thetennesseestar--2020-11-13--Congressional Candidate Freitas Says Seventh District Election Results Probably Will Not Change

Republican Congressional Candidate Del .
Nick Freitas ( R-Culpeper ) said in a statement published to his Facebook page Thursday that the results of Virginia ’ s 7th District race , which saw Representative Abigail Spanberger ( D-VA-07 ) win re-election , will probably not change .
In the week following the general elections and Spanberger ’ s declaration of victory , Freitas and his campaign have been publicly quiet while reviewing post-election canvasses and ensuring that every legal vote cast is counted , according to the statement .
“ The big thing here is we ’ re not accusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing anyone of fraud or anything like that , but there were some things we want to look at , ” Freitas said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ Once the state actually puts out the full voter rolls , we ’ re going to have a better chance of trying to identify what happened and why it happened because obviously there were some irregularities.
” One such irregularity Freitas brought up was Henrico County posting 14,616 absentee votes that were originally overlooked on election night because the ballots were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as first reported by the Virginia Public Access Project .
Henrico County general registrar Mark Coakley told CBS 6 that the ballots were accidentally overlooked because he used a flash drive that was previously for provisional ballots in order to save money .
Freitas maintains that he has not conceded the race yet and will not do so until the campaign has had a chance to look at the official vote counts .
“ Part of the goal here is not necessarily going to result in overturning the results of the 7th district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where mistakes were made and how do we correct that because next year Democrats have already got it on the books for same day voter registration , and we don ’ t want to see repeats of irregularities , ” Freitas told The Star .
“ We want people to be confident in the results.
” He added : “ And , in the end , if the result is that I lost the race then I have absolutely no problem conceding.
” The state will certify all Virginia elections , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freitas also said that the possibility of a lawsuit is on the table if his campaign finds substantial evidence of fraud or other problems after reviewing the data .
“ If we find significant irregularities , yes we would do that , ” Freitas said .
“ If there ’ s some minor things that can be explained , probably not.
” The Star contacted Spanberger ’ s campaign with a request for comment for this story , but did not get a response by press time .
Spanberger is currently up by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holds an 8,270-vote advantage over Freitas , according to the Virginia Department of Elections .
On election night , Freitas jumped out to a 50,000-vote lead over Spanberger because many Republicans voted in-person at polling places , but there were thousands of early votes still left to be counted .
As more absentee ballots , which skewed heavily in Spanberger ’ s favor , continued to be counted overnight and throughout the day on Wednesday , Freitas ’ lead kept shrinking .
By Wednesday evening Spanberger was ahead by roughly 5,000 votes thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in from several of the district ’ s counties , including the aforementioned 15,000 from Henrico .
Hours later Spanberger had declared herself the victor and then several days later media outlets like the Associated Press officially called the race for the Democratic congresswoman .
“ Ultimately , I believe in peaceful transitions of power .
I believe when someone has won an election , they have won and I don ’ t begrudge them a victory , ” Freitas said .
“ This isn ’ t about me going after Abigail Spanberger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why certain things have happened and how do we correct that for future races.
” Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Nick Freitas ” by Nick Freitas .
Background Photo “ Virginia Capitol ” by Anderskev .
CC BY 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-13--Virginia Second Congressional District 2022 Race Candidate Preview

With the 2020 state congressional elections completed and incumbent Democratic Representative Elaine Luria ( D-VA-02 ) having defeated Republican challenger Scott Taylor , conservative hopefuls must now look toward 2022 when the 2nd District seat will again be up for grabs .
Securing her second term in the U.S. House of Representatives , Luria handily beat Taylor by just under six percentage points and received nearly 21,000 more votes , according to the Virginia Department of Elections .
Even though the race is two years away , it is never too early to start thinking about and looking at who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E. Free , Chairman of the 2nd Congressional District Committee for the Republican Party of Virginia Beach , said : “ I think what we want to look for is , we want to look for a candidate who can offer a vision of improvement .
I really do think there is a frustration with the normal course of business in politics .
I have seen that frustration and I don ’ t discount it.
” There are several candidates who may fit Free ’ s description , one of those being Navy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this year ’ s 2nd District Republican primary behind former state Senate candidate Ben Loyola and Taylor .
Bell told The Virginia Star that he is leaning toward running again , but has not fully committed to it yet nor has he made any sort of announcement .
“ I thought I was the best candidate to unseat Elaine Luria prior to this election.
” Bell said in an interview .
“ And I still think people in the 2nd District need a person that is [ actually ] going to represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough to unseat an incumbent , ” Bell added .
Even though he did not get the chance to run against Luria , Bell said he learned a lot from his short campaign and by watching what Taylor did .
Specifically , Bell mentioned that defending and never wavering on positions as well as being steadfast on campaign pledges were two things he took away from the experience .
“ If I make this announcement , we ’ re going to give ourselves a longer runway , ” Bell said .
“ Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to happen , but we ’ re going to give ourselves a longer runway to gain support , to build up an army of a team and raise more money.
” When asked about running for the 2nd District , Del .
Glenn Davis ( R-Virginia Beach ) – who announced a bid for lieutenant governor earlier this fall – said he was not considering the 2022 congressional race because he enjoys serving Virginians at the state level .
“ I ’ ve been asked numerous times over the years to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate people ’ s support , I tell them that my passion is to focus on Virginia and bring back our economy , jobs and an equal opportunity for education across the Commonwealth , ” Davis told The Star .
Davis also brought up first-year Sen. Jen Kiggans ( R-Virginia Beach ) while discussing people that may end up running .
The Star made several attempts to contact Kiggans , but did not get a response by press time .
Another potential candidate is fellow Virginia Beach legislator Sen. Bill DeSteph ( R @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the General Assembly since 2013 , also said he has not considered running , but did not completely rule out the possibility .
“ As of right now , I ’ m content with my position in the Senate , ” DeSteph said .
Despite a narrow list of prospect candidates right now , others will begin to emerge as 2022 gets closer by the day .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Jarome Bell .

by Scott McClallen
About $13.5 million in taxpayer grants from the Going PRO Talent Fund will help train 8,500 workers across nearly 300 Michigan businesses to earn industry-recognized credentials and strong wages.
“The Going PRO Talent Fund is an investment in our state’s greatest asset – our people – helping them develop the skills they need to advance their careers and ‘make it’ in Michigan,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “These grants help us put thousands of Michiganders on paths to good-paying jobs and empower hundreds of Michigan businesses across the state develop the talent they need to compete in the global economy.”
The program launched in 2014. Since then, more than 6,000 Michigan businesses have received Going PRO Talent Fund awards to train 175,000 new and existing workers.
More than 60% of the employers receiving funds are small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Training must fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer and result in the employee acquiring a credential for a transferable skill recognized by the industry.
Susan Corbin, the director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said these grants keep Michigan businesses competitive globally.
“Programs like the Going PRO Talent Fund help businesses throughout Michigan train the talent they need in order to stay competitive in the global economy,” Corbin said in a statement. “Investments like these help us connect individuals and business leaders with tailored opportunities and unique resources they need to prosper. Together, we are creating a competitive and innovative environment that improves the quality of life for people who live, work and do business in Michigan.”
The average training cost per worker is $1,250. According to 2021 data, average hourly wages for Going PRO Talent Fund participants increased by $5.71 six months after completing training.
“The Going PRO Talent Fund has continued to help Michigan employers retain their workers by providing the necessary support for them to help upskill their workforce,” LEO’s Office of Employment and Training director Stephanie Beckhorn said in a statement. “These trainings have also provided an opportunity for employees to gain industry-recognized credentials they need to grow and thrive in these in-demand careers.”
LEO makes Going PRO Talent Fund awards to employers through Michigan Works! Agencies. Participating employers play an integral role in defining their crucial training needs, then work with their local MWAs and other partners to develop strategic training plans.
David Worthams, director of Employment Policy for the Michigan Manufacturers Association, said the talent fund is “arguably the best talent development program the state of Michigan has to offer.”
“As we get into the next cycle of grants, employers and their employees will see huge strides in new skills that we need as we move into the future of manufacturing in the state, Worthams said in a statement. “This is another reason why Michigan is one of the best states to do business in.”
– – –
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi. In 2021, he published a book on technology and privacy. He co-hosts the weekly Michigan in Focus podcast.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-13--Williamson County Teacher Blasts School System Over COVID-19 Mask Policy

A Williamson County public school teacher on indefinite suspension for refusing to wear a COVID-19 mask on school grounds told school system officials Thursday that science and public opinion are not on their side .
That teacher , Aundrea Laramee-Gomez , said this in an open letter to all 12 Williamson County School Board members and Superintendent Jason Golden .
“ I do understand that Tennessee is a right-to-work state and that employers can terminate at any time , for any reason .
WCS may even have the legal right to keep me on suspension , indefinitely , ” Gomez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plan since human resources has refused to respond to my requests for communication .
But are any of these actions the right and honorable thing to do ?
” School system spokeswoman Carol Birdsong told The Tennessee Star in an email Thursday that she would not comment on an active personnel matter .
None of the 12 school board members returned a request for comment Thursday .
Gomez , in her letter , said Tennessee ’ s constitution does not side with the school system ’ s mask mandates , although she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state constitution said that .
“ The science is NOT on WCS ’ s side .
Masks do not control viruses .
The fact that WCS makes policies that completely go against this scientific fact causes me to question the motives .
What is the benefit ?
Power ?
Money ?
” Gomez asked .
“ History will NOT be on WCS ’ s side .
The decisions of WCS regarding mask mandates and quarantining hundreds of HEALTHY children will not age well .
Public opinion is NOT on WCS ’ s side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care as you continue to make decisions in a bubble regardless of parent and community input.
” As The Tennessee Star reported last month , Gomez taught English as a second language .
To do so , she said her students needed to see her face uncovered .
She said she taught at Oakview Elementary School in Franklin and at Longview Elementary in Spring Hill .
Gomez , in her letter , said “ independent thinkers are NOT welcome in Williamson County Schools.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-13--Tourist Voter Registration Illegal in Georgia, but Prosecution Is Rare

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is encouraging non-Georgia residents to move to the state so they can register to vote in two January 5 U.S. Senate runoff elections .
“ I hope everybody moves to Georgia , you know , in the next month or two , registers to vote , and votes for these two Democratic senators , ” Friedman told CNN ’ s Chris Cuomo on Tuesday .
The outcome of those runoff elections , one that pits incumbent Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) against Democratic challenger John Ossoff and the other in which incumbent Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenger Raphael Warnock , will determine the balance of power in the Senate when the 117th Congress convenes in Washington in January .
With the results in all other general election contests in the U.S. Senate now known , the current balance of power in the upcoming 117th Congress stands at 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats .
If both Democrats win in the January 5 special election , there would be 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats in the Senate , meaning the vice president would break any ties .
In a worst case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate with a Vice President Kamala Harris could end the filibuster in the “ world ’ s most deliberative body ” and result in Senate approval of schemes to pack the U.S. Supreme Court .
For that reason , the runoff elections for the two U.S. Senate seats in Georgia on January 5 are vitally important to both Democrats and Republicans .
While Friedman stopped short of calling on non-Georgia residents to move temporarily to the state solely for the purpose of voting in the January 5 runoff elections before returning to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists appear to have encouraged non-Georgia residents to move to the state temporarily only for the purpose of voting in those runoff elections .
Anyone who claims to be a Georgia resident who is not currently registered to vote has until December 7 to register and be qualified to vote in both January 5 runoff elections .
But temporary “ tourist voter registration ” is illegal under Georgia law if the person who registers to vote does not intend to remain a permanent resident of the state : • ( a ) In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to register to vote or to qualify to run for elective office , the following rules shall be followed so far as they are applicable : • ( 1 ) The residence of any person shall be held to be in that place in which such person ’ s habitation is fixed , without any present intention of removing therefrom ; .
.
.
• ( 3 ) A person shall not be considered to have gained a residence in any county or municipality of this state into which such person has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of making such county or municipality such person ’ s permanent place of abode ; • ( 9 ) The mere intention to acquire a new residence , without the fact of removal , shall avail nothing ; neither shall the fact of removal without the intention ; • ( 15 ) For voter registration purposes , the board of registrars and , for candidacy residency purposes , the Secretary of State , election superintendent , or hearing officer may consider evidence of where the person receives significant mail such as personal bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the person resides .
The problem is that those identifying themselves as new Georgia residents when they show up at county election departments are not required to present a valid Georgia driver ’ s license : • • ( a ) Any person applying to register to vote shall provide his or her Georgia driver ’ s license number or identification card number for an identification card issued pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 on the voter registration application .
If a person does not have a Georgia driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 , such person shall provide the last four digits of his or her social security number on the voter registration application .
If a person does not have a Georgia driver ’ s license , a Georgia identification card issued pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 , or a social security number , the person shall affirm this fact in the manner prescribed in the voter registration application upon penalty of law and such application shall be processed without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( b ) , ( c ) , and ( d ) of this Code section .
• ( b ) In the event that the name , driver ’ s license number , social security number , or date of birth provided by the person registering to vote on the voter registration form does not match information about the applicant on file at the Department of Driver Services or the federal Social Security Administration , the applicant shall nevertheless be registered to vote but shall be required to produce proof of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a deputy county registrar , a poll manager , or a poll worker at or before the time that such applicant requests a ballot for the first time in any federal , state , or local election .
• ( c ) Proof of the applicant ’ s identity as set forth in subsection ( b ) of this Code section shall be the forms of identification listed in subsection ( c ) of Code Section 21-2-417 .
The forms of identification listed in subsection ( c ) of Code Section 21-2-417 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of identification listed in subsection ( a ) of this Code section or a copy of a current utility bill , bank statement , government check , paycheck , or other government document that shows the name and address of such elector.
” Surprisingly , Georgia law provides that “ if such elector does not have any of the forms of identification listed in this subsection , such elector may vote a provisional ballot pursuant to Code Section 21-2-418 upon swearing or affirming that the elector is the person identified in the elector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot shall only be counted if the registrars are able to verify current and valid identification of the elector as provided in this subsection within the time period for verifying provisional ballots pursuant to Code Section 21-2-419 .
Falsely swearing or affirming such statement under oath shall be punishable as a felony , and the penalty shall be distinctly set forth on the face of the statement .
In addition , the registrar of voters has considerable discretion under current Georgia law in determining whether or not someone newly arrived from another state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed to vote .
Anyone who claims to be a resident of Georgia can register to vote online and can do so by simply checking the box that they : • Reside at the address listed in their application • Are eligible to vote in Georgia .
• Are not serving a sentence for having been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude .
• Have not been judicially declared to be mentally incompetent .
There is a strong penalty for false registration : • Any person who : • ( 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such elector does not possess the qualifications required by law ; • ( 2 ) Registers as an elector under any other name than the elector ’ s own name ; or • ( 3 ) Knowingly gives false information when registering as an elector • shall be guilty of a felony and , upon conviction thereof , shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years or to pay a fine not to exceed $ 100,000.00 , or both .
However , according to the Heritage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been only one criminal conviction for false registration in Georgia since 2011 : Mohammad Shafiq had a disagreement with Madison County sheriff candidate Clayton Lowe , and thought he would get back at the man by helping his opponent win the 2012 election .
Shafiq fraudulently submitted voter registrations cards and–in the face of accusations–coerced a couple , Bennie and Margaret Pierce , to sign affidavits intended to exonerate him .
Upon investigation , his ruse was discovered , and he was charged with two counts of perjury , three counts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voter identification fraud .
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years ’ probation with a fine of $ 6,750 .
Several Republican state legislators have asked Gov .
Brian Kemp to hold a special session of the state legislature to address this loophole , but he has declined to do so , as the Associated Press reported : Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp said Tuesday he won ’ t call a special legislative session to tighten residency requirements for the Jan. 5 runoffs , despite pressure from some supporters of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for new residents to cast their ballots in the consequential election .
He and Georgia ’ s two top legislative leaders — Lt. Gov .
Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston — released a joint statement that threw cold water on the idea that lawmakers could overhaul voting rules this close to the twin runoffs that could determine control of the Senate .
“ Any changes to Georgia ’ s election laws made in a special session will not have any impact on an ongoing election and would only result in endless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republicans who asked for the special legislative session have criticized Kemp ’ s decision , and continue to warn of the potential for fraud in the January 5 runoff elections .

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is encouraging non-Georgia residents to move to the state so they can register to vote in two January 5 U.S. Senate runoff elections.
“I hope everybody moves to Georgia, you know, in the next month or two, registers to vote, and votes for these two Democratic senators,” Friedman told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Tuesday.
The outcome of those runoff elections, one that pits incumbent Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) against Democratic challenger John Ossoff and the other in which incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) faces Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock, will determine the balance of power in the Senate when the 117th Congress convenes in Washington in January.
With the results in all other general election contests in the U.S. Senate now known, the current balance of power in the upcoming 117th Congress stands at 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats. If both Democrats win in the January 5 special election, there would be 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats in the Senate, meaning the vice president would break any ties.
In a worst case scenario for Republicans, a 50-50 U.S. Senate with a Vice President Kamala Harris could end the filibuster in the “world’s most deliberative body” and result in Senate approval of schemes to pack the U.S. Supreme Court.
For that reason, the runoff elections for the two U.S. Senate seats in Georgia on January 5 are vitally important to both Democrats and Republicans.
While Friedman stopped short of calling on non-Georgia residents to move temporarily to the state solely for the purpose of voting in the January 5 runoff elections before returning to their homes outside of Georgia, other Democratic activists appear to have encouraged non-Georgia residents to move to the state temporarily only for the purpose of voting in those runoff elections.
Anyone who claims to be a Georgia resident who is not currently registered to vote has until December 7 to register and be qualified to vote in both January 5 runoff elections.
But temporary “tourist voter registration” is illegal under Georgia law if the person who registers to vote does not intend to remain a permanent resident of the state:


thetennesseestar--2020-11-13--President Trump Signs Executive Order to Block Investment in Businesses Benefiting China’s Military

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thetennesseestar--2020-11-13--Detroit Contracted Poll Workers from Firm Owned by Key Figure in Ex-Mayor’s Corruption Case


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--House Speaker Cameron Sexton Discusses Independent Health Boards and General Assembly Priorities Tha

House Speaker Cameron Sexton Discusses Independent Health Boards and General Assembly Priorities That Keep Tennessee a Great Place to Live

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 Speaker Cameron Sexton to the newsmaker line to discuss a current bill addressing independent health boards and the General Assembly ’ s priorities to keep Tennessee the great state that it is .
Leahy : Michael Patrick Leahy here .
And in the studio with me is Crom Carmichael .
And on the newsmaker line our good friend Speaker of the Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Welcome , Speaker Sexton .
Sexton : Good morning .
Thanks for having me .
Leahy : Well , we ’ re always delighted to have you on .
And you have a very important bill you want to talk about here .
I guess this is the bill that Jason Zachary has as introduced .
Sexton : Yes .
Representative Zachary has filed a piece of legislation concerning the independent health boards , the six all across the state of Tennessee , and moving them from being the key decision-maker and moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working and collaborating with the mayors .
And we ’ ve had issues in Shelby County yesterday , which makes this bill even more important now on that help for down there because of what Memphis is trying to do during the Thanksgiving holidays .
Leahy : Well , that ’ s very interesting .
And this has been something that has been I think bothersome to me for some time with these six larger health boards who act almost , you know virtually independently .
And sometimes their conduct seems to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit partisan .
That ’ s my view .
Not yours .
Sexton : Well , you know , I think what they ’ re doing is as happens sometimes with the bureaucracy or bureaucrats when they understand that they have more power than the elected officials and control and there ’ s no checks and balances with them then they start really taking on that authority more than what they probably would have .
And yesterday Shelby County is starting to align itself with California and the practices that they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re recommending that if you are at a restaurant , you take your mask down and put in a piece of food and put it back up and chew .
And then they even went as far as saying yesterday that you shouldn ’ t have extended family at Thanksgiving .
And then they took it one step further and said if you ’ re a business and you don ’ t follow our rigid guidelines and you have complaints or violations , then we ’ re going to come in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two weeks .
Carmichael : To your point about taking authority that they either don ’ t have or shouldn ’ t have I think that is a great point .
And Neil Gorsuch wrote about that in a book called A Republic If You Can Keep It where it says that the legislature and the people who are elected are the ones who need to make these types of decisions because they ’ re answerable to the voters .
And you have bureaucrats who are making decisions that are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives .
And I agree with you .
They should not have the authority to make that kind of decision .
Quite frankly , I ’ m not sure that the mayor of the other city should be able to destroy businesses .
But if I have to pick between the two , the health board that ’ s not answerable to the voters is a terrible place to vest authority that could close businesses .
Sexton : Right .
So I mean if you look at this in the big picture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people saying , oh you need to let the health experts or the scientists tell you what decisions to make .
And you need to listen to them or they need to have the authority to do that .
That ’ s what you hear .
Okay .
Well , if you do that then why do you need elected officials ?
Because why don ’ t you just get a panel of economic advisers and let them set the policy without the elected officials .
The role of the elected official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to health concerns .
Science .
The public .
The businesses .
And the families .
And they make a decision based on everything .
Not just on one thing which would-be scientists and health medical experts .
And so , you know , it should lie with someone who ’ s held accountable at the ballot box and not someone who ’ s an unelected bureaucrat .
And if the public doesn ’ t like the way the mayor does things , at least there ’ s a form of accountability with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through to remove them .
Carmichael : And Mr. Speaker right before you came on I actually was citing an article that had been in Nature Magazine where they base their data on data that was collected from the end of April to the middle of June .
And the article claimed that mask-wearing would save 130,000 lives if 85 percent of people wore masks .
It turns out that the data that they used was so old that if they had used current data which shows that 80 percent of people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole thesis would have blown up .
And these are so-called scientists who are writing these articles that are based on facts and not in evidence .
And in fact , they are just false .
And that ’ s what I fear is that it ’ s that you have people who are unelected .
And frankly , they ’ re just unelected bureaucrats who have an educational degree that may or may not mean that they ’ re wise .
And so I ’ m 100 percent behind you that that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power to make any decision over any individual and it should be left up to the elected officials .
Sexton : No , I agree .
And what I will say is you have people who are saying that Tennessee needs a mask mandate and I applaud Governor Lee for standing strong and allowing people to make that decision for themselves and their businesses .
But if you look at this , you know , we know we knew early on that this was contagious and the medical community has caught up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve seen that .
But even the states that were on the most strict lockdowns in like California and New York are seeing a resurgence .
Sexton : Right .
So even if you do everything California does it doesn ’ t mean that you ’ re not going to have a resurgence .
And so you try to figure out how to make the best decision to allow your economy to stay open as cautiously as you can so that you don ’ t destroy lives .
You don ’ t destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
And you try to get through this until we can get the vaccination there that looks like it ’ s very effective .
And so we kind of try to ride this out as best as we can .
Leahy : Speaker Sexton , has Representative Zachary and you talked to the governor about this bill and will he support this bill ?
Sexton : We have reached out to the administration about the bill .
We ’ ve had some early conversations and we ’ ll continue those .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else , the bill just got filed .
My sense has always been that I like to see the language before I comment on it .
And so I ’ ve seen the language .
So the governor , we will be having those conversations with him .
And we ’ re hopeful as well , you know , it takes the Senate as well to pass it get it through .
So we ’ re hopeful that the Senate will follow through .
I ’ m pretty sure in the House that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House floor and pass it .
And I ’ m hopeful the Senate will do the same thing .
Leahy : Yeah , it would seem logical to me that this president of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor McNally would be in favor of this .
There ’ s a big big supermajority of Republicans in the state Senate .
So it sounds to me like there would be a good prospect of getting the legislation passed .
What do you see happening as of priorities when the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think one is making sure we watch our budget .
And we ’ re cautiously optimistic about that .
But the great thing is that the rural communities are driving our state right now .
We ’ re running two percent ahead of revenue as Davidson County is slowly coming back .
Shelby County is coming back a little bit faster than Davidson .
So our two biggest economic drivers aren ’ t performing where we need them to at this point .
But the state is still seeing positive growth in Sevier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So that ’ s really helped us as well .
So we ’ re cautiously optimistic about the budget that holds .
We ’ re still going to make some cuts .
We ’ re still going to right-size government and continue down that road .
I think the other thing you ’ ll see is some healthcare issues whether we ’ re trying to gain more affordable and accessible health care for patients and take away the government barriers that limit competition .
I think you ’ ll see some literacy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to have a big conversation about the BEP formula and should the school systems be held harmless .
You know , I think one part of that discussion needs to be are they open ?
Are the schools open ?
If you ’ re open your costs are usually about the same .
But if you ’ re not open , there ’ s a lot of costs there that you ’ re not having to incur .
So there needs to be some discussion around that as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ health education and a criminal justice package obviously which will be big this year .
Hopefully , we ’ ll get some truth in sentencing as well .
Carmichael : It really is .
Leahy : We ’ re looking forward to this session of the General Assembly and we thank you for being a regular member of the Tennessee Star Report .
I mean , it ’ s terrific .
I talked to Crom about this .
We love Tennessee .
And we love the fact that the Speaker of the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : This is great for our listeners to get an update as to what ’ s in the hopper in the legislature .
And the Speaker of the House is certainly the best person to be able to tell us what the priorities are .
And I like what I hear .
Leahy : Yes .
Exactly .
Speaker Sexton , thanks so much for joining us , and good luck in the legislative session .
Sounds like it ’ s a terrific agenda .
Sexton : Thank you very much .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in and we ’ re going to keep it that way .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .

by Virginia Allen
Republican governors are sending National Guard troops to the southern border.
Governors of Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia announced this week they will send troops and resources to Texas to support the work of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Operation Lone Star to secure the southern border.
“President [Joe] Biden’s failure at our southern border puts the entire country at risk,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday. “States must now step up where the president has failed to repel illegals, fight the cartels, and stop human and drug trafficking.”
Sanders is sending 80 National Guard troops to the border in July. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will send troop but has not clarified how many, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum also announced Thursday that he will send 100 National Guardsmen to Texas to help secure the southern border. Gov. Mike DeWine says he will send 14 State Highway troopers and supervisors to Texas for two weeks. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she will deploy about 50 National Guard troops to the border this summer.
Arkansas, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota join nine other GOP governors who have already pledged to send troops and resources to Texas to help secure the state’s border with Mexico.
“The ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Wednesday.
“Given the intensive resource demands on Texas, the dangers posed by the fentanyl crisis, and impact of the border crisis on criminal activity to the Commonwealth, Virginia will do its part to assist the State of Texas’ efforts with the coordinated deployment of Virginia National Guard soldiers to assist in key aspects of their mission,” Youngkin said.
Youngkin is sending 100 troops and 21 supporting personnel to Texas from the commonwealth.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is sending up to 50 National Guard troops and airmen to the border for up to 30 days. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster says he will also send troops to the border but has yet to announce how may.
“The safety and security of South Carolinians require that we stop the drug cartels, criminals, and terrorists from entering our country to peddle their poison,” McMaster said in a statement Wednesday.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday that she will send 100 National Guard troops and 30 Department of Public Safety personnel to the border.
The Republican governors’ decision to send troops to the southern border comes in response to Abbott’s request for states to join Texas and help secure the border through the work of Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security plan.
Nine GOP governors met with Abbott in Austin, Texas, on May 22 to discuss the border crisis. The meeting was held about a week after Abbott sent a letter to fellow governors asking them to help Texas secure the border.
The Texas governor applauded Idaho and Florida for already having sent border security resources and personnel to the Lone Star State to help secure the border and invited more governors to join in the “mission to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity and send all available law enforcement personnel and resources to the Texas-Mexico border to serve alongside our thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers.”
Last week, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced he will send 100 National Guard troops to the border and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen committed to send 10 state troopers to Texas to “help stop the influx of illegal immigration at our southern border.”
Florida, Idaho, and Mississippi were among the first states to answer Abbott’s call for help.
On May 17, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced he was mobilizing a National Guard unit to the border.
“To keep Mississippians safe and limit the impact of our nation’s open borders, the Mississippi National Guard’s 112th Military Police Battalion has been mobilized and is supporting Customs and Border Protection officers and agents along the Southwest border.”
The day before Reeves’ announcement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida had “over 1,100 assets and resources available” to aid Operation Lone Star, including 800 National Guard soldiers and 200 Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers.
“At my direction, state agencies, including law enforcement and the Florida National Guard, are being deployed to Texas, with assets including personnel, boats, and planes,” DeSantis said. “While Biden ignores the crisis he created, Florida stands ready to help Texas respond to this crisis.”
Since the start of the Biden administration, Customs and Border Protection reports encountering more than 5.5 million illegal aliens at the southern border. Since fiscal year 2023 began on Oct. 1, CBP has encountered more than 1.4 million illegal aliens, about triple the number encountered at the southern border during fiscal year 2020.
CBP has seized a record 17,000 pounds of fentanyl at the southern border so far in fiscal year 2023, which ends Sept. 30, more than triple the total amount seized in all of fiscal year 2020.
– – –
Virginia Allen is a senior news producer and podcast host for The Daily Signal. She is the co-host of “The Daily Signal Podcast” and “Problematic Women.”
Photo “National Guard” by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Commentary: If All the Fraud Is Uncovered, Trump Will Win

“ The Times Called Officials in Every State : No Evidence of Voter Fraud.
” So read the front-page headline in Wednesday ’ s New York Times .
This assertion was echoed by virtually every major news organization in the United States and around the world .
And , even before the story , it was the media mantra for over a week .
Biden , the Times keeps reassuring its readers , is our unequivocal president-elect ; there ’ s no evidence whatsoever of any kind of electoral hanky-panky ; Trump , by claiming otherwise , is being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we always knew him to be ; by leveling these utterly unfounded charges , he is spitting in the face of American democracy and rejecting an honorable two-and-a-half-century-long history of presidents peacefully transferring power to their successors .
All nonsense , of course .
It ’ s already plain that there has been significant Democratic duplicity at the polls in several states .
Every day the mountain of evidence grows higher .
And every day a certain conclusion seems to me to grow more certain .
No , I don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote fraud—far from it .
But I feel increasingly confident saying the following : if all of the cheating in the 2020 presidential election can be uncovered and reversed , then Trump will emerge the clear winner .
Why do I think this ?
First , it ’ s becoming increasingly obvious that all this fraud was carefully coordinated and calculated at every level .
The criminality has not been haphazard or sloppy ; on the contrary , the various kinds of vote manipulation appear to have taken place only in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of invalid votes in those states that have been credited to Biden , and of valid votes denied to Trump , seems to have been calculated very carefully so as to ensure that each of those states would be stolen from Trump and that Biden ’ s lead would be slim but definitive .
In the same way , whoever engineered this operation focused on just the right number of swing states to make certain that the total number of electoral votes shifted thereby from Trump to Biden would guarantee the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming , victory .
In other words , whereas the whole business seemed chaotic at first blush—consisting of a mishmash of write-in ballots cast by dead people , of Trump votes turned into Biden votes by a certain kind of voting machine software , of poll workers on Election Night forging new Biden ballots so quickly that they didn ’ t bother to tick off down-ballot races—when you step back and behold the forest instead of the trees , it all begins to look almost surgical .
It ’ s already been demonstrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused in the sense that it manipulated the vote only in a relatively small number of urban areas , was also broad-based , in the sense that the urban areas affected were spread over much of the United States .
The operation manifestly involved a great many perpetrators who knowingly chose to commit felonies in order to achieve the election result that they wanted .
That being the case , it seems highly unlikely that so many people would have taken such a serious risk of being caught , convicted , and imprisoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden would have won even without their help .
To me , this means that they must have done what they did knowing that had they not intervened , Trump would have won .
The realization that a Trump victory was at hand must have come to them some time after midnight on Election Night .
That would explain why the vote counting mysteriously stopped , seemingly all at once , in several different places around the country—and why it started up again , in the middle of the night , after many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they were through counting for the day .
Those who have bought the line of the Democratic Party and the mainstream media sneer : how can you possibly believe in such an elaborate plot ?
In so much high-level criminality by so many people in positions of authority ?
To believe in massive voter fraud , they argue , is to buy into the wildest conspiracy theory ever .
But this isn ’ t the wildest conspiracy theory ever .
It ’ s not even the wildest conspiracy theory of the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to Obamagate—the theory that Barack Obama , Hillary Clinton , Joe Biden , and leading officials at the FBI , CIA , and elsewhere conspired to try to tie the Trump campaign , and later the Trump Administration , to Russia .
Wild theory , huh ?
Wildest ever .
Except it was true .
The saintly Obama , along with several of his cronies , did try to bring down Trump using Russia and Ukraine—all the while knowing that one of their own , Biden himself , had dirty ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China .
The people who tried to pull off this election heist are drawn from the same swamp as the conspirators in the Russia hoax .
And in both cases they ’ ve had the Times and the rest of the mainstream media on board , eager to spread their disinformation to the world .
Those media aren ’ t just trying to sell us on the claim that Biden is already our president-elect .
After four years of refusing to respect Trump as a legitimate president and consistently painting his supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re now telling Trumpites that they want to make up and be friends .
Some wimps in the Republican ranks want to accept this offer .
They worry aloud that if Trump challenges the election results too vigorously , it ’ ll ruin any chances of bipartisan civility during the next four years .
They further warn that if this whole mess ends up in the Supreme Court , and Trump is named the winner , all hell will break loose .
Trump ’ s second term will be bumpy ; he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll be accused of stealing the presidency .
So what else is new ?
We ’ ve already gone through four years of that .
Four years of talking heads on CNN and MSNBC calling Trump is an existential threat to American democracy .
Four years of late-night talk-show hosts mocking him as the biggest buffoon on the planet .
Four years of tweets by everyone and sundry calling Trump Hitler .
Four years of the New York Times ignoring Trump ’ s achievements , exaggerating his faults out of all proportion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and smearing his character .
And , most recently , several months of brutal rioting in the streets of major cities—rioting that was carried out exclusively by left-wingers , and that , when not dismissed by left-wing media as “ mostly peaceful , ” was completely mischaracterized as owing to the innate violence of Trump and his supporters .
Well , the hell with all of them .
If the Supreme Court ends up deciding this debacle , and Trump wins , and the Left goes berserk—even more berserk than they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland and Seattle and Minneapolis and so on—then let them go berserk .
Let ’ s see how angry Joy Behar and Rosie O ’ Donnell and Bette Midler can get .
Let ’ s see how self-righteous Colbert and Kimmel and Maher can get .
Let ’ s see how many windows the Antifa and BLM thugs can break , how many fires they can set .
Trump will still be president , and he won ’ t feel constrained in his response to any of them .
Bruce Bawer is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and The Victims ’ Revolution .
His novel The Alhambra was published in 2017 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--No New News: Mainstream Media and Democrats Recycle Arguments Against Mass Voter Fraud Allegations

A current narrative dominating mainstream media and many top Democratic officials is the total absence of voter fraud .
Every top outlet or public figure mirrors the next in language .
Reports are swept aside as “ false or misleading , ” and statements from various secretaries of state and county registrars are cited as proof that no fraud occurred .
The talking points in this election that argue against the possibility of voter fraud aren ’ t new , or even original .
Especially in Virginia .
During the 2017 elections , previous Virginia Board of Elections Vice Chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that voter fraud is a real and pervasive reality .
In her speech , Wheeler also predicted that if the Republicans lost the gubernatorial election that year , they would likely lose the state to Democrats permanently .
In that election , 15 seats in the House of Delegates flipped from Republican to Democratic control .
Last year , Democrats flipped 6 more seats .
Their party currently has a state government trifecta : a Democratic governor and majority in both legislative chambers .
Wheeler ’ s stance earned the ire of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks , the Democratic Party of Virginia ( DPVA ) called for Wheeler ’ s resignation .
“ In a deliberate effort to shake the voter ’ s faith in the electoral process , Wheeler has made patently false allegations of massive voter fraud .
These baseless allegations are intended to dissuade people from exercising their fundamental right to vote , ” stated DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker .
“ Undermining the very electoral system with which she is entrusted is a dereliction of duty , and actively advocating for the election of Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict of interest .
We call for her immediate resignation today.
” The same arguments appear in current reports on election investigations : voter intimidation , undermining the system , and jeopardizing voter trust .
Some arguments even carry over the same wording .
Over three years later , Wheeler ’ s perspective on the reality of voter fraud hasn ’ t changed .
The pushback she received in 2017 mirrors the pushback received by the Trump campaign and election result critics this year .
Wheeler told The Tennessee Star that she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud to pretend they don ’ t exist on the scale she ’ s warned everyone about consistently .
Wheeler added that it is every individual ’ s responsibility to challenge election results when there are voting irregularities .
“ Each of us who are citizens of our respective states and in the Commonwealth have to be our own watchdogs .
If we hear that there is something wrong , we need to investigate it to make sure that it ’ s not hearsay.
” Wheeler stated that the takeaway from this election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud claims .
Rather , it should inspire an awareness for fair election processes and proper oversight .
“ If nothing else happens from this election , the bright spotlight is going to be shined on election fraud , vote tampering , and illegal activities in the 2020 election .
There will be people that will be held accountable because at some point we need to have confidence in our elections .
If we don ’ t clean it up now , when are we going to clean it up ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ People Voting ” by Phil Roeder .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Steve Bannon Presents ‘War Room: Pandemic’

An all new LIVE STREAM of War Room : Pandemic starts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Saturday .
Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon 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 updates from top medical , public health , economic , national security , supply chain and geopolitical experts weekdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ET .
The show ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
You can watch past episodes here .
Previously , Bannon hosted a series of three , two-hour long special programs entitled Descent into Hell : The Chinese People Confront the CCP .
The groundbreaking specials aired live on the John Fredericks Radio Network , America ’ s Voice Network , Dish TV Channel 219 , The Epoch Times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandarin .
For more information , visit www.pandemic.warroom.org and @ WarRoomPandemic .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--New York Times Retracts Report That New Jersey Democrat Won House Race, Republican Has Gained 20,000

New York Times Retracts Report That New Jersey Democrat Won House Race, Republican Has Gained 20,000 Votes

The New York Times unaccepted The Associated Press ’ call in a New Jersey congressional race Thursday in which the incumbent Democrat has seen his lead steadily decline over the course of the past week .
The race between incumbent Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski and Republican Thomas Kean Jr. for New Jersey ’ s 7th congressional district has tightened by more than 20,000 votes since Nov. 3 , according to New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein .
While The New York Times automatically accepts most of the election projections made by The Associated Press , it sometimes differs if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For most House races , we automatically accept the race calls made by The Associated Press , ” Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha told The Daily Caller News Foundation in an email .
“ However , we sometimes take a more cautious approach , particularly given the complexity of the voting in this pandemic year.
” “ We believe the A.P.
’ s call in this race may have been premature , so we have unaccepted it for now and will continue to monitor results , ” she continued .
The AP , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 and hasn ’ t retracted its call , told Wildstein that it is currently monitoring the situation .
“ The Associated Press continues to watch and analyze vote count results from New Jersey ’ s 7th Congressional District as they come in , ” an AP spokesman told Wildstein .
“ We will follow the facts in all cases.
” Malinowksi ’ s lead , which had been 28,412 last week , shrank to 6,275 Thursday .
As of Friday afternoon , Malinowksi ’ s lead had been reduced to 5,496 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes have been tallied and 38,000 remain uncounted , The New Jersey Globe reported .
“ Thank you to the voters of the 7th district for demanding that your candidates run on substance , civility , and moral clarity about the issues facing America , ” Malinowksi tweeted on Nov. 4 , declaring victory .
Kean , who has been the New Jersey State Senate Republican leader since 2008 , hasn ’ t commented on the tightening race .
Cook Political Report had rated the race “ Lean Democratic ” and FiveThirtyEight gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-election .
Both the National Republican Congressional Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted the seat prior to the election .
Malinowski defeated former Republican Rep. Leonard Lance in 2018 by more than 16,000 votes , according to Ballotpedia .
Lance had held the seat since 2009 .
The Times endorsed Malinowski in October .
“ It ’ s hard to find a member of Congress better suited to serve the country than Representative Tom Malinowski , ” the Times editorial board wrote .
The AP didn ’ t immediately respond to requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Tom Kean ” by Tom Kean .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Court of Appeals Sides with Harvard in Race Discrimination Lawsuit

Two First Circuit Court of Appeals judges ruled Thursday that Harvard University ’ s admissions process did not violate civil rights of Asian-Americans , Reuters reported .
The decision comes after the court heard arguments less than two months ago and upholds a decision from District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs which favored Harvard after the case was heard in October 2018 , Reuters reported .
The circuit court decided the plaintiffs , the Students for Fair Admissions ( SFFA ) , had standing for the lawsuit , but affirmed Harvard ’ s admission processes , the Harvard Crimson reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision in an email to students .
“ Today ’ s decision once again finds that Harvard ’ s admissions policies are consistent with Supreme Court precedent , and lawfully and appropriately pursue Harvard ’ s efforts to create a diverse campus that promotes learning and encourages mutual respect and understanding in our community , ” Dane wrote , the Harvard Crimson reported .
“ As we have said time and time again , now is not the time to turn back the clock on diversity and opportunity , ” Dane continued , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sued Harvard in 2014 , alleging they discriminated against Asian-Americans in their admissions processes , Reuters reported .
Harvard denied the allegations and said they legally promote diversity .
Burroughs ruled although Harvard ’ s admissions system wasn ’ t perfect , there weren ’ t any “ ‘ workable and available race-neutral alternatives ’ ” to guarantee a diverse student body , Reuters reported .
U.S .
Circuit Judge Sandra Lynch cited Supreme Court cases that universities can consider race .
Chief Judge Jeffrey R. Howard and Judge Sandra L. Lynch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the First Circuit ruled Thursday that Burroughs determined essential components correctly , the Harvard Crimson reported , including Harvard had considered race-neutral alternatives and it didn ’ t engage in racial balancing .
“ While we are disappointed with the opinion of the First Circuit Court of Appeals , our hope is not lost , ” Edward Blum , president of SFFA , said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ This lawsuit is now on track to go up to the U.S. Supreme Court where we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unconstitutional race-based admissions policies at Harvard and all colleges and universities , ” Blum said .
Harvard University did not immediately respond to the DCNF ’ s request for comment .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ University of Harvard ” by Joseph Williams .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--‘Never Bet Against Me’: Trump Makes First Post-Election Comments, Lays Out Path to Victory


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Northam Restricts Large Groups, Night Drinking, Expands Mask Mandate Ahead of Thanksgiving

Democratic Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam announced new coronavirus restrictions Friday , only a few weeks ahead of Thanksgiving .
“ COVID-19 is surging across the country , and while cases are not rising in Virginia as rapidly as in some other states , I do not intend to wait until they are .
We are acting now to prevent this health crisis from getting worse , ” the governor said in a statement .
He continued : “ Everyone is tired of this pandemic and restrictions on our lives .
I ’ m tired , and I know you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw earlier this year , these mitigation measures work .
I am confident that we can come together as one Commonwealth to get this virus under control and save lives.
” The new restrictions limit large groups to 25 people or less , both indoors and outdoors , and requires all Virginians ages five and older to wear face coverings inside public spaces .
This expands the previous mandate , which only required masks for children 10 and older .
The announcement also threatens to enforce statewide guidelines for “ physical distancing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in essential businesses as a Class One misdemeanor and prohibits the sale “ on-site sale , consumption , and possession of alcohol ” after 10 pm in restaurants , breweries , wineries , and more .
“ All restaurants , dining establishments , food courts , breweries , microbreweries , distilleries , wineries , and tasting rooms must close by midnight , ” the release said .
“ Virginia law does not distinguish between restaurants and bars , however , under current restrictions , individuals that choose to consume alcohol prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a restaurant and remain seated at tables six feet apart .
” The measures go into effect at midnight on Sunday , November 15 .
– – – Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Arizona’s Top Election Official Once Called Trump’s Supporters Neo-Nazis

The official who is responsible for certifying the election in Arizona is a staunch NeverTrumper who once said President Trump panders to his “ neo-Nazi base.
” Katie Hobbs , Arizona ’ s Secretary of State , registered her disgust with the president and his supporters on Twitter in August of 2017 .
August 15 , 2017 is the day President Trump said during a contentious press conference that there were “ very fine people on both sides ” of the Confederate statue debate .
The presser came after neo-Nazis clashed with antifa and Black Lives Matter agitators during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and their media allies immediately accused the president of calling the neo-Nazis at the “ Unite the Right ” rally “ very fine people .
Of course , the president did no such thing .
He actually stressed during the press conference that he was not referring to the neo-Nazis , and condemned them without reservation .
Joe Biden launched his campaign for the presidency with a speech based on that lie which he repeated over and over throughout his campaign .
While most Democrats were content to aim their fire at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him look like a racist , Hobbs in her August 2017 tweet targeted the president ’ s voters , calling them his “ neo-nazi base.
” Since the election , Hobbs has emerged as somewhat of a “ media darling , ” appearing on numerous local news and national news outlets to assure voters—including the ones she called neo-nazis—that there were absolutely no voting irregularities in her state .
As the last remaining votes in Arizona are counted , Joe Biden ’ s lead has shrunk to 11,635 votes .
In Arizona , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,300 .
The Trump campaign on Saturday filed suit in Maricopa County Superior Court against Hobbs , Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes and members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors , claiming that Maricopa County rejected ballots that should have been given a second review .
The suit claims that those rejected ballots would “ yield up to thousands of additional votes for President Trump and other Republican candidates ” if they were counted .
“ This election is far from over .
The American people are entitled to an honest election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not counting any illegal ballot , ” said Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward in a statement over the weekend .
“ We will not rest until the American people have the honest vote count they deserve and that our nation demands .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Mainstream Media Calls Georgia for Biden Despite Recount Over Widespread Voting Irregularities

The mainstream media , including The Hill here , on Friday afternoon called the Georgia election for Joe Biden despite a recount being taken amid widespread voting irregularities .
MSN trumpeted the supposed Biden victory in the Peach State as a turnaround there for Democrats .
Biden ’ s apparent victory in Georgia is a historic moment for Democrats , who have long been relegated to second-place in the state .
But a combination of changing demographics and rapidly growing urban and suburban populations in recent years have shifted the political playing field there , raising Democratic hopes that Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , Every Legal Vote says President Donald Trump holds a slight lead if you factor in voting irregularities .
Their Georgia data is available here .
Every Legal Vote shows that as of Friday evening , with voter fraud , Biden was squeaking by with 2,467,870 votes to Trump ’ s 2,456,275 votes .
That also does not factor in the recount .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Wednesday every ballot would be recounted by hand , The Center Square reported .
There were nearly 5 million votes cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election results is Nov. 20 .
Real Clear Investigations reported that in Fulton County alone , a surge of “ 20,000 mail-in votes suddenly appeared for Joe Biden , while approximately 1,000 votes for President Trump mysteriously disappeared from his own totals in the critical swing state , where Biden holds a razor-thin lead.
” Trump may request a recount if the results are under 0.5 percent , and so far , Biden ’ s margin has been around 0.3 percent , The Washington Post reported .
Trump may make his request once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen after the audit is completed .
If Trump makes the request , it would happen by officials rescanning hand-verified ballots .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Commentary: Harvard Researchers: Nearly Half of Young Adults Showing Signs of Depression Amid Pandem

Commentary: Harvard Researchers: Nearly Half of Young Adults Showing Signs of Depression Amid Pandemic

Mounting evidence shows that pandemic-related lockdowns and restrictions have inflicted much more harm on younger people than the coronavirus itself .
A new report reveals that nearly half of 18 to 24 year-olds are “ showing at least moderate depressive symptoms , ” and for many the depression is severe .
Researchers at Harvard , Northeastern , Rutgers , and Northwestern universities conducted eight large survey rounds across all US states from April through October , finding that young adults are increasingly having suicidal thoughts .
In the US adult population as a whole , the incidence of suicidal ideation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this new study reveals that in October , 36.9 percent of young adults had suicidal thoughts , compared to 32.2 percent in May in the wake of the first round of government lockdowns .
These new figures reinforce similarly dismal data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) in August .
The CDC found that one-quarter of young people ages 18-24 contemplated suicide in the previous month , in large part due to the pandemic and lockdowns .
According to the new study , lockdowns and other pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most young adults .
Only 20 percent of study participants said that they experienced little change since the pandemic began .
Instead , just over half of the participants said that their school or university had closed , while 41 percent had to adapt to working from home , 28 percent experienced a pay cut , and 26 percent were laid off .
“ The next [ presidential ] administration will lead a country where unprecedented numbers of younger individuals are experiencing depression , anxiety , and , for some , thoughts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors conclude .
“ These symptoms are not concentrated among any particular subgroup or region in our survey ; they are elevated in every group we examined.
” Dr. Jay Bhattacharya , a professor of medicine at Stanford University and one of the authors of the Great Barrington Declaration advocating against lockdowns , explains that the negative impact of government lockdowns on young people ’ s health and well-being is much more severe than the impact of the virus on this cohort .
In a debate last week with pro-lockdown Harvard epidemiologist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 “ is an absolutely deadly disease for people who are older and for people who have certain chronic conditions.
” He explained that there is a 95 percent COVID-19 survival rate for people 70 and older , while for people who are under 70 , there is currently a 99.95 percent survival rate .
“ For children , ” said Dr. Bhattacharya in the debate , “ the flu is worse .
We ’ ve had more flu deaths of children this year than Covid deaths.
” Given the disproportionate impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain chronic conditions , Dr. Bhattacharya and his Great Barrington Declaration co-authors argue for a “ Focused Protection ” approach that would shield the most vulnerable in society while allowing younger , healthy people to go about their lives and help to build population immunity .
“ Lockdowns have absolutely catastrophic effects on physical and mental health of populations both domestically and internationally , ” Dr. Bhattacharya said during the debate .
“ For people who are under 60 or 50 the lockdown harms—again mentally and physically—are worse than COVID.
” With more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns in response to rising COVID-19 cases , the mental health of young people is likely to further deteriorate .
Already disconnected from many of their peers with work , school , and college shutdowns , these young people must now contend with new 10:00 pm curfews and 10-person gathering limits in some areas , closed restaurants and bars , travel restrictions , and socially distanced holidays .
Meanwhile , college students are being shamed by administrators for celebrating their football team ’ s win or snitched on by peers for socializing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults are feeling increasingly anxious and depressed .
As Dr. Bhattacharya said in remarks last month : “ In effect , what we ’ ve been doing is requiring young people to bear the burden of controlling a disease from which they face little to no risk .
This is entirely backward from the right approach.
” Many of those advocating an end to lockdowns recognize their unintended consequences and the harm they cause to individuals and groups that may match or exceed the harm caused by the virus itself .
Declining mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and economic displacement is one unintended consequence of these policies , but there are others as well .
For example , the World Bank reported in October that 150 million people are expected to be thrust into extreme poverty by 2021 as a result of the pandemic response , which would be the first rise in global poverty in more than 20 years .
There are no easy answers to managing a pandemic , just manifold subtle answers that only free societies , and not top-down planners , can discover .
Relying on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignoring the ways in which these lockdowns do harm to other lives is unhelpful and damaging .
As the pandemic continues , the severe costs of lockdowns on young adults and others are becoming distressingly clear .
Kerry McDonald is a Senior Education Fellow at FEE and author of Unschooled : Raising Curious , Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom ( Chicago Review Press , 2019 ) .
She is also an adjunct scholar at The Cato Institute and a regular Forbes contributor .
Kerry has a B.A .
in economics from Bowdoin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy from Harvard University .
She lives in Cambridge , Massachusetts with her husband and four children .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Host Leahy and Crom Carmichael Take Listener Scaramucci Call Offering Advice for the President and D

Host Leahy and Crom Carmichael Take Listener Scaramucci Call Offering Advice for the President and Discuss the Balance of House Seats

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 .
During the second hour , Leahy and Carmichael discussed the current balance of House seats per party and took a Scaramucci call from listener Steven who advised the president to keep his eye on 2024 so as to undue the wreckage that a Biden administration will cause .
Leahy : We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In studio with us is the original all-star panelist and longtime friend Crom Carmichael .
Good morning Crom .
Carmichael : Good morning Michael .
How are you sir ?
Leahy : Well , I am really interested in one of our callers who ’ s accepted the offer to take a Scaramucci .
That ’ s an 11 day period of time in which you provide advice to the president .
Named after Anthony Scaramucci who infamously had 11 days as director of communications .
And so people were eager to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the break about what ’ s going on in the House of Representatives .
And by the way , you may recall about ten o ’ clock election night we were here in studio .
Fox News made a projection .
Their projection was the Democrats keep the House in gain five seats .
That was a Fox News projection .
Leahy : So that person was way off because right now I ’ m looking at the number of called races .
220 Democrats .
208 Republicans with seven in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans start ?
Leahy : I think it was like 200 and it was something like 201 .
Leahy : No , no .
The Republicans had like 197 .
Carmichael : That ’ s what I ’ m asking .
Where did we start ?
Leahy : Well , actually we started at according to this we started at like 197 .
Carmichael : So we ’ ve picked up 11 .
Yeah picked up 11 .
According to that , we picked up 11 .
Leahy : Let me revise that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we picked up nine .
Carmichael : So we picked up nine and there are seven seats still out .
Leahy : Seven are still out .
Carmichael : Okay .
So let ’ s say we pick up four .
Carmichael : Then that will give us 14 .
And we needed to pick up 17 .
So that means that Pelosi is governing with the smallest majority maybe since 1943 .
Leahy : It would be 223 for the Democrats and 12 for the Republicans if it played out where three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Republicans .
But it could be tighter than that .
Carmichael : Well , we ’ ll see .
One thing we know is that there are a lot of people running for the House who have not yet conceded .
And I thought that the Democrats said you ’ re supposed to concede when you ’ re behind apparently or even if it ’ s reported out .
Leahy : No Crom , you misread that .
The only ones who should concede before all of the results are certified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So the Democratic House candidates , that rule does not apply to them .
Carmichael : Well one thing that ’ s interesting about this and it ’ s getting serious .
Is that the media that supported Biden now is trying to claim that Biden has a mandate .
( Leahy chuckles ) Leahy : How could you say that with a straight face ?
Carmichael : What nursery rhyme was it where words mean exactly what I want them to mean ?
Nothing more , nothing less ?
Is that Alison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like an Alice in Wonderland kind of thing .
Carmichael : And now the Democrats are getting beaten badly in the House .
Carmichael : Yeah certainly compared to the projections .
They were projecting not five seats .
They were projecting they would pick up 15 .
Leahy : That ’ s what their projections were .
Carmichael : That was what the original projections were .
And we ’ re talking about right before the election .
Carmichael : And then the Democrats were supposed to take the Senate and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislators .
And they didn ’ t take anything .
Leahy : It did not happen .
Carmichael : In fact , the only thing that they can claim to have taken is the presidency .
And historically someone hasn ’ t won the presidency with all of these other things .
About the closest one would be Kennedy beating Nixon .
Carmichael : And I think history now shows exactly how that happened where they called two states and that time Illinois and Texas .
Leahy : Yeah , they stole votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas .
Carmichael : And I am very very happy that Trump is continuing to fight because he ’ s not fighting for himself .
He ’ s fighting for the country .
He ’ s fighting for the 73 million Americans who voted for him .
And as far as I ’ m concerned I can now say with as many facts as the Democrats normally have that actually there are 89 million people who voted for Trump .
Carmichael : That ’ s my new number .
89 million , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million votes .
( Chuckles ) Leahy : There you go .
Crom , we ’ ve had a very patient caller who wants to provide advice to the President .
I ’ d like to bring him on right now .
If you can give us concise advice Scaramucci style .
Steven from Orlando , Florida , you want to give advice to President Trump .
Crom and I say he should fight fight fight .
What do you say ?
Caller Steven : I absolutely agree , but I will add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind .
Steven : I ’ ve worked in EMS and the operating room for a better part of eight years and I know the art of triage .
Leahy : Are you a doctor ?
What do you do ?
What ’ s your job ?
Leahy : Okay , good .
By the way that ’ s a very very important job .
Carmichael : Did any of your friends work for sleepy Joe ?
( Leahy chuckles ) Steven : I can contest that he was rather medicated during some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go ahead with your caveats .
Steven : I know your time is valuable so I ’ ll get to it .
Trump should absolutely fight .
He needs to let the cards blow as they may .
He needs a lot of things to go right .
And as much as I would love for it to happen there just needs to be a lot of things that go his way .
So if they don ’ t he needs to focus on 2024 because it ’ s going to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gone on .
He needs to focus on getting the two Senate seats that are available in Georgia to stop what Joe Biden can do and focus on getting power back in 2024 .
Leahy : And by the way , that ’ s such good advice that we ’ re actually going to extend your time to two Scaramuccis .
So you can call back again later on this .
Carmichael : Another week from now would be good because we ’ ll all have updates on current information .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would because that ’ s great advice .
Carmichael : And thank you and all the other Floridians for your votes .
Leahy : Yeah , they fixed the chad problems there from 2000 and Florida and now it has probably one of the most secure voting systems in the country .
Leahy : No .
And Texas , not Dominion .
By the way Crom .
I saw a report that this Dominion software where those reports with glitches and changing votes at the last minute , by the way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single county in Georgia .
Carmichael : Did you hear the technical person talking about that to know what ’ s going on you actually have to look at the source code ?
And what the algorithms can do is they can cause votes to switch when certain things happen .
So in other words , it ’ s not easy .
It ’ s very hard to catch the cheating .
Leahy : Yes .
If it ’ s in the source code .
Carmichael : What you have to look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re cheating .
You can ’ t necessarily prove it so you have to look at the pattern .
That ’ s what you have to look at .
You have to look at the pattern and see if the pattern was the same in these various states that are being contested .
Leahy : There ’ s a report at Instapundit that the management of Dominion software , they looked at the political contributions of 96 individuals who work for Dominion software and more than 96 percent of them gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carmichael : Wow .
And those are the people who are running our elections .
They should not be some tiny software company .
Carmichael : When the elections were over and we started learning about Dominion software you have to scratch your head .
I can understand how somebody who wants to cheat would like to have a software company that ’ s gon na cheat on their behalf .
I can understand why they ’ d want to do that .
Carmichael : Republicans don ’ t act that way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of a lot of Republicans .
I have a good friend of mine that sent me a text saying Manchin says he will not stand against breaking the filibuster .
Leahy : That ’ s what he says .
Carmichael : That ’ s what he says .
And I just texted back , I said Manchin lying .
Manchin can say that now because if Republicans pick up Georgia then Manchin ’ s vote will never ever be put to the test .
Leahy : He ’ s saying it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those two Democrats .
Carmichael : So what he ’ s also saying is so that if when he goes up to get reelected , he doesn ’ t think that the Democrats are going to win Georgia .
So what he ’ s doing is he ’ s trying to show how brave he would be in the unlikely circumstance if he had to be .
Leahy : But in the event they win , I promise he ’ ll change his mind .
Leahy : Yeah , and he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carmichael : Yeah , he ’ ll have a reason .
And he made them lose the next election , but he ’ ll have a multimillion-dollar gig… Carmichael : Coming his way right after he loses .
Leahy : This is the United States of America in which we live today .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Hispanics Helped Trump Win in Florida, Texas, Analysis of Election Data Shows

The Republican Party has become a more multiethnic , multiracial , and working-class party , politicians said after viewing election data and precinct-level exit polls .
More Hispanics voted for President Donald Trump on Election Day , helping him secure wins in Texas and Florida , the second and third-largest states by population , respectively .
Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Missouri , tweeted , “ we are a working class party now .
That ’ s the future.
” Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Florida , also tweeted that the future of the Republican Party is “ a party built on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” According to an Edison Research national exit poll , Trump ’ s support in 2020 increased among Asians , Blacks and Hispanics by 4 percent each .
Roughly 26 percent of Trump ’ s voting share came from nonwhite voters – the highest percentage for a Republican presidential candidate since 1960 .
Among non-whites without a college degree , Trump ’ s support rose by 7 percent .
The white working class strongly favored Trump by double digit increases in California ( +16 ) , Maine ( +11 ) , Michigan ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nevada ( +22 ) , New Hampshire ( +10 ) , Pennsylvania ( +27 ) and Wisconsin ( +16 ) .
The Florida exit poll showed Hispanic support for Trump grew from 35 percent in 2016 to 47 percent in 2020 .
Precinct-level analysis shows gains in Florida were concentrated in Hialeah and Miami ’ s west side , where Americans live who are predominantly of Cuban , Central American , and South American descent .
Roughly half of Trump ’ s 2020 margin of victory in Florida came from the increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone .
Trump ’ s support from Texas Hispanics increased from 34 percent to 40 percent .
A record 20 counties with large Hispanic populations shifted in their increased number of votes for Trump .
In Starr County , the most Hispanic in the country , with 99 percent of the population identifying as Hispanic , support for Trump increased by more than 28 percent .
Twenty Texas counties recorded swings toward Trump of 10 points or more .
They are all majority Hispanic ; 17 of them are more than three-quarters Hispanic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two of these 20 counties .
In 2020 , he won nine .
Seven of these 20 Trump-shifted Hispanic counties are located along the Texas-Mexico border ; 12 are located roughly 100 miles from the border .
Bethany Blankley is a contributor to The Center Square .
Photo “ Latino Trump Supporters ” by mccauleys-corner .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Nashville Man Sentenced to17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution and Firearms Violations

Federal officials have sentenced a Nashville man with a lengthy criminal history spanning two decades to 17 years in federal prison .
That man Timothy Lamont Page , 50 , pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine , cocaine and heroin , and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm .
This , according to a press release that officials with the U.S. Department of Justice published on their website this week .
“ In April 2019 , officers with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department – Madison Crime Suppression Unit , executed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , following months of surveillance based on complaints of illegal drug activity .
During the search , officers found crack cocaine , cocaine and heroin packaged for sale , along with digital scales and over $ 4,000 cash .
A loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun was also found in Page ’ s vehicle .
A federal grand jury indicted Page and his co-defendant , Isabell Slusher , 23 , of Bell Buckle , Tennessee in November 2019 , ” the press release said .
“ On January 2 , 2020 , Page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to federal custody and was released from custody the following week after a detention hearing .
One of the conditions of his pre-trial release was that he have no contact with Slusher .
Page left the United States Courthouse after the hearing and immediately contacted Slusher and just three days later , he picked her up from her mother ’ s house .
On February 2 , 2020 , Slusher overdosed on heroin at the Strike and Spare Family Fun Center in Nashville , and lost consciousness in a bathroom stall.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which likely saved Slusher ’ s life .
Page had also accompanied Slusher to Vanderbilt Medical Center on two occasions after being released .
In addition to likely continuing to supply Slusher with heroin , which almost killed her , Page also threatened Slusher , telling her that people would kill her if she cooperated with law enforcement .
Slusher pleaded guilty to drug charges earlier this year and is awaiting sentencing , according to the press release .
“ Page ’ s criminal history includes facilitation of murder in 1993 ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2003 ; distribution of cocaine in 2007 ; being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in 2008 ; and attempt to possess heroin for resale in 2015 , ” the press release said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Georgia Audit Limits Monitors and Omits Absentee Ballot Signature Matching

Shortly before the Georgia ballot audit began , uproar broke out over the limited amount of monitors overseeing the process and omission of absentee ballot signature matching .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced a Risk Limiting Audit ( RLA ) on Wednesday .
The audit consisted of a hand recount beginning Friday .
However , legislators and activists were quick to notice two key issues with the RLA : a lack of signature matching for absentee ballots , and a limitation on the amount of monitors overseeing the recount .
Representative Doug Collins ( R-GA-09 ) tweeted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In our letter to @ GaSecofState yesterday , @ DavidShafer and I clearly voiced our concerns .
ONE designated monitor can not observe TEN tables at once.
” The letter attached to the tweet was made out to Raffensperger .
It criticized the nature of the audit because it would omit a review of absentee ballot signatures and ballot envelope signatures .
As proof for concern , the letter added data showing the absentee ballot rejection rate dropping from 3.5 percent in 2018 to .3 percent this year – despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
“ We believe that a review of the signatures is fundamental to this procedure , ” read the letter .
“ We do not believe it is possible to certify the results of the 2020 General Election without conducting this investigation and analysis.
” Additionally , the letter pointed out that the audit wouldn ’ t provide meaningful access to designated monitors .
For every 10 tables of audit teams , there would only be one monitor allowed .
“ Transparency has been a very significant problem during this election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Raffensperger ] have publicly stated that transparency and openness are a high priority to you .
That requires a system that allows our designated monitors to be able to meaningfully observe the audit and hand count .
Having one monitor for ten audit teams does not allow for transparency.
” In an interview with The Tennessee Star , Georgia ’ s Republican National Committeewoman Ginger Howard stated that the number of monitors doesn ’ t affect state budget or organization at all .
“ So , why would Raffensperger care ?
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to volunteer – he can just give us access , ” she said .
Howard also divulged that each team may have two or four members in it .
Meaning , one monitor may have to watch over twenty to forty people dispersed over ten tables .
In response to concerns over the small amount of monitors , Raffensperger tweeted that he supports transparency .
However , he didn ’ t mention any measures to increase the amount of monitors present for the audit .
Raffensperger is scheduled to certify election results by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Ballots ” by Lance Fisher .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Georgia Democratic Senate Candidate Ossoff Initially Failed to Disclose Payments by Telecom Company

Georgia Democratic Senate Candidate Ossoff Initially Failed to Disclose Payments by Telecom Company Led by Official Opposed to Hong Kong Independence

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Ossoff of Georgia was compensated by a Hong Kong media company owned by an anti-democracy executive , a source of income previously undisclosed , The National Review said .
Ossoff , whose role as CEO of a London-based producer of investigative documentaries has drawn scrutiny over the years , reported in an amended financial statement that he has received at least $ 5,000 from PCCW Media Limited over the last two years — a detail that has previously gone unreported .
Ossoff did not disclose his ties to PCCW in his initial financial report , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ossoff campaign said the payments were for two documentaries on ISIS war crimes .
PCCW of Hong Kong is led by chairman Richard Li , who has long opposed Hong Kong independence .
Ossoff is CEO of Insight TWI , a company that helps make documentaries on corruption in foreign countries , Bloomberg Government said .
Ossoff led two BBC investigations of ISIS war crimes in Iraq and death squads in East Africa , Fox News said .
In reaction to the news , Donald Trump Jr. tweeted , “ Imagine my shock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to China .
Hong Kong — Democrat Jon Ossoff Quietly Discloses Financial Ties to Pro-CCP Hong Kong Media Company ” .
Ossoff ’ s opponent , incumbent U.S. Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) pressed Ossoff to disclose his ties to PCCW , which he called a Chinese Communist company , during a debate last month .
Ossoff refused to answer the question .
At least 18.43 percent of PCCW is owned by the Communist Chinese government , Nikkei Asia says .
Ossoff has the cash to make the films .
The Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in assets , including more than $ 250,000 in Apple stock .
His Insight TWI is valued at more than $ 250,000 , and he has a stake of at least $ 50,000 in a solar panel installation firm .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Jon Ossoff ” by Jon Ossoff .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--Trump Campaign Updates Press on Legal Wins in Pennsylvania

The Trump campaign hosted a surrogate briefing call Thursday with updates on litigation , mostly concerning Pennsylvania .
As in the previous call , the speakers reiterated that these legal proceedings take time to form and execute .
Speakers included Director of Battleground Strategy Nick Trainer , Director of Communications Tim Murtaugh , Deputy Campaign Manager Justin Clark , and Campaign Counsel Matt Morgan .
Murtaugh repeated his stance from the last call .
“ Over 72 million people voted for President Trump .
They deserve to know that this election is free and fair , and every legal vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted .
It ’ s not just about this election , it ’ s about every election in this country.
” Additionally , Murtaugh emphasized the need for patience while they do their work .
“ Caution : this is a process .
It will be methodical .
In this age of Twitter and 24 hour news , they want a resolution at the top of the hour , ” he said .
“ We ’ re not going to eat the whole apple in one bite .
There ’ s not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it up on the media at the end of the night .
Every time we make progress , we are learning more information .
Every filing is a step along the path .
We ask for patience through the process .
Every court filing , every recount is a step along the path to re-electing President Trump and for secure voting.
” After , Clark issued a few brief statements asserting that the processes are deliberate and methodical .
He hinted that there would be even more recounts and litigation beginning next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Pennsylvania court held that the secretary of state lacked statutory authority to change the deadlines for ballots , ” he said .
“ This is a different issue than the Supreme Court issue concerning the statutory deadline by the legislature .
The case was filed Monday , [ and the ] case preliminary injunction motion [ was ] today.
” Also , Clark discussed briefly why the judges ruled Pennsylvanian officials ’ behavior to be unlawful .
“ Pennsylvania election official officials don ’ t have jurisdiction to depart from legislatures ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ They ] treated mail-in voters differently depending on their region , ” he said .
“ The city of Philadelphia constantly undermined the legislature – they can ’ t constitutionally apply different standards for different results for different ballots .
As a result : we don ’ t know the full magnitude of [ a ] case .
Even if we were to win a small amount of victories , it would trigger an automatic recount , which would allow us to further investigate the election.
” Clark remarked on the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is expected to begin on Friday and be finished by November 18 .
The briefing lasted just under 15 minutes .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--RNC Chairwoman Confirms 12K Incident Reports and Over 400 Affidavits Filed for Voter Fraud

According to a press release , Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has confirmed about 12,000 incident reports and over 400 affidavits filed concerning potential voter fraud .
McDaniel appeared on Fox Business to provide the brief update .
The chairwoman shared that the campaign has issued nine lawsuits currently nationwide .
Fox News received widespread backlash from voters after declaring an early victory for Joe Biden in Arizona and how Democrats would add five seats to the House .
Voters were further incensed after the news station cut away from a press briefing with White House Press Secretary Kayleigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have turned to alternative media , most notably Newsmax .
In addition to the Georgia recount beginning next week , McDaniel asserted that Wisconsin will also hold a recount in the near future .
“ Affidavits are evidence because these are people testifying under oath that they saw in Detroit ballots coming in , they couldn ’ t get a clear picture from where they were coming from , ” she said .
“ But they saw many being fed into machines that they were forced to backdate or told to backdate ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Detroit.
” Thursday , The Tennessee Star learned during a Trump campaign briefing call that a Pennsylvania judge ruled that Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar didn ’ t have the authority to change the ballot deadlines .
The decision may impact several thousand ballots , according to circulating reports .
The next day , Boockvar declared that she wouldn ’ t order a ballot recount for the state – despite current legal challenges .
McDaniel finished her remarks by emphasizing the need for continued patience as litigation continues .
“ All of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and show us why we can ’ t just move on and close the book on this election .
There ’ s a lot more to go [ through ] still , ” she said .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Ronna McDaniel ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Voting Booths ” by Tim Evanson .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-14--BLM Co-Founder to Biden: ‘We Want Something for Our Vote’

Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors recently wrote a letter addressed to “ President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris ” requesting a meeting to discuss the radical organization ’ s expectations and priorities , Fox News reports .
“ Without the resounding support of Black people , we would be saddled with a very different electoral outcome , ” Cullors wrote on Saturday .
“ In short , Black people won this election.
” Cullors pressed the duo to give top priority to a “ well-thought out , community-driven , fully resourced agenda that addresses the particular challenges faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ want to be heard and our agenda to be prioritized.
” If Biden and Harris make it to the White House , it remains to be seen if they can make good on their campaign promises – to create a police oversight board to combat police brutality , particularly against Black and minority people , within his first 100 days in the White House .
After the death of George Floyd in May police reform has been at the forefront of American politics this election season .
Since Floyd ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police , ” a plan Biden has not really shown much support , to the dismay of his more progressive supporters .
During his premature victory speech last week , Biden shouted out his Black supporters and thanked them for their vote .
“ The African American community stood up again for me .
They always have my back , and I ’ ll have yours , ” Biden said at the Chase Center in Wilmington , Del .
“ I said from the outset I wanted a campaign that represented America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now that ’ s what I want the administration to look like.
” Cullors did not shy away from critiquing Biden and Harris ’ individual records on issues of race and reminded them that they both “ expressed regrets regarding your record on issues impacting Black people , ” and advised them to “ take your direction from Black grassroots organizers that have been engaged in this work for decades , with a legacy that spans back to the first arrival of enslaved Africans.
” “ We would like to be actively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning and policy work , ” Cullors said .
“ Let ’ s get to work !
” Cullors described herself as the protégé of Eric Mann , former agitator of the Weather Underground domestic terror organization , she explained in a 2018 interview with Democracy Now !
“ We are trained Marxists .
We are super-versed on , sort of , ideological theories .
And I think that what we really tried to do is build a movement that could be utilized by many , many black folk , ” Cullors said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The Real News Network .