thetennesseestar--2020-10-03--SCC Denies Northam’s Request to Extend Utility Shutoff Moratorium

The Virginia State Corporation Commission ( SCC ) denied Governor Ralph Northam ’ s Thursday request to extend a moratorium on utilities shutoffs until December .
The moratorium will end October 5 .
The SCC had previously warned that they would not consider any further extensions .
“ The mounting costs of unpaid bills must eventually be paid , either by the customers in arrears or by other customers who themselves may be struggling to pay their bills , ” a press release warned on September 15 .
By the end of June , the outstanding bills were already $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SCC , Northam said his August 18 budget proposal to the General Assembly provided for a shutoffs moratorium , repayment plans , and debt forgiveness .
“ With proposals for utilities and customers included in both the House and Senate ’ s recently introduced budget proposals , we are optimistic that the General Assembly will address this issue .
The intent of this request is to ensure that there are no disconnections between the expiration of the current order and when the budget becomes law.
” Counsel to the Commission John Dudley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
“ As discussed in the enclosed order of September 15 , 2020 ( which also closed the Commission ’ s official proceeding in this matter ) , the Commission-mandated moratorium began on March 16 , 2020 , and will not be extended beyond October 5 , 2020.
” In its September decision , the SCC ordered utilities to continue to provide extended payment plans .
“ The Commission further directed that customers on such plans ( or other good-faith repayment plans with the utility ) shall not be charged late fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for these customers , the protections of the moratorium continue.
” On Tuesday , the House of Delegates passed its version of the budget and the Senate passed its version on Friday .
Although they are not yet law , both bills would extend the shutoffs moratorium to last as long as the state ’ s emergency declaration .
Forgiven debts will also be partially covered by federal and state funds ; however , utilities may also increase other customers ’ bills to cover any losses .
Additionally , both bills direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be paid from the over $ 300 million in unauthorized earnings the company collected .
However , the House and Senate bills disagree on which debts should be covered ; the House legislation orders forgiveness for debts 60 days past due on August 31 , while the Senate legislation covers debts 30 days past due on September 30 .
In his letter to Northam , Dudley said the SCC will act promptly as soon as the budget is finalized .
“ [ Y ] our correspondence references legislative activity on this matter as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session that began on August 18 , 2020 .
In this regard , please know that the Commission , as always , stands ready to implement any statutory directives that result therefrom.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) denied Governor Ralph Northam’s Thursday request to extend a moratorium on utilities shutoffs until December. The moratorium will end October 5. The SCC had previously warned that they would not consider any further extensions.
“The mounting costs of unpaid bills must eventually be paid, either by the customers in arrears or by other customers who themselves may be struggling to pay their bills,” a press release warned on September 15. By the end of June, the outstanding bills were already $184 million.
In his letter to the SCC, Northam said his August 18 budget proposal to the General Assembly provided for a shutoffs moratorium, repayment plans, and debt forgiveness. “With proposals for utilities and customers included in both the House and Senate’s recently introduced budget proposals, we are optimistic that the General Assembly will address this issue. The intent of this request is to ensure that there are no disconnections between the expiration of the current order and when the budget becomes law.”
Counsel to the Commission John Dudley sent a letter back on the same day. “As discussed in the enclosed order of September 15, 2020 (which also closed the Commission’s official proceeding in this matter), the Commission-mandated moratorium began on March 16, 2020, and will not be extended beyond October 5, 2020.”
In its September decision, the SCC ordered utilities to continue to provide extended payment plans. “The Commission further directed that customers on such plans (or other good-faith repayment plans with the utility) shall not be charged late fees and shall not be disconnected. Thus, for these customers, the protections of the moratorium continue.”
On Tuesday, the House of Delegates passed its version of the budget and the Senate passed its version on Friday. Although they are not yet law, both bills would extend the shutoffs moratorium to last as long as the state’s emergency declaration. Forgiven debts will also be partially covered by federal and state funds; however, utilities may also increase other customers’ bills to cover any losses.
Additionally, both bills direct that unpaid debts of Dominion Energy customers be paid from the over $300 million in unauthorized earnings the company collected. However, the House and Senate bills disagree on which debts should be covered; the House legislation orders forgiveness for debts 60 days past due on August 31, while the Senate legislation covers debts 30 days past due on September 30.
In his letter to Northam, Dudley said the SCC will act promptly as soon as the budget is finalized. “[Y]our correspondence references legislative activity on this matter as part of the ongoing General Assembly special session that began on August 18, 2020. In this regard, please know that the Commission, as always, stands ready to implement any statutory directives that result therefrom.”
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-03--Michigan Supreme Court Overturns Whitmer’s Emergency Powers

The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday struck down Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s coronavirus orders , following months of back and forth between the Democratic governor and the Republican legislature .
The court said that Whitmer cited authority for her multitude of executive orders from a 1945 law that is unconstitutional , the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945 .
Republicans said Whitmer should used have a 1976 law , which requires legislature approval to continue after any emergency declaration lasting 28 days , ClickOnDetroit said .
“ [ The Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative power to the executive branch in violation of the Michigan Constitution , ” Justice Stephen Markman wrote .
“ Accordingly , the executive orders issued by the governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic now lack any basis under Michigan law.
” The ruling resulting from the 4-3 decision does not take effect for 21 days , but renders Whitmer ’ s executive orders powerless , as they “ now lack any basis under Michigan law , ” the court said .
Whitmer pushed back on the court ’ s decision in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Supreme Court ruling , handed down by a narrow majority of Republican justices , is deeply disappointing , and I vehemently disagree with the court ’ s interpretation of the Michigan Constitution .
Right now , every state and the federal government have some form of declared emergency .
With this decision , Michigan will become the sole outlier at a time when the Upper Peninsula is experiencing rates of COVID infection not seen in our state since April , ” Whitmer said .
“ It is important to note that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 21 days , and until then , my emergency declaration and orders retain the force of law .
Furthermore , after 21 days , many of the responsive measures I have put in place to control the spread of the virus will continue under alternative sources of authority that were not at issue in today ’ s ruling.
” The Michigan Supreme Court ’ s ruling was passed down the same day that Whitmer moved the Upper Peninsula back to Phase 4 after a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases .
Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus and a death toll of 6,788 , according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services .
More than 95,000 cases are considered recovered .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Photo “ Michigan Supreme Court Justices ” by michigan.gov .

The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday struck down Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus orders, following months of back and forth between the Democratic governor and the Republican legislature.
The court said that Whitmer cited authority for her multitude of executive orders from a 1945 law that is unconstitutional, the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945. Republicans said Whitmer should used have a 1976 law, which requires legislature approval to continue after any emergency declaration lasting 28 days, ClickOnDetroit said.
“[The Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945] is an unlawful delegation of legislative power to the executive branch in violation of the Michigan Constitution,” Justice Stephen Markman wrote. “Accordingly, the executive orders issued by the governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic now lack any basis under Michigan law.”

The ruling resulting from the 4-3 decision does not take effect for 21 days, but renders Whitmer’s executive orders powerless, as they “now lack any basis under Michigan law,” the court said.
Whitmer pushed back on the court’s decision in a statement released Friday.
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling, handed down by a narrow majority of Republican justices, is deeply disappointing, and I vehemently disagree with the court’s interpretation of the Michigan Constitution. Right now, every state and the federal government have some form of declared emergency. With this decision, Michigan will become the sole outlier at a time when the Upper Peninsula is experiencing rates of COVID infection not seen in our state since April,” Whitmer said. “It is important to note that this ruling does not take effect for at least 21 days, and until then, my emergency declaration and orders retain the force of law. Furthermore, after 21 days, many of the responsive measures I have put in place to control the spread of the virus will continue under alternative sources of authority that were not at issue in today’s ruling.”
The Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling was passed down the same day that Whitmer moved the Upper Peninsula back to Phase 4 after a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases.
Michigan currently has more than 126,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and a death toll of 6,788, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. More than 95,000 cases are considered recovered.
– – –
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.
Photo “Michigan Supreme Court Justices” by michigan.gov.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--West Tennessee Felons Face More Prison Time for Having Firearms

Officials with the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Tennessee announced updates , in separate cases , on two convicted felons who used firearms in connection with other alleged crimes .
Per federal law , convicted felons are not allowed to possess firearms .
In the first case , officials announced they had sentenced Fred Lee Williams , 37 , to 108 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm , according to a press release .
In 2018 DEA Task Force officers said they saw Williams in a parked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s side door and show it to another male .
“ Williams then pulled a gun from the center area of the car and began waving it around .
Williams put the gun down and exited the vehicle .
He was temporarily detained while officers assessed the situation , ” the press release said .
“ The gun , which had been reported stolen , was found in plain view , on the driver ’ s side floorboard .
While opening the door to retrieve the gun , officers observed a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s door , weighing 114.9 grams .
The gun , a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol , was loaded with five rounds of ammunition .
Further evidence proved Williams purchased the gun that same day in exchange for three grams of marijuana.
” Williams has two prior felony convictions for aggravated assault in 2007 and 2012 , and three prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to sell in 2003 , 2009 , and 2017 .
Additionally , Williams was on probation for a drug trafficking offense at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the press release said .
Members of the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office , in a separate press release , said Erik Macklin , 24 , pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen gun .
“ According to information presented in court , on November 1 , 2019 , members of the Germantown Police Department were conducting surveillance on Macklin , a suspect in multiple aggravated burglaries in Germantown , Tennessee .
Macklin also had an outstanding arrest warrant , ” the press release said .
“ Officers located Macklin at a local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to step outside , Macklin pulled away from the officers and grabbed a firearm from his waistband .
Law enforcement was able to restrain Macklin , which caused him to drop the firearm , and he was taken into custody .
The firearm was a.45 caliber pistol that had been reported stolen from West Memphis , Arkansas , several weeks prior.
” Macklin waived his Miranda rights and admitted to possessing the firearm , the press release said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email protected ]

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee announced updates, in separate cases, on two convicted felons who used firearms in connection with other alleged crimes.
Per federal law, convicted felons are not allowed to possess firearms.
In the first case, officials announced they had sentenced Fred Lee Williams, 37, to 108 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, according to a press release.
In 2018 DEA Task Force officers said they saw Williams in a parked vehicle pull a bag from the driver’s side door and show it to another male.
“Williams then pulled a gun from the center area of the car and began waving it around. Williams put the gun down and exited the vehicle. He was temporarily detained while officers assessed the situation,” the press release said.
“The gun, which had been reported stolen, was found in plain view, on the driver’s side floorboard. While opening the door to retrieve the gun, officers observed a clear bag of marijuana in the driver’s door, weighing 114.9 grams. The gun, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, was loaded with five rounds of ammunition. Further evidence proved Williams purchased the gun that same day in exchange for three grams of marijuana.”
Williams has two prior felony convictions for aggravated assault in 2007 and 2012, and three prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to sell in 2003, 2009, and 2017. Additionally, Williams was on probation for a drug trafficking offense at the time of his arrest for the instant offense, the press release said.
Members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in a separate press release, said Erik Macklin, 24, pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen gun.
“According to information presented in court, on November 1, 2019, members of the Germantown Police Department were conducting surveillance on Macklin, a suspect in multiple aggravated burglaries in Germantown, Tennessee. Macklin also had an outstanding arrest warrant,” the press release said.
“Officers located Macklin at a local business. As they approached and asked him to step outside, Macklin pulled away from the officers and grabbed a firearm from his waistband. Law enforcement was able to restrain Macklin, which caused him to drop the firearm, and he was taken into custody. The firearm was a.45 caliber pistol that had been reported stolen from West Memphis, Arkansas, several weeks prior.”
Macklin waived his Miranda rights and admitted to possessing the firearm, the press release said.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--Paul Summers Commentary: Keep Nine Amendment to Permanently Ban Court Packing

At the September 29th Presidential Debate , Democrat nominee Joe Biden refused to answer a question about whether he would expand the size of the Supreme Court .
It is more likely that he and VP nominee Kamala Harris will , if elected , seek to pack the Court so they can appoint a new majority of more liberal Justices .
If one party successfully expanded or shrunk the Court for political advantage , another might well do so in retaliation , undermining the independence of the Court and the rule of law .
Such “ Court packing ” erodes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power by the other two branches .
Several times in our history prior to 1869 , Congress expanded or shrunk the size of the Court for political advantage .
After 1869 a tradition grew up that the Court should remain free of such political interference .
When FDR tried to expand the number of Justices in 1937 , strong bipartisan opposition defeated his plan .
But now Democrats like former Attorney General Eric Holder , Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer , and VP nominee Kamala Harris have begun to speak favorably about packing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ absolutely open to it.
” The Democrat Platform approved by Joe Biden urges “ Court restructuring.
” To prevent a future Congress and President from manipulating the size of the Court for political advantage , a Constitutional Amendment is required .
Our Constitution is silent on the number of Justices .
There is now a proposed “ Keep Nine ” Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which simply says : “ The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine Justices.
” It is backed by a bipartisan coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress .
Polls show voters would support it by a more than 3-1 margin of 62 % -18 % .
The Keep Nine Amendment was introduced in the House as H.J .
Res .
95 on September 23rd with the bipartisan sponsorship of Reps. Collin Peterson ( D , MN ) and Denver Riggleman ( R , VA ) .
The Keep Nine Amendment was just endorsed by former Attorney General Ed Meese .
Unlike an earlier anti-Court packing Amendment sponsored by Sen. Rubio ( R , FL ) which only prohibits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Courts , the more recent and stronger Keep Nine Amendment would prohibit Congress from either increasing or decreasing the size of the Court .
The Keep Nine Amendment is the only anti-Court packing Amendment with bipartisan support .
Democrats or Republicans who won ’ t support “ Keep Nine ” have no excuse other than that they might one day want to change the size of the Court .
Because polls show that Court packing is very unpopular with voters , many Democrat candidates in close races are now saying they oppose expanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing they could find excuses to change their position later , after the election .
So we must ask Democrats who say they oppose Court packing if they will support an Amendment to permanently ban it .
We should ask Republicans as well .
A candidate who says YES to Keep Nine becomes part of a far more permanent firewall against Court packing .
A candidate who says he or she opposes Court packing but won ’ t back an Amendment to ban it , may have credibility problems with swing voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keep Nine Amendment now to increase the pressure on all candidates to answer questions about whether they will endorse it .
The easiest way to increase Keep Nine ’ s visibility is to persuade candidates , elected officials , and political leaders we know to endorse the Amendment .
Another way to increase Keep Nine ’ s visibility is to encourage those we know to text or contact the moderators of the remaining Vice Presidential and Presidential Debates .
We can urge those moderators to ask both candidates if they will support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current number of 9 Supreme Court Justices .
The easiest way to contact the Debate moderators is to go to www.KeepNine.org website and follow the link to the FreeRoots app that allows you to easily send a text to moderators and , eventually , to candidates .
And finally we should encourage everyone we know to ask the candidates for whom they can vote if those candidates will endorse the Keep Nine Amendment to preserve the current number of nine Supreme Court Justices .
Forcing candidates to take a stand on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and exposing those who refuse , could swing enough undecided voters to determine the winners in key Presidential states , Senate and House races .
The Keep Nine and the grassroots efforts to educate people about it could be one of the most important new factors shaping the last month of the 2020 campaign .
For more information about the Keep Nine Amendment and its supporters visit www.KeepNine.org .
If you would like to become more involved with or support this effort please contact Roman Buhler at 202-255-5000 or [ email protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior judge and former Attorney General of Tennessee .
He is co-chair of the Coalition to Preserve the Independence of the Supreme Court .

by Paul Summers
At the September 29th Presidential Debate, Democrat nominee Joe Biden refused to answer a question about whether he would expand the size of the Supreme Court. It is more likely that he and VP nominee Kamala Harris will, if elected, seek to pack the Court so they can appoint a new majority of more liberal Justices.
If one party successfully expanded or shrunk the Court for political advantage, another might well do so in retaliation, undermining the independence of the Court and the rule of law. Such “Court packing” erodes the checks and balances of abuse of power by the other two branches.
Several times in our history prior to 1869, Congress expanded or shrunk the size of the Court for political advantage.
After 1869 a tradition grew up that the Court should remain free of such political interference. When FDR tried to expand the number of Justices in 1937, strong bipartisan opposition defeated his plan.
But now Democrats like former Attorney General Eric Holder, Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer, and VP nominee Kamala Harris have begun to speak favorably about packing the Court. Kamala Harris said she was “absolutely open to it.” The Democrat Platform approved by Joe Biden urges “Court restructuring.”
To prevent a future Congress and President from manipulating the size of the Court for political advantage, a Constitutional Amendment is required. Our Constitution is silent on the number of Justices.
There is now a proposed “Keep Nine” Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which simply says:
“The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine Justices.”
It is backed by a bipartisan coalition of former State Attorneys General and Members of Congress. Polls show voters would support it by a more than 3-1 margin of 62%-18%.
The Keep Nine Amendment was introduced in the House as H.J. Res. 95 on September 23rd with the bipartisan sponsorship of Reps. Collin Peterson (D, MN) and Denver Riggleman (R, VA).
The Keep Nine Amendment was just endorsed by former Attorney General Ed Meese.
Unlike an earlier anti-Court packing Amendment sponsored by Sen. Rubio (R, FL) which only prohibits Congress from expanding the size of the Courts, the more recent and stronger Keep Nine Amendment would prohibit Congress from either increasing or decreasing the size of the Court.
The Keep Nine Amendment is the only anti-Court packing Amendment with bipartisan support.
Democrats or Republicans who won’t support “Keep Nine” have no excuse other than that they might one day want to change the size of the Court.
Because polls show that Court packing is very unpopular with voters, many Democrat candidates in close races are now saying they oppose expanding the size of the Supreme Court, knowing they could find excuses to change their position later, after the election.
So we must ask Democrats who say they oppose Court packing if they will support an Amendment to permanently ban it. We should ask Republicans as well.
A candidate who says YES to Keep Nine becomes part of a far more permanent firewall against Court packing. A candidate who says he or she opposes Court packing but won’t back an Amendment to ban it, may have credibility problems with swing voters.
We must increase the visibility of the Keep Nine Amendment now to increase the pressure on all candidates to answer questions about whether they will endorse it.
The easiest way to increase Keep Nine’s visibility is to persuade candidates, elected officials, and political leaders we know to endorse the Amendment.
Another way to increase Keep Nine’s visibility is to encourage those we know to text or contact the moderators of the remaining Vice Presidential and Presidential Debates. We can urge those moderators to ask both candidates if they will support the “Keep Nine” Amendment to preserve the current number of 9 Supreme Court Justices.
The easiest way to contact the Debate moderators is to go to www.KeepNine.org website and follow the link to the FreeRoots app that allows you to easily send a text to moderators and, eventually, to candidates.
And finally we should encourage everyone we know to ask the candidates for whom they can vote if those candidates will endorse the Keep Nine Amendment to preserve the current number of nine Supreme Court Justices.
Forcing candidates to take a stand on the Keep Nine Amendment to ban Court packing, and exposing those who refuse, could swing enough undecided voters to determine the winners in key Presidential states, Senate and House races.
The Keep Nine and the grassroots efforts to educate people about it could be one of the most important new factors shaping the last month of the 2020 campaign.
For more information about the Keep Nine Amendment and its supporters visit www.KeepNine.org.
If you would like to become more involved with or support this effort please contact Roman Buhler at 202-255-5000 or [email protected].
– – –
*Paul Summers is a retired senior judge and former Attorney General of Tennessee. He is co-chair of the Coalition to Preserve the Independence of the Supreme Court.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--Nearly Two Dozen Republican AGs Urge ‘Prompt’ Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court

Nearly two dozen Republican attorney generals urged the Senate to hold confirmation hearings and ultimately place Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett before the November election .
A total of 22 AGs signed the Wednesday letter addressed to U.S .
Senators recommending Barrett ’ s “ prompt ” confirmation to the high court .
“ We , the undersigned Attorneys General of our States , write to urge the Senate to promptly hold a hearing on and confirm the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States .
Judge Barrett is a distinguished legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a track record of interpreting the Constitution according to its text and original public meaning , ” the lead prosecutors wrote .
The Republican push to confirm the 48-year-old mother of seven , spearheaded by President Donald Trump , has seen sharp resistance from Democrats .
Similarly , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has said legislators should “ follow [ their ] conscience ” and refrain from nominating Barrett until the Nov. 3 election results are in , according to a separate Times report .
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris said Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion and reproductive rights ” and that the potential justice would dishonor the work of the now-departed , former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , according to the New York Times .
“ We are aware that there are those who believe the Senate should not hold a hearing on the President ’ s nominee , ” the AGs said in the letter .
“ In response , we quote excerpts from a 2016 letter sent to the Senate by the Attorneys General of California , New York , and 17 other states : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process for filling a Supreme Court vacancy .
The President has a duty to make a nomination.
’ ” “ Some have voiced a concern that the senators of the 116th Congress will not have enough time to adequately consider Judge Barrett ’ s qualifications , ” the AGs continued .
“ Justice Ginsburg herself was confirmed 42 days after she was nominated.
” “ Justice Sandra Day O ’ Connor ’ s confirmation took 33 days , while Justice John Paul Stevens was confirmed 19 days after he was nominated .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ on average , a nominee has been confirmed , rejected , or withdrawn within 25 days.
’ ” Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation at the time of publishing .
Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Jake Dima
Nearly two dozen Republican attorney generals urged the Senate to hold confirmation hearings and ultimately place Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett before the November election.
A total of 22 AGs signed the Wednesday letter addressed to U.S. Senators recommending Barrett’s “prompt” confirmation to the high court.
“We, the undersigned Attorneys General of our States, write to urge the Senate to promptly hold a hearing on and confirm the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Barrett is a distinguished legal scholar and an exceptional appellate judge with a track record of interpreting the Constitution according to its text and original public meaning,” the lead prosecutors wrote.
The Republican push to confirm the 48-year-old mother of seven, spearheaded by President Donald Trump, has seen sharp resistance from Democrats.
Similarly, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has said legislators should “follow [their] conscience” and refrain from nominating Barrett until the Nov. 3 election results are in, according to a separate Times report. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris said Barrett has a “long record of opposing abortion and reproductive rights” and that the potential justice would dishonor the work of the now-departed, former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to the New York Times.
“We are aware that there are those who believe the Senate should not hold a hearing on the President’s nominee,” the AGs said in the letter. “In response, we quote excerpts from a 2016 letter sent to the Senate by the Attorneys General of California, New York, and 17 other states: ‘The Constitution clearly sets out the process for filling a Supreme Court vacancy. The President has a duty to make a nomination.’”
“Some have voiced a concern that the senators of the 116th Congress will not have enough time to adequately consider Judge Barrett’s qualifications,” the AGs continued. “Justice Ginsburg herself was confirmed 42 days after she was nominated.”
“Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s confirmation took 33 days, while Justice John Paul Stevens was confirmed 19 days after he was nominated. As the New York Times reported in 2016, ‘on average, a nominee has been confirmed, rejected, or withdrawn within 25 days.’”
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation at the time of publishing.
– – –
Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--Over 19,000 Amazon Staff Members Likely Had COVID Between March and September

Nearly 20,000 Amazon staff members have either tested positive for the coronavirus or were presumed positive between March and September , the company announced Thursday .
Amazon said 19,816 staff members tested positive for the virus or were presumed positive , according to a company blog post .
The company predicted that from March 1 until Sept.19 , 33,952 staff members would either test positive or be presumed positive based on analysis and comparisons they conducted of their 1,372,000 Amazon and Whole Foods front-line workers .
The actual number of people presumed to have the coronavirus was 42 % lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this analysis , ” the Amazon blog post said .
“ First , we cast a wide net by including both confirmed and presumptive cases in the Amazon figures .
Second , actual COVID-19 rates in the general population are greater than the official counts because not everyone in the general public gets screened for symptoms or tested , ” blog post said .
This is a first time Amazon has disclosed case numbers among its U.S. staff publicly , the Hill reported .
“ By contrast , Amazon employees are regularly screened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at work , regardless of whether they are showing symptoms , in order to identify asymptomatic cases .
And of course , a positive test does not mean someone became infected as a result of their employment with Amazon—these individuals can be exposed in many ways outside of work , ” the update continued .
Warehouse workers at many facilities have gone on strike over coronavirus safety regulations and many of them were dismissed , according to the Hill .
Staff members in the technology area who were outspoken about the regulations were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many COVID-19 staffer deaths there have been , although there were at least 10 publicly reported deaths , the Hill reported .
More than 7 million people in the U.S. have contracted the virus and there have been at least 207,600 deaths as of Friday morning , according to The New York Times database .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Amazon Warehouse Worker ” by Scott Lewis .
CC BY 2.0 .

by Mary Rose Corkery
Nearly 20,000 Amazon staff members have either tested positive for the coronavirus or were presumed positive between March and September, the company announced Thursday.
Amazon said 19,816 staff members tested positive for the virus or were presumed positive, according to a company blog post.
The company predicted that from March 1 until Sept.19, 33,952 staff members would either test positive or be presumed positive based on analysis and comparisons they conducted of their 1,372,000 Amazon and Whole Foods front-line workers. The actual number of people presumed to have the coronavirus was 42% lower.
Amazon says nearly 20,000 employees have caught covid-19 https://t.co/4aMmwv1LaG — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 2, 2020
“We have been conservative in this analysis,” the Amazon blog post said. “First, we cast a wide net by including both confirmed and presumptive cases in the Amazon figures. Second, actual COVID-19 rates in the general population are greater than the official counts because not everyone in the general public gets screened for symptoms or tested,” blog post said.
This is a first time Amazon has disclosed case numbers among its U.S. staff publicly, the Hill reported.
“By contrast, Amazon employees are regularly screened for symptoms and are increasingly being tested at work, regardless of whether they are showing symptoms, in order to identify asymptomatic cases. And of course, a positive test does not mean someone became infected as a result of their employment with Amazon—these individuals can be exposed in many ways outside of work,” the update continued.
Warehouse workers at many facilities have gone on strike over coronavirus safety regulations and many of them were dismissed, according to the Hill. Staff members in the technology area who were outspoken about the regulations were also terminated.
Amazon did not disclose how many COVID-19 staffer deaths there have been, although there were at least 10 publicly reported deaths, the Hill reported.
More than 7 million people in the U.S. have contracted the virus and there have been at least 207,600 deaths as of Friday morning, according to The New York Times database.
– – –
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Amazon Warehouse Worker” by Scott Lewis. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--Babylon Bee CEO’s Christian Alma Mater Disinvites Him from Speaking in Chapel

Palm Beach Atlantic University disinvited alumnus Seth Dillon — the CEO of Christian satire outlet The Babylon Bee — from participating in a speaking event and interview at its chapel , instead changing the location to the school ’ s library .
The university had scheduled Dillon to participate in an interview at its chapel on the morning of September 30 .
However , PBA community members reached out to the university with concerns about Dillon speaking in chapel , explaining that it represents a “ sacred space.
” Quoting his assertion that Black Lives Matter is a terrorist organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this should be enough to not welcome @ SethDillon to our campus .
Not to mention that every LGBTQ student has been disrespected and degraded by his content.
” Social media users did not provide specific examples of Dillon demeaning LGBTQ individuals .
“ Cancel culture has come for me , ” said Dillon , who posted screenshots of people contacting PBA to speak out against him .
“ I ’ m just too dangerous and divisive to be permitted to speak on the campus of my alma mater .
Since when do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use violence and intimidation to advance their agenda to be welcome on a Christian campus ?
” After the social media uproar began , PBA Director of Alumni Relations Steve Eshelman emailed Dillon , asking to eliminate the previously scheduled five minutes of freestyle speaking at the beginning of the event .
A few hours later , Dillon posted on Twitter that he was officially disinvited from speaking at the chapel .
He told Campus Reform that he was scheduled to speak on the morning of September 30 , yet was notified on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would no longer be speaking in the chapel .
Instead , the university asked him to speak in the school ’ s library .
“ After I was slandered by @ IsomRig and others as a racist — and a cancel mob inundated the school with emails — @ PBAUniversity decided they didn ’ t want me to appear in chapel since that is a ‘ sacred place , ’ ” he explained .
In an email forwarded to Dillon by a faculty member , PBA Executive Vice President for Advancement Laura Bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justification as the students on Twitter .
“ We anticipated that an honest conversation like this could become passionate , and that emotions may run high , ” explained Bishop .
“ We did not want to compromise the sacredness of a chapel gathering , and , after heated exchanges on social media , it was decided that the Lassiter Rotunda of the Warren Library would be a more suitable venue for Mr. Dillon.
” Dillon told Campus Reform that the questions in the interview were meant to be “ lighthearted.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an alumnus and a Christian media entrepreneur .
One question asked , “ Did you have a favorite professor ?
” Another said , “ Humor can be a really subjective thing .
Are there any [ Babylon Bee ] posts that you didn ’ t think were great that got a huge response , or vice versa ?
” “ The assumption that I would bring a Twitter discussion into chapel and stray from the subject matter I agreed to discuss was pretty uncharitable , ” he explained .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excuse… what they wanted to do was cancel me without canceling me and appease everyone involved.
” Dillon explained that “ Bishop would not explicitly tell me what I ’ d said or done that made my presence in the chapel suddenly inappropriate .
I told her that if I ’ m not welcome in their chapel , then I don ’ t feel welcome on their campus.
” Many students expressed disappointment that Dillon would no longer be speaking at chapel .
Dillon said that he is a graduate of Palm Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2000 to 2004 .
He is a “ Christian running a successful Christian media company ” and “ currently employs 10 Palm Beach Atlantic graduates ” on a full-time basis .
He also told Campus Reform that he recently donated $ 300,000 in seed funding to launch a new master ’ s program at the university .
Campus Reform asked Dillon what it would take for him to donate to Palm Beach Atlantic University in the future .
He answered that “ If the university were to boldly and openly engage in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear stand against it , and back up people like me to the mob instead of doing exactly what the mob wanted them to do… then I wouldn ’ t have any qualms about donating to them in the future.
” In a meeting with Dillon , Laura Bishop and PBA President Debra Schwinn apologized and said that they wanted to rectify the situation .
According to Dillon , Schwinn said that the university would look for opportunities to eventually have him back in the chapel .
Dillon has not committed to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the university “ take a strong , public stand against cancel culture.
” However , Dillon believes that inviting him to the chapel “ would send the message that I ’ m welcome there , and that it would right the wrong of how this was handled.
” “ Cancel culture is a destructive disease , and Palm Beach Atlantic University is not immune to it , ” said Dillon .
“ We need more backbone and less coddling in our Christian institutions .
And we need it yesterday.
” Campus Reform made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still awaiting comment ; this article will be updated accordingly .
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .
Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review .
Photo “ Seth Dillon ” by Seth Dillon .

by Benjamin Zeisloft
Palm Beach Atlantic University disinvited alumnus Seth Dillon — the CEO of Christian satire outlet The Babylon Bee — from participating in a speaking event and interview at its chapel, instead changing the location to the school’s library.
The university had scheduled Dillon to participate in an interview at its chapel on the morning of September 30. However, PBA community members reached out to the university with concerns about Dillon speaking in chapel, explaining that it represents a “sacred space.”
Quoting his assertion that Black Lives Matter is a terrorist organization, a PBA student said that “this should be enough to not welcome @SethDillon to our campus. Not to mention that every LGBTQ student has been disrespected and degraded by his content.”
Social media users did not provide specific examples of Dillon demeaning LGBTQ individuals.
“Cancel culture has come for me,” said Dillon, who posted screenshots of people contacting PBA to speak out against him. “I’m just too dangerous and divisive to be permitted to speak on the campus of my alma mater. Since when do you have to support terrorist organizations that use violence and intimidation to advance their agenda to be welcome on a Christian campus?”
This should be enough reason to not welcome @SethDillon to our campus. Not to mention that every LGBTQ student has been disrespected and degraded by his content. https://t.co/axIFG10yaz — Melody Faith (@melodyfaithy) September 29, 2020
After the social media uproar began, PBA Director of Alumni Relations Steve Eshelman emailed Dillon, asking to eliminate the previously scheduled five minutes of freestyle speaking at the beginning of the event.
A few hours later, Dillon posted on Twitter that he was officially disinvited from speaking at the chapel. He told Campus Reform that he was scheduled to speak on the morning of September 30, yet was notified on the afternoon of September 29 that he would no longer be speaking in the chapel. Instead, the university asked him to speak in the school’s library.
“After I was slandered by @IsomRig and others as a racist — and a cancel mob inundated the school with emails — @PBAUniversity decided they didn’t want me to appear in chapel since that is a ‘sacred place,’” he explained.
After I was slandered by @IsomRig and others as a racist—and a cancel mob inundated the school with emails—@PBAUniversity decided they didn’t want me to appear in chapel since that is a “sacred place.” I’m disappointed, too, Jessica. And I’ll have more to say about this. https://t.co/sltiNWvdGO — Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) September 29, 2020
In an email forwarded to Dillon by a faculty member, PBA Executive Vice President for Advancement Laura Bishop echoed the same “sacred space” justification as the students on Twitter.
“We anticipated that an honest conversation like this could become passionate, and that emotions may run high,” explained Bishop. “We did not want to compromise the sacredness of a chapel gathering, and, after heated exchanges on social media, it was decided that the Lassiter Rotunda of the Warren Library would be a more suitable venue for Mr. Dillon.”
Dillon told Campus Reform that the questions in the interview were meant to be “lighthearted.” The list of questions focused on his experience as an alumnus and a Christian media entrepreneur.
One question asked, “Did you have a favorite professor?” Another said, “Humor can be a really subjective thing. Are there any [Babylon Bee] posts that you didn’t think were great that got a huge response, or vice versa?”
“The assumption that I would bring a Twitter discussion into chapel and stray from the subject matter I agreed to discuss was pretty uncharitable,” he explained. “It seemed to me that it was an excuse… what they wanted to do was cancel me without canceling me and appease everyone involved.”
Dillon explained that “Bishop would not explicitly tell me what I’d said or done that made my presence in the chapel suddenly inappropriate. I told her that if I’m not welcome in their chapel, then I don’t feel welcome on their campus.”
Many students expressed disappointment that Dillon would no longer be speaking at chapel.
Really disappointed @PBAUniversity changed our chapel at the last minute. I know a lot of people were looking forward to hearing @SethDillon — Jessica (@jrsr0se) September 29, 2020
Dillon said that he is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University, which he attended from 2000 to 2004. He is a “Christian running a successful Christian media company” and “currently employs 10 Palm Beach Atlantic graduates” on a full-time basis. He also told Campus Reform that he recently donated $300,000 in seed funding to launch a new master’s program at the university.
Campus Reform asked Dillon what it would take for him to donate to Palm Beach Atlantic University in the future. He answered that “If the university were to boldly and openly engage in the battle against cancel culture and take a clear stand against it, and back up people like me to the mob instead of doing exactly what the mob wanted them to do… then I wouldn’t have any qualms about donating to them in the future.”
In a meeting with Dillon, Laura Bishop and PBA President Debra Schwinn apologized and said that they wanted to rectify the situation. According to Dillon, Schwinn said that the university would look for opportunities to eventually have him back in the chapel.
Dillon has not committed to this; he would still like to see the university “take a strong, public stand against cancel culture.” However, Dillon believes that inviting him to the chapel “would send the message that I’m welcome there, and that it would right the wrong of how this was handled.”
“Cancel culture is a destructive disease, and Palm Beach Atlantic University is not immune to it,” said Dillon. “We need more backbone and less coddling in our Christian institutions. And we need it yesterday.”
Campus Reform made contact with Palm Beach Atlantic University and is still awaiting comment; this article will be updated accordingly.
– – –
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent, reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform. He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review.
Photo “Seth Dillon” by Seth Dillon.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--Commentary: President Trump and the COVID Uncertainty

Yesterday , President Trump announced via Twitter that his assistant Hope Hicks tested COVID positive .
He then appeared on Sean Hannity ’ s show to discuss the campaign and debate .
Not too long after that , the president tweeted that he and his wife , Melania , both tested positive for COVID-19 .
After a crazy week of news — heck , after a crazy year of news — the president ’ s announcement was the October Surprise that surprised everyone .
The Left , including the media , save Rachel Maddow , was predictably vicious .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impresario Mike Cernovich predicting a hero ’ s journey for the president where he ’ ll rise from the ashes of sickness victorious to Never Trumpers gleefully gaming out a Nancy Pelosi presidency ( the vice president may have been exposed , too ! )
The Left immediately intoned that the confirmation process of Amy Coney Barrett would have to be stopped .
And , in any case , how could Pence preside and vote ?
ACB has tested negative for the virus today , sadly for the Lefties .
She had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence and his wife , Karen , tested negative today , as well .
I was invited on BBC World at 2:00 a.m. Central Time after having just washed my face and dropped into bed .
Can you be on live TV in 10 minutes ?
Ack !
I agreed .
Another producer asked if I could do a hit on BBC UK , their morning show , at 3:00 am .
I reluctantly said yes .
The BBC , not nearly as PC as the United States media , but doubly mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obesity ” as many times as they could in a few minutes .
They ridiculed his non-mask-wearing rallies .
I pointed out that he never shook hands or hugged people at the rallies and that the TV camera gave the optical illusion that he was closer to people than he actually was .
I also pointed out that the virus was wily and made it through even the rigorous testing of the president and those around him .
And , in fact , a mask wouldn ’ t have protected the president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask wearer .
So everyone around the president should wear a mask .
Mask wearing does get tiresome , though , around close coworkers and family .
People tend to feel like they ’ re not trusted and so , whether logically or not , relax around those they are close to .
Nancy Pelosi has done it .
Even Fauci has done it .
What does this all mean for the campaign and everything else ?
As a medical matter , the president is in robust shape despite his extra few pounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physician says , no comorbidities — the medical term for other illnesses that could make the current diagnosis worse .
For example , COVID is especially dangerous for those with diabetes , some sort of inflammatory disease , and especially dementia and Alzheimers ( this is why they ’ re so careful with Joe Biden — I jest , I jest , kinda ) .
President Trump doesn ’ t have any of those things , so his case should be rather straightforward .
The president and those in the White House should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has to be on prophylactic Vitamin D , Zinc , Vitamin C , and hydroxychloroquine .
One sincerely hopes that ’ s the case .
If it progresses , he ’ ll receive steroids .
Hopefully , that ’ s as bad as it gets .
And hopefully , it doesn ’ t get that bad .
Depending on the course of the illness , it will mean different things for the campaign .
The infectious period may end .
That doesn ’ t mean the president would necessarily feel well enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be drawn out .
What can the president do if he ’ s stuck at home and feels relatively fine ?
Lots of things .
He can bring back FDR ’ s fireside chats .
The idea of Trump in a smoking jacket or silk jammies , à la Hugh Hefner , speaking to the country would be fun .
The American people could see a quieter moment with the president .
The post-COVID world , while distanced , has also become strangely intimate .
Americans are used to now seeing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood stars , family , and friends .
Those kind of moments with the president would be instantly relatable .
He ’ s better on camera than Joe Biden , who needs minders at his elbow and cue cards with talking points in his hand .
The president is extemporaneous and real .
Those type of people do really well on Zoom calls and interviews .
The campaign can go on .
The White House said that if the president gets incapacitated , Vice President Pence will take over .
Speaking of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlights someone more fragile : Joe Biden .
The former vice president is addled and old .
Kamala Harris could be the next president .
It ’ s not even theoretical or unlikely .
It ’ s very likely .
The media has covered for Biden ’ s weird mental fugues , early “ lids , ” clear frailty , name-calling outbursts , and constant assistance by female handlers .
Is it Parkinson ’ s or Alzheimers , or did the vice president have a stroke ?
No one will ask those questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their minds .
The presidential debate didn ’ t inspire confidence .
Next week everyone focuses on Kamala Harris and Mike Pence .
This will be a very important debate , indeed .
Will Amy Coney Barrett be confirmed ?
Yes .
It will happen if it has to happen by Zoom .
It will happen .
Will the government continue to function dysfunctionally ?
Yes .
Will the campaign continue in some form ?
It has to .
There ’ s a big event in Michigan today for Catholic voters .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Trump was to be at both .
Instead , he ’ ll be home .
In this strangest of strange years , I expect a massive earthquake or a meteor strike .
It feels like anything could happen .
And it has .
The president has COVID and will be out of in-person commission for 10 days , minimally , 33 days before the election .
We live in wild times and are witnessing a historic year .
Melissa Mackenzie is Publisher of The American Spectator .
Melissa commentates for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her work has been featured at The Guardian , PJ Media , and was a front page contributor to RedState .
Melissa commutes from Houston , Texas to Alexandria , VA. She lives in Houston with her two sons , one daughter , and two diva rescue cats .
You can follow Ms. Mackenzie on Twitter : @ MelissaTweets .

by Melissa Mackenzie
Yesterday, President Trump announced via Twitter that his assistant Hope Hicks tested COVID positive. He then appeared on Sean Hannity’s show to discuss the campaign and debate. Not too long after that, the president tweeted that he and his wife, Melania, both tested positive for COVID-19.
After a crazy week of news — heck, after a crazy year of news — the president’s announcement was the October Surprise that surprised everyone. The Left, including the media, save Rachel Maddow, was predictably vicious. The reactions on the right varied from Twitter impresario Mike Cernovich predicting a hero’s journey for the president where he’ll rise from the ashes of sickness victorious to Never Trumpers gleefully gaming out a Nancy Pelosi presidency (the vice president may have been exposed, too!)
The Left immediately intoned that the confirmation process of Amy Coney Barrett would have to be stopped. And, in any case, how could Pence preside and vote? ACB has tested negative for the virus today, sadly for the Lefties. She had the virus over the summer and recovered. Pence and his wife, Karen, tested negative today, as well.
I was invited on BBC World at 2:00 a.m. Central Time after having just washed my face and dropped into bed. Can you be on live TV in 10 minutes? Ack! I agreed. Another producer asked if I could do a hit on BBC UK, their morning show, at 3:00 am. I reluctantly said yes.
The BBC, not nearly as PC as the United States media, but doubly mean, mentioned the president’s “obesity”as many times as they could in a few minutes. They ridiculed his non-mask-wearing rallies. I pointed out that he never shook hands or hugged people at the rallies and that the TV camera gave the optical illusion that he was closer to people than he actually was. I also pointed out that the virus was wily and made it through even the rigorous testing of the president and those around him. And, in fact, a mask wouldn’t have protected the president. Masks are for others, not the mask wearer. So everyone around the president should wear a mask.
Mask wearing does get tiresome, though, around close coworkers and family. People tend to feel like they’re not trusted and so, whether logically or not, relax around those they are close to. Nancy Pelosi has done it. Even Fauci has done it.
What does this all mean for the campaign and everything else?
As a medical matter, the president is in robust shape despite his extra few pounds. He has, as his former physician says, no comorbidities — the medical term for other illnesses that could make the current diagnosis worse. For example, COVID is especially dangerous for those with diabetes, some sort of inflammatory disease, and especially dementia and Alzheimers (this is why they’re so careful with Joe Biden — I jest, I jest, kinda). President Trump doesn’t have any of those things, so his case should be rather straightforward.
The president and those in the White House should receive the best medical care. The president has to be on prophylactic Vitamin D, Zinc, Vitamin C, and hydroxychloroquine. One sincerely hopes that’s the case. If it progresses, he’ll receive steroids. Hopefully, that’s as bad as it gets. And hopefully, it doesn’t get that bad.
Depending on the course of the illness, it will mean different things for the campaign. The infectious period may end. That doesn’t mean the president would necessarily feel well enough to travel. The recovery from COVID can be drawn out.
What can the president do if he’s stuck at home and feels relatively fine? Lots of things. He can bring back FDR’s fireside chats. The idea of Trump in a smoking jacket or silk jammies, à la Hugh Hefner, speaking to the country would be fun. The American people could see a quieter moment with the president.
The post-COVID world, while distanced, has also become strangely intimate. Americans are used to now seeing the living rooms and offices of newscasters, Hollywood stars, family, and friends. Those kind of moments with the president would be instantly relatable. He’s better on camera than Joe Biden, who needs minders at his elbow and cue cards with talking points in his hand. The president is extemporaneous and real. Those type of people do really well on Zoom calls and interviews.
The campaign can go on. The White House said that if the president gets incapacitated, Vice President Pence will take over. Speaking of the vice president, Trump’s health highlights someone more fragile: Joe Biden. The former vice president is addled and old. Kamala Harris could be the next president. It’s not even theoretical or unlikely. It’s very likely. The media has covered for Biden’s weird mental fugues, early “lids,” clear frailty, name-calling outbursts, and constant assistance by female handlers. Is it Parkinson’s or Alzheimers, or did the vice president have a stroke? No one will ask those questions except voters in the dark corners of their minds. The presidential debate didn’t inspire confidence. Next week everyone focuses on Kamala Harris and Mike Pence. This will be a very important debate, indeed.
Will Amy Coney Barrett be confirmed? Yes. It will happen if it has to happen by Zoom. It will happen. Will the government continue to function dysfunctionally? Yes. Will the campaign continue in some form? It has to. There’s a big event in Michigan today for Catholic voters. There’s another one tomorrow in Wisconsin. President Trump was to be at both. Instead, he’ll be home.
In this strangest of strange years, I expect a massive earthquake or a meteor strike. It feels like anything could happen. And it has. The president has COVID and will be out of in-person commission for 10 days, minimally, 33 days before the election. We live in wild times and are witnessing a historic year.
– – –
Melissa Mackenzie is Publisher of The American Spectator. Melissa commentates for the BBC and has appeared on Fox. Her work has been featured at The Guardian, PJ Media, and was a front page contributor to RedState. Melissa commutes from Houston, Texas to Alexandria, VA. She lives in Houston with her two sons, one daughter, and two diva rescue cats. You can follow Ms. Mackenzie on Twitter: @MelissaTweets.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--China Calls Claims of Forced Uighur Sterilizations ‘Fabrication’

A Chinese government spokesperson denied allegations that China forcibly sterilizes their Uighur Muslim population , calling it a “ fabrication ” in a Thursday statement .
The spokesperson for the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations accused Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of “ fabricating lies against China and creating political confrontation ” in a statement released during the United Nations General Assembly ’ s 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women .
“ At a time when other UN Member States are strengthening solidarity and promoting the cause of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States to act against the aspiration of Member States and the trend of the times and to manipulate domestic politics .
China is firmly opposed to such practice , ” the statement said .
The unnamed spokesperson denied allegations that China sterilizes its Uighur Muslim population against their will , according to the statement .
“ Today , a handful of US politicians told more lies .
The so-called ‘ forced sterilization to Uygurs ’ is a shear fabrication [ sic ] , ” the statement said .
The spokesperson claimed the Uighur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2018 in comparison to the Xinjiang ’ s “ average population growth ” and the Han people ’ s population growth .
“ In the US , however , sexual and racial discrimination makes the situation extremely difficult for women of ethnic minorities .
40 % of African-American women and 46 % of Hispanic-American women work in low-wage jobs .
The problem of child marriage is serious in the US .
From 2000 to 2015 , over 200,000 underages got married and the overwhelming majority of them were girls , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reports that the Chinese Communist Party has been using tactics , including forcing abortions and sterilizations on “ Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang ” for suppression , according to a statement .
“ We call on the Chinese Communist Party to immediately end these horrific practices and ask all nations to join the United States in demanding an end to these dehumanizing abuses , ” Pompeo said in his statement .
An Associated Press investigation found in June that the Chinese government has been committing “ demographic genocide ” by forcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Uighur Muslims .
The State Department did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Ugyhur Muslims ” by the Uyghur Human Rights Project .

by Mary Rose Corkery
A Chinese government spokesperson denied allegations that China forcibly sterilizes their Uighur Muslim population, calling it a “fabrication” in a Thursday statement.
The spokesperson for the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations accused Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of “fabricating lies against China and creating political confrontation” in a statement released during the United Nations General Assembly’s 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.
“At a time when other UN Member States are strengthening solidarity and promoting the cause of women, it is disgraceful for the United States to act against the aspiration of Member States and the trend of the times and to manipulate domestic politics. China is firmly opposed to such practice,” the statement said.
The unnamed spokesperson denied allegations that China sterilizes its Uighur Muslim population against their will, according to the statement.
“Today, a handful of US politicians told more lies. The so-called ‘forced sterilization to Uygurs’ is a shear fabrication [sic],” the statement said.
The spokesperson claimed the Uighur Muslim population in Xinjiang grew betwee 2010 to 2018 in comparison to the Xinjiang’s “average population growth” and the Han people’s population growth.
.@CHN_UN_NY responds to @BetsyDeVosED and @SecPompeo remarks on 25th anniversary of landmark statement on women and gender equality, accuses them of “fabricating lies against #China and creating political confrontation.”#UNGA #GenerationEquality pic.twitter.com/rwlpepGzwi — Michelle Nichols (@michellenichols) October 2, 2020
“In the US, however, sexual and racial discrimination makes the situation extremely difficult for women of ethnic minorities. 40% of African-American women and 46% of Hispanic-American women work in low-wage jobs. The problem of child marriage is serious in the US. From 2000 to 2015, over 200,000 underages got married and the overwhelming majority of them were girls,” the statement continued.
Pompeo previously brought attention to reports that the Chinese Communist Party has been using tactics, including forcing abortions and sterilizations on “Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang” for suppression, according to a statement.
“We call on the Chinese Communist Party to immediately end these horrific practices and ask all nations to join the United States in demanding an end to these dehumanizing abuses,” Pompeo said in his statement.
An Associated Press investigation found in June that the Chinese government has been committing “demographic genocide” by forcing abortions, birth control and mass detentions on Uighur Muslims.
The State Department did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
– – –
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Ugyhur Muslims” by the Uyghur Human Rights Project.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--Half Dozen Attendees at White House Announcement for Supreme Court Nominee Contract COVID

At least a half dozen attendees at last weekend ’ s White House announcement of Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination to the Supreme Court have tested positive for the coronavirus .
Most of those who became infected announced their diagnoses on Friday , hours after President Trump and first lady Melania Trump announced they had tested positive for COVID-19 and were quarantined .
The president was later helicoptered to Walter Reed Medical Center for precautionary treatment .
The infected included two Republican senators — Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — Notre Dame University ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and former White House counselor Kelly Anne Conway , who announced her positive test on Twitter .
“ Tonight I tested positive for COVID-19 .
My symptoms are mild ( light cough ) and I ’ m feeling fine , ” Conway wrote in a tweet .
“ I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians.
” Tillis , who is in a tight re-election race and attended a debate Thursday , said he had no symptoms and was quarantining .
“ Thankfully , I have no symptoms and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jenkins , who oversees the university where Barrett worked before she joined a federal appeals court , announced Friday he had minor symptoms after testing positive .
“ My symptoms are mild and I will continue work from home .
The positive test is a good reminder for me and perhaps for all of how vigilant we need to be , ” Jenkins said in a statement .
Barrett and her husband had COVID-19 earlier in the summer , and she tested negative for the virus on Friday , the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recover in time to attend the Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearings for Barrett , who Trump nominated to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg .

by John Solomon
At least a half dozen attendees at last weekend’s White House announcement of Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Most of those who became infected announced their diagnoses on Friday, hours after President Trump and first lady Melania Trump announced they had tested positive for COVID-19 and were quarantined. The president was later helicoptered to Walter Reed Medical Center for precautionary treatment.
The infected included two Republican senators — Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — Notre Dame University’s president the Rev. John Jenkins, and former White House counselor Kelly Anne Conway, who announced her positive test on Twitter.
“Tonight I tested positive for COVID-19. My symptoms are mild (light cough) and I’m feeling fine,” Conway wrote in a tweet. “I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians.”
Tonight I tested positive for COVID-19. My symptoms are mild (light cough) and I’m feeling fine. I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians. As always, my heart is with everyone affected by this global pandemic. ❤ — Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) October 3, 2020
Tillis, who is in a tight re-election race and attended a debate Thursday, said he had no symptoms and was quarantining. “Thankfully, I have no symptoms and I feel well,” the senator said.
Jenkins, who oversees the university where Barrett worked before she joined a federal appeals court, announced Friday he had minor symptoms after testing positive.
“My symptoms are mild and I will continue work from home. The positive test is a good reminder for me and perhaps for all of how vigilant we need to be,” Jenkins said in a statement.
Barrett and her husband had COVID-19 earlier in the summer, and she tested negative for the virus on Friday, the White House said.
Lee tweeted he hoped to recover in time to attend the Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearings for Barrett, who Trump nominated to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--Chris Christie Hospitalized with ‘Mild’ Virus Symptoms

Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie tweeted Saturday that he ’ s checked himself into a hospital , hours after he announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus .
Christie said that after consulting with his doctors , he went to Morristown Medical Center on Saturday afternoon .
He said he ’ s only experiencing mild symptoms .
“ Due to my history of asthma , we decided this is an important precautionary measure , ” he tweeted .
Christie , who has publicly struggled with his weight , is the latest in a string of virus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inner circle .
Trump ’ s former 2016 rival told The Associated Press on Friday that the last time he was with the president was Tuesday in Cleveland during preparations for his debate with former Vice President Joe Biden .
Christie had tweeted Friday morning that he had last tested negative ahead of Tuesday ’ s debate and was not having any symptoms then .
In 2013 , during Christie ’ s first term as New Jersey governor , he underwent lap-band surgery and lost a significant amount of weight .
Two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulty breathing .
The 58-year-old uses an inhaler .
He once called himself “ the healthiest fat guy you ’ ve ever seen.
” In addition to Trump and first lady Melania Trump , multiple people who have traveled with the president or attended events with him over the last several days have contracted the virus .
About the Headline Photo : In this Nov. 29 , 2017 , file photo , New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie speaks during a news conference in Newark , N.J. Christie tweeted on Saturday , Oct. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for COVID-19 .
( AP Photo/Julio Cortez , File )

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tweeted Saturday that he’s checked himself into a hospital, hours after he announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Christie said that after consulting with his doctors, he went to Morristown Medical Center on Saturday afternoon. He said he’s only experiencing mild symptoms.
“Due to my history of asthma, we decided this is an important precautionary measure,” he tweeted.
Christie, who has publicly struggled with his weight, is the latest in a string of virus cases connected to President Donald Trump’s inner circle.
Trump’s former 2016 rival told The Associated Press on Friday that the last time he was with the president was Tuesday in Cleveland during preparations for his debate with former Vice President Joe Biden. Christie had tweeted Friday morning that he had last tested negative ahead of Tuesday’s debate and was not having any symptoms then.
In 2013, during Christie’s first term as New Jersey governor, he underwent lap-band surgery and lost a significant amount of weight. Two years before that, he was hospitalized for difficulty breathing. The 58-year-old uses an inhaler.
He once called himself “the healthiest fat guy you’ve ever seen.”
Text messages were left seeking comment from Christie early Saturday evening.
In addition to Trump and first lady Melania Trump, multiple people who have traveled with the president or attended events with him over the last several days have contracted the virus.
– – –
About the Headline Photo: In this Nov. 29, 2017, file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a news conference in Newark, N.J. Christie tweeted on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, that he has tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--Commentary: Amy Coney Barrett and Our Topsy-Turvy Culture

In 2017 , the media reported that Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was closing after a run of 146 years .
I beg to disagree .
The circus moved its three rings , lion tamers , and clowns to Capitol Hill , and the latest act is about to begin .
In his essay “ Democrats Take Aim At Amy Coney Barrett , ” Kurt Schlichter examines the tactics Democrats will likely deploy against Barrett during the upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on her nomination to the Supreme Court .
Barrett is a mother of seven , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats may criticize her , as some commentators are already doing , for bringing so many children into a world beset by global warming and for acting as a “ colonist ” by adopting two children of color .
Barrett is a devout Roman Catholic , and some senators may launch an attack on her faith , claiming her religious beliefs will interfere with her ability to weigh law and policy .
Undoubtedly , they will also dig into her past for evidence of wrongdoing and character flaws having little to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As yet another Big Top spectacle opens on Capitol Hill , Schlichter reminds us that the media will also have a field day .
He warns us of the headlines coming down the pike : “ Racist Nominee Thinks Healthcare Is Unconstitutional Because She Likes Jesus.
” Talk about a strange reversal in our values .
Not even thirty years ago , most rational Americans would have found much to admire in a woman like Amy Coney Barrett .
She is accomplished in her profession , is apparently a good mother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a teacher from her students , and is , according to many who know her , kind to others .
Have we sunk so low that what were once virtues are now vices ?
How did faith in God , for example , become a stumbling block to public service ?
Those who wrote our Constitution didn ’ t think this way , in fact their document expressly forbids religious tests for public servants .
Barrett is associated with a charismatic interdenominational group , People of Praise , that encourages family and prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protestant , identify as charismatics , Barrett may come under fire for belonging to such a group .
A warning , dear committee members : tread lightly lest you trample the faith of hundreds of millions of Christians .
How about motherhood ?
Do some now regard having children as a curse rather than a blessing ?
Apparently so , though once children were regarded as America ’ s greatest resource .
Are we really going to take to task a woman who is trying to educate her children and make them decent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moms for bearing and raising more than one or two children need to examine some statistics .
America ’ s birth rate is now well below replacement level , and that number continues to fall .
Can they attack Barrett for her professional work as an attorney , professor , and judge ?
We ’ ll see .
So far , many in that profession , including those who disagree with her judicial philosophy , praise her legal brilliance .
Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman , who once clerked with Barrett , writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve on the Supreme Court ” and that she “ had the ability to bring logic and order to disorder and complexity.
” Can they savage Barrett for her personality ?
From all reports , Barrett was a beloved professor and mentor while teaching at Notre Dame .
As Chase Giacomo , one of her former students , writes in “ Amy Coney Barrett : An Unlikely Mentor , ” Judge Barrett “ has never let differences in background and experiences stop her from caring , listening , and helping those she encounters.… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked in an interview how she wanted to be remembered , “ her response was for people to say that ‘ she loved well.
’ ” Of her personality , Feldman offered this comment – and remember , he calls himself a liberal : To add to her merits , Barrett is a sincere , lovely person .
I never heard her utter a word that wasn ’ t thoughtful and kind — including in the heat of real disagreement about important subjects .
She will be an ideal colleague .
I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperament , ’ because some of the greatest justices were irascible , difficult and mercurial .
But if you do believe in an ideal judicial temperament of calm and decorum , rest assured that Barrett has it .
We can only hope that that the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee exhibit a similar temperament of calm and decorum .
In more judicious and less fractious times , Amy Coney Barrett would win accolades for her accomplishments , be held up as a role model for our daughters , and be respected as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bench .
In her personal life and in her practice of her religious faith she offers an example of virtue and goodness that should make all Americans proud she is one of us .
Isn ’ t it about time we abandoned our upside-down values and give respect where respect is due ?
Jeff Minick lives in Front Royal , Virginia , and may be found online at jeffminick.com .
He is the author of two novels , Amanda Bell and Dust on Their Wings , and two works of non-fiction , Learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Man .

by Jeff Minick
In 2017, the media reported that Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was closing after a run of 146 years.
I beg to disagree. The circus moved its three rings, lion tamers, and clowns to Capitol Hill, and the latest act is about to begin.
In his essay “Democrats Take Aim At Amy Coney Barrett,” Kurt Schlichter examines the tactics Democrats will likely deploy against Barrett during the upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on her nomination to the Supreme Court.
Barrett is a mother of seven, including two adopted Haitian children, and Senate Democrats may criticize her, as some commentators are already doing, for bringing so many children into a world beset by global warming and for acting as a “colonist” by adopting two children of color.
Barrett is a devout Roman Catholic, and some senators may launch an attack on her faith, claiming her religious beliefs will interfere with her ability to weigh law and policy.
Undoubtedly, they will also dig into her past for evidence of wrongdoing and character flaws having little to do with her abilities as an attorney or judge.
As yet another Big Top spectacle opens on Capitol Hill, Schlichter reminds us that the media will also have a field day. He warns us of the headlines coming down the pike: “Racist Nominee Thinks Healthcare Is Unconstitutional Because She Likes Jesus.”
Talk about a strange reversal in our values.
Not even thirty years ago, most rational Americans would have found much to admire in a woman like Amy Coney Barrett. She is accomplished in her profession, is apparently a good mother, loves her husband, won praise as a teacher from her students, and is, according to many who know her, kind to others.
Have we sunk so low that what were once virtues are now vices?
How did faith in God, for example, become a stumbling block to public service? Those who wrote our Constitution didn’t think this way, in fact their document expressly forbids religious tests for public servants. Barrett is associated with a charismatic interdenominational group, People of Praise, that encourages family and prayer. Though many Christians, Catholic and Protestant, identify as charismatics, Barrett may come under fire for belonging to such a group. A warning, dear committee members: tread lightly lest you trample the faith of hundreds of millions of Christians.
How about motherhood? Do some now regard having children as a curse rather than a blessing? Apparently so, though once children were regarded as America’s greatest resource. Are we really going to take to task a woman who is trying to educate her children and make them decent adults? Besides, those who criticize moms for bearing and raising more than one or two children need to examine some statistics. America’s birth rate is now well below replacement level, and that number continues to fall.
Can they attack Barrett for her professional work as an attorney, professor, and judge? We’ll see. So far, many in that profession, including those who disagree with her judicial philosophy, praise her legal brilliance. Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman, who once clerked with Barrett, writes that “Barrett is highly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court” and that she “had the ability to bring logic and order to disorder and complexity.”
Can they savage Barrett for her personality? From all reports, Barrett was a beloved professor and mentor while teaching at Notre Dame. As Chase Giacomo, one of her former students, writes in “Amy Coney Barrett: An Unlikely Mentor,” Judge Barrett “has never let differences in background and experiences stop her from caring, listening, and helping those she encounters.…” Giacomo reports that when Barrett was asked in an interview how she wanted to be remembered, “her response was for people to say that ‘she loved well.’”
Of her personality, Feldman offered this comment – and remember, he calls himself a liberal:
To add to her merits, Barrett is a sincere, lovely person. I never heard her utter a word that wasn’t thoughtful and kind — including in the heat of real disagreement about important subjects. She will be an ideal colleague. I don’t really believe in ‘judicial temperament,’ because some of the greatest justices were irascible, difficult and mercurial. But if you do believe in an ideal judicial temperament of calm and decorum, rest assured that Barrett has it.
We can only hope that that the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee exhibit a similar temperament of calm and decorum.
In more judicious and less fractious times, Amy Coney Barrett would win accolades for her accomplishments, be held up as a role model for our daughters, and be respected as a jurist for her capabilities on the bench. In her personal life and in her practice of her religious faith she offers an example of virtue and goodness that should make all Americans proud she is one of us.
Isn’t it about time we abandoned our upside-down values and give respect where respect is due?
– – –
Jeff Minick lives in Front Royal, Virginia, and may be found online at jeffminick.com. He is the author of two novels, Amanda Bell and Dust on Their Wings, and two works of non-fiction, Learning as I Go and Movies Make the Man.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--‘I Think I’ll Be Back Soon,’ President Trump Says in Optimistic New Video Message from Hospital

“ I think I ’ ll be back soon , ” President Trump said Saturday evening in a four-minute video from Walter Reed Medical Center , where the president is being treated for COVID-19 .
Seated at a desk flanked by flags , the president offered words of guarded confidence , optimism and reassurance — about his own heath and the state of the larger national and international battle against the global pandemic .
“ We ’ re gon na beat this coronavirus — or whatever you want to call it — and we ’ re going to beat it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking relaxed and informal in a blue jacket and crisp , open-necked white shirt .
“ So many things have happened ” in the fight against the virus , the president noted .
“ If you look at the therapeutics , which I ’ m taking right now — some of them — and others coming out soon … frankly they ’ re miracles.
” Indirectly addressing questions about a paused presidential campaign thrown abruptly into uncertainty during its homestretch , the president said , “ I look forward to finishing up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way we ’ ve been doing — and the kind of numbers we ’ ve been doing.
” The president ’ s optimism echoed the tone sounded earlier in the day by White House Physician Dr. Sean Conley .
President Trump is doing “ very well ” while being treated for COVID-19 at Walter Reed , Conley said at a press conference Saturday morning , with his medical team “ extremely happy ” with how he has responded to care , including a course of the experimental COVID-19 treatment Remdesivir .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Walter Reed physician Sean Dooley said during the conference .
His cardiac functions are normal , and he is not currently on supplemental oxygen , Dooley added .
Conley noted that Trump has been “ fever-free for over 24 hours.
” When asked , he would not speculate on the timeline for Trump ’ s discharge from the medical facility , though he said the medical team is evaluating the president ’ s medical status “ every day ” to determine when he can return to the White House .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus drug Remdesivir , with Conley at the time reporting that he was doing well .
“ This evening I am happy to report that the President is doing very well .
He is not requiring any supplemental oxygen , but in consultation with specialists we have elected to initiate Remdesivir therapy .
He has completed his first dose and is resting comfortably , ” Conley said on Friday .
Shortly before midnight on Friday , Trump tweeted from his hospital bed that he was feeling OK and thanked his well wishers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump tweeted .
“ Thank you to all .
LOVE !
!
!
”

by John Solomon
“I think I’ll be back soon,” President Trump said Saturday evening in a four-minute video from Walter Reed Medical Center, where the president is being treated for COVID-19.
Seated at a desk flanked by flags, the president offered words of guarded confidence, optimism and reassurance — about his own heath and the state of the larger national and international battle against the global pandemic.
“We’re gonna beat this coronavirus — or whatever you want to call it — and we’re going to beat it soundly,” vowed the president, looking relaxed and informal in a blue jacket and crisp, open-necked white shirt.
“So many things have happened” in the fight against the virus, the president noted. “If you look at the therapeutics, which I’m taking right now — some of them — and others coming out soon … frankly they’re miracles.”
Indirectly addressing questions about a paused presidential campaign thrown abruptly into uncertainty during its homestretch, the president said, “I look forward to finishing up the campaign the way it was started and the way we’ve been doing — and the kind of numbers we’ve been doing.”
The president’s optimism echoed the tone sounded earlier in the day by White House Physician Dr. Sean Conley.
President Trump is doing “very well” while being treated for COVID-19 at Walter Reed, Conley said at a press conference Saturday morning, with his medical team “extremely happy” with how he has responded to care, including a course of the experimental COVID-19 treatment Remdesivir.
The president is in “exceptionally good spirits,” Walter Reed physician Sean Dooley said during the conference. His cardiac functions are normal, and he is not currently on supplemental oxygen, Dooley added.
Conley noted that Trump has been “fever-free for over 24 hours.” When asked, he would not speculate on the timeline for Trump’s discharge from the medical facility, though he said the medical team is evaluating the president’s medical status “every day” to determine when he can return to the White House.
Trump began treatment Friday night with the experimental coronavirus drug Remdesivir, with Conley at the time reporting that he was doing well.
“This evening I am happy to report that the President is doing very well. He is not requiring any supplemental oxygen, but in consultation with specialists we have elected to initiate Remdesivir therapy. He has completed his first dose and is resting comfortably,” Conley said on Friday.
Shortly before midnight on Friday, Trump tweeted from his hospital bed that he was feeling OK and thanked his well wishers.
“Going well, I think!” Trump tweeted. “Thank you to all. LOVE!!!”


thetennesseestar--2020-10-04--New York City Could Lose Half of All Bars, Restaurants

The Daily Caller reports , New York City could see up to half its restaurants and bars close permanently in the next six months because of the coronavirus pandemic , according to a new audit released Thursday from the New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli .
“ New York City ’ s bars and restaurants are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods .
The industry is challenging under the best of circumstances and many eateries operate on tight margins .
Now they face an unprecedented upheaval that may cause many establishments to close forever , ” DiNapoli said , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that New York City ’ s restaurant industry had 23,650 restaurants and bars in 2019 , provided 317,800 jobs , paid $ 10.7 billion in total wages citywide and delivered nearly $ 27 billion in taxable sales .
In April , as COVID safety restrictions were imposed , restaurants were forced to switch to take-out only and restaurant employment in NYC dropped to 91,000 jobs .
Taxable sales for the industry also fell by 71 percent during March , April and May compared to a year earlier .
The city opened for outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant employment rising to 174,000 jobs in August , per the report .
That number is only half of what was seen in 2019 .
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he was extending outdoor dining all year round , while indoor dining opened for the first time in September since their closing in March .
However , indoor seating guidelines are strict , limiting capacity to 25 % , according to CBS .
“ Twenty five percent is not going to cut it .
That ’ s 15 people in here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staten Island Diner , told CBS .
“ It ’ s in the negative .
Every day , we ’ re in the negative.
” Queens Chamber of Commerce President Tom Grech told CBS the capacity limit will not “ sustain the business.
” “ Twenty five percent was a great start .
It will not sustain the business .
It will not sustain the industry .
”

by Catherine Smith
The Daily Caller reports, New York City could see up to half its restaurants and bars close permanently in the next six months because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new audit released Thursday from the New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
“New York City’s bars and restaurants are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods. The industry is challenging under the best of circumstances and many eateries operate on tight margins. Now they face an unprecedented upheaval that may cause many establishments to close forever,” DiNapoli said, according to an official statement.
The report states that New York City’s restaurant industry had 23,650 restaurants and bars in 2019, provided 317,800 jobs, paid $10.7 billion in total wages citywide and delivered nearly $27 billion in taxable sales.
In April, as COVID safety restrictions were imposed, restaurants were forced to switch to take-out only and restaurant employment in NYC dropped to 91,000 jobs. Taxable sales for the industry also fell by 71 percent during March, April and May compared to a year earlier.
The city opened for outdoor eating in June, which led to restaurant employment rising to 174,000 jobs in August, per the report. That number is only half of what was seen in 2019.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he was extending outdoor dining all year round, while indoor dining opened for the first time in September since their closing in March. However, indoor seating guidelines are strict, limiting capacity to 25%, according to CBS.
“Twenty five percent is not going to cut it. That’s 15 people in here,” Aki Iliopoulos, owner of the Staten Island Diner, told CBS. “It’s in the negative. Every day, we’re in the negative.”
Queens Chamber of Commerce President Tom Grech told CBS the capacity limit will not “sustain the business.”
“Twenty five percent was a great start. It will not sustain the business. It will not sustain the industry.”
– – –
Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness.