thetennesseestar--2020-07-17--Lawyers Help Ohio Business Owners Organize Lawsuits Into Class Action to Take on DeWine’s Shutdown R

Lawyers Help Ohio Business Owners Organize Lawsuits Into Class Action to Take on DeWine’s Shutdown Regulations

Ohio business owners who are fed up with Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s ever-lasting shutdown regulations are joining their lawsuits together into a class action against the state .
Three lawyers are working together to help combine existing lawsuits and are looking for other owners whose livelihoods are being threatened by what they say are unconstitutional orders .
The suit against the DeWine administration and other government agencies was filed in the Ohio Court of Common Pleas in Lake County .
One of the attorneys , Thomas Renz , told The Ohio Star the list of participating plaintiffs is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It includes gyms and dance studios .
Their efforts are being organized on a website available here titled “ Liberty Class Action Ohio.
” The lawsuit has been filed , and they are awaiting a response from the state , Renz said .
This is meant to uphold Ohio law , he said .
“ This is open to any business that wants to participate , ” Renz said .
“ If someone has been injured through this and wants to seek justice , we are happy to assist them if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website says , “ This matters because the first lawsuit will be representing the Ohio business owners , shortly after , the second lawsuit for the people of Ohio including ADA discrimination ( Americans with Disabilities Act ) .
” Renz , of Renz Law LLC in Fremont , said he joined the effort recently .
The movement was started by attorneys Robert J. Gargasz and Gerald W. Phillips .
The effort gained attention in June over a quote in the suit that used the word “ sledge hammer.
” WKBN quoted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the facilities are owed monetary compensation because of what it claims are unconstitutional orders against mass gatherings , deeming which services are essential , the Stay at Home order , and the state ’ s guidelines for dance facilities to operate due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Star reported on a separate lawsuit filed by gyms in May .
In that case , the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law , working on behalf of 35 independent gyms , struck a significant win for their right to exist .
They persuaded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County to rule against Gov .
Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton ’ s “ oppressive ” shutdown of their businesses .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-17--Minnesota Unemployment in June Rises 3,006 from Prior Week

Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center @ @ @ @ @ MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .

by Eric Lendrum
On April 7th, an amicus brief was filed in favor of Florida’s current ban on using state funds to support “transgender” treatments, with 17 state attorneys general voicing their support for the law.
According to the Daily Caller, the brief’s filing was part of an ongoing legal battle in the state of Florida, where far-left, pro-transgender activists have teamed up with several pseudo-medical organizations to file a lawsuit against the law. The groups involved include the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The law in question states that Medicaid funds cannot be used to cover any transgender operations, including sex change surgery, cross-sex hormones, and puberty blockers.
The 17 states that have filed in support of Florida are: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. In their filing, the AGs argue that the organizations involved in the lawsuit have “prioritized politics over science.”
“The amici States submit this brief in support of Florida’s right to regulate medicine and determine appropriate treatments for Medicaid coverage,” the brief states. “Moreover, there is particular reason to be suspicious of the interest groups in this case.”
Their brief goes on to point out that several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have taken similar steps to crack down on transgender treatments, declaring that “transitioning treatments for minors are experimental.”
The case has already seen a judge order the three organizations to comply with subpoenas ordering them to turn over documents related to their guidance for children suffering from gender dysphoria, the official name for the condition of transgenderism. In addition, Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Biden Administration demanding access to similar internal documents related to the administration’s gender transition policies.
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Eric Lendrum graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was the Secretary of the College Republicans and the founding chairman of the school’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-17--Michigan Unemployment in June Falls 6.5 Percent Since May, Still Above ‘Great Recession’ Levels

Michigan unemployment climbed by 24,000 new claims last week , bringing the state ’ s total number of unemployment claims to 555,162 .
However , the week-over-week tally fell by 9,705 new claims from 34,602 new claims in the week ending July 4 to 24,897 new claims in the week ending July 11 , according to U.S. Department of Labor data .
Those numbers are still above unemployment levels recorded at the height of the Great Recession of 2009 .
Nationally , the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1.3 million a decrease of 10,000 from the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.9 percent for the week ending July 4 , a decrease of 0.3 percentage point from the previous week ’ s revised rate .
Michigan ’ s unemployment rate has dropped 6.5 percentage points since May , according to the Michigan Department of Technology , Management and Budget .
The state reported 14.8 percent unemployment in June , a decline of 6.5 percentage points from May ’ s numbers , which DTMB attributes to the reopening of Big Three automotive plants .
Despite the return of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan ’ s current unemployment is still vastly above levels recorded in February , prior to the measures taken to counteract the coronavirus pandemic .
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-17--Gov. DeWine Calls for Unity to Help Fight Coronavirus

In a special primetime address Wednesday night , Gov .
Mike DeWine urged Ohioans to take the appropriate actions needed to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Since the beginning of July , the number of coronavirus cases in Ohio has increased by almost 20,000 .
Furthermore , since June 1 the state ’ s COVID-19 cases have doubled , according to covidtracking.com data .
“ Today , more Ohioans are getting sick than at any previous point in this pandemic .
We are sliding down a very dangerous path , with our once flattened-curve starting to sharpen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is a worrisome , disturbing reversal of our progress – a jarring reminder of just how quickly our fate can change.
” The governor said if immediate action is not taken to stop the spread of the Chinese virus then Ohio could be headed towards what is happening in Florida and Arizona in terms of increased coronavirus cases .
DeWine said during his press conference the new cases are not just a result of new testing .
The governor said testing has increased 87 percent .
According to covidtracking.com data , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus as of July 16 is below 7 percent .
When the coronavirus first came to Ohio , the percentage of people testing positive was 4.7 percent .
Nationally , around 8 percent of Americans are testing positive for the coronavirus , according to covidtracking.com .
As of July 16 , Ohio has seen 9,324 hospitalizations and 3,103 deaths , the Ohio Department of Health information shows .
DeWine reminded Ohioans during his speech that face coverings are an effective way to protect themselves and their loved ones .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently in Red Alert Level 3 Public Health Emergency , which is a county that has high exposure and spread of COVID-19 , to wear face coverings .
Currently , 12 counties fall under this order .
DeWine called on Ohioans to unite once again to fight the coronavirus .
“ We must work together , support each other , and help each other through this challenging time .
I ’ ve seen you do this .
I know you can do this .
Ohioans can continue to help our most vulnerable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ Together , we can be the Ohio where our hospitals are not overwhelmed , where our schools can open , where sports can start , and where our economy can continue to grow.
” 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 “ Mike DeWine ” by The Ohio Channel .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-17--Ohio Unemployment in June Falls 23,000 from Prior Week

Ohio unemployment climbed by more than 35,000 new claims last week , bringing the state ’ s total number of unemployment claims to 410,784 .
The week-over-week unemployment tally in Ohio rose by 1,024 new claims in the week ending July 4 to 35,854 new claims in the week ending July 11 , according to U.S. Department of Labor data .
However , the total number of state unemployment claims has fallen as more Ohioans are returning to work .
The DOL reported 410,784 claims for the week ending July 11 , a decrease of 23,083 from the previous week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1.3 million , a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week ’ s revised level .
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.9 percent for the week ending July 4 , a decrease of 0.3 percentage point from the previous week ’ s revised rate .
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-17--Friends Petition President Trump to Help Serbian Orthodox Priest in Nashville Who Faces Deportation

Friends Petition President Trump to Help Serbian Orthodox Priest in Nashville Who Faces Deportation Over Immigration Lawyer’s Error

A Serbian Orthodox priest in Nashville is trying to stop the deportation of himself and his family that is happening because his lawyer allegedly failed to update his green card application on time .
Father Aleksandar Vujkovic is the parish priest of the St. Petka Serbian Orthodox Church in the Germantown-Salemtown community of Nashville .
He and his wife and their three young children — born in America — are facing deportation by Aug. 16 .
The family will leave for Serbia unless President Donald Trump intervenes , Robert Blagojevich , president of the church ’ s board of directors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priest ’ s supporters from around the United States are engaging in a campaign to draw the president ’ s attention .
Vujkovic is a law-abiding person and will not hide illegally , Blagojevich said .
In Serbia , he will reapply to return to America .
Following the law is important to the St. Petka congregation , Blagojevich said .
The church was formed in the early 2000s by members of the Serbian Orthodox Church , mainly Serbian and Bosnian refugees from that nation ’ s war .
They also have Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as Greeks and American converts .
Many also are second-generation Americans whose parents emigrated to the United States after World War II .
The process is frustrating given the number of illegal aliens who are allowed to stay , Blagojevich said .
“ All the people in our church are proud to be American , ” Blagojevich said .
“ They legally followed the process and got citizenship .
We are proud voters and have similar Christian values.
” Vujkovic is the church ’ s first full-time priest , having taken the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congregation renovate the former black Baptist church which is nearly a century old and turn it into a traditional Orthodox church .
His supporters have tried for months to help the priest , Blagojevich said .
He contacted U.S. Sens .
Marsha Blackburn ’ s and Lamar Alexander ’ s offices as well as U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper ’ s .
They all returned the calls and said there is little they can do as they can not interfere with the immigration process .
However , Blackburn ’ s office has kept the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters in many places , including Illinois where Blagojevich grew up .
Saint Basil of Ostrog Serbian Orthodox Church in Illinois posted a letter on Facebook that is circulating asking people to write to the president .
The letter is available here .
Vujkovic came to America in 2009 to attend an Orthodox seminary in Illinois and in 2013 married his wife , Tamara , according to the letter .
He was assigned to the Nashville parish and had a U.S. religious worker ’ s visa .
The couple had three children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the religious worker ’ s visa was valid , the letter said .
Their attorney forgot to submit a re-application , the letter said , and the worker ’ s visa expired .
Father Aleksandar was legally in the United States because he and his wife were in the process for a green card , but during that process Father found out that he was not legal to work because his religious worker visa expired and therefore did not have work authorization for a period of time because his immigration attorney had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visa and include it with the green card application .
The attorney said that it was his oversight and tried to correct his error to no avail .
During this gap time , caused exclusively by the attorney ’ s oversight , Father Aleksandar did not have authorization to work .
During all his years working in the US , Father Aleksandar never failed to pay taxes .
The attorney applied for a retroactive R1 visa to try to fix that gap but the USCIS denied application for green card on February 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time without an active religious workers visa .
The attorney was remorseful and tried to help but did not succeed , Blagojevich said .
A couple of other immigration attorneys were contacted but said they could not help .
Serbia is experiencing turmoil over COVID-19 shutdowns and its parliament was stormed by protesters , Blagojevich said .
If Vujkovic does leave , the church has found a priest to serve for several months until a long-term replacement can be found , Blagojevich said .
But they would miss their priest , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus shutdowns .
“ It is affecting the morale of our church , ” he said .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Father Aleksandar Vujkovic ” by St. Petka Church .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-17--Vandals Behead Statue of Virgin Mary at Chattanooga Catholic Church

One or more people vandalized and beheaded an outdoor statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary this past weekend at the St. Stephen Catholic Church of Chattanooga , according to church officials .
Bishop Rick Stika of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville tweeted that incidents such as these are nationwide .
St. Stephen officials referred all questions Thursday to the Diocese of Knoxville .
Diocese of Knoxville spokesman Jim Wogan told The Tennessee Star in an email that a pastor discovered the damage Saturday morning .
“ Anytime something like this happens it is disappointing and concerning .
We don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted desecration of a sacred statue and our Catholic faith , or some kind of misguided prank , but it hurts , ” Wogan said .
“ For whatever reason we are living in a very chaotic time and anger seems to be the default setting for people .
Our bishop has asked that we live by the example set in the Gospel of Matthew , to treat others as we ourselves would want to be treated.
” Someone tore the statue off the pedestal and removed its head .
As of Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to witnesses or suspects .
The vandals possibly committed a hate crime , Wogan said , quoting a police report .
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann , on Twitter , said this was “ a disturbing attack on Catholicism and religion.
” “ Sadly , it is among a series of attacks on Catholic churches that have happened in recent days .
I hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice , but I also pray that they will find their way to God as well , ” Fleischmann said .
As The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people vandalized the Holocaust Memorial at Nashville ’ s Gordon Jewish Community Center , according to officials who oversee the facility .
Gordon JCC spokesman Deborah Oleshansky said that memorial is about 15 years old .
At the time Oleshansky could not say whether the nation ’ s current civil unrest provoked the vandal or vandals to act .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Out of 8,000 Federal Donations Made to PACs and Politicians by CDC Employees in the Last Five Years,

Out of 8,000 Federal Donations Made to PACs and Politicians by CDC Employees in the Last Five Years, FEC Records Show Only Five Went to Republican Causes

Employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) have made more than 8,000 contributions totaling over $ 285,000 to Democratic candidates and causes since 2015 , according to a Daily Caller News Foundation analysis of political contributions .
Only five contributions were sent to a Republican PAC or candidate .
Out of these five contributions , which totaled just over $ 1,000 , three sent money to President Donald Trump ’ s 2016 campaign efforts , Federal Election Commission ( FEC ) records indicate .
The contributions were made by more than 550 people who listed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms .
The contributors serve at various levels of management , ranging from nurses and information technology personnel to epidemiologists , public health advisors and the chief financial officer .
The CDC did not respond to a request for comment from the DCNF .
The most common recipient was ActBlue , an online fundraising platform for Democratic and left-leaning organizations .
Other common recipients included Bernie 2020 , Biden for President , Hillary for America , the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Warren for President , Inc. Aside from supporting specific candidates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Indivisible Action , which seeks to “ elect progressive leaders , rebuild our democracy , and defeat the Trump agenda.
” After the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a global pandemic on March 11 , 2020 , the total amount of money employees contributed to left-leaning causes by the end of the month was nearly three times higher than the previous five-year average .
In addition , the total amount of contributions more than doubled compared to the previous five-year monthly average .
From March 11-31 , employees donated nearly $ 8,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time span from 2015-2019 , employees made an average of 69 contributions averaging $ 2,700 in total .
In recent weeks , tensions between Trump and the CDC have elevated over CDC guidelines on reopening schools in the fall .
Trump also retweeted conservative television personality Chuck Woolery ’ s tweet Monday claiming that “ Everyone is lying ” about coronavirus , including the CDC , according to Newsweek .
The most outrageous lies are the ones about Covid 19 .
Everyone is lying .
The CDC , Media , Democrats , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we are told to trust .
I think it ’ s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back , which is about the election .
I ’ m sick of it .
Trump defended his retweet of Woolery ’ s comments in an interview Tuesday with CBS News correspondent Catherine Herridge , The Hill reports .
“ I reposted a tweet that a lot of people feel .
But all I am doing is making a comment .
I ’ m just putting somebody ’ s voice out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump said .
Woolery has since deactivated his Twitter account after tweeting that his son tested positive for coronavirus Wednesday , according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch .
Betsy DeVos said Sunday on CNN that “ the key is that kids have to get back to school.
” When asked by anchor Dana Bash whether schools should follow CDC recommendations , DeVos responded that “ Dr .
Redfield has clearly said these are recommendations , and every situation is going to look slightly different.
” Spencer Landis is a reporter for The @ @ @ @ @

Eighteen individuals are now collecting petitions for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District race as of last Friday.
Twelve people are collecting qualifying petitions for the GOP primary, three are gathering petitions for the Democrat primary, and three independents are also accumulating petitions.
The 12 Republicans listed on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website as collecting petitions are former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, and Richie Lee of Nashville.
Among the publicly announced candidates, Tennessee newcomer and former State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus and retired Brig. General Kurt Winstead have not yet been listed as having begun their qualifying petitions process. Hamada has not yet made a decision as to whether or not he is officially entering the race.
Records show that Harwell, Starbuck, Brooks, Baxter Lee, Ortagus, Winstead, Batchelor, and Timothy Bruce Lee have also filed candidate paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Starbuck has raised $255,066.53 and has $138,741.16 on hand, which Brooks has raised $24,517.00 and has $19,655.34 on hand. The rest filed their FEC paperwork after the year-end December 31, 2022 deadline. The 2022 first quarter January 1-March 31 financial reports, which are scheduled to be released in mid-April, will cover all candidates who have reached the FEC reporting threshold.
Sources tell The Star that several Republican candidates are expected to have impressive fundraising totals.
Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are listed as collecting petitions for the Democrat primary.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents who are collecting petitions. Shannon has appeared on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy. Only Brantley appears to have filed documents with the FEC.
In order to appear on the ballot, candidates are required to collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters and have until noon on April 7 to turn in those qualifying petitions. Candidates who qualify have until April 14 to withdraw their names from the ballot. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office told The Star, unless pending legislation changes things, that they will finalize the ballots on April 21.
The 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, and all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Martin Falbisoner. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Commentary: Trump Remains the Only Man in Washington to See the Danger

Donald Trump is still the only man in Washington who understands that America is in trouble and the nature of the trouble it is in .
We were reminded of this during his moving speech at Mount Rushmore , in which he honored our greatest of all statesmen while calling on Americans to defend—without apology—our home , our people , our heritage , and our principles .
Most importantly , Trump put his finger squarely on the designs of the revolutionaries seeking to destroy our Republic , replace the equal protection of the law with arbitrary privilege , and transform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to a nation founded in liberty : Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history , defame our heroes , erase our values , and indoctrinate our children .
Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders , deface our most sacred memorials , and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities .
Many of these people have no idea why they ’ re doing this , but some know what they are doing .
They think the American people are weak and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people are strong and proud and they will not allow our country and all of its values , history , and culture to be taken from them .
Trump ’ s address aspired to statesman-like nobility that is unusual in our time .
He said nothing less than what we were feeling in our hearts , but these are things our leaders have been unable or unwilling to express .
Whether Trump has a comprehensive understanding of the historic threat facing our Republic and his role in defending it is less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In acknowledging the central crisis of our time with bravery and candor as he did in that speech , Trump did more to advance the interests of the American people than the Republican Party has done in 50 years of policymaking .
This has been Trump ’ s greatest virtue from the start .
Since the rot runs so deep in our elite , it takes someone from outside the “ club , ” someone like Trump , to talk plainly to the American people about genuine threats posed to us from them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes courage to resist the prevailing mood of any time , and the mood of this time is one of racialized hysteria and ritual shame , of moral lassitude , tending towards national suicide .
Those who dare to contradict the spirit of deranged cruelty that animates the soul of the Left or the cowed silence of the majority on the Right can expect swift punishment from a vicious and unforgiving mob .
A climate of fear and submission has made public enemies out of private citizens , prison guards and sentries out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America ’ s heroes .
Against this madness , America ’ s leaders are utterly helpless , if not complicit in the terror .
The institutions that form their character and inform their interests have created a class of timid , selfish bureaucrats , people who are more attached to their personal fortunes than to America .
If they aren ’ t burning the country down themselves , they seem to be fine with letting it happen on their watch .
Trump is an enigma in his own right , but in circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is essential despite his sometimes confused manner of governing or application .
He has uncommon courage , a brutal frankness , and sharp instincts—all qualities that make him a natural enemy of sophisticated liars and traitors who seek to undermine our country in the pursuit of power and status .
This is why they hate him .
He cuts through the pretentious sophisms by which we are enjoined to order our lives with common sense and the American heart .
He richly mocks pompous TV hosts and airbrushed politicians , but he never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordinary Americans that our betters do .
On the contrary , it is obvious that Trump loves America and Americans with a “ deplorable ” and natural affinity .
Our so-called elites never talk about the crisis of the Republic because they don ’ t care about the country they are eager to steward—indeed they seem to hate it .
If they ever do acknowledge real problems , it is through a filter of deception .
They will insist that the encroachments we sense are delusions , that to notice them is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they say , is that America is a bad and racist country .
With this falsehood , they justify all manner of enormities .
Organized destruction , they call “ protest , ” and racialized mob justice they give the name of social justice .
Dopes in the Republican Party , worried principally about maintaining their seats and satisfying their donor class which only cares about tax cuts and special favors promoting their own interests , play along .
Indeed , it is difficult to say just what the Republican Party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , when its leaders can ’ t be trusted to defend their voters , let alone the country .
One could argue , and some have , that Trump ’ s response has been no better .
( How many times can you tweet “ LAW AND ORDER ” and call that attention to the real thing ? )
His Rushmore speech was the first serious push back against this cultural revolution , and his delayed reaction has led some to declare his presidency already a failure .
It is questionable whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America through its greatest crisis since , probably , the Civil War—or at least its violent prologue—although few men alive or dead could meet that standard .
There are even some who suppose that Trump has already lost the November election or that it doesn ’ t matter if he wins or loses .
But these are luxuries of sentiment that we should hope to avoid .
We should not allow disappointments to breed despair and or lack of appreciation for Trump ’ s timely virtues .
We should also have some humility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the job Trump has been given .
It has been five years since Trump sounded the alarm in 2015 with his announcement that he would run for the presidency , and we are only now beginning to see clearly that Trump ’ s enemies desire nothing short of the final overthrow of the United States as it has existed for over two centuries .
Under President Biden , that scheme would accelerate rapidly .
Either Republicans and Conservatism , Inc. still do not understand this , or they don ’ t care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and earnest patriotism , is still virtually the only man on the national stage who does .
“ We are in a culture war , ” he told RealClearPolitics recently .
“ If the Republicans don ’ t toughen up and get smart and get strong and protect our heritage and protect our country , I think they ’ re going to have a very tough election.
” It doesn ’ t take a prophet to sense that these are but the opening chapters of something much larger , much darker , much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things far outside his personal ability to control .
Still , there are actions Trump can and must take right now , in order to shape the conflict favorably .
Trump senses the threat ; now he must confront it .
He is duty-bound , for the sake of his presidency , and of our beloved country .
Matthew Boose is a Mt .
Vernon fellow of the Center for American Greatness and a staff writer and weekly columnist at the Conservative Institute .
His writing has also appeared in the Daily Caller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Music Spotlight: Lucas Hoge

Music Spotlight: Lucas Hoge

NASHVILLE , Tennessee — Lucas Hoge hails from Hubbell , Nebraska , a tiny town with two churches .
He grew up singing in a little Methodist church his family attended .
While his parents were rehearsing in the choir , the pastor gave Hoge a little electric drum pad to keep him occupied .
He started playing along and the pastor cultivated his love for music at a very young age .
In high school , he was introduced to a music teacher who helped him craft his love of music .
“ My music teacher was great , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ She just wanted everyone to explore the love of music that they had in them.
” Hoge played drums throughout elementary , middle and high school before finally picking up the guitar .
He realized the guitar was easier to carry around .
Learning how to play the guitar while singing proved to be a challenge .
“ It was a whole other learning curve , ” he said .
He became friends with some of the people in the local music store .
They asked him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers .
A local band heard him sing and they were looking for a new front guy .
He became the lead singer for the rock cover band , Southern Cross , while still in high school .
He played on stages in bars with big X ’ s on his hand because he wasn ’ t old enough to legally drink .
After high school , he decided to pursue a degree in business architecture and design at the Southeast Community College in Milford , Nebraska .
While still singing with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lutheran chapel where he sang with its worship band Xtreme Devotion .
This put the bug in him to pursue music as a career and he started his own band called Borderline , which played all country music .
Hoge had three bands going at one time .
After a year or so he asked to see if anyone wanted to move to Nashville with him .
Nobody took him up on his offer so he loaded up everything into his truck and moved to Nashville riding solo .
In 2001 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on every door on Music Row ” where he met with anyone who would talk to him .
One of the first people who mentored Hoge was Ricochet ’ s original member Eddie Kilgallon who helped him navigate the music business .
While in Nashville , Hoge began writing songs and released his first CD In My Dreams in 2002 .
In the same year , Hoge ’ s first song for television was “ If I Only Could ” and was featured on the hit Warner Brothers show Smallville .
The singer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2006 .
Later on , he was the host and star of Animal Planet ‘ s TV show “ Last Chance Highway ” and wrote and performed the show ’ s theme song .
When it comes to TV shows needing music , Hoge said , “ I always take advantage of those situations .
I knew they probably didn ’ t have a theme song so I took it upon myself with my buddies to write a theme song , just in case it needed one.
” Hoge has toured London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perform for American troops .
He spent 12 years being a part of the Armed Forces Entertainment : Wrangler National Patriot Tour in which he traveled overseas to perform over every Memorial Day except this year which was canceled due to the coronavirus .
Growing up , the Nebraska boy listened to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio .
When he moved to Nashville , he was often invited backstage to accompany friends but he refused to step in that sacred circle until it was his turn .
In November 2017 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was just floored .
Still to this day , I get chills about that invitation which I have framed on my wall .
[ When you play the Opry ] , you finally feel accepted into the country music family , ” he said .
The last full album he recorded was in 2017 with the title track called “ Dirty South.
” With 10 tracks , Dirty South , Lucas ’ third album finds the artist tackling multiple stories that are a mix between traditional country sound and fresh country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hosting his new outdoor lifestyle TV series “ Hoge Wild ” that is currently airing on Sportsman Channel .
“ Growing up in up in a small town , there wasn ’ t a lot do besides sports and hunting and fishing , ” he said .
“ Hoge Wild ” takes viewers across the globe with the country singer as he travels to New Zealand , Bolivia , Africa , and more .
With a guitar in one hand and a bow in the other , Hoge is going wild in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hunting , exploring , diving and singing .
An avid outdoorsman , the country star aims to change the narrative around conservation and hunting with his new series .
Hoge ’ s latest single is the heartfelt “ Wishin I Was Fishin ” which was purposely released for Father ’ s Day .
Even though it is a personal song , he was able to include footage from his TV show with him and his buddies from around the world on the video of the song .
He concluded , “ Throughout my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been my passport , literally all over this world .
This “ Hoge Wild ” TV show has been in my brain for many , many years and to finally get it out there is huge for me .
It ’ s a passion of mine to talk about conservation and show the entertaining side of what I do and how I get to do it .
I am thankful that this guitar has taken me everywhere and given the opportunity to meet these people.
” You can follow Lucas Hoge on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and all music platforms .
You can follow “ Hoge Wild ” on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter .
and YouTube .
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer .
You can follow her blog , Bethany Writes , Instagram , and Twitter .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Fighting Back: America’s Global Takedown of the CCP with Miles Guo

An all new LIVE STREAM of War Room starts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Saturday .
The two-hour special takes a closer look at the life of everyday Chinese citizens under the Chinese Communist Party and will air live on the John Fredericks Radio Network , America ’ s Voice Network , Dish TV Channel 219 , The Epoch Times , ND TV , GTV and GNews in Mandarin .
John Fredericks said , “ A longtime China hawk and global leader in the fight for freedom of the Chinese people , Mr. Bannon was one of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and call attention to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak .
This show will be groundbreaking in detailed strategy and the latest firsthand news from the world ’ s experts on the Chinese Communist Party.
” War Room Pandemic Ep 287 – Fighting Back , The Global Takedown of the CCP Part 1 : 10:00 a.m. War Room Pandemic Ep 288 – Fighting Back , The Global Takedown of the CCP Part 2 : 11:00 a.m .
Previously , Bannon hosted a series of three , two-hour long special programs titled Descent into Hell : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The show ’ s broadcast partners are America ’ s Voice News , the John Fredericks Radio Network , Salem Media Group , and Newsmax TV and the podcast is available on Apple , Spotify , Stitcher , SoundCloud , and Google Play .
The former White House Chief Strategist began the daily War Room : Pandemic radio show and podcast on January 25 , when news of the virus was just beginning to leak out of China around the Lunar New Year .
Bannon and co-hosts bring listeners exclusive analysis and breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , economic , national security , supply chain and geopolitical experts weekdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ET .
You can watch past episodes here .
For more information , visit www.pandemic.warroom.org and @ WarRoomPandemic .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Commentary: The Left Uses Junk Studies to Show Racism

On March 23 , 1989 , a room full of reporters and scientists was buzzing in anticipation of an announcement of a breakthrough that , if it panned out , would propel humanity into a new era of unlimited pollution-free energy .
The University of Utah ’ s vice president for research introduced two scientists , Dr. Stan Pons , and Dr. Martin Fleishman .
The scientists then announced that a simple device using palladium and heavy water could generate energy from a type of cold fusion resulting from chemical reactions .
We still don ’ t know whether this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or merely wishful thinking .
At the time , real scientists—including my father who is a professor of mechanical engineering—immediately knew to roll their eyes with skepticism .
They demanded the details of the experiment so they could attempt to replicate its results .
Nobody could reproduce the results these Utah professors claimed to discover and the episode remains a cautionary tale to all of science .
Scientific studies “ confirming ” America to be a racist country have become the modern equivalent of the cold fusion experiment .
A research psychologist can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can publish a study demonstrating an urgent need for government intervention to correct the epidemic of systematic racism .
Most calls for drastic social change rely on platitudes and , “ we know ” -type statements .
Asking for evidence or support for charges like these can be risky and might invite retaliatory criticism .
But if one is patient and drills through the links , one can uncover the allegedly scientific studies said to support these assumptions about a racist America .
Advocates commonly cite the Bertrand and Mullainathan study from 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all hiring decisions in America .
This study submitted fictitious job applicants with names associated with African Americans to real employers .
The study appeared to conclude that African Americans are far less likely to receive job interviews than applicants with traditional European or American names .
In 2016 , however , scientists could not replicate the conclusions of the Bertrand study .
In the scientific community , that would mean one could not use the earlier study to make any further generalizations .
But this fact doesn ’ t stop the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study to advance its social justice agenda .
The blog , Replication-Index , observes that the entire field of social psychology suffers from a “ validation crisis , ” or “ replication crisis.
” The author notes , Many published results do not replicate in honest replication attempts that allow the data to decide whether a hypothesis is true or false .
The replication crisis is sometimes attributed to the lack of replication studies before 2011 .
However , this is not the case .
Most published results were replicated successfully .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that only successful replications would be published ( Sterling , 1959 ) .
These sham replication studies provided illusory evidence for theories that have been discredited over the past eight years by credible replication studies .
The author adds , “ This is mostly due to self-serving biases and motivated reasoning of test developers .
The gains from [ confirming an assumption ] that is widely used are immense .
Thus , weak evidence is used to claim that [ an assumption ] is valid .
.
.
” Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the purpose of gaining fame and funding .
For example , the Dutch social psychologist Diederick Stapel admitted faking data to support his discrimination hypothesis .
This led to a discovery of massive fraud in dozens of Dutch social-psychology papers .
In 2018 , Replication-Index reviewed a roundup of studies that appeared to demonstrate that virtually all Americans have , “ Implicit racial bias.
” Again , the survey confirmed that conclusions of racial bias are virtually impossible to replicate legitimately in subsequent experiments .
Nevertheless , the discredited studies remain a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to justify the divisive training in which white Americans are told they must be racist when the studies do not confirm this conclusion .
In 2019 , Replication-Index exposed flaws in the Implicit Association Test ( IAT ) , which is used to construct studies that attempt to show that all people suffer from “ implicit bias.
” According to the site , “ The IAT is best known as a measure of prejudice , racial bias , or attitudes of White Americans towards African Americans.
” A review of 21 studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis of data .
The Replication-Index concluded : “ The race IAT is 20 years old .
It has been used in hundreds of articles to make empirical claims about prejudice .
The confusion between measures and constructs has created a public discourse about implicit racial bias that may occur outside of awareness .
However , this discourse is removed from the empirical facts.
” It ’ s highly destructive to “ teach ” Americans to assume that their coworkers and neighbors harbor racial biases .
These studies finding “ biases ” are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by researchers who understand that studies “ confirming ” the narrative will lead to fame and increased funding .
These flawed studies and the propaganda that grows out of them stoke mistrust and tribalism .
Academia has become a noxious echo chamber .
Ironically , the continued reliance on flawed studies shows exactly the opposite of what these researchers wish to prove : America is not a racist country .
If unconscious bias could be demonstrated through properly designed and validated studies , it wouldn ’ t be necessary to rely on junk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers and social justice advocates , our country would be much further along in the principled goal of true legal and social equality regardless of race .
Adam Mill is a pen name .
He works in Kansas City , Missouri as an attorney specializing in labor and employment and public administration law .
He graduated from the University of Kansas and has been admitted to practice in Kansas and Missouri .
Mill has contributed to The Federalist , American Greatness , and The Daily Caller .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Civil Rights Legend, Celebrated Congressman: John Lewis Dies at 80

ATLANTA , Georgia ( AP ) — Representative John Lewis , who became a household name at the height of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and then went on to become a celebrated Congressman , died .
He was 80 .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed Lewis ’ passing late Friday night , calling him “ one of the greatest heroes of American history.
” “ All of us were humbled to call Congressman Lewis a colleague , and are heartbroken by his passing , ” Pelosi said .
“ May his memory be an inspiration that moves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of injustice , make ‘ good trouble , necessary trouble.
’ ” Lewis ’ s announcement in late December 2019 that he had been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer — “ I have never faced a fight quite like the one I have now , ” he said — inspired tributes from both sides of the aisle , and an unstated accord that the likely passing of this Atlanta Democrat would represent the end of an era .
Lewis was the youngest and last survivor of the Big Six civil rights activists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin Luther King Jr. that had the greatest impact on the movement .
He was best known for leading some 600 protesters in the Bloody Sunday march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma .
At age 25 — walking at the head of the march with his hands tucked in the pockets of his tan overcoat — Lewis was knocked to the ground and beaten by police .
His skull was fractured , and nationally televised images of the brutality forced the country ’ s attention on racial oppression in the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marches in the state , and President Lyndon Johnson soon was pressing Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act .
The bill became law later that year , removing barriers that had barred Blacks from voting .
“ John is an American hero who helped lead a movement and risked his life for our most fundamental rights ; he bears scars that attest to his indefatigable spirit and persistence , ” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said after Lewis announced his cancer diagnosis .
Lewis joined King and four other civil rights leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He spoke to the vast crowd just before King delivered his epochal “ I Have a Dream ” speech .
A 23-year-old firebrand , Lewis toned down his intended remarks at the insistence of others , dropping a reference to a “ scorched earth ” march through the South and scaling back criticisms of President John Kennedy .
It was a potent speech nonetheless , in which he vowed : “ By the forces of our demands , our determination and our numbers , we shall splinter the segregated South into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an image of God and democracy.
” It was almost immediately , and forever , overshadowed by the words of King , the man who had inspired him to activism .
Lewis was born on Feb. 21 , 1940 , outside the town of Troy , in Pike County , Alabama .
He grew up on his family ’ s farm and attended segregated public schools .
As a boy , he wanted to be a minister , and practiced his oratory on the family chickens .
Denied a library card because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became an avid reader , and could cite obscure historical dates and details even in his later years .
He was a teenager when he first heard King preaching on the radio .
They met when Lewis was seeking support to become the first Black student at Alabama ’ s segregated Troy State University .
He ultimately attended the American Baptist Theological Seminary and Fisk University in Nashville , Tennessee .
He began organizing sit-in demonstrations at whites-only lunch counters and volunteering as a Freedom Rider , enduring beatings and arrests while traveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was named its chairman in 1963 , making him one of the Big Six at a tender age .
The others , in addition to King , were Whitney Young of the National Urban League ; A. Philip Randolph of the Negro American Labor Council ; James L. Farmer Jr. , of the Congress of Racial Equality ; and Roy Wilkins of the NAACP .
All six met at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York to plan and announce the March on Washington .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but success didn ’ t come quickly .
After extensive training in nonviolent protest , Lewis and the Rev .
Hosea Williams led demonstrators on a planned march of more than 50 miles from Selma to Montgomery , Alabama ’ s capital , on March 7 , 1965 .
A phalanx of police blocked their exit from the Selma bridge .
Authorities shoved , then swung their truncheons , fired tear gas and charged on horseback , sending many to the hospital and horrifying much of the nation .
King returned with thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the month .
Lewis turned to politics in 1981 , when he was elected to the Atlanta City Council .
He won his seat in Congress in 1986 and spent much of his career in the minority .
After Democrats won control of the House in 2006 , Lewis became his party ’ s senior deputy whip , a behind-the-scenes leadership post in which he helped keep the party unified .
In an early setback for Barack Obama ’ s 2008 Democratic primary campaign , Lewis endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it became clear Obama had overwhelming Black support .
Obama later honored Lewis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom , and they marched hand in hand in Selma on the 50th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday attack .
“ We have lost a giant .
John Lewis gave all he had to redeem America ’ s unmet promise of equality and justice for all , ” President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton said in a statement following his death .
“ Always true to his word , his faith , and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nation.
” Lewis also worked for 15 years to gain approval for the Smithsonian ’ s National Museum of African American History and Culture .
Humble and unfailingly friendly , Lewis was revered on Capitol Hill — but as one of the most liberal members of Congress , he often lost policy battles , from his effort to stop the Iraq War to his defense of young immigrants .
He met bipartisan success in Congress in 2006 when he led efforts to renew the Voting Rights Act , but the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it became once again what it was in his youth , a work in progress .
Later , when the presidency of Donald Trump challenged his civil rights legacy , Lewis made no effort to hide his pain .
Lewis refused to attend Trump ’ s inauguration , saying he didn ’ t consider him a “ legitimate president ” because Russians had conspired to get him elected .
When Trump later complained about immigrants from “ s—hole countries , ” Lewis declared , “ I think he is a racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and speak up and not try to sweep it under the rug.
” Lewis said he ’ d been arrested 40 times in the 1960s , five more as a congressman .
At 78 , he told a rally he ’ d do it again to help reunite immigrant families separated by the Trump administration .
“ There can not be any peace in America until these young children are returned to their parents and set all of our people free , ” Lewis said in June , recalling the “ good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a young man .
“ If we fail to do it , history will not be kind to us , ” he shouted .
“ I will go to the border .
I ’ ll get arrested again .
If necessary , I ’ m prepared to go to jail.
” In a speech the day of the House impeachment vote of Trump , Lewis explained the importance of that vote .
“ When you see something that is not right , not just , not fair , you have a moral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something .
Our children and their children will ask us ‘ what did you do ?
what did you say ?
” While the vote would be hard for some , he said : “ We have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history.
” Lewis ’ wife of four decades , Lillian Miles , died in 2012 .
They had one son , John Miles Lewis .
Calvin Woodward and Desiree Seals are reporters at The Associated Press .
Woodward reported from Washington .
Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Owner of Nashville Boutique Venues Dan Cook Explains What Going Back to a Modified Phase Two Means f

Owner of Nashville Boutique Venues Dan Cook Explains What Going Back to a Modified Phase Two Means for Private Events

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the owner of Nashville Boutique Venues Dan Cook to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Cook described what going back to Phase Two in Nashville means for his business .
He added that his group of private event venue owners met with the mayor ’ s office to get a category label for their businesses and have still not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports the reversion .
Leahy : On our newsmaker line our good friend Dan Cook , the owner of Nashville Boutique Venues Ruby and Clementine .
It ’ s been a rough couple of months for private venues in Nashville .
And Dan we have you on periodically here on Fridays .
Tell us what is going on .
Cook : Hello guys .
It ’ s been a couple of weeks since I ’ d been on and I thought my tenure with you all was winding down .
But low and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phase Two .
And you may recall that when we went from Phase Two to Phase Three private event venues such as mine were allowed to operate again to a significant degree yet still in a lesser capacity than bars .
But we were able to operate .
But when we went back to Phase Two weeks ago most of our events could no longer be held .
And obviously that destructive all over again I guess is the way to say it .
We are whiplashed every day by this mayor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has he said this is a bad idea for our business ?
And has he responded ?
Cook : Yeah .
I don ’ t know how forthcoming I should be but we as a group of private event venue owners have contacted the mayor ’ s office and other powers in the city government recently , and really our goal was to have our business defined .
If you can believe it the mayor ’ s office still has not separated our private industry from what they refer to as gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think of as a backyard birthday party or some unstructured get together .
Whereas we are obviously a private business in a controlled environment where we set the rules .
So it ’ s a totally different kind of situation .
But we had a meeting simply to define what we are so that we could , therefore , be put into an opening category .
We still don ’ t know when we go back to Phase Three what we will be allowed to do or how many people we will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry we ’ ll book let ’ s say a Christmas party six months or a year in advance .
For them not to know whether they can have a party or how many people they can have it ’ s utterly destructive .
Of course , they are going to either not book or cancel their event .
In any event , it totally shuts down our business .
The analogy I use is like a stock market .
The stock market really prices in expectation .
And uncertainty drives the stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , uncertainty totally destroys our business unlike a restaurant or a retailer .
When those kinds of businesses open somebody will walk in their door on day one .
When we are allowed to open our doors people will not walk into our doors probably for six months to a year .
We ’ re again flat on our backs .
Carmichael : Dan , when you were allowed to open in Phase Three did you actually hold any events , or was Phase Three for you such a short period of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Cook : We did .
We were able to have events that we had not previously rescheduled or canceled .
And the number of private event venues in town did the same .
And we could hold events up to 250 people at that time .
Carmichael : And how did those events go off ?
Cook : They went very well .
The way I explain it to pending clients is that they were normal apart from the fact that all the vendors including our employees were wearing face masks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our current environment .
The events went very very well .
But literally a week after we had these events the mayor ’ s office and the Metro Health Department put out this mapping infographic .
I don ’ t know if you saw it .
I think it was entitled , The Big Six .
These are the Big Six in the eyes of our city creating these hotspots .
And one of the six was weddings .
Which was hilarious to us , but not that funny but we hadn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them to put that on there it was clearly without any local data .
But also on the info-graphic , they had construction sites , hospitals and other kinds of offenders which of course say they leave 100 percent open .
Carmichael : When your group spoke with the mayor ’ s office what was their response ?
You are making very logical arguments here .
What was their response ?
Why will they not do what you are recommending ?
What was their reasoning ?
Cook : Our objective going into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry-defined and then put in a category .
What they told us at the end of the meeting is that we understand your need for clarity and certainty so we could articulate that to our clients .
And they said that they would get back to us .
And that was four or five days ago .
And we ’ ve heard nothing at this point .
We have heard through back channels and side conversations after the meeting that we will probably not get any answer or any clarity until July 31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the mayor ’ s office said they will keep the bars shut down .
Now we are not a bar as you know .
But until July 31 we will not even have that answer .
And that still presupposes that the bars will be opened on August 1. Who knows if that will actually happen .
So until they go from Phase Two back to Phase Three they won ’ t even let us know what our fate is .
Why I have no idea .
Carmichael : If they go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you go back to where you were for Phase Three before ?
Or have they changed something ?
Cook : Well Crom you would think so .
Every time we ’ ve moved through the road map , the mayor ’ s office has changed our designation , and they invariably step us back .
So you ’ d think that we ’ d be able to have events up to 250 people when we go to Phase Three but recall that we are in a modified phase .
So in a modified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 50 people now for most events .
But most events now have us back to 25 .
We have no idea what the modified Phase Three will be which is concerning .
Leahy : Back to the issue of data .
What data did they share with you on deaths for instance in Davidson County to justify the movement from Phase Three to Phase Two ?
Have they shared that data with you ?
Cook : No , no , no .
You know that the goalposts keep moving .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I can not find the data .
I can not find the morbidity data from public health officials in Nashville which is the critical data .
So it seems to be arbitrary in my view .
Listen to the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ The Clementine ” by Nashville Boutique Venues .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Commentary: Are the State-Led Pandemic Shutdowns a Trial Run for the Green New Deal?

At the height of the state-led COVID-19 pandemic economic shutdowns in April , 25.3 million Americans had lost their jobs as businesses shuttered up and families stayed behind closed doors , waiting for the worst of the virus to pass .
While working from home or being furloughed , millions of Americans stayed off the roads , driving much less and monthly fuel consumption down 47.1 percent in April , according to the Energy Information Agency .
As a result oil consumption fell off a cliff , the price of oil briefly went below zero .
Monthly consumption including of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic was way down , 12 percent and 10.4 percent in April , respectively , according to the Energy Information Agency .
Airlines were largely grounded as travel from Europe and China was restricted nationally by President Donald Trump , with fuel consumption down 45 percent year to date according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics .
And , sure enough , daily global carbon emissions for 2020 had dropped a dramatic 17 percent by early April compared to 2019 according to a May study published on Nature.com , “ Temporary reduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 forced confinement.
” The study notes the impact of government policies in fueling the reduction , with the slowdown in car travel lending to half of the cut : “ Our study reveals how responsive the surface transportation sector ’ s emissions can be to policy changes and economic shifts .
Surface transport accounts for nearly half the decrease in emissions during confinement , and active travel ( walking and cycling , including e-bikes ) has attributes of social distancing that are likely to be desirable for some time and could help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pollution as confinement is eased.
” The overall drop for the year will be less than 17 percent as economies rebound from the closures , with an expected drop for 4 percent for the year .
But if some extent of closures extend through the rest of the year , the study predicts that the overall drop for the year will be about 7 percent .
That ’ s pretty close to the United Nations ’ annual global emission reductions target of 7.6 percent .
So , is this a trial run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least , I think policymakers and activists on the left are taking notes .
In the very least , the American people should consider the pandemic shutdowns as a major warning .
To hit the emissions reduction target this year required the most massive recession since the Great Depression , with tens of millions of jobs lost .
The gutting of the oil industry .
In short , these are some of the most tyrannical and economically destructive policies ever pursued , albeit to stave off the pandemic and save millions of lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not enough to meet the global emission reduction target .
And now activists worry that everyone ’ s desire to get back to work and fuel an economic recovery will drive emissions right back to where they were .
Meaning to get where they want , when the Green New Deal gets going , whether in 2021 , 2025 or whenever Democrats reclaim the White House and majorities in both houses of Congress will require even greater restrictions on the economy and liberty .
It will be a tyranny the likes of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Watch out .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .
Photo “ Green New Deal Press Conference ” by Senate Democrats .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--AG Barr Lashes Out at ‘Double Standard’ in How Big Tech Treats US Versus the Chinese Communist Party

Attorney General Bill Barr lambasted Apple Thursday , suggesting the iPhone maker ’ s business ties in China reveal a double standard in how tech companies treat U.S. officials versus the Chinese Communist Party .
China ’ s goal is to “ raid ” the United States and bilk American businesses , Barr said during a speech in Michigan .
He also suggested there could be serious repercussions for Silicon Valley companies that give deference to China over the U.S. “ Do you think when Apple sells phones in China that Apple phones in China are impervious to penetration by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the speech .
“ They wouldn ’ t be sold if they were impervious to Chinese authorities .
What we ’ ve asked for is when we have a warrant from a court , that we should be able to get into those cell phones .
That ’ s the double standard that has been emerging among American tech companies , ” Barr said .
Barr singled out Apple and Microsoft and hinted that companies pushing China ’ s interests could face pushback under the Foreign Agents Registration Act , a law requiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other countries .
“ The ultimate ambition of China ’ s rulers isn ’ t to trade with the United States ; it is to raid the United States , ” he said .
“ If you are an American business leader , appeasing the [ People ’ s Republic of China ] may bring short-term rewards .
But in the end , the PRC ’ s goal is to replace you.
” “ Over the years , corporations such as Google , Microsoft , Yahoo , and Apple have shown themselves all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Barr said .
Apple has faced criticism for complying with China ’ s demands in years past .
The company removed The New York Times app from its Chinese app store in 2017 , for instance , in an effort to comply with a request from Chinese regulators , the NYT reported in 2017 .
Apple also built a data center in China to act in accordance with the country ’ s cybersecurity laws , which give officials the ability to seize data on political dissidents .
Barr criticized Apple in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Justice attempted to collect data from the iPhone of a man who shot and killed three sailors in Florida .
The Justice Department has not explained how the FBI managed to gain access to Second Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani ’ s data without Apple ’ s help .
Investigators reportedly used the data to discover a connection between Alshamrani and an al-Qaeda operative before his 2019 shooting spree .
Apple has not responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
Chris White is a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Jim Roberts Updates the Tennessee Star Report on the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act Petition

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Nashville attorney Jim Roberts to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Roberts reported on the status of the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act petition which would allow Davidson County residents the right to vote upon any future tax increases and hold the Metro government to a budget transparency standard .
Leahy : We are joined now on our newsmakers line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and supporter of all causes good Jim Roberts .
( Roberts laughs ) Jim welcome to The Tennessee Star Report .
The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act , tell us where we are with that .
Roberts : Things are going great .
The mailman is about to get a hernia for bringing all these petitions back to us .
Leahy : How many petitions do you need ?
And what will the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act do ?
Roberts : We need about 5,000 to 6,000 actual ballot signatures .
We probably want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Metro government will nitpick to keep it off the ballot .
Leahy : And what will it do .
Roberts : It does a couple of things .
The most important thing to a lot of people is it ’ s going to repeal this 34 percent tax increase .
We ’ re going to rail that back and force Metro to live within its budget and only give it a small amount of authority to increase taxes every year so we don ’ t have this kind of nonsense .
Leahy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signatures in ?
Roberts : We picked December 5 as the actual ballot date .
Really they are not due till mid-September but we want to turn them in right after the August 6 election is our goal .
Carmichael : How many are you up to now Jim ?
How many have you collected ?
Roberts : I think we are at about 6,200 maybe .
Carmichael : So to be comfortable you want to be north of 15,000 ?
Roberts : That ’ s right .
If anything looks half wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter they will disqualify signatures .
You always want to turn in two or three times more than you think .
And truly Crom we don ’ t know how many we are going to need because it ’ s based on the number of people who vote on August 6 and of course we don ’ t know that right now .
Carmichael : Let me ask you a question .
If I sign the petition and I put my name Crom Carmichael and I give my address and my voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carmichael III and I didn ’ t put the III .
Will they disqualify it ?
Roberts : Crom , we don ’ t know that for certain but we do know that they will be looking hard for little technical things to pull on people .
We could certainly challenge that .
And the way this sort of works is if you turn in three or four times of what you need they know better than to get in a fight over it .
Leahy : That ’ s a very good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to a couple of places on the web where you can go to is 4goodgovernment.com and you can also enter the nashvilletaxpayerprotectionact.com and it will take you to the petition which you can download .
You said something very important there Jim .
If you need 5,000 and you are at 6,200 right now and you turned in just 6,200 today this would not happen because they would get rid of half of them right ?
For whatever reason .
Roberts : They would go in there and find reasons to invalidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because that ’ s the way , unfortunately , Metro works .
Leahy : If you turn in 15,000 though and you ’ re at 6,200 right now .
But if you turn in 15,000 they are going to have to throw out 10,000 or two-thirds of the signatures and that ’ s going to be very very difficult for them to do honestly .
Carmichael : He ’ s saying they won ’ t do it .
Here ’ s what I ’ m hearing Jim say .
If they want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look at the ballot that they disqualified and challenge that .
Carmichael : What he ’ s saying is they aren ’ t going to try to challenge if he turns in 15,000 when he needs 6,200 they are not going to challenge it .
Is that what I heard Jim ?
Carmichael : So for those that believe that this question should be decided by the voters .
Even if you are for the 34 percent tax increase but you do believe that this issue should be decided by the voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ print out the petition and get other friends and family to also sign it and send it in .
Leahy : Exactly .
Jim , you say that you are getting hundreds and hundreds of these in a day in the mail ?
Roberts : That ’ s right .
We mailed out about 45,000 last week .
So they are just hitting people ’ s mailboxes over the weekend and Monday .
We expect to get 300 to 500 petitions back a day .
Some are signed by one person .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a husband and wife .
And some come in with 15 signatures and a nasty note to Mayor Cooper .
( Leahy laughs ) Carmichael : So you have your stash of white-out to white out the nasty notes ?
Roberts : You don ’ t want to publicize it .
I understand there are high emotions here but some of the comments are actually funny .
After this passes I ’ ll put those up on the web .
Leahy : I would love to hear those ones .
Carmichael : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great sense of humor .
Not only are we nice but we have a wonderful sense of humor .
When this is all over we have to have a recap of the funniest ones .
I ’ m sure there are some that are hysterical .
Roberts : We did have a guy yesterday that signed it 15 times .
I was like I appreciate your enthusiasm but that wasn ’ t exactly what I meant when I asked for 15 signatures .
( Laughter ) Leahy : Of course you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here and they just made a note when you turn them all in .
Carmichael : Let me say this , there are a lot of government employees who do not agree with what the government is doing .
there are a lot of government employees who don ’ t .
There are a lot of teachers in Nashville who can ’ t stand what the teachers ’ unions are doing to destroy our schools .
But a teacher standing alone has no power against the brutes of the teachers ’ unions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s exactly right .
Jim , just in terms of the actual mechanics of this .
Shortly after the primary in early August will you have a truck with all of these petitions ?
How will you transport them and who will you give them too ?
Roberts : We ’ ll put them in a little wagon .
Things have changed in the post COVID world .
But we ’ ll put them in a little wagon and roll it down to the clerk ’ s office .
Leahy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will get our photographers there .
Carmichael : Make sure you have plenty of security .
Roberts : ( Laughs ) There has been some concern .
We are dealing with the soccer folks who are backed by some almost near-criminal elements lets call it .
One of the things that we ’ re not being told about what ’ s going on with the soccer stadium is that some dishonest people behind it and they may see this ballot initiative as something that ’ s targeted towards them .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
We do worry about them and the opposition of dishonesty .
What kind of campaign they are going to put forth .
There are people who want to keep that 34 percent tax increase .
We ’ ve moved these petitions to a safe location just in case something happens .
Leahy : And we will not tell our listening audience where that safe location is .
Carmichael : That ’ s right .
We may provide 15 alternative locations .
( Leahy laughs ) like for example , they might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s house .
Leahy : So you cart them in on maybe the second week of August .
And where do you take them to ?
What part of the city government ?
Roberts : We take them to the Metro Clerk in the courthouse .
The Metro ’ s clerk job is to verify the signatures and then they send them over to the election commission whose job it is to put them it the ballot .
It ’ s kind of a two-step process .
The clerk will check the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15,000 to 20,000 but they know you got it .
Carmichael : And you have copies of all the ones you turn in ?
Roberts : Oh absolutely .
We scan them and send them off sight .
Leahy : Is there like a whole crew of 20 or 30 people in the clerk ’ s office who review each one with a protocol and a standard ?
Is that how it works ?
Roberts : Well this happens so infrequently that I ’ m sure they don ’ t have people on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in for spot-checking .
For all I know they spot check petitions .
I ’ ve never really been in that part of it .
They do have a duty and I assume that they fulfill their duty .
But that ’ s part of their job is to check those signatures and get it to the election committee .
Listen to the full third hour : 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 @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Man Arrested After Illegally Obtaining $8.5 Million in Coronavirus Relief

A California man was arrested on Thursday after being charged with fraudulently claiming $ 8.5 million in coronavirus relief funds through the Payment Protection Program ( PPP ) and spending hundreds of thousands at a Las Vegas casino , the U.S. Department of Justice ( DOJ ) announced .
The criminal complaint charges Andrew Marnell , 40 , of Los Angeles , CA , with submitting fake documents in the PPP funding application , lying about the expenses and business operations of several businesses and using fake aliases to obtain these federal government sourced funds .
Marnell reportedly spent hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money while gambling at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and risking money on stock bets .
The PPP is a federal government resource for small businesses to obtain relief from financial issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic in order to keep operations running and employees on the payroll .
The Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act , a federal law enacted in March of this year , funds the PPP with over $ 600 billion to provide to qualifying small businesses .
The DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the program ’ s rollout .
A business owner in Little Rock reportedly obtained millions for dormant businesses not in good standing this month , and a Washington , D.C. general contractor reportedly submitted false documents to receive $ 400,000 in federal funds .
The court authorities indicated that Marnell is set to be back in court on Tuesday and faces up to 30 years in prison .
Neil Shah is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Pentagon Bans Confederate Flag

Pentagon Bans Confederate Flag

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — After weeks of wrangling , the Pentagon is banning displays of the Confederate flag on military installations , in a carefully worded policy that doesn ’ t mention the word ban or that specific flag .
The policy , laid out in a memo released Friday , was described by officials as a creative way to bar the flag ’ s display without openly contradicting or angering President Donald Trump , who has defended people ’ s rights to display it .
Signed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday night , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be displayed at military installations .
The Confederate flag is not among them — thus barring its display without singling it out in a “ ban.
” Details of the policy were first reported by the AP .
“ We must always remain focused on what unifies us , our sworn oath to the Constitution and our shared duty to defend the nation , ” Esper ’ s memo states .
“ The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline , treating all our people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divisive symbols.
” Acceptable flags listed in the memo include the U.S. and state banners , flags of other allies and partners , the widely displayed POW/MIA flag and official military unit flags .
Confederate flags , monuments and military base names have become a national flashpoint in the weeks since the death of George Floyd .
Protesters decrying racism have targeted Confederate monuments in multiple cities .
Some state officials are considering taking them down , but they face vehement opposition in some areas .
Army Gen. Mark Milley , chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement that the American flag is the symbol of the Constitution that service members swore to protect .
He added , “ Each of us must create ( and ) maintain an environment of cohesion across the Joint Force .
One way to do that is to always honor our American Flag.
” According to a Defense Department official familiar with the matter , the decision not to name a specific prohibited flag was to ensure the policy would be apolitical and could withstand potential legal challenges based on free speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House is aware of the new policy and that it takes effect immediately .
Trump has flatly rejected any notion of changing base names and has defended the flying of the Confederate flag , saying it ’ s a freedom of speech issue .
According to Esper ’ s memo , the display of unauthorized flags — such as the Confederate banner carried during the Civil War — is acceptable in museums , historical exhibits , works of art or other educational programs .
The Marine Corps has already banned the Confederate flag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Marine Corps , directed his commanders in early June to remove public displays of the Confederate battle flag .
That flag , which some embrace as a symbol of heritage , “ carries the power to inflame feelings of division ” and can weaken the unit cohesion that combat requires , Berger said .
Military commands in South Korea and Japan quickly followed suit .
The new policy does not affect or rescind those bans .
The other three military services were all moving to enact similar bans , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted a consistent policy across the whole department .
Now they will instead issue this new policy to their troops and employees .
Defense leaders have for weeks been tied in knots over the incendiary issue of banning the Confederate flag .
An early draft of the Defense Department plan banned display of the Confederate flag , saying the prohibition would preserve “ the morale of our personnel , good order and discipline within the military ranks and unit cohesion.
” That version was shelved , and officials have been struggling since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have the same effect but not create political havoc .
Esper discussed the matter with senior leaders during a meeting Wednesday , including some of the legal issues surrounding a variety of bans , which some officials believe could be challenged in court .
The final version is a compromise that enables Esper to enact a ban that passes legal muster and gives military leaders what they want , but doesn ’ t infuriate the commander in chief .
According to the official , the new policy doesn ’ t undo the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chiefs and secretaries will still be able to enact additional , more stringent policies restricting symbols they believe are divisive and harmful to unit cohesion .
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss decisions not yet made public .
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told reporters on Thursday that he is still working on a policy that would remove all divisive symbols from Army installations .
He didn ’ t mention the flag but said , “ We would have any divisive symbols on a no-fly list.
” Lolita C. Baldor is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About the Headline Photo : In this July 10 , 2020 , file photo Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks during a briefing on counternarcotics operations at U.S. Southern Command in Doral , Fla. Defense leaders are weighing a new policy that would bar the display of the Confederate flag at department facilities without actually mentioning its name , several U.S. officials said Thursday , July 16 .
Esper discussed the new plan with senior leaders this week .
( AP Photo/Evan Vucci , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Rand Paul to Headline T-Bones & Politics Event Saturday for Manny Sethi

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) will join U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi at this weekend ’ s T-Bones and Politics event .
Organizers have scheduled the event for 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at The Shed at 4707 Lascassas Pike , in Lascassas .
This , according to a press release that Sethi ’ s campaign sent to the media Friday .
The T-Bones and Politics website also advertises and sells tickets for the event .
As The Tennessee Star reported last month , Paul endorsed Sethi to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the true conservative in this race , and that ’ s why I am supporting him , ” Paul said .
“ Come join us to meet Tennessee ’ s next Senator.
” Sethi , in the same press release , said he was “ grateful that one of America ’ s leading conservatives has endorsed me.
” “ I look forward to meeting Tennesseans who are looking to elect a conservative outsider to the Senate and draining the swamp of career insiders , ” he said .
Former State Rep. Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 years ago for Constitutional Conservatives .
Past speakers include TV commentator Dick Morris , former Wisconsin Gov .
Scott Walker , FOX News commentator Judge Jeanine Pirro , and The Politichicks , according to T-Bones & Politics ’ website .
As The Star reported , the list of people who have endorsed Sethi include Memphis-based Varsity Spirit founder Jeff Webb and former Congressmen John J. Duncan Jr. “ I do not want this country to become like Seattle , Minneapolis , or the countries all over the world that have fallen for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement on Sethi ’ s Facebook page .
“ Dr .
Manny Sethi is an honest , sincere , intelligent conservative who has been taught by his legal immigrant parents to work hard and love and appreciate this country .
Tennessee , and more importantly America , needs a man like Dr. Manny in the U.S. Senate.
” As reported last month , former Congressman Zach Wamp also endorsed Sethi .
Wamp served in the U.S. Congress , representing Tennessee ’ s Third District from 1995 through 2011 .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressman Ed Bryant endorsed Sethi ’ s candidacy .
Bryant represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as a magistrate judge for the Western District of Tennessee .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Manny Sethi Gains Endorsement From Former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina

Tennessee Republican Senate candidate Dr. Manny Sethi said in a statement he was endorsed Friday by former U.S. Sen Jim DeMint ( R-SC ) .
Sethi tweeted a quote from DeMint : “ I am endorsing Dr. Manny because Tennessee needs to send a rock solid conservative to DC who will take on the Swamp , fight Amnesty , and stand with President Trump .
Dr. Manny is a proven fighter , with the courage to not cave to the Washington Establishment.
” – Senator @ jimdemint ” .
Sethi said , “ Senator DeMint was a true conservative leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invented beating the Washington Establishment in Senate primaries .
I ’ m grateful to have the endorsement of this consummate conservative fighter.
” DeMint , known for his work in the Tea Party , is a University of Tennessee graduate and founder of the Senate Conservatives Fund .
He also is CEO of conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation .
DeMint also is chairman of the Conservative Partnership Institute .
The institute says , “ The Conservative Partnership Institute ( CPI ) is dedicated to providing a platform for citizen leaders , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional staff and scholars to be connected .
The organization works to provide these leaders with the tools , tactics , resources and strategies to help make them successful in advancing conservative policy solutions .
Sethi and opponent Bill Hagerty have been sparring .
This week , Sethi released a campaign ad criticizing Hagerty ’ s connections to Mitt Romney and Al Gore , The Tennessee Star reported .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Manny Sethi ” @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--U.S. Senate Candidate Bill Hagerty Early Votes, Says Opponent Manny Sethi Acts Conservative Out of C

U.S. Senate Candidate Bill Hagerty Early Votes, Says Opponent Manny Sethi Acts Conservative Out of Convenience

NASHVILLE , Tennessee — U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty on Friday described opponent Manny Sethi as a less than true conservative who , on one occasion , donated to ActBlue .
ActBlue , according to its website , assists leftist causes .
Hagerty said this after he arrived at the Bellevue Library to vote early for the primary election .
Several supporters and other volunteers cheered Hagerty as he arrived .
Hagerty said he is “ the true conservative that is running for office ” who worked to elect U.S. President Donald Trump in 2016 .
“ I volunteered full-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting President Trump , certainly not Manny Sethi .
He didn ’ t lift a finger .
He didn ’ t donate a dime back in 2016 to help President Trump get elected .
Now that it ’ s politically convenient , he can fake himself into a conservative position and he can act like he supports President Trump today but not when it was tough .
Not back in 2016 when we had to get elected .
Tennesseans need to know that I am the only true conservative in this race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person in Manny Sethi who has donated to ActBlue .
ActBlue funds Black Lives Matter and supports Nancy Pelosi trying to take down Republicans across this nation .
They support tearing down our statues , defunding and dismantling the police , and burning our flag .
I couldn ’ t imagine a conservative Tennessean donating one penny to ActBlue , but Manny Sethi did.
” Federal Election Commission filings show that Sethi donated to ActBlue in April 2008 .
Specifically , Sethi donated $ 50 to Democrat Congressional candidate Tom Peirrelo in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he served only one term .
In 2018 Perriello was hired by George Soros ’ s Open Society Foundation .
Sethi Campaign Manager Forrest Barnwell-Hagemeyer acknowledged that Sethi donated to the group .
But Barnwell-Hagemeyer said Hagerty also donated to people whom conservatives don ’ t hold in high regard .
“ Bill Hagerty is attacking Dr. Manny Sethi for giving $ 50 to a family friend , meanwhile Hagerty gave $ 100,000 to Mitt Romney , donated to Al Gore , and Hagerty ’ s company made millions off Common Core @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star in an email .
“ Hagerty is desperate and scared .
He should be—Manny Sethi is winning.
” As reported this week , Hagerty donated $ 1,000 each to the presidential campaigns of both Gore and George W. Bush in the year 2000 , according to FEC filings .
Those same filings also show that Hagerty donated to Romney ’ s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns .
On Friday The Star asked Hagerty whether Common Core helped earn him a profit .
“ I have no regard for Common Core whatsoever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions are made locally , by parents and by school boards .
We don ’ t need Common Core , ” Hagerty said .
As The Star reported Saturday , Hagerty leads his opponent Manny Sethi by almost four percentage points , according to a poll that a Georgia-based group released .
Members of that organization , The Trafalgar Group , polled 1,062 likely 2020 GOP primary voters July 6 through July 8 , according to their report .
As The Star reported last week , Sethi and Hagerty released separate polls concerning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary election and by how much .
Both polls tallied wildly different results .
Hagerty ’ s campaign released a poll that said he leads Sethi by 17 points .
But Sethi ’ s campaign released a poll showing Hagerty instead leads his opponent by two points .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Crom Carmichael Discusses the Rise of the Dangerous Cancel Culture in America

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
At the end of the second hour , Carmichael discussed the growing cancel culture in America and makes comparisons of Hitler ’ s rise to power and the French Revolution .
Leahy : Crom Carmichael is in studio with us .
Crom , we are talking about cancel culture .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not a good thing and it seems to be growing .
Carmichael : And the cancel culture here that I ’ m talking about is what ’ s so discouraging and quite frightening about it is that a lot of these are over issues that even the Left shouldn ’ t have a problem debating .
If you say just the slightest thing that ’ s wrong .
The reason this is so important is that this is exactly what happened in Germany during the rise of Hitler .
And as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people who disagreed with Hitler paid terrible prices .
They were beaten .
Some were killed .
After he became chancellor he wiped out his opposition .
If you had been somebody that spoke up against Hitler… Leahy : But , the people on the Left Crom they would never do something like that here in America .
Carmichael : There are some people on the Left who would never do something like that but there are other people on the Left that will .
In fact , using another time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who led the revolution ended up getting killed by the mob .
Because once the mob goes crazy and in the case of France the mob went crazy on every side .
There was no Hitler in France until Bonaparte came along 10 years later .
So in France , you had chaos .
And by the way , the economy was bad in France , to begin with when the French Revolution in 1789 the economy was bad .
And for the next 10 years , the French Revolution shrunk the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which by the way , our Depression was better than the economy in France in 1789 .
Their economy shrunk by 50 percent .
From that point over the next 10 years .
And so that ’ s what happens when mob psychology takes over and extinguished .
So this guy writes this column named Walter Black .
Leahy : He ’ s a professor at Loyola University at New Orleans .
Carmichael : He writes an article back in December and then he wrote another on in July .
The one in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a side of slavery that is immoral .
But then he reaches that by redefining slavery .
My argument with him is he ’ s just changed the definition of slavery to try to make a point .
If you voluntarily agree to slavery then it ’ s not slavery .
In other words , slavery starts with involuntary servitude .
It starts with that .
So anything else is not slavery by definition .
Then he gets into good capitalism versus bad capitalism and good socialism versus bad .
He says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socialism .
One is voluntary .
This plays off slavery .
One is voluntary socialism and the other is involuntary socialism .
He said the version that ’ s calling for government ownership and control of all means of production the complete nationalization of all industries then yes socialism is a work of the devil .
That socialism is the work of the devil .
The complete control by the central government .
But then he tries to claim that if you enter into voluntary socialism by the voters then it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property of anybody that the voters choose to .
But here ’ s what ’ s wrong with that argument .
What is wrong with that argument is that the way he is describing it as if a mob of people chooses to vote to take everything Jeff Bezos owns as long as it ’ s voted on by the majority of the people than its moral .
Even if Jeff Bezos voted against it .
Well , that ’ s not voluntary .
If we are going to get into the moral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to be where I ’ m voting for something that applies to me that is equal to what I want to apply to others .
By the way , that ’ s our system in Tennessee .
That is our system in Tennessee because we have at the state level we have a sales tax .
And that sales tax applies the same to everybody on a sales taxable item .
And at the local level , we have the property tax .
And the property tax is the rate that applies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece of property that is 10 times more valuable than somebody else ’ s then you are going to pay 10 times more in taxes .
But you ’ re not going to pay 100 times more in taxes .
It ’ s really interesting because it all depends on your definitions .
In the case of Chris Wallace… Carmichael : Fox News on WWII and on the dropping of the two bombs .
The way that he described it and the way his body language was it was not good .
Carmichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed over 100,000 civilians in two days .
That that was wrong .
But he then goes on in the story and says that during that very same war 47 million .
And it ’ s as if those 47 million aren ’ t the same as these 100,000 .
Leahy : And not to re-litigate the famous Truman decision to drop the bomb , but the counter-argument to that is the alternative to win the war was an invasion of Japan by our military forces .
Which most experts thought would end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combatants on each side .
Carmichael : On each side .
Yes , combatants but that doesn ’ t count the civilians .
Leahy : I do want to close with this .
It seems to me Crom that we are at a point in history now in America that Alexis de Tocqueville warned us about in the 1830s when he traveled around the United States during the Jacksonian presidency .
He said we have to be careful of the tyranny of a majority .
And this is what the mob is .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority and it crushes individual liberty .
Carmichael : And that ’ s also what the Founding Fathers tried to organize in our Constitution to protect us against it .
That ’ s why Ben Franklin said… Leahy : You have a republic if you can keep it .
Perhaps the most important words ever said about America .
A republic if you can keep it .
Listen to the second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-18--Rep Eliot Engel Officially Loses Primary to Jamaal Bowman

New York Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel officially lost his primary in the state ’ s 16th congressional district Friday to Jamaal Bowman , a middle school principal from the Bronx , 55 % to 40 % .
The final result was reported nearly a month after New York ’ s primary elections June 23 .
Bowman , a progressive who was endorsed by the likes of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , beat the 16-term incumbent and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee by nearly 12,000 votes .
Engel was widely viewed as vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times reported .
The congressman had drawn criticism for spending little time in his district , which includes parts of Westchester County and the Bronx , and was widely condemned over his hot mic comment in June where he said that he only wanted speaking time at a local news conference because he had a primary challenger .
“ If I didn ’ t have a primary challenger , I wouldn ’ t care , ” he said to the Bronx councilman running the conference .
Bowman ’ s campaign raised over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the local Yonkers Tribune .
Despite last-second endorsements from Hillary Clinton and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo , who endorsed him because “ seniority matters , ” Engel came up far short .
Bowman ran on a progressive platform , supporting policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal .
He also supports sweeping criminal justice reforms , according to his campaign ’ s website .
The 16th district is solidly Democratic , according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report , all but guaranteeing that Bowman will be elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fifth incumbent congressman to lose in a primary this year , following Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois and Republican Reps. Steve King of Iowa , Denver Riggleman of Virginia and Scott Tipton of Colorado .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Jamaal Bowman ” by Jamaal Bowman .