thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Senate Report Slams Bidens for Conflicts of Interest, Flags Possible Criminal Activity

A year-long Senate investigation concluded Wednesday that Hunter Biden ’ s efforts to cash in on foreign business deals during his father ’ s vice presidency raised alarm among U.S. government officials , who perceived an ethical conflict of interest and flagged concerns about possible criminal activity ranging from bribery to sex trafficking .
The long-awaited joint report by the GOP-led Senate Homeland and Government Affairs and Senate Finance Committees delivered several blockbuster revelations less than two months before Election Day , suggesting Obama administration officials ignored clear warning signs about ethical conflicts and possible extortion risks involving Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosive revelation was that the U.S. Treasury Department flagged payments collected overseas by Hunter Biden and business partner Devon Archer for possible illicit activities .
The so-called Suspicious Activity Reports flagged millions of dollars in transactions from the Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings , a Russian oligarch named Yelena Baturina , and Chinese businessmen with ties to Beijing ’ s communist government , the report said .
Senate investigators have yet to determine if the FBI or others investigated the concerns .
“ The Treasury records acquired by the Chairmen show potential criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter Biden , his family , and his associates with Ukrainian , Russian , Kazakh and Chinese nationals , ” the 87-page report disclosed , confirming an earlier report in Just the News .
The report , citing U.S. government records , also raised concerns about possible ties to sex and human trafficking rings .
“ Hunter Biden paid nonresident women who were nationals of Russia or other Eastern European countries and who appear to be linked to an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring , ” the report said .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to a emailed request for comment .
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson told Just the News Wednesday morning that the sheer volume of suspicious activity in Hunter Biden ’ s foreign business dealings left the Vice President vulnerable to illicit influence or extortion .
“ The report raises serious questions that former Vice President Biden needs to answer .
There are simply too many potential conflict of interest , counterintelligence and extortion threats to ignore , ” he said .
You can read the full report here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final weeks of the presidential election and present a starkly different picture of the Biden family than the one House Democrats offered a year ago when they impeached President Trump for seeking a Ukrainian investigation into Hunter Biden ’ s dealings with Burisma while his father served as vice president .
Back then , Democrats insisted any concerns about Joe Biden and Hunter Biden were Russian disinformation or debunked conspiracy theories .
But State Department records and testimony from Obama-era appointees confirmed Just the News ’ extensive reporting over the last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burisma was corrupt and had paid a $ 7 million bribe in 2014 to Ukrainian prosecutors while under investigation during Hunter Biden ’ s tenure there .
In addition , State official George Kent , one of the Democrats ’ star impeachment witnesses , testified and wrote in contemporaneous memos that Hunter Biden ’ s role on Burisma ’ s board created the appearance of an “ awkward ” conflict of interest that undercut U.S. anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine being led by Vice President Joe Biden , the report said .
Kent was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department partnership with Burisma , reported the alleged Burisma bribe to the Justice Department , and tried to raise concerns directly to Vice President Joe Biden but was rebuffed , the report said , citing testimony and U.S. government records .
In October 2015 , another senior State Department official , energy adviser Amos Hochstein , raised concerns with Joe Biden , as well as with Hunter Biden , that Hunter Biden ’ s position on Burisma ’ s board enabled Russian disinformation efforts and risked undermining U.S. policy in Ukraine .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew that Hunter Biden ’ s position on Burisma ’ s board was problematic and did interfere in the efficient execution of policy with respect to Ukraine , ” the report concluded .
“ Moreover , this investigation has illustrated the extent to which officials within the Obama administration ignored the glaring warning signs when the vice president ’ s son joined the board of a company owned by a corrupt Ukrainian oligarch.
” In all , Hunter Biden and Archer received more than $ 4 million from Burisma during a time when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make long-standing corruption allegations go away , at times invoking the vice president ’ s son ’ s name for pressure .
But the U.S. government ’ s worries about Hunter Biden ’ s globetrotting business pursuits didn ’ t stop in Ukraine .
“ In addition to the over $ 4 million paid by Burisma for Hunter Biden ’ s and Archer ’ s board memberships , Hunter Biden , his family , and Archer received millions of dollars from foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds , ” the report said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ three other foreign countries : • Archer received $ 142,300 from Kenges Rakishev of Kazakhstan , purportedly for a car , the same day Vice President Joe Biden appeared with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and addressed Ukrainian legislators in Kyiv regarding Russia ’ s actions in Crimea .
• Hunter Biden received a $ 3.5 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina , the wife of the former mayor of Moscow and Russia ’ s only female oligarch .
• Hunter Biden opened a bank account with Chinese national Gongwen Dong to fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden family .
• Hunter Biden had business associations with Ye Jianming , Gongwen , and other Chinese nationals linked to the communist government and the People ’ s Liberation Army .
“ Those associations resulted in millions of dollars in cash flow , ” the report said .
The report did not expand much on its sensational claim of alleged links to sex trafficking or prostitutes , reserving most of the discussion to two footnotes .
“ There is extensive public reporting concerning Hunter Biden ’ s alleged involvement with prostitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committees do not directly confirm or refute these individual reports , ” investigators wrote .
“ However , they do confirm that Hunter Biden sent thousands of dollars to individuals who have either : 1 ) been involved in transactions consistent with possible human trafficking ; 2 ) an association with the adult entertainment industry ; or 3 ) potential association with prostitution .
Some recipients of those funds are Ukrainian and Russian citizens .
“ The records note that it is a documented fact that Hunter Biden has sent funds to nonresident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are citizens of Russia and Ukraine and who have subsequently wired funds they have received from Hunter Biden to individuals located in Russia and Ukraine .
The records also note that some of these transactions are linked to what ‘ appears to be an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring , ” the footnote added .
The report said the Senate probe will continue in part because investigators have been thwarted by a lack of cooperation and have not yet been able to determine whether the FBI , U.S. intelligence or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bidens .
The report does not accuse either Joe or Hunter Biden of a specific crime ; rather it flags warning signs about their conduct and questions whether officials turned a blind eye .
Both Bidens have long denied wrongdoing and called the Senate investigation a partisan endeavor .
Democrats are certain to contest the findings , but they will face the awkward challenge that the key evidence supporting the Republicans ’ conclusions came from Obama-Biden era files and witnesses , including Kent , the bowtied diplomat who was a star witness for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony and emails cited in the report paint a compelling portrait of the difficulties Joe Biden created by continuing to preside over Ukraine anti-corruption policy as Obama ’ s vice president while his son served on the board of a company under investigation for corruption and run by an oligarch named Mykola Zlochevsky .
“ The presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board was very awkward for all U.S. officials , ” Kent wrote in a Sept. 6 , 2016 email to senior State officials , including then-U.S. ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he expounded on the impact those concerns had on U.S. policy in Ukraine , especially in fighting corruption .
“ People who talk the talk need to walk the walk , and for the U.S. government , collectively , when we talk about the need to have high standards of integrity , again , as I ’ ve said , the presence of [ Hunter Biden ] on the board created the perception of a potential conflict of interest , ” he testified .
Kent also discussed the extraordinary specter of having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very firm paying Hunter Biden in Ukraine was believed to have paid a bribe to Ukrainian prosecutors to make corruption allegations disappear .
“ Burisma ’ s owner was a poster child for corrupt behavior , ” Kent testified to the committees .
“ … I would have advised any American not to get on the board of Zlochevsky ’ s company.
” Hunter Biden finally left Burisma in 2019 as his father began his quest to win the presidency in 2020 .
John Solomon is an award-winning investigative journalist , author and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive Officer and Editor in Chief of Just the News .
Before founding Just the News , Solomon played key reporting and executive roles at some of America ’ s most important journalism institutions , such as The Associated Press , The Washington Post , The Washington Times , Newsweek , The Daily Beast and The Hill .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Critics Say $40B IPO Could Subsidize China’s Human Rights Abuses, Risk National Security

Some China observers are wary of a potential $ 40 billion initial public offering ( IPO ) by tech giant Ant Technology Group , saying the funds could underwrite China ’ s human rights abuses and risk U.S. national security .
The Committee on the Present Danger : China ( CPDC ) is urging the Hong Kong Stock Exchange , U.S. investment banks and the Trump administration to block the Ant Group IPO , which could be the largest IPO in history .
“ We ’ re living through the so-called most ‘ woke ’ time in American history , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspect of social justice , human rights , what have you , ” Brian Kennedy , CPDC Chairman , told Just the News in a video interview .
“ How many Americans would want to invest in a Chinese company that was also helping with the imprisoning of a million Muslim Uyghurs in China ?
Ant Technology , and some of its subsidiaries do various technological pieces — when it comes to the communications networks — that allow the Chinese Communist Party to imprison a million or more Uyghurs in China.
” Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment and did not receive a response .
Ant Group could have potentially listed on either the NYSE or NASDAQ , but it chose instead to list in Hong Kong and Shanghai .
As Just the News previously reported , Chinese companies — worth as much as $ 1.9 trillion — receive special treatment while listing their shares on U.S. stock exchanges , due to an Obama-era exemption allowing them to avoid full compliance with financial accounting and transparency standards that companies from the U.S. and other nations must meet .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skepticism , President Trump instructed his Presidential Working Group on Financial Markets “ to study the differing practices of Chinese companies listed on the U.S. financial markets with the goal of protecting American investors.
” Kennedy ’ s group applauded the Trump administration for removing Hong Kong ’ s special trade status amid Trump administration concerns that China broke its promise to respect decades more of political autonomy in Hong Kong under a British-led governance agreement forged by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher .
CPDC said in a statement that a successful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate that the CCP is free to impose totalitarian measures on the people of Hong Kong with little , if any , financial or geopolitical consequences.
” American banks Goldman Sachs , J.P. Morgan Chase , Morgan Stanley and Citigroup could likely invest millions of Americans ’ savings into Ant Technology Group .
“ These Wall Street investment banks are being entirely irresponsible by taking American investor money and putting it in a Chinese corporation that does not have to abide by U.S. accounting rules , ” Kennedy said .
“ If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , we would have to have all sorts of accounting transparency .
There are all sorts of regulations we have to follow in China .
They have their own internal regulations that no American could see .
The mere idea that we would have American investors putting their money in that kind of an investment is a very bad idea.
” Kennedy said under its National Security Law of 2017 , the Chinese government has broad access to every Chinese corporation .
CPDC shared with Just the News a report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns about the Ant Group IPO , including national security considerations that prompted the U.S. government to oppose Ant ’ s acquisition of MoneyGram .
Kennedy cautioned American consumers about letting their banks invest in an Ant Group IPO and urged U.S. consumers to check with their financial advisors about their plans .
“ Once Americans get this invested in Communist China , it ’ s very hard to unwind our relations , ” Kennedy said .
If Americans were to invest “ let ’ s just say $ 30 billion in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ ll be like a built-in lobby of millions of Americans who will have an interest in the success of this company , because they ’ re investing in it , and Communist China itself.
” Americans “ may want to diversify their portfolios , ” Kennedy allowed , “ but do they really want to invest in the success of Communist China , especially given everything we ’ re going through right now , in this country ?
” Carrie Sheffield is a reporter with Just the News .
About the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include Alipay , a PayPal alternative launched in China in 2004 .
The company says it serves about “ 1.3 billion users worldwide together with its global e-wallet partners .
”

Gov. Bill Lee said more than 23,000 Tennesseans have received a free COVID-19 test at one of 67 drive-through testing sites over the past three weekends.
“Testing remains one of the most important tools for gaining more information in our fight against COVID-19, and the 23,000 tests we’ve completed over the last three weekends have provided incredibly valuable data,” Lee said in a statement. “We’re grateful to the thousands who came out to receive a test this weekend and we continue to remind Tennesseans: when in doubt, get a test.”
Last weekend alone, 5,153 Tennesseans received a free COVID-19 test. Lee said the free testing is part of the Unified Command Group’s efforts to widen access to testing regardless of symptoms.
“Our weekend sites have been equipped to meet the demand for free testing across the state,” said Dr. Lisa Piercey, Tennessee Department of Health commissioner. “With ample capacity at our county health departments during the week, we continue to encourage Tennesseans to take advantage of free testing at these locations.”
The Tennessee Department of Health has a map of testing sites published on its website. As of Thursday, Tennessee had completed 236,328 COVID-19 tests. That’s more than double the number of tests performed in states like Minnesota, which claims it has the ability to test up to 20,000 individuals in a day, but has yet to surpass 6,000 daily tests.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, Tennessee tested an additional 9,227 residents, according to the Department of Health.
Tennessee has also performed more than twice as many tests as Kentucky, which had tested 81,391 residents as of Thursday.
Most of Tennessee’s COVID-19 tests have been performed by non-state health labs, which account for 225,427 of the state’s 236,328 total tests.
Tennessee now has 14,096 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 237 deaths, and 6,783 recovered patients.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “North Carolina National Guard Members” by the National Guard. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--NYPD Officer, Army Reservist Charged with Acting as an Illegal Chinese Agent

A naturalized American citizen who serves as a member of the New York City Police Department and the U.S. Army Reserves has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of China , the Justice Department announced Monday .
Baimadajie Angwang , 33 , has also been charged with wire fraud , false statements and obstructing an official proceeding , according to the press release .
For years dating to at least 2014 , Angwang took actions at the behest of officials at New York City ’ s Chinese consulate , prosecutors alleged .
He allegedly reported about the activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York region , identified and gauged possible intelligence sources in the Tibetan community and supplied Chinese officials with access to NYPD officials via invitations to events , DOJ said .
Court documents indicate that Angwang told his Chinese handler that he desired to achieve promotion in the police department in order to help the Chinese government and bring “ glory to China.
” “ State and local officials should be aware that they are not immune to the threat of Chinese espionage , ” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Chinese government recruited and directed a U.S. citizen and member of our nation ’ s largest law enforcement department to further its intelligence gathering and repression of Chinese abroad .
Our police departments provide for our public safety and are often the first line of defense against the national security threats our country faces .
We will continue to work with our state and local partners to protect our nation ’ s great police departments , ” Demers said .
Alex Nitzberg is a reporter with Just the News .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--China Failed to Stop Pandemic and Engaged in Coverup with WHO’s Help, GOP Congressional Report Says

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs is set Monday to release an audit report on actions perpetrated by China and the World Health Organization at the beginning of the global coronavirus pandemic .
The report , written by Republican members of the Democrat-led committee , states that “ beyond doubt ” the Chinese Communist Party “ actively engaged in a cover-up designed to obfuscate data , hide relevant public health information , and suppress doctors and journalists who attempted to warn the world , ” according to news accounts ahead of the release of the report .
The 96-page document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and destroyed inconvenient evidence related to the deadly virus that originated in Wuhan .
Citing findings posted at Medrxiv , an online site sharing non-peer-reviewed , pre-publication medical research papers , the report purportedly states : “ Research shows the CCP could have reduced the number of cases in China by up to 95 percent had it fulfilled its obligations under international law and responded to the outbreak in a manner consistent with best practices.
” “ It is highly likely the ongoing pandemic could have been prevented , ” the report also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communist Party behaved in a more transparent manner when first confronted with information about the virus , hundreds of thousands of lives might have been saved .
The report also purportedly states the WHO has been “ complicit in the spread and normalization of CCP propaganda and disinformation ” and calls upon WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to resign .
Internal WHO documents show organization officials frustrated by the Chinese government ’ s ongoing refusal to send over data on patients and cases , while Tedros was publicly praising China for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , United States officials were not given access to China ’ s Wuhan pandemic response plan in February .
The WHO claims that American doctors signed off on the idea of other officials conducting the Wuhan response review .
However , officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told the report ’ s authors that they were left off the invite list to Wuhan .
President Trump has continuously laid into the Chinese Communist Party for its handling of the coronavirus while it was still confined to one region , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the impact of the virus .
Unlike Trump , however , the report concluded that the U.S. should remain a part of the WHO but be prepared to impose serious change on the organization .
“ By remaining part of a WHO that is ready for change , the United States can drive forward the necessary reforms of the International Health Regulations and the WHO , ” the report states .
Photo “ Xi Jinping ” by 總統府 .
CC BY 2.0 .
Background Photo “ World Health Organization Building ” by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Blackburn Joins Senators in Questioning Netflix Over Decision to Create Show Based on Scifi Novels b

Blackburn Joins Senators in Questioning Netflix Over Decision to Create Show Based on Scifi Novels by Liu Cixin, Who Supports Communist China’s Internment of Uyghurs

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) is sounding the alarm about Netflix over the streaming service ’ s plans to adapt and promote a Chinese sci-fi book series written by an author who expresses support for the Communist government ’ s “ re-education ” camps for Muslim Uyghurs .
On Wednesday , Blackburn and U.S. Sens .
Rick Scott ( R-FL ) , Kevin Cramer ( R-ND ) , Thom Tillis ( R-NC ) and Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) signed a letter to Ted Sarandos Jr. , co-CEO and chief content officer for Netflix .
The letter is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ significant concerns ” over the decision to provide a platform for Liu Cixin and his scifi trilogy The Three-Body Problem , which Netflix intends to turn into a live-action series .
They ask if Netflix agrees that the internment of 1.8 million to 3 million Uyghurs is unacceptable .
The Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) is committing atrocities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ( XUAR ) , also known as East Turkistan to locals , including mass imprisonment , forced labor , thought transformation in order to denounce religion and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced sterilization and abortion .
These crimes are committed systemically and at a scale which may warrant a distinction of genocide .
Sadly , a number of U.S. companies continue to either actively or tacitly allow the normalization of , or apologism for , these crimes .
The decision to produce an adaptation of Mr. Liu ’ s work can be viewed as such normalization .
While Congress seriously considers the systemic crimes carried out against the Uyghurs , we have significant concerns with Netflix ’ s decision to do business with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the face of such atrocities in XUAR , there no longer exist corporate decisions of complacency , only complicity .
The New Yorker on June 17 , 2019 , ran an interview with Liu , conducted by Jiayang Fan , available here .
The journalist suggested Liu acted “ brainwashed ” in repeating Communist propaganda and for suggesting the Muslim Uyghurs were better off in internment camps .
He also said Chinese people don ’ t care about democracy .
When I brought up the mass internment of Muslim Uighurs—around a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northwestern province of Xinjiang—he trotted out the familiar arguments of government-controlled media : “ Would you rather that they be hacking away at bodies at train stations and schools in terrorist attacks ?
If anything , the government is helping their economy and trying to lift them out of poverty.
” The answer duplicated government propaganda so exactly that I couldn ’ t help asking Liu if he ever thought he might have been brainwashed .
“ I know what you are thinking , ” he told me with weary clarity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of governance ?
” He sighed , as if exhausted by a debate going on in his head .
“ But that ’ s not what Chinese people care about .
For ordinary folks , it ’ s the cost of health care , real-estate prices , their children ’ s education .
Not democracy.
” Blackburn and more than 70 Senate and House members earlier this year called for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to issue a formal determination of the crimes against humanity against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minorities .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office now lists 24 individuals as collecting petitions in the campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
There are 16 Republicans, four Democrats, and four Independents collecting qualifying petitions for the TN-5 race.
Candidates of all parties have until noon on April 7 to turn in their qualifying petitions, a deadline which is fast approaching. Candidates must collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters in the district. Those seeking the Republican nomination must be verified as bona fide Republicans by the Tennessee Republican Party in order to appear on the GOP primary ballot.
Challenges have been filed against the bona fide Republican statuses of the three carpetbaggers in the race, Morgan Ortagus, David Vitalli, and Robby Starbuck. Action will occur on those challenges after the April 7 filing deadline.
On the Republican side, Morgan Ortagus, former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, Richie Lee of Nashville, General Kurt Winstead of Franklin, Tres Wittum of Nashville, Jeff Beierlein of Nashville, and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles are listed as collecting petitions.
Former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin is still listed as collecting petitions but he dropped out of the race and endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the GOP primary.
On the Democrat side, Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, Justicia Rizzo, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are collecting petitions.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, Daniel J. Cooper of Spring Hill, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents collecting petitions.
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office has been updating its list on a weekly basis. This list is current as of Friday, April 1.
Reports are expected to be available for the January 1 through March 31, 2022 Federal Election Commission campaign finance first-quarter period in the coming days. Those reports are expected to shed significant light on which candidates are considered viable. The bulk of the field entered the race after the December 31, 2021 reporting deadline.
The primaries are scheduled for August 4, 2022.
The newly-redrawn 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, as well as all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Andrew Can Huss.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Commentary: 1776 Trump Is the Best Trump

In an odd echo of Patrick Buchanan , the godfather of Trumpism , Joe Biden has called this election “ a battle for the soul of the nation.
” The path forward for President Trump is again to take up Buchanan ’ s mantle , as he did so boldly four years ago .
The sudden death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has put a sharper edge on the point : this is a culture war that must be won .
In a speech at the National Archives on Constitution Day , President Trump put things in the starkest terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurrection that rejects the American Founding .
This movement controls our institutions , and through them , it looks to crush the spirit of America and propagandize our people so they will meekly accept the yoke of leftist tyranny .
This followed a heartening push by Trump to rid government workplaces of critical race theory , and public classrooms of the New York Times ’ 1619 Project .
Trump ’ s decisions followed some intrepid reporting by Christopher Rufo , who has been tracking the spread of critical race theory throughout the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America is “ systemically racist ” and that whites are sinful by nature .
Concepts like these have taken a powerful hold in American society , and they are at the heart of what is left of our vanishing public “ discourse , ” one which seems to exist almost exclusively to browbeat Americans for historical crimes in which they personally did not participate and do not now endorse .
In answer to critical race theory and the “ 1619 Project , ” which posits that America was founded on slavery and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump said he would create a “ 1776 commission ” to restore “ patriotic education ” in classrooms .
This is very courageous of the president .
We should take a moment to appreciate what he is doing here : he is the first , and possibly the last , president in our lifetimes to challenge the Left ’ s anti-American propaganda at the institutional level .
Of course , the same Left that spent months calling Black Lives Matter riots “ peaceful protests ” called his speech “ dark ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fascist .
The Left had the same response to Trump ’ s Mount Rushmore speech this summer , and for precisely the same reason : Trump is telling the truth about their desire to overthrow the country .
They have become partisans of the 1619 narrative , determined to destroy what is left of the republic of 1776 .
More to the point , Trump is drawing a direct ( and correct ) connection between the “ mostly peaceful ” riots and the propaganda he is trying to shut down , which holds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist hierarchy and that police are not people , but inhuman sentries of this system of repression .
We are not allowed to acknowledge these connections .
The Left is outraged not because they think Trump is lying , but because they reject his proposition that their plans are optional .
Americans have no right to resist this revolution , or even to acknowledge the true nature of it , according to the Left .
We must accept living in their world , a world where our children will learn to hate their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to hate themselves because of their race .
Why ?
Because America is racist .
QED .
The country is in the middle of a painful “ reckoning , ” one “ long overdue , ” that can not be stopped .
Atonement begins with recognizing that America has sinned .
Judging from current events , there is a heavy price to be paid .
Even public safety would seem to fall under the bill of reparations .
As they would have it , there can be no peace until the account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ everything is on the table.
” The Left is threatening more riots over the Supreme Court vacancy , and they are prepared to erase every remaining stumbling block to their power , from the filibuster to the Electoral College .
They have embraced not just the ruthless “ cancellation ” of dissenters , but political violence for those marked enemies of social justice .
Americans have already been told to put up with the destruction of property and lives , with harassment , looting , and vandalism , with assassinations of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top it off—relentless lying and gaslighting .
First they told us that none of this was happening , and then they demanded that we believe Trump and his supporters were to blame .
Joe Biden , having reached the apogee of political thuggery , says the president is “ raising the temperature.
” The implication seems to be that Trump , and those who want to take America back from the partisans of 1619 , should stop resisting .
If “ raising the temperature ” means putting up a fight , then by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going .
Trump ’ s not perfect , but if America is going to win this culture war , it would be hard to find a better champion in this moment of profound national peril .
He ’ s doing what he was elected to do : defend America from those who would destroy it .
And he has already signaled his intention to fill that Supreme Court seat , rather than stand on ceremony while the Left continues to plot the country ’ s demise .
The Left has done a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has infected our institutions and poisoned the country for decades with virtually no opposition .
Perhaps the damage is irreversible .
But if America can still be saved , we should be glad to have somebody like Trump in our corner .
Matthew Boose is a Mt .
Vernon fellow of the Center for American Greatness and a staff writer and weekly columnist at the Conservative Institute .
His writing has also appeared in the Daily Caller .
Follow him on Twitter @ matt_boose .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Americans for Prosperity Tells Music City Officials to ‘Stop the Shenanigans’ on Nashville Taxpayer

Americans for Prosperity Tells Music City Officials to ‘Stop the Shenanigans’ on Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act

Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee ( AFP-TN ) officials this week accused members of the Nashville Election Commission of delaying a vote on the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act and urged them to verify it .
This , according to a press release that members of AFP-TN published on their website .
As reported last month , this referendum , if approved , would roll back Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s 34-37 percent tax increase .
The referendum would also limit property tax rate increases to 2 percent every year without voters approving it .
In the press release , AFP-TN State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to act in secrecy to thwart the will of the people.
” “ Nashville has had a transparency problem for far too long with taxpayer-funded handouts and sweetheart deals to politically connected companies .
Now that the cash cow has been put out to pasture , our city is feeling the pressure of reckless spending and corporate welfare that put us in our current position .
Responsibly using tax dollars requires cutting budgets , not raising taxes , ” Venable said .
“ People feel they have been lied to by Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t ask taxpayers for more money when they aren ’ t properly managing the money they already have .
Nashvillians have been hit with a massive tax hike while government officials refused to cut their own pay raises or tighten the city ’ s belt , as Nashville families have been forced to do .
The only path out of this dilemma is complete transparency and giving Nashville voters the chance to be heard at the ballot box in December.
” Venable also said that before Cooper starts “ threatening to strip essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education ” he should “ take a hard look at all of their pet projects to assess if now is the time to take on billions of more debt.
” “ Nashville needs to get its priorities in order — the mayor ’ s threats to defund public services first just might spur more Nashvillians to call his bluff , ” Venable said .
As The Tennessee Star reported last week , members of the Metro Nashville Election Commission met privately last Friday .
At least one of the five commission members refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though it was government business .
Nashville attorney Jim Roberts told The Tennessee Star Saturday that he suspects commission members met to discuss ways to undermine the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Special Assistant to the President, Theodore Wold Highlights the Revolutionary Accomplishments of Do

Special Assistant to the President, Theodore Wold Highlights the Revolutionary Accomplishments of Donald Trump

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Theodore Wold who is a special assistant on policy to President Trump to the newsmakers line .
At the end of the second hour , Wold discussed the many accomplishments of President Trump that nobody thought were possible in regards to immigration deals with Central America and Mexico that are inevitably leading to a safer America .
Leahy : Crom you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America .
Innovation is key .
And we have a special guest who focuses on immigration here Crom about to come on .
So his name Theodore Wold .
He ’ s a special assistant to the president for policy in the Office of American Innovation .
BA from Georgetown and a MA .
So he ’ s a pretty smart guy .
Here is what ’ s interesting to me .
Theo , we are going to bring him on right now ?
He has a J.D .
from the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when did he get that ?
Leahy : We are going to ask him .
Theo Wold , special assistant to the president .
Welcome to The Tennessee Star Report .
Wold : Hey , thanks for having me on gentlemen .
I appreciate it .
Leahy : So the big question is when you were at the University of Notre Dame in Law School did you have Amy Coney Barrett as a professor ?
Wold : You bet your bottom dollar I did .
Yep .
No finer legal mind in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something in common because as a Tennessean we think Amy Coney Barrett is a fantastic jurist .
She attended college undergraduate at Rhodes College in Memphis , Tennessee .
Leahy : So she was a good professor ?
Wold : She was a tremendous mentor .
A tremendous mentor .
And the best thing about Professor Barrett now Judge Barrett is in Washington as you bot know is just full of swamp creatures who are always chasing the brass ring their whole life .
They are just basically robots .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next title .
Basically her entire career has been having a good family .
Being a good wife .
Being a good mother .
Being a good friend .
And that ’ s really just a testament to how good she is at her job that she ’ s been able to raise seven kids and also get to the top of the legal academy .
To be appointed to the Seventh Circuit who is now under serious consideration for the Supreme Court of the United States .
Very few people can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true American spirit that she embodies .
So really really just a fine example of the great people are country can produce .
Carmichael : Let me ask you , have often had you had the chance to be interviewed by somebody who is born in South Bend ?
( Laughter ) That ’ s me .
Wold : This will be the first time .
Carmichael : Your description of Judge Barrett is heartwarming and it ’ s the same that I ’ ve read from everyone that knows here .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know her and have never met her with very strong opinions that are the opposite .
So it ’ s nice to those that actually should have knowledge of her as a person speak so highly of her .
Wold : And we saw that at the Democratic Convention a few weeks ago .
Whatever that is now .
A month ago .
They ’ ve got a lot of weird views on what is normal or what the country should look like .
And if your listeners need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that she is a really normal Midwestern mom .
She likes tailgates .
She likes college football .
Likes bonding with her students .
You can ’ t get more just normal American than Judge Barrett .
Despite what they are saying in the press they have no idea what they are talking about .
Leahy : Well Theodore one little comment before we get to the main point of your call talking about the president ’ s immigration policy record .
We have a mutual friend who is my former Breitbart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s at the White House .
I imagine you work with her pretty regularly .
She ’ s fabulous .
Wold : Almost every day .
Julia is in the trenches because she has to deal with the fake news .
And she has to get the president ’ s story out there so that people know what is actually going on .
So she is right there in the trenches .
Leahy : She ’ s a superstar .
That ’ s great to know that she ’ s working there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about and we would be delighted to hear about President Trump ’ s immigration policy accomplishments in the last four years .
Why don ’ t you highlight those for our listeners ?
Wold : Is just the president who has had enormous success in immigration policy .
And it ’ s in large part because he did one very simple thing .
It ’ s profound here in Washington but it ’ s what most people do every day in their jobs .
He did what he said he would do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolutionary compared to most of his modern predecessors .
And despite opposition really at every turn from folks from the Republican Party and obviously from the Democrats and special interests , he ’ s done some truly historic things .
With the wall , we are at about 400 miles .
We are doing 10 miles a week to about a mile a day .
Anyone who ’ s followed this from start to where we are now knows we ’ ve been sued by nearly every left-leaning advocacy group in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve had work stoppage orders .
We ’ ve had contracting problems where the Democrats tried to keep the money from us .
But even despite all that , we are at 400 miles .
We ’ ll be probably 600 miles by the end of the year and we ’ re going to keep going .
The president has prosecuted and deported nearly 100,000 criminal aliens including disrupting the largest MS-13 gang in the US .
And he deported the last living Nazi in America .
So we are getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the rapists out of our communities .
And here ’ s one that I love that I ’ m sure your listeners haven ’ t heard a word about .
The president as you know is a deal maker .
And he wanted to reach an agreement with Mexico and the Central American countries to help us with their problem which is all these people fleeing their cities and towns coming north .
Nearly everyone in Washington said that was impossible .
They practically laughed in the president ’ s face at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president got a deal with Guatemala .
He got a deal with Honduras .
He got a deal with El Salvador .
Leahy : Crom , you had a special question for Mr. Wold .
Carmichael : I wanted to follow up on the last comments about the deals that the president has made with countries in Central America and Mexico because those are deals that I ’ ve not heard of at all .
If you could tell us a little bit about those deals and their importance then I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different questions about immigration as it pertains to innovation .
Wold : It ’ s one of those just wild pathologies in Washington where success actually produces silence .
It ’ s not a celebration .
You are not going to hear about it when the president has successfully negotiated these deals .
And we know that they ’ ve been a success in part because the numbers coming from Central America and Mexico just nearly trickled down to nothing .
The starkest contrast you could have is the legacy of the Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave after wave of undocumented children .
Illegal aliens .
Gang members .
All traveling in these huge waves coming to the United States .
As your listeners know that ’ s not happening anymore .
And that ’ s in part because the president negotiated these agreements .
Those countries agreed to expend resources and their own government bodies to keep people in their towns to assist the United States from criminals coming North .
Mexico has put 27,000 Mexican troops on their side of the border to say it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So a huge success for the president .
And as I said that everyone in Washington said there is no way we could ever get these deals before .
Not with Bush .
Not with Obama .
There is no way Donald Trump is going to be able to get those and he got every single one .
Carmichael : What are we doing to try to help those countries make their own countries a better place to live then they are right now ?
Wold : Yes .
So this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s success on .
The Obama-Biden proposal was to take just a giant chunk of American taxpayer money and dump it into Soros backed NGOs and the governments of those countries regardless of corruption and fraud .
Billions of dollars .
That was their proposal .
The president ’ s proposal was that we will work with the American industry , the American private sector , and we will encourage our businesses to open facilities where possible to get them out of China and brought back to our hemisphere so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for America .
If private-sector folks are willing to invest in Guatemala , Honduras , El Salvador , and Mexico , great .
It ’ s not going to be at the expense of the US taxpayer .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Theodore Wald ” by New Media UFM English .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Protesters Arrested in Louisville After Grand Jury Indicts Only One of Three Officers in Breonna Tay

Protesters Arrested in Louisville After Grand Jury Indicts Only One of Three Officers in Breonna Taylor Shooting

In a decision that has inflamed Black Lives Matter activists in Louisville , a grand jury has indicted only one of three officers involved in the March 13 fatal police shooting of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor .
Former detective Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment for showing “ extreme indifference to human life ” when he fired his gun into three apartments .
The charges were not for killing Taylor , but for putting her neighbors in danger .
Neither Sgt .
Jonathan Mattingly nor Detective Myles Cosgrove were indicted .
An ongoing protest in Louisville following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in several arrests .
Taylor was shot inside her apartment at approximately 12:40 a.m. last March when three plainclothes officers attempted to serve a search warrant as a part of a narcotics investigation .
Taylor had dated a drug dealer who was one of the police ’ s main suspects in their investigation .
Detective Joshua Jaynes , who obtained the search warrant for Taylor ’ s apartment , claimed that he had verified through a U.S. postal inspector that Jamarcus Glover , Taylor ’ s former boyfriend , had been receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to detective Jaynes , Glover was using Taylor ’ s apartment as his home address .
Police and prosecutors have claimed that the officers knocked and announced themselves before breaking down the door .
According to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron , “ evidence shows the officers both knocked and announced their presence ” before entering the apartment ” and their statements were corroborated by an independent witness who was “ in close proximity ” to the apartment .
Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , has said he thought intruders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he heard pounding at the door , but he did not hear the police announcing who they were , so he fired one shot at the police , hitting Sgt .
Jonathan Mattingly in the leg .
The Kentucky Attorney General held a press conference shortly after the grand jury ’ s announcement Wednesday afternoon .
Cameron stressed during the presser that the although the grand jury found no criminal violations on the part of the police in the accidental shooting of Taylor , it was a tragic , “ gut-wrenching ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office as the special prosecutor in the case was not to decide if the loss of Miss Taylor ’ s life was a tragedy .
The answer to that question is unequivocally yes , ” he said .
“ It is no doubt that this is a gut-wrenching case and the pain that many people are feeling is understandable .
I deeply care about the sanctity and value of human life .
It deserves protection and in this case , a human life was lost , ” Cameren added .
“ My job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to put emotions aside and investigate the facts to determine if criminal violations of state law resulted in the loss of Miss Taylor ’ s life .
” The family ’ s lawyer , Florida-based attorney Benjamin Crump , slammed the grand jury ’ s decision on Twitter , calling it “ outrageous and offensive ” that none of the charges were connected to Taylor ’ s death .
Crump shared inaccurate information on Twitter earlier this year , writing on Twitter on May 11 that police “ had the wrong address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody.
” In reality , there was a search warrant for Taylor ’ s apartment because she had ties to Glover , one of their main suspects .
Protesters gathered at Jefferson Square Park an began marching through town after the grand jury ’ s decision was announced .
“ People are heartbroken , and they ’ re pissed the f*** off , and I am too , ” protester Logan Cleaver told the Courier-Journal .
“ Of course I hope that people get home safe and they can get home to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are mad , and they want s**t f*****d up .
And to be honest , this place should burn tonight , tomorrow night and the night after.
” Several police vehicles trailed closely behind the marchers .
The National Guard was also on the scene , according to the Courier-Journal .
After a stand-off with police , eight to ten rioters were reportedly arrested , according to a live feed videographer on the scene .
Another live feed of the protests ( that will likely turn to riots after dark ) can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for American Greatness .
Photo “ Justice for Breonna Taylor Poster ” by Fibonacci Blue .
CC BY 2.0 .


Commentary: No-Show Joe

On Tuesday , at 9:22 a.m. , reporters covering the Joe Biden campaign were told that there would be no more events or newsmaking to issue forth from Team Biden for the rest of the day .
The same thing happened on Saturday .
At 8:35 a.m. on Sept. 19 , Team Biden put a “ lid ” on that campaign day .
In fact , the lid has come down before noon no less than eight times this month .
That would be 36 percent of the campaign days in the month of September in which the Biden campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Sunday , Joe Biden said that 200 million Americans had died from COVID-19 , which would make the virus twice as deadly as the Black Plague in Europe was in less than 1 percent of the time .
As there are some 330 million or so Americans , many of our readers have apparently died of COVID-19 and weren ’ t aware of that fact .
That was one day after the campaign shut Biden down before noon .
Then on Monday , Biden answered a question about socialism in the Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I beat the socialist , ” he said , which probably didn ’ t inspire his Hard Left base .
This , along with catching a question about the Democrats ’ “ new ” idea of packing the Supreme Court in which Biden ’ s answer was that he would refuse to answer the question because then it would be a distraction from what a terrible guy Donald Trump is .
By Tuesday , it was time to shut Biden down .
Six weeks before Election Day , Joe Biden was off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday , September 29 , Joe Biden is scheduled to meet Donald Trump in the first of three presidential debates .
And while Trump is making multiple campaign stops a day in front of substantial crowds , jokingly asking why Biden bothered to get plastic surgery if he was just going to cover his face with a mask and trolling Biden with threats that he would ban him from the presidency by executive order , Biden can ’ t even show his face nearly 40 percent of the time .
And when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do softball interviews from his basement or bizarre “ campaign ” events in front of practically no one .
Biden gets off a plane and waves to an empty tarmac , while Trump speaks in front of a hangar full of people .
Does anyone really believe that Joe Biden is going to show up to that debate next week ?
Why is Biden ’ s campaign shutting him down before noon ?
The pat answer would be that Biden is ahead in the polls and so can play defense .
But you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not playing at all .
He isn ’ t playing defense .
He ’ s on the sidelines .
And his lead , if it actually exists at all ( the methodology of those polls showing Biden ahead is every bit as suspect as the same polls from four years ago that led Hillary Clinton ’ s camp to think she had it won ) , isn ’ t big enough to sit still and let Trump outwork him .
But the real answer , most people who aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan Democrats who ’ ll admit it know — is that Joe Biden ’ s campaign is shutting him down out of fear that he ’ s in such bad shape that he physically and mentally can ’ t perform at the level of a presidential nominee .
This is hardly a controversial theory .
It ’ s obvious .
When Biden killed off 200 million Americans with COVID-19 on Sunday , it was the second time he ’ d made such a gaffe .
Back in June he said it was 120 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he had dementia or some other debilitating brain condition .
He was asked about taking a cognitive test a few weeks later , and , to be charitable , he didn ’ t handle the question particularly well .
Then there ’ s the issue with the teleprompter .
Biden uses one even for softball interviews , and he Ron Burgundys his way through those often to comic effect .
He ’ ll give obvious hand signals to the teleprompter operator .
He ’ ll flub the lines he ’ s given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say what he ’ s reading .
He ’ s read stage directions as though they were lines .
In one appearance he took a question , instructed the teleprompter operator to begin scrolling and then let out an audible sigh as he waited for the words to show up on the screen .
And in another interview he broke out a framed photo of himself with his two sons to show the audience , and in the glare of the reflection off the glass a teleprompter was clearly visible .
But when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s campaign spokesman T.J. Ducklo about the teleprompter , the latter went ballistic and accused Baier of shilling for the Trump campaign .
Baier calmly interrupted Ducklo ’ s tirade to note that he wasn ’ t answering the question .
It ought to be pointed out that Biden ’ s teleprompter , without which his speech becomes especially messy , won ’ t make an appearance at the debate .
His team might attempt to “ cheat ” using an IFB earpiece , but if Joe Biden could listen and talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is not all that easy to do , his team would be doing that with him rather than the teleprompter .
He ’ s going to have to speak extemporaneously in dueling with Trump .
Let ’ s remember that Donald Trump is the man who took on one of the most impressive , voluminous fields of presidential hopefuls ever assembled — the 2016 GOP field — and systematically destroyed it .
He took apart Jeb Bush , Rand Paul , Chris Christie , Scott Walker , Marco Rubio , Ted Cruz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veterans who were known for impressive debating abilities , and did it with ease .
Then he eviscerated Hillary Clinton in a similar way .
That was when Trump was a political novice who didn ’ t have as full a command of the issues as the veterans did .
Now he ’ s been president for three years and probably knows those issues better than anyone else .
And certainly Joe Biden , who ( 1 ) has , in the words of former Obama defense secretary Robert Gates , been wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American history ( and isn ’ t any better on the domestic stuff ; this is a guy who voted against the Alaska pipeline , for crying out loud ) and ( 2 ) thinks two-thirds of the American people are six feet deep due to COVID-19 .
Joe Biden isn ’ t black , he isn ’ t gay , he isn ’ t Hispanic , and he isn ’ t female .
Joe Biden is a decrepit old white guy who has probably said more racist things than any American politician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cry for Joe Biden if Trump were to spend 90 minutes dressing him down and clowning on him on national TV .
Sure , Democrats will whine about it , but “ persuadable ” voters who may not care for Trump ’ s brusque style but haven ’ t written him off yet will at least note how much more “ on the ball ” Trump is than Biden , even if they think he ’ s committing elder abuse at the debate .
Trump is just three years younger than Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s campaign to date indicates they don ’ t think there are any “ persuadable ” voters out there anyway .
They think this election is all about turnout , whether of real people or fictitious ones , or perhaps some of those 200 million dead Americans who will rise from the grave and mail in their COVID-soaked ballots for Biden regardless of what gaffes he makes between now and Nov. 3 .
That ’ s why they ’ ve begun shutting Biden down at the first sign he might actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face-planting status quo .
How it happens I can ’ t say , though the obvious theory would be that Biden will suddenly test positive for COVID-19 , but it ’ s hard to see Team Biden putting their guy into that debate next week .
The most obvious way for him to lose this election would be to have an utter meltdown in which he descends into a nonsensical word salad while Trump berates him for his lack of preparation and offers the crowd a “ See what I ’ m telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lack of fitness .
Far better to be accused of cowardice and getting known as “ No Show Joe ” than to have that meltdown in front of the Americans COVID-19 hasn ’ t taken from us .
It ’ s the old line — better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to open one ’ s mouth and remove all doubt .
That ’ s why the “ lid ” comes out almost half the time .
And it ’ s why you might want to make backup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate doesn ’ t come off as scheduled .
Scott McKay is publisher of the Hayride , which offers news and commentary on Louisiana and national politics .
He ’ s also a novelist — check out his first book “ Animus : A Tale of Ardenia , ” available in Kindle and paperback .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--The Ohio Star Managing Editor Jack Windsor Weighs in on the Unpopularity of Governor DeWine and Fail

The Ohio Star Managing Editor Jack Windsor Weighs in on the Unpopularity of Governor DeWine and Failing Biden Ads in Ohio

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed The Ohio Star Managing Editor Jack Windsor to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Windsor reflected on Governor Mike DeWine ’ s less than favorable reception at the recent Trump rally near Dayton , Ohio this week .
He also weighed in on the current Joe Biden ads playing in Ohio stating that the mask mandates being pushed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : On the newsmaker line our good friend , the managing editor of The Ohio Star Jack Windsor .
Good morning Jack .
Windsor : Mike , Crom good morning .
Thank you for choosing me .
It ’ s an honor to be here .
Leahy : We are always happy to choose you Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m .
But you talk about choosing .
You had a story that was quite shocking to some people who aren ’ t following your reporting .
President Trump had a rally up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governor DeWine and the lieutenant governor there .
Tell us what happened .
Windsor : So he was at a rally near Dayton , Ohio and the Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted was warming up the crowd and he was booed hardily twice .
( Leahy laughs ) One time he was talking about masks and held up the masks with Trump ’ s name on it .
They weren ’ t booing Trump .
And a few minutes mentioned the governor and the first lady and he was booed again .
Some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing thing .
When the president took the stage , President Trump mentioned Governor DeWine and he was showered with boos then .
So it didn ’ t go well for the governor and the lieutenant governor .
Leahy : So Jack .
The president apparently his staff had not told him , hey Mr. President you know this Republican governor we have up here Mike Dewine , he ’ s not really your friend .
And the people in Ohio don ’ t really like him .
And so don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that to him you know ?
Windsor : They didn ’ t .
And when he said it you can see the president looking around and he goes what ’ s that all about ?
( Leahy laughs ) He ’ s opening up .
He ’ s opening up .
Leahy : Although you and I have known this since DeWine was elected .
And by the way for our listening audience , the one journalist in America that Governor DeWine is afraid of is on the line with us right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t like hearing your questions .
But he has to respond , right ?
Windsor : Well , he kind of responds .
He definitely has a visceral response .
I ask really long questions for a reason .
But you can see his visceral response when I ask the questions .
I asked one yesterday about what our end game is and about the constitutionality of what he ’ s doing .
And he really danced around it .
You are right .
Leahy : Let ’ s talk about that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the president ’ s reaction .
Carmichael : What constitutional issue are we talking about here ?
Leahy : Tell us your question to Governor DeWine .
And tell us how he danced around in his response .
Windsor : So the constitutional question , I ’ ll answer that first .
It is amendment one and amendment 14 .
There is a federal case in Pennsylvania where the judge said that business orders and stay at home orders and rules on gatherings were a violation of the First Amendment and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor yesterday was , I mentioned that he had an 81 percent approval rating in April for his handling of COVID but since that time he ’ s had the sixth biggest drop in the country .
And as late as August he had as low as possible of 53 percent are approving .
So nearly half of the state is refuting what he ’ s doing .
And then I mentioned that he and the governor were booed at the president ’ s rally the day before .
And then I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously not a popularity contest .
We have judges who have called orders illegal here in even in this state of Ohio most recently .
There is a Republican representative that introduced a bill yesterday that would strike down the state of emergency in Ohio .
So my question was that in any war you have an exit strategy .
Have you started yours ?
Because you say businesses are 50 percent open but they are not .
Some of them are not going to survive .
That ’ s taking health insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohioans .
Since your oath of office compels you to protect our constitutional liberties and not make sure people don ’ t get sick , what is the metric ?
Not the emotion but what is the metric that will cause you to listen to the growing number of people telling you to change direction ?
Leahy : So what ’ s his face looking like when you are asking this question , Jack ?
Carmichael : What was his answer ?
Windsor : First of all there is an eye roll usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A laugh .
And really his answer , in essence , it was actually pretty long .
He and the lieutenant governor both chimed in .
But he said that he and his administration continued to rely on the best science and recommendations to drive policies .
And frankly , he ’ s used to getting booed .
That ’ s the long and short of it .
I wrote an article yesterday published in The Ohio Star and I go into the state of emergency in March .
It was really based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be overrun .
That ’ s the emergency that never happened .
Leahy : I remember that well .
I remember all of the phony projections that now the former Director of Health Amy Acton said .
By the way no longer the health director in Ohio largely because of the reporting by The Ohio Star and Jack Windsor .
Windsor : Well thank you for that .
( Laughs ) That makes me popular in some circles and highly unpopular in other circles .
Carmichael : Let ’ s switch to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve notice don TV that almost all the people who are now sitting behind the president when he speaks are wearing these great big beautiful MAGA masks .
So they are wearing an advertisement it looks like .
And so that has to be purposeful .
How big are the rallies ?
How would you compare them to the rallies of 2016 ?
Windsor : I think that they are still extremely impressive .
You have thousands of people attending .
And I think that they are right on par .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little bit but not much .
They ’ re extremely well attended .
The people who are there are obviously huge supporters .
The only concern I have is looking at his approval with respect to the handling of COVID has dipped .
He was at about 50 percent at the end of April .
And plus or minus he ’ s around 31 to 41 percent now .
So he ’ s dipped a little bit in Ohio .
But again , I ’ m still not too worried .
I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind a couple of points to Biden .
Actually we should say , Harris .
Windsor : That ’ s right .
But I think they are really still well attended Crom .
I really do .
Carmichael : OK. And he ’ ll be holding events in Pennsylvania , Ohio , Michigan , Wisconsin , and Minnesota .
All across the Midwest right through October .
Have you attended any of Joe Biden ’ s events ?
Has he come to Ohio ?
And if he even comes to the state are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sense that in the same room ?
Windsor : ( Laughs ) If I wasn ’ t it would be by personal preference .
I would be allowed yes .
I have not .
I believe the last time he was here I want to say it was around March .
If not a little bit before that .
He has spent a lot of money on TV ads in Ohio .
They have ramped up .
And I want to say its somewhere between one and two million dollars of spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in those ads Jack ?
What is the main theme of those ads ?
Windsor : You know , you are going to catch me here .
I don ’ t watch a lot of TV .
I don ’ t actually own one .
But I have been able to see a couple of them .
He ’ s really big on the masking mandate .
That ’ s one of his promises .
Leahy : Let me just stop for a moment .
The one I ’ m thinking of is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lectern .
Like a wooden whatever .
And he basically starts off by saying if needed I will have a national mask mandate .
Now , I don ’ t know .
Do you think that plays well with voters in Ohio ?
Windsor : No .
I do not .
I think voters in Ohio are done with masks .
And I think it really hit the fan when the kids had to go back to school .
Healthy kids and younger kids having the mask all day while they are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s different for other districts .
That to me is when a lot of the push backs for masks really hit a high level .
No , I don ’ t think it plays well .
We ’ ve been under restrictions now for over six months .
I think a lot of people look at that and go , wait a minute .
You aren ’ t going to take office till January and you are going to tell me we are going to be wearing masks in January , February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Mike DeWine ” by Mike DeWine .
Background Photo “ Donald Trump Rally ” by Hayden Schiff .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil W. McCabe Discusses the Kickoff of Steve Bannon’s Plot to

Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil W. McCabe Discusses the Kickoff of Steve Bannon’s Plot to Steal 2020 Tour

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil W. McCabe to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , McCabe weighed in on the Steve Bannon event Monday night in New York City where he began his Plot to Steal 2020 tour which educates Trump supporters , Republicans , and conservatives about how the Democrats plan to steal the election from Trump .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line our Washington correspondent .
The original investigative journalist , my good friend , and my colleague from Breitbart days Neil W. McCabe .
How are you ?
McCabe : Michael , good to be with you .
Leahy : Neil , you have just been doing all sorts of very interesting investigative reporting .
You were also on Monday evening in the studio in New York City with Steve Bannon and the owner of our affiliate in Virginia .
The Virginia Star radio host John Fredericks .
Leahy : Absolutely the great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask you a question about those two guys in a second .
Bannon is going on this tour of how Democrats plan to steal the election .
What was that like on Monday night in New York City ?
McCabe : That was the New York City Young Republicans Club .
It was held at the National Women ’ s Republican Club which has a wonderful room that overlooks St. Patrick ’ s Cathedral .
There ’ s a nice little balcony there .
Bannon was absolutely on fire .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throwing lead downrange .
And Bannon was making the point that the transition is the fight after the election that people have to take seriously because the Democrats are gearing up to challenge the election in the courts .
And to challenge the election on Capitol Hill .
And to challenge the election in the streets .
And so Republicans who think it ’ s over on November 3 are wrong .
Leahy : Yes .
and you and I have talked about our friend Steve Bannon .
He ’ s the guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s probably one of the leading intellectuals in the country from a conservative perspective and a populous perspective .
We must mention of course that he was indicted on charges by the political Southern District of New York about a month and a half ago .
Just give us his analysis of those charges .
And what is going to happen with them ?
McCabe : Well I think what Steve would tell you is that he was hired by We Build the Wall to bring media and political acumen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to bring them publicity .
Which he did in the mainstream media .
You and I are both aware that there is an echo chamber in conservative media .
And it ’ s very rare when stories break out of that conservative echo chamber into the mainstream media where its so powerful a story that the CNN ’ s and The Washington Post and The New York Times actually have to cover it .
We build the Wall got that kind of coverage .
Not just on HBO or The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering We Build the Wall in El Paso for One American News , CBS News Morning Show was going live from the wall .
That was all Bannon .
He would say I was paid as a contractor .
I believe he was on the board , but he didn ’ t have signature authority .
And so everything that he did was approved by the board .
And so basically Steve Bannon was indicted for being Steve Bannon .
And I think they were concerned that he was going to take over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of sideline him the same way the left sidelined Paul Manafort four years ago .
What the Left didn ’ t realize is that by not knocking out Manafort with that forged ledger from Ukraine , Bannon took over the Trump campaign which is probably why Trump is in the White House .
Leahy : And Bannon has basically thumbed his nose at the political prosecution of the Southern District of New York .
By the way , one of the prosecutors there is James Comey ’ s daughter as I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is this the state of New York or federal .
Leahy : Federal .
The Southern District Court of New York .
McCabe : It is federal .
That is correct .
Leahy : Neil let ’ s talk about that for a moment .
Crom , you ask a good question .
Crom says how can the Southern District of New York ’ s U.S. attorney there file this allegation and indictment of Bannon and the We Build the Wall guys without Barr being involved or knowing about it ?
Tell us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s quite interesting .
McCabe : I think the story is the Southern District of New York which considers itself a power in and of itself .
And if you look at how this thing was done the secretary of state in Florida where We Build the Wall is based , they regulate charities in their state and they went ahead and they demanded all the documents and everything like that from Brian Kolfage who runs We Build the Wall and such .
They then delivered it to the Southern District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Florida .
Because the Florida U.S. attorney ’ s offices aren ’ t as independent .
Then the Southern District of New York handed the investigation to the post office .
Leahy : Whoa , whoa , whoa , whoa .
Wait a minute .
Why did the Southern District of New York hand a criminal federal investigation to the post office of all outlets ?
Doesn ’ t this have to go through the FBI ?
McCabe : Well , they didn ’ t want Barr in my view , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. , or even at the FBI to know what is going on .
McCabe : So they said oh no .
This is a postal fraud investigation .
So they had the post office , Florida , and then gave it to the post office .
The lawyers at the post office wrote it up as a federal case and then handed it to the Southern District of New York as a baby they found in a basket .
And then here we are .
Carmichael : When you called it the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that term of art ?
Or is that actually a real term ?
McCabe : Well the actual title is the southern district of New York because it ’ s Manhattan .
Carmichael : But the guy reports to Barr .
McCabe : And what are you going to do ?
You can ’ t fire them all .
The vast majority of them are civil servants .
Leahy : And Crom is incredulous that the acting us attorney in the Southern District of New York can conduct an investigation and indictment at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attorney general .
McCabe : Barr is the U.S. attorney .
He fired Berman .
And then Berman threatened a stink .
So then Barr allowed Berman ’ s assistant to become the acting .
And then Berman ’ s assistant is the same as Berman .
Barr backed down .
Barr had a chance to take on the Southern District of New York .
And he backed down because you can ’ t be fighting everybody at once .
I think Napoleon learned that .
Carmichael : I ’ ll say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency he fired all of the U.S. attorneys across the country .
I am a big fan of equal treatment under the law .
Carmichael : What I ’ m saying is that there are lots of charities .
There are a lot of organizations that have the same tax status as this We Build the Wall organization .
And if all of those organizations are going to be held to the same standard as this organization there should be lots of indictments of left-leaning organizations that are equally culpable of some form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not stand up in court , but it stands up enough to get the indictment .
Leahy : Last question for you Neil .
The sartorial difference between John Fredericks who wears a suit , a sharp white shirt , and tie everywhere and Steve Bannon who I don ’ t know looks like he ’ s been mowing the law right ?
( Chuckles ) McCabe : He looks like he shopped at the veterans center around the corner .
( Laughter ) Leahy : What is that contrast like .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Somebody told me that Steve Bannon looks like one of these TV movies .
He looks like one of the last warlords you have to fight in order to free Willie Nelson from the basement .
( Leahy laughs ) Listen to the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Steve Bannon ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Minnesota Bail Fund Promoted by Kamala Harris Helped Free Serial Domestic Abusers

A bail fund promoted by Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris helped bail out of jail six men accused of domestic violence between June and August , court documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation show .
Two of the men face felony charges for allegedly strangling women in their own homes , and another stands accused of beating his girlfriend upwards of six times with a closed fist , records show .
All but one of the individuals had been convicted of prior domestic violence-related charges when the Minnesota Freedom Fund ( MFF ) helped bail them out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Harris , a California senator , encouraged her supporters to donate to the MFF in June .
The fundraising link she posted to Twitter sports her branding and was still accepting donations as of Tuesday .
Harris told her followers that contributions to the fund would “ help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota ” against the police-custody death of George Floyd .
However , the MFF revealed on Sept. 4 that only about six percent of the money it had spent since Floyd ’ s death had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people facing protest-related charges .
The DCNF previously reported that in the months since Harris promoted the MFF , the fund has helped post bail for people accused of violent crimes , including Timothy Wayne Columbus , who faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl , according to court records .
Donavan Dexter Boone , 31 , was arrested May 2 after he allegedly broke into his son ’ s mother ’ s apartment and proceeded to strangle her in front of her minor children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The alleged victim told authorities she took shelter in her bathroom after Boone forced entry into her apartment , according to the statement .
He then “ forced his way into the bathroom ” and “ grabbed her by the throat , ” per the statement .
“ [ The victim ] said it was hard for her to breath and she felt dizzy… [ she ] thought she was going to die , ” per the statement .
Bone allegedly had to be pulled off his victim by his brother and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the statement .
Boone has previously been convicted of felony domestic assault by strangulation and issuing felony terroristic threats , according to court records .
One week after his arrest , Boone signed a form indicating that the money posted to afford his bail should be returned to the MFF , indicating that they paid for his release .
Davlin Devonte Gates , 28 , was arrested May 13 after he allegedly strangled a woman just days after she allowed him to move in with her , according to a statement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim “ got into an argument when Defendant [ Gates ] placed his hands around Victim ’ s throat and squeezed until Victim lost consciousness .
When Victim regained consciousness Defendant… blamed Victim for his actions , ” the probable cause statement shows .
Minnesota prosecutors noted in the charging document that Gates had exhibited a pattern of “ escalating violent conduct toward romantic partners and household members.
” He has four prior domestic violence-related convictions , two of which were felonies , according to the charging document .
Gates filed a request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was subsequently released from the Hennepin County Jail on July 20 , according to the jail roster .
Gates confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation in a phone call Tuesday that the fund paid his bail .
Marcus Marshun Butler , 40 , was arrested after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend on Aug. 13 , according to a statement of probable cause .
Butler struck the victim “ five or six times with a closed fist , ” according to the statement , which also indicates that police saw a small cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds that Butler petitioned to plead guilty for this crime .
He also has a lengthy rap sheet , which includes domestic assault , that is accessible via the Hennepin County Court system .
Following his arrest , Butler signed a form indicating that the money posted for his bail should be returned to the MFF , indicating that the group paid for his release .
Matthew Owens Earl Thompson , 29 , was arrested after he “ pushed his way ” into a domestic partner ’ s house while “ smoking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” according to a statement of probable cause .
Officers found him throwing rocks at his victim ’ s windows , the statement shows .
The victim told authorities that Thompson “ is not supposed to have contact with her and that she was not sure how Defendant [ Thompson ] figured out where she lived , ” according to the statement .
This is not the first time Thompson has stood accused of domestic crimes .
He has previously been convicted of domestic violence and violating a no contact order , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause show .
Following his arrest , Thompson signed a form indicating that the money posted for his bail should be returned to the MFF .
Tyrone Thomas Shields , 53 , was arrested after he allegedly left a “ larger than golf sized bump ” on the head of his wife of 19 years , according to a statement of probable cause .
“ I ’ m gon na keep beating your ass every time I see you , ” he also told her , according to the statement .
Shields allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave their house to buy cigarettes , the statement shows .
He got into the back seat of the car she was driving and proceed to strike her from behind , according to the statement .
He has been twice convicted of crimes of domestic violence in the last decade , the statement notes .
Following his arrest , Shields signed a form indicating that the money posted for his bail should be returned to the MFF .
Reece Omaur Bonneville , 29 , was arrested on Aug. 11 after he allegedly assaulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who came to apprehend him , leaving one with a black eye and another with a cut on his tricep , according to a statement of probable cause .
The statement also notes that Bonneville ’ s victim was “ holding their child while the assault was occurring.
” He was later convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault in connection with this incident , but not before he was bailed out by the MFF , as indicated by a form he signed requesting that bail money posted on his behalf be sent back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is accessible via the Hennepin County Court system .
Andrew Kerr and Kyle Hooten are reporters for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Kamala Harris ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--High School Football Team Banned from Waving Pro-Police Flag After Online Backlash

A Florida High School has reportedly banned their football team from waving a flag meant to memorialize a police officer after critics said the display is racist .
The Fletcher High School football team had been running onto the field with the pro-law enforcement sign since last year to honor one of the player ’ s late father , a former cop who died suddenly in August 2019 after 29 years on the job .
However the display was stopped this week after complaints , News4Jax reported .
The school in the city of Neptune Beach allowed The Fletcher Senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag for 11 games in the 2019 season and at last week ’ s game against Fleming Island but following online criticism accusing the team of being racist the principal nixed the practice over political concerns .
One social media comment after a game last week read , “ Fletcher really out here being openly racist , ” the report said .
Another person wrote that “ a lot of students aren ’ t happy ” about the act .
Lorie Lavender , whose son , Caelan , started the ritual told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or racist .
“ It is all about my son ’ s love for his dad and his memory , ” said Lorie Lavender “ [ Jacksonville Beach Police Officer Andy Lavender ] was a staple in the community loved by everybody , served with honor and integrity , ” Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police President Steve Zona said Lavender deserves to be remembered .
Duval County Public Schools issued a statement from Fletcher High School Principal Dean Ledford , who felt the meaning of the ritual could be misconstrued by outsiders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I determined that the act of using this flag in this personal way , while in the context of the football game opening ceremony , could easily be construed as representing a political position of our school and not just the personal feelings of the student and his teammates , ” he said in a statement .
Ledford said he ’ s working with the team on alternative ways for them to express their personal views .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Republicans to Take Pennsylvania Mail-in Voting Case to Supreme Court

Republicans will ask the Supreme Court to review a ruling out of Pennsylvania that extended the due date for mail-in ballots for the coming presidential election .
This will be the first political test of the Supreme Court following the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last Friday evening .
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled last week against the Republican Party position on the issue , which could result in the electoral votes from the Keystone State going to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on election night .
In 2016 , President Trump won Pennsylvania by a margin of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to relax the deadline for mail-in voting , which was seen as a win for Democrats , who are more likely than supporters of the president to vote by mail .
Under the new rule , Pennsylvania is required to accept ballots postmarked by Election Day , as long as they arrive within three days of November 3 .
“ The court ’ s judgement … creates a serious likelihood that Pennsylvania ’ s imminent general election will be tainted by votes that were illegally cast or mailed after Election Day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday court filing The Pennsylvania GOP asked on Monday that the state ’ s highest court temporarily halt the ruling from going into effect .
The Republicans will now appeal to the Supreme Court , or possibly , ask SCOTUS to pause the Pennsylvania ruling themselves .
“ This could be a big first test for the post-RBG Supreme Court and where it will stand on election issues , ” Rick Hasen , a professor of law at UC-Irvine told The hill .
The eight remaining SCOTUS judges often split their votes 5-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though Chief Justice John Roberts has notably flipped on some major cases .
President Trump has said he will announce his pick to fill the late Ginsburg ’ s seat this Saturday .
Leadership in the GOP-controlled senate has said they will hurry the confirmation process of Trump ’ s nominee in order to fill the seat by Election Day .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-24--Johnson & Johnson Begins Final Stage of Testing for Its Single-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine

Johnson & Johnson began its final round of testing for its COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday .
The study is one of the most expansive to occur so far , involving 60,000 volunteers across the United States , Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Peru , Mexico and South Africa , the Associated Press reported .
The vaccine is the latest to begin its final testing phase , joining candidates developed by Moderna and Pfizer , and is the only vaccine that would be administered as a single dose .
“ We want to do everything we can without sacrificing safety or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with vaccines that are going to save lives , ” Director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Francis Collins said to reporters , according to AP .
President Donald Trump has floated the possibility of a vaccine before Election Day , despite health officials in his administration saying that a vaccine is unlikely to be completed and distributed before mid-2021 .
“ Big news .
Numerous great companies are seeing fantastic results .
The FDA must move quickly !
” he tweeted Wednesday morning in reaction to Johnson and Johnson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 61 % of Americans would not take any vaccine once first available , an eight-point drop since August .
Despite the decline in confidence , Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a call earlier this week that he was confident an effective vaccine would emerge from “ a tried and true process ” that included rigorous testing , independent evaluations and “ the integrity of the FDA , ” according to AP .
The Centers for Disease Control was also set to announce Wednesday the distribution of $ 200 million of congressionally approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distribution of a vaccine once it is available , AP reported .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .