thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Florida Teen Arrested for Massive Twitter Hack, Prosecutors Say

A 17-year-old from Tampa , Florida , was arrested Friday for allegedly carrying out the massive Twitter hacking scam on July 15 , according to WFLA .
Graham Ivan Clark was arrested Friday around 6 a.m. and faces 30 felony charges in the alleged scam , which prosecutors have dubbed the “ Bit-Con ” hack , according to a press release from Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew H. Warren .
The hacker allegedly used a phone phishing scam to target various Twitter employees in order to gain insider and other employee information in order to obtain Twitter support mechanisms , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Citing national security concerns , the FBI launched an investigation to find out who was behind the hack , the Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported based on Department of Justice sources familiar with the inquiry .
“ I want to congratulate our federal law enforcement partners—the US Attorney ’ s Office for the Northern District of California , the FBI , the IRS , and the Secret Service—as well as the Florida Department of Law enforcement , ” Warren said in the press release .
“ They worked quickly to investigate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensive fraud , ” Warren said .
“ This defendant lives here in Tampa , he committed the crime here , and he ’ ll be prosecuted here , ” Warren said .
Several high-profile Twitter accounts , including former president Barack Obama and former Vice president Joe Biden , were hacked and posted messages July 15 linking to a bitcoin site , according to the Twitter posts .
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Tesla CEO Elon Musk ’ s accounts were also compromised , according to WFLA .
In total , 130 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement from Twitter support .
The FBI did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation for comment .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Mary Rose Corkery
A 17-year-old from Tampa, Florida, was arrested Friday for allegedly carrying out the massive Twitter hacking scam on July 15, according to WFLA.
Graham Ivan Clark was arrested Friday around 6 a.m. and faces 30 felony charges in the alleged scam, which prosecutors have dubbed the “Bit-Con” hack, according to a press release from Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew H. Warren.
The hacker allegedly used a phone phishing scam to target various Twitter employees in order to gain insider and other employee information in order to obtain Twitter support mechanisms, according to a Twitter Support blog post.
Citing national security concerns, the FBI launched an investigation to find out who was behind the hack, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported based on Department of Justice sources familiar with the inquiry.
“I want to congratulate our federal law enforcement partners—the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, the FBI, the IRS, and the Secret Service—as well as the Florida Department of Law enforcement,” Warren said in the press release.
“They worked quickly to investigate and identify the perpetrator of a sophisticated and extensive fraud,” Warren said.
“This defendant lives here in Tampa, he committed the crime here, and he’ll be prosecuted here,” Warren said.
Several high-profile Twitter accounts, including former president Barack Obama and former Vice president Joe Biden, were hacked and posted messages July 15 linking to a bitcoin site, according to the Twitter posts.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s accounts were also compromised, according to WFLA. In total, 130 Twitter accounts were compromised, according to a statement from Twitter support.
The FBI did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation for comment.
– – –
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Court Overturns Boston Marathon Bomber’s Death Sentence

A federal appeals court Friday threw out Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ’ s death sentence in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing , saying the judge who oversaw the case did not adequately screen jurors for potential biases .
A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new penalty-phase trial on whether the 27-year-old Tsarnaev should be executed for the attack that killed three people and wounded more than 260 others .
“ But make no mistake : Dzhokhar will spend his remaining days locked up in prison , with the only matter remaining being whether he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges said , more than six month after arguments were heard in the case .
An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney for Tsarnaev .
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney ’ s office in Boston said they were reviewing the opinion and had no immediate comment .
Tsarnaev ’ s lawyers acknowledged at the beginning of his trial that he and his older brother , Tamerlan Tsarnaev , set off the two bombs at the marathon finish line .
But they argued that Dzhokar Tsarnaev is less culpable than his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mastermind behind the attack .
Tamerlan Tsarnaev died in a gunbattle with police a few days after the April 15 , 2013 , bombing .
Dzhokar Tsarnaev is now behind bars at a high-security supermax prison in Florence , Colorado .
Tsarnaev was convicted on 30 charges , including conspiracy and use of a weapon of mass destruction .
Tsarnaev ’ s attorneys identified a slew of issues with his trial , but said in a brief filed with the court that the “ first fundamental error ” was the judge ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boston .
They also pointed to social media posts from two jurors suggesting they harbored strong opinions even before the 2015 trial started .
One juror had said in Twitter posts that that she was “ locked down ” with her family during the manhunt and retweeted another post calling Tsarnaev a “ piece of garbage , ” but later told the court she had not commented on the case or been asked to shelter in place , the defense said .
On the day of Tsarnaev ’ s sentencing , the juror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ image that said “ BOSTON STRONG , ” a rallying cry used in the wake of the bombing , the attorneys said .
Tsarnaev ’ s lawyers pushed several times to move the trial from Boston , arguing the intense media scrutiny and number of people touched by the bombings in the city would taint the jury pool .
But U.S. District Judge George O ’ Toole refused , saying he believed a fair and impartial jury could be found in the city .
The 1st Circuit said the “ pervasive ” media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos ” of the bombing and dayslong manhunt required the judge to run a jury selection process “ sufficient to identify prejudice.
” But O ’ Toole fell short , the judges said .
They said O ’ Toole deemed jurors who had already formed the opinion that Tsarnaev was guilty qualified “ because they answered ‘ yes ’ to the question whether they could decide this high-profile case based on the evidence.
” Yet he didn ’ t sufficiently dig into what jurors had read or heard about the case , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the jurors identify what it was they already thought they knew about the case , the judge made it too difficult for himself and the parties to determine both the nature of any taint ( e.g.
, whether the juror knew something prejudicial not to be conceded at trial ) and the possible remedies for the taint , ” the judges wrote .
President Donald Trump weighed in on the ruling during an address to supporters on the tarmac of Tampa International Airport .
“ I see in Boston , where you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Boston Marathon , ” Trump said .
“ They just sent this conviction for the death penalty back to the lower courts so they ’ ll argue about that for a long time .
It ’ s ridiculous.
” Alanna Durkin Richer is a reporter for The Associated Press .
Durkin Richer reported from West Harwich , Massachusetts .
About the Headline Photo : This file photo released April 19 , 2013 , by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , convicted and sentenced to death for carrying out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marathon bombing attack that killed three people and injured more than 260 .
On Friday , July 31 , 2020 , a federal appeals court overturned the Boston Marathon bomber ’ s death sentence .
( FBI via AP , File )

by Alanna Durkin Richer
A federal appeals court Friday threw out Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s death sentence in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, saying the judge who oversaw the case did not adequately screen jurors for potential biases.
A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new penalty-phase trial on whether the 27-year-old Tsarnaev should be executed for the attack that killed three people and wounded more than 260 others.
“But make no mistake: Dzhokhar will spend his remaining days locked up in prison, with the only matter remaining being whether he will die by execution,” the judges said, more than six month after arguments were heard in the case.
An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney for Tsarnaev. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston said they were reviewing the opinion and had no immediate comment.
Tsarnaev’s lawyers acknowledged at the beginning of his trial that he and his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, set off the two bombs at the marathon finish line. But they argued that Dzhokar Tsarnaev is less culpable than his brother, who they said was the mastermind behind the attack.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev died in a gunbattle with police a few days after the April 15, 2013, bombing. Dzhokar Tsarnaev is now behind bars at a high-security supermax prison in Florence, Colorado.
Tsarnaev was convicted on 30 charges, including conspiracy and use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Tsarnaev’s attorneys identified a slew of issues with his trial, but said in a brief filed with the court that the “first fundamental error” was the judge’s refusal to move the case out of Boston. They also pointed to social media posts from two jurors suggesting they harbored strong opinions even before the 2015 trial started.
One juror had said in Twitter posts that that she was “locked down” with her family during the manhunt and retweeted another post calling Tsarnaev a “piece of garbage,” but later told the court she had not commented on the case or been asked to shelter in place, the defense said. On the day of Tsarnaev’s sentencing, the juror changed her Facebook profile picture to an image that said “BOSTON STRONG,” a rallying cry used in the wake of the bombing, the attorneys said.
Tsarnaev’s lawyers pushed several times to move the trial from Boston, arguing the intense media scrutiny and number of people touched by the bombings in the city would taint the jury pool. But U.S. District Judge George O’Toole refused, saying he believed a fair and impartial jury could be found in the city.
The 1st Circuit said the “pervasive” media coverage featuring “bone-chilling still shots and videos” of the bombing and dayslong manhunt required the judge to run a jury selection process “sufficient to identify prejudice.”
But O’Toole fell short, the judges said.
They said O’Toole deemed jurors who had already formed the opinion that Tsarnaev was guilty qualified “because they answered ‘yes’ to the question whether they could decide this high-profile case based on the evidence.” Yet he didn’t sufficiently dig into what jurors had read or heard about the case, the judges said.
“By not having the jurors identify what it was they already thought they knew about the case, the judge made it too difficult for himself and the parties to determine both the nature of any taint (e.g., whether the juror knew something prejudicial not to be conceded at trial) and the possible remedies for the taint,” the judges wrote.
President Donald Trump weighed in on the ruling during an address to supporters on the tarmac of Tampa International Airport.
“I see in Boston, where you have the animal that killed so many people during the Boston Marathon,” Trump said. “They just sent this conviction for the death penalty back to the lower courts so they’ll argue about that for a long time. It’s ridiculous.”
– – –
Alanna Durkin Richer is a reporter for The Associated Press. Durkin Richer reported from West Harwich, Massachusetts.
About the Headline Photo: This file photo released April 19, 2013, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted and sentenced to death for carrying out the April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombing attack that killed three people and injured more than 260. On Friday, July 31, 2020, a federal appeals court overturned the Boston Marathon bomber’s death sentence. (FBI via AP, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Breitbart Author Allum Bokhari Discusses His Story Regarding Google’s Purge of Breitbart from Search

Breitbart Author Allum Bokhari Discusses His Story Regarding Google’s Purge of Breitbart from Search Results

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 Breitbart colleague Allum Bokhari to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Bokhari weighed in on the recent Google suppression of search results for the Breitbart News site citing a 99.7 percent decrease of traffic to their site .
He also called for a revision to Section 230 where the law allows the social media giants to censor anything they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their immunity from lawsuits over the removal of contents .
Leahy : We are joined now by my Breitbart colleague who has perhaps one of the most important stories of the year published at Breitbart this week .
Allum Bokhari the author of Election Interference : Google Purges Breitbart From Search Results .
Welcome , Allum .
Great to talk with you .
Bokhari : Hi Michael .
Great to be on .
Leahy : So break this down for our listening audience .
We know that Google has been suppressing search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got the facts here and it ’ s pretty stunning .
Bokhari : Absolutely .
We know that Google reacted in panic to the election of Donald Trump in 2016 .
They were expecting a Clinton victory and they didn ’ t get it .
We saw a video of executives having meltdowns a few days after the elections talking about the need to make the populist movement a blip in history .
That was one of the words of their executives Sergey Brin comparing Trump to an extremist .
He was saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And now four years later we ’ re seeing the results of that bias if you look at data from Google traffic we ’ ve been receiving ever since then .
And I ’ m not making this up .
Breitbart ’ s news visibility on Google searches has gone down 99 percent since the inauguration of Donald Trump .
They ’ ve completely pushed our search visibility off a cliff .
Obviously they are claiming this is all just an accident and this is a natural consequence of changes they made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t see how you reduce the visibility of the webs top conservative news site by 99.7 percent and call it an accident .
Leahy : And Allum its not just Breitbart .
Other conservative sites are experiencing this .
They had another story about the Daily Caller .
They had the same thing happen to them .
Bokhari : Absolutely .
The Daily Caller editor-in-chief shortly after they published our story said that they ’ ve had a huge problem with Google as well and their traffic has declined considerably .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the specific headline names of Daily Caller articles sometimes they don ’ t come up in Google which is insane .
You ’ ll never hear the same things happening to The New York Times or CNN .
Leahy : As you know I ’ ve been writing for Breitbart since 2012 .
You ’ ve been writing since 2015 .
Bokhari : Around then yes .
Leahy : I also own and operate four online news sites .
The Tennessee Star here in Tennessee .
The Michigan Star , The Minnesota Sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can tell you the same kind of suppression that you see by Google of in search results of Breitbart content and of Daily Caller content , I can tell you we experience that at The Tennessee Star in spades as well .
Bokhari : It ’ s amazing how every online publisher is now dependent on these tech giants .
Essentially Facebook and Google and the amount of power they have over the publishing industry .
I don ’ t think any other company in history has had this much power over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think where you need some sort of oversight and due process .
Google and Facebook shouldn ’ t be allowed to simply bury publishers and new sites whenever they choose without telling anyone .
Without any oversight or due process .
Leahy : What is in your view the public policy solution for this basically censoring and monopoly conduct of Google ?
Bokhari : One of the most basic things is transparency .
At the moment Google and these tech giants can make these algorithm adjustments that impact and don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or explain what they ’ re doing or how they are doing .
The other thing is some form of due process needs to be imposed .
If you think of a commercial landlord they aren ’ t allowed to evict a business from their property just for arbitrary reasons , they have to follow the law .
They have to go through a legal process whereas Facebook or Google or YouTube can kick whoever they want off regardless of whether they are business or not .
Or if they employ people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Facebook or one of these other platforms .
They don ’ t have to follow any form of legal due process .
That ’ s an insane double standard to me .
And then the final thing you can do is reform Section 230 which is the 1990s law that essentially gives tech companies the legal privilege that no other company enjoys that makes them immune from lawsuits over defamation .
And it also makes them immune from lawsuits over the removal of contents .
Leahy : My co-host this morning Allum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a question for you .
Carmichael : Well I think you just answered it .
( Bokhari chuckles ) The very last phrase you just said .
I understand that 230 makes it so that you can ’ t sue them for defamation .
But you are now saying you also can ’ t sue them for what you are saying they are doing .
And so it also I guess means that it ’ s OK for them to go sit down in front of Congress and claim under oath that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing .
And apparently that ’ s not illegal either .
I don ’ t understand how you can say you are not doing something that you are doing .
And how the law protects you from essentially lying to Congress and lying to the public .
So it sounds like your answer is we need to get rid of Section 230 .
Bokhari : Well we certainly need to reform it .
The problem with Section 230 is that one of those legal immunities , the protection from defamation sort of makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform you from millions and billions of people some times and holding the tech companies libel for everything people post would make their business model impossible .
It would make free speech on the internet very different .
But the second part of Section 230 allows them to censor anything they find objectionable .
And I ’ ve never understood why Congress gave them that privilege and why they need it .
And why they can ’ t just simply turn over control of content to the users and let users filter what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Use the block button use and various filtering tools that tech companies are capable of providing .
Google has provided users with a safe search option for a long time allowing users to filter obscene search results .
And they can do the same thing with hate speech and fake news and all of these other words they ’ ve invented to censor the right .
They are keeping top-down filters they want to .
Carmichael : What year was that law passed ?
Do you know ?
Bokhari : I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was 1998 Allum when it was passed .
Carmichael : Did Democrats control the House and the Senate when it passed ?
Bokhari : That I ’ m not entirely sure .
What I can tell you is that it was before the rise of Google and Facebook and all of these internet monopolies .
It was when the internet was still a network of decentralized websites .
Leahy : It wasn ’ t as big as it is right now .
Let me ask you a final question here about your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Epstein who is a psychologist and former Hillary Clinton supporter .
He spent the last half-decade studying the effects of search engine bias on voters .
He said that Google could change the outcome of the election of votes by as much as 10 percent .
Do you agree with Dr. Epstein ?
Bokhari : I can certainly see that because you have to remember that a 10 percent down cycle is enough to swing an election that Google chooses .
And again it ’ s insane to me that there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power .
It makes Google the dominant search engine .
They control over 90 percent of the search markets .
It ’ s an enormous amount of power over the information we receive .
Think if you were an undecided voter or you are on the fence .
What you want is more information .
And where does everyone go for information when they want to find out something on candidates ?
They go to Google .
They ask Google to sort the information for them .
Leahy : Allum Bokhari the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you for joining us today .
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 .

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 Breitbart colleague Allum Bokhari to the newsmakers line.
During the third hour, Bokhari weighed in on the recent Google suppression of search results for the Breitbart News site citing a 99.7 percent decrease of traffic to their site. He also called for a revision to Section 230 where the law allows the social media giants to censor anything they find objectionable, lawsuits over defamation, and their immunity from lawsuits over the removal of contents.
Leahy: We are joined now by my Breitbart colleague who has perhaps one of the most important stories of the year published at Breitbart this week. Allum Bokhari the author of Election Interference: Google Purges Breitbart From Search Results. Welcome, Allum. Great to talk with you.
Bokhari: Hi Michael. Great to be on.
Leahy: So break this down for our listening audience. We know that Google has been suppressing search engine results. But you’ve got the facts here and it’s pretty stunning.
Bokhari: Absolutely. We know that Google reacted in panic to the election of Donald Trump in 2016. They were expecting a Clinton victory and they didn’t get it. We saw a video of executives having meltdowns a few days after the elections talking about the need to make the populist movement a blip in history.
That was one of the words of their executives Sergey Brin comparing Trump to an extremist. He was saying he was offended by the election results. And now four years later we’re seeing the results of that bias if you look at data from Google traffic we’ve been receiving ever since then. And I’m not making this up.
Breitbart’s news visibility on Google searches has gone down 99 percent since the inauguration of Donald Trump. They’ve completely pushed our search visibility off a cliff. Obviously they are claiming this is all just an accident and this is a natural consequence of changes they made that were directly targeting us. I don’t see how you reduce the visibility of the webs top conservative news site by 99.7 percent and call it an accident.
Leahy: And Allum its not just Breitbart. Other conservative sites are experiencing this. They had another story about the Daily Caller. They had the same thing happen to them.
Bokhari: Absolutely. The Daily Caller editor-in-chief shortly after they published our story said that they’ve had a huge problem with Google as well and their traffic has declined considerably. And similarly to us when you Google the specific headline names of Daily Caller articles sometimes they don’t come up in Google which is insane. You’ll never hear the same things happening to The New York Times or CNN.
Leahy: As you know I’ve been writing for Breitbart since 2012. You’ve been writing since 2015.
Bokhari: Around then yes.
Leahy: I also own and operate four online news sites. The Tennessee Star here in Tennessee. The Michigan Star, The Minnesota Sun, and The Ohio Star. And I can tell you the same kind of suppression that you see by Google of in search results of Breitbart content and of Daily Caller content, I can tell you we experience that at The Tennessee Star in spades as well.
Bokhari: It’s amazing how every online publisher is now dependent on these tech giants. Essentially Facebook and Google and the amount of power they have over the publishing industry. I don’t think any other company in history has had this much power over publishing.
And it’s something I think where you need some sort of oversight and due process. Google and Facebook shouldn’t be allowed to simply bury publishers and new sites whenever they choose without telling anyone. Without any oversight or due process.
Leahy: What is in your view the public policy solution for this basically censoring and monopoly conduct of Google?
Bokhari: One of the most basic things is transparency. At the moment Google and these tech giants can make these algorithm adjustments that impact and don’t have to tell anyone about it. Or explain what they’re doing or how they are doing. The other thing is some form of due process needs to be imposed. If you think of a commercial landlord they aren’t allowed to evict a business from their property just for arbitrary reasons, they have to follow the law.
They have to go through a legal process whereas Facebook or Google or YouTube can kick whoever they want off regardless of whether they are business or not. Or if they employ people and if their livelihoods are dependent on Google or Facebook or one of these other platforms. They don’t have to follow any form of legal due process. That’s an insane double standard to me.
And then the final thing you can do is reform Section 230 which is the 1990s law that essentially gives tech companies the legal privilege that no other company enjoys that makes them immune from lawsuits over defamation. And it also makes them immune from lawsuits over the removal of contents.
Leahy: My co-host this morning Allum is Crom Carmichael. And Crom has a question for you.
Carmichael: Well I think you just answered it. (Bokhari chuckles) The very last phrase you just said. I understand that 230 makes it so that you can’t sue them for defamation. But you are now saying you also can’t sue them for what you are saying they are doing.
And so it also I guess means that it’s OK for them to go sit down in front of Congress and claim under oath that they are not doing what they are clearly doing. And apparently that’s not illegal either. I don’t understand how you can say you are not doing something that you are doing. And how the law protects you from essentially lying to Congress and lying to the public. So it sounds like your answer is we need to get rid of Section 230.
Bokhari: Well we certainly need to reform it. The problem with Section 230 is that one of those legal immunities, the protection from defamation sort of makes sense if you are a social media platform you from millions and billions of people some times and holding the tech companies libel for everything people post would make their business model impossible.
It would make free speech on the internet very different. But the second part of Section 230 allows them to censor anything they find objectionable. And I’ve never understood why Congress gave them that privilege and why they need it. And why they can’t just simply turn over control of content to the users and let users filter what they want out of their feeds.
Use the block button use and various filtering tools that tech companies are capable of providing. Google has provided users with a safe search option for a long time allowing users to filter obscene search results. And they can do the same thing with hate speech and fake news and all of these other words they’ve invented to censor the right. They are keeping top-down filters they want to.
Carmichael: What year was that law passed? Do you know?
Bokhari: I think it was 1990.
Leahy: I think it was 1998 Allum when it was passed.
Carmichael: Did Democrats control the House and the Senate when it passed?
Bokhari: That I’m not entirely sure. What I can tell you is that it was before the rise of Google and Facebook and all of these internet monopolies. It was when the internet was still a network of decentralized websites.
Leahy: It wasn’t as big as it is right now. Let me ask you a final question here about your great article. You write about Dr. Robert Epstein who is a psychologist and former Hillary Clinton supporter. He spent the last half-decade studying the effects of search engine bias on voters. He said that Google could change the outcome of the election of votes by as much as 10 percent. Do you agree with Dr. Epstein?
Bokhari: I can certainly see that because you have to remember that a 10 percent down cycle is enough to swing an election that Google chooses. And again it’s insane to me that there is no oversight that they have this amount of power. It makes Google the dominant search engine. They control over 90 percent of the search markets.
It’s an enormous amount of power over the information we receive. Think if you were an undecided voter or you are on the fence. What you want is more information. And where does everyone go for information when they want to find out something on candidates? They go to Google. They ask Google to sort the information for them.
Leahy: Allum Bokhari the tech editor at Breitbart News. Thank you for joining us today.
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.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Crom Carmichael: Teachers’ Unions Look Out for the Bureaucrats, Not the Teachers

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 .
At the end of the second hour , Carmichael emphasized how teachers ’ unions and the thugs who run the unions ’ interests are only in populating the so-called government-run school systems and not with good teachers .
He argued that children were not being taught critical thinking skills and instead were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Crom sometimes I think our listening audience would be delighted to hear some of the conversations we have during the breaks .
( Laughter ) The word of the day Crom is hypocrisy .
Leahy : Now you were saying that the Democratic Party takes an oath that sounds a little bit like… Carmichael : The Hippocratic oath that sounds like hypocritic .
( Laughs ) Leahy : A doctor would take the Hippocratic oath .
The Democrats take the hypocritic oath .
( Laughter ) Examples abound .
Carmichael : When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing , by the way , the teachers ’ unions as you were talking about when I was driving in , all of them .
Teachers do not agree with the leadership here .
I would guess that if you could get an honest poll of teachers .
And I ’ m talking about in the classroom .
By the way , you did make one mistake .
Leahy : OK. Only one .
Carmichael : When you said that the unions ’ lookout for the teachers .
No .
They lookout for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who they lookout for .
Carmichael : Let me explain how this works for our listening audience .
The unions get about $ 600 a year from each union member .
So for the unions , they would rather have a whole bunch of employees teachers and non-teachers because they are collecting 600 times whatever that number is than have a small number of bureaucrats and better paid in classroom teachers .
Because if they have better paid in classroom teachers and far fewer bureaucrats who are not in the classroom then their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unions ’ interest and the thugs who run the unions , their interests are in populating the so-called government-run school systems , not with good teachers .
And not even with teachers at all .
But with non-teachers , because that ’ s where their money comes from .
Their money comes from the size of the population and not the quality of the workforce .
When you said that they look out for teachers I just want to point out that for example , in Davidson County our problems in education are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not classroom teachers that are on the payroll .
Leahy : Absolutely .
I stand corrected .
By the way , I want to bring to your attention Crom a terrific article at americanthinker.com .
Carmichael : They are very good .
Leahy : It ’ s ’ by T.R .
Clancy .
I ’ ll just read the first couple of paragraphs of it and get your reaction .
Headline .
The Riots in Portland Started in Public School .
Think of the rioting in Portland as our national graduation party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an open house and now its all gotten out of hand except when a traditional open house gets out of hand the police still show up .
None of this should come as a shock .
The nightly attacks on statutes , on a federal courthouse , and on police are the proofs of Solomons injunctions , train up a child in the way he should go and when he is older he will not depart from it , but the principle applies no matter what you teach .
This is the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers ’ colleges fed by them have been working towards since the 1960s .
That ’ s when “ the education schools began conditioning teachers ’ to peddle impossible social and economic theories to captive human sponges in K12 classrooms.
” Carmichael : Yes .
And that ’ s what all these curriculums like 1619 and the other one Bill Gates was pushing .
Carmichael : Common Core .
And so its all of this which is not teaching children to learn how to think .
And to learn how to make good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are three-levels You have knowledge .
You have understanding .
You have wisdom .
You can not have wisdom without understanding .
You can not have understanding without knowledge .
Knowledge is simply the facts .
If you don ’ t have the correct facts you can ’ t possibly understand what they mean in the proper context because you are dealing from a fundamentally false premise .
And wisdom doesn ’ t necessarily follow that if you have the correct facts and if you have understanding it doesn ’ t follow that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you don ’ t have those two you can ’ t have wisdom .
So what the teachers have been doing and also in universities is they ’ ve not been teaching the facts .
They ’ ve been teaching the opposite of the facts .
I ’ m not going to say that all teachers do this .
But all it takes is a few teachers throughout your time with a curriculum that makes an impact on you .
Carmichael : And in higher education , you have the dominance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much higher than classroom teachers in K-12 in terms of just bad people .
Leahy : It ’ s interesting that you mention that .
I look back at my own K-12 career as a student and as it turned out each year I can remember from seventh grade on there was one particular teacher that influenced me for whatever reason .
The other teachers are a blur .
But some teachers could be quite compelling in providing you sort of a framework for life .
Now fortunately I had teachers back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had not been part of this propaganda machine .
But now the poor kids , I feel sorry for the kids .
Their defenseless I think against the left-wing propaganda that ’ s just poured into them from the teacher , from the society , and from their peers .
It ’ s very difficult .
Carmichael : It ’ s difficult to find a place to get the facts .
And that ’ s the basis of having good judgment .
Leahy : On a positive note .
I do want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this school here that ’ s opening up .
Thales Academy in Franklin which is a fabulous school that uses directed instruction and classical education that follows the pattern of classical schools which is basically logic and rhetoric .
Vice President Pence went to visit their campus in a suburb of Raleigh on Wednesday .
And got a lot of promotion nationally for this fabulous school .
And I think there are schools that do the right thing .
They are either charter schools or they are private schools .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Fund Our Schools ” by Charles Edward Miller .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

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.
At the end of the second hour, Carmichael emphasized how teachers’ unions and the thugs who run the unions’ interests are only in populating the so-called government-run school systems and not with good teachers. He argued that children were not being taught critical thinking skills and instead were being indoctrinated with left-wing propaganda.
Leahy: Crom sometimes I think our listening audience would be delighted to hear some of the conversations we have during the breaks. (Laughter) The word of the day Crom is hypocrisy.
Carmichael: Yes.
Leahy: Now you were saying that the Democratic Party takes an oath that sounds a little bit like…
Carmichael: The Hippocratic oath that sounds like hypocritic. (Laughs)
Leahy: A doctor would take the Hippocratic oath. The Democrats take the hypocritic oath. (Laughter) Examples abound.
Carmichael: When you look at this back to school thing, by the way, the teachers’ unions as you were talking about when I was driving in, all of them. Teachers do not agree with the leadership here. I would guess that if you could get an honest poll of teachers. And I’m talking about in the classroom. By the way, you did make one mistake.
Leahy: OK. Only one.
Carmichael: When you said that the unions’ lookout for the teachers. No. They lookout for the non-teaching bureaucrats. That’s who they lookout for.
Leahy: I accept the correction.
Carmichael: Let me explain how this works for our listening audience. The unions get about $600 a year from each union member. So for the unions, they would rather have a whole bunch of employees teachers and non-teachers because they are collecting 600 times whatever that number is than have a small number of bureaucrats and better paid in classroom teachers.
Because if they have better paid in classroom teachers and far fewer bureaucrats who are not in the classroom then their union dues go down. So the unions’ interest and the thugs who run the unions, their interests are in populating the so-called government-run school systems, not with good teachers. And not even with teachers at all.
But with non-teachers, because that’s where their money comes from. Their money comes from the size of the population and not the quality of the workforce. When you said that they look out for teachers I just want to point out that for example, in Davidson County our problems in education are because we have so many people who are not classroom teachers that are on the payroll.
Leahy: Absolutely. I stand corrected. By the way, I want to bring to your attention Crom a terrific article at americanthinker.com.
Carmichael: They are very good.
Leahy: It’s’ by T.R. Clancy. I’ll just read the first couple of paragraphs of it and get your reaction. Headline. The Riots in Portland Started in Public School. Think of the rioting in Portland as our national graduation party. The kids got permission to have an open house and now its all gotten out of hand except when a traditional open house gets out of hand the police still show up.
None of this should come as a shock. The nightly attacks on statutes, on a federal courthouse, and on police are the proofs of Solomons injunctions, train up a child in the way he should go and when he is older he will not depart from it, but the principle applies no matter what you teach.
This is the moment, he writes that America’s teachers’ colleges fed by them have been working towards since the 1960s. That’s when “the education schools began conditioning teachers’ to peddle impossible social and economic theories to captive human sponges in K12 classrooms.”
Carmichael: Yes. And that’s what all these curriculums like 1619 and the other one Bill Gates was pushing.
Leahy: Common Core.
Carmichael: Common Core. And so its all of this which is not teaching children to learn how to think. And to learn how to make good judgments based on the facts. There are three-levels You have knowledge. You have understanding. You have wisdom. You cannot have wisdom without understanding.
You cannot have understanding without knowledge. Knowledge is simply the facts. If you don’t have the correct facts you can’t possibly understand what they mean in the proper context because you are dealing from a fundamentally false premise.
And wisdom doesn’t necessarily follow that if you have the correct facts and if you have understanding it doesn’t follow that you will necessarily have wisdom. But if you don’t have those two you can’t have wisdom. So what the teachers have been doing and also in universities is they’ve not been teaching the facts. They’ve been teaching the opposite of the facts. I’m not going to say that all teachers do this. But all it takes is a few teachers throughout your time with a curriculum that makes an impact on you.
Leahy: That’s quite true.
Carmichael: And in higher education, you have the dominance of really bad bad characters as professors are much higher than classroom teachers in K-12 in terms of just bad people.
Leahy: It’s interesting that you mention that. I look back at my own K-12 career as a student and as it turned out each year I can remember from seventh grade on there was one particular teacher that influenced me for whatever reason. The other teachers are a blur.
But some teachers could be quite compelling in providing you sort of a framework for life. Now fortunately I had teachers back in the 1960s in upstate New York who had not been part of this propaganda machine. But now the poor kids, I feel sorry for the kids. Their defenseless I think against the left-wing propaganda that’s just poured into them from the teacher, from the society, and from their peers. It’s very difficult.
Carmichael: It’s difficult to find a place to get the facts. And that’s the basis of having good judgment.
Leahy: On a positive note. I do want to say again you’ve been to this school here that’s opening up. Thales Academy in Franklin which is a fabulous school that uses directed instruction and classical education that follows the pattern of classical schools which is basically logic and rhetoric.
Vice President Pence went to visit their campus in a suburb of Raleigh on Wednesday. And got a lot of promotion nationally for this fabulous school. And I think there are schools that do the right thing. They are either charter schools or they are private schools. That’s kind of where we are right now.
Listen to the full second hour here:

– – –
Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.
Photo “Fund Our Schools” by Charles Edward Miller. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Ohio House of Representatives Elect Bob Cupp as New Speaker of the House

Rep. Bob Cupp ( R-Lima ) has been selected to replace Larry Householder ( R-Glenford ) as Ohio ’ s new Speaker of the House .
After being charged with participating in a $ 60 million corruption scandal , Householder was removed in a 90-0 vote .
Householder , who is accused of being part of a “ racketeering conspiracy involving a 2019 nuclear power plant bailout bill ” faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted .
A closed-door vote saw Cupp defeating Rep. Jim Butler ( R-Dayton ) by a single vote .
After securing the nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ margin 55-38 .
Cupp won all but two Republicans , according to The Toledo Blade .
Cupp , a former four-term state senator , has served in the house since 2015 , which means he will be forced out in 2022 due to term limits .
In the past , the new Speaker of the House served as a Lima City prosecutor from 1976 to 1980 and on the Ohio Supreme Court from 1985 to 2000 .
After Cupp won the speakership position , Republican Leadership throughout the state praised the decision .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I congratulate Bob Cupp upon his election as the new Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives .
Speaker Cupp is a man of integrity who will serve Ohio well .
I look forward to working with Speaker Cupp and Senate President Obhof in the days ahead.
” Lt .
Governor Jon Husted took to twitter to praise the win , calling Cupp an “ excellent choice.
” Attorney General Dave Yost called Cupp “ The last boy scout ” saying “ he will be a good speaker.
” House Minority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results stating simply “ we don ’ t trust any of them.
” Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Ohio House of Representatives Chamber ” by Bestbudbrian .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .

Rep. Bob Cupp (R-Lima) has been selected to replace Larry Householder (R-Glenford) as Ohio’s new Speaker of the House.
After being charged with participating in a $60 million corruption scandal, Householder was removed in a 90-0 vote. Householder, who is accused of being part of a “racketeering conspiracy involving a 2019 nuclear power plant bailout bill” faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
A closed-door vote saw Cupp defeating Rep. Jim Butler (R-Dayton) by a single vote. After securing the nomination, Cupp was elected by a wide margin 55-38. Cupp won all but two Republicans, according to The Toledo Blade.
Cupp, a former four-term state senator, has served in the house since 2015, which means he will be forced out in 2022 due to term limits. In the past, the new Speaker of the House served as a Lima City prosecutor from 1976 to 1980 and on the Ohio Supreme Court from 1985 to 2000.
After Cupp won the speakership position, Republican Leadership throughout the state praised the decision.
Governor Mike Dewine released a statement, “I congratulate Bob Cupp upon his election as the new Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. Speaker Cupp is a man of integrity who will serve Ohio well. I look forward to working with Speaker Cupp and Senate President Obhof in the days ahead.”
Lt. Governor Jon Husted took to twitter to praise the win, calling Cupp an “excellent choice.”
“His character is well known and his selection as Speaker is an excellent choice. I am confident he will lead the House with integrity and I look forward to working with him in his new role.” — Lt. Governor Jon Husted (@LtGovHusted) July 30, 2020
Attorney General Dave Yost called Cupp “The last boy scout” saying “he will be a good speaker.”
Bob Cupp, the last Boy Scout… I worked with him daily for two years. He is ethical, smart, wise (and decidedly not afraid to tell the boss that he’s wrong!) Never confuse his gentle demeanor with a lack of toughness. He will be a good Speaker. https://t.co/UJrJYqcgpC — Dave Yost (@Yost4Ohio) July 30, 2020
House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes was not optimistic about the results stating simply “we don’t trust any of them.”
– – –
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. You can follow Ben on Twitter. Tips can be sent to [email protected]
Background Photo “Ohio House of Representatives Chamber” by Bestbudbrian. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Jim Jordan Battles with Dr. Anthony Fauci on If Protests Cause the Coronavirus to Spread

Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-OH-04 ) continually questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci about whether protests cause the spread of the coronavirus during the House ’ s coronavirus hearing on Friday .
Despite Jordan ’ s repeated attempts to get Fauci to answer this question , Fauci side-stepped the question and said that he didn ’ t have “ any scientific evidence that protests spread the coronavirus , ” but rather it was crowds that increased the “ acquisition and transmission ” of the coronavirus .
The continuing back and forth between Jordan and Fauci about “ protests ” and “ crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s five-minute questioning period .
At the beginning of his time , Jordan asked Fauci if protests increase the spread of the virus .
Instead of mentioning the word protest , Fauci said that “ crowding particular together when not wearing a mask contributes to the spread of the virus.
” Jordan followed up by inquiring Fauci on whether the government should limit protests .
Fauci said that he was not in a “ position to determine what the government could do in a forceful way.
” “ I ’ m not favoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making a broad statement… avoid crowds of any type no matter where you are because that leads to the acquisition and transition , ” Fauci said .
“ I don ’ t judge one crowd versus another crowd , ” he added .
Despite Fauci hesitating to discuss the ongoing protests , he has said previously that it was OK to hook up with asymptomatic people and said the MLB should not play baseball deep into the fall .
Fauci said he does not opine on limiting anything but rather “ what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowds .
“ You should stay away from crowds no matter where the crowds are , ” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said .
As Jordan ’ s five minutes came to a close , he questioned Fauci one last time on protests .
“ Do you understand Americans ’ concern ?
You can ’ t go to work , you can ’ t go to school , you can ’ t go to church .
There are limits placed on all three of these fundamental activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci did not respond to this question as Rep James Clyburn ( D-SC-06 ) ended Jordan ’ s questioning period before he could answer .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] .
Follow Zachery on Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .
Photo “ Jim Jordan ” by CSPAN .

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) continually questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci about whether protests cause the spread of the coronavirus during the House’s coronavirus hearing on Friday.
Despite Jordan’s repeated attempts to get Fauci to answer this question, Fauci side-stepped the question and said that he didn’t have “any scientific evidence that protests spread the coronavirus,” but rather it was crowds that increased the “acquisition and transmission” of the coronavirus.
The continuing back and forth between Jordan and Fauci about “protests” and “crowds” ensued throughout the Ohio Representative’s five-minute questioning period.
At the beginning of his time, Jordan asked Fauci if protests increase the spread of the virus.
Instead of mentioning the word protest, Fauci said that “crowding particular together when not wearing a mask contributes to the spread of the virus.”
Jordan followed up by inquiring Fauci on whether the government should limit protests. Fauci said that he was not in a “position to determine what the government could do in a forceful way.”
“I’m not favoring anybody over anybody, I am just making a broad statement… avoid crowds of any type no matter where you are because that leads to the acquisition and transition,” Fauci said.
“I don’t judge one crowd versus another crowd,” he added.
Despite Fauci hesitating to discuss the ongoing protests, he has said previously that it was OK to hook up with asymptomatic people and said the MLB should not play baseball deep into the fall.
Fauci said he does not opine on limiting anything but rather “what the danger is” of going around large crowds.
“You should stay away from crowds no matter where the crowds are,” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said.
As Jordan’s five minutes came to a close, he questioned Fauci one last time on protests.
“Do you understand Americans’ concern? You can’t go to work, you can’t go to school, you can’t go to church. There are limits placed on all three of these fundamental activities, but protesting is just fine.”
Fauci did not respond to this question as Rep James Clyburn (D-SC-06) ended Jordan’s questioning period before he could answer.
Rep. @Jim_Jordan asks if protests should be limited. Dr. Anthony Fauci: "I'm not going to opine on limiting anything. I'm telling you what it is the danger is. You can make your own conclusion about that. You should stay away from crowds no matter where the crowds are." pic.twitter.com/DfgmahK35F — CSPAN (@cspan) July 31, 2020
– – –
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media. If you have any tips, email Zachery at [email protected]. Follow Zachery on Twitter @zacheryschmidt2.
Photo “Jim Jordan” by CSPAN.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Anoka County Sheriff Will Not Enforce Mask Mandate

The Anoka County Sheriff ’ s Department said this week it will not be enforcing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ’ s face covering executive order .
Intended to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus , Executive Order 20-81 makes it mandatory for Minnesotans to wear masks while in most public spaces .
Order 20-81 states that residents can be fined up to $ 100 for noncompliance .
However , Business owners would face far steeper penalties , including a fine of up to $ 1000 or imprisonment up to 90 days .
The order states that “ nothing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or allow law enforcement to transgress individual constitutional rights.
” And urged “ all Minnesotans to voluntarily comply with this Executive Order.
” Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart took to Facebook earlier this week to clarify his department ’ s stance on order .
Stuart said the sheriff ’ s department “ will not be actively engaged in any type of enforcement actions ” and it “ will not make any arrests or issue citations for these offenses.
” The sheriff added that “ if a business requires a mask ” then “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an uncooperative customer refuses to leave or comply “ there could be an arrest for ‘ trespass ' ” .
Stuart ended the post by saying “ while I encourage everyone to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and health of your families and others ( Proper distancing and masks when unable to distance ) , I do not feel that enforcement actions are in anyone ’ s best interest.
” The department doubled down on the sentiment with a press release but told residents that “ other police departments within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on face covering requirement.
” Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]

The Anoka County Sheriff’s Department said this week it will not be enforcing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s face covering executive order.
Intended to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus, Executive Order 20-81 makes it mandatory for Minnesotans to wear masks while in most public spaces.
Order 20-81 states that residents can be fined up to $100 for noncompliance. However, Business owners would face far steeper penalties, including a fine of up to $1000 or imprisonment up to 90 days.
The order states that “nothing in this Executive Order is intended to encourage or allow law enforcement to transgress individual constitutional rights.” And urged “all Minnesotans to voluntarily comply with this Executive Order.”
Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart took to Facebook earlier this week to clarify his department’s stance on order. Stuart said the sheriff’s department “will not be actively engaged in any type of enforcement actions” and it “will not make any arrests or issue citations for these offenses.”
The sheriff added that “if a business requires a mask” then “a customer must comply” and if an uncooperative customer refuses to leave or comply “there could be an arrest for ‘trespass'”.
Stuart ended the post by saying “while I encourage everyone to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and health of your families and others (Proper distancing and masks when unable to distance), I do not feel that enforcement actions are in anyone’s best interest.”
The department doubled down on the sentiment with a press release but told residents that “other police departments within the county should be contacted regarding their decisions on face covering requirement.”
– – –
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. You can follow Ben on Twitter. Tips can be sent to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Gov. Whitmer Vetoes Bill Designed to Protect Nursing Home Residents

Gov .
Whitmer on Friday vetoed Senate Bill 956 , legislation that would have prohibited the admission of COVID-19 patients into nursing homes .
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Peter Lucido , R-Shelby , and was passed by the Senate on June 24 .
The bill was approved by the state House of Representatives on July 22 .
As approved , the bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services ( MDHHS ) to coordinate with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in evaluating all outcomes of the state ’ s regional nursing hubs and report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two agencies would then be tasked with developing a plan based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to establish one dedicated COVID-19 facility in each of Michigan ’ s eight regions by Sept. 1 .
After that date , COVID-19 patients couldn ’ t be admitted or retained in a nursing home unless the patient had recovered or the facility could provide a physically separate building .
“ Senate Bill 956 is nothing more than a political game that would relocate vulnerable seniors without any requirement for consent , doctor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their families , ” Whitmer said in a statement .
“ It ’ s time for the Republican legislature to get serious about protecting our most vulnerable and addressing the public health and economic crisis faced by our state .
We look forward to continuing our work with stakeholders and legislators on the task force to develop real solutions that make sense for Michigan seniors and their families.
” According to Michigan ’ s Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun , of the 78 COVID-19 outbreaks identified last week , 24 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with nursing homes and other adult long-term care facilities .
This percentage outpaces all other known sources of COVID-19 infections .
“ Gov .
Whitmer ’ s administration stated just days ago that nursing homes are where the majority of COVID outbreaks are happening in the state and it ’ s detrimental to the health of our seniors that Whitmer vetoed a bill aimed at keeping COVID out of nursing homes , ” Tori Sachs , executive director of Michigan Rising Action , said in a statement .
“ Michigan ’ s seniors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserved a plan to keep them safe immediately and instead , Whitmer vetoed legislation to protect them and is waiting another month before announcing much-needed policy changes , ” Sachs said .
In a statement , Lucido expressed his disappointment , and blamed the governor ’ s veto on partisanship .
Calling his legislation “ important and commonsense , ” he added : “ Politics should not prevail over the health and safety of our seniors and health care workers , and I urge my colleagues in the Senate and House to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this to our citizens , especially the seniors and vulnerable members of our communities who can not speak for themselves.
” Last week , Whitmer attempted to mitigate nursing home residents ’ exposure to COVID-19 by extending temporary restrictions on allowing entry into health care facilities , residential care facilities , congregate care facilities , and juvenile justice facilities .
She also created the bipartisan Michigan Nursing Homes COVID-19 Preparedness Task force , an entity housed within the MDHHS .
The task force will analyze the threat of COVID-19 in nursing homes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor .
Linda Cook MacDonald , chairperson for the Michigan Senior Advocates Council , applauded the governor ’ s veto .
“ Michigan ’ s most vulnerable citizens require unique medical care and living assistance to keep them safe and healthy .
This legislation puts seniors at greater risk by failing to provide the enhanced and qualified staffing needed for their protection , ” she said .
“ We support the governor ’ s veto of Senate Bill 956 and express our gratitude to her for protecting the health and safety of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In her veto letter , Whitmer said the bill “ is based on the false premise that isolation units created within existing facilities are somehow insufficient to protect seniors – a claim unsupported by the data and refuted by the nation ’ s highest authorities on infectious disease.
” Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .
Photo “ Ohio National Guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The National Guard .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Bruce Walker
Gov. Whitmer on Friday vetoed Senate Bill 956, legislation that would have prohibited the admission of COVID-19 patients into nursing homes.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby, and was passed by the Senate on June 24. The bill was approved by the state House of Representatives on July 22.
As approved, the bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to coordinate with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in evaluating all outcomes of the state’s regional nursing hubs and report to lawmakers by Aug. 15. The two agencies would then be tasked with developing a plan based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to establish one dedicated COVID-19 facility in each of Michigan’s eight regions by Sept. 1.
After that date, COVID-19 patients couldn’t be admitted or retained in a nursing home unless the patient had recovered or the facility could provide a physically separate building.
“Senate Bill 956 is nothing more than a political game that would relocate vulnerable seniors without any requirement for consent, doctor’s approval, or notification to patients and their families,” Whitmer said in a statement.
“It’s time for the Republican legislature to get serious about protecting our most vulnerable and addressing the public health and economic crisis faced by our state. We look forward to continuing our work with stakeholders and legislators on the task force to develop real solutions that make sense for Michigan seniors and their families.”
According to Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, of the 78 COVID-19 outbreaks identified last week, 24 cases – or 31 percent – were associated with nursing homes and other adult long-term care facilities. This percentage outpaces all other known sources of COVID-19 infections.
“Gov. Whitmer’s administration stated just days ago that nursing homes are where the majority of COVID outbreaks are happening in the state and it’s detrimental to the health of our seniors that Whitmer vetoed a bill aimed at keeping COVID out of nursing homes,” Tori Sachs, executive director of Michigan Rising Action, said in a statement.
“Michigan’s seniors in nursing homes and long-term care facilities deserved a plan to keep them safe immediately and instead, Whitmer vetoed legislation to protect them and is waiting another month before announcing much-needed policy changes,” Sachs said.
In a statement, Lucido expressed his disappointment, and blamed the governor’s veto on partisanship. Calling his legislation “important and commonsense,” he added: “Politics should not prevail over the health and safety of our seniors and health care workers, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate and House to consider passing a veto override. We owe this to our citizens, especially the seniors and vulnerable members of our communities who cannot speak for themselves.”
Last week, Whitmer attempted to mitigate nursing home residents’ exposure to COVID-19 by extending temporary restrictions on allowing entry into health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities.
She also created the bipartisan Michigan Nursing Homes COVID-19 Preparedness Task force, an entity housed within the MDHHS. The task force will analyze the threat of COVID-19 in nursing homes and relay its findings and recommendations to the governor.
Linda Cook MacDonald, chairperson for the Michigan Senior Advocates Council, applauded the governor’s veto.
“Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens require unique medical care and living assistance to keep them safe and healthy. This legislation puts seniors at greater risk by failing to provide the enhanced and qualified staffing needed for their protection,” she said. “We support the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 956 and express our gratitude to her for protecting the health and safety of all Michiganders during this difficult and unprecedented time.”
In her veto letter, Whitmer said the bill “is based on the false premise that isolation units created within existing facilities are somehow insufficient to protect seniors – a claim unsupported by the data and refuted by the nation’s highest authorities on infectious disease.”
– – –
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square. He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute’s InfoTech & Telecom News.
Photo “Ohio National Guard Helping Out at Nursing Home” by The National Guard. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Governor Walz’s Plan Defers to Schools for Campus Openings

Governor Tim Walz announced Thursday that Minnesota schools will have the majority of authority on if or how they open campuses , based on discretionary assessment of their district ’ s localized data .
According to Walz ’ s Emergency Executive Order 20-82 and the accompanying “ Safe Learning Plan , ” schools must watch the spread of COVID-19 in their communities to determine the learning model that will suit their needs .
These models are also subject to change throughout the school year , a protocol that Walz refers to as “ dialing back [ or ] forward ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order and the plan rely heavily on schools to create localized solutions that suit them best .
Schools must also communicate openly and frequently with educational and health officials to make any necessary adjustments to their respective learning models throughout the year .
One such line of communication will be an upcoming “ Learning Model Portal , ” in which schools communicate with the Minnesota Department of Education ( MDE ) .
Executive Order 20-82 provides a detailed timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency executive orders .
In the opening remarks , Walz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health factor shaping the order and plan .
“ Education is a fundamental determinant of health .
It cultivates life skills , knowledge and reasoning , social-emotional awareness and control , and community engagement ; all of these skills serve people over the course of a lifetime , ” said Walz .
“ Schools also function as tools and resources for public health intervention by addressing core needs like nutrition , access to health and social support services , and support for families and communities.
” Walz acknowledged that while distance learning might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the challenges that the model creates for students and families are exceptionally difficult in these trying times .
He mentioned that the guidelines published June 18 were to inform schools of their possible options come fall , encouraging educators to aim for in-person learning models if at all possible .
The governor said his twenty years of teaching , along with the unintended negative consequences of distance learning on students , largely influenced his decision .
The Safe Learning Plan and executive order address protocols for before and after school care , indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early childhood programs , students dependent on school meals , in-person and childhood developmental screenings , home visits by school staff , school technology for student use , and eligible children .
A mask mandate will apply to all persons on school grounds ; the state will give schools cloth face coverings , disposable face masks , and face shields .
At-risk teachers and staff may opt to work from home , or coordinate with their schools for further safety measures not addressed in the governor ’ s plan .
The plan includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools and families affected by the coronavirus and any volatility that may occur with these fluid educational models .
Income from the Federal CARES Act and payments from government relief , local government relief and tribal governments will not count as income when determining eligibility for MDE programs .
The executive order reaffirms the joint authority of the Commissioner of Education and Commissioner of Health to close schools and mitigate activities when necessary – however , the order added that schools retain the ultimate ability to set their measures according to local case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are taking a localized , data-driven approach to the 2020-21 school year that will put student and staff safety first , ” said Walz in the plan .
“ By bringing together the local education leaders who know their students , staff , and communities the best , and the public health experts who know the virus best , this plan will help determine a learning model that makes the most sense for each community.
” Although the plan and order cover many areas that local schools will refer to while planning for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the timing and clarity of Walz ’ s plan for schools .
“ Parents are anxious about managing their work schedules , how their students will meet educational goals , and wondering how they will keep their family safe .
Today ’ s announcement leaves more questions than answers , ” said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka ( R-MN-9 ) .
Families can expect schools to communicate their starting learning plans at least one week prior to the beginning of their respective school year .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .

Governor Tim Walz announced Thursday that Minnesota schools will have the majority of authority on if or how they open campuses, based on discretionary assessment of their district’s localized data.
According to Walz’s Emergency Executive Order 20-82 and the accompanying “Safe Learning Plan,” schools must watch the spread of COVID-19 in their communities to determine the learning model that will suit their needs. These models are also subject to change throughout the school year, a protocol that Walz refers to as “dialing back [or] forward” in his executive order.
Both the order and the plan rely heavily on schools to create localized solutions that suit them best. Schools must also communicate openly and frequently with educational and health officials to make any necessary adjustments to their respective learning models throughout the year. One such line of communication will be an upcoming “Learning Model Portal,” in which schools communicate with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).
Executive Order 20-82 provides a detailed timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency executive orders. In the opening remarks, Walz focused mostly on education as a substantial health factor shaping the order and plan.
“Education is a fundamental determinant of health. It cultivates life skills, knowledge and reasoning, social-emotional awareness and control, and community engagement; all of these skills serve people over the course of a lifetime,” said Walz. “Schools also function as tools and resources for public health intervention by addressing core needs like nutrition, access to health and social support services, and support for families and communities.”
Walz acknowledged that while distance learning might be a necessity for public health, the challenges that the model creates for students and families are exceptionally difficult in these trying times. He mentioned that the guidelines published June 18 were to inform schools of their possible options come fall, encouraging educators to aim for in-person learning models if at all possible.
The governor said his twenty years of teaching, along with the unintended negative consequences of distance learning on students, largely influenced his decision.
The Safe Learning Plan and executive order address protocols for before and after school care, indigenous persons education, families experiencing homelessness, early childhood programs, students dependent on school meals, in-person and childhood developmental screenings, home visits by school staff, school technology for student use, and eligible children.
A mask mandate will apply to all persons on school grounds; the state will give schools cloth face coverings, disposable face masks, and face shields. At-risk teachers and staff may opt to work from home, or coordinate with their schools for further safety measures not addressed in the governor’s plan.
The plan includes provisions for three types of funding for schools and families affected by the coronavirus and any volatility that may occur with these fluid educational models. Income from the Federal CARES Act and payments from government relief, local government relief and tribal governments will not count as income when determining eligibility for MDE programs.
The executive order reaffirms the joint authority of the Commissioner of Education and Commissioner of Health to close schools and mitigate activities when necessary – however, the order added that schools retain the ultimate ability to set their measures according to local case data.
“[W]e are taking a localized, data-driven approach to the 2020-21 school year that will put student and staff safety first,” said Walz in the plan. “By bringing together the local education leaders who know their students, staff, and communities the best, and the public health experts who know the virus best, this plan will help determine a learning model that makes the most sense for each community.”
Although the plan and order cover many areas that local schools will refer to while planning for fall, some representatives are critical of the timing and clarity of Walz’s plan for schools.
“Parents are anxious about managing their work schedules, how their students will meet educational goals, and wondering how they will keep their family safe. Today’s announcement leaves more questions than answers,” said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-MN-9).
Families can expect schools to communicate their starting learning plans at least one week prior to the beginning of their respective school year.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Minnesota Raises Smoking Age to 21

Minnesota Raises Smoking Age to 21

Minnesotans must be 21 years of age or older to purchase tobacco products starting Saturday , according to twincities.com .
The new law puts the state in line with a similar federal law that raised the legal age to purchase tobacco to in December .
E-cigarettes and vapes are included in the law , as well as cigars , chewing tobacco and cigarettes .
This law will prohibit smoking at charter schools and institutes a series of $ 300 , $ 600 , and $ 1000 penalties for those who provide tobacco to anyone under 21 .
Also , repeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and eventually revoked .
The state approved the “ Tobacco 21 ” measure in an effort to keep tobacco away from young people who might pass it on to children .
After more than 90 minutes of debate the measure passed in the state senate 43 to 21 .
Governor Tim Walz signed the bill into law on May 16 .
As evidence for the program , The Minnesota Department of Health ( MNDH ) said “ there would be a 25 percent reduction in smoking initiation among 15-to-17-year-olds if the age to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Furthermore , the health department discussed the dangers of smoking in the age of COVID in another publication .
“ We ’ re learning more every day about COVID-19 and why infections affect some people more than others .
People who smoke or vape may have an increased risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19 , ” the MNDH publication said .
Clearway MN , an anti-smoking advocacy group , released a statement praising the law and thanked Walz .
“ Thank you to Governor Walz and Lt .
Governor Flanagan for listening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them to take on an industry that continues to profit from addiction and disease , ” Molly Moilanen , the vice president at ClearWay MN nd co-chair of Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation said .
” It will take a bold , comprehensive effort to truly combat the health crisis of youth vaping , and Tobacco 21 is a very important first step toward this goal.
” Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be @ @ @ @ @ @

Minnesotans must be 21 years of age or older to purchase tobacco products starting Saturday, according to twincities.com.
The new law puts the state in line with a similar federal law that raised the legal age to purchase tobacco to in December. E-cigarettes and vapes are included in the law, as well as cigars, chewing tobacco and cigarettes.
This law will prohibit smoking at charter schools and institutes a series of $300, $600, and $1000 penalties for those who provide tobacco to anyone under 21. Also, repeated offenders could have their tobacco licenses suspended and eventually revoked.
The state approved the “Tobacco 21” measure in an effort to keep tobacco away from young people who might pass it on to children. After more than 90 minutes of debate the measure passed in the state senate 43 to 21. Governor Tim Walz signed the bill into law on May 16.
As evidence for the program, The Minnesota Department of Health (MNDH) said “there would be a 25 percent reduction in smoking initiation among 15-to-17-year-olds if the age to purchase tobacco were raised to 21.” Furthermore, the health department discussed the dangers of smoking in the age of COVID in another publication.
“We’re learning more every day about COVID-19 and why infections affect some people more than others. People who smoke or vape may have an increased risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19,” the MNDH publication said.
Clearway MN, an anti-smoking advocacy group, released a statement praising the law and thanked Walz.
“Thank you to Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan for listening to Minnesota’s youth and working with them to take on an industry that continues to profit from addiction and disease,” Molly Moilanen, the vice president at ClearWay MN nd co-chair of Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation said .”It will take a bold, comprehensive effort to truly combat the health crisis of youth vaping, and Tobacco 21 is a very important first step toward this goal.”
– – –
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. You can follow Ben on Twitter. Tips can be sent to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-01--Three Tennessee Republican Congressmen Vote Yes to Bill That Gun Owners of America Flags as Dangerou

Three Tennessee Republican Congressmen Vote Yes to Bill That Gun Owners of America Flags as Dangerous

Three Tennessee Republican congressmen voted yes on a bill last month that the Gun Owners of America call a “ Red Flag ” that would permit the government to confiscate guns from members of the U.S. Armed Forces .
Members of the Democratic-majority U.S. House of Representatives passed that bill , H.R .
6395 , late last month , at a vote of 295 to 125 , according to the House website .
Staff for those three Republican congressmen , U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais ( R-TN-04 ) , U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann ( R-TN-03 ) , and U.S. Rep. David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Tennessee Star ’ s requests for comment Friday .
Tennessee ’ s two Democratic congressmen , U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen ( D-TN-09 ) and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper ( D-05 ) voted yes on the bill .
U.S. Rep. John Rose ( R-TN-06 ) , U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett ( R-TN-02 ) , U.S. Rep. Phil Roe ( R-TN-01 ) , and U.S. Rep. Mark Green ( R-TN-07 ) all voted no .
GOA members , on their website , scolded the House Republicans who voted yes .
“ GOA Founder H. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Makes You Think We Read the Bills , ” members wrote .
“ That adage was never more true than last week , when a bucketload of House ‘ pro-gun ’ Republicans voted to pass a giant defense bill containing , in its bowels , a ‘ red flag ’ gun confiscation proposal for the military — hidden there by Nancy Pelosi ’ s gun-hating stooges.
” Under the bill , government officials can use unsubstantiated allegations from a hostile relative as a means to strip gun owners of their Second Amendment rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members wrote .
GOA members said this legislation raises several questions .
• What is the standard of proof for taking away the gun owner ’ s constitutional rights ?
• What will the accuser need to show ?
• What constitutional rights will the military court proceedings recognize ?
• What will the police do with their gun confiscation order ?
Ransack the house ?
Kill the threatening ( i.e.
, non-compliant ) gun owner ?
“ Despite Trump ’ s threat to veto the bill , many Republicans helped pass gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veto-proof majority.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Three Tennessee Republican congressmen voted yes on a bill last month that the Gun Owners of America call a “Red Flag” that would permit the government to confiscate guns from members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Members of the Democratic-majority U.S. House of Representatives passed that bill, H.R. 6395, late last month, at a vote of 295 to 125, according to the House website.
Staff for those three Republican congressmen, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04), U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), and U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN-08) did not return The Tennessee Star’s requests for comment Friday.
Tennessee’s two Democratic congressmen, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-05) voted yes on the bill.
U.S. Rep. John Rose (R-TN-06), U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN-01), and U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07) all voted no.
GOA members, on their website, scolded the House Republicans who voted yes.
“GOA Founder H. L. Richardson wrote a book entitled What Makes You Think We Read the Bills,” members wrote.
“That adage was never more true than last week, when a bucketload of House ‘pro-gun’ Republicans voted to pass a giant defense bill containing, in its bowels, a ‘red flag’ gun confiscation proposal for the military — hidden there by Nancy Pelosi’s gun-hating stooges.”
Under the bill, government officials can use unsubstantiated allegations from a hostile relative as a means to strip gun owners of their Second Amendment rights in an ex parte proceeding, GOA members wrote.
GOA members said this legislation raises several questions.
Among them:
• What is the standard of proof for taking away the gun owner’s constitutional rights?
• What will the accuser need to show?
• What constitutional rights will the military court proceedings recognize?
• What will the police do with their gun confiscation order? Ransack the house? Kill the threatening (i.e., non-compliant) gun owner?
“House Republicans were caught sleeping,” GOA members said.
“Despite Trump’s threat to veto the bill, many Republicans helped pass gun confiscation arm-in-arm with anti-gun Democrats in a veto-proof majority.”
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-02--Ted Cruz Scheduled to Return to Tennessee to Campaign for Manny Sethi

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) has scheduled a return trip to Tennessee Monday to appear alongside U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi .
Members of Sethi ’ s campaign said in an emailed press release Saturday that the pair will appear in Jackson and then Cordova .
As reported last month , Cruz endorsed Sethi .
Sethi and Bill Hagerty are competing against one another in Thursday ’ s Republican primary to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander .
Sethi and Cruz will first appear at a town hall meeting from 10 a.m. Central Standard Time to 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Volunteer International , 626 Airways Blvd .
in Jackson , the press release said .
Sethi and Cruz will then travel 70 miles west to Cordova .
There , the two will host another town hall meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Central Standard Time at The Grove at Red Oak Lake , 849 Rocky Point Road , according to the press release .
Cruz previously said “ the Washington swamp tries to trick voters into choosing their preferred candidate.
” “ There ’ s a reason the Establishment ’ s throwing everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these final days—he ’ s winning , ” Cruz said last month .
As reported , Cruz , during an appearance last month in Mt .
Juliet , elaborated more about Washington , D.C. “ You have to understand what Washington wants .
Washington wants senators that will go with the flow , that aren ’ t going to rock the boat , that aren ’ t going to cause any trouble , that will just quietly get absorbed into the swamp , ” Cruz said .
“ If you look at Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighters .
That ’ s the reason I ’ m here .
I ’ m here supporting Dr. Manny , because we need reinforcements .
We need someone who will go to Washington and tell Washington ‘ I don ’ t work for you , I work for the men and women of Tennessee.
’ ” Cruz said that the Washington swamp is predictable in always telling who they are scared of , as indicated by them “ dropping cash into the state of Tennessee by the helicopter.
” “ They can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ ve got a lot of money.
” “ What they can ’ t do is actual grassroots activist and conservatives , ” Cruz added .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has scheduled a return trip to Tennessee Monday to appear alongside U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi.
Members of Sethi’s campaign said in an emailed press release Saturday that the pair will appear in Jackson and then Cordova.
As reported last month, Cruz endorsed Sethi.
Sethi and Bill Hagerty are competing against one another in Thursday’s Republican primary to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander.
Sethi and Cruz will first appear at a town hall meeting from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. central time on Monday at Volunteer International, 626 Airways Blvd. in Jackson, the press release said.
Sethi and Cruz will then travel 70 miles west to Cordova. There, the two will host another town hall meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Central Standard Time at The Grove at Red Oak Lake, 849 Rocky Point Road, according to the press release.
Cruz previously said “the Washington swamp tries to trick voters into choosing their preferred candidate.”
“There’s a reason the Establishment’s throwing everything they’ve got at Dr. Manny these final days – he’s winning,” Cruz said last month.
As reported, Cruz, during an appearance last month in Mt. Juliet, elaborated more about Washington, D.C.
“You have to understand what Washington wants. Washington wants senators that will go with the flow, that aren’t going to rock the boat, that aren’t going to cause any trouble, that will just quietly get absorbed into the swamp,” Cruz said.
“If you look at Washington, right now we need strong conservative fighters. That’s the reason I’m here. I’m here supporting Dr. Manny, because we need reinforcements. We need someone who will go to Washington and tell Washington ‘I don’t work for you, I work for the men and women of Tennessee.’”
Cruz said that the Washington swamp is predictable in always telling who they are scared of, as indicated by them “dropping cash into the state of Tennessee by the helicopter.”
“They can do money,” Cruz said. “They’ve got a lot of money.”
“What they can’t do is actual grassroots activist and conservatives,” Cruz added.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-02--Commentary: Reagan’s Farewell Warning Was Ignored (And Now We Are Paying the Price)

In his 1989 farewell address , President Reagan asked the rhetorical question , “ Are we doing a good enough job teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world ?
” He followed up with the answer : Our spirit is back , but we haven ’ t reinstitutionalized it .
We ’ ve got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom – freedom of speech , freedom of religion , freedom of enterprise – and freedom is special and rare .
It ’ s fragile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinstitutionalizing the teaching of what freedom means , it seems fair to say that we have deinstitutionalized the principles of freedom .
Socialist ideas dominate education and the media .
Later in his address , Reagan issued a prophetic warning : “ I am warning of an eradication… of the American memory that could result , ultimately , in an erosion of the American spirit.
” Today liberty is contracting .
Rather than being alarmed , people are cheering .
The socialist 1619 curricula are being adopted in classrooms all over America .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory is taught to embed the idea that “ human history is largely reduced to white Christian men being the ‘ oppressors , ’ and everybody else being ‘ intersected ’ by one or more layers of this ‘ oppression ’ .
” In June , the taxpayer-funded Smithsonian Institution released teaching material suggesting “ that the nuclear family , science , capitalism , and the Judeo-Christian tradition are forms of oppressive ‘ whiteness ’ that non-white people should reject as part of an oppressive system.
” Teaching hatred to fight hatred is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he said , “ We ’ ve got to teach history based not on what ’ s in fashion but what ’ s important.
” What ’ s important ?
Start with an understanding of the American Revolution , Reagan advised : Ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the course of government , and with three little words : ‘ We the People.
’ ‘ We the People ’ tell the Government what to do , it doesn ’ t tell us .
‘ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government is the car .
And we decide where it should go , and by what route , and how fast .
Almost all the world ’ s constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are .
Our Constitution is a document in which ‘ We the People ’ tell the Government what it is allowed to do .
‘ We the people ’ are free .
Reagan was not speaking in hyperbole .
The American Constitution is the only constitution which begins with the understanding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and thus the government has limited powers .
In James Madison ’ s words , “ The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined.
” “ Few and defined ” powers ?
Today that understanding has been reversed .
Many Americans believe that fundamental freedoms should be curtailed .
Reagan said in his farewell address , “ I hope we have once again reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited .
There ’ s a clear cause and effect here that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law of physics : as government expands , liberty contracts.
” Reflecting on his moniker , “ The Great Communicator , ” Reagan explained that principles , not his style , powered him : I never thought it was my style or the words I used that made a difference – it was the content .
I wasn ’ t a great communicator , but I communicated great things , and they didn ’ t spring full bloom from my brow , they came from the heart of a great nation – from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our belief in the principles that have guided us for two centuries .
Reagan reflected that Americans who believed in American values and principles propelled his success : I ’ ve had my share of victories in the Congress , but what few people noticed is that I never won anything you didn ’ t win for me .
They never saw my troops ; they never saw Reagan ’ s Regiments , the American people .
You won every battle with every call you made and letter you wrote demanding action .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than enthusiastic , Reagan would explain that they merely reflect what Americans believe .
Too many believe the core of America is rotten ; they are ready to discard America ’ s principles in favor of authoritarian and socialist ideologies .
A Cuban immigrant recently warned , “ Don ’ t lose this place [ America ] because you ’ re never gon na be as lucky as me .
Because if you lose this place you have no place to go.
” Reagan understood , “ As long as we remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the future will always be ours.
” It is hard to read those words and not experience great sadness .
Too few Americans cherish America ’ s principles .
As citizens , we no longer engage in open dialogue about the principles at the foundation of our Constitution .
We no longer teach our children freedom ’ s history .
Without taking steps to reinstitutionalize America ’ s principles , Reagan would warn , America ’ s future is bleak .
Barry Brownstein is professor emeritus of economics and leadership at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author of The Inner-Work of Leadership .
To receive Barry ’ s essays subscribe at Mindset Shifts .
Photo “ Ronald Reagan Farewell Address ” by Reagan Library .

by Barry Brownstein
In his 1989 farewell address, President Reagan asked the rhetorical question, “Are we doing a good enough job teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world?”
He followed up with the answer:
Our spirit is back, but we haven’t reinstitutionalized it. We’ve got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom – freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise – and freedom is special and rare. It’s fragile; it needs protection.
Rather than reinstitutionalizing the teaching of what freedom means, it seems fair to say that we have deinstitutionalized the principles of freedom. Socialist ideas dominate education and the media.
Later in his address, Reagan issued a prophetic warning: “I am warning of an eradication… of the American memory that could result, ultimately, in an erosion of the American spirit.”
Today liberty is contracting. Rather than being alarmed, people are cheering. The socialist 1619 curricula are being adopted in classrooms all over America.
In other schools, “intersectionality” theory is taught to embed the idea that “human history is largely reduced to white Christian men being the ‘oppressors,’ and everybody else being ‘intersected’ by one or more layers of this ‘oppression’.”
In June, the taxpayer-funded Smithsonian Institution released teaching material suggesting “that the nuclear family, science, capitalism, and the Judeo-Christian tradition are forms of oppressive ‘whiteness’ that non-white people should reject as part of an oppressive system.”
Teaching hatred to fight hatred is not the education Reagan had in mind when he said, “We’ve got to teach history based not on what’s in fashion but what’s important.”
What’s important? Start with an understanding of the American Revolution, Reagan advised:
Ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the course of government, and with three little words: ‘We the People.’ ‘We the People’ tell the Government what to do, it doesn’t tell us. ‘We the people’ are the driver – the Government is the car. And we decide where it should go, and by what route, and how fast. Almost all the world’s constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which ‘We the People’ tell the Government what it is allowed to do. ‘We the people’ are free.
Reagan was not speaking in hyperbole. The American Constitution is the only constitution which begins with the understanding that rights are inherent in each human being, and thus the government has limited powers. In James Madison’s words, “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined.”
“Few and defined” powers? Today that understanding has been reversed. Many Americans believe that fundamental freedoms should be curtailed. Reagan said in his farewell address, “I hope we have once again reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There’s a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts.”
Reflecting on his moniker, “The Great Communicator,” Reagan explained that principles, not his style, powered him:
I never thought it was my style or the words I used that made a difference – it was the content. I wasn’t a great communicator, but I communicated great things, and they didn’t spring full bloom from my brow, they came from the heart of a great nation – from our experience, our wisdom, and our belief in the principles that have guided us for two centuries.
Reagan reflected that Americans who believed in American values and principles propelled his success:
I’ve had my share of victories in the Congress, but what few people noticed is that I never won anything you didn’t win for me. They never saw my troops; they never saw Reagan’s Regiments, the American people. You won every battle with every call you made and letter you wrote demanding action.
If today’s politicians leave you less than enthusiastic, Reagan would explain that they merely reflect what Americans believe. Too many believe the core of America is rotten; they are ready to discard America’s principles in favor of authoritarian and socialist ideologies.
A Cuban immigrant recently warned, “Don’t lose this place [America] because you’re never gonna be as lucky as me. Because if you lose this place you have no place to go.”
Reagan understood, “As long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves, the future will always be ours.”
It is hard to read those words and not experience great sadness.
Too few Americans cherish America’s principles. As citizens, we no longer engage in open dialogue about the principles at the foundation of our Constitution. We no longer teach our children freedom’s history. Without taking steps to reinstitutionalize America’s principles, Reagan would warn, America’s future is bleak.
– – –
Barry Brownstein is professor emeritus of economics and leadership at the University of Baltimore. He is the author of The Inner-Work of Leadership. To receive Barry’s essays subscribe at Mindset Shifts.
Photo “Ronald Reagan Farewell Address” by Reagan Library.