thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Ohio Has Seen More Unemployment Claims During the Coronavirus Pandemic Than It Did for the Previous

Ohio Has Seen More Unemployment Claims During the Coronavirus Pandemic Than It Did for the Previous Three Years

Ohio saw more than 42,000 people file for unemployment benefits last week , according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services ( ODJFS ) .
This marks the second straight week Ohio has received less than 50,000 unemployment claims .
With these additional unemployment numbers , almost 1.3 million Ohioans have filed for unemployment benefits over the last ten weeks , which is more than “ the combined total of those filed during the last three years , ” the ODJFS said .
Nationally , over 40 million Americans have filed jobless claims since mid-March as economies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Labor statistics .
Ohio has accounted for roughly three percent of America ’ s jobless claims during this time period .
The ODJFS also said it has distributed more than “ $ 3.1 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 644,000 claimants.
” This means that the ODJFS has given 51 percent of people who have filed unemployment claims their government checks .
ODJFS said it has processed almost 93 percent of the unemployment applications it has received with around 7 percent of the applications still pending .
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee about House Bill 614 .
The bill introduced by state Rep. Tracy Richardson ( R-Marysville ) and state Rep. Mark Frazier ( R-Newark ) seeks to reform Ohio ’ s unemployment compensation system .
During her testimony , Hall said she was not here to offer excuses , and added that the wave of unemployment claims “ has been unlike anything any of us have ever witnessed.
” Hall said Ohio ’ s low unemployment claims before the coronavirus led to the agency cutting staff members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ When this emergency began , only 553 people worked in unemployment , and our call center was comprised of only 40 full-time agents , ” she said .
“ To put that in perspective , in 2009 , during the last recession , 1,422 people worked in our unemployment office.
” Hall concluded her testimony by telling the committee that the ODJFS will not rest until “ every one that is eligible for benefits is served.
” “ We are here for Ohioans in this pandemic response , and we also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery , to help connect them to employment opportunities as we rebuild our economy , ” she said .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] Follow Zachery on Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Manny Sethi Calls for Fairness and Transparency in the Meat Industry

U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi this week called for fairness and transparency in the meat industry by laying out his three-point plan to ensure America has access to our national meat supply .
All this without price gouging from foreign-owned companies , Sethi said in a press release .
Washington bureaucrats who do not understand the reality of small farms and ranches have crafted a set of byzantine rules and regulations that are harming American small farmers , Sethi said .
We need to reduce useless red tape for farmers , as well as support the labeling of country of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the grocery store , he added .
“ Americans have a right to know where our food comes from .
Our national meat supply is held captive by Washington bureaucrats and foreign meat companies .
Farmers are the backbone of our nation , and we must ensure that our meat production is not outsourced to companies under the thumb of the Communist Chinese government , ” Sethi said .
“ We must reduce overbearing federal regulations that stop small farmers and ranchers from competing in a fair marketplace .
The government should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry .
Small and mid-sized farms and ranches across Tennessee produce great meat , and their products will compete in the free market if given the chance.
” As people face meat shortages nationwide , just a handful of companies control most of our meat production , Sethi said .
“ Of the largest meat producers , two are foreign-owned companies , Smithfield and JBS .
As American families struggle with the financial fallout of this global pandemic , there is evidence that the big meat producers , including those based in Communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal practices to keep their profits high even as meat production decreased , ” Sethi said .
“ I join many others , including Senator Marsha Blackburn and the Tennessee Cattlemen ’ s Association , in asking the Trump Administration to investigate this.
” In his press release Sethi said his plan involved the following steps : • Clear labeling of meat with the country of origin , country of processing , and country of ownership .
Americans deserve to know where their meat comes from , Sethi said .
• Investigate potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including foreign-owned companies .
Penalize any company that illegally profited off American consumers during a global pandemic , Sethi said .
• Reduce overbearing federal regulations so that our domestic farmers and ranchers can sell their meat without wading through red tape to level the playing field for small and mid-sized farmers and ranchers , Sethi said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Manny Sethi ” by Manny Sethi .

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.
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Eric Lendrum reports for American Greatness.
Photo “Capitol Police” by Elvert Barnes. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Newt Gingrich Commentary: The First Rule of Riots Is to Stop Them

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis is a complete outrage .
The complete failure of Minneapolis officials to stop and prevent the ensuing riot is a second outrage .
I will talk about this horrifying death in a moment , but I ’ ll start with the Minneapolis system ’ s failure .
The first rule of riots is to preempt them and stop them .
While people are rioting , the rule of law is collapsed , and street mobs dominate .
Because mobs are directionless and led only by waves of emotion , hostility , and hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in danger .
The more authority pulls back , the more the lawlessness moves in and the mob takes property , destroys property , and endangers lives .
People who had been forced to stay home by COVID-19 now might find themselves forced to stay home from fear of what might happen to them if the mob caught them in the street .
And in the most violent neighborhoods , even staying in your own home is not a guarantee of safety .
Small business owners in Minneapolis , who are often Somali @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women , may find their lifetime ’ s work destroyed by a vengeful , hateful mob .
The first duty of government is to provide physical security .
The city of Minneapolis failed to protect its citizens .
The state of Minnesota failed to protect its citizens .
Now , the President of the United States is threatening to intervene with federal forces as President Lyndon Johnson did in Detroit in 1967 and President George H W Bush did in Los Angeles in 1992 .
Unfortunately , the tragedy unfolding in Minneapolis is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A significant part of the Black community rightly feels abandoned and alienated .
Liberalism has cheated them in virtually every aspect of their lives .
Trapped in a political system controlled by bureaucratic unions , interest groups dependent on or regulated by government , and left-wing activists , there is both a sense of hopelessness and a feeling of constant anger which can exploded into rage .
In Minneapolis , the teachers ’ union traps poor children in schools which fail to educate them .
This makes it hard to get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of self-serving , unaccountable bureaucrats make it hard to create small businesses .
Faced with high unemployment , few property owners , even fewer business owners , and no one to mentor young people in how to succeed , there is a depth of bitterness and despair .
The liberals who dominate Minnesota and Minneapolis elections have a series of beliefs that simply don ’ t work .
They hire too few police , train them too little , and offer them no support .
Meanwhile , there are countless studies that show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force incidents , you fund police and ensure they are well-trained .
Much of the Black community sees the police as an occupying force .
Liberals spew hatred of the police .
Meanwhile .
much of the police force sees itself as trying to protect people who it knows dislike – and in many cases despise – it .
The video of the killing of George Floyd was horrifying to see .
Anyone who saw it who had an ounce of compassion had to have been deeply enraged .
The minute the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisively to establish control .
• They should have found a plausible reason to keep the policeman detained pending investigation .
The videos from multiple directions provide overwhelming proof that something horrendous happened , and it would enrage people .
• They should have announced immediately and firmly that no violence or destructiveness would be tolerated .
Peaceful demonstrations should have been accepted and encouraged .
• They should have immediately mobilized enough National Guard to retain control of the street .
The liberals on the Minneapolis City Council had so weakened the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obvious the police could not maintain control .
Furthermore , the police were going to be the focus of community anger , so asking the police to be the line between civilization and barbarism was inviting a disaster .
• The minute the crowd began to build around the police station , the National Guard should have been sent in to flood the streets with the forces of law and order ( the classic British principle for controlling riots in Hong Kong ) .
• If necessary , the Minnesota state police should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Minneapolis police in arresting anyone who broke the law .
Instead of these tried and true principles for controlling a crisis , the elected officials reacted in exactly the wrong way .
They enraged the crowd by announcing they were not ready to restrain the policeman seen kneeling on George Floyd ’ s neck ( he has since been charged with murder ) .
They sounded weak and uncertain , giving the mob the impression its violence would be tolerated and condoned .
The Minneapolis police , after years of budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected officials and activists , decided it wasn ’ t their fight and began to empty the precinct station because they saw no reason to risk their lives for a political system which held them in contempt .
There is every reason to be angry about what happened to George Floyd and to demand justice .
There is no reason to allow a mob to take over Minneapolis .
Tragically , this is a glimpse of much deeper roots of tragedy and failure in many American cities .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Crom Carmichael: According to Jerry Nadler, ‘If You Give People a Simple Opportunity to Cheat to Win

Crom Carmichael: According to Jerry Nadler, ‘If You Give People a Simple Opportunity to Cheat to Win an Election They Will Use It’

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael in the studio .
Towards the end of the third hour , Carmichael commented on Democrat Jerry Nadler of New York ’ s previous convictions about how mail-in ballots encouraged fraud .
He added that illegal immigrants that receive driver ’ s licenses without proper residency requirements aided in such activity .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very experienced practical politician from New York feel constrained to observe that in my experience in New York paper ballots are extremely susceptible to fraud .
And at least with the old clunky voting machines that we have in New York deliberate fraud is way down compared to paper .
When the machines break down they vote on paper and there are real problems .
There has got to be a way , I ’ m simply observing that as a problem .
There has to be a way of getting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact the MIT studies have shown that hand counted ballots are among the most reliable .
At least if there is a miscount you can discover it .
You can ’ t discover a miscount with these machines .
I think with the optical scan with paper…I want a paper trail .
I want paper .
But pure paper with no machines , I can show you experience which will make your head spin .
Carmichael : Yes .
Very very left-wing Jerry Nadler in 1994 pointing out that with human nature being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a simple opportunity to cheat to win an election according to Nadler they will use that opportunity to cheat .
Leahy : He ’ s not making that argument today is he ?
Carmichael : And so you have CNN and Twitter and The New York Times all saying that Trump is incorrect .
Which according to the Doctrine of Media Untruth means that Trump is right on target .
Carmichael : And by the way , the left gets incredibly angry whenever you bring up the subject of voter fraud .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were given driver ’ s licenses we had a radio show .
There was a radio show that discussed that very topic and I was asked what will happen when illegal aliens get driver ’ s licenses .
I said a number of negative things will happen .
One is there will be more bounced checks because they ’ ll have a driver ’ s license that inaccurately gives their name and address because when you get the driver ’ s license all you have to do is give a name and address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You could give the name and address of a cemetery or a postal box .
Carmichael : You could actually have 10 different drivers licenses .
And I said so that will be a problem which it then it became a problem .
Then voter fraud will go up .
And I was screamed at !
Carmichael : I was screamed at for saying that voter fraud would go up .
In fact , there was lots of data that shows that voter fraud goes up when illegal immigrants get driver ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that and I later came back and provided the data and proved my point .
And there is lots of data out there now .
Not just anecdotal evidence but there is data and science ( Leahy laughs ) that shows that if you mail out a bunch of ballots… In Nevada , the Democrats in Clark County are making the person who mails out the ballots mail the ballots out to 200,000 homes where the person who is responsible for mailing them out has already said , we have taken those 200,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they no longer live there .
Leahy : So the Democrats ’ plan is basically to collect them .
Steal them .
And put fraudulent ballots in .
It ’ s obvious as the nose on your face right ?
Carmichael : Democrats ’ as of 20 years ago recognized that the aspect of human nature would lead to that .
It ’ s really quite revealing for Jerry Nadler .
We ’ ll have other soundbites .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Background Photo “ Voting Booths ” by Tim Evanson .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--More Than 500 Doctors Tell Trump Shutdown Is Creating ‘Mass Casualty Incident’ Nationwide

More than 500 U.S. physicians sent a letter to President Donald Trump describing the coronavirus shutdowns as a “ mass casualty incident ” with “ exponentially growing negative health consequences ” to millions of non-COVID-19 patients nationwide .
The letter is signed by Simone Gold , M.D.
, an emergency medicine specialist in Los Angeles , followed by eight pages of doctors who have signed on to the letter .
“ Millions of Americans are already at triage level red , ” the highest priority used by doctors to treat patients , the letter states .
They include 150,000 individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detected through routine screening , millions who missed routine dental care procedures to limit the risk to heart disease and death , and preventable cases of strokes and heart attacks .
“ We are alarmed at what appears to be a lack of consideration for the future health of our patients , ” the doctors wrote .
“ It is impossible to overstate the short , medium , and long-term harm to people ’ s health with a continued shutdown , ” they continued .
The fact that illnesses are not being treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being massively under-estimated and under-reported , ” and “ is an order of magnitude error.
” More than 100,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 so far .
Dr. Marilyn Singleton , a board-certified anesthesiologist , immediate past president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons ( AAPS ) and signer of the letter , argues that “ Ending the lockdowns are not about Wall Street or disregard for people ’ s lives ; it ’ s about saving lives.
” On the AAPS website , she chronicles the negative impact of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We can not let this disease change the U.S. from a free , energetic society to a society of broken souls dependent on government handouts.
” Gracie Marie Turner , who first reported on the letter in Forbes and writes about health care reform , said that the deferred care of missed and cancelled appointments and necessary medical treatments “ is expected to lead to patients who are sicker when they do come in for care and more deaths from patients not receiving care for stroke , heart attacks ” or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons , told Turner that patients who do get admitted to a hospital for a medical condition “ … are prisoners .
No one can be with them .
Visitation at a rare single-story hospital was through closed outside window , talking via telephone.
” “ To get permission to go to the window you have to make an appointment ( only one group of two per day ! )
, put on a mask , get your temperature taken , and get a visitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the day , ” Orient added .
Yet by engaging in these practices , no hospitals or doctor ’ s offices are preventing patients from contracting COVID-19 , Orient argues .
Instead , she says the “ loss of patient morale , loss of oversight of care , especially at night are incalculable.
” The letter echoes sentiments previously expressed last month by other experts and doctors that the statewide shut downs counter decades of medical science and were based on an overestimation of fatality rates .
Bethany Blankley is a contributor @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Commentary: The ‘1619 Project’ Learns from Mussolini

Contrary to what many think , fascism is not based on the belief in absolute truth .
Fascism is based on the belief that there is no truth ; that is , on relativism , or nihilism .
This position is actually built on a fatal contradiction : a relativist says there is no truth , but in so doing , he is asserting a truth which then becomes the basis for what he intends to impose on everybody else .
Everybody else has been so polite as to let the relativists go on instead of pointing out that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own premise and therefore they don ’ t deserve to be listened to .
But that ’ s where we are and where we ’ ve been for some time in the relativistic postmodern worldview .
Take the “ 1619 Project ” —a group of essays pushing the thesis that American ideals were false when they were written and that the American Revolution was fought to protect and perpetuate slavery .
Prominent historians , liberals and conservatives alike , including Gordon Wood , James McPherson , James Oakes , Victoria Bynum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sean Wilentz have enumerated the many factual errors in the essays ( including at the 1620 Project of the National Association of Scholars ) .
Yet the lead essayist , Nikole Hannah-Jones , has responded mainly by mocking the idea of objective history altogether , as when she tweeted , with irony , “ LOL .
Right , because white historians have produced truly objective history.
” She and her defenders fall back on the idea that they are offering a different “ interpretation ” or “ re-framing ” of the facts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think my point was that history is not objective , ” she has said .
“ And that people who write history are not simply objective arbiters of facts , and that white scholars are no more objective than any other scholars , and that they can object to the framing and we can object to their framing as well.
” This can fairly be described as a fascist attitude .
As Benito Mussolini helpfully explained , “ If relativism signifies contempt for fixed categories and men who claim to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immortal truth .
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then there is nothing more relativistic than Fascist attitudes and activity .
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From the fact that all ideologies are of equal value , that all ideologies are mere fictions , the modern relativist infers that everybody has the right to create for himself his own ideology and to attempt to enforce it with all the energy of which he is capable.
” The historians who protest “ 1619 , ” however , resist the “ framing ” idea and take issue with the project ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These errors , which concern major events , can not be described as interpretation or ‘ framing , ’ ’ ’ some of them declared in an open letter .
“ They are matters of verifiable fact , which are the foundation of both honest scholarship and honest journalism .
They suggest a displacement of historical understanding by ideology.
” Sweeping aside such objections , Hannah-Jones is energetically enforcing her “ interpretation , ” as Mussolini directed , in her case with the help of institutions that also have been corrupted by ideological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , and the public school systems that teach the “ 1619 ” curricula designed for K-12 .
While the historians were waiting for some accountability , Hannah-Jones won journalism ’ s highest honor , the Pulitzer Prize .
Her prize was in commentary , not history .
Was that a backhanded way for the Pulitzer Committee to admit that the “ 1619 Project ” can not be dignified as history ?
But if that is so , why have professional educators accepted curricula based on the “ 1619 Project ” for teaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faulted by experts and scholars and exposed as mainly ideological ?
Which is the worst wound inflicted on the body politic by the “ 1619 Project ?
” • The original compiling of a malicious pack of falsehoods about our country ’ s founding ?
• Snubbing the demand for historical accuracy and by extension rebuffing any concept of reasoned deliberation as the basis of our common life ?
• Piping this poison into the schools , goading children through misinformation to hate their country ?
Encouraging minority children to hate their white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
• Seeing Hannah-Jones awarded the Pulitzer without any effort on her part to correct her work ?
• Using white guilt to extort reparations ?
Hannah-Jones has said , “ When my editor asks me , like , what ’ s your ultimate goal for the project , my ultimate goal is that there ’ ll be a reparations bill passed.
” “ I write to try to get liberal white people to do what they say they believe in .
I ’ m making a moral argument .
My method is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a genuine and instructive exercise in the “ fascist attitudes and activity ” Mussolini described—how a false ideology created by modern relativists can be advanced by force of will and contempt for truth on a populace deprived of reason .
Thanks , Duce , for making that clear .
Carol Iannone is editor at large of Academic Questions , journal of the National Association of Scholars , and has written on literature , education , and culture for a variety of publications .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Commentary: Trump Executive Order Strikes at the Heart of Social Media’s Leftist Censorship

President Trump ’ s long-hoped-for Executive Order on social media censorship is a good first step in dismantling the Left ’ s dangerous influence over these 21st-century communications vehicles .
( You can read the draft that was available online when this article was posted through this link to The National Pulse , edited by Raheem Kassam . )
We particularly agree with this part of the EO ’ s statement of principles , “ In a country that has long cherished the freedom of expression , we can not allow a limited number of online platforms to hand-pick the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online .
This practice is fundamentally un-American and anti-democratic .
When large , powerful social media companies censor opinions with which they disagree , they exercise a dangerous power.
” And the White House was right to call out the social media giants ’ anti-American cooperation with adversary states , especially Communist China : At the same time social media platforms are invoking inconsistent , irrational , and groundless justifications to censor or otherwise punish Americans ’ speech here at home , several online platforms are profiting from and promoting the aggression and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Google , for example , created a search engine for the Chinese Communist Party , which blacklisted searches for “ human rights , ” hid data unfavorable to the Chinese Communist Party , and tracked users determined appropriate for surveillance .
Google has also established research partnerships in China that provide direct benefits to the Chinese military .
For their part , Facebook and Twitter have accepted advertisements paid for by the Chinese Government that spread false information about China ’ s mass imprisonment of religious minorities .
Twitter has also amplified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by allowing Chinese government officials to use its platform to undermine pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong .
We could also add to the President ’ s list Twitter allowing the enemy state of Iran and its officials to use Twitter as a vehicle to spread anti-Semitic and anti-American propaganda , but why gild the lily .
While these statements of principles and irrefutable evidence of cooperation with our enemies have some utility in setting up the case for further action , it is the action itself that is important .
In that regard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grips with an issue that has been a constant source of confusion for many conservatives : Section 230 ( c ) of the Communications Decency Act ( 47 U.S.C .
230 ) .
Section 230 is the section of the law that created the concept of “ platform immunity ” from liability for the social media companies .
The Executive Order notes that an interactive computer service provider , such as Twitter , may engage in “ Good Samaritan ” blocking of content deemed obscene , lewd , lascivious , filthy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectionable and still retain its “ platform immunity ” from civil liability .
But that protection is qualified , and an interactive computer service provider may lose that protection if it fails to act in good faith .
Our view has long been that the interactive computer service providers , Twitter and Facebook in particular , long ago waived their platform immunity by engaging in editorial actions far outside the parameters established in Section 230 .
However , many conservative commentators seem to regularly overlook the necessity of good faith and the fairly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Good Samaritan ” editing by the providers to come forth with the “ it ’ s a private company we can not and should not try to do anything about it.
” President Trump ’ s Executive Order puts the Trump administration squarely behind our interpretation of Section 230 platform immunity stating clearly that : When an interactive computer service provider removes or restricts access to content and its actions do not meet the criteria of subparagraph ( c ) ( 2 ) ( A ) , it is engaged in editorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of content outside the protections of subparagraph ( c ) ( 2 ) ( A ) , such a provider forfeits any protections from being deemed a “ publisher or speaker ” under subsection 230 ( c ) ( 1 ) , which properly applies only to a provider that merely provides a platform for content supplied by others .
Now here ’ s the crucial part : “ It is the policy of the United States that all departments and agencies should apply section 230 ( c ) according to the interpretation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all agencies of the Unites States government , such as the Department of Justice , The Department of Commerce , the Civil Rights Commission , the Federal Trade Commission , etc .
are now called upon to act against the social media giants if their conduct appears to cross from platform to publisher or speaker and such conduct violates a law , rule or regulation enforceable by that department or agency .
It remains to be seen if the threat to their privileged business position causes the social media giants to amend their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we look forward to the Trump administration acting with alacrity if they don ’ t .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--AFC’s Shaka Mitchell Talks to The Tennessee Star Report About the Status of the ESA Lawsuit

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 Tennessee Director the American Federation for Children Shaka Mitchell to the show .
During the third hour , Mitchell gave updates regarding the education savings account ( ESA ) lawsuit that was challenged unconstitutional mainly by Mayor John Cooper .
He stressed how important it was to get the Tennessee Supreme Court ruling on ESA as parents who had applied and already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans for their children in the fall .
Leahy : We are joined now by our good friend the Tennessee State Director for the American Federation for Children .
Good morning Shaka .
Mitchell : Hey good morning .
Thanks for having me on .
Leahy : We ’ re delighted to have you on Shaka .
We talked to you earlier about the education savings account bill passed last year .
Very controversial .
There have been some lawsuits involved .
The implementation of the program has been delayed .
Can you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on where things are at the moment ?
Mitchell : Absolutely .
I ’ ll try to talk about litigation without putting all your listeners to sleep .
( Leahy laughs ) But I think we can do it .
The education savings account program passed last year .
What this would do it gives about $ 7,300 scholarship to students in primarily the Nashville and Memphis areas .
If their parents are not satisfied with their own schools they can take the state money and use it to go to the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed last May .
So more than a year ago Governor Lee signed it into law .
Pretty soon after .
Long story short , these cities , Metro Nashville and Shelby County have challenged the law saying that it ’ s unconstitutional based on something that is called a “ home-rule provision.
” That ’ s where we are now .
We are now in litigation .
Meanwhile , you ’ ve got a few thousand families who had planned to use it this coming year .
There is a lot at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families primarily in Davidson County and Shelby County want to use this $ 7,300 that has passed into law .
A lawsuit has been filed calling it unconstitutional at the lower court level .
It has been declared unconstitutional but it ’ s going to be appealed probably all the way up to the Supreme Court .
What are those thousand or so families doing right now ?
Mitchell : Well , that ’ s a great question .
I think for the past two months and I can speak to this because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school-aged kids .
Parents right now are just trying to figure it out .
We are trying to figure out what distance learning looks like , learning from home , whatever you want to call it .
A poll that we put out recently said that 40 % of parents said they are more likely to homeschool in the fall then they were previously .
So right now the parents who have signed up for the ESA program are kind of waiting .
They are waiting for the courts .
We are hopeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the case quickly so that they can continue to register .
Because now is the time you have to register for school and you want to have that set before August comes .
Right now they are kind of in limbo .
Carmichael : And when they register they registering at private schools that accept them ?
Mitchell : Yes that ’ s right .
You ’ d be doing two things at once really .
If you are a family who wants to participate you would apply for the ESA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of go shopping .
Just like any other family , you would go visit schools which obviously is really hard right now because of COVID .
A lot of schools are doing virtual tours .
You can still connect with school administrators .
Right now parents would be kind of shopping if you will for the right school for their kids .
Carmichael : What qualifies them ?
You said the first thing they have to do is they have to apply and qualify for the grant .
What qualifies them ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way that the law is written is that to be eligible you have to be zoned for Nashville public schools or a Shelby County schools or something called the achievement school district .
That ’ s one of the lowest-performing schools in the state .
The bottom five percent .
You have to be zoned for one of those two districts .
Then there are some income restrictions were a family of four , for instance , you have to be in the income threshold which is about $ 67,000 for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me be sure that I understand what you are saying .
What you are saying is that the state passed a law to allow parents whose children are in known failing schools and these are parents who don ’ t have the income themselves to get their children out of the failing school and into a private school… You are saying legislation passed to give these families the opportunity to get a better education for their children and Davidson County and Shelby County are suing to stop that ?
Who in Davidson County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County and Memphis , Shelby County that is suing ?
Mitchell : Yes .
Here in Davidson County where I live it is the Metro Nashville government .
So it is Mayor Cooper , the main party , and the school board joined that suit .
Here ’ s what they said if you can believe this .
They said just this week in a legal brief to the Supreme Court .
They said that the status quo doesn ’ t harm parents .
And I beg to differ .
You figure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read on grade level .
Carmichael : Now wait , these are the failing schools though ?
Carmichael : So this is the same mayor that applies data and science to his health policies in regard to COVID .
What data and science is the school board and the city of Nashville using to apply to try to claim that the school that is deemed by the authorities to be a failing school , what is the data and science that shows that they are in fact not failing ?
Mitchell : Yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find it .
( Leahy laughs ) Leahy : The data is exactly the opposite isn ’ t it ?
Mitchell : This has always been about families and parents having a choice for their kids .
Unfortunately for the other side this really became evident in the legal argument .
On the other side , it ’ s more about elevating money and government over the needs of families .
Ironically or maybe un-ironically the city of Nashville talks about this being a local control issue .
Well , nothing is more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s where the control needs to be .
And I think you are seeing this with COVID right now , this isn ’ t a matter of whether or not parents are sophisticated enough to do it .
You ’ ve got parents of families across the economic spectrum who are out of work right now and can ’ t go to work for whatever reasons .
Businesses have been shut down and they are trying to find some options to make things work .
Carmichael : You said that the city and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief or something to the Supreme Court .
So is it going to the Supreme Court now ?
Mitchell : The date set for the Tennessee Court of Appeals , intermediate court .
But the attorney general our partners like the Beacon Center and the Liberty and Justice Center has appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court and we ’ ve asked them to take it early because there is no time to wait .
Carmicheal : Right .
You ’ ve got the school year coming up .
Leahy : The school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : All of the parties actually need to know what the ground rules are and those ground rules will be ultimately determined by the ruling from the Supreme Court .
Mitchell : Absolutely .
And consider the fact with COVID , you ’ ve got schools that are trying to figure out how to have fewer kids in classes .
This is actually be something for safety reasons you would want fewer kids in public schools right now .
Carmichael : That would be true but would be a short term argument .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to have to resolve is whether or not the statute that was passed by the state and signed by the governor whether or not it is legal under our constitution .
I ’ m not a lawyer but I hope that the Supreme Court finds it to be legal because I think parents whose children are known to be in failing schools need to have an option .
Mitchell : The claim is that this violates what ’ s called the home-rule .
The idea that you can ’ t have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county .
But in fact , this law asks nothing of Nashville or Shelby .
In fact , we are saying hey , don ’ t do anything .
We want the parents to have a choice here .
We are asking you to not educate these kids so the children can actually go to the schools of their choice .
Leahy : What is your best guess of the earliest that the state Supreme Court might decide on this ?
Mitchell : I think the state supreme court could decide this summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling feasibly in June and this program could stay on track .
Even at the trial court level , the chancellor saw that this was a pressing issue .
And so I think we could still have a ruling that happens quickly which would allow parents to use it .
Leahy : How many people applied for the grant ?
And how many grants are available in Davidson County ?
Mitchell : At last count , there were just shy of 2,700 students who had applied for these .
Leahy : Is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davidson County ?
Carmichael : And how many are available ?
Mitchell : Available there are about 5,000 .
Leahy : They could all do that .
Mitchell : I would think the number would go a little bit higher .
Leahy : We ’ ll cross our fingers the state supreme court gets it .
When this has an update will you come back and share that information with us ?
Mitchell : I ’ d love to .
Thank you .
Listen to the full third hour : Tune in weekdays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Shaka Mitchell ” by American Federation for Children .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Twitter Censors White House Account for Quoting Trump’s Flagged ‘THUGS’ Tweet

Twitter censored the White House ’ s official Twitter account after it shared and quoted a President Donald Trump tweet Friday that the company ’ s moderators hit for “ glorifying violence.
” The account shared a tweet Trump composed early Friday morning in which he called people rioting and looting in Minneapolis , Minnesota , “ THUGS ” and suggested that he will send in the military , adding that “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” Twitter hid Trump ’ s tweet under a banner noting that the post violates company rules against glorifying violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memory of George Floyd , and I won ’ t let that happen .
Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way .
Any difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting starts .
Thank you !
” a tweet from the White House ’ s official account reads , quoting the president .
Twitter did not remove Trump ’ s tweet , arguing that it is in the “ public ’ s interest for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied the same label to the White House ’ s post , limiting who can comment and like the post while allowing users to share the tweet widely .
Twitter placed a “ fact check ” label on a Trump tweet Tuesday in which he alleged that California ’ s mail-in ballot is “ fraudulent.
” The president signed an executive order Thursday calling for social media platforms to lose their protection from legal liability if they engage in censorship .
– – – Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Trump Says U.S. Ending Partnership with World Health Organization

President Donald Trump on Friday said the U.S. is terminating its partnership with the World Health Organization , saying it botched its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in China .
“ We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly but they have refused to act , ” Trump said .
Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms , we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs.
” Last month , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms .
He has been critical of WHO since February , saying it inappropriately criticized him for his early flight restrictions on air travel from China .
He also said WHO has inappropriately defended China ’ s initial response to the novel coronavirus .
U.S. taxpayers have supported WHO with $ 400 million to $ 500 million in funding annually .
“ The world needs answers from China on the virus , ” Trump said .
“ We must have transparency.
” Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Former Officer Charged in Death of George Floyd

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin is in custody and has been charged with 3rd-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd , Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday .
“ We are in the process of continuing to review the evidence .
There may be subsequent charges later , ” Freeman said at a news conference .
The investigation into the other three former officers involved is ongoing , Freeman said .
Police were called to Chicago and 38th in south Minneapolis about 8 p.m. Monday after a 911 caller accused Floyd of using fake money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video showed Chauvin kneeling for about seven minutes on Floyd ’ s neck , who repeatedly said , “ I can ’ t breathe.
” The death in police custody is reminiscent of Eric Garner ’ s death in New York .
Garner uttered the same phrase before he died .
Floyd ’ s death sparked three days of protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul .
Although some protests were peaceful , others were violent , prompting Gov .
Tim Walz to call in the Minnesota National Guard to protect peaceful protesters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and dozens more were set on fire across the two cities .
Walz On Friday called for order in the state .
“ What the world has witnessed since the killing of George Floyd on Monday has been a visceral pain , a community trying to understand who we are and where we go from here , ” Walz said at a Friday press conference .
“ We have to restore order to our society before we can start addressing the issues , before we turn back to where we should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is served.
” 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 “ George Floyd Protester ” by Lorie Shaull .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Steve Bannon Presents ‘Descent Into Hell: The Crisis in Hong Kong’

An all new LIVE STREAM of Descent Into Hell : The Crisis in Hong Kong starts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Saturday .
The two-hour special takes a closer look at the life of everyday Chinese citizens under the Chinese Communist Party and will air live on the John Fredericks Radio Network , America ’ s Voice Network , Dish TV Channel 219 , The Epoch Times , ND TV , GTV and GNews in Mandarin .
John Fredericks said , “ A longtime China hawk and global leader in the fight for freedom of the Chinese people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in the world to accurately predict and call attention to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak .
This show will be groundbreaking in detailed strategy and the latest firsthand news from the world ’ s experts on the Chinese Communist Party.
” Previously , Bannon hosted a series of three , two-hour long special programs titled Descent into Hell : The Chinese People Confront the CCP .
The show ’ s broadcast partners are America ’ s Voice News , the John Fredericks Radio Network , Salem Media Group , and Newsmax TV and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spotify , Stitcher , SoundCloud , and Google Play .
The former White House Chief Strategist 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 .
You can watch past episodes here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WarRoomPandemic .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Commentary: Private Sector Will Lead the Way on COVID-19 Solutions and Recovery

Socialist countries and dictatorships rarely lead the way on innovation and solutions to the world ’ s greatest challenges .
COVID-19 is just the latest example .
I should know .
As a Cuban refugee , my family and I escaped an oppressive communist regime that seized private property and lashed out at dissenters .
In the coming months , it will become even clearer that the solutions needed to effectively combat COVID will come not come from big government , but instead from the private sector .
Specifically , pharmaceutical companies and the collective healthcare and scientific community will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , efforts and capital behind finding effective treatments .
Additionally , we can expect to see these groups push for increased accurate COVID-19 testing – including antibody tests – and eventually vaccines .
This doesn ’ t mean that there isn ’ t a role for local government .
But it will mean more of state governments encouraging the power of the private sector especially when it comes to testing .
The good news is that according to Harvard University , Tennessee is leading the nation in testing with more than double Harvard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is mainly due to the proactive leadership of Gov .
Bill Lee and his partnership with the private sector .
It ’ s important to point out that the five-minute test came not from the government , but from a private sector pharmaceutical company : Abbott Laboratories .
Gilead , Amgen , Pfizer , Roche , Sanofi , Johnson & Johnson as well as other pharmaceutical companies working on tests , therapeutics and vaccines .
Gilead is ramping up production of promising treatments and is currently donating supplies to hospitals .
AstraZeneca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential vaccine .
And , Sanofi , Pfizer and many others are working on other potential vaccines .
Unfortunately , this type of innovation is like swimming upstream as the FDA and other federal agencies can impose onerous and burdensome regulations .
The good news is that in response to COVID-19 , we ’ ve seen the government reduce the regulatory burden without compromising public safety .
Our friends at Americans for Tax Reform have a list of 565 regulations ( and counting ) that governments waived to help fight COVID-19 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most if not all of these regulations were never needed in the first place and simply stifle private sector innovation and advancement .
The Trump administration has done a great job helping accelerate the development of COVID-19 treatments through new collaborations with the private sector , standardizing methods and models , and increasing access to high-level laboratory facilities .
While all of this is focused on our public health – discovering effective therapeutics , enhanced testing and ultimately an effective vaccine are critical to our state , country and global economies .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , who previously had COVID-19 through effective antibody tests and to develop effective vaccines – all critical for the health of everyone and also for the economic recovery of the country .
We can not keep the economy stifled in the long-term .
We will need increased testing , but we also need to let the free-market and private enterprise produce as many cures , treatments and vaccines as possible .
The government can help facilitate collaboration between the biotech companies and also streamline the research through removing unnecessary barriers and regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picking winners and losers .
More than 300 clinical trials are underway for drugs including antivirals which help prevent the virus from reproducing and more than 70 potential vaccines are currently being researched .
Companies are working together along with the FDA to ensure the public ’ s safety and the efficacy of the drugs .
These companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars of their own money on research and capital expenditures in order to find and produce treatments and cures .
This is something the federal government could never do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s private sector to lead the way in finding treatments , tests and ultimately a vaccine .
Government can help by encouraging private sector innovation , lessening unnecessary government regulation and by keeping America ’ s economy the greatest free market in the world .
America ’ s pharmaceutical companies will lead the way in finding a cure for COVID-19 – which will save millions of lives and ultimately help restore the global economy .
Raul Lopez serves as Executive Director for Latinos for Tennessee .
Photo “ Raul Lopez ” by @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Nashville Boutique Venues: Ruby and Clementine Owner Dan Cook Explains What Phase Two Means for His

Nashville Boutique Venues: Ruby and Clementine Owner Dan Cook Explains What Phase Two Means for His Business

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 Boutique Venue Owner Dan Cook to the newsmakers line .
At the top of the third hour , Cook described phase two of Mayor Cooper ’ s reopening plan and how it recently became downgraded from a 50 person capacity to 25 after his pleas for help .
He did , however , positively highlight Governor Lee ’ s recent executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to church services allowing for a quicker re-opening under the “ freedom of religion ” rule book .
Leahy : We are joined now by Dan Cook , the owner of Ruby and Clementine which is a boutique venue here in Nashville .
Not yet ready to open for business according to Mayor Cooper .
Tell us what ’ s the latest , Dan .
Cook : Good morning guys .
Well , as of Monday , you know that we went to phase two in the city .
So that puts us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
In phase two , the mayor and his cohorts enabled a few businesses to accelerate their opening .
He graciously allowed two musicians to play on stage instead of one .
Leahy : But not three ?
Cook : Not three .
Only two .
Leahy : And of course , it ’ s all backed by science and data , right ?
( Chuckles ) Cook : It ’ s all best practices .
( Leahy laughs ) Exactly , although a couple of industries benefited in phase two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private event world which was slated to have 50 people per event was downgraded to 25 .
Leahy : All because of science and data right ?
( Laughs ) Cook : Well you know I ’ m sure there was no spite involved .
Cook : ( Chuckles ) We are the only industry downgraded .
Of course , our petition was to voice our disapproval of being last in line to open behind bars and public movie theaters and everybody else .
But apparently that wasn ’ t good enough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ back of the line if there is such a thing .
Leahy : Have you talked to the mayor ?
I know you were on last week .
Have you tried to talk to him and he wouldn ’ t talk to you .
Has he tried to talk to you ?
Cook : No , no , no .
I haven ’ t spoken to the mayor directly or the mayor ’ s administration directly .
Leahy : And they are not really reaching out to you .
You represent about 20,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville ?
Cook : There are 20,000 people when you consider caterers , bartenders , and photographers .
The whole ecosystem which is still on the sideline .
But we did have some good news though .
I think our efforts were not for nothing I suppose .
And what I ’ m saying there is I think that Governor Lee heard our pleas and he released an executive order last Friday which was a lifeline to our industry .
And what he did was he linked funerals and weddings to church services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected under the Bill of Rights .
As of last Friday , we were given cover to have weddings again at Nashville Boutique Venues under the religious freedom rule book .
Carmichael : And you could , therefore , have the reception there following the wedding ?
Cook : Well , that was a very interesting thing .
Previously we were pretty convinced we could have a ceremony at our venues but executive order 38 also mentioned for the first time receptions .
Leahy : So there you go .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will you come back next Friday with another update to see if we can keep this vital industry going here in Nashville ?
Cook : Absolutely .
I ’ ll be back every Friday .
Thanks , guys !
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 “ The Clementine ” by Nashville Boutique Venues .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Medicare Chief Says Cuomo Is Wrong to Blame Trump Administration for His Controversial Nursing Home

Medicare Chief Says Cuomo Is Wrong to Blame Trump Administration for His Controversial Nursing Home Order

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo is wrong to say his state was following the Trump administration ’ s guidance when ordering nursing homes to admit coronavirus patients from hospitals , Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator ( CMS ) Seema Verma said Wednesday .
“ Under no circumstances should a hospital discharge a patient to a nursing home that ’ s not prepared to take care of those patients ’ needs , ” Verma said on Fox News Radio .
“ The federal guidelines are absolutely clear about this.
” The New York State Department of Health ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state can not deny admission to coronavirus patients .
Critics have said the order , which was partially reversed in early May and later removed from the NYSDOH ’ s website , contributed to the massive coronavirus death toll from nursing home patients in the state .
Cuomo has attempted to deflect criticism by arguing that his state ’ s directive was in line with a March 13 order from CMS that stated nursing homes “ should admit any individuals they normally admit to their facility , including individuals from hospitals where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What New York did was follow what the Republican administration said to do , ” Cuomo said during a press conference Saturday .
“ That ’ s not my attempt to politicize it .
It ’ s my attempt to depoliticize it .
So don ’ t criticize the state for following the president ’ s policy.
” Verma said she disagreed with Cuomo ’ s interpretation of federal guidance , noting that the CMS order also stated that nursing homes should only accept coronavirus-positive patients as long as they can follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ Yes , the nursing homes will have COVID positive people … if they are prepared to handle the unique needs of that patient , ” Verma said .
“ Anytime you discharge a patent from the hospital it is the responsibility of the hospital to make sure that the patient is safe when they discharge them.
” Cuomo secretary Melissa DeRosa reiterated Cuomo ’ s stance that his nursing home order was in line with the federal government ’ s guidance when asked to respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC and CMS put out guidelines on March 13th that DOH drew directly from for the March 25th directive , ” DeRosa said .
“ So , it ’ s directly in line with the Center for Disease Control , and we believe that in the middle of a pandemic , you should be looking to the national experts for advice , because as the governor said , no one has ever been here before.
” Cuomo touted misleading statistics about nursing home deaths in his state during a press conference Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how New York did , we ’ re in Washington , you look how New York did on nursing homes vis-a-vis the nation , we did better than 33 states in the nation , per capita on nursing homes , ” Cuomo said .
New York is the only state with a large coronavirus outbreak in nursing homes that only reports deaths of nursing home residents who died while physically present at the home , the Daily Caller News Foundation previously reported .
The state used to report coronavirus deaths for all nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the facility or a hospital , but it quietly changed its criteria between April 28 and May 3 , around the time Cuomo began facing scrutiny for the rising fatality rate among nursing home residents in his state .
Andrew Kerr is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--A City in Ruins: Three Nights of Riots Leave South Minneapolis Looking Like War Zone

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota – Three consecutive nights of rioting in response to the alleged murder of an unarmed black man at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer have left stretches of the city in ruins , producing scenes most accurately described as a war zone .
Officer Derek Chauvin , the man filmed pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed George Floyd , was arrested Friday on charges of murder and manslaughter .
He and three colleagues involved in the incident were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department Tuesday .
What began as a peaceful demonstration Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned into three nights of full-blown rioting as the instigators destroyed apartment buildings , restaurants , and convenient stores to the ground .
Every imaginable surface was covered with anti-police graffiti in the area surrounding the Minneapolis Police Department ’ s Third Precinct , which was set ablaze Thursday night .
After getting called up by the governor , the Minnesota State Patrol and National Guard lined the streets of Minneapolis , forming a perimeter that stretched several city blocks .
One state trooper said they were called from every corner of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chaos in the Twin Cities .
In an effort to quell the madness , the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul instituted a curfew of 8 p.m. through the weekend , but the threat of a $ 1,000 fine or 90 days in jail didn ’ t seem to bother the rioters , who were still out in full force Friday night .
The destruction hasn ’ t been confined to Minneapolis .
A NAPA Auto Parts in St. Paul ’ s Frogtown neighborhood , for instance , was burned to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that doesn ’ t even scratch the surface .
All in all , more than 200 businesses across the Twin Cities have been looted or damaged , many with significant fire damage , a Star Tribune analysis found .
The mayors of several inner-ring suburbs followed Minneapolis and St. Paul in imposing curfews through the weekend after rioters threatened to make their way to the surrounding cities .
President Donald Trump addressed the matter Thursday night , saying he couldn ’ t “ stand back and watch this happen to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of leadership .
Either the very weak radical left mayor , Jacob Frey , get his act together and bring the city under control , or I will send in the National Guard and get the job done right , ” the president wrote on Twitter .
Despite a heavy law enforcement presence , the riots continued Friday night outside the Minneapolis Police Department ’ s Fifth Precinct , causing some state lawmakers to wonder what exactly the plan was .
“ Earlier today we were told there would be a plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesotans .
The curfew announced earlier is not being enforced .
Looting and fires have started again .
Minnesotans deserve to know : what is the plan to prevent more destruction this weekend , ” House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt ( R-Crown ) said in a statement on Twitter .
At a certain point , words fail to describe the scene .
Below is footage captured by The Minnesota Sun : Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Michigan Launches MI Symptoms to Help Workers Track Symptoms, Prevent Coronavirus Outbreak

Michigan residents will now be able to track their daily symptoms in an online tool to help provide insight on where a new coronavirus outbreak may be next , as well as decide if they should return to work .
The Michigan departments of Health and Human Services and Labor and Economic Opportunity have partnered with the University of Michigan School of Public Health and College of Engineering to create the MI Symptoms Web Application .
The application , which was designed primarily for employers and employees , allows users to enter information daily to help identify symptoms potentially caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also help users decide when to seek appropriate medical care .
State and local public health departments will also use the data to help identify a potential new outbreak of COVID-19 .
The data will be used in conjunction with the MI Safe Start dashboard .
“ MI Symptoms will help Michiganders identify symptoms of the virus early , allowing them to take the appropriate actions for their health and the health of those around them , ” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun , chief medical executive and chief deputy for health , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help state and local public health workers connect these individuals to important resources like testing locations and support services.
” The MDHHS and U-M are using “ robust ” security measures to protect individual data , according to the State Emergency Operations Center .
MI Symptoms does not track users through their phones on either Bluetooth or GPS .
Employers may require their employees to use the tool as they return to work .
It also allows employees to have an objective measure of whether they should be going to work without having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses reopen and bring their employees back into the workplace , it ’ s important that we all do so safely , ” Jeff Donofrio , director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity , said in a statement .
“ MI Symptoms is a free tool that employers can use to help track workplace health and keep our economy operating .
By using the app and following workplace safety guidelines to limit COVID-19 exposure , businesses can do their part to keep their workers and customers healthy.
” Michigan currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , according to the MDHHS .
The death toll in the state is 5,406 .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Rioters Smash Windows and Start Fires at Ohio Statehouse

The unjust killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis this week has sparked nationwide outrage .
On Friday , former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged with 3rd-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Floyd .
As The Minnesota Sun reported , the protests first started Minneapolis where they quickly turned to riots .
Riots became so severe in Minneapolis that Gov .
Tim Walz had to call in the Minnesota National Guard to get control of the situation .
These random acts of hooliganism have now spread to Columbus where rioters Friday morning started fires , broke statehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Capitol .
In the videos below , people can be seen using numerous objects to break the windows including trash cans and skateboards .
Tyler Buchanan , who is a reporter for the Ohio Capitol Journal , said that the rioters fled once the police came to the scene .
A total of 28 statehouse windows were smashed during these riots , according to Fox 8 .
At his press conference on Friday , Gov .
Mike DeWine responded to the incidents at the state ’ s Capitol .
“ Protests expressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are also appropriate .
We want Ohioans to exercise their First Amendment rights no matter what they ’ re protesting , ” he said .
“ Ohioans should speak out against wrongdoing .
Ohioans should speak out for change .
They should speak out for unity for an end to injustice .
In all aspects of our lives , we must not allow hate to prevail over love , kindness , and compassion.
” DeWine said he hears the voices of frustration , but he asked citizens that do protest to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight violence with more violence , ” he said .
Also at the press conference , DeWine told Ohio ’ s African American community that he hears their voice .
“ I want to make sure that , as governor of this state , I say to every African American man , woman , and child – you are valued and an essential part of this community , ” he said .
I hear the voices of frustration .
I receive those words and emotions with empathy and a commitment to seek solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] Follow Zachery on Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .
Photo “ Ohio Capitol Riots ” by Tyler Buchanan .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-30--Marsha Blackburn: Telehealth Proves Essential During COVID-19

Patients needing care should not fear catching an illness from a doctor ’ s office , said U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) in a press release Friday .
Telehealth , Blackburn said , has proven an immensely beneficial form of delivering treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ’ new rule to increase telehealth access for Medicare Advantage recipients in rural areas is a solid step toward expanding coverage for Americans in need , Blackburn said .
Following Blackburn ’ s push to expand telehealth accessibility , the Trump administration identified actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans have utilized this health care delivery method at unprecedented speed .
From March 2 to April 14 , urgent care telehealth visits increased 135 percent , and nonurgent visits increased 4,345 percent .
The virtual appointments triaged potential COVID-19 patients to emergency rooms and doctors ’ offices , thereby reducing further spread of the virus , according to Blackburn ’ s press release .
“ The increased use of telehealth has resulted in more services in more places by more providers , ” Blackburn said .
“ Congress must continue to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s changes to support the health needs of the American people.
” Telehealth has proven an effective alternative for a broad range of patients in the following ways , Blackburn said .
• The flexibility telehealth provides for children with autism and their parents results in better care , a group of doctors told Blackburn ’ s health policy team .
Taking a child with autism to an appointment can require parents to take off a full day of work and is stressful for the child .
Telehealth visits not only enable the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or her natural environment , but it also give the parents more flexibility .
• In 2019 , nearly one million veterans received care through the Department of Veterans ’ Affairs ’ telehealth services .
When the VA expanded its telehealth appointments in response to COVID-19 , over two million prescriptions were refilled online in March 2020 , the largest number in a single month .
As VA Secretary Robert Wilkie told the Senate Committee on Veterans ’ Affairs , telehealth expansion “ is one of the most significant things the department has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response efforts .
• Telehealth enables providers to reach mental health patients that might otherwise face increased stress while in-person visits are not possible .
• Seniors with chronic conditions have also been able to check in with their primary care doctors to receive medication refills , routine care , and advice without being exposed to COVID-19 .
The coronavirus pandemic has spurred private insurance companies to recognize the convenience of telehealth services .
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee , the largest private insurer in the state , has pledged to permanently cover telehealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare Part B , most telehealth visits cost the same as in person services .
Medicaid plans also cover some telehealth services .
Patients should check with their doctors and health insurance provider for information specific to their healthcare plan , Blackburn ’ s press release said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
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thetennesseestar--2020-05-31--Carol Swain Urged Mayor Cooper to Prepare for Possible Violence in Nashville but He Paid Little Heed

Carol Swain Urged Mayor Cooper to Prepare for Possible Violence in Nashville but He Paid Little Heed to Her Advice

Former Nashville mayoral candidate Carol Swain said she warned Mayor John Cooper to prepare for possible violence following Saturday ’ s protests downtown .
Cooper responded with a polite thank you — and , apparently , little else .
Swain told The Tennessee Star Saturday night that she and Cooper occasionally exchange texts .
Swain said she and Cooper texted one another this morning .
“ I told Cooper that he should a do press conference and make clear to people what the expectations and consequences are for violence .
Instead , he not only went to the rally in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety guidelines , but he encouraged 40 council members to go and legitimized the whole process , ” Swain said .
“ I hold him responsible for everything getting out of hand because he should have used his Phase Two coronavirus safety guidelines to say ‘ No , this can not take place.
’ ” As The Star reported , several thousand protestors descended upon Nashville ’ s Legislative Plaza Saturday on behalf of George Floyd .
Many carried signs demanding that the government either defund or abolish the police .
The crowd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chanted “ Black Lives Matter ” and “ No Justice , No Peace ” many times over .
Cooper appeared on a platform and spoke briefly .
Left-wing activist Justin Jones , who has had prior run-ins with law enforcement spoke , as did another speaker named Samuel X , who described himself as “ a student of the honorable Louis Farrakhan.
” Later in the day , and after Saturday ’ s rally , protestors resorted to violence — by trashing the Metro Courthouse and , later , parts of downtown Broadway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ has not been God for Nashville at all.
” “ He has done nothing positive since he was elected , and he did not try to take preemptive action , ” Swain said .
“ He could have contacted Governor Lee and had the National Guard downtown to prevent anything like the burning of the courthouse .
And he didn ’ t do that.
” Swain also said that she previously had high hopes for Cooper , but he “ has proven is that he ’ s not a leader.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place a plan .
In fact I asked him this morning was he ready and prepared for the unrest ?
He said yes , ” Swain said .
“ I did try to offer him some advice on how to handle the situation .
And he did the opposite of what I think should have been done.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ John Cooper ” by John Cooper .
Background Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lund .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio for another edition of Crom’s Crommentary.
CROM CARMICHAEL:
Michael, yesterday, the Supreme Court heard a very, very important case, Texas versus Biden. And the Wall Street Journal wrote a very interesting article about that case. It appeared on Monday. So it was before the case was heard. There was a law passed in 1996 and Biden voted for the law. The law says that migrants who are, ‘Not clearly and beyond doubt, (not reasonable doubt, beyond doubt,) entitled to be admitted shall be detained.’ It goes on to say that the law also says that DHS can parole individual migrants on a case by case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
That’s what the law that was passed in 1996 says. According to some reports I read this morning about the hearing yesterday, the case by case part of the 1996 law is what some justices may try to hang their hat on to allow Biden to eliminate or rescind Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy on the basis that we only can detain 34,000 illegal immigrants at the same time. That’s all we can detain. And so Trump said we can’t follow the law, so we’re going to make them stay in Mexico.
Now, the left says, well, you can’t make them stay in Mexico because Mexico won’t necessarily agree to that. Well, they already have. Under Trump they did agree to it and they did do it. So it’s not a function of whether or not Mexico can and will do it because they did do it under pressure, but they did do it. This is going to be a very interesting decision that will come down from the courts to see whether or not the courts believe that the law itself has written is what the administration should adhere to. I think that decision will come out very quickly. I don’t think it’ll be months. I think it will be weeks, and maybe even days before that decision comes out.
Listen to the Crommentary:
– – –
Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-31--Commentary: COVID-19 Has Plagued Religious Freedom

As the coronavirus crisis unfolds and the 2016 election and post-electoral scandals ooze into the open , God is affronted and false gods disintegrate .
The discussion over the opening of churches is generally presented as a public health issue , coupled with a First Amendment freedom of religion argument .
But , in many cases , it is an outright assault on the practice of religion generally .
Compared to other advanced Western democracies , the United States is a country that practices religion .
But the media , academia , and conventional wisdom embedded in the contemporary ethos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , estimating very roughly , one-quarter religious communicants or sympathizers , one-quarter agnostic , one-quarter atheist , and one-quarter anti-theist .
All of these groups , of course , are entitled to have and to express their opinions—but they are not entitled to impose their opinions on others .
At the beginning of the coronavirus national shutdown in March , an argument was made that as religious congregations are frequently quite large and generally the congregants are physically close together , there was a legitimate public health claim to suspend services in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legally vulnerable endeavor from the beginning because of the First Amendment prohibition on infringement of free exercise of religion , and because the criterion for essential services was arbitrarily decided by secular leaders .
Liquor stores and gun stores were deemed to be essential even though houses of worship , judged to be essential by a large part of the population , were not so deemed by officials .
Practically all of the religious denominations gamely went along in the time of crisis and offered virtual services over the internet .
But as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this virus was minimal to all but those with challenged immune systems , especially the elderly , it was clear that religious congregations , composed almost entirely of relatively purposeful and responsible people , would only pose a hazard to elderly congregants , and that these could normally be relied upon to be prudent about their own health and in any case to take responsibility for their own actions .
There was thus no public health reason to attempt to continue the ban on religious services after it became clear that such measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached this point of public awareness by the middle of April and what has happened since has been harassment of religious practice by secular authorities masquerading as defenders of public health .
It is impossible to be precise about the motives of individual governors and mayors diligently hiding behind masks of concern for public health .
But it safely may be assumed that in some cases—such as the egregious Democratic governor of Virginia , Ralph Northam , who advocates infanticide and a semi-permanent lockdown—that a dislike for any acknowledgment of the possible existence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces active in human life partially informs the authoritarian regime he has inflicted upon his fellow Virginians .
Though most of the influential founders of the institutions of American government were not diligent adherents to particular religious sects and had a somewhat “ Age of Reason ” perspective , they were concerned in the First Amendment to assure that one religious group did not oppress other religious groups .
This was the burden of President Washington ’ s famous addresses to the Roman Catholics of Maryland and to the congregation of the Newport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ancestors faced in the old world would not be replicated in the United States of America .
In general , the United States has been faithful to Washington ’ s pledge and it would be an exaggeration to imply that it has departed from it in the last couple of months .
But what American society is facing now was an unforeseen problem : today the anti-theists , a coalition of materialists , pagans , and both world-weary and militant cynics is tentatively seeking to suppress the practice of or indulgence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a tolerant rather than a pious country , and this is what is under threat .
Jefferson was a deist of very diluted faith in anything other than the wonders of the world .
Franklin was more or less of a good-humored agnostic .
Though his funeral train in 1790 was followed by every clergyman in Philadelphia , he did not have a religious funeral .
Even the much-celebrated but rather desiccated Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes apologetically stated that he was a Unitarian because in the Boston of his youth , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Unitarian was the least you could be.
” Of course , Jefferson , Franklin , and Holmes did not try to prevent those who wished to practice a religion from doing so .
This is a brave new world for the uncontrolled and inexplicably self-confident forces of belligerent American secularism .
There is no acceptable argument for seeking to prevent people from practicing a religion .
It is an impulse that man has had since his earliest days , and is prompted by an awareness of the inability of the human mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began and what their physical and temporal extent might be , and how miraculous events and spiritual insights can be assimilated into any concept of cosmic order .
There is the further complication that once any notion of supernatural , otherworldly , spiritual , or miraculous forces are dispensed with , a vacuum is created which is filled at best by vacuous imposters but more often and more infamously by people elevating themselves to the stature of gods and celebrating themselves in impressive but often repulsive pagan festivals .
This tradition can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giants of classical history such as Alexander the Great and Julius and Augustus Caesar who raised themselves to the status of gods .
Their festivals were replicated by Robespierre , Hitler , and Stalin , but modern anti-theistic self-elevated deities have naturally magnified the oppressions of the ancient world with the application of what Winston Churchill described , in reference to the Third Reich as tyranny “ made more sinister , and perhaps more protracted , by the lights of perverted science.
” Even an absurd state governor like Northam is not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals just mentioned .
But if the militant atheists of the American media-academic complex who have practically taken over the Democratic Party are any more overt in their ambitions , they will be confronted by the great majority of Americans who either practice a religion or acknowledge that people have a right to do so .
Those who aggressively despise religion in America are going to have to resign themselves to its imperishability or erupt from their fetid closet and acknowledge what their true aims are , and take their chances with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to manipulate .
As this subplot unfolds , America ’ s most recent secular demigod , Barack Obama , is every day exposed as an empty legend crumbling into sawdust .
He is not the idealist hailed in 2008 seeking American brotherhood and a Socratic state with less materialism and greater intellectual elevation .
He is a failed and corrupt president whose principal achievements were a thoroughly inadequate reform to the healthcare system , insane and unconstitutional commitment to ecological fantasies , and an almost catastrophic attempt to appease America ’ s enemies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As false gods fail , the believers in a real God persevere .
Conrad Black has been one of Canada ’ s most prominent financiers for 40 years , and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers , the Fairfax newspapers in Australia , the Jerusalem Post , Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S. , and most of the daily newspapers in Canada .
He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Canada , and most recently of Donald J. Trump : A President Like No Other .
He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-31--SCOTUS Rejects Request from California Church to Block Worship Restrictions

The Supreme Court rejected a request from a church to block California ’ s restrictions on religious services .
South Bay United Pentecostal Church of Chula Vista , California , filed a petition over Memorial Day weekend saying that Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s coronavirus restrictions “ arbitrarily discriminate against places of worship in violation of their right to the Free Exercise of Religion under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution , ” according to CNN .
But the Supreme Court rejected this request Friday in a 5-4 decision , with Chief Justice John Roberts siding with liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California ’ s guidelines place restrictions on places of worship , those restrictions appear consistent with the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment , ” Roberts wrote , CNN reported .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh , writing for Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch , said he would grant the “ Church ’ s requested temporary injunction because California ’ s latest safety guidelines discriminate against places of worship and in favor of comparable secular businesses.
” “ Such discrimination violates the First Amendment , ” he added .
Newsom said Monday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be limited to 100 people or 25 % capacity , according to CNN .
A lawyer with the Thomas More Society representing the church said it will amend the petition to reflect the updated order as the challenge moves forward .
Attorney Charles LiMandri , who serves as special counsel to the Thomas More Society , said the case is “ far from over ” in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ Our next appellate brief is due in the Ninth Circuit on June 5 , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary to go back up to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Ninth Circuit rules again , we will benefit from a much more favorable standard .
We are hopeful that fact would also lead to a better result for religious liberty.
” Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-31--Biden Campaign Cancels Fundraiser with Top Mueller Prosecutor

Former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign has cancelled a fundraiser with Andrew Weissmann , one of the top prosecutors on the special counsel ’ s investigation of Trump associates , according to The Wall Street Journal .
Weissmann , an MSNBC analyst , was supposed to headline a virtual fundraiser for the Biden Victory Fund on June 2 .
The Trump campaign seized on the event in a fundraising email sent out to supporters , noting Weissmann ’ s high profile role on the special counsel ’ s investigation .
“ This is COLLUSION at the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been trying to rig the system for years , ” read the Trump campaign fundraising email .
“ They hate true Patriots like you , ” the email said .
The Biden campaign pulled the fundraiser late last week , according to The Journal .
Weissmann , who was in charge of the Justice Department ’ s fraud unit , led the prosecution against Paul Manafort , the former Trump campaign chairman who was convicted on tax evasion and money laundering charges related to consulting work he did for the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an analyst late last year during the impeachment proceedings against Trump .
Republicans cited Weissmann ’ s role on the special counsel ’ s team to argue that the investigation was politically biased against Trump and his associates .
The former prosecutor contributed to the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
He also reportedly attended an event for Clinton on the night of the election .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Andrew Weissman ” by MSNBC


thetennesseestar--2020-05-31--EPA’s Andrew Wheeler Calls Out Senate Dems for ‘Politicizing’ Agency’s COVID Response

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler believes Democrats are politicizing the agency ’ s response to coronavirus and using flawed research to argue regulation rollbacks are disproportionately hurting black people amid a pandemic .
Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts used a politically-motivated research and a study based on 15-year-old data from Europe to suggest that the agency ’ s regulatory work is increasing the harm of coronavirus on minority groups , Wheeler said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ Shame on Senator Markey for politicizing a study like this .
It ’ s amazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senate somebody could go way over the top in politicking COVID-19 like he did .
I was very surprised , ” Wheeler told the DCNF .
Wheeler had a tense interaction with the Markey and Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware during a May 20 Senate Environment and Public Works Committee oversight hearing .
Markey demanded Wheeler apologize “ to people of color in our country for what you are doing.
” “ Shame on you , ” Markey said during the hearing , while Carper harangued the EPA for doing the “ opposite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during this pandemic.
” Both Democrats brought up a Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health study , published April 4 , which claimed that an increase in long-term exposure to particulate matter ( PM ) leads to an 8 % increase in the coronavirus death rate .
Areas with elevated levels of pollution are likely to experience higher death rates during the pandemic , the research based on analysis of more than 3,000 U.S. counties claimed .
“ Researchers appear to have tried to politicize this .
They included in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discretion is going to lead to more air pollution .
It sounds like a mix of relevant scientific inquiry mixed with a heavy dose of biased public policy .
I don ’ t think that makes for a good scientific study , ” Wheeler said .
He noted that air pollutants and emissions continue to fall.The researchers based their conclusions on an “ ill-fitting statistical model , ” Wheeler said .
“ There is nothing that we have done that has increased air pollution in minority communities like Sen. Markey suggests .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never backed it up with anything , ” Wheeler told the DCNF .
“ Sen .
Markey didn ’ t even ask questions .
I didn ’ t have an opportunity.
” Markey ’ s office has not responded to the DCNF ’ s request for comment about Wheeler ’ s assertion .
Carper ’ s office also did not respond to a request for comment .
Carper published a staff report ahead of the hearing that cited both the Harvard study and an Italian study that used smog data from 2005 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some analysts have expressed skepticism similar to Wheeler ’ s .
The Harvard ’ s study , which has yet to be peer reviewed , relies on a “ statistical model that has not been tested and verified as yielding accurate predictions , ” Tony Cox , who chairs the EPA ’ s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee , told the DCNF May 3 .
Cox and others at EPA have said spikes in deaths in certain areas were more likely a reflection of where those regions were on the virus curve rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels of air pollution , not to mention they have higher death rates from COVID-19 , for reasons unrelated to pollution .
Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health did not respond to the DCNF ’ s requests for comment about its research .
The Italian study Carper highlighted in the staff report cited 15-year-old research as a way to determine the extent to which pollution could impact COVID-19 death totals .
The study , published in April by researchers from the University of Siena , examined COVID-19 fatalities in Europe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Italy were in areas with high smog levels .
The researchers note one major caveat : “ [ W ] ide differences among Italian regional health systems , capacity of the intensive care units in the region , and the prevention policies taken by the Government have had a paramount role in the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 , presumably more than the air pollution itself .
” Such research “ is not relevant to the United States .
Europe has a lot worse air quality in their cities and has higher PM levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DCNF .
Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-31--Angry About George Floyd, Nashville Protestors Demand Abolishing Police and Doing Away with ‘White S

Angry About George Floyd, Nashville Protestors Demand Abolishing Police and Doing Away with ‘White Supremacy Structure’

NASHVILLE , Tennessee — Several thousand protestors descended upon Nashville ’ s Legislative Plaza Saturday on behalf of George Floyd and many carried signs demanding that government either defund or abolish the police .
The crowd , composed of whites and blacks , chanted “ Black Lives Matter ” and “ No Justice , No Peace ” many times over .
Nashville Mayor John Cooper , State Sen. Brenda Gilmore ( D-Nashville ) , State Rep. Mike Stewart ( D-Nashville ) , and left-wing activist Justin Jones were among only some of the people who addressed the crowd .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He described himself as “ a student of the honorable Louis Farrakhan.
” Samuel X identifies on Facebook as Samuel X Gray , a student minister at the Nation of Islam .
He said he had something to say that some people in the audience might not like .
“ This world that we live in is suffering from a virus .
I ’ m not talking about COVID-19 .
I am talking about the virus of white supremacy .
Unfortunately , as white people are in support of those who are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are asymptomatic of this through your white privilege , which you can use to your advantage , not by being silent but by actually enforcing your people because it ’ s not us who needs to make this change .
It ’ s your people who need to make the change , ” Gray said .
“ Representing a nation that has been discarded by this government and discarded by those who are in the power structure of white supremacy , who have continuously passed us to the side and looked at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have been the voice that has been standing for our people regardless of whatever our faith is .
The government has failed us .
Politics has failed us .
Education has failed us .
Health care has failed us .
Every system of this white supremacy structure has failed us .
So we said we need to throw the whole damn thing away.
” Members of the crowd then roared with approval .
“ And to throw it away is not rebuilding it with the same principles , ” Gray said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ never there in the very beginning , which is truth , which is freedom , justice , and equality.
” Jones , who , as The Tennessee Star previously reported , has had prior run-ins with law enforcement , said “ white supremacy is bipartisan , ” and that no one should count on politicians to protect them .
Jones then urged members of the crowd to vote .
“ A lot of people asked me when I came here , ‘ Is it going to be a peaceful rally ?
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to ask Chief [ Steve ] Anderson and the Metro Nashville Police Department.
” Mayor Cooper , meanwhile , spoke of equal justice under the law for everyone .
He also thanked the crowd for wearing masks to protect themselves against COVID-19 .
The Nashville-based NewsChannel 5 reported Saturday that protestors , after the rally , smashed police cars , broke windows , and spray painted graffiti on buildings and cars .
Members of the Nashville Police Department did not return The Star ’ s request for comment on the matter before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
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