thetennesseestar--2020-08-04--Tennessee Will Host The National Constitution Bee, Grand Champion Set to Win $25,000 Education Schol

Tennessee Will Host The National Constitution Bee, Grand Champion Set to Win $25,000 Education Scholarship

BRENTWOOD , Tennessee – The Star News Education Foundation announced Wednesday the first ever National Constitution Bee competition will take place on Saturday , October 24 in Brentwood , Tennessee , where the Grand Champion will be awarded an unprecedented education scholarship of $ 25,000 .
In addition to the announcement , organizers have launched a new website , GuidetotheConstitution.org , where Bee contestants may review the new podcast series of the groundbreaking book , The Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students .
All secondary school students in the country currently enrolled in grades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the competition here at www.nationalconstitutionbee .
org .
Originally , the 2020 National Constitution Bee was to be held in two rounds in a number of locations across the country .
However , the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything .
Undeterred , Leahy and his team of organizers decided to consolidate the series into a single event .
“ Unlike the Constitution Bees in 2017 , -18 , and -19 – this year ’ s Bee will be open to all secondary-level students in the United States , ” said Michael Patrick Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual event .
“ This gives competitors from all around the country the distinct opportunity to travel to Nashville and compete for the grand prize $ 25,000 educational scholarship , ” Leahy said .
Additional scholarships will be awarded to 2nd and 3rd places .
Every student in grades 8-12 no matter if they attend public school , private school , charter school or are homeschooled is welcome to compete .
“ And we ’ ve made some important accommodations for seniors caught in the pandemic , ” Leahy said .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students .
But this year , for those who registered to compete and then graduated , we will extend their eligibility for the national competition on October 24.
” All questions will be based on the The Star News Digital Media Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students – a supplementary text that discusses the people and events leading up to the ratification of the Constitution of the United States .
In it , students learn the personalities , policies , and some of the politics the framers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the time , a unique form of government .
The story then continues through the first ten amendments , The Bill of Rights .
To help contestants prepare for the Bee , The Star News Education Foundation launched the website , GuidetotheConstitution.org .
“ We understand students learn in different ways , so we have produced a podcast series of Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students that is available right from the website , ” Leahy said .
The podcast series is available at no charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the website , GuidetotheConstitution.org .
Organizers say the series will be available on additional podcast networks soon .
Students who prefer a physical book can purchase a copy of the 227-page volume here .
In all , The Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students includes 21 chapters , with discussion questions at the end of each of chapters .
The soft-cover book also contains a robust appendix containing the complete text of the Constitution , The Bill of Rights , the remaining Amendments 11 – 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with QR codes .
To open the contest and before the question elimination portion of the competition begins , students have the option to display their creative side in the Preamble Challenge .
In this competition , students have an opportunity to show off their unique abilities while demonstrating their high level of knowledge as they perform the 52 opening words that begin our founding document in any way they wish .
Past performances have included singing , dancing , rapping – and even an interpretation using American Sign Language .
The judges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants in three different categories : most creative , most entertaining , and most persuasive .
Following the Preamble Challenge , the elimination rounds of the competition begin , where contestants answer questions revolving around the Constitution and events regarding the birth of our republic .
As the competition progresses , questions will increase in difficulty .
In later rounds , students will analyze and answer essay questions which will be graded by our panel of Constitution experts .
Toward the end of the competition , the field will be narrowed down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest degree of difficulty until one grand champion is crowned .
The grand prize winner will receive an educational scholarship in the amount of $ 25,000 .
Second place will receive $ 5,000 , and third place will be awarded $ 2,500 .
Since 2017 , the Star News Education Foundation has hosted this event and given students the unique opportunity to learn and demonstrate their knowledge surrounding the founding of our republic .
Previous winners have received scholarships and special trips to meet with Senators , Congressman , and even federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farley met with Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Griffith in Washington DC .
In 2018 , Cooper Moran visited with Senator Marsha Blackburn and Congresswoman Diane Black and even witnessed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s first visit to the Capitol Building .
Each student that chooses to compete in this experience represents the very best of what our country has to offer , and it is the goal of the Star News Education Foundation and the National Constitution Bee to encourage and grow that deep appreciation for our country and government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information , the complete rule guidelines , and to register for the competition , please visit nationalconstitutionbee.org .
To learn more about the non-profit Star News Education Foundation , visit starnewseducationfoundation.org .

BRENTWOOD, Tennessee – The Star News Education Foundation announced Wednesday the first ever National Constitution Bee competition will take place on Saturday, October 24 in Brentwood, Tennessee, where the Grand Champion will be awarded an education scholarship of $10,000.
In addition to the announcement, organizers have launched a new website, GuidetotheConstitution.org, where Bee contestants may review the new podcast series of the groundbreaking book, The Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students.
All secondary school students in the country currently enrolled in grades 8 through 12 and can register online for the competition here at www.nationalconstitutionbee. org.
Originally, the 2020 National Constitution Bee was to be held in two rounds in a number of locations across the country. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Undeterred, Leahy and his team of organizers decided to consolidate the series into a single event.
“Unlike the Constitution Bees in 2017, -18, and -19 – this year’s Bee will be open to all secondary-level students in the United States,” said Michael Patrick Leahy, the founder and emcee of the annual event.
“This gives competitors from all around the country the distinct opportunity to travel to Nashville and compete for the grand prize $25,000 educational scholarship,” Leahy said. Additional scholarships will be awarded to 2nd and 3rd places.
Every student in grades 8-12 no matter if they attend public school, private school, charter school or are homeschooled is welcome to compete.
“And we’ve made some important accommodations for seniors caught in the pandemic,” Leahy said.
“The Bee is typically limited to secondary school students. But this year, for those who registered to compete and then graduated, we will extend their eligibility for the national competition on October 24.”
All questions will be based on the The Star News Digital Media Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students – a supplementary text that discusses the people and events leading up to the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
In it, students learn the personalities, policies, and some of the politics the framers dealt with as they designed what was as the time, a unique form of government. The story then continues through the first ten amendments, The Bill of Rights.
To help contestants prepare for the Bee, The Star News Education Foundation launched the website, GuidetotheConstitution.org.
“We understand students learn in different ways, so we have produced a podcast series of Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students that is available right from the website,” Leahy said.
The podcast series is available at no charge and may be accessed either from SoundCloud.com or the website, GuidetotheConstitution.org. Organizers say the series will be available on additional podcast networks soon.
Students who prefer a physical book can purchase a copy of the 227-page volume here. In all, The Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary Students includes 21 chapters, with discussion questions at the end of each of chapters. The soft-cover book also contains a robust appendix containing the complete text of the Constitution, The Bill of Rights, the remaining Amendments 11 – 27, a glossary, and sourced endnotes with QR codes.
To open the contest and before the question elimination portion of the competition begins, students have the option to display their creative side in the Preamble Challenge. In this competition, students have an opportunity to show off their unique abilities while demonstrating their high level of knowledge as they perform the 52 opening words that begin our founding document in any way they wish.
Past performances have included singing, dancing, rapping – and even an interpretation using American Sign Language. The judges will grade and award prizes to the participants in three different categories: most creative, most entertaining, and most persuasive.
Following the Preamble Challenge, the elimination rounds of the competition begin, where contestants answer questions revolving around the Constitution and events regarding the birth of our republic. As the competition progresses, questions will increase in difficulty.
In later rounds, students will analyze and answer essay questions which will be graded by our panel of Constitution experts. Toward the end of the competition, the field will be narrowed down to 3 competitors who will answer questions with the highest degree of difficulty until one grand champion is crowned.
The grand prize winner will receive an educational scholarship in the amount of $10,000. Second place will receive $5,000, and third place will be awarded $2,500.
Since 2017, the Star News Education Foundation has hosted this event and given students the unique opportunity to learn and demonstrate their knowledge surrounding the founding of our republic. Previous winners have received scholarships and special trips to meet with Senators, Congressman, and even federal judges.
In 2017, winner Noah Farley met with Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Griffith in Washington DC. In 2018, Cooper Moran visited with Senator Marsha Blackburn and Congresswoman Diane Black and even witnessed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s first visit to the Capitol Building.
Each student that chooses to compete in this experience represents the very best of what our country has to offer, and it is the goal of the Star News Education Foundation and the National Constitution Bee to encourage and grow that deep appreciation for our country and government that these students have.
For more information, the complete rule guidelines, and to register for the competition, please visit nationalconstitutionbee.org.
To learn more about the non-profit Star News Education Foundation, visit starnewseducationfoundation.org.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-05--Exclusive: Why Nicholas Sandman’s Lawyer Joined Carter Page’s Lawsuit Team

The Atlanta-based attorney , who represents Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandman , told the Star Newspaper Group he will get justice for his new client , Dr. Carter W. Page in Page ’ s lawsuit against Yahoo !
and the Huffington Post .
“ They accused him of being a traitor to the United States of America , ” said L. Lincoln “ Lin ” Wood , who joined Page ’ s legal team just before the defamation lawsuit was filed in Delaware Superior Court July 27 .
“ I can ’ t think of a more heinous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on zero evidence.
” Page , an Annapolis graduate , was a national security staffer on candidate Donald J. Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign and was a key figure in the Russian Collusion Hoax .
“ He is a man , who served his country with honor and dignity and they perverted it by flipping it away and trying to cast him as a Russian spy.
” The lawsuit was filed in Delaware , because that is where the parent company to the two outlets , then called Oath , now Verizon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The original lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York City , but the judge dismissed the case on procedural grounds with the right to refile in Delaware , Wood said .
Wood said there are still going to be motions to dismiss from Verizon Media Group , as the successor to Oath , but he is convinced that eventually Page will clear all of the procedural hurdles .
Wood : Discovery , testimony in Page lawsuit to be ‘ explosive “ Then , where do you think we go ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s going to be a lot of people in Washington , D.C. , under oath and they ’ re going to be talking about subject matters and facts of which they do not want to speak and they do not want the truth revealed , ” he said .
“ It is going to be explosive in terms of the testimony that will be revealed.
” In Page ’ s 141-page filing , his legal team points out that between June 2016 and July 2017 , Yahoo !
and HuffPost wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan ( D.-N.Y. ) , but one of the most significant was the article “ U.S .
intel officials probe ties between Trump adviser and Kremlin ” that Yahoo !
ran Sept. 23 , 2016 by Michael R. Isikoff .
This excerpt is just one of the damning points made about the Isikoff article that is still active online : The 2016 Yahoo !
article made various statements concerning , among other things , meetings between Dr .
Page and two sanctioned Russian officials : Rosneft Oil Company ( “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Sechin ” ) and Igor Diveykin ( “ Diveykin ” ) .
It was further reported as fact that these communications involved lifting of U.S. sanctions under a Trump presidency in return for receiving compromising materials harmful to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton .
In fact , Dr .
Page has never met with either Sechin or Diveykin at any time in his entire life .
Furthermore , the reported conversations in which Dr .
Page allegedly participated with Sechin and Diveykin never happened ( directly or indirectly ) , or any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of Nicholas Sandman from The Washington Post and CNN for their coverage of the Jan. 18 , 2019 incident in front of the Lincoln Memorial , he have pending legal actions against six other media outlets : NBC , ABC , CBS , Gannett , Rolling Stone and The New York Times .
“ They ran with a story as if Nicholas had done something wrong , ” he said .
“ The story they wanted to get they didn ’ t get and they published it anyway.
” Pending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney said he expects to begin discovery in those lawsuits in September in the Covington , Kentucky courthouse , where he filed suits against The Washington Post and CNN .
“ Discovery is going to take their situation from really , really bad to damn-near impossible to win , ” he said .
“ It is going to be the same court , under the same facts , with the same law and the same judge—and I believe a jury in Covington , Kentucky is going to send a message about how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what they did to a 16-year-old boy .
”

The Atlanta-based attorney, who represents Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandman, told the Star Newspaper Group he will get justice for his new client, Dr. Carter W. Page in Page’s lawsuit against Yahoo! and the Huffington Post.
“They accused him of being a traitor to the United States of America,” said L. Lincoln “Lin” Wood, who joined Page’s legal team just before the defamation lawsuit was filed in Delaware Superior Court July 27. “I can’t think of a more heinous accusation to make against a man based on zero evidence.”
Page, an Annapolis graduate, was a national security staffer on candidate Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and was a key figure in the Russian Collusion Hoax. “He is a man, who served his country with honor and dignity and they perverted it by flipping it away and trying to cast him as a Russian spy.”
The lawsuit was filed in Delaware, because that is where the parent company to the two outlets, then called Oath, now Verizon Media, is registered, Wood said.
The original lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York City, but the judge dismissed the case on procedural grounds with the right to refile in Delaware, Wood said.
Wood said there are still going to be motions to dismiss from Verizon Media Group, as the successor to Oath, but he is convinced that eventually Page will clear all of the procedural hurdles.
Wood: Discovery, testimony in Page lawsuit to be ‘explosive
“Then, where do you think we go? Discovery,” he said.
“There’s going to be a lot of people in Washington, D.C., under oath and they’re going to be talking about subject matters and facts of which they do not want to speak and they do not want the truth revealed,” he said. “It is going to be explosive in terms of the testimony that will be revealed.”
In Page’s 141-page filing, his legal team points out that between June 2016 and July 2017, Yahoo! and HuffPost wrote many articles about the former aide to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D.-N.Y.), but one of the most significant was the article “U.S. intel officials probe ties between Trump adviser and Kremlin” that Yahoo! ran Sept. 23, 2016 by Michael R. Isikoff.
This excerpt is just one of the damning points made about the Isikoff article that is still active online:
The 2016 Yahoo! article made various statements concerning, among other things, meetings between Dr. Page and two sanctioned Russian officials: Rosneft Oil Company (“Rosneft”) CEO Igor Sechin (“Sechin”) and Igor Diveykin (“Diveykin”). It was further reported as fact that these communications involved lifting of U.S. sanctions under a Trump presidency in return for receiving compromising materials harmful to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In fact, Dr. Page has never met with either Sechin or Diveykin at any time in his entire life. Furthermore, the reported conversations in which Dr. Page allegedly participated with Sechin and Diveykin never happened (directly or indirectly), or any other person.
Sandman lawsuits continue
Wood said after reaching settlements on behalf of Nicholas Sandman from The Washington Post and CNN for their coverage of the Jan. 18, 2019 incident in front of the Lincoln Memorial, he have pending legal actions against six other media outlets: NBC, ABC, CBS, Gannett, Rolling Stone and The New York Times.
“They ran with a story as if Nicholas had done something wrong,” he said. “The story they wanted to get they didn’t get and they published it anyway.”
Pending the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the attorney said he expects to begin discovery in those lawsuits in September in the Covington, Kentucky courthouse, where he filed suits against The Washington Post and CNN.
“Discovery is going to take their situation from really, really bad to damn-near impossible to win,” he said.
“It is going to be the same court, under the same facts, with the same law and the same judge—and I believe a jury in Covington, Kentucky is going to send a message about how they feel about the media in this country and what they did to a 16-year-old boy.”
– – –
Neil W. McCabe is a Washington-based national political reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. In addition to The Star newspaper, he has covered the White House, Capitol Hill and national politics for One America News, Breitbart, Human Events and Townhall. Before coming to Washington, he was a staff reporter for Boston’s Catholic paper, The Pilot, and the editor of two Boston-area community papers, The Somerville News and The Alewife. McCabe is a public affairs NCO in the Army Reserve and he deployed for 15 months to Iraq as a combat historian.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-05--Multiple Counties Across Tennessee Extend Mask Mandates

Mayors in multiple counties across Tennessee have extended their mask mandates .
Many of these mandates , which were set to expire on August 3 , will continue through most of August .
Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 54 on July 3 , which grants local leaders the authority to order masks and other face coverings when out in public .
Governor Lee ’ s order was originally set to expire on August 3 , but it was updated on July 28 to allow county mayors the ability to extend local mandates to August 29 .
At press time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rutherford , Sevier , Shelby , Sumner , Washington , Williamson , and Wilson counties have all extended their mandates , putting them in effect until August 29 .
The leaders of these counties cited the uptick in COVID-19 cases as the catalyst for the extensions .
Speaking to Knox News , Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters said that “ the majority of the people [ the County has ] spoken to are in favor of continuing the mandate , ” referring to the “ variety of opinions ” from “ city leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tourism officials ” his office received .
Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson told the Williamson Herald that his office has “ talked to the medical community , looked at the latest data , and the determination was to extend that mandate.
” Anderson said it feels “ like it ’ s making a difference.
” Some counties have taken a less sweeping approach to mask orders .
Montgomery County ’ s mask mandate was extended to August 10 , Greene County ’ s mandate is in effect until August 14 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended two weeks to August 17 .
Unicoi County Mayor Garland “ Bubba ” Evely told WJHL that Unicoi County officials wanted to look at the mandates “ on a two-week level.
” These extensions seem to simply add to the timeline of the existing mask mandates , leaving the details of the orders untouched .
As such , all Tennesseans within these counties are required to face coverings , including medical masks , homemade masks , scarfs , bananas , or other face coverings when in public .
Tennesseans are not required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they : • None are under the age of 12 ; • None have underlying medical conditions that prevent them from safely wearing a mask ; • None are in a situation in which a face covering would pose a safety or security risk ; • None are in a house of worship ( though masks are strongly encouraged ) ; • None are voting in person ; or • None are in a courtroom and the judge directs that face masks are not necessary or must be removed .
Here is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their face mask mandates as of the time of writing this article : Sam Medley is a journalist at the Tennessee Star and Star News Network .
You can follow Sam at Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Mayors in multiple counties across Tennessee have extended their mask mandates. Many of these mandates, which were set to expire on August 3, will continue through most of August.
Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 54 on July 3, which grants local leaders the authority to order masks and other face coverings when out in public.
Governor Lee’s order was originally set to expire on August 3, but it was updated on July 28 to allow county mayors the ability to extend local mandates to August 29.
At press time, Davidson, Knox, Robertson, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Sumner, Washington, Williamson, and Wilson counties have all extended their mandates, putting them in effect until August 29.
The leaders of these counties cited the uptick in COVID-19 cases as the catalyst for the extensions.
Speaking to Knox News, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters said that “the majority of the people [the County has] spoken to are in favor of continuing the mandate,” referring to the “variety of opinions” from “city leaders, health providers, local businesses, and tourism officials” his office received.
Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson told the Williamson Herald that his office has “talked to the medical community, looked at the latest data, and the determination was to extend that mandate.” Anderson said it feels “like it’s making a difference.”
Some counties have taken a less sweeping approach to mask orders. Montgomery County’s mask mandate was extended to August 10, Greene County’s mandate is in effect until August 14, and Unicoi County’s mask orders were extended two weeks to August 17.
Unicoi County Mayor Garland “Bubba” Evely told WJHL that Unicoi County officials wanted to look at the mandates “on a two-week level.”
These extensions seem to simply add to the timeline of the existing mask mandates, leaving the details of the orders untouched. As such, all Tennesseans within these counties are required to face coverings, including medical masks, homemade masks, scarfs, bananas, or other face coverings when in public.
Tennesseans are not required to wear a mask in public if they:
are under the age of 12;
have underlying medical conditions that prevent them from safely wearing a mask;
cannot remove a face covering without assistance;
are in a situation in which a face covering would pose a safety or security risk;
are in a house of worship (though masks are strongly encouraged);
are voting in person; or
are in a courtroom and the judge directs that face masks are not necessary or must be removed.
Here is a list of counties that have officially extended their face mask mandates as of the time of writing this article:
Davidson County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Greene County: Extended to 8/14/2020
Knox County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Montgomery County: Extended to 8/10/2020
Robertson County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Rutherford County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Sevier County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Shelby County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Sumner County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Washington County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Williamson County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Wilson County: Extended to 8/29/2020
Unicoi County: Extended to 8/17/2020
– – –
Sam Medley is a journalist at the Tennessee Star and Star News Network. You can follow Sam at Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-05--John Fredericks Commentary: Twitter Rigs Free Speech for the Left

Twitter has twice subjected the American people to the ignominy of seeing their own elected president censored for supposedly “ glorifying violence.
” Legacy journalists , meanwhile , continue to brazenly promote violence without a hint of consequence .
For the Silicon Valley Tech giants who now control the social media landscape , hypocrisy knows no bounds .
When rioters tried to pull down Andrew Jackson ’ s statue in front of the White House last month and establish a lawless “ autonomous zone ” patterned after the one their comrades established in Seattle , President Trump put his foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ‘ Autonomous Zone ’ in Washington , D.C. , as long as I ’ m your President , ” he tweeted .
“ If they try they will be met with serious force !
” As he sent out this message of support for American sovereignty , U.S. Park Service Police had already managed to prevent a deadly disaster like the one that unfolded in Seattle , acting with the utmost professionalism and employing no more force than was absolutely necessary .
Twitter , however , saw things differently .
For the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hid the President ’ s tweet , blocked users from “ liking ” or “ replying ” to it , and issued a statement condemning it for “ glorifying violence.
” Seriously ?
Since when is protecting people and property from protestors and looters inciting violence ?
So destruction is ok , but seeking to stop is not ?
Fast forward to last weekend .
When pro-police Coloradans — including conservative author Michelle Malkin and radio host Randy Corporon — organized a “ Back the Blue ” rally in Denver , armed leftists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bragged about “ shutting it down ” with their wanton violence .
On cue , fake news purveying journalists got on Twitter and claimed that the masked leftists assaulting people were merely engaged in “ opposing speech , ” and mocked conservatives for asking why the police didn ’ t protect them .
For good measure , some even asked users to dox the Back the Blue participants for them .
Watch the videos .
Do these journalists honestly believe pro-police demonstrators were “ shut down ” by “ opposing speech ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s quite obvious that they were shut down with violence — violence that the establishment Left approves of and heartily condones .
It ’ s part of a years-long pattern , pervasive in the media , of downplaying and justifying leftist violence by smearing their victims .
They want conservatives to know that if they exercise their First Amendment rights , they will be attacked , that no one will protect them , and that they will be painted as the aggressors .
There is a simple way to describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not “ journalism.
” It ’ s “ glorifying violence.
” Incidentally , that glorification of left-wing political violence is absolutely First Amendment-protected speech , just as — equally clearly — were both of the President ’ s tweets and countless others like them that have been posted by conservatives everywhere .
Twitter decided to go all in last week too and shut off Donald Trump Jr. ’ s twitter handle – the President ’ s son .
Coincidently , I have been shut down twice in the last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am Trump-Pence 2020 Virginia Delegation Chairman and served as Trump Virginia Chairman in 2016 .
I had to threaten a press conference both times to get turned back on .
Fortunately , as a radio host I have a platform to fight back .
Most do not .
Twitter — like the other tech giants that host the vast majority of political speech in modern America — has very publicly declared its intention to censor some constitutionally protected speech while allowing or even promoting other speech .
The disparate treatment of President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way Twitter evaluates speech has nothing to do with whether it “ glorifies violence ” and everything to do with which ideology — and political party — it benefits .
Social media censorship is dangerous .
By labeling some protected speech as “ glorifying violence , ” or “ hate , ” and then looking the other way when similar language is used by their political allies , the tech giants are depriving the country of full and unfettered public discourse of the sort that the First Amendment was designed to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up their efforts as we get closer to the presidential election .
John Fredericks is a syndicated morning radio talk show host heard in Washington D.C. and across Virginia .
Photo “ John Fredericks ” by The John Fredericks Radio Show .

by John Fredericks
Twitter has twice subjected the American people to the ignominy of seeing their own elected president censored for supposedly “glorifying violence.”
Legacy journalists, meanwhile, continue to brazenly promote violence without a hint of consequence.
For the Silicon Valley Tech giants who now control the social media landscape, hypocrisy knows no bounds.
When rioters tried to pull down Andrew Jackson’s statue in front of the White House last month and establish a lawless “autonomous zone” patterned after the one their comrades established in Seattle, President Trump put his foot down.
“There will never be an ‘Autonomous Zone’ in Washington, D.C., as long as I’m your President,” he tweeted. “If they try they will be met with serious force!”
As he sent out this message of support for American sovereignty, U.S. Park Service Police had already managed to prevent a deadly disaster like the one that unfolded in Seattle, acting with the utmost professionalism and employing no more force than was absolutely necessary.
Twitter, however, saw things differently. For the second time, the social media giant hid the President’s tweet, blocked users from “liking” or “replying” to it, and issued a statement condemning it for “glorifying violence.”
Seriously? Since when is protecting people and property from protestors and looters inciting violence? So destruction is ok, but seeking to stop is not?
Fast forward to last weekend. When pro-police Coloradans — including conservative author Michelle Malkin and radio host Randy Corporon — organized a “Back the Blue” rally in Denver, armed leftists stormed the demonstration, attacked participants, and bragged about “shutting it down” with their wanton violence.
On cue, fake news purveying journalists got on Twitter and claimed that the masked leftists assaulting people were merely engaged in “opposing speech,” and mocked conservatives for asking why the police didn’t protect them. For good measure, some even asked users to dox the Back the Blue participants for them.
Watch the videos. Do these journalists honestly believe pro-police demonstrators were “shut down” by “opposing speech?”
Of course they don’t. It’s quite obvious that they were shut down with violence — violence that the establishment Left approves of and heartily condones.
It’s part of a years-long pattern, pervasive in the media, of downplaying and justifying leftist violence by smearing their victims. They want conservatives to know that if they exercise their First Amendment rights, they will be attacked, that no one will protect them, and that they will be painted as the aggressors.
There is a simple way to describe what they’re doing here. It’s not “journalism.” It’s “glorifying violence.”
Incidentally, that glorification of left-wing political violence is absolutely First Amendment-protected speech, just as — equally clearly — were both of the President’s tweets and countless others like them that have been posted by conservatives everywhere.
Twitter decided to go all in last week too and shut off Donald Trump Jr.’s twitter handle – the President’s son.
Coincidently, I have been shut down twice in the last year for no apparent reason, other than I am Trump-Pence 2020 Virginia Delegation Chairman and served as Trump Virginia Chairman in 2016. I had to threaten a press conference both times to get turned back on. Fortunately, as a radio host I have a platform to fight back. Most do not.
Twitter — like the other tech giants that host the vast majority of political speech in modern America — has very publicly declared its intention to censor some constitutionally protected speech while allowing or even promoting other speech.
The disparate treatment of President Trump and pro-Antifa journalists shows definitively that the way Twitter evaluates speech has nothing to do with whether it “glorifies violence” and everything to do with which ideology — and political party — it benefits.
Social media censorship is dangerous. By labeling some protected speech as “glorifying violence,” or “hate,” and then looking the other way when similar language is used by their political allies, the tech giants are depriving the country of full and unfettered public discourse of the sort that the First Amendment was designed to protect. And they’re only ramping up their efforts as we get closer to the presidential election.
– – –
John Fredericks is a syndicated morning radio talk show host heard in Washington D.C. and across Virginia.
Photo “John Fredericks” by The John Fredericks Radio Show.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-05--Homicides Skyrocket in Dozens of Nation’s Largest Cities, Analysis Finds

Homicides in 50 of America ’ s largest cities rose by 24 % , a new analysis found .
In total , 36 of 50 of America ’ s largest cities examined saw a double-digit rise in homicide rates , The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday .
Austin and Chicago ’ s homicide rates have increased more than 50 % in comparison to last year ’ s rates , according to the Journal .
Fort Worth ’ s homicide rate increased more than 25 % while Dallas and San Jose both saw a less than 25 % decrease in homicide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paper found .
Other crimes , such as robbery , decreased by 11 % among 41 of America ’ s largest cities that provided robbery data , the Journal ’ s analysis showed .
Police say robbery , burglary , and rape rates have gone down perhaps because of the coronavirus lockdowns , the analysis noted , adding that authorities have also attributed the rising homicide rates to rising gang violence .
Homicide rates are also up because criminals have grown bolder as institutions , including police , have stepped back because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , analysts and law enforcement officials said , according to the analysis .
Protests calling for racial justice and police reform have been ongoing since George Floyd died in police custody .
Floyd died after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes , according to video footage .
Although many in the Democratic Party don ’ t directly call to defund the police , many of them sympathize with the movement and some endorse it , The Daily Caller reported .
The Wall Street Journal analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime and public information data .
The analysis also used the University of Chicago ’ s Crime Lab for analysis completion and review .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Police Car Destruction ” by Hongao Xu .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Mary Rose Corkery
Homicides in 50 of America’s largest cities rose by 24%, a new analysis found.
In total, 36 of 50 of America’s largest cities examined saw a double-digit rise in homicide rates, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Austin and Chicago’s homicide rates have increased more than 50% in comparison to last year’s rates, according to the Journal.
Fort Worth’s homicide rate increased more than 25% while Dallas and San Jose both saw a less than 25% decrease in homicide rates in comparison to last year, the paper found.
Other crimes, such as robbery, decreased by 11% among 41 of America’s largest cities that provided robbery data, the Journal’s analysis showed.
Police say robbery, burglary, and rape rates have gone down perhaps because of the coronavirus lockdowns, the analysis noted, adding that authorities have also attributed the rising homicide rates to rising gang violence.
Homicide rates are also up because criminals have grown bolder as institutions, including police, have stepped back because of police reform protests and the coronavirus, analysts and law enforcement officials said, according to the analysis.
Protests calling for racial justice and police reform have been ongoing since George Floyd died in police custody. Floyd died after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, according to video footage.
Although many in the Democratic Party don’t directly call to defund the police, many of them sympathize with the movement and some endorse it, The Daily Caller reported.
The Wall Street Journal analysis used individual police department reports on city crime and public information data. The analysis also used the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab for analysis completion and review.
– – –
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Police Car Destruction” by Hongao Xu. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-05--The Tennessee Star Report: Host Leahy and Former State Representative Joe Carr Recall the 2014 ‘Beat

The Tennessee Star Report: Host Leahy and Former State Representative Joe Carr Recall the 2014 ‘Beat Lamar’ Project

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed former state Representative Joe Carr , a conservative leader from Rutherford County to the studio .
During the second hour , Leahy and Carr reminisced about how they met in 2014 during the Beat Lamar grassroots campaign and rallied behind Carr as a candidate .
Leahy : In the studio with me is our good friend and former state representative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Joe Carr .
Good morning Joe .
Carr : Good morning Michael Patrick Leahy .
It ’ s too early to be speaking .
Leahy : It ’ s too early .
Everybody gets a pass .
Carr : Thank you for having me .
Leahy : It ’ s great to have you in Joe .
You and I have been great friends .
We first met back in late June of 2014 .
Leahy : And we ’ ll take people a little bit down memory lane my friend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course the founder of the Nashville Tea Party and the official guest host of The Tennessee Star Report .
He was in yesterday .
He ’ s here about once a month and does a great job .
I had recruited Ben to help me recruit you .
And we had started this little… Carr : Do you remember where we first met ?
Carr : On the square .
That ’ s exactly right .
Leahy : I started this little Super PAC called Beat Lamar .
And the premise was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there that didn ’ t like Senator Lamar Alexander ’ s politics .
Carr : His voting record kind of helped you out on that .
( Laughs ) Leahy : Pretty liberal .
Let me just say that although we went to beat him , personally he ’ s a very gracious guy .
Carr : And still is .
Leahy : Although he gets a little feisty on occasion .
We haven ’ t had him on the program here for about one year and a half .
Our last conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we like Lamar Alexander as a person .
Leahy : But we disagree with his politics significantly which is why back in May of 2014 Beat Lamar and I got a few donations .
And the idea was to go door to door .
Do you have kids go door to door ?
Leahy : And promote a conservative candidate .
We didn ’ t have a candidate but we were looking for one .
And there was no one really putting their hand up saying that .
I spent about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tea Party movements about this .
Leahy : And I ’ d walk in and there would be 30 people there and I ’ d talk to them .
And none of them liked the politics of Lamar Alexander .
Carr : It was an interesting time because when you and I and Ben met I was an announced candidate for Congress .
Leahy : By the way , we were looking for a candidate who had the chops to take on Lamar Alexander .
Carr : And the establishment .
Because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the platform is a great thing to run on but we ’ re not going to use it in regards to governance .
( Chuckles ) Leahy : And I knew basically most of the local Tea Party leaders in the state because I helped organize it along with Judson Phillips and Mark Skoda and a lot of great people here in Tennessee .
You remember all of our friends .
Very active .
Leahy : We were here .
We didn ’ t have a candidate that was putting up their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and made the case to you .
Leahy : And you were not an easy sell .
You kept telling me all the reasons why it didn ’ t make sense for you to do it .
I kept trying to tell you .
Joe , the state is calling for you .
We ’ ve built this .
Carr : You did .
You had done the heavy lift which is going around to all the Tea Party groups for the previous several months if not a year selling the idea that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , it was not a hard sell .
Carr : No , it wasn ’ t .
But it was still a sell that somebody had to make and so you made it .
I think it was in June or early July for Congress and I had already raised a little bit over $ 300,000 running for Congress .
But I have to tell you , my heart wasn ’ t in that race even though I had a better than even chance of winning .
My heart wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me .
Lee Beaman talked to me .
Andy Miller talked to me .
Leahy : And another candidate emerged .
A nice fellow emerged .
We had a big debate .
Leahy : We had to determine who Beat Lamar would endorse .
Leahy : You and Kevin Coucachee were in a debate .
And David Webb flew in from Fox .
Carr : That ’ s right .
There were like 200 or 300 people there ?
Leahy : It was a nice debate .
I think that the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you .
But Kevin had his supporters as well .
He chose not to run .
Leahy : And then there you were .
So the group endorsed your candidacy .
Carr : And the rest is history .
Leahy : And you lost 49-40 in a tight race .
Laura Ingraham came down for a huge rally .
Carr : I remember those times fondly .
I remember you and Beat Lamar doing an excellent job .
Leahy : The kids were great .
We had 100 kids working for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed former state Representative Joe Carr, a conservative leader from Rutherford County to the studio.
During the second hour, Leahy and Carr reminisced about how they met in 2014 during the Beat Lamar grassroots campaign and rallied behind Carr as a candidate.
Leahy: In the studio with me is our good friend and former state representative and former US Senate candidate in 2014, Joe Carr. Good morning Joe.
Carr: Good morning Michael Patrick Leahy. It’s too early to be speaking.
Leahy: It’s too early. Everybody gets a pass.
Carr: Thank you for having me.
Leahy: It’s great to have you in Joe. You and I have been great friends. We first met back in late June of 2014.
Carr: That’s right.
Leahy: And we’ll take people a little bit down memory lane my friend.
Carr: Good stuff. Good stuff.
Leahy: So Ben Cunningham and I of course the founder of the Nashville Tea Party and the official guest host of The Tennessee Star Report. He was in yesterday. He’s here about once a month and does a great job. I had recruited Ben to help me recruit you. And we had started this little…
Carr: Do you remember where we first met?
Leahy: Murfreesboro.
Carr: That’s right.
Leahy: On the square.
Carr: On the square. That’s exactly right.
Leahy: I started this little Super PAC called Beat Lamar. And the premise was there were a lot of conservatives out there that didn’t like Senator Lamar Alexander’s politics.
Carr: His voting record kind of helped you out on that. (Laughs)
Leahy: Pretty liberal. Let me just say that although we went to beat him, personally he’s a very gracious guy.
Carr: And still is.
Leahy: Although he gets a little feisty on occasion. We haven’t had him on the program here for about one year and a half. Our last conversation was a little feisty.
Carr: I didn’t’ know that.
Leahy: But we like Lamar Alexander as a person.
Carr: Sure.
Leahy: But we disagree with his politics significantly which is why back in May of 2014 Beat Lamar and I got a few donations. And the idea was to go door to door. Do you have kids go door to door?
Carr: Grassroots.
Leahy: And promote a conservative candidate. We didn’t have a candidate but we were looking for one. And there was no one really putting their hand up saying that. I spent about a year going around the state talking to Tea Party movements about this.
Carr: I remember.
Leahy: And I’d walk in and there would be 30 people there and I’d talk to them. And none of them liked the politics of Lamar Alexander.
Carr: It was an interesting time because when you and I and Ben met I was an announced candidate for Congress.
Leahy: By the way, we were looking for a candidate who had the chops to take on Lamar Alexander.
Carr: And the establishment. Because he represented everything within the Republican Party that said the platform is a great thing to run on but we’re not going to use it in regards to governance. (Chuckles)
Leahy: And I knew basically most of the local Tea Party leaders in the state because I helped organize it along with Judson Phillips and Mark Skoda and a lot of great people here in Tennessee. You remember all of our friends. Very active.
Carr: Very active. Very committed.
Leahy: We were here. We didn’t have a candidate that was putting up their hand. So Ben and I went and made the case to you.
Carr: I remember. I remember.
Leahy: And you were not an easy sell. You kept telling me all the reasons why it didn’t make sense for you to do it. I kept trying to tell you. Joe, the state is calling for you. We’ve built this.
Carr: You did. You had done the heavy lift which is going around to all the Tea Party groups for the previous several months if not a year selling the idea that Lamar Alexander was vulnerable.
Leahy: Well, it was not a hard sell.
Carr: No, it wasn’t. But it was still a sell that somebody had to make and so you made it. I think it was in June or early July for Congress and I had already raised a little bit over $300,000 running for Congress. But I have to tell you, my heart wasn’t in that race even though I had a better than even chance of winning. My heart wasn’t in that race. So you talked to me. Lee Beaman talked to me. Andy Miller talked to me.
Leahy: And another candidate emerged. A nice fellow emerged. We had a big debate.
Carr: We did.
Leahy: We had to determine who Beat Lamar would endorse.
Carr: That’s correct.
Leahy: You and Kevin Coucachee were in a debate. And David Webb flew in from Fox.
Carr: That’s right. There were like 200 or 300 people there?
Leahy: Like 500 people there.
Carr: Yeah. It was big.
Leahy: It was a nice debate. I think that the majority of the people that were there were for you. But Kevin had his supporters as well. He chose not to run.
Carr: He did.
Leahy: And then there you were. So the group endorsed your candidacy.
Carr: And the rest is history.
Leahy: And you lost 49-40 in a tight race. Laura Ingraham came down for a huge rally.
Carr: I remember those times fondly. I remember you and Beat Lamar doing an excellent job.
Leahy: The kids were great. We had 100 kids working for us.
Carr: It was awesome.
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.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-05--Massive Beirut Blast Kills More Than 60, Injures Thousands

BEIRUT , Lebanon ( AP ) — A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday , flattening much of the port , damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky .
More than 60 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured , with bodies buried in the rubble , officials said .
Hours later , ambulances still carried away the wounded as army helicopters helped battle fires raging at the port .
The sudden devastation overwhelmed a country already struggling with both the coronavirus pandemic and an economic crisis : Beirut hospitals quickly filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and generators to keep their lights on .
The cause of the blast , which sparked fires , overturned cars and blew out windows and doors , was not immediately known .
Abbas Ibrahim , chief of Lebanese General Security , said it might have been caused by highly explosive material that was confiscated from a ship some time ago and stored at the port .
Local television channel LBC said the material was sodium nitrate .
Witnesses reported seeing a strange orange-colored cloud over the site after the explosion .
Orange clouds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an explosion involving nitrates .
An Israeli government official said Israel “ had nothing to do ” with the blast .
He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media .
Israeli officials usually do not comment on “ foreign reports.
” The blast was stunning even for a city that has seen civil war , suicide bombings and bombardment by Israel .
It could be heard and felt as far away as Cyprus , more than 200 kilometers ( 180 miles ) across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real horror show .
I haven ’ t seen anything like that since the days of the ( civil ) war , ” said Marwan Ramadan , who was about 500 meters ( yards ) from the port and was knocked off his feet by the force of the explosion .
Health Minister Hassan Hamad said the preliminary toll was more than 60 dead and more than 3,000 wounded .
Emergency teams streamed in from across Lebanon to help , and the injured had to be taken to hospitals outside the capital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and offers of aid were pouring in from Arab states and friends of Lebanon .
Some of those injured lay on the ground at the port , Associated Press staff at the scene said .
A civil defense official said there were still bodies inside the port , many under debris .
Beirut ’ s governor , Marwan Abboud , broke into tears as he toured the site , saying , “ Beirut is a devastated city.
” Initially , video taken by residents showed a fire raging at the port , sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illuminated by flashes of what appear to be fireworks .
Local TV stations reported that a fireworks warehouse was involved .
The fire then appeared to catch at a nearby building , triggering a more massive explosion , sending up a mushroom cloud and a shock wave .
Charbel Haj , who works at the port , said it started as small explosions like firecrackers .
Then , he said , he was thrown off his feet by the huge blast .
His clothes were torn .
Miles from the port , building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and windows shattered .
Streets were covered with glass and bricks and lined with wrecked cars .
Motorcyclists picked their way through traffic , carrying the injured .
One woman covered in blood from the waist up walked down a trashed street while talking furiously on her phone .
On another street , a woman with a bloodied face looked distraught , staggering through traffic with two friends at her side .
The blast came at a time when Lebanon ’ s economy is facing collapse from the financial crisis and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the worth of their savings has evaporated as the currency has plunged in value against the dollar .
The result has thrown many into poverty .
It also occurred amid rising tensions between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group along Lebanon ’ s southern border .
The explosion was reminiscent of massive blasts during Lebanon ’ s civil war and took place only three days before a U.N.-backed tribunal was set to give its verdict in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a truck bombing more than 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ton of explosives , was felt miles away , just like Tuesday ’ s explosion .
Several of Beirut ’ s hospitals were damaged in the blast .
Roum Hospital put out a call for people to bring it spare generators to keep its electricity going as it evacuated patients because of heavy damage .
Outside the St. George University Hospital in Beirut ’ s Achrafieh neighborhood , people with various injuries arrived in ambulances , in cars and on foot .
The explosion had caused major damage inside the building and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dozens of injured were being treated on the spot on the street outside , on stretchers and wheelchairs .
“ This is a catastrophe we have on our hands , ” said one doctor , speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make press statements .
Bassem Mroue is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP writer Sarah El Deeb in Beirut and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed .
About the Headline Photo : Civilians carry a victim at the explosion scene that hit the seaport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 , 2020 .
Massive explosions rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday , flattening much of the port , damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital .
Witnesses saw many people injured by flying glass and debris .
( AP Photo/Hussein Malla )

by Bassem Mroue
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. More than 60 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said.
Hours later, ambulances still carried away the wounded as army helicopters helped battle fires raging at the port.
The sudden devastation overwhelmed a country already struggling with both the coronavirus pandemic and an economic crisis: Beirut hospitals quickly filled beyond capacity, pleading for blood supplies and generators to keep their lights on.
The cause of the blast, which sparked fires, overturned cars and blew out windows and doors, was not immediately known.
Abbas Ibrahim, chief of Lebanese General Security, said it might have been caused by highly explosive material that was confiscated from a ship some time ago and stored at the port. Local television channel LBC said the material was sodium nitrate.
Witnesses reported seeing a strange orange-colored cloud over the site after the explosion. Orange clouds of toxic nitrogen dioxide gas often accompany an explosion involving nitrates.
An Israeli government official said Israel “had nothing to do” with the blast. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. Israeli officials usually do not comment on “foreign reports.”
The blast was stunning even for a city that has seen civil war, suicide bombings and bombardment by Israel. It could be heard and felt as far away as Cyprus, more than 200 kilometers (180 miles) across the Mediterranean.
“It was a real horror show. I haven’t seen anything like that since the days of the (civil) war,” said Marwan Ramadan, who was about 500 meters (yards) from the port and was knocked off his feet by the force of the explosion.
Health Minister Hassan Hamad said the preliminary toll was more than 60 dead and more than 3,000 wounded. Emergency teams streamed in from across Lebanon to help, and the injured had to be taken to hospitals outside the capital. Hamad added that hospitals were barely coping and offers of aid were pouring in from Arab states and friends of Lebanon.
A video I received on WhatsApp of the scalr of explosion in #Beirut, confirming it was at the port. pic.twitter.com/bIkcyfsi0o — Bissan Fakih (@BissanCampaigns) August 4, 2020
Some of those injured lay on the ground at the port, Associated Press staff at the scene said. A civil defense official said there were still bodies inside the port, many under debris.
Beirut’s governor, Marwan Abboud, broke into tears as he toured the site, saying, “Beirut is a devastated city.”
Initially, video taken by residents showed a fire raging at the port, sending up a giant column of smoke, illuminated by flashes of what appear to be fireworks. Local TV stations reported that a fireworks warehouse was involved.
The fire then appeared to catch at a nearby building, triggering a more massive explosion, sending up a mushroom cloud and a shock wave.
Charbel Haj, who works at the port, said it started as small explosions like firecrackers. Then, he said, he was thrown off his feet by the huge blast. His clothes were torn.
Miles from the port, building facades were shredded, balconies were knocked down and windows shattered. Streets were covered with glass and bricks and lined with wrecked cars. Motorcyclists picked their way through traffic, carrying the injured.
One woman covered in blood from the waist up walked down a trashed street while talking furiously on her phone. On another street, a woman with a bloodied face looked distraught, staggering through traffic with two friends at her side.
“This country is cursed,” a young man passing by muttered.
The blast came at a time when Lebanon’s economy is facing collapse from the financial crisis and the coronavirus restrictions. Many have lost jobs, while the worth of their savings has evaporated as the currency has plunged in value against the dollar. The result has thrown many into poverty.
It also occurred amid rising tensions between Israel and the militant Hezbollah group along Lebanon’s southern border.
The explosion was reminiscent of massive blasts during Lebanon’s civil war and took place only three days before a U.N.-backed tribunal was set to give its verdict in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a truck bombing more than 15 years ago. That explosion, with a ton of explosives, was felt miles away, just like Tuesday’s explosion.
Several of Beirut’s hospitals were damaged in the blast. Roum Hospital put out a call for people to bring it spare generators to keep its electricity going as it evacuated patients because of heavy damage.
Outside the St. George University Hospital in Beirut’s Achrafieh neighborhood, people with various injuries arrived in ambulances, in cars and on foot. The explosion had caused major damage inside the building and knocked out the electricity at the hospital. Dozens of injured were being treated on the spot on the street outside, on stretchers and wheelchairs.
“This is a catastrophe we have on our hands,” said one doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make press statements.
– – –
Bassem Mroue is a reporter for The Associated Press. AP writer Sarah El Deeb in Beirut and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed.
About the Headline Photo: Civilians carry a victim at the explosion scene that hit the seaport, in Beirut Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. Massive explosions rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital. Witnesses saw many people injured by flying glass and debris. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)


thetennesseestar--2020-08-05--Commentary: President Trump Is Right to Question Why Important Parts of the F-35 Are Built Outside o

Commentary: President Trump Is Right to Question Why Important Parts of the F-35 Are Built Outside of America

The fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jet by Lockheed Martin has been in development since the 1990s , one of the most expensive military systems ever at a cost of about $ 80 million per plane , after all these years is still dependent on global supply chains including certain Chinese-made components and rare earth minerals .
From the beginning of the program the U.S. , the United Kingdom , Canada , Denmark , the Netherlands , Norway , Italy , Turkey , and Australia have all participated in financing and producing the plane .
According to the Congressional Research Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several locations .
Lockheed Martin builds the aircraft ’ s forward section in Fort Worth , TX .
Northrop Grumman builds the midsection in Palmdale , CA , and the tail is built by BAE Systems in the United Kingdom.
” After that , per CRS : “ Final assembly of these components takes place in Fort Worth .
Final assembly and checkout facilities have also been established in Cameri , Italy , and Nagoya , Japan.
” Over the next 60 years , the fleet of F-35s is expected to cost $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations and sustainment .
The parts themselves come from all over , and now , deficiencies in spare parts production and sustainment for the fighter plane is costing taxpayers big-time , with maintenance of the aircraft and concerns that Lockheed Martin provided defective spare parts and an outdated technology system for the F-35 .
These issues were front and center in a July 22 House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing .
Adding to concerns , in 2012 and 2013 under the Obama administration , the Pentagon waived laws banning Chinese-built components on U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to keep the program on track .
In addition , a Chinese-owned company Exception PCB , based in Gloucestershire , UK has been manufacturing key circuit boards for the plane .
The company was acquired by Shenzhen Fastprint in 2013 .
In May , in a Fox Business interview with Maria Bartiromo , President Donald Trump outlined the problem : “ It ’ s a great jet , and we make parts for this jet all over the world .
We make them in Turkey , we make them here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
All because President [ Barack ] Obama and others — I ’ m not just blaming him — thought it was a wonderful thing .
The problem is if we have a problem with a country , you can ’ t make the jet .
We get parts from all over the place .
It ’ s so crazy .
We should make everything in the United States.
” When Bartiromo asked if it was feasible to make it in the U.S. , President Trump said , “ Yeah , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m changing all those policies.
” President Trump is right .
At the time , he was blasting the fact that some of the fuselages for the plane are made in Turkey , a contract that has now been cancelled because Turkey opted to purchase Russian-made air defense systems .
That part of the production is now simply moving to Norway and the Netherlands , according to CRS .
But the supply chain difficulties do not end there .
The continued rare earth mineral shortage will surely come into play should the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military conflict or even just a trade war .
Rare earths are used in smart phones , computers and high-tech military hardware including the F-35 , but for years China has had a global monopoly on their production .
According to CRS , “ each F-35 Lightning II aircraft would require approximately 920 pounds of these materials.
” The Trump administration fortunately is already addressing the shortfall .
In 2019 , the Pentagon began assessing the lack of U.S. production for rare earths and began asking miners to submit plans to develop more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The overall goal is to secure and assure a viable , domestic supplier ( of rare earths ) for the long-term , ” according the Pentagon paper sent to the miners .
On July 22 , 2019 , President Trump invoked the 1950 Defense Production Act on July 22 in a proclamation , writing , “ the domestic production capability for Samarium Cobalt Rare Earth Permanent Magnets is essential to the national defense .
Without Presidential action under section 303 of the Act , United States industry can not reasonably be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samarium Cobalt Rare Earth Permanent Magnets adequately and in a timely manner.
” The proclamation added , “ Further , purchases , purchase commitments , or other action pursuant to section 303 of the Act are the most cost-effective , expedient , and practical alternative method for meeting the need for this critical capability.
” By invoking the law , the Defense Department can go ahead and fund directly the construction of rare earth processing facilities in the U.S. and expand mining operations by working with private contractors .
The U.S. consumed about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , according to the U.S. Geological Survey , and we are 100 percent reliant on imports of rare earth metals , 80 percent of which comes from China .
Other imports come from Estonia at 6 percent , and 3 percent from Japan and Malaysia .
8 percent comes from other countries .
According to the U.S. Geological Survey , “ The estimated value of rare-earth compounds and metals imported by the United States in 2019 was $ 170 million , an increase from $ 160 million in 2018.
” But these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in manufacturing in China and then exported .
Despite being in a commanding position for years , the good news is that China has been losing global market share , from 95 percent of global production in 2010 down to 63 percent of global market share now .
MP Materials , which runs the Mountain Pass site in California ’ s San Bernardino County , the nation ’ s only operational rare earth facility , has gotten back online .
According to the U.S. Geologic Survey : “ Rare earths were mined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bastnäsite ) , a rare-earth fluorocarbonate mineral , was mined as a primary product at a mine in Mountain Pass , CA , which was restarted in the first quarter of 2018 after being put on care-and-maintenance status in the fourth quarter of 2015.
” 26,000 metric tons were mined , but much of it is still exported to China for processing , making it the number two producer in the world .
We have about 1.4 million metric tons of reserves in the U.S. Australia has also ramped up production the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
Australia also has all of the elements we would be looking for , according to Geoscience Australia .
Additionally , a discovery of 16 million tons of rare earth oxides off the coast of Japan last year could supply the minerals for the entire world for centuries .
Overall , it is up to Congress to require that the F-35 and its parts and components , including the rare earths mining and processing , be insourced to the extent that is practical .
President Trump is right .
We shouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such large global supply chains that would surely be taxed in the event of a conflict .
Air power is one of the most vital components to our national security , without which we can not win , and the U.S. should never be in a position where it could be ever be questioned , especially not due to outsourcing .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .

by Robert Romano
The fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jet by Lockheed Martin has been in development since the 1990s, one of the most expensive military systems ever at a cost of about $80 million per plane, after all these years is still dependent on global supply chains including certain Chinese-made components and rare earth minerals.
From the beginning of the program the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Turkey, and Australia have all participated in financing and producing the plane.
According to the Congressional Research Service, “the F-35 is manufactured in several locations. Lockheed Martin builds the aircraft’s forward section in Fort Worth, TX. Northrop Grumman builds the midsection in Palmdale, CA, and the tail is built by BAE Systems in the United Kingdom.”
After that, per CRS: “Final assembly of these components takes place in Fort Worth. Final assembly and checkout facilities have also been established in Cameri, Italy, and Nagoya, Japan.”
Over the next 60 years, the fleet of F-35s is expected to cost $1 trillion—with two-thirds of that cost in operations and sustainment.
The parts themselves come from all over, and now, deficiencies in spare parts production and sustainment for the fighter plane is costing taxpayers big-time, with maintenance of the aircraft and concerns that Lockheed Martin provided defective spare parts and an outdated technology system for the F-35. These issues were front and center in a July 22 House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing.
Adding to concerns, in 2012 and 2013 under the Obama administration, the Pentagon waived laws banning Chinese-built components on U.S. weapons systems, including rare earth magnets in order to keep the program on track.
In addition, a Chinese-owned company Exception PCB, based in Gloucestershire, UK has been manufacturing key circuit boards for the plane. The company was acquired by Shenzhen Fastprint in 2013.
In May, in a Fox Business interview with Maria Bartiromo, President Donald Trump outlined the problem: “It’s a great jet, and we make parts for this jet all over the world. We make them in Turkey, we make them here, we’re going to make them there. All because President [Barack] Obama and others — I’m not just blaming him — thought it was a wonderful thing. The problem is if we have a problem with a country, you can’t make the jet. We get parts from all over the place. It’s so crazy. We should make everything in the United States.”
When Bartiromo asked if it was feasible to make it in the U.S., President Trump said, “Yeah, we’re doing it because I’m changing all those policies.”
President Trump is right. At the time, he was blasting the fact that some of the fuselages for the plane are made in Turkey, a contract that has now been cancelled because Turkey opted to purchase Russian-made air defense systems. That part of the production is now simply moving to Norway and the Netherlands, according to CRS.
But the supply chain difficulties do not end there. The continued rare earth mineral shortage will surely come into play should the U.S. and China ever find itself in a military conflict or even just a trade war. Rare earths are used in smart phones, computers and high-tech military hardware including the F-35, but for years China has had a global monopoly on their production.
According to CRS, “each F-35 Lightning II aircraft would require approximately 920 pounds of these materials.”
The Trump administration fortunately is already addressing the shortfall.
In 2019, the Pentagon began assessing the lack of U.S. production for rare earths and began asking miners to submit plans to develop more U.S. mines and processing facilities last summer. “The overall goal is to secure and assure a viable, domestic supplier (of rare earths) for the long-term,” according the Pentagon paper sent to the miners.
On July 22, 2019, President Trump invoked the 1950 Defense Production Act on July 22 in a proclamation, writing, “the domestic production capability for Samarium Cobalt Rare Earth Permanent Magnets is essential to the national defense. Without Presidential action under section 303 of the Act, United States industry cannot reasonably be expected to provide the production capability for Samarium Cobalt Rare Earth Permanent Magnets adequately and in a timely manner.”
The proclamation added, “Further, purchases, purchase commitments, or other action pursuant to section 303 of the Act are the most cost-effective, expedient, and practical alternative method for meeting the need for this critical capability.”
By invoking the law, the Defense Department can go ahead and fund directly the construction of rare earth processing facilities in the U.S. and expand mining operations by working with private contractors.
The U.S. consumed about 13,000 metric tons of rare earths in 2019, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and we are 100 percent reliant on imports of rare earth metals, 80 percent of which comes from China. Other imports come from Estonia at 6 percent, and 3 percent from Japan and Malaysia. 8 percent comes from other countries.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “The estimated value of rare-earth compounds and metals imported by the United States in 2019 was $170 million, an increase from $160 million in 2018.” But these numbers do not account for rare earths used in manufacturing in China and then exported.
Despite being in a commanding position for years, the good news is that China has been losing global market share, from 95 percent of global production in 2010 down to 63 percent of global market share now.
MP Materials, which runs the Mountain Pass site in California’s San Bernardino County, the nation’s only operational rare earth facility, has gotten back online. According to the U.S. Geologic Survey: “Rare earths were mined domestically in 2019. Bastnaesite (or bastnäsite), a rare-earth fluorocarbonate mineral, was mined as a primary product at a mine in Mountain Pass, CA, which was restarted in the first quarter of 2018 after being put on care-and-maintenance status in the fourth quarter of 2015.” 26,000 metric tons were mined, but much of it is still exported to China for processing, making it the number two producer in the world. We have about 1.4 million metric tons of reserves in the U.S.
Australia has also ramped up production the past decade and mined 21,000 metric tons in 2019. Australia also has all of the elements we would be looking for, according to Geoscience Australia. Additionally, a discovery of 16 million tons of rare earth oxides off the coast of Japan last year could supply the minerals for the entire world for centuries.
Overall, it is up to Congress to require that the F-35 and its parts and components, including the rare earths mining and processing, be insourced to the extent that is practical. President Trump is right. We shouldn’t be dependent on Chinese parts or such large global supply chains that would surely be taxed in the event of a conflict. Air power is one of the most vital components to our national security, without which we cannot win, and the U.S. should never be in a position where it could be ever be questioned, especially not due to outsourcing.
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Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-05--Former Conservative Tennessee State Rep. Joe Carr Explains Why He Did Not Endorse Bill Hagerty for U

Former Conservative Tennessee State Rep. Joe Carr Explains Why He Did Not Endorse Bill Hagerty for U.S. Senate

Live from Music Row Tuesday 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 former conservative state Rep. Joe Carr in the studio .
During the second hour , Carr explained his recent op-ed on why he did not endorse Bill Hagerty and instead endorsed Manny Sethi .
He also discussed the e-verify law that had been implemented in the state of Tennessee during his time in the General Assembly and how that too was opposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studio with me is our good friend former state representative Joe Carr .
Good morning Joe .
Leahy : So on Monday you wrote an op-ed .
A commentary .
You have endorsed Manny Sethi .
I want to read an element of that .
A paragraph from that and then ask you a question .
Leahy : This is what you wrote .
“ Early on you write , I was leaning towards Hagerty and indeed I might have endorsed him .
However , there were some things that I could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was .
For instance he was so devoted to Donald Trump then why was devout never-Trumper Bill Haslam an integral part of his campaign if Bill Hagerty such a strong conservative ?
Why was Senator Alexander with a 15 percent conservative school raising money for him ?
If Bill Hagerty was not part of the political establishment why did Mitch McConnell endorse him ?
If Bill Hagerty and Mitt Romney were not such close friends why did Mitt Romney say in a Wall Street Journal article that he would ‘ love it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill Hagerty has always been a loyal republican then why did he donate $ 1,000 .
to Al Gore ’ s presidential campaign ?
Lastly and very importantly , why did Bill Hagerty as Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development oppose every single one of my illegal immigration bills when I was in the Tennessee General Assembly ?
Most especially the nation ’ s first state either if the law.
” Leahy : Now tell me about this last one .
I ’ m vaguely familiar with this issue .
But you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Economic and Community Development opposed every single one of your illegal immigration bills .
Can you elaborate on that ?
Carr : Absolutely .
So let ’ s focus specifically on the e-verify bill because that was the bill that drew the most contention .
Leahy : The e-verify bill is currently is it currently the law in Tennessee ?
Leahy : What was the name of the law and what was the name of the bill ?
Carr : I always referred to it as the e-verify bill .
I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was passed in 2012 .
I can get the exact nomenclature for the bill .
I ’ ve slept since then bay the way .
( Laughter ) Leahy : What Joe were the elements of that e-verify law ?
Carr : The essential element of that particular bill is that it required employers with 50 or more employees to verify the legal status of somebody applying for work , or a job , or an occupation at that particular company .
To run their social security number and name through the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the name and the social security number matched .
Carr : It was a simple running through the federal governments… Carr : Of 50 or more employers .
Leahy : OK. And that law was there at that time a federal law similar to this ?
Leahy : There was not .
Carr : No .
And there still isn ’ t any federal e-verify law .
At the time Georgia and Tennessee were the only two states that had a particular law like this or bill working through their respective legislators .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by two weeks if I understand that correctly .
If we weren ’ t the first we were certainly one of the first states to pass a state e-verify law .
Leahy : Has that law been implemented here in Tennessee ?
Carr : That is one of the great things about this law .
Every other state e-verify or similar law that ’ s been passed by the states has always relied on the local law enforcement officials to enforce the law .
And what we found very early on is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from local district attorneys and law enforcement that they then had the funding necessary to do that .
As a matter of fact , they were going to say , what do you want us to do ?
Do you want us to run around chasing rapists , murders , and thieves ?
Or do you want us enforcing your e-verify law ?
So we said , you know what ?
We ’ re not going to ask you to do this .
We are going to put this in the hands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the administration .
And we were the only state in the country to do it this way .
So the Department of Labor is required by statute to investigate any company through an audit if they recognize a discrepancy in wage , labor practices , or child labor practices .
So any time that a company undertook an audit they were required to also undertake an audit of the e-verify practices of that particular company .
And as a result based on our statistical data and based on the number of audits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figured they would do in excess of a 1000 audits every year .
Leahy : When people talk about a company the term audit is usually a financial audit .
Leahy : Where you end up with a financial report .
Public companies are required to have these done .
Leahy : Private companies do them but they can be prepared by management and follow the principles but at a lower level .
When you say audit , are you talking about the typical financial audit ?
Carr : We ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about auditing their employee records .
Leahy : Let me see if I can understand that right now .
Right now because of your law if you are an employer in Tennessee and you have 51 employees… Carr : They ’ ve lowered the range now since then .
It ’ s been amended .
Leahy : What is it now ?
Carr : I think its five or more .
Leahy : If you are hiring somebody as an employee you are currently required by state law to do an e-verify social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You verify that the name and the social security number are a match .
So it comes back as a match or no match .
Leahy : And you go to a database at the Department of Homeland Security .
It ’ s a federal database .
And if it ’ s not a match what do you do ?
Carr : It comes back as a no match .
Leahy : And then what does the employer do ?
Carr : You have to get it to match up before you legally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t match up and you hire them what happens ?
Carr : You are supposed to retain these records .
You can then not retain their employee status .
Remember when you fill out this I-9 form you are technically already an employee .
So you have three days to perform this match between the social security number and the name .
Leahy : What is the compliance on this for employers ?
In other words , right now would you say that because of this law and the subsequent laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the process of doing the match ?
Identifying , oh this person doesn ’ t match , and then therefore not hiring this person ?
Carr : In the beginning , we don ’ t know because Governor Haslam even though we provided the funds in the General Assembly , Governor Haslam didn ’ t make this a priority to enforce .
Governor Haslam along with EC Commissioner Bill Hagerty were opposed to the bill .
There were a number of organizations opposed to it .
The governor was opposed to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Chamber of Commerce was opposed to it .
Leahy : Our good friends at the Chamber of Commerce .
Carr : There were a lot of organization lobbyists that were vehemently opposed to this bill .
So when it passed over their objections basically it became an enforcement issue .
So in the beginning , we don ’ t know .
As a matter of fact , when I left the General Assembly in 2014 , there was a gentleman who was the commissioner of Department Labor .
Carr : Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : And that is the guy who would determine if a company in Tennessee was subject to a labor audit ?
Is that right ?
Who would determine that ?
Carr : The labor audit would be determined by the inaction of the company .
Because they didn ’ t follow the regulation law .
Leahy : How would they know if they didn ’ t get followed ?
Carr : There are various reporting methods .
Leahy : You say Bill Hagerty opposed this law ?
Leahy : Did he oppose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation with you ?
Carr : He sent his staff to me specifically Alice Rolli specifically came to my office on numerous occasions .
Carr : She was on his campaign staff while she was the ECD for Bill Hagerty .
Leahy : So verbally he told you .
Was he on the record ?
Any public statement opposing this ?
Carr : Not to my knowledge .
Leahy : Alright .
I think you ’ ve clarified that and been helpful to my understanding of that complicated issue Joe .
Carr : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Listen to the 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 “ Joe Carr ” by Joe Carr .

Live from Music Row Tuesday 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 former conservative state Rep. Joe Carr in the studio.
During the second hour, Carr explained his recent op-ed on why he did not endorse Bill Hagerty and instead endorsed Manny Sethi. He also discussed the e-verify law that had been implemented in the state of Tennessee during his time in the General Assembly and how that too was opposed by Hagerty.
Leahy: In the studio with me is our good friend former state representative Joe Carr. Good morning Joe.
Carr: Yeehaw. Good morning Michael.
Leahy: So on Monday you wrote an op-ed. A commentary. You have endorsed Manny Sethi. I want to read an element of that. A paragraph from that and then ask you a question.
Carr: Sure. Sounds good.
Leahy: This is what you wrote. “Early on you write, I was leaning towards Hagerty and indeed I might have endorsed him. However, there were some things that I could not reconcile with who Bill Hagerty said he was. For instance he was so devoted to Donald Trump then why was devout never-Trumper Bill Haslam an integral part of his campaign if Bill Hagerty such a strong conservative?
Why was Senator Alexander with a 15 percent conservative school raising money for him? If Bill Hagerty was not part of the political establishment why did Mitch McConnell endorse him? If Bill Hagerty and Mitt Romney were not such close friends why did Mitt Romney say in a Wall Street Journal article that he would ‘love it’ if Bill Hagerty would run? If Bill Hagerty has always been a loyal republican then why did he donate $1,000. to Al Gore’s presidential campaign?
Lastly and very importantly, why did Bill Hagerty as Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development oppose every single one of my illegal immigration bills when I was in the Tennessee General Assembly? Most especially the nation’s first state either if the law.”
That’s what you wrote Joe Carr.
Carr: Yes. That’s correct.
Leahy: Now tell me about this last one. I’m vaguely familiar with this issue. But you say that Bill Hagerty as Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development opposed every single one of your illegal immigration bills. Can you elaborate on that?
Carr: Absolutely. So let’s focus specifically on the e-verify bill because that was the bill that drew the most contention.
Leahy: Let’s just stop for a minute.
Carr: Sure.
Leahy: The e-verify bill is currently is it currently the law in Tennessee?
Carr: It is.
Leahy: What was the name of the law and what was the name of the bill?
Carr: I always referred to it as the e-verify bill. I believe it was House Bill 1378 and it was passed in 2012. I can get the exact nomenclature for the bill. I’ve slept since then by the way. (Laughter)
Leahy: What Joe were the elements of that e-verify law?
Carr: The essential element of that particular bill is that it required employers with 50 or more employees to verify the legal status of somebody applying for work, or a job, or an occupation at that particular company. To run their social security number and name through the Department of Homeland Security to make sure that the name and the social security number matched.
Leahy: OK.
Carr: It was a simple running through the federal governments…
Leahy: It applied to Tennessee state employers.
Carr: Of 50 or more employers.
Leahy: OK. And that law was there at that time a federal law similar to this?
Carr: No.
Leahy: There was not.
Carr: No. And there still isn’t any federal e-verify law. At the time Georgia and Tennessee were the only two states that had a particular law like this or bill working through their respective legislators. We beat Georgia in passing our law by two weeks if I understand that correctly. If we weren’t the first we were certainly one of the first states to pass a state e-verify law.
Leahy: Has that law been implemented here in Tennessee?
Carr: That is one of the great things about this law. Every other state e-verify or similar law that’s been passed by the states has always relied on the local law enforcement officials to enforce the law. And what we found very early on is that we were going to get some objection from local district attorneys and law enforcement that they then had the funding necessary to do that. As a matter of fact, they were going to say, what do you want us to do?
Do you want us to run around chasing rapists, murders, and thieves? Or do you want us enforcing your e-verify law? So we said, you know what? We’re not going to ask you to do this. We are going to put this in the hands of the Department of Labor which is part of the administration. And we were the only state in the country to do it this way. So the Department of Labor is required by statute to investigate any company through an audit if they recognize a discrepancy in wage, labor practices, or child labor practices.
So any time that a company undertook an audit they were required to also undertake an audit of the e-verify practices of that particular company. And as a result based on our statistical data and based on the number of audits they did on an annualized basis we figured they would do in excess of a 1000 audits every year.
Leahy: When people talk about a company the term audit is usually a financial audit.
Carr: Correct.
Leahy: Where you end up with a financial report. Public companies are required to have these done.
Carr: That’s correct.
Leahy: Private companies do them but they can be prepared by management and follow the principles but at a lower level. When you say audit, are you talking about the typical financial audit?
Carr: We’re not talking about financials. We are talking about auditing their employee records.
Leahy: Let me see if I can understand that right now. Right now because of your law if you are an employer in Tennessee and you have 51 employees…
Carr: They’ve lowered the range now since then. It’s been amended.
Leahy: What is it now?
Carr: I think its five or more.
Leahy: If you are hiring somebody as an employee you are currently required by state law to do an e-verify social security check.
Carr: Yes. You verify that the name and the social security number are a match. So it comes back as a match or no match.
Leahy: And you go to a database at the Department of Homeland Security. It’s a federal database. And if it’s not a match what do you do?
Carr: It comes back as a no match.
Leahy: And then what does the employer do?
Carr: You have to get it to match up before you legally hire them.
Leahy: If it doesn’t match up and you hire them what happens?
Carr: You are supposed to retain these records. You can then not retain their employee status. Remember when you fill out this I-9 form you are technically already an employee. So you have three days to perform this match between the social security number and the name.
Leahy: What is the compliance on this for employers? In other words, right now would you say that because of this law and the subsequent laws that how many employers are actually going through the process of doing the match? Identifying, oh this person doesn’t match, and then therefore not hiring this person?
Carr: In the beginning, we don’t know because Governor Haslam even though we provided the funds in the General Assembly, Governor Haslam didn’t make this a priority to enforce. Governor Haslam along with EC Commissioner Bill Hagerty were opposed to the bill. There were a number of organizations opposed to it. The governor was opposed to it. Bill Hagerty was opposed to it. The Chamber of Commerce was opposed to it.
Leahy: Our good friends at the Chamber of Commerce.
Carr: There were a lot of organization lobbyists that were vehemently opposed to this bill. So when it passed over their objections basically it became an enforcement issue. So in the beginning, we don’t know. As a matter of fact, when I left the General Assembly in 2014, there was a gentleman who was the commissioner of Department Labor.
Leahy: The labor guy?
Carr: Our Department of Labor under Bill Haslam.
Leahy: And that is the guy who would determine if a company in Tennessee was subject to a labor audit? Is that right? Who would determine that?
Carr: The labor audit would be determined by the inaction of the company. Because they didn’t follow the regulation law.
Leahy: How would they know if they didn’t get followed?
Carr: There are various reporting methods.
Leahy: You say Bill Hagerty opposed this law?
Carr: Absolutely.
Leahy: Did he oppose it on the record or in direct conversation with you?
Carr: He sent his staff to me specifically Alice Rolli specifically came to my office on numerous occasions.
Leahy: Alice Rolli, didn’t she work for Senator Alexander?
Carr: She was on his campaign staff while she was the ECD for Bill Hagerty.
Leahy: So verbally he told you. Was he on the record? Any public statement opposing this?
Carr: Not to my knowledge.
Leahy: Alright. I think you’ve clarified that and been helpful to my understanding of that complicated issue Joe.
Carr: Not so complicated. But thank you.
Listen to the second hour here:

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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 “Joe Carr” by Joe Carr.