thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Clint Brewer Discusses the Upcoming Pivotal Moment for the American Press to Redeem Itself Under a B

Clint Brewer Discusses the Upcoming Pivotal Moment for the American Press to Redeem Itself Under a Biden Presidency

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer to the studio .
During the third hour , Brewer weighed in on whether or not the media would seize the opportunity to redeem themselves of bias within a Biden presidency .
He outlined how the mainstream media would have a chance to regain its legitimacy and credibility after an unprecedented standard of practice with President Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with our good friend all-star panelist Clint Brewer .
Clint , our listeners are breathless with anticipation .
( Brewer laughs ) Leahy : ( Chuckles ) Clint , what is the third thing to watch in 2021 ?
Brewer : I think the third thing to watch is the mainstream press and will it seize the huge opportunity and I ’ m not being facetious here .
I ’ m not being sarcastic .
Will it seize the huge opportunity it has to regain legitimacy and credibility with the large swath of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that way ?
Don ’ t find it legitimate or trustworthy ?
And here ’ s how it can happen .
The press in this country established a standard and a practice with President Trump and his administration , which was to anything that was mistruth , not a fact , or in some cases what they would outright call a lie was labeled as such in print and on the air .
It was something that really had never been done before with a president .
It was new and it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president was wrong and sometimes the press was wrong .
But it was taking calling out if you will a politician to a new level with the language and the intent .
What I would say is the third biggest thing to watch in 2021 is will the mainstream American press apply that same standard to a likely Joe Biden administration ?
I think that is the key .
And are they going to use the same language or are they going to go back to the old ways of allowing presidents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things that are less than true and call them differences of opinion ?
Or to allow it to be grey ?
Or are they going to continue to draw that line in the sand and be as righteous with a Democratic administration as they got with a Republican administration ?
I think it ’ s a pivotal moment for the American press .
And I think they need to show in their actions that they claim they ’ re not biased .
Let ’ s see it .
Leahy : So I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say I agree with you that this is the third issue to watch .
But I can tell you right now in my view how it ’ s going to play out .
And the mainstream media is gone .
I know you hold out hope for them .
Brewer : Gone as in doesn ’ t exist ?
Or gone as in… Leahy : Totally biased and in the pockets of Democrats .
Just a case in point , you know , they failed to report all of the very legitimate scandals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report them .
They covered them up .
Brewer : They downplayed them is what they did .
Leahy : They ’ re going to continue with that pattern .
I agree with Glenn Reynolds .
They are Democratic operatives with bylines and they are brazen .
I don ’ t see that changing at all .
The big story about Joe Biden in the past couple of days isn ’ t the continuing ties to China that his son has had .
They ’ re not writing about that .
They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re writing about you know , how he broke his ankle .
You know , these are substantive stories .
Not !
Brewer : But here ’ s the thing .
This is what we normally get during this period of you know , this quasi honeymoon period with a newly elected president .
I know there ’ s an asterisk there .
Brewer : But this is typical of what you know , they focus on what the new first lady is going to wear on Inauguration night and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what we get .
Leahy : It ’ s interesting that you say that focusing on what the new first lady is going to wear .
I ’ ll put this as an objective fact , and let ’ s see if you would agree with that .
Melania Trump is a very beautiful first lady .
Brewer : Melania Trump was also the best dressed first lady since Jackie Kennedy .
Leahy : And yet and yet you did not see her featured on the cover of any mainstream magazine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ outrage pieces from the fashion industry .
Like this administration or not , this woman is very well dressed .
Speaking of brand , that ’ s probably on-brand for the Trump administration .
But she was not romanticized in the way a Democratic first lady will be .
Leahy : So I do think you ’ re right that the mainstream media will show their bias .
You ’ re going to see all sorts of pictures of Jill Biden on the covers of magazines .
Brewer : Yes you will .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree with you about this being a very important thing to watch but I have a different view of how it ’ s going to play out .
Brewer : Well and I don ’ t have a view of how it ’ s going to play out .
I mean , I ’ m not offering a perspective on how it ’ s gon na play out .
Leahy : You want to watch and see what happens .
Brewer : I ’ m saying that this has played out perfectly for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard .
The ball is on the tee and are they going to hit it ?
I would guess not .
Brewer : But the opportunity you have to admit is there .
Leahy : They are not going to take it .
Brewer : But if in the major newsrooms in America they sit down and say okay .
It happens in every administration .
They are going to say something that ’ s not true .
They ’ re going to do something that ’ s not truthful and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So all these guys that you ’ re talking about the mainstream media and I ’ ll tell you two things .
I don ’ t think they ’ re that bright .
A .
And B , they are totally dishonest .
This is my view .
But here ’ s what ’ s going to happen .
What I think is going to happen is you ’ re going to see a rise of media that will challenge that but will serve the 73 million-plus people that voted for Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star Report and all of our new sites The Georgia Star News , The Virginia Star , the Ohio Star , The Michigan Star , and The Minnesota Sun , we ’ re going to be right in the middle of that .
That ’ s what I see happening .
I think is going to be a great year of opportunity for our news business .
Brewer : Well , I think that ’ s true .
I mean , I think that if and when the mainstream press over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden administration out on its shortcomings in the same language it did with Donald Trump .
Leahy : I ’ m reminded of this great Tweet from Iowa Hawk .
The purpose of the mainstream media is to cover the news with a blanket until it stops moving .
( Laughter ) Listen to the 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 .

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer to the studio.
During the third hour, Brewer weighed in on whether or not the media would seize the opportunity to redeem themselves of bias within a Biden presidency. He outlined how the mainstream media would have a chance to regain its legitimacy and credibility after an unprecedented standard of practice with President Trump.
Leahy: We are in the studio with our good friend all-star panelist Clint Brewer. Clint, our listeners are breathless with anticipation. (Brewer laughs)
Brewer: I doubt that.
Leahy: (Chuckles) Clint, what is the third thing to watch in 2021?
Brewer: I think the third thing to watch is the mainstream press and will it seize the huge opportunity and I’m not being facetious here. I’m not being sarcastic. Will it seize the huge opportunity it has to regain legitimacy and credibility with the large swath of Americans who don’t find it that way? Don’t find it legitimate or trustworthy? And here’s how it can happen.
The press in this country established a standard and a practice with President Trump and his administration, which was to anything that was mistruth, not a fact, or in some cases what they would outright call a lie was labeled as such in print and on the air. It was something that really had never been done before with a president. It was new and it was a new approach. And sometimes the president was wrong and sometimes the press was wrong.
But it was taking calling out if you will a politician to a new level with the language and the intent. What I would say is the third biggest thing to watch in 2021 is will the mainstream American press apply that same standard to a likely Joe Biden administration? I think that is the key. And are they going to use the same language or are they going to go back to the old ways of allowing presidents and executives and administrations to slip by with things that are less than true and call them differences of opinion?
Or to allow it to be grey? Or are they going to continue to draw that line in the sand and be as righteous with a Democratic administration as they got with a Republican administration? I think it’s a pivotal moment for the American press. And I think they need to show in their actions that they claim they’re not biased. Let’s see it.
Leahy: So I do have a response. And let me say I agree with you that this is the third issue to watch. But I can tell you right now in my view how it’s going to play out. And the mainstream media is gone. I know you hold out hope for them.
Brewer: Gone as in doesn’t exist? Or gone as in…
Leahy: Totally biased and in the pockets of Democrats. Just a case in point, you know, they failed to report all of the very legitimate scandals involving Hunter Biden. They failed to report them. They covered them up.
Brewer: They downplayed them is what they did.
Leahy: They’re going to continue with that pattern. I agree with Glenn Reynolds. They are Democratic operatives with bylines and they are brazen. I don’t see that changing at all. The big story about Joe Biden in the past couple of days isn’t the continuing ties to China that his son has had. They’re not writing about that. They’re writing about his cat. And they’re writing about you know, how he broke his ankle. You know, these are substantive stories. Not!
Brewer: But here’s the thing. This is what we normally get during this period of you know, this quasi honeymoon period with a newly elected president. I know there’s an asterisk there.
Leahy: Asterisk.
Brewer: But this is typical of what you know, they focus on what the new first lady is going to wear on Inauguration night and who her favorite designers are. That’s what we get.
Leahy: It’s interesting that you say that focusing on what the new first lady is going to wear. I’ll put this as an objective fact, and let’s see if you would agree with that. Melania Trump is a very beautiful first lady.
Brewer: Melania Trump was also the best dressed first lady since Jackie Kennedy.
Leahy: And yet and yet you did not see her featured on the cover of any mainstream magazine.
Brewer: I did read a few outrage pieces from the fashion industry. Like this administration or not, this woman is very well dressed. Speaking of brand, that’s probably on-brand for the Trump administration. But she was not romanticized in the way a Democratic first lady will be.
Leahy: So I do think you’re right that the mainstream media will show their bias. You’re going to see all sorts of pictures of Jill Biden on the covers of magazines.
Brewer: Yes you will.
Leahy: I do want to I agree with you about this being a very important thing to watch but I have a different view of how it’s going to play out.
Brewer: Well and I don’t have a view of how it’s going to play out. I mean, I’m not offering a perspective on how it’s gonna play out.
Leahy: You want to watch and see what happens.
Brewer: I’m saying that this has played out perfectly for the American press to embrace this new standard. The ball is on the tee and are they going to hit it? I would guess not.
Leahy: No.
Brewer: But the opportunity you have to admit is there.
Leahy: They are not going to take it.
Brewer: But if in the major newsrooms in America they sit down and say okay. It happens in every administration. They are going to say something that’s not true. They’re going to do something that’s not truthful and it’s going to happen.
Leahy: So all these guys that you’re talking about the mainstream media and I’ll tell you two things. I don’t think they’re that bright. A. And B, they are totally dishonest. This is my view. But here’s what’s going to happen. What I think is going to happen is you’re going to see a rise of media that will challenge that but will serve the 73 million-plus people that voted for Donald Trump.
And the Tennessee Star and the Tennessee Star Report and all of our new sites The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, the Ohio Star, The Michigan Star, and The Minnesota Sun, we’re going to be right in the middle of that. That’s what I see happening. I think is going to be a great year of opportunity for our news business.
Brewer: Well, I think that’s true. I mean, I think that if and when the mainstream press over the course of 2021 fails to call the Biden administration out on its shortcomings in the same language it did with Donald Trump.
Leahy: I’m reminded of this great Tweet from Iowa Hawk. The purpose of the mainstream media is to cover the news with a blanket until it stops moving. (Laughter)
Listen to the third hour here:
– – –
Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Jen Psaki Donned Hammer-and-Sickle Hat During 2014 Meeting with Russian Officials

Photos have resurfaced of Jen Psaki , the incoming Biden White House press secretary , meeting with Russian officials in 2014 while wearing a hat stitched with the hammer-and-sickle , a symbol of the communist Soviet Union , which caused the deaths of tens of millions of people in the 20th century .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Maria Zakharova , the spokeswoman for the ministry , gifted Psaki the hat , a pink fur shapka , during a diplomatic event in Paris on Jan. 13 , 2014 .
Psaki was a spokeswoman for the State Department at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
of State John Kerry .
The State Department posted a photo of Psaki sporting the hat on one of its social media accounts .
The Russian foreign ministry also tweeted a photo of Psaki with Kerry and Lavrov .
President-elect Joe Biden announced on Sunday that Psaki would be White House press secretary in his administration .
Biden also announced last week that Kerry will be his “ climate czar ” and hold a position on the National Security Council .
The photo was taken just before U.S.-Russia relations would enter their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Union .
Relations between the two countries frayed over Russia ’ s invasion of Crimea and its interference in U.S. elections .
Psaki was not known for being particularly soft on Russia , and she is not known to have publicly supported communism .
The state-controlled media outlet RT referred to her in an article on Monday as a “ Russian sanctions aficionado.
” But the hammer-and-sickle emblazoned on Psaki ’ s hat has for more than a century been viewed as a symbol of Soviet-style communism and totalitarianism .
The hammer-and-sickle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to a push from some quarters to treat it in the same vein as the Nazi swastika .
Advocates for that position assert that the Soviet Union directly or indirectly caused tens of millions of deaths in the 20th century through war , executions , purges and man-made famine .
According to an estimate by Russia expert David Satter , at least 20 million Russians were put to death or died as a direct result of Soviet policies .
Nearly 4 million Ukrainians are believed to have died during a famine from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which translates to “ death inflicted by starvation.
” The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Jen Psaki ” by MFA Russia .

by Chuck Ross
Photos have resurfaced of Jen Psaki, the incoming Biden White House press secretary, meeting with Russian officials in 2014 while wearing a hat stitched with the hammer-and-sickle, a symbol of the communist Soviet Union, which caused the deaths of tens of millions of people in the 20th century.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the ministry, gifted Psaki the hat, a pink fur shapka, during a diplomatic event in Paris on Jan. 13, 2014.
Psaki was a spokeswoman for the State Department at the time. She was accompanied by then-Sec. of State John Kerry.
The State Department posted a photo of Psaki sporting the hat on one of its social media accounts. The Russian foreign ministry also tweeted a photo of Psaki with Kerry and Lavrov.
President-elect Joe Biden announced on Sunday that Psaki would be White House press secretary in his administration. Biden also announced last week that Kerry will be his “climate czar” and hold a position on the National Security Council.
The photo was taken just before U.S.-Russia relations would enter their tensest phase since the fall of the Soviet Union. Relations between the two countries frayed over Russia’s invasion of Crimea and its interference in U.S. elections.
Psaki was not known for being particularly soft on Russia, and she is not known to have publicly supported communism. The state-controlled media outlet RT referred to her in an article on Monday as a “Russian sanctions aficionado.”
But the hammer-and-sickle emblazoned on Psaki’s hat has for more than a century been viewed as a symbol of Soviet-style communism and totalitarianism.
The hammer-and-sickle’s affiliation with Soviet communism has led to a push from some quarters to treat it in the same vein as the Nazi swastika. Advocates for that position assert that the Soviet Union directly or indirectly caused tens of millions of deaths in the 20th century through war, executions, purges and man-made famine.
According to an estimate by Russia expert David Satter, at least 20 million Russians were put to death or died as a direct result of Soviet policies.
Nearly 4 million Ukrainians are believed to have died during a famine from 1932-1933 referred to as the Holodomor, which translates to “death inflicted by starvation.”
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment.
– – –
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Jen Psaki” by MFA Russia.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Commentary: Republicans Have a Moral Obligation to Support the Pennsylvania Lawsuit Against Universa

Commentary: Republicans Have a Moral Obligation to Support the Pennsylvania Lawsuit Against Universal Mail-in Ballots

Will we allow our election system for future elections to be upended by a single state supreme court , which happens to consist of partisan hacks ?
If the answer is no , then the only option is to fight the open lawlessness in Pennsylvania with every channel and tool of both the judicial and legislative processes .
While there is much focus on allegations of ballot fraud , there is the greatest systemic election fraud in plain sight that has still not gotten its day in the highest court in the land .
The bottom line is that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 266,208 just four years ago to 2.6 million in 2020 – all built upon an illegal state supreme court decision and a state omnibus election bill that violated the state ’ s constitution .
As such , millions of ballots , pursuant to state law and the state ’ s constitution , are invalid , and because they implicate the ultimate federal question regarding the election of the president and vice president , those votes violate federal election law and the U.S. Constitution .
That might be an inconvenient truth and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make the constitutional crisis – along with its accompanying political/electoral fallout – disappear .
Questions of standing , judicial remedies , and other technical limitations don ’ t diminish the broader point that millions of ballots were cast illegally in a process enabled by one of the most partisan state supreme courts in the country .
Furthermore , hoping to fight this out “ the next time ” in court , in legislatures , or at the ballot box misses the point that there won ’ t be another time because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precedent that they can unilaterally alter the rules of an election midway through it .
The simple fact that nobody can deny is that the mail-in voting law that was attached to an omnibus election bill in October 2019 — Act 77 — violated the state ’ s constitution .
Whether one agrees with the laws or not , Article VII of the Pennsylvania constitution states clearly that there may be no alternatives to in-person Election Day voting aside from those approved for absentee ballots , which require voters to demonstrate their absence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the few states without any early voting .
Such a change requires voters to adopt a constitutional amendment at the ballot box itself , not just an act of the legislature to modify a statute .
In Pennsylvania , this is a very strict process , which requires both houses of the legislature to pass the proposed amendment in two consecutive legislative sessions , publish the amendment in two newspapers in each county three months before the vote , and then conduct a popular referendum on that proposed change at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ art .
XI §1 ) .
Yes , it ’ s very tedious , but it is the law , and we are a nation of laws , not of political whims of men .
The Pennsylvania constitution does provide for an emergency avenue for expedited amendments , but that only circumvents the need for votes in two consecutive legislative sessions ( but requires a two-thirds majority vote ) , not the need for a popular referendum .
Thus , given that the constitutionally prescribed process was sidestepped with the mail-in law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plain and simple .
Just as illegal as if a governor , or legislature working against the state ’ s constitution , approved voting on the internet in middle of the election .
One can debate the merits of the fraud lawsuits in Pennsylvania and in several other states , but this one is as clean as it gets .
How can you certify election results when millions of ballots clearly violated the law ?
This is why Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough placed an injunction on the certification so this problem can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in the legislature .
She understood that , regardless of any other questions of fraud , of which there are many , “ Petitioners appear to have established a likelihood to succeed on the merits because petitioners have asserted the Constitution does not provide a mechanism for the legislature to allow for expansion of absentee voting without a constitutional amendment.
” So we are all to believe this issue goes away simply because five Democrat-appointed hacks on the state ’ s supreme court throw out the case on a technicality , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this change to go through illegally , which brought us into this constitutional crisis ?
They further exacerbated the crisis by overwriting state law and allowing ballots without matching signatures and other vital information .
My friend Andy McCarthy , always a thoughtful and incisive legal mind , feels that the state supreme court is “ on solid footing ” because the plaintiffs , in this case Mike Kelly and Sean Parnell , two Republican candidates for Congress , “ did not file lawsuits against the new mail-in voting when it was enacted.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ court got it right by tossing the lawsuit under the “ doctrine of laches , ” which is to say that because the plaintiffs failed to raise the issue in a timely fashion , they have forfeited their claims .
The problem with this analysis is everyone knew at the time this partisan court would have denied anyone standing by asserting the grievance was not ripe .
It ’ s only now that they are an aggrieved party that they can they bring such a lawsuit .
If not now , then when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lack of standing during the off-season while the issue becomes too “ messy ” for a remedy ex post facto .
Also , let ’ s not forget that this same court that now seeks to greenlight Act 77 in expanding absentee balloting options to universal mail-ins also overrode the limitations prescribed on those mail-ins in that very same act .
Thus , we are not dealing with a court on solid footing .
The court has lost all legitimacy ever since it unilaterally redrew the congressional districts and handed several seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an easy political remedy doesn ’ t change the fact that these candidates absolutely have standing and that these votes are absolutely illegal .
Obviously , the remedy will necessarily be somewhat political and involve investigations and negotiations between state legislatures and Congress .
But that should not stop Republican lawyers for these candidates and for the Trump campaign from getting a court to state “ what the law is.
” And that law clearly dictates that these ballots are illegal .
We often hear the refrain that pursuing any mix of judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disenfranchise millions .
But what about the required ballot initiative to change election law that never took place ?
Why is it that nobody cared about that disenfranchisement ?
Also , some of the same naysayers scoff at some of the other lawsuits by suggesting they are small potatoes and won ’ t affect the outcome of the election .
Then , when it comes to this lawsuit , they claim it would disenfranchise millions ?
Well , that ’ s kind of the point .
The lawlessness was breathtaking , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus to deal with it right here and right now .
Maybe the remedy – whether it ’ s a mix of political horse trading , holding new elections in one or several states , or selecting competing electors for Congress to decide on – would still result in Biden taking office , as part of some deal similar to what took place in the 1876 election between Sam Tilden and Rutherford Hayes .
But we need the impetus to make some sort of arrangement or compromise just like they did back then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these lawsuits and clarify the laws , not close our eyes to a blatant problem , as if this won ’ t repeat itself with a greater intensity during the next election .
There is no doubt that the U.S. Supreme Court has an obligation to rectify the problem created by this rogue state court .
The high court can rectify it by simply declaring what the law is , and the rest is for the various state and federal political branches to work out .
This systemic state election law fraud , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infects the entire Electoral College process and is now the ultimate federal question that the U.S. Supreme Court can no longer ignore .
Several Supreme Court justices have already recognized that the state supreme court violated existing law regarding mail-ins in numerous other ways .
As Justice Alito warned on October 28 , “ The Court ’ s handling of the important constitutional issue raised by this matter has needlessly created conditions that could lead to serious post-election problems.
” Well , here we are with some of the most serious post-election questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take up the lawsuits is now .
Concomitantly , the state legislature must meet every day for the next several weeks to investigate , publicize , and remedy this known problem in addition to the questions of voter fraud .
Sadly , as so many Republicans are trained to do , they have waved the white flag during the heat of battle , as the state House of Representatives in Harrisburg plans to sit out the rest of the year .
Which is why it ’ s so important to continue the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will force these phony Republicans to act .
Ultimately , Republicans must remember that what comes around goes around .
This is not about Trump .
If Democrats can unilaterally alter the basic mode of casting votes and use this mail-in model as the new baseline , Republicans will lose , just like Trump .
In New York , which was never a contested state , they are still counting ballots weeks later , and Republicans might lose a congressional race in district 22 , thanks to mail-in irregularities .
Oswego County Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the absentee balloting in that race , “ We may have a serious problem on our hands.
” Unless Republicans unite and fight against the election chicanery now , they will have this serious problem on their hands in nearly every future election .
Daniel Horowitz is a senior editor of TheBlaze and host of the Conservative Review podcast .
He writes on the most decisive battleground issues of our times , including the theft of American sovereignty through illegal immigration , the theft of American liberty through tyranny , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal justice “ reform.
” Photo “ Vote Here Sign ” by Lorie Shaull .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Daniel Horowitz
Will we allow our election system for future elections to be upended by a single state supreme court, which happens to consist of partisan hacks? If the answer is no, then the only option is to fight the open lawlessness in Pennsylvania with every channel and tool of both the judicial and legislative processes.
While there is much focus on allegations of ballot fraud, there is the greatest systemic election fraud in plain sight that has still not gotten its day in the highest court in the land.
The bottom line is that the number of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania grew from 266,208 just four years ago to 2.6 million in 2020 – all built upon an illegal state supreme court decision and a state omnibus election bill that violated the state’s constitution. As such, millions of ballots, pursuant to state law and the state’s constitution, are invalid, and because they implicate the ultimate federal question regarding the election of the president and vice president, those votes violate federal election law and the U.S. Constitution.
That might be an inconvenient truth and a messy predicament, but ignoring it won’t make the constitutional crisis – along with its accompanying political/electoral fallout – disappear. Questions of standing, judicial remedies, and other technical limitations don’t diminish the broader point that millions of ballots were cast illegally in a process enabled by one of the most partisan state supreme courts in the country. Furthermore, hoping to fight this out “the next time” in court, in legislatures, or at the ballot box misses the point that there won’t be another time because Democrats would have already successfully established the precedent that they can unilaterally alter the rules of an election midway through it.
The simple fact that nobody can deny is that the mail-in voting law that was attached to an omnibus election bill in October 2019 — Act 77 — violated the state’s constitution. Whether one agrees with the laws or not, Article VII of the Pennsylvania constitution states clearly that there may be no alternatives to in-person Election Day voting aside from those approved for absentee ballots, which require voters to demonstrate their absence.
This is why Pennsylvania is still one of the few states without any early voting. Such a change requires voters to adopt a constitutional amendment at the ballot box itself, not just an act of the legislature to modify a statute. In Pennsylvania, this is a very strict process, which requires both houses of the legislature to pass the proposed amendment in two consecutive legislative sessions, publish the amendment in two newspapers in each county three months before the vote, and then conduct a popular referendum on that proposed change at the ballot box (Penn. Const. art. XI §1).
Yes, it’s very tedious, but it is the law, and we are a nation of laws, not of political whims of men. The Pennsylvania constitution does provide for an emergency avenue for expedited amendments, but that only circumvents the need for votes in two consecutive legislative sessions (but requires a two-thirds majority vote), not the need for a popular referendum.
Thus, given that the constitutionally prescribed process was sidestepped with the mail-in law, those mail-in votes are all illegal, plain and simple. Just as illegal as if a governor, or legislature working against the state’s constitution, approved voting on the internet in middle of the election.
One can debate the merits of the fraud lawsuits in Pennsylvania and in several other states, but this one is as clean as it gets. How can you certify election results when millions of ballots clearly violated the law? This is why Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough placed an injunction on the certification so this problem can be worked out both in the courts and in the legislature. She understood that, regardless of any other questions of fraud, of which there are many, “Petitioners appear to have established a likelihood to succeed on the merits because petitioners have asserted the Constitution does not provide a mechanism for the legislature to allow for expansion of absentee voting without a constitutional amendment.”
So we are all to believe this issue goes away simply because five Democrat-appointed hacks on the state’s supreme court throw out the case on a technicality, after they were the very court that allowed this change to go through illegally, which brought us into this constitutional crisis? They further exacerbated the crisis by overwriting state law and allowing ballots without matching signatures and other vital information.
My friend Andy McCarthy, always a thoughtful and incisive legal mind, feels that the state supreme court is “on solid footing” because the plaintiffs, in this case Mike Kelly and Sean Parnell, two Republican candidates for Congress, “did not file lawsuits against the new mail-in voting when it was enacted.” As such, he believes the court got it right by tossing the lawsuit under the “doctrine of laches,” which is to say that because the plaintiffs failed to raise the issue in a timely fashion, they have forfeited their claims.
The problem with this analysis is everyone knew at the time this partisan court would have denied anyone standing by asserting the grievance was not ripe. It’s only now that they are an aggrieved party that they can they bring such a lawsuit. If not now, then when? We will continue repeating this cycle of lack of standing during the off-season while the issue becomes too “messy” for a remedy ex post facto.
Also, let’s not forget that this same court that now seeks to greenlight Act 77 in expanding absentee balloting options to universal mail-ins also overrode the limitations prescribed on those mail-ins in that very same act. Thus, we are not dealing with a court on solid footing. The court has lost all legitimacy ever since it unilaterally redrew the congressional districts and handed several seats to the Democrats.
The lack of an easy political remedy doesn’t change the fact that these candidates absolutely have standing and that these votes are absolutely illegal. Obviously, the remedy will necessarily be somewhat political and involve investigations and negotiations between state legislatures and Congress. But that should not stop Republican lawyers for these candidates and for the Trump campaign from getting a court to state “what the law is.” And that law clearly dictates that these ballots are illegal.
We often hear the refrain that pursuing any mix of judicial or legislative remedies for this election would disenfranchise millions. But what about the required ballot initiative to change election law that never took place? Why is it that nobody cared about that disenfranchisement?
Also, some of the same naysayers scoff at some of the other lawsuits by suggesting they are small potatoes and won’t affect the outcome of the election. Then, when it comes to this lawsuit, they claim it would disenfranchise millions? Well, that’s kind of the point. The lawlessness was breathtaking, and we need the time, energy, and focus to deal with it right here and right now.
Maybe the remedy – whether it’s a mix of political horse trading, holding new elections in one or several states, or selecting competing electors for Congress to decide on – would still result in Biden taking office, as part of some deal similar to what took place in the 1876 election between Sam Tilden and Rutherford Hayes. But we need the impetus to make some sort of arrangement or compromise just like they did back then. And that requires us to embrace these lawsuits and clarify the laws, not close our eyes to a blatant problem, as if this won’t repeat itself with a greater intensity during the next election.
There is no doubt that the U.S. Supreme Court has an obligation to rectify the problem created by this rogue state court. The high court can rectify it by simply declaring what the law is, and the rest is for the various state and federal political branches to work out. This systemic state election law fraud, being committed during a presidential election, infects the entire Electoral College process and is now the ultimate federal question that the U.S. Supreme Court can no longer ignore.
Several Supreme Court justices have already recognized that the state supreme court violated existing law regarding mail-ins in numerous other ways. As Justice Alito warned on October 28, “The Court’s handling of the important constitutional issue raised by this matter has needlessly created conditions that could lead to serious post-election problems.” Well, here we are with some of the most serious post-election questions imaginable. The time for the court to take up the lawsuits is now.
Concomitantly, the state legislature must meet every day for the next several weeks to investigate, publicize, and remedy this known problem in addition to the questions of voter fraud. Sadly, as so many Republicans are trained to do, they have waved the white flag during the heat of battle, as the state House of Representatives in Harrisburg plans to sit out the rest of the year. Which is why it’s so important to continue the fight to the Supreme Court. That will force these phony Republicans to act.
Ultimately, Republicans must remember that what comes around goes around. This is not about Trump. If Democrats can unilaterally alter the basic mode of casting votes and use this mail-in model as the new baseline, Republicans will lose, just like Trump. In New York, which was never a contested state, they are still counting ballots weeks later, and Republicans might lose a congressional race in district 22, thanks to mail-in irregularities. Oswego County Supreme Court Justice Scott DelConte warned with regard to the absentee balloting in that race, “We may have a serious problem on our hands.”
Unless Republicans unite and fight against the election chicanery now, they will have this serious problem on their hands in nearly every future election.
– – –
Daniel Horowitz is a senior editor of TheBlaze and host of the Conservative Review podcast. He writes on the most decisive battleground issues of our times, including the theft of American sovereignty through illegal immigration, the theft of American liberty through tyranny, and the theft of American law and order through criminal justice “reform.”
Photo “Vote Here Sign” by Lorie Shaull. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Mathematician Says Biden May Have Received 130 Percent of the Democrat Vote in Maricopa County, Ariz

Mathematician Says Biden May Have Received 130 Percent of the Democrat Vote in Maricopa County, Arizona

A scientist in the fields of pattern recognition in mathematical analysis , testified Monday that Biden may have received a weighted 130 percent of Democrat votes in Maricopa County , Arizona , to help him win the state .
Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai is an Indian-American scientist , engineer , politician , and entrepreneur who holds four degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , including a Ph.D. in biological engineering .
Ayyadurai presented his findings via video to select members of Arizona ’ s legislature during a public hearing at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix .
The event was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s legal team to gather and examine evidence of 2020 election irregularities and fraud in the state .
The point of the “ fact-finding mission , ” led by Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis , was to collect evidence for Arizona lawmakers that could justify holding a special session to investigate further .
Ayyadurai presented an image of a curve that he said represented the actual cumulative vote counts for Biden and Trump on election night .
“ What we ’ re attempting to do using mathematics is curve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attempt to fit this curve , ” the scientist said .
He explained that his computer program changed variables such as the number of Democrats who voted for Trump or Biden , and the number of Republicans who voted for Trump or Biden in an effort to match the curve .
Ayyadurai said that the computer found that in order for Biden to have surged ahead of Trump in the vote count , 130 percent of the Democrat vote had to have gone to the Democrat and -30 percent of the Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The scientist noted that there were only two things that could explain that improbable result .
He admitted that there could be a demographic within the Independent voters who voted for Biden that that he could not see in his model .
“ Another possibility is that Mr. Biden ’ s votes were simply multiplied by 1.3 , meaning each single vote Biden received became 1.3 reported votes , ” Shiva explained .
“ And President Trump ’ s votes are reduced by that 0.3 or 30 percent gained by Mr. Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this vote swapping.
” Shiva testified that he believed Dominion voting machines have a weighted voting feature that would allow a Democrat candidate to receive 130 percent of the vote and for the Republican to receive 7/10ths of the vote .
“ The more important thing to understand is our votes are stored not as whole integer numbers but as decimal fractions , ” he explained .
He added that there is documentation of weighted votes being used as early as 2002 and that the only reason to have votes stored as fractions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cumulative vote count curve in Maricopa County , he noted , was “ highly implausible.
” “ In the era of electronic software systems , I think the courts need to step in and reclarify one person , one vote going back to the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution , ” he said .

by Debra Heine
A scientist in the fields of pattern recognition in mathematical analysis, testified Monday that Biden may have received a weighted 130 percent of Democrat votes in Maricopa County, Arizona, to help him win the state.
Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai is an Indian-American scientist, engineer, politician, and entrepreneur who holds four degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including a Ph.D. in biological engineering.
Ayyadurai presented his findings via video to select members of Arizona’s legislature during a public hearing at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix. The event was put on by members of President Donald Trump’s legal team to gather and examine evidence of 2020 election irregularities and fraud in the state.
The point of the “fact-finding mission,” led by Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, was to collect evidence for Arizona lawmakers that could justify holding a special session to investigate further.
Ayyadurai presented an image of a curve that he said represented the actual cumulative vote counts for Biden and Trump on election night.
“What we’re attempting to do using mathematics is curve fitting where you can change certain variables to attempt to fit this curve,” the scientist said.
He explained that his computer program changed variables such as the number of Democrats who voted for Trump or Biden, and the number of Republicans who voted for Trump or Biden in an effort to match the curve.
Ayyadurai said that the computer found that in order for Biden to have surged ahead of Trump in the vote count, 130 percent of the Democrat vote had to have gone to the Democrat and -30 percent of the Democrat vote had to have gone to Trump.
The scientist noted that there were only two things that could explain that improbable result.
He admitted that there could be a demographic within the Independent voters who voted for Biden that that he could not see in his model.
“Another possibility is that Mr. Biden’s votes were simply multiplied by 1.3, meaning each single vote Biden received became 1.3 reported votes,” Shiva explained. “And President Trump’s votes are reduced by that 0.3 or 30 percent gained by Mr. Biden. Simply put, you could call this vote swapping.”
Shiva testified that he believed Dominion voting machines have a weighted voting feature that would allow a Democrat candidate to receive 130 percent of the vote and for the Republican to receive 7/10ths of the vote.
“The more important thing to understand is our votes are stored not as whole integer numbers but as decimal fractions,” he explained.
He added that there is documentation of weighted votes being used as early as 2002 and that the only reason to have votes stored as fractions is to enable cheating.
The pattern of cumulative vote count curve in Maricopa County, he noted, was “highly implausible.”
“In the era of electronic software systems, I think the courts need to step in and reclarify one person, one vote going back to the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution,” he said.
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Debra Heine reports for American Greatness.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Seattle Set to Slash Police Budget Amid Crime Spike

Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is set to sign a bill that would slash police funding amid a citywide crime spike .
Durkan ’ s signature would cut police training and overtime funds by 18 % after the city council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the budget reductions , according to Fox News .
Activists within local government unsuccessfully sought a 50 % slash in law enforcement funding , but the council did approve the transfer of 911 dispatchers , parking officers and mental health workers out of the Seattle Police Department ( SPD ) , Fox reported .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in projects for communities of color and allow for the hiring of 100 new officers , according to Fox .
The mayor ’ s move would come amid a crime surge in the city where both murders and burglaries are on the rise .
The city has reported a total of 41 homicides so far in 2020 compared to 28 in 2019 , SPD crime statistics showed .
Similarly , law enforcement recorded 8,418 burglaries so far this year with 7,634 reported in 2019 , the data revealed .
Arson and motor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while rape , robbery and aggravated assault have yet to top 2019 ’ s totals , according to the statistics .
“ I believe we are laying the groundwork to make systemic and lasting changes to policing , ” Durkan said in a statement last week , according to Fox .
“ We have rightly put forward a plan that seeks to ensure SPD has enough officers to meet 911 response and investigative needs throughout the city , while acknowledging and addressing the disproportionate impacts policing has had on communities of color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce police funding followed the death of George Floyd , who died after a Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck for over eight minutes , video showed .
Seattle quickly became an epicenter of unrest when dissidents formed the Capitol Hill Organized Protest ( CHOP ) and occupied a district near a law enforcement headquarters .
Two people died , one of whom was 16-years-old , and four were wounded in multiple shootings within the zone before officers dismantled the encampment , according to The Seattle Times .
Jake Dima is a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photo “ Seattle Police Department ” by Adbar .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .

by Jake Dima
Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is set to sign a bill that would slash police funding amid a citywide crime spike.
Durkan’s signature would cut police training and overtime funds by 18% after the city council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the budget reductions, according to Fox News. Activists within local government unsuccessfully sought a 50% slash in law enforcement funding, but the council did approve the transfer of 911 dispatchers, parking officers and mental health workers out of the Seattle Police Department (SPD), Fox reported.
The new budget would inject around $100 million in projects for communities of color and allow for the hiring of 100 new officers, according to Fox.
The mayor’s move would come amid a crime surge in the city where both murders and burglaries are on the rise. The city has reported a total of 41 homicides so far in 2020 compared to 28 in 2019, SPD crime statistics showed.
Seattle homicides highest in decade amid defund the police initiative https://t.co/7ny4BEdAtS — Fox News (@FoxNews) November 30, 2020
Similarly, law enforcement recorded 8,418 burglaries so far this year with 7,634 reported in 2019, the data revealed. Arson and motor vehicle theft are also on the rise, while rape, robbery and aggravated assault have yet to top 2019’s totals, according to the statistics.
“I believe we are laying the groundwork to make systemic and lasting changes to policing,” Durkan said in a statement last week, according to Fox. “We have rightly put forward a plan that seeks to ensure SPD has enough officers to meet 911 response and investigative needs throughout the city, while acknowledging and addressing the disproportionate impacts policing has had on communities of color, particularly Black communities.”
Calls to reduce police funding followed the death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck for over eight minutes, video showed. Seattle quickly became an epicenter of unrest when dissidents formed the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) and occupied a district near a law enforcement headquarters.
Two people died, one of whom was 16-years-old, and four were wounded in multiple shootings within the zone before officers dismantled the encampment, according to The Seattle Times.
– – –
Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Seattle Police Department” by Adbar. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Former Senate Candidate Daniel Gade Announces New Mission PAC to Support Veteran Candidates

Daniel Gade is shifting gears after losing in his bid to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate .
On Monday , Gade announced the creation of the New Mission PAC , which he said will support veterans for office and advocate pro-veteran policies .
“ I launched New Mission PAC to expand our efforts to serve America ’ s veterans by assisting leaders running for public office across the nation , ” Gade said in a Twitter press release .
“ Today , less than 20 % of Congress has served in the armed forces – a steadily declining number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Gade had teased a big announcement , leading to speculation that he would announce a run for a Virginia office .
On Tuesday , Gade told The Virginia Star that supporters had asked him to run for governor .
While he ’ s not ruling out running for office again in the future , Gade said he ’ s setting his sights on participating in upcoming elections through the New Mission PAC .
“ There are a lot of career politicians who wake up the day after an election and say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next thing I ’ m going to run for , because that ’ s what I love doing , I love running , ' ” he said .
“ And I woke up the next day after the election in the greatest country on earth and said , “ How do I continue to serve in the most valuable way ?
” And what I wanted to do was help conservative veteran candidates win.
” Gade said military veterans and law enforcement officers have already completed their first mission serving their country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are continuing to serve their country , but with a new mission .
The PAC is funded in part by leftover funds from his campaign , but Gade is also mobilizing the supporter base he built , asking for donations and volunteers to visit his website .
His first project is the Senate runoff in Georgia .
Gade is planning to support Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue through independent expenditures on text messages and mailers aimed at mobilizing the veteran vote .
Gade said a candidate doesn ’ t have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they do need to be good for veterans .
“ It ’ s definitely different from a blank check for Republicans , ” Gade said .
“ I ’ m going to fight for people who share my values , and if those people happen to be veterans , that ’ s great and I ’ m totally willing and excited about supporting veteran candidates.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Daniel Gade is shifting gears after losing in his bid to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate. On Monday, Gade announced the creation of the New Mission PAC, which he said will support veterans for office and advocate pro-veteran policies.
“I launched New Mission PAC to expand our efforts to serve America’s veterans by assisting leaders running for public office across the nation,” Gade said in a Twitter press release. “Today, less than 20% of Congress has served in the armed forces – a steadily declining number that is mirrored at the state level.”
Gade had teased a big announcement, leading to speculation that he would announce a run for a Virginia office. On Tuesday, Gade told The Virginia Star that supporters had asked him to run for governor. While he’s not ruling out running for office again in the future, Gade said he’s setting his sights on participating in upcoming elections through the New Mission PAC.
“There are a lot of career politicians who wake up the day after an election and say, ‘Oh, what’s the next thing I’m going to run for, because that’s what I love doing, I love running,'” he said. “And I woke up the next day after the election in the greatest country on earth and said, “How do I continue to serve in the most valuable way?” And what I wanted to do was help conservative veteran candidates win.”
Gade said military veterans and law enforcement officers have already completed their first mission serving their country. When they run for office, they are continuing to serve their country, but with a new mission. The PAC is funded in part by leftover funds from his campaign, but Gade is also mobilizing the supporter base he built, asking for donations and volunteers to visit his website.
His first project is the Senate runoff in Georgia. Gade is planning to support Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue through independent expenditures on text messages and mailers aimed at mobilizing the veteran vote.
Gade said a candidate doesn’t have to be a veteran to get his support, but they do need to be good for veterans.
“It’s definitely different from a blank check for Republicans,” Gade said. “I’m going to fight for people who share my values, and if those people happen to be veterans, that’s great and I’m totally willing and excited about supporting veteran candidates.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Daniel Gade” by Daniel Gade.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Ohio Launches Grant Program to Improve Air Quality in Long-Term Care Facilities

Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine announced a new indoor air quality program on Tuesday designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus in long-term care facilities .
The program — funded by the federal CARES act — will target senior living facilities such as nursing homes , assisted living centers and adult day centers .
Of the federal funding provided to the state , $ 28 million will be earmarked for HVAC inspections , portable air filtration systems , new filtration systems , maintenance on current systems , and other interventions in these facilities .
Purchases made on or after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improve indoor air quality are eligible for funding .
Facilities can receive up to $ 15,000 in funding .
The program was approved by Ohio ’ s Bureau of Workers ’ Compensation Board of Directors last Wednesday .
“ As we move into colder months and spend more time inside , proper ventilation and filtration are even more important to stop the spread of COVID-19 , ” DeWine said in a statement .
Although air filtration alone can not prevent the spread of the coronavirus , the Environmental Protection Agency said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to reduce the potential for airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors.
” The agency recommends filters that are able to remove airborne particles in the size range of 0.1-1 um .
There are currently more than 3,400 current confirmed cases of coronavirus among residents and more than 2,500 cases among staff of long-term care facilities , according to the Ohio Department of Health .
That is out of more than 23,600 and more than 16,000 cumulative cases , respectively .
There have been more than 430,000 cases of the coronavirus and 6,548 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Find applications for grants for the indoor air quality program here .
For more information , email [ email protected ] Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a new indoor air quality program on Tuesday designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus in long-term care facilities.
The program — funded by the federal CARES act — will target senior living facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living centers and adult day centers. Of the federal funding provided to the state, $28 million will be earmarked for HVAC inspections, portable air filtration systems, new filtration systems, maintenance on current systems, and other interventions in these facilities.
Purchases made on or after March 1 and up to December 30 to improve indoor air quality are eligible for funding. Facilities can receive up to $15,000 in funding.
The program was approved by Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Board of Directors last Wednesday.
“As we move into colder months and spend more time inside, proper ventilation and filtration are even more important to stop the spread of COVID-19,” DeWine said in a statement.
Although air filtration alone cannot prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Environmental Protection Agency said that “filtration can be part of a plan to reduce the potential for airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors.”
The agency recommends filters that are able to remove airborne particles in the size range of 0.1-1 um.
There are currently more than 3,400 current confirmed cases of coronavirus among residents and more than 2,500 cases among staff of long-term care facilities, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That is out of more than 23,600 and more than 16,000 cumulative cases, respectively.
There have been more than 430,000 cases of the coronavirus and 6,548 deaths across the state, the department reported.
Find applications for grants for the indoor air quality program here. For more information, email [email protected]
– – –
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Ohio’s Largest City Wants to Cap Delivery Fees for Restaurants

With Ohioans facing an ongoing curfew and continued pressure from Gov .
Mike DeWine to stay at home , the state ’ s largest city plans to take steps to help both restaurants and their customers .
In an effort to help small businesses and the restaurant community , the Columbus City Council announced plans for legislation to cap third-party delivery services , according to President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown and Council President Shannon G. Hardin .
“ Exorbitant delivery fees being sent to out-of-state corporations just make no sense when our local businesses are fighting so hard to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Capping those fees protects not only the restaurants who feed our residents but also the workers who make them run by also ensuring delivery driver pay and gratuity is protected under the new fee cap.
” As the COVID-19 pandemic continues , the state of Ohio has relaxed regulations on restaurants and bars , allowing liquor to be sold and delivered as part of the meal .
Many Ohio cities also have allowed restaurant and bars to more easily expand outdoor dining .
At the same time , more and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rather than leaving home .
Many restaurants use third-party apps and websites to place orders , and according to Brown and Hardin , many of those delivery services include commission fees of 30 % or more of the purchase price .
The legislation caps those fees at 15 % , and it will remain in effect for 120 days after the pandemic restrictions on restaurants end .
It also says delivery services can not reduce pay or garnish tips from delivery drivers in response to the cap .
“ With Franklin County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home advisory , we ’ re going to see even more small businesses relying on third-party delivery services .
This legislation is critical to keep our small and independent restaurants afloat , ” Hardin said .
An Ohio native , J.D .
Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio , Georgia , Alabama and Texas .
He has served as a reporter , editor , managing editor and publisher .
Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square .

by J.D. Davidson
With Ohioans facing an ongoing curfew and continued pressure from Gov. Mike DeWine to stay at home, the state’s largest city plans to take steps to help both restaurants and their customers.
In an effort to help small businesses and the restaurant community, the Columbus City Council announced plans for legislation to cap third-party delivery services, according to President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown and Council President Shannon G. Hardin.
“Exorbitant delivery fees being sent to out-of-state corporations just make no sense when our local businesses are fighting so hard to keep up during this pandemic,” Brown said. “Capping those fees protects not only the restaurants who feed our residents but also the workers who make them run by also ensuring delivery driver pay and gratuity is protected under the new fee cap.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the state of Ohio has relaxed regulations on restaurants and bars, allowing liquor to be sold and delivered as part of the meal. Many Ohio cities also have allowed restaurant and bars to more easily expand outdoor dining.
At the same time, more and more Ohioans are turning to meal-delivery companies, rather than leaving home. Many restaurants use third-party apps and websites to place orders, and according to Brown and Hardin, many of those delivery services include commission fees of 30% or more of the purchase price.
The legislation caps those fees at 15%, and it will remain in effect for 120 days after the pandemic restrictions on restaurants end. It also says delivery services cannot reduce pay or garnish tips from delivery drivers in response to the cap.
“With Franklin County’s rising COVID-19 rates and the stay-at-home advisory, we’re going to see even more small businesses relying on third-party delivery services. This legislation is critical to keep our small and independent restaurants afloat,” Hardin said.
– – –
An Ohio native, J.D. Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher. Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Ossoff Continues to Accuse Perdue of Insider Trading – Even After He’s Been Cleared of Wrongdoing

Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff continues to accuse incumbent Senator David Perdue ( R-GA ) of insider trading , though Perdue has been cleared of any wrongdoing .
The Senate Ethics Committee , Department of Justice ( DOJ ) , and Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) all cleared Perdue earlier this year .
Ossoff has accused Perdue as recently as Tuesday , tweeting a dated clip from CNN discussing the brief email exchange between Grimes and the senator in January .
However , investigations determined that the correspondence didn ’ t include any nonpublic data .
Yet , CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis for calling Perdue a crook .
Bash reiterated that Perdue was cleared , and clarified that the senator wasn ’ t charged with any crime .
“ [ C ] alling him a crook suggests he committed a crime , which , again , the Justice Department found no evidence of – they didn ’ t even pursue charges , ” she said .
Fair ?
” Ossoff disagreed with Bash , holding to the claim that Perdue was “ exploiting his office , exploiting his access to privileged information , exploiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own constituents are suffering and dying absolutely make Senator Perdue a crook.
” During a press conference on Monday , the Democratic challenger focused on accusing the senator of “ enrich [ ing ] himself ” through insider trading after describing how he ’ d fed the hungry on Thanksgiving Day .
Ossoff claimed that Perdue relied on “ classified information ” to engage in “ a pattern of misconduct.
” In response to Ossoff ’ s accusations , Perdue released another ad debunking the claims .
The video stated that Perdue wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussing COVID-19 , and reiterated that the senator was cleared of wrongdoing by multiple investigative teams .
“ Jon Ossoff believes if you repeat a lie enough , people will believe it , ” the add said .
The Georgia Star News asked Perdue ’ s campaign whether they planned on taking further action against Ossoff ’ s repeated accusations beyond a response ad .
Spokespersons with Perdue ’ s campaign didn ’ t respond by press time .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Jon Ossoff ” by Jon Ossoff .

Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff continues to accuse incumbent Senator David Perdue (R-GA) of insider trading, though Perdue has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Senate Ethics Committee, Department of Justice (DOJ), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) all cleared Perdue earlier this year.
Ossoff has accused Perdue as recently as Tuesday, tweeting a dated clip from CNN discussing the brief email exchange between Grimes and the senator in January. However, investigations determined that the correspondence didn’t include any nonpublic data.
Yet, CNN correspondent Dana Bash questioned Ossoff about his basis for calling Perdue a crook. Bash reiterated that Perdue was cleared, and clarified that the senator wasn’t charged with any crime.
“[C]alling him a crook suggests he committed a crime, which, again, the Justice Department found no evidence of – they didn’t even pursue charges,” she said. Fair?”
Ossoff disagreed with Bash, holding to the claim that Perdue was “exploiting his office, exploiting his access to privileged information, exploiting his power to enrich himself while his own constituents are suffering and dying absolutely make Senator Perdue a crook.”
During a press conference on Monday, the Democratic challenger focused on accusing the senator of “enrich[ing] himself” through insider trading after describing how he’d fed the hungry on Thanksgiving Day. Ossoff claimed that Perdue relied on “classified information” to engage in “a pattern of misconduct.”
In response to Ossoff’s accusations, Perdue released another ad debunking the claims. The video stated that Perdue wasn’t present at the senate briefing discussing COVID-19, and reiterated that the senator was cleared of wrongdoing by multiple investigative teams.
“Jon Ossoff believes if you repeat a lie enough, people will believe it,” the add said.
The Georgia Star News asked Perdue’s campaign whether they planned on taking further action against Ossoff’s repeated accusations beyond a response ad. Spokespersons with Perdue’s campaign didn’t respond by press time.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Jon Ossoff” by Jon Ossoff.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Georgia Radio Show Callers Blast Local Officials For Double Talk, Inaction On Vote Steal Allegations

Live from Georgia 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 Georgia Senator Chuck Payne , Rep. Kasey Carpenter , and Rep. Jason Ridley to the show as they took lashings from callers named Jeff and Nancy who explained their embarrassment of the Republican Party and called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanks for being with us today .
I am your Godzilla of the Truth in America .
Your Oracle of the Deplorables .
And we ’ re trucking the truth every day .
The truth my friends will set you free .
We ’ re battling the fake news .
We ’ ve been in Georgia for three weeks .
We ’ ve got two more ahead of us on our 10-day intensity road tour .
Today Dalton , Georgia .
That ’ s North Georgia for those not familiar with the terrain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Somewhere in there .
Half hour .
I was in Dahlonega yesterday and Wednesday I ’ ll be in Cartersville .
On our power round table here on the power panel we have state senator , all republicans Chuck Payne .
Chuck welcome .
Chuck Payne : It ’ s good to be here .
Fredericks : And we also have state representatives Kasey Carpenter and Jason Ridley .
Without further ado guys we ’ re going to go right to the phone lines and we ’ re going to start with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Georgia .
Line one .
Jeff , you ’ re live .
Caller Jeff : Hi , John , and thanks for taking my call .
I ’ m a retired master sergeant in the United States Air Force .
A Georgia resident and born in Georgia .
And I don ’ t know if I ’ m more angry or embarrassed by the panel that you have there .
Where is the fire in these guys ?
Where is their sense of duty ?
Did they watch the Arizona citizens that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passion than these guys do ?
It ’ s embarrassing .
And I ’ m so angry and I ’ m embarrassed .
And I hope that the citizens across this country don ’ t think that most citizens in Georgia feel the way that these guys do .
You need to get a fire in your belly and you need to remember you took an oath to our constitution and stand up and fight for this President .
This is the time of our life .
Fredericks : Well I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond .
You ’ re not exactly getting the love of representatives .
Let ’ s start with Jason Ridley .
Ridley : Hey listen .
I ’ ve fought and I ’ ve been fighting .
I ’ ve been answering about 70 phone calls a day from my local constituents trying to explain exactly how and what we can actually do .
Like I ’ ve said you know before on here I ’ m pissed as everybody else is .
I feel like everybody ’ s abandoned our President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though we do have these two senate races that are important I feel like that we ’ ve kind of turned this coach over to him a little bit to concentrate on these .
And I know that there ’ s that those are important but I understand that the whole purpose of voting is is is what this nation was built on .
And if we can ’ t elect a president I understand people ’ s frustrations about how ’ s this senate race going to turn out .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meetings we want to .
We can let the public come out .
But if I can ’ t get anybody there to put it under oath if I can ’ t get Stacey Abrams there and if I can ’ t get some of the people from Dominion there and really ask the hard questions what answers am I going to get besides what I already know ?
And that ’ s what we ’ re all mad about this election and mad about what ’ s going on .
Fredericks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give you a chance to respond to that in Warner Robins .
Jeff go ahead .
Caller Jeff : I don ’ t see it .
You say that you ’ re angry .
Sir , I have contacted my representatives and I don ’ t think it ’ s just these three gentlemen I think that ’ s what ’ s happened to Georgia .
It ’ s unlike anything that I ’ ve ever seen .
I ’ m 58 years old .
It ’ s just it ’ s so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I have contacted my reps three times each through email which is on the My Georgia voter page where it ’ s easy to access and I would encourage all Georgians to do the same but they will not respond .
I have called them up at the Secretary of State ’ s office .
No reply .
I ’ ve emailed the Secretary of State ’ s office .
I ’ ve called the governor ’ s office and you get incompetence even when they take the phone call .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feelings that I have and the anger that is livid throughout the state of Georgia outside of these representatives .
And that ’ s why I ’ m so shocked and I ’ m so angry .
And it ’ s because I don ’ t hear it and I don ’ t see it .
Fredericks : Jeff you don ’ t feel it .
This is what I ’ ve been seeing here .
I ’ ve been here now for three weeks .
This is consistent with every call I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no feeling .
I mean that ’ s basically it .
I had Senator Steve Gooch on yesterday who is a really good conservative from Dahlonega and he ’ s like well we ’ ll figure it out on January 10th ’ s special session .
And Beech is like screw that .
You know the the the the guy Beach from where is he Cherokee County ?
I call him Beach Balls .
The guy ’ s a moderate Republican and he ’ s fighting everybody and he can ’ t get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s demanding that the governor call him .
Jeff thank you .
Let ’ s go to line two , Nancy in Atlanta .
Nancy , you ’ re live .
Caller Nancy : Thank you .
I have a question and a comment .
I feel like a lot of the other Georgia Republicans , I ’ m embarrassed to be a Georgia Republican and I wish these guys would grow a set .
They say they can ’ t do anything .
What they can ’ t do .
Wha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tell us what you can do .
You could have a hearing .
The press would be there .
We the people will be there .
We will protest .
Maybe we need to be in Athens at your caucus and protest there .
Start telling us about what you can do and not about what you can ’ t do .
And all this waiting around , it ’ s just not acceptable .
We the people will not take it .
We will primary you .
We will remember this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response and look forward to it .
Fredericks : All right Nancy from Atlanta line one .
Thank you .
Let ’ s go to Senator Chuck Payne for that .
Beach and others have called for a hearing on these allegations of fraud .
Senator Payne , what say you ?
Payne : I would have no objection to having hearings .
But also the first caller that called in , he neglected to say something that stuck out my mind and that is that we also swear an oath to uphold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election that ’ s why I think a lot of people the disconnect is and I think most of the lawmakers feel this way is we ’ ve gone from the political climate of an election to now becoming law enforcement officers .
And so just as any good detective will tell you when you ’ re in the process of processing information and facts and evidence that ’ s not when you go public and run a public campaign .
And so I think that ’ s why a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re now into that law enforcement mode making sure that not only the U.S. constitution is upheld but the state constitution as well .
Fredericks : Well what do you think about the fact that your party led by David Shafer who by the way has been a fighter in this the whole way .
I just want to tell everybody that it ’ s not the party .
It ’ s not Shafer and it ’ s not Ginger Howard .
They ’ ve been fighting but the party has demanded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots .
I mean and I guess a lot of the frustration senator is that the representatives that we have on have not except for Beach have not really gone that passionate over it .
I mean why can ’ t we do an audit of those envelopes Senator Payne ?
Payne : Well I believe that we should do an audit of those envelopes .
I ’ ve been saying the same thing .
I think many of us and I stand with the lieutenant governor .
Now he ’ s come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those envelopes and those absentee ballots .
Fredericks : You can ’ t be serious ?
I mean Jeff Duncan the guy that runs to CNN and MSNBC and defends Raffensberger at every move and now tepidly says yeah it ’ s probably a good idea .
I mean do you really think that ’ s the kind of leadership that people want ?
Honestly ?
Listen to the full interview here :

Live from Georgia 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 Georgia Senator Chuck Payne, Rep. Kasey Carpenter, and Rep. Jason Ridley to the show as they took lashings from callers named Jeff and Nancy who explained their embarrassment of the Republican Party and called for the statesmen to act.
Fredericks: Thanks for being with us today. I am your Godzilla of the Truth in America. Your Oracle of the Deplorables. And we’re trucking the truth every day. The truth my friends will set you free. We’re battling the fake news. We’ve been in Georgia for three weeks. We’ve got two more ahead of us on our 10-day intensity road tour.
Today Dalton, Georgia. That’s North Georgia for those not familiar with the terrain. About 50 minutes south of Chattanooga. Somewhere in there. Half hour. I was in Dahlonega yesterday and Wednesday I’ll be in Cartersville. On our power round table here on the power panel we have state senator, all republicans Chuck Payne. Chuck welcome.
Chuck Payne: It’s good to be here.
Fredericks: And we also have state representatives Kasey Carpenter and Jason Ridley. Without further ado guys we’re going to go right to the phone lines and we’re going to start with line one. Jeff in Warner Robins, Georgia. Line one. Jeff, you’re live.
Caller Jeff: Hi, John, and thanks for taking my call. I’m a retired master sergeant in the United States Air Force. A Georgia resident and born in Georgia. And I don’t know if I’m more angry or embarrassed by the panel that you have there. Where is the fire in these guys? Where is their sense of duty? Did they watch the Arizona citizens that stood up and seemed to have more passion than these guys do?
It’s embarrassing. And I’m so angry and I’m embarrassed. And I hope that the citizens across this country don’t think that most citizens in Georgia feel the way that these guys do. You need to get a fire in your belly and you need to remember you took an oath to our constitution and stand up and fight for this President. This is the time of our life.
Fredericks: Well I’m going to give you guys a chance to respond. You’re not exactly getting the love of representatives. Let’s start with Jason Ridley.
Ridley: Hey listen. I’ve fought and I’ve been fighting. I’ve been answering about 70 phone calls a day from my local constituents trying to explain exactly how and what we can actually do. Like I’ve said you know before on here I’m pissed as everybody else is. I feel like everybody’s abandoned our President. I feel like that you know even though we do have these two senate races that are important I feel like that we’ve kind of turned this coach over to him a little bit to concentrate on these.
And I know that there’s that those are important but I understand that the whole purpose of voting is is is what this nation was built on. And if we can’t elect a president I understand people’s frustrations about how’s this senate race going to turn out. And like I said we can have all the meetings we want to. We can let the public come out.
But if I can’t get anybody there to put it under oath if I can’t get Stacey Abrams there and if I can’t get some of the people from Dominion there and really ask the hard questions what answers am I going to get besides what I already know? And that’s what we’re all mad about this election and mad about what’s going on.
Fredericks: All right. I’ll give you a chance to respond to that in Warner Robins. Jeff go ahead.
Caller Jeff: I don’t see it. You say that you’re angry. Sir, I have contacted my representatives and I don’t think it’s just these three gentlemen I think that’s what’s happened to Georgia. It’s unlike anything that I’ve ever seen. I’m 58 years old. It’s just it’s so widespread and it’s so disheartening. I have contacted my reps three times each through email which is on the My Georgia voter page where it’s easy to access and I would encourage all Georgians to do the same but they will not respond.
I have called them up at the Secretary of State’s office. No reply. I’ve emailed the Secretary of State’s office. I’ve called the governor’s office and you get incompetence even when they take the phone call. You just have no idea of the angry feelings that I have and the anger that is livid throughout the state of Georgia outside of these representatives. And that’s why I’m so shocked and I’m so angry. And it’s because I don’t hear it and I don’t see it.
Fredericks: Jeff you don’t feel it. This is what I’ve been seeing here. I’ve been here now for three weeks. This is consistent with every call I’m getting that there’s no feeling. I mean that’s basically it. I had Senator Steve Gooch on yesterday who is a really good conservative from Dahlonega and he’s like well we’ll figure it out on January 10th’s special session. And Beech is like screw that. You know the the the the guy Beach from where is he Cherokee County? I call him Beach Balls. The guy’s a moderate Republican and he’s fighting everybody and he can’t get anybody to stand with him. He’s demanding that the governor call him. Jeff thank you. Let’s go to line two, Nancy in Atlanta. Nancy, you’re live.
Caller Nancy: Thank you. I have a question and a comment. I feel like a lot of the other Georgia Republicans, I’m embarrassed to be a Georgia Republican and I wish these guys would grow a set. They say they can’t do anything. What they can’t do. Wha, wha, wha. Take action. Tell us what you can do. You could have a hearing. The press would be there. We the people will be there. We will protest. Maybe we need to be in Athens at your caucus and protest there. Start telling us about what you can do and not about what you can’t do. And all this waiting around, it’s just not acceptable. We the people will not take it. We will primary you. We will remember this. I’m waiting for your response and look forward to it.
Fredericks: All right Nancy from Atlanta line one. Thank you. Let’s go to Senator Chuck Payne for that. Beach and others have called for a hearing on these allegations of fraud. Senator Payne, what say you?
Payne: I would have no objection to having hearings. But also the first caller that called in, he neglected to say something that stuck out my mind and that is that we also swear an oath to uphold the state constitution. And so after the election that’s why I think a lot of people the disconnect is and I think most of the lawmakers feel this way is we’ve gone from the political climate of an election to now becoming law enforcement officers.
And so just as any good detective will tell you when you’re in the process of processing information and facts and evidence that’s not when you go public and run a public campaign. And so I think that’s why a lot of people feel the disconnect because we’re now into that law enforcement mode making sure that not only the U.S. constitution is upheld but the state constitution as well.
Fredericks: Well what do you think about the fact that your party led by David Shafer who by the way has been a fighter in this the whole way. I just want to tell everybody that it’s not the party. It’s not Shafer and it’s not Ginger Howard. They’ve been fighting but the party has demanded that Raffensberger do an audit of the mail-in ballots. I mean and I guess a lot of the frustration senator is that the representatives that we have on have not except for Beach have not really gone that passionate over it. I mean why can’t we do an audit of those envelopes Senator Payne?
Payne: Well I believe that we should do an audit of those envelopes. I’ve been saying the same thing. I think many of us and I stand with the lieutenant governor. Now he’s come out and said we need to audit those envelopes and those absentee ballots.
Fredericks: You can’t be serious? I mean Jeff Duncan the guy that runs to CNN and MSNBC and defends Raffensberger at every move and now tepidly says yeah it’s probably a good idea. I mean do you really think that’s the kind of leadership that people want? Honestly?
Listen to the full interview here:
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Background Photo “Georgia Capitol” by Autiger. CC BY-SA 2.0.