thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--White House Officials Refute Governor Walz’s Claim About Warning Trump to Avoid Minneapolis

Prior to President Trump ’ s arrival in Minnesota Monday , Governor Walz claimed in a virtual interview that he had warned Trump to avoid Minneapolis .
Twin Cities PBS reporter Mary Lahammer uploaded a segment of Walz ’ s statement on Twitter .
“ My activism started sixteen years ago with a presidential visit to Mankato , and in a few hours President Trump will visit Mankato , my hometown .
I spent this weekend trying to tell the White House why it was a really bad idea to have President Trump go down and stand at the George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] as a backdrop for his campaign and ignite the pain and the anguish that we ’ re feeling in Minnesota.
” Certain coverage , such as one article published by Fox News , relied on Walz ’ s statement to imply that Trump had planned to visit the Floyd Memorial but changed his mind because of Walz .
White House officials were quick to deny that narrative .
Several hours after the initial post , POTUS Special Assistant Judd Deere retweeted Lahammer ’ s video snippet .
“ @ GovTimWalz , Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House ?
Nobody here heard from you .
@ realdonaldtrump would never use the George Floyd Memorial as a political backdrop , but he does want to hear from business owners impacted by the riots which he is doing @ msairport right now.
” Then , Senior Communications Advisor Ben Williamson also retweeted the video with a comment .
“ Nobody in the Chief of Staff ’ s office , or anybody in the White House for that matter , heard from Governor Walz this weekend .
So this is false on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled to speak only in Mankato , but Trump opted for a quick detour to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport .
During a half-hour long speech , Trump commended law enforcement and the “ law-abiding , hardworking Americans ” , and condemned the rioters and Democratic leadership .
The stop at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport was a last-minute decision , according to the president .
“ This was a very quick stop .
I said , ‘ Let ’ s stop !
’ They said , ‘ Well , you know , I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have time.
’ I said , ‘ I have time , I don ’ t know about you , ' ” Trump explained .
Neither the president or any White House officials ever indicated any intention of visiting the Floyd Memorial .
Walz has not yet issued a response at this time .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Donald Trump ” by CNBC .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--Twin Cities Media Condemns Black Lives Matter Protestors for Destroying Piñata of Local Anchor Liz C

Twin Cities Media Condemns Black Lives Matter Protestors for Destroying Piñata of Local Anchor Liz Collins

Twin Cities media condemned Black Lives Matter protestors for destroying piñatas bearing the likeness of Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis President Bob Kroll and Twin Cities ’ WCCO anchor Liz Collins .
The incident occurred in the couple ’ s neighborhood during a protest on August 15 .
Kroll ’ s piñata was depicted in a police uniform sans pants , while Collins ’ s was depicted in typical anchorwoman attire .
Both piñatas were cross-eyed and held parts of a Ku Klux Klan ( KKK ) outfit .
John Thompson – controversial primary candidate winner for District 62A – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brodkorb , former deputy chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota and current Republican activist , brought light to the incident Monday , after one of the protestors tweeted that they “ left candy and signs ” for Kroll and Collins .
Brodkorb insisted that all Minnesota journalists had a duty to speak out on the incident .
“ The violent destruction of an effigy of a Minnesota journalist – @ lizcollin – by protestors standing in the driveway of her home needs to be immediately denounced by the @ mnspj and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassing , and threatening.
” Several reporters immediately condemned the protestors ’ behavior in replies to the tweet , including local Fox 9 anchor Karen Scullin .
Brodkorb pointed out that a direct quote from Collins was written on the back of her piñata likeness : “ Is it a conflict of interest for me to be a journalist married to the Minneapolis police union boss ?
My answer is no.
” Several WCCO correspondents issued statements of their own denouncing the behavior .
Radio host Cory Hepola tweeted that “ symbolically beating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a solution ” to initiating change for police reform .
Anchor Jason DeRusha tweeted : “ Protest .
Complain .
Advocate .
Speak out .
Picket my station again !
But making a piñata out of a journalist and beating it is disgusting , offensive and sad .
This is where we are ?
That all of these intelligent people thought this was ok ?
” Last Saturday ’ s protest was organized by the Racial Justice Network .
After its organizers defended John Thompson ’ s controversial speech , founder Nekima Levy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a retweeted comment to Brodkorb ’ s tweet .
“ What I find interesting and sickening is that you are not calling upon @ mnspj to denounced the violence , abuse , murder , and condoning of the behavior of killer cops by @ lizcollin ’ s husband Bob KKKroll , head of the Minneapolis Police Federation .
His behavior is actually dangerous.
” In addition to members of the media , some state leaders began issuing their own responses to the incident .
State Senator Jim Abeler ( R- District 35A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governor Penny Flanagan to speak up on the issue as well .
Walz posted a general tweet condemning “ threatening behavior and rhetoric ” and stating that Minnesotans should “ treat each other with decency and respect.
” He did not address the piñata incident directly .
Flanagan retweeted Walz , issuing no comment of her own .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Protest ” by @ @ @

by Bethany Blankley
Nineteen attorneys general, led by Indiana, have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a lawsuit filed by Texas and Missouri against the Biden administration.
They’re asking the Supreme Court to uphold a lower court’s order instructing the Biden administration to follow the law to fully reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), otherwise known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
“No one is above the law in America, and we are simply insisting that the Biden administration follow the law,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said (pictured above).
“The rule of law is the framework that enables American liberty to survive and thrive,” he added. “The situation at our southern border provides the perfect example of how going soft on the rule of law gives rise to anarchy, chaos, and ultimately the erosion of our freedom and safety.”
In January 2021, President Joe Biden announced via executive order that he was terminating MPP. Months later, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas began dismantling it and other immigration policies. Southern border encounters then surged to historic levels. In Biden’s first year in office, Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol agents encountered or apprehended roughly 2 million people entering the southern border illegally. This number excludes the several hundred thousand who are estimated to have evaded law enforcement.
At the same time, Mayorkas implemented a wide range of policy changes to effectively halt most deportations. CBP and Border Patrol agents were directed to release illegal immigrants into the U.S. en masse instead of sending them back to Mexico to go through the immigration process.
Texas and Missouri sued, District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas granted their request for a permanent injunction and ordered the administration to reinstate the MPP. He ruled the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act when it halted the MPP.
The administration appealed to the Fifth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court and lost. Both courts denied its request to stay Kacsmaryk’s ruling.
After its Supreme Court loss, the administration said it was appealing Kacsmaryk’s ruling, vowing to “vigorously challenge it.” In a statement, it said, “As the appeal process continues, however, DHS will comply with the order in good faith. Alongside interagency partners, DHS has begun to engage with the Government of Mexico in diplomatic discussions surrounding the Migrant Protection Protocols.”
But compliance hasn’t happened, as evidenced by the flood of illegal immigrants the administration is releasing into the U.S. and by the tactics it’s used in court to circumvent the law, the AGs argue.
“From the beginning of this Administration, the United States has been forthright about its intention to terminate MPP simply because it did not like the program, and its conduct demonstrates its readiness to do anything – including ignore the APA’s requirements – to accomplish that objective,” they argue in the brief.
“The Administration’s ‘act now, justify later’ approach began on Inauguration Day, when it summarily paused MPP,” they add.
Throughout the appeals process, “the Fifth Circuit correctly concluded that the United States’ efforts to avoid judicial review violated basic principles of procedure,” they argue.
An unprecedented number of people are expected to come through the southern border after the administration ends the Title 42 public health authority May 23, the attorneys general have argued, necessitating the urgency for the Supreme Court to weigh in.
Implemented under President Donald Trump in January 2019, the MPP led to a reduction in the number of people entering the U.S. illegally. The Trump administration also invoked Title 42 to enable CBP and Border Patrol agents to quickly expel illegal immigrants and prevent entry to a greater number of people during a public health emergency.
Current law requires those not authorized to enter the U.S. to be detained, to stay in Mexico, or be “paroled” into the U.S. based on narrowly defined case-by-case circumstances including “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”
The Biden administration has been issuing paroles en masse to release illegal immigrants into the U.S., the attorneys general argue, violating the law.
The administration maintains it’s inherited a flawed system, and its policies are more humane than the previous administration’s. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters last December after the administration lost another court battle in the case, “it is not our preference to be reimplementing and reinstituting the Migrant Protection program. … we still feel that the program is inefficient, inhumane, and we are not – we weren’t, we were – did not eagerly reimplement it.”
– – –
Bethany Blankley is a regular contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “AG Todd Rokita” by AG Todd Rokita.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--Gov. Mike DeWine Permits Sports This Fall

Governor Mike DeWine announced all sports will be allowed this fall , as long as teams meet guidelines laid out by Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) .
The governor said in a press conference Tuesday that his office would release the specific health guidelines soon .
Guidelines will include social distancing restrictions , limiting the number of spectators allowed in stadiums , and having health inspectors enforce the rules .
As grounds for the decision , the governor cited mental health concerns , the importance of sports in students ’ lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would motivate students to be even more vigilant in preventing the spread .
DeWine stated that “ one hope is that the desire to have a season… will inspire our young people , our athletes… 24/7 to be as careful as they can.
” Later in the conference Lt .
Governor Jon Husted echoed the sentiment saying a positive of the decision is athletes , coaches , and teams “ have that extra incentive to do the right things , like stay socially distanced and wear their masks.
” The decision of whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be left to the school districts , with DeWine stating “ what we ’ re doing today is empowering the schools , the students and parents to make the best call for their students.
” The decision comes after months of protests by students , coaches , and parents .
In June , parents in Worthington protested the ban on fall sports , according to ABC .
Also , Cleveland.com said protests took place in several Northeast Ohio school districts .
Earlier this month , a judge blocked an order from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult to move forward with .
Judge Timothy N. Tepe said in his decision that the order was unconstitutional as it violated the equal protection clause of the constitution and the separation of powers .
DeWine ’ s decision is effective immediately .
The governor called on school officials to have a plan and closed his remarks by saying “ sports is about a lot of things , one of the things it ’ s about is hope , it doesn ’ t matter what sport it is , ” but noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--The Virginia General Assembly Special Session Began Today, Here Is What Happened

The Senate and House of Delegates met separately in Richmond Tuesday , officially kicking off the special session of the General Assembly .
Despite a bevy of bills and promises of swift action , the House and Senate primarily discussed operation and procedural resolutions for the special session going forward .
Both state bodies began their respective sessions at 1 p.m. today , with the House convening at the Siegel Center on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus and the Senate convening at the Science Museum of Virginia .
Here are details of what happened in both chambers .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on Senate Resolution ( SR ) 503 , introduced by Sen. Locke ( D-2 ) .
SR 503 pertains to senators receiving session per diem and mileage reimbursement for attended sessions on the schedule where roll call is taken , etc.
, according to the resolution ’ s online summary .
The Senate took up the resolution for immediate consideration ( 37-Y 2-N ) , and then agreed upon the resolution ( 34-Y 5-N ) .
The House ’ s first point of business was on House Joint Resolution ( HJR ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D-Alexandria City ) .
HJR 5006 limits legislation to be considered during the special session to only bills or resolutions pertaining to police reform , criminal and social justice reform , COVID-19 , the budget , General Assembly procedures , etc.
, as well as stating that each Delegate can not introduce more than three bills , according to the resolution ’ s online summary .
The House initially agreed to HJR 5006 , but some members were not able to vote using the new machines .
In reconsideration , the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A-0 ) .
The House then moved on to considering HR 514 , also introduced by Majority Leader Herring , which aimed to amend and readopt Rule 4 of the House of Delegates , allowing the House or any committees to meet electronically during an emergency or disaster , according to the resolution ’ s online summary .
Del .
Herring also made a motion to suspend rule 81 of the House , a proposition for a House rule change must sit on the speaker ’ s table for five days and can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time , so that the body could immediately consider HR 514 .
Suspending rules of the House requires 66 affirmative votes , or two thirds of the members .
Del .
Herring ’ s motion for HR 514 to be immediately considered was rejected ( Y-55 N-43 A-0 ) .
After Herring called for a short recess , she made another motion trying to suspend rule 18 ( e ) so that members attending sessions electronically could be counted for the purposes of a quorum , allowing proceedings to be valid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Y-54 N-43 A-1 ) .
The Senate reconvened at 2:45 p.m. , after taking a 30 minute recess , and was informed that the House had passed the aforementioned HJR 5006 .
The resolution was taken up for immediate consideration ( 37-Y 0-N ) and promptly rejected ( 0-Y 40-N ) .
The Senate adjourned at 3:14 p.m. to reconvene tomorrow at noon .
Over at the Siegel Center , the House was still in session , however .
Following the trend of the entire day , the House considered another resolution introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – that would give the speaker authority to make any session during the 2020 special session to be conducted electronically , according to the resolution ’ s online summary .
Delegates agreed to HR 515 ( Y-55 N-43 A-0 ) .
HR 516 , the penultimate resolution considered and agreed upon by the House ( Y-54 N-44 A-O ) , was introduced by Del .
Luke Torian ( D-52 ) .
Identical to only resolution passed by the Senate , HR 516 states that members of the House will receive session per diem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session where a roll call is taken during the special session , according to the resolution ’ s online summary .
HR 516 was agreed upon by Delegates ( Y-54 N-44 A-O ) .
In response to the Senate rejecting HJR 5006 , Del .
Herring offered HR 517 with the exact same language and amendments , but only for the House .
HR 517 was agreed upon by the House ( Y-54 N-44 A-0 ) .
The house adjourned at 5:02 p.m. to reconvene electronically tomorrow at noon .
House Minority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) issued a strong rebuke toward House Democrats and their handling of today ’ s session , referencing multiple resolutions that were passed such as HR 516 .
“ Today was a dark day for the House of Delegates , ” Del .
Gilbert said in a statement .
“ The Democratic majority abandoned 400 years of tradition and rule of law so that they could avoid public scrutiny of their far left wing agenda — and demanded a $ 210 travel allowance to do so from the comfort of their couches.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House operate in the public eye , instead of conducting sessions online , where constituents can show up to committee meetings and make their opinions heard by members .
Although the Senate and House did not immediately begin voting on some of the member ’ s hot-topic bills , like removing qualified immunity for law enforcement officers , the special session today was the first step for the General Assembly in its efforts to help Virginia during desperate times .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Virginia State Capitol ” by Ron Cogswell .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--Minneapolis Mayor Frey Proposes 5.7 Percent Property Tax Increase, Recommends Police Hiring Freeze

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey gave his preliminary 2021 budget address Friday , in which he suggested how the city could improve its finances after restrictions put in place to slow the COVID-19 pandemic battered tax revenue .
Fifty-five percent of the city ’ s ongoing general fund revenue is gathered from sources other than property taxes , Frey said , sources he added that are projected to drop next year by $ 32.5 million .
The only solutions are service cuts or property taxes increases , both of which Frey ’ s plan recommends the city pursue .
Frey said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue drop would require a 15-percent property tax increase that is “ not an option.
” Rioters damaged nearly 1,500 Twin City businesses after the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody .
Frey proposed several solutions to climb out of the revenue hole , including a state hiring freeze through 2021 that would count an expected departure of 100 Minneapolis police officers by the end of 2020 .
“ As officers from past generations leave , it ’ s incumbent on us to ensure that officers of future generations enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Frey said .
He plans to reinstate a diverse class of 28 Community Service Officers .
“ Let ’ s equip the most forward-looking police chief in the nation with the support he needs to remake the department of and for the community , ” Frey said .
“ Let ’ s bring more people in and empower community leaders to help us disrupt cycles of violence .
With the world watching , let ’ s define a shared framework for progress and honor George Floyd by making real and enduring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked city department heads to reorganize to deliver core city services and scale back programming dollars .
“ Some of those changes , many already underway , can and will happen immediately , and others will take time , ” Frey said .
“ But I firmly believe we must work smarter to do more with less.
” Frey plans to reduce the city ’ s workforce by offering voluntary retirement programs for older workers to save on payroll costs in the long run and retain a more diverse workforce .
Frey proposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Violence Prevention to implement a new violence interruption initiative using neighborhood teams at peak hours from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. City voters won ’ t decide whether to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department this year , but Frey said he plans to pursue a proposal to shift crime-report-only calls to the city ’ s 311 department .
The city has already bridged a $ 156 million gap using furloughs , cash reserves , and a spending freeze .
Minneapolis will have a more detailed proposal by the end of September and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Frey recommended a budget with about $ 1.1 billion in expenditures and $ 1.4 billion in revenue , with projected revenues just lower than the $ 1.42 billion in revenue in the 2020 budget the City Council later adopted after COVID-19 dropped tax revenue .
“ COVID is impacting all of us , and all of us can do our part to make it better , ” Frey said .
“ But we still need a matching commitment in the form of economic aid from our state and federal partners.
” Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--Cincinnati Leaders Decry Calls to Defund the Police and Violence After Brutal Weekend

A Cincinnati prosecutor pledged Monday to help police find and prosecute those responsible for a weekend wave of gun violence .
Cincinnati police said more than 20 people were shot , four fatally .
Joe Deters , the Republican prosecutor of Hamilton County , said he is “ alarmed , shocked and saddened ” about the multiple shootings .
Deter pointed to the violence and the police response to the shooting to deter calls to “ defund ” police .
“ While I believe that we should police smartly and efficiently and use all of our resources in the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police is not the answer , ” Deters said in a statement .
Mayor John Cranley said the city faced “ unprecedented circumstances and challenges ” in fighting crime during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Cities across the U.S. are struggling with a spike in violent crime , with shootings and murders are significantly up , NPR reported .
In Cincinnati , Fox 19 reported homicides are up 115 % .
Cranley said guns are “ far too prevalent ” at private gatherings after bars close early under pandemic restrictions .
Police reported three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ None of the victims had life-threatening wounds .
Four shootings , including a mass shooting with 10 victims occurred early Sunday .
No information on any of the suspects involved in these shootings has been released at this time .
Police said the department would be calling on federal prosecutors and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms , and Explosives for help .
Cincinnati Police Chief Elliot Isaac said of the weekend violence that this amount of gun violence and the damage this has inflicted on our neighborhoods is unacceptable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , ” We must not sit by silently and say we can ’ t do anything to end gun violence .
We all have a moral obligation to stop the violence and stop the killing in our communities.
” – – – Dan Sewell is a reporter for The Associated Press .
Ben Kolodny contributed to this report .
Photo “ Police Tape ” by Tony Webster .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--Nashville Mayor John Cooper Announces Left-Leaning Policing Policy Commission

Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced the city will have a Policing Policy Commission ( PCC ) to review use-of-force policies within the Metro Nashville Police Department .
This , according to a press release that Cooper ’ s staff published on the city ’ s website .
“ In response to a call to action from President Barack Obama for cities to address use of force policies and practices , I have created the Policing Policy Commission ( PPC ) .
The first purpose of the Commission is to identify ways for the Metro Nashville Police Department ( MNPD ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cooper said .
“ But it also has a broader purpose : to begin a community-wide process of reimagining how Nashville can build trust and enhance community safety.
” Cooper asked commission members to produce a report on standards no later than October .
That report , Cooper added , will influence who he and other city officials select to replace former Police Chief Steve Anderson .
Following Cooper ’ s announcement , the city ’ s Community Oversight Board Chair Ashlee Davis , in a press release , opined about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member .
The Community Oversight Board has independent authority to investigate allegations of misconduct against the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department .
As for the new commission , Davis said she wants a transgender person to serve .
Davis , according to her LinkedIn page , is currently the senior diversity and inclusion manager for AllianceBernstein in Nashville .
She also worked at the White House under former President Barack Obama .
In addition to Davis , other Policing Policy Commission members include the following : • Karl Dean , Co-Chair of Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defender of Nashville • Richard Dinkins , TN Co-Chair of Police Policy Commission , Judge , Court of Appeals , State of Tennessee • David Fox , Financial Markets Trader , Former Chairman of Nashville Board of Public Education • Torry Johnson , Former District Attorney of Metro Nashville and Davidson County As The Tennessee Star reported this month , Chief Anderson vacated his position at the police department sooner than he previously stated he would — without explaining .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email protected ] Photo “ John Cooper ” by Nashville.gov .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--Exclusive: Roger Stone Tells Why He Dropped Convictions Appeal, Weighs in on Trump Campaign – ‘He’s

Exclusive: Roger Stone Tells Why He Dropped Convictions Appeal, Weighs in on Trump Campaign – ‘He’s Gaining’

Roger J .
Stone cut his teeth as a young operative working for President Richard M. Nixon ’ s 1972 reelection campaign and ever since then he has built a reputation as one of the toughest and most creative political tacticians ever .
When Stone ’ s longtime friend , New York City developer Donald J. Trump , decided to run for president in 2015 , he reached out to Stone to help him put it all together .
Stone wrote about the 2016 Trump campaign in his book “ Making of the President 2016 , ” which he revised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russian Collusion : The Inside Story of How Donald Trump REALLY Won.
” Speaking over the din of the Laura Loomer GOP primary victory party he was attending in the president ’ s Florida congressional district , Stone said he feels good about Trump ’ s chance for reelection .
“ I feel like he is gaining , ” Stone said .
“ I have always thought that this would be very tight , very competitive in the end and I think he had this election won prior to the necessary destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the very serious public health crisis , ” he said .
“ At this point , I would rather be behind than ahead , ” he said .
“ I think the debates are crucial to putting the president over the top.
” After Stone left his official role in the 2016 Trump campaign , he remained an outsider advisor and it was in this role that he was accused of being a courier between WikiLeaks and the Trump campaign for the purposes of facilitating exposure for the emails stolen from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pre-dawn SWAT-style raid was carried live on CNN after the new channel was tipped off .
After Stone ’ s conviction on seven of Special Prosecutor Robert S. Mueller III ’ s original 24-count indictment , Trump commuted his sentence July 10 .
Although , Stone had pledged to continue to fight his convictions , in order to clear his name , now , he told the Star News Network he is dropping that effort .
“ First , look at the court , ” he said .
“ The Appeals Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order in my case .
The court ordered me to prison immediately , at the same time it was the policy of the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons to release to home confinement non-violent criminals.
” Stone said it was not enough that they denied him the right to speak out about his case , they were sending him into a prison system rife with COVID-19 .
“ Contrary to their own precedence—and their own policies—that court was essentially going to send me to my death in a COVID-infested prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same court that vacated its own order to vacate the charges against retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn , ordered former White House Counsel General Donald F. McGahn II to testify before the House of Representatives and ruled that former first lady Hillary R. Clinton does not have to testify in Judicial Watch ’ s lawsuit regarding her handling of sensitive electronic correspondence when she led the State Department , he said .
Stone : Same judge would get same result “ That court is so badly politicized , no reasonable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were I to when a new trial , it would be before Judge Jackson , ” he said .
Judge Amy Berman Jackson was the judge for Stone ’ s first trial .
“ Judge Jackson demonstrated her bias over and over again , ” he said .
“ Like when she said , for example , there was nothing phony about the Mueller investigation , except we know differently now , based on declassified documents .
Or like , when she said to me : ‘ You were convicted of covering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I was convicted for and not even what I was charged with.
” Stone said the second factor was his own need to move on .
“ At some point , you have to worry about putting yourself and your family at risk in a highly-politicized court , and having a new trial the circumstances of which would be no different from that old trial , ” he said .
He goes into more depth on his decision in a post on his Stone Cold Truth website .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--Steven K. Bannon: The Democrats Are the Party of Death and Destruction

Live from Virginia Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – live weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Live Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed War Room Pandemic host Steven K. Bannon to the show .
During the interview , Bannon labeled the Democratic Party as the party of death and destruction explaining that they advocate for the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American way of life which was on full display during the Democratic Convention .
He later provided a roadmap to victory for the Trump campaign by way of sticking to policies by comparing and contrasting .
Fredericks : Steve K. Bannon with us now .
Steve great to have you , man .
Bannon : As a former Times Dispatch and a Richmond News Leader paperboy at the age of 10 , I am so glad that The Virginia Star is launching .
( Chuckles ) We need an alternative voice in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So great job and good luck .
It ’ s going to be fantastic .
Fredericks : Thank you Steve I really appreciate it .
We ’ ve put a lot of work into it and we continue to grow .
We have a simple formula for success .
It ’ s kind of amazing .
Nobody else has copied it .
It ’ s called , “ tell the truth.
” It ’ s just amazing how that works .
Bannon : Put up real news and its amazing the audience you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fantastic .
You guys are going to do great .
And Virginia needs it .
I think the Commonwealth needs an alternative voice because of what ’ s happened to its media .
Fredericks : No question about it .
Steve , I want to get to the Democratic Convention last night .
On Sunday you were with Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Futures .
And you said that the Democrats are hoping for death and destruction as their campaign strategy going into November .
Steve , can you elaborate on that ?
Bannon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of the American economy and the destruction of the American way of life .
What I said and I feel pretty good about teeing this up .
I said I want more Americans to watch it .
I think the RNC and the Trump campaign ought to sit there and make sure people see this .
They need to compare and contrast .
And last night I think was absolutely perfect .
And I think Ted Cruz said it on Laura .
It was the woke versus the working men and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is about their whole wokeness .
It ’ s not about economic nationalism .
It ’ s not about confronting China .
It ’ s not about bringing jobs back .
It ’ s not about a healthy economy or America ’ s first national security policies .
I think last night , if that ’ s the preview of what it ’ s going to be and then to have these mealy mouths .
I thin having the Republicans on there was terrific .
The quislings that Kasich and these guys are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big lobbyist for Google .
You ’ ve got all the big tech people there .
You ’ ve got Kasich who ’ s an absolute disaster .
And his mealy-mouth about unity and purpose .
It ’ s all this generalized talk .
It ’ s nothing specific .
It doesn ’ t talk about jobs .
It doesn ’ t talk about the economy .
It doesn ’ t talk about confronting the Chinese Communist Party .
And I think it ’ s terrific .
I thought last night couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ideas of Donald J. Trump .
I would recommend strongly , there is a Real Clear Politics oped today by Steve Cortes .
Steve was a regular on the War Room and a buddy of mine .
We ’ ve been partners on and off in businesses throughout the years .
He ’ s now on the campaign .
He gave up his radio show .
He has a great show on sale .
And he gave up everything to join the campaign to become one of the economic strategist and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s got a piece at Real Clear Politics today that I think lays out what this campaign is all about .
The globalization policies of the Democratic Party versus the economic nationalism of the President presidency .
And President Trump today happens to be at the border talking about the wall .
So he compares and contrasts like he did yesterday .
His economic policies .
He went up to places like Wisconsin and places like Minnesota .
Today he is on the border .
I think its absolutely fantastic .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mealy-mouth globalization party of Davos .
You ’ ve got the woke multi-national corporations .
You ’ ve got the woke billionaires .
The disastrous policies of the Obama ’ s and the Clinton ’ s all there .
Let ’ s do it .
Let ’ s go through it .
Cortes said the other day it ’ s 2016 all over again .
Let ’ s compare and contrast not their happy talk .
Not the group hug .
Let ’ s look at what they did .
Under Obama ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the history of this country .
We have the biggest concentration of wealth and John Fredericks I don ’ t need to tell you about it .
You lived it in a hotel room with your wife when you were absolutely blown up by the financial crisis .
That is where income inequality came from .
That is where the concentration of wealth came .
The top one percent had the greatest eight years in their history .
Because Obama didn ’ t understand economics .
Read those books that came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was the chairman of the Federal Reserve .
It was Joe Biden .
Remember Joe Biden is not from Scranton , Pennsylvania .
He is from Wilmington , Delaware .
He is the concierge for global corporations .
Wilmington Delaware is the headquarters for most of the global corporations .
The reason is they have a friendly federal court right there .
Its a post office box .
And Joe Biden has been there running dog for 47 years .
Two things that happened in the Obama administration and basically the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street bailing themselves out and Obama allowed it to happen .
And Joe Biden was put in charge of the pivot to Asia .
To gather the Middle East .
He was put in charge of China .
And nothing but disasters resulted .
If that ’ s what they want to highlight this week I think the RNC and Trump campaign should be driving traffic to the site .
We need to have more people watch it because you need to sit there and see all the phoniness and all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everything that doesn ’ t matter to where the United States is today .
And Donald Trump has been hammering that nonstop .
If you don ’ t like Trump ’ s house style then look at the policy .
That ’ s why I say let ’ s get away from the name-calling and all of that .
Let ’ s look at what they really mean and intend to do .
And that ’ s why I say death and destruction .
It ’ s the death of the American economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
It ’ s going to come in living color this week .
I think it started off exactly how I thought it was going to be .
I think Steve Cortes on the Trump site he does an hour .
I got to tell you for your audience , it ’ s an hour worth watching .
Cortes is a hedge fund guy .
He ’ s one of the first guys on Wall Street to become MAGA .
He ’ s out of Chicago .
He ’ s Hispanic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ brains .
And he ’ s a tough hombre and he ’ s brilliant .
And he lays this thing out .
And Real Clear Politics has his op-ed up .
Like I said on Maria Bartiromo , the path to victory for President Trump goes right through Beijing .
Its economic nationalism versus the heart of the globalist project .
It ’ s the Chinese Communist Party .
They are in charge of the slave labor of the Chinese people .
That slave labor forces everybody else to be serfs .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not some wild conspiracy .
This is the economic model .
If you don ’ t believe me go to The Economist this week .
They got a cover story about how Xi is wonderful .
The Chinese economy has made a comeback .
This guy is amazing .
It ’ s just like what happened during Trump ’ s inauguration week when Xi went to Davos at the World Economic Forum and he gave that speech .
They all said this guys amazing .
This guy is terrific .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uyghurs .
The persecution of Tibetan Buddhists .
The persecution of Evangelical Christians .
The underground house Catholics .
Organ harvesting in Hong Kong .
All of it .
So the path of victory here goes right through Beijing .
We have to hold these guys accountable .
Keep hammering them every day .
Compare and contrast that to this feckless group of essentially morons in the Democratic Party and I think you can blow a hole in it .
Get in and get tough .
I don ’ t think you need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just highlight the policies .
Bannon : There is a bigger gap then in 2016 .
And he won in 2016 by hammering .
have shown that they are working .
Look , even in this pandemic we have a an economy that is on a role .
a strivers economy .
That the little guy was finally getting a piece of the action .
But look at the comeback you ’ ve had .
As you know .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Blackburn Organizes Smithsonian Exhibit of Women Senators Discussing What 19th Amendment Means to Th

Blackburn Organizes Smithsonian Exhibit of Women Senators Discussing What 19th Amendment Means to Them

U.S. Sens .
Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) and Dianne Feinstein ( D-CA ) assembled a special project for the Smithsonian Institution to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment ’ s ratification giving women the right to vote .
They recruited 22 of their female colleagues to write essays about what the centennial means to them and the challenges they faced on their path to the U.S. Senate , Blackburn said in a press release .
The exhibit is titled “ Senators on Suffrage ” and is available online here .
It is part of the Smithsonian ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ Creating Icons : How We Remember Woman Suffrage ” exhibit .
Once the national museum reopens , there will be an in-person component , Blackburn said .
Blackburn tweeted , “ In honor of 100 years of women ’ s suffrage , @ SenFeinstein and I collected essays from our female Senate colleagues for the @ amhistorymuseum .
In # SenatorsOnSuffrage , we reflect on what the 19th Amendment means to us.
” One hundred years ago on Tuesday , Tennessee became the “ Perfect 36th ” state to ratify the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 70 years of efforts by suffragists to enfranchise American women under the U.S. Constitution .
Blackburn ’ s contribution for the exhibit says : As we contemplate the significance of this year ’ s centennial , I encourage America ’ s fathers , brothers , and husbands to remember that Catt and her fellow activists won the fight for the Nineteenth Amendment not because they were women , but because they were wickedly smart , and fierce advocates .
They were worthy adversaries—but even worthier allies .
Blackburn ’ s full contribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Blackburn and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) on Aug. 5 helped dedicate the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville as a National Historic Landmark .
The hotel was the headquarters of both the pro- and anti-suffrage forces as they lobbied state legislators .
Also , Blackburn said she shepherded the Women ’ s Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act through Congress ; it was signed by President Donald Trump at the end of last year .
The U.S. Mint , therefore , began selling a silver dollar as of this week which reads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

Arizona State Rep. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) and 19 other legislators issued a statement following a video that went viral of three black students kicking two white students out of Arizona State University’s multicultural center. They demanded accountability and threatened to withhold funding from the university.
They announced, “It has come to light following the racially-motivated harassment of two students and their subsequent removal from one of the campus’ study facilities that ASU has allowed a culture of institutionalized racism and neo-segregation to take hold on its campus. The racially-charged removal of these students from the multicultural center begs the question of why Arizonans are being forced to spend tens, potentially hundreds, of millions of their hard-earned tax dollars on a building at a public university that some of our citizens are not allowed to use?”
Hoffman is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and concluded that he would “get to the bottom of this and take the appropriate action in the upcoming budget. Not one penny of taxpayer money should be appropriated to a public institution that in any way enables racism or neo-segregation. Period.”
ASU said it is investigating the incident. The angry students may have been “triggered” by a sticker on the laptop belonging to one of the white males, which said “Police Lives Matter,” and the slogan on the other white male’s shirt, which said “Did not vote for Biden.” They told the two young men, “You’re making this space uncomfortable” and “white is not a culture.” They said the Police Lives Matter sticker was racist.
One of the three told the students to leave, and another remarked, “This white man thinks he can take up our space, and this is why we need a multicultural space, because they think they can get away with this sh*t.” One of the two males packs up and leaves, and the other one stands up and looks like he might have been about to leave too.
A fundraiser was started for the harassed students on GoFundMe — one of the students mentioned in the video that he works 60 hours a week to support himself and his tuition, explaining that he’s not entitled — but GoFundMe removed it, refunding the money back to the donors. The company said it violated their “prohibited conduct policy,” which bans content that GoFundMe finds to be “in support of hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind.”
– – –
Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Commentary: Democratic Voters Appear Disengaged with Joe Biden as DNC Ratings Disappoint

The first-night Democratic National Convention ratings were down almost 28 percent from their levels in 2016 in what can only be called a massive disappointment for former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) in their bid to oust the incumbent Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence .
The ratings for CBS , NBC and ABC were down a combined 42 percent to 6.7 million from the 11.6 million who watched four years ago , according to the Hollywood Reporter .
On cable news channels MSNBC , CNN and Fox News , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 11.98 million viewers from the 14 million viewers of four years ago .
That ’ s a combined 18.7 million this year , compared to 25.7 million four years ago .
While one should expect improved numbers for Biden ’ s acceptance speech on Aug. 20 , and we ’ ll see how President Trump and Republicans do next week , this could be a giant red flag for Democrats that there is a major enthusiasm gap in 2020 .
In a June 21-July 16 YouGov survey , 68 percent of supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about voting for him , compared to just 40 percent of Biden supporters who say the same thing .
Trump gives speeches and press conferences almost every day .
In contrast , we barely see Biden .
Is that a winning strategy ?
We ’ re about to find out .
Now that could be beginning to manifest itself in terms of raw numbers , and it raises a question for Democrats and Biden — who continues to run his campaign virtually from his home in Wilmington , Del .
: Does Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his basement ?
Yes , there is a pandemic , and yes , many voters will not feel comfortable attending rallies and listening to speeches .
Yet , if everyone is inside without much to do , shouldn ’ t ratings be higher ?
The reality of modern politics are effective grassroots networks , voter identification and activation and ultimately , get-out-the-vote efforts .
You can rest assured that President Trump , his campaign and the Republican National Committee will have a robust get-out-the-vote operation that plays to Trump ’ s strengths as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conversely , Democrats ’ message at the moment appears to be that the virus is so deadly that it is not safe to do much of anything .
Democrats are saying that schools are not safe and must remain closed .
Large gatherings are not safe .
In some cases going to work is not safe .
Their own nominee is afraid to go outside .
And so , the message translates to their supporters that neither is it safe for Democrats to go and vote in-person , hence their emphasis on mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failure may come in the number of individuals they can get to request absentee ballots , especially in swing states .
Have Democrats scared their own base away from the polls ?
If so , this built-in , self-inflicted voter suppression could prove fatal in November .
Watch for a switch in Democrats ’ messaging on get-out-the-vote later this month or next month as early voting begins to come into play , as it could be a tell of how effective they believe their virtual , mail-it-in operation is working .
If they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ alternative ” to absentee voting , it could be a strong signal that their efforts at activating voters from a distance are failing .
The ratings at the convention could already be telling the tale , which is that Democrats may have placed their voters into in a Covid cocoon .
At the moment when Biden and Harris need their base to be activated the most , Democrats appear to be disengaged from the political process .
If that spills over into voter turnout numbers , all bets could be off in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--University of Minnesota Medical School Application Features Question About George Floyd, Rayshard Br

University of Minnesota Medical School Application Features Question About George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks

The University of Minnesota Medical School application includes an optional question that asks students to share their “ lessons learned ” about “ systemic racism ” in the wake of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks ’ s deaths .
“ Right now is a watershed moment in American history and this country ’ s reckoning with race , racism , racial injustice , and especially anti-black hatred , ” the question on the application , obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation , read .
“ If you feel comfortable , we welcome you to please share with us your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greatest lessons learned about systemic racism that is receiving international attention with the murders of numerous Black , Indigenous , and People of Color including but not limited to George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Vanessa Guillen , Rayshard Brooks , and Elijah McClain , ” the question concluded .
University of Minnesota spokesperson Katrinna Dodge confirmed the presence of the question on the application to the DCNF , saying it is one of four optional short-answer prompts .
Dodge said the question is on the application to provide insight into the applicant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that an answer or non-answer will not result in acceptance or rejection .
“ Committee members can use the responses to supplemental questions , and several other parts of the application , to inform their evaluation of sociocultural humility , ” Dodge told the DCNF in an email .
“ This seeks to identify evidence of a candidate ’ s ability to treat others with respect , interact with others from diverse backgrounds , recognize bias , adjust behavior in response to others ’ needs , and their awareness of how sociocultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said in her initial response .
“ Upon graduation and residency , this will help prepare our students to provide the best care to patients from all walks of life , ” Dodge added .
“ [ A ] n application can not be rejected based on choosing not to answer this question or based on how it may be answered , ” she said .
Dodge responded , “ A single answer to a question does not equate to acceptance or rejection in the application process .
The University utilizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I previously stated , includes an applicant ’ s academic performance , recommendation letters , scope of post-secondary experiences , responses to supplemental questions , and an on-site interview to evaluate the applicant.
” George Floyd died in police custody in May and Rayshard Brooks was killed by an Atlanta police officer in June after he allegedly grabbed an officer ’ s Taser and fired it .
Breonna Taylor , who was also mentioned in the application question , was shot and killed by police in her home in March .
Army Specialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported missing from Fort Hood and Elijah McClain died after police restrained him using a chokehold .
Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ University of Minnesota Hospital ” by University of Minnesota Medical School .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--The Ohio Star Managing Editor Jack Windsor Weighs in on Breaking News About Millennial Millie Arrest

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed The Ohio Star ’ s Managing Editor Jack Windsor to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Windsor gave details on the recent arrest of Millicent “ Millie ” Weaver who is an investigative reporter living in Diamond , Ohio that was recently arrested the day before her documentary Shadow Gate was to be released .
Leahy : Joining us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigative reporter in Ohio and for the past two weeks named as the managing editor of The Ohio Star , Jack Windsor .
Welcome , Jack .
Windsor : Hi Michael .
Thank you for having me .
It ’ s an honor to be here with you and the 98.3 audience .
Thank you for choosing me .
Leahy : By the way , you ’ ve been breaking stories left and right .
I think you were the guy in Ohio most feared by Governor Mike DeWine and The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent an investigative journalist into Ohio a couple of weeks ago to try and track down some dirt on you .
What are you doing that ’ s causing such trouble there up in Ohio , Jack ?
Windsor : Well , you know I ’ ve scratched my head because the gentleman that they sent from The New York Times is the same guy who took the Steele Dossier and published it .
And of course when that hit that ’ s when President Trump really fell under the microscope .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dossier and started the Russian collusion idea is the guy who came to Columbus , Ohio , and parked outside of what he thought was my home .
He had the wrong information .
But look its cancel culture .
When you go against the narrative and you go against the mainstream things start to happen .
And that ’ s what we ’ ve done .
We ’ ve just uncovered good information and shared it with Ohioans and it ’ s certainly stirred the pot .
Leahy : You are someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board at The Ohio Star for some time .
And we are delighted that you accepted our offer to come on as managing editor .
You ’ ve been with us for a couple of weeks now .
And the fact that The New York Times is trying to dig up “ dirt ” on Jack Windsor is all the more reason why we are delighted to have you on board .
( Windsor chuckles ) Windsor : Well , it ’ s an honor to be here .
And we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know the future is going to be even more exciting .
I thank you for the offer .
I wanted to talk with you a little bit about Millicent Weaver another investigative reporter .
Leahy : Yes .
This is a story you had Jack yesterday .
Millennial “ Millie ” Weaver was arrested on a charge from Portage County .
A state charge .
What is this all about ?
Windsor : You know I ’ m really trying to unwind it .
It is a complex situation .
What we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diamond , Ohio on Friday , August 13 along with her boyfriend Gavin Winston .
And her brother Charles Weaver .
A Portage County grand jury issued secret warrants for all three charging them with robbery , tampering with evidence , obstruction of justice , and domestic violence .
Now Weaver captured her arrest on video that was released on Twitter by Mark Dice .
In the video , you can hear Weaver asking the arresting officer why am I being arrested ?
And the officer says I ’ ll give you all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the jail .
That was one thing that really caused a flag to go up for me .
I ’ m not an attorney or in law enforcement .
But if somebody has not been read their Miranda Rights and they ’ re not told why they are being detained that ’ s always a little bit curious .
Millie goes on to say on the video I ’ m literally about to break huge breaking news right now and I ’ m being arrested and I have no idea why .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest video is her investigative report called Shadow Gate which was released Friday while she was in jail .
Leahy : What is she arguing there ?
Windsor : It is an interesting video .
It ’ s about one hour and twenty-minute documentary and it introduces two people who both claim to have been private contractors working for private companies .
The name John Brennan comes up quite a bit .
And they indicate that these private companies siphoned digital information , web traffic , text messages , phone calls collected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is the national level of the intelligence agency for the U.S. Department of Defense .
According to these whistleblowers , information is collected by the NSA and duplicated .
And that duplicated data is what they allege is retained by contractors who sell it to people .
Nefarious people who use it for bad purposes like psychological operations deployed through mainstream media and social media outlets .
To influence elections and as a source of blackmail to bully opponents .
Carmichael : Where these activities that she was reporting on , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration because you mention Brennan ?
Windsor : The way the video goes is there were activities going on certainly in the Obama administration .
The video goes back and it really visually tries to go back to McCain and his run .
And then it forwards to activity that happened in January after President Trump was already elected .
And it covers that whole time span .
So yes it does imply that it happened during the Obama administration .
Leahy : So Jack what is your take on the credibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together these explosive charges ?
Windsor : It ’ s always tough .
She ’ s an independent investigative journalist .
She ’ s done work with InfoWars .
Some of the stuff she ’ s put out makes sense .
But I ’ ll tell you as somebody who ’ s an investigative journalist myself .
When you go against the current its easy to get a ton of backlash .
And she ’ s gotten that .
And that muddies the water a little bit .
But when you look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about it really makes sense .
And when you really start to parse out the details of her case it ’ s even more curious .
She was arrested on something that happened three months prior and not really told what was going on .
She ’ d been detained for up to 10 hours .
And then in her hearing on Monday , her arraignment the judge was very clear about something .
She said to Millie ’ s attorney were you able to speak to about the issue of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said you are not allowed to talk about this case .
This case has to do with you and your mother .
Because her mother was taking pictures of the information that she gathered .
The mother has come out and said , hey , I didn ’ t want to press charges .
These are bygones .
There is nothing here .
Yet they are continuing forward with the case .
Leahy : So this is an incident that happened three months ago and involves the charges of robbery , tampering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and domestic violence .
Carmichael : And does all this have to do with the government is claiming that Millicent stole her mother ’ s cell phone ?
Is that the robbery ?
Windsor : That is what it appears to be .
My understanding is that the mother was taking videos or pictures of information that Millie collected .
They got into an altercation and it all stems from that .
She forcibly took the phone and threw it down .
I guess that constitutes robbery because she took it with force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had on the phone that was either erased or destroyed .
I ’ m assuming that had something to do with tampering .
But its all still pretty harry right now .
Leahy : Millicent should have invited her mother to go to downtown Chicago then she could have taken her into Nordstrom ’ s through the glass window and stolen her phone in there and it would have been fine .
She couldn ’ t have been arrested if she had stolen the phone there .
( Laughter ) Windsor : That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she could go protest and she could have just thrown it down and broken it up and everything would have been fine because it would have been an expression of her freedom .
Leahy : Her lawyer could argue that she was actually she was involved in a peaceful protest at her mother ’ s residence .
Carmichael : This has reeks of Roger Stone and his statement to the comedian neighbor where they tried to make that into something .
Here you have something between a daughter and her mother and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressing charges .
I don ’ t think my daughter did anything that I think is wrong .
And it sounds like the authorities are pressing charges anyway .
Wow .
Wow .
Windsor : Two other sidebar things that are just interesting and nothing else other than interesting .
The trial date is set for November 2 , the day before the 2020 United States presidential election .
Windsor : Just a coincidence .
And of course , Millie has been gag ordered .
She ’ s not to talk about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and I ’ m not one to sling mud but the judge was arrested last February because she was driving under the influence and crashed her car in early February .
Of course , that ’ s brought out and a lot of folks say wait a minute how is she able to adjudicate on what ’ s right and wrong .
Leahy : Jack Windsor you are breaking stories in Ohio but a lot of them seem to have some national importance .
The New York Times is greatly interested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for joining us today .
Windsor : Michael Patrick Leahy , thank you so much .
Have a great afternoon .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Millie Weaver ” by Millie Weaver .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Biden’s Plan to Increase Refugees Will ‘Overwhelm’ Cities, Trump Says

President Donald Trump criticized presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden ’ s plans to allow 125,000 refugees admittance to the U.S. on an annual basis during a speech in Minnesota on Monday , the Associated Press reported .
“ He [ Biden ] would overwhelm Minnesota with refugees , from terror hotspots , depleting public services , burdening schools , and straining city budgets , ” Trump said during a speech on a tarmac in Minnesota , the AP reported .
Trump capped refugee admissions for 2020 at 18,000 , according to a White House statement .
Under Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanitarian concerns or if their admittance is of national interest .
Biden said in an op-ed for Foreign Affairs in January that he would ensure due process is held for immigrants , that families can stay together when crossing the border , and that he would not “ target particular communities.
” “ I will immediately reverse the Trump administration ’ s cruel and senseless policies that separate parents from their children at our border ; end Trump ’ s detrimental asylum policies ; terminate the travel ban ; order a review of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; and set our annual refugee admissions at 125,000 , and seek to raise it over time , commensurate with our responsibility and our values , ” Biden said in Foreign Affairs .
Trump said in his speech Monday that Biden plans to “ increase refugee resettlement ” by “ 700 % , ” however , a change from 18,000 to 125,000 would be an increase of 594 % .
“ I will secure our borders while ensuring the dignity of migrants and upholding their legal right to seek asylum , ” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have released plans that outline these policies in detail and describe how the United States will focus on the root causes driving immigrants to our southwestern border.
” Biden ’ s campaign website details his plans to “ surge humanitarian efforts to the border ” to assist refugees , reinstate eligibility for immigrants seeking asylum citing domestic abuse , and ending for-profit detention centers .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett Introduces Bill to Reform Federal Regulatory Process

U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett ( R-TN-02 ) this week introduced the Protecting Jobs and Wages from Regulations Act of 2020 , which he said would , if enacted into law , reform the federal regulatory process .
This , according to a press release that Burchett ’ s staff published on his website about the bill .
“ Unelected federal bureaucrats often introduce regulations that do more harm than good for American workers and businesses , ” Burchett said .
“ Federal agencies need to justify why a proposed regulation is necessary and be transparent about its impacts on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more information to assess regulations before going into effect.
” The Protecting Jobs and Wages from Regulations Act would require that all federal agencies disclose data regarding the impact a rule might have on jobs and wages .
Federal agencies must also explain what problem the proposed rule seeks to address and allow the public the opportunity to comment on proposed rules , the press release said .
Burchett ’ s bill is part of the Republican Study Committee ’ s Government Efficiency , Accountability , and Reform ( GEAR ) task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several pieces of legislation aimed at creating a more efficient federal government , according to the press release .
As The Tennessee Star reported last year , the federal regulatory apparatus imposed a roughly $ 14,600 “ hidden tax ” on American households in 2018 , according to a report by the Competitive Enterprise Institute ( CEI ) .
“ That amounts to 20 percent of the average pretax income of $ 73,573 , and 24 percent of the average expenditure budget of $ 60,060 , ” CEI ’ s Wayne Crews wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that year .
In total , federal regulations cost the U.S. economy $ 1.9 trillion despite the Trump administration ’ s effort to roll back onerous regulations .
Crews said his report was a conservative estimate of the true cost of regulations .
“ The regulatory ‘ tax ’ exceeds every item in the household budget except housing , ” Crews said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Neil W. McCabe Talks About His Interview with Roger Stone and the Upcoming Republican Convention

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil W. McCabe to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , McCabe discussed some details about his recent interview with Roger Stone highlighting his court process and pardon by President Trump .
He weighed in later of how he thought the Republican Convention would play out next week .
Leahy : We are joined now by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Network and The Tennessee Star .
Washington journalist Neil McCabe .
Good morning Neil .
McCabe : Phenomenal to be with you , Michael .
Leahy : So you keep getting these great interviews .
You had an exclusive interview with Roger Stone who was convicted of lying to Congress and his sentence was commuted and he made some news .
How do you get all these interviews , Neil ?
McCabe : Well , I would love to tell you but I ’ ve got mouths to feed .
( Leahy chuckles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas Mike .
So you know , let ’ s just keep that to ourselves .
Leahy : ( Laughs ) So you get this exclusive with Roger Stone .
Was he down in Florida at a political event and you spoke with him on the phone ?
McCabe : Right .
You ’ ll be happy to know he was at the Laura Loomer victory party because she won the Republican primary last night for Donald Trump ’ s congressional district right down in Palm Beach .
Leahy : Ah-ha !
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s his residence .
Leahy : Tell us what Roger Stone had to say .
What news did you break ?
McCabe : There are three takeaways .
First of all with his trial and legal situation .
According to him , he ’ d said earlier but I didn ’ t talk to him about it last night .
He just didn ’ t want to get into it .
But the president had offered Roger Stone a pardon .
He said don ’ t give me a pardon because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t want to be known as being convicted of these process crimes .
Really it was at the end of the Mueller probe and they had nothing and they decided to railroad Roger Stone .
He was accused of course of being a courier between WikiLeaks and the Trump campaign .
And then of course the next step to that sort of theory or conspiracy theory was that the Russians stole emails from the DNC .
The Russians gave them to WikiLeaks .
In effect , Roger Stone was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
And he was the lynchpin , a cornerstone to the Russian collusion hoax which has now revealed is bupkiss .
McCabe : Exactly .
He joked with the friend of his who is a comic and a DJ and he joked with the guy that if you testify against me I ’ ll kill your dog .
Well , this is the sort of a joking conversation .
McCabe : Anybody who ’ s had a conversation with Roger Stone knows that these are the things he says .
The Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate witness tampering .
And then there were other things .
So Stone was going to ask for another trial with the de-classified documents and everything else that ’ s come out and working in his behavior and being exculpatory .
But his lawyers basically told him that this is the same court that is screwing around with Mike Flynn .
Chances are you are going to get the same judge who was definitely biased against you .
It ’ s better to fold up your tent and move on .
So that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He looked at the court situation and then he looked at his own age and his family .
Leahy : He ’ s like 70 years old , right ?
McCabe : Right .
Now , remember , at the same time the appellate court that he would be going to , at the same time that this appellate court ordered him into the federal prisons , the federal prisons were releasing non-violent convicts to home incarcerations because of COVID .
So they were basically sending a 70-year-old man into a COVID infested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing him .
McCabe : So that ’ s where Stone is at .
And the other thing is that Stone feels that the president has turned the corner and he really feels that the president is in a good spot right now .
He says that the president is gaining and in that the president kind of wants to be a little behind right now because the debates are going to put him over the top .
That was very revealing .
And of course , Roger Stone was really there at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run for president , Stone was the first guy he called .
Of course , he wrote a book about it .
That was interesting .
Leahy : Not only that , Stone was involved in the ’ 72 Nixon campaign .
He ’ s been there at the beginning of a lot of things .
I might add , a sort of moral to this story .
It ’ s that for anybody out there listening if you are railroaded and convicted of a process crime and the president offers you a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wouldn ’ t you agree with that ?
Don ’ t go for a commutation .
McCabe : There is a game called Spades we used to play when I was on a Coast Guard ship .
The rules , when in doubt of what to do , just take the book .
( Leahy laughs ) Take the points .
Like in baseball .
Send the runner .
Don ’ t assume there will be another batter .
Carmichael : Now what was the other thing we were going to talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump offering a pardon and he said no I ’ d like to win in court .
What is scary about what Neil is saying is that he joked with his neighbor .
The comedian has also publicly said he was joking when he said it .
But yet the government prosecutors ignored what the friend said .
He said he was just joking when he said it and I didn ’ t take it seriously .
But they went ahead and reported it .
That ’ s what they do in kangaroo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do in communist countries .
And so this is the way of Washington now .
And when Trump says there ’ s a swamp , there ’ s some more evidence .
McCabe : Crom , they sent a SWAT team to arrest him in a pre-dawn raid which was carried live on CNN .
So this is very third world .
Very Venezuela .
And that ’ s what the swamp is going to do .
Listen , the federal budget is what , $ 6 trillion a year ?
You think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of $ 6 trillion a year ?
No way .
No way .
Leahy : Neil , let me ask you this .
Have you had an opportunity to watch the very bad infomercial the past couple of nights otherwise known as the Democratic National Convention ?
Crom and I were talking about this earlier .
How do you think the Republicans will offer a more interesting and entertaining product to the public next week ?
McCabe : There is one reason why I haven ’ t seen any of the Democratic Convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve suffered enough in my life ( Leahy laughs ) and I don ’ t want to put myself through that .
I did see the video of Joe Biden introducing himself as Jill Biden ’ s husband which I think in a way we are all Joe Biden ’ s husband .
( Laughter ) That ’ s sort of a Spartacus moment .
Everybody should just step forward and say , I ’ m Joe Biden ’ s husband .
I ’ m Joe Biden ’ s husband .
Carmichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here Neil .
They may have as their speakers or whatnot .
Remember when Clint Eastwood talked to the empty chair .
You may have comedians who are doing comedic acts interspersed with videotapes of Joe Biden making a fool of himself .
And there are many hours of that .
So they may decide that this convention they ’ ll have some parts of it that are serious and about public policy .
But when they go after Biden and Kamala Harris which there ’ s lots of stuff on her too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with humor .
Which I think would be a real contrast to the Democrats .
McCabe : I think it ’ s going to be a much more interesting Republican Convention .
You are going to have that couple from St. Louis .
You ’ re going to have Diamond and Silk .
And you are just going to have people from all walks of life who are going to talk about what is going on with the Trump presidency and what ’ s at stake .
And I just think it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the passion is there on the president ’ s side .
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 “ Roger Stone ” by The Circus .
CC BY 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Prosecutors Seek Maximum Penalty Against Indiana Woman Who Pleaded Guilty to Helping ISIS: Report

Prosecutors say that a woman who pleaded guilty to providing financial support to the Islamic State should face the maximum penalty under law , according to a new report .
Samantha Elhassani of Lake County , Indiana , faces up to 10 years in prison as she was reportedly aware of her actions , court documents say , Fox 59 reported .
She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27 .
Elhassani reportedly took thousands of dollars worth of cash and gold over multiple trips to Hong Kong , Fox 59 reported .
Elhassani ’ s husband and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office , Fox 59 reported .
Elhassani ’ s husband died while fighting for the group in 2017 .
Her husband reportedly died in 2017 while fighting for the Islamic State , Fox 59 reported .
Elhassani claims her husband coerced her into joining the terrorist group , Fox 59 reported .
However , federal officials say she gave a lesson on how to kill American soldiers to one of her kids in a recorded video .
After the collapse of the Islamic State in Raqqa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained in a Kurdish camp before they were transferred to U.S. custody , Fox 59 reported .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--One in Five Students May Defer Upcoming Academic Year, Axios Poll Shows

Over 20 percent of college students may defer the upcoming academic year , according to a recent Axios poll .
The deferment data comes as prominent universities across the country move from in-person to online classes in response to campus-wide outbreaks of the coronavirus .
Of the 21 % of students who may not return , most are working full-time in the interim , Axios reported .
The statistic comes as 27 % of students lost their summer internship , according to the poll .
Notre Dame University said that it would move to online classes for at least two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during move-in .
University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill moved classes online for the fall semester after outbreaks were reported in dorms and a fraternity .
The poll also found that though 83 % of students on campus will follow their school ’ s coronavirus protocol , 58 % of students would not notify their school if they witnessed another student breaking protocol .
Seventy-seven percent of students said that their school should “ not participate ” in fall sports , though it is unclear how students felt about postponing fall sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will attempt , rather than cancelling them outright .
The statistic emphasizes universities like UNC which , despite moving classes online , plans to continue with fall sports , local outlet WBTV reported .
Some of the largest universities across the country have opted to transition to online classes in recent weeks .
Michigan State University announced that it would begin the semester online Tuesday , telling students to avoid returning to campus completely .
Both Harvard and Princeton said that their academic years would be online as well .
The Axios poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16-17 .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Commentary: Against ‘Black Lives Matter’

Although they operate under the banner of social justice , the Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) movement and its allies are a pernicious force .
The false narratives , the toleration of lawlessness , and the punishment of dissenters have left our society in disarray .
Americans of all races and political stripes should reject these tactics .
The problems with BLM start with its false claim that white police and civilians are systematically killing black people .
Allied media have promoted cases that seem to fit this narrative , such as the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a country as large as the United States , reporters can find individual incidents to support just about any narrative they want .
The statistics on race and crime tell a very different story than the one advanced by the anecdotes favored by the media .
First , black Americans are far more likely than non-blacks to commit violent crime .
Blacks accounted for 37 percent of all arrests for violent crime in 2018 , including 53 percent of murder arrests , despite constituting only 13 percent of the population .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates of crime that generates so many encounters between blacks and police in the first place .
Once we adjust for base rates , police are less likely to fatally shoot black suspects compared to white suspects—a fact that is entirely at odds with the BLM narrative .
Even the evidence that police may be rougher with ( but not more likely to kill ) black suspects needs to be viewed in the context of base rates .
While we should welcome any reforms that will make law enforcement more fair and effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noticing that some groups tend to be more dangerous than others .
Black men are 6 percent of the population but have perpetrated 42 percent of cop killings over the past decade .
That fact is surely relevant when police are required to make threat assessments with limited information .
As for white civilians victimizing blacks , here the BLM narrative is not merely wrong , but backward .
When violent incidents occurred between blacks and whites in 2018 , 90 percent of the time the attacker was black and the victim was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the primary driver of “ white flight ” from northern cities , and it is still a major reason why whites are reluctant to live in majority-black neighborhoods or to send their children to majority-black schools .
The media ’ s emphasis on white-on-black crime therefore must be especially perplexing to white audiences—some of whom likely are thinking , “ There ’ s a protest over interracial violence , and we are supposed to be the villains ?
” This is the divisiveness that BLM ’ s one-sided narrative fosters .
The protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forth a disturbing toleration of lawlessness .
Whether the protests have been “ mostly peaceful , ” as the media are apt to describe them , is irrelevant .
It is undeniable that lawbreaking has occurred ; it has sometimes been inherent to the protests , as with the toppling of statues or attacks on government buildings ; and the response from the authorities has often been indifference .
The burning down of a police station in Minneapolis and the creation of a so-called “ autonomous zone ” in Seattle are just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread looting and vandalism unchallenged by the police .
Some cops have even taken a knee in submission to the protesters .
No nation can prosper without the rule of law .
If lawbreaking is tolerated merely because rioters have safety in numbers , or because some officials think the violence supports a “ good cause , ” then we will never have the order necessary to maintain our First World standard of living .
Certainly the confidence that citizens have in the authorities has already weakened .
Some have even asked why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government refuses to perform its most basic duty of arresting lawbreakers .
There is no good answer .
To restore order , we must condemn all unlawful acts without reservation .
Express no sympathy for lawbreakers .
If one or both political parties do not proactively condemn criminal acts , demand they take a position .
Call on public officials to allow police to do their jobs .
Speaking out is risky , however , because opposing BLM can be a fireable offense .
Newspaper editors , educators , and even religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objections to the protests .
Now the BLM mantra emanates from organizations once thought to be apolitical , such as tech companies and sports leagues .
When this groupthink combines with our growing “ cancel culture ” —which posits that people with unfashionable views should not merely be criticized , but shunned—ordinary citizens may be scared into silence .
The mob ’ s power grows with each cancellation , so defeating it requires a concerted effort to resist its demands .
Broad declarations in favor of free speech are welcome , but more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are targets of cancellation .
Publish them .
Hire them .
Proclaim that their views , even if not popular , still have a place in the public square .
In addition to supporting individuals , we should reject demands to purge words or objects in the name of social justice .
No person of sound mind is harmed by Thomas Jefferson ’ s statue , or by Uncle Ben ’ s rice , or by the term plantations in the state of Rhode Island ’ s full name .
Calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never-ending attempt to condition ordinary people into believing that they owe activists something , and such compliance breeds only more demands .
Factual evidence , peaceful streets , and open discourse are the hallmarks of democratic governance .
Because BLM flouts all of these values , it deserves our condemnation .
Jason Richwine is a public policy analyst and a contributor to National Review .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Commentary: Trump’s EPA Can End an Obama-Era Cover-Up

On many regulatory issues , the Trump administration moved as fast as bureaucratically possible to overturn excesses of the Obama administration .
On issues from labor rules to land use to consumer protection , Trump ’ s team did what they could to make regulations more fair and less far-reaching .
So why is it that Trump ’ s Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) has continued to stonewall in a matter that affects dairy farmers in Washington state and beyond ?
It is crystal clear now that the Obama-era EPA did awful , uncalled for , and possibly illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yakima Valley region that should be prime candidates for reversal .
Why let such bad behavior stand ?
Leadership of the local office in the Obama-era EPA slapped together a flawed study about nitrates in the drinking water , monkeyed with the findings to blame farmers , used the report to force farmers to sign a consent decree that has put some farms out of business , quietly changed the designation from “ influential science ” to the far less meaningful “ other , ” and covered this evasion up for years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to light care of multiple Freedom of Information Act requests , the EPA has the audacity to argue in court that it should be allowed to get away with it all .
Why ?
Because the statute of limitations to object has allegedly expired .
This in spite of the fact that statutes of limitations do not apply when agencies cover up relevant information .
The EPA ’ s actions really were as brazen and bald-faced as I have described .
In response to real concerns about nitrates in well water in 2010 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study through .
The draft got a quick sign-off by EPA scientists and provisional okays with reservations by two outside experts .
Then the trouble set in , to such an extent that one of the independent scientists , Agricultural Department soil scientist Dr. David Tarkalson , demanded that his name be struck from even the draft report .
That ’ s because EPA ’ s Pacific Northwest office enforcement people rewrote the report to blame farmers .
They used a carrot-and-stick approach to compel farmers to sign consent decrees .
The stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions by the agency .
The carrot : So long as the farmers went along the EPA ’ s expensive demands , they were told that would be the end of it .
The EPA would help make any lawsuits by green activist groups go away .
The carrot was a lie , piled on top of on another lie .
Green groups continue to sue farmers , even though the report these groups are relying upon to press suit was published without any sign off by independent scientific experts .
The EPA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to settle the case by no longer using their problematic report for enforcement purposes .
The offer is almost laughable : It would be difficult for the EPA to use that report for much of anything now that the facts have been revealed .
But the damage it continues to do to farmers , in terms of litigation and ongoing compliance costs , is no laughing matter .
Here ’ s hoping the Trump administration finally sees the facts clearly , and does the right thing .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Joint Legislative Committee Will Meet to Study Emergency Executive Powers in Tennessee Thursday

The Tennessee General Assembly Joint Ad Hoc Committee studying emergency powers of the executive branch will include presentations from by retired U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William C. Koch , Jr .
The meeting to be held at the legislature ’ s home of the Cordell Hull Building is scheduled for Thursday .
The bi-partisan ad hoc committee established in July consists of 17 members including a co-chair and vice-chair from each house .
Senate members include Republicans Ferrell Haile as Co-Chair , Kerry Roberts as Vice-Chair , Ed Jackson and Shane Reeves along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include Republicans Jason Zachary as Co-Chair , Curtis Johnson as Vice-Chair , Clark Boyd , Patsy Hazlewood , Dan Howell , Chris Hurt , Debra Moody and John Ragan .
Democrats on the committee are John Ray Clemmons , Bob Freeman , London Lamar and Johnny Shaw .
The joint committee was created by Lt. Gov .
Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton at the request of members of both legislative bodies in light of the emergency status caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
Apparently , the legislature is anticipating that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation and make any statutory changes .
In a statement issued Tuesday , the legislature referred to the ad hoc committee ’ s Thursday meeting as “ their first.
” Additionally , according to Co-Chair Haile , “ The purpose of this committee is to review the Emergency Powers Act and make recommendations to the 112th General Assembly when it convenes next year , ” the statement said .
The Emergency Powers Act in T.C.A .
58-2-107 provides Tennessee ’ s governor with broad authority to assume control over all aspects of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Although the bulk of this law has been on the books for two decades , the pandemic offers legislators and the governor the unique opportunity to examine it closer to see if future improvements need to be made.
” Zachary said , “ This pandemic and the response of government has created a renewed focus on the Executive and Judicial powers provided by state law during a state of emergency .
I look forward to the important work of our committee as we carry out our charge to review and make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 112th General Assembly.
” As part of their work , the ad hoc committee will hear from two of the state ’ s foremost authorities on the matter .
Testifying at the committee ’ s first meeting Thursday will be the Honorable Alberto Gonzales , Dean and Professor of Constitutional Law at Belmont University .
Gonzales served as the 80th Attorney General under President George W. Bush and previously served as a Texas Supreme Court Justice , among many other prestigious appointments .
The ad hoc committee will hear first from deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wiseman .
The agenda for the Joint Ad Hoc Committee to Study Emergency Powers meeting can be viewed here .
The meeting can be watched live here .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Baltimore Republican Candidate Grabs National Attention with Ad

To showcase the plight of Black citizens living in Democratic-run Baltimore , Republican congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik took a simple approach : a walk through Baltimore ’ s downtown .
In a two-and-a-half minute video , Klacik ( pronounced “ CLAY-sick ” ) showcased Baltimore ’ s run-down buildings , asked citizens their thoughts on defunding police , and explained many of the issues facing the city .
“ Do you care about Black lives ?
The people who run Baltimore don ’ t , ” Klacik said .
She went on to showcase what she called “ the reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” which included “ crumbling infrastructure , abandoned homes , poverty , and crime.
” Klacik stated Baltimore has been run by the Democratic Party for 53 years and is one of the top 5 most dangerous cities in the country .
She noted the murder rate is ten times the national average , the poverty rate is 20 % , and homicide , drug , and alcohol deaths up .
Klacik criticized the Democratic Party , saying that “ the vast majority of crime in Baltimore is perpetrated against black people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population .
So why don ’ t we care about our communities ?
The Democrat Party has betrayed the black people of Baltimore.
” She went on to say “ It ’ s not just in Baltimore , the worst place for a Black person to live in America is in a Democrat-controlled city.
” In conversations with several black residents of the city about defunding the police one man told Klacik that he ’ d lost three sons in Baltimore and if the police were defunded this would be much worse than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that media analyst Jeff Ballingall said Klacik outperformed former First Lady Michelle Obama ’ s speech at the Democratic National Convention .
“ By digital metrics , Michelle Obama bombed at the DNC last night .
The former first lady was completely outdone by an unknown house candidate , @ kimKBaltimore ” Ballingall said on Twitter .
“ Michelle Obama , despite being promoted by the traditional media giants , couldn ’ t scratch the virality of Klacik.
” Ballingall then explained how much better Klacik did in later tweets noting that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % more views than Michelle Obama.
” President Trump quickly endorsed Klacik after the ad was posted .
Klacik is a Republican congressional candidate from Maryland ’ s 7th district .
She is running against Democratic incumbent Kweisi Mfume , who was elected to office in May 2020 after the death of Elijah Cummings .
Mfume was first elected in 1986 and was re-elected through 1996 , when he resigned in April to become the CEO of the NAACP .
Cummings replaced Mfume in a special election in April 1996 and served until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – – – Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ] Photo “ Kim Klacik ” by Kim Klacik .
Background Photo “ Kim Klacik Campaign Ad ” by Kim Klacik .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-20--Apple Is the First American Company to be Valued at $2 Trillion

NEW YORK , New York ( AP ) — Apple is the first U.S. company to boast a market value of $ 2 trillion , just two years after it became the first to reach $ 1 trillion .
Apple shares have gained nearly 60 % this year as the company overcame the shutdown of factories in China that produce the iPhone and the closure of its retail sales amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The company ’ s hugely loyal customer base trusts its products so much that they continued to buy iPhones and other devices online while stuck at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the April-June quarter , An upcoming four-for-one stock split that will make Apple ’ s shares more affordable to more investors also sparked a rally after it was announced three weeks ago .
Apple has been at the vanguard of a group of Big Tech companies that are increasingly taking over people ’ s lives — and the stock market .
Just five companies — Apple , Microsoft , Amazon , Facebook and Google ’ s parent company — account for nearly 23 % of the S & P 500 ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market value of $ 2 trillion shortly after becoming a public company in December 2019 .
The Saudi energy producer ’ s shares have fallen since amid a drop in oil prices and its market value is now about $ 1.82 trillion .
About the Headline Photo : In this June 16 , 2020 file photo , the sun is reflected on Apple ’ s Fifth Avenue store in New York .
Apple is the first U.S. company to boast a market value of $ 2 trillion , just two years after it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trillion .
Apple shares have gained nearly 60 % this year as the company overcame the shutdown of factories in China that produce the iPhone and the closure of its retail sales amid the coronavirus pandemic .
( AP Photo/Mark Lennihan , File )