thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Gun Owners of America Endorse Manny Sethi

The Virginia-based Gun Owners of America ( GOA ) on Thursday endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi .
Sethi and GOA members announced the news on their respective Facebook pages .
Sethi and Bill Hagerty are competing against one another to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) in a Republican primary .
State officials have scheduled the election for August 6 .
“ I ’ m honored to be endorsed by Gun Owners of America , who are staunch defenders of our Second Amendment rights , ” Sethi said in an emailed press release .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any law or government action that inhibits any law-abiding citizen from owning or carrying guns in any way is unconstitutional , and I will fight to defend our rights .
Our Second Amendment rights ensure the protection of all other Constitutional rights.
” Members founded the GOA in 1975 to preserve and defend gun owners ’ Second Amendment rights , according to the organization ’ s Facebook page .
As The Tennessee Star reported last week , U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) endorsed Sethi .
“ Primaries are a time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swamp tries to trick voters into choosing their preferred candidate .
We need conservative fighters in the U.S. Senate that will stand up for our values and that is why I ’ m endorsing Dr. Manny Sethi for United States Senate .
Dr. Manny is a pro-life doctor who will fight to finally repeal Obamacare , defend the Second Amendment , and help get our economy moving again , ” Cruz said at the time .
“ There ’ s a reason the Establishment ’ s throwing everything they ’ ve got at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winning .
I am urging Tennessee conservatives to stand up to the attacks , join me , and stand with Manny Sethi.
” As also reported , conservative radio and television personality Mark Levin endorsed Sethi .
“ I have kids who live in Tennessee , I have grandkids who live in Nashville .
If I lived there , I would be voting for him .
That ’ s the bottom line , ” Levin said .
“ I like that he ’ s a citizen , a serious doctor , he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not tied to Romney .
Tennessee needs him in the Senate .
His opponent is tied so closely to Romney , that if he gets into the Senate , you know damn well what will happen.
” Also as The Star reported , former U.S. Sen Jim DeMint ( R-SC ) endorsed Sethi .
DeMint , known for his work in the Tea Party , is a University of Tennessee graduate and founder of the Senate Conservatives Fund .
Individuals including U.S. Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) , Memphis-based Varsity Spirit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John J. Duncan Jr. have endorsed Sethi as well .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Manny Sethi ” by Manny Sethi .
Background Photo “ Gun Owners of America Endorsement ” by Gun Owners of America .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Analysis: Public School Funding Per Student Averages 80 Percent More Than Private Schools

According to the New York Times , one of the main reasons why public K–12 schools are reopening more slowly from Covid-19 lockdowns than private schools is because public schools generally have less money .
Times reporter Claire Cain Miller makes this claim three times in a single article , but her assertion is the polar opposite of reality and has been so for decades .
Twenty-five years ago , the U.S. Department of Education ( DOE ) estimated that public K–12 schools spent an average of 43–52 % more per student than private schools in the 1991–92 school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that inflation-adjusted average spending per public school student has risen by 40 % .
Consistent with that DOE data , new research by Just Facts reveals that average public K–12 school funding per student is about 80 % higher than private schools .
Specifically , the latest DOE data shows that governments spent an average of $ 14,439 for every student enrolled in K–12 public schools in the 2016–17 school year .
In comparison , Just Facts estimates that private schools spent an average of $ 8,039 per student in the same year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was determined by Just Facts with data from the DOE and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis .
All methodological details are provided in the footnotes located here , and all data and calculations are shown in this spreadsheet .
Furthermore , DOE ’ s figure for public school spending per student doesn ’ t include the costs of state government administration , unfunded pension liabilities , and public worker post-employment benefits ( like health insurance ) .
In contrast , Just Facts ’ figure for private schools is comprehensive and includes all spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and governments .
This means that the full public school funding advantage is greater than 80 % .
Miller doesn ’ t even attempt to document the following claims that she makes in her article , which is titled “ In the Same Towns , Private Schools Are Reopening While Public Schools Are Not ” : • None “ Private schools have always had more flexibility , and usually more money ” than public schools .
• None Public schools “ tend to have less money ” than private schools .
• None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the resources that private schools do….
” She also alleges without evidence that “ public schools faced a funding crisis even before the pandemic.
” In reality , the latest DOE data shows that inflation-adjusted spending per public school student is at an all-time high and has grown by 20 % since 2000 , 93 % since 1980 , and 3.8 times since 1960 : As Bernie Sanders has done , one can make it seem like funding has declined by cherry picking certain years in certain states , but the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This applies in nearly every state , which experienced anywhere from a 1 % decrease to a 114 % increase in inflation-adjusted spending per student between 1996 and 2016 .
Miller also gives Robert Pianta , the dean of the school of education at the University of Virginia , a platform to claim without proof that Covid-19 “ has exposed a great deal of inequity ” in the education system .
Less than a year ago , the Washington Post issued a correction for an op-ed by Pianta in which he wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually decreased since the 1980s , adjusting for constant dollars.
” That statement is at blatant odds with DOE data , which shows that the average inflation-adjusted spending per public school student rose from $ 10,316 in 1989 to $ 14,439 in 2016 , or by 40 % .
Just Facts provided documentation of the facts about public and private school spending to Miller and the Times corrections desk on July 17th .
Ten days later , they have not responded or issued a correction .
This adds to an extensive list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James D. Agresti is the president of Just Facts , a think tank dedicated to publishing rigorously documented facts about public policy issues .

Live from Music Row Wednesday 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 original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio for another edition of Crom’s Crommentary.
CROM CARMICHAEL:
Michael, yesterday, the Supreme Court heard a very, very important case, Texas versus Biden. And the Wall Street Journal wrote a very interesting article about that case. It appeared on Monday. So it was before the case was heard. There was a law passed in 1996 and Biden voted for the law. The law says that migrants who are, ‘Not clearly and beyond doubt, (not reasonable doubt, beyond doubt,) entitled to be admitted shall be detained.’ It goes on to say that the law also says that DHS can parole individual migrants on a case by case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
That’s what the law that was passed in 1996 says. According to some reports I read this morning about the hearing yesterday, the case by case part of the 1996 law is what some justices may try to hang their hat on to allow Biden to eliminate or rescind Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy on the basis that we only can detain 34,000 illegal immigrants at the same time. That’s all we can detain. And so Trump said we can’t follow the law, so we’re going to make them stay in Mexico.
Now, the left says, well, you can’t make them stay in Mexico because Mexico won’t necessarily agree to that. Well, they already have. Under Trump they did agree to it and they did do it. So it’s not a function of whether or not Mexico can and will do it because they did do it under pressure, but they did do it. This is going to be a very interesting decision that will come down from the courts to see whether or not the courts believe that the law itself has written is what the administration should adhere to. I think that decision will come out very quickly. I don’t think it’ll be months. I think it will be weeks, and maybe even days before that decision comes out.
Listen to the Crommentary:
– – –
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--2020-07-31--Carol Swain Weighs in on Belmont University’s Recent Letter from President Bob Fisher

Live from Music Row Thursday 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 Dr. Carol Swain to the studio .
During the second hour , Swain gave her take on a recent letter circulated by Belmont University President Bob Fisher that she interpreted as blatant support of Black Lives Matter .
She added that the board of trustees and families need to pay attention and called for the resignation of the university president .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are on Thursdays by our good friend former Vanderbilt professor .
Former Nashville mayoral candidate .
And of course all-star panelist here on The Tennessee Star Report Carol Swain .
Good morning Carol .
Leahy : Yes .
At the seven o ’ clock hour the phones are going to light up .
They are going to light up because we are going to talk about the GOP Senate campaign .
But in this segment , I wanted to talk with you about the email you sent me the other day that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from the president of Belmont University .
Now they were for much of their history a Christian college where they not ?
Swain : They were and I remember when the split occurred and it was over the LGBT issue .
And it had something to do with a coach .
And they split from the Baptist denomination .
If you look at universities that split from the churches they are affiliated with its almost always about the money .
So they made that big change .
They are no longer a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they have become progressively more progressive .
Leahy : Aren ’ t they all ?
Isn ’ t that the problem we face in America ?
Every institution seems to lean left and then become full boar left-wing socialists .
Swain : Well I can tell you that it ’ s not a welcoming place for Christian conservatives .
And I have heard of so many Christian students that have gone to Belmont thinking they have gone to a Christian school and had their faith destroyed or left the university .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this particular case , where someone committed suicide and I was told that it had a lot to do with the disillusionment from the experience they had on that campus .
And I think that its harder for students .
If you are going to a secular school you are expected to be a particular kind of way .
But if you believe a school is Christian you expect them to reflect some of your values and to be welcoming .
You don ’ t expect to encounter some of the things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes can find when they get to that Belmont campus .
Leahy : Here is an email sent on Monday , July 27 from Bob Fisher the president of Belmont .
To faculty and staff and students .
I ’ ll just read some excerpts of it .
The ones that caught my attention giving me the big clue that Belmont has gone socialist .
“ At Belmont University Fisher wrote , we believe that we are created as equals by our God.
” So far so good Carol .
Leahy : We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that belief President Fisher of Belmont says , “ Belmont seeks to be an inclusive and welcoming community that loves and values every individual regardless of race , gender , religion , disability , age , national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.
” Swain : So there they are adding something that is not in the 1964 Civil Rights Act .
And Christians believe in love so they should be doing that anyway .
Loving everyone that is created in God ’ s image .
Leahy : Now we get to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With that said President of Belmont Bob fisher wrote , we believe that Black Lives Matter.
” Swain : Let me read that sentence .
( Giggles ) Leahy : OK. You ’ ll do better than I will .
Swain : No , just with that sentence .
With that said , yes !
“ Black Lives Matter matter to me and to Belmont.
” And so there he takes the slogan and says something that is a true statement .
All lives matter and Blacks are a part of all lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subtle endorsement of the organization Black Lives Matter .
Swain : Yes !
Black Lives Matter to me and to Belmont .
So he ’ s talking about the organization folks .
He ’ s not talking about the fact that we are all created in God ’ s image .
Swain : You were stumbling over that part .
( Laughs ) Leahy : I was stumbling over that part .
Thank you .
Thank you for reminding me and our audience that I was stumbling .
I ’ ll continue.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Native Americans , minorities , and all parts of the world have resulted in people being systematically diminished and destroyed.
” Swain : Why are they coming if this is being done in America ?
Leahy : “ Throughout our history , the recently renewed focus on the mistreatment of Black Americans has created a broad outpouring of demands that we bring it into systemic racism wherever we find it.
” Swain : I didn ’ t know that Belmont University was engaged in systemic racism .
I do know that last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get them to hire me that Bob Fisher killed the appointment and so I was a victim of his systemic racism .
Leahy : Apparently a Black conservative scholar with a national reputation is apparently not welcome at Belmont University .
That ’ s actually not systemic racism , that ’ s individually focused on you .
Swain : And not just a Black professor but one that ’ s won the highest prize in her profession .
Been cited by the US Supreme Court and tenured at Vanderbilt and Princeton .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hire me .
Leahy : You would think if he wanted to solve what he claims is systemic racism you think he would hire… Swain : A Baptist .
A Southern Baptist to carry forth the tradition .
Leahy : Apparently , not so much .
But I want to stop here for a moment .
He ’ s made a broad false claim that systemic racism exists in America today .
I hear this all the time from would-be pundits .
And there ’ s no evidence whatsoever that systemic racism exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of systemic racism is ?
Swain : They are just parroting the liberal left ’ s language and its part of the cultural Marxism that America is a racist nation .
That every institution in America is supposed to be filled with this racism .
And this racism privilege is whites .
Racism is permanent according to these people and all White people are privileged .
Even if you are that poor White male from Appalachia living in some hut without indoor plumbing and no parent has ever finished high school .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just gets worse .
By the way Bob Fisher , president of Belmont University , you are more than welcome to come in and talk here in person .
Swain : It ’ s time for Bob Fisher to retire or to leave Belmont .
And the trustees that have allowed him to destroy the university and erase every single vestige of its Christian heritage needs to stand up and do their jobs .
They need to clear out Belmont University .
Their families are funding that university .
They are supporting this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are just kind of going along and rubber stamping this far-left agenda of academic leaders and faculty .
It ’ s not just in Belmont .
It ’ s everywhere in public and private universities Carol and Carol you ’ ve had a lot of experience in this .
Swain : The last sentence on this memo page one that we want to highlight that .
Leahy : The very last line ?
Swain : Continue reading this and I ’ ll be quiet for a second .
( Giggles ) Swain : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have too .
Leahy : Which means she ’ s going to jump in real soon folks .
We ’ ve just started to get into this .
What follows Fisher wrote , our first step towards the goal of ending systemic racism in the four overarching themes that emerge from a listening session a strategic shift in culture .
‘ Diversity , inclusion , and equity will continue to be embedded in the soon to be announced vision 2025 plan but it will also be elevated in our efforts as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance of the university .
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 .
Photo “ Bob Fisher ” by Belmont University .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--100+ Police Agencies Pull Out of Democrat Convention Security

More than 100 police agencies have backed out of agreements to send personnel to help with security at next month ’ s Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , The Daily Caller reported .
The original plan was to have 1,000 officers on hand from outside agencies to assist with security .
Police agencies began to back out of their security agreements after a civilian oversight commission ordered a change in the policies for the department and essentially ban tear gas and pepper spray use to subdue unruly crowds , according to a report from Wisconsin AM radio .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , the convention in downtown Milwaukee , had already been scaled down to a mostly virtual event , with only about 300 people expected to attend in-person .
However former Vice President Joe Biden has said he will be in Milwaukee to accept the official presidential nomination .
Extra security was added as a precaution for the expected large protests in and around the venue , WTMJ reported .
The Democratic National Convention is expected to take place August 17-20 at the Wisconsin Center in downtown Milwaukee .
Catherine Smith reports for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Convention Security ” by Debra Sweet .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--US Sees Worst-Ever Contraction for Second-Quarter GDP

The United States gross domestic product ( GDP ) fell 32.9 % in the second quarter of 2020 , the Department of Commerce reported , marking the largest decline the country has ever seen , according to CNBC .
In addition to the record drop in GDP , The Department of Labor reported Thursday that over 1.43 million Americans filed initial claims for unemployment last week , marking a swift economic contraction as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country .
The report also comes as the $ 600-per-week unemployment benefits are set to expire on July 31 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans .
Despite the deadline fast approaching , bipartisan talks have been largely unproductive and have stalled in recent days , Bloomberg reported .
“ We are still very far apart on a lot of issues , ” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters Wednesday as he left a meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi , according to Bloomberg .
The report comes as the rise in coronavirus cases increases the likelihood that some states may temporary close businesses once again , further contributing to the economic decline .
Several states in the Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 new cases daily , and on Wednesday it was confirmed that over 150,000 Americans have died from the virus , according to a Johns Hopkins University database .
The rising case count also threatens the reopening of schools across the country .
While some schools are set to return to in-person classes tomorrow , some of the largest districts in the country have announced that they will begin the academic year online in order to prevent the virus ’ spread .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--More Than 1.4 Million Americans File New Unemployment Claims

More than 1.4 million American workers filed new unemployment claims last week , an increase over the previous week as new restrictions are being put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
According to the U.S. Department of Labor , 1.43 million workers filed new claims for unemployment benefits in the week ending July 25 , up 12,000 from the week ending July 18 .
It was the second week in a row that new claims increased .
Continuing claims , which count workers who filed for unemployment benefits at least two weeks in a row , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.6 percent during the week ending July 18 , an increase of 0.4 percentage point from the prior week , ” the labor department said .
The unemployment rate report lags new claims by a week .
The latest weekly unemployment report was released on the same day the U.S. Department of Commerce said that the nation ’ s Gross Domestic Product dropped an estimated 32.9 percent , the worst decline since at least World War II .
GDP is generally viewed as a measure of a country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began measuring GDP in 1947 .
California once again led the nation in new unemployment claims , with 249,007 last week .
Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square .
He welcomes your comments .
Contact Dan at [ email protected ] Photo “ Long Ling ” by Gabriel White .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--The McCloskeys’ Lawyer Wants St. Louis Prosecutor Kim Gardner Disqualified After She Fundraised off

The McCloskeys’ Lawyer Wants St. Louis Prosecutor Kim Gardner Disqualified After She Fundraised off the McCloskey Case

Attorneys representing Mark and Patricia McCloskey , the St. Louis couple who displayed firearms after a group of protesters broke a gate and approached their private property , want St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner disqualified from the case after she cited her prosecution of the pair in a fundraising email for her re-election campaign .
The McCloskeys ’ attorneys included in Wednesday ’ s motion two fundraising emails from Gardner ’ s reelection campaign that clearly referred to the McCloskey case , according to court documents reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ You might be familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brandished guns during a peaceful protest outside their mansion , ” a July 17 campaign email states , according to court documents .
The email went on to say that “ President Trump and the Governor are fighting for the two who pointed guns at peaceful citizens during the Black Lives Matter protests ” and later included a request for campaign donations , the court documents show .
Gardner leveled felony weapons charges against the McCloskeys on July 20 .
On July 22 , her campaign sent out another fundraising email that directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In the last 24 hours , there has been a lot of national attention surrounding Kim ’ s decision to press charges against a couple that brandished guns at a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest , ” the July 22 email said , according to court documents .
The email went on to ask supporters to “ rush a donation today ” to signal their support for her in the case , court documents show .
“ Ms .
Gardner , via her campaign mailers , linked the criminal proceedings against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , financial and political interests , ” Joel Schwartz , the couple ’ s attorney , wrote in the motion Wednesday .
“ The standard for disqualification of a prosecutor is the same as that for a judge .
A prosecutor ( and a prosecutor ’ s offie as a whole when appropriate ) , should be disqualified where a reasonable person would have factual grounds to find an appearance of impropriety , ” Schwartz added in Wednesday ’ s filing .
“ Here , a reasonable person with access to all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least the appearance of impropriety , in that Ms. Gardner ’ s decision may have been affected by her personal , political , financial , and professional interests , and that her neutrality , judgment , and ability to administer the law in an objective manner may have been compromise , ” he continued .
“ Ms .
Gardner has invited that concern by invoking [ the ] case specifically in her campaign , ” Schwartz wrote .
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Kim @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Blackburn Bill Aiming to Hold China Accountable for Coronavirus Passes Through the Senate Judiciary

Blackburn Bill Aiming to Hold China Accountable for Coronavirus Passes Through the Senate Judiciary Committee

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) said in a statement that a bill she is sponsoring that would allow Americans to sue China over its role in COVID-19 has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee .
The bill , called the Civil Justice for Victims of COVID Act , would allow suits to be brought in federal court over China ’ s role in spreading the Chinese coronavirus .
Senate bill tracking information did not provide the next step at press time .
“ China ’ s Communist Party must face consequences for concealing and now profiting off the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The costs are devastating : trillions of dollars in economic damage , millions of American jobs lost , and over a half million deaths worldwide – and counting .
Business owners and families who have lost loved ones deserve justice .
Under this legislation , Americans will have the opportunity to bring a lawsuit against China in U.S. court and recover compensation for the harm caused to our country.
” The senators filed the bill on July 20 , Blackburn said .
The legislation incorporates other efforts to hold China accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s previous bill titled Stop China-Originated Viral Infectious Diseases ( COVID ) Act .
The Civil Justice for Victims of COVID Act : • Gives federal courts authority to hear claims that China has caused or substantially contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic .
• Strips China of its sovereign immunity for reckless actions that caused the COVID-19 pandemic and creates a cause of action .
• Is closely modeled after the 2016 Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act ( JASTA ) that gave more legal remedies to victims of terrorism , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Arkansas Professor Indicted for Alleged Secret China Ties

The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that University of Arkansas professor Simon Saw-Teong Ang was indicted on two counts of passport fraud and 42 counts of wire fraud .
Ang , who was previously arrested in May on one count of wire fraud , has since been suspended from the university .
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said , “ Ang is alleged to have demonstrated neither when he failed to disclose his financial and other ties to companies and institutions in China to the University of Arkansas and to U.S. government agencies , despite an obligation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a “ hallmark ” of China ’ s targeting of American research , with the ultimate goal of illegally obtaining American technology .
In the same announcement , FBI Special Agent Diane Upchurch stated “ the significant federal charges leveled against Simon Ang demonstrate how real the PRC ’ s pervasive threat is to Arkansan innovation and businesses.
” Ang began his employment at the University of Arkansas in 1988 .
Until May 2020 , he was the Director of the High-Density Electronics Center .
American intelligence discovered that Ang “ received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had close ties to several Chinese companies , even as he received project grants from several government agencies .
However , Ang allegedly neglected to disclose these conflicts of interest on many mandatory annual disclosures .
The press release asserts that Ang “ knowingly and willfully devised and intended to devise a scheme ” to defraud several United States government agencies , the University of Arkansas , and other parties .
Ang ’ s 42 counts of alleged wire fraud affected the University of Arkansas , NASA , and the United States Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false statements on a passport renewal application .
If convicted , he faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for each count of wire fraud , as well as 10 years for each count of passport fraud .
“ It is our sincere hope that this investigation sends a strong message to those who would attempt to defraud the Federal Government , ” the Justice Department said .
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Pennsylvania .
Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Rep. Green Selected to Serve on House Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. Rep. Dr. Mark Green ( R-TN-07 ) was selected by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee .
Green said in a tweet , “ I ’ m honored to be selected by the Steering Committee to join the House Foreign Affairs Committee .
I look forward to working with @ RepMcCaul and the committee to confront the global challenges facing the US during this difficult time.
” He added in a statement , “ From continuing the fight to end global terrorism and strengthening our alliances , to holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more important to ensuring the safety and security of the United States.
” Green said he is a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan .
He said he flew as a Night Stalker on the mission that resulted in the capture of Saddam Hussein , and he interviewed Saddam Hussein for six hours on the night of his capture .
He said he serves on the House Oversight Committee as a member of the Subcommittee on National Security and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subcommittee in May .
Green was one of four lawmakers the House Republican Steering Committee selected for new assignments on Wednesday evening , The Hill reported .
The new appointments are a result of Republican gains in special elections this year .
The other Republican committee appointments are as follows : U.S. Rep .
Troy Balderson ( R-OH-12 ) will serve on the House Agriculture Committee ; U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia ( R-CA-25 ) will be on the Homeland Security Committee ; and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber ( R-MN-08 ) was selected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee on Natural Resources .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Zuckerberg Was the Only Tech CEO to Unequivocally Say China Is Stealing American Technology

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was the only tech executive at Wednesday ’ s antitrust hearing who unequivocally said China is stealing technology from American companies .
“ I think it ’ s well documented that the Chinese government steals technology from American companies , ” the 36-year-old Silicon Valley executive said after Rep. Greg Steube asked him if China is stealing from U.S. technology companies .
The Florida Republican posed the same question to CEOs Tim Cook of Apple , Jeff Bezos of Amazon , and Sundar Pichai of Google .
Steube is one of lawmakers on the House Judiciary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tech executives about the size and scope of their Silicon Valley empires .
“ I don ’ t know of specific cases where we have been stolen from by the government , ” Cook said in response and when Steube asked him the same question .
Bezos and Pichai provided similar answers , with the Apple CEO telling lawmakers that he has “ no first-hand knowledge of any information stolen from Google.
” Apple admitted in 2017 to removing from its app store hundreds of virtual private network apps in China allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ censors , CNBC reported in 2017 .
The company built a data center in 2018 in China to comply with Beijing ’ s cyber security laws , which give the country the ability to seize data on political dissidents , Reuters reported in 2018 .
Google sought to launch a plan in 2018 to create a censorship-compliant search engine in China , The Intercept reported in 2018 .
The search engine — codenamed Project Dragonfly — would blacklist sensitive queries preventing people from searching certain terms in China .
The project ended in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Mark Zuckerberg ” by CSPAN .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Commentary: The Worst Brand Name in American History

In their eagerness to expose and eliminate every trace of historic racism , Trump-deranged Democrats are walking on very thin ice .
Once-honored figures , now deemed racist , have had their names removed from important institutions , their statues toppled , and portraits taken down from the corridors of power .
Last week , the Democratic-controlled House voted to rid the Capitol Building of statuary depicting men who supported the Confederacy during the Civil War or were otherwise defenders of slavery .
One statue on the to-go list is the likeness of John C. Calhoun , a slave-owning House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States .
Another is a bust of Roger B. Taney , chief justice of the Supreme Court when it decided the notorious 1857 Dred Scott case .
The court ruled that Scott , a runaway slave , was the legal property of his owner .
In June , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) ordered removed from the Capitol the portraits of four former speakers : Robert Hunter of Virginia , James Orr of South Carolina and Howell Cobb and Charles Crisp of Georgia .
Their offense ?
Having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no room in the hallowed halls of Congress or in any place of honor for men who embody the violent bigotry and grotesque racism of the Confederacy , ” Pelosi wrote in a letter explaining her decision .
Purging pro-slavery lawmakers might be a good start , but Pelosi ’ s redecorating effort hardly goes far enough , according to Representative Louie Gohmert ( R-Texas ) , who addressed the matter from the House floor .
In citing her four predecessors ’ allegiance to the evil Confederacy , Pelosi failed to mention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every bit as vile and detestable as the confederation of slave states .
So much so , it ’ s hard to think of one without the other .
That organization is the Democratic Party , the party of slavery , secession , and the Civil War .
In fact , if it hadn ’ t been for the Democrats ’ embrace of slavery as a state ’ s right and cause worth fighting for , there would never have been a Civil War and its legacy of “ grotesque racism , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party needs to stop looking around for scapegoats , few of whom anyone ’ s ever heard of , and admit the truth behind the most ignominious brand name in the country ’ s history .
And while they ’ re at it , apologize for all the death and suffering their party has inflicted on the nation as a whole and on African-Americans in particular .
To make that apology believable—not just another exercise in the usual blame shifting—Democrats should change the name of their party , Gohmert said .
As businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertainment acts are changing their names to acknowledge past racial injustice , it ’ s time for the Democratic Party , directly responsible for most of that injustice , to do the same .
In the middle of a presidential race it might be helpful to recall a little history .
In 1860 , Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican to be elected president .
Over the next 52 years , only one Democrat , Grover Cleveland , was voted into the White House .
Why was that ?
For decades after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats for starting what is still America ’ s bloodiest conflict .
In 1912 , Theodore Roosevelt ran as a third-party candidate , split the Republican vote , and Woodrow Wilson , Democrat and unreconstructed racist , was elected president .
After Wilson , came three more Republicans : Warren Harding , Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover .
In other words , by 1932 , Democrats had elected only two presidents in 72 years .
Which is why the Democratic Party has carefully separated its past into two distinct histories : one Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal , and one they ’ d rather not address .
That ’ s the part of their history that includes slavery , the Civil War , and those directly associated with it—like Robert E. Lee , Stonewall Jackson , and Jefferson Davis—whose names are now being erased by the party ’ s goon squads so people will forget they were all Democrats .
The violence and destruction currently going on in American cities , with the approval of Democratic officials , could easily be the prelude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War Between the States.
” And in response , the Democratic Party deserves the same treatment it got from voters starting 150 years ago .
Bill Thomas is the author of Club Fed : Power , Money Sex and Violence on Capitol Hill as well as other books , and the co-author of Red Tape : Adventure Capitalism in the New Russia .
He is also a former editor and writer with The Economist Group .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Hagerty Ad Focuses on Grant to Dr. Manny Sethi from Foundation That Calls Gun Violence a ‘Public Hea

Hagerty Ad Focuses on Grant to Dr. Manny Sethi from Foundation That Calls Gun Violence a ‘Public Health Epidemic,’ Sethi Campaign Pushes Back

U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi on Thursday denied opponent Bill Hagerty ’ s accusations that ’ s Sethi pushed anti-gun propaganda in Tennessee ’ s public schools .
“ Dr .
Manny is a permit holder and gun owner himself .
He has carried for years .
It ’ s ridiculous to suggest he is anything but pro-gun , ” the Sethi campaign told The Tennessee Star in an email .
“ Dr .
Manny believes blaming gun violence on guns is like blaming the hammer when someone hits their neighbor with a hammer .
Protecting yourself and your family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed to all forms of gun control.
” On Thursday Hagerty ’ s camp sent out a press release and released a new ad portraying Sethi as unreliable on Second Amendment issues .
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation , according to Hagerty ’ s ad , awarded Sethi at least $ 60,000 in grants between 2011 through 2013 , to develop gun control policies .
The ad said that at least one of these grants went jointly to Sethi and Alex Jahangir , whom Sethi appointed to the board of Healthy Tennessee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release went on to say , Sethi taught this program to Tennessee students .
“ The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation presents gun violence as a public health epidemic , ” according to Hagerty ’ s press release .
“ The NRA has warned its members that this is an opportunity for gun control supporters to define firearms as a disease in order to restrict our Second Amendment rights.
” “ Conservatives like Dr. Manny believe that we don ’ t need government to solve problems , we need private people to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to solve problems , ” Sethi ’ s campaign told The Star .
“ That ’ s why his nonprofit never took a dime of government money , and it ’ s why they took a nonprofit grant here—this grant had nothing to do with gun control , and everything to do with studying how we can get inner city kids , often from violent neighborhoods to learn to solve their problems peacefully , rather than shooting each other.
” The Star on Thursday reported how Sethi used the RWJF money .
Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Manny Sethi ” by Bill Hagerty .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Second Stimulus Check Likely to Exceed $1200 for Many

President Trump hinted that the second round of stimulus payments could be higher than the original $ 1200 .
The new GOP plan has updated the definition of “ dependents ” allowing many to receive an additional $ 500 dollars per person in their families .
During an interview in Texas yesterday , the president spoke about the second stimulus package , saying “ we want to take care of people that don ’ t have jobs ; ” Noting that “ we have to do it smart but we want.. [ to be ] very generous.
” When asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be enough the president responded , ” We ’ re going to see it may go higher than that actually.
” He went on to praise the economy saying , “ We just had tremendous job numbers ” and “ great retail sales numbers.
” The president then pointed to the stimulus package ’ s role in his plans for an economic rebound .
“ We saved millions of lives but now we ’ re bringing ( the economy ) back , we got ta take care of the people in the meantime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow the announcement of new language in the second stimulus act , which will now include an extra $ 500 for “ any ” dependent .
Financial reporter Dentisa Tsekova says would mean “ parents of older high-schoolers and college students claimed as dependents would get the bonus , as well as those taking care of elderly loved ones who are dependents.
” The $ 500 payments were originally restricted to dependents under the age of 17 .
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said in a press release Monday , “ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of workers , families , patients , businesses and governments survive this historic public health and economic crisis .
The American people are doing their part to combat this deadly disease and the federal government must do its part as well.
” Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Ben on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Tennessee Reports Just Under 20,000 New Unemployment Claims Last Week

Tennessee saw 19,461 new unemployment claims for the week ending on July 25 , according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development ( TDLWD ) .
The number of new jobless claims dropped from 25,794 the week prior ( ending July 18 ) .
This week marked the third time new weekly unemployment claims were fewer than 20,000 since the State of Emergency was declared on March 12 , 2020 .
Continued claims fell to 242,397 , a slight decline from 243,405 reported the week prior .
Total new jobless claims since March 14 rose to 759,584 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued and initial claims with 55,088 and 4,648 , respectively .
While continued claims rose from 53,347 the week prior , total initial claims fell from 6,271 reported for the week ending July 18 .
Davidson and Knox Counties also experienced declines in total initial claims , falling to 2,114 and 978 from 3,262 and 1,256 , respectively .
Pickett County reported the fewest initial claims .
The county saw just 7 initial claims last week , a decline from 21 the week before .
Pickett County ’ s continued claims dropped to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior .
The overall seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Tennessee hit 9.7 % last month , slightly below the national average of 11.1 % .
Sam Medley is a journalist at the Tennessee Star and Star News Network .
You can follow Sam at Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Governor Frey Orders Minneapolis Bar and Dancing Areas to Close

According to the Minnesota Emergency Regulation 2020-17 , counter service at bar areas will be prohibited .
The regulation extends to dance floor areas , stages , game rooms , or “ any space that is undefined or does not provide for seated food and/or beverage service.
” The city estimates that this will impact more than 640 businesses .
Mayor Frey cited the city ’ s greater number of positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population compared to rest of Minnesota as a reason for issuing this order .
Frey also attributed the recent uptick in cases as a combination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of last month and young adults congregating in bars , restaurants , and clubs .
The order doesn ’ t give businesses much time to adjust accordingly .
After months struggling to stay afloat , many are wondering how their businesses will survive this latest order .
“ We are barely hanging on .
Thirty-nine years of business , ” lamented co-owner of the Loan Cafe in Minneapolis , ” Tim Mahoney said , according to KTSP .
“ When I found out what Mayor Frey was going to do , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heart.
” As of Tuesday , approximately 25 restaurants in Minnesota are closed permanently due to state orders for COVID-19 , according to bringmethenews.org .
Business owners like Stephanie Shimp , co-owner of Freehouse with Blue Plate Restaurant Group , add that businesses adhering to state guidelines shouldn ’ t be punished for other businesses ’ violations of state orders .
“ If I could tell the mayor anything , I would say this : please go talk to the offenders , take care of the people who are breaking the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fits all , ” Shimp told CBS Minnessota .
Just ten days ago , fourteen Minnesota bars and restaurants received warnings for violating the state ’ s COVID-19 guidelines .
Violations included employees not wearing masks , tables not positioned at least six feet apart , and serving at more than 50 percent capacity .
Three of the bars were in Minneapolis .
Health officials point to these instances as the main aggressor for the spread of the coronavirus .
“ I think bars and restaurants are playing a substantial role in transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota told Fox 9 .
“ Younger-aged people [ are ] getting infection , many not getting very ill at all , but transmitting it to others who are higher risk .
I think at this point , that is our overall number-one location [ for outbreaks ] .
” Other health officials also back Weber ’ s order and assessment pinpointing the biggest causes of coronavirus outbreaks .
Earlier this month , Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcom linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every case was a person in their 20s who ’ d visited the same bars .
Minneapolis Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant said in a public statement that the order follows national expert recommendations based on local public health data and information sweeps by City Environmental Health inspectors .
Emergency Regulation 2020-17 will take effect 5 pm this Saturday .
Business owners can call ( 612 ) 673-2080 or email [ email protected ] if they have any questions .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Ohio’s Elyria Residents Mourn as Apparent Murder-Suicide Claims Five

The City of Elyria is in mourning after what ’ s being called a ‘ murder-suicide ’ claimed the lives of five people yesterday .
Police conducted a health and wellness inspection of the home where they discovered the scene .
The bodies of at least three children were among the dead .
Police arrived yesterday morning at the Willow Park Road home to conduct a health and wellness inspection .
Upon arriving they discovered the bodies , including at least three children aged between six and twelve .
The Mayor of Elyria Frank Whitfield made a statement on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sadness that we share this tragic news .
This has been a challenging year — to say the least .
Never did we imagine having to share the news that we ’ ve lost one of Elyria ’ s families in this way.
” The mayor went on to say , “ My heart is broken for this family in particular the children .
I can not imagine the pain those close to them must feel and we send our deepest condolences and are here to support them and any of our residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook post yesterday Elyria City Schools said that it would be providing support to those effected by the tragedy .
“ On Monday , an Elyria Schools team of counselors and social workers trained in trauma and crisis care will be available for students , parents and staff who are in need of support .
The counselors will be at Elyria High School on Monday , Aug. 3 , from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ( Visitors may enter through the Performing Arts Center . )
Please reach out if you or your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City urged citizens to seek help should they be struggling emotionally and mentally , saying “ The City of Elyria reminds its residents of the many mental health organizations available to provide support .
If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or mentally , please connect with one of the following supports .
Studies show that most people with mental health challenges get better and many recover completely .
• A 24-hour crisis hotline is available to victims of domestic violence through the Genesis House Domestic Violence Center of Lorain County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discuss their situation while remaining anonymous , if they so choose : 440-244-1853 or 440-323-3400 ( Note : if you require immediate medical attention or your life is in jeopardy , please call 911 ) Police are still investigating the tragedy , and information on a motive or a timeline have not been released at this time .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Ben on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Police Tape ’ by Tony Webster @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Ohio Regulators Ban, Then Un-Ban ‘Controversial’ COVID Drug

The Ohio Pharmacy Board ( OPB ) implemented – then quickly reversed – a ban on the use of hydroxychloroquine Thursday .
The move followed a revocation of the emergency use authorization by the FDA earlier this month .
Previously , President Trump said the decades-old drug could be used as a preventative treatment for a deadly symptom of the disease that causes the lungs to lose function .
As of today , a new rule is set to go into effect regarding the drug , hydroxychloroquine .
The OPB published a memo on the rule change stating “ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.
” However , seemingly due to urging by Governor Mike Dewine , the pharmacy board reversed it ’ s decision , and took down the prior memo and replacing it with an updated version .
The new memo says : As a result of the feedback received by the medical and patient community and at the request of Governor DeWine , the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has withdrawn proposed rule 4729:5-5-21 of the Administrative Code .
Therefore , prohibitions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio for the treatment of COVID-19 will not take effect at this time .
This will allow the Board to reexamine the issue with the assistance of the State Medical Board of Ohio , clinical experts , and other stakeholders to determine appropriate next steps .
Licensees should be aware that emergency rule 4729-5-30.2 is no longer effective and the requirements of that rule , including the inclusion of a diagnosis code on any prescription for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , are no longer applicable .
The drug , classified as an “ anti-malarial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflammation due to illnesses such as Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis .
In a statement on their website , the FDA explains that they “ revoked the emergency use authorization ( EUA ) ” after “ these medicines showed no benefit for decreasing the likelihood of death or speeding recovery.
” And that these findings were “ consistent with other new data , including those showing the suggested dosing for these medicines are unlikely to kill or inhibit the virus that causes COVID-19.
” Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Minnesota’s New Unemployment Claims Fell Slightly Last Week, Still Hovers Near 324,000 Claims

Although new claims dropped slightly from the previous week , Minnesota ’ s unemployment remains above 323,000 .
New claims fell by 1,789 during the last full week of July , from the previous week ’ s 17,706 to 15,917 .
The total number of new claims dropped 5,607 in the time period between July 11 and July 18 .
During the time period between July 18 and July 25 , total unemployment claims in the state increased from 314,937 to 323,619 .
In the week ending July 25 , 1,434,000 new claims were reported nationally , bringing the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.6 percent for the week ending July 18 , an increase of 0.5 percentage point from the week ending July 11 , the DOL reported .
The unemployment rate report lags new claims by one week .
California once again led the nation in new unemployment claims , with 249,007 last week .
The latest weekly unemployment report was released on the same day the U.S. Department of Commerce said that the nation ’ s Gross Domestic Product dropped an estimated 32.9 percent , the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
GDP is generally viewed as a measure of a country ’ s economic health .
The U.S. began measuring GDP in 1947 .
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Ohio Unemployment Fell Slightly Last Week, Still Hovers Above 400,000 Claims

Although new claims dropped slightly from the previous week , Ohio ’ s unemployment remains above 400,000 .
New claims fell by 2,910 during the last full week of July , from 30,325 to 27,415 .
The total number of claims dropped 28,160 in the time period between July 11 and July 18 .
During the time period between July 18 and July 25 , recurring unemployment claims in the state dropped 28,160 total claims from 428,880 to 400,720 .
In the week ending July 25 , 1,434,000 new claims were reported nationally , bringing the national unemployment number to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insured unemployment rate was 11.6 percent for the week ending July 18 , an increase of 0.5 percentage point from the week ending July 11 , the DOL reported .
The unemployment rate report lags new claims by one week .
California once again led the nation in new unemployment claims , with 249,007 last week .
The latest weekly unemployment report was released on the same day the U.S. Department of Commerce said that the nation ’ s Gross Domestic Product dropped an estimated 32.9 percent , when annualized , the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
GDP is generally viewed as a measure of a country ’ s economic health .
The U.S. began measuring GDP in 1947 .
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--Gov. DeWine Calls on Regulators to Enact a ‘Last Call’ Emergency Law

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine asked the Ohio Liquor Control Commission ( OLCC ) to enact an emergency law instituting a 10p.m .
“ last call ” for bars and restaurants across the state .
At a press conference today The Governor said that the emergency law would allow for patrons to place a final drink order at 10 p.m. and continue drinking until 11 p.m .
The governor went on to say “ We have to slow the spread of the virus , and we have to slow the spread across the state of Ohio.
” The governor took to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be shutting down it ’ s bars and restaurants .
Shortly after the ordinance passed , Franklin County Judge Mark Serott granted a temporary restraining order barring enforcement of the policy .
The order , which was granted on behalf of a number of local restaurants , is good for 14 days , at which point a new hearing will need to be scheduled .
Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts stated that her department had “ received numerous complaints regarding Columbus establishments not following the rules regarding facial coverings and social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ there has been a 220 percent increase in cases since portions of Columbus began reopening June 1 , ” and that , “ it would be difficult for restaurant and bar staff to police patrons as customers ‘ normalize ’ their experience inside the establishments.
” Coronavirus cases in Ohio have spiked in the last 30 days , with 2,767 of new hospitalizations across the state being reported from July 1 through July 30 compared to 1,727 from June 1 to June 30 .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-31--‘Stain on the House’: Ohio Reps Oust GOP Speaker Amid Probe

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) — In a historic , unanimous and bipartisan vote Thursday , the Ohio House ousted its Republican speaker as the chamber ’ s top leader following his indictment in an alleged $ 60 million bribery scheme .
Rep. Larry Householder is the first Ohio House speaker ever removed by the chamber , according to the Ohio History Connection .
His nametag was unscrewed from the speaker ’ s dais shortly after the vote , but he still retains his seat in the GOP-led Legislature .
Remaining members of Householder ’ s leadership team said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his removal lightly , “ but it was clear that Mr. Householder is unable to effectively lead the House.
” GOP Rep. Bob Cupp called the vote “ the most important thing ” the House could do Thursday .
“ There is no doubt that people feel betrayed , used , and it ’ s been a stain on the House , and people want to make sure we begin anew , ” Cupp told reporters following the vote .
Cupp , a former Ohio Supreme Court justice , and Householder ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tempore Rep. Jim Butler , are potential candidates to be the next speaker .
Cupp didn ’ t respond to questions about that .
Householder , of Glenford , and four associates were identified in a July 21 federal affidavit as allegedly taking part in a pay-to-play scheme involving corporate money secretly funneled to them for personal and political use in exchange for helping to pass House Bill 6 to financially bail out two Ohio nuclear plants .
Householder was one of the driving forces behind the legislation , which included a fee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and directed over $ 150 million a year through 2026 to the plants near Cleveland and Toledo .
The House session Thursday morning took a matter of minutes , with 90 representatives voting in favor of vacating the office of the speaker .
Nine didn ’ t vote , including Householder , who was not present .
Most — but not all — House members were wearing masks as they gathered amid the coronavirus pandemic .
They sat socially distanced for the vote , but many shook hands and fraternized as colleagues reunited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his long-time adviser Jeffrey Longstreth , former Ohio Republican Party chairman Matt Borges and lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes could each face up to 20 years in prison if they ’ re convicted for their alleged work to pass the bailout and block attempts to overturn it , according to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI .
A federal grand jury formally indicted the five on Thursday , charging each with a single count of racketeering .
“ Dark money is a breeding ground for corruption .
This investigation continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referring to legal campaign funds that don ’ t have to report the source of their donations .
Borges involvement in the case “ has been wildly overstated , ” said his attorney , Karl Schneider .
“ The accusations against him are wrong and unfortunate and the case against him is on shaky ground out of the gate , ” Schneider said .
“ He was never part of any would-be enterprise and we expect when the facts play out this attempted over-reach to include him will fail.
” Messages were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking comment .
Householder is the second speaker to be under criminal investigation by the FBI in recent years .
Former speaker Cliff Rosenberger resigned abruptly in April 2018 after saying he was aware federal agents were asking questions about his activities and had protectively hired a criminal defense attorney .
Rosenberger wasn ’ t charged , and a lawyer for him has said the former lawmaker did nothing wrong .
Jai Chabria , a Republican strategist in Ohio , called the vote about Householder expected but said what the GOP does next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled a Thursday afternoon caucus where they planned to discuss the next steps for the chamber , including who replaces Householder .
Three other potential candidates to be the next speaker — Reps. Rick Carfagna , Tim Ginter and Craig Riedel — withdrew from the race Wednesday and threw their support to Cupp .
“ Out of chaos comes opportunity , and the leadership they elect today will be able to course correct and hopefully set a positive agenda for the state , ” said Chabria , who also served as senior adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Associated Press writers Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus and John Seewer in Toledo contributed to this report .
Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .
About the Headline Photo : A board reads “ yes ” votes as members of the Ohio House of Representatives vote to remove Rep. Larry Householder as Speaker of the House on Thursday , July 30 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio .
The Ohio House has ousted its Republican speaker as the chamber ’ s top leader in a historic , unanimous and bipartisan vote after he was charged in an alleged $ 60 million bribery scheme .
( Joshua A. Bickel /The Columbus Dispatch via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Marsha Blackburn Says There Is a Way U.S. Can Hit China Back After COVID-19

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) said Friday that the United States has a way to hold China accountable for unleashing COVID-19 upon the world .
Blackburn said this during a tele-town hall with U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty .
Hagerty and opponent Manny Sethi both want to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) in the August 6 Republican primary .
During the call , Blackburn said she has talked with the White House and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about China holding more than $ 1 trillion of U.S. debt .
“ I think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payment , is something that we have to put on the table .
The Wuhan virus has cost us now over $ 6 trillion .
In the state of Tennessee for every one person that contracted the virus we have 33 Tennesseans that have been adversely impacted economically and financially by being furloughed or losing their job or having to take a reduced wage , ” Blackburn said .
“ At this point , what we need to say to China is ‘ Look .
You took our jobs .
They went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we ’ re going to hold you accountable for this.
’ That debt is a great way to do it , to hit them in the pocketbook , if you will , and to hold them to account.
” As The Tennessee Star reported , Blackburn endorsed Hagerty for the U.S. Senate last week .
No one on the call mentioned Sethi , who is also a Republican .
Hagerty and Sethi have sparred with one another in various television advertising campaigns the past few weeks .
U.S. President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hagerty .
On Friday ’ s call , Blackburn said Trump and Pence endorsed Hagerty because “ they know he has a backbone of steel when it comes to standing up to the left.
” “ They know he can sniff out a liberal , ” Blackburn said .
“ He can end up finding a way to end that argument.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said Friday that the United States has a way to hold China accountable for unleashing COVID-19 upon the world.
Blackburn said this during a tele-town hall with U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty. Hagerty and opponent Manny Sethi both want to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in the August 6 Republican primary.
During the call, Blackburn said she has talked with the White House and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about China holding more than $1 trillion of U.S. debt.
“I think that negotiating that payment, maybe waiving that payment, is something that we have to put on the table. The Wuhan virus has cost us now over $6 trillion. In the state of Tennessee for every one person that contracted the virus we have 33 Tennesseans that have been adversely impacted economically and financially by being furloughed or losing their job or having to take a reduced wage,” Blackburn said.
“At this point, what we need to say to China is ‘Look. You took our jobs. They went to China. You sent us a virus, and we’re going to hold you accountable for this.’ That debt is a great way to do it, to hit them in the pocketbook, if you will, and to hold them to account.”
As The Tennessee Star reported, Blackburn endorsed Hagerty for the U.S. Senate last week.
No one on the call mentioned Sethi, who is also a Republican.
Hagerty and Sethi have sparred with one another in various television advertising campaigns the past few weeks. U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have endorsed Hagerty.
On Friday’s call, Blackburn said Trump and Pence endorsed Hagerty because “they know he has a backbone of steel when it comes to standing up to the left.”
“They know he can sniff out a liberal,” Blackburn said.
“He can end up finding a way to end that argument.”
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Commentary: Will the Virus Ever Allow the U.S. Economy to Fully Reopen Again?

The U.S. economy contracted a record-setting , inflation-adjusted , annualized 32.9 percent in the second quarter of 2020 according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis as tens of millions of Americans waited out the Chinese coronavirus in their homes , not venturing out much except for work and needed supplies .
The second quarter comprises of April , May and June , when in Bureau of Labor Statistics ’ household survey 25 million jobs were lost by April and then 8.8 million came back in May and June as states slowly began reopening .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history including the Great Depression , and gives you an idea of what a catastrophe the pandemic has been to the U.S. economy .
And that ’ s with the $ 3.3 trillion of deficit-spending Congress has pumped into the economy since the beginning of the year — and counting as Congress considers phase four legislation — to cover payroll protection for small businesses , expanded unemployment benefits , checks to every household , plus payments to critical industries , larger businesses and state and local governments .
When you ignore what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government spending is calculated as a part of GDP — the hit to the private sector and the American people came in at a whopping 39.1 percent .
Consider that .
Closing the economy for a few months cut the private sector almost in half .
Personal consumption was down 34.6 percent .
That includes an 11.3 percent drop in goods consumption and a 43.5 percent drop in services consumption .
That was offset by a 17 percent increase in federal government consumption expenditures .
All of that is the equivalent of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some good news .
The summertime spike in new daily COVID-19 cases appears to have stabilized nationwide , including in Texas , Florida , Arizona and California , which had seen a wave of new cases as those states began reopening before changing course and making adjustments to reopening strategies .
Additionally , the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects that , even with states still continuing reopening , daily cases will be dropping through August and September , until the cold and flu season begins again in the fall .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reprieve for the rest of summer .
But there ’ s bad news too .
The pace of economic recovery has appeared to slow down in recent weeks amid further volatility in labor markets , where on a continuing basis those on continuing unemployment claims from the Department of Labor has stabilized at about 17 million Americans the past four weeks after dropping significantly from its high-water mark of 22.8 million on May 9 .
The states that contributed the most to continued claims the week of July 18 were California , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which saw it rise 111,000 , which have significantly slowed down the national pace of reopening .
Pennsylvania added 85,000 and Michigan added 54,000 .
But because those job losses are coming later in the month , they may not be accounted for in the July monthly report that comes out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics next week .
The clear predictor here is the number of daily new cases per state , and state actions to shut down their economies again .
Meaning , as the virus abates the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect a bit more reopening , and the third quarter should show a significant bounce back economically .
But once we head into September , October and November with the cold and flu season , as cases rise again , so too will the job losses likely begin mounting again .
Everything could begin shutting down again .
That is why Americans , in order to safely return to work , and for children to safely return to schools , we need confidence .
If it ’ s not a vaccine , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cures — if not hydroxychloroquine that the President has touted , then something else — to supplement Americans ’ immune systems as a stopgap .
But so far the federal government is not recommending anything be taken preventively .
According to the Food and Drug Administration website , “ there are no proven treatments for COVID-19 and no vaccine.
” Here ’ s the rub .
Everyone ’ s sitting around waiting for a safe and effective vaccine as a predicate for reopening .
The phase three clinical trials for the Moderna vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A July 28 New England Journal of Medicine study found that in non-human primates , “ mRNA-1273 induced robust SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing activity , rapid protection in the upper and lower airways , and no pathologic changes in the lung.
” So that could be good .
But what if the vaccine doesn ’ t work for humans ?
After all , there ’ s never been an effective vaccine for a coronavirus in human history , including SARS .
The longer we remain without a stopgap , the less confidence the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse the economy will do going forward , especially as we head into the cold and flu seasons .
Looking back at the ten recessions that have occurred since 1948 , it took on average 16 months after reaching a labor market bottom to recover .
But in the Great Recession , which from peak employment in Nov. 2007 to the bottom in Dec. 2009 , saw 8.3 million jobs lost and the U.S. economy did not get them back until in Sept. 2014 .
It took almost five years just to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current case , up to 25 million jobs have been lost when the labor market bottomed in April , and about 8 million or so have been recovered .
How quickly will we recover this time ?
If we ’ re still having this conversation about the lack of effective vaccines and treatments in December and in 2021 , we ’ ll have a choice to make .
Either , we take our chances knowing there is nothing that can be done to stop the virus short of dramatic upheaval to our way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving everything shut down , with millions of jobs lost , or the economy — and our country — may never recover .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .

by Robert Romano
The U.S. economy contracted a record-setting, inflation-adjusted, annualized 32.9 percent in the second quarter of 2020 according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis as tens of millions of Americans waited out the Chinese coronavirus in their homes, not venturing out much except for work and needed supplies.
The second quarter comprises of April, May and June, when in Bureau of Labor Statistics’ household survey 25 million jobs were lost by April and then 8.8 million came back in May and June as states slowly began reopening.
It was by far the worst quarter in American history including the Great Depression, and gives you an idea of what a catastrophe the pandemic has been to the U.S. economy.
And that’s with the $3.3 trillion of deficit-spending Congress has pumped into the economy since the beginning of the year — and counting as Congress considers phase four legislation — to cover payroll protection for small businesses, expanded unemployment benefits, checks to every household, plus payments to critical industries, larger businesses and state and local governments.
When you ignore what the government did via the massive spending — government spending is calculated as a part of GDP — the hit to the private sector and the American people came in at a whopping 39.1 percent.
Consider that. Closing the economy for a few months cut the private sector almost in half.
Personal consumption was down 34.6 percent. That includes an 11.3 percent drop in goods consumption and a 43.5 percent drop in services consumption.
Gross private domestic investment was down 49.0 percent.
That was offset by a 17 percent increase in federal government consumption expenditures.
All of that is the equivalent of an asteroid hitting the economy.
Now, some good news. The summertime spike in new daily COVID-19 cases appears to have stabilized nationwide, including in Texas, Florida, Arizona and California, which had seen a wave of new cases as those states began reopening before changing course and making adjustments to reopening strategies.
Additionally, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects that, even with states still continuing reopening, daily cases will be dropping through August and September, until the cold and flu season begins again in the fall.
That gives the American people something of a reprieve for the rest of summer.
But there’s bad news too. The pace of economic recovery has appeared to slow down in recent weeks amid further volatility in labor markets, where on a continuing basis those on continuing unemployment claims from the Department of Labor has stabilized at about 17 million Americans the past four weeks after dropping significantly from its high-water mark of 22.8 million on May 9.
The states that contributed the most to continued claims the week of July 18 were California, which saw unemployment rise 464,000, and Texas, which saw it rise 111,000, which have significantly slowed down the national pace of reopening. Pennsylvania added 85,000 and Michigan added 54,000.
But because those job losses are coming later in the month, they may not be accounted for in the July monthly report that comes out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics next week.
The clear predictor here is the number of daily new cases per state, and state actions to shut down their economies again. Meaning, as the virus abates the rest of the summer somewhat, you might expect a bit more reopening, and the third quarter should show a significant bounce back economically.
But once we head into September, October and November with the cold and flu season, as cases rise again, so too will the job losses likely begin mounting again. Everything could begin shutting down again.
That is why Americans, in order to safely return to work, and for children to safely return to schools, we need confidence. If it’s not a vaccine, then we’ll be needing treatments and cures — if not hydroxychloroquine that the President has touted, then something else — to supplement Americans’ immune systems as a stopgap.
But so far the federal government is not recommending anything be taken preventively. According to the Food and Drug Administration website, “there are no proven treatments for COVID-19 and no vaccine.”
Here’s the rub. Everyone’s sitting around waiting for a safe and effective vaccine as a predicate for reopening. The phase three clinical trials for the Moderna vaccine, mRNA-1273, began on July 27. A July 28 New England Journal of Medicine study found that in non-human primates, “mRNA-1273 induced robust SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing activity, rapid protection in the upper and lower airways, and no pathologic changes in the lung.” So that could be good.
But what if the vaccine doesn’t work for humans? After all, there’s never been an effective vaccine for a coronavirus in human history, including SARS.
The longer we remain without a stopgap, the less confidence the American people will have, and likely the worse the economy will do going forward, especially as we head into the cold and flu seasons. Looking back at the ten recessions that have occurred since 1948, it took on average 16 months after reaching a labor market bottom to recover.
But in the Great Recession, which from peak employment in Nov. 2007 to the bottom in Dec. 2009, saw 8.3 million jobs lost and the U.S. economy did not get them back until in Sept. 2014. It took almost five years just to get back the jobs lost. In the current case, up to 25 million jobs have been lost when the labor market bottomed in April, and about 8 million or so have been recovered. How quickly will we recover this time?
If we’re still having this conversation about the lack of effective vaccines and treatments in December and in 2021, we’ll have a choice to make. Either, we take our chances knowing there is nothing that can be done to stop the virus short of dramatic upheaval to our way of life, devastating school closures and leaving everything shut down, with millions of jobs lost, or the economy — and our country — may never recover.
– – –
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Ilhan Omar Pays Husband’s Firm Another $600,000 in Just Three Weeks, Bringing Total Over $1.7 Millio

Ilhan Omar Pays Husband’s Firm Another $600,000 in Just Three Weeks, Bringing Total Over $1.7 Million

Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar ’ s re-election campaign paid her husband ’ s consulting firm more than $ 600,000 in the first three weeks of July , Federal Election Commission ( FEC ) records show .
Omar ’ s campaign has now paid E Street Group , the consulting firm run by Omar ’ s husband , Tim Mynett , more than $ 1.7 million since August 2018 , according to FEC records .
The most recent payments , which were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon , come despite an ongoing FEC complaint against Omar ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Policy Center ( NLPC ) filed the complaint in August 2019 , alleging that Omar broke federal laws by using campaign funds to pursue an affair with Mynett .
Both Mynett and Omar were married to other people when their affair first began .
The NLPC ’ s complaint zeroed in on travel expenses Omar ’ s campaign began disbursing to E Street Group in April 2019 , which aligned with an accusation by Mynett ’ s ex-wife , Beth Mynett , who said in a divorce filing that he confessed on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ romantically involved ” with Omar .
Beth Mynett , stated in the divorce filing that her husband ’ s “ more recent travel and long work hours now appear to be more related to his affair with Rep. Omar than with his actual work commitments.
” Omar has faced other campaign finance issues in the past as well .
Minnesota ’ s campaign finance and public disclosure board ruled in June 2019 that Omar improperly spent thousands of dollars in campaign funds on non-campaign expenses in 2016 and 2017 while she was serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board ordered Omar to personally reimburse her campaign for expenditures on out-of-state travel for Omar and on her joint tax returns , which amounted to just under $ 3,500 .
The board also ordered her to pay a civil penalty of $ 500 for using campaign funds to pay for travel to a conference in Florida , where she received an honorarium for speaking .
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Andrew Kerr contributed to this report .
Photo “ Ilhan Omar ” by Leopaltik1242 .
CC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Mynett ” by CAIR .

by Peter Hasson
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s re-election campaign paid her husband’s consulting firm more than $600,000 in the first three weeks of July, Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show.
Omar’s campaign has now paid E Street Group, the consulting firm run by Omar’s husband, Tim Mynett, more than $1.7 million since August 2018, according to FEC records.
The most recent payments, which were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, come despite an ongoing FEC complaint against Omar’s campaign.
The conservative National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) filed the complaint in August 2019, alleging that Omar broke federal laws by using campaign funds to pursue an affair with Mynett. Both Mynett and Omar were married to other people when their affair first began.
The NLPC’s complaint zeroed in on travel expenses Omar’s campaign began disbursing to E Street Group in April 2019, which aligned with an accusation by Mynett’s ex-wife, Beth Mynett, who said in a divorce filing that he confessed on April 7, 2019, to being “romantically involved” with Omar.
Beth Mynett, stated in the divorce filing that her husband’s “more recent travel and long work hours now appear to be more related to his affair with Rep. Omar than with his actual work commitments.”
Omar has faced other campaign finance issues in the past as well.
Minnesota’s campaign finance and public disclosure board ruled in June 2019 that Omar improperly spent thousands of dollars in campaign funds on non-campaign expenses in 2016 and 2017 while she was serving in the state legislature.
The state board ordered Omar to personally reimburse her campaign for expenditures on out-of-state travel for Omar and on her joint tax returns, which amounted to just under $3,500.
The board also ordered her to pay a civil penalty of $500 for using campaign funds to pay for travel to a conference in Florida, where she received an honorarium for speaking.
– – –
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation. Andrew Kerr contributed to this report.
Photo “Ilhan Omar” by Leopaltik1242. CC BY-SA 4.0.Background Photo “Ilhan Omar and Tim Mynett” by CAIR.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Commentary: Clouds of Summer Obscure the Coming Thunder of November

Apart from exposing once again the obtuseness , the moral bankruptcy , and the almost inexpressible hatred of the president that possesses the Democratic congressional leadership , Attorney General William Barr ’ s appearance at the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday clarified in a few minutes why the national interest requires the reelection of the administration .
From the refusal to allow the attorney general to answer the questions which the Democratic propaganda machine had assured the country would be unanswerable , to the almost unimaginable discourtesy of the bumbling and nasty committee chairman Jerry Nadler ( D-N.Y. ) —who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general ’ s request for a five-minute break—to the concise dismissals Barr was able to make when allocated time by Republican congressmen to answer the belligerent allegations of their Democratic colleagues ; all of it demonstrated the extent to which this election campaign has become an exercise in make-believe .
The fantasy that a successful administration that has bucked unprecedented illegal obstruction and is managing an epochal public health crisis is about to be handed a gigantic pink slip to give Democrats a mandate to transform the United States into a profoundly socialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t the stature to be more than a loquacious senator or companionable vice president , continues to be widely believed .
London ’ s Economist magazine , most of whose dwindling circulation resides in the United States , was until about 10 years ago an insightful and original publication judging most political and economic questions fairly and from a sensible progressive capitalist perspective .
But today it illustrates the perversity of the anti-Trump delusional pandemic .
In its July 4 issue , the Economist solemnly intoned that Trump would have to reverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic recovery , and generally be a more empathetic chap in order to have more than the one chance in nine that the magazine gave him for reelection .
Biden was extolled as naturally popular and his rather glaring shortcomings , including his shaky intellectual stamina and prodigious past financial abuse of public office , were simply whitewashed .
Even allowing for the fact that the Economist has sunk into the fetid marsh of globalism , green fear , and guilt-ridden Western self-criticism , it illustrates the purblind self-unawareness of the contemporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judged almost certain .
In what its readers presumably imagine to be a thoughtful analysis , the Economist did not mention the likelihood that much of the Obama-Biden Administration is about to be indicted for the most colossal constitutional crimes in the country ’ s history in trying to alter and then undo the 2016 presidential election result .
It did not blink at the complete political and practical impossibility of the program that Biden has now embraced .
Having been picked out of the electoral dumpster where the primary voters had left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elders on the nomination throne , Biden has run away from the arms of his minders into the beckoning clutches of the Sanders-Ocasio-Cortez socialist Democrats .
Senator Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and the Economist have proclaimed Biden to be the most “ progressive candidate since FDR , ” committing , like most commentators from Right to Left , the irritating mistake of accepting that Franklin D. Roosevelt was a man of the Left .
( He was an altruistic capitalist who wished to make America safe for those who lived in 40-room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he saved 95 percent of a failed and bankrupt system . )
The reactionary Right has allowed the Left to kidnap FDR and monopolize “ progress.
” Among other things , Biden is now pledged to work for the elimination of the oil and gas industry and the 7 million jobs connected to it ; to increase drastically the taxes of the upper half of American income-earners ; to reinvigorate the putrid corpse of organized labor for which a society that provides adequate legislative protection of working people has no use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without limitation and permit anyone who purports to be an American resident to vote ; to use harvested mailed ballots when necessary to assure a lopsided Democratic advantage in elections to come ; to look positively into the virtues of reparations for African-Americans—an item budgeted at many trillions of dollars even by comparatively sensible African-American spokespeople ; to stand down much of the American military ; and to return to a policy of rigorous passivity opposite the Chinese lunge for world power paramountcy .
None of these issues is being focused on now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and declared voting preferences have been influenced by the successful Democratic media campaign to terrorize the country over the coronavirus .
Trump is now diligently applying himself to being clearly , once again , on top of the effort to resume the reduction of the fatality rates .
At some point in the next two months , he is going to have to commend to the voters the altogether American policy of ceasing to hide in fear from this illness and instead to concentrate on sheltering the vulnerable while the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have a 99.9 percent chance of surviving it , get on with their lives .
Parallel to this process will be the resumption of the vertiginous reduction in unemployment numbers .
What the public will remember from the appearance of the attorney general at the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday is his lamentation that one of the two great historic political parties of the country is now unwilling or unable to condemn mob violence , and when taxed with the COVID-19 crisis as if he were the secretary of health and human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump Administration inherited a completely depleted and almost useless public health crisis response capability from of the Obama-Biden regime .
The most telling statistic on the election campaign that emerged in the past week was that more than 60 percent of Americans feel uneasy discussing their political preferences .
As Republican National Committee spokespeople have asserted , most of the current polls are just part of the Democratic propaganda effort to discourage Republicans and continue the morale-boosting singsong of the Democratic multitudes trying to pretend that the country is cranking up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roosevelt with a waxworks dummy hiding in his basement , who has never , in nearly 50 years in politics , enjoyed any support outside the doll-house state of Delaware .
The election campaign is obscured by summer clouds .
We will see the COVID-19 crisis subside , possibly accelerated by a vaccine , continuing economic recovery , the political consequences of the Democratic mollycoddling of anti-white racist urban violence , and we will see the full exposure of the constitutional crimes of the former administration which a Biden administration , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , would try to sweep under the rug .
We all see this , but the majority are in suspensive denial or determined silence .
All have seen the lightning ; the thunder will come on November 3 .
Conrad Black has been one of Canada ’ s most prominent financiers for 40 years , and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers , the Fairfax newspapers in Australia , the Jerusalem Post , Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily newspapers in Canada .
He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon , one-volume histories of the United States and Canada , and most recently of Donald J. Trump : A President Like No Other .
He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour .

by Conrad Black
Apart from exposing once again the obtuseness, the moral bankruptcy, and the almost inexpressible hatred of the president that possesses the Democratic congressional leadership, Attorney General William Barr’s appearance at the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday clarified in a few minutes why the national interest requires the reelection of the administration.
From the refusal to allow the attorney general to answer the questions which the Democratic propaganda machine had assured the country would be unanswerable, to the almost unimaginable discourtesy of the bumbling and nasty committee chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.)—who declined even to agree to the attorney general’s request for a five-minute break—to the concise dismissals Barr was able to make when allocated time by Republican congressmen to answer the belligerent allegations of their Democratic colleagues; all of it demonstrated the extent to which this election campaign has become an exercise in make-believe.
The fantasy that a successful administration that has bucked unprecedented illegal obstruction and is managing an epochal public health crisis is about to be handed a gigantic pink slip to give Democrats a mandate to transform the United States into a profoundly socialist country under a figurehead president who hasn’t the stature to be more than a loquacious senator or companionable vice president, continues to be widely believed.
The Political Impossibility of Biden’s Platform
London’s Economist magazine, most of whose dwindling circulation resides in the United States, was until about 10 years ago an insightful and original publication judging most political and economic questions fairly and from a sensible progressive capitalist perspective. But today it illustrates the perversity of the anti-Trump delusional pandemic.
In its July 4 issue, the Economist solemnly intoned that Trump would have to reverse the supposedly rampaging coronavirus pandemic, accelerate the economic recovery, and generally be a more empathetic chap in order to have more than the one chance in nine that the magazine gave him for reelection. Biden was extolled as naturally popular and his rather glaring shortcomings, including his shaky intellectual stamina and prodigious past financial abuse of public office, were simply whitewashed.
Even allowing for the fact that the Economist has sunk into the fetid marsh of globalism, green fear, and guilt-ridden Western self-criticism, it illustrates the purblind self-unawareness of the contemporary Western media that a Biden election is judged almost certain.
In what its readers presumably imagine to be a thoughtful analysis, the Economist did not mention the likelihood that much of the Obama-Biden Administration is about to be indicted for the most colossal constitutional crimes in the country’s history in trying to alter and then undo the 2016 presidential election result. It did not blink at the complete political and practical impossibility of the program that Biden has now embraced.
Misunderstanding FDR
Having been picked out of the electoral dumpster where the primary voters had left him, and placed by the party elders on the nomination throne, Biden has run away from the arms of his minders into the beckoning clutches of the Sanders-Ocasio-Cortez socialist Democrats.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the Economist have proclaimed Biden to be the most “progressive candidate since FDR,” committing, like most commentators from Right to Left, the irritating mistake of accepting that Franklin D. Roosevelt was a man of the Left. (He was an altruistic capitalist who wished to make America safe for those who lived in 40-room houses on thousand-acre states as he did, and he saved 95 percent of a failed and bankrupt system.) The reactionary Right has allowed the Left to kidnap FDR and monopolize “progress.”
Among other things, Biden is now pledged to work for the elimination of the oil and gas industry and the 7 million jobs connected to it; to increase drastically the taxes of the upper half of American income-earners; to reinvigorate the putrid corpse of organized labor for which a society that provides adequate legislative protection of working people has no use or need; to reopen the borders without limitation and permit anyone who purports to be an American resident to vote; to use harvested mailed ballots when necessary to assure a lopsided Democratic advantage in elections to come; to look positively into the virtues of reparations for African-Americans—an item budgeted at many trillions of dollars even by comparatively sensible African-American spokespeople; to stand down much of the American military; and to return to a policy of rigorous passivity opposite the Chinese lunge for world power paramountcy.
None of these issues is being focused on now or were recognized by the Economist, and declared voting preferences have been influenced by the successful Democratic media campaign to terrorize the country over the coronavirus.
Mob Violence vs. Law and Order
Trump is now diligently applying himself to being clearly, once again, on top of the effort to resume the reduction of the fatality rates. At some point in the next two months, he is going to have to commend to the voters the altogether American policy of ceasing to hide in fear from this illness and instead to concentrate on sheltering the vulnerable while the rest of the country, the 80 percent of people who have a 99.9 percent chance of surviving it, get on with their lives. Parallel to this process will be the resumption of the vertiginous reduction in unemployment numbers.
What the public will remember from the appearance of the attorney general at the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday is his lamentation that one of the two great historic political parties of the country is now unwilling or unable to condemn mob violence, and when taxed with the COVID-19 crisis as if he were the secretary of health and human services, Barr reminded the Democrats that the Trump Administration inherited a completely depleted and almost useless public health crisis response capability from of the Obama-Biden regime.
The most telling statistic on the election campaign that emerged in the past week was that more than 60 percent of Americans feel uneasy discussing their political preferences. As Republican National Committee spokespeople have asserted, most of the current polls are just part of the Democratic propaganda effort to discourage Republicans and continue the morale-boosting singsong of the Democratic multitudes trying to pretend that the country is cranking up to replace its most energetic president since Theodore Roosevelt with a waxworks dummy hiding in his basement, who has never, in nearly 50 years in politics, enjoyed any support outside the doll-house state of Delaware.
The election campaign is obscured by summer clouds. We will see the COVID-19 crisis subside, possibly accelerated by a vaccine, continuing economic recovery, the political consequences of the Democratic mollycoddling of anti-white racist urban violence, and we will see the full exposure of the constitutional crimes of the former administration which a Biden administration, as the attorney general said in the Capitol on Tuesday, would try to sweep under the rug.
We all see this, but the majority are in suspensive denial or determined silence. All have seen the lightning; the thunder will come on November 3.
– – –
Conrad Black has been one of Canada’s most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers, the Fairfax newspapers in Australia, the Jerusalem Post, Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S., and most of the daily newspapers in Canada. He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, one-volume histories of the United States and Canada, and most recently of Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other. He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour.