thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Trump Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize Second Time This Week Following Serbia-Kosovo Peace Deal

President Trump was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize Friday morning for brokering a historic peace deal between Serbia and the breakaway republic Kosovo .
It was the second time this week the president was nominated for the prestigious award .
On Wednesday , a member of the Norwegian Parliament nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for helping broker a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates .
Meanwhile , the president on Friday announced yet another peace deal establishing full diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Israel .
“ This is really something special , very , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Oval Office , predicting that the region “ will become more secure and prosperous ” as a result of the diplomatic agreement .
Magnus Jacobsson , a member of the Swedish Parliament , announced Friday that he was nominating the Trump administration , Serbia , and Kosovo for their “ joint work for peace and economic development , through the cooperation agreement signed in the White House.
” “ Trade and communications are important building blocks for peace , ” Jacobsson wrote , sharing his letter to the Nobel Committee on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House on September 4 , President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia and Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti of Kosovo signed a brokered commitment to achieve economic normalization between the peoples and governments of Serbia and Kosovo .
“ Friday ’ s agreement reflects President Trump ’ s long-held vision for Kosovo and Serbia to focus on economic development , job creation and industrial development as prerequisites to the permanent resolution of political disputes , ” wrote former Ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell at the Hill .
His belief from the start has been that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of creating opportunities and futures for young people , rather than in the settlement of scores , symbolism or the righting of historical wrongs .
The U.S. will spend the next year implementing these new agreements , and the people and governments of Kosovo and Serbia have the full trust of the U.S. government to carry them forward .
“ When the U.S. government prioritizes diplomacy over force , and understanding over threats , the world stands to benefit , ” Grenell wrote .
Christian Tybring-Gjedde , a member of the Norwegian Parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nobel Peace Prize for the Israel and United Arab Emirates peace deal .
“ For his merit , I think he has done more trying to create peace between nations than most other Peace Prize nominees , ” Christian Tybring-Gjedde told Fox News .
In his nomination letter to the Nobel Committee , Tybring-Gjedde said the Trump administration had played a key role in the establishment of relations between Israel and the UAE .
“ As it is expected other Middle Eastern countries will follow in the footsteps of the UAE , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will turn the Middle East into a region of cooperation and prosperity , ” he wrote .
Tybring-Gjedde , further , praised Trump for withdrawing a large number of troops from the Middle East .
“ Indeed , Trump has broken a 39-year-old streak of American Presidents either starting a war or bringing the United States into an international armed conflict .
The last president to avoid doing so was Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter , ” he wrote .
This is not Trump ’ s first such nomination , as Tybring-Gjedde submitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 following the U.S. president ’ s Singapore summit with Kim Jong Un .
Japan ’ s prime minister reportedly did the same .
Trump did not win .
Tybring-Gjedde told Fox News , “ I ’ m not a big Trump supporter ” but added : “ The committee should look at the facts and judge him on the facts – not on the way he behaves sometimes.
” He went on to argue that past Peace Prize winners were much less worthy of the honor than President Trump .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent years have done much less than Donald Trump .
For example , Barack Obama did nothing.
” Indeed , Obama was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in October of 2009 before he had accomplished anything to contribute to world peace .
In fact , Geir Lundestad , the non-voting Director of the Nobel Institute , wrote in his 2015 memoir that Obama had failed to live up to the Nobel Committee ’ s expectations .
The Trump administration has brokered three historic peace deals in just the past month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the liberal-leaning Nobel committee will honor Trump with an award that is usually reserved for globalists .
At any rate , the winner won ’ t be announced until October of next year .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Commentary: Social Isolation Is Damaging an Entire Generation of Kids

I read an advice article at Slate recently where a mom of a nearly five-year-old daughter wrote in to express concern that her child hasn ’ t seen any friends in five months , since COVID-19 lockdowns began .
She said : The advice columnist responded that the mom shouldn ’ t worry about her child ’ s social isolation , saying : This resignation to ongoing government lockdowns , endless social distancing , mandatory mask orders , and travel restrictions—even as the virus wanes in the US—is damaging to our social and economic health , and may be particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their peers .
While some evidence suggests that young people are faring well outside of forced schooling , with less school-induced stress and anxiety , the same research indicates that children and teens are missing their friends dearly .
Social isolation seems to be taking a toll .
With most large , urban school districts planning remote-learning only this fall , the isolation is likely to continue for many children—unless parents step in to alleviate this loneliness .
An article in The Wall Street Journal exposed the impact of pandemic-related social isolation on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all age groups , this virus is probably more socially devastating to teens than any other group .
They are bored and they are lonely , ’ says Joseph P. Allen , a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia.
” Another recent Journal article reinforced these unintended consequences of the lockdowns and social distancing on adolescents , and particularly girls : “ Adolescent girls already were experiencing record-high levels of loneliness , anxiety and depression before the pandemic , according to Mary Pipher , a clinical psychologist and author of Reviving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Girls… ‘ All of the things that a year ago were increasing girls ’ depression have been exacerbated by the pandemic , ’ [ said ] Dr. Pipher.
” Regardless of whether or not you think schools should reopen for in-person learning this fall , the reality is that kids need to be around other kids to play , socialize , and learn .
They don ’ t need this play , socializing , and learning to happen in schools .
In fact , they may find much more authentic , satisfying social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classroom .
Peter Gray , research professor of psychology at Boston College , has written extensively on the importance of unstructured childhood social play for children ’ s health and well-being .
In a June interview with NPR , Gray said : If they were play-deprived prior to the pandemic , then many children may be more play-deprived now , as they have been cut-off from peers for nearly six months .
Gray has documented the correlation between the decline in play and the rise in childhood and adolescent mental health disorders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now as children , and especially adolescents , are even more distanced from their peers .
While technology has been a lifesaver for all of us during the pandemic , it has also consumed a much larger portion of children ’ s lives .
A new report released this month by the Children ’ s Hospital of Chicago found that 63 percent of teens are using social media more than they did pre-pandemic , and more than half of their parents indicate that social media use is having a negative impact on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survey found that 68 percent of parents say that social media is interfering with their teen ’ s ability to have normal social interactions .
Concerns about social media use and its impact on teen mental and social health were widespread before the pandemic , but it could be particularly troubling now as social media use soars while many teens remain separated from their friends .
The continued quarantining of healthy children and adolescents is misguided and deprives them of the childhood play and in-person social interaction that are critical to their growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miltimore wrote a great article recently saying this very thing , and providing international data on the low risks of COVID-19 on children .
The health risks to children of the virus may be small , but the risks to children ’ s mental and emotional health from forced separation from peers is not .
Miltimore writes : The OECD recently issued a report detailing the global harm the pandemic response is inflicting on children ’ s social and economic health and well-being , especially poor children .
Its recommendation to combat these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interventions and mandates , particularly in social services , healthcare , and education .
But adding more layers of government involvement to fix the problems created by government lockdown policies puts expensive Band-Aids on injuries that could be alleviated by loosening the lockdowns .
What Can Parents Do ?
So what can parents do ?
While they may not be able to lift government orders , parents can lift some of their self-imposed social distancing practices to help their children and teens avoid continued isolation and the damaging consequences that can arise from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the steps to connect your children with other children for play dates and social interactions , and encourage older children and teens to reach out to their friends to organize in-person get-togethers .
If schools aren ’ t open for in-person learning , consider creating a “ pandemic pod ” this fall for consistent group play and learning , and encourage teens to gather for small , in-person study groups and co-learning .
Push back against the creeping government control of family life , and question the politicians and pundits who keep telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home .
Kerry McDonald is a Senior Education Fellow at FEE and author of Unschooled : Raising Curious , Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom ( Chicago Review Press , 2019 ) .
She is also an adjunct scholar at The Cato Institute and a regular Forbes contributor .
Kerry has a B.A .
in economics from Bowdoin College and an M.Ed .
in education policy from Harvard University .
She lives in Cambridge , Massachusetts with her husband and four children .
You can sign up for her weekly newsletter @ @ @ @ @ @

by Scott McClallen
About $13.5 million in taxpayer grants from the Going PRO Talent Fund will help train 8,500 workers across nearly 300 Michigan businesses to earn industry-recognized credentials and strong wages.
“The Going PRO Talent Fund is an investment in our state’s greatest asset – our people – helping them develop the skills they need to advance their careers and ‘make it’ in Michigan,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “These grants help us put thousands of Michiganders on paths to good-paying jobs and empower hundreds of Michigan businesses across the state develop the talent they need to compete in the global economy.”
The program launched in 2014. Since then, more than 6,000 Michigan businesses have received Going PRO Talent Fund awards to train 175,000 new and existing workers.
More than 60% of the employers receiving funds are small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Training must fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer and result in the employee acquiring a credential for a transferable skill recognized by the industry.
Susan Corbin, the director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said these grants keep Michigan businesses competitive globally.
“Programs like the Going PRO Talent Fund help businesses throughout Michigan train the talent they need in order to stay competitive in the global economy,” Corbin said in a statement. “Investments like these help us connect individuals and business leaders with tailored opportunities and unique resources they need to prosper. Together, we are creating a competitive and innovative environment that improves the quality of life for people who live, work and do business in Michigan.”
The average training cost per worker is $1,250. According to 2021 data, average hourly wages for Going PRO Talent Fund participants increased by $5.71 six months after completing training.
“The Going PRO Talent Fund has continued to help Michigan employers retain their workers by providing the necessary support for them to help upskill their workforce,” LEO’s Office of Employment and Training director Stephanie Beckhorn said in a statement. “These trainings have also provided an opportunity for employees to gain industry-recognized credentials they need to grow and thrive in these in-demand careers.”
LEO makes Going PRO Talent Fund awards to employers through Michigan Works! Agencies. Participating employers play an integral role in defining their crucial training needs, then work with their local MWAs and other partners to develop strategic training plans.
David Worthams, director of Employment Policy for the Michigan Manufacturers Association, said the talent fund is “arguably the best talent development program the state of Michigan has to offer.”
“As we get into the next cycle of grants, employers and their employees will see huge strides in new skills that we need as we move into the future of manufacturing in the state, Worthams said in a statement. “This is another reason why Michigan is one of the best states to do business in.”
– – –
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi. In 2021, he published a book on technology and privacy. He co-hosts the weekly Michigan in Focus podcast.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Delaware Women Indicted on Hate Crime Charge Related to Theft of Child’s MAGA Hat at DNC Event

Two Delaware women have been indicted on hate-crime and theft charges related to a MAGA cap being taken outside a Democratic National Convention event in Wilmington .
The women , Olivia Winslow and Camryn Amy , both 21 , were indicted Tuesday by a grand jury on charges of second-degree robbery , second-degree conspiracy , endangering the welfare of a child , third-degree assault , attempted third-degree assault , offensive touching and felony hate crimes , according to Delaware Online .
The Aug. 20 incident was recorded on what became a viral video that appears to show the women tearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hat from the ground near the site of Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s acceptance speech .
The video also appears to show a confrontation between the women and adults coming to the defense of a 7-year-old President Trump supporter .
When one of the women appears to grab the Trump cap , the child is heard saying , “ That ’ s somebody else ’ s hat.
” The video appears to show one of the women hit a man who attempted to help the child and his mother get back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ball cap and the other suspect attack the mom .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Arlington County Bans Guns as Mobs Mobilize

The Arlington County Board of Supervisors ( BOS ) voted unanimously on Saturday to ban firearms in county government buildings , parks , and at events requiring a county permit .
The ordinance only applies in clearly marked areas , and the BOS also voted to provide $ 110,000 for signs .
Citizens called in with comments for about one-and-a-half hours which was followed by another hour of discussion by the board .
Chair Libby Garvey summarized : “ It ’ s so clear how much we have two different worldviews .
So for example , a number of speakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that happened [ saying , ] ‘ This is a reason to let people carry guns.
’ And I ’ m listening and I ’ m thinking , ‘ Oh thank God there wasn ’ t a gun involved , ’ because it wasn ’ t a fatal incident .
[ There ’ s ] so many different things that happen that often end up being fatal if there ’ s a gun.
” “ More guns means more people dying , ” Garvey said .
“ I have often said in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this country , we ’ re seeing it play out with people being upset and afraid .
And instead of just being upset and afraid suddenly they pull out a gun and start shooting.
” Garvey added that in the future , she wants to hear more discussion about the “ well-regulated militia ” clause of the Second Amendment .
“ That ’ s where we are trying to get to with our permits .
I know the folks carrying the concealed weapons permit , that ’ s part of what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And I appreciate the people who are really careful and do what they can to be safe.
” Virginia Citizen ’ s Defense League President Philip Van Cleave has been encouraging gun-rights advocates to lobby local government to oppose similar bills .
He said the majority of Virginians are opposed to this kind of legislation ; the only places that are passing these ordinances are small pockets in northern Virginia , central Virginia , and the tidewater region .
He said , “ Part of it is who is attracted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the rural living .
A lot of urbanites have given up a lot of their freedoms , more than they have out in the country , and some people are fleeing the cities.
” Van Cleave said , “ People are starting to appreciate having more freedom and more liberty .
I think that governments tend to be more tyrannical in the cities , they just are .
They ’ re a power source .
People in them love their power , and they ’ re forever ramming one mandate or another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Virginia Tech Punts on Opener, Postpones UVA amidst COVID Scare

Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia ( UVA ) announced Saturday they are postponing the first game of the season because of COVID-19 issues at Virginia Tech .
The game , otherwise known as the Commonwealth Cup , was slated to be played September 19 , in Blacksburg .
“ The safety , as well as the physical and mental well-being of these young men and women entrusted to our care by their families remains our top priority , ” Said Whit Babcock , director of athletics at Virginia Tech , in a statement .
“ While we share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin the football season against our in-state rival , we remain optimistic that a full ACC football schedule can be played thanks to the flexibility the present format permits .
“ We appreciate the continued support of President Sands for our student-athletes and Tech Athletics as we navigate these unprecedented times.
” The decision to postpone the game came after athletics officials from both schools , the Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) and Dr. Mark Rodgers , Virginia Tech athletics chief medical officer , discussed and mutually agreed to moving the contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s statement announcing the news , director of athletics Carla Williams said she was contacted by Virginia Tech officials on Friday about the possibility of postponing .
“ These are very challenging times , we understand and respect the decision by Virginia Tech , ” Williams said .
“ With so much uncertainty , flexibility in scheduling becomes incredibly important .
I know both teams and both fan bases were looking forward to opening the season next weekend .
We ’ ll work with the conference and Virginia Tech to reschedule.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Tech , the football team is pausing its practices for four days , according to the online statement .
Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente reiterated his support for student-athletes safety during COVID in a statement .
“ My primary concern continues to be the well-being of the student-athletes on our football team , ” Fuente said .
“ I hurt for them because I know how badly they want to compete .
I also appreciate that these young men have been dealing with the same stress , uncertainty and anxiety as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past few months as their spring semester was dramatically altered .
Then they were forced to find a way to train on their own , and to their credit , they found a way to get it done.
” On Thursday , the most recent day recorded , Virginia Tech health center conducted 171 tests , 39 of those being positive , bringing the total positive tests in the last seven days to 219 , according to the Virginia Tech COVID-19 dashboard .
There is no way to determine from the school ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases were student-athletes or , specifically , football players .
In Montgomery County , where Virginia Tech is located , cases have been rising throughout the week with 71 cases on Friday and then 130 cases on Saturday , the second-highest amount recorded since March 18th , according to the Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) COVID-19 Dashboard .
Additionally , there were no deaths this week and two hospitalizations on Saturday in Montgomery County , the VDH dashboard reported .
So far Virginia Tech has had to move both of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to start the season against North Carolina State University ( NC State ) on September 12 , but that game was moved after NC State had 22 positive cases on its sports teams .
Now , Virginia Tech will again play NC State to kick off its season , this time on September 26 .
Virginia will now open its season against Duke on September 26th , a game originally scheduled for November 14 .
With so much movement and changes happening almost weekly to the ACC schedule , there is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tech-UVA rivalry game .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Lane Stadium ” by B. CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Commentary: Like It or Not, We Are at War with China

We are at war with the Chinese Communist Party .
To be precise , the Chinese Communist Party , CCP , is at war with the U.S .
The war is happening now on three fronts .
And it ’ s not being fought with bombs and bullets .
It is an economic war .
It is an ideological war .
It is an information war .
On the economic front , the CCP has targeted American industries for extinction .
By subsidizing its own industries , dumping products at prices below the cost of production and manipulating the value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producers , grabs market share from them and drives them into bankruptcy .
It has done this in industry after industry , from steel and aluminum to telecommunications , automotives and energy .
On the ideological front , the CCP sells its system of “ socialism with Chinese characteristics ” – one-party rule , a centrally planned economy , government oversight of every aspect of society – as superior to Western liberal democracy .
With happy talk and lucrative deals , it lulls Western opinion makers into accepting the Marxist-Leninist state as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contest is being fought on the information front .
In the “ virtual ” cyberworld , the war is very real .
The best-known example is Huawei , the Chinese telecom giant and a leader in 5G internet technology .
The Trump administration has barred Huawei hardware from American telecom systems and is encouraging others to do the same .
The battle is not about market share and hardware per se .
The CCP wants access to the data flowing through the hardware , and the administration will not allow that to happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Chinese-owned social media video-sharing app , for similar reasons .
The app delivers custom content to users but more importantly harvests the users ’ personal information .
The app ’ s artificial-intelligence algorithm assembles detailed psychographic profiles of TikTok users by monitoring the videos they prefer .
In a leaked document from TikTok ’ s parent company , Byte Dance , a software architect described how it works .
The algorithm collects the user ’ s characteristics including age , gender , searching and surfing histories ; the characteristics of posts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject of the post and how long the user takes to view the post ; and the user ’ s location .
The algorithm will then generate recommendations to the user – and can promote CCP propaganda content to users .
The CCP does not want to expose exactly how the algorithm works and has moved to block the sale of TikTok .
The CCP aggregates information gathered from various sources to create a dossier on individual Americans .
For example , it hacked U.S. government personnel records , discovering who ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with that information , its hack of Marriott , a hotel chain with a large presence in China , revealed any undercover U.S. government employees or contractors who visited the country , and when .
The CCP ’ s data harvesting efforts are extensive .
Silicon Valley startup Alphonso shares data with Chinese state-owned technology company Hisense .
Alphonso software embedded in video game apps uses a smartphone ’ s microphone to gather users ’ TV and movie viewing data .
The software is also installed on tens of millions of smart TVs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. , is concerned a Chinese company seeking to take over GNC is not just buying outlets for Chinese-made vitamins and supplements – it ’ s buying the personal information of Americans who shop there .
The CCP unabashedly aims to control the information landscape on a global scale .
It understands whoever controls information controls hearts and minds .
It blocks access to the internet behind the Great Firewall and wants others to adopt its censorship model .
The CCP has launched a “ Global Initiative on Data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data security , the Wall Street Journal reports .
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says , “ It is important to develop a set of international rules on data security that reflect the will and respect the interests of all countries.
” The CCP ’ s will and interests – as well as its track record – disqualify it from setting international rules for data .
Sadly , the same can be said of Facebook and Google .
The information war is raging all around us .
Curtis Ellis is a political communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Policies .
Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Gage Skidmore.CC BY-SA 2.0 .
Photo “ Xi Jinping ” by Palácio do Planalto .
CC BY 2.0 .
Background Photo “ China-American Flags ” by Alex Microbe .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Senator Louise Lucas: I Run Portsmouth. Period.

Senator Louise Lucas has filed to have felony charges against her dismissed ; the charges are linked to a June 10 protest at the Portsmouth Confederate monument .
Lucas ’ motion calls the charges an “ illegal and unsanctioned police action.
” “ Permitting any rogue local law enforcement agency to investigate an elected official without oversight would create a system whereby localities could attempt to intimidate and influence state officials at will , ” the motion states .
It cites Virginia Code § 52-8.2 , which states , “ No investigation of an elected official of the Commonwealth or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal violation has occurred , is occurring or is about to occur under the provisions of § 52-8.1 shall be initiated , undertaken or continued except upon the request of the Governor , Attorney General or a grand jury.
” According to the motion , that section of the Virginia code is meant to prevent independent police action unjustly targeting elected officials .
Chris Green , the man who was seriously injured when part of the monument fell on him in the protest , returned home Friday , according to a GoFundMe page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Guess who ’ s home !
!
Thank you for all the prayers and support !
!
The journey still isn ’ t done but we are half way there !
!
” Also on Friday , a magistrate declined to press charges against Portsmouth City Council Members Bill Moody and Elizabeth Psimas .
NAACP chapter President James Boyd and Vice-President Louie Gibbs sought to have the council members charged for using a group email to instruct Police Chief Angela Greene to charge Lucas .
According to the Daily Press , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not believe there was enough evidence to file the charges .
Poulson was called in by the Portsmouth magistrates to avoid a conflict of interest .
In August , a private citizen charged Vice-Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke with a similar city code violation for her comments calling for Chief Greene to be fired .
On Friday , Lucas-Burke told the Daily Press that the magistrate revealed a racist double standard in the city by not allowing charges to be filed against Moody and Psimas , who are both White .
“ Some are treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Boyd told the Daily Press .
“ We will look at other venues to make sure we eradicate the bigoted disparity in the system , the double standard.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Background Photo “ Portsmouth Confederate Monument ” by Doug Kerr .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Absentee Ballot Order Approved, Then Halted

An Ohio judge ordered Friday that voters be allowed to apply for absentee ballots for the November presidential election by using fax or email .
The move was quickly halted by an appellate court .
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Stephen McIntosh sided with Ohio Democrats in the legal dispute by allowing electronic absentee ballot applications to be filed .
Ohio Democratic Chairman David Pepper called this ruling “ a big win for Ohio Voters.
” Secretary of State Frank LaRose responded to the decision with alarm saying that “ today ’ s ruling rolls out the red carpet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the back of our election system and upending the significant progress Ohio has made on elections cybersecurity.
” And the move “ injects chaos into what was already a challenging election for our county boards of elections , and we are confident that a higher court will correct this quickly.
” LaRose took to Twitter to explain his issues with the decision , citing little time between now and the start of early voting , a lack of security , and the existing security procedures voting boards follow to not open attachments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his team would “ aggressively fight ” the ruling .
LaRose ’ s efforts to stop the ruling lead an appellate court to put a hold on online applications for the time being , according to WKYC .
The court has asked that arguments for and against the ruling be filed by September 23 , after which a new ruling will be handed down .
Dayton247Now said that LaRose issued a statement saying : A stay pending appeal is a routine component of the legal process and it was absolutely the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay , it would be open season for hackers to attack our boards IT systems .
Ohioans need to understand that forcing our county boards to open thousands of e-mailed attachments is not a secure online absentee ballot request system .
It puts our elections system at a far greater risk of cyberattack where just one attachment with a malicious virus could cripple an entire county ’ s IT infrastructure and degrade the trust voters have in our elections ” Whatever the court ’ s decision may be , with Ohio being such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already turning out to be a difficult and chaotic election , it is likely we will see further appeals .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Ben on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] The Associated Press contributed to this story .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Michigan Woman Squares off Against Union, AT&T

A Michigan AT & T employee is challenging the legality of the automatic paycheck deduction of union dues , an action the company continued even after the expiration of its contract with the Communications Workers of America ( CWA ) .
The case is currently before the National Labor Relations Board ( NLRB ) in Washington .
National Right to Work Foundation ( NRWF ) attorneys filed a brief with the NLRB on Wednesday on behalf of Veronica Rolader .
NRWF argues Rolader was within her legal rights to object to the dues deduction , which the attorneys assert is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If successful , the NRWF-Rolader case would overturn the NLRB ’ s Frito-Lay precedent , which allows unions to implement a brief “ window period ” for employees to opt out of dues deductions , even during a contract hiatus .
The employee , Veronica Rolader , asserts that AT & T and CWA officials violated the law by continuing union dues deductions over her objections even after the union contract had expired and union officials had no legal right to those dues .
Rolader ’ s case seeks to overturn Frito-Lay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union bosses to restrict workers ’ right to end union dues deduction to a brief “ window period ’ even during a contract hiatus , even though federal labor law explicitly recognizes this right .
Rolader authorized AT & T to deduct CWA union dues from her paycheck in January 2000 .
Two months after AT & T ’ s contract with CWA expired in April 2018 , Rolader attempted to resign her union membership and cease dues deductions .
AT & T rejected Rolader ’ s request , stating it was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December 2018 was also rejected for the same reason .
According to the NRWF , “ Neither response apprised Rolader of the period in which union officials or AT & T would consider her request valid.
” According to a NRWF statement : “ [ U ] nion officials have no legal power to coerce dues from individual workers when there is no contract in effect.
” The NRWF also notes both of Rolader ’ s attempts were submitted before CWA and AT & T finalized a new bargaining contract in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both of Rolader ’ s requests occurred after Michigan had become a Right to Work state in March 2013 .
“ It ’ s outrageous that the NLRB ’ s 40-year-old decision in Frito-Lay continues to grant union bosses the privilege to keep siphoning dues out of the pockets of dissenting workers , even when the underlying ‘ justification ’ for the dues payments no longer exists , ” NRWF President Mark Mix said in a press statement .
“ The NLRB should overturn Frito-Lay and ensure that no worker can be trapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when there is not even a valid contract in effect between a union and employer.
” Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .
Photo “ AT & T ” by Luismt94 CC4.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--Gov Walz’s Sixth Extension of COVID Peacetime Emergency Follows Legislation’s Heated, Divided Vote

Governor Tim Walz extended Minnesota ’ s COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency for the sixth time after a heated , divided vote in the special legislative session .
Walz stated in a press release that the coronavirus is still a danger to Minnesotans .
“ While Minnesota has taken life-saving action , the threat of COVID-19 remains .
It ’ s imperative that we have the tools necessary to respond to this rapidly-evolving virus quickly and decisively in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of each and every Minnesotan.
” In the official order , Walz stated that “ local resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The governor didn ’ t specify what those resources were .
“ COVID-19 is unpredictable , and there is still so much that we do not know .
This pandemic is not over .
With the fall and winter months fast approaching , we know the next stages of this virus will continue to present a challenge , especially to underserved communities .
We must be prepared to respond quickly and efficiently in order to keep all Minnesotans healthy , safe , and informed.
” During the fourth special session , party lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Republican-controlled Senate called for an end to the emergency .
The Democratic-Farmer-Labor ( DFL ) -controlled House supported Walz ’ s motion to extend it .
The vote was 67-64 .
Proponents of the extension relied largely on future unknowns that may result from ending the state of emergency .
They stated that Minnesotans shouldn ’ t have to return to April pandemic numbers .
Current death rates share the same range as data from mid-April – a lower number than the state endured at the end of April and through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data and the science .
We can not afford to make a misstep in any capacity in regard to our response to this pandemic , ” said Representative Hunter Cantrell ( DFL-MN-56A ) .
“ I ’ m disappointed that the Governor ’ s peacetime emergency has been so heavily politicized and mischaracterized as a usurpation of power , when in reality – as I have said before – the federal government declared a national emergency that is still in effect.
” Opponents of the extension asked Walz and supporters for definitive standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of emergency .
They criticized leaders for continually moving the standards defining pandemic improvement .
“ Unfortunately , today there is a lack of clarity .
And where there is a lack of clarity , there is a lack of leadership .
There is an inability to clarify clear , objective benchmarks when we can return to normal , ” stated Representative Eric Lucero ( R-MN-30B ) .
“ It ’ s by design that Governor Walz has not had clarity .
When can we return to our constitutionally-required separation of powers ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re waiting for ?
” The pandemic now has a 92 percent recovery rate in Minnesota .
This latest extension is set to expire October 12 , unless terminated by a Legislature majority vote .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-13--During Nashville Luncheon, American Bible Project Organizers Say Our Founders Were Men of Faith

NASHVILLE , Tennessee — Tennessee residents overseeing an effort to donate Aitken Bibles to the state ’ s elementary , middle , and high schools held their inaugural luncheon at a Nashville restaurant on Saturday .
American Bible Project founder Stephen Skelton said the date of the event , September 12 , held significance .
“ This date , September 12 is not chosen by accident .
Here we stand at the 238th year of the anniversary of Congress approving the [ Aitken ] Bible .
And , by the way , it shouldn ’ t escape our attention that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only approved it they then turned around and recommended it .
That tells us two things at a minimum .
Our founders were men of faith , because , after all , they just approved the printing of the first American Bible .
And they knew something about the people of this country that many of us have forgotten today .
At our foundation we were a people of faith .
After all , it was recommended that all the inhabitants of America read that Bible , ” Skelton said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A lot of times in life if you remember where you came from you can remember where you should be going .
As you get on in life you think of the way your father and mother raised you and hope that they raised you in the right way .
You make the right decisions based on that .
I think the same is true of our country.
” And that , Skelton said , “ Is what the battle for the future of America is all about.
” “ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to raise generations of our country with little to no knowledge of the Bible ’ s vital role in the founding of our country , ” Skelton said .
“ Just the history of it .
We are going to put the Bible back into school , where it never should have left.
” As The Tennessee Star reported this week , Nashville physician Ming Wang is also involved in the project .
“ We are not putting this Bible in schools as a piece of religious teaching , ” Wang said this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a historical document to show the students what our Founding Fathers were thinking at the time [ of the American Revolution ] and in the context of telling the story of the American Revolution.
” Right now , organizers only plan to hand out these Aitkin Bibles to schools in Tennessee .
They also plan to put only one or two hardcopies in each school library .
They do not plan to pass out a copy to every student — Wang said that ’ s too expensive .
According to BiblesinSchools.com , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofit that manages the American Bible Project .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--Nashville Bars Account for Less than a Half-Percent of COVID-19 Cases, but Continue to Face Harsher

Nashville Bars Account for Less than a Half-Percent of COVID-19 Cases, but Continue to Face Harsher Restrictions

Only 112 of Nashville ’ s 27,009 cases of COVID-19 can be linked through contact tracing to the city ’ s bars , according to data from the Metro Public Health Department , with 109 of the 112 cases linked to bars downtown .
Despite bars accounting for less than half of one percent of the city ’ s COVID-19 cases , bars have faced some of the most stringent restrictions under public health orders since pandemic-related shutdowns began in March .
Mayor John Cooper announced Friday bars would be permitted to remain open until 30 minutes after the conclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday night against the Denver Broncos .
“ Thanks to our progress in lowering the spread of COVID-19 , [ the Metro Public Health Department ] approved an exception to extend restaurant & bar hours on Monday night to accommodate fans watching the first [ Titans ] game .
Restaurants/bars may remain open until 30 mins after the game .
# MaskUp # Titan Up , ” Cooper tweeted Friday .
When Nashville ’ s “ Road to Reopening ” began May 11 , bars serving food were allowed to operate at half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of their revenue from alcohol sales were ordered to remain closed .
When the city moved to phase two of reopening May 25 , bars were ordered to remain closed .
On June 22 , when the city moved to phase three , bars were allowed to open at 50 percent capacity .
Two weeks later , when Cooper reverted the city to phase two , bars were ordered to close for 14 days .
“ Our public health investigators have found a record number of clusters originating from bars within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees , patrons and musicians .
Multiple bars in the downtown and Midtown neighborhoods have recently closed because of outbreaks among their staff and patrons , ” Cooper said during a July 2 news conference .
Under modified rules in effect since Aug. 17 , bars may reopen with required social distancing to serve a maximum of 25 patrons , but they must close no later than 10:30 p.m. Nashville has 984 active COVID-19 cases , with 25,777 recovered cases .
The test positivity rate reported Friday was 6.8 percent .
A total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city .
Vivian Jones is a reporter for The Center Square .
Photo “ Nashville ” by Robert Easton CC2.0

by Virginia Allen
Republican governors are sending National Guard troops to the southern border.
Governors of Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia announced this week they will send troops and resources to Texas to support the work of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Operation Lone Star to secure the southern border.
“President [Joe] Biden’s failure at our southern border puts the entire country at risk,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday. “States must now step up where the president has failed to repel illegals, fight the cartels, and stop human and drug trafficking.”
Sanders is sending 80 National Guard troops to the border in July. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will send troop but has not clarified how many, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum also announced Thursday that he will send 100 National Guardsmen to Texas to help secure the southern border. Gov. Mike DeWine says he will send 14 State Highway troopers and supervisors to Texas for two weeks. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she will deploy about 50 National Guard troops to the border this summer.
Arkansas, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota join nine other GOP governors who have already pledged to send troops and resources to Texas to help secure the state’s border with Mexico.
“The ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Wednesday.
“Given the intensive resource demands on Texas, the dangers posed by the fentanyl crisis, and impact of the border crisis on criminal activity to the Commonwealth, Virginia will do its part to assist the State of Texas’ efforts with the coordinated deployment of Virginia National Guard soldiers to assist in key aspects of their mission,” Youngkin said.
Youngkin is sending 100 troops and 21 supporting personnel to Texas from the commonwealth.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is sending up to 50 National Guard troops and airmen to the border for up to 30 days. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster says he will also send troops to the border but has yet to announce how may.
“The safety and security of South Carolinians require that we stop the drug cartels, criminals, and terrorists from entering our country to peddle their poison,” McMaster said in a statement Wednesday.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday that she will send 100 National Guard troops and 30 Department of Public Safety personnel to the border.
The Republican governors’ decision to send troops to the southern border comes in response to Abbott’s request for states to join Texas and help secure the border through the work of Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security plan.
Nine GOP governors met with Abbott in Austin, Texas, on May 22 to discuss the border crisis. The meeting was held about a week after Abbott sent a letter to fellow governors asking them to help Texas secure the border.
The Texas governor applauded Idaho and Florida for already having sent border security resources and personnel to the Lone Star State to help secure the border and invited more governors to join in the “mission to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity and send all available law enforcement personnel and resources to the Texas-Mexico border to serve alongside our thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers.”
Last week, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced he will send 100 National Guard troops to the border and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen committed to send 10 state troopers to Texas to “help stop the influx of illegal immigration at our southern border.”
Florida, Idaho, and Mississippi were among the first states to answer Abbott’s call for help.
On May 17, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced he was mobilizing a National Guard unit to the border.
“To keep Mississippians safe and limit the impact of our nation’s open borders, the Mississippi National Guard’s 112th Military Police Battalion has been mobilized and is supporting Customs and Border Protection officers and agents along the Southwest border.”
The day before Reeves’ announcement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida had “over 1,100 assets and resources available” to aid Operation Lone Star, including 800 National Guard soldiers and 200 Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers.
“At my direction, state agencies, including law enforcement and the Florida National Guard, are being deployed to Texas, with assets including personnel, boats, and planes,” DeSantis said. “While Biden ignores the crisis he created, Florida stands ready to help Texas respond to this crisis.”
Since the start of the Biden administration, Customs and Border Protection reports encountering more than 5.5 million illegal aliens at the southern border. Since fiscal year 2023 began on Oct. 1, CBP has encountered more than 1.4 million illegal aliens, about triple the number encountered at the southern border during fiscal year 2020.
CBP has seized a record 17,000 pounds of fentanyl at the southern border so far in fiscal year 2023, which ends Sept. 30, more than triple the total amount seized in all of fiscal year 2020.
– – –
Virginia Allen is a senior news producer and podcast host for The Daily Signal. She is the co-host of “The Daily Signal Podcast” and “Problematic Women.”
Photo “National Guard” by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--Commentary: Trump Has Had a Historically Great First Term

You would never guess any of this from the Trump-hating media in full campaign for Joe Biden , but the voters will have reason to reflect on it before the electoral die is cast .
As the latest Democratic assassination effort—the bunk about President Trump disparaging American war dead on the centenary of the end of World War I—fades into ignominy with its propagator , the egregious Jeffrey Goldberg , acknowledging that anonymous denunciators are insufficiently convincing , we may dare to hope that in the last seven weeks of this tumultuous campaign , some serious , legitimate questions will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , like all incumbents , President Trump is seeking reelection on the basis of his record in office .
The demonic efforts of the Democrats ( and particularly of the rabidly Democratic national political media ) who are conducting their party ’ s campaign in the masked and highly self-distanced absence of the inarticulate nominee , to avoid a discussion of what this administration has achieved , will not make it all the way to election day .
This president is the 28th who has sought reelection after an entire , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , ( Theodore Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman , sought reelection after serving almost whole terms , having acceded to the presidency as vice presidents upon the death in office of their predecessors . )
Of these 27 previous presidents who sought reelection , 18 were successful , and among the nine who were not were a number who were more than adequate in the office , including both presidents Adams , Grover Cleveland , William Howard Taft , and George H. W. Bush .
After an extensive review of the claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I believe that President Trump has had the most successful first term of all but three or four of his predecessors , and of those , one candidate , James K. Polk , did not seek reelection in 1848 for health reasons .
President Trump , in his rather unseemly manner of self-serving evaluations , claims to have achieved more in one term than any other president .
He also claims to have done more for African-Americans than any president except Abraham Lincoln , and with Fox News Channel ’ s Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which she gently replied : “ We are free , Mr. President.
” This is what Trump himself describes as his “ constructive hyperbole , ” and he has paid a heavy price for allowing his enemies to represent his exaggerations as lies .
They are generally not lies , unlike in 90 percent of the heinous slanders his enemies have leveled against him , but they aren ’ t entirely truthful either .
This is an important distinction : the habitual boosterism of a New York developer , though often irritating and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the satanic defamatory calumnies of the Trump hating-media .
In assisting the cause of African-Americans , Trump ranks behind Lincoln as the emancipator of the slaves and Lyndon Johnson for passing the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts that finally enfranchised all African-Americans and funneled billions of dollars of assistance to African-Americans through a wide variety of programs ( not all of which were successful ) .
He probably also ranks behind Franklin D. Roosevelt , who treated the African-Americans with material equality in his workfare programs , social legislation , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregated but at least they were equal , and that was immense progress .
All in all , Trump is fourth and Polk is fifth , with Truman and Eisenhower close behind .
Also in contention are Harry Truman for integrating the armed forces , and Richard Nixon for ending , on a cooperative locally organized basis , segregation , and sparing the country the nightmare of busing tens of millions of schoolchildren around metropolitan areas out of their neighborhoods in a quest for court-ordered ethnic balance in the schools , regardless of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this nightmare that Nixon spared the country—a nightmare for which Kamala Harris reproached her running-mate Joe Biden for having opposed .
Joe Biden at least got that one right in 1972 but has lost his bearings in the intervening 48 years .
In overall performance as a first-term president , Lincoln again comes first .
The southern states were peeling off in secession as his inauguration approached and his second inauguration occurred just a month before the Confederate surrender at Appomattox transacted between those perennially favored subjects of statue sculptors , Robert E. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D. Roosevelt probably must come second .
The country had suffered an almost complete economic and psychological collapse when he was inaugurated in 1933 .
Unemployment was approximately 30 percent and there was no direct federal relief for it ; all commodity and stock exchanges and almost all banks had been closed for over a week .
After four years , he had reduced unemployment by about half , and most of the remaining unemployed were engaged in massive conservation and public works projects that greatly enhanced the nation ’ s infrastructure at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electricity to most of rural America , trained up the workforce , and were accompanied by the implementation of Social Security , farmer-approved stabilization of agricultural production and prices , and low-interest government loans to protect residential mortgages and avoid the eviction from their homes of millions of Americans .
The last 4 percent of unemployed were covered by newly created unemployment insurance , and the economy had expanded by nearly 50 percent and stock market values by over 100 percent , with a solid , reconstructed banking system .
Richard Nixon should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent anti-war rioting , skyjackings , and assassinations he inherited , withdrawing the United States from Vietnam while conserving a non-Communist government in Saigon , opening relations with China , signing the greatest arms control agreement in world history , starting the deescalation of the Cold War , ending segregation and the draft , founding the Environmental Protection Agency , and beginning a Middle Eastern peace process .
President Polk is a rival to Trump because he added 1 million square miles to American territory in a well-executed war with Mexico , roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and as much as the Louisiana Purchase .
He also amicably settled the Northwestern frontier with the British and Canadians and enacted a useful partial reestablishment of a central bank .
But President Trump , subjected to unprecedented harassment by unconstitutional attempts to rig and undo his election and a spurious impeachment , eliminated unemployment and oil imports , reduced illegal immigration—a profound and intractable national scandal—by 90 percent , departed the insane Paris climate and Iran nuclear agreements , reduced almost all income taxes , vastly deregulated commerce , is reviving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran and North Korea , has successfully renegotiated the country ’ s principal trade arrangements , has recognized and gained international support for containment of the geopolitical challenge of China , and has moved fearlessly against the tide of political correctness by supporting non-unionized schools , imposing some fairness standards on universities , and suppressing the national self-hate doctrine of critical race theory throughout the U.S. government .
He is restoring a constitutionalist federal judiciary .
All in all , Trump is fourth and Polk is fifth , with Truman and Eisenhower close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this from the Trump-hating media in full campaign for Biden , but the voters will have reason to reflect on it before the electoral die is cast .
Conrad Black has been one of Canada ’ s most prominent financiers for 40 years , and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers , the Fairfax newspapers in Australia , the Jerusalem Post , Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S. , and most of the daily newspapers in Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon , one-volume histories of the United States and Canada , and most recently of Donald J. Trump : A President Like No Other .
He is a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour .
Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--High School Students Moving Out of Illinois So They Can Play Sports

Illinois high school student athletes and their parents who are tired of COVID-19 delays in sports are taking matters into their own hands — some are protesting , while others are moving out of state to play elsewhere .
Student athletes , coaches and students ’ parents rallied in the dozens in McCook on Sunday to demand fall sports to resume , ABC 7 reported .
Only golf , cross country , girls ’ tennis and girls ’ swimming and diving are playing for now .
Meanwhile , ABC 7 reported that some student athletes and families are moving out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviewed Gage Perri , who moved to Colorado from Barrington High School in Illinois to continue playing hockey .
NPR ’ s David Greene of NPR in August interviewed senior Brett Kuczynski and his mother Denise in a story available here .
They moved to their vacation home in Florida so Brett could chase his dream of playing college football .
Brett ’ s father and sister stayed at home in Illinois .
The Illinois High School Association is trying to get Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s attention about the need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IHSA decided to move some fall sports to the spring while others would continue , after Pritzker announced a plan to restrict youth and adult sports , WMAQ reported .
The governor assigned risk levels to each type of sports based on contact between athletes .
The IHSA last week sent Pritzker a letter asking to take control of high school sports , the Chicago Tribune reported .
On Friday , IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson issued a statement to “ help clear the air ” over the letter he had sent Pritzker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support from the IHSA Board of Directors , I issued a letter on September 10 to Governor Pritzker and Deputy Governor Ruiz , that seeks permission for the IHSA and its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to resume control over determining the resumption of IHSA sports and activities .
However , the content of that letter has been greatly misconstrued on social media in a short amount of time .
There have been no discussions , let alone proposed timelines , for resuming any sports at this time .
Should our office receive a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could result in the IHSA reexamining its previously released season schedules , as well as postseason schedules , for the 2020-21 school year .
It is important to note that , under the leadership of Governor Pritzker , Illinois has attained one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in the country .
Additionally , several surrounding states have successfully conducted sports categorized as medium and high risk here in Illinois , and we believe sports and activities are safest when conducted under the IHSA safety protocols by school personnel .
Those combined factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we will respectfully await response to it .
The IHSA is not involved in any planned protests this weekend related to high school sports .
If protests occur , we encourage all attendees to be safe , smart and respectful.
” Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--In the Final Weeks Leading to November, Biden’s Lead in the Top Six Battleground States Narrows

Democratic nominee Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump in six of the most competitive battleground states as both candidates amp up their fundraising efforts and place multimillion dollar ad buys just over seven weeks out from the election , according to a Daily Caller News Foundation review .
In 2016 , Trump pulled off an upset win after flipping Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania .
Now , those three states , in addition to Arizona , Florida and North Carolina , are likely to decide the winner of November ’ s presidential election .
The DCNF reviewed polling , fundraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to determine both candidates ’ standing in each battleground state .
Though the states , which total 101 electoral votes , are unique , several overarching strategies have emerged for both Trump and Biden .
In the upper Midwest , experts say Trump must aim to drive up turnout among white voters without a college degree , while the former vice president must try to accomplish the same among younger voters and voters of color .
In southern states like Florida , Trump is trying to build on his relatively strong support from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold his strong support among the state ’ s disproportionately large older population .
Four years ago , Trump capitalized on Hillary Clinton ’ s months-long absence from the Badger State , winning Wisconsin by approximately 23,000 votes .
Since then , however , Democrats have ousted Republican Gov .
Scott Walker and invested enormous resources into the state .
The Democratic Party also chose Milwaukee for their convention , though the event was scaled back significantly due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Biden held a seven point lead over Trump as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s polling average , but Trump has out-raised him , bringing in $ 3.4 million to Biden ’ s $ 1.3 million according to Federal Elections Commission data .
Though Biden has maintained his lead , a victory in November is no sure thing , GOP strategist Brian Reisinger told Politico , referring to Clinton and former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold , both of whom held leads over their opponents only to lose their elections .
The August shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha catapulted Wisconsin into the national spotlight , keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 race .
In the wake of the unrest , Republicans attempted to portray Biden as willing to condone the violence .
Biden has since explicitly condemn rioting and visited Kenosha .
Trump has raised over twice as much from Kenosha residents than Biden , according to Open Secrets , but the two most recent Wisconsin polls showed Biden up by six and eight points .
Both Trump and Biden have focused on gaining support from suburban voters around Madison and Milwaukee , areas that were crucial to Democratic Gov .
Tony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election results show .
For Trump , the key is driving up turnout among his base and among white voters without a college degree , which make up a disproportionately large share of Wisconsinites who did not vote four years ago , according to election forecaster Dave Wasserman .
Trump ’ s campaign has acknowledged that Michigan may be the most challenging state to carry again , given that that he won by fewer than 11,000 votes out of approximately 4.7 million cast .
Four years ago , Trump benefited from a low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an opponent who constantly struggled to attract working-class voters .
Unlike Clinton , Biden has strong support from blue-collar workers , according to The New York Times , leaving Trump with a microscopic margin for error this time around .
Since Trump ’ s 2016 victory , suburban voters outside of Detroit have flocked to Democrats , exit polls show , resulting in Democratic candidates winning the governorship , two congressional seats , the attorney general and the secretary of state in the 2018 midterms .
Though Biden is by no means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is likely to benefit from far stronger support from suburbanites and voters of color than Clinton received four years ago , according to Politico .
To hold the state , Trump will have to mitigate his party ’ s losses in the suburbs while driving up turnout from rural voters across the state .
Biden also leads Trump by over seven points in the state , according to FiveThirtyEight .
Trump has raised over twice as much as Biden from Michiganders throughout his first term , according to the FEC , his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late July , according to The New York Times .
Trump ’ s narrow 2016 victory was fueled by strong support in western suburbs and rural areas throughout the state , making him the first Republican to win the state since George H.W .
Bush in 1998 .
Now , his campaign is relying on a similar strategy once again .
“ President Trump ’ s historic win was made possible in part by flipping key Pennsylvania counties , and those same counties are on our road to victory again this November , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund ’ s Pennsylvania communications director , told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ Now , in 2020 , thanks to our permanent , data-driven ground game , we are able to play to win across all 67 Pennsylvania counties , ” she said .
Though Biden has led in almost every poll , his lead has narrowed in recent weeks .
He leads by five points in the state , according to FiveThirtyEight , down almost two points from early August and down over three points from late June , leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the polls .
Both candidates have had strong fundraising support in the state as well , with Trump and Biden raising $ 8.1 million and $ 7.4 million , respectively , according to the FEC .
Biden surrogates say that the race is neck-and-neck and fear that Trump ’ s rock-solid support from his base will be enough to give him Pennsylvania ’ s 20 electoral votes .
“ What I ’ m seeing is that it ’ s anyone ’ s race .
I think Trump has a real shot at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Philadelphia-based progressive strategist , told Politico .
“ The Democratic party establishment and the pollsters were in 2016 deeply out of touch with the hearts and souls of Americans , and particularly the struggle of black , brown and white working-class people , ” she said .
“ And that hasn ’ t changed.
” Unlike Trump ’ s victories in the upper Midwest , his 3.5 point victory in Arizona four years ago was hardly an upset in a state that has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only won the state with 48 % of the vote , and Biden has pulled ahead in the state with less than two months until the election .
The former vice president leads Trump in the state by 4.7 points , according to FiveThirtyEight , and has also reserved $ 17 million in ads from now until the election , compared to $ 6 million reserved by Trump , according to Politico .
Despite his trailing in the polls , Trump has raised over $ 8 million from voters in the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the FEC .
Arizona ’ s demographics have also been changing faster than almost every other state in the country , according to the Census Bureau .
The state ’ s population increased nearly 14 % throughout the last decade , fueled by growing Hispanic and college-educated suburbanites , both of which are groups that tend to vote Democratic .
“ Arizona is definitely one of our most flappable states because of the demographic change , the Latino population is growing so fast in Arizona , coming of age , mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all citizens , ” Matt Barreto , co-founder of Latino Decisions , told Politico .
Trump won Maricopa County , which includes Phoenix and 60 % of the state ’ s registered voters , by approximately three points in 2016 .
But his 2020 success in the state is contingent on not only mitigating Biden ’ s gains in Phoenix and its surrounding suburbs , but also driving turnout from voters in rural counties as well .
“ [ Trump ] can ’ t lose Maricopa County by more than a point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of winning , ” said Republican strategist Chuck Coughlin .
Trump also has to contend with some high-profile Arizona Republicans who have vocally opposed his reelection .
Former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake endorsed Biden last month , while the family of the late Sen. John McCain has frequently criticized Trump for his rhetoric .
While Biden currently leads Trump by 2.7 points in the state , according to FiveThirtyEight , Florida is as pure a tossup as any state in the country , forecasters say .
Just two months ago , Biden led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points as its coronavirus case count skyrocketed and Trump ’ s approval plummeted .
More recent polls , though , show the raced tied as Trump has made inroads with the state ’ s disproportionately large Hispanic population , fueled by his support from Cuban-Americans .
Biden , conversely , has held onto his statewide lead thanks to the state ’ s younger voters , who support him 49 % -41 % , and senior voters , who support him over Trump 49 % -48 % , according to a recent AARP poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump has raised nearly $ 32 million from Florida voters through July , according to the FEC , showing how the same bloc of voters that won him the state in 2016 and won Republicans the governorship and a Senate seat is determined to reelect the president in November .
Democratic voters have mobilized behind Biden as well , underscored by their record-breaking turnout in the state ’ s August primary .
Not only did 1.7 million Democrats vote , edging Republican turnout by over 40,000 votes , but they also outvoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes as well , Politico reported .
Biden and Trump , both keenly aware that Florida ’ s 29 electoral votes could be the clincher in a close election , have invested heavily across the state , but the former vice president has outspent the incumbent $ 20.5 million to $ 7.8 million , according to The Washington Post .
Of these six states , Trump remains strongest in North Carolina .
Polls show Biden ahead by only 1.7 points , according to FiveThirtyEight , with just 48 % support , meaning that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s swing voters in the suburbs surrounding cities Charlotte and Raleigh .
Those voters are “ the swingiest of the swing states ” said Chris Cooper , a political scientist at Western Carolina University , referring to North Carolina being the lone state with a competitive races across presidential , Senate and gubernatorial levels .
“ We consider this to be the eye of the hurricane politically , ” North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley told Politico .
The state was also the first to begin sending absentee ballots to registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received over 750,000 requests in the week since voting began , according to the state ’ s Secretary of State office .
The total far exceeds the approximately 50,000 ballots requested at this point in 2016 , giving both candidates less time to convince early swing voters that may decide both the presidency and the makeup of the Senate .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--Poll: 80 Percent of Democrats Think Making Voting Easier Is More Important Than Ensuring Voter Eligi

Poll: 80 Percent of Democrats Think Making Voting Easier Is More Important Than Ensuring Voter Eligibility

Roughly 80 % of Democratic think that getting as many people as possible into the voting booth is more important @ @ @ @ @ is eligible to cast a ballot , a new Just the News Daily Poll with @ @ @ @ @ 70 % of Republican voters , meanwhile , think the opposite , believing that election @ @ @ @ @ verify each voter ’ s eligibility .
Overall , a majority of Americans , 54 @ @ @ @ @ voting easier for everyone is more important , while 41 % think that more vigorously @ @ @ @ @ higher priority .
Rasmussen says that independents are more evenly divided on the question than @ @ @ @ @ with 49 % in favor of easier voting access and 41 % in favor of @ @ @ @ @ survey of 1,200 registered voters was conducted by Rasmussen using a mixed-mode approach from September @ @ @ @ @ see this poll question ’ s cross-demographic tabulations , click here .
To see this @ @ @ @ @ and sample demographics , click here .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--Pandemic Chases ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ to Christmas

NEW YORK , New York ( AP ) — Following the less-than-stellar theatrical debut of Christopher Nolan ’ s “ Tenet , ” Warner Bros. is delaying its next big release , “ Wonder Woman 1984 , ” to Christmas .
The postponement Friday of the “ Wonder Woman ” sequel , which had been scheduled to hit theaters Oct. 2 , comes on the heels of Hollywood ’ s boldest attempt to lure moviegoers back to theaters during the pandemic .
Warner Bros. ’ $ 200 million “ Tenet ” fared well in its international-first launch , but found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
About 25 % of U.S. theaters remain closed , including those in the top markets of Los Angeles and New York .
All theaters are operating at reduced capacity .
“ Tenet ” grossed about $ 20 million in its North American rollout , which included two weeks of showings in Canada .
Some believed that was as good as possible , given the circumstances , and hinted that audiences would follow new releases into theaters .
But the “ Wonder Woman 1984 ” postponement was its own kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t believe current box-office returns can sustain its big-budget releases .
Universal Studios on Friday also pushed the Jordan Peele-produced thriller “ Candyman ” from October 16 to sometime next year .
Hollywood ’ s fall is starting to look like its mostly scuttled summer .
“ Wonder Woman 1984 , ” one of many blockbusters originally set for the summer , had been the next big-budget release on the calendar .
Now , that gap extends to the Walt Disney Co. ’ s “ Black Widow , ” a Marvel release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller productions are going ahead .
Sony Pictures this weekend is releasing the rom-com “ Broken Hearts Gallery.
” Announcing the move of “ Wonder Woman 1984 ” to Dec. 25 , Toby Emmerich , Warmer Bros. Motion Picture Group chairman , said in a statement : “ We ’ re very proud of the film and look forward to bringing it to audiences for the holidays.
” Jake Coyle is a Film Writer with The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Gal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from “ Wonder Woman 1984.
” Following the less-than-stellar theatrical debut of Christopher Nolan ’ s “ Tenet , ” Warner Bros. is delaying its next big release , “ Wonder Woman 1984 , ” to Christmas .
( Clay Enos/Warner Bros Pictures via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--Google Removes Autocomplete for Candidates and Voting

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election Google said that it will now remove any autocomplete predictions that seem to endorse or oppose a candidate or a political party and claims about voting or the electoral process , according to a CNN report .
Google executives outlined these changes at an online press event Thursday , as well as in a blog post .
Google ’ s autocomplete feature offers recommendations for queries once a user begins typing .
The tech company says that it will now remove any Autocomplete predictions that seem to endorse or oppose a candidate or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim about voting or the electoral process .
That would mean eliminating predictions like “ you can vote by phone , ” “ you can ’ t vote by phone ” or anything suggesting that you donate to a party or candidate .
However , Google emphasized users will still be able to search for information around voting or candidates — you just won ’ t see those queries automatically .
The news comes as Facebook , Twitter and other tech giants are trying to to curb the spread of misinformation and avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We want to be very careful about the type of information that we highlight in the search feature given its prominence .
Given the concern around elections and elections information , we want to be particularly conservative here , ” said David Graff , Google ’ s senior director of global policy and standards .
Graff told reporters innocuous suggestions will probably be eliminated but the company wants to err on the side of caution .
“ We really want to prevent bad information … from surfacing in a feature like @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--TBI Director: Tennessee Law Enforcement Reform Standards Will Lead Nation

In response to recommendations from a law enforcement task force appointed by Gov .
Bill Lee in July , nearly 90 percent of Tennessee ’ s 400 law enforcement agencies have reviewed and amended their use-of-force policies to comply with new state standards .
Lee and leaders of Tennessee ’ s Law Enforcement Reform Partnership Task Force announced enhanced policies for law enforcement agencies Thursday to prevent improper use of force and related misconduct , prevent bad actors from being hired and increase officer training in de-escalation and use of force .
“ This is an unprecedented effort .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch said .
“ We are moving in Tennessee in the right direction – quicker , quite frankly , than every state in the union.
” Rausch , who was appointed by U.S. Attorney General William Barr last year to serve on the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice , said the standards were determined in consultation with the attorney general ’ s office , and informed by forthcoming national standards , which soon will be released by the U.S. Department of Justice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet or exceed the forthcoming national standards .
“ We also have been watching closely on the federal level , ” Rausch said .
“ We ’ ve been working very closely with the AG ’ s office and with the ( Presidential ) Commission , and so that ’ s how we ’ re aware , obviously , a little bit of an insider understanding of what ’ s coming … of what the standards are that they ’ re getting ready to put in place.
” Under Tennessee ’ s reformed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for new officers at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy will be increased from 400 hours to 488 hours .
Sixteen of those hours will be required training on proper use of force , interaction with public assemblies and interaction with the local community .
“ We want to ensure that all Tennessee ’ s law enforcement officers continue to receive the best training and standards , so that we can respond to the evolving needs of law enforcement and in our communities , ” Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Hodgen Mainda said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours of annual in-service training on de-escalation techniques and duty to intervene , public assembly and community interaction and community immersion techniques .
The partnership ’ s recommendations also expand information sharing among law enforcement agencies in Tennessee .
“ As we have witnessed , each critical policy violation by a police officer has the potential to do lasting damage to individuals to a community and to an entire nation : every incident erodes police credibility , ” Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long said .
Long noted officers involved in use-of-force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even firings on their record .
“ The idea that problem officers are still on the job is very concerning to all of us , ” Long said .
In response to recommendations from the partnership , every law enforcement agency in the state will have access to a national index to report officers terminated or resigned in lieu of termination .
CEOs of agencies will be required to certify the reason for the officer leaving their position .
“ Our criminal justice system isn ’ t afraid to take a hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and justice for every Tennessee and through law enforcement , ” Lee said .
Vivian Jones is a reporter for The Center Square .
Photo “ Police Car ” by Scott Davidson CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--Republican Charlotte Bergmann Wants U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen’s Job

Republican Charlotte Bergmann wants to unseat U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen ( D-TN-09 ) in this year ’ s election .
Bergmann , according to her Facebook page , is scheduled to speak at the Shelby County Republican Party ’ s Outreach meeting at 6 p.m. Central Monday at its headquarters at 750 North Germantown Parkway in Memphis .
“ I want to see you there , ” Bergmann wrote .
“ I need your support if you plan to help fight to win this election.
” Bergmann , according to her campaign website , is a Memphis native , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her family to attain a college education .
“ In 2018 , Charlotte was awarded the Statesmen of the Year Award from the State Republican Party .
She was then elected to the Tennessee State Executive Committee for TN District 33 .
Since 2010 Ms. Bergmann has also been a Radio and TV Commentator on Informed Sources both on local TV Channel 3 news and KWAM 990 AM radio , ” her website said .
“ In July of 2019 , Charlotte released her new book , The Last Trumpet , describing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , and that we need to debunk the lies and miss-truths of the Left and that we must think for ourselves .
This is especially true to gain independence and to be set free from the cycle of dependency.
” According to LocalMemphis.com , Bergmann reportedly said the following about Cohen : “ For thirteen years Cohen has been our Representative in Washington and has done little to help his constituents back home .
I ’ ve asked him about improving Memphis and getting a handle on crime .
His response has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal issues , ’ ” Bergmann reportedly said .
“ You can not represent a district adequately in Congress in a vacuum and ignore the conditions on the ground .
I know there are things a Congressman can bring to the table to fix many of the problems we have.
” As reported last month , Cohen reportedly deleted a tweet he wrote that prompted another person to say U.S. Sen. Tim Scott ( R-SC ) “ might as well be ” white .
And Cohen endorsed that other person ’ s comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet that Cohen liked also ridiculed Herman Caine ’ s death .
This , according to FOX News , which acquired screenshots of the conversation before Cohen deleted it .
As The Tennessee Star has reported several times , Cohen takes political and personal jabs at U.S. President Donald Trump whenever and wherever possible .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Charlotte Bergmann ” by Charlotte Bergmann .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--Professor Blames ‘White Christian Privilege’ for Slavery, Genocide

A professor from Fairleigh Dickinson University recently presented for Rutgers University and explained how “ white Christian privilege ” and “ Christian privilege ” are responsible for slavery , genocide and colonialism .
Rutgers University held the lecture on September 9 to explore the topic of “ white Christian privilege.
” The law school ’ s Center for Security , Race and Rights hosted Professor Khyati Joshi for the presentation .
Joshi published a book in July with the same title as her presentation , called “ White Christian Privilege : The Illusion of Religious Equality in America.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regularly with employers and schools on these topics .
Joshi ’ s presentation discussed how whiteness and Christianity are responsible for “ genocide , ” “ slavery ” and “ colonialism.
” She said she wants people to understand “ the role Christianity has had in the construction of whiteness.
” She said that concepts like manifest destiny , the idea that colonizers were led by God to take over land , prove her points about white supremacy and Christianity .
“ We have to also take into account the Biblical justification for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hour-long presentation , Joshi explained what white Christian privilege is and the way it manifests itself in society .
She said Christian privilege is “ built into the edifice ” of American jurisprudence .
She also talked about how even non-white Christians enjoy some privileges .
Joshi said during the virtual presentation , attended by The College Fix , that she noticed while in school that research on whiteness in America often missed the “ explicit role of religion in the development of whiteness.
” Joshi , who said she is Hindu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privilege her whole life but “ didn ’ t have the language to be able to articulate what I was experiencing.
” She said that sometimes there is white Christian privilege and sometimes there is just Christian privilege .
When talking about this history of the country and privilege “ we should talk about Protestant Christian ” privilege “ because the United States has a long and drawn-out history of anti-Catholicism.
” Christian privilege is part of “ white Christian supremacy , ” according to one slide that Joshi used .
This form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hegemony , normativity and privilege .
Christian privilege , according to Joshi , is “ a product of systemic religious oppression over the history of this country.
” Claims Christians do not regularly have to fight for their religious freedom In her presentation , Joshi said that court cases on the religious freedom of non-Christian religions is indicative of Christian privilege .
Joshi pointed to three cases to prove her point , including Goldman v. Weinberger , a 1986 ruling where the Supreme Court allowed the military to prevent an Orthodox Jewish military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She also discussed Employment Division v. Smith , where the Supreme Court ruled in 1989 against two drug counselors who the state of Oregon fired after they tested positive for drugs after ingesting peyote .
She cited a 1988 Supreme Court case , Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery , where the court ruled that Native Americans did not have a religious right to prevent the harvesting of timber on lands they considered sacred .
Joshi did not respond to several emailed requests for comment from The College Fix for clarification on why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She told The Fix on Thursday via email that she would provide a comment , but did not respond by Thursday evening .
Non-white Christians can have privilege , too On the topic of non-white Christians , Joshi said that they can sometimes have privilege .
Christian communities of color “ also have Christian privilege ” but “ when we take into account intersectionality … the race element is there.
” She said people need to understand the “ overarching theme is always white Christian privilege or white Christian supremacy.
” Joshi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hispanic Catholics have Christian privilege.
” She added that one way to decrease Christian privilege is actually to embrace religious differences and say things like “ Merry Christmas.
” She said she tries to say “ Merry Christmas ” instead of “ Happy Holidays ” with the hope that other people will respond by wishing non-Christians a happy celebration of their holidays .
Additionally , Joshi did say that one way to understand each other better is for people to look at their “ sphere of influence ” and consider if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re not going to make change only listening , ” the professor said ; instead “ we have to get close to some of the challenges we need to solve ” and examine the “ sphere of influence.
” While the director of the Center for Security , Race , and Rights , Sahar Aziz , agreed with that statement during the presentation , she did not respond to several emailed requests from The College Fix since Wednesday asking for comment on Christian privilege and if she planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university .
Future topics in the lecture series from the center , which focuses on the experience of “ Muslim , Arab , and South Asian communities , ” includes a presentation on sanctions against Iran and another presentation about counterrorism in Somalia .
Americans United for Separation for Church and State will host Joshi next week as part of a panel on “ dismantling white privilege ” and “ Christian nationalism.
” Matt Lamb is the Assistant Editor if TheCollegeFix.com .
Photo “ Khyati Joshi ” by Khyati Joshi .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-14--Commentary: The Resistance War Games a Post-Election Civil War

All of this could be written off as the grudge fantasies of political activists still mad about 2016 except it is backed by some of the wealthiest people in the world .
Cancel the Election Night party and forget the long-awaited moment when George Stephanopoulos announces , in the late hours of November 3 , the official winner .
And buckle up for an election-year nightmare that will make the 2000 recount look like a walk in a Palm Beach County park .
A vengeful and well-funded coalition of Trump-hating insurrectionists are prepping the battlefield for a post-election civil war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 election into 2021 but to weaponize every tool at their disposal to make sure Joe Biden assumes the presidency even if President Trump legitimately wins .
The very same sore losers on the Left and NeverTrump Right who still refuse to accept the results of the 2016 presidential contest are preparing to do whatever it takes—including promote the secession of western states—to force the removal of Donald Trump next January .
Their plan , using the intentionally misleading title , “ Transition Integrity Project , ” outlines alarming and wholly unconstitutional responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Once upon a time , I would ’ ve read such a far-fetched document through tears of laughter .
But considering the desperation and depravity of the people involved , this terrifying roadmap needs to be taken seriously .
Organizers , including Clinton loyalist John Podesta and NeverTrump leader Bill Kristol , have been playing war games for the past few months , plotting how to deploy media , government , and public armies to install Biden no matter what .
Their scorched earth strategy rests on two factors : the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official result so they can manipulate the outcome while stoking civil unrest until Republicans cry uncle , and the notion that if he loses , President Trump will claim the Democrats stole the election , a legitimate possibility that this plan only serves to further validate .
The four options described in the report , ranging from a Biden landslide to a slim Trump victory , would propel a constitutional crisis which our already frayed populace is ill-equipped to endure—a climate of ongoing political chaos , by the way , that Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to exploit .
Teams of imaginary players , representing both campaigns and supporting interests , explored each potential result .
( Kristol recently bragged on Twitter that he played the role of President Trump . )
Bad guys include Attorney General William Barr ; good guys include Senator Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) .
“ In the scenario that most closely mirrored the 2016 election results ( e.g.
, the Democratic candidate wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College ) , Team Biden pushed to overturn certified results in states with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To buy time as they harvest Democratic ballots in tight contests after Election Day , the TIP operation will harness support from all living former presidents and anti-Trump Republicans such as Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to urge patience from the public in the name of “ election integrity.
” Faith leaders will call for calm even as Democrats stoke unrest ; in order to involve corporate America in their fight—which shouldn ’ t be a heavy lift—anti-Trump forces will initiate nationwide work stoppages and strikes .
“ Team Biden almost always called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate the public ’ s commitment to a ‘ legitimate ’ outcome , with the objective of hardening the resolve of Democratic elected officials to fight and take action.
” ( The group at one point envisioned at least 4 million Biden supporters taking to the streets with warnings of “ violent skirmishes and vandalism.
” ) Those Democratic elected officials , according to the plan , include the governors and legislatures of swing states .
One scene may have accidentally revealed the makings of a false flag operation after November 3 if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A rogue individual destroyed a large number of ballots believed to have supported Biden , leaving Trump a narrow electoral win , ” the group imagined .
“ The Governor of Michigan used this abnormality as justification to send a separate , pro-Biden set of electors to DC.
” Anyone who ’ s watched Gretchen Whitmer over the past six months knows she will happily defy the law and common decency for attention .
The teams also developed a battle plan if Trump wins Michigan , North Carolina , and Wisconsin .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on accusations of “ voter suppression.
” In that scenario , “ governors in two of the three ( Wisconsin and Michigan ) sent separate slates of electors to counter those sent by the state legislature.
” If that happens , the plotters predict , it would prompt “ a breakdown in the joint session of Congress by getting the House of Representatives to agree to award the presidency to Biden based on the alternative pro-Biden submissions sent by pro-Biden governors.
” January 20 , 2021 would arrive with no clear winner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only one scenario allows for a Biden loss , but any concession would involve a constitutional shakedown .
The Biden campaign wouldn ’ t admit defeat until it “ negotiated hard for permanent structural reforms ” including long-desired Democratic Party goals such as eliminating the Electoral College and approving D.C. statehood .
Keep in mind , these are the same folks who routinely accuse the president of violating “ constitutional norms , ” and therein lies the gist : since Trump allegedly shreds the Constitution and rule of law , they argue without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in doing the same .
Some of TIPs post-election forecasts are straight-up delusional .
During the transition period , Trump might “ maximize the flow of federal money into Trump businesses .
.
.
negotiate business deals with foreign countries ; and purge documents that might incriminate foreign governments and business partners , ” the group fantasized .
Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner might even launch something called “ MAGA TV ” from the White House .
The Biden team may encourage California , Washington , and Oregon to secede and form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ structural reforms to fix our democratic system ” proposed by President Obama .
Romney plays a starring role in one anecdote ; while Trump disputes a slim Biden victory , Romney successfully convinces three Republican senators to declare Biden the victor .
“ As it became evident that the Biden victory would be certified , Senator [ sic ] Majority Leader Mitch McConnell privately signaled to several Republicans they could support Romney ’ s cross-the-aisle effort , recognizing that moderate Republicans are more likely to prevail in 2022.
” Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be over after Biden replaces him in the Oval Office .
TIP organizers will push to have the president and members of his administration charged with unspecified crimes .
Some observers have compared the Transition Integrity Project ’ s operation to a “ color revolution , ” a coup-like strategy the United States uses in other countries to foment civil unrest and oust hostile foreign leaders .
( Revolver News has a few excellent pieces detailing the comparison and the players involved . )
But what ’ s most alarming about TIP ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
All of this could be written off as the grudge fantasies of political activists still mad about 2016 except it is backed by some of the wealthiest people in the world .
In my next column , I ’ ll report how these wannabe insurgents are funded by influential billionaires including George Soros , Pierre Omidyar , Mark Zuckerberg , and the Rupert Murdoch family .
Julie Kelly is a political commentator and senior contributor to American Greatness .
She is the author of Disloyal Opposition : How the NeverTrump Right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past work can be found at The Federalist and National Review .
She also has been featured in the Wall Street Journal , The Hill , Chicago Tribune , Forbes , and Genetic Literacy Project .
Photo “ Protest ” by Antrell Williams CC2.0