fraud and the cover-up by Virginia election officials see J. Christian Adams “Yes Virginia, Aliens Are Registered or Voting…” for PJ Media.
Lawlessness in elections is a precursor for lawlessness across our government and culture. The response of law enforcement officials to both single instances of voter fraud and the hundreds of examples documented in the PILF reports should be the same: swift, sure and unwavering. No excuses should be made for the lawless who taint the electoral process.
We urge conservatives to support the Public Interest Legal Foundation and to follow their efforts to clean-up voter roles in North Carolina, Georgia and elsewhere.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Houses Revives and Passes Bill Ending Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers

The House on Tuesday reconsidered and passed House Bill 5013 , a controversial measure that allows law enforcement officers to be held liable in court for actions taken while on duty without qualified immunity as a defense .
The bill was originally defeated by the House on Friday ( 47-Y 48-N 3-A ) with several Democrats opposing their party to vote in opposition .
The bill was also defeated last Monday in the Appropriations Committee before being reconsidered and advanced .
On Tuesday , the bill passed by a vote of 49-Y 45-N 2-A .
“ When it comes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals , and if they have to use a certain maneuver to control a suspect or a criminal , and it ’ s their life versus the subject , then they have to do what they have to do , ” Del .
Wendell Walker ( R-Bedford County ) said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ But , that is not the everyday case .
So , no officers of any level should be liable for any lawsuit damages in pursuit of fulfilling their job requirements.
” Del .
Nicholas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star there was a lot of bipartisan support on a range of policing reform bills being considered during the 2020 special session , but the legislation would be submitted in a clear left-wing fashion , which was enough to deter bipartisanship .
Freitas continued : “ If Democrats are basically going to tell officers that the chance of them losing their livelihood and losing their house or their savings or everything else goes up exponentially when they actually have to do their job , when it gets tough , then I think Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t actually engage.
” Both Freitas and Walker guessed that the Democratic caucus had done some strong-arming of specific members over the holiday weekend to get the proper number of votes for passage .
Del .
Ibraheem Samirah ( D-Fairfax County ) , one of the Democrats that voted in opposition on Friday , was the member of the prevailing side to call for the motion to reconsider the bill .
The Star reached out to multiple Democratic delegates to comment – including the bill ’ s sponsor Del .
Jeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not hear back by press time .
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman echoed the concerns of Walker and Freitas saying that he was very disturbed the bill had passed and that those pushing the legislation had no idea how it would impact law enforcement .
Chapman added he thought the bill was ill advised , that it could be a detriment to the Commonwealth and that it will be harder to recruit good people into law enforcement .
The Senate Judiciary Committee already rejected a similar bill two weeks ago but will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the entire body soon .
“ I hope the Senate has more sense than the house does , ” Walker said .
“ I hope it won ’ t pass in the Senate.
” 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 State Police ” by cliff1066 .
CC BY 2.0 .

The House on Tuesday reconsidered and passed House Bill 5013, a controversial measure that allows law enforcement officers to be held liable in court for actions taken while on duty without qualified immunity as a defense.
The bill was originally defeated by the House on Friday (47-Y 48-N 3-A) with several Democrats opposing their party to vote in opposition. The bill was also defeated last Monday in the Appropriations Committee before being reconsidered and advanced.
On Tuesday, the bill passed by a vote of 49-Y 45-N 2-A.
“When it comes to liabilities, these officers are well trained professionals, and if they have to use a certain maneuver to control a suspect or a criminal, and it’s their life versus the subject, then they have to do what they have to do,” Del. Wendell Walker (R-Bedford County) said in an interview with The Virginia Star. “But, that is not the everyday case. So, no officers of any level should be liable for any lawsuit damages in pursuit of fulfilling their job requirements.”
Del. Nicholas Freitas (R-Culpeper County) told The Star there was a lot of bipartisan support on a range of policing reform bills being considered during the 2020 special session, but the legislation would be submitted in a clear left-wing fashion, which was enough to deter bipartisanship.
Freitas continued: “If Democrats are basically going to tell officers that the chance of them losing their livelihood and losing their house or their savings or everything else goes up exponentially when they actually have to do their job, when it gets tough, then I think Democrats are asking for a police force that doesn’t actually engage.”
Both Freitas and Walker guessed that the Democratic caucus had done some strong-arming of specific members over the holiday weekend to get the proper number of votes for passage.
Del. Ibraheem Samirah (D-Fairfax County), one of the Democrats that voted in opposition on Friday, was the member of the prevailing side to call for the motion to reconsider the bill.
The Star reached out to multiple Democratic delegates to comment – including the bill’s sponsor Del. Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond City) – but did not hear back by press time.
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman echoed the concerns of Walker and Freitas saying that he was very disturbed the bill had passed and that those pushing the legislation had no idea how it would impact law enforcement.
Chapman added he thought the bill was ill advised, that it could be a detriment to the Commonwealth and that it will be harder to recruit good people into law enforcement.
The Senate Judiciary Committee already rejected a similar bill two weeks ago but will have to repeat those debates in front of the entire body soon.
“I hope the Senate has more sense than the house does,” Walker said. “I hope it won’t pass in the Senate.”
– – –
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 State Police” by cliff1066. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--GM to Make Electric Vehicle, Supply Batteries for Nikola

DETROIT , Michigan ( AP ) — General Motors announced its second major electric vehicle partnership in less than a week on Tuesday , this time a $ 2 billion deal with startup Nikola .
GM will take an 11 % ownership stake in the Phoenix company and will engineer and build Nikola ’ s Badger hydrogen fuel cell and electric pickup truck .
The Badger is expected to be in production by the end of 2022 .
GM also will help with cost reductions for Nikola ’ s other vehicles including heavy trucks , and the company will use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel technology .
In exchange for the 10-year deal , GM will get $ 2 billion worth of Nikola ’ s newly issued common stock that will come in three increments through 2025 .
News of the deal sent shares of both companies surging despite a broader-market downturn .
Nikola shares were up nearly 38 % in trading late Tuesday , while GM advanced about 8 % .
The move sets up GM for a new revenue stream and possibly a change in its business model , essentially becoming a parts supplier to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batteries , controls and components .
GM has been under pressure from Wall Street to more quickly monetize its electric vehicle technology , and industry analysts have suggested spinning off its EV unit as a separate company .
Barra said on a conference call that GM has a “ platform that others can use that ’ s going to give us scale and help us drive efficiency.
” She said the electric vehicle platform and batteries are attractive to other companies , which is a huge opportunity for GM .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seize the opportunity that we have to grow , ” she said .
However , she wouldn ’ t comment on whether GM is in talks with other companies .
Nikola will be responsible for the sales and marketing of the Badger , but it will be built on GM ’ s new battery electric truck underpinnings and use GM fuel cell and battery technology .
GM also will supply batteries for other Nikola vehicles including heavy trucks .
GM has its own battery electric truck , a GMC Hummer , due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Badger .
The deal is the second major partnership announced by GM this month as it lines up companies to share in the costs of developing electric and autonomous vehicle technology .
On Thursday GM said it would join with Japanese automaker Honda to share the costs of building vehicles powered by batteries and internal combustion engines .
GM expects to get more than $ 4 billion in benefits from the deal with the stock as well as from contracting to manufacture the Badger .
GM also will get supply contracts for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory credits that can be used by GM to comply with fuel economy and pollution standards , or sold to other companies .
Nikola founder and Executive Chairman Trevor Milton said the agreement relieves his company of the expense of building another factory to make the Badger , which is a little larger than a Chevrolet Silverado .
Nikola , however , will keep building a U.S. factory in Coolidge , Arizona , to make heavy trucks .
Nikola Corp. , which hasn ’ t made a profit yet and lost $ 86.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save over $ 4 billion in battery and powertrain costs over 10 years .
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives , in a note to investors Tuesday , wrote that the deal is huge step forward for Nikola , giving the company credibility with Badger production and its hydrogen fuel cell and semi truck ambitions .
“ There have been many skeptics around Nikola and its founder Trevor Milton ’ s ambitions over the coming years , which now get thrown out the window with stalwart GM making a major strategic bet on Nikola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded in 2015 , became a public company in June after a merger with VectoIQ , a publicly traded special-purpose acquisition company .
When it went public , Nikola added former GM Vice Chairman Stephen Girsky , CEO of VectoIQ , to its board of directors .
Barra said that Girsky made initial introductions to help start the deal .
Tom Krisher is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP Business Writer Michelle Chapman contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : This Jan. 27 , 2020 , file photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Hamtramck , Mich. General Motors is taking a $ 2 billion equity stake in Nikola that will see it engineer and make the company ’ s Badger , a fully-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric pickup truck .
( AP Photo/Paul Sancya , File )

by Tom Krisher
DETROIT, Michigan (AP) — General Motors announced its second major electric vehicle partnership in less than a week on Tuesday, this time a $2 billion deal with startup Nikola.
GM will take an 11% ownership stake in the Phoenix company and will engineer and build Nikola’s Badger hydrogen fuel cell and electric pickup truck. The Badger is expected to be in production by the end of 2022.
GM also will help with cost reductions for Nikola’s other vehicles including heavy trucks, and the company will use GM’s battery system and hydrogen fuel technology.
In exchange for the 10-year deal, GM will get $2 billion worth of Nikola’s newly issued common stock that will come in three increments through 2025.
News of the deal sent shares of both companies surging despite a broader-market downturn. Nikola shares were up nearly 38% in trading late Tuesday, while GM advanced about 8%.
The move sets up GM for a new revenue stream and possibly a change in its business model, essentially becoming a parts supplier to other companies for electric vehicle frames, batteries, controls and components.
GM has been under pressure from Wall Street to more quickly monetize its electric vehicle technology, and industry analysts have suggested spinning off its EV unit as a separate company.
Barra said on a conference call that GM has a “platform that others can use that’s going to give us scale and help us drive efficiency.” She said the electric vehicle platform and batteries are attractive to other companies, which is a huge opportunity for GM.
“We’re going to leverage that and really seize the opportunity that we have to grow,” she said.
However, she wouldn’t comment on whether GM is in talks with other companies.
Nikola will be responsible for the sales and marketing of the Badger, but it will be built on GM’s new battery electric truck underpinnings and use GM fuel cell and battery technology. GM also will supply batteries for other Nikola vehicles including heavy trucks.
GM has its own battery electric truck, a GMC Hummer, due to go on sale a year ahead of the Badger.
The deal is the second major partnership announced by GM this month as it lines up companies to share in the costs of developing electric and autonomous vehicle technology. On Thursday GM said it would join with Japanese automaker Honda to share the costs of building vehicles powered by batteries and internal combustion engines.
GM expects to get more than $4 billion in benefits from the deal with the stock as well as from contracting to manufacture the Badger. GM also will get supply contracts for batteries and fuel cells and electric vehicle regulatory credits that can be used by GM to comply with fuel economy and pollution standards, or sold to other companies.
Nikola founder and Executive Chairman Trevor Milton said the agreement relieves his company of the expense of building another factory to make the Badger, which is a little larger than a Chevrolet Silverado. Nikola, however, will keep building a U.S. factory in Coolidge, Arizona, to make heavy trucks.
Nikola Corp., which hasn’t made a profit yet and lost $86.6 million in the second quarter, expects to save over $4 billion in battery and powertrain costs over 10 years.
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives, in a note to investors Tuesday, wrote that the deal is huge step forward for Nikola, giving the company credibility with Badger production and its hydrogen fuel cell and semi truck ambitions.
“There have been many skeptics around Nikola and its founder Trevor Milton’s ambitions over the coming years, which now get thrown out the window with stalwart GM making a major strategic bet on Nikola,” he wrote.
Nikola, founded in 2015, became a public company in June after a merger with VectoIQ, a publicly traded special-purpose acquisition company.
When it went public, Nikola added former GM Vice Chairman Stephen Girsky, CEO of VectoIQ, to its board of directors.
Barra said that Girsky made initial introductions to help start the deal.
– – –
Tom Krisher is a reporter for The Associated Press. AP Business Writer Michelle Chapman contributed to this report.
About the Headline Photo: This Jan. 27, 2020, file photo shows a General Motors logo at the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Hamtramck, Mich. General Motors is taking a $2 billion equity stake in Nikola that will see it engineer and make the company’s Badger, a fully-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric pickup truck. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--DFL House Leaders Postpone Event with Pro-Riot Candidate Thompson After Widespread Pushback

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor ( DFL ) Party has officially postponed its event with Democratic candidate John Thompson due to widespread pushback .
A reporter with The Star Tribune announced the fundraiser ’ s indefinite delay .
However , DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman did not initially want to remove Thompson from the event .
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association ( MPPOA ) sent a letter to Hortman on Monday .
The MPPOA expressed “ deep frustration ” with the DFL ’ s support of Thompson due to the recent incident in Hugo .
According to them , anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a supporter of law enforcement .
“ Thompson has threatened to burn down a neighborhood and beat an effigy of a police officer ’ s wife , a female reporter , while standing outsider their home , ” reads the letter .
“ This is violent and outrageous behavior – and not just rhetoric – specifically against a police officer and his family.
” Hortman ’ s immediate response to MPPOA ’ s letter said that Thompson made a wrongful mistake , and was just one of the 12 Democratic candidates running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue with the event as planned .
“ Now we move forward .
Just as with other members of the Minnesota House of Representatives who have said and done reprehensible things in the past , I have accepted their apologies and moved on , ” wrote Hortman .
“ I hope that others can as well and give Mr. Thompson another chance .
It is what I want others to give me when I make mistakes , acknowledge the mistakes , and apologize .
I want forgiveness and another chance .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Thompson.
” Last month , Thompson spoke at a Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) rally .
The candidate ’ s expletive-laced speech called for domestic terrorism and targeted police union leader Bob Kroll and his wife , local anchorwoman Liz Collins .
“ Why the f*** is we so peaceful in this brackety-a** neighborhood ?
F*** yo motherf****** peace , white racist motherf***** !
This whole g****** state burned down for twenty f******* dollars , you think we gon na give a f*** about burning Hugo down !
… I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hugo .
‘ Kumbaya My Lord , ’ no .
‘ F*** Hugo , Minnesota !
F*** Bob Kroll !
And f*** anybody who support his racist a** !
” After , Thompson is seen destroying piñata likenesses of Collins with a bat .
The candidate later issued an apology , calling his remarks “ not helpful.
” “ Inflammatory rhetoric is not how I want to address the important issues we ’ re facing , and I apologize , Thompson said .
“ I ’ m not apologizing for my passion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not announced a new date for the fundraiser .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ John Thompson ” by John Thompson .
Background Photo “ Minnesota State Capitol ” by McGhiever .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party has officially postponed its event with Democratic candidate John Thompson due to widespread pushback. A reporter with The Star Tribune announced the fundraiser’s indefinite delay.
However, DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman did not initially want to remove Thompson from the event.
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) sent a letter to Hortman on Monday. The MPPOA expressed “deep frustration” with the DFL’s support of Thompson due to the recent incident in Hugo. According to them, anyone who supports Thompson’s candidacy is not a supporter of law enforcement.
“Thompson has threatened to burn down a neighborhood and beat an effigy of a police officer’s wife, a female reporter, while standing outsider their home,” reads the letter. “This is violent and outrageous behavior – and not just rhetoric – specifically against a police officer and his family.”
Hortman’s immediate response to MPPOA’s letter said that Thompson made a wrongful mistake, and was just one of the 12 Democratic candidates running for vacant seats. The speaker expressed intentions to continue with the event as planned.
“Now we move forward. Just as with other members of the Minnesota House of Representatives who have said and done reprehensible things in the past, I have accepted their apologies and moved on,” wrote Hortman. “I hope that others can as well and give Mr. Thompson another chance. It is what I want others to give me when I make mistakes, acknowledge the mistakes, and apologize. I want forgiveness and another chance. And that is what I’m giving John Thompson.”
Last month, Thompson spoke at a Black Lives Matter (BLM) rally. The candidate’s expletive-laced speech called for domestic terrorism and targeted police union leader Bob Kroll and his wife, local anchorwoman Liz Collins.
“Why the f*** is we so peaceful in this brackety-a** neighborhood? F*** yo motherf****** peace, white racist motherf*****! This whole g****** state burned down for twenty f******* dollars, you think we gonna give a f*** about burning Hugo down! … I didn’t come here to be peaceful in Hugo. ‘Kumbaya My Lord,’ no. ‘F*** Hugo, Minnesota! F*** Bob Kroll! And f*** anybody who support his racist a**!”
After, Thompson is seen destroying piñata likenesses of Collins with a bat. The candidate later issued an apology, calling his remarks “not helpful.”
“Inflammatory rhetoric is not how I want to address the important issues we’re facing, and I apologize, Thompson said. “I’m not apologizing for my passion to fight injustice.”
The House DFL has not announced a new date for the fundraiser.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “John Thompson” by John Thompson. Background Photo “Minnesota State Capitol” by McGhiever. CC BY-SA 4.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Founder and President of Legacy Republicans Alliance Corrin Rankin Witnesses a Black Voter Move to t

Founder and President of Legacy Republicans Alliance Corrin Rankin Witnesses a Black Voter Move to the Republican Party

Live from Virginia Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Founder and President of the Legacy Repubublicans Alliance , Corrin Rankin to the show .
During the show , Rankin explained what she saw taking place on the ground during recent visits to cities in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and getting involved with the Republican Party .
Fredericks : Joining me now on the John Fredericks Radio Network is Corrin Rankin .
Now Corrin has an interesting history .
She ’ s an African American and has been active for a long time in Republican politics .
She runs the Independent Women ’ s Forum .
And she ’ s founder and president of the Legacy Republican Alliance .
She ’ s with us now .
Welcome to the show , Corrin , great to have you .
Rankin : Thank you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m also an advisory board member for Black Voices for Trump .
Fredericks : I ’ ve got polling all over the place .
The top of the polls we ’ ve got Emerson and Zogby saying that Trump right now is getting 15 % to 20 % of the black vote .
On the southside Rasmussen has him at 7 % .
So there is a wide range .
If he gets 15 % to 20 % of the vote he wins in a landslide .
Where are we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black vote , Corrin Rankin ?
Rankin : Well I can tell you from being on the ground .
I ’ ve been traveling lately .
I ’ ve been to Nevada going to the Black Voices for Trump offices there .
And I can tell you just being in Nevada , and last week I was in Ohio and hit Cincinnati , Cleveland , and Columbus , today I ’ ll be flying out to Milwaukee .
So what I ’ m seeing on the ground is just a definite increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
It seems like once we open these offices and it invites more black people to come in and ask questions .
I ’ m seeing more black people volunteering to walk precincts then I did in 2016 .
Just my personal polling and being on the ground with the grassroots volunteers , I ’ m seeing an increase .
Also in Florida , states like these where you haven ’ t typically seen Black people involved at this rate , and this volume its happening this time around .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the policies and the accomplishments that President Trump has been able to achieve over the last four years .
People are beginning to see that .
And putting Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee is really just doing a tremendous job at exposing exactly who he is .
There is no more veil over the first Vice President to the first African American president .
A lot of his systemic and racist and bigoted policies from 1994 and beyond are really coming into the light now .
And they are really on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black people especially are beginning to learn a lot about who Joe Biden actually is .
They are starting to do their own research and their own homework .
And they are finding that the policies of President Trump are really beneficial to the black community .
Fredericks : Corrin , let me ask you this .
You were a lifelong Democrat until 2009 .
You took over your family ’ s bail bond business in Northern California .
What happened ?
What changed for you ?
Rankin : What changed for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party before Barack Obama came along .
I was inspired , because he was black for one , and I thought he was a great campaigner and a great speaker , and I really thought he was going to bring the Democratic Party of the people and what I thought the Democratic party was at that time .
And shortly after he was elected I just saw him fall in line .
And I saw the campaigner that I voted for didn ’ t exist anymore .
So I decided , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and most people don ’ t normally do this , but I went to the platforms of the DNC and the RNC .
And I read the platforms of the DNC , and I said , OK , maybe .
Then I read the one from the RNC , and I agreed with it .
It seems like how I was raised , and I was a small business owner , and it just felt right .
This is what the American dream is supposed to be , and this is what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I saw in the Republican platform .
Fredericks : What do you think of the Black Lives Matter movement as a whole ?
Rankin : I think the movement started out with genuine people who were expressing genuine concerns and feelings about their communities and policing .
I think that once it became the organization and started taking donations through Act Blue , now it ’ s no longer a protest .
It ’ s a riot .
And it ’ s mostly white people who are destroying black communities in the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a lot of black people who are starting to get upset about it now .
Because they are starting to see that there are no more peaceful protests .
Peaceful protests don ’ t happen after sundown and don ’ t involve fires and people getting killed and beat up and looting .
That ’ s not protests – that ’ s a riot .
Fredericks : I mean if you look at what happened in Rochester on Friday night , and I ’ ve been talking about it for while today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get coverage in the legacy mainstream fake news media .
But when you are out to dinner on a Friday night in Rochester in upstate New York , and people just come in and turn over the tables and throw your food off the table chase you out , knock your beer over and your wine over , and nobody covers it .
And it ’ s just part of the protests that we are dealing with now .
Don ’ t you think there is going to be a backlash here ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ m terrorized , is that going to make me go to the ballot for Joe Biden ?
Rankin : No .
I don ’ t think it ’ s going to make people go to the ballot for Joe Biden .
Because I think that everybody knows that these people that are rioting and looting are not Trump supporters .
They ’ re supporters of Joe Biden and of the Democratic Party .
And even to have Kamla Harris come out and say that we can still expect to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should continue , that says a lot about who is promoting this opportunity .
It ’ s really unfortunate .
I have a lot of personal problems with this movement being called Black Lives Matter , and they are rioting and looting .
Because I think it ends up contributing to a negative stereotype about black people that we are angry or violent .
And I think that it ’ s completely unfair of the Democrats to portray this .
Because like I said before , its mostly white people who are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reports out after the convention last week that I was at , or two weeks ago now , that President Trump ’ s approval rating from black and Hispanic voters went up dramatically .
24 % of black voters approve of the job that Trump is doing .
That ’ s a rise of nine from a similar poll taken in August that Harris Sykes poll found .
Obviously the RNC convention itself had a big impact on the black vote .
Why ?
Rankin : I think that the RNC did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat notion that the Republican party is not diverse .
I think that having speakers like Clarence Thomas , who sat at the lunch counters famously in our history , to have him there advocating the president and advocating for Republican policies , reminding America that the Republican party was started by the anti-slavery abolitionists , it ’ s a very powerful thing .
Fredericks : Where does the black vote go from here ?
We started the conversation with a wide disparity of polling where black voters are now with the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 7 % and respective Emerson at 21 % .
Normally you get some that say 10 and some say seven .
Some say 15 .
Some say 21 .
That ’ s like a football game .
That ’ s a two-touchdown spread .
Where are we going with this ?
Rankin : I think I would be very curious where they sampled .
Because I think that it just goes along to show that they must have sampled different parts of the black community .
And it just goes to once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a monolith .
So I don ’ t know the different states that were sampled .
But like I said , from what I ’ m seeing on the ground , I can see with my own eyes that there is an increase .
I ’ ve never seen this many black people join the Republican Party .
I was in Ohio and I saw teachers who decided that they were going to become a Republican and decided that they were going to vote for Donald Trump .
They are in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and walking precincts , and sharing their stories with me that they used to be a Democrat but the teachers ’ unions wanted to make all the teachers wear Black Lives Matter .
They spoke out and they lost friends .
I ’ m hearing stories all over and all these new people to the party who happen to be black .
And they are really trying to spread the word .
There is a lot of black people who are starting to really do their homework .
And I think that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the historical information about what Joe Biden has done during his 47 years in politics and elected office , the harmful polices that he ’ s implemented like the 1994 Crime Bill .
Even having on the debate stage having Kamala Harris attack him over being a segregationist and voting against school busing .
I mean that hurts them .
His own Vice Presidential candidate here is the one who gave him the biggest attack on the biggest stage .
Listen to the full show here :

Live from Virginia Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond, WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia, WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 (7-9 PM) Hampton Roads, WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Founder and President of the Legacy Repubublicans Alliance, Corrin Rankin to the show.
During the show, Rankin explained what she saw taking place on the ground during recent visits to cities in the US witnessing a surge in Black voters volunteering and getting involved with the Republican Party.
Fredericks: Joining me now on the John Fredericks Radio Network is Corrin Rankin. Now Corrin has an interesting history. She’s an African American and has been active for a long time in Republican politics. She runs the Independent Women’s Forum. And she’s founder and president of the Legacy Republican Alliance. She’s with us now. Welcome to the show, Corrin, great to have you.
Rankin: Thank you. Thanks so much for having me. I’m also an advisory board member for Black Voices for Trump.
Fredericks: I’ve got polling all over the place. The top of the polls we’ve got Emerson and Zogby saying that Trump right now is getting 15% to 20% of the black vote. On the southside Rasmussen has him at 7%. So there is a wide range. If he gets 15% to 20% of the vote he wins in a landslide. Where are we right now with the president and the black vote, Corrin Rankin?
Rankin: Well I can tell you from being on the ground. I’ve been traveling lately. I’ve been to Nevada going to the Black Voices for Trump offices there. And I can tell you just being in Nevada, and last week I was in Ohio and hit Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, today I’ll be flying out to Milwaukee.
So what I’m seeing on the ground is just a definite increase in black participation and support within the black community. It seems like once we open these offices and it invites more black people to come in and ask questions. I’m seeing more black people volunteering to walk precincts then I did in 2016.
Just my personal polling and being on the ground with the grassroots volunteers, I’m seeing an increase. Also in Florida, states like these where you haven’t typically seen Black people involved at this rate, and this volume its happening this time around.
I think it’s just a lot of the policies and the accomplishments that President Trump has been able to achieve over the last four years. People are beginning to see that. And putting Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee is really just doing a tremendous job at exposing exactly who he is.
There is no more veil over the first Vice President to the first African American president. A lot of his systemic and racist and bigoted policies from 1994 and beyond are really coming into the light now. And they are really on the stage for everybody to see.
And black people especially are beginning to learn a lot about who Joe Biden actually is. They are starting to do their own research and their own homework. And they are finding that the policies of President Trump are really beneficial to the black community.
Fredericks: Corrin, let me ask you this. You were a lifelong Democrat until 2009. You took over your family’s bail bond business in Northern California. What happened? What changed for you?
Rankin: What changed for me was I was disenfranchised with the Democratic party before Barack Obama came along. I was inspired, because he was black for one, and I thought he was a great campaigner and a great speaker, and I really thought he was going to bring the Democratic Party of the people and what I thought the Democratic party was at that time.
And shortly after he was elected I just saw him fall in line. And I saw the campaigner that I voted for didn’t exist anymore. So I decided, and I’m kind of a one-off here and most people don’t normally do this, but I went to the platforms of the DNC and the RNC.
And I read the platforms of the DNC, and I said, OK, maybe. Then I read the one from the RNC, and I agreed with it. It seems like how I was raised, and I was a small business owner, and it just felt right. This is what the American dream is supposed to be, and this is what we’re all here for with what I saw in the Republican platform.
Fredericks: What do you think of the Black Lives Matter movement as a whole?
Rankin: I think the movement started out with genuine people who were expressing genuine concerns and feelings about their communities and policing. I think that once it became the organization and started taking donations through Act Blue, now it’s no longer a protest. It’s a riot.
And it’s mostly white people who are destroying black communities in the name of Black Lives Matter. And you see a lot of black people who are starting to get upset about it now. Because they are starting to see that there are no more peaceful protests. Peaceful protests don’t happen after sundown and don’t involve fires and people getting killed and beat up and looting. That’s not protests – that’s a riot.
Fredericks: I mean if you look at what happened in Rochester on Friday night, and I’ve been talking about it for while today, and it really didn’t get coverage in the legacy mainstream fake news media. But when you are out to dinner on a Friday night in Rochester in upstate New York, and people just come in and turn over the tables and throw your food off the table chase you out, knock your beer over and your wine over, and nobody covers it. And it’s just part of the protests that we are dealing with now. Don’t you think there is going to be a backlash here? If I take my family to dinner and I’m terrorized, is that going to make me go to the ballot for Joe Biden?
Rankin: No. I don’t think it’s going to make people go to the ballot for Joe Biden. Because I think that everybody knows that these people that are rioting and looting are not Trump supporters. They’re supporters of Joe Biden and of the Democratic Party. And even to have Kamla Harris come out and say that we can still expect to see this rioting and looting, and they should continue, that says a lot about who is promoting this opportunity.
It’s really unfortunate. I have a lot of personal problems with this movement being called Black Lives Matter, and they are rioting and looting. Because I think it ends up contributing to a negative stereotype about black people that we are angry or violent. And I think that it’s completely unfair of the Democrats to portray this. Because like I said before, its mostly white people who are doing it.
Fredericks: Unbelievable. There were reports out after the convention last week that I was at, or two weeks ago now, that President Trump’s approval rating from black and Hispanic voters went up dramatically. 24% of black voters approve of the job that Trump is doing. That’s a rise of nine from a similar poll taken in August that Harris Sykes poll found. Obviously the RNC convention itself had a big impact on the black vote. Why?
Rankin: I think that the RNC did just a tremendous job of dispelling the Democrat notion that the Republican party is not diverse. I think that having speakers like Clarence Thomas, who sat at the lunch counters famously in our history, to have him there advocating the president and advocating for Republican policies, reminding America that the Republican party was started by the anti-slavery abolitionists, it’s a very powerful thing.
Fredericks: Where does the black vote go from here? We started the conversation with a wide disparity of polling where black voters are now with the president. From a respective Rasmussen poll with a 7% and respective Emerson at 21%. Normally you get some that say 10 and some say seven. Some say 15. Some say 21. That’s like a football game. That’s a two-touchdown spread. Where are we going with this?
Rankin: I think I would be very curious where they sampled. Because I think that it just goes along to show that they must have sampled different parts of the black community. And it just goes to once again to prove that black people are not a monolith. So I don’t know the different states that were sampled.
But like I said, from what I’m seeing on the ground, I can see with my own eyes that there is an increase. I’ve never seen this many black people join the Republican Party. I was in Ohio and I saw teachers who decided that they were going to become a Republican and decided that they were going to vote for Donald Trump.
They are in the Black Voices for Trump headquarter offices volunteering and walking precincts, and sharing their stories with me that they used to be a Democrat but the teachers’ unions wanted to make all the teachers wear Black Lives Matter. They spoke out and they lost friends.
I’m hearing stories all over and all these new people to the party who happen to be black. And they are really trying to spread the word. There is a lot of black people who are starting to really do their homework. And I think that the Trump campaign videos, campaign ads, and the historical information about what Joe Biden has done during his 47 years in politics and elected office, the harmful polices that he’s implemented like the 1994 Crime Bill. Even having on the debate stage having Kamala Harris attack him over being a segregationist and voting against school busing. I mean that hurts them. His own Vice Presidential candidate here is the one who gave him the biggest attack on the biggest stage.
Listen to the full show here: