thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Steve Bannon Presents: CCP’s War Against the World

An all new LIVE STREAM of War Room : Pandemic starts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Saturday .
Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon began the daily War Room : Pandemic radio show and podcast on January 25 , when news of the virus was just beginning to leak out of China around the Lunar New Year .
Bannon and co-hosts bring listeners exclusive analysis and breaking updates from top medical , public health , economic , national security , supply chain and geopolitical experts weekdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ET .
The show ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voice News , the John Fredericks Radio Network , Salem Media Group , and Newsmax TV and the podcast is available on Apple , Spotify , Stitcher , SoundCloud , and Google Play .
You can watch past episodes here .
Previously , Bannon hosted a series of three , two-hour long special programs entitled Descent into Hell : The Chinese People Confront the CCP .
The groundbreaking specials aired live on the John Fredericks Radio Network , America ’ s Voice Network , Dish TV Channel 219 , The Epoch Times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandarin .
For more information , visit www.pandemic.warroom.org and @ WarRoomPandemic .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Commentary: It’s Time for the Samuel Adams Option

In 2018 , Rod Dreher published The Benedict Option : A Strategy for Christians Living in a Post-Christian World .
In it , he argued that Christians needed to recognize that this is a post-Christian society , and that they should withdraw as much as possible from it and build up private Christian communities .
His inspiration for this concept is Saint Benedict of Nursia , who founded 12 different communities for monks , which became repositories of learning and civilization during the barbarism that ensued after the collapse of the Roman Empire .
Ayn Rand , in 1957 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She too , foresaw a sclerotic and decadent United States in which individualism , excellence , and market forces were subjected to collectivist views of equity and “ fairness.
” She envisioned the creative and business geniuses of America withdrawing to a valley called Galt ’ s Gulch and going on strike .
There is something deeply attractive about withdrawing from a sick culture and society .
Why bother with people who do not share your values and don ’ t understand or appreciate your point of view ?
Countries rise and fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans are well-off and do not want to rock the boat in any way .
Maybe the storm will burn itself out and Christianity , constitutionalism , and the American Dream will make a comeback organically .
But there is no remote monastery .
There is no Galt ’ s Gulch .
Rather , choosing the Benedict Option ultimately leads to destruction , marginalization , ridicule , or silence—because for the Left , Christians , conservatives , and mainstream Americans in general are the enemy .
As long as America is committed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it will naturally oppose statism , crony capitalism , and corruption .
It will inherently oppose unchecked power .
Instead of the Benedict Option , mainstream Americans who are interested in preserving their country should consider the “ Samuel Adams Option.
” In the 1760s , the British Empire was the most powerful political and military force in the western world .
The British navy , treasury , and technology were second to none .
Like an anaconda , the king and parliament were slowly strangling the rights of the colonists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their restrictions on American commerce , currency , and self-determination .
They were aided and abetted by up to 30 percent of the colonists who called themselves Tories .
So what did Samuel Adams and other patriots do ?
• They formed Committees of Correspondence—connecting patriots to each other across the different towns and villages within individual colonies and with each other .
• They developed their own media to promote “ the rights of the colonists , and of this province [ Massachusetts ] in particular , as men , as Christians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and publish the same to the several towns in this province and to the world as the sense of this town.
” • They protected themselves from the “ cancel culture ” of their era by often using pseudonyms and forming secret societies .
• They used symbolic acts of resistance like the Boston Tea Party to mobilize public opinion .
• They worked within the system as much as possible—petitioning allies within the British government .
• They published the names and exposed the merchants who imported British goods and undermined American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same today .
Instead of a monarchy , the radical leftist ideology that has swept through the commanding heights of academia , Hollywood , the media , and big business basically aspires to establish what Tocqueville might have called a “ soft despotism ” through one-party rule .
Peter Leyden and Ruy Teixeira in 2018 outlined the idea of emulating California ’ s Democratic super-majority across the country .
The project is incomplete , but the country has moved from its historic center-right orientation to one where conservative students in even a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel the need to self-censor .
Americans have to realize they are facing a different kind of anaconda .
The Samuel Adams Option has to be deployed at the ideological level first .
The injustices and undermining of liberty of the Leftist Establishment have to be exposed , documented , and circulated .
This entails that the manipulative Orwellian use of language and framing of the Left needs to be rejected and confronted .
Concepts like “ privilege , ” “ love , ” “ racism , ” and “ sexism , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defensive , mainstream Americans have to push back on leftists to prove their ideas will actually improve society .
It is the leftists who are seeking to undermine the intellectual engines that have made the United States the greatest country in the world today .
If America is going to be free , the leftist grip on education through the teachers ’ unions , Hollywood , the media , and the human resources departments of almost every major corporation needs to be broken .
In some cases , this may mean the creation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In others , it may be through the application of antitrust law .
In still others , it may be by creating a consumer union , using research by groups like Second Vote .
The comedian Greg Gutfeld recently summarized the need to confront , band together , and retaliate against leftist media trolls , not just out of self-defense , but as a matter of setting the record straight and pushing back against injustice .
For too long , mainstream Americans who just want to go about their daily lives , do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice their faith , and enjoy the blessings of this country have ignored the warning signs .
They have been confused by leftists masquerading as liberals , and they have not realized that they have been targeted , manipulated , and divided in order to advance an ideology designed to transfer power and control from the people according to the dictates of an unaccountable leftist establishment .
The time has come to wake up .
Know your enemy .
Retreat is not an option .
Choose the Samuel Adams Option and fight back—intelligently @

by Scott McClallen
First, COVID-19 disrupted classes in 2020, and now it’s teachers keeping kids out of class in 2022.
More than 29,000 Minneapolis students couldn’t attend class Monday as a teachers’ union strike entered its 10th school day.
The striking teachers are seeking a “living wage,” smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools.”
The strike began March 8 with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) and Education Support Professionals (ESP) saying the groups were demanding “a living wage” for ESPs, smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools,” the union posted on Facebook.
In a video posted on Facebook page Sunday, union officials said they want ESPs to have a minimum $35,000 annual salary.
Teacher Chapter President Greta Callahan said parties have been negotiating.
“This contract needs to get settled,” Callahan said. “We want kids back in school and it feels like we are the only ones acting like that right now.”
Average teacher salaries in St. Paul are $85,000, compared to the average Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) teacher salary of $71,535.
World Population Review says the average Minnesota teacher makes $59,221.
The Sahan Journal reported that despite the high teacher salary, raises for the Minneapolis district have lagged in recent years.
MPS said it shared its “last, best, and final” offer on Sunday that includes: 2% cost of living increases, with up to 12% raises for new teachers, in year one of the contract and 2% increases for all in the second year.
Increase starting wages for 85% of current ESPs to $23 per hour or more, bringing most full-time ESPs close to $35,000 annually.
Increase wages over two years between 8.2% and 34.6% (depending on job classification), with an average increase of 15.6%.
Move the lowest-paid ESPs from $15.45 per hour to $18 per hour.
Pay ESPs $6,000 in bonuses ($3,000 in each of the next 2 years).
$3.5 million to additional hours for ESPs.
Four additional paid duty days for professional development.
“We know that our students want to be back in school with their teachers and ESPs and our staff desperately want to see our students,” Minneapolis School Board Chair Kim Ellison said in a video. “We believe this is the fastest way possible to get our students back to school.”
The proposal would cost $9.3 million in the first year and $13.4 million in the second.
“MPS is reaching beyond its financial means on behalf of our ESPs and will need to make more than $10 million in reductions for the next school year as a result,” the MPS website says.
“We’ll be back out on the line tomorrow fighting for safe and stable schools!” the MFT tweeted Sunday.
The state’s education funding formula is based on enrollment, which has declined at MPS from 32,732 in 2019 to in 2022, 29,100.
The school doesn’t have data on where the roughly 3,632 kids who left went, MPS media coordinator Crystina Lugo-Beach told The Center Square in an email.
MPS said all pre-K through 12th classes would be canceled “for the duration of the strike.” Axios reported that the district is facing a a $21.5 million budget deficit for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
– – –
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 “Minneapolis Public Schools” by Minneapolis Public Schools.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Attorney Jim Roberts Weighs in on Mayor John Cooper’s Press Conference Referring to Taxpayer Protect

Attorney Jim Roberts Weighs in on Mayor John Cooper’s Press Conference Referring to Taxpayer Protection Act as ‘Poison Pill’

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Nashville attorney Jim Roberts to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Roberts weighed in on the recent press conference by Mayor John Cooper using the words “ steal election ” and “ poison pill ” to give the Taxpayer Protection Act initiative a negative light .
Leahy : We are in studio on Music Row here with Jim Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protection Act .
20,000 signatures have been submitted .
You only need 11,500 to get your charter amendment on the ballot December 5 .
And Davidson County residents can vote for a repeal of the 34 percent property tax increase reducing it back to two percent .
That looks pretty good .
Let ’ s assume this .
Let ’ s assume that the election commission plays it straight and they say , yes you ’ ve got plenty of signatures here .
You qualify .
And they are prepared to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December to declare that this charter amendment will go on the ballot December 5 .
What kind of skulduggery can Nashville Mayor John Cooper engage in to stop that legal process behind the scenes ?
Roberts : Well I think it ’ s going to be hard for him to pull any sort of stunts .
I can say when the election commission was controlled and it is a partisan body , so it ’ s controlled based on the legislature .
And at one time it was controlled by the Democrats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About 20 years ago I was in the election commission in a meeting .
I was there when Karl Dean called up and called the head of the commission and told him to keep someone off the ballot .
Roberts : Former Mayor .
Absolutely illegal .
We sued them over it and forced a recall of the ballot and got this person put on the ballot .
It was illegal .
And it was done intentionally .
Leahy : I thought he was a bastion of moral virtue .
( Laughs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of respect for him that day .
And that was the kind of stuff that maybe went on 20 years ago .
Leahy : But Mayor John Cooper in my view is far worse .
He ’ s an authoritarian dictatorial type in my view .
But here ’ s what he said about your charter amendment .
Here ’ s a quote from him yesterday he said , “ ultimately I do worry that the result of this is just forcing stealth election on Nashville .
A very expensive stealth election on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a poison pill.
” Let me just stop for a moment .
Stealth ?
How can a duly authorized legal election be called a stealth election ?
What ’ s the mayor doing with that ?
Roberts : I have no idea .
That ’ s the craziest thing I ’ ve ever heard .
What the mayor should be explaining to people is that if his own department of law would have not litigated this issue we probably could have had this vote on November 3 along with the federal election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law that prevented that .
We didn ’ t want to have this election on December 5 .
And that was a choice .
Leahy : And that was a prior Democratic administration but nonetheless , he ’ s in that long line of authoritarian democrat tax erasing control of Davidson County .
Here ’ s what else Mayor Cooper said yesterday .
“ It ’ s not just about the property taxes .
It has all kinds of stuff on it that is quite frankly a poison pill for our city.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love the fact that restraining the council and the mayor ’ s ability to waste money is a poison pill .
If that ’ s what that is then let me hand him a glass of water with it .
Roberts : Expect all the hysteria .
Children starving in the street and old people falling into the rivers .
It ’ s going to be the same sort of nonsense that we always see .
The bottom line is that this is the Taxpayer Protection Act .
It does certain things to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend in foolish ways .
It doesn ’ t on core government functions .
If they want to build a police station , go right ahead .
If they want to build a firewall , a schoolroom , or a medical facility , go right ahead .
But if you want to give away money to Amazon or to billionaires you just might have to run that by the people with a vote .
That ’ s what Mayor Cooper doesn ’ t want to do .
He doesn ’ t want the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : He doesn ’ t want to be accountable at all .
This follows on a quote from his press conference .
Have you heard his comments yet ?
Roberts : No .
This is the first I ’ ve heard of them .
Leahy : Get ready .
I ’ m going to break this into two more sentences .
“ Everyone who serves the city , mayor Cooper said yesterday .
Every teacher .
Every police officer .
And every citizen of the city would need to be deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Roberts : I think every citizen should be deeply concerned about raising taxes 34 percent in a down economy .
We have been the ” ‘ it ” city for five or ten years ?
We were the center of the universe .
Everybody wants to come to Nashville .
We ’ ve had incredible growth and tax revenues and we squandered that .
So every citizen , firefighter , and teacher should be asking the question , why did you people squander 10 good years of prosperity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Everyone should be concerned .
We are $ 3.6 billion in debt .
Nashville has over half the amount that the entire state has .
There is your problem .
There is your future right there .
Thank you council .
Thank you , Cooper .
Leahy : This one ’ s really quite a gem .
This comment from Mayor Cooper .
( Chuckles ) Kind of what you said earlier about giving him a glass of water .
( Roberts laughs ) He kind of stepped into it with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We want to create a great city going forward in the 21st century and not create a backwater and have us swallow unintentionally a poison pill particularly through a stealth election.
” Roberts : I love that .
That ’ s the first I ’ ve heard of a stealth election .
I ’ m pretty sure we are going to be publicizing it .
We believe that about 85 percent of the voters are in favor of it .
We are going to do our level best to make sure every single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on December 5 .
Comes out for this election December 5 .
And votes for the repeal of this terrible tax increase .
And so I don ’ t know how stealth it ’ s going to be .
We are expecting a huge turnout .
What I think he means by that is that he wasn ’ t in control of it .
He wasn ’ t behind it .
The council wasn ’ t behind it .
But somehow when the people speak up it ’ s something bad .
Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ballot initiative process .
This is about governmental incompetence .
This would not be needed if our council and our mayors , and not just Cooper , but prior mayors had acted in a responsible fashion .
Their lack of leadership and stewardship is why this is necessary .
It ’ s not a secret .
It ’ s not stealth .
It ’ s in your face .
Leahy : And it ’ s hypocritical because through his governmental actions , but I think many of those are illegal .
Shutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nashville have seen their revenues by 50 to 75 to 100 percent .
And yet the city government , he wants to increase property taxes by 34 percent .
And the over expenditures during this terrible period have increased five percent .
That is reckless in my view .
Roberts : Absolutely .
If you look at the mayor ’ s budget in June there were $ 100 million in new spending .
There was a misestimate of what the tax revenue was going to be .
Knowing what we know right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending and we knew what that tax revenue was going to be that 34 percent would have been about a 10 percent increase .
Leahy : You can see in his focus group consultant created messaging here the key themes that he will be articulating from now until we think the likely charter amendment election .
Stealth election .
Very expensive stealth election .
Poison pill .
I promise you , these were not words that he was thinking of .
They brought his political consultants in and said how can we disparage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they came up with .
Roberts : Like I said .
We don ’ t really plan on making it a stealth election .
We are encouraging every single person we know to come out and vote .
We are going to have yard signs and rallies and things you do when you are trying to motivate people .
I hope it ’ s not a secret .
A listen to the poison pill .
Taking away money from irresponsible government officials is like taking loaded guns away from children .
You sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : You have to do it .
Roberts : You just can ’ t reason with them .
Leahy : It ’ s interesting you say that .
I ’ ve come to the view that elected leaders in or appointed leaders in Democratically controlled cities around the country have a mental health problem .
They lack common sense .
Leahy : You nailed it .
It ’ s the system .
I ’ ll take that .
It ’ s not necessarily the individuals .
It ’ s the system that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Listen to the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Freedom Works Adam Brandon Describes Leaving the White House in Fear While Terrorized by Protesters

Live from Virginia Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed President and CEO of Freedom Works , Adam Brandon to the show .
During the segment , Brandon recounted the horrific scene of violent protesters outside of the White House after the President gave his RNC acceptance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us now live Freedom Works CEO Adam Brandon .
Adam great to have you with us man .
Brandon : Hey , thanks very much .
What I called to talk about is my walk home from the speech last night .
Because I can not say that I ’ ve been that scared in a long time .
I got spit on .
I got chased .
If it wasn ’ t for our hotel security guy that took a look and saw me coming down the road and opened the door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gotten to me .
And then I ’ m reading The Washington Post that it was a mostly peaceful demonstration .
Fredericks : Its a total lie !
They had all sorts of weapons and things .
I ’ m 6 ’ 2 265 .
You ’ ve met me .
I ’ m a pretty big guy .
So I wasn ’ t really concerned .
But there were other people that were petrified there the last evening .
Women that couldn ’ t get to their hotel .
I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what your route was .
Brandon : I came out from the side of the treasury .
I parked down that way walking towards the Capitol .
And it was actually pretty terrifying .
All I can think about is God bless the secret service .
They were legitimately concerned for us and our safety .
And the other thing I observed was the security guard at the razor wire .
It felt more like a military installation at that point .
When they opened the door , first of all , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The obscenities that were being hurled at the secret service agents that served Obama .
Would have served Clinton .
They just serve the White House .
What they were being yelled at was horrific .
But then when I got out there , was a group of us who left and that ’ s when the spitting began .
That ’ s when the pushing began .
And then I kind of know my way around D.C. so I cut back on an alley .
Next thing you know I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a street .
And I thought I got myself out of mayhem .
Then all of a sudden I hear some guys starting to run after me .
And that ’ s when I literally had to run .
I was halfway down the block by the G.W .
Marriott and one of the security guards just opened the door and let me in .
It was really terrifying .
Fredericks : The thing is when you are in D.C. Of course , we were at the White House it wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry .
There are no guns allowed .
You are completely helpless .
You realize when you get here and you are in that situation how important it is to have a weapon .
You feel secure whether it ’ s concealed carry or not .
Or you feel secure but you are out here as a sitting duck because you have no protection .
What I ’ m shocked with is that they knew this was going on .
And the secret service were fantastic but when you got five or six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets down so there were no cars , right ?
Fredericks : And they do that so they can control the mob .
But it backfired .
Then there is nobody there and then there are no cops there .
There are marauding mobs walking around with bottles and bats just walking around with no cops and no cars .
And you are completely helpless .
Brandon : I was so glad when I got home that there were some journalists from Townhall who had a phone and was recording what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I started texting some of my friends saying you would not have believed it .
Then to see The Washington Post saying it was a peaceful protest .
John , someone constructed a guillotine on the streets .
The Robespierre chop your head off guillotine .
I was thinking if you would have done that during the Obama years that would have been on the front page of The New York Times .
But for some reason that was considered a peaceful protest .
That is just about intimidation .
And then I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that came down to stop fascism .
And I ’ m sitting there in my car feeling like I can not believe that is what Germany must have felt like in the 1930s .
When you had mobs rolling around just preying on people that got caught on their own .
I wanted to talk about the president ’ s speech and the event last night .
But you know I got to live the dystopian version of America just in those few blocks walking to my car and the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
And if that ’ s the way D.C. is right now I can only imagine what Portland is like today .
Fredericks : Not only is the media not picking it up but they are lying about it .
I haven ’ t seen The Post today , but mostly peaceful protesters .
I mean it was anything but peaceful .
You walked out of that thing and it was shocking for a lot of people because some friends of mine from out of town from different states and they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here so we ’ ve been through the riots and the protests .
And people are nasty and you get spit on and all that .
We ’ ve kind of been through it .
A lot of these people come to the White House and it ’ s exciting to hear the president ’ s speech .
Now they are trying to get out and they ’ re like what the hell is this ?
They fear for their lives and their safety .
Brandon : I just wonder about the D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up this perimeter that I didn ’ t get to see a D.C. police officer until a couple of blocks away driving .
It was Mad Max .
Fredericks : The only D.C. police presence inside , I ’ ll call it inside the perimeter .
Again , I had to walk from whatever we were 17th Street , I had to walk to 10th and K to get a ride .
Alright ?
That ’ s where it finally opened up .
So I had to go to 10th and K. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So they have a perimeter .
You can ’ t get in .
No cars there .
But then the only police presence where the cops in cars at the blocking entrance .
But nobody on the street .
So if you are caught walking inside that perimeter there is nothing .
And there is nothing open .
Everything is shut down and boarded up so you can ’ t go in anywhere .
There are no cops .
And you can ’ t have a weapon .
You are stuck there and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you can ’ t get out .
You can ’ t get a ride in because nobody can go in .
It was a dangerous situation , right ?
Brandon : It ’ s scary that that ’ s Washington , D.C. That ’ s the White House .
That ’ s a peaceful political event and you come outside and that ’ s what you get into .
And it just shows you what is at stake with the election .
Can you imagine what will happen when Trump wins re-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Oh my .
These folks were not there to try and educate or have a dialogue with anyone .
It was about straight intimidation .
Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Longest-Serving Prime Minister, Announces His Resignation

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe announced his decision to step down from the post Friday , citing the return of a health problem , the Associated Press reported .
“ It is gut-wrenching to have to leave my job before accomplishing my goals , ” Abe said during a news conference announcing his decision , mentioning ongoing tensions with North Korea and a border dispute with Russia .
Abe said that he has had ulcerative colitis throughout most of his life and that he recently began a treatment that requires IV injections , AP reported .
Though he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem , he said a check-up in June revealed that the condition had worsened .
“ Faced with the illness and treatment , as well as the pain of lacking physical strength… I decided that I should not stay on as prime minister when I ’ m no longer capable of living up to the people ’ s expectations with confidence , ” Abe said .
Abe ’ s resignation marks the end of his eight-year tenure which saw a strengthened relationship with the United States but heightened tensions between Japan and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and both North and South Korea , AP reported .
It also comes as an economic recession has erased most of the gains made under his leadership due to the coronavirus pandemic , according to AP .
While the country found initial success in curbing the virus ’ s spread , cases have jumped again in recent weeks , according to a Johns Hopkins University database .
Abe is expected to keep his post until a new leader is elected and approved by the Japanese Parliament , AP reported .
His term was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He became the country ’ s longest-serving prime minister by consecutive days on Monday , eclipsing his great-uncle who held the position from 1964-1972 , according to AP .
In his statement , Abe said that he would “ continue his political activity and support a new administration as a lawmaker.
” Andrew Trunksy is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Betsy DeVos ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--District Court Blocks Betsy DeVos COVID Rule on Private School Funds

A judge blocked an Education Secretary Betsy DeVos policy on Wednesday that transfers COVID-19 relief funds from public school districts to private schools , Politico reported .
U.S. District Judge James Donato of the U.S. District Court Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction for the plaintiffs , order Thursday , blocking release of additional relief funding to private schools .
Under DeVos ’ policy , local educational agencies , like school districts , were to distribute a portion of funds from two programs to private schools under the CARES Act , according to the court documents .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending litigation , the Secretary has said many times , this pandemic affected all students , and the CARES Act requires that funding should be used to help all students , ” U.S. Department of Education press secretary Angela Morabito told the DCNF .
Morabito added that private schools should also be able to use COVID-19 relief funds from the CARES Act to help all their students like public schools do .
“ It is simply wrong to discriminate against kids and their taxpaying parents solely because they chose a school that worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option , ” Morabito continued .
Attorney General Dana Nessel of Michigan , one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit , praised Donato ’ s order in Twitter post Thursday .
“ This is good news for our kids , our educators and families in districts who need this funding most , ” Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer said in a press release .
“ CARES Act dollars are designed to provide support to districts in low-income areas .
Betsy DeVos ’ rule would have stripped dollars away from schools in need of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share our priorities for protecting and improving public education .
I will continue to work closely with Attorney General Nessel to protect our students , educators , and support staff and ensure CARES Act funding is used to support schools in low-income communities , ” Whitmer continued , according to the press release .
“ Michigan ’ s share of the $ 30.75 billion that the CARES Act allocates to K-12 schools is $ 390 million , ” Ryan Jarvi , press secretary for the Michigan Attorney General ’ s Office , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Michigan non-public schools should receive $ 5.1 million , ” Jarvi said .
That calculation takes into account the number of low-income students , not the whole number of students going to non-public schools , a method local school districts use when allocating certain funds , Jarvi said .
“ In addition to the $ 5.1 million for non-public schools , the DeVos rule would divert an additional $ 16.5 ( million ) of the federal CARES Act funding from public schools in Michigan and instead give the funding to more financially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The additional distribution of funds to nonpublic schools under DeVos ’ rule “ would be the equivalent of laying off 466 teachers from public schools in Flint , Michigan , ” Donato said in his order .
Eight states are part of the lawsuit against DeVos , as well as the District of Columbia , the Cleveland Municipal School District Board of Education , Chicago Public Schools , the New York City Department of Education and the San Francisco Unified School District , according to court documents .
The U.S. District Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately respond to the DCNF .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Betsy DeVos ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Sandmann Lawyer L. Lin Wood Offers to Represent 17-Year-Old Kenosha Shooter Pro Bono

The attorney who is representing Covington Catholic teen Nick Sandmann has offered to represent the Kenosha gunman Kyle Rittenhouse pro bono .
Rittenhouse , a 17-year-old Illinois resident , was arrested by police on Wednesday for first-degree murder after he allegedly fatally shot two rioters , and wounded another in Kenosha , Wisconsin , Tuesday evening .
The shooting took place around 11:45 p.m. near a car dealership as antifa/BLM rioters rampaged through town for the third night in a row following the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake .
According to independent journalists reporting from the scene , Rittenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was there to protect local businesses .
He was also spotted cleaning graffiti the day of the shooting .
L. Lin Wood announced on Twitter Thursday morning that his colleague John Pierce had assembled a legal team to defend Rittenhouse , and they were ready to fly out to Wisconsin to meet with the family as soon as tonight .
He and his team are currently trying to make contact with the Rittenhouse family .
Wood announced the formation of the # FightBack Foundation in a series of tweets last week , explaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote social welfare through advocacy for fair treatment of individuals & entities with respect to their civil & constitutional rights , ” concerning a number of civil rights violations against conservatives .
Wood said that the foundation would also provide resources to aid individuals pursuing litigation relating to defamation .
The attorney has sued a number of news organizations for defamation against his client Sandmann related to their maliciously sloppy and inaccurate reporting following his viral confrontation with Native American activist Nathan Phillips in Washington DC following the March For Life , last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN have settled with Sandmann for undisclosed terms in $ 250 million lawsuits .
In a subsequent tweet Thursday , Wood noted that conservative writer and commentator Michelle Malkin was also helping with the effort .
“ This young man needs & deserves courageous legal counsel who will fight for him .
John is ready to do so & others will join him , ” Wood wrote .
“ The fight is for Kyle and for ALL Freedom Loving Americans.
” The New York Times on Thursday published a excellent timeline of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night of the shooting .
The timeline strongly suggests that the boy , who was there to protect businesses and care for the wounded , acted in self-defense .
At any rate , a fair reading of the circumstances that led to the shooting would conclude that the charge of murder in the first degree is way off the mark .
Wednesday evening , Wood indicated on Twitter that he would do what he could to help the teen pro bono .
“ If there is something I can do , Kyle will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Linn tweeted .
“ God has blessed me with enough & enough is always enough .
These charges must be dismissed as video clearly shows justified acts of self-defense .
When dismissed , accusers should be held accountable & they should pay.
” All three of the agitators shot by Rittenhouse had criminal records for crimes such as sexual abuse of a minor , domestic abuse , and gun offenses .
Agitators in Kenosha took to the streets Wednesday night for the fourth night in a row , marching through residential areas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shining lasers into houses to wake up the neighborhood .
” I will do what I can but we must ALL do whatever we can to # FightBack , ” Lynn declared in a tweet Thursday .
“ This is going to get worse before it gets better .
We are ALL in this together .
Pray for Kyle Rittenhouse .
Pray for our country.
” Wood posted an update on Twitter Thursday afternoon announcing that the Rittenhouse family had been contacted and “ help is on the way.
” “ Kyle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wood tweeted .
“ We owe him a legal defense.
” The attorney went on to beckon conservatives “ to continue to pray for your fellow citizens.
” “ Pray for our President .
Pray for our country , ” Wood wrote .
“ And always , always , always # FightBack .
We will not go quietly in the night .
We are Americans .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Pelosi Suggests Canceling Presidential Debates: ‘I Don’t Think That There Should Be Any’

Biden said later that he will debate Trump .
“ I don ’ t think there should be any debates .
I do not think the president of the United States has comported himself in a way that anybody has any association with truth , evidence , data and facts .
I wouldn ’ t legitimize a conversation with him nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States , ” Pelosi said .
“ I know the Biden campaign thinks in a different way about this .
But I just thought what [ Trump ] he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton like that .
I was disappointed the press didn ’ t say , ‘ Go back to your station .
You don ’ t own this stage .
You have your own podium .
She has hers , ’ ” she also said .
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy responded to Pelosi advising Biden not to debate Trump .
“ President Trump ’ s passion , energy , and debate skills are unmatched .
It ’ s no surprise that Pelosi wants to keep Biden in the basement , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newt Gingrich weighed in on Pelosi ’ s advice as well .
“ The Pelosi suggestion Biden should not debate President Trump is the beginning of Operation Basement Part Two .
If only they can keep Biden hidden long enough he might win , ” he wrote on Twitter .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Commentary: Chaos v. Order on the Ballot … Again

Richard J. Daley , the old-school mayor of Chicago , told the city ’ s superintendent during the riots that followed Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s assassination to “ shoot to kill any arsonists ” and “ shoot to maim or cripple anyone looting.
” Another of President Lyndon Johnson ’ s staunchest allies offered a similarly sanguine prescription to the unrest taking place on campus that same month .
“ It would have been a wonderful thing , ” longshoreman philosopher Eric Hoffer later testified before a Senate committee about the Columbia University student takeover , “ if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mad and got a gun and killed a few.
” They don ’ t make Democrats like they used to .
But occasionally years , and usually not the good ones , reincarnate .
Vice President Mike Pence summed up 2020 as “ this year like no other ” during his Republican National Convention speech this week .
But a 1968 vibe , when riots challenged a shared ethos of law , order , and patriotism , reverberates in the 2020 campaign .
The current capital of the Disunited States of America sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Chicago .
And now ( as then ) , the zeitgeist seduces powerful voices to abdicate responsibility .
“ We must dismantle systemic racism , ” Joe Biden reacted to Kenosha .
Tony Evers , speaking like a Wisconsin Ph.D. and not the governor of Wisconsin , chalked up the destruction to the “ pain , anguish , and exhaustion of being black.
” Lt. Gov .
Mandela Barnes told the public that Jacob Blake , the man shot after resisting arrest , really attempted to “ deescalate ” a tense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad police work , ” he said Monday night .
“ This felt like some sort of vendetta taken out on a member of our community.
” The fire called for water .
The politicians brought gasoline .
The rhetorical accelerant spread very real destruction , even if CNN managed to place a chyron reading “ Fiery But Mostly Peaceful Protests After Police Shooting ” under a reporter wearing protective gear in front a scene from Escape From New York meets Towering Inferno .
Two “ peaceful ” protesters died in Kenosha on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge chunk of meat from his arm , and a 17-year-old , from several towns away in Illinois , now sits in jail on charges that he “ murdered ” two men who first used deadly force against him — all the result of a peculiar legal taxonomy , white-on-white crime .
In addition to mud runs and farmer ’ s markets , stuff white people like includes show-offy intrusions into other people ’ s causes in the name of some platitude masquerading as a principle .
This describes all parties , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enthusiasm for the most powerful narcotic of all : self-righteousness .
We now know four heretofore anonymous people for the worst moments of their lives because they imagined themselves as doing good .
Bad things happen after curfew .
The last recorded words of Tuesday ’ s first civil rights martyr ?
“ Shoot me [ n-word ] .
” It lacks the plaintive pull of “ I can ’ t breathe.
” But this is 2020 , when “ peaceful protest ” encompasses Molotov cocktails , “ civil rights ” means depriving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” loudly issue racial slurs rather than take offense to them .
An aggressive white man in Kenosha , Wisconsin , allegedly seen on video hurling a fiery item at a white teenager moments before the cornered , scared youngster shot him in the head , repeatedly yelled that racial slur in the presence of unruffled African Americans at a Black Lives Matter gathering near a used-car lot .
The teenager , along with other armed men , impeded , at least temporarily , the mob from its ambition of torching some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which really enlightened people understand as a First Amendment–protected expression of anti-racism but everyone else regards as just , well , incendiary .
The shooter initially checks on the 36-year-old man he shot .
The mob descends on him .
He raises his hands in a surrendering motion .
The mob chases the self-defender .
Pursuers yell , “ Get his ass , ” “ Get ’ em , ” “ Get that dude , ” and other verbal cues indicating that the critics of police brutality do not so much dislike the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ police.
” As the gunman flees the mob , he endures a punch from one individual .
Another , who smashes him over the head with a skateboard , endures a lethal bullet wound to the chest .
Another vigilante pursuer stops his chase mere feet from the downed gunman after hearing a shot and then again approaches , which results in a bullet taking out a massive chunk of his arm .
We know this happened because the real media , in this case Elijah Schaffer ( the Andy Ngo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others , documented what the fake media tries to distort .
We see with our own eyes that a man throws a fiery projectile at the 17-year-old before he shoots his pursuer and that another adult slams a skateboard over the head of the kid who shoots him .
The facts really complicate the narrative .
None dare call that justifiable homicide , at least none in the beleaguered criminal justice system in Southeastern Wisconsin .
A jury likely does .
When the Antifa hits the fan , everybody wants law and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouted , “ Call the cops , ” when comrades took bullets .
That ’ s how anarchy always ends , with a dose , and hopefully not an overdose , of law and order .
In 1968 , Americans ended the lawlessness by voting for Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew .
Fifty-two years later , Donald Trump and Mike Pence , at their re-coronating convention , offered disincentives rather than rewards to the rioters , looters , and arsonists .
More than a half century ago , some Democrats warned against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the back .
“ Senator [ Abraham ] Ribicoff displayed historical illiteracy when he accused Mayor Daley and the Chicago police of being Gestapo , ” Eric Hoffer explained in the aftermath of the riots in Chicago during 1968 ’ s Democratic National Convention .
“ It was precisely because the Weimar Republic had no Daleys and no Chicago police to fight in battles in Germany ’ s cities during the 1920s that the Nazis and their Gestapo came to power.
” Joe Biden needs to pick what Democrat he wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hoffer type or the Abraham Ribicoff and George McGovern type .
One either learns from history or becomes it .
– – – Daniel J. Flynn , a senior editor of The American Spectator , is the author of Cult City : Harvey Milk , Jim Jones , and 10 Days That Shook San Francisco ( ISI Books , 2018 ) , The War on Football ( Regnery , 2013 ) , Blue Collar Intellectuals ( ISI Books , 2011 ) , A Conservative History of the American Left ( Crown Forum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forum , 2004 ) , and Why the Left Hates America ( Prima Forum , 2002 ) .
His articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times , Chicago Tribune , Boston Globe , New York Post , City Journal , National Review , and his own website , www.flynnfiles.com .
Photo “ Police-Protester Showdown ” by Becker1999 .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Laura Victims May Go Weeks Without Power; U.S. Deaths Reach 14

LAKE CHARLES , Louisiana ( AP ) — The Louisiana coastline devastated by Hurricane Laura began a long and gloomy recovery Friday as hundreds of thousands of people still without water and power confronted the possibility that basic services may not return for weeks or even longer .
The number of dead climbed to at least 14 .
A day after the Category 4 storm hit , more bodies emerged in the aftermath in Louisiana and neighboring Texas .
The deaths included five people killed by fallen trees and one person who drowned in a boat .
Eight people died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation of generators , including three inside a Texas pool hall , where authorities say the owner had let seven Vietnamese shrimp boat laborers and homeless men take shelter .
The other four were in critical condition .
The lack of essential resources was grim for the many evacuated residents eager to return .
Chad Peterson planned to board up a window and head to Florida .
“ There ’ s no power .
There ’ s no water .
There ’ s no utilities , ” he said .
Thousands of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gulf Coast returned to homes without roofs , roads littered with debris and the likelihood of a harsh recovery that could take months .
Lawrence “ Lee ” Faulk came back to a home with no roof in hard-hit Cameron Parish , which was littered with downed power lines .
His metal storage building , 24 feet square , was thrown into a neighbor ’ s oak trees .
“ We need help , ” Faulk said .
“ We need ice , water , blue tarps — everything that you would associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like two hours ago.
” The White House said President Donald Trump would visit the region Saturday and survey the damage .
Simply driving in Lake Charles , a city of 80,000 residents that sustained some of the worst damage , was a feat .
Power lines and trees blocked paths or created one-lane roads that drivers had to navigate with oncoming traffic .
Street signs were snapped off their perches or dangled , and no stoplights worked , making it a trust exercise with those sharing the roads .
Mayor Nic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for restoring electricity and that water-treatment plants “ took a beating , ” resulting in barely a trickle of water coming out of most faucets .
“ If you come back to Lake Charles to stay , make sure you understand the above reality and are prepared to live in it for many days , probably weeks , ” Hunter wrote on Facebook .
Caravans of utility trucks were met Friday by thunderstorms in the sizzling heat , complicating recovery efforts .
Forty nursing homes were also relying on generators , and assessments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 860 residents in 11 facilities that had been evacuated could return .
Water outages remained a major problem in evacuated facilities , the Louisiana Department of Health said .
Meanwhile , the hurricane ’ s remnants threatened to bring flooding and tornadoes to Tennessee as the storm , now a tropical depression , drifted north .
Forecasters warned that the system could strengthen into a tropical storm again upon returning to the Atlantic Ocean this weekend .
In the storm ’ s wake , more than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to poweroutage.us , which tracks utility reports .
The Louisiana Department of Health estimated that more than 220,000 people were without water .
Restoration of those services could take weeks or months , and full rebuilding could take years .
Ira Lyles returned to find that his downtown Lake Charles salon called The Parlor House survived with little damage , but his home was destroyed .
“ It tore the front off , tore the front of the roof off , picked up my camper trailer and hit the side wall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside , ” he said .
“ I think it ’ s going to be a wash. ” Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards called Laura , which packed a top wind speed of 150 mph ( 241 kph ) , the most powerful hurricane to strike Louisiana , meaning it surpassed even Katrina , which was a Category 3 storm when it hit in 2005 .
He said Friday that officials now believe the surge was as high as 15 feet .
More than 580,000 coastal residents were put under evacuation as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mexico .
Laura was the seventh named storm to strike the U.S. this year , setting a new record for U.S. landfalls by the end of August .
Laura hit the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic .
In Lake Charles , chainsaws buzzed and heavy machinery hauled tree limbs in the front lawn of Stanley and Dominique Hazelton , who rode out the storm on a bathroom floor .
A tree punctured the roof just a few feet from where the couple was taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without homes , ” Stanley Hazelton said .
“ So it was dumb .
We ’ ll never do it again .
We ’ ll never stay through another hurricane again.
” Melinda Deslatte and Stacey Plaisance are reporters for The Associated Press .
AP contributors include Jamie Stengle in Dallas ; Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans ; John L. Mone in Holly Beach , Louisiana ; Paul J. Weber in Austin , Texas ; Seth Borenstein in Kensington , Maryland ; and Adrian Sainz in Memphis , Tennessee .
About the Headline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hurricane Laura Friday , Aug. 28 , 2020 in Lake Charles .
Recovery efforts were underway after Hurricane Laura .
( Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate Via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court to Require in Person Doctors Appointment for Women Seeking Abortion P

Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court to Require in Person Doctors Appointment for Women Seeking Abortion Pills

President Donald Trump ’ s administration asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to reinstate a requirement that a woman must visit her health care provider to obtain abortion drugs .
“ Given that surgical methods of abortion remain widely available , the enforcement of longstanding safety requirements for a medication abortion during the first ten weeks of pregnancy does not constitute a substantial obstacle to abortion access , even if the COVID-19 pandemic has made obtaining any method of abortion in person somewhat riskier , ” acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall said , according to CNN .
Lower courts previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for abortion access due to the coronavirus pandemic , the publication reports .
A federal judge suspended restrictions placed on abortion drugs by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) in July , writing that in-person requirements present a “ substantial obstacle ” for women seeking abortion drugs during the coronavirus , according to CNBC .
The FDA approved the use of the abortion drug mifepristone , also called Mifeprex , in 2000 for up to 10 weeks ’ gestation , but explicitly warned that buyers should not purchase Mifeprex over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important safeguards designed to protect their health.
” “ Mifeprex is supplied directly to healthcare providers who meet certain qualifications , ” the FDA website says .
“ It is only available to be dispensed in certain healthcare settings , specifically , clinics , medical offices , and hospitals , by or under the supervision of a certified prescriber .
It is not available in retail pharmacies , and it is not legally available over the Internet .
These requirements also apply to the approved generic version of Mifeprex.
” The FDA did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Two Days After Co-Sponsoring Impeachment, Ohio Representative Becomes Target of Investigation

On Monday morning , Representative Nino Vitale ( R-Urbana ) began the week with an announcement on Facebook releasing the details of his co-sponsorship of articles of impeachment levied against Republican Governor Mike DeWine .
Vitale and three other representatives co-sponsored the articles that outlined 10 offenses the foursome listed as reasons for DeWine to be removed from the state ’ s top post .
Wednesday morning Vitale received a call from a Dayton Daily News reporter inquiring about newly released election law violation allegations .
The call was the first the representative heard of the charges filed by Frank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him of campaign law infractions .
The campaign finance infractions center around six different allegations involving missing a filing deadline by a couple of hours ; using the campaign committee website , email marketing , Facebook and Twitter platforms to advertise concealed carry weapon ( CCW ) courses Vitale teaches ; and mingling remuneration for CCW courses with campaign money .
“ I ’ m involved in co-sponsoring articles of impeachment and a couple days later I ’ m the target of an election finance investigation , ” Vitale said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethics Committee ( JLEC ) for over seven years and cleared the CCW practices each time.
” Due to the backlog at the Secretary of State office , Vitale was informed his matter may not receive full attention until around November .
Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the investigation referral to the Ohio Election Commission through a press release on Wednesday .
The Ohio Star reached out to Secretary of State LaRose to inquire beyond the alleged infractions – diving in on the procedural handling of the matter .
Below are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Ohio Secretary of State Office Press Secretary Maggie Sheehan .
Question : Is it common for an election violation allegation to be leaked to a media contact who – in turn – contacts the target of the complaint ahead of the secretary ’ s office ?
Question : How many election violations are filed by the secretary each year versus , say , an election contest opponent ?
Question : If these practices have been going on for a few years ( as the exhibits suggest ) why are alleged violations just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These penalties are determined by Ohio Revised Code and enforced by the Ohio Elections Commission .
“ Question : How many make their way to a press release on the SOS site ?
Answer : “ As I ’ m sure you can see on our website , there are three OEC referrals within our media section.
” Question : In the wake of the FBI investigation into HB6 , DeWine pledged to return campaign contributions from FirstEnergy to charity – those amounts are significantly higher than the $ 25 to $ 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Would Vitale be given relief if he donated money to charity ?
Are FirstEnergy contributions to DeWine and Lt Governor Husted being investigated or are those deemed compliant ?
Question : Does LaRose have a comment on the optics of the investigation – given that Vitale has been a long-time opponent of the state ’ s COVID response and just Monday was very vocal about the release of the articles of impeachment ?
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Frank LaRose ” by Frank LaRose .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Minnesota Mayors Endorse Trump Following Biden Announcement of In-Person Campaign to Minnesota

Six Democratic mayors from Minnesota ’ s Iron Range presented a letter in support of President Donald Trump during Vice President Mike Pence ’ s Duluth visit on Friday .
They announced their support after presidential candidate Joe Biden shared his plans to campaign in Minnesota and other battleground states .
“ Today , we don ’ t recognize the Democratic Party .
It has been moved so far to the left it can no longer claim to be advocates of the working class , ” wrote the mayors .
“ Lifelong politicians like Joe Biden are out of touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touch with what the country needs , and out of touch with those of us here on the Iron Range and in small towns like ours across the nation.
” Their letter also thanked Trump for bringing prosperity and hope back to their citizens and the country overall .
“ In this election , there is a lot at stake , but the biggest risk is our jobs , our economy , and our way of life .
President Trump delivered the best economy in our nation ’ s history , and President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He will continue to fight for every American , regardless of party affiliation and continue to stand up for the working class.
” This follows Biden ’ s announcement that he would begin campaigning after Labor Day in Minnesota , along with Wisconsin , Arizona and Pennsylvania .
Biden said that unlike Trump ’ s convention finale on Thursday , his campaign trail will go into “ real people ’ s communities , in real local businesses , in their lives.
” This will be Biden ’ s first real traveling campaign since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenger went virtual back in early March due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Since then , Biden has campaigned from home .
Exceptions were a few small , socially-distanced appearances in nearby counties .
Biden ’ s virtual campaign drew criticism from the beginning .
Trump and others accused the nominee of “ hiding in his basement , ” and claimed going virtual was so that Biden could rely on prompters and aids .
In live appearances , Biden does indeed struggle to speak clearly .
Just after announcing his in-person campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview with CNN .
Blake is the 29-year-old Black man shot in the back by police during an arrest .
Rittenhouse is the 17-year-old White teenager who shot three people in self-defense during the Kenosha riots , killing two and injuring one .
This is far from the first time that Biden appears markedly confused while speaking live .
Biden also promised that he would finally debate the president .
In an interview with MSNBC that evening , the nominee called it an opportunity to serve as a “ fact checker.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , who argued a debate wouldn ’ t be prudent .
“ I wouldn ’ t legitimize a conversation with him [ Trump ] , nor a debate in terms of presidency of the United States , ” stated Pelosi .
“ I think he ’ ll probably act in a way that ’ s beneath the dignity of the presidency .
He does that every day .
I think he will also belittle what the debates are supposed to be about.
” Biden and Trump ’ s will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western University .
An official date for Biden ’ s Minnesota visit has yet to be released .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Order Would Require Ohio Schools Report COVID-19 Cases

Ohio officials plan to issue an order mandating schools put in place “ a reporting mechanism ” for parents to report cases of COVID-19 , Gov .
Mike DeWine announced during a news conference .
“ Prompt reporting to the public , the parents , will help prevent a potential further spread among students and staff , and it will also let the public know what ’ s going on , ” DeWine said during a news conference .
“ We just feel that the more information is available out there the better , and let me just maybe state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread or has spread … that will be reflected in the school , ” DeWine added .
“ So the fact that a school has reports that there is COVID in the school or a student or a faculty member or someone who works there , the fact that that gets reported should not necessarily cause any great alarm.
” Under the order , within 48 hours , schools must report cases to the local health department , and local health departments will in turn inform the state at least weekly .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issuing a news release , posting it to their website or another means of dissemination .
Any disclosure will not include protected health information or students ’ names , the governor said .
“ Parents need to be able to call into a school and say that their child has maybe tested positive or whatever the situation is with the child , ” DeWine added .
“ Reporting illness to parents and guardians is nothing new for schools , ” DeWine said .
“ This is nothing new , and this will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State are employing a mix of in-person , virtual and hybrid learning as they return to classes .
On Thursday , Ohio reported 118,828 “ confirmed and probable ” cases of COVID-19 and 4,076 “ confirmed and probable ” deaths from the virus , which originated in China .
Todd DeFeo is a contributor to The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--The Senate Continues to Pass New Legislation During the Special Session as Timing of Crossover with

The Senate Continues to Pass New Legislation During the Special Session as Timing of Crossover with House Unclear

RICHMOND , Virginia – As the Senate wraps up its second week of the 2020 special session and continues to pass new legislation , the timing of crossover with the House of Delegates , a requirement for a bill to become law , remains unknown .
Since the Senate began considering bills in committee and advancing legislation during sessions almost a week before the House , the two bodies are currently not in sync with their lawmaking procedures .
Sen. Scott Surovell ( D-Fairfax County ) told The Virginia Star after Friday ’ s session that he has no idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House and vice versa .
Del .
Mark Sickles ( D- Fairfax County ) echoed Surovell , saying he does not know when crossover will begin yet because the House is still considering many bills that will impact the budget .
Sickles also said that delegates should have a better sense of the timing for crossover next week after more sessions .
Despite uncertainty over when the next step may occur , the Senate kept advancing and passing legislation in its last session of the week on Friday .
The Senate passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marijuana , nursing home visitation , criminal justice and policing reform and election voting .
Senate Bill ( SB ) 5052 , sponsored by Sen. Bryce Reeves ( R-Spotsylvania County ) , creates a special fund called the Body-Worn Camera System fund to assist local law enforcement agencies with purchasing and maintaining body cameras for officers .
Reeves ’ bill and three others on their third reading in the uncontested calendar were passed by the Senate En Bloc , meaning multiple bills were passed with one recorded vote .
Below are some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
SB 5042 , sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Kiggans ( R-Virginia Beach ) , which requires nursing homes or hospice facilities to allow each patient to receive virtual or in person visits at least once per week from a family member or other persons , passed by a vote of Y-36 N-0 .
There were also two bills relating to possession of marijuana passed by the Senate .
The first bill , sponsored by Sen. Richard Stuart ( R-Prince William County ) , provides that a person issued a non criminal citation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty instead of going to court , much like a speeding ticket .
The second bill , sponsored by Sen. Louise Lucas ( D-Chesapeake ) , changes possession of marijuana and other certain traffic violations from primary offenses to secondary offenses .
The legislation also prohibits law enforcement officers from executing search and seizures based on the smell of marijuana .
Stuart ’ s bill passed by a vote of Y-29 N-7 , while Lucas ’ s bill passed Y-21 N-15 .
Introduced by Surovell , the fourth legislation on third reading called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutorial discretion to dispose of a criminal case , passing the Senate by a vote of Y-30 N-6 .
The final bill passed by the Senate was the highly discussed SB 5120 , sponsored by Sen. Janet Howell ( D-Fairfax County ) , pertaining to appropriations to localities for the return of absentee ballots and other election voting provisions .
Many of the senators that spoke against and in favor of the bill during Thursday ’ s session , issued similar comments Friday .
During points of personal privilege , multiple Senators offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Washington , which occurred exactly 57 years ago on August 28 , 1963 , and how issues then relate to contemporary issues .
The Senate will have a pro forma session on Monday before officially reconvening at the Science Museum of Virginia on Wednesday .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Commentary: Why Does Democrat Michael Bills Keep Buying up Ex-Republican Politicians?

And so he did .
The former Goldman Sachs hedge fund billionaire proceeded to distribute $ 1.7 million in 2019 to 88 Democrat candidates and committees , making him by far the largest political donor in the state .
Add on the $ 952,000 his wife – Sonjia Smith — spent on various Democrat candidates and the couple created quite the pile of legislative chits .
According to VPAP the marital duo ( also known as the Soros ’ of Charlottesville ) have given just under $ 8 million to progressive candidates over the years .
The end result was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the transition to a radical Democratic-controlled agenda marshaled by progressive interests .
Quickly , Bills moved to secure the House of Delegate ’ s Speaker seat by backing Del .
Lashrecse Aird ( D-Petersburg ) in a caucus vote .
Interestingly enough , it ’ s a bit of lobbying chicanery that won ’ t show up on their lobbyist disclosure ( since that ’ s not Clean Virginia ) .
It probably doesn ’ t help Clean Virginia ’ s cause that Michael Bills and former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , the other selling out — in their mutual hate for utilities , but when you ’ re a billionaire you ’ re in for the long haul .
Yet in the 2020 session , while Bills and his pack of handpicked political hacks and assorted lobbyists began pursuing a legislative agenda to “ clean up ” ( financially ? )
the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond during the regular session .
While that effort scored a big bi-partisan goose egg , little did Bills realize there would be a convenient pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer for the “ long parliament ” where nothing gets done , but plenty of promises are being made .
Which means thanks to the COVID pandemic , Michael Bills ’ nascent political machine is sizing up an opportunity for another bite at the apple in the current special session .
Yet Clean Virginia finds themselves in a bit of a pickle after being criticized for helping Amanda “ 3/5ths ” Chase ( I-Chesterfield ) and making common cause with Cuccinelli — now semi-ensconced with the Trump Administration and anathema in most Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover .
Unfortunately , former Republican Delegate Greg Habeeb ( R-Salem ) was just the guy Bills was looking for : a former Republican elected official willing to do the bidding of “ the George Soros of Charlottesville ” for a proverbial 30 pieces of silver .
If the pairing sounds odd , that ’ s because Habeeb ’ s political career was defined by his support for Dominion Energy and his opposition to progressive politics .
Habeeb was an enthusiastic supporter of the 2015 rate increase freeze and the 2018 Grid Transformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Michael Bills — before resigning from office .
But that was then .
With a new government relations practice at the law firm of GentryLocke , Habeeb is now living in the affluent West End of Richmond picking up clients deeply interested to cash-in on his relationships as a former Republican elected official .
Yet what makes Habeeb ’ s discovery of the eco-progressive religious fervor more perplexing is that Habeeb is out there carrying water for the leftist stalwart and Democratic nominee for Attorney General , Delegate Jay Jones ( D-Norfolk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practically been bankrolled by Clean Virginia .
The specific bill is HB5088 , which would force Dominion to absorb bad debt from ratepayers , thus placing an undue burden on existing ratepayers .
Mind you , there wasn ’ t even a problem — Dominion was practically bending over backwards to provide generous repayment schedules without interest , refusing to cut off power , and working with those who were struggling to make ends meet .
Naturally , with a solution looking for a problem , Habeeb struggled to get Republicans to co-patron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shame , Democratic leadership in the House chose not to hear the bill in committee at all .
Not bad , not bad at all .
Yet this did not dampen Bills ’ hunger for a piece of flesh .
In a press release late yesterday , Clean Virginia issued a statement : Except no one really buys that narrative even in the slightest degree .
So what ’ s unusual about this story ?
Well , really nothing — it ’ s the same swampy behavior we have tolerated from Richmond politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – Michael Bills — publicly admitting he is buying and selling legislators and lobbyists in an effort to “ Clean Virginia ” ( sic ) .
Then we have a former legislator – Greg Habeeb — who voted one way in office and then turned around and lobbied against the same issues he previously supported .
Legal ?
– Sadly , yes .
Conflict ?
– Probably not .
Ethical ?
– Not in the slightest .
Corrupt ?
– If you believe Bill ’ s rhetoric… yes .
The real speculation here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if former GOP Speaker Kirk Cox and Terry Kilgore , former chairman the House Labor & Commerce committee got to hear his legislation .
Of course , Michael Bills saw to that problem by switching out parties .
So too , it seems , has Greg Habeeb .
Shaun Kenney is the editor of The Republican Standard , former chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Fluvanna County , and a former executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--VSU Will Keep Classes Online for the Fall Semester due to COVID-19 Concerns

Virginia State University ( VSU ) will keep all classes online and cancel student move-in because of COVID-19 concerns as more and more colleges continue to experience outbreaks across the country .
In a video and letter released Monday , VSU President Makola Abdullah announced the decision and explained the reasoning behind the difficult choice .
“ After careful consideration and shared governance conversation , Virginia State University has made the difficult but necessary decision to remain online for the remainder of the fall 2020 semester , ” Abdullah said in the video released online .
“ That includes canceling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on campus.
” VSU ’ s original plan for the semester was to begin with four weeks of virtual instruction , then have students return to the Petersburg , Virginia campus to move into housing and start some in-person learning by mid-September .
The delayed start of in-person classes was to allow students , faculty and staff to conduct at home COVID-19 testing , according to the release .
“ We have been revisiting the topic as we have seen universities across the country reopen and then be forced to shut down after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we can not prevent the widespread of COVID-19 between students if we had [ them ] back on campus.
” On Thursday , The Richmond Times-Dispatch found at least 550 positive cases at Virginia colleges and The New York Times this week reported at least 26,000 cases and 64 deaths at colleges nationwide .
C. Nana Derby , professor and chair of the sociology and criminal justice department at VSU , said the professors had been preparing for Abdullah to make this type of announcement and that the decision will not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curriculum .
“ There were [ already ] more virtual classes scheduled for the fall semester than the face-to-face , ” Derby said in an email response to The Virginia Star .
“ We recognized that some students would select to remain off-campus and thus made preparations even for face to face classes to accommodate such students through what the University has referred to as hyflex.
” Derby added that even in virtual classes , student to professor and student to student interaction is imperative , and that teachers have worked hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students get the most out of the classes .
Abdullah thanked the VSU faculty and staff for their efforts in preparing for in-person learning and admitted that the decision to remain online could bring challenges , including financial ones , going forward , according to the release .
The full video of Abdullah ’ s announcement can be found here .
VSU is one of Virginia ’ s five historically black colleges and universities , with a total enrollment of 4,385 and an in-state tuition cost of 9,056 , according to U.S. News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Virginia State University ” by Kevin Coles .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Steven K. Bannon on His Arrest: It’s a Total Political Hit Job and We Intend to Fight Back Hard

Live from Virginia Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed War Room Pandemic host Steven K. Bannon to the show .
During the show , Bannon explained his recent indictment charging him with taking money from the We Build the Wall fund .
He added that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove this was politically motivated because he is a supporter of Trump and promised that he won ’ t back down and that the truth will come out .
Fredericks : This is the first interview with Steven K. Bannon since he was arrested a few weeks ago .
And he is joining us now .
Steven K. Bannon , thank you for being with us today Steve .
Bannon : And John thank you for getting through that mob last night and getting back safe and sound so you can have your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to get into that in our 10 o ’ clock show in detail .
Fredericks : That was shameful .
I saw him last night on several occasions .
The people that were not going back on the busses that brought you in like me , I was going on the other side of town and by the Capitol and by the embassy there .
So I was going back there but there were others trying to get to their hotels were petrified .
There was one woman that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the committeewoman from Arizona and she was staying at The Willard I think two blocks away .
She couldn ’ t get from 17th Street to The Willard .
She was petrified from Arizona .
So I and a couple of guys that were there walked her back .
Steve look , I have to start before we get into Trump or anything else .
I have to start with your indictment .
I want you to tell me what ’ s the deal with this indictment for We Build the Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall .
I ’ ve seen it and touched it so I know its real .
You got arrested .
You read the indictment .
It ’ s pretty damming .
What is going on here with this indictment Steve ?
Bannon : It ’ s a total political hit job .
It ’ s to shut up myself , Brian Kolfage and anybody that deals with the wall are under pure political intimidation .
It ’ s not going to shut me up .
It ’ s certainly not going to shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonsense .
You ’ ve been down there .
I think you came for the symposium we had the first leg of the wall .
You saw the quality of what we did .
You saw where the money went .
Not one penny was taken by anybody personally .
It is complete nonsense .
It will all come out over time .
I ’ ll tell ya , they are not going to shut us up .
They are trying to criminalize the wall and anybody that supports President Trump on these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NRA .
They ’ ve gone after Falwell .
They ’ re going after me .
They going after everybody .
I ’ m not going to be intimated , John .
The facts will come out over time .
I ’ m creating a great legal team .
We ’ re adding more people to it .
Adding a communications aspect to it .
We ’ re going to fight back and Kolfage is fighting back hard .
It ’ s outrageous .
Totally outrageous .
Completely untrue .
And we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fredericks : Do you believe you will be exonerated , Steve ?
Bannon : 100 percent .
I think the government will drop this case .
We are putting a legal team together .
We are going to punch back hard .
This is complete nonsense .
It ’ s a political hit job .
It ’ s to intimidate Trump supporters .
You see what they are doing across the border with Chinese lawfare .
The Chinese lawfare with the NRA .
Any organization or anybody they are trying to intimidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are not the first and we are certainly not going to be the last .
I just hope people buckle in .
We are not backing down an inch .
We are certainly not going to back down an inch in these next 60 days .
The timing of this thing is they timed it almost to the day four years ago when I took over the campaign .
They wanted to make sure I could get no involvement in assisting President Trump .
It ’ s not going to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over this .
I ’ m doing these group calls with Republicans all over the nation starting this weekend .
Arizona is now a battleground state .
And Arizona has to be won .
And the issue in Arizona is going to be the wall and it ’ s going to be immigration .
I ’ m not going to stop talking about it .
I ’ m not going to stop talking about the southern border wall .
I ’ m not going to stop talking about immigration .
And you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on War Room Pandemic .
We are not backing off the CCP and we are not backing off this cultural revolution .
You saw last night .
How can people go to the White House and see the end of a convention speech for the President of the United States have all these dignitaries there and then people can ’ t leave the White House and they are insulted and spit on .
You said I didn ’ t have it bad .
I was spat on .
I was jostled .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a guy that 6 ’ 2 and 265 pounds .
Right ?
Bannon : You were pulling guard .
But the committeewoman from Arizona was terrified and had to get a male group of escorts to get her back to her hotel which is what 200 yards away from the White House ?
Rand Paul was right across the street from the Treasury Department .
I ’ m not going to be intimidated .
I ’ m a honey badger .
I ’ m never going to back down .
I fight for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m a huge supporter of President Trump and his program .
And here ’ s the thing .
You ’ ve seen the sea change .
This is why people are going to get more vicious .
In the last week to 10 days , you are starting to see a sea change .
President with his action , action , action .
And Joe Biden last week with this kind of orange man bad .
No real policies .
Embracing the violence and embracing the chaos .
And I think Ronna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a flawless convention .
Absolutely flawless .
I think you are seeing the change .
I think you ’ ll see the numbers not just tighten , I think it will be a dead heat by this weekend .
If this is a dead heat then this becomes a turnout election .
And you see the lack of enthusiasm on Biden ’ s side .
You see the problem with the Black males not being excited about Biden and turnout .
And if we can get the deplorables to turnout .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer in the suburbs , President Trump is going to win here .
I think the victory is within his grasp .
We ’ ve got to be focused and it ’ s all about turnout right now .
Fredericks : He ’ s got a lot of momentum going for him right now .
His speech last night was fabulous .
My final question on this indictment that you have so we can get into the future here .
You are convinced that the government is going to end up dropping this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve heard ?
Bannon : Yes .
Absolutely .
I think once we get to the facts and the facts fully get out here and my legal team is able to get to the facts I think the government is going to drop this case .
This is outrageous .
This is purely a political hit .
I said it from the very beginning .
This is a political hit in what 70 days before an election to shut up one of his biggest supporters and somebody that speaks to a certain segment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tripling down on getting out there and supporting the president .
Now with COVID , with the CCP virus , you have to do it in a different way .
But we are setting up those mechanisms right now .
So now we intend to fight this and fight it hard .
These charges are absolutely totally nonsense .
Listen to the full interview here :


thetennesseestar--2020-08-29--Detroit Public Schools Strike Deal to Return to School Safely

The state ’ s largest school district has struck a deal with the Detroit Federation of Teachers ( DFT ) union to return 51,000 students to school safely .
The four-page agreement lays out safety precautions for face-to-face instruction at the Detroit Public Schools Community District ( DPSCD ) , including a 20-person cap on classes and desks separated by six feet .
“ We are living in difficult times .
It is our hope that through this agreement we can now collectively own the reopening of our schools to best serve our children and families while ensuring the safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Nikolai Vitti said in a statement .
“ The need to serve our children never stops .
Even in a pandemic , we need to find ways to best serve and support our children .
For some of our families and students , this means face to face instruction and for others it is online learning .
This agreement signals we will work together to provide equitable education opportunities for our children and families.
” A joint Labor-Management Committee on Schools Reopening will meet weekly to review reopening issues and review COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The DFT can request walkthroughs with DPSCD officials to ensure safety compliance , and upon violation of those rules , the principal must “ immediately ” fix the problem .
Teachers can earn $ 750 per quarter in “ hazard pay ” for working face-to-face – granting up to a $ 3,000 bonus for working in-person the entire school year .
Teachers have an option to teach online or face-to-face , and students have the option to attend in-person or virtual instruction .
DPSCD says that nearly all schools will offer some face-to-face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that preference .
The American Academy of Pediatricians ( AAP ) has urged local governments to reopen schools .
Long periods away from school , the AAP says , interrupt children ’ s support services and often result in social isolation .
These factors make it “ difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse , substance use , depression , and suicidal ideation , ” the academy adds .
“ This , in turn , places children and adolescents at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be open as learning centers .
• Daily symptom and temperature checks for students and staff .
• Required use and distribution of masks for students , teachers , and staff .
Sanitizing wipes and sprays , face shields , gowns and gloves will be given to teachers and staff .
• Limiting access to schools by the public as well as providing isolation areas for those who feel ill. “ As a board , we all value the safety of our students , teachers and staff , ” DPSCD Board of Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ We believe our protocols and reopening plan will create a safe environment for learning during this unprecedented time in public education and we have committed to frequent reviews of the reopening plan as COVID-19 has proven to be unpredictable.
” DPSCD and Vitti held more than 20 engagement sessions with about 25,000 stakeholders to discuss the reopening plan and answer questions and concerns .
The first day of school is Sept. 8 .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-30--Americans for Prosperity Objects to Nashville Mayor John Cooper Calling Property Tax Referendum ‘a P

Americans for Prosperity Objects to Nashville Mayor John Cooper Calling Property Tax Referendum ‘a Poison Pill’

Members of Americans for Prosperity ( AFP ) – Tennessee this week said they were disappointed that Mayor John Cooper referred to the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act as a “ poison pill.
” AFP members said this in a press release .
The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act would roll back Cooper ’ s 34-37 percent tax increase and limit property tax rate increases to two percent every year without approval by a vote of the people .
This past week , AFP submitted nearly 20,000 signatures to the Metro Council supporting the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act .
In the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the following : “ There ’ s nothing stealth about giving Nashvillians the ability to decide whether they want to increase their own taxes .
The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act will stop the sweetheart crony deals that are bleeding Nashville dry , limit government ’ s ability to recklessly spend taxpayer dollars , and stop this massive tax hike that Nashvillians can not afford , ” Venable said .
“ The only ‘ poison pill ’ is the harmful tax increase Nashville families and businesses are being forced to swallow while politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the backs of taxpayers .
The buck stops here .
We look forward to people standing up to fight city hall , making their voice heard across our once thriving city and enacting this charter amendment in December.
” As The Tennessee Star reported this week , Cooper , at a press conference , said he expected that the topic of the referendum “ will be actively discussed in the community.
” “ Ultimately , I do worry that the result of this is just forcing a stealth election on Nashville , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to give the city a poison pill .
And it ’ s not just about the property taxes , it has all kinds of stuff on it that is , quite frankly , a poison pill for our city , ” Cooper said , although he did not elaborate .
“ Everyone who serves the city , every teacher , every police officer , [ and ] every citizen of the city would need to be deeply concerned that this is a poison pill .
We want to create a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century — and not create a backwater here and have us swallow , unintentionally , a poison pill , particularly through a stealth election.
” As reported last week , Nashville attorney Jim Roberts said that Metro officials “ clearly don ’ t like having power taken away.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Mayor John Cooper ” by nashville.gov .

by Eric Lendrum
The United States Capitol Police (USCP) announced on Thursday that the department is currently investigating 29 officers, and has suspended six, for their actions during the protests at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, according to CNN.
A department spokesman said that “Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman has directed that any member of her department whose behavior is not keeping in line with the Department’s Rules of Conduct will face appropriate discipline.” The six who were suspended will still be receiving pay, and the 29 total officers under investigation is nearly three times the amount of officers who were previously announced as being under investigation back in January.
Pittman said that, as part of the ongoing investigations, the USCP was “reviewing video and other open source materials of some USCP officers and officials that appear to be in violation of Department regulations and practices.” Some Democrats, including Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), have claimed, without evidence, that some officers openly supported the protesters, allowed them inside, and even guided them around the interior of the building.
During the mostly peaceful protests, Trump supporters entered the Capitol out of protest of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, as the questionable electoral college results were being formally tabulated by Congress. One Trump supporter, Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, was shot in the neck by a plainclothes police officer at close range; the officer who killed her will not be facing any charges for her death.
Several other people died that same day due to sudden medical conditions that had nothing to do with the protests, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick; Sicknick has been confirmed to have died of a stroke after it was erroneously reported that he had been beaten to death by protesters with a fire extinguisher.
– – –
Eric Lendrum reports for American Greatness.
Photo “Capitol Police” by Elvert Barnes. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-30--Commentary: Joe Biden Is Soft on Crime, But Hard on Police

The Democrats have always been the party that coddled criminals .
It is now the party that canonizes them .
While Democrat-run cities burn across the country , Biden concerns himself with masks and Hatch Act violations .
He strains at the gnat and swallows the camel .
A captive of the far Left , he couldn ’ t bring himself to condemn the looting and mayhem during his convention .
He only now condemns it , half-heartedly , after pollsters inform him that the riots pose a political problem for him .
CNN ’ s Don Lemon let this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I think this is a blind spot for Democrats .
I think Democrats are ignoring this problem or hoping that it will go away , and it ’ s not going to go away… .
I think maybe Joe Biden may be afraid to do it … he ’ s got to address it .
He ’ s got to come out and talk about it.
” Mike Pence pounced on this weakness in his speech on Wednesday night , saying , Joe Biden says that America is systemically racist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I quote , an “ implicit bias ” against minorities .
When asked whether he ’ d support cutting funding to law enforcement , Joe Biden replied , “ Yes , absolutely.
” Joe Biden would double down on the very policies that are leading to violence in American cities .
The hard truth is you won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America .
Under President Trump , we will always stand with those who stand on the thin blue line , and we ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , not ever .
Biden is too busy ratifying race-baiting lies to care about law and order .
He has already endorsed the Left ’ s canonization of Jacob Blake .
Never mind Blake ’ s criminal behavior and resistance of arrest .
In Joe Biden ’ s party , the criminal is always right .
Who would enter policing under these conditions ?
As Brandon Tatum points out , the riots over Blake ’ s shooting rest on a gigantic lie : Why are people protesting and rioting over this ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a criminal he is behaving in a criminal manner before the police get there that is why they were called .
Once they are called what does he do ?
He don ’ t comply , he don ’ t do what is right .
He fight the police officers and after they fight , they attempted to tased him , he is walking around the car still defiant to the police .
Then he goes into his car to do what ?
The police don ’ t have to wait for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do anything to him .
They told him to stop they pulled on his shirt , they attempted to stop him and they used deadly force against him to protect the public and to protect themselves .
In Joe Biden ’ s party , facts don ’ t matter , and policing is treated as inherently racist .
The consequence of this Orwellian atmosphere is that the police stop policing and criminals gain the upper hand over distressed communities .
The lives of law-abiding blacks don ’ t matter to the Democrats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all in the name of a revolutionary defund-the-police experiment no sane nation has ever tried .
What Kamala Harris calls “ reimagining ” the police means neutering them and labeling them racists for nothing more than protecting their own lives and enforcing the law .
In an earlier era , it would have been inconceivable for a major political party to support boycotting the flag , smashing monuments , looting cities , and spreading Marxist racial vengeance .
But it is all happening before our very eyes .
Not a word of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it justifies the mayhem in the name of “ reparations , ” passes through Democratic lips .
Ever the boob , Biden says that Trump is “ rooting for more violence ” in America ’ s cities , even as Trump ’ s offer to squelch the unrest gets rejected by Democratic mayors and governors .
Biden had eight years to promote “ racial healing ” in America .
He failed .
Race relations only got worse under the Obama–Biden administration .
Now Biden threatens to damage them even more by pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden promises to complete the “ fundamental transformation ” of America that Obama started .
What will that America look like ?
We can already see : it is present in Democrat-led cities where criminals , not cops , rule the streets , where the worst people are celebrated and the best people belittled , where traditions are erased and revolution sanctioned .
The choice in 2020 , as Pence said , is clear : “ It ’ s whether we will leave to our children and our grandchildren a country grounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free markets , and the unalienable right to life and liberty — or whether we will leave to our children and grandchildren a country that is fundamentally transformed into something else.
” George Neumayr , a senior editor at The American Spectator , is co-author of No Higher Power : Obama ’ s War on Religious Freedom .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .