thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Inside the New Poll Showing Unpopularity of Mayor Cooper’s Proposed Property Tax Increase

Live from Nashville , Tennessee Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.– Leahy was joined on the newsmakers line by Nashville Smart ’ s Lonnie Spivak .
At the top of the second hour , Spivak reviewed recent Triton Polling data which showed that almost a third of Davidson County registered voters disapproved of Mayor John Cooper ’ s 32 % property tax increase .
He was certain that with such unfavorable polling results that Mayor John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : We are joined now by our good friend Lonnie Spivak who heads up a group called Nashville Smart which is a local 501-C4 .
Good morning Lonnie .
Spivak : Good morning Michael .
Thanks for having me on this morning .
Leahy : It ’ s always a pleasure to have you on the program , Lonnie .
You are a good friend for many years .
Lonnie , you ’ ve got a poll that Nashville Smart conducted about Mayor Cooper ’ s proposed 32 % property tax increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from other organizations this looks like this proposal is in big trouble .
Give us the highlights .
Spivak : We commissioned Triton Polling because we felt that their numbers have always been accurate for the polling for the Nashville area .
And what the polls show is that about 66 % of registered voters in Davidson County are against Mayor Cooper ’ s plan to raise property taxes by 32 % .
Leahy : And only 25 % support it .
Spivak : Yes .
There was a 10 % undecided with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase .
We went on to poll what the voters thought if it would affect affordable housing .
And 68 % thought it would affect affordable housing in a negative way with only 10 % of the people thinking that it would be a positive thing for affordable housing in Davidson County .
Leahy : These poll numbers look remarkably similar to the poll numbers back in May of 2018 when The Tennessee Star used the same research firm that you used , Triton Polling and Research , which is first-rate .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that said the transit tax increase would go down by a 2-1 margin and in fact it did go down by a 2 to one margin .
This seems very similar and these guys from the other results of the poll they seem to have been very accurate and it makes an awful lot of sense to me .
Go through some of the other numbers that would reinforce the accuracy of the poll .
Spivak : One of the things that we asked was a kind of control question .
We did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County .
Leahy : Well you are talking about the party breakdown .
28 % Republican , 53 % Democrat in the poll .
769 registered voters were asked and the questions were posed in a two day period on Tuesday and Friday .
These are how polls should be done .
Polls are a snapshot .
So those numbers Lonnie to me seem to make sense .
Spivak : Yes .
For me personally , I was actually a little surprised .
I was expecting the number to be probably closer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know I ’ m not the typical voter in Davidson County .
To see two-thirds of the voters against the property tax increase should make Mayor Cooper kind of question his direction .
Leahy : Yes .
And you know the other thing to point out that I think adds to the credibility of the poll if you look at the presidential horse race you did between Biden and Trump which showed right now if the election were held today in Davidson County Joe Biden would get 60 % of the vote and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s about what it was in 2016 right with Hillary Clinton .
Spivak : Yes .
It ’ s a pretty good mirror .
And another control question is that we have a historical record on what the voters and their overall feeling are of Senator Blackburn .
And it was the same .
She was on in the 25 % I believe .
Leahy : Not very popular .
Very popular among the 95 counties in the state .
92 of the counties she ’ s very popular but a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Shelby , and Hamilton she ’ s not quite as popular .
But that does seem to ring true to me .
Spivak : Yes .
And we use those questions mainly just so we can have control questions .
Questions that we feel like we know the answer to like historical data that we gathered .
So when we see those numbers come through consistently we know that our numbers for the real question polling on the property tax .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ John Cooper ” by John Cooper .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Breitbart’s Joel Pollak on His New Book ‘Red November: Will the Country Vote Red for Trump or Red fo

Breitbart’s Joel Pollak on His New Book ‘Red November: Will the Country Vote Red for Trump or Red for Socialism’

On Tuesday ’ s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Joel Pollak who is a South African-American Conservative political commentator , writer , and attorney .
Pollak also currently serves as the senior-editor-at-large for Breitbart News .
During the third hour , Pollak discussed his new book , “ Red November : Will the Country Vote Red for Trump or Red for Socialism ” in which he describes the Democratic primary process and the resurrection of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined now by my very good friend and Breitbart colleague and author of ‘ Red November : Will the Country Vote Red for Trump or Red for Socialism , Joel Pollak .
Joel welcome to The Tennessee Star Report .
Pollak : Great to be with you and good morning .
Leahy : Good morning to you .
You are calling from California so you are up early Joel as always working hard .
Pollak : ( Chuckles ) My workday starts around 4 or 5 a.m. here in Los Angeles because we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which media sets the time table for us .
So we get up early here but the advantage is we get a little break later in the day to enjoy the sunshine .
Leahy : You ’ ve been an editor at large since 2011 .
I think you are one of half of a dozen people that have been there longer than I ’ ve been there .
I ’ ve been there since 2012 .
We have worked on many a story together and I ’ m fascinated by your account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us how this book got started .
Pollak : I always wanted to write a book about the Democratic primary .
In a sense the idea was born 20 years ago when I picked up a copy of David Halberstam ’ s book called The Unfinished Odyssey of Robert Kennedy at a used book store .
I ’ m looking at that copy of my book now .
It ’ s pretty hard to find .
My copy is basically falling apart because I have used it so much over the years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And I thought it would be great to write a similar story .
Not a gotcha book or as a political insider with chit chat and gossip .
But a real story about how a primary process tells the story of America .
And this book Red November tells the story of how the Democratic party became so left-wing that it ’ s now talking about policies that we would have recognized as socialist .
Which are in some cases unabashedly .
And how did we get here ?
So I go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the primary earlier in 2019 and all the way through that year to the Iowa State Fair last summer to New Hampshire and South Carolina .
Then all the way through to the primaries this year which were overshadowed by the impeachment and then of course interrupted by the coronavirus .
It ’ s a dramatic telling of news stories that might seem familiar to us but which actually are sort of strange because so much has happened in the last year .
To read this book is to escape into a kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality that we live through .
Leahy : It ’ s described as a part travelogue , part memoir , and part analysis .
What is the first chapter of your book ?
Where do you begin the book in 2019 ?
Pollak : The first chapter actually starts out in Los Angeles in 2020 on March 1 .
It was two days ofbefore Super Tuesday and at that point it looked like Bernie Sanders was going to be the nominee for the Democratic Party .
He had won the popular vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nevada .
Nobody had ever done that before .
No candidate from either party had ever won all three of the early primary stage , at least in terms of the popular vote .
Pete Buttigieg narrowly heads out the Bernie Sanders campaign in Iowa in terms of delegates .
But it was really a decimal point kind of a victory .
And Sanders clearly won the popular vote there .
It was very unusual .
Sanders almost won more than 50 % of the total vote in Nevada .
So he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden won South Carolina .
Now Biden had been expected to win South Carolina but what happened on that March 1 and the day that followed March 2 was that the entirety of the Democratic Party came down against Sanders and united behind Biden .
And one by one all these candidates , Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar , Beto O ’ Rourke they all flew to Dallas in a little pub somewhere , they called it a rally but it was really a meet and greet and they delivered these long speeches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsing Joe Biden .
And Biden went on to win Super Tuesday in a convincing fashion which changed the course of the race .
We have Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee today because of what happened over the 48 hours from that moment in Los Angeles forward .
And Bernie Sanders was in LA for a Super Tuesday rally featuring the rap group Public Enemy .
The theme of the rally was Fight the Power .
Which if you know Public Enemy ’ s repertoire you know this song is about standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolutionary way .
And Sanders was not shying away from his left-wing policies and his left-wing activist , grassroots movement .
He was embracing it .
The Democratic Party was on the verge of being taken over by people who were outright socialists .
But to appease them , Joe Biden had to move so far to the left that his policies are virtually indistinguishable now of those of Bernie Sanders .
That ’ s where I start things .
Then I look back and say how did we come to this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point where the Democratic Party is essentially the socialist party .
They are not even really ashamed about it .
It ’ s not controversial anymore to say that .
Biden opposed socialism as a label but he has embraced it in substance .
How did we get here ?
So I start at the end and I look back and work our way forward .
I introduce you to all the candidates and how they launched their campaigns and the different things they brought to the table .
I even tell you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who fell off the trail pretty early .
And we kick it off again in Miami at the first presidential debate and work forward from there .
It ’ s a lot of fun .
Then we get too old-style campaigning which we don ’ t really see much of right now because Joe Biden is in his basement broadcasting on Zoom right now .
We start out with the shaking hands and kissing babies and eating fried Oreos at the Iowa State Fair .
Getting up on soapboxes and town hall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mountain country of New Hampshire .
Church meetings in South Carolina .
We just go through it all .
Then we have the impeachment which just hits everything and slows everything down and prevents Democrats from campaigning in their own caucus in Iowa .
There were only two candidates on the campaign trail back in January that was Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg but because of all the other candidates most of whom were Senators were stuck in Washington .
Andrew Yang was out there in Iowa but he wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then you have the coronavirus which slowly creeps in and the candidates aren ’ t really thinking about it or talking about it .
The only one who really is is Donald Trump because he has to deal with it .
But then by the end of February , it starts to become an issue .
Then by mid-March it shuts down campaigning altogether .
Leahy : So Joel , you and I were actually in Iowa together during the Iowa caucuses [ in February ] .
We covered the caucuses and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was out in a suburban area .
And Joe Biden had a terrible performance there .
Are you really surprised at the comeback he ’ s had from a dismal fourth-place finish in Iowa to basically the presumptive nominee ?
Pollak : It was one of the most remarkable comebacks in American political history .
He had not won any primary in three decades and more of running for president .
Remember this was his third try .
His first try was in the 80s .
He had never one a primary or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iowa both times that essential it had not .
this time with the help of Barack Obama ’ s political machine he had the support of the African American community in South Carolina .
And in that state , black voters are about 60 % or so of the electorate .
So that was very very important to him .
He kept saying this was going to be his firewall and this would be the state that breaks the momentum of which other candidates are winning in the three earlier primary states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was slipping in several points .
Over the summer in 2019 , Kamala Harris surged and she started doing well in South Carolina .
And then as Bernie Sanders built support he started doing well in South Carolina .
But Biden has the loyalty of the Democratic Party establishment in the Palmetto State .
And once James Clyburn , the senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus who represents part of South Carolina and he represents the capital city .
Once he came out and endorsed Biden that was in a sense the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be taken seriously .
And that really swung a lot of the momentum behind Joe Biden .
Now interestingly they don ’ t really have that much early voting in South Carolina .
Leahy : So it was kind of a day of turning .
Leahy : The big question for you Joel that I have is and you pose it in the title of your book Red November .
Will the County Vote red for Trump or Red for Socialism .
What ’ s your take now five and half months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that people are still tuned out .
They are comparing Trump to the ideal rather than the opposition .
I think Trump ’ s done an exceptional job responding to the coronavirus but certainly it ’ s something that took many Americans by surprise .
So the buck stops here .
So he ’ s in charge and people are asking he could have done better and whether this economic devastation that we ’ ve seen could have been avoided .
I don ’ t think it could have been .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceptionally suited to this crisis because he ’ s had to steer businesses out of trouble and he ’ s doing very well .
When it comes close to November you ’ re going to see Trump compared to Biden .
Leahy : And he didn ’ t look very good with that big black mask .
Joel Pollack .
Thanks for joining us .
The book , Red November : Will the Country Vote Red for Trump or Red for Socialism .
Go to amazon.com and get it .
Joel , thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photos by Joel Pollack .

by Thomas Catenacci
A group of 27 Republican congressmen urged President Donald Trump to order a Justice Department-appointed special counsel investigation of “legitimate questions” about election irregularities.
The Republican congressmen asked Trump to direct Attorney General William Barr to appoint the special counsel, according to a letter obtained by Politico that was sent to the White House on Wednesday. Reps. Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Louie Gohmert, Scott Perry and Jody Hice were among the 27 congressmen who signed onto the letter.
“The American people deserve a definitive resolution to the uncertainty hovering over the outcome of our election, but legitimate questions of voter fraud remain unanswered,” the congressmen wrote.
Barr said on Dec. 1 that the Department of Justice has yet to find any evidence of election fraud that could sway the result, sparking criticism from conservatives. Trump hesitated when asked if he still had confidence in Barr.
“The Department of Justice has been asked on multiple occasions to launch an investigation into this matter, but inaction from the Department along with public comments made by the Attorney General indicate a lack of willingness to investigate the irregularities your campaign and other elected officials across the nation have alleged,” the Republican congressmen continued.
“The appointment of a Special Counsel would establish a team of investigators whose sole responsibility is to uncover the truth and provide the certainty America needs,” they added.
Several news organizations including The Associated Press and Fox News declared former Vice President Joe Biden the winner of the election on Nov. 7. Trump’s campaign has filed numerous lawsuits alleging widespread fraud, but courts across the country have handed the campaign many defeats.
Texas filed a new lawsuit against Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin Tuesday arguing the states altered their election procedures illegally. Alabama and Louisiana have expressed interest in joining the suit, according to Newsweek.
“Our Country stands at an important crossroads,” the lawsuit said. “Either the Constitution matters and must be followed, even when some officials consider it inconvenient or out of date, or it is simply a piece of parchment on display at the National Archives.”
“We ask the Court to choose the former,” it continued.
– – –
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Commentary: Life Is Risky

Commentary: Life Is Risky

Perhaps the most unserious response to the coronavirus pandemic has been the facile assertion that lockdowns , the destruction of the economy , and the suppression of our historic freedoms are all justified if they “ save just one life.
” As Joe Biden put it on Twitter , “ I ’ ve said it before , and I ’ ll say it again : No one is expendable .
No life is worth losing to add one more point to the Dow.
” While every person is unique and has an immortal soul , we do not do anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hazards , nor should we .
Adults know that there are no easy solutions to most problems , and real life consists of tradeoffs .
No One Really Believes “ Just One Life ” Nonsense First , we do not save every life because doing so , however noble our intentions , would be incredibly destructive .
Protecting life—in other words , paying for safety—takes away from resources that make life worth living .
Does everyone in the “ just one life ” chorus drive a Volvo ?
And , for that matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crash helmet while driving or riding in this car ?
Of course not .
Most drive a less safe car so they can afford to go on vacation or get a haircut or buy a new iPhone .
Doing everything possible to save “ just one life ” would bring life to a halt .
Driving a car , for example , is always risky .
But we still drive .
Similarly , all human interaction has some small chance of spreading a fatal disease , but we still value time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was the flu .
It kills tens of thousands of Americans every year , especially in vulnerable populations .
But no one seriously contemplated a national shutdown to counter that yearly tragedy .
Second , trying to save lives from particular threats may increase the risks from others .
Not every investment in safety has the same return , and a range of risks must be balanced .
Even accepting the dubious moral premise that saving “ just one life ” is always worth any expense , doing so might use up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against other risks .
We tend to overinvest in certain risks because they ’ re frightful or merely salient .
Many people are worried about coronavirus right now , but do they worry much about the 83,000 who die of diabetes and over 40,000 who die of suicide every year ?
How about the 67,000 dead from drug overdoses ?
Or the increases in all of these numbers coming from the shutdowns ?
Ideally , we would spend money rationally to maximize the saving of lives and improvement of life overall .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distorted by cognitive biases of various kinds .
Finally , we all voluntarily risk death in order to pursue other things of value .
This goes beyond thrill-seekers who jump out of planes .
All of us do this in more prosaic ways all the time .
We take risks in getting behind the wheel , getting on an airplane , choosing what to eat , having a cocktail , living in a city , working on the job , or going for a swim .
We just celebrated Memorial Day .
Surely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a monomaniacal concern for “ saving just one life.
” Victory came first .
We all have an intuitive sense about these things , and individuals vary in their appetites for risk .
But we know that the mere extension of life is not the point of life , and we each risk death in some ways every single day .
We Must Value Life Finitely In Order to Make Rational Public Policy When making policies for others , including designing systems or compensating victims of negligence , we must account for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is not undertaken because we are callous about the value of life .
It is undertaken precisely because we do value life .
In order to demonstrate that in legal terms , however , we have to reduce this value to a number , a dollar amount .
Economists , public health experts , and juries have spent a lot of time pondering the question of the value of a life .
They have come up with some sensible answers .
While no one would forfeit his life for any amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marginal value of money declines precipitously at that point—people are willing to be compensated for a 1 in 1,000 or 1 in 10,000 risk to life .
These risk premiums provide good data on how much economic value people place upon their own lives .
This is why an Alaskan fisherman or a coal miner is paid more than , say , a cashier or marketing assistant .
If these dangerous jobs command a $ 1,000 premium for a 1 in 10,000 on-the-job risk , we can extrapolate how people value statistical lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the high end of the risk premium for a 1 in 10,000 fatality risk .
Thus , various studies have concluded that the economic value of a statistical life is between $ 5 and 10 million dollars—simple math here $ 1,000 multiplied by 10,000 .
Obviously , merely stating this conclusion sounds a bit callous .
But without reducing statistical lives to an economic figure , other choices also denominated in numbers—choices about medical treatments , the placement of traffic lights , airbags , or vaccines— can not be made in a rational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not know if it ’ s worthwhile to spend $ 100 per patient or $ 1,000 or $ 1 million to do one more test , one more surgery , or one more multi-trillion-dollar quarantine effort .
The National Lockdown ’ s Cost Far Exceeds Its Benefit Setting aside for a moment that many of the fatalities blamed on the coronavirus may have died from something else , or have had few years left to live in any case , and that the lockdowns may not have stopped even a single coronavirus case—what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fatalities in half ?
What if , in their absence , 200,000 would have died , rather than 100,000 ?
Would they be cost-justified ?
In the last few months , at least twenty million Americans have lost their jobs .
If we assume they made an average of $ 50,000 per year and are out of work on average for at least a year—how long this will be is anyone ’ s guess—this is an economic loss of at least $ 1 trillion .
Added to this cost , government deficit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been in excess of $ 2 trillion .
The loss in paper wealth in the form of retirement accounts is another $ 2-4 trillion .
A total loss in excess of $ 5 trillion has been incurred to save lives from the coronavirus .
Even assuming lockdowns worked and prevented 100,000 deaths—an extremely generous set of assumptions—the economic benefit would be about $ 1 trillion assuming the high-end $ 10 million statistical life value above .
In other words , even under the best-case scenario and best-case assumptions , the costs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 5 times higher than the benefit .
If these measures saved 10,000 lives , they are 50 times higher .
If no lives were saved , it was all cost and no benefit .
When things have a cost , it pays to be hard-headed .
Government-mandated social distancing , lockdowns , and other efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus only make sense based on fantastic and now demonstrably false assumptions about the coronavirus ’ mortality and contagiousness ( so-called R0 ) .
It appears no one in charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whether these measures were worth it .
With the benefit of hindsight , we can now conclude that this has been a man-made disaster , the consequences of which far exceed the benefits .
Continuing these measures going forward is unconscionable .
We are depressed , demoralized , put upon , and now a poorer nation on account of our elites ’ panic about the coronavirus .
The “ data-driven ” fanatics turn out to simply be following the whims of the slippery Dr. Fauci .
He and everyone in charge would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is greater than one .
And $ 5 trillion in economic damage is an absolute disaster equal to the loss of 500,000 lives .
Christopher Roach is an attorney in private practice based in Florida .
He is a double graduate of the University of Chicago and has previously been published by The Federalist , Takimag , The Journal of Property Rights in Transition , the Washington Legal Foundation , the Marine Corps Gazette , and the Orlando Sentinel .
The views presented are solely his own .
Photo “ Lockdown Protest ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--YouTube Automatically Deletes Any Comments That Contain Certain Phrases Insulting to Chinese Communi

YouTube Automatically Deletes Any Comments That Contain Certain Phrases Insulting to Chinese Communist Party

YouTube ’ s enforcement algorithm is automatically removing any comments that contain one of two Chinese-language phrases that are critical of the ruling Chinese Communist Party .
Any comment posted to YouTube , which is owned by Google , that contains the phrase “ 共匪 , ” which stands for “ communist bandit , ” or “ 五毛 , ” which translates to “ wumao ” and stands for “ 50-cent party , ” is deleted within seconds without notification to the user , The Verge reported Tuesday .
The Chinese phrase that translates to “ 50-cent party ” is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are allegedly paid 50 Chinese cents for every online post supportive of the communist government , according to The Verge .
The Daily Caller News Foundation independently verified on Tuesday that any comments posted to YouTube that contain either of the two Chinese phrases are deleted from the platform within seconds .
Comments that contain English translations of the phrases are not censored , however .
“ This appears to be an error in our enforcement systems and we are currently investigating , ” a YouTube spokesperson told the DCNF .
Technology writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Chinese phrases on Tuesday , but the phrases appear to have been subjected to the platform ’ s enforcement algorithm dating back to October 2019 , according to The Verge .
The censorship of the phrases is all the more perplexing given that YouTube has been blocked in China since March 2009 .
Google came under fire in 2018 for its involvement in Project Dragonfly , a now-defunct Chinese search engine that would have enabled the Chinese Communist Party to censor search results in real-time .
Google vice president of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project Dragonfly during a congressional hearing in July 2019 .
Andrew Kerr is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Michael Patrick Leahy and State Senator Kerry Roberts Discuss What Tennessee General Assembly’s Agen

Michael Patrick Leahy and State Senator Kerry Roberts Discuss What Tennessee General Assembly’s Agenda Will Be When It Reopens

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Leahy was joined in the studio by Tennessee state Senator Kerry Roberts ( R-Springfield ) .
During the second hour , Roberts disclosed that he was still unsure of what the Tennessee General Assembly ’ s agenda might be once it reopens next week .
He added that the predicted models of the coronavirus have not materialized and that the pandemic has truly become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying and working but not unless the public was allowed .
Leahy : We are in the studio with a good friend .
All-star panelist State Senator Kerry Roberts .
Senator Roberts , has anything changed from your prior descriptions of what will be happening when the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes next week ?
Roberts : It ’ s still a mystery .
( Leahy laughs ) I kind of say that with tongue and cheek .
The calendars are usually published a week in advance .
We don ’ t have next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Thursday at 1:00 p.m. the Senate ’ s Finance Ways and Means are going to meet .
I didn ’ t think to look up to see if the House has published their calendar but the kind of push and pull on this is the House wants to stay in and do business and the Senate just wants to deal with the budget .
Leahy : So I saw a report I think was from the Tennessee Journal that actually had an extensive list .
Roberts : That is true yes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a list of bills .
In fact , I set it out to bring it this morning and I didn ’ t bring it .
Leahy : Well you ’ ve got such a good memory you can do it right ?
Roberts : ( Chuckles ) In Tennessee , Speaker McNally is one of the senators and elected by us to be the Speaker .
Leahy : He ’ s the Speaker of the state Senate and also lieutenant governor of the state .
Roberts : Correct .
So part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bills that we had set aside when we adjourned and pick and choose what ’ s really important to you versus something you ’ d like to do .
Obviously if something has an adverse impact on the budget it ’ s a total nonstarter because we ’ ve got a lot of budget cuts that we ’ re facing .
That list of what ’ s essential and what ’ s not essential would not be the list that would be shared by the House .
And so since we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate doesn ’ t take up the bill that ’ s in the House then it doesn ’ t go anywhere .
So here ’ s the dilemma that I have .
I ’ m in favor of staying and working with this caveat…Not if the public is not allowed .
Leahy : Are we still considering the public may not be allowed in the House ?
Roberts : I think that probably as of today yes .
Roberts : But I think that can continue to evolve .
Let ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we learning every single day ?
We are learning that things have not have materialized as people thought they would .
Now we ’ re seeing how political it is .
We ’ re seeing these analyses of how a red state has reacted versus how a blue state reaction .
Low and behold there are so many more COVID-19 deaths in blue states per million than there are in red states .
How can that be ?
Did the virus know ?
It ’ s political .
Leahy : Allot of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home patients .
Leahy : Most of the blue state governors have made terrible decisions by forcing nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients .
Roberts : So the point being though that every single day that new data becomes available we are almost required or ought to be .
It should be something we do naturally .
We should revisit and reevaluate the decisions that we make as new data become available .
Leahy : Who governs the conduct of the committee rooms ?
Is it the city of Nashville ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Roberts : It would be the speakers of each chamber .
Leahy : So speaker of the House Cameron Sexton .
Leahy : And Speaker of the state Senate Randy McNally .
Roberts : Yes .
What you find out when you become a legislator is that so much of what occurs down there is at the discretion of the speaker .
And we ’ re very fortunate in the Senate in that Speaker McNally is always , if we want to call him and talk to him and say hey I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s very easy to talk to .
You can freely share your opinion .
I know a lot of times people think you get told how to vote .
Oh he puts pressure on you .
Roberts : No .
He is elected by the Senate .
Roberts : So he ’ s got to get 17 votes and I find him to be very responsive .
We don ’ t always agree on things and I don ’ t ever feel that there ’ s a consequence to that .
Sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find him to be extremely reasonable .
I think a lot of these decisions that are being made , although he ’ s the one who sort of has to sign on the dotted line .
I think he does do it with input from the leadership team of the Senate .
Leahy : Just to remind our listeners you are a Republican .
There are 33 members of the state Senate .
28 Republicans and the speaker , of course , Lieutenant Governor McNally is a Republican .
And then there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roberts : Correct .
We have the second-most lopsided General Assembly in the nation .
Leahy : And the first is ?
Roberts : Ron Ramsey used to famously say whatever state it was and I don ’ t remember if it was North Dakota or South Dakota .
Leahy : It could be North Dakota .
Roberts : He said , its the only time in my life that a Republican loses so that we would be number one .
( Leahy laughs ) And we may be at this point but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the things that we have to remember is that Tennessee is an interesting state because if we look at the percentage of 28 out of 33 well that ’ s not reflective of Tennessee .
Leahy : If you look at the presidential race it was like 60 % for Trump and 36 % for Hillary .
Not quite two to one .
Roberts : We have buckets of a third .
We have a third that is Democrat .
A third that is pretty Conservative or Republican .
Then we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of center .
In the center , right of center but they ’ re not really on the left .
Those are the traditional Democrats who realize the Washington Democratic Party left them long ago .
Leahy : Part of it is the way these districts are drawn up .
Roberts : Are you suggesting that there has been gerrymandering in the past ?
Roberts : It ’ s better than it was .
I know the Democrats may scoff but I think the Republicans were about as fair as you could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever were .
Keep in mind , when you draw a line .
Leahy : Two words that will never go together .
Fair and Democrat .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Background Photo “ Tennessee General Assembly ” by the Tennessee General Assembly .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--ICE Agents Arrest Convicted Killer of NYPD Officer

Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) took custody of a Panamanian national earlier in May , over 40 years after he was convicted of killing a New York City police officer .
ICE ’ s Enforcement and Removal Operations ( ERO ) division assumed custody of Carlos Celestino Payne-Archer , a 64-year-old man and Panamanian national , on Thursday , the agency announced in a press release .
The apprehension came after Payne-Archer was convicted of first-degree murder of an NYPD detective in March 1978 .
Detective Joseph Taylor and his partner , Officer Roy DeSetto , responded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1977 , regarding a man armed with a gun at an apartment complex within the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn , according to the agency .
Taylor and DeSetto were met with gunfire after identifying themselves and attempting to enter the apartment .
Taylor was hit with a gunshot blast to his chest , and died from his injuries .
DeSetto returned fire against the five assailants inside the apartment , fatally wounding one of them .
Payne-Archer sustained a gunshot wound during the shootout while two other assailants attempted to escape through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with Taylor ’ s death .
In March 1978 , he was sentenced by a judge to 25 years to life in prison for the officer ’ s death , according to ICE .
“ As I read about the heroic actions of Detective Taylor and Officer DeSetto on that day more than 40 years ago , I am reminded of the tremendous danger law enforcement officers face every day , ” said New York ERO Field Office Director Thomas Decker in a prepared statement on Tuesday .
He continued : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus pandemic , that ’ s not an option for law enforcement officers .
I hope that every American realizes that despite the inherent danger of this job , law enforcement officers like Detective Taylor and Officer DeSetto , continue to uphold their sworn duty to keep our communities safe.
” It ’ s not clear how ICE assumed custody of Payne-Archer .
The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
News of the man ’ s arrest came at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York state government and federal immigration authorities .
Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo signed the “ Green Light ” bill into law in June 2019 , which not only helps illegal aliens obtain valid driver ’ s licenses , but also restricts information sharing between state DMVs and the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) .
DMVs in New York are prohibited from sharing information with ICE and Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) .
DHS chief Chad Wolf responded to this law by stripping New Yorkers of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other Trusted Traveler Programs .
Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Citizens Fight Back Against Mayor John Cooper’s Proposed 32 Percent Property Tax Increase

At least two citizen-led efforts are underway to fight back against Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s proposed 32 percent property tax increase .
Cooper unveiled his $ 2.447 billion budget for the fiscal year 2021 – an increase of $ 332 million over the current year late last month , The Tennessee Star reported .
The financial impact of the tornado and the COVID-19 pandemic on the fourth quarter of the current year and the upcoming fiscal year requires that the property tax rate be raised by $ 1.00 , from $ 3.155 to $ 4.155 , a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper didn ’ t say is that he increased the fiscal year 2021 budget – his very first – by $ 115.9 million over the current year budget .
That increase comes after the current year , which ends June 30 , is estimated to be short by $ 215.8 million as compared to the budget .
The revenue shortfall , largely in sales tax revenues , and the budget increase will come at the expense of Nashville property owners , as The Star reported .
Cooper ’ s significant property tax increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizen efforts to stop it as Nashville ’ s Metro Council will take up the budget in June .
LowTax4Nash.com , an effort of Nashville Citizens for Fair & Transparent Government , urges Nashville residents that their property tax will increase dramatically , “ Unless we act now.
” On their website , the group gives both homeowners and renters the estimated impact of Cooper ’ s 32 percent property tax increase on their property tax bill .
The group points out that last year former Mayor David Briley ’ s Blue Ribbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city , yet no cost-cutting has occurred .
Cooper ran on a platform of “ no new taxes ” and financial transparency , yet he suddenly proposes a giant property tax increase at a surprise to Nashville taxpayers , the website says .
LowTax4Nash.com offers eight specific ways that Cooper could cut his proposed $ 332 million increase , and asks website visitors to select which ones they agree with .
Options include furloughing city employees much the way Nashville residents have , reducing the amount of the proposed reserves , reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as Metro Transit Authority , and reducing funding to arts and non-profit programs .
Conversely , if Cooper ’ s 32 percent property tax increase that supports his $ 332 million dollar budget increase seems like a good idea , the Nashville taxpayer can select that option .
Once the website visitor selects their options , the system automatically generates an email that is sent to Cooper and Metro Council members , advising the mayor and Council member of the taxpayer ’ s opinion .
Meanwhile , the separate NoTax4Nash.com says that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster John Cooper wants a HUGE Property Tax Increase ?
NO !
Absolutely NOT !
” The NoTax4Nash effort is being spearheaded by Michelle Foreman , who is a member of the Republican Party State Executive Committee and a former candidate for Metro Council ’ s District 35 .
Foreman told The Star that , having grown up in Nashville , she has watched how local government works through a system of nepotism , back-door deals and inept government that goes unchecked election after election .
Foreman , who has a healthcare background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuses to let people go back to work normally like they could and should .
“ There is an element of adding insult to injury , ” Foreman said of Cooper ’ s putting a 32 percent property tax increase in place “ when there are people who don ’ t have jobs.
” She said it seems “ unconscionable ” and “ egregious ” to her to assess another 32 percent on property taxes when they don ’ t have a job and there are ways to cut the Metro budget to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with a small team of people that may not want to be named , but they have identified areas that need to be cut that would really impact the budget in a good way .
She wants to go after “ things that just don ’ t matter right now when folks don ’ t have jobs.
” Foreman said the group had what she called “ a good meeting ” with Cooper last week , during which he was shown areas that could be cut .
She said Cooper seemed amenable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been scheduled .
If Metro Council does not pass a substitute budget by June 30 , then Cooper ’ s budget with the 32 percent property tax increase will – by default – go into effect on July 1 .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Florida, Georgia Would Happily Play Host to Republican National Convention If It Leaves North Caroli

Florida, Georgia Would Happily Play Host to Republican National Convention If It Leaves North Carolina

After President Donald Trump took to Twitter to threaten pulling the Republican National Convention out of Charlotte , N.C , other southeast states with Trump allies as governor have offered to host the convention .
The GOP convention is scheduled for late August in Charlotte .
North Carolina entered phase two of its reopening plan amid the coronavirus pandemic last week under Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper , who has been cautious in lifting restrictions .
“ I love the Great State of North Carolina , so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump tweeted Monday .
“ Unfortunately , Democrat Governor , @ RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena.
” Trump ’ s four-tweet thread went on to say that without an immediate answer about attendance , the Republican Party will be forced to find a new location .
A little more than four hours later Monday morning , Republican Party of Florida Chairman and state Sen. Joe Gruters responded .
“ America ’ s # 1 Governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome @ realDonaldTrump and the 2020 convention with open arms , ” Gruters tweeted .
“ Florida is open for business .
@ FloridaGOP ” DeSantis addressed the situation Tuesday at a news conference naming two new Florida Supreme Court justices .
“ Florida would love to have the RNC , ” DeSantis said .
“ Heck , I am a Republican , and I can say that Florida would love to have the [ Democratic National Convention ] ” because of the revenue conventions generate .
“ Florida wants to work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We definitely want to work with you .
We ’ d like to have you in Florida .
The door is open.
” “ With world-class facilities , restaurants , hotels , and workforce , Georgia would be honored to safely host the Republican National Convention , ” Kemp tweeted .
“ We hope you will consider the Peach State , @ realdonaldtrump !
” “ Under Governor Kemp , Georgia has led the nation in safely reopening its economy , ” Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafer said .
“ We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reputation for hospitality second to none .
We would be proud to host the Republican National Convention.
” A Cooper spokesperson responded , via Cooper ’ s Twitter account , to Trump ’ s tweets : “ State health officials are working with the RNC and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte .
North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our state ’ s public health and safety.
” It should be noted , Republican Charlotte City Council member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlotte ’ s contract is with the GOP ’ s Committee on Arrangements , not the White House .
Jason Schaumburg is an award-winning , veteran editor who has been a journalist for more than 20 years .
He spent a decade as the top editor in three northern Illinois newsrooms for Shaw Media and Pioneer Press .
Schaumburg is a regional editor for The Center Square .
Photo “ 2016 Republican National Convention ” by Walt Disney Television .
CC BY-ND 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Health Care Group: It Would Cost $440 Million to Provide 3 Million Tests for All Nursing Home Reside

Health Care Group: It Would Cost $440 Million to Provide 3 Million Tests for All Nursing Home Residents and Workers

Testing every nursing home resident and care facility worker in the U.S. for COVID-19 would cost $ 440 million in federal and state funding , a health care group found .
Doing so would require almost 3 million tests , according to the American Health Care Association ’ s National Center for Assisted Living , an industry group representing nursing homes and assisted living centers that calculated how much it would cost for states to receive adequate funding so all resident and care facility workers could be tested .
There are over 15,400 nursing facilities across the country , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the AHCA said .
It would cost $ 439,721,700 for 2,931,478 tests for all residents and staffers , the group ’ s analysis found .
California has nearly 1,200 nursing homes with 103,000 residents and 139,000 staffers , which would cost almost $ 36.4 million for testing .
New York has 619 nursing homes with 104,000 residents and 122,000 staffers , which would cost almost $ 34 million for testing .
In Florida , it would cost $ 25.3 million to test all residents and workers in the state ’ s 701 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would cost $ 21.4 million to test all residents and workers in the state ’ s 722 nursing facilities .
A recent analysis by the Texas-based Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity found that 42 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have occurred in long-term care facilities , such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities .
“ Based on long-term care usage and demographics in the 11 largely rural states that do not report long-term care fatalities , we also estimate that , nationally , the share of fatalities from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 42 percent , and 52 percent outside of New York State , ” the analysis said .
Nationally , there are over 1.6 million COVID-19 cases , more than 98,000 deaths , and 64,000 recovered , according to Johns Hopkins University .
AHCA/NCAL has urged states to waive regulations that might impede adding more support staff .
The group said states should allow medical professionals from out-of-state and allow long term care professionals whose licenses have lapsed to be able to practice .
States should also prioritize long term care facilities to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing , the group said .
“ Governors must take immediate action to help protect those currently on the frontlines and take proactive steps to recruit , train and deploy additional caregivers to ensure that residents continue to receive the daily care they need in our facilities , ” AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson said .
“ This is an ‘ all hands-on deck ’ situation.
” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said last week it was distributing $ 4.9 billion to nursing homes for COVID-19 relief .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help nursing homes keep the seniors they care for safe during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said .
“ The Trump Administration is providing every resource we can , from funding and direct PPE shipments to regulatory flexibility and infection control consultations , to protect seniors in nursing homes and those who care for them.
” The department will distribute a base $ 50,000 to every skilled nursing facility and an additional $ 2,500 per bed .
“ We are working around the clock to protect the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work makes this funding more important than ever , ” Parkinson said .
“ These resources are an important step toward ensuring residents in long term care facilities receive the vital support needed during this unprecedented public health crisis.
” Derek Draplin is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as an opinion producer at Forbes , and as a reporter at Michigan Capitol Confidential and The Detroit News .
He ’ s also an editor at The Daily Caller .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Sue Ellen Browder Wrote Fake News for Cosmopolitan and Now Regrets Misleading Women on Feminism

LANDER , Wyo.—Sue Ellen Browder wrote fake news before “ fake news ” was ever a thing .
Except she prefers not to call it that—not because she ’ s embarrassed to admit she wrote fake news ( although she ’ s certainly not proud ) , but because she thinks the term “ fake news ” is too vague to understand .
Browder , a Cosmopolitan magazine writer for 20 years , describes what she wrote as “ propaganda.
” The goal ?
To sell women on the idea that sexual liberation is the path to the single woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very sophisticated , ” Browder tells The Daily Signal .
“ It ’ s half-truth , selected truth , and truth out of context.
” “ Propaganda is used not to sell just products , ” she adds .
“ It ’ s also used to sell ideas.
” Prior to writing for Cosmopolitan , Browder worked at a small daily newspaper , the South Bay Daily Breeze , just outside Los Angeles .
When she and her husband unexpectedly got pregnant , they were far more excited about it than her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They told me I could only work five months into my pregnancy and then I had to quit , ” Browder recalls .
That experience turned Browder , who was born and raised in small-town Iowa , into a feminist .
The year was 1969 , and getting fired for being pregnant was a wake-up call .
The situation made Browder , who graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism , realize that women had quite a bit of work to do .
“ Women could not apply for credit in [ their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help wanted ’ ads—help wanted male and help wanted female , ” she says .
“ Women couldn ’ t go to law school or medical schools in many cases .
There was a lot of discrimination going on .
And that is why in the late ‘ 60s and early ‘ 70s , so many women of my generation identified with the feminist movement.
” Being a feminist back then was very different from what it means today , when many perceive the movement as anti-male and pro-abortion .
“ The feminist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women in education and the workforce , ” Browder says of its early roots .
The sexual revolution , on the other hand , “ was fighting for all sorts of sexual freedoms.
” So how did the two become so intertwined ?
In part , Browder says , through the propaganda she wrote .
Beginning in 1971 , Browder worked under the legendary Helen Gurley Brown , who was Cosmopolitan ’ s editor-in-chief for more than 30 years and author of the bestselling 1962 book “ Sex and the Single Girl.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned the struggling magazine into an international empire .
She gave her writers a printed list of rules to follow , which included instructions about how to make up parts of their stories to sound more convincing .
Browder still owns her original copy of the rules today .
Flipping through the pages , she reads two examples out loud : By planting salacious stories about women having extravagant affairs in places such as Cleveland and Des Moines , Browder says , “ the magazine spread its mores throughout the country and throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more widespread than they actually were.
” One of those Cosmo mores was the idea that abortion was a woman ’ s “ right , ” years before the Supreme Court ruled it a constitutionally protected right .
Browder details the story of how a small group of feminists inserted abortion into the agenda of the women ’ s movement in her 2015 book “ Subverted : How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women ’ s Movement.
” She documents the disgust of many pro-life feminists .
But from that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Essentially , ‘ All women want this.
’ And that is how propaganda works , ” Browder says .
While Browder was married and living a traditional lifestyle quite different from what she was espousing in Cosmopolitan , she , too , was corrupted by its influence .
At one point , the ideas in those pages seeped into the most personal decision she and her husband could ever make .
At 27 years old , Browder was happily married with two children at home .
When she became pregnant with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to get an abortion .
It was 1974 , the year after Roe v. Wade .
Browder , who lived in the Los Angeles area and later in two parts of Connecticut for most of her time writing for Cosmo , says she had the abortion in the same hospital where she previously gave birth .
“ I did not realize what a traumatic experience that would be later in my life , how much that would haunt me.
” About 20 years later , in 1994 , Browder ’ s last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years after that , she converted to Catholicism and sought the help of the church to heal her from the abortion .
“ When you start betraying the truth , it will come back to haunt you , ” she says .
“ It will get you in the end .
And that ’ s why even though I knew we were making up stories , I still got sucked in and thought abortion would be OK. ” Browder ’ s abortion isn ’ t the only thing she has sought forgiveness for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean about the propaganda she wrote for Cosmopolitan , despite its casting an embarrassing shadow over her career as a journalist .
“ I don ’ t want to take more credit than I deserve for all this evil , but I think that I—I was certainly part of the evil empire , if you will , ” she tells The Daily Signal .
“ And what I would like … for young women today [ is ] to tell them the truth so they could see how my generation got it wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how they can do better .
How , how your generation can do better.
” In order to do better , Browder says , pro-life women must reclaim the feminist movement for themselves .
“ There is such a thing as pro-life feminism and … in fact , pro-life feminism is the authentic feminism of the 21st century , ” she says .
But reclaiming feminism won ’ t be easy , she adds .
It will require girls and young women to reject the ideas being sold to them in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Why all this hijacking of the women ’ s movement ?
” Browder asks .
“ Money.
” “ Why was Cosmo so successful ?
Because it attracted advertisers .
Why did it attract advertisers ?
Because it worked .
When a young woman , an insecure young woman , reads these magazines and thinks that she has to have perfume , cosmetics , hair products , beautiful clothes , singles travel … abortions , contraception , when she thinks she has to have all of these things , she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money.
” Sitting in her bare apartment without the slightest bit of makeup on , Browder , now 74 , giggles at the ridiculousness of the ideas that she once told women were the secret to happiness and success .
But then she turns serious , reflecting on the damage she ’ s done and the damage such magazines and websites continue to do .
“ Now there ’ s the other side of it .
I say we ’ re all liberated .
Are we ?
” she asks .
“ On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to college .
We can get a degree .
We can be doctors , lawyers , engineers .
We can do all this stuff .
We can make all this money.
” “ But , ” Browder pauses , looking at the iPhone on her kitchen table , “ how liberated are we if our girls have got that in their pockets before they can even think ?
” To learn more about Sue Ellen Browder ’ s story , check out her book “ Subverted : How I Helped the Sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kelsey Bolar is a senior writer and producer at The Daily Signal and a senior policy analyst at Independent Women ’ s Forum .
Photo “ Sue Ellen Browder ” by Daily Signal .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Lara Trump Blasts Mainstream Media, Tells Tennessee Why Donald Trump Must Not Only Win Reelection bu

Lara Trump Blasts Mainstream Media, Tells Tennessee Why Donald Trump Must Not Only Win Reelection but Must Win by a Landslide

Lara Trump told Tennesseans Tuesday that voters must reelect her father-in-law President Donald Trump by a significant margin come November — so that his political opponents have no room to deny the results of the upcoming election .
Lara , who is married to one of the president ’ s sons , Eric , said this during a tele-town hall with Bill Hagerty .
Hagerty is running to replace the retiring U.S. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) .
During the call , Hagerty asked Lara to comment on what he described as “ the dramatically unfair treatment that Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media and how that will factor into the 2020 election ?
” “ People see what ’ s going on .
They see how the mainstream media consistently misconstrues things that Donald Trump says .
They go out of their way to attack him .
They make up stories .
That has happened to all of us in our family .
You think to yourself that it can ’ t be that bad .
They don ’ t actually do these things .
But , yes , they actually do these things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mainstream media covered Donald Trump fairly then they would lose a lot of money .
People would stop tuning in .
They are constantly looking for new ways to hit this president because it puts money in their pockets , and that is absolutely disgusting , ” she said .
“ The press in this country is supposed to fairly and accurately give the facts to help the people make up their own minds , and , in fact , they do the opposite .
They try to implement their opinion and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrative and it ’ s absolutely disgusting.
” And , as Lara went on to say , her father-in-law ’ s election in 2016 made more Americans wise to the ways of the mainstream press .
“ Without that victory , people would not have known just how bad it is in the press , ” she said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Lara Trump ” by Lara Trump .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Despite Allegations, Minnesota DFL Picks Joe Biden to Keynote State Convention

The Minnesota DFL Party announced Tuesday that former Vice President Joe Biden will be the keynote speaker for its upcoming state convention .
Due to the coronavirus pandemic , the two-day convention will be held virtually on Saturday and Sunday .
During the convention , the DFL will announce its U.S. Senate endorsement , as well as Minnesota ’ s DNC representatives , presidential electors , and delegates to the Democratic National Convention .
Gov .
Tim Walz , Sen. Amy Klobuchar , and members of the DFL ’ s congressional delegation will deliver remarks alongside Biden .
DFL Chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming convention , but made no mention of Biden , who has been accused of sexual assault by a former Senate staffer , in his comments .
“ I could not be more excited to gather virtually with DFL Party leaders and grassroots activists from around Minnesota to organize for the upcoming elections and hear from our endorsed candidates and elected officials .
The end of the legislative session and our state convention will kick off one of the most important campaign seasons in our state ’ s history , and DFLers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Martin .
He said the theme of the state convention will be “ Minnesota Together , ” similar to Walz ’ s “ One Minnesota ” campaign slogan .
“ Donald Trump ’ s failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded DFLers what the stakes of the November elections truly are , which is why our party is taking nothing for granted .
The DFL Party has a terrific slate of candidates running under our banner , a dedicated team of volunteers , and a track record of fighting for Minnesotans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity , ” Martin added .
Biden ’ s appearance at the convention comes amid reports that Klobuchar , a member of the DFL , is officially being vetted as a possible running mate .
Klobuchar endorsed Biden for president at a March 2 rally , the same day she suspended her own campaign .
“ As Democrats determine whether they should stand with Joe Biden amidst credible claims of sexual assault or if rural Minnesotans can survive under policies that kill ‘ hundreds of thousands of blue collar jobs , ’ one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s presence at Sunday ’ s DFL convention will only serve to fracture an already divided party , ” RNC spokesperson Preya Samsundar said in a statement .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Minnesota DFL ” by Minnesota DFL .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--EXCLUSIVE: Female U.K. Scholar False-Flagged as Flynn’s Russian Spy Recruiter

The Cambridge University academic portrayed in the mainstream media as retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn ’ s Russian mistress and spy recruiter told the Star Newspapers about her ordeal—caught in the web of fake news and the Russian Collusion Hoax .
“ In April 2016 , the Obama administration renewed General Flynn ’ s security clearance—it was a top secret/sci , sensitive compartmentalized information , it is the highest clearance there is—so all is fine but , then suddenly in August 2016 , the FBI start secretly investigating him for being a Russian spy—that is why they needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Svetlana Lokhova , a former By-Fellow of Cambridge ’ s Churchill College .
Margot Cleveland wrote for The Federalist : “ This honey pot storyline originated with Lokhova ’ s mentor at Cambridge , the official MI5 historian , Professor Christopher Andrew , when on February 19 , 2017 , Andrew penned an article for the London Sunday Times , “ Impulsive General Misha Shoots Himself in the Foot.
” The Times article is no longer available , but Cleveland continued : “ That article portrayed the unnamed Lokhova ’ s brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years prior at Cambridge as the beginning of a compromising relationship between Flynn and a Russian spy.
” Luke Harding , one of the earliest and most prolific advocates of the Russian Collusion Hoax , wrote about the meeting in March 31 , 2017 edition of The Guardian : In his book , Collusion : Secret meetings , dirty money , and how Russia helped Donald Trump win , Harding quotes from email traffic between Lokhova and Flynn that he obtained access to and mischievlously wrote : “ In his emails , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a U.S. spy .
He called himself ‘ General Misha.
’ Misha is the Russian equivilant of Michael.
” Lokhova said she was shocked when reporters started calling her about her relationship with Flynn , but she now sees the connection between this false narrative with the events of August 2016 .
“ I have no idea what the trigger was , but it is clear that in August there was a significant pickup in activity , ” she said .
In August , the Trump campaign did not collapse like conventional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July .
“ On Aug. 10 , the FBI opened up counter intelligence investigations on Carter Page , George Papadopoulos and Paul Manafort , but not General Flynn , ” said the authoress of the book “ The Spy Who Changed History ” about master Russian spy Stanislav Shumovsky , who traveled the U.S. in the 1930s stealing military and industrial secrets .
“ Something happened .
We know from the Horowitz report that Stefan Halper then met with the FBI on the 11th and 12th , Thursday and Friday , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15th and that is the day Strzok sends the text to Page about the insurance policy discussed in McCabe ’ s office—and on the 16th , they open the shocking counter intelligence investigation into General Flynn .
It is an unprecedented step to do such a thing on a former head of a U.S. intelligence agency.
” Flynn stepped down as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in August 2014 after clashing with President Barack Obama and his team .
At the same time , he retired from the Army ending a 33-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The full Strzok text read : “ I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andy ’ s office — that there ’ s no way he gets elected — but I ’ m afraid we can ’ t take that risk .
It ’ s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you ’ re 40.
” Andrew G. McCabe was the deputy director of the FBI .
Lisa Page was an attorney working for McCabe and Peter Strzok was an FBI agent working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-time U.S. political and intelligence operative and the former son-in-law of Ray S. Cline , who rose to become deputy director of the CIA .
In 2015 and 2016 , the Pentagon ’ s Office of Net Assessment awarded Halper contracts for research projects , and in the context of those projects he interacted with both Page and Papadopoulos .
In the same timeframe , Halper was on and FBI contract to infiltrate the Trump campaign .
Halper is , himself , a life fellow at Cambridge ’ s Magdalene College .
Lokhova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwitting involvement in the scandal at the feet of Halper , so much so that soon she will file a motion with the Fourth Circuit to continue her lawsuit against the Cambridge don and NBC , The New York Times , The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal .
She would not discuss the lawsuit in any way , but she did say that Halper was the one who told the FBI and reporters that at a February 2014 dinner at Cambridge University , Flynn , still leading DIA , met Lokhova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general and the academic became lovers .
“ He told them he was an eyewitness and saw General Flynn and I leave together in a taxi , ” she said .
“ It is just not true .
Halper was not at the event .
My husband came and picked me up and he left with his security detail .
It is so crazy .
The reporters ignored that General Flynn met his wife with he was 14 and that I am a mother.
” The narrative continued that Flynn had no idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to further entrap Flynn , she gave him money and invited him to the infamous Dec. 10 , 2015 Moscow dinner to celebrate the 10th anniversary of RT , a Russian state-owned broadcaster .
At the dinner , General Flynn sat at the same table as Russian President Vladimir Putin .
“ Then , at RT dinner , the Russians confront General Flynn with kompromat , ” Lokhova said .
“ They always use the word ‘ kompromat ’ to make is sound authentic , but no Russian ever uses this word.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented Flynn with the evidence of the payments and the relationship with Lokhova , they were able to flip him to work for them , she said .
Lokhova also said that part of the absurdity of the so-called confrontation at the RT dinner , where Flynn was supposed to be turned into her intelligence asset was that General Flynn was paid to give a attend and give remarks through his Washington speakers bureau that handled all of his engagements .
Flynn ’ s bureau was Leading Authorities Inc , or LAI , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former FBI deputy director .
“ The speakers bureau was the one pushing it and asking the Russians for more money than they wanted to pay , ” she said .
“ If the Russians really wanted Flynn in Moscow for a nefarious reason , surely they would have paid him anything , instead of arguing over the fee ?
” Also , contrary to media reports , Flynn ’ s legal team put out a statement detailing who the general briefed DIA before and after the RT dinner .
The British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the RT dinner , but she said the photo of Flynn and Putin sitting together is another deception .
“ There was a woman sitting between Flynn and Putin and when she got up , someone took a picture , ” she said .
In the photo run by the Associated Press , the back of the empty chair between the two men is visible .
“ Flynn speaks no Russian .
Putin speaks no English .
The idea that they had any conversation is impossible.
” Now , that the truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his campaign staffers is coming to the fore , the academic said she is still fighting to clear her name and rebuild her shattered life .
“ The people going after Flynn always talk about the same three incidents : payments from the Russian government in 2015 , the RT dinner and his affair with me , ” she said .
All three pieces of the Flynn-Russia narrative are deceptions , but the FBI needed the affair as the predicate to go after a man , who had just been cleared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than five months prior , she said .
Lokhova ’ s new book about her ordeal Lokhova has written a book “ SpyGate Exposed ” about her experiences at the heart of the Russian Collusion Hoax and how the FBI , CIA and the media all conspired to destroy Flynn and rig the 2016 campaign and attempt to topple the administration of President Donald Trump .
Neil W. McCabe is a Washington-based national political reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network .
In addition to the Star Newspapers , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute for International Strategies .
Prior to joining the Star Newspapers , McCabe covered the White House , Capitol Hill and national politics for One America News , Breitbart , Human Events and Townhall .
Before coming to Washington , he was a staff reporter for Boston ’ s Catholic paper , The Pilot , and the editor of two Boston-area community papers , The Somerville News and The Alewife .
McCabe is a public affairs NCO in the Army Reserve and he deployed for 15 months to Iraq as a combat historian @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Commentary: Michigan Deserves Compensation from China

Washington is right to demand financial compensation from China , whose leaders must be held accountable for lying to the world about the devastating COVID-19 pandemic that originated in their country .
Michigan should throw its weight behind the effort , as well .
Around 4,500 Michiganders have already paid the ultimate price for China ’ s deadly coronavirus coverup , and thousands more are fighting for their lives against this ruthless disease every day .
While the federal government ’ s bold emergency initiatives have helped save countless American lives , our country should have never had to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During a recent press conference , President Trump announced that the U.S. is likely to seek hundreds of billions of dollars in economic damages from China , rightfully noting that Beijing could have done far more to prevent the early spread of the disease .
“ We are not happy with China , we are not happy with that whole situation , ” he said .
“ Because we believe [ the outbreak ] could have been stopped at the source , it could have been stopped quickly , and it wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world.
” During a recent town hall , the President also underscored the fact that the Chinese government hid vital facts from the world community , particularly during the crucial early stages of the outbreak , arguing that the world is now suffering because of China ’ s malfeasance .
“ Don ’ t forget , China tried to blame it first on some of our soldiers … And then they tried to blame it on Europe , ” he said .
It goes beyond the tragic loss of life .
In Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent as recently as February , over 20 percent of the workforce is currently jobless due to coronavirus lockdown measures .
Even though Chinese authorities continue to vehemently deny any and all allegations of wrongdoing , the world already knows the painful truth : the regime silenced doctors and scientists who were trying to warn about the virus at the precise time when it mattered most .
The cover up began in late December , when doctors at the Wuhan Central Hospital began sounding the alarm over the novel coronavirus .
Despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected coronavirus patients by the end of the month , authorities instead interrogated doctors who were raising concerns about the new disease , instructing them not to spread information about the virus .
On January 1 , officials ordered labs to destroy existing virus samples and suspend all sample testing — a move that seems to contradict China ’ s ongoing insistence that the novel coronavirus emerged naturally , rather than escaping from the virus research laboratory in Wuhan .
The Wuhan Public Security Bureau , meanwhile , began questioning eight doctors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese social media .
Then came China ’ s deadliest lie of all — the regime released a baseless research study claiming that the novel coronavirus can ’ t be spread between humans .
Despite the obvious questions concerning its veracity , the study was touted on Twitter by the World Health Organization , encouraging complacency around the world .
“ Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel # coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) identified in # Wuhan , # China , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect that the communist regime is lying about its coronavirus statistics , downplaying the severity of its own outbreak in order to project an aura of competency .
It ’ s not just the federal government that ’ s looking to hold China accountability for its deadly duplicity , though .
Some individual states are already taking matters into their own hands .
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt , for instance , recently filed a lawsuit against China demanding restitution for the damage inflicted by the novel coronavirus .
“ The Chinese government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and contagious nature of COVID-19 , silenced whistleblowers , and did little to stop the spread of the disease , ” Schmitt said in a statement .
“ They must be held accountable for their actions.
” Our friends in Missouri have the right idea — but it will take more than just one state to make China pay for its actions .
Michiganders should join the call to condemn the communist regime for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic , and demand justice for the thousands of innocent Americans who have needlessly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scott Hagerstrom , a Republican grassroots operative , was the Michigan state director for Donald Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Stops Petitioners from Gathering Electronic Signatures Amid COVID-

Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Stops Petitioners from Gathering Electronic Signatures Amid COVID-19

Ohioans seeking to collect electronic signatures for petitions during the coronavirus must temporarily stop doing so , a federal appeals court ruled .
The U.S. 6th District Court of Appeals said in its Tuesday judgment that even though the coronavirus has made it “ difficult ” for petitioners to gather signatures , it does not mean it can ’ t be done .
“ It may well be that the new methods for gathering signatures and verifying them proposed by Plaintiffs ( using electronic signatures gathered online by third parties and identified by social security number ) will prove workable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But they may also pose serious security concerns and other , as yet unrealized , problems .
So the decision to drastically alter Ohio ’ s election procedures must rest with the Ohio Secretary of State and other elected officials , not the courts.
” Also in their opinion , the judges said they did not believe the plaintiffs ’ argument the social distancing methods have prevented them from getting as many signatures as it would without social distancing practices .
“ There ’ s no reason that Plaintiffs can ’ t advertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current situation , such as through social or traditional media inviting interested electors to contact them and bring the petitions to the electors ’ homes to sign , ” the decision said .
“ Or Plaintiffs could bring their petitions to the public by speaking with electors and witnessing the signatures from a safe distance , and sterilizing writing instruments between signatures.
” The judges also noted Gov .
Mike DeWine did not prohibit First Amendment-protected activities during his health orders .
This ruling overturns the District Court for the Southern District of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision that allowed petition gatherers to sign electronic signatures .
Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections ( OSFC ) , who brought the initial lawsuit , was discouraged by the appeals court after it overturned the district court ’ s ruling .
“ This is a very disappointing ruling from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals .
The three-judge panel has said that collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures during a global pandemic was within the capacity of the campaign , but we know , other courts across the country know , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to embark on traditional signature collection during this time would have been dangerous , unethical , immoral , and absurd , ” said Toni Webb , the campaign manager for OSFC in a statement .
“ Given the rapid pace of the litigation , we continue to consider our path forward and evaluate our next steps.
” “ Our commitment has always been to voters .
The state ’ s drastic move to stop our campaign from moving forward reveal their true priorities when it comes to the rights of Ohio voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Ohio officials underscores why people , not politicians , should decide how to update Ohio ’ s election laws.
” Some of the initiatives that OSFC are trying to add to November ’ s ballot include same-day voter registration and increasing Ohio ’ s minimum wage to $ 13 .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] Follow Zachery on Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .
Photo “ Petition Gatherers ” by Joe Mabel .
CC @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Coalition of Michigan Gyms Sues Whitmer, Cites Infringement on Constitutional Rights

An organization representing more than 120 Michigan gyms has filed a lawsuit against the state to protest continued closures from the coronavirus pandemic .
The lawsuit , filed Friday by the League of Independent Fitness Facilities and Trainers , names Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and Robert Gordon , the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services .
It alleges that the executive orders shutting down gyms are “ broad and overreaching ” and “ not narrowly tailored to their purpose , as required under constitutional law , ” according to a statement from LIFFT .
“ To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to at least three letters sent by the industry that outlined very specific measures that will allow gyms to reopen safely , ” Scott Erskine , lead attorney in the case , said in a statement .
“ My clients have stressed that they know how to open safely , and are committed to doing so .
It is nonsensical that an industry that is in such a unique position to bolster the physical and emotional health of Michiganders remains completely closed , while many other sectors ( including restaurants and bars ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other exercise facilities are currently not explicitly included in Whitmer ’ s MI Safe Start plan , which details how and when different industries can open .
The fitness industry has been closed since the first executive order that included restaurants and bars , LIFFT said .
Erskine said there is “ no data or science ” that justifies keeping the fitness industry closed , especially since it “ helps people suffering from stress , isolation , depression and anxiety.
” He said that most anecdotal evidence cited to keep gyms closed involves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If all industries where breathing hard and sweating are shut down indefinitely , then singing , dancing , cheering on your favorite sports team ( even in a bar ) , and loud talking must also be banned across the state , ” Erskine said .
Erskine also cited concerns about deaths of despair , as well as Constitutional rights .
“ My clients are not Republicans or Democrats , they are people who have dedicated their lives to helping their members combat the same exact problems that Michiganders are facing in spades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Not one of my clients are saying that they should return to business as usual .
My clients know that gyms can re-open as safely as any other business , with very narrowly tailored measures in place.
” Whitmer announced last week that auto dealerships and retail businesses were able to open on Tuesday by appointment .
She also lifted restrictions on nonessential medical , dental and veterinary procedures .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Ilhan Omar Says She Believes Tara Reade, Will Vote for Biden Anyway

Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN-05 ) said in a recent interview that she believes the sexual assault allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden , but will vote for him anyway .
Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , has been accused by a former Senate staffer , Tara Reade , of sexually assaulting her in 1993 .
According to Reade ’ s account , Biden kissed her and penetrated her with his fingers without her consent – an accusation Biden has denied .
“ I do believe Reade , ” Omar told the UK ’ s Sunday Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be delayed , but should never be denied.
” Omar supported the presidential candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) and said she would rather not have Biden as her party ’ s nominee .
Even still , she plans to vote for the 77-year-old in November .
“ Believing survivors is consistent with my values .
Yes , I endorsed against Biden and I didn ’ t pick him as our nominee , ” she wrote on Twitter Monday .
“ With that said , in this interview I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that and quotes aren ’ t always in context .
I will vote for him and help him defeat Trump.
” Omar reiterated her intention to support Biden in a Tuesday interview with Good Morning America .
“ I plan on supporting and helping the VP , Joe Biden , in defeating Trump , ” she said .
“ There ’ s obviously parts of what she has said that has been corroborated , parts of it that hasn ’ t. ” Other progressive Democrats who backed Sanders have made similar comments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There have been investigative journalists that have corroborated certain aspects of her account – that is undeniable – and have raised questions about other aspects of her account , ” she told NPR earlier this month .
“ It certainly seems as though something has happened .
I ’ m not sure .
Frankly , this is a messy moment , and I think we need to acknowledge that – that it is not clear-cut.
” Biden addressed the allegations in a lengthy statement released May 1 on Medium .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice , an advocate , and a leader for the change in culture that has begun but is nowhere near finished .
So I want to address allegations by a former staffer that I engaged in misconduct 27 years ago , ” he said .
“ They aren ’ t true .
This never happened.
” Preya Samsundar , a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee , called on other Minnesota Democrats to address the allegations .
“ If an extreme , partisan liberal like Rep. Omar can believe and speak up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , why can ’ t Tina Smith , Angie Craig , Dean Phillips , and Collin Peterson ?
” she said .
“ Smith , Craig , Phillips , and Peterson owe Minnesotans their truthful take on the situation , along with whether or not they still support their party ’ s presumptive nominee.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Ilhan Omar ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-27--Nashville Fatal Overdose Numbers Spike Sharply During COVID-19 Restrictions

Nashville seems to have had an increase in the number of overdoses since March , according to statistics the city ’ s Metro Public Health Department provided Tuesday .
Mid-March was right around the same time that local , state , and federal officials in the United States first restricted people ’ s movements and other freedoms because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The number of overdose deaths for March , April , and May of this year are substantially higher than March , April , and May of last year , according to the Metro Public Health data .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an email with The Tennessee Star Tuesday , would not explain why he thinks the numbers went up or even if COVID-19 even indirectly prompted those deaths .
“ There has been an increase of overdose deaths in Nashville since the beginning of March .
That ’ s when we had the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Nashville , ” Todd said .
“ What follows are those that are currently ‘ suspected ’ overdoses or provisional data for 2020 and the confirmed number for 2019 .
The 2020 numbers are suspected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receives the toxicology reports which can take up to 12 weeks.
” According to the numbers Todd provided , Nashville tallied the following number of overdose deaths in March , April , and May of 2020 and March , April , and May of 2019 : • Mary 2020 : Exactly 24 cases ( as of May 20 ) “ There has been a clear increase in overdose deaths since the start of when Nashville began seeing cases of COVID-19 , ” Todd said .
“ We encourage anyone struggling with addiction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help.
” As The Star reported earlier this month , Shelby County has had a similar increase in drug overdoses since COVID-10 hit the United States .
The Shelby County Health Department monitors drug overdose activity through first responder organizations and a database called ODMAP .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-28--Criminal Justice Reform Advocate Alex Friedmann Now in Trouble with the Feds

Officials with the U.S. Justice Department have charged criminal justice reform advocate Alex Friedmann with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon .
Friedmann already faces charges in connection with an alleged plot to attack security at the new Downtown Detention Center in Nashville .
This , according to a press release that Nashville officials put out this week .
A detailed federal complaint outlines allegations of an elaborate scheme Friedmann undertook during which he allegedly hid a variety of weapons and accessories in the new jail facility while it was under construction , the press release said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friedmann since receiving information about him , via the Davidson County Sheriff ’ s Office .
That resulted in his arrest in January .
The U.S. Attorney ’ s Office has kept apprised of the case since then .
The FBI subsequently joined the investigation , the press release said .
According to the federal complaint , announced this week , in late December 2019 , while preparing for the January 2020 opening of the facility , Davidson County Sherriff ’ s Office employees discovered two keys missing from the DDC ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ A review of video surveillance footage revealed that an individual , dressed in clothing consistent with facility construction workers , had entered the room and taken two keys to secure areas of the facility .
On January 4 , the same individual , now identified as Friedmann , was located on the property .
Friedmann was wearing a yellow reflective vest , a hard hat , protective gloves , and a dust mask covering his face .
Friedmann told DCSO employees he was there working , but it was determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction company or any of its contractors .
Friedmann was detained by the DCSO , and subsequently arrested by the MNPD .
At the time of his arrest , Friedmann had a hand drawn schematic of a portion of the DDC , which he attempted to destroy by chewing it up and swallowing , ” according to the press release .
“ A subsequent review of historical surveillance footage determined that beginning in August 2019 , an individual dressed as a construction worker and alleged to be Friedmann entered the facility on at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an accomplice who acted as a lookout .
The individual was observed on video on several occasions removing material from the expansion joints in block walls and caulk from window areas , after which he placed items inside and covered the joints with another material .
On other occasions , he was observed checking different parts of the facility and making notes .
Based on the video evidence , a search of the identified areas of the facility was conducted on February 10 , and investigators recovered three handguns , ammunition , handcuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Subsequent investigation determined that Friedmann owned a condominium in a complex on Tampa Drive in South Nashville and contracted an individual to build a 200 square foot fire-proof storage area in a basement area of one of the buildings.
” This storage area was constructed out of concrete block .
When Central Precinct detectives executed a search warrant at this location on March 13 , it appeared that this room was used as a practice facility .
Investigators noticed several inconsistencies in the mortar joints of the block walls , similar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DDC .
It was also determined that Friedmann had recently moved several locked storage crates from the room to a friend ’ s house on Whites Creek Pike in Joelton , Tenn. , the press release said .
“ On March 20 , Central Precinct detectives executed a search warrant at the Joelton location and investigators recovered several crates , which contained 21 firearms , including assault rifles , handguns , shotguns and a 37mm launcher .
Friedmann has been convicted of prior felonies , including armed robbery , assault with intent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robbery , ” the press release said .
“ If convicted , he faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the current charge .
Assistant United States Attorney Rob McGuire is prosecuting the case in federal court.
” Friedmann was charged in state warrants in January with attempted burglary , possession of burglary tools , and evidence tampering .
He subsequently bonded out of jail .
Friedmann was arrested again in February on a new Davidson County indictment charging him with felony vandalism at the DDC .
A Criminal Court judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Friedmann is currently housed by the Tennessee Department of Correction rather than in a Metro facility .
His appearance before a United States magistrate judge is pending , the press release said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

by Peter Hasson
Twenty-eight congressional Democrats signed a letter Wednesday condemning the Department of Education for ruling that public schools that allow biological males who identify as transgender to play girls’ sports are violating Title IX civil rights legislation.
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined 27 House Democrats in signing the letter, which charged that the department’s order “discriminates against transgender youth” by restricting girls’ sports to biological females.
“The decision of the Department of Education to issue a determination targeting transgender student athletes on the eve of Pride Month is not coincidental. It is a transparent example of their campaign against the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ children,” Connecticut Rep. Jahana Hayes, the letter’s lead signer, said in a press release.
The DOE on May 15 issued a ruling stating that public schools that allow biological males into girls’ athletics are violating Title IX, which protects women’s access to education and athletics.
The Department of Justice previously backed a lawsuit filed by high school girls in Connecticut who said the liberal state’s transgender policies violated their rights.
Sports across the country are on hold due to the novel coronavirus, but biological males who identify as transgender have previously racked up accomplishments in female athletics.
Franklin Pierce University runner CeCe Telfer, for example, won an NCAA DII women’s track championship in May 2019. Telfer is a biological male who identifies as transgender.
University of Montana runner June Eastwood, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was named the Big Sky Conference’s female athlete of the week in October 2019. Both Eastwood and Telfer previously competed on their university’s men’s team before switching to the women’s team.
Rachel McKinnon, a biological male who identifies as transgender, won women’s cycling world championships in both 2018 and 2019.
Wednesday’s letter isn’t the first instance of Democratic politicians arguing in favor of allowing biological males into female athletics.
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar in February 2019 called for an investigation into USA Powerlifting for barring biologically male athletes from women’s events.
A piece of Democratic legislation called the Equality Act, which passed the House with unanimous support from Democrats, would require schools to allow biologically male athletes into girls’ sports, if the male athletes identify as transgender.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, pledged to get the Equality Act passed into law within his first 100 days in office, if he wins the November election.
“Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time,” Biden wrote in a January tweet. “There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights.”
– – –
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.