thetennesseestar--2020-12-15--Investigation Finds Georgia Officials Decline to Prosecute or Correct the Double Voters They Catch

More than 1,700 Georgians were singled out for illegally casting two ballots in 2020 elections – including last month ’ s hotly contested presidential race -but their fraudulent votes weren ’ t canceled out , according to state election officials .
And so far , none of the cheaters has been prosecuted , raising concerns about continued fraud as Georgia prepares to vote again in twin U.S. Senate runoff elections next month .
The majority of double voters were Democrats who cast an absentee ballot either by mail or drop box and also voted in person on Election Day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under state law .
The highest share of offenders were from Fulton County , which includes Atlanta – many of whom were allowed to cast a second ballot by poll workers , officials said .
Hundreds of workers assigned to county poll sites were recruited and trained by the Democrat-run Georgia chapter of the ACLU and a minority-owned temp agency run by Democrat donors , according to documents obtained by RealClearInvestigations .
Most of them were young and inexperienced .
Before the election , the ACLU urged anyone “ threatened with prosecution ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for legal assistance .
It is now signing up poll workers for the January 5 runoff races .
And the temp agency , Happy Faces Personnel Group , remains under contract with the county to supply workers for that critical election , despite complaints from poll managers and poll watchers that its recruits were “ poorly trained ” and “ highly partisan.
” The Georgia runoffs will determine control of the Senate .
Though the number of suspected double-voting felons is the largest in state history , RealClearInvestigations has learned that no cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general for criminal investigation .
“ This office does not have any referrals on double voting cases so far from the State Election Board related to the June 2020 primary or November 2020 general [ election ] , ” said Katie Byrd , spokesperson for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr , a Republican .
The lack of action undercuts Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ’ s promise last month “ to prosecute those who try to undermine our elections to the fullest extent of the law.
” Fraud cases are referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is chaired by Raffensperger , a Republican who has taken heat from President Trump for not doing more to investigate claims of fraud in the November 3 election .
Some local officials had hoped at least some double voters would be prosecuted and made examples of ahead of the Senate runoffs next month to deter other cheaters from committing fraud .
“ I am terribly disappointed in the lack of enforcement of our election laws , ” said Forsyth County Commissioner Dennis Brown , a Republican .
“ We are asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the runoffs if something is not done soon.
” Raffensperger faced a backlash from liberal voting-rights groups over his warnings about fraud following the June primary , when more than 150,000 voters tried to vote twice but reportedly were unsuccessful .
( The system is supposed to catch double-voters , but at least 1,000 still slipped through safeguards . )
The groups , led by Democratic activist Stacey Abrams ’ well-funded Fair Fight Action , have maintained that claims of fraud could have a chilling effect on absentee voting and effectively suppress black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that method of voting .
Some local election officials believe Raffensperger is afraid of being labeled “ racist ” by Abrams , who is suing him for allegedly “ disenfranchising ” voters of color in the state .
“ I am not sure the secretary of state has the backbone for this , ” Fulton County poll manager Suzi Voyles said .
“ We have turned in thousands of unlawful voters and not one of them has been prosecuted.
” Brown agreed that Raffensperger may be out of his depth , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ He is a little bit afraid , politically , and buckled a little more than he should have to Abrams , who ’ s trying to stir up racial discord , ” he said .
“ That ’ s why he printed up all those absentee ballot [ request ] forms and sent them to people who hadn ’ t asked for them – which was just a terrible action , because it creates all kinds of problems with double voting and other fraud – and that ’ s why he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which just opens the door for illegal ballot harvesting.
” Pressured by Abrams and other voting-rights activists , Raffensperger agreed to mail out absentee ballot applications and install ballot drop-off boxes in Georgia ’ s 159 counties .
As a result , absentee voting skyrocketed across the state .
Both the primary and general elections drew historic numbers of absentee ballots .
Some poll watchers blame the push to make absentee voting easier during the coronavirus pandemic for the surge in double-voting .
Double voters typically mailed in or dropped off ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to vote in person and were allowed to vote despite being flagged in the system .
Others voted in person first , then dropped an absentee ballot in one of the drop boxes later that day , bypassing system safeguards .
“ The one thing that the system can not safeguard against with the new drop boxes is voters who go through the steps saying they did not request an absentee ballot , vote at the polls , and then later that day drop a ballot in the absentee box before 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such concerns , the boxes are being used again for next month ’ s runoffs .
Absentee voting has already begun in the Senate races , which pit GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler against Democratic hopeful Raphael Warnock and Republican Sen. David Perdue against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff .
Democrats hope to win both contests to take control of the 100-seat Senate with 50 seats and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris as a tie-breaker .
An investigation by Raffensperger ’ s office revealed that at least 1,042 people knowingly voted twice in the June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using Democratic Party ballots .
Another 294 voted twice in the August runoff election .
Two-thirds of the combined 1,366 double votes were votes by absentee .
Hundreds more broke the law again on November 3 .
Results are preliminary , but investigators so far have found at least 400 cases of double voting in the presidential race .
These fraudulent votes were not canceled .
It ’ s unclear whether they favored Joe Biden or President Trump due to the secrecy of ballots .
Raffensperger officially called Georgia and its 16 electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third recount showed him with a razor-thin lead of 11,769 votes .
Voting twice is a felony punishable by one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $ 100,000 .
Proving intentionality is not required under Georgia law .
Yet none of the total 1,736 confirmed cases of double-voting has been referred for prosecution , even though some cheaters were overheard bragging about violating the law .
The secretary of state ’ s investigations office is still fielding reports from precincts and complaints from poll watchers , so the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unclear about the total number of people who showed up at the polls on November 3 despite having cast an absentee ballot by mail or drop box , but the number is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands .
Investigators are confident that in most cases , people who ’ d already cast their vote were flagged by the system .
They may have tried to vote again , but were turned away .
The full number of those who were nonetheless allowed to vote in person remains an open question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most repeat voting complaints came in 2008 , when 10 cases were investigated in Georgia .
In this election , more Georgians than ever before requested an absentee ballot after Raffensperger made it easier to vote absentee .
Many poll watchers had warned that providing more voting options would create more ways to cheat .
Although Raffensperger would not comment , a senior state election official defended his record by noting that double-voting might have been worse in the general election if he hadn ’ t publicly denounced the fraud that took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of state ’ s office has put safeguards in place to ensure everyone ’ s vote is counted just once in the Jan. 5 election .
He did not specify what procedures have changed other than improving training for election workers to make sure they properly follow procedures for canceling absentee ballots when voters show up in person .
“ As long as human beings are involved , no election is going to be perfect , ” said the official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity .
“ If an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t see the indication that a voter has already cast a ballot and lets them vote anyway , there ’ s really nothing we can do but investigate the person who cast the double vote who would know they ’ re double voting and are committing a felony.
” Voyles , who has been helping manage polls in Fulton County for 20 years , complained that Democratic county officials entrusted the ACLU of Georgia with training election workers in how to screen out voters trying to cast two ballots .
She noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that appears more interested in defending people who vote twice than stopping them and reporting them to authorities .
Before the presidential election , the state ’ s ACLU chapter urged anyone “ threatened with prosecution ” over double-voting allegations to contact them for “ legal assistance.
” “ The ACLU of Georgia invites anyone threatened with prosecution for allegedly voting two times in the primary election to request legal assistance by contacting the organization as soon as possible , ” according to a Sept. 8 press release .
Despite the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the ACLU was put in charge of policing double-voting at her precinct .
“ I was not happy the ACLU was there , ” Voyles said .
“ I do not trust them.
” In fact , Fulton County allowed the ACLU to station lawyers at each of its 255 polling sites , replacing poll managers and overriding normal county procedures for catching absentee voters who show up at polls .
This “ new policy ” was designed to “ simplify ” the process .
Fulton County was not alone .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deployed more than 2,700 election workers at polls across the state on November 3 .
It also helped recruit “ technicians ” to help operate and “ troubleshoot “ the machines of Dominion Voting Systems .
ACLU recruiters targeted younger Georgians for the election work , many of whom had no previous experience checking in voters , and put them through a special training program separate from the county ’ s .
“ Don ’ t think of yourself as ‘ inexperienced , ’ “ an ACLU organizer told recruits in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes from the meeting .
“ Prepare to walk in and take a leadership role , even as a first-time poll worker.
” In a guide for Georgia poll workers , the ACLU came close to encouraging double-voting : “ Voters can cast a regular in-person ballot even if they requested an absentee ballot.
” The chapter also facilitated absentee voting by listing the locations of all the drop boxes in the state , including some 36 drop boxes installed in Fulton County .
Poll workers are supposed to verify if a walk-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received .
If such a voter shows up at the polls after requesting an absentee ballot , poll workers must cancel the ballot electronically and have the voter sign an affidavit swearing he or she will not send it in .
And they are supposed to turn away anyone who already voted absentee and then shows up in person .
But in hundreds of cases in Georgia , poll workers issued voter access cards to people who had already voted absentee , ignoring status messages that appeared on their electronic Poll Pads indicating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot .
Records show the ACLU of Georgia is financially supported by Abrams ’ group and run by Andrea Young , a civil-rights activist and Democrat who served as chief of staff to former Rep. Cynthia McKinney , D-Ga. A former Planned Parenthood official , Young last month urged voters to elect politicians who support abortion rights and lower sentences for black convicts , among other things .
“ The voting has ended .
The counting has begun .
Now , the next phase of our work begins : Protect the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , ” she wrote on the local ACLU website the day after the presidential election .
“ We vote to elect officials who will pursue policies to promote civil rights.
” Young does not count Trump among those officials .
In a local newspaper interview after Trump took office , she slammed the new president for proposing policies she said “ infringe on civil rights.
” Her ACLU chapter supports the “ Black Lives Matter ” movement .
In a page on its website titled , “ RACIAL JUSTICE : GEORGIA ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ At the ACLU of Georgia , we have redoubled our efforts to support the voices of the unheard and fight systemic racism in its many forms .
Join the movement .
Black Lives Matter.
” The ACLU of Georgia did not respond to requests for comment .
But a document outlining its recruitment program said it “ worked to recruit and prepare qualified poll workers.
” “ We are now preparing poll workers for runoff elections in Georgia on January 5 , ” it added .
Voyles doubts the ACLU-trained workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
Judging from their training materials , she may have a point .
“ Never tell someone that they can ’ t vote , ” the ACLU organizer told recruits in the October 8 training session .
In the same meeting , recruits were advised that their working at the polls was “ one of the most impactful ways to effect change in the 2020 election cycle.
” In addition to the ACLU recruits , more than 340 poll workers — including those screening absentee voters , counting votes , canvassing votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers — were contracted over to Fulton County through a minority-owned temp agency that doesn ’ t specialize in recruiting or training election workers .
Many of the temps from the agency — Tucker , Georgia-based Happy Faces — were described as partisan , inexperienced and poorly trained by poll managers and monitors who worked alongside them .
The “ statewide contract ” for Happy Faces ’ 2020 election staffing was valued at almost $ 7 million , according to Fulton County documents .
The Fulton deal was approved by Robb Pitts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board of Commissioners .
Listed as contract administrator for Happy Faces was chief financial officer and staffing manager Edwina Berry Hairston , who appears in Federal Election Commission records as a Democratic donor .
Phone calls and emails to Fulton County went unanswered .
But county officials explained in a 2019 document to the commissioners board that they needed to hire Happy Faces because staffing the polls in 2020 would be a “ time-consuming effort , ” and Happy Faces could “ cut out the work by handling everything from recruitment , background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processes for our deadline-driven election calendar.
” They assured the board that approving the contract for Happy Faces would result in “ a successful conduct of the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
” But some Fulton County poll managers and watchers were not happy with the election-related tasks they performed , noting that Happy Faces workers were often rude , incompetent and openly discussed politically sensitive topics .
“ The workers from this temp organization employed by Fulton County have no experience , and there are some who are incompetent .
And many are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a certified poll watcher who runs VoterGa.org , one of the leading advocates for election integrity in the state .
Added Voyles : “ We had an issue with Happy Faces temps , who were given managerial responsibilities but had never worked in any election at all .
Their training was inadequate .
They were even instructed to ignore basic Georgia law and allow people from other counties or precincts to vote [ in her Fulton County precinct ] .
” Happy Faces , which does not list elections work among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides , did not respond to requests for comment .
But a brochure on its website maintains that it is “ dedicated to consistently surpassing service performance standards.
” The temp agency is under contract to also staff polls for the January 5 runoffs .
Byrd , the state attorney general ’ s spokesperson , said that although the AG is not currently prosecuting any of the 1,736 known cases of double-voting in the 2020 election cycle , he is investigating two individuals who allegedly voted twice in the November 2016 general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , voters knowingly took advantage of glitches or poll worker errors to cast a second ballot in the election .
“ Right now , we are processing two double-voting cases from the 2016 cycle .
They were referred to this office around September 10 , ” she said .
“ I can not share more on those matters at this time as they ’ re considered active.
” RealClearInvestigations has learned through other sources that one case involves a female government worker from Putnam County , who allegedly cast a ballot twice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and again on Nov. 2 , 2016 .
The other case involves a male voter from Murray County , Ga. , who allegedly took advantage of a system error that missed his mailed ballot and voted again in person after he was issued access by a poll worker on Election Day .
Because the voters have not yet been charged , RCI is withholding their names .
Local critics say it ’ s outrageous state election officials have not even referred any of the hundreds of known cases of double-voting cheaters from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ After the primary elections , Raffensperger announced that his office identified 1,000 people who voted twice in the primary .
He promised that they would be prosecuted for voter fraud , ” said Don Cole , a former speech writer for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue , a cousin of Senator Perdue .
“ I must have missed the announcements of arrests , indictments , trials , or convictions.
” “ Before the primary we all received firm assurances that the system was so secure that it was impossible to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to get through that security in the primary election , ” Cole added .
“ I guess that they were just warming up for November.
” Paul Sperry is an investigative reporter for RealClearInvestigations .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Georgia Secretary of State and State Election Board Changed Absentee Ballot Signature Verification a

Georgia Secretary of State and State Election Board Changed Absentee Ballot Signature Verification and Added Drop Boxes Without State Legislature’s Approval

As in-person early voting began Monday for the January 5 run off election for two U.S. Senate seats in Georgia , significant changes for absentee ballot signature verification and drop boxes put into place by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and the State Election Board ahead of the November 3 presidential election without the state legislature ’ s approval are still in place .
Local county registrars began mailing approved absentee ballots to voters for the January 5 run off elections more than three weeks ago on November 18 , according to Georgia ’ s election calendar .
Neither ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for voters to deposit absentee ballots nor ( 2 ) the current method of absentee ballot signature verification have been authorized by the Georgia General Assembly .
( 1 ) The use of drop boxes for voters to deposit absentee ballots has not been authorized by the Georgia General Assembly Mail or personal delivery are the only two ways that Georgia lawmakers have clearly specified in O.C.G.A .
21-2-385 that electors are to get their absentee ballots to the registrar or absentee ballot clerk .
There are no provisions in the current Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the sole constitutional responsibility for setting election procedures as stated in Article II Section I , Paragraph I of the Constitution of the State of Georgia – for drop boxes or any other manner in which absentee ballots can be returned to the registrar other than mail or in-person delivery .
O.C.G.A .
21-2-382 explicitly addresses “ Additional sites as additional registrar ’ s office or place of registration for absentee ballots.
” That section of Georgia law allows for the registrar to establish additional sites “ for the purpose of receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any additional sites must be “ a branch of the county courthouse , a courthouse annex , a government service center providing general government services , another government building generally accessible to the public.
” The law extends the establishment of additional sites by the registrar to locations used as an election day polling place , even if that location is not a government building .
Shortly after Gov .
Kemp declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic , and in advance of the June primary , Secretary Raffensperger and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their April 15 , 2020 special-called meeting to adopt Election Code Emergency Rule number 183-1-14-0.8-.14. to Secure Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes “ exactly as written ” and presented to the board at the meeting by Secretary of State General Counsel Ryan Germany : Under Georgia law , emergency rules adopted by any state agency or regulatory body automatically expire 120 days after their adoption ( see § 50-13-4-b ) .
Subsequently , the State Election Board met on July 1 and unanimously voted to amend and extend Election Code Emergency Rule number 183-1-14-0.8-.14.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rule was set to expire on October 28 , five days before the November 3 general election : A subsequent review of the agenda and meeting summaries of all the meetings of the State Election Board between July 1 , 2020 and Election Day November 3 , 2020 by The Georgia Star News indicates that the Board appears to not have undertaken consideration of or a vote on extending Election Code Emergency Rule number 183-13-0.8-14. subsequent to its apparent expiration on October 28 , 2020 .
On November 23 , the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to press reports , voted unanimously to extend Election Code Emergency Rule number 183-13-0.8-14 .
A written transcript of the minutes of that meeting has not been made available at the State Election Board website , but you can listen to an audio recording of that one hour and 27 minute meeting here .
The rule usurps Georgia ’ s legislature by giving powers to county registrars not permitted in state law .
The first paragraph of the Raffensperger/State Election Board rule reads , “ County registrars are authorized to establish one or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for absentee by mail electors to deliver their ballots to the county registrars.
” ( 2 ) The current method of absentee ballot signature verification has not been authorized by the Georgia General Assembly Another change to absentee ballot procedures instituted by Raffensperger and the State Election Board without legislative approval came about as the result of a November 2019 lawsuit brought by the Democratic Party of Georgia ( DPG ) against Raffensperger , the State Election Board , and the Gwinnett County Board of Registration and Elections .
DPG ’ s legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to absentee ballots : – when a timely-submitted absentee ballot is rejected by the registrar for signature issues in accordance with O.C.G.A .
21-2-386 , the “ promptly notify ” provision of the statute does not adequately address the method or timing of such notification by the registrar to the absentee voter – the Gwinnett County absentee ballot envelope has a confusing layout and illegible font size , caused primarily by the federally mandated English/Spanish bi-lingual verbiage to accommodate the high percentage of Hispanic and Latino residents of the county The remedy that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Northern District of Georgia was two-fold : – require that the Georgia Secretary of State and the State Election Board instruct county election officials to notify voters of signature issues with their absentee ballots by phone , email and/or text message within one day of receiving the absentee ballot – prevent the Gwinnett Board from creating , preparing and distributing absentee ballot envelopes with a confusing , illegible design Since DPG ’ s requests seem fairly reasonable and straightforward , it is unclear why Raffensperger went above and beyond the requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release .
In the Compromise Settlement , Raffensperger and the State Election Board agreed and subsequently changed Rule 183-1-14-.13 regarding Prompt Notification of Absentee Ballot Rejection .
The Compromise Settlement also required that Raffensperger , “ in his official capacity as Secretary of State , ” issue an Official Election Bulletin regarding the procedure for reviewing signatures on absentee ballot envelopes by county election officials .
Raffensperger ’ s subsequent Official Election Bulletin required that county registrars and absentee ballot clerks comparing signatures on the absentee ballot mailing envelope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek review from two other registrars before rejecting the ballot .
An absentee ballot could not be rejected unless a majority of the three registrars agreed that the signature does not match any of the voter ’ s signatures on file .
The review and agreement by two other registrars materially changed Georgia law , as set out in O.C.G.A .
21-2-386 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( C ) , which requires review by only one individual and makes it more difficult to challenge defective signatures .
It is also curious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Official Election Bulletin from Raffensperger , rather than a rule change approved by the State Election Board , which is done through public meetings , adoption through a majority vote and publication of the meeting minutes and the rules .
By comparison , Official Election Bulletins do not get the public hearing that State Election Board Rules do , and the Secretary of State ’ s website includes no obvious record of the Official Election Bulletins that Raffensperger has issued .
Clearly , that is not the case when it comes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exterior envelope by three individuals and majority agreement before a rejection , when the law calls for review and rejection by only the registrar or clerk .
In August 2020 , Raffensperger and the State Election Board went further to undermine the signature verification process .
Through Emergency Rule 183-1-14-0.10-.16 Raffensperger and the State Election Board allowed applications for absentee ballots to be submitted on-line .
As such , there was no requirement for the direct presentation of the applicant ’ s signature for verification and issuance of an absentee ballot .
Raffensperger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Compromise Settlement to “ consider in good faith providing county registrars and absentee ballot clerks with additional guidance and training materials to follow when comparing voters ’ signatures that will be drafted by the Political Party Committees ’ handwriting and signature review expert.
” The “ Political Party Committees , ” as defined in the Compromise Settlement are the Democratic Party of Georgia and two other Democratic organizations .
Shockingly , this leaves the training for absentee ballot signatures to Democrat experts .
Under the auspices of protecting the health of Georgia voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote , ” Raffensperger , “ more than ever , ” encouraged Georgians to vote with a mail-in absentee ballot To assist in that goal , Raffensperger mailed 6.9 million absentee ballot request forms to every Georgia voter , according to a statement issued by the Secretary of State ’ s office .
This , while the DPG who named him in the lawsuit , said in their legal complaint that in recent elections , “ absentee voters have disproportionately voted for Democratic candidates.
” The November 3 , 2020 , presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Kemp had Democratic candidate Joe Biden ahead of President Donald Trump by less than 12,000 votes out of 5 million votes cast , of which 1.3 million were fraud-prone absentee ballots .
The state of Texas alleged in a lawsuit , filed with the U.S. Supreme Court and supported by 18 Republican attorneys general , that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger materially changed the absentee ballot signature verification process in the months leading up to the November 3 , 2020 general election .
The Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network .
Photo “ People Voting ” by Phil Roeder .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Scott McClallen
Sixteen Michigan schools have been awarded $205,028 to develop Great Lakes-based science, technology, engineering, and math – STEM – programs.
“These grants will support freshwater literacy programs and offer students access to real world STEM experiences,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “Our Great Lakes are our greatest asset, and we must empower young Michiganders to learn more about them and continue advancing conservation efforts. Michigan’s economic competitiveness depends on a workforce proficient in STEM and committed to solving our biggest challenges. Investments like these will help prepare our kids to lead our state into the future.”
Grant proposals were submitted and reviewed through a competitive process. Selected projects study freshwater conservation and real-world experiences.
Grant awardees and amount are as follows:
Alcona Community Schools: $6,892 to expand 3-P learning by studying coastal and wetland habitats.
Alpena Public Schools: $8,078 so students can work as scientific researchers collecting data and making observations to determine if environmental issues are impacting the Thunder Bay River Watershed.
Avron Township School: $5,000 to adopt two beaches so it can participate in science lessons.
Atherton Community Schools: $10,000 to engage 195 middle and high school science students in 3-P learning through its “Health in Our Hands” curriculum.
Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District: $20,000 for 3-P learning to support teachers.
Farmington Public Schools: $15,870 to incorporate “student voice” in water steward topics and activate 3-P teaching
Forest Hills Central Woodlands ⅚ School: $20,000 to provide 3-P learning students, including transportation for all students to visit the Inland Seas Schooner and engage in the remotely operated vehicle program through Inland Seas Education Association.
Grand Rapids Montessori, Grand Rapids Public Schools: $8,862 to help students identify and solve habitat loss for local pollinators, bird and turtle species through a partnership with the John Ball Zoo.
Harrington Elementary School: $12,000 for Marshall Public Schools to partner with Albion College to develop “outdoors at school” curricula for grades K-5.
Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency: $20,000 to support Southwest MiSTEM and the Kalamazoo Nature Center to establish a Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative hub to continue water stewardship education programs.
Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools: $15,000 to participate in the Flint River Green project, where students learn about the Flint River Watershed and its community impact.
Muskegon Area Intermediate School District: $15,000 to expand 3-P learning for 420 fourth grade students and 3-P training for 19 fourth grade teachers.
Pickfield Public Schools: $9,996 so students can gather water quality data from the local watershed.
Stanton Township Public Schools: $5,000 to train new teachers to carry out future Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative activities.
Washtenaw Intermediate School District: $20,000 to build a foundation for cross-district collaboration in support of freshwater-focused place-based education.
Wayne-Westland Community Schools: $13,330 to activate a 3-P learning program.
The grants continue the 2020 From Students to Stewards Initiative and the 2021 MiSTEM Transformative Playbook grants.
The Great Lakes account for over 20% of the world’s surface freshwater.
– – –
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Commentary: America’s Union Agenda at a Crossroads

The war for the soul of America is mirrored in the war for the soul of its major political parties .
The establishment Democrats contend with a progressive insurgency and the establishment Republicans contend with a populist America First insurgency .
But above all , the corporate bipartisan glue that connects the establishment Democrats to the establishment Republicans means they have more in common with each other than with their respective insurgencies .
Polling and voting results indicate that more than nine out of 10 registered Republicans consistently favor the America First policies ignited by Donald Trump .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the House of Representatives by Democrats in November suggests that most registered Democrats would support a Republican before they ’ ll support the democratic socialist agenda .
Both factors—that Republican voters overwhelmingly embrace America First principles and reject globalism , and that a large fraction of Democratic voters apparently reject far-Left ideology—make the Democratic Party the new and principal home of the establishment , and hence more attractive to billionaire donors and corporate multinationals .
America ’ s billionaires and boardroom titans also realize that it is easier to co-opt a far-Left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues where they can , for example , exploit the synergy between “ diversity ” mandates and open borders , or environmentalist mandates which disproportionately harm small , emerging , potential competitors .
Hiding behind this moral rhetoric , they amass more profit and power .
There is no such opportunistic synergy to be had with Republican “ America First ” voters , no inauthentic gambit to exploit , so of course the big money now goes to Democrats .
So which party now authentically represents the American worker ?
The Democrats , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Or Republicans , whose voters have rejected the monied elites that once ran their party , and have attracted a rainbow coalition of working-class voters ?
This question of which political party in America is more likely to implement policies that benefit the American worker should be one of the very first preoccupations of America ’ s union leadership .
For the past several decades , including this most recent election , 90 percent of political contributions from America ’ s unions went to support Democrats .
But why now ?
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political alternative in the America First movement .
Now there is a movement and an American president , who has successfully implemented policies that have benefit workers instead of investors ; labor instead of capital .
In core areas , immigration , trade , and environmental policy , Trump ’ s actions have helped American workers .
If union leaders did not notice , union workers did .
As Politico reported in September , “ despite a bevy of national union endorsements for Biden and years of what leaders call attacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local officials in critical battleground states said support for Trump remains solid.
” Without a doubt , growing union membership depends on a union-friendly labor secretary and a union-friendly majority on the U.S. Supreme Court .
Trump delivered neither of those things , so why was he popular with union members ?
Democratic strategists and liberal pundits would claim that union workers are won over by Trump ’ s alleged xenophobia—that they are anti-immigrant .
This is a predictable and convenient way of excusing what really happened .
As the multinational corporate establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties , U.S. policies increasingly harmed the American worker .
The evidence is written across the decades : Offshoring jobs , importing cheap immigrant labor , and undermining key sectors of the economy in the name of protecting the environment .
But why would unions stand for this ?
Part of it is their historical ties to the Democratic Party .
Part of it , to be sure , is the Republican Party ’ s commitment—albeit half-hearted commitment—to right-to-work laws and in general to reining in the power of organized labor .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picture .
America ’ s union leadership knows that if workers ’ wages and benefits improve thanks to government policies , rather than as a result of union negotiations and strikes , then unions will become irrelevant .
This hidden agenda may explain why unions won ’ t publicly admit that increasing the supply of labor lowers the value of labor , or that offshoring jobs—and shutting down coal mining and fracking—destroys the lives and livelihoods of workers .
All of that is true , but these hardships drive desperate workers to resort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The worse things get , the more workers will turn to a union .
In other words , for unions , bad times for their members are good for their business model .
How America ’ s Unions Could Help the America First Movement The only way America ’ s union leadership would renounce this cynical calculation is if members demand change .
America ’ s union leadership has two simple choices to make .
First , are they fighting for the American worker , or are they fighting for all the workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they willing to shut down American jobs and further corrode American economic security in order , supposedly , to save the environment—or are they committed to a balanced approach that creates millions of jobs and adds trillions of dollars to the economy ?
In both of these choices , American unions are choosing between nationalism and globalism .
But the moral case they might make for globalism is thin .
It doesn ’ t benefit the rest of the world if America becomes such a hollow shell of an economy that it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t benefit the vast majority of foreign workers if a small percentage of them migrate to the United States .
It doesn ’ t help the ability of emerging economies , anywhere , if cheap and clean fossil fuel is not developed and used , everywhere .
And it certainly doesn ’ t benefit anyone if the United States bans fossil fuel , but China , India , Indonesia , Pakistan , Nigeria , Brazil , and every other demographic heavyweight nation on earth keeps on using it .
The point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globalism may sound good—we all want to see everyone on earth achieve prosperity as soon as possible—but its implementation is rotten .
Globalism as it is envisioned today by corporate multinationals is little more than economic imperialism .
The Left used to understand that .
Perhaps the far Left still does .
But the establishment Democratic Party either does not understand this or they understand it perfectly well but want the donations to keep pouring in from their corporate allies .
The good news for unions , if they ’ re willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is that by embracing realistic restrictions on immigration and supporting an approach to environmental policy that balances the needs of the planet with the needs of the workers they represent , they ’ re not making a moral compromise .
The vast majority of workers in the rest of the world are indifferent to the question as to whether a minute percentage of them can or can not emigrate to the United States .
The development of cheap and clean fossil fuel is an all-of-the-above energy strategy that will more rapidly lift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In turn , that will slow population growth and ultimately help the environment .
Soon enough , leapfrog technologies such as fusion energy will power the world , and the unwarranted panic over using fossil fuel will be forgotten .
Unions in the United States should reassess their political allegiances .
Are they truly willing to continue to support a political party dominated by corporate globalists whose power and profits depend on reducing the standard of living of American citizens ?
Or will they demand America First policies on immigration , trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so would restore their credibility with their membership , and , given their not inconsiderable political clout , hasten the day when America ’ s politicians and political bureaucracies are again responsive to ordinary Americans .
Edward Ring is a senior fellow of the Center for American Greatness and co-founder in 2013 of the California Policy Center .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Conservative Political Commentator and Author Joel Pollak Talks About What Motivated His New Book Ne

Conservative Political Commentator and Author Joel Pollak Talks About What Motivated His New Book Neither Free Nor Fair, The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

On Tuesday ’ s 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 Joel Pollak who is a South African-American conservative political commentator , writer , and attorney .
Pollak also currently serves as the senior-editor-at-large for Breitbart News .
During the second hour , Pollak discussed the motivation behind and the arguments he makes in his new book , Neither Free Nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election .
He also argued that he felt the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Georgia Senate seats and the political violence by the left ignored by politicians and the media .
Leahy : We are joined now by my good friend and colleague for many years at Breitbart and I think the hardest working man in conservative media Joel Pollak .
Welcome to The Tennessee Star Report Joel .
Pollak : Hey !
How are you ?
Leahy : Well , we ’ re great .
You have a new book out that is I think fantastic .
Neither Free Nor Fair : The 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , you argue that this was not a free and fair election .
Tell us a little bit about what you ’ ve discovered in your reporting .
Pollak : Well , this really wasn ’ t a free and fair election .
Having said that we have to accept the outcome .
It might sound a little contradictory .
But what I argue is that there were many cases of abuse in this election .
Whether it was the changing of rules halfway through to mass vote by mail and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or the use of political violence .
Or censorship by the social media companies when it came to the Hunter Biden story .
These are things that are not consistent with a free and fair election .
These are all violations of the principles of fairness and really of freedom .
Because when your censored and you can ’ t say what ’ s on your mind in an election , that ’ s really an abuse of our democratic ideals .
The difference here is , of course , it was carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government .
So a lot of what happened while objectionable was legal .
And we have to figure out ways to prevent it from happening again .
We don ’ t want to change our first amendment or have a government intrude in our elections that sort of thing .
But we have to develop an ethic as a society that says certain kinds of behavior during an election are really out of bounds .
And there was almost no pushback when the media centered the Hunter Biden story to take one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and thought it was great .
And the idea of journalists celebrating anybody restricting anybody else ’ s right to report or to express themselves is kind of nutty .
But that ’ s what happened .
And we ’ ve got to make sure it never happens .
Again , if the Democrats win in Georgia , which is really my preoccupation at the moment , you ’ re going to see some of the abuses that we experienced in November become nationwide because they ’ re going to pass the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bill to permanently change our elections in ways that Democrats basically can exploit and make it almost impossible for Republicans to win again .
So as much as people might be frustrated by what happened in November we have a lot to learn from that .
And we ’ ve got to make sure it does not happen again .
and the first step to making sure it doesn ’ t happen again is hoping that there isn ’ t Democratic control of the Senate .
In other words , winning Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen in this 2020 election .
Is it just this whole long list of things that were unfair or was there one that really turned the table in your view ?
Pollak : Well , the most important one to me was the political violence .
I mean from where I sit the idea that you could have hundreds of riots around the country and the media would call them peaceful protests , it ’ s very damaging to a society .
It ’ s the most damaging thing in my experience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas I lived in South Africa and I ’ ve studied in Israel and so forth .
And the worst thing that a society can allow is political violence .
Once you have violence involved in politics , you can ’ t really have Democratic dialogue anymore .
People can not think past the violence .
And society starts to break down .
Decision-making in a democratic way can ’ t happen anymore .
So I was really alarmed by the degree to which the media condoned , defended , and covered up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
And almost all of it was on the left .
You know , we heard a lot about Proud Boys and that sort of thing .
That was mostly an illusion .
You know , Joe Biden last night in his speech when he won the Electoral College he talked about the intimidation of poll workers and so on .
I ’ ve never heard him say one thing about the intimidation of ordinary Americans .
I ’ ve never heard him say one thing to defend Trump ’ s lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recounted challenge process .
I ’ ve ever heard him say one thing to defend the Trump supporters who were brutally attacked in Washington D.C. a few weeks ago when they had a rally .
So there ’ s this complete refusal on the left to denounce political violence when it comes to what their own supporters are doing .
And in fact , Joe Biden frequently called it falsely peaceful protests .
So to me , that ’ s the most important one .
But the ones that are easier to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have trouble maybe convincing a leftist that there was a lot of violence on their side because they ’ re media just doesn ’ t show it to them .
But the one that ’ s easiest to prove is the Hunter Biden laptop .
I mean there you ’ ve got media now forced to report that he ’ s under federal investigation whereas just a few weeks ago before the election they told us it was a baseless conspiracy theory .
And you look at that and you say come on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Republicans have been reporting on Hunter Biden ’ s connections and the exploitation of his father ’ s office to make himself wealthy for years .
It was a big topic during the impeachment inquiry that came up and yet the media pretended it was all just a conspiracy theory and then oops !
After the election , it turns out it was right .
Now , there ’ s a big investigation .
Turns out Joe Biden lied to us .
But we ’ re not going to even ask him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to hold them accountable for that .
I mean , that ’ s just one example .
But the idea that you would have a story that ’ s about one of the main candidates running for president and goes to his credibility to his corruption questions of honesty and that you would suppress that during an election during the three weeks before an election , it ’ s completely ridiculous .
But that ’ s what our media did and they didn ’ t suffer for it .
And I mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountable or each other .
And they ’ re not asking Joe Biden why he lied .
So it ’ s pretty egregious what happened .
And you know , the only thing I think one can say is that at least it wasn ’ t done by the government .
But these companies that suppressed the story have more power than the government .
So we have a lot to be concerned about .
Having said that I don ’ t think people should give up the fight .
You know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making sure there is accountability is winning those Senate seats in Georgia .
Because if again Democrats win both Senate seats are going to pass HR1 .
They ’ re going to make D.C. a state and maybe Puerto Rico as well .
They ’ re going to stack the Senate with their own members because D.C. is never going to send a Republican to the Senate .
So they ’ re going to make it almost impossible for Republicans to get a majority ever again .
They ’ re going to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re going to vote for Democrats forever .
And it ’ s kind of a slippery slope after that .
That ’ s why Republicans really have to kind of pick themselves up and fight another day because as upset if people are about November the point of being upset is not just to say well you should have gone the other way .
The point of being upset has to do something about it .
Leahy : The book is Neither Free Nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was published on December eighth .
Is Amazon the only outlet presently with the book Joel ?
Pollak : That ’ s right .
I ’ m publishing it through the Kindle select program which means Amazon for a while at least is the exclusive outlet .
But it ’ s a great forum in which to publish books .
I mean , thankfully they haven ’ t started really cracking down on conservative thought on Amazon .
And who knows maybe that will happen eventually , but you can pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had discussions with Amazon beforehand believe it or not .
I said would you publish a title about the election that said the election was unfree and unfair you know because YouTube is censoring that kind of content ?
And they said yeah , so you know we just published a book and we ’ ll be fine .
So hopefully they ’ ll keep to that way of doing things .
But yeah , you can get it at Amazon.com .
Leahy : Now I saw a report that you were interviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : Was it about this book ?
Pollak : It was about this book .
And he challenged YouTube to take down the video under their new policy .
He said if you guys are going to take down videos that mention the idea that the election was fraudulent .
You know as a possibility .
I mean , I don ’ t discount the possibility .
I think it ’ s unlikely that fraud tilted the outcome .
But anything ’ s possible .
And certainly , there is a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean the fact that there are 19 Bellwether counties in America that almost always go with the presidential winner and Trump won 18 of them .
There were 27 toss-up House races .
Republicans won all 27 .
And yet Trump lost the presidency .
It doesn ’ t seem to make much sense .
So it ’ s possible that there was something happening in the system .
I doubt it .
We haven ’ t seen the proof of it because sometimes when you look at this , you just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you funny expectations .
I mean funny outcomes .
I mean you sometimes have to take what you get .
The electorate is not always going to do things in a line or predictable pattern .
So you got to take things as they are .
But there could be other explanations for it .
And you can ’ t rule them out .
So Dershowitz and I talked about that a little bit .
And he said he dared them to take it down .
And so far they haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s so prominently challenged them to do so .
Leahy : Yeah .
By the way , Alan Dershowitz is a great guy .
He was your professor at Harvard Law School , right ?
Pollak : He was indeed .
He was a great great Professor .
Committed to open debate and committed to fair debate .
And really really just a fantastic American and a one of a kind who really believes in the First Amendment in a way that few others do .
I mean he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too .
Leahy : He sure does .
He gave a Zoom speech to the kids at the National Constitution Bee that we held here back in October and he mentioned that exactly and that he wasn ’ t getting enough in but it wasn ’ t getting any invitations to dinner .
One of the kids said well come on down to Nashville and we ’ ll take you out to dinner .
Pollak : Well there you go .
Leahy : This is perhaps the most insightful analysis that I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 presidential election .
So we appreciate you getting it done .
How did you do this so quickly ?
Pollak : Well , you know when you have a lot on your mind , sometimes it just pours out onto the page .
I think anything can be done as long as you break it down into small enough pieces .
So I just was taking a walk one weekend and thought you know what ?
I have something to say about this election .
And in my mind , I planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we got it done .
Leahy : Wow !
Congratulations on that .
Now Joel you are one of the few people that have been at Breitbart longer than I have .
I started full-time in 2012 .
You ’ ve been there since I think 2011 and you were hired personally by Andrew Breitbart .
Pollak : I was .
And this has been almost now 10 years since I ’ ve been here .
So it ’ s been a really fantastic ride and I ’ m looking forward to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to the next fight to fight .
It ’ s the most important one ever .
Obviously , we would have liked this election to go a little differently .
But this is the moment that our website was in a sense designed for .
To stand up to the left and to stand up to the powerful interests .
Leahy : Tell us a little bit about Andrew Breitbart because people are always fascinated by Andrew .
He passed away in 2012 .
What would Andrew say to Americans today looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ?
Pollak : What would he say ?
Well , I think this election showed everything Andrew tried to warn us about .
The collusion of the mainstream media Hollywood and the Democratic party .
I think the fact that they censored the Hunter Biden story .
It would have shocked Andrew but not surprised him .
I mean , this is the kind of thing they used to get away within a more subtle fashion .
Now , they ’ re just being quite open about it .
And I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it was .
There ’ s kind of a Democrat media complex that operates to try to control this country .
And the only hope that Americans have to take our country back is independent media .
and you know , he didn ’ t necessarily limit that to conservative media .
He thought that we needed independent voices and oddly enough he often found common ground with people on the left who we ’ re trying to get their voices out there outside and around the mainstream media .
Though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot more institutional support .
I mean just to take an example these knuckleheads from the Obama administration started a podcast Pod Save America .
They instantly get sponsorship and support from HBO .
They go on nationwide tours and that sort of thing .
And that doesn ’ t happen if you are conservative .
Leahy : No , no , no , no .
Pollak : You basically have to fight every day because people try to make your life miserable .
And you know , I refuse to be miserable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bad stuff that happens when you speak out as a conservative , you know , we almost choked .
It ’ s so easy to be a Democrat .
Why wouldn ’ t you be ?
I mean , you just get all kinds of opportunities .
You know sponsorships and that sort of thing .
If you ’ re on the left life is easier .
But on the other hand , You ’ re also walking hand-in-hand with the devil a lot of the time .
So you got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s worth fighting .
It really is .
The best people are the people you meet on this journey .
Leahy : Well , You ’ ve been fighting the good fight for quite some time Joel .
Here ’ s more of a personal question .
I know you ’ re out there in the Los Angeles California area .
It seems to be just going into chaos out there .
I will make a personal pitch to you .
A lot of folks seem to like the idea of moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a great place to live .
And let me invite you to come out here and visit sometime soon .
And I ’ ll give you a tour of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and show you why it ’ s in my view the greatest state in the union .
Pollak : Well , I look forward to visiting .
But I do like my ocean here .
Leahy : Ah ha !
You like the ocean .
Well , you grew up in Cape Town right in South Africa ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago , but I was born in Johannesburg .
So very very far from the ocean .
But I lived for many years in Cape Town .
Leahy : So you lived in Cape Town ?
Leahy : And so you have an affinity for the oh I can understand that .
it is physically beautiful out there in California .
What advice do you give to our listeners now who look at this and are disappointed and discouraged ?
What do you what would you suggest that our listeners do going forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , there are some great opportunities to take the country back in a way that I think preserves the best of President Trump ’ s legacy .
The House majority that Democrats have is very narrow , which means Republicans are in a great position to win the House in 2022 .
Republicans have held most of the state legislatures so they ’ re going to redraw the congressional districts .
The Democrats had hoped to win in many of these legislatures and take over and basically redraw the districts to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not going to happen .
So there ’ s a lot for Republicans to do with those state legislatures .
Republicans can also change some of these voting systems .
And get away from the abuses of vote-by-mail and get back to a traditional system of election day polling places .
Showing up in person .
And if that can ’ t happen then we need to create technologies that allow people to vote remotely , but without the kind of potential for cheating that I think really worries people .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of good work to do .
It becomes a lot harder if Democrats win in Georgia .
And I ’ m getting messages from people who feel discouraged .
Why bother ?
Why donate ?
And that sort of thing .
If you do that and if you think that way you ’ re basically giving up the country .
I know people are upset .
Very upset at the Republican establishment that sort of thing .
The Republican establishment is not on the ballot in Georgia .
America is on the ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take it from a guy who spent a lot of time fighting the Republican establishment .
You do not want to lose these Georgia Senate seats out of spite .
It ’ s going to be a generation before we fix the damage that ’ s done if we lose these Georgia Senate seats .
Leahy : Yeah .
Last question .
Will the potential Biden administration harm our American sovereignty in our relationships with China beyond repair during the next several years ?
We got 30 seconds for that big question .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would just ask people to focus on the positive .
I mean think about everything this President has done .
He ’ s not happy to be leaving office the way this is happening and shaking out obviously .
And I think he ’ ll be remembered in a sense as a tragic hero .
You know , what are the heroes from the westerns as Victor Davis Hanson likes to say where he kind of saves the town and then is forced to leave in a way .
But I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good that can be preserved in what he did and the beginning of preserving that Legacy is really just keeping a positive focus on the future .
There are a lot of good things happening .
Leahy : Joel Pollak , the author of Neither Free Nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election is available on Amazon.com .
Joel , thanks so much for joining us .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Joel Pollak ” by Joel Pollak .
Photo “ Neither Free nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election ” by Amazon .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Accused of Sexual Harassment

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) is facing accusations of sexual harassment from a former aide and advisor , Lindsey Boylan , who insisted he sexually harassed her for several years while she worked in his office .
Boylan , who worked for the Cuomo administration from March 2015 to October 2018 alleged that he repeatedly harassed her and would often make inappropriate comments about her physical appearance while colleagues did nothing .
“ Yes , @ NYGovCuomo sexually harassed me for years , ” Lindsey Boylan alleged in a tweet Sunday morning .
“ Many saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never anticipate what to expect : would I be grilled on my work ( which was very good ) or harassed about my looks .
Or would it be both in the same conversation ” : Boylan , who recently joined the 2021 race for Manhattan borough president , suggested there are others who have also experienced and witnessed Cuomo sexually harassing office workers .
“ Not knowing what to expect what ’ s the most upsetting part aside from knowing that no one would do a damn thing even when they saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I know I am not the only woman.
” “ I ’ m angry to be put in this situation at all .
That because I am a woman , I can work hard my whole life to better myself and help others and yet still fall victim as countless women over generations have .
Mostly silently .
I hate that some men , like [ New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ] abuse their power : In a series of tweets last week , Boylan called Cuomo ’ s office the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where staffers were “ deathly afraid ” of his authority and people don ’ t come forward because they ’ re afraid of the repercussions .
“ If people weren ’ t deathly afraid of him , they ’ d be saying the same thing and you ’ d already know the stories , ” Boylan wrote last week .
“ Seriously , the messages and texts I receive when I speak the truth about this .
… It ’ s a whole book of people who have been harmed.
” Boylan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work out the trauma she ’ s experiencing from her three years in the governor ’ s office , later tweeted , “ To be clear : I have no interest in talking to journalists .
I am about validating the experience of countless women and making sure abuse stops.
” In 2014 , Cuomo referred to himself as a feminist .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter Home Coronavirus Test

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first over-the-counter , at-home coronavirus test Tuesday .
The test , developed by the Australian company Ellume Limited , is a rapid antigen test that can deliver results in approximately 20 minutes , and works on any patient older than two years of age , the FDA said in its announcement .
“ Today ’ s authorization is a major milestone in diagnostic testing for COVID-19 , ” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said Tuesday .
“ By authorizing a test for over-the-counter use , the FDA allows it to be sold in places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can buy it , swab their nose , run the test and find out their results in as little as 20 minutes.
” The announcement follows the FDA ’ s approval of an at-home prescription coronavirus test in November .
The agency has now authorized over 225 coronavirus tests since the pandemic began , according to its release .
The FDA on Tuesday also released data reaffirming the safety and effectiveness of Moderna ’ s coronavirus vaccine , clearing the way for its emergency approval later this week .
A vaccine advisory panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s data before voting on whether to recommend it for emergency use .
The process is to FDA ’ s actions last week on Pfizer ’ s vaccine .
The FDA released Pfizer ’ s data Dec. 8 , the panel voted to recommend its authorization Thursday , and it was officially granted emergency approval late Friday .
Pfizer ’ s vaccine began to be distributed over the weekend , and administration started Monday in states across the country .
Officials have said that Moderna is prepared to distribute 6 million vaccine doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Pfizer , meaning that its coming emergency authorization could help alleviate the extraordinary demand for safe and effective vaccines as virus cases , hospitalizations and deaths spike across the country .
The U.S. surpassed 300,000 total coronavirus-related deaths Monday , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Georgia Democratic Senate Candidate Warnock Preached in 2016 That Christianity Started as ‘a Sociali

Georgia Democratic Senate Candidate Warnock Preached in 2016 That Christianity Started as ‘a Socialist Church’

Georgia Senate candidate Raphael Warnock once preached that Christianity started as a “ socialist church , ” video footage of a 2016 worship service showed .
Warnock , a reverend headed into a January runoff election against Republican Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler , preached at a November 2016 “ worship experience ” at Ebenezer Baptist Church that the early church “ operated ” through socialism .
“ The early church was a socialist church , ” Warnock said .
“ I know you think that ’ s an oxymoron , but the early church was much closer to socialism than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bible .
I love to listen to evangelicals who stand on the bible .
Well they had all things in common , they took everything — I ’ m just preaching the bible — they took all of their things and they had all things in common.
” “ But even the folk who say they just follow every word of the bible , they ’ re not about to do that .
But if we would just share what we have , everybody can eat , everybody ought to have water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a basic principle , ” Warnock said .
The pastor also emphasized that the rich “ ought ” to give more in order to “ level the playing field.
” “ And I don ’ t mind telling you that those who have more ought to give more , ” he said .
“ The strong are to bear the infirmities of the weak .
And in the nation and in the church , to whom much is given , much is required .
We need to level the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poor does not make you a socialist , it actually makes you a Christian , and it means that you believe that everybody is a child of God.
” In his 2014 book , “ The Divided Mind of the Black Church , ” Warnock also praised Marxism , writing that Marxist principles have “ much to teach the black church.
” Loeffler called on Warnock to “ renounce socialism and Marxism ” during the candidates ’ early December debate , but Warnock evaded her questions and instead expressed his support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s support for abortion has also sparked a backlash among conservatives and Christians who argued that the terms “ pro-choice ” and “ pastor ” contradict one another .
A group of black , mostly Georgia-based pastors condemned Warnock ’ s statement that he is a “ pro-choice pastor ” in a letter obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation Sunday .
“ Unborn Black , brown and white lives are so much more than clumps of cells , burdensome inconveniences , or health problems , ” the letter said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God with inalienable dignity and worth .
We implore you to uphold the Biblical defense of life and to fight against the systemic racism of abortion.
” Warnock did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story .
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Georgia State Legislator Received Absentee Ballot After Submitting Request Using Different Signature

Georgia State Legislator Received Absentee Ballot After Submitting Request Using Different Signature Than on Photo ID

Georgia State Senator Greg Dolezal ( R-Cumming ) received an absentee ballot after submitting an application using a different signature than on his photo ID .
The representative submitted his application on November 28 to vote in the runoff election .
He received a ballot without any issues on December 15 .
Dolezal tweeted a comparison picture between the non-matching signatures on his photo ID and his absentee ballot application .
“ I tested the signature match for absentee ballots in Georgia and it failed , ” Dolezal wrote .
“ I ’ m tired of the deniers saying there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t work .
Here is your evidence .
Is it any surprise only 2,011 signatures were rejected out of 1,322,529 in November ?
We must fix this.
” In an interview with The Georgia Star News , Dolezal explained that he took initiative to test signature matching because he suspected that elected officials were making broad claims without examining the evidence themselves .
“ I chuckle , but it really is appalling .
What ’ s appalling to me is we have all this question around signature match and all these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been no evidence of any issues .
I decided to test the system , and I kind of made the most ridiculous example I could , using myself , ” stated Dolezal .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced on Monday that their office would conduct an audit of absentee ballot signatures in Cobb County , followed by a statewide audit .
However , Raffensperger noted in a press conference that the decision to hold these audits wasn ’ t because signature matching was flawed .
Dolezal told The Star News that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely accurate .
“ I don ’ t know how he can make that statement .
As far as I ’ m aware , he hasn ’ t looked at any signatures .
The reality is , he needs to cast a wider net for the audit , ” stated Dolezal .
“ The interesting thing is , there ’ s 159 counties in Georgia , and the counties handle signature matching .
I think my board of directors is fantastic .
My suspicion is that , if my county missed that application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then I wonder about other counties .
Just anecdotally , I think we get the best things done in our county .
We ’ ve got the best schools , and we ’ re the wealthiest county in the state .
So I would suspect that if we did the signature audit everywhere like we ’ ve been asking for the last month , we ’ d find more issues.
” Dolezal told The Star News that nobody from the secretary of state ’ s office has contacted him about the signature match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
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thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Public Affairs Strategist Clint Brewer Talks 2021 and the Need for Kids to Get Back to School

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 how he thought society might look going into 2021 .
He later discussed how imperative it was that schools reopen and noted the damage that has been done to kids in light of the COVID-19 shutdowns psychologically and how they will not be adequately quantified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Well frustration is the word these days as a restaurant owner .
and apparently California you can ’ t do anything .
You can ’ t have a restaurant .
You can ’ t have a small business .
But if you ’ re a friend of Gavin Newsom and he wants to come to your restaurant well , that ’ s okay .
This is the frustration .
There ’ s another thing I bring up and I want to come back to you here with a response to that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star on the web at TennesseeStar.com by Robin Burke .
It ’ s interesting .
It ’ s called , We Must Renew Our Covenant With One Another Because Pretending Things Are Fine Won ’ t Cut It .
Interesting kind of a lookout to what we ought to do in 2021 this way to segue into this .
What are your hopes for 2021 because 2020 was really pretty awful ?
Brewer : Yeah .
I think we have to sort of tent pole , pillar institutions , and can we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have children and the thing that the thing I think that ’ s been the hardest has been school closures .
Brewer : We ’ ve had a member of the Metro Nashville School Board in here talking about this .
I mean , you know , when you close the schools down you don ’ t just take their kids out of their social setting , and you don ’ t just make it harder for them to learn .
Those things are bad enough .
But you know , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
I ’ ve heard just harsh stories of people whose kids who are otherwise really terrific students just simply can not take to online learning .
Brewer : So I think my greatest hope is that we can get kids back in school and keep teachers healthy .
And just have faculties that have the health status to teach kids .
And that we can have kids in schools .
Whether that ’ s in elementary school or university where they can can learn in person again .
We don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s some reportage on it here and there but , you know , we ’ re impacting an entire generation .
Brewer : I mean really you ’ re now looking at you know , two full years of people ’ s lives being vastly disrupted by this .
Leahy : Yes .
The last academic year and this academic year .
Brewer : I ’ ve got a child who ’ s a varsity athlete at a local high school .
And I mean he missed an entire sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just to listeners who look back on , you know , their amateur student-athletes ’ sports careers fondly .
Imagine missing the whole year .
Not just you but your team .
Leahy : That would have been devastating .
You know I grew up in a little small town in upstate New York .
And everybody if you could walk and talk and chew gum you played all three sports .
You played football in the fall basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring and summer .
As a kid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you lived to be a to play sports .
I mean if you mean you did your school , but it was a sports .
It was freshman year .
Sophomore year .
Junior year .
Leahy : I mean I remember very specific games .
I can remember the feeling of winning and the feeling of loss and the camaraderie with your teammates .
It ’ s very important in character formation .
Brewer : It ’ s hugely important .
And I think of all the things our children are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about how their test scores are being hurt .
How their grade point average scores are being hurt .
Leahy : They are just plummeting .
Brewer : This thing has affected children in a way that I don ’ t think will be properly quantified for a decade .
Leahy : Let me tell you something interesting my friend Dr. Susan Berry .
For those of you who read Breitbart now , she ’ s she writes a lot about education issues .
She had a piece the other day at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turns out 90 percent of Christian schools have been conducting in-person school throughout this pandemic .
Brewer : Well , I think even secular private schools have been going on .
And so you get a little more decision-making when you ’ re in private sector versus the public sector and on those things .
But the majority of kids and America are educated by public schools and public universities .
And you know , I think that yes my hope that ’ s my single greatest hope is that kids can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t think we are pondering how deeply that ’ s going to affect society for years to come .
Brewer : This year or year and a half .
Or whatever it ends up being .
Leahy : So I will give you a counter to that in the education field .
I think it is very important for the kids to go back to school .
I think our K-12 public schools are broken beyond repair .
Totally broken beyond repair .
And so what I ’ d like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tremendous growth in homeschooling in these little small pod schools in the private sector .
To figure out a way to get them out there and let the enormous infrastructure of the K-12 public school system either collapse on its own , which I think it will do in many areas .
Or develop the community capability to change course .
That ’ s what I ’ d like to see in 2021 .
Brewer : Yeah .
I mean I think kids learning in person is important regardless of the setting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ list would be you know , we ’ ve seen this incredible divide in the last 10-15 years .
We always talk about the economy coming back .
Well , there ’ s the market and then there ’ s everyone else .
Brewer : The financial markets .
and then there ’ s you know , the people on the ground who go to work every day .
I think you know us getting to a level of vaccination in this country where people can start go at doing simple things like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to restaurants to the point of the clip you played earlier .
Doing normal things that support local businesses .
Leahy : One of the very bad consequences of all this COVID-19 is it has crushed small businesses and it hasn ’ t really heard many big businesses .
Brewer : No .
It hasn ’ t .
In fact , some of the larger businesses are doing better now .
Leahy : Amazon is doing better .
Google and Facebook doing better , unfortunately .
And the grocery store chains .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can ’ t get COVID-19 at Walmart or Target but you can get it at your local restaurant .
Brewer : Exactly .
And I think that ’ s it ’ s crucial not just for people ’ s pocketbooks , but just for their mental well-being of being able to get out of the house and do things .
On social media , I have so many friends who ’ ve discovered hiking or kayaking or being outside , which I think is great .
But , you know being able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant and be able to get a break from cooking dinner sit down and have a meal out somewhere .
That ’ s important .
Church .
I mean goodness .
we ’ ve got to reopen churches in a more holistic way .
And I certainly understand the churches that are closed .
It ’ s a difficult decision .
But you know those kinds of sort of hometown re-openings of things I think are as important psychologically and economically to Americans as school .
Leahy : So I have a hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know if this will be realized but is probably one of the most important hopes , wishes , and desires that that you could ever have for America .
And that is it will find ways to keep Joe Biden from selling out America to China .
Brewer : ( Laughs ) Well , I wouldn ’ t hope that for any president .
Leahy : But I mean he ’ s so compromised on China .
You talked about this separation between the financial markets and everybody else .
The people that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The financial markets largely want to do business with China .
Brewer : Yes , we ’ ve talked about that here in the hour before .
Leahy : They want to do business with China .
They could care less about the huge human rights violations going on there .
The authoritarian nature of the Chinese Communist Party .
Their desire to crush any opposition and to basically , enrich their crony friends and hurt the average everyday folks .
I hope we ’ ll be able to constrain Joe Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese because obviously he ’ s compromised his son who was involved in a multi-million dollar deals with the Chinese .
And he ’ s bringing in people who love China .
Brewer : Well , I think that as I ’ ve said quite a few times on this show our country ’ s foreign policy position towards China is going to be one of the single most important things and top three heading into the next 20 years .
Leahy : Absolutely .
And I ’ m sorry to say it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s going to be if all turns as it looks like our new Commander in Chief , yikes !
It doesn ’ t look good .
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 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--FDA Review Reaffirms Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine’s Safety, Efficacy

The FDA released data Tuesday reaffirming that Moderna ’ s coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective in preventing severe cases in adults .
The release is a sign that the vaccine is likely to be granted emergency use from the FDA in the coming days , public health officials said , a critical step in ensuring that millions of Americans can be vaccinated as soon as possible .
The FDA released similar data regarding Pfizer ’ s vaccine just days before it was given emergency approval as well .
The data released Tuesday not only reaffirmed the Moderna vaccine ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but confirmed its 94.1 % efficacy rate among its clinical trial of approximately 30,000 people .
Though completely safe , common side effects from the vaccine include temporary fever , head and muscle ache and fatigue , the agency said in its release .
The coming approval process is expected to mirror that of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine last week .
The FDA ’ s vaccine advisory panel will meet Thursday and vote whether to recommend the vaccine for emergency authorization , one week after they did the same for Pfizer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be approved as early as Friday , people familiar with the timeline told The New York Times .
U.S. officials said Monday that the company is prepared to ship 6 million doses once approval is granted , more than double the amount of doses that Pfizer began to ship this past weekend .
Pfizer ’ s vaccine also began administration Monday in states across the country as the United States surpassed 300,000 coronavirus-related deaths .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Chamber: Most Small Businesses Say More Federal Aid Necessary for Success

Some two-thirds of small business owners say more federal relief funds are needed for them to be successful in the coming year during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , according to the fourth quarter Small Business Index survey from the United States Chamber of Commerce .
Small business owners who participated in the survey said they would use the money to pay for employee salaries and benefits , operational costs and rent and utilities .
Overall , the index stands at 52.9 for the fourth quarter , up slightly from 50.3 in the third quarter and significantly higher than 39.5 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pre-coronavirus , the index was 71.7 in the first quarter of 2020 .
Dealing with the coronavirus and the economy tied for first – at 44 percent each – among the top policies small businesses think the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden and the new Congress should focus on in 2021 .
“ Most small businesses have had a tough year and need immediate assistance from Congress , ” said Tom Sullivan , vice president of small business policy at the Chamber .
“ A legislative stimulus should be targeted toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bridge to survive the pandemic.
” Sullivan also noted that federal assistance should be flexible enough to fund personal protection equipment purchases and provide legal protections for companies that followed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect their employees and customers from coronavirus .
“ It ’ s the best way to ensure small businesses can get back on their feet and are there to help energize the economy when things start to return to normal , ” he added .
The Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act , allocated $ 2.2 trillion in federal relief funding when it was signed into law by President Donald Trump in March .
Of that , $ 659 billion was put toward the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses to fund up to eight weeks of payroll costs .
Most small business owners , 52 percent , say they will maintain their current number of employees in 2021 , while 27 percent said they expect to increase staff size .
More plan to reduce staff size , 14 percent , compared to 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 29 percent of small business owners describe the nation ’ s economy as being in good shape , up from 22 percent in the third quarter but down significantly from 57 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 .
Half of small business owners said they see their operations continuing for a year or less in the current economic climate before having to close permanently .
Ted O ’ Neil is a contributor to The Center Square .
Photo “ Small Business ” by spurekar .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--All-Star Panelist Clint Brewer Weighs in on the New COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer to the studio to discuss the proposed rollout of the new COVID-19 vaccine which is expected to service frontline healthcare professionals and first responders as priority .
Leahy : Well operation warp-speed .
President Trump ’ s big effort has worked .
The vaccine is being delivered here in Tennessee .
According to Vivian Jones at our top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 Vaccine , But No Doses Administered .
I ’ m ready to take the vaccine now personally .
I ’ m ready .
Brewer : I think people are .
I am too .
I think it ’ s logistics .
I ’ ve read about Pfizer , you know ramping up to make this much of anything as it ’ s a challenge .
Whether it ’ s you know tanks or cars or vaccines .
So , you know , I think there ’ s going to be a delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being able to get it .
I think it ’ s smart that it ’ s going to frontline healthcare workers and first responders .
Leahy : Yeah , that ’ s where it ’ s going first right ?
Brewer : Right .
I mean it makes sense .
I ’ d love to see teachers included in there .
I mean one of the reasons we keep closing down schools is because teachers keep getting sick .
Leahy : Yeah .
I wouldn ’ t put them at the top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else is making that list .
Brewer : Well , I guess I would put them near the top lists just because I think it ’ s better for kids to be in school .
And you need teachers to have kids in school .
Leahy : Here ’ s the rest of the story .
Elsewhere in the country health care workers and first responders began receiving the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday .
It was approved for emergency use by the FDA on Friday .
Tennessee expects 56,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state on Wednesday and to be distributed to 74 hospitals on Thursday .
That vaccine requires two doses administered weeks apart .
The second shipment of 56 thousand doses will arrive in Tennessee in three weeks according to the Department of Health .
So there ’ s a plan here .
Brewer : There is .
There is a plan and you know , I think it ’ ll they ’ ll refine the process as it goes .
I read that the Pfizer vaccine requires a lot of very low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : Yeah like 95 degrees below zero .
So then that adds an element of logistical complexity to it .
Brewer : That ’ s right .
And you know , you can ’ t just ship it and hold it .
Leahy : But it ’ s out there .
and there ’ s another one .
The Moderna vaccine doesn ’ t come out at such a low temperature .
So that ’ s suggestive be a little bit easier to to get the logistics of that done .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first vaccines are going out here this week and Tennessee frontline healthcare workers .
Which is I think the right choice .
I think I read that the next step would be maybe nursing home residents .
Brewer : I have also heard first responders .
Leahy : So first responders , yeah that these things all make sense .
Brewer : Totally they do and I think the challenge will be beyond those groups who ’ s next ?
Leahy : I want to be next .
( Laughs ) A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brewer : Well yeah .
I think they do .
And it will be interesting to see how states prioritize .
Leahy : Do the states get to pick the prioritization ?
Brewer : I think the states have a lot of say in it yes .
I don ’ t think there ’ s a federal , you know mandate about who gets what first .
Leahy : And I don ’ t think this is necessarily all that .
I mean , you know , it ’ s just a question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not sure how politically controversial it would be .
Brewer : But well , I think there ’ s also a question of you know , do we have enough just to make it readily available to anyone who wants it ?
I mean , that ’ s a great way to settle who gets it next .
After you get past first responders , nursing homes , and health care workers .
Is it going to be in every county health department ?
Is it going to be at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it going to be readily available to the general public ?
Leahy : I think that rollout will start in late January continue on maybe till the end of May I guess what I ’ m reading ?
Leahy : And here ’ s the big question for you from a public policy perspective .
Do all these stupid OVID shutdowns and lockdowns , do they start to end , or do the Democratic mayors and governors who seem to love them do they continue them beyond their usefulness ?
Brewer : Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question is do you get to a critical mass first of having the vaccine where you have enough to truly inoculate anyone in your state who wants it ?
And then after you answer the question of volume , do you have the apparatus to get it out there ?
I mean do you have an adequate system for getting it out ?
I think that ’ s got a rely as much on the private sector as the public sector .
And then you know for distribution , I mean people aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a government facility or a lot of car line to get inoculation .
They used to go into a walk-in clinic to get a flu shot .
Now much can we standardize and normalize the distribution of the vaccine so people get it in their normal patterns , right ?
I know when I get the flu shot each year it ’ s usually on the go .
I don ’ t make an appointment at the doctor to get a flu shot .
It ’ s so prevalent .
You can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line waiting on a prescription and Target .
You can get it and you can walk into half a dozen places just get one .
So how much can we normalize the distribution of the vaccine ?
And then to your question , you know , I think if enough people are getting it there really shouldn ’ t be outbreaks .
Brewer : In theory .
And it ’ s America and we ’ re all human .
And I ’ m sure somebody will be heavy-handed somewhere where it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when do you when would be your guess that at least from a public health perspective we get back to normal ?
What ’ s your best guess ?
Brewer : Oh gosh .
This time next year .
I think that you know inoculating and giving a vaccine to a nation as large as ours is going to take some time .
And what is normal ?
I think once you have it , the more people who have it the more people can get back on airplanes and start going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their kids .
Go to go to church .
Leahy : Yes !
Go to church .
Brewer : At that point when it ’ s readily available , I think the time when things become ‘ normal ’ again is when it flips back to the person .
When it ’ s so available and that if you don ’ t have it and you get COVID that ’ s kind of on you .
Brewer : I think that ’ s when we get back normal .
Leahy : It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you know , we ’ ve done this show every day this year in the studio .
Every day it ’ s been done .
We had a period of time where we didn ’ t have guests come in for in-studio , which is my favorite way to do it because it ’ s more fun .
You could you know , you get to get the interaction with your guests when you do it in the studio .
But it ’ s interesting because I have you know , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common sense procedures , but I haven ’ t been you know overly crazy about it .
I do think now as we ’ re on the precipice of a vaccine I find myself thinking I ’ m just not going to take any risks between now and the time I get a vaccine .
Brewer : No , I think a lot of people are that way .
I think that ’ s why so many Americans are you know , spending Christmas alone or with their immediate families and not getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve been cautious this long that it would seem foolhardy to go , oh , there ’ s a vaccine !
Let ’ s start acting normal before we get it .
I mean , wouldn ’ t that be awful to get the disease , you know , like two weeks before you get the vaccine ?
Leahy : Two weeks before you get the vaccine .
I harken back to my days as a long-distance runner .
If you ’ re running a marathon and you get to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s you know , 26 miles and a few hundred yards .
You don ’ t want want to fall down at the 26-mile mark .
Or the 25.5-mile mark .
And we ’ re getting pretty close to the 26-mile mark of this COVID-19 marathon .
And you know , I just don ’ t want to fall down .
Brewer : I completely agree .
and you know , you made an interesting comment a good comment , and an accurate comment about Operation Warp Speed being a success .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you know , people are going to have to look back as history judges this .
And that ’ s going to be one of the things the Trump administration did that very much did work .
It was investing and getting the vaccine fast-tracked .
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 .