thetennesseestar--2020-09-18--Professor Alan Dershowitz Joins the Tennessee Star Report to Explain His Lawsuit Against CNN

Live from Music Row Thursday 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 Professor Alan Dershowitz to the newsmakers line .
At the end of the third hour , Dershowitz explained his pending lawsuit against CNN who willingly doctored his testimony in front of the Senate regarding a president in impeachment .
He added that it was important for him to pursue the lawsuit to disable cable news networks from distorting the truth .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by professor of law at Harvard Law School Alan Dershowitz .
Good morning Alan you are on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy and Carol Swain .
Dershowitz : Good morning .
I wish I was in Nashville listening to some good music .
Leahy : Well , come on down .
Swain : Our city is closed right now so this wouldn ’ t be the best time to come .
Dershowitz : Oh no .
After post-COVID I ’ m going to come down there have a little BBQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Well , Ben Shapiro is coming down here too by the way .
Dershowitz : He ’ s my former student .
We are very proud of him .
Most of us at Harvard Law School .
Leahy : He ’ s moving to Nashville .
His entire company .
So you are suing CNN .
Leahy : Tell us why you are doing that Professor Dershowitz .
Dershowitz : CNN doctored a tape recording of me in front of the United States Senate .
They made me say exactly the opposite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that a president that did anything illegally could be impeached .
But if he did completely legal actions but they were motivated to be re-elected and he thought they were in the national interest then he couldn ’ t be impeached .
So they took out the part of where I said if he did anything illegal he could be impeached and made it sound as if the president could do anything he wants .
And then they put people like Joe Lockhart on the air saying oh Dershowitz says the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wants .
He can be Hitler .
He can Mussolini .
He can be Stalin .
He can commit genocide .
And plainly I had said exactly the opposite .
And I ’ m just not going to let CNN get away with it .
They did it deliberately .
They did it maliciously .
They did it purposely They did it because my argument in front of the Senate had been effective .
It had persuaded several senators and they didn ’ t like that so they wanted to hurt my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if I made the absurd argument that a president can commit any crime as long as he wanted to be re-elected .
That ’ s the exact opposite of what I said .
The First Amendment doesn ’ t cover malicious , deliberate lying , and putting words in the mouth of somebody they didn ’ t say .
Although I ’ m a strong supporter of the First Amendment I believe that my suit against CNN serves the interests of truth and freedom of speech and that they are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping the money .
The money beyond my legal fees will go to charities around the world because I ’ m not doing this for myself .
I ’ m doing this for the public .
I want the public to be able to trust the media which today they don ’ t do because CNN does things like that .
Distorts what somebody says and makes him say exactly the opposite .
Leahy : Are you representing yourself in this case , Professor Dershowitz .
Dershowitz : No .
I have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We filed suit in Florida two days ago .
The case will hopefully proceed to trial .
And let a jury decide whether CNN did the right thing by doctoring the tape and editing it .
I mean it ’ s as if I got on the Senate floor and said I do not believe a president can do anything .
And they just quoted my statement as a president can do anything .
Leahy : Professor Dershowitz , my co-host in this program is former Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain .
Carol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I just want to say that I heard your testimony before the Senate and I know that they did doctor the tape .
And it ’ s very interesting because the media seems to think that they can do whatever they want when someone is a public figure .
So I ’ m glad that you are holding them accountable .
I hope you win for all of us .
Dershowitz : Well , thank you so much .
It ’ s so nice to hear from someone as distinguished as you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want to hear more about my lawsuit , I have a podcast now too .
It ’ s called The Dersh Show .
It ’ s my name .
And you can get it on Spotify or YouTube or Apple and I tell the whole story of the lawsuit that actually shows and you can hear what I actually said in front of the United States Senate .
So there is no doubt or dispute that CNN willfully and edited the tape to take out my statement that if a president did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And then they went on the air with their commentators who said Dershowitz says a president can ’ t be impeached even if he commits the most serious crimes like treason , bribery , extortion , and perjury .
All lies .
I never said that .
I said the exact opposite .
So listen to my podcast and you ’ ll hear me on that and other subjects as well .
I don ’ t want to compete with your show here but I get to have my say too .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your case that you state CNN willfully and deliberately lied about what you said .
That seems to be pretty bad .
Dershowitz : That ’ s pretty bad and they got away with it .
Swain : No they haven ’ t gotten away with it .
Leahy : Not yet because I think your lawsuit will call them to task .
( Dershowitz laughs ) Dershowitz : I hope so and I hope my charities will benefit when they have to pay for the damages they caused .
They deliberately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foolish .
And I would have looked foolish if I would have said that a president could commit any crime he wants .
The Constitution says you can be impeached if you commit crimes such as treason , bribery , and other high crimes and misdemeanors .
And that was my whole point .
If you commit crimes you can be impeached .
But if you don ’ t and you just want to get elected president and you do something to help your electoral prospects that motive can ’ t be enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did was entirely lawful .
They knew it .
They distorted it .
They wanted to present me as a fool who says that a president can do anything he wants even if it ’ s illegal .
They knew I didn ’ t say that .
Leahy : Professor Dershowitz , I ’ m going to surprise you with an on-air invitation .
As you know 233 years ago the Constitution was signed in Philadelphia .
September 17th , 1787 .
Dershowitz : I was not there .
( Laughter ) I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : We got that .
What we ’ ve been doing in Tennessee here for three years is we have a little foundation that I set up that holds a Constitution Bee for high school students .
Leahy : For 8th graders to 12th graders .
I co-wrote a little book called Guide to the Constitution and Bill of Rights for Secondary School Students .
And we are holding on October 24 of this year the very first National Constitution Bee here in Brentwood , Tennessee .
And I want to invite you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attend .
We ’ ll cover your travel down here .
Perhaps you might say a few words .
Dershowitz : I can ’ t do it .
My wife won ’ t let me travel for the moment .
But I ’ ll do it by Zoom .
I ’ m happy to do it by Zoom or Skype .
Dershowitz : Yes .
Sure .
I ’ d be happy to do it .
I love talking to high school students about the Constitution .
I have a new book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newest Attack on Freedom of Speech and Due Process .
Kids have to know about the First Amendment and they have to know about due process .
They have to know about the Bill of Rights and the Constitution .
It ’ s so important .
So yes , I just put it on my calendar .
Just zoom me in and I ’ ll be there .
I ’ d love to do that .
Swain : Thank you so much .
It ’ s an honor to have you on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up my time for you .
( Leahy laughs ) Dershowitz : ( Chuckles ) Well thank you .
I ’ m glad to have your comments .
Thank you for your positive and encouraging words about my lawsuit .
It will be up to jurors to decide I hope .
And let ’ s hope that the jurors understand that it ’ s in their interest , their interest to make sure the cable news networks remain honest and don ’ t distort the truth .
Listen to the full third hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – 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 “ Alan Dershowitz ” by Sage Ross .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .
Background Photo “ CNN Headquarters ” by Ken Lund .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-18--VCU Poll: Four in Ten Virginians Not Likely to Get COVID-19 Vaccine – If They Want It

A new statewide poll released and conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University ( VCU ) offers a glimpse at the opinions of Virginians on two separate policy issues : COVID-19 vaccines and in-person education .
The Survey of 804 adults , age 18 or older , living in Virginia was conducted between August 28 and September 7 using telephone interviews .
Forty percent of respondents said they were not too likely ( 13 percent ) or not at all likely ( 27 percent ) to get a Food and Drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent said they were very likely ( 38 percent ) or somewhat likely ( 20 percent ) to be vaccinated , according to the poll analysis .
The specific breakdown of the sample provides significantly more insight on the survey answers .
There was a large difference between men and women respondents , with 52 percent of males being very likely to get vaccinated compared to 26 percent of females .
Additionally , 51 percent of respondents aged 18-34 were very likely to receive a vaccine .
Party affiliation was also a part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trends seen in other , larger polls .
Forty-nine percent of respondents who identified as Republicans said they were not at all likely ( 35 percent ) or not too likely ( 14 percent ) to get the vaccine compared to Democrats and Independents both at 37 percent .
When asked if Virginians should be required to get a free COVID-19 vaccine , 66 percent of respondents said no , including 80 percent of Republicans and 52 percent of Democrats as well as 62 percent of males and 70 percent of females .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not too safe ( 18 percent ) or not safe at all ( 37 percent ) to send children back to school for in-person learning , while 42 percent think it is very safe ( 16 percent ) or somewhat safe ( 26 percent ) , the poll analysis said .
Regionally , Tidewater and South Central are most skeptical of sending kids back to school .
Forty-six percent of respondents from Tidewater and 44 percent from South Central answered not safe at all .
Fifty-six percent of minority respondents said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 28 percent of Whites , which highlights a larger issue according to former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder .
“ The concerns over premature school openings confirms that adequate plans vouchsafing safety have not been shown to the people , particularly the minority communities , ” Wilder said in the poll analysis .
The sample used was a combination of landlines and cellular random digital dial samples provided by Marketing Systems Group , a leader in providing research-based statistical samples , according to the poll analysis .
According to the methodology , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 804 adults surveyed .
The margin error for the complete set of weighted data is 5.17 percentage points , and the estimated margin of error for likely voters is 6.22 percentage points , according to the poll analysis .
This poll was conducted over 10 days .
Dr. Farrah Stone Graham , VCU public policy poll director told The Virginia Star that transparency is important when looking at a poll ’ s methods .
“ I think that the main thing to look for is transparency with the methods used and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consume that responsibly , ” she said .
“ If you are being told how a particular organization reaches the people , then you can make the judgement call.
” Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Eighteen individuals are now collecting petitions for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District race as of last Friday.
Twelve people are collecting qualifying petitions for the GOP primary, three are gathering petitions for the Democrat primary, and three independents are also accumulating petitions.
The 12 Republicans listed on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website as collecting petitions are former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, and Richie Lee of Nashville.
Among the publicly announced candidates, Tennessee newcomer and former State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus and retired Brig. General Kurt Winstead have not yet been listed as having begun their qualifying petitions process. Hamada has not yet made a decision as to whether or not he is officially entering the race.
Records show that Harwell, Starbuck, Brooks, Baxter Lee, Ortagus, Winstead, Batchelor, and Timothy Bruce Lee have also filed candidate paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Starbuck has raised $255,066.53 and has $138,741.16 on hand, which Brooks has raised $24,517.00 and has $19,655.34 on hand. The rest filed their FEC paperwork after the year-end December 31, 2022 deadline. The 2022 first quarter January 1-March 31 financial reports, which are scheduled to be released in mid-April, will cover all candidates who have reached the FEC reporting threshold.
Sources tell The Star that several Republican candidates are expected to have impressive fundraising totals.
Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are listed as collecting petitions for the Democrat primary.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents who are collecting petitions. Shannon has appeared on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy. Only Brantley appears to have filed documents with the FEC.
In order to appear on the ballot, candidates are required to collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters and have until noon on April 7 to turn in those qualifying petitions. Candidates who qualify have until April 14 to withdraw their names from the ballot. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office told The Star, unless pending legislation changes things, that they will finalize the ballots on April 21.
The 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, and all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Martin Falbisoner. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-18--Senate Committee Squashes Paid Quarantine Leave Bill

The Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor killed a House bill on Wednesday that would have required employers to provide paid quarantine leave during the COVID-19 pandemic .
House Bill 5116 , sponsored by Del .
Elizabeth Guzman ( D-Prince William ) , was passed by indefinitely by a vote of 14-Y 1-N. “ Killing a paid quarantine bill in the middle of a pandemic is a threat to public health and a slap in the face to hardworking Virginians across the Commonwealth , ” Guzman said in a statement hours after the legislation was defeated .
The bill stipulated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all employees paid quarantine leave , immediately available to use , equal to the number of hours that employee works on average over a two-week period .
Employees would be granted the time off for situations such as their own case of COVID-19 , to care for a family member with coronavirus , and if the employee or a family member ’ s presence in the community puts others at risk of contracting COVID , which is determined by a health care provider .
Also , only businesses with 25 employees or more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Guzman ’ s bill was the last legislation considered by the committee during its Wednesday morning meeting .
After Guzman had outlined the key points of the bill to the committee , House Minority Leader Thomas Norment ( R-James City ) spoke very briefly against the bill before offering a motion to pass by indefinitely .
“ I think in the current circumstances this bill is insensitive and a lack of perspective to the fiscal stress that Virginia businesses are currently experiencing during this pandemic situation , and we have no business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this period of time , ” Norment said .
Norment was not alone in his concerns on the financial impact the bill would put on businesses .
“ This has been an incredibly challenging year for citizens , for families and for businesses , and if we are going to get Virginians back to work , we can not impose devastating burdens on the businesses who are going to be employing them , ” Sen. Mark Obenshain ( R-Rockingham ) said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
Obenshain continued : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help families , but the [ fiscal ] burden that is placed on businesses is , quite frankly , made apparent by virtue of the fact that the patron exempted the state government from its application.
” Sen. Adam Ebbin ( D-Alexandria ) was the only member to vote against the motion to defeat the bill .
The Commerce and Labor Committee also killed a similar Senate bill , sponsored by Sen. Barbara Favola ( D-Arlington ) , last month that called for employees to earn one hour of paid sick leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill was passed by indefinitely by a vote of 12-Y 3-N. Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Delegate Elizabeth Guzman ” by Delegate Elizabeth Guzman .
Background Photo “ Virginia Capitol ” by Martin Kraft .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-18--Trump, Benson Spar on Twitter Over Misprinted Overseas Ballots

President Trump and Michigan ’ s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson sparred on Twitter on Thursday after overseas ballots incorrectly listed a Libertarian candidate in the spot of Vice President Mike Pence .
The Bureau of Election alerted clerks on Tuesday after it was discovered that more than 400 overseas ballots had listed Libertarian vice presidential candidate Jeremy Cohen instead of Pence , according to The Detroit News .
The bureau asked clerks to notify the recipients of the ballots and issue corrected ones .
Trump went after the mistake on Twitter , saying it was intentional and was done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hater Secretary of State of Michigan , purposely misprinted Ballots for the Military , putting the wrong names on the Ballot , and actually listing a member of another party as a replacement for Vice President @ Mike_Pence .
Everybody is totally confused by their egregious behavior , which is just the way they want it , ” Trump tweeted .
“ This was not a mistake , it was done illegally and on purpose .
We want Mike !
” Trump has repeatedly gone after various voting measures , including the expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the coronavirus pandemic .
He previously criticized Benson for issuing mail-in ballot applications to every registered voter in the state .
Benson fired back at Trump , saying that the error was caused by an “ unintended computer glitch.
” “ Once again you ’ re wrong .
This was an unintended computer glitch that was caught & quickly corrected .
Suggesting otherwise is false & misleading , ” Benson said .
“ Impacted voters immediately received an accurate ballot & guidance to ensure their vote counts .
And my name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those who voted using the incorrect ballot would still have their votes counted and a vote for the “ Trump-Cohen ” ticket would be counted as one for Trump and Pence , The Detroit News said .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan Star and Star News Digital Media .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff .
CC BY 2.0 .
Photo “ Jocelyn Benson ” by Jocelyn Benson @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-18--While Gun Sales Soar,Tone Deaf NOVA Pols Vote for More Bans

Joining the ranks of other urban jurisdictions , the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors ( FCBOS ) voted nine-to-one on Tuesday to enact a gun ban in city buildings , parks , and at or near permitted events .
Also on Tuesday , the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors ( LCBOS ) voted four-to five against evaluating a potential ordinance controlling gun noise .
During the public hearing portion of the FCBOS meeting , resident Andrew Bates said , “ I ’ m basically a unicorn and I don ’ t exist .
I ’ m a liberal Second Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a no-no now , we ’ re not allowed to talk about that , that doesn ’ t happen , but we do exist .
So I want you all at this time to consider this in a non-partisan way.
” Bates said Fairfax County is very large and has many parks .
“ We are blessed to have so many parks and trails throughout the county so it ’ s easy to think [ in a straightforward way ] about government buildings .
But for example , there ’ s no sidewalks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only way to get from one point to another is a path .
And if you look into the bushes , there ’ s a little sign that says ‘ Something Something Park , Fairfax County Authority ’ , but it is the only way to walk down Route 50 without getting hit by a car.
” “ My request to you all is reasonable and simple : please take this back to committee , ” Bates said .
During the FCBOS discussion , Supervisor Pat Herrity said , “ The time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we would take this back to committee so we would have a discussion , absorb the testimony we heard tonight , and get the details right .
To me this needs to be about public safety , not about politics , but I fear that politics will again rule the day.
” Herrity added , “ I don ’ t believe a ban on guns makes Fairfax County public spaces or citizens any safer and for me that ’ s the benchmark.
” Chairman Jeffrey McKay said the FCBOS has petitioned the legislature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 24 years .
“ Those of us who have been the board know that few things have been more debated in public than this issue.
” McKay continued , “ Going back through committee might be a way to avoid having to vote on something that I believe a majority of our residents support that is very reasonable , and frankly has been very very thoroughly discussed in this committee.
” On Tuesday , the LCBOS voted against studying a noise ordinance , in part because noise complaints could be handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Loudoun Times-Mirror .
However , the LCBOS is considering a gun ban ordinance similar to the one enacted in Fairfax .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-18--Facing Defiance and Hostility, Arlington County Cancels Social Distancing Ordinance

Amid enforcement problems , Arlington County ’ s Board of Supervisors voted four-to-one to cancel an emergency ordinance outlawing grouping on sidewalks in specific areas of Arlington .
The cancellation is effective at the end of September , ending a $ 100 fine for people failing to socially distance in specific Arlington restaurant districts .
“ Efforts to spread out long lines of patrons by officers and restaurant security have been met with defiance , confrontation , and hostility , ” states a slideshow presented by county staff .
The slideshow shows pictures of long lines outside restaurants .
Groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Arlington Pedestrian Advisory Committee , and the Arlington County Transportation Commission ( ACTC ) submitted letters to the board , asking for the ordinance to be stricken .
“ The ordinance is overly broad , would subject ordinary behavior to a fine-worthy offense , and the majority of any unintended consequences would be borne by pedestrians and anyone a capricious member of law enforcement might want to subject to a nuisance fine , ” ACTC Chairman Christopher Slatt wrote .
County Manager Mark Schwartz recommended that the board make the emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a public hearing process .
Chair Libby Garvey was the only board member to vote in favor of the ordinance .
“ The board passed the Emergency Ordinance because we felt we needed more ways to encourage people to practice safe distancing and to protect public safety , ” Garvey said .
“ I believe the ordinance had an effect and has encouraged compliance in areas of the county where crowds gather in and around bars and restaurants .
I hope what compliance it brought continues even after the ordinance lapses.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impractical to cite hundreds of violators a night , ” Board Member Christian Dorsey said , according to the press release .
“ They have prioritized encouraging compliance and have not issued a single citation .
I don ’ t see any reason to continue having something on the books that clearly doesn ’ t work.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Social Distancing Measures ” by GoToVan .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-18--Lacy Johnson Staffers Shot Monday – Suspect Arrested

A suspect in a shooting that killed congressional candidate Lacy Johnson ’ s 17-year-old staffer and wounded another was arrested Thursday .
Minneapolis Police Department ( MPD ) reported that they apprehended the suspect after a short vehicle chase .
MPD attempted to stop the suspect ’ s vehicle in Minneapolis ; they caught him about twenty minutes west in Plymouth .
On Monday , MPD officers responded to a shooting around 4:30 p.m. in the Fremont Avenue North area .
Two teenaged males were shot , according to the department ’ s press release .
“ Officers arrived and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of the individuals did not have a pulse or respirations .
Officers began CPR and wound management until relieved by paramedics .
Other officers dealt with the other injured party and scene security .
A 17-year-old male victim was transported to the North Memorial Health Hospital where he died a short time later .
The other victim , an adult male in his late teens , was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center with non-life-threatening wounds.
” Prior to the shooting , the two victims were standing with a group in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Investigators believe that one or more shooters approached on foot and fired into the group .
Some witnesses stated that a green truck pulled up just before the shooting .
Although the medical examiner has yet to release the victim ’ s identity , Patrick Henry High School posted news identifying a senior student , Andre Conley , as the slain victim .
The other victim , Andre Kelley , continues to receive medical treatment .
Conley marks Minneapolis ’ s 59th homicide this year .
He was a paid intern for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t take place during any campaign activities .
Johnson , the Republican candidate running against incumbent Ilhan Omar ( DFL-MN-5 ) tweeted a statement on the matter on Wednesday .
The candidate added that his campaign is offering resources to both families and assistance to local officials on the case .
“ We can confirm that the victims of this senseless violence were young , motivated [ paid ] members of the Lacy Johnson campaign outreach team .
Today we are shocked and saddened to learn of this senseless act of violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of violence like this that prove why change is more needed than ever in our community.
” Neither Omar nor her campaign have yet issued a statement on the shooting in their district .
A gofundme campaign was set up by community members to support Andre ’ s family .
After being notified of the fundraiser , the family decided to pass on the funds to the Kelley and his family .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Photo “ Andre Conley ” by gofundme .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-18--New Ohio Laws Expand Courts Jurisdiction, Deals with Addiction

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed several new bills into law Wednesday .
The new laws include the expansion of the jurisdiction of Ohio courts and stopping state officials from interfering with religious services .
House Bill 272 prohibits “ a public official from ordering the closure of all places of worship in a geographic area , ” and stops public officials “ from changing the time , place , or manner of conducting an election , except in certain circumstances.
” State Senator Terry Johnson took to Twitter to celebrate the bills passing , saying that he was “ happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that our precious constitutional and voting rights get the respect they are due , even in times of crisis.
” House Bill 341 addresses opioid addiction in the state of Ohio by changing existing laws relating too “ community addiction services providers , ” and other rehabilitation centers .
HB 341 ’ s sponsor , Representative Timothy Ginter stated in a press release “ we must continue to push to fight the opioid epidemic , ” and that he was “ very thankful that all parties involved worked diligently and effectively to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ginter ’ s office noted that among several changes to pharmaceutical regulations , and the classification of rehabilitation facilities in the state his new bill increases “ access to naloxone for those suffering from opioid-use disorder , increasing naloxone education for Ohio pharmacists , and modifying language to prevent an individual from possessing hashish with a THC level over 0.3 percent with a few exceptions.
” Naxolone , also known as Narcan is an “ opioid antagonist ” intended to quickly counteract the effects of a heroin or prescription drug overdose .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug and education related to its use to try to minimize the number of overdose deaths happening across the state since at least the beginning of the year .
Both House Bill 341 and House Bill 272 passed with handily and will go into effect in the next 90 days .
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 ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Marsha Blackburn Discusses TikTok-Oracle Deal

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) this week appeared on FOX Business Morning to discuss what she said was TikTok ’ s link with the Chinese Communist Party .
“ You have to look at what [ ByteDance ’ s ] participation would be , and at a more granular level , you have to look at what would happen with the data from U.S. consumers , ” Blackburn said referring to a TikTok-Oracle Deal .
“ How would this be transported ?
Is it held within the U.S. ?
Does ByteDance have visibility into that ?
” Blackburn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not need to let [ China ] get control over U.S. consumer data and allow them to expand their spy network .
Period .
End of sentence .
That is it.
” The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday that it will ban Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores on Sunday and will bar the apps from accessing essential internet services in the U.S. — a move that could effectively wreck the operation of both Chinese services for United States users .
TikTok won ’ t face the most drastic sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but WeChat users could feel the effects as early as Sunday .
The order , which cited national security and data privacy concerns , follows weeks of deal making over the video-sharing service TikTok .
U.S. President Donald Trump has pressured the app ’ s Chinese owner to sell TikTok ’ s U.S. operations to a domestic company to satisfy U.S. concerns over TikTok ’ s data collection and related issues .
California tech giant Oracle recently struck a deal with TikTok along those lines , although details remain foggy and the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday that he was open to a deal , noting that “ we have some great options and maybe we can keep a lot of people happy , ” suggesting that even Microsoft , which said its TikTok bid had been rejected , might continue to be involved , as well as Oracle and Walmart .
The new order puts pressure on TikTok ’ s owner , ByteDance , to make further concessions , said James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies .
Trump had said this week that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping majority control of TikTok .
TikTok expressed “ disappointment ” over the move and said it would continue to challenge what they called Trump ’ s “ unjust executive order.
” The Commerce Department is enacting an order announced by Trump in August .
TikTok sued to stop that ban .
Tali Arbel , Matt O ’ Brien , and Matt Ott report for The Associated Press .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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--2020-09-19--Commentary: Another One Million Leave Unemployment in a Week as Trump’s Predicted Rapid Recovery Con

Commentary: Another One Million Leave Unemployment in a Week as Trump’s Predicted Rapid Recovery Continues

Another 1 million Americans left continued unemployment claims the week of Sept. 5 on an unadjusted basis , the latest data from the Department of Labor shows .
That brings the number collecting unemployment from its 13.8 million Aug. 29 level , and from its 22.8 million May 9 level , down to its current 12.3 million , an overall decrease of 10.5 million from its peak .
The biggest state gains the week of Sept. 5 were in California , with more than 256,000 coming off of continued claims , 115,000 in New York , 57,000 in Texas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 51,000 in Ohio .
Meaning , when the September jobs numbers are reported the first week of October , the last monthly survey reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics before the election , it promises to be another huge number of jobs recovered — it might be a couple million more — as the rapid economic recovery almost nobody but President Donald Trump predicted continues .
On March 25 , the President promised , “ I don ’ t think it ’ s going to end up being such a rough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to , when we open — especially , if we can open it — the sooner , the better — it ’ s going to open up like a rocket ship .
I think it ’ s going to go very good and very quickly.
” Turns out , President Trump was right .
The 1 million who came off unemployment will surely build on the record 13.8 million jobs recovered in the Bureau of Labor Statistics ’ household survey in just four short months after labor markets bottomed in April with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more expected in the coming months as coronavirus daily new cases continue to stabilize .
In comparison , it took the Obama-Biden economy almost 5 years to recover the 8 million jobs lost in the financial crisis and the Great Recession after labor markets bottomed in Dec. 2009 .
That ’ s a real contrast , and one the American people would do well to remember .
Just think , we were at a 50-year low in unemployment at just 3.5 percent , and the latest Census data shows household median income increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record of $ 68,700 .
Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning reacted to the favorable economic news , saying , “ 2019 demonstrated that capitalism , cutting unnecessary regulations , lower taxes and honest trade deals work together to decrease income inequality … While the impact of the China virus has set our economy back , there can be no doubt that President Trump has the right prescription for continuing the record rebound we are currently experiencing.
” Now , President Trump is promising to get the economy back quickly , whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ABC News ’ David Muir that “ I would shut it down ” again to deal with the Chinese coronavirus .
On Aug. 24 tweet , President Trump responded to Biden ’ s call to shut down the country again , writing , “ Joe Biden has said he would lock down the Country again .
That ’ s crazy !
We ’ re having record job growth and a booming stock market , but Joe would end it all and close it all down .
Ridiculous !
” One item to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation in Congress , a continuation of the CARES Act .
The payroll protection plan supported 5.2 million small businesses — which President Trump credits with saving 50 million jobs during the state-led lockdowns .
Now , Senate Republicans have offered legislation that would continue that program , as well as to send more checks to taxpayers , extend the current unemployment benefits while removing perverse incentives for some workers to get paid more than they did at their jobs , and to cut down on potential fraud in the pandemic unemployment assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a job , mirroring existing federal disaster unemployment assistance standards .
So far , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has blocked new legislation , but after a series of Trump executive orders to provide more financial support for the American people , vulnerable Democratic members in the House have prevailed on Pelosi to get something done for fear of being viewed as obstructing the economic recovery — and getting no credit for what was already done .
U.S. Rep. Max Rose ( D-N.Y. ) said he sent a direct message to Pelosi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership , we said this very simple message : It ’ s time for you to stop playing games .
Let ’ s stop the charade .
Let ’ s stop this stupidity .
Let ’ s put the country first.
” That tells you that many Americans are still hurting from the lockdowns — and time could be running out for Pelosi to preserve her House majority .
When most Americans were afraid about what the pandemic might mean , and Democrats were urging an economic shutdown , President Trump was taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible and to plan ahead to enable the economy to safely reopen , with millions of jobs recovered .
At the end of the day , the American people evaluate an incumbent administration tend to be pocketbook-minded , and this is one area President Trump does indeed have a great story to tell to voters .
Stay tuned .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .
Photo “ Unemployment ” by Bytemarks CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Fran Bush Talks Victory in the Lawsuit Against Former Superintendent of Schools Shawn Joseph

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed MNPS District Six school board member Fran Bush to the newsmakers line to discuss the recent victory over former Superintendent of MNPS Shawn Joseph .
Leahy : Big news yesterday broke .
A legal victory for Fran Bush , a member of the Metro Nashville Public School Board and two other school board members who sued because their First Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied by an agreement that was in the settlement of the severance package of former school director Sean Joseph .
Bush : Good morning .
How is everybody ?
Leahy : Well this looks like a major legal victory for you .
Were you surprised that the Chancellor of Courts ruled in your favor on this ?
Bush : Absolutely not .
Our attorney came to us and said , this is wrong and we need to get this right .
They were so shocked that our Metro legal team even joined in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this was a wrong decision to add in this agreement .
And we knew that we were going to have a victory .
We had no doubt .
Leahy : Basically it said that you individually , as a board member , could not say anything to disparage Dr. Joseph .
Who , by the way , was a complete disaster .
As you know .
And now you win in chancellory court .
Now does that mean that today you could articulate for the public your criticisms of Dr. Joseph , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an appeal on this ?
Bush : No , no , no .
They couldn ’ t even appeal anything like this .
The judge actually threw the book at Metro legal and Sean Joseph .
So we are not even thinking about any type of appeal because they will not win .
To this day , and even before , we were still having conversations about Dr. Joseph ’ s leadership .
So we never wavered as far as how we felt and the truth of why he is no longer the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wavered when it came to that .
Leahy : So what is the truth ?
Why is no long the Superintendent of schools ?
Bush : I ’ m glad you asked .
He came with nothing but corrections .
And he manipulated the board .
This is before I was elected on the school board .
And Jill and Amy started to discover… Leahy : And your fellow board members are Jill Spearing and Amy Frock .
Bush : Yes .
So right before I became elected on the school board I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first statement that I made when I became elected in the first board meeting that I attended I said that your time is up .
And I made it very clear to Sean Joseph that his time was up .
Because these ladies endured such horrible backlash as a result of them finding out the corruption that he and his team brought to Nashville .
And by the way , he came from Prince George County so you can look at his history .
He did it there .
He did it here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beware of Sean Joseph .
Leahy : You know I read all these stories that he brought a crew of his pals from Maryland and they had big SUVs and they rent a house or something ?
It was shocking to me to see all this stuff .
Bush : Oh yeah it was to me .
He had a driver .
Got one of our bus drivers to drive him around .
He spent 1,000s of dollars to pay a driver that should have been driving a bus .
He paid for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us on our salaries .
And then of course moral went down in our teaching arena where teachers were leaving us because of poor leadership and lack of leadership and the horribleness they saw in Sean Joseph ’ s leadership .
It was just so appalling to see .
Of course with the contract and number of lawsuits we had never had this many lawsuits filed by any employee .
There were sexual harassment lawsuits .
I couldn ’ t believe it .
And we spent millions of dollars .
He wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years and taxpayers just had to pay for it .
And just so everybody knows , with our lawsuit we are not gaining any financial means of this .
All the money that went towards legal fees is going back into charity .
That was one of the agreements that we made when we filed this lawsuit .
Leahy : Who was the attorney that represented you , Jill , and Amy ?
Bush : Yes .
Daniel Horowitz .
Daniel was awesome .
He did an awesome job of representing us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel Horowitz did a great job then .
How did you decide to go about filing this lawsuit ?
Because it was a pretty daunting task .
How did you decide that it was worth doing ?
Bush : Well Daniel reached out to us .
He reached out to me , Jill and Amy .
We had a meeting to discuss these types of options that he saw were definitely wronged by us .
And we actually didn ’ t know what to do .
So he brought it to our attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He basically laid out the facts .
And what happened that was so wrong .
And everything was all piled up against Joseph and Metro legal for not doing their job .
And therefore we knew at that point we had a great attorney on our team that was willing to file this lawsuit .
And literally was excellent in what he did .
And he just did what he did .
And he did not bother us .
He always updated us on what the next steps were or where we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end , we got victory .
Leahy : There are nine members of the Metro Nashville School Board .
So three have this stunning victory for the first amendment , the 14th amendment , and the constitution and you can now say whatever you want about Shawn Joseph ’ s poor performance as the director of schools here in Nashville public schools .
What ’ s been the reaction of the other six members of the board to this lawsuit and to your victory .
Bush : We have three additional new board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
And so the prior board members that are still with us that still in their seats they have been completely silent of course because they voted as you may have seen the record that it was three to five .
Five members voted in favor of this unconstitutional decision .
And we were totally shocked .
Myself , Jill and Amy were looking at them like are you serious ?
And I made a statement on the board floor .
At the time John Cooper , he was the attorney for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Cooper .
Not the mayor .
Bush : Let me be clear .
But I questioned him .
I said what are you doing ?
You know better , and why would you even agree to this disparaging thing in this agreement .
His answer was well you know , don ’ t worry about it .
You can still go about your lives .
And this right here is really just a part of the contract .
It ’ s not going to hurt anything .
So he really downplayed it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is definitely not right .
So we knew that .
We just didn ’ t know until Attorney Horowitz came to us and say no , we ’ ve got to get this right .
Leahy : It looks like you have friends and allies in Amy and Jill and yet there does seem to be a majority of the Metro Nashville Public School board that has a different view .
What are those meetings like when you go in there ?
Are they kind of frosty towards you ?
Bush : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are a little frustrated because I ’ m no for what they stand for .
And I have made my complete statement and have stayed firm that I ’ m all about being right and not being on the wrong side of the tracks .
And I am not in this position for politics .
I ’ m in this position for the people .
We are elected officials .
That ’ s what they need to understand and we are elected by the people .
And for some reason , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Commentary: Silicon Valley and Team Biden Collude to Rig 2020 Election

If there is any doubt Big Tech oligarchs are colluding with Team Biden to influence the outcome of the 2020 election , none other than two-time losing presidential candidate Hillary Clinton gave the game away this week .
“ We can have democracy—or we can have social networks that allow the spread of weaponized disinformation about our elections , ” Clinton tweeted on September 16 , “ But we can ’ t have both .
Facebook , Twitter , and Google can and must act before the damage is done.
” The Democratic Party and NeverTrump Republicans—backed by a handful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be described as a post-election civil war to make sure Joe Biden takes the White House no matter what .
The insurgents have “ war gamed ” a number of scenarios , which include unconstitutional tactics that would result in a Biden win even if the president is legitimately reelected .
President Trump recently referred to their efforts as “ insurrection , ” and Attorney General Bill Barr this week suggested violent agitators should be charged with sedition .
This is for real , folks .
Of course , no war plan in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the full complicity of Silicon Valley .
Senate Republicans , despite years of bluster , failed to rein in these rogue entities either by revoking their protected status as “ platforms ” or revising campaign finance laws that would require social media giants to report in-kind campaign donations to Democrats for censoring conservative content and Republican officials without applying the same standard to members of the other party .
So Big Tech , unpunished and undeterred , is working with subversive groups such as the Transition Integrity Project and Protect the Results—misnomers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any content that calls out their tactics , particularly any post that questions the legality of vote by mail .
Democrats plan to extend Election Day into January under the guise of “ counting every vote ” until they collect enough ballots to declare Biden the winner .
While the process drags on , social media and Internet providers will aid that effort by rigging content in the Democrats ’ favor .
Their complicity already is underway .
Twitter is flagging posts that warn voters about the actual risks of mail-in ballots ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was flagged for violating the company ’ s Civic Integrity Policy as the country moves ever closer to an Atlas Shrugged reality .
Twitter ’ s policy , announced this month , will ban “ misleading claims that cause confusion about the established laws , regulations , procedures , and methods of a civic process , or about the actions of officials or entities executing those civic processes , ” an arbitrary gauge that gives Twitter cover to promote the Democrats ’ unprecedented mail-in ballot presidential election and squash any objection to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smacked another Trump tweet on Thursday after the president insisted unsolicited ballots will lead to election-year “ mayhem.
” Twitter disputed his post with a disclaimer : “ Experts and fact checkers have continued to assure American voters that voting by mail is a safe and secure option.
” One “ fact-checker ” listed is ABC News .
( Twitter announced late Thursday that the company ’ s public policy director was leaving to join Biden ’ s transition team . )
Just to make sure Silicon Valley submits to their demands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by two Clinton loyalists , is demanding Twitter , Facebook , and Google scrub any content that might impede the Democratic Party ’ s disinformation campaign both before and after Election Day .
The group released a “ roadmap ” for social media giants to heed ; a sliding scale of penalties , including permanent deplatforming , would apply to accounts daring to run afoul of their speech-silencing rules .
Accountable Tech is going hard after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ; in a July letter to Facebook ’ s Oversight Board , several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company of “ actively facilitating voter suppression , magnifying rampant election disinformation , and seeding hate.
” Zuckerberg , as expected , acquiesced .
On September 1 , he posted a lengthy decree detailing how Facebook would handle information about the election .
“ We already committed to partnering with state election authorities to identify and remove false claims about polling conditions in the last 72 hours of the campaign , but given that this election will include large amounts of early voting , we ’ re extending that period to begin now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a clear result , ” Zuckerberg wrote .
The social media tycoon also signaled that his platforms—Facebook also owns Instagram—will be closely involved in the Democrats ’ plan to extend vote-counting past Election Day and block any attempt by the president to declare victory .
“ We will attach an informational label to content that seeks to delegitimize the outcome of the election or discuss the legitimacy of voting methods , for example , by claiming that lawful methods of voting will lead to fraud .
This label will provide basic authoritative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and voting methods.
” Facebook will protect “ high risk people , ” referring to Democratic governors in swing states , from any online harassment as they fulfill “ their critical obligations to oversee the vote counting.
” Zuckerberg is doing his part to amplify Team Biden ’ s protracted Election Day strategy : he warned in a recent interview that America will have to wait “ weeks ” until a winner is declared .
During that time , Zuckerberg promised , his massive operation will prevent any candidate , including the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official .
Facebook is wasting no time prepping the battle ground in favor of Democrats ; this week , the platform announced it was removing accounts linked to Turning Point USA , a conservative activist group run by Charlie Kirk , a close friend of Donald Trump , Jr. ( Twitter also is suspending TPUSA-tied accounts . )
Kirk is an outspoken media figure with 1.8 million followers on Twitter ; TPUSA has 2.2 million Facebook followers .
Google , too , is getting in on the act .
The world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ autocomplete ” searches by users looking for information on what the company calls “ misleading content.
” This includes any inquiry that “ involves claims about one of the candidates , how to cast a ballot or the overall legitimacy of the electoral process.
” Google also will remove any featured results or advertisements that prematurely declare a winner in any race .
Big Tech ’ s censorship has nothing to do with accuracy or fairness ; abundant evidence , including the outcome of a recent congressional race in New York that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots were counted and discarded , shows that mail-in voting is a prescription for chaos and fraud .
Democrats , NeverTrump Republicans , the news media , Trump-hating billionaires and Silicon Valley have no intention of a repeat of 2016 ; that year ’ s defeated presidential candidate just advised Biden not to concede “ under any circumstances ” as Hillary Clinton remains forever tormented over her loss to Donald Trump .
Caught flat-footed last time around , this powerful coalition wants revenge and redemption—and our Big Tech masters are only too happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political commentator and senior contributor to American Greatness .
She is the author of Disloyal Opposition : How the NeverTrump Right Tried―And Failed―To Take Down the President Her past work can be found at The Federalist and National Review .
She also has been featured in the Wall Street Journal , The Hill , Chicago Tribune , Forbes , and Genetic Literacy Project .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore and “ Google ” by brionv CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Black Lives Matter Linked to 91 Percent of Riots Over Three Months, Study Finds

The Black Lives Matter movement is linked to more than nine-in-ten riots across the country , according to a recent study .
The U.S. experienced 637 riots between May 26 and Sept. 12 , and 91 % of those riots were linked to the Black Lives Matter movement , according to the US Crisis Monitor , a joint project of the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project and the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University .
Forty-nine states , not counting Washington , D.C. , experienced riots during that time period , the study found .
California led the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , closely followed by Oregon with 79 riots during that time period , the data show .
Seven percent of Black Lives Matter-linked events have turned violent , according to the data .
The project defined “ riots ” as “ demonstrations in which any demonstrators engage in violently disruptive or destructive acts ( e.g .
violence , looting , vandalism , etc . )
, as well as mob violence in which violent mobs target other individuals , property , businesses , or other groups.
” Black Lives Matter-linked events were defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local BLM group involved ; when the main issue of the demonstration concerns the police killing of a specific Black person ( e.g .
George Floyd , Breonna Taylor ; when the main issue of the demonstration concerns police brutality against Black people in general ; or when the demonstration is in solidarity with the movement in the USA against police brutality against Black people.
” Black Lives Matter Global Network , the national arm of Black Lives Matter , has seen an explosion in financial support from celebrities and large corporations since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes , according to video of the May 25 incident .
Some Black Lives Matter leaders have declined to condemn rioting and looting .
“ I don ’ t care if someone decides to loot a Gucci or a Macy ’ s or a Nike store , because that makes sure that person eats , ” Atkins said .
“ That makes sure that person has clothes .
That is reparations.
” Black Lives Matter New York leader Hawk Newsome downplayed rioting in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that it is a tool of white supremacy to say if you want freedom , then you get it by protesting peacefully , ” he said .
In another interview with Fox News in June , Newsome said , “ I don ’ t condone nor do I condemn rioting.
” Peter Hasson is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Boarded Up ” by Lorie Shaull CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Crom Carmichael: ‘The Cronyism of the Political Class in Nashville Has Taken Advantage of the Taxpay

Crom Carmichael: ‘The Cronyism of the Political Class in Nashville Has Taken Advantage of the Taxpayers’

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
It is a disaster .
It is gutted .
Mayor John Cooper has betrayed our town .
He has betrayed Music City .
He is a Judas of this town .
He is now the DeBlasio of the South .
That is what he is .
He has lied to our town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And there are real casualties with this Laura .
Forget some of the big companies that have lost a lot of money .
Let ’ s talk about musicians , bartenders , servers , and security guards , and all the people that work downtown in Nashville that were targeted by this Judas of a Mayor John Cooper who claims he loves Nashville and loves Music City yet he had the information at his fingertips that told him Broadway and the music scene is not what is creating the COVID-19 problem in Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to display that information to us and instead week after week lied to us and kept us under control .
Brought this town to its knees to try to put us into submission thinking that with his elitist arrogance could overcome a bunch of dumb country hicks that live in this town .
And that he could override us with his will .
Let me tell you something .
He ’ s got a real high faluted education .
Go look him up .
I bet there is a phrase he understands really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remind him of what it is .
Class .
Action .
Law .
Suit .
That is what is coming for this Judas of a mayor next .
The DeBlasio of the South .
Leahy : And that is John Rich on Laura Ingraham last night .
Wow !
Carmichael : Strong words to follow .
( Laughter ) And the class-action lawsuit , it is my hope that it is actually against the mayor personally .
It is my hope because when public officials get elected and you take the oath of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has broken that oath .
And the taxpayers in Nashville should not be the ones who have to pay the money for the class action lawsuit , because there will be one as John Rich says .
So I hope its the mayor .
And if there are any other public officials including council members who were aware of this they may be held to account also .
I ’ m only saying that because I don ’ t think they were involved .
I think Cooper made all these decisions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he were a dictator .
He ’ s been behaving like one as to one that the law does not apply .
Carmichael : I don ’ t think he went to the council for example to get a vote to shut down bars and restaurants .
I think he did that on his own authority .
If the council members did not participate in a vote then they of course should not be sued .
Leahy : Let me revise and extend that comment .
He did it on his own hubris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : You will see that the authority that he claimed was unconstitutional .
Carmichael : So if council members did not participate in a vote on this information .
But the council members right now are scurrying around .
They can ’ t even vote to cut health benefits for future council members .
Can you believe that ?
Carmichael : They voted 20 to 18 to deliberate further on legislation that could adjust how much Metro will pay for lifetime health benefits for Nashville council members citing confusion on the issue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carmichael : No .
There is none and this is the problem .
This is the problem .
The cronyism of the political class in Nashville has taken advantage of the taxpayers in Nashville , the people they claim to serve .
And this is going to be an awakening moment .
This actually is going to help our public education system because if this ballot initiative passes then they are going to have to find budget cuts and they can find it in the bureaucracy of the non-teachers .
There are way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then there should be .
And those are the people who are at risk .
Now , what did Cooper say he was going to do ?
He said if he doesn ’ t get the money he ’ s going to cut 500 police officers and 500 firefighters .
This reminds me of McQuarter of shutting down the school buses for a few days claiming that they couldn ’ t run .
And it reminds me of Don Sundquist who said we were in such terrible shape that we had to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everybody knows John Cooper ’ s threat to fire 500 firefighters and 500 police officers is a brazenly dishonest political move .
Carmichael : Yeah .
Just like the rest of them apparently .
Leahy : Dave in Springfield wants to talk about the mayor .
Good morning Dave you are on the Tennessee Star Report .
Caller Dave : Good morning guys .
But this story is so far beyond Nashville .
I don ’ t know if you guys realize this .
I ’ ve got friends across the country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and they are not digging into the same type of corruption or obstruction I should say that you see in the Nashville mayor .
And I think this could open the floodgates around the country where we know statistics have been better than they ’ ve been talking about and we should be opened up again .
That ’ s what I believe .
I think it ’ s just starting right now .
So it ’ s good that it made national news .
Carmichael : That is a really really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this because if the data in Nashville shows that bars and restaurants are not where the coronavirus spread happens , and we now know that to be true .
Then that data is likely true elsewhere .
Leahy : Elsewhere in the country .
Carmichael : Our caller is correct because if John Cooper were personally sued for what he is doing then it would cause government officials to act more responsibly and to consider their actions and make sure that what they are doing is in the interest of all the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class .
And this is interesting because we played that Joe Biden soundbite that he claimed Trump killed everybody .
Every coronavirus death is at the hands of Trump .
That ’ s just as dumb as the things that John Cooper has been saying .
Leahy : It ’ s hard to say which one is dumber .
John Cooper may not be dumb but he ’ s dishonest .
Carmichael : Joe Biden is dishonest because we ’ ve got stories about him and Hunter Biden .
I ’ ve got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your party .
Clean out your party .
Get rid of the government employee unions .
Get rid of the union thugs that control your party .
John Cooper ’ s tap dance is to the heads of the government-run unions .
That ’ s who he talks to .
That ’ s all he cares about .
He wants to make sure they are happy because they have so much power in the crony establishment in Nashville .
This is an opportunity to break that hold .
And the teachers ’ unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apples .
Not the teachers but these union thugs , they are the bad apples .
They are the bad apples .
Leahy : Dave in Springfield , thanks for those comments .
And I think Crom , he ’ s quite right .
This is a national issue now .
Leahy : This is a national issue and I think , by the way , I love what John Rich said calling Mayor Cooper the DeBlasio of the South .
Carmichael : That might have been unkind to DeBlasio .
( Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : Mayor DeBlasio is now asking for an apology .
( Laughter ) for being compared to John Cooper .
Carmichael : You know , before the election I really thought when John Cooper said that he wanted to control expenses and he was not for a property tax increase .
Shame on me .
I actually believed him .
Carmichael : That ’ s what he said before the election .
He said he would be a great business manager and control expenses .
Leahy : This isn ’ t business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carmichael : I thought finally we have a mayor who is a business guy and he ’ ll be able to make cuts where there needs to be cut .
He ’ ll be able to make reforms where there needs to be reformed .
Leahy : He hasn ’ t done any of that .
Carmichael : Boy was I fooled .
I ’ ll admit it .
I was fooled .
Leahy : Who has been a worse mayor of Nashville ?
John Cooper , David Briley , or Megan Barry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Cooper wins that prize , because Barry she wanted to do a mass transit deal but she put it up for a vote .
Lost 70 to 30 and moved on .
She honored the will of the people .
And Briley was more or less kind of feckless .
But he didn ’ t hurt people .
He didn ’ t go out of his way .
Leahy : Cooper has gone out of his way to hurt 10s of t1,000s of people in Nashville for his own political gain .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not a good reason at all .
Leahy : Not a good reason at all .
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 “ Nashville ” by Peyri Herrera CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Rep. John DeBerry Is Back on the Ballot and Explains Why the Constitution Matters and the Importance

Rep. John DeBerry Is Back on the Ballot and Explains Why the Constitution Matters and the Importance of Freedom

Before I go any further I would like for you to indulge me because there are some men and women in this room that I have to thank .
Thank you because I am on the ballot on November 3rd .
It ’ s because of them when I was taken off the ballot and this is not part of my speech so this doesn ’ t have enough time .
When I was taken off the ballot it was done in such a way that the filing deadline was passed and I could not run as a Democrat or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only option was a write-in which we all know is a shot in the dark and the members of the House and the Senate they just surprised me they blew me away when they changed the law to where an incumbent that is removed from the ballot after they have qualified because I was qualified to run .
When an incumbent is removed from the ballot after they have qualified they can run as an Independent .
So I am on not on the ballot because of my own powered authority I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men and women of integrity and character on the floor of the House of Representatives .
These are my colleagues and my friends I would like for them to stand .
Glenn and Mike and Senator and all of all the members of the House if you could indulge me one more time I want you to look at these folks .
( Applause ) I also want to say it ’ s good to see Ted tonight who is a fellow member of the board at Before I go any further I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there are some men and women in this room that I have to thank .
Thank because I am on the ballot on November 3rd .
It ’ s because of them when I was taken off the ballot and this is not part of my speech so this doesn ’ t have enough time .
When I was taken off the ballot it was done in such a way that the filing deadline was passed and I could not run as a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all know is a shot in the dark and the members of the House and the Senate they just surprised me they blew me away when they changed the law to where an incumbent that is removed from the ballot after they have qualified because I was qualified to run .
When an incumbent is removed from the ballot after they have qualified they can run as an Independent .
So I am on not on the ballot because of my own powered authority I ’ m on the ballot because there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the floor of the House of Representatives .
These are my colleagues and my friends I would like for them to stand .
Glenn and Mike and Senator and all of all the members of the House if you could indulge me one more time I want you to look at these folks .
( Applause ) I also want to say it ’ s good to see Ted tonight who is a fellow member of the board at Freed-Hardeman .
I know you ’ ve been here for a while so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m a politician and a preacher so you know that ’ s a bad comment .
( Laughter ) In 1956 at Dunn Avenue School I had the privilege and the pleasure of doing something in public that my father had taught me to do in private in his study .
He had a flag hanging on his wall .
He had his army uniform that was hanging right there prominent in his study .
He had a confederate and union soldier ’ s hats upon the wall .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from different uniforms and different wars .
And he taught me and my brothers and sisters how to say the pledge of allegiance .
In 1956 to Dunn Avenue School of Miss Riley ’ s class I stood beside my desk for the first time in public put my hand over my heart and said the pledge of allegiance to the flag .
It was a wonderful day and I remember that experience like it was yesterday .
And when I think about this I ’ m reminded of something that was said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
And after his death rather that in one generation the children of Israel had lost God .
They had lost sight of who they were .
Whose they were of their history and their past .
They forgot about Moses and the Crossing of the Red Sea .
They had forgotten about the wilderness journey and how they had received Canaan .
And how God had made the walls fall in Jericho .
And all the stories that you and I have studied in Sunday school all of our lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the statement was made in those days there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes .
You could substitute that word king with standard .
And when we look at America today in the space of one generation we are about to find ourselves in the same situation because we have the most spiritually illiterate and the most historically illiterate generation in the history of this nation .
They don ’ t know who Jesus is and they don ’ t know who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do they don ’ t appreciate either of them .
Why is that ?
There is something that the Lord said during his parabolic teaching if you don ’ t mind me I ’ m referring to the scripture .
He said while men slept , while men slept an enemy came in and sold tears while we ’ ve been sleeping for all of these decades and while we have allowed teachers to come in from other countries .
Not to immigrate and merge and become Americans but to destroy us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we remember in the Cold War as one of our enemies said very clearly that we ’ re going to take this nation without firing a shot .
Because we ’ re going to divide you from the inside .
From the inside , we ’ re going to divide you .
We ’ re going to make you fight one another .
We ’ re going to make Blacks fight Whites and Whites fight Blacks and North and South and the rich and the poor .
We ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to take your country without firing a shot .
I remember talking about that in class .
Understand something as we see what ’ s happening around us .
America is a child of controversy .
It is a child of revolution .
It is a child of men standing up and speaking .
It ’ s in our DNA speaking our mind and fighting for what we believe .
Protesting .
Not standing or laying down and allowing others to walk upon us .
That ’ s part of who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped free speech and the right to assemble .
We have always fought for those .
When I marched with my father years ago a few rows behind Dr. King right there in Memphis , Tennessee .
I can remember on those days as those men and women as I said are back here earlier in Nashville when those men and women with courage and class and maturity and virtue and integrity .
When they stood up and faced the dogs and the billy clubs or whatever was in front of them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way that they changed the world because they knew what they were fighting for and they understood what was behind them .
The American Constitution as we look at it and as it has been referred to tonight We the People of the United States of America in that preamble it tells us exactly why those men and women stood on that day .
They weren ’ t begging for anything .
They were demanding what the Constitution promised .
A more perfect union that ’ s what we were all trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tranquility .
Provide for the common defense promote the general welfare .
Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America .
What have we lost ?
Somewhere over the years , we have taken for granted everything that those men stood and fought for in the beginning in the revolution when Black men White men and women put their lives their treasure on the line to fight the most powerful nation on the planet , the British empire .
John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle of the Revolution John Adams spoke of the great cost of freedom .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--The Cooper Administration Is Corrupt, Dishonest, and They Are Hurting People, Says Crom Carmichael

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio to discuss how out of control Mayor Cooper has become and violating laws .
Leahy : Crom , we are talking about all of the revelations and how out of control the Napoleon dictator John Cooper is .
Mini Cooper .
And just egregiously violating laws rules and regulations .
And Governor Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Well the mayor has applied to the state for yet more state money .
And Governor Lee in a very ( Chuckles ) Carmichael : Well , he was nice about it .
He could have been , ( Leahy chuckles ) Governor Lee is one of the nicest people .
Carmichael : He has a very very good heart .
And he could have absolutely have roasted John Cooper .
Leahy : Let me just say it was a letter that was a little less direct than perhaps I would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down Nashville .
Now we know that he is wrecking a big part of the Nashville economy , hurting tens of thousands of people , and he does it for no reason .
For no reason .
He knows he ’ s using that power .
And then he applies to the state .
I think it was $ 82 million .
Leahy : We have the story here at the Tennessee Star .
Our intrepid top reporter Laura Baigart has the story and covers Capital Hill better than anybody in the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story that Governor Bill responded in writing , denying Nashville mayor John Cooper ’ s request for an additional $ 82 million in coronavirus relief funding .
In addition to the letter , Lee addressed the issue in a press conference on Thursday saying , “ I have to believe the strategy that I ’ m investing in one is consistent with the state ’ s strategies and Nashville ’ s are not.
” Carmichael : And also somewhere along the line he pointed out that Davidson County has gotten more money than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Cooper is acting like a typical Democrat in the sense that he just wants other people ’ s money .
In this case , there is going to be a question of whether or not he ’ s got legal jeopardy .
He makes a mess .
Who is the gentleman we had on here who was in the event business ?
Carmichael : He said there were 20,000 people whose lives have been affected because of Cooper ’ s shutdown .
At the time we were talking to Cook , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and science .
And now we know now that not only did it not have any legitimacy , Mayor Copper knew it was exactly the opposite .
Carmichael : He lied about it .
He is forcing people within his administration .
And now there is going to be this secret meeting .
I ’ m glad somebody leaked the fact that there was going to be this meeting .
Because they were trying to do it in secret .
Leahy : Secret meeting .
the Metro legal department is bullying the Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20,000 signatures that were submitted so that there will be a referendum on the ballot December fifth to repeal this awful 34 percent property tax that John Cooper and his cohorts are trying to jam down the throats of Nashvillians .
Carmichael : And if the election commission tries to make something up out of whole cloth to keep it off the ballot , the question is whether or not they could be held personally liable .
Carmichael : We have laws .
We have a Nashville charter .
The voters of Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been 22,000 signatures collected .
They only needed 11,000 .
The election commission rightly said there is plenty of valid ones on here .
The law requires there to be a ballot initiative .
Now you ’ ve got the Cooper administration which we know now that it is dishonest .
Leahy : It wants to hurt some more people .
Carmichael : Now it wants to just abuse the charter .
Well , John Cooper didn ’ t write the charter .
Neither John Cooper wrote the charter .
Live with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public servant and not a dictator .
Leahy : He is a dictator , and he ’ s trying his hardest to make that happen .
I don ’ t think that the courts or the taxpayers in Nashville like it very much .
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 “ Nashville Skyline ” by Spablab CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--After Ginsburg: McConnell Pledges Quick Vote on Successor

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just over six weeks before the election cast an immediate spotlight on the high court vacancy , with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell quickly vowing to bring to a vote whoever President Donald Trump nominates .
McConnell , in a statement just over an hour after Ginsburg ’ s death was announced , declared unequivocally that Trump ’ s nominee would receive a vote , even though he had stalled President Barack Obama ’ s choice for months ahead of the 2016 election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in brief remarks to reporters after learning of her death , called Ginsburg “ an amazing woman , ” adding that “ she led an amazing life.
” He had continued with a campaign speech for about an hour after the nation learned of her death , and said later he had been unaware .
He had boasted in the speech that the next presidential term could offer him as many as four appointments to the nine-member court , whose members are confirmed for life .
Ginsburg ’ s death could significantly affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the deeply divided nation as the campaign pushes into its stretch run .
Trump took the stage for a Minnesota rally not long before Ginsburg ’ s death was announced .
He spoke for more than 90 minutes , never mentioning it , apparently not alerted to the development .
He spoke to reporters about her passing as he boarded Air Force One to return to Washington .
But he did say in his speech that whoever is elected in November will have the ability to potentially fill several Supreme vacancies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the most important election in the history of our country and we have to get it right.
” Democratic nominee Joe Biden , returning to Delaware from his own campaign stop in Minnesota , praised Ginsburg upon his arrival .
Ginsburg was “ not only a giant of the legal profession but a beloved figure , ” he said .
She “ stood for all of us.
” A confirmation vote in the Senate is not guaranteed , even with a Republican majority .
Typically it takes several months to vet and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and time is short ahead of the election .
Key senators may be reluctant to cast votes so close to the election .
With a slim GOP majority , 53 seats in the 100-member chamber , Trump ’ s choice could afford to lose only a few .
McConnell did not specify the timing , but pushing a confirmation off to the post-election lame-duck session would carry other complications , including the political tangle of trying to push it through in the final weeks of the year after voters have decided control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate .
Trump has made appointments to the federal judiciary , including two Supreme Court justices , part of his legacy and said last month that he would “ absolutely ” try to fill a vacancy on the high court if one came up before the end of his first term .
“ Absolutely , I ’ d do it , ” Trump said in an August 11 interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt .
“ I would move quickly .
Why not ?
I mean , they would .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position.
” Trump last week added 20 names to his list of candidates he ’ s pledged to choose from if he had future vacancies to fill .
Trump tried to cast the list in contrast with judges who could be nominated if Biden wins in November , warning Biden would select “ radical justices ” who would “ fundamentally transform America without a single vote of Congress , ” even though Biden has never outlined his list of potential picks and the Senate must confirm any nominee .
Naming his possible choices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , is aimed at repeating the strategy that Trump employed during his 2016 campaign , when he released a similar list of could-be judges in a bid to win over conservative and evangelical voters who had doubts about his conservative bonafides .
The average number of days to confirm a justice , according to the Congressional Research Service , is 69 days , which would be after the election .
Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman to the high court if given the chance .
He has said he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential nominees , but the campaign has given no indication that it will release names before the election .
Democrats believe doing so would unnecessarily distract from Biden ’ s focus on Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic and the economy , while also giving the president and his allies fresh targets to attack .
Trump , however , insisted that presidential candidates “ owe the American people ” a list of whom they ’ d consider because , aside from “ matters of war and peace , the nomination of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision an American president can make.
” Jonathan Lemire and Lisa Mascaro are reporters for The Associated Press .
Lemire reported from New York .
About the Headline Photo : President Donald Trump speaks about the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after a campaign rally at Bemidji Regional Airport , Friday , Sept. 18 , 2020 , in Bemidji , Minn. ( AP Photo/Evan Vucci )


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--More Than Half of American Voters Support Breaking up Big Tech Companies, a New Poll Finds

More than half of American voters strongly or somewhat support breaking up Silicon Valley tech giants to promote competition , according to a poll published Thursday .
Only 26 % of voters oppose or strongly oppose splitting up the country ’ s largest tech companies , while 19 % of those surveyed didn ’ t offer a view , a poll from progressive think tank Data for Progress showed .
The poll , which surveyed 1,200 likely voters in September , comes as the House lawmakers conclude their nearly yearlong probe into the industry ’ s supposed anticompetitive behavior .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of respondents expressed support for a prompt on smartphones asking users which search engine they ’ d prefer rather than a service provider using Google as a default .
Google plans to introduce a choice screen in March for Android ’ s European users in an effort to settle the European Commission ’ s complaint that the company ’ s business model violates antitrust principles , Android announced in June .
The company has yet to release data detailing whether users are selecting other search engines over Google , Politico reported Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points and asked a range of questions , including respondents ’ views on monopolies and the government ’ s role in regulating the internet , as well as whether Google should be prohibited from pushing its products on people .
Google consistently accounts for roughly 90 % of online information searches , Vox reported in May , citing Google Trends .
A Daily Caller News Foundation report in 2018 showed that Google employees have expressed willingness to artificially manipulate search results on the platform .
Lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee on the Judiciary gathered 1.3 million documents , conducted interviews and held five other hearings featuring tech executives , The Washington Post reported in July at the time of that month ’ s hearings .
Democrats plan to produce a report some party leaders say will show Silicon Valley sidestepped federal competition laws , according to The Post .
A bipartisan group of 50 attorneys general across 48 states , the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico , began probing Google in September 2019 well before the coronavirus pandemic began .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation focuses on Google ’ s online advertising , as the company owns the largest and most powerful tool in the link between online publishers and advertisers , according to a May Wall Street Journal report .
The Department of Justice ’ s probe into the industry , meanwhile , is reportedly homing in on Google ’ s ad technology and search feature .
Chris White is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Microsoft ” by Robert Scoble CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Biden Stops Short of Supporting National Mask Mandate, Says He Will Enforce Masks on ‘Federal Proper

Biden Stops Short of Supporting National Mask Mandate, Says He Will Enforce Masks on ‘Federal Property’

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Thursday night that he would not have the authority to mandate masks nationwide if elected president , but said that he would enforce a mandate on “ federal property.
” Biden ’ s comment came during a CNN town hall in Scranton , Pennsylvania , and departed from his previous statements saying that he would issue a nationwide mask mandate if elected president , The New York Times reported .
“ I can not mandate wearing masks , ” but “ I can do that on federal property , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On federal land , I would have the authority , If you ’ re on federal land , you must wear a mask .
And we could have a fine for them not doing it.
” Earlier this week , he told reporters that he thought that he would have the authority to issue a mask mandate “ based upon the degree to which there ’ s a crisis in those states , and how bad things are for the country and if we don ’ t do it , what happens.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask mandate in August , asserting that Americans should wear one at all times when outside for a three-month period at minimum .
President Donald Trump has resisted a nationwide mask mandate , saying that one would intrude on Americans ’ individual freedoms .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Trump Reaches 53 Percent Approval Rating in Latest Rasmussen Poll, Highest All Year

A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows President Trump peaking in popularity just weeks before the November 3 election .
The president ’ s approval rating on Friday reached 53 percent , his highest approval rating in a year , outperforming former president Obama , who had a 49 percent approval rating at this point in his presidency .
Trump ’ s approval rating has been at or above 51 percent for five days in a row in Rasmussen ’ s polls .
The poll also shows that 45 percent of Americans said Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prize twice last week for brokering two historic peace deals .
In August , the Trump administration brokered a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates what included “ full normalization of relations.
” Additionally , Trump brokered yet another historic deal between Serbia and Kosovo earlier this month .
Although Rasmussen has consistently shown better poll results for the president than other national pollsters , it is important to note that it was the most accurate poll in 2016 .
According to Rasmussen , the last time Trump reached 53 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that the House would begin impeachment proceedings .
Moreover , for the first time this week , Rasmussen showed Trump beating 47 percent to 46 percent in the 2020 election .
The president ’ s law and order messaging seems to be resonating with the American people .
Debra Heine is a conservative Catholic mom of six and longtime political pundit .
She has written for several conservative news websites over the years , including Breitbart and PJ Media .
Photo “ Trump Approval ” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-19--Fox News Silences Former Speaker Newt Gingrich After He Points to George Soros as a Major Force Behi

Fox News Silences Former Speaker Newt Gingrich After He Points to George Soros as a Major Force Behind Big City Riots

Guess who does not want Newt Gingrich to talk about George Soros ?
Fox News , that ’ s who .
Fox News personnel ’ s reaction to Gingrich ’ s use of the “ Soros ” word drew notice on Twitter , a platform on which the former House speaker is currently blocked .
Twitter user “ Jewish Deplorable ” on Wednesday tweeted , “ Fox News panel melts down when Gingrich calls out Soros ” .
Gingrich mentioned Soros ’ name while talking about crime during a segment of Outnumbered on Fox News .
He placed part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorneys .
A detailed transcript , plus more video , is available here on Mediaite .
Host Melissa Francis didn ’ t like that .
She said , “ I ’ m not sure we need to bring George Soros into this.
” Gingrich said , “ Okay , ” followed by a pause .
“ So it ’ s verboten ?
” Then , Harris moved the conversation to another topic .
The former House speaker , for now , is still able to get the word out on his Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Friday , he posted , “ Strengthening the police will not work if the district attorneys and judges refuse to lock up the violent and predatory people who are arrested .
Soros has poured millions into electing radical left-wing prosecutors who simply refuse to prosecute criminals.
” The post linked to a blog entry on Gingrich ’ s website , here .
In the post , Gingrich examines the rioting in large cities and how they are tied to the 1960s — and to Soros .
Furthermore , strengthening the police will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges refuse to lock up the violent and predatory people who are arrested .
George Soros has poured millions into electing radical leftwing prosecutors who simply refuse to prosecute criminals .
When predators know there are no costs to their crimes , they are emboldened to become even more aggressive and violent .
I wrote about all of this in my new book Trump and the American Future .
The new , greater sophistication of the anti-American left has created a guerrilla war movement across America .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Newt Gingrich ” by Jewish Deplorable .