FISA Memo Released: Raises ‘Concerns With the Legitimacy and Legality of Certain DOJ and FBI Interactions With the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court’

On Friday, the White House authorized the release of a controversial House Intelligence Committee memo. “Our findings, which are detailed below, (1) raise concerns with the legitimacy and legality of certain DOJ and FBI Interactions with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and 2) represent a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses related to the FISA process,” the memo began. “The FBI and DOJ obtained one initial FISA warrant targeting Carter Page and three FISA renewals from the FISC. As required by statute . . . a FISA order on an American citizen must by renewed by the FISC every 90 days and each renewal requires a separate finding of probable cause,” the memo noted. “Then-Director James Comey signed three FISA applications on behalf of the FBI, and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe signed one. Then-DAG Sally Yates, then-Acting DAG Dana Boente, and DAG Rod Rosenstein each signed one or more FISA applications on behalf of DOJ,” the memo continued. “In the case of Carter Page, the government had at least four independent opportunities before the FISC to accurately provide an accounting of the relevant facts. However, our findings indicate that . . .…

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Trump Economy Is Heading Upward and Reversing the Obama Era

When President Donald Trump told the Davos World Economic Forum that America is “once again experiencing strong economic growth,” the Associated Press hurried to publish a “fact check” contradicting the chief executive. “The economy is doing better by some measures but data released just as Trump finished speaking shows it hasn’t yet accelerated meaningfully since his inauguration,” AP said, referring to the Department of Commerce report that the Gross Domestic Product grew 2.6 percent during the fourth quarter of 2017.

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Poll: Tennessee Voters Concerned About Health Care Premiums and Co-Pays, Want to End ‘Death Panels’

The Tennessee Star Poll released earlier this week showed Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) leading former Gov. Phil Bredesen in a U.S. Senate general election matchup by 11 points, and all four remaining GOP candidates leading former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean in the Gubernatorial general election matchup. In addition to political candidate matchups, the January 2018 Tennessee Star Poll asked likely general election voters of both parties their views on a number of key issues. When it comes to health care, Tennessee voters view health care premiums and co-pays as the top priorities for their Member of Congress to address, while blaming the government and health insurance companies for the rising costs of their health care. By a 39 percent to 31 percent margin, Tennessee voters want to end “death panels.” These numbers, as it turns out, mirror the views of the eleven percent of  voters who are undecided in the U.S. Senate race between Blackburn and Bredesen, and the slightly higher percentage of undecideds (21 percent) in the former Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN-08)- Bredesen matchup, in which Bredesen holds a 3 point lead. The automated (IVR) telephone survey of 1,003 likely Tennessee voters in the November 2018 general election was conducted…

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Mayor Megan Barry and Her Communications Director Try to Control Story of Extramarital Affair Using Exclusive Interview with ‘Fair’ Media

Prior to Mayor Megan Barry’s 7 p.m. press conference Wednesday, which can be viewed in full here, Phil Williams from News Channel 5 was granted an exclusive interview with Barry to break the story of Barry’s extramarital affair. In his own interview on Channel 5’s MorningLine with Nick Beres, Williams explained how and why he was granted the exclusive interview: Williams: I put in the request I believe Friday and I was very straightforward with the Mayor’s spokesperson. You know I knew that they would know why I was asking because my source or sources you know, were incredible. Beres: Had indicated to you that there may have been something going on between the Mayor and her head of security. Williams: Exactly and to the point that I had no doubt. And so I really encouraged the Mayor’s office she needs to sit down answer the questions, go ahead and get all this information out as soon as possible. You know just come clean. Beres went on to state that Williams was “probably the first one to put it to her and she probably also knew Phil Williams will be fair.” Regarding the conduct of his interview, Williams noted that…

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District Attorney Glenn Funk Requests TBI Investigate Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Affair

Fallout from Wednesday’s bombshell admission by Nashville Mayor Megan Barry that she carried on a years-long affair with the head of her security detail, Rob Forrest, continues. Serious questions as to the taxpayer funds that Barry may have funneled to Forrest in the form of overseas trips and overtime payments has triggered District Attorney Glenn Funk to ask the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter to determine if there was–and the extent to which there may have been– any criminal wrongdoing by Metro Nashville’s chief executive. “District Attorney Glenn Funk has asked TBI Director Mark Gwyn to investigate whether Mayor Megan Barry and/or others, including Sgt. Rob Forrest, violated any criminal law including misappropriation of public funds and official misconduct,” Funk spokesman Steve Hayslip told The Tennessean Thursday morning. “As with any TBI investigation, agents will collect any and all relevant evidence and interviews and, in turn, submit investigative findings to the district attorney general for his further review and consideration,” TBI spokesman Josh DeVine confirmed to The Tennessean. Meanwhile, Rob Forrest’s wife, through her attorney, requested the former security chief’s cell phone and its contents be held and preserved by the Metro Nashville Police Department. MNPD spokesperson Kris…

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Who Was the Daring Defector Who Raised His Crutches High, Defying the Kim Regime During the State of the Union?

One of the highlights of President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address was a North Korean defector brutalized by the regime who raised his crutches in defiance. Describing him as a “witness to the ominous nature of this regime,” the president explained that Ji Seong-ho’s “great sacrifice is an inspiration to us all.”

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Low Turnout As Early Voting Ends for Williamson County Sales Tax Increase Referendum

FRANKLIN, Tennessee–Early voting on the proposed Williamson County sales tax increase referendum ended on Thursday, and poll workers say turnout is down so far, ending with a little more than 6,000 of the county’s estimated 130,000 registered voters casting their ballot during the two week period. As a point of comparison, 105,000 Williamson County voters cast their ballots in the 2016 Presidential Election. President Trump easily defeated Hillary Clinton in the county that election, 65 percent to 30 percent. Election day is set for this coming Tuesday, February 6. The Tennessee Star reported when early voting began on January 17 that a single issue is on the ballot, “a proposal that would increase the county’s contribution to the state sales tax by a hefty 22 percent resulting is a new tax rate of 2.75 percent:” Shall Resolution No. 11-17-15, passed by the Williamson County Commission on November 13, 2017 published in the Tennessean, Williamson A.M., newspapers of general circulations, and as authorized by and be levied and collected pursuant to the Retailer’s Sales Tax Act and the 1963 Local Option Revenue Act under Title 67, chapter 6, Tennessee Code Annotated, which will increase the local option sales and use tax…

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Commentary: Survey Finds President Trump’s Amnesty Proposal a Non-Starter with His Base, Who Also Believe He Will Fulfill His Campaign Promises on Immigration

Donald Trump rally

by George Rasley   Trump supporters, surveyed over the past two weeks by CHQ collaborator Ear to the Ground said they are closely following the immigration reform debate and believe the president will not back down on his campaign promises regarding immigration reform. “Trump supporters couldn’t be clearer: 71% of his base say they will no longer support the President if amnesty is included in immigration reform. They also said they are confident President Trump will follow-through on his campaign promises regarding immigration. There may be perilous waters ahead if Congress or the president appear to include a form of amnesty,” said Ear to the Ground Executive Director Anne Sorock. “We also learned that it is security, above all, that these Trump supporters feel is most important to focus on when it comes to immigration – above cultural fit or self-sufficiency of immigrants.” The new data from the Ear to the Ground Listening Project, a collaboration of academics, market researchers, and policy experts, including www.conservativehq.com is based on the results of a panel survey of 6,883 Trump supporters: • 84% said they are following immigration news “very closely.” • 87% approve of President Trump’s handling of immigration reform. • When asked if they would support…

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Special Counsel Mueller’s Use of ‘Parallel Construction’ May Run Afoul of Constitutional Protections

by Printus LeBlanc   It seems like every day there is a chorus of officials celebrating Special Counsel Robert Mueller. If you dare question his integrity, you are to be banished to the gulags. However, with a little bit of research you will find out his career as a law enforcement officer is filled with mistakes, mishaps, and questionable policies. Once such policy is the subject of a Human Rights Watch report titled Dark Side: Secret Origins of Evidence in US Criminal Cases. The report details the practice of “parallel construction” in criminal investigations. What is parallel construction, why should every civil libertarian fear it, and what does this have to do with Robert Mueller? Parallel construction is a law enforcement technique used to build a criminal case against a suspect when law enforcement does not want to reveal the evidentiary basis for the investigation. The data comes from the NSA, which transmits it to a special unit in the DEA called the Special Operations Division (SOD). Within the SOD are representatives of several other agencies including the FBI, CIA, and IRS who are given “tips” to carry out their investigations. Let’s say local law enforcement receives a call from federal…

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FactChecking the FactChecking of Trump’s State of the Union – A Counterpoint

An October 2017 Pew Reseach Center poll noted that “the partisan split in America is the highest it has been in two decades, with Republicans and Democrats holding vastly disparate views on race, immigration and the role of government.” Arguably, this is because, not only do we have our own opinions we also have our own “facts.” Reaction to President Trump’s State of the Union address is a glaring example of this. Factcheck.org recently released a fact check on President Trump’s address that seems to have some of its own issues with the “facts.”

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President Trump Tells Republicans: ‘This Is Just the Beginning’

President Trump fired up congressional Republicans gathered to plot their 2018 agenda Thursday, telling them they ticked off historic accomplishments last year and urging them to keep their foot on the gas ahead of November’s election. The president said Republicans have surmounted a wall of Democratic obstruction, but said if things don’t improve, the GOP will have to defy expectations and expand its numbers in the elections.

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No Transparency in ECD Deal to Give Tyson Foods $18 Million FastTrack Grant

Noted in the Governor’s 2018-2019 Budget is an $18 million dollar FastTrack grant for Tyson Foods that may be part of a deal to bring a chicken processing plant to Humboldt, Tennessee after plans for a similarly described project in Kansas met with “staggering” opposition from citizen activists. This year’s money for Tyson Foods is not currently listed in the FastTrack project database maintained on the Department of Economic & Community Development (ECD) website. As part of Governor Haslam’s “Transparent Tennessee” initiative, ECD launched an interactive online platform called “Open ECD,” intended to provide a “comprehensive look at TNECD’s initiatives,” including, FastTrack, community and rural development grants. Haslam’s “Transparent Tennessee” was intended to help create a “customer-focused, efficient and effective state government.” This initiative was supposed to provide greater transparency and accountability in how the state government operates by enabling taxpayers to see how different departments are performing as well as how taxpayer funds are spent. The only reference to date for the $18 million dollar FastTrack grant for Tyson Foods is on page xix of the Governor’s 2018-2019 Budget released with a cover letter dated January 29, 2018: General fund supplemental appropriations in the current 2017-2018 fiscal year total $46 million, $38 million of…

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