thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Commentary: The Battle for California Is the Battle for America

By now , this is a familiar story .
California is a failed state .
Thanks to years of progressive mismanagement and neglect , the cities are lawless and the forests are burning .
Residents pay the highest prices in America for unreliable electricity .
Water is rationed .
Homes are unaffordable .
The public schools are a joke .
Freeways are congested and crumbling .
And if they ’ re not still on lockdown or otherwise already destroyed by it , business owners contend with the most hostile regulatory climate in American history .
It is understandable that conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be happy to write off California .
But California is not writing off the rest of the United States , and therein lies grave danger to American prosperity and freedom .
What if California doesn ’ t implode , a victim of its own political mismanagement ?
What if California instead completes its transformation into a successful plutocracy , run by a clique of multi-billionaires in a partnership of convenience with environmentalist extremists and backed by the power of a unionized state bureaucracy ?
What if the people who would resist this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peacefully accepts universal basic income and subsidized housing ?
What if all it takes to be a feudal overlord in progressive California is to proffer to the proletarians a pittance of alms , while reliably spouting incessant , blistering social justice and climate change rhetoric ?
Why won ’ t that work ?
After all , it ’ s worked so far .
California has the most progressive electorate in America .
Not because of California ’ s regulatory state , but in spite of it , California is by far the wealthiest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With 40 million people , a diverse economy , and a gross domestic product of $ 3.2 trillion , California is almost a nation unto itself .
And the progressive zealots who run California have been acting like an independent nation , with the avowed goal of transforming the entire United States to match its image .
What happens in California matters to the rest of the United States because California ’ s internal market is huge , its political and financial influence is powerful , and it rallies political allies throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transform its own culture and economy isn ’ t stopped , the rest of the U.S. will fall into line .
The result will be a comprehensive reinvention of society in all areas , political , economic , and cultural .
The difficult reality that conservative Americans must accept is that while California may be a failed state by the standards Middle America has come to take for granted , California may not fail by its own standards .
The society California is building may prove viable , even if it is hideous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may prove viable even though the alternatives that it displaces offer more prosperity and freedom to more people .
It amounts to an all-powerful tech plutocracy ruling over a micro-managed , dependent population , with rationing and redistribution in the name of social justice and saving the planet .
This model , which is a modern form of feudalism , may work not merely because it is politically and economically sustainable despite its many shortcomings , nor merely because it offers more power and profit to its handful of resident billionaires who already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These reasons don ’ t fully explain the popularity of progressive feudalism .
There is one more piece in the puzzle .
The progressive model also becomes viable because of a moral narrative that is flawed but nonetheless compelling : We live in an inherently oppressive society , so we must reduce the privileged middle class in the interests of social justice .
We live in an era of limited resources and a stressed planet , so we must reduce everyone ’ s standard of living .
Countering that narrative is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The misery that Californians have condemned themselves to live is not a moral choice .
They are victims of a con job .
What follows are detailed examples of what ’ s happening in California .
These examples are selected based on the level of transformative impact they are having , as well as their potential to be rolled into the rest of the United States .
But this compendium , while lengthy , only scratches the surface .
The Labor Movement is the Glue At the forefront of California ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assimilating the progressive battle cries on all the predictable topics—race , gender , climate change—California ’ s labor movement wields both their billions in dues revenue and a perpetually mobilized field army that reaches into every locale and institution .
And in a major escalation of a battle soon to rage across America , California ’ s unions have taken on independent contractors .
Sailing through the state legislature and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2019 , AB 5 outlawed most forms of individual independent contracting and threw most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at rideshare drivers on Uber and Lyft platforms , it affected all businesses that use independent contractors , from nail salons and graphic artists to thousands of badly needed nurses and other health care professionals .
The most powerful injured parties , led by Uber and Lyft , have funded a ballot initiative that will repeal AB 5 for their specific industries .
But small businesses , including sole proprietors , are out of luck .
The move to ban independent contractors has now gone national , with Biden and Harris endorsing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running ads against the Uber and Lyft-backed ballot proposition : “ Now , gig economy giants are trying to gut the law and exempt their workers .
It ’ s unacceptable.
” The consequences of outlawing most forms of independent contracting are obvious , and disgraceful .
Within realistic constraints , people should be allowed to exchange services for money without having to become employees of a company .
That such a basic expression of freedom should come under attack illustrates the gravity of the fight we ’ re in .
The motivation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgraceful ; if people can be herded into companies as employees , then they can be organized and put under union representation .
It ’ s worth reexamining exactly what unions in California represent , rather than leaving it at that .
California ’ s unions exist primarily in the public sector , where their “ negotiations ” are with politicians whose campaigns they ’ ve bankrolled , and their wage and benefit demands are paid for by taxes , not by businesses operating in a competitive environment .
And while unions may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private sector , it ’ s fair to wonder why their political agenda—open borders in particular—is a goal that is shared by the tech billionaires and corporations these unions supposedly oppose .
Why the contradiction ?
The answers to this help explain the alliance between corporations and unions which , on the surface , seems contradictory .
First , the center of gravity of union power in the United States—and this is especially the case in California—now rests with the public sector .
And why wouldn ’ t public sector unions want open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t they want unrestricted immigration with no regard for the ability of immigrants to speak English , bring useful skills , and assimilate ?
The more numerous and dependent America ’ s immigrants are , the more numerous and expansive the roster of government employees necessary to assist them in their new country .
The public schools of Los Angeles , to cite an obvious example , receive revenue based on how many students are enrolled .
The more immigrants arrive , the more revenue these school districts collect , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers ’ union have to be hired .
If these students have had poor education in the nations they are arriving from , and if these students lack English language skills , then the public schools of Los Angeles will qualify to collect even more revenue , and hire even more specialized staff , in order to better assist the special needs of these students .
In most areas of public service , the more dependent and difficult to assimilate immigrants are , the more public services required : social workers , welfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ translators , and assorted bureaucrats .
More generally , the more the population grows through immigration , the more government will grow , benefitting government unions .
Population growth , of course , also fulfills corporate objectives , expanding the labor force and driving down wages .
Less acknowledged but perhaps even more significant , a larger population simply creates a larger critical mass of consumers .
In the broadest , most macroeconomic sense of the term , a “ consumer ” is any living resident of a nation , even someone totally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require food , medical care , and shelter .
They still buy products , and someone—a private-sector government contractor as often as a government agency—will be remunerated to fill those requirements .
This still doesn ’ t explain why private-sector unions would favor open borders , but here ideology and opportunism align synergistically to provide the answer .
On one hand , the leftist narrative of anti-racism , replacing the oppressors , displacing and overthrowing the colonizers , etc.
, provides an ideological rationale for even private-sector unions to agitate for open borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union leaders , where increasingly their concern is not for the American worker , but for the “ workers of the world , ” also gives them cover to call for open borders even though that increases the supply of labor and drives down wages .
Many of them simply don ’ t understand the realities of supply and demand and are fully committed to an economic dream of socialist redistribution , but for those who do recognize economic reality , there is another more practical motive : the worse off the workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy generally , the more likely they ’ ll be to join a union in an attempt to better their circumstances .
In any case , by far the most powerful unions in California are public-sector unions , for which policy and program failures constitute success , because to address the failures , they can agitate for more policies and more programs .
This agenda is playing out in Democratic cities and states across America .
California ’ s state legislature doesn ’ t have to do anything to unionize public employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s already an established fact .
But if Californian Democrats have anything to say about it , unionized public safety is coming to America .
California ’ s 45 Democrats in the U.S. Congress , by far the most numerous and influential coalition of Democrats from any state , have introduced federal legislation to that effect .
Legislation to unionize public safety , misleadingly dubbed the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act , HR 1154 , authored by Los Angeles-area Representative Karen Bass and co-sponsored by 201 other Democratic representatives ( including all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would impose exclusive California-style collective bargaining for police and emergency services to the roughly 20 states that don ’ t already have it .
The consequences of unionized law enforcement and firefighting are many and dire .
Every year these unions will collect hundreds of millions in dues , and they will use a significant percentage of that money on political spending to flip battleground states from purple to blue .
This bill would also require union bargaining over police officers ’ wages , hours , and terms and conditions of employment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs are not trivial .
Police and firefighter pay and benefits are breaking the budgets of cities and counties across California .
The average sheriff in a California county in 2019 earned pay and benefits of $ 158,000 .
That ’ s average , and that ’ s on the low side compared to other categories of public safety .
For example , on average , a police officer in a California city in 2019 earned pay and benefits of $ 176,000 .
And firefighters earned , on average , much more : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , $ 214,000 ; in California cities , also $ 214,000 .
These averages , if anything , are understating the reality , insofar as they don ’ t take into account the increased costs of prefunding their pension benefits if there isn ’ t another bull market , nor do they take into account the full cost of prefunding their retirement health care .
Most reasonable people agree that it is very important to support police and firefighters , and to pay them well .
But these averages are so high they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unaffordable , compromising the ability to maintain adequate forces , and taking funding away from other vital public services .
They are a direct result of unionization .
And if unionizing is not to save money , since clearly the opposite has happened , then what is the motivation ?
In contrast to Democrats ’ stated aims , unionizing police departments per this legislation would exacerbate systemic police violence , by protecting bad cops from accountability .
So why support it ?
Because government unions want it .
Passing the bill allows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unions that quietly fund their campaigns .
In 2006 , California passed AB 32 , the “ Global Warming Solutions Act.
” Signed by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger , AB 32 empowered the unelected bureaucrats on California ’ s Air Resources Board ( CARB ) to regulate CO2 emissions in California with the goal of reducing them to 1990 levels by 2020 .
Since the passage of AB 32 there has been an unceasing flow of follow-on legislation , executive orders , and CARB regulations .
To name just a few : In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released their “ Long-Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan , which , among other things , requires all new residential construction to be “ zero net energy ” ( ZNE ) staring in 2020 , all new commercial construction to be ZNE by 2030 , and 50 percent of all commercial buildings to be ZNE by 2030 .
SB 350 in 2015 requires California to generate 50 percent of its electricity from “ renewables ” by 2050 , with emissions-free nuclear power not eligible for inclusion .
More recently , Newsom has ordered CARB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powered cars and light trucks by 2045 , barely 14 years from now .
He also called on the state legislature to ban fracking .
These recent executive orders from Newsom are motivated by the series of cataclysmic wildfires that have again claimed millions of acres of forest in California , wildfires that Newsom alleges were caused by climate change .
But the biggest factor by far in causing these wildfires was forest mismanagement , thanks to environmentalist policies pioneered in California .
For decades , California ’ s foresters and timber harvesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tree density had progressed in the vast Sierra Nevada from a historical and healthy norm of between 10-50 per acre to upwards of 300 per acre .
While natural fires were suppressed with increasing efficiency , for many years healthy forests were nonetheless maintained by logging and controlled burns .
But between 1950 and 2020 , California ’ s timber industry ’ s annual harvest declined from 6 billion board feet , which maintained an equilibrium between natural growth and annual removals , to less than 1.5 billion board feet .
California ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity , used litigation and lobbying—not only within California , but in federal court and the U.S. Congress—to coerce sympathetic judges and legislators to nearly destroy California ’ s timber industry , at the same time as CARB regulations and other onerous permitting obstacles prevented forest thinning or controlled burns .
When it comes to progressive ideology in general , and California ’ s environmentalists in particular , irony abounds .
Let this sink in : California ’ s environmentalists destroyed California ’ s forests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto climate change is sophistry .
Densely packed , tinder dry forests will burn like hell , and that ’ s exactly what happened .
It doesn ’ t matter one bit if summers are slightly dryer and slightly hotter .
They ’ ll still burn .
In all aspects of what Democrats now market as the Green New Deal , California ’ s state government has led the way .
This is vividly expressed in the critical area of zoning for high-density housing , based on the largely unchallenged assumption that suburban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gasses .
By cramming nearly all new home construction into the footprint of existing cities , the price of entitled real estate in California has become artificially inflated .
But that ’ s just the beginning of the ordeal facing developers .
Along with higher-priced land , home builders have to contend with costly building codes ( such as requiring “ zero net energy ” homes ) , excessive fees , and uncertain , prolonged delays in gaining approval to begin construction .
The result of California ’ s restrictive policies is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build and sell affordable homes .
A key piece of restrictive legislation is SB 375 , enacted in 2008 , which ties transportation funding to cities and counties adopting higher density residential zoning .
A more recent example of the relentless drive towards higher density is SB 743 , passed in 2013 but just now being implemented by CARB .
This new law requires every new housing development to assess the likely “ vehicle miles traveled ” by the residents per year , and if that amount is considered excessive , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some way “ mitigate ” for this .
Needless to say , this renders the price of homes even more unaffordable .
All these laws being passed in California are designed to increase the density of housing , as well as to mandate home builders move to multi-family dwellings with a percentage of them designated for low-income renters .
Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly introduced bills that will supersede local control over zoning to force , for example , fourplex projects to be approved in neighborhoods that currently are for single-family homes .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only denies middle-income Californians the ability to purchase homes , or long-standing homeowners the right to preserve the ambiance of their neighborhoods .
It also enriches a corrupt class of developers whose business model relies on tax credits and public subsidies to build housing for low-income families and the homeless at a statewide average cost that has now eclipsed $ 500,000 per apartment unit .
At this extraordinary per unit cost , nothing is solved .
But the tax-subsidized developers and investors do very well .
And the more money these developers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have .
This is the model for housing that California is exporting to the rest of the United States .
Their goal is to eliminate the single-family dwelling altogether , which they justify by characterizing free-standing homes as ecologically unsustainable and disproportionately allocated to people with unwarranted privilege based on the color of their skin .
Through all of these examples of progressive feudalism that California is perfecting even as they export them to the rest of America , the same themes apply .
Reduce consumption .
Ration energy and water .
Ration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Reduce the privileged middle class , in this case by transforming their suburbs into high-density neighborhoods with abundant subsidized housing .
Justify all of it in the name of saving the planet and social justice .
The consequence of California ’ s excessive , environmentalist-inspired policies is to make the state unaffordable .
It comes from a fundamental worldview that California uses all of its cultural influence to reinforce in America and across the globe : Austerity is necessary to save the planet .
This goes all the way back to Jerry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” philosophy which he promoted during his first terms as governor back in the 1970s .
The basic necessities of life—housing , transportation , energy , and water—cost more in California than anywhere else in America .
This is because of artificially imposed scarcity , a choice that is entirely avoidable .
Along with making it impossible to profitably build affordable market housing , California no longer makes significant public investments in energy , water , or transportation infrastructure—preferring instead to redirect available funds to public employee pay and benefits .
They justify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment , but the real winners are the special interests .
The fully co-opted , unionized public sector is a primary beneficiary of a hyper-regulated state where everything costs more than it should .
Stratospheric home values translate directly into higher property tax receipts .
Elevated utility and telecommunications prices to the consumer enable higher returns from the hidden taxes and fees embedded in the monthly billings .
Public employee pension funds benefit when their real estate portfolios soar in value .
Also benefiting from artificial scarcity are landowners , established corporations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of which realize higher profits and returns when competitors are shut out and captive consumers bid up prices on limited supplies .
Public utilities offer a particularly pernicious example of how artificial scarcity elevates profit .
The profits these regulated utilities can earn are limited to a percentage of their revenues .
But when expensive renewable energy is delivered on this cost-plus basis to the consumer , they can sell the same or even fewer kilowatt-hours for far more revenue .
Since they are allocated a fixed percentage of their revenue for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profits .
This philosophy of limits and austerity , pioneered in California and pushed relentlessly into the culture , is as dangerous to the prospects of ordinary Americans in the rest of the country as the actual policies enacted by California ’ s politicians .
The blessings of capitalism , where competitive development and innovation yield ongoing and broadly distributed prosperity , are assigned no credibility in California .
They are discredited as harming the planet and inherently racist , in a stunning inversion of logic promulgated as much by high-tech billionaires as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s K-12 system of public school indoctrination .
Which brings us to public education .
There is one area where California ’ s influence is felt every election cycle in the rest of the United States , and it comes courtesy of California ’ s unionized public education system .
California ’ s public employee unions collect and spend over $ 900 million per year , mostly from member dues .
More than half of that , nearly a half-billion per year , comes from public education unions , chief among them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these unions are willing to spend hundreds of millions every election cycle to support Democratic candidates and causes .
Everywhere .
With California ’ s cities and counties and school boards almost universally dominated by California Teachers Association-approved Democrats , along with both houses of the state legislature and all higher state elected offices , the teachers ’ unions have money to burn in the rest of the United States .
And that ’ s exactly what they do , sending out millions to swing close elections to the U.S. Senate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country .
Where there ’ s money for politics , there ’ s the political clout to completely dominate California ’ s school system .
Thanks to the influence of the teachers ’ union , state laws are slowly squeezing charter schools out of existence , with a rising assault on homeschoolers only deferred by the COVID-19 school shutdowns .
Thanks to the teachers ’ unions in California , the work rules that prevent teacher accountability and school accountability are already well-established law .
Attempting to fire a teacher , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even to extend the period of time before a teacher gains tenure and has a job for life , are all rendered nearly impossible in California .
The ways teachers ’ unions have used their power to affect the curriculum of California ’ s public schools are well documented .
Most notably , the recent mandate to implement “ gender studies ” instruction across all age groups that borders on pornographic .
Still pending , the mandate to require “ ethnic studies ” courses as a prerequisite for high-school graduation—something that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various “ stakeholders ” haven ’ t yet agreed on which victimized groups would occupy which positions on the victim hierarchy .
In general , California ’ s teachers ’ unions have committed public schools to a pedagogy that indoctrinates students with their own political ideology .
America is a flawed nation founded on racism .
White men are oppressors .
Capitalism is inherently exploitative .
Socialism is the only path to social justice and environmental health .
The impact of the teachers ’ unions to reinforce and catalyze California ’ s socialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be overstated .
Year after year , their money pours over the Sierra Nevada to decisively influence countless political races in the rest of the nation .
The national teachers ’ unions that lobby for similar curricula around America are dominated by the California leadership and California ’ s dues revenue .
For over a generation , students thoroughly steeped in socialist ideology have graduated from California ’ s K-12 schools .
As graduates of this indoctrination , they have spread into every state , from the streets of Portland and Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They staff HR departments and activist nonprofits .
They are code warriors and social media influencers .
The teachers ’ unions of California have done their job well .
Their proteges are everywhere .
Fundamental to California ’ s progressive culture is the deconstruction of meritocracy .
It ’ s all an illusion , of course .
No start-up that aspires to be Google or Facebook ’ s next unicorn acquisition expects to achieve such glory by hiring incompetent programmers .
But the institutional drive towards erasing colorblind , genderblind criteria has progressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
For any corporation still doing business in California , these policies have enterprise-wide impact .
Just last month , for example , Newsom signed AB 979 , which requires publicly traded corporations to “ appoint directors from underrepresented communities to their boards.
” A close reading of this law reveals the brazen , punitive arrogance of California ’ s Democrats , exemplified by the announced fine of $ 100,000 merely for “ failure to timely file board member information with the Secretary of State.
” A tactic of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to measure aggregate group achievement , by ethnicity or by gender , and then to ascribe all variation between groups either to racism or sexism .
And to the argument that perhaps there are factors related to competence , qualifications , and merit , rather than racism or sexism alone explaining these disparities , the response has been to eliminate those factors as official evaluation criteria , or even as subjects we are allowed to discuss .
Why else is it that the regents of the University of California , yielding to pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of the SAT and ACT tests as a method to evaluate college applicants ?
Why is it that California is lowering the score required to pass the bar exam and become a licensed attorney ?
All of these steps and more are being pioneered in California .
In November , California voters will even have the opportunity to bring back affirmative action , which would restore the explicitly racist ( and sexist ) requirement for public and private institutions to achieve proportional representation by race and gender in admissions , hiring , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this end ?
It doesn ’ t end there .
Governor Newsom has just signed another bill , AB 3070 , which will “ establish a first-in-the-nation task force to study and make recommendations on reparations for slavery.
” Critics have suggested this is just Newsom ’ s way to position himself to run for president in 2024 or 2028 .
Maybe .
And he could win .
But meanwhile , given their record to-date , there is no evidence whatsoever that California ’ s state legislature would not enact a reparations bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intrepid quest for social justice , California ’ s woke Democrats are not just trailblazing quotas , affirmative action , and reparations and exporting them across the United States—another pioneering innovation is to declare racism to be a public health emergency .
This notion gained national traction in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , but it was already being pushed by health providers in California .
Which brings us to California ’ s excessive attention to public health , to the point of absurdity and beyond .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but California has been going off the deep end in pursuit of health and safety for decades .
A good example is Proposition 65 , the “ Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act , ” sold to voters in 1986 .
This is the California law responsible for cancer-warning signs so ubiquitous that most Californians know it ’ s better just to ignore them .
In bars and restaurants , on playground equipment , shoes , umbrellas , and golf club covers , even around Disneyland , consumers are warned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place itself— “ is known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm.
” While most Californians have gotten used to these warning labels , they are no laughing matter .
They expose small businesses to ruinous lawsuits .
Prop .
65 is often out of step with scientific consensus because it draws from a reference list of nearly 1,000 chemicals , chosen if , according to state regulators , they could cause “ one excess case of cancer in 100,000 individuals exposed to the chemical over a 70-year lifetime.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ everythingcauses cancer .
Like so many regulations , the biggest victims of Prop .
65 are small businesses .
Prop .
65 deputizes private trial lawyers to search for evidence of noncompliance .
Small businesses , which generally don ’ t have the resources to fight costly legal battles , are often compelled to settle .
Because the penalties for “ failure to warn ” are so steep , businesses paid $ 35 million in Prop .
65 settlements in 2018 , with more than three-quarters of this total going to attorney fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area take home more than $ 1 million in fees per year .
The federal government is the only backstop against a law so broad that it applies to products produced anywhere in the world and that are sold in California .
In August 2019 , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took the unprecedented step of issuing guidance stating it won ’ t approve of Prop .
65 ’ s “ false labeling ” on the weedkiller Roundup because the science doesn ’ t support it .
EPA didn ’ t mince words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labels on products that are inaccurate when EPA knows the product does not pose a cancer risk , ” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler .
“ We will not allow California ’ s flawed program to dictate federal policy.
” This federal action against Prop .
65 came on the heels of a long-sought exemption for coffee in June .
This about-face was the result of outrage from coffeemakers , drinkers , and even scientists who demonstrated that coffee was not a cancer risk .
Another federal agency—the Food and Drug Administration—threatened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went ahead with Prop .
65 labels for coffee .
Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb explained that these “ could mislead consumers to believe that drinking coffee could be dangerous to their health when it actually could provide health benefits.
” Imagine a White House in the hands of someone more favorably disposed to California ’ s global ambitions .
The Battle For California Is the Battle for America But again , it ’ s not just coffee or weed killer .
California ’ s long reach is far more ambitious .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how much we pay for basic necessities—all of these questions are destined to be answered with far more restrictions making everything far more costly , if California ’ s policies are successfully exported to the rest of the United States .
Despite covering a lot of ground in this discussion of how California is transforming itself and the rest of the nation in the process , there are more examples of equal significance left unexamined .
California ’ s proposed wealth tax borrows from proposals from Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model for states and possibly even the federal government to emulate .
There ’ s also California ’ s minimum wage laws , set to drive the statewide minimum wage to the highest in the nation ; California ’ s extraordinary hostility to small businesses ; and California ’ s punitive rates of taxation .
To counter California enacting laws and regulations that corporations will simply adopt for their entire global product line , or HR manual , the political and cultural values that dominate California must be challenged .
Sadly , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them simply to adopt these practices than to bother fighting them .
In California , most corporations have realized their commercial aspirations are actually better served by adhering to the excessive restrictions imposed by California , because it creates artificial scarcity which drives up prices , it creates captive markets purchasing mandated products , and it throws up barriers to innovative competitors lacking the financial resilience to comply .
For these reasons , out-of-state interests must recognize California for what it is—a plutocracy that has put its own interests before the interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this plutocracy is almost indescribable and extends well beyond their alliance with environmentalist nonprofits and public sector unions .
California ’ s plutocrats not only have personal wealth measured in tens of billions , but they control the most powerful corporations on earth .
These corporations have monopoly power over America ’ s online communications and search platforms , and equally if not more significant , their companies are at the epicenter of a high-tech ecosystem capable of developing and rapidly deploying advanced autonomous weapons systems .
In a low-intensity civil war , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , might easily hold its own .
The Battle for America is the Battle for the Future of the World California ’ s plutocrats don ’ t just have their eye on America , they want to conquer the world .
For them , progressive feudalism is the political economy of the future , enabling them to preside over a reduction in the quality of Western lifestyles and individual freedom and a leveling of wealth around the world , while exponentially increasing their own wealth and power .
Once they ’ ve taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face a reckoning with the progressive electorate and militant cadres that were their enablers on the ground , but it wouldn ’ t last long .
By then the technology-driven police state will be perfected , with limitless access to robots , slap drones , nanobots , cyberware , and precision pathogens offering effortless control of even the most restive populations .
For these reasons , overcoming the progressive feudalists now , by changing the sentiment of California ’ s electorate , is not only preferable to violence , it has a higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figured out that something is wrong , but they have been brainwashed into fearing the alternatives .
They fear meritocracy .
They fear capitalism .
They fear racism .
They fear climate change .
They have slowly become accustomed to what is becoming tyranny , and they believe material poverty is necessary to save the planet and atone for racism .
And in all these areas , the people who could offer common-sense solutions have been censored and disparaged .
But the progressive feudalists have one fatal weakness : They are wrong .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their actions are flawed .
Meritocracy is the only way a free people can create an efficient , prosperous , opportunity society .
Without it , nobody has any incentive to innovate or work hard .
The capable and hard-working become cynical and resentful , while the incompetent and the indolent know they don ’ t have to step up , because they can live for free .
Capitalism is not dangerous , it is the engine of progress .
It has been conflated with corporate monopolies and financial speculators .
What a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to amputate the gangrenous appendages of capitalist corruption , the predators and the gamblers , leaving the pure and competitive heart of capitalist competition to thrive .
Racism is an odious fact of history , in all nations and cultures , but the facts today in California tell a very different story .
Racism , such as it is , is institutionalized to favor nonwhites in every aspect of society , hiring , admissions , and promotions .
To the extent racial disparities exist in academic group achievement , it is the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the teachers ’ union monopoly , which has been proven to disproportionately damage schools in low-income areas .
And as courageous conservatives in the black and Latino communities are asserting with increasing confidence , building wealth and income in these communities requires internal cultural change : stay married , work hard , stay in school , study marketable skills , reject drugs and alcohol and gangs .
There are ample examples of communities in the United States that have overcome discrimination , or possible discrimination , and have thrived .
It can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is climate change , the trump card of the collectivists , played by progressive feudalists whenever they decide it ’ s time to end the debate and get on with their agenda .
But everything the environmental extremists have done in recent years has caused harm .
Suburban expansion doesn ’ t stop climate change , it just makes housing unaffordable .
Forest “ preservation ” doesn ’ t preserve forests , it turns them into tinderboxes that are periodically obliterated by fire .
Natural gas is affordable and clean , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratio of CO2 emissions to energy consumption to the lowest of all industrialized nations .
Are the Chinese and Indians going to lower their emissions ?
Because if they don ’ t , so what if Americans do ?
And what about nuclear power ?
Why is the renewables lobby shutting down Diablo Canyon ?
These are the messages that must be taken to California ’ s voters , without apology or equivocation .
Expand suburbs along the freeway corridors into the vast rangeland of California .
Build new reservoirs and restore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the California coast and keep Diablo Canyon open .
Thin the forests , restore the timber industry , and build biomass power plants to turn the trimmings into clean electricity .
Instead of squandering billions on the bullet train , widen the roads with smart lanes for high speed , high tech cars .
Drill for natural gas in the Monterey Shale .
Mine lithium in the Mojave Desert .
Deregulate , so builders and business owners can spend their time , talents , and money on productive work instead of permits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault on the teachers ’ union by enacting school choice with vouchers parents can redeem wherever they want .
This is a contract with California that would entice everyone .
This is the enlightened , empowering capitalism that delivers the broad prosperity and freedom that progressive feudalism promises but can not possibly deliver .
This is the agenda that will enable voters in California to understand that competitive abundance is a morally preferable choice .
California can be affordable again without compromising environmentalist values .
California can deliver opportunity to everyone again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they came from .
Americans who want to prevent the Californication of America must step up , dollar for dollar , to counter the spending of California ’ s public sector unions and resident billionaires .
California ’ s seething population , searching for answers , must realize the premises used to justify their misery rely on convenient illusions , conjured by special interests for their own gain .
But the battle must be fought .
Somebody has to tell them .
What is at stake in California is not just California .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is the future of the world .
Edward Ring is a senior fellow of the Center for American Greatness and co-founder of the California Policy Center , which he co-founded in 2013 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Court Ruling Reverses Trump Administration’s SNAP Changes

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Sunday blocked a Trump administration change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) that could have removed eligibility for almost 700,000 unemployed , able-bodied Americans .
A lawsuit filed in January by a multistate coalition alleged a U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) rule wrongly reversed a decades-old policy that allowed states to waive SNAP work requirements .
The previous rules granted waivers for larger geographic areas by lumping certain regions with lower unemployment with locations registering higher unemployment , as well as carryover unused exemptions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1996 amended SNAP benefits to limit disbursements to “ Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents ” ( ABAWD ) , defined as unemployed individuals ages 18-49 who are not disabled or raising minors .
SNAP funds were restricted to three months within three years unless subjects are employed for a minimum of 20 hours per week .
But the law granted states the ability to request waivers for that time limit if the state or part of the state had an unemployment rate above 10 % , or did not have a sufficient number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new rule attempted to revise state discretion for waivers due to economic conditions , define geographic scope waivers , and require the state to rely on the entire population ’ s unemployment instead of employment for ABAWD .
Critics of the geographic waiver requirements point out that past regulations required the USDA to average different regional unemployment rates so more people receive the waiver , even in regions that are below the unemployment benchmark .
“ Geographic-area waivers of work requirements for people who receive food stamps are based on the flawed premise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given area exceeds a certain level , even in a national economic boom , able-bodied people in that area should not be expected to look for work , whether in that area or in a neighboring city or county , ” Jamie Hall , a senior policy analyst in empirical studies at The Heritage Foundation , said .
Hall said that ABAWD work requirement exemptions by geographic waivers account for about double the SNAP caseload expected .
“ Geographic waivers are not needed to protect vulnerable citizens ’ access to food .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states the flexibility they need to provide exemptions from the work requirement for people facing difficulties , ” Hall said .
Chief Judge Beryl Howell noted “ the backdrop of the pandemic has provided , in stark relief , [ the ] procedural and substantive flaws ” of the rule change .
Within two months of the start of the pandemic , more than 6 million Americans enrolled in SNAP .
The court observed USDA was “ silent ” on how many of enrollees wouldn ’ t be eligible for SNAP benefits as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Administrative Procedure Act requires agencies to offer explanations for changing long-held policies , but the court found the waiver changes were “ arbitrary and capricious.
” “ SNAP was specifically created to help Americans struggling with food insecurity and as we continue to navigate this pandemic , this assistance is more important than ever , ” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement .
“ Instead of helping Americans at a time when so many are facing hardships , the Trump administration chose to cruelly revoke vital food assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is an important victory in favor of human decency.
” During the COVID-19 pandemic , Michigan ’ s SNAP rolls surged $ 126 million from February to May .
The federal government pays the full cost of SNAP benefits but splits administration costs evenly with the states .
The court ruled that USDA ’ s change violated the federal rulemaking process , and vacated the rule in its entirety .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .

One of the principles asserted by Governor Haslam in support of his IMPROVE Act and its proposed increase of 7 cents per gallon in the gas tax is that “users” of roads should pay for road construction.
The gas tax is proper, he argues, because people who purchase gas to fuel their cars are the users of roads, and the gas tax is the best mechanism to charge them for that usage.
For at least a decade, however, revenue sources originally designed to fund highway construction have been intermingled, and that “user” fee principle has not strictly been applied to the funding of road construction. The IMPROVE Act does not fully address the co-mingling of funds.
The Highway Fund receives road construction “user fee” revenues from gasoline tax, motor fuel tax, gasoline inspection tax, motor vehicle registration tax and the motor vehicle title fees. At least 25 percent of those road construction “user fees” go to the General Fund, Education and Debt Service.
Though the majority of these “user fee” revenues have been allocated to the Highway Fund, between 25 percent and 29 percent of those fees -ranging from $177 million to $196 million annually– have been diverted away from the Highway Fund between FY 2011-12 and FY 2017-18, as Table 1 below illustrates.
Table 1
Highway Fund ‘User Fees’ Allocated to Funds Other than the Highway Fund
FY 2011-12 to FY 2017-18
Fiscal Year Highway Fund”User Fees ” Directed to General Fund, Education & Debt Svc. As % of Highway Fund Total Sales & Use Tax Revenues Sales Tax $ to Highway Fund % Sales Tax to Highway Fund Data Source (Link to Document) Page of Data Source 2017-18 $187,100,000 26.2% $8,861,100,000 $22,600,000 0.26% Estimated 99 of 558 2016-17 $195,200,000 26.5% $8,564,100,000 $22,600,000 0.26% Revised Est. 98 of 558 2015-16 $189,572,000 26.2% $8,267,224,400 $22,625,400 0.27% Actual 97 of 558 2014-15 $177,611,900 25.1% $7,706,018,700 $38,165,000 0.50% Actual 97 of 550 2013-14 $196,234,300 28.9% $7,286,164,500 $53,797,600 0.74% Actual 97 of 542 2012-13 $194,365,000 28.4% $7,012,028,700 $60,902,800 0.87% Actual 97 of 545 2011-12 $193,243,800 28.2% $6,899,944,000 $64,574,000 0.94% Actual 111 of 656
The state of Tennessee budget documents detail the revenue sources and the basis of apportionment for those revenues. For every one of the “user fee” revenues, the Tennessee Code Annotated that directs funds away from the Highway Fund is cited.
There are also allocations to the Highway Fund, such as Gross Receipts Tax-Other and Beer Tax, that would otherwise be considered General Fund revenues, as the majority of those revenues are allocated to the General Fund. However, the increase of 25 to 29 percent to the Highway Fund is net the General Fund dollars.
In the upcoming 2017-18 budget year, the redistribution of “user fees” strictly to the Highway Fund would increase the Highway Fund by $187 million, and combined with the past six years would have added a total of $1.3 billion to the Highway Fund, all without a gas tax increase.
The co-mingling of funds goes both ways.
“Sales and Use Tax” revenues have been and continue to be allocated to the Highway Fund.
During Gov. Haslam’s administration, the percentage of state sales tax revenues allocated to the Highway Fund ranged between 0.26 and 0.94 percent. Essentially, the alternate “Hawk Plan,” named for Rep. David Hawk of Greenville, which allocates 0.25 percent of the sales tax revenues to the Highway Fund has been in effect for years to an even greater extent.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Top Trump Adviser Wants More Nations to Field Asylum Claims

SAN DIEGO , California ( AP ) — One of President Donald Trump ’ s top priorities on immigration if he wins a second term would be to use agreements with Central American governments as models to get countries around the world to field asylum claims from people seeking refuge in the United States , a top adviser said .
Stephen Miller , a key architect of Trump ’ s immigration policies , said Friday the agreements would help stop “ asylum fraud , asylum shopping and asylum abuse on a global scale.
” Miller , in an interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader offensive against so-called “ sanctuary ” jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities , saying the administration would use its “ full power , resources and authority.
” He vowed more efforts toward legal immigration “ based on merit.
” The “ Asylum Cooperative Agreements ” that the administration struck in 2019 have allowed for asylum seekers from El Salvador and Honduras to be flown to Guatemala for an opportunity to seek asylum , denying them a chance to apply in the U.S. From November to March , when the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 of 939 Hondurans and El Salvadorans flown there sought asylum .
Nearly all went home in what became known as “ deportation with a layover.
” Like many of Trump ’ s policies that have dramatically transformed the U.S. immigration system , the bilateral agreements are being challenged in court .
Critics note asylum-seekers are sent to countries with high levels of violence and poverty and little infrastructure to handle asylum claims .
The coronavirus struck before flights began to Honduras and El Salvador , putting those launches on hold .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scant attention to immigration in their 2020 campaigns , despite a spirited exchange during Thursday ’ s debate that was prompted by news that court-appointed lawyers have been unable to find parents of 545 children who were separated from their families early in the Trump administration .
Trump has yet to outline second-term immigration priorities in detail , though he has openly toyed with trying to repeal a constitutional right to citizenship for anyone born in the United States .
Biden has pledged to undo many , but not all , of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other issues , it is unclear how much appetite Biden would have to tackle all that Trump has done .
Biden campaign spokesman Mike Gwin , reacting to Miller ’ s comments , highlighted how far apart the candidates are on immigration .
“ We are going to win this election so that people like Stephen Miller don ’ t get the chance to write more xenophobic policies that dishonor our American values , ” Gwin said .
“ Unlike Trump , Vice President Biden knows that immigrants make America stronger and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president he ’ ll ensure that they continue to play the vital role they ’ ve held for our entire history : enriching our communities , bolstering our economy , and serving our nation in uniform.
” Biden will introduce legislation within his first 100 days to provide a path to citizenship for people in the country illegally , bring back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to shield young people from deportation and “ restore America ’ s historic commitment ” to refuges and asylum-seekers , Gwin said .
Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the asylum agreements that the Trump administration struck with Guatemala , Honduras and El Salvador last year but says he will end “ detrimental ” policies , including a cornerstone Trump effort to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court .
Administration officials have discussed adding countries from Africa and Asia to create a global web of accords resembling those with Central American governments .
Guatemala , Honduras and El Salvador were under heavy U.S. pressure to acquiesce last year , with Trump threatening at times to cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially be proposed to countries that send large numbers of asylum-seekers to the United States , such as Cameroon or China .
Trump , who made immigration a signature issue in his 2016 campaign , has introduced a flurry of regulations in recent months that are expected to be finalized soon after incorporating public feedback .
They are largely about restricting asylum .
Administration officials are also looking at ways to do away with a lottery to award H-1B visas to highly skilled workers , many in the technology industry , replacing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are capped at 85,000 a year .
Miller said the administration would continue its efforts to redefine criteria for legal immigration , which are now largely based on family ties .
Elliot Spagat is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP writer Will Weissert in Wilmington , Del.
, contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : In this Aug. 20 , 2020 , file photo President Donald Trump ’ s White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller speaks during a television interview outside the White House in Washington .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration priorities in a second term would be to use agreements with Central American governments as models to get countries around the world to field asylum claims from people seeking refuge in the United States , Miller said Friday , Oct. 23 .
( AP Photo/Patrick Semansky , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--More Federal Money Coming to Fight Crime in Memphis

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant this week announced $ 398,864 in Department of Justice grant funding awarded to the Shelby County District Attorney ’ s Office to hire special prosecutors to try federal firearms cases originating in Memphis .
This according to a press release that officials with the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Tennessee published on their website this week .
The award supports violence reduction efforts as part of Operation LeGend and other Department-led initiatives in cities across the country .
An additional $ 500,000 is available to support a Real Time Crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with rapid intelligence and instant information to help identify emerging crime patterns , the press release said .
“ Keeping its citizens safe is the primary responsibility of government , ” said Attorney General William P. Barr in the press release .
“ Cities plagued by violent crime need the resources to tackle it , and these grant awards will help do that .
On the enforcement side , Real Time Crime Centers will make policing more efficient and targeted ; and on the prosecution side , Special Assistant U.S .
Attorneys ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearms cases to justice.
” Barr announced that the Department of Justice ’ s Office of Justice Programs is making up to $ 5.3 million available in grants to support Operation LeGend sites nationwide .
More than $ 1.3 million will fund special prosecutors who have been cross-designated to try federal firearms cases originating in Albuquerque , New Mexico ; Kansas City , Missouri ; Memphis , Tennessee ; and St. Louis , Missouri , according to the press release .
In addition , these and other LeGend cities are eligible for up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support Real Time Crime Centers .
The press release said these centers are “ a considerable financial investment for any law enforcement agency.
” The press release also said that “ the funding can assist police departments in purchasing critical equipment and paying for the overtime to keep these centers staffed around the clock.
” “ A grant to the Shelby County District Attorney General ’ s Office will support the hiring of two ( 2 ) full-time local prosecutors who will be empowered to try firearms cases in federal court .
Prosecuting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department ’ s strategy under Operation LeGend and other violence reduction initiatives led by the Department , ” the press release said .
“ These efforts follow a sustained , systematic and coordinated approach to gun violence in which federal law enforcement agencies work closely with state and local officials to fight violent crime .
Funding comes from the Bureau of Justice Assistance ( BJA ) , a component of the Justice Department ’ s Office of Justice Programs.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Commentary: Your Favorite TV Show Now Promotes Open Borders and Black Lives Matter

Millions of Americans continue to watch network TV shows—not exactly a favorite pastime of the chattering class .
The primary audience for these programs is older Americans living out in flyover country , the kind of people who aren ’ t aware of the latest trendy show on Amazon Prime or Netflix .
The audience generally prefers more conservative programming that doesn ’ t feature gratuitous violence , nudity , or overbearing political messages .
They just want to be entertained as they relax at night .
But the big networks want to change that .
They ’ re partnering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes to their viewers—and the executives don ’ t care if it offends their audiences .
The execs want America to think like they do .
The writing was on the wall last summer when pretty much every TV network and streaming service wholeheartedly endorsed Black Lives Matter , “ To be silent is to be complicit .
Black lives matter , ” Netflix said in a message shared across its platform .
CBS , Fox , Amazon Prime , HBO , and several other titans of the TV industry shared similar messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as “ Cops ” and “ Live PD ” to appease those moved by the Black Lives Matter moment .
The statements and cancellations indicated networks would take additional steps to infuse their programming with overtly political messages .
Sure enough , they are now doing so—and they are reaching out to left-wing groups to help them in this project .
One of these groups is Define American , an open-borders group led by illegal immigrant journalist Jose Antonio Vargas .
Define American has worked with 75 film and TV projects across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-mass immigration message .
Hit shows such as NBC ’ s “ Superstore , ” ABC ’ s “ Grey ’ s Anatomy , ” OWN ’ s “ Queen Sugar ” and CW ’ s “ Roswell , New Mexico ” are among its clients .
CNN recently highlighted the group ’ s work on “ Superstore.
” The sitcom features an illegal immigrant character named Mateo .
Showrunners consulted with Define American to ensure the character ’ s story supported liberal immigration policies .
“ Just like the impact that ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBT movement , for regular viewers of ‘ Superstore , ’ Mateo feels like their friend , ” says Sarah Lowe , Define American ’ s head of research .
“ They feel like they know him , even if they don ’ t know any other immigrants in their daily life.
” Lowe says studies show that television programming can change viewers ’ politics .
Define American sees the television consulting as part of a long march through the institutions to make Americans embrace mass immigration .
“ This is long-term work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not like , ‘ How do we pass a bill next month ?
’ This is , ‘ How do we create a culture in which we see immigrants as people deserving of dignity ?
’ These policies don ’ t make sense if we don ’ t see immigrants as people.
” “ The images we see in media are often immigrants crying , immigrants sad , immigrants tragic , as if we have this veil of tragedy all around us , when in reality , the study showed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a three-dimensional way as a person , people are moved to action , to tell another friend , to post something on social media , ” he added .
CBS is partnering with multiple left-wing groups to shape its programming .
In July , the network announced a multi-year programming deal with the NAACP to produce “ premium content that expands the number of diverse voices contributing to an ever-evolving society , and by telling inclusive stories that increase the visibility and impact of Black artists in a growing media landscape.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through this partnership .
“ Programming and content have the power to shape perspectives and drive conversations around critical issues , ” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said .
“ This partnership with CBS allows us to bring compelling and important content to a broad audience.
” CBS Studios plans to overhaul its police shows—a network staple—to conform to the spirit of Black Lives Matter .
Its television division now partners with 21CP Solutions , a criminal justice reform group that originated with an Obama Administration task force .
The partnership promises to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial justice ” and less pro-cop .
21CP sees this as a great way to change the culture .
“ As a reformer , I see this as a great venue , ” 21CP founder Ron Davis told the Washington Post .
“ Not a panacea .
But a great venue .
It ’ s another step on this path to police reform.
” Law enforcement is not happy with this development .
“ They will be stories engineered to further diminish public opinion of police officers so that the anti-police movement can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abolition of policing and total impunity for criminals , ” New York City ’ s Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch told the Post .
Network executives don ’ t mind if conservative viewers have a problem with the BLM focus .
“ I wouldn ’ t care if there was a Blue Lives Matter backlash , ” CBS Studios president David Stapf told the Post .
“ I just want us to expose ourselves to different points of view.
” Warner Bros. Television Group is working directly with Black Lives Matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed a multi-year production deal with BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors .
“ As a longtime community organizer and social justice activist , I believe that my work behind the camera will be an extension of the work I ’ ve been doing for the last twenty years , ” Cullors said .
“ I look forward to amplifying the talent and voices of other Black creatives through my work.
” There ’ s also bad news for those who want to turn off new programming and enjoy old classics .
Disney+ now imposes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewers can not fast forward through , on classic animated films such as “ Dumbo , ” “ Lady and the Tramp , ” and “ Aladdin.
” The messages read : “ This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures .
These stereotypes were then and are wrong now .
Rather than remove this content , we want to acknowledge its harmful impact , learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together .
Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human experience around the globe.
” It then includes links to a website that will tell you why “ Dumbo ” and other films are racist .
The Left understands politics is downstream from culture .
They want to brainwash Americans into accepting their myths and delusions .
While it may seem hopeless to Americans to imagine they can do anything about it , ordinary Americans can send a powerful message without much effort .
Just turn off the TV and watch the old favorites instead .
Execs may say they can blow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t ignore horrible ratings .
Paul Bradford is a Capitol Hill refugee now earning an honest living .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Tanya Tucker Releases ‘Live From The Troubadour’

NASHVILLE , Tennessee – In 2019 , Tanya Tucker released her first full-length record with new songs in twenty years .
Produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings , the album While I ’ m Livin ’ , would go on to win a Grammy for Country Album of the Year , and the song , “ Bring My Flowers Now , ” would win Country Song of the Year in January 2020 .
As is the norm , artists plan tours around their record releases .
Singing at the historic Troubadour in Hollywood with two sold-out shows was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2019 .
Tucker explained , “ It wasn ’ t like we had planned to make this a record .
It was sort of an afterthought .
If we had planned on it being a record , we would have had a lot more options on the quality of the sound.
” Her only hesitation in releasing the live album was she wanted the sound to be as good as possible .
“ We didn ’ t record it in a way that should have been a record .
But it worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God things.
” Part of the profits from the album Live From The Troubadour goes to the foundation Save Our Stages which includes helping out the Troubadour which opened in 1957 and has been closed since COVID .
“ This pandemic has cut everybody off at their knees , ” the songstress said .
“ I grew up [ performing ] in small clubs like the Troubadour .
They are the sort of the backbone of music , not just country music but all music .
Those clubs kept us going when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms.
” Besides helping out the Troubadour , Tucker was able to give her fans a little music to hang onto until “ we get through this monster that we are going through.
” Live From The Troubadour features 15 songs including her smash first single “ Delta Dawn , ” and a cache of Tanya ’ s # 1 country hits such as “ Strong Enough To Bend , ” “ What ’ s Your Mama ’ s Name , ” “ Blood Red and Goin ’ Down , ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Field of Stone ) .
” The set also includes a sublime medley of Springsteen ’ s “ I ’ m on Fire ” and Cash ’ s “ Ring of Fire ” and six songs from While I ’ m Livin ’ , including “ Mustang Ridge , ” “ The Wheels of Laredo , ” “ Hard Luck , ” and “ Bring My Flowers Now.
” “ I am just grateful to be able to bring live music to my fans and give them a little something to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get back out there on the road.
” I am sure Tucker fans will agree that part of the charm of Live FromThe Troubadour is that it is not overly produced .
It is raw and real like you are really in that standing-room-only venue .
It is so much more personal than a perfectly mixed/recorded record .
Tucker admitted , “ I kind of wanted to fix a few things .
But Brandy and Shooter came to me and said , this is not about Tanya Tucker the entertainer , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all .
Whatever came out of my mouth is what is on the record.
” Tucker compares it to the days when Billy Sherrill first recorded her in 1972 .
“ We sang everything live .
I learned “ Delta Dawn ” right along with the band .
If somebody made a mistake , we did it again.
” With all the digital mixing and producing , Tucker likens herself to her friend Joe Walsh and said , “ I ’ m an analog girl .
Singers that come from that era of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Loretta and Dolly , we ’ ve all been through that ‘ You ’ ve got to get it right the first time ’ and whatever is on there will stay on there.
” On the occasion when someone plays/mentions her Grammy Award-winning , “ Bring My Flowers Now , ” she thinks of what was happening she was making it .
“ We just wrote it and I was trying to read my writing and my handwriting was not very good , but we just sung it .
I almost missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that .
I appreciate so much that people will embrace the flaws ( on the live album ) because I ’ m not real kin to them myself.
” Because Tucker has recently won two Grammys , younger people are paying more attention to the traditional country sound that made Nashville famous .
Although she knew Shooter Jennings before he was Shooter , she was unfamiliar with the brilliant Brandi Carlile .
Even though she co-produced that album , Tucker had never heard her sing professionally until she sang The Joke at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her away .
Although she is younger than Tucker , Carlile became sort of a leader to her .
Carlile pushed the performer to do a lot of first things she had never done before like sharing the vocal booth with her .
“ She was there for every second [ of the recording ] .
” Tucker admitted to being a little disappointed that the Grammy ’ s did not air the awards being given to Country Music .
“ I think our music is just as important as anyone else ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that problem with them , ” she said .
“ But the Grammy ’ s were important to Brandi and important to Shooter .
If I wanted to win for anybody , it would be for them.
” In my opinion , no one recently has had a bigger comeback than Tucker .
She agreed , “ The only one I can think of was Glen Campbell when he released “ Rhinestone Cowboy.
” Before he passed , her birthday buddy , ( October 10 ) John Prine said , “ You ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got a lot more left to say .
I ’ m going to start on my new album now.
” Tucker proclaimed , “ To me , that right there , is my win , that ’ s my trophy.
” Since then several other seasoned county music stars have admitted she inspired them as well .
Her good friend is Lee Anne Womack .
She stated , “ There is not a girl out there who can out-sing Lee Anne Womack .
What is the problem ?
Girls aren ’ t getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to get that connection.
” One of the great honky-tonk heroes that Tucker used to tour with is Johnny Bush .
He recently passed away on the album release date of Live From The Troubadour , October 16 , 2020 .
He called about three weeks ago and said , “ I love that song ‘ Wheels of Laredo ’ , but I don ’ t know what it is about.
” Tucker laughed but said , “ I feel sorry for these youngsters who never got to hang out with people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conway Twitty , and Merle Haggard .
I know I am a lucky girl.
” There have been a few accidental gifts that we ’ ve been given to us during this pandemic and the album Live From The Troubadour is one of those rewards .
Even though we all miss the touring and live music , we have been given this gift that will endear old and new fans alike to the one and only Tanya Tucker .
Tucker will be resuming touring in July 2021 for “ CMT Next Women of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” You can follow Tucker on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , Instagram , and Spotify .
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer .
You can follow her blog , Instagram , Twitter , and YouTube .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--New Wave of Prosecutors Pushing to Ignore Sections of Law

Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill on Wednesday requiring judges to dismiss cases when both prosecutors and defense attorneys agree .
The bill was born after Norfolk Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Greg Underwood ( D ) announced that he would not be prosecuting misdemeanor marijuana cases , according to The Virginian-Pilot .
The bill is an example of a national push to allow prosecutors discretion to ignore whole sections of law , according to Heritage Foundation Legal Fellow and former prosecutor Zack Smith .
Smith said prosecutorial discretion normally allows prosecutors to consider cases on an individual basis .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rogue prosecutors , like the Commonwealth ’ s Attorney in Fairfax , Arlington County now , just to name a few , [ … ] what they ’ re doing is really something entirely different , ” Smith said .
“ They ’ re just refusing to enforce laws they disagree with and in a lot of ways are really overstepping their bounds and usurping the role of the legislature with those types of practices.
” National Group Fair and Just Prosecution ( FJP ) recently announced a pledge by prosecutors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws .
The group ’ s website states , “ Fair and Just Prosecution ( FJP ) brings together newly elected local prosecutors as part of a network of leaders committed to promoting a justice system grounded in fairness , equity , compassion , and fiscal responsibility.
” Portsmouth Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Stephanie Morales recently announced the formation of the Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice , expressing support for criminal reform laws and asking for “ clarification of the discretion of the prosecutor.
” Smith said this isn ’ t a Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a new philosophy of prosecution in reaction to a traditional law-and-order approach previously taken by both parties .
“ [ These new prosecutors ] tend to view the criminal justice system as systematically racist .
They believe there ’ s a massive incarceration problem a lot of the time , and frankly they just disagree with some of the laws that the state legislatures have passed.
” “ If someone believes there is a problem in the criminal justice system or if they believe that our current drug laws are unfair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state legislatures to answer , ” Smith said .
“ It ’ s not a question for a prosecutor to basically refuse to do their job and appoint themselves to be a one person superlegislature that can basically negate a duly passed law.
” According to Smith , donors including George Soros , Cari Tuna , and Dustin Moskovitz have contributed to these prosecutors across the U.S. Smith said Soros funnels money through multiple PACs with names like Justice and Public Safety PAC ( JPSP ) .
Tuna and Moskovitz provide support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Smith .
In 2019 , the JPSP poured over $ 2 million into three commonwealth ’ s attorneys ’ races in Fairfax County , Loudoun County , and Arlington County , according to The Virginia Public Access Project .
Each of the candidates won — Buta Biberaj ( D-Loudoun ) , Parisa Dehghani-Tafti ( D-Arlington ) , Steve Descano ( D-Fairfax ) .
Descano received $ 601,369 from the JPSP , raising a total $ 972,761 .
He defeated long-time Democratic incumbent Raymond Morrogh , who raised $ 240,696 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That same year , the JPSP gave $ 621,145 to Dehghani-Tafti , according to The Virginia Public Access Project .
She defeated Democratic incumbent Theo Stamos in the primary , according to Arlington Now .
JPSP gave Biberaj $ 861,039 , which she used to defeat Republican M. Nicole Wittman , who raised $ 152,907 , according to The Virginia Public Access Project .
Both were running to replace a Republican prosecutor who was leaving the seat .
Smith said the same thing is playing out in major cities across the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and others .
Despite the huge infusions of cash , Smith said progressive prosecutors can be defeated .
“ [ Voters ] have to be aware of the policies these candidates are supporting , because for the most part these are not stealth candidates , ” Smith said .
“ They are telling voters what they are going to do when they get elected .
It ’ s important for people who live in those districts to pay attention , to vote.
” “ Some of these candidates have been defeated despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates in Florida , Oregon , and California .
“ It ’ s because voters were made aware of the radical proposals that were being pushed and paid attention to that , and they simply voted accordingly.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Class-Action Lawsuit Targets Wayne County Foreclosure Practices

A Detroiter filed a class-action lawsuit against Wayne County on Thursday , claiming officials foreclosed on her home , sold it at less than half the market value , and then pocketed the proceeds .
Philip L. Ellison , an attorney at Hemlock-based Outside Legal Counsel , and others filed the lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. Eastern District Court on behalf of Tonya Bowles , who lost her East State property to foreclosure in 2017 .
Bowles owned a property with a fair market value of $ 36,600 that Wayne County Treasurer Sabree foreclosed in 2017 , and according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pocketed the rest .
The lawsuit doesn ’ t say how much Bowles owed in taxes .
It targets Sabree ’ s office for “ gross governmental abuse.
” Michigan law allows counties to foreclose properties to fulfill outstanding property taxes , but in Metro Detroit , city officials have been known to foreclose and seize houses for small amounts of unpaid taxes , and selling them for far more than the taxes owed .
For example , Oakland County seized Uri Rafaeli ’ s home in 2014 over $ 8.41 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property for $ 24,500 – more than $ 35,000 less than Rafaeli paid for it – and then pocketed $ 24,214 .
“ Defendants have taken Plaintiffs ’ and the class members ’ property interests in the form of Equity – that is , the value of their properties to the extent they exceed the properties ’ Tax Delinquencies – and have appropriated this property for public use without the payment of just compensation in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution , ” the suit says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parcel , sell it , keep the amount of outstanding taxes plus reasonable fees , and return the rest to the property owner , ” the lawsuit says .
“ Rather , they foreclose , sell the property at a reduced amount , and keep all of the proceeds and excess/surplus equity for itself .
As a result , property owners lose the entire value of their property , which is often orders of magnitude more than the outstanding tax bills.
” The lawsuit seeks to have the Wayne County officials ’ conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state constitutions , even if being undertaken consistent with the General Property Tax Act.
” The Michigan Supreme Court in July ruled that counties withholding any surplus from tax-foreclosure sales that exceeded the amount owed constituted an “ unconstitutional taking without just compensation.
” “ These fundamental principles – that the government shall not collect more taxes than are owed , nor shall it take more property than is necessary to serve the public – protect taxpayers and property owners alike from government overreach and have remained a staple in Michigan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zahra wrote .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .
Photo “ Detroit Home ” by Jason Paris .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Ohio Announces Pandemic Grants, Governor Denounces Threats

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) — Small businesses , bars and restaurants , low-income renters , arts groups , and colleges and universities are among those eligible for $ 429 million in federal pandemic dollars being released by the state next week , Gov .
Mike DeWine and his fellow Republican legislative leaders announced Friday .
The aid package , which the governor has promised for several weeks , is scheduled to go before a bipartisan state legislative spending panel Monday .
Its passage is assured with the backing of House Speaker Bob Cupp and Senate President Larry Obhof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s virtual news conference .
The announcement came on a day when the Ohio Health Department reported 2,518 probable and confirmed cases of the coronavirus , the third consecutive day of record-high daily cases in the state .
And even as DeWine continued urging people to take measures like wearing masks and socially distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 , he found himself answering questions about an alleged plot to kidnap him , similar to a plot foiled this month against Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a Democrat .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor ’ s security , is investigating allegations contained in a report made to the Piqua Police Department , said patrol spokesman Lt. Craig Cvetan .
“ For security reasons , the Patrol does not discuss the details of threats or safety issues involving the governor , ” Cvetan said .
Piqua is in southwestern Ohio .
DeWine said he had no details about the plot , reported more than a week ago .
The governor wouldn ’ t discuss any aspect of his security .
“ We ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do every day , ” said DeWine , who called such plots despicable .
“ We are a country , a state , of the rule of law , ” he added .
“ A long tradition of that .
Anybody who wants to violate that or go around that we all have a responsibility to denounce.
” The pandemic aid is to be broken down in several ways .
For example , $ 125 million will go to small businesses of no more than 25 employees in the form of $ 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mortgages to equipment .
“ We ’ re all in this together , ” said Republican Lt. Gov .
Jon Husted , who oversees the state ’ s economic recovery efforts .
“ This is just another demonstration that we appreciate what our small businesses do in the state.
” Bars and restaurants , which are also eligible for the small business grants , are eligible for $ 2,500 each for a total of $ 37.5 million .
That amounts to about 15,000 grants .
Another $ 62 million will be distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expenses related to the coronavirus epidemic , including the purchase of personal protective equipment like gowns , gloves and medical masks .
The package also provides $ 25 million for nonprofits and another $ 20 million for arts groups , which the governor called among the state ’ s “ jewels.
” “ Many arts organizations have also been hit hard , and these dollars will help , ” DeWine said .
Andrew Welsh-Huggins is a reporter for The Associated Press .
Photo “ Mike DeWine ” by Ohio Governor ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio ” by Dan Keck .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Omar, AOC Participated in Online Event with Vlogger Who Said ‘America Deserved 9/11’

Rep. Ilhan Omar participated in an online event Tuesday night with a vlogger who once said “ America deserved 9/11.
” The event was hosted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and streamed live on Twitch , where the congresswomen played the video game “ Among Us ” with several other popular gamers .
The event was intended to motivate young voters to get to the polls and was viewed more than five million times .
At the beginning of the event , Ocasio-Cortez credited Hasan Piker with organizing the livestream , saying he “ wrangled ” it together .
Piker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channel The Young Turks , mocked Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas during an August 2019 livestream , according to The Wrap .
“ This guy has the understanding of foreign policy of , like , a 12-year-old .
What the f— , ” Piker said .
“ What the f— is wrong with this dude ?
Didn ’ t he go to war and like literally lose his eye because some mujahideen — a brave f—ing soldier — f—ed his eye hole with their d— ?
” “ America deserved 9/11 , dude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying it , ” he added .
Crenshaw is a Navy SEAL and Purple Heart recipient who lost his right eye in an IED blast in Afghanistan , his biography states .
Piker later admitted that his comments were “ inappropriate ” and that he should have “ used more precise ” language .
“ It ’ s messed up that I would even give the opportunity to the right to try to morally grandstand on an issue like this , when they are 100 % responsible for all the bloodshed that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during an appearance on The Young Turks .
Omar was harshly criticized in March of last year after she described 9/11 as “ some people did something.
” Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News .
He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller .
Photo “ Ilhan Omar ” by Ilhan Omar .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--COVID-19 Update: Virginia’s Current Outlook by the Numbers

A report from the University of Virginia ( UVA ) Biocomplexity Institute published last Friday showed that the statewide COVID-19 reproduction rate is above 1.0 ( 1.031 ) and in all regions except one , meaning the virus is spreading quickly across the Commonwealth , and classifies five out of 35 health districts as a surge .
The UVA Biocomplexity Institute also uses an adaptive model , tracing past and current trends , to predict what could happen in the future .
In that report , the model predicted there could be 202,040 total confirmed cases in Virginia by Thanksgiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Saturday ’ s count .
Currently , there are 160,843 confirmed cases , up 18 from Friday , in the state out of a population that is just over 8.5 million people , according to the Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) coronavirus dashboard .
Virginia ’ s daily case incidence rate per 100,000 people is 11.8 , considered about the high threshold of 10.0 , but cases have been decreasing for the last seven days and the 7-day moving average has been going down since October 10 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pandemic Metrics dashboard , the daily PCR test percent positivity is 5.2 percent , well below the high threshold of 10.0 percent , but percent positivity has been increasing for 12 days now .
There have been 3,578 total deaths , 3,328 confirmed and 250 probable .
After slight increases until September 9 , the 7-day moving average for deaths has been steadily decreasing , according to VDH data .
As of Saturday , 696 patients confirmed COVID positive are currently in the hospital and there has been total of 19,455 patients hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed hospitalizations has slowly been rising since the end of September , according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association ( VHHA ) dashboard .
Earlier this month the VHHA released analysis on hospitalizations from January to June , finding that 67.55 percent of coronavirus hospitalizations during those months also had high blood pressure .
In compliance with legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly during the 2020 special session , the VDH announced Friday it has created the Outbreaks in School Settings dashboard , which presents rather vague information .
It only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status of the outbreak , the date VDH was notified and then a count of cases and deaths .
As of Saturday , there have been five cases and no deaths at the Rivermont School in Lynchburg where the outbreak is considered in progress , according to the dashboard .
The UVA Biocomplexity Institute also reported that mask usage in the Commonwealth has remained stable over throughout the pandemic with between 83 and 89 percent of Virginians reporting that they use masks all or most of the time , but it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Court Decision Pending on Norfolk Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance

The Norfolk 2nd Amendment Preservation Coalition is awaiting the court ’ s decision on whether they will secure an ordinance or a special election for it .
The ordinance would restrict gun ownership regulations .
The 2nd Amendment Preservation Coalition went to court after the COVID-19 shutdowns hindered their ability to collect petition signatures to put the ordinance on the ballot .
The coalition created the ordinance after Norfolk City Council wouldn ’ t include gun regulation issues on their agendas .
According to the council rules , a majority of council members must have an interest in putting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the “ 2nd Amendment Preservation Ordinance ” would limit the city of Norfolk from regulating gun ownership .
Many counties in Virginia have instituted Second Amendment sanctuaries – the city of Norfolk hasn ’ t .
Republican Party of Norfolk Chairman and Norfolk 2nd Amendment Preservation Coalition Founder Robert Brown is heading up the litigation .
Brown shared with The Virginia Star the journey of their efforts thus far .
“ On January 29th , after being ignored by the [ city ] council multiple times , I went and gave speeches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed up .
There were a lot of people that spoke .
They [ the council ] sat there stoic and ignored us and actually got to be rude .
They would all get up and turn out the lights in their lectern and leave .
So January 29th , I filed a ballot initiative .
Norfolk is one of the places you can file an initiative to start an ordinance .
We started our petition drive and collected enough signatures , but not enough counted – you must be a registered voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign we were shut down by the governor ’ s executive orders .
On the last day of our campaign , I went to court and we asked to get our time back.
” Due to the pandemic-induced shutdowns that began in March , Brown and his coalition were prevented from obtaining the required signatures .
In their filed complaint , the coalition cited the turnout for this year ’ s city council elections to justify their claim that they would ’ ve acquired the signatures if not for the governor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The coalition also rested their arguments on the First and Fourteenth Amendments .
They argued that the law in combination with the emergency orders created an undue burden on the people ’ s ability to submit referendums properly .
They also argued that the government ’ s willingness to accommodate for voting should extend to ballot initiatives .
About three weeks ago , Brown and his legal team appeared in court .
At the end of the trial , the judge stated that a decision would be made before the election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to fight for the cause .
“ Bottom line : we ’ re trying to go back and try to get a second amendment preservation ordinance , perhaps a special election.
” Brown and the coalition are still awaiting a decision .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--The 2020 National Constitution Bee Grand Champion Declared

BRENTWOOD , Tennessee – This year ’ s annual National Constitution Bee Grand Champion was senior high school student Jackson Carter .
He received the $ 10,000 educational scholarship from the Star News Education Foundation .
Carter plans on attending the University of Alabama , where he hopes to double major in communications studies and economics .
The event took place at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Brentwood , Tennessee .
23 students ranging from eighth to twelfth grade arrived to compete .
The Tennessee Star Report host and Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emcee .
The two judges were Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students co-author Claudia Henneberry and Memphis Tea Party Founder and Chairman Mark Skoda .
Normally , the Constitution Bee is a series of competitions held in various states and culminating in the final competition for Grand Champion .
Due to the pandemic , all Round One State-level Constitution Bees were canceled .
Although this year ’ s competition was consolidated into a single competition , some students traveled as far from Illinois and Michigan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 10,000 scholarship .
Questions for the event were based on the Star News Education Foundation ’ s Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students .
The book is available for purchase on their educational website .
Supplemental podcast recordings are also available .
Prior to the main competition , students warmed up with The Preamble Challenge .
Honorary awards were given for most creative , most entertaining , and most persuasive performances of the Preamble to the Constitution .
Featured presentations included raps , orations , songs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , students competed in several rounds of questions about the Constitution .
Each round increased in difficulty .
During one break , students and attendees received a Zoom call from prominent constitutional law scholar Alan Dershowitz .
Dershowitz stated that the Constitution is both a living and a dead document .
He also discussed the Constitution ’ s design for the electoral college , and questioned the constitutionality of state laws circumventing the electoral college to achieve popular vote outcomes .
Afterwards , students had the opportunity to ask questions .
Two questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifelong appointments of justices , and Dershowitz ’ s experience defending President Trump during the impeachment trials .
Several rounds later , only 11 students remained ; the competition moved on to an essay portion .
Students were assigned various questions and given fifteen minutes to write and present a three-minute speech .
Topics included the electoral ballot and the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett .
Judges selected the remaining three contestants from presentations of essay responses .
The event concluded with the three finalists answering a randomized set of questions on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grand Champion title .
Carter told The Tennessee Star that he learned about the competition through scholarship research .
The annual Constitution Bee piqued his interest because of his interest in politics .
“ I super appreciate the Star News for putting this on .
They ’ re doing a lot of good .
It was an experience I ’ ll never forget .
For anyone who wants to join or try the competition : don ’ t hesitate .
Go get you a copy of that book and read up !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gianna Ross .
She received a $ 5,000 educational scholarship .
Ross shared with The Star that she ’ d heard about the competition through The Tennessee Star Report on the way home from school .
She hopes to attend a college on the West Coast with her best friend .
Third place went to high school sophomore Alea VanDeVelde .
She received a $ 2,500 educational scholarship , and expressed a desire to attend Liberty University in Virginia .
“ It was so much fun , being able to look forward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week , and made a vacation out of it !
” The remaining competitors were Kyu Carlo Alegre , Linda Kingma , Clyde Kelly , Noah Raby , Reese Avery , Kyle Brukl , Fairlight Atkins , Annalise Wade , Daniel Teayes , Blake Cragen , William Guynn , Shane Tanner , William Chase Mathis , Grace Estes , Nathan Shepperd , Madalene Sisemore , Joseph Semler , Sloan Hoesel , Allison Hoesel , and Benjamin Barry .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or email tips to [ email protected ] .