thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Former Obama-Biden Admin Official Behind Chicago’s $66M COVID Hospital That Treated Just 38 People

The city of Chicago spent $ 66 million turning McCormick Place — the largest convention center in North America — into a coronavirus hospital .
Although the facility treated a mere 38 patients during its month of operation , Chicago ’ s deputy mayor for economic development and Northwestern University trustee and former Obama administration official Samir Mayekar doubled down on his support of the hospital .
According to the Chicago Sun-Times , Mayekar said he is “ incredibly proud of ” the facility , adding that the expenditure — which amounted to $ 1.7 million taxpayer dollars per patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Chicago hired a highly politically connected company called Walsh Construction to complete the project , passing over two other companies that offered more attractive proposals .
McPier , the governmental body that runs McCormick Place , passed on proposals from Pepper Construction and Power Construction Company , which reportedly offered to either forgo fees or donate payment to pandemic relief to avoid profiting from a humanitarian disaster .
The Sun-Times reported that internal emails from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended going with either Power or Pepper for the project .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying the firm $ 66 million , including $ 5.1 million in fees .
Although Walsh completed the construction of the McCormick Place facility by mid-April , Chicago announced on May 8 that the facility would be dismantled .
Mayekar was intimately involved in the selection process of Walsh Construction ; the Sun-Times reported that he emailed city officials to set up the facility at McCormick Place , as well as additional treatment centers at three previously closed hospitals .
Mayekar is a Northwestern University trustee , alumnus , lecturer , and recipient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for New Americans , which provides graduate students with up to $ 90,000 in scholarships .
Walsh Construction also works with Northwestern University ; Campus Reform reached out to the university to inquire about the nature of the university ’ s partnership with Walsh but did not receive a response .
According to Open Secrets , which tracks political donations , employees , owners , and family members associated with Walsh Construction have donated to both Republicans and Democrats .
However , their contributions have been primarily to Democrats , including $ 2,739 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , $ 2,185 to Sen. Bernie Sanders , $ 1,001 to Sen. Elizabeth Warren , $ 458 to Pete Buttigieg , $ 243 to Sen. Kamala Harris , and $ 128 to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
Of the $ 22,439 given to political candidates and causes by Walsh Group affiliates , $ 17,796 went to Democrats , while just $ 3,922 went to Republicans .
Jim Lakely , a spokesman for the Heartland Institute , a Chicago-area based free-market think tank , told Campus Reform that “ Everyone who lives in Chicago expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency COVID hospital to be corrupt.
” “ Expecting otherwise is as dumb to a Chicagoan as putting ketchup on a hot dog .
But we waived off this graft because it was for more than just a ‘ good cause.
’ We were told , in no uncertain terms by Chicago ’ s political leaders , that thousands of people would die if we didn ’ t instantly construct this emergency medical facility as soon as possible .
Of course , we quickly learned that the dire mortal threat of COVID did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pop-up hospital with nearly 3,000 beds .
“ The 38 patients treated there must have felt pretty lonely , and could have been handled easily in any Chicago hospital , ” he said .
“ Hindsight is 20/20 .
I get that .
But for Samir Mayekar to say after the fact he is not even a little bit embarrassed by this debacle — but to double down and say he is ‘ proud ’ of it , and then add that taxpayer money was ‘ not spent in vain ’ — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The actual construction workers should be proud of their work .
Mayekar should be embarrassed because all that money was corruptly spent in vain , ” Lakely added .
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .
Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review .
Photo “ Samir Mayekar ” by Kellogg School at Northwestern University .
Background Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army Corps of Engineers CC BY 2.0 .

by Ben Zeisloft
The city of Chicago spent $66 million turning McCormick Place — the largest convention center in North America — into a coronavirus hospital.
Although the facility treated a mere 38 patients during its month of operation, Chicago’s deputy mayor for economic development and Northwestern University trustee and former Obama administration official Samir Mayekar doubled down on his support of the hospital.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Mayekar said he is “incredibly proud of” the facility, adding that the expenditure — which amounted to $1.7 million taxpayer dollars per patient — was “not spent in vain.”
Chicago hired a highly politically connected company called Walsh Construction to complete the project, passing over two other companies that offered more attractive proposals. McPier, the governmental body that runs McCormick Place, passed on proposals from Pepper Construction and Power Construction Company, which reportedly offered to either forgo fees or donate payment to pandemic relief to avoid profiting from a humanitarian disaster.
The Sun-Times reported that internal emails from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended going with either Power or Pepper for the project. Instead, Chicago went with Walsh — paying the firm $66 million, including $5.1 million in fees. Although Walsh completed the construction of the McCormick Place facility by mid-April, Chicago announced on May 8 that the facility would be dismantled.
Mayekar was intimately involved in the selection process of Walsh Construction; the Sun-Times reported that he emailed city officials to set up the facility at McCormick Place, as well as additional treatment centers at three previously closed hospitals.
Mayekar is a Northwestern University trustee, alumnus, lecturer, and recipient of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, which provides graduate students with up to $90,000 in scholarships.
Walsh Construction also works with Northwestern University; Campus Reform reached out to the university to inquire about the nature of the university’s partnership with Walsh but did not receive a response. According to Open Secrets, which tracks political donations, employees, owners, and family members associated with Walsh Construction have donated to both Republicans and Democrats. However, their contributions have been primarily to Democrats, including $2,739 to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, $2,185 to Sen. Bernie Sanders, $1,001 to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, $458 to Pete Buttigieg, $243 to Sen. Kamala Harris, and $128 to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Of the $22,439 given to political candidates and causes by Walsh Group affiliates, $17,796 went to Democrats, while just $3,922 went to Republicans.
Jim Lakely, a spokesman for the Heartland Institute, a Chicago-area based free-market think tank, told Campus Reform that “Everyone who lives in Chicago expected the construction of the city’s emergency COVID hospital to be corrupt.”
“Expecting otherwise is as dumb to a Chicagoan as putting ketchup on a hot dog. But we waived off this graft because it was for more than just a ‘good cause.’ We were told, in no uncertain terms by Chicago’s political leaders, that thousands of people would die if we didn’t instantly construct this emergency medical facility as soon as possible. Of course, we quickly learned that the dire mortal threat of COVID did not remotely require the instant construction of a pop-up hospital with nearly 3,000 beds.
“The 38 patients treated there must have felt pretty lonely, and could have been handled easily in any Chicago hospital,” he said.
“Hindsight is 20/20. I get that. But for Samir Mayekar to say after the fact he is not even a little bit embarrassed by this debacle — but to double down and say he is ‘proud’ of it, and then add that taxpayer money was ‘not spent in vain’ — is a joke and an insult. The actual construction workers should be proud of their work. Mayekar should be embarrassed because all that money was corruptly spent in vain,” Lakely added.
– – –
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent, reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform. He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review.
Photo “Samir Mayekar” by Kellogg School at Northwestern University. Background Photo “McCormick Place COVID Hospital” by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Another Professor Resigns After Pretending to Be Non-White

Dr. Kelly Kean Sharp , a white assistant professor at Furman University resigned Tuesday , after university officials investigated an allegation that she pretended to be a non-white Latina , The Daily Caller reports .
An anonymous essay posted on the blog website Medium claimed the African American Scholar had been posing as Chicana , a term used to describe an American woman of Mexican descent , InsideHigherEd reported .
The writer said that he or she “ distantly ” knew Sharp when Sharp was in graduate school at the University of California , Davis , and was more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now describing herself as Chicana .
The professor reportedly formerly identified herself as Chicana in her Twitter profile , which has since been removed .
The Medium essay , posted under the username “ Producingwhiteness ” , included screenshots of Sharp ’ s Twitter bio showing “ # Chicana Asst professor ” and tweets that said Sharp ’ s grandmother , referenced in the screenshots as her “ abuela , ” immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico during World War II ” and “ worked hard so I could become a teacher.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had never spoken about being Mexican before , and the writer reportedly spoke with other colleagues who were also “ confused ” and asked Sharp about her “ newfound identity.
” “ She described herself as a # Chicana Asst Prof in her Twitter bio , ” the Medium post writer said .
“ This was later changed to # Chicana at the end of the intro .
Then , it was ultimately removed after a faculty member from the UC Davis History Department allegedly spoke with her due to numerous complaints from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed to have researched Sharp ’ s genealogical records , according to the post , and found that “ Kelly had no grandparents who were born outside of the U.S. or had Hispanic names ” and that Sharp ’ s grandmother was born in Los Angeles “ to white parents and was residing in the U.S. during all the census records of her upbringing.
” “ This grandmother eventually married a wealthy , white lawyer from Iowa , ” the Medium post said .
According to the writer , Sharp ’ s since-deleted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in Encinitas , California , and “ chose to research foodways of the antebellum US South because the region was a majority-minority population , much like her own hometown.
” Encinitas is 88.7 % white , census records show , and “ known to anyone from California for being a wealthy beach community , ” according to the Medium post .
The Medium post writer questions how much Sharp benefitted from her claims to Chicana heritage , noting that Sharp “ found a tenure-track job after graduating , a rare commodity in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied for a job in African American history ( there are many less PhDs in this field ) ” before immediately moving “ into a tenure-track professorship in that field , working dually in the Africana Studies and History departments at Luther College.
” “ Perhaps she won the job simply because she investigated the role of slave women in shaping consumption and markets in the antebellum South , ” the anonymous author writes .
“ But is it possible that the complex identity provided by her imagined Mexican immigrant grandmother helped her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catherine Smith is a newcomer to Washington D.C. She met , and married an American journalist and moved to D.C from the U.K. She graduated with a B.A in Graphic , Media and Communications and worked in design and retail in the U.K. Photo “ Furman University ” by Lucid Nightmare CC BY-ND 2.0 .

by Catherine Smith
Dr. Kelly Kean Sharp, a white assistant professor at Furman University resigned Tuesday, after university officials investigated an allegation that she pretended to be a non-white Latina, The Daily Caller reports.
An anonymous essay posted on the blog website Medium claimed the African American Scholar had been posing as Chicana, a term used to describe an American woman of Mexican descent, InsideHigherEd reported.
The writer said that he or she “distantly” knew Sharp when Sharp was in graduate school at the University of California, Davis, and was more than surprised to find out that she was now describing herself as Chicana.
The professor reportedly formerly identified herself as Chicana in her Twitter profile, which has since been removed.
The Medium essay, posted under the username “Producingwhiteness”, included screenshots of Sharp’s Twitter bio showing “#Chicana Asst professor” and tweets that said Sharp’s grandmother, referenced in the screenshots as her “abuela,” immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico during World War II” and “worked hard so I could become a teacher.”
The Medium post writer said that Sharp had never spoken about being Mexican before, and the writer reportedly spoke with other colleagues who were also “confused” and asked Sharp about her “newfound identity.”
“She described herself as a #Chicana Asst Prof in her Twitter bio,” the Medium post writer said.
“This was later changed to #Chicana at the end of the intro. Then, it was ultimately removed after a faculty member from the UC Davis History Department allegedly spoke with her due to numerous complaints from former graduate students.”
The anonymous blogger claimed to have researched Sharp’s genealogical records, according to the post, and found that “Kelly had no grandparents who were born outside of the U.S. or had Hispanic names” and that Sharp’s grandmother was born in Los Angeles “to white parents and was residing in the U.S. during all the census records of her upbringing.”
“This grandmother eventually married a wealthy, white lawyer from Iowa,” the Medium post said.
According to the writer, Sharp’s since-deleted Furman biography, also said she grew up in Encinitas, California, and “chose to research foodways of the antebellum US South because the region was a majority-minority population, much like her own hometown.”
Encinitas is 88.7% white, census records show, and “known to anyone from California for being a wealthy beach community,” according to the Medium post.
Furman University spokesman Tom Evelyn told InsideHigherEd that Sharp had resigned, effective immediately.
The Medium post writer questions how much Sharp benefitted from her claims to Chicana heritage, noting that Sharp “found a tenure-track job after graduating, a rare commodity in academia today,” and “astutely applied for a job in African American history (there are many less PhDs in this field)” before immediately moving “into a tenure-track professorship in that field, working dually in the Africana Studies and History departments at Luther College.”
“Perhaps she won the job simply because she investigated the role of slave women in shaping consumption and markets in the antebellum South,” the anonymous author writes.
“But is it possible that the complex identity provided by her imagined Mexican immigrant grandmother helped her to secure this diversity hire?”
– – –
Catherine Smith is a newcomer to Washington D.C. She met, and married an American journalist and moved to D.C from the U.K. She graduated with a B.A in Graphic, Media and Communications and worked in design and retail in the U.K.
Photo “Furman University” by Lucid Nightmare CC BY-ND 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Lindsey Graham Says He Will Be ‘Shocked’ if Durham Probe Doesn’t Lead to More Indictments

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday he will be “ shocked ” if a Justice Department probe into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation does not lead to more indictments .
In an interview on Fox News ’ “ Sunday Morning Futures , ” Graham also said that John Durham , the U.S. attorney leading the investigation , will release a report on his findings after the election .
Graham also revealed that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Nov. 10 .
“ We ’ ve learned there was Russian collusion , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was between Russia .
Clinton and Russia , not Trump and Russia , and we learn that Crossfire Hurricane was the most corrupt investigation , maybe in the history of the FBI , ” Graham told host Maria Bartiromo .
“ Durham is all over this .
After the election , you ’ re going to get a report and I ’ ll be shocked that people are not indicted.
” Durham , the U.S. attorney for Connecticut , is conducting a broad investigation of the FBI and other government agencies ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
The investigation has centered on the FBI ’ s decision to open a counterintelligence investigation into Trump campaign advisers in July 2016 , as well as the bureau ’ s use of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants during the probe .
Durham has also interviewed former CIA Director John Brennan about the spy agency ’ s assessment that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 election specifically to help Donald Trump .
A former FBI lawyer , Kevin Clinesmith , pleaded guilty on Aug. 19 to altering an email related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more indictments or a report from Durham before the election .
Attorney General William Barr , who appointed Durham to oversee the investigation in March 2019 , has said that the investigation has been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic .
Barr has said in interviews that he believes that the FBI spied on the Trump campaign .
In April 2020 , he said that the evidence he has seen so far from the Durham investigation is “ troubling.
” He also said that he expected Durham to produce a report of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it will be released publicly .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Lindsey Graham ” by Air.TV video .

by Chuck Ross
Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday he will be “shocked” if a Justice Department probe into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation does not lead to more indictments.
In an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Graham also said that John Durham, the U.S. attorney leading the investigation, will release a report on his findings after the election.
Graham also revealed that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Nov. 10.
“We’ve learned there was Russian collusion, but it was between the Clinton campaign and it was between Russia. Clinton and Russia, not Trump and Russia, and we learn that Crossfire Hurricane was the most corrupt investigation, maybe in the history of the FBI,” Graham told host Maria Bartiromo.
“Durham is all over this. After the election, you’re going to get a report and I’ll be shocked that people are not indicted.”
Durham, the U.S. attorney for Connecticut, is conducting a broad investigation of the FBI and other government agencies’ intelligence-gathering activities related to the Trump campaign in 2016.
https://www.air.tv/watch?v=9qCABTM2SdWZI8N-XPHEiA
The investigation has centered on the FBI’s decision to open a counterintelligence investigation into Trump campaign advisers in July 2016, as well as the bureau’s use of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants during the probe.
Durham has also interviewed former CIA Director John Brennan about the spy agency’s assessment that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 election specifically to help Donald Trump.
A former FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, pleaded guilty on Aug. 19 to altering an email related to Carter Page.
Republicans had hoped for more indictments or a report from Durham before the election. Attorney General William Barr, who appointed Durham to oversee the investigation in March 2019, has said that the investigation has been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Barr has said in interviews that he believes that the FBI spied on the Trump campaign.
In April 2020, he said that the evidence he has seen so far from the Durham investigation is “troubling.” He also said that he expected Durham to produce a report of the investigation, though he did not say whether it will be released publicly.
– – –
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Lindsey Graham” by Air.TV video.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Federal Government Defends Eviction Ban in Court Hearing

NASHVILLE , Tennessee ( AP ) — The federal government defended its national eviction ban before a judge Friday , arguing that the moratorium had helped prevent the spread of COVID-19 and did not overstep the authority provided by Congress .
The arguments are part of a federal lawsuit filed by a handful of landlords in Memphis earlier this year , which claims the eviction moratorium has unfairly strained their finances and violated their property rights .
Property owners across the country have filed similar complaints seeking to overturn President Donald Trump ’ s directive , implemented by the Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadly prevents evictions through the end of 2020 .
However , most of those suits have been dismissed .
Most recently , a judge in Ohio dismissed a landlord ’ s complaint after the federal government clarified that landlords were still free to pursue eviction proceedings while the federal ban is still in place .
“ The aims of the order are to allow people to remain in their homes to prevent gatherings , congregate settings or unsheltered homelessness , ” said Leslie Vigen , an U.S. Department of Justice attorney representing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vigen added that the CDC rarely exercises such broad authority but has done so in this situation due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ The CDC ’ s authority is directly correlated to the breadth of the disease it ’ s trying to combat , ” Vigen said .
Attorneys for the seven Memphis landlords — who collectively manage or own more than 5,000 rental units — counter the CDC ’ s order has caused irreparable harm because it notably didn ’ t include financial help for property owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properties as rents go unpaid .
The landlords also argue that it ’ s unconstitutional because it deprives them of exercising property rights .
“ If Congress wanted to do what the CDC is now doing , Congress could have done it .
Congress chose not to do it because it violates fundamental rights and it ’ s unlawful , ” said attorney Josh Kahane .
Before the CDC ’ s directive was handed down , Congress had passed the CARES Act , which included a more modest eviction ban that covered an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing .
When Congress didn ’ t extend that ban when it expired over the summer , Trump signed an directive that paved the way for a much more broad moratorium .
To be eligible for this protection , renters must earn $ 198,000 or less for couples filing jointly , or $ 99,000 for single filers ; demonstrate that they ’ ve sought government help to pay the rent ; declare that they can ’ t pay because of COVID-19 hardships , and affirm that they are likely to become homeless if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Judge Mark Norris — who is overseeing the case — asked Vigen if the CDC had the authority to stop in-person voting , noting that people waiting in long lines could be considered large gatherings that might spread the virus .
“ Could the ( CDC ) find it ’ s reasonably necessary to require absentee voting only ?
” Norris asked .
“ The CDC hasn ’ t taken that action , so I can ’ t hypothetically say that it would absolutely be precluded but the CDC is obviously constrained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would have to be taken into consideration whether or not that ’ s constitutionally appropriate , ” Vigen responded .
Norris didn ’ t rule from the bench Friday , but instead promised he would have a decision soon on whether to block the eviction directive from being implemented .
Kimberlee Kruesi is a reporter for The Associated Press .
Photo “ Apartments ” by star5112 CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Kimberlee Kruesi
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — The federal government defended its national eviction ban before a judge Friday, arguing that the moratorium had helped prevent the spread of COVID-19 and did not overstep the authority provided by Congress.
The arguments are part of a federal lawsuit filed by a handful of landlords in Memphis earlier this year, which claims the eviction moratorium has unfairly strained their finances and violated their property rights.
Property owners across the country have filed similar complaints seeking to overturn President Donald Trump’s directive, implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that broadly prevents evictions through the end of 2020. However, most of those suits have been dismissed.
Most recently, a judge in Ohio dismissed a landlord’s complaint after the federal government clarified that landlords were still free to pursue eviction proceedings while the federal ban is still in place.
“The aims of the order are to allow people to remain in their homes to prevent gatherings, congregate settings or unsheltered homelessness,” said Leslie Vigen, an U.S. Department of Justice attorney representing the federal agencies named in the complaint.
Vigen added that the CDC rarely exercises such broad authority but has done so in this situation due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The CDC’s authority is directly correlated to the breadth of the disease it’s trying to combat,” Vigen said.
Attorneys for the seven Memphis landlords — who collectively manage or own more than 5,000 rental units — counter the CDC’s order has caused irreparable harm because it notably didn’t include financial help for property owners, forcing many to consider selling their properties as rents go unpaid. The landlords also argue that it’s unconstitutional because it deprives them of exercising property rights.
“If Congress wanted to do what the CDC is now doing, Congress could have done it. Congress chose not to do it because it violates fundamental rights and it’s unlawful,” said attorney Josh Kahane.
Before the CDC’s directive was handed down, Congress had passed the CARES Act, which included a more modest eviction ban that covered an estimated 12 million people in federally supported housing. When Congress didn’t extend that ban when it expired over the summer, Trump signed an directive that paved the way for a much more broad moratorium.
To be eligible for this protection, renters must earn $198,000 or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers; demonstrate that they’ve sought government help to pay the rent; declare that they can’t pay because of COVID-19 hardships, and affirm that they are likely to become homeless if evicted.
During the arguments, U.S. District Judge Mark Norris — who is overseeing the case — asked Vigen if the CDC had the authority to stop in-person voting, noting that people waiting in long lines could be considered large gatherings that might spread the virus.
“Could the (CDC) find it’s reasonably necessary to require absentee voting only?” Norris asked.
“The CDC hasn’t taken that action, so I can’t hypothetically say that it would absolutely be precluded but the CDC is obviously constrained by the bounds of the Constitution and it would have to be taken into consideration whether or not that’s constitutionally appropriate,” Vigen responded.
Norris didn’t rule from the bench Friday, but instead promised he would have a decision soon on whether to block the eviction directive from being implemented.
– – –
Kimberlee Kruesi is a reporter for The Associated Press.
Photo “Apartments” by star5112 CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Over 30 Illegal Immigrants in Texas Who ‘Threaten Public Safety’ Arrested in One Week

A five-day operation in south Texas resulted in 0ver 30 arrests of illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds deemed possible public security threats , border officials announced Thursday .
The operation targeted illegal immigrants who allegedly pose a threat to public safety and are subject to deportation , according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
“ Each arrest protects the victims involved in crimes committed by criminal aliens and prevents future ones .
Criminal aliens who are illegally present in the U.S. and threaten public safety will be apprehended and removed , ” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations San Antonio Field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29-year-old man from Honduras with felony convictions was arrested as part of the operation , according to ICE .
He has multiple previous convictions of burglary , driving while intoxicated , and driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle .
The man was previously convicted of illegally reentering the U.S. and was incarcerated for two and a half years , according to ICE .
He remains in ICE custody pending deportation .
Last year 86 % of the individuals arrested by ICE had pending charges or criminal convictions , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year were convicted of or charged with homicide ; 1,800 for kidnapping ; 12,000 for sex offenses ; 45,000 assaults ; 67,000 drug crimes ; and 74,000 DUIs .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Arrests ” by Office of Public Affairs CC BY 2.0 .

by Kaylee Greenlee
A five-day operation in south Texas resulted in 0ver 30 arrests of illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds deemed possible public security threats, border officials announced Thursday.
The operation targeted illegal immigrants who allegedly pose a threat to public safety and are subject to deportation, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Each arrest protects the victims involved in crimes committed by criminal aliens and prevents future ones. Criminal aliens who are illegally present in the U.S. and threaten public safety will be apprehended and removed,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations San Antonio Field Office Director Jose Correa said.
A 29-year-old man from Honduras with felony convictions was arrested as part of the operation, according to ICE. He has multiple previous convictions of burglary, driving while intoxicated, and driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle.
The man was previously convicted of illegally reentering the U.S. and was incarcerated for two and a half years, according to ICE. He remains in ICE custody pending deportation.
Last year 86% of the individuals arrested by ICE had pending charges or criminal convictions, according to ICE. Over 1,900 of those arrested last year were convicted of or charged with homicide; 1,800 for kidnapping; 12,000 for sex offenses; 45,000 assaults; 67,000 drug crimes; and 74,000 DUIs.
– – –
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Arrests” by Office of Public Affairs CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Commentary: Silicon Valley Titans Lie Again as Congress Meekly Looks On

After a series of mishaps involving muted senators , virtual cross-talk , and “ connectivity issues ” befuddling one of the world ’ s most tech-savvy men , the CEOs of Facebook , Twitter , and Google appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday for what has now become a performative ritual : senators of both parties yell about different aspects of social media , the tech giants respond with bland , vague , noncommittal statements .
And nothing substantive happens .
This is exactly where the Senate Commerce Committee found itself on Wednesday , when Big Tech was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without any defenders—but ultimately very little in the way of committed follow-up from legislators .
Perhaps the most notable item in the hearing was the performance of Twitter ’ s deeply weird CEO , Jack Dorsey , who rolled onto his screen in a Rasputin-length beard and an affectation suggesting he was coming down from a 36-hour bender .
( Or , as they call it in Silicon Valley , a “ vision quest.
” ) Twitter was indisputably in the hot seat for Republicans over the company ’ s decision to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s documented and well-sourced story regarding the business entanglements of both Joe Biden and his son , Hunter , with Communist China .
( Facebook also limited the circulation of the story . )
At the time of the hearing , the New York Post story could only be shared by certain accounts , and the Post ’ s Twitter account remained locked .
When pressed on the impact of this by Senator Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) , Dorsey hilariously claimed that Twitter ’ s content moderation policies don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caught off guard by the blatant absurdity of the statement , came back with an obvious rejoinder : if that ’ s true , then why does the platform moderate any content at all , particularly content claiming to be “ misinformation ” of a political nature ?
But the real mind-bender was Dorsey ’ s answer to Cruz ’ s claim that the New York Post still couldn ’ t tweet , because their account was locked .
Dorsey insisted that the New York Post could , in fact , both access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but only if it first accessed its account to delete the original tweet—the tweet that Twitter now concedes was proper .
Are you following that ?
The New York Post violated a Twitter rule that doesn ’ t exist anymore , but its account will not be unlocked until it follows the non-existent rule .
Because they must be taught a lesson .
( Twitter folded on Friday and unlocked the Post ’ s account . )
Congress may not feel compelled to take real action against the tech platforms , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to do so .
Silicon Valley monopolies have evolved from mere way-points to share baby shower and birthday photos to massive , concentrated corporate power structures that define the terms of American discourse , independent thought and behavior , as well as market access .
As of late , the platforms are also redefining journalism .
Consider that under the new standards of Twitter and Facebook , the revelations by Edward Snowden about the government ’ s domestic spy programs would be blocked for their reliance on material obtained in an unauthorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Pentagon Papers .
In an age dominated by digital media , whose consumption and business model depends on digital reach , these decisions have obvious and far-reaching consequences for a free society .
Social media companies are now a primary way in which Americans share , consume , and interpret information .
They are not simply photo-sharing sites , or blogs about hamburgers , or networking platforms , or Dungeons and Dragons fan sites .
They are very much integrated into the way we live now .
We are reliant on unaccountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
Acknowledging this fact has implications for federal policy .
No longer is this merely a question for the abstract and reductive ideology of “ government should not interfere with private companies.
” Rather , this becomes a question of governance—how does a democratic society choose to engage with corporations who are interfering with the social order ?
In other words , who shall rule ?
The people , or the corporations ?
Our American system of self-government is designed to grapple with the difficult questions concerning how we organize ourselves through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate .
That principle—and the power struggle between the elements of our individual liberty and the corporate entities who would control them—are front and center in what is now an existential battle between truly free societies and mammoth corporate power .
In the Big Tech fight , this takes the shape of various policies designed to curtail , reframe , and restrain global tech power .
Wednesday ’ s hearing centered around the status of Section 230—the provision of federal law that immunizes the platforms from liability for third-party content posted on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discretion to remove content at their own discretion .
Section 230 ’ s protections afforded a nascent internet key protections that allowed it to grow and flourish , rather than be hollowed out by lawsuit after lawsuit .
Indeed , its protections are still worthwhile—for example , this online journal benefits from not being sued for content posted in its comments section .
But Section 230 ’ s protections , particularly those most relied upon by the large platforms , have been judicially warped , twisted and bloated by courts away from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasonable protections for removal of lewd , obscene , and harassing content .
Thanks to years of judicial interpretation , a once porous immunity has evolved into a bulletproof one , protecting everything from viral revenge pornography , harassment , and terrorist threats—and , until recently , knowingly facilitating the sex trafficking of minors .
Section 230 also provides wide latitude for tech companies to engage in viewpoint discrimination , a feature very much on display in the tech platforms ’ treatment of the Trump White House , the Trump campaign , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempts to report on Hunter Biden ’ s peddling of his dad ’ s political influence abroad .
A very dedicated group of D.C. think tanks will remind you that this is all First Amendment activity .
Which is true , but this reminder conveniently sidesteps the fact that this content moderation occurs within the warm embrace of Section 230 ’ s immunity .
In other words , the First Amendment activity of these platforms is privileged , over and above other media companies like newspapers , news outlets , or movie companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for libel and defamation .
The protection is tantamount to “ an implicit financial subsidy to the tech companies , ” according to one pro-tech law professor .
Moreover , even if Section 230 ’ s protections are repealed in their entirety ( unlikely , given that most proposals support reform ) , the platforms don ’ t somehow lose their First Amendment right to speak .
They just lose their privileged leg up on everybody else .
Republicans in Congress Must Swap Rhetoric for Substantive Action Members of Congress have produced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s protections , but very few have even made it to a committee markup , let alone the House or Senate floor .
For Republicans , rhetoric continues to trump sustained legislative effort—particularly in the Senate , where Republicans have a majority at least through December , and where individual Members have the power to make the Senate vote on initiating consideration of a Section 230 bill .
The Right retains a healthy skepticism of government policy interfering with business , believing that the most functional economies are those largely left alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree—though with the caveat that our free market is one with plenty of government interference that the Right supports .
This is true of the tech companies as well .
They are benefiting from a legal privilege passed by Congress 24 years ago .
As such , it is entirely appropriate for Congress to be reviewing the ongoing applications of statutes for their relevance and appropriateness in the modern era .
Oversight of its own policies is , in fact , a key role that Congress should play .
Conservatism , fully and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of undue concentrations of power , wherever they reside .
Russell Kirk , Barry Goldwater , William F. Buckley , and even the great libertarian Friedrich Hayek all recognized the threat concentrated corporate power posed to free societies , and the legitimacy of government , in the interest of protecting self-government , to act against it .
Reforming Section 230 is hardly the only remedy Congress could use to address the tremendous power these companies have amassed .
But what is clear is that these redundant hearings are now of little use .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind has manifested itself as a threat to our current social order , and this warrants a policy response .
In America , the people rule .
And it is time for their voices to compel action in what is supposed to be our self-governing republic .
No longer should we tolerate what has become just performative rhetoric posing as substantive debate , but resulting in nothing .
Rachel Bovard is senior director of policy at the Conservative Partnership Institute and Senior Advisor to the Internet Accountability Project .
Beginning in 2006 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate in various roles including as legislative director for Senator Rand Paul ( R-Ky. ) and policy director for the Senate Steering Committee under the successive chairmanships of Senator Pat Toomey ( R-Penn . )
and Senator Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) , where she advised Committee members on strategy related to floor procedure and policy matters .
Photo “ Trump Dorsey ” by The White House .

by Rachel Bovard
After a series of mishaps involving muted senators, virtual cross-talk, and “connectivity issues” befuddling one of the world’s most tech-savvy men, the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, and Google appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday for what has now become a performative ritual: senators of both parties yell about different aspects of social media, the tech giants respond with bland, vague, noncommittal statements. And nothing substantive happens.
This is exactly where the Senate Commerce Committee found itself on Wednesday, when Big Tech was confronted with a host of critics and without any defenders—but ultimately very little in the way of committed follow-up from legislators.
Perhaps the most notable item in the hearing was the performance of Twitter’s deeply weird CEO, Jack Dorsey, who rolled onto his screen in a Rasputin-length beard and an affectation suggesting he was coming down from a 36-hour bender. (Or, as they call it in Silicon Valley, a “vision quest.”)
Twitter was indisputably in the hot seat for Republicans over the company’s decision to block the distribution of the New York Post’s documented and well-sourced story regarding the business entanglements of both Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, with Communist China. (Facebook also limited the circulation of the story.)
At the time of the hearing, the New York Post story could only be shared by certain accounts, and the Post’s Twitter account remained locked.
When pressed on the impact of this by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Dorsey hilariously claimed that Twitter’s content moderation policies don’t impact electoral outcomes. Cruz, appearing caught off guard by the blatant absurdity of the statement, came back with an obvious rejoinder: if that’s true, then why does the platform moderate any content at all, particularly content claiming to be “misinformation” of a political nature?
But the real mind-bender was Dorsey’s answer to Cruz’s claim that the New York Post still couldn’t tweet, because their account was locked. Dorsey insisted that the New York Post could, in fact, both access its account and tweet the story, but only if it first accessed its account to delete the original tweet—the tweet that Twitter now concedes was proper.
Are you following that? The New York Post violated a Twitter rule that doesn’t exist anymore, but its account will not be unlocked until it follows the non-existent rule.
Because they must be taught a lesson. (Twitter folded on Friday and unlocked the Post’s account.)
Corporate Power vs. the Social Order
Congress may not feel compelled to take real action against the tech platforms, but it’s clear that the time has come to do so. Silicon Valley monopolies have evolved from mere way-points to share baby shower and birthday photos to massive, concentrated corporate power structures that define the terms of American discourse, independent thought and behavior, as well as market access.
As of late, the platforms are also redefining journalism. Consider that under the new standards of Twitter and Facebook, the revelations by Edward Snowden about the government’s domestic spy programs would be blocked for their reliance on material obtained in an unauthorized manner. So would every story about the Pentagon Papers. In an age dominated by digital media, whose consumption and business model depends on digital reach, these decisions have obvious and far-reaching consequences for a free society.
Social media companies are now a primary way in which Americans share, consume, and interpret information. They are not simply photo-sharing sites, or blogs about hamburgers, or networking platforms, or Dungeons and Dragons fan sites. They are very much integrated into the way we live now. We are reliant on unaccountable mega-corporate power as we have never been before.
Acknowledging this fact has implications for federal policy. No longer is this merely a question for the abstract and reductive ideology of “government should not interfere with private companies.” Rather, this becomes a question of governance—how does a democratic society choose to engage with corporations who are interfering with the social order? In other words, who shall rule? The people, or the corporations?
Our American system of self-government is designed to grapple with the difficult questions concerning how we organize ourselves through transparent, democratic, representative deliberation and debate. That principle—and the power struggle between the elements of our individual liberty and the corporate entities who would control them—are front and center in what is now an existential battle between truly free societies and mammoth corporate power.
Section 230, Big Tech’s Government Subsidy
In the Big Tech fight, this takes the shape of various policies designed to curtail, reframe, and restrain global tech power.
Wednesday’s hearing centered around the status of Section 230—the provision of federal law that immunizes the platforms from liability for third-party content posted on their sites, and also gives them wide discretion to remove content at their own discretion.
Section 230’s protections afforded a nascent internet key protections that allowed it to grow and flourish, rather than be hollowed out by lawsuit after lawsuit. Indeed, its protections are still worthwhile—for example, this online journal benefits from not being sued for content posted in its comments section.
But Section 230’s protections, particularly those most relied upon by the large platforms, have been judicially warped, twisted and bloated by courts away from the law’s original goal of providing reasonable protections for removal of lewd, obscene, and harassing content. Thanks to years of judicial interpretation, a once porous immunity has evolved into a bulletproof one, protecting everything from viral revenge pornography, harassment, and terrorist threats—and, until recently, knowingly facilitating the sex trafficking of minors.
Section 230 also provides wide latitude for tech companies to engage in viewpoint discrimination, a feature very much on display in the tech platforms’ treatment of the Trump White House, the Trump campaign, and now the New York Post’s attempts to report on Hunter Biden’s peddling of his dad’s political influence abroad.
A very dedicated group of D.C. think tanks will remind you that this is all First Amendment activity. Which is true, but this reminder conveniently sidesteps the fact that this content moderation occurs within the warm embrace of Section 230’s immunity.
In other words, the First Amendment activity of these platforms is privileged, over and above other media companies like newspapers, news outlets, or movie companies, all of which can be sued for libel and defamation. The protection is tantamount to “an implicit financial subsidy to the tech companies,” according to one pro-tech law professor.
Moreover, even if Section 230’s protections are repealed in their entirety (unlikely, given that most proposals support reform), the platforms don’t somehow lose their First Amendment right to speak. They just lose their privileged leg up on everybody else.
As Andrew McCarthy put it recently,
Section 230 immunity is a legal privilege to be earned by compliance with the attendant conditions. If an entity fails to comply, that just means it does not get the privilege; it does not mean the entity is being denied a right or being punished.
Republicans in Congress Must Swap Rhetoric for Substantive Action
Members of Congress have produced a bevy of bills to reform the law’s protections, but very few have even made it to a committee markup, let alone the House or Senate floor. For Republicans, rhetoric continues to trump sustained legislative effort—particularly in the Senate, where Republicans have a majority at least through December, and where individual Members have the power to make the Senate vote on initiating consideration of a Section 230 bill.
The Right retains a healthy skepticism of government policy interfering with business, believing that the most functional economies are those largely left alone. With that, I would generally agree—though with the caveat that our free market is one with plenty of government interference that the Right supports.
This is true of the tech companies as well. They are benefiting from a legal privilege passed by Congress 24 years ago. As such, it is entirely appropriate for Congress to be reviewing the ongoing applications of statutes for their relevance and appropriateness in the modern era. Oversight of its own policies is, in fact, a key role that Congress should play.
Conservatism, fully and properly understood, has always been wary of undue concentrations of power, wherever they reside. Russell Kirk, Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley, and even the great libertarian Friedrich Hayek all recognized the threat concentrated corporate power posed to free societies, and the legitimacy of government, in the interest of protecting self-government, to act against it.
Reforming Section 230 is hardly the only remedy Congress could use to address the tremendous power these companies have amassed. But what is clear is that these redundant hearings are now of little use. Corporate power of a new and evolving kind has manifested itself as a threat to our current social order, and this warrants a policy response.
In America, the people rule. And it is time for their voices to compel action in what is supposed to be our self-governing republic. No longer should we tolerate what has become just performative rhetoric posing as substantive debate, but resulting in nothing.
– – –
Rachel Bovard is senior director of policy at the Conservative Partnership Institute and Senior Advisor to the Internet Accountability Project. Beginning in 2006, she served in both the House and Senate in various roles including as legislative director for Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and policy director for the Senate Steering Committee under the successive chairmanships of Senator Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), where she advised Committee members on strategy related to floor procedure and policy matters.
Photo “Trump Dorsey” by The White House.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Judge Postpones Trump’s TikTok Ban in Suit Brought by Users

A federal judge has postponed President Donald Trump ’ s threatened shutdown of the popular short-form video app TikTok , siding with a Pennsylvania comedian and two other TikTok creators who say Trump ’ s order hampers their free speech .
U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone on Friday blocked an upcoming Commerce Department action that would have effectively banned TikTok in the U.S. by cutting it off from vital technical services .
The Trump administration has said TikTok is a security threat , citing its Chinese owner , ByteDance , and the possibility that the Chinese government could spy on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was set to take effect Nov. 12 , but is now on hold as the lawsuit proceeds .
This is not the first court challenge to Trump ’ s attempted crackdown on TikTok .
Another federal judge in September postponed a Trump administration order that would have banned TikTok from smartphone app stores .
In that case , lawyers for TikTok argued that the administration ’ s app-store ban would infringe on First Amendment rights and do irreparable harm to the business .
But Beetlestone ’ s case in the Eastern District of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company , but three of its users who ’ ve built a following on the app : Douglas Marland , a comedian from Pennsylvania ’ s Bucks County , along with Southern California fashion designer Cosette Rinab and Connecticut musician Alec Chambers .
“ We are pleased that the judge has halted this ban , which exceeds the President ’ s authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act , namely portions of the Act that reflect our nation ’ s deep commitment to free speech , ” said their lawyer , Ambika @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Commerce Department and White House didn ’ t immediately return requests for comment .
The administration has said it is exercising Trump ’ s emergency authority under the 1977 law enabling a president to regulate international commerce to address unusual threats .
TikTok said in a statement Friday that it is “ deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our creators , who have worked to protect their rights to expression , their careers , and to helping small businesses , particularly during the pandemic.
” Matt O ’ Brien @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About the Headline Photo : This Monday , Sept. 28 , 2020 , file photo , shows as logo of a smartphone app TikTok on a user post on a smartphone screen in Tokyo .
Canadian e-commerce platform Shopify said Tuesday , Oct. 27 , 2020 , it ’ s made a deal with TikTok enabling merchants to create “ shoppable ” video ads that drive customers to online stores .
( AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato , File )

by Matt O’Brien
A federal judge has postponed President Donald Trump’s threatened shutdown of the popular short-form video app TikTok, siding with a Pennsylvania comedian and two other TikTok creators who say Trump’s order hampers their free speech.
U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone on Friday blocked an upcoming Commerce Department action that would have effectively banned TikTok in the U.S. by cutting it off from vital technical services.
The Trump administration has said TikTok is a security threat, citing its Chinese owner, ByteDance, and the possibility that the Chinese government could spy on users. Trump’s executive order was set to take effect Nov. 12, but is now on hold as the lawsuit proceeds.
This is not the first court challenge to Trump’s attempted crackdown on TikTok. Another federal judge in September postponed a Trump administration order that would have banned TikTok from smartphone app stores. In that case, lawyers for TikTok argued that the administration’s app-store ban would infringe on First Amendment rights and do irreparable harm to the business.
But Beetlestone’s case in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania was brought forth not by the company, but three of its users who’ve built a following on the app: Douglas Marland, a comedian from Pennsylvania’s Bucks County, along with Southern California fashion designer Cosette Rinab and Connecticut musician Alec Chambers.
“We are pleased that the judge has halted this ban, which exceeds the President’s authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, namely portions of the Act that reflect our nation’s deep commitment to free speech,” said their lawyer, Ambika Kumar Doran, in a prepared statement.
The Commerce Department and White House didn’t immediately return requests for comment. The administration has said it is exercising Trump’s emergency authority under the 1977 law enabling a president to regulate international commerce to address unusual threats.
TikTok said in a statement Friday that it is “deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our creators, who have worked to protect their rights to expression, their careers, and to helping small businesses, particularly during the pandemic.”
– – –
Matt O’Brien is a reporter for The Associated Press.
About the Headline Photo: This Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, file photo, shows as logo of a smartphone app TikTok on a user post on a smartphone screen in Tokyo. Canadian e-commerce platform Shopify said Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, it’s made a deal with TikTok enabling merchants to create “shoppable” video ads that drive customers to online stores. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Commentary: A DOJ Roadblock to America’s Big Tech Beatdown?

It ’ s safe to say that Big Tech hasn ’ t had a great month .
Google received a beating at the Supreme Court for allegedly stealing the coding needed to create Android .
Congress subpoenaed Facebook and Twitter for deliberately blocking news coverage potentially damaging to one political party — a move that culminated in a high-profile hearing yesterday .
And now , the Department of Justice has charged Google with illegally maintaining its search and advertising monopoly .
Amid all this progress in holding the Big Tech giants accountable , it would be a shame if former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antitrust Division take actions that inadvertently undercut the entire process .
Unfortunately , that ’ s exactly what leaders in the tech accountability movement fear may happen .
Turning Point USA Chairman Charlie Kirk worries that a review of little-known antitrust agreements , called consent decrees , between the federal government and monopolies in the music industry may help the likes of Google at the expense of the American people .
Kirk is not alone .
Similar concerns have been expressed by Matt Mackowiak , a county GOP chairman in the State of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is leading a 50-state-and-territory AG investigation into Google ’ s advertising monopoly , and others .
In short , the Antitrust Division ’ s music review process involves two music licensing monopolies that control 90 percent of music .
These monopolies , called ASCAP and BMI , were put under antitrust agreements with the federal government to resolve price-gouging concerns .
The decrees are straightforward .
They ensure that these two behemoths can retain their market share ( and not need a government break-up ) , as long as they abide by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music licenses indiscriminately under a fair pricing arrangement .
Failure to abide by the terms , though , could lead to penalties and further action to protect consumers .
Now , however , the DOJ is considering weakening them at the worst possible time .
Kirk , Mackowiak , and others ’ fear is not that the Antitrust Division started the review of the music monopolies ’ agreements with nefarious intent ( the former Google associate in question recused himself from the Google investigation , after all ) .
Their concern is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the music industry will effectively limit what the attorney general can do to protect us from Big Tech .
The case against Google , Facebook , and Twitter may appear clear-cut , but then again , so too does it for the music monopolies .
ASCAP and BMI still have the same monopoly power as when the DOJ first implemented the decrees .
One of them recently had to settle a civil contempt suit for allegedly violating its antitrust agreement .
The DOJ even completed a two-year review in 2017 and found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreements .
Should the Antitrust Division significantly alter these music agreements , it would signal that the DOJ is taking a laxer approach to addressing market share concerns through antitrust law .
That ’ s concerning for the Big Tech case given that the department is typically bound very closely to precedent .
It may not matter that the department has already filed charges and that all the facts are against Google concerning its control of the search and advertising markets .
The department ’ s hands may be tied in the immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monopoly-emboldening , precedent-setting decision made in the music case .
Compounding the problem is how consent decrees , the very same remedy used for the music monopolies , may be an appropriate solution for the DOJ to use against Big Tech .
Richard Manning , the president of Americans for Limited Government , wrote in Fox Business that “ Congress should immediately press the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to explore the feasibility of using consent decrees to reign in the Big Tech monopolies.
” He explicitly used the music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DOJ should look to and wrote that “ they work by formally making bad behavior illicit and attaching legal or financial penalties to them.
” Your guess is as good as mine for how the DOJ would manage to form consent decrees for Big Tech if it blows up one of the country ’ s leading consent decree models in the music industry .
In all likelihood , it wouldn ’ t be able to , and the Justice Department would burn one of the most effective antitrust mechanisms it has to combat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developments seen this month , our nation is at a pivotal inflection point — an inflection point that will ultimately mark the fate of tech accountability in the United States .
There is a fork in the road , and U.S. decision-makers now need to decide which path to take .
With the hearings in Congress peaking and the DOJ finalizing one of its own investigations , will they opt to come to terms with a solution , or will they show that all this hard work was mere bluster ?
Time will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other monopolies just before Big Tech ’ s judgment day will make the path to accountability that much more difficult to take .
Tim Huelskamp , Ph.D. , was a member of Congress for Kansas ’ s First Congressional District from 2011–17 .
He also served in the Kansas Senate from 1997–2011 , where he served as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Information Technology .
Photo “ Big Tech ” by Yuri Samoilov CC BY 2.0 .

by Tim Huelskamp, Ph.D.
It’s safe to say that Big Tech hasn’t had a great month.
Google received a beating at the Supreme Court for allegedly stealing the coding needed to create Android. Congress subpoenaed Facebook and Twitter for deliberately blocking news coverage potentially damaging to one political party — a move that culminated in a high-profile hearing yesterday. And now, the Department of Justice has charged Google with illegally maintaining its search and advertising monopoly.
Amid all this progress in holding the Big Tech giants accountable, it would be a shame if former Google staffers in the DOJ’s Antitrust Division take actions that inadvertently undercut the entire process. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what leaders in the tech accountability movement fear may happen.
Turning Point USA Chairman Charlie Kirk worries that a review of little-known antitrust agreements, called consent decrees, between the federal government and monopolies in the music industry may help the likes of Google at the expense of the American people. Kirk is not alone. Similar concerns have been expressed by Matt Mackowiak, a county GOP chairman in the State of Texas, where Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading a 50-state-and-territory AG investigation into Google’s advertising monopoly, and others.
In short, the Antitrust Division’s music review process involves two music licensing monopolies that control 90 percent of music. These monopolies, called ASCAP and BMI, were put under antitrust agreements with the federal government to resolve price-gouging concerns.
The decrees are straightforward. They ensure that these two behemoths can retain their market share (and not need a government break-up), as long as they abide by a set of rules — including offering blanket music licenses indiscriminately under a fair pricing arrangement. Failure to abide by the terms, though, could lead to penalties and further action to protect consumers.
Now, however, the DOJ is considering weakening them at the worst possible time.
Kirk, Mackowiak, and others’ fear is not that the Antitrust Division started the review of the music monopolies’ agreements with nefarious intent (the former Google associate in question recused himself from the Google investigation, after all). Their concern is that a decision to weaken the consent decrees in the music industry will effectively limit what the attorney general can do to protect us from Big Tech.
The case against Google, Facebook, and Twitter may appear clear-cut, but then again, so too does it for the music monopolies. ASCAP and BMI still have the same monopoly power as when the DOJ first implemented the decrees. One of them recently had to settle a civil contempt suit for allegedly violating its antitrust agreement. The DOJ even completed a two-year review in 2017 and found that it should not modify the antitrust agreements.
Should the Antitrust Division significantly alter these music agreements, it would signal that the DOJ is taking a laxer approach to addressing market share concerns through antitrust law. That’s concerning for the Big Tech case given that the department is typically bound very closely to precedent. It may not matter that the department has already filed charges and that all the facts are against Google concerning its control of the search and advertising markets. The department’s hands may be tied in the immediate weeks and months ahead because of any monopoly-emboldening, precedent-setting decision made in the music case.
Compounding the problem is how consent decrees, the very same remedy used for the music monopolies, may be an appropriate solution for the DOJ to use against Big Tech.
Richard Manning, the president of Americans for Limited Government, wrote in Fox Business that “Congress should immediately press the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to explore the feasibility of using consent decrees to reign in the Big Tech monopolies.” He explicitly used the music monopoly example as a success story that DOJ should look to and wrote that “they work by formally making bad behavior illicit and attaching legal or financial penalties to them.”
Your guess is as good as mine for how the DOJ would manage to form consent decrees for Big Tech if it blows up one of the country’s leading consent decree models in the music industry. In all likelihood, it wouldn’t be able to, and the Justice Department would burn one of the most effective antitrust mechanisms it has to combat the tech problem.
Because of the developments seen this month, our nation is at a pivotal inflection point — an inflection point that will ultimately mark the fate of tech accountability in the United States.
There is a fork in the road, and U.S. decision-makers now need to decide which path to take. With the hearings in Congress peaking and the DOJ finalizing one of its own investigations, will they opt to come to terms with a solution, or will they show that all this hard work was mere bluster?
Time will tell, but the Antitrust Division rewarding other monopolies just before Big Tech’s judgment day will make the path to accountability that much more difficult to take.
– – –
Tim Huelskamp, Ph.D., was a member of Congress for Kansas’s First Congressional District from 2011–17. He also served in the Kansas Senate from 1997–2011, where he served as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Information Technology.
Photo “Big Tech” by Yuri Samoilov CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Richmond City Council Candidate Mike Dickinson Mobilizes Big Trump Train Turnout

HENRICO COUNTY , Virginia – About 350 people joined a Sunday afternoon Trump Train procession that departed from the Henrico County courthouse and meandered through Richmond ’ s West End and parts of neighboring Henrico County .
Participants drove cars and trucks displaying American flags and Trump regalia , honking and waving at spectators .
“ God Bless America ” blasted from the radio of several cars .
As the Trump Train drove past , some spectators waved matching signs or honked back .
Others protested with signs for Biden and other Democratic candidates .
Organizer and candidate for Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dickinson told The Virginia Star that protestors at Richmond ’ s embattled Lee Monument tried to block the procession and threw bottles at some cars .
“ Henrico , it was great .
We had a lot of positive reaction in Richmond until we got to the Lee Monument .
That area is a crime zone , ” Dickinson said .
The Richmond Police Department ( RPD ) reported that protestors at the Lee Monument clashed with Trump Train participants .
“ The mobile rally drove to the Lee Monument circle at Monument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the circle ensued .
Some of the vehicles left the roadway and crossed grassy medians near the area , ” the RPD posted on Facebook on Sunday evening .
“ At approximately 4:18 p.m. an adult female who was at the circle reported , she was pepper sprayed by an unknown individual from a vehicle .
A few minutes earlier , officers responded to the 1800 block of Monument Avenue ( near the Lee circle ) to investigate a report of an unoccupied vehicle struck once by gunfire.
” The RPD said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers closed the circle to traffic and continued to monitor it throughout the night .
Dickinson said , “ There were protesters waiting for us , they ’ re not just protesters , there were like violent criminals there waiting for us today .
We had bottles thrown at us , people ’ s cars were attacked , they tried to block traffic.
” Dickinson has run to be a U.S. congressman , a Virginia delegate , considered a run for Richmond mayor , and is now running for Richmond city council .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who , according to Ballotpedia , has had a checkered past on social media .
After becoming a Mormon a few years ago , he switched from Democrat to Republican .
As a result , he might seem like the sort of perennial candidate more elite politicians disregard .
However , Dickinson is doing what more mainstream Richmond Republicans have struggled with – mobilizing hundreds of energized Trump supporters .
The Trump Train was an encore of Dickinson ’ s performance from a week before , when about 500 people turned out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar procession .
In contrast , the day after the first Trump Train , Republicans in nearby Chesterfield County held a get-out-the-vote rally .
Perhaps due to the rain , only about 150 people attended the event in a covered arena – even though the rally featured Republican superstar Senators Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) and Rand Paul ( R-Kentucky . )
Dickinson told The Star , “ I think people like anything they can do to come out and support the president .
People feel good about when they ’ re around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they don ’ t feel scared or intimidated .
They ’ re around people that they feel safe with.
” “ I think that people like coming to something that ’ s interactive .
I think ultimately people want to be involved and speak their mind .
If they ’ re in a Trump Train like this , they feel like they ’ re doing their part to go out and fly their flag and show their support publicly , ” Dickinson said .
Dickinson said the Trump Train was more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city councilman , motivating his route choice .
He said , “ I wanted to do western Henrico , because no one ’ s done one out there , and the western part of Richmond where I ’ m running at , so I can let people know that there is a conservative Republican president , there is a Trump-supporting presence for the area , and so that people feel comfortable so that they can say that they support [ Trump . ]
” “ You know if you go through my neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you don ’ t see any Trump signs at all because people are afraid to put them up , ” Dickinson said .
In a speech before the procession started , Dickinson said , “ We ’ re all here today because we love America and we love President Trump and everything he ’ s doing to keep the cameraman dream alive in all of us.
” “ I love the red , white , and blue of the flag .
I love what that flag stands for .
I love that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have gone for and given their life to fight for it .
And I love that President Trump stands up for the flag time , and time again , ” Dickinson said .
“ God bless all of you for coming today , God bless the United States , and please , election day , it ’ s more important now than ever.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photos by Eric Burk/The Virginia @ @

HENRICO COUNTY, Virginia – About 350 people joined a Sunday afternoon Trump Train procession that departed from the Henrico County courthouse and meandered through Richmond’s West End and parts of neighboring Henrico County. Participants drove cars and trucks displaying American flags and Trump regalia, honking and waving at spectators. “God Bless America” blasted from the radio of several cars.
As the Trump Train drove past, some spectators waved matching signs or honked back. Others protested with signs for Biden and other Democratic candidates. Organizer and candidate for Richmond’s first city council district Mike Dickinson told The Virginia Star that protestors at Richmond’s embattled Lee Monument tried to block the procession and threw bottles at some cars.
“Henrico, it was great. We had a lot of positive reaction in Richmond until we got to the Lee Monument. That area is a crime zone,” Dickinson said.
The Richmond Police Department (RPD) reported that protestors at the Lee Monument clashed with Trump Train participants.
“The mobile rally drove to the Lee Monument circle at Monument and Allen avenues and confrontations with individuals at the circle ensued. Some of the vehicles left the roadway and crossed grassy medians near the area, ” the RPD posted on Facebook on Sunday evening. “At approximately 4:18 p.m. an adult female who was at the circle reported, she was pepper sprayed by an unknown individual from a vehicle. A few minutes earlier, officers responded to the 1800 block of Monument Avenue (near the Lee circle) to investigate a report of an unoccupied vehicle struck once by gunfire.” The RPD said no other injuries were reported and that officers closed the circle to traffic and continued to monitor it throughout the night. Dickinson said, “There were protesters waiting for us, they’re not just protesters, there were like violent criminals there waiting for us today. We had bottles thrown at us, people’s cars were attacked, they tried to block traffic.”
Dickinson has run to be a U.S. congressman, a Virginia delegate, considered a run for Richmond mayor, and is now running for Richmond city council. He is a former strip club owner who, according to Ballotpedia, has had a checkered past on social media. After becoming a Mormon a few years ago, he switched from Democrat to Republican. As a result, he might seem like the sort of perennial candidate more elite politicians disregard. However, Dickinson is doing what more mainstream Richmond Republicans have struggled with – mobilizing hundreds of energized Trump supporters.
The Trump Train was an encore of Dickinson’s performance from a week before, when about 500 people turned out on Saturday, October 24, for a similar procession. In contrast, the day after the first Trump Train, Republicans in nearby Chesterfield County held a get-out-the-vote rally. Perhaps due to the rain, only about 150 people attended the event in a covered arena – even though the rally featured Republican superstar Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky.)
Dickinson told The Star, “I think people like anything they can do to come out and support the president. People feel good about when they’re around other people where they can give support and they don’t feel scared or intimidated. They’re around people that they feel safe with.”
“I think that people like coming to something that’s interactive. I think ultimately people want to be involved and speak their mind. If they’re in a Trump Train like this, they feel like they’re doing their part to go out and fly their flag and show their support publicly,” Dickinson said.
Dickinson said the Trump Train was more about supporting Trump than his own campaign for city councilman, motivating his route choice. He said, “I wanted to do western Henrico, because no one’s done one out there, and the western part of Richmond where I’m running at, so I can let people know that there is a conservative Republican president, there is a Trump-supporting presence for the area, and so that people feel comfortable so that they can say that they support [Trump.]”
“You know if you go through my neighborhood and the West End of Richmond, you don’t see any Trump signs at all because people are afraid to put them up,” Dickinson said.
In a speech before the procession started, Dickinson said, “We’re all here today because we love America and we love President Trump and everything he’s doing to keep the cameraman dream alive in all of us.”
“I love the red, white, and blue of the flag. I love what that flag stands for. I love that we have a military and we have people that have gone for and given their life to fight for it. And I love that President Trump stands up for the flag time, and time again, ” Dickinson said. “God bless all of you for coming today, God bless the United States, and please, election day, it’s more important now than ever.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photos by Eric Burk/The Virginia Star.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--In an Open Letter to Ohioans, Gov DeWine Calls for ‘Unity’ and for a Renewed Commitment to Fight the

In an Open Letter to Ohioans, Gov DeWine Calls for ‘Unity’ and for a Renewed Commitment to Fight the Coronavirus

Two days before the Election Day 2020 , Governor Mike DeWine delivered an open letter to Ohioans .
In it , he called for unity and for the people of the Buckeye State to renew their commitment to “ fight the coronavirus.
” “ On this Sunday before Election Day , I encourage you to vote if you have not already done so .
Exercise and enjoy this sacred right that we , as Americans , hold so dear , ” the letter begins .
Even in calmer times when we were less divided , rhetoric in the final throes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot , animated , and somewhat exaggerated .
Today , however , we truly have a nation more divided than any of us can remember .
It seems that many on each side genuinely feel our country will fall apart if the other side wins .
Despite this deep divide , there is still so much more that pulls us together than tears us apart .
In these rancorous times , we must remember who we are and what we stand for–freedom , liberty , the rule of law , government by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all , where everyone has a chance to live up to his or her God-given potential and live their American dream .
Today , and for some time to come , we also share a common enemy–one that cares not whether we voted for Donald Trump or Joe Biden ; an enemy that is relentless and clearly on the march .
This enemy has invaded our nation , stealing nearly 230,000 American lives and at least 5,300 Ohio lives–all on our own soil .
Throughout our history , in the face of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together as a people , whether we were in the midst of a war or a national disaster , such as a flood or tornado .
As we confront this new enemy , time is not on our side .
We must focus .
We must rally together .
And , in two days when this election is over , we must–as Ohioans–immediately pull together to fight it .
The stakes could not be higher .
Congress needs to quickly pass a bipartisan Covid-19 relief bill .
But each one of us also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect each other–our families , our friends , our neighbors , and Ohioans we don ’ t even know .
We must do this to keep the virus at bay until we get the vaccine .
And when we do , we will need the voices of both parties emphasizing the importance of getting that vaccine out and of people choosing to receive it .
It has been said , “ One can find common ground only by moving to higher ground.
” Now is the time to move to that higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohioans have always done .
We must put the past behind to move forward .
Ohioans always have been a forward-looking people !
It was Ohioans who invented flight and allowed the world to take to the skies–and beyond .
And though we are inspired to dream big and have led the way to the heavens , we ’ ve only done so through a relentless focus on detail , achieved by working together with our feet firmly on the ground .
We are practical .
We are problem solvers .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , with a special kind of grit , resolve , and determination .
Show Ohioans a problem–and we will show you a solution !
That ’ s what Ohioans do .
That is who we are .
We are people who unite in the toughest of times , because our shared bonds will always be stronger than our differences .

Two days before the Election Day 2020, Governor Mike DeWine delivered an open letter to Ohioans. In it, he called for unity and for the people of the Buckeye State to renew their commitment to “fight the coronavirus.”
“On this Sunday before Election Day, I encourage you to vote if you have not already done so. Exercise and enjoy this sacred right that we, as Americans, hold so dear,” the letter begins.
It continues:
Even in calmer times when we were less divided, rhetoric in the final throes of top-of-the-ticket campaigns almost always has been hot, animated, and somewhat exaggerated. Today, however, we truly have a nation more divided than any of us can remember. It seems that many on each side genuinely feel our country will fall apart if the other side wins.
Despite this deep divide, there is still so much more that pulls us together than tears us apart. In these rancorous times, we must remember who we are and what we stand for–freedom, liberty, the rule of law, government by the consent of the governed, and opportunity for all, where everyone has a chance to live up to his or her God-given potential and live their American dream.
Today, and for some time to come, we also share a common enemy–one that cares not whether we voted for Donald Trump or Joe Biden; an enemy that is relentless and clearly on the march. This enemy has invaded our nation, stealing nearly 230,000 American lives and at least 5,300 Ohio lives–all on our own soil. Throughout our history, in the face of a shared enemy, we have come together as a people, whether we were in the midst of a war or a national disaster, such as a flood or tornado.
As we confront this new enemy, time is not on our side. We must focus. We must rally together. And, in two days when this election is over, we must–as Ohioans–immediately pull together to fight it.
The stakes could not be higher.
Congress needs to quickly pass a bipartisan Covid-19 relief bill. But each one of us also has an obligation. We all need to protect each other–our families, our friends, our neighbors, and Ohioans we don’t even know. We must do this to keep the virus at bay until we get the vaccine. And when we do, we will need the voices of both parties emphasizing the importance of getting that vaccine out and of people choosing to receive it.
It has been said, “One can find common ground only by moving to higher ground.” Now is the time to move to that higher ground. We must come together as Ohioans have always done. We must put the past behind to move forward.
Ohioans always have been a forward-looking people! It was Ohioans who invented flight and allowed the world to take to the skies–and beyond. And though we are inspired to dream big and have led the way to the heavens, we’ve only done so through a relentless focus on detail, achieved by working together with our feet firmly on the ground.
We are practical. We are problem solvers. We are inventors, laborers, and exceedingly hard workers, with a special kind of grit, resolve, and determination. Show Ohioans a problem–and we will show you a solution!
That’s what Ohioans do. That is who we are. We are people who unite in the toughest of times, because our shared bonds will always be stronger than our differences.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--Get Ready for College Football in the Spring

After many conferences and schools decided in late summer to postpone or outright cancel its football seasons because of coronavirus concerns , spring college football will arrive sooner than you think .
Recently , the Colonial Athletic Association ( CAA ) and the Southern Conference ( SoCon ) released its football schedules for the upcoming season .
The schedules for both conferences have been modified from what a normal season would look like in an attempt to squeeze in enough regular season games and the NCAA Football Championship .
SoCon will play a nine-week regular season – eight conference games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 20th and ending on April 17th , one week before the FCS Championship , according to a news release .
For Virginia Military Institute ( VMI ) , the Commonwealth ’ s sole team , head coach Scott Wachenheim praised the conference ’ s schedule and said he was thrilled for the spring season after finishing in 4th place last year .
“ I think [ SoCon ] did a great job .
You can ’ t please everybody and I think they made it as competitive as possible , ” Wachenheim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m excited about our schedule , I ’ m excited for all eight games and really excited for the opportunity for our seniors to compete during their final season of playing college football.
” Wachenheim also mentioned that playing in the spring , opposed to the fall , might actually benefit the team since key players on both sides of the ball will have returned from injuries , and the rats , VMI ’ s term for freshman , will be finished with the “ rat line ” by the time the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been working very hard , ” Wachenheim added : “ Morale is high and their effort and energy is at a very high level.
” VMI will start on the road against Chattanooga and then conclude the regular season at home against rival and fellow military academy The Citadel , dubbed the Military Classic of the South .
The most attention , however , will be given to defending SoCon champion Wafford who will look to capture its fourth straight conference title and fifth consecutive FCS playoff berth .
The 11 out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in spring competition will now be playing a six-game conference slate beginning Saturday , March 6th and ending April 17th .
Each team will also have a bye-week , which may provide flexibility if any games are postponed because of COVID-19 .
Under this unique format there is a north division and a south division .
The north division features seven teams – Albany , Villanova , Delaware , New Hampshire , Rhode Island , Stony Brook and Maine – and the south division has four teams – James Madison ( JMU ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elon .
“ We are pleased to announce the conference schedule for the 2021 Spring football season , but understand this is just the next step in the planning process associated with playing football on each of our campuses , ” CAA Commissioner Joe D ’ Antonio said in a news release .
“ Our unique divisional format was developed with the goal of enhancing safety and reducing the risks associated with travel during this difficult period of time , while still providing a fair and competitive model to determine a champion.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other once while teams in the South will play one another twice , each getting a home and away game .
Whichever team has the best overall conference record will earn the CAA ’ s automatic bid to the FCS Championship .
Additionally , schools can schedule two non-conference games , but those will not count toward the overall record .
Some week one matchups to look forward to are JMU , 2019 conference champion , starting its campaign on the road against Elon , and the rivalry game between Richmond and William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ College Football ” by Kate Webster CC BY-ND 2.0 .

After many conferences and schools decided in late summer to postpone or outright cancel its football seasons because of coronavirus concerns, spring college football will arrive sooner than you think. Recently, the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and the Southern Conference (SoCon) released its football schedules for the upcoming season.
The schedules for both conferences have been modified from what a normal season would look like in an attempt to squeeze in enough regular season games and the NCAA Football Championship.
SoCon will play a nine-week regular season – eight conference games and one open week – starting on February 20th and ending on April 17th, one week before the FCS Championship, according to a news release.
For Virginia Military Institute (VMI), the Commonwealth’s sole team, head coach Scott Wachenheim praised the conference’s schedule and said he was thrilled for the spring season after finishing in 4th place last year.
“I think [SoCon] did a great job. You can’t please everybody and I think they made it as competitive as possible,” Wachenheim told The Virginia Star. “I’m excited about our schedule, I’m excited for all eight games and really excited for the opportunity for our seniors to compete during their final season of playing college football.”
Wachenheim also mentioned that playing in the spring, opposed to the fall, might actually benefit the team since key players on both sides of the ball will have returned from injuries, and the rats, VMI’s term for freshman, will be finished with the “rat line” by the time the season begins.
“The team has been working very hard,” Wachenheim added: “Morale is high and their effort and energy is at a very high level.”
VMI will start on the road against Chattanooga and then conclude the regular season at home against rival and fellow military academy The Citadel, dubbed the Military Classic of the South.
The most attention, however, will be given to defending SoCon champion Wafford who will look to capture its fourth straight conference title and fifth consecutive FCS playoff berth.
The 11 out of 12 CAA teams who chose to participate in spring competition will now be playing a six-game conference slate beginning Saturday, March 6th and ending April 17th.
Each team will also have a bye-week, which may provide flexibility if any games are postponed because of COVID-19.
Under this unique format there is a north division and a south division. The north division features seven teams – Albany, Villanova, Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Stony Brook and Maine – and the south division has four teams – James Madison (JMU), Richmond, William & Mary and Elon.
“We are pleased to announce the conference schedule for the 2021 Spring football season, but understand this is just the next step in the planning process associated with playing football on each of our campuses,” CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio said in a news release. “Our unique divisional format was developed with the goal of enhancing safety and reducing the risks associated with travel during this difficult period of time, while still providing a fair and competitive model to determine a champion.”
Teams in the North will play each other once while teams in the South will play one another twice, each getting a home and away game. Whichever team has the best overall conference record will earn the CAA’s automatic bid to the FCS Championship.
Additionally, schools can schedule two non-conference games, but those will not count toward the overall record .
Some week one matchups to look forward to are JMU, 2019 conference champion, starting its campaign on the road against Elon, and the rivalry game between Richmond and William & Mary in the Capital Cup.
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “College Football” by Kate Webster CC BY-ND 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-02--University of Michigan Native American, Latinx Groups Demand Required Courses on ‘Decolonial Pedagog

University of Michigan Native American, Latinx Groups Demand Required Courses on ‘Decolonial Pedagogy’

Two University of Michigan student interest groups have joined forces to make demands of school officials , including mandated classes focusing on “ decolonial pedagogy.
” The Native American Student Association and La Casa sent their “ United Statement ” to UM Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Robert Sellers on “ Indigenous Peoples ’ Day , ” October 12 , The Michigan Daily reports .
Statement co-author Samara Jackson Tobey said the demands are “ to perpetuate a sense of Indigenous education that actually reflects … cultural systems and Indigenous ways of knowing.
” — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] Day must be mandated as a University of Michigan holiday.
” Events on this day should include workshops on the Treaty of Fort Meigs , tribal sovereignty , and “ cultural and environmental sustainability and Anishinaabek governance.
” — “ Decolonize Pedagogies pertaining to all facets of Academia and student experience impacted by genocide pedagogy from Boarding Schools , exclusionary discipline , erasure , climate change , relocation , ICWA and generational trauma.
” This includes sensitivity training on the continued effects of continued “ colonial traumas ” suffered by Indigenous communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decolonial pedagogy and epistemology that persist beyond the history of colonialism in Turtle Island ( South America , Mesoamerica , North America and The Caribbean ) .
” For this , “ Pan-Indigenous ontologies ” are necessary to “ present research and course-work centered in decolonial knowledge.
” — “ The University of Michigan must work with physical and mental health services within Michigan ’ s reservation systems and American Indian Health and Family Services [ … ] ” UM must “ share heath knowledge and resources ” with Indigenous communities throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychologists and counselors who are versed in “ pre-colonial medicine.
” — “ The University of Michigan must observe Anishinaabek religious ceremonies.
” Native American UM students should be excused from classes or permitted to attend class virtually/complete work “ asynchronously ” due to cultural traditions and/or “ community circumstance.
” Tobey noted she drew inspiration for the United Statement from her cousin ’ s experiences at UM .
As a Maori , the cousin “ had to navigate others not understanding how being Pacific Islander is different from being Asian American.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tobey said her cousin suffered “ personal emotional damage ” due to others being ignorant of Maori culture and history .
“ It was like a way to erase somebody ’ s self-knowing and create like that imposter effect ( which is ) really dangerous , ” Tobey added .
Part of the pedagogical “ decolonization ” effort would be utilizing “ hands-on ” instructional methods rather than those associated with Western “ hierarchical ” style .
Dave has been writing about education , politics , and entertainment for over 15 years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias site Newsbusters .
He is a retired educator with over 25 years of service and is a member of the National Association of Scholars .
Photo “ University of Michigan ” by Marc Smith CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Dave Huber
Two University of Michigan student interest groups have joined forces to make demands of school officials, including mandated classes focusing on “decolonial pedagogy.”
The Native American Student Association and La Casa sent their “United Statement” to UM Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Robert Sellers on “Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” October 12, The Michigan Daily reports.
Statement co-author Samara Jackson Tobey said the demands are “to perpetuate a sense of Indigenous education that actually reflects … cultural systems and Indigenous ways of knowing.”
The specific demands include:
— “Indigenous People’s [sic] Day must be mandated as a University of Michigan holiday.” Events on this day should include workshops on the Treaty of Fort Meigs, tribal sovereignty, and “cultural and environmental sustainability and Anishinaabek governance.”
— “Decolonize Pedagogies pertaining to all facets of Academia and student experience impacted by genocide pedagogy from Boarding Schools, exclusionary discipline, erasure, climate change, relocation, ICWA and generational trauma.” This includes sensitivity training on the continued effects of continued “colonial traumas” suffered by Indigenous communities.
— “Require classes focused on decolonial pedagogy and epistemology that persist beyond the history of colonialism in Turtle Island (South America, Mesoamerica, North America and The Caribbean).” For this, “Pan-Indigenous ontologies” are necessary to “present research and course-work centered in decolonial knowledge.”
— “The University of Michigan must work with physical and mental health services within Michigan’s reservation systems and American Indian Health and Family Services […]” UM must “share heath knowledge and resources” with Indigenous communities throughout the entire state, and must hire Indigenous psychologists and counselors who are versed in “pre-colonial medicine.”
— “The University of Michigan must observe Anishinaabek religious ceremonies.” Native American UM students should be excused from classes or permitted to attend class virtually/complete work “asynchronously” due to cultural traditions and/or “community circumstance.”
Tobey noted she drew inspiration for the United Statement from her cousin’s experiences at UM. As a Maori, the cousin “had to navigate others not understanding how being Pacific Islander is different from being Asian American.”
When in “Asian-American spaces,” Tobey said her cousin suffered “personal emotional damage” due to others being ignorant of Maori culture and history. “It was like a way to erase somebody’s self-knowing and create like that imposter effect (which is) really dangerous,” Tobey added.
Part of the pedagogical “decolonization” effort would be utilizing “hands-on” instructional methods rather than those associated with Western “hierarchical” style.
– – –
Dave has been writing about education, politics, and entertainment for over 15 years, including a stint at the popular media bias site Newsbusters. He is a retired educator with over 25 years of service and is a member of the National Association of Scholars.
Photo “University of Michigan” by Marc Smith CC BY-SA 2.0.