May 2018 - Page 6 of 8 - Tennessee Star

Report: Porn Star Lawyer Avenatti Accuses The Wrong Michael Cohen Of Making ‘Fraudulent’ Payment

May 11, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

by Chuck Ross Michael Avenatti, porn star Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, released a seven-page dossier on Tuesday containing a list of payments purportedly made to Michael Cohen, the lawyer for President Donald Trump. But there is one problem with the document: two of the allegedly “fraudulent” payments were made to men named Michael Cohen who have no affiliation with Trump. Avenatti’s report includes a section listing “possible fraudulent and illegal financial transactions” involving Trump’s lawyer. One of the payments is a $4,250 wire transfer from a Malaysian company, Actuarial Partners, to a bank in Toronto. The other is a $980 transfer from a Kenyan bank to Bank Hapoalim — the largest bank in Israel. Zainal Kassim, a representative for Actuarial Partners, told The Daily Caller News Foundation Avenatti’s report is a case of mistaken identity. He forwarded an email the falsely accused Michael Cohen sent to Avenatti requesting the lawyer “correct this error forthwith and make it known publicly” there is no connection to Trump’s Michael Cohen. “You are surely aware of the fact that this is an extremely common name and would request that you take care before involving innocent parries in this sordid affair,” wrote Cohen, who told Avenatti he…

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Mayoral Candidate State Rep. Harold Love: Nashville ‘Can’t Succeed As A City if Only 24 % of our High School Graduates Who Attend College Are Graduating’

May 11, 2018May 13, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Steve Gill interviews State Rep Harold Love

State Rep. Harold Love (D-Nashville) sat down with Tennessee Star political editor Steve Gill on Thursday for the first in our series of exclusive interviews with the top tier of candidates in the May 24 special election for Mayor of Nashville. Love identified education and safety as his two top priorities in a potential Love administration. (See the 20:10min mark of the video below) “Our high school graduates who choose to go to college, only 24 percent graduate from college,” Love told Gill, adding: Anybody who hears that number and let’s it flow through their mind knows that we can’t succeed as a city if only 24 percent of our high school graduates who choose to go to college are graduating. That means they come back to the city and they are not going back to college. I know that college is not for everybody, but those who choose to go to college . . . we have to improve our educational excellence of our high school graduates.” Love added that education and safety go hand in hand. “A recent Washington Post report said . . . where are America’s prisoners born? They said of all the zipcodes in the…

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Predators Season Over As Jets Beat Them 5 to 1 in Decisive Game 7

May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Predslose

There will be no storybook ending to the Nashville Predators’ 2017-2018 National Hockey League season. The Predators fell to the Winnipeg Jets 5 to 1 in the decisive Game 7 of their Western Conference semi-final series in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. This year, it’s the Jets who now going on the the Western Conference finals, where they will face the Vegas Golden Nights. The Washington Capitals, coached by former Predators head coach Barry Trotz, face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals. The official Predators post game tweet summed up the evening: It ended sooner than anyone would have wished. #StandWithUs | #WPGvsNSHhttps://t.co/L5Ju352xIa — p-Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) May 11, 2018 The night started poorly for the Predators and got progressively worse. The Jets’ Tyler Myers scored at the 8:41 mark of the first period to put the visitors up 1 to 0. Then his teammate Paul Stastny scored at the 10:47 mark to put the Jets up 2 to 0. P.K. Subban scored the Predators first and only goal at the 15:54 mark to narrow the deficit to 2 to 1. Predators coach Peter Laviolette pulled Goalie Pekka Rinne after the first period, replacing him with…

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Diane Black on Refugee Resettlement Appeal: ‘I Applaud State of Tennessee for Choosing to Defend our Constitutional Rights’

May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 Admin

Diane Black

On the heels of Tennessee’s decision to appeal a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss the lawsuit against the federal government’s resettlement of refugees Thursday, gubernatorial candidate Diane Black issued a statement supporting the decision. “I applaud the State of Tennessee for choosing to defend our Constitutional rights and appealing this decision,” Black said in a statement. “This is an issue of states’ rights. Tennessee withdrew from the refugee resettlement program over a decade ago, and it’s time the federal government listens to the will of the people of Tennessee.” As reported by The Tennessee Star earlier, the Thomas Moore Law Center is handling the case as no cost to the state: “We are grateful to the designated representatives of the General Assembly, State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and William Lamberth and State Senator John Stevens, for authorizing us to continue this significant legal battle. This case involves critical constitutional issues regarding the appropriate balance between the powers of the federal government and the states. The district court decision dismissing this case conflicts with several U.S. Supreme Court opinions upholding State sovereignty against overreach by the federal government,” Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, said in the…

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President Trump Announces Meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12

May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 Admin

Less than a handful of hours after welcoming three newly-released Americans home from their captivity in North Korea early Thursday, President Trump announced via Twitter the details of his meeting with Kim Jong Un. “The highly anticipated meeting between Kim Jong Un and myself will take place in Singapore on June 12th,” the president tweeted, adding, “We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace!” The highly anticipated meeting between Kim Jong Un and myself will take place in Singapore on June 12th. We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2018 During a brief appearance on the tarmac, President Trump hailed the release of Tony Kim, Kim Dong Chul, and Kim Hak-song as a “gesture of goodwill” and told the press that now, the United States and North Korea are “starting off on a new footing.” “I think this will be a very big success,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s never been taken this far, there’s never been a relationship like this. Some great things can happen, and that’s what we hope.” Watch President Trump and First Lady Melania, along with Vice President and Mrs. Pence…

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State of Tennessee Appeals Federal Judge’s Dismissal of Refugee Resettlement Lawsuit

May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

On Thursday, Tennessee appealed a federal judge’s ruling in March that dismissed the state’s lawsuit against the federal government’s resettlement of refugees in the state on 10th amendment grounds. The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan representing the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee General Assembly, and Tennessee legislators State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster) and State Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) at no cost in the litigation, announced “it has filed an appeal of the federal district court decision which dismissed its case,” in a statement released on Thursday: The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee General Assembly, and state legislators Terri Lynn Weaver and John Stevens, challenged the constitutionality of the federal refugee resettlement program as a violation of the principles of State sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. The Notice of Appeal was filed this morning with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The appeal will be heard by a panel of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit. “We are grateful to the designated representatives of the General Assembly, State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and William Lamberth…

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Steve Gill Analysis: From a ‘Blue Wave’ to a ‘Ripple,’ Pelosi’s Vow to Raise Taxes If Dems Win House Lands With a Thud

May 10, 2018May 13, 2018 Admin

Gill and Pelosi

Conservative political commentator and Tennessee Star contributor Steve Gill said Wednesday on The Gill Report, broadcast live on WETR 92.3 FM in Knoxville, that despite the mainstream media narrative to the contrary, the so-called ‘blue wave’ we keep hearing about “is looking increasingly like it may be a ripple.” In his ‘Final Thoughts’ segment of Wednesday’s broadcast, Gill said, “Rick Scott in Florida is now holding a slight lead in the Senate race in Florida according to a new poll released just today. Governor Rick Scott is leading 44 percent to to against Bill Nelson’s 40 percent, according to a Florida Atlantic University survey.” He continued: A four-point lead… you know that “blue wave” you keep hearing so much about from the Democrats is looking increasingly like it may be a ripple. And part of it is because of what the Democrats are saying on the campaign trail. Nancy Pelosi was interviewed today at Politico Playbook in an interview that the Republicans ought to make sure is a campaign ad for every Republican House candidate in the country by, well, the end of the day. Jake Tremmel was doing the interview. They asked Pelosi about GOP claims that a Democrat House majority would pass a single-payer…

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Stunningly Low Turnout of Just 194 on Fifth Day of Early Voting Suggests Big Trouble for Status Quo in Nashville Mayoral Special Election

May 10, 2018May 9, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

The fifth day of early voting in Nashville’s special mayoral election on Wednesday saw another stunningly low turnout–only 194 residents of Nashville/Davidson County cast their ballots, bringing the five day early voting total to an anemic 1,039. After five full days of early voting, less than one-third of one percent of the active registered voters in Nashville/Davidson County (which is slightly more than 360,000) have cast their ballots in the May 24 special mayoral election to select a mayor who will serve out the remaining one year and three months of disgraced former Mayor Megan Barry’s term. Barry resigned on March 6, the same day she pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge related to her two year long affair with her bodyguard, former Metro Nashville Police Department Sgt. Rob Forrest. The anemic turnout levels spells big trouble for the campaign of Acting Mayor David Briley. First, it confirms that voters find him an uninspiring candidate. Second, it indicates that voters are likely burned out on politics, after they turned out in droves–about 123,000 total voters went to the polls–to decisively reject the $9 billion transit plan Briley endorsed, 64 percent to 36 percent. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, it…

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President Trump to Allow Year-Round Sales of High-Ethanol Gas

May 10, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

Gas up the car

President Donald Trump will allow year-round sales of renewable fuel with blends of 15 percent ethanol as part of an emerging deal to make changes to the federal ethanol mandate. Republican senators and the White House announced the deal Tuesday after a closed-door meeting, the latest in a series of White House sessions on ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency currently bans the 15-percent blend, called E15, during the summer because of concerns that it contributes to smog on hot days. Gasoline typically contains 10 percent ethanol. Farm-state lawmakers have pushed for greater sales of the higher ethanol blend to boost demand for the corn-based fuel. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley called the agreement good news for farmers and drivers alike, saying it would increase ethanol production and consumer choice at the pump. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said the deal will save the jobs of thousands of blue-collar workers at refineries in Texas, Pennsylvania and other states. “Terrific final decision from @POTUS meeting,” Cruz tweeted. “This is a WIN-WIN for everyone.” Terrific final decision from @POTUS meeting: E15, year-round plus RINs for all exports. This is a WIN-WIN for everyone. More corn will be sold (good for farmers), plus lower RINs (saves…

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California Becomes First State in the U.S. to Require Solar Panels on New Homes

May 10, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

Builders in California will be required to fit solar panels on most new homes from 2020 under a new rule adopted on Wednesday, the first of its kind in the United States. The far-reaching standards, adopted unanimously by the five-member California Energy Commission, require that new residential buildings in the state be equipped with the panels. “We cannot let Californians be in homes that are essentially the residential equivalent of gas guzzlers,” Energy Commissioner David Hochschild said ahead of the vote. Ethan Elkind, director of the climate program at the University of California at Berkeley’s School of Law, said the new rule would lower the price of solar panels nationwide as manufacturers tapped into California’s huge consumer base. “This is pretty landmark,” he said by phone. “It helps basically provide a market for solar.” The United States’ most populous state has frequently been at odds with President Donald Trump’s aggressive rollback of policies to combat climate change. Governor Jerry Brown is planning a global climate summit this September. Nine percent of single-family detached homes in the state of 39.5 million people currently have solar panels, according to a 2017 U.S. Department of Energy report the Energy Commission cited. The renewable…

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Google Suspends Advertising Related to Irish Abortion Referendum

May 10, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

Fetus on Health

Google is suspending all advertising connected to Ireland’s abortion referendum as part of moves to protect “election integrity,” the company announced Wednesday. The move came a day after Facebook banned foreign-backed ads in the Irish campaign, amid global concerns about online election meddling and the role of internet ads in swaying voters. Google said that starting Thursday, it would no longer display ads related to the May 25 vote on whether to repeal Ireland’s constitutional ban on most abortions. The prohibition on ads connected to the Irish vote applies to both Google and YouTube, which the company owns. The online search leader, which is based in Mountain View, California, declined to say how much advertising revenue it was giving up because of the decision. Russian role The role of online ads in elections is under scrutiny following revelations that Russian groups bought ads on leading services such as Google and Facebook to try to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. Many of the ads were designed to sow confusion, anger and discord among Americans through messages on hot-button topics. Karin von Abrams, a London-based analyst with the research firm eMarketer, said banning ads represented a short-term safeguard from potential backlash…

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Watchdog Group Launches Website Exposing Intimate Aspects Of Enviro-Led Climate Litigation

May 10, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

by Chris White A Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group is launching an online archive giving the public a sneak-peek at how state attorneys general and activists conspired to engage in climate litigation against energy companies. ClimateLitigationWatch will publish documents involving court cases against the energy industry. The group’s website also offers the first searchable database of records showing activists and politicians working hand-in-glove on litigation aimed at throttling oil producers. The project, which the Government Accountability & Oversight (GAO) kick-started, will also release profiles of the people involved in the litigation, along with trading cards detailing their role in current cases. AGs Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Eric Schneiderman of News York will almost certainly be included in the profiles — both of whom are at the center of the lawsuits. Schneiderman’s decision to resign Monday following reports he physically abused four women could diminish New York’s involvement in the cases. His successor could potentially continue where Schneiderman left off or lead the probes into a different direction. “We’re not going to get into the science debate and other arguments. We’ll just show the public the documents, so you can decide,” Christopher Horner, one of the key figures spearheading the ClimateLitigationWatch project, told The…

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Family Of Prisoner Tony Kim Freed From North Korea Thanks God And President Trump For His Release

May 10, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

by Ryan Pickrell The family of Tony Kim, one of the prisoners released from North Korea Wednesday, is thanking God and President Donald Trump for his release from captivity. Kim, previously a professor at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology was detained by North Korean authorities in 2017 for allegedly “committing criminal acts of hostility aimed at overturning the DPRK.” After a year in captivity, he is finally on his way home, along with three other prisoners. “We are grateful for the release of our husband and father, Tony Kim, and the other two American detainees. We want to thank all of those who have worked toward and contributed to his return home. We also want to thank the president for engaging directly with North Korea,” the family said in a statement, adding, “Mostly, we thank God for Tony’s safe return.” “We appreciate all of the support and prayers of friends and even strangers during this challenging year. You are dear to our hearts. We ask that you continue to pray for the people of North Korea and for the release of all who are still being held. Thank you,” the statement from the Kim family concluded. Secretary of State…

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Commentary: If Chaos Equals Success for the Trump Administration, Bring On More of It

May 10, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

President Trump w White House Press

by Jeffery Rendall Lost in the fog of last week’s collective establishment media freak-out over Rudy Giuliani’s explosive interviews, the shockingly abusive “pen register” (predicate to a wiretap) of Trump attorney Michael Cohen and the ongoing non-issue of alleged payments to silence porn mistress Stormy Daniels were the results of a new poll suggesting that Americans…think the Trump administration is in turmoil. Steven Shepard of Politico reported, “A strong majority of voters say President Donald Trump’s administration is running chaotically after Trump’s pick for veterans affairs secretary, White House physician Ronny Jackson, withdrew his name from consideration last week, according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll. “More than 3 in 5 voters, 62 percent, say Trump’s administration is running very or somewhat chaotically — nearly twice as many as the 32 percent who say it’s running very or somewhat well. “A majority of Republicans, 68 percent, say the Trump administration is running well. But that sentiment is shared by few Democrats (9 percent) and independents (25 percent).” This gem of a poll contains some other juicy nuggets but let’s concentrate on the “chaos” aspect here. Looking at this data with a critical eye, how or why would 62 percent of…

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Soros Funded Southern Poverty Law Center Challenging Governor Haslam on Anti-Sanctuary City Legislation

May 10, 2018May 15, 2018 Chris Alto

The Soros funded Southern Poverty Law Center has issued a legal throw-down to Governor Haslam challenging his campaign promises to “do everything within my authority to be sure that Tennessee does not attract illegal activity.” Working with the TN Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), another Soros funded amnesty-for-lawbreaker advocacy organization, the SPLC has promised to provide legal representation to illegal aliens arrested in the Bean Station workplace raid who are in detention and facing possible deportation. TIRRC and its allies want to stop federal immigration authorities from detaining and/or deporting criminal illegal aliens and instead, have them released from ICE detention and returned to Tennessee communities. Shortly after the election of President Trump, TIRRC issued a public call to all Tennessee communities to refuse cooperation with ICE. In other words, TIRRC wants Tennessee to operate as a sanctuary state. Approximately half of the 100 workers taken into custody in the Bean Station raid are in detention and 10 of them face federal charges for evading prior orders of removal. The FY2016 DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review data for illegal aliens who were never detained, immigration court hearings held in absentia, meaning when the illegal alien fails to show up to court, increased…

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Very Low Early Voting Turnout in First Four Days of Nashville Special Mayoral Election

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Vote

Turnout for the first four days of early voting in the Nashville special mayoral election is abysmally low, with a total of only 845 ballots cast so far. Only 277 votes were cast on Friday, 89 on Saturday, 220 on Monday, and 259 on Tuesday, according to a report sent to The Tennessee Star and other local media outlets by the Davidson County Election Commission late Tuesday. Only ten more days of early voting remain between Wednesday and Saturday, May 19, the last day of early voting (early voting is not open on Sundays). The election date is Thursday, May 24. The Howard Office Building downtown is the only early voting location open between now and Thursday. On Friday, another ten early voting locations will be open until May 19: Belle Meade City Hall Bellevue Library Bordeaux Library Casa Azafran Community Center Edmonson Pike Library Goodlettsville Community Center Green Hills Library Hermitage Library Madison Library Southeast The low early voting total so far for the May 24 special mayoral election contrasts dramatically with the early voting for the recently completed May 1 transit referendum, when just a little more than 59,000 residents of Nashville/Davidson County early voted, an average of…

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New Randy Boyd Ad Focuses on Immigration: ‘Illegal Is Illegal,’ Build the Trump Wall, and No Licenses for Special Benefits for Illegals

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Admin

Randy Boyd

A new Randy Boyd television ad airing across the state starting Monday hits hard on the issue of illegal immigration with “professional politicians” in Washington getting the blame. “Illegal is illegal,” Boyd says in the ad, which specifically pledges Boyd’s support for President Trump’s border wall, opposition to sanctuary cities, elimination of violent gangs like MS-13 and “no driver’s licenses or special benefits for illegal immigrants.” Notably, while two of Boyd’s primary opponents–Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-07) and Williamson County businessman Bill Lee–have issued public statements on the anti-sanctuary city bill sponsored by State Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) and State Rep Jay Reedy (R-Erin) passed by the Tennessee General Assembly last month that is awaiting Gov. Haslam’s signature, Boyd has not offered a comment yet whether Haslam should sign or veto the bill. Black has urged Haslam to sign the anti-sanctuary city bill, while Lee has said as governor, he would sign the bill. You can watch the ad here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdIenUt5hTk&app=desktop Rep. Black has also been the focus of ads sponsored by Tennessee Jobs Now PAC for her support for legislation in 2001 that granted Tennessee driver’s licenses to illegal aliens (see pages 921-922). That legislation was repealed following the 9-11 terrorist…

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Bob Corlew Commentary: To Secure Our Nation’s Future, We Must Secure Our Border

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Admin

by Judge Bob Corlew Throughout the course of my campaign, I have visited every county in Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District multiple times. Each and every community in our district faces different challenges, but one constant refrain I hear from voters is they want our Congressman to stand with President Trump to secure our nation’s future for our children and grandchildren. I also hear concerns from voters about illegal immigration and problems at the border. I share these concerns, and believe that if we don’t secure our border, then we can’t secure our nation’s future. Voters are no doubt skeptical of those who promise a secure border because they have heard it all before. Many in elected office get to Washington and forget the promises they made to their constituents on illegal immigration and securing the border. I believe one reason is because these politicians don’t fully comprehend the problem and what needs to be done to secure our border. When I get to Congress, I want to help President Trump finish the wall and stop illegal immigration, but I believe actions speak louder than words. That is why I visited the U.S-Mexico border last week to understand what are…

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Trump’s ‘Rescission’ Package Would Save Unspent Tax Dollars

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Admin

Trump-captial-spending-money

by Justin Bogie President Donald Trump on Tuesday submitted a special message to Congress requesting that $15 billion in unspent funding be rescinded. That’s a good first step toward re-establishing fiscal responsibility. Congress should embrace it and quickly adopt the president’s rescission package. Still, the package does nothing to claw back the tens of billions of additional dollars in wasteful spending authorized by the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Nor is it the answer to the nation’s long-term debt problem. Congress and the president should work together on additional rescission packages that target 2018 spending and pass a fiscal year 2019 budget that rolls back the latest budget deal and addresses the programs driving the national debt. [ The liberal Left continue to push their radical agenda against American values. The good news is there is a solution. Find out more ] The president’s rescission package would take back $15 billion in previously provided spending authority. Of that, $7 billion would come from funds provided in 2017 to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP. No authority was ever actually granted to CHIP to spend that money. The obvious question: If the money was never going to be spent anyway, then how is it “saving” taxpayers money…

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EXCLUSIVE: Emails Cast Doubt On House Democrats’ Latest Claim Against Scott Pruitt

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Admin

Scott Pruitt

by Michael Bastasch Democrats mischaracterized emails between top Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials to claim Administrator Scott Pruitt wanted “misuse” of taxpayer dollars by creating a new agency office in his hometown. Pruitt directed his staff “to establish a new EPA office in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma,” sparking a wave of media coverage that added to the growing list of complaints against Pruitt, House Democrats claimed. “This most recent case of questionable financial management adds to the growing concerns about Administrator Pruitt’s misuse of taxpayers’ funds and potential ethical lapses in judgement,” alleged House Democrats, led by Texas Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. However, The Daily Caller News Foundation reviewed emails that show Pruitt asked EPA officials to find a place “where he could work” when he was home in Oklahoma, not “questionable financial management” as Democrats suggest. EPA officials asked questions about how Pruitt could periodically work from his hometown, Tulsa, in a way consistent with past administrators, utilizing existing office setups or working with federal officials to find suitable office space, emails show. Pruitt is under fire for alleged overspending and ethical lapses, including flying first class at taxpayers’ expense and renting a room from the wife of a D.C.…

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Nashville Metro Council Member Angie Henderson Calls on Acting Mayor David Briley to ‘Break Cleanly from Hidden Deals of Dean/Barry Era’

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

On Saturday, Nashville Metro Council Member Angie Henderson (District 34) called on Acting Mayor David Briley to “restore trust in Government ASAP before May 24 election.” “He should break cleanly from the hidden deals/arrangements of the Dean/Barry era,” Henderson said in this tweet: Noticing a common thread? It is imperative that @MayorBriley restore trust in @MetroNashville Government asap before May 24 election. He should break cleanly from the hidden deals/arrangements of the Dean/Barry era. https://t.co/0dnLBHpe4R — Angie E. Henderson (@angienashville) May 6, 2018 Days before the May 1 $9 billion transit plan referendum, which Nashville/Davidson County voters rejected by a 64 percent to 36 percent, Henderson, who graduated from Bryn Mawr, where she majored in “The Growth and Structure of Cities,” said she would vote no on the transit plan and criticized the Briley administration for its handling of that proposal, as The Tennessee Star reported: In an episode of the Nashville Sounding Board podcast discussing the light rail transit plan. Nashville Metro council members Freddie O’Connell and Angie Henderson were guests. O’Connell said, “I think that as a councilmember trying to do the best job of representing my constituents… I will say I think a mistake was made by…

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Swain Blasts Acting Mayor Briley: He ‘Mismanaged Funds in Times of Plenty,’ His Budget Is ‘Dependent on Property Sales That Don’t Have Council Approval’

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Mayoral candidate Carol Swain came out swinging on Tuesday against Acting Mayor David Briley’s last minute proposal to come up with an extra $38 million shortfall in his proposed 2019 Metro Nashville budget by selling three existing properties currently owned by the Metro Nashville Davidson County Government. Swain’s campaign issued its pointed response in a tweet on Tuesday morning: The Dean, Barry and now Briley administrations have mismanaged the city’s funds in times of plenty. Our reserve fund is almost empty, we have a ballooning balance sheet, & next year’s budget is dependent on property sales that don’t have council approval. #budgetonaprayer 🙏🏻 https://t.co/v8WokfOaB1 — Carol M Swain For Nashville Mayor (@CarolSwain4Nash) May 8, 2018 In an article titled “Mayor Briley is banking on land sales, parking overhaul to make up $38M in budget,” The Tennessean on Tuesday reported on Briley’s proposal, the details of which were apparently finalized over the weekend between his State of the Metro speech on Friday and the communication of the plan to the Metro Council on Monday: Briley last week proposed a “status quo” $2.23 billion operating budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year that would be just a $22 million increase over the current year, meaning…

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SPLC Hates Trump and Christians But Still Gets Invited By Nashville Jewish Community Relations Committee to Speak Later This Month

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Chris Alto

The Nashville Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Committee (CRC) has invited Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) co-founder Joseph Levin (pictured) to speak at a community event on May 23rd. The CRC’s Director would not provide a written description of Levin’s talk advertised as Then and Now: Hate in the Mainstream, but based on Levin’s previous presentations, it is reasonable to expect that he will continue to target President Trump conservative groups and other Tennessee-based organizations. Levin didn’t wait long after the 2016 election to start marketing a new narrative for SPLC alleged hate-based fundraising. Having attacked the religious underpinnings of Christian conservative organizations like The Family Research Council, Focus on the Family and The Alliance Defending Freedom, to name a few, and distorted protected political speech of other conservative groups so as to grow the hate lists, Levin realized that combining the election of Trump and the rage of Clinton losers could be the next cash cow for the SPLC. Speaking at a church near New York City, Levin blamed the election of Trump and the President himself for the re-emergence of white nationalist groups and demonstrations like the one in Charlottesville, Virginia last year. True to form, Levin perpetuated the false narrative that…

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Preds Party in the Park to be Held on Thursday May 10 for Game 7

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Bethany Bowman

Preds in the park

Preds Party in the Park to be held on Thursday, May 10, for Game 7, Round 2 of 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for Nashville Predators vs the Winnipeg Jets.

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Congressional Candidate Bob Corlew Launches New Ad Focused on Border Security

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Admin

Former judge and current Republican congressional candidate Bob Corlew announced on Tuesday the launch of a new campaign ad focused solely on his commitment to support President Trump’s efforts to shore up the United States’ national security by securing the southern border and reforming the immigration system to reflect the ‘America First’ agenda. The 30-second spot (seen below) features footage of Corlew walking border fence with two agents. In it, the former judge vows to support President Trump’s now-familiar promises to: Build the wall End chain migration Stop the flow of drug Deny amnesty to illegal aliens currently in the countru Renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) SCRIPT: V/O: How do we secure our future? It starts at the border. CORLEW: In Congress, I’ll stop criminal illegal aliens from entering our country by working with President Trump to build a wall, end chain migration, stop the flow of illegal drugs, no amnesty. And I’ll fight unfair trade deals, because open borders also costs Tennessee jobs. I’m Bob Corlew and I approve this message because securing our border and protecting jobs are values I’ll never stop never stop fighting for. Watch the commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIma2hlbDgI

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‘Hillbilly’ Premiers May 19th at the Nashville Film Festival

May 8, 2018 Bethany Bowman

A new documentary film that explores the historical basis of cultural stereotypes about people from Appalachia, is set to make its worldwide debut during the Nashville Film Festival on May 19th.

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President Trump Withdraws from Iran Deal; Marsha Blackburn and Diane Black Praise Decision

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Admin

President Trump

Ahead of the May 12th deadline and against the many requests from European allies, President Trump announced Tuesday afternoon the United States will withdraw from the Obama-era “Iran Deal.” The president announced his decision in a speech at the White House in the Diplomatic Room as Trump’s National Security Adviser John Bolton, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Vice President Mike Pence looked on, Breitbart reported. In his remarks, Mr. Trump revisited the many atrocities against the West and the United States by the theocratic regime. “Over the years, Iran and its proxies have bombed American embassies and military installations, murdered hundreds of American service members, and kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured American citizens,” he said. After a summarizing the short history of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – commonly known as the “Iran Deal” he President Trump noted: Since the Agreement, Iran’s bloody ambitions have grown only more brazen. In light of these glaring flaws, I announced last October that the Iran Deal must wither be renegotiated or terminated. Three months later on January 12th, I repeated these conditions. I made clear that if the Deal cannot be fixed, the United States would no longer be a party to the…

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Dr. Mark McDonald: Postmortem Analysis of the Let’s Move Nashville Plan’s Train Wreck

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

by Dr. Mark McDonald, Professor of the Practice of Civil Engineering at Lipscomb University There is no doubt after the transit referendum that the proposed master plan was found to be a train wreck by almost two of three voters. This is a most unfortunate situation, as the window of time to manage Nashville’s rapid growth is shrinking and if not managed competently, Nashville will pay dearly for it. In this article I will provide my insight as to why the plan failed, what I think is good and bad about the result, and where I believe Nashville should go from here. Let’s first of all establish a few baseline facts. Nashville’s surface streets in the urban core are approaching gridlock at peak hours. Nashville’s interstates are operating regularly at level of service F at peak times, when most of our citizens need the network to be reliable and efficient. Our primary arterials are operating at capacity, and we will have a very large number of people moving to middle Tennessee in the next 20 years. Our city’s infrastructure is totally unprepared to handle this population explosion, and to make matters worse, the additional motorists expected on our highways will…

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Trained By Tennessee Socialist Organization, TIRRC is Begging Gov. Haslam to Veto Anti-Sanctuary City Bill

May 8, 2018May 9, 2018 Chris Alto

Tennessee Star

The innocuous sounding Highlander Research and Education Center located in Jefferson County, Tennessee, is dedicated to creating radical activists that will change the social, economic and political order of the South. Beginning in 2007, the Center provided critical training to leaders and members from the TN Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), which is now using that training to try and convince Governor Haslam to veto the anti-sanctuary city bill passed by the Tennessee General Assembly. Under the guise of championing “social justice,” Highlander provided Justice School for TIRRC‘s leaders and members beginning in 2007, with “sessions combin[ing] nuts-and-bolts training on organizing and leadership skills with broader discussions of social, political, and economic issues related to immigration and the immigrant rights movement.” The following year, TIRRC was named “Advocacy Affiliate of the Year” by the National Council of La Raza. TIRRC lists the Highlander Center among its coalition members. The formerly named Highlander Folk School was co-founded in 1932, by Tennessee socialists and anti-capitalists Myles Horton and Don West who modeled the school after socialist training centers they had visited in Denmark. The school was established in Monteagle, Tennessee but was shut down by the state for alleged violations of it’s charter. The school…

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Commentary: American Citizens Organize To Fight The Caravan Of Illegals Surging Into Our Country

May 8, 2018May 7, 2018 Admin

Tennessee Star

by CHQ Staff Despite President Trump’s expressions of outrage, seventy men, women and children poured through a U.S. port of entry early Friday to seek asylum, the largest single group yet accepted by U.S. officials from the caravan of Central American aliens demanding unrestricted entry into the United States. The aliens, from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, were among the last who had planned to ask for asylum, bringing the total to 228 who have crossed the border in the past ten days. Just after 9 a.m., the phony asylum-seekers lined up to enter the long passageway between the countries reported Reuters. In single file, they walked straight through, with photo-op ready mothers carrying teddy bears in one hand and small children in another. In Mexico outside the port of entry, reports Reuters, the remaining migrants were joined in a makeshift camp by other would-be asylum-seekers who had come seeking information and donations. Meanwhile, says Reuters, the caravan’s organizers scrambled to collect migrants’ names to track their dispersal across U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) centers after they exit the port of entry’s detention facility in coming days. Conservatives are outraged that Soros-backed organizations are aiding and abetting the…

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Mayor Tim Burchett’s Final Budget for Knox County: No Tax Increases, Modest Spending Increases, Reduces Debt

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Admin

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett submitted his final budget for the County Monday as he prepares to leave office this Fall after two terms in office. Burchett is term-limited and is currently running for Congress in the Second Congressional District Republican Primary to succeed Congressman Jimmy Duncan, who announced his retirement several months ago. The final Burchett budget proposal spends $819 million and includes no tax increases. The budget is a small increase of 2.6 percent ($20.8 million) from 2017-18 and would pay down $9.1 million in county debt. Burchett pointed out in his presentation that the county has paid down some $45 million in debt since he took office. The budget also focuses on provided some additional funds to law enforcement, with raises for the Sheriff’s Deputies that will be higher than what will be allocated to other county employees. There is also some targeted spending in the $35.4 million capital budget, with the Sheriff’s Department receiving $2.1 million for new equipment, which includes forty six new vehicles, body cameras and tasers. The Burchett proposal includes one year of funding for magnet schools and the Project GRAD program, which helps lower-performing, poorer students, subject to the School Board assisting…

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Franklin’s Own Andrew Puzder, Successful Restaurant Executive, Explains How Trump Led America’s Economic Comeback

May 8, 2018May 7, 2018 Admin

by Ginny Montalbano Andrew Puzder, former CEO of the parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. restaurants, last week spoke to The Daily Signal’s Ginny Montalbano about his new book, “The Capitalist Comeback: The Trump Boom and the Left’s Plot to Stop It.” President Donald Trump tweeted about the book Friday night. [Puzder now lives in Franklin, Tennessee.] A lightly edited transcript of the interview follows. Great book just out by very successful businessman @AndyPuzder. Always known as somebody who knows how to win, “Capitalist Comeback” will be a big hit! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2018 [ The liberal Left continue to push their radical agenda against American values. The good news is there is a solution. Find out more ] Ginny Montalbano: Thank you so much for being with us today. You have a new book out called “The Capitalist Comeback: The Trump Boom and the Left’s Plot to Stop It.” Can you preview it for us? Andrew Puzder: It’s a book that covers a lot of the history of the progressive movement, and the strength of our American capitalist system, what a benefit it’s been, not only for this country but for the world. But more particularly, how the…

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Disgraced NY AG Schneiderman Resigns Over Domestic Abuse Allegations

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Jason M. Reynolds

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democratic women’s rights advocate, resigned Monday over allegations of physical violence against four women. “While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office’s work at this critical time,” Schneiderman said as reported by The New Yorker. “I therefore resign my office, effective at the close of business on May 8, 2018.” The publication’s Jane Mayer and Ronan Farrow spoke to two accusers on the record: Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam. They allege that Schneiderman “repeatedly hit them, often after drinking, frequently in bed and never with their consent,” the story said. In response, Republican Attorneys General Association Chairman (RAGA) and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said, for RAGA, “The allegations against Eric Schneiderman are sickening. With devastating detail, the courageous women involved shared the horror and abuse they endured at the hands of a disturbed monster. I commend these strong women for standing up, speaking out and sharing their stories which will hopefully empower other victims to speak out against violence. These women will be the ones who are remembered, not this sick man. While Schneiderman has…

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Warren Buffet Says All But Three Newspapers Have No Long-term Future

May 8, 2018May 7, 2018 Admin

Legendary stock market and business tycoon Warren Buffet declared at the Berkshire Hathway annual meeting over the weekend that only three American newspapers were viable, long-term. “No one except the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and now probably the Washington Post has come up with a digital product that really in any significant way will replace the revenue that is being lost as print newspapers lose both circulation and advertising,” the company chief said during the question-and-answer period of the presentation. “It is very difficult to see – with a lack of success in terms of important dollars rising from digital – it’s difficult to see how the print product survives over time.” Buffet added that the fiscal impact to Berkshire Hathaway – despite its holding in the newspaper markets – will be minuscule. “The economic significance to Berkshire is almost negligible, but the significance to the society I think actually is enormous,” he said. Show business and media news outlet The Wrap reported: Buffett’s prediction was precipitated by a question from former Fortune magazine journalist Carol Loomis, who noted that circulation for the 28 newspapers Buffett purchased in 2011 had all fallen sharply. Buffett’s latest pronouncement on the newspapers was actually an improvement from…

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Study: Climate Change ‘Skeptics’ Are More Eco-Friendly Than ‘Alarmists’

May 8, 2018May 7, 2018 Admin

by Jason Hopkins A recently released study suggests those less concerned with climate change practice more eco-friendly habits than those who are more alarmed about the issue. In an April study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, University of Michigan psychology graduate student Michael Hall researched the behavioral differences between people who hold varying degrees of concern toward climate change. Hall, over the course of one year, examined 600 different Americans who “regularly reported their climate change beliefs, pro-environmental behavior, and other climate-change related measures.” The report divided subjects into three groups: “Highly Concerned,” “Cautiously Worried” and “Skeptical.” Additionally, the report measured how frequently subjects participated in “green” behavior: using public transportation, purchasing environmentally friendly products, using reusable shopping bags, and recycling. Unsurprisingly, Americans in the “skeptical” category were most opposed to enacting government regulations to address climate change. Those in the “Highly Concerned” category were much more in favor of government intervention. A surprising find in the study, however, was these same skeptics were “most likely to report engaging in individual-level pro-environmental behaviors.” Hall and his colleagues found these behaviors to be consistent throughout the year. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for someone to be strongly supportive of environmental…

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DEA Knowingly Let Admitted Addicts, Dealers Prescribe Drugs

May 8, 2018May 7, 2018 Admin

by Ethan Barton Admitted drug addicts and dealers were among the hundreds of thousands of people and businesses the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) licensed to manufacture, distribute or prescribe pharmaceuticals over the past 12 years, a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation has found. The agency stripped only 240 licenses for wrong-doing over the same period. The DEA’s Office of Diversion Control, which is responsible for issuing and revoking the permits, is, by law, fully funded by the licenses’ application fees. More than 1.7 million individuals and organizations held licenses as of March 2018 — an increase of more than 510,000 since August 2006, the earliest publicly available data, TheDCNF’s review found. “The office … has not been very aggressive in hunting down doctors [who] are prescribing in inappropriate ways,” said Carnegie Mellon University Professor Jonathan Caulkins, who’s worked extensively in drug policy. “The DEA does not aggressively try to find corrupt or incompetent health care providers in the health care system.” Effective enforcement is especially important given the growing opioid epidemic, Caulkins added. More than 200,000 Americans died from prescription drug overdoses between 1999 and 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most heroin users begin their addiction with such…

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Predators Bounce Back to Tie Series in Winnipeg, Beat Jets 4 to 0

May 7, 2018May 7, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Preds

The Nashville Predators bounced back on Monday night to tie their Western Conference Stanley Cup semi-final series with Winnipeg 3 games apiece, defeating the Jets on their home ice 4 to 0. The series returns to Nashville for a seventh and deciding final game on Thursday. Victor Arvidsson put the Predators ahead for good at the 1:02 mark of the first period, with assist from Roman Josi and Ryan Johansen. In the second period, Filip Forsberg put the Predators up 2-0 with a goal at the 8:15 mark, with assists from Ryan Johnsen and Craig Smith. Forsberg scored his second goal of the game at the 5:55 mark in the third period, to put the Predators up 3 to 0. Arvidsson and Josi assisted. Later in the final period, at the 15:58 mark, Arvidsson got his second goal of the game, an empty netter, to make the score Predators 4, Jets 0. Predators goalie Pekka Rinne returned to form after a subpar Game 5, stopping all 34 shots on goal by the Jets.

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Music Spotlight: David Henderson

May 7, 2018July 17, 2018 Bethany Bowman

Singer-songwriter David Henderson

David Henderson is an up and coming artist who participated in Hungary’s, The Voice in 2012.

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Education Policy Director From La Raza Affiliate Conexion Americas Running for Nashville School Board

May 7, 2018July 17, 2018 Chris Alto

Gini Pupo-Walker, senior director of education policy and strategic growth for Conexion Americas, an affiliate of UnidosUS (formerly known as the National Council of La Raza), is on the August 4th ballot to represent District 8 on the Nashville School Board. Pupo-Walker’s campaign biography emphasizes her commitment to Latino and immigrant families and students, including starting the Metro Nashville school district’s first Spanish Heritage classes while she was teaching Spanish at John Overton High School. When Metro Nashville Public Schools announced that Arabic was being added as a foreign language in several schools, it was explained that foreign language heritage classes are “for native speakers to deepen their knowledge of the language and learn to read and write in” their native language. Pupo-Walker’s former school now employs translators and interpreters as part of its staff, and a student enrollment estimated to be 66% minority enrollment 29% of which are listed as Hispanic. Forty-nine percent of the student body tested either below basic or basic in English proficiency. Before joining the staff at Conexion Americas, Pupo-Walker served on the organization’s board whose founder and director Renata Soto, has a long-standing relationship with UnidosUS. Not only is Soto’s Nashville organization a named affiliate of…

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Michelle Obama Slams Female Trump Voters: ‘What Is Going On In Our Heads?’

May 7, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

by Peter Hasson Former first lady Michelle Obama slammed female supporters of President Donald Trump on Saturday and claimed they voted against Hillary Clinton before they aren’t “comfortable” with the idea of a woman president. “In light of this last election I’m concerned about women, about how we think about ourselves and each other. I think more about what is going on in our heads where we let that happen,” Obama said when speaking at the United State of Women Summit. “So I do wonder what young girls are dreaming about when we’re still there when the most qualified person running was a woman, and look what we did instead,” Obama said. “Women are still suspicious of one another” and hold themselves to a higher standard than men, she claimed. “If we’re not comfortable with the notion that a woman could be president, compared to what?” The former first lady asked, to rousing cheers from the audience. Watch the comment here (cued to 1:58:30hr) – – – Peter Hasson is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation. Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson. The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out a biased American…

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The Tennessee Star’s ‘Gill Report’ Expands Into West Tennessee By Adding News/Talk 101.5 FM WNWS in Jackson

May 7, 2018May 13, 2018 Admin

Steve Gill 101.5 FM

The Tennessee Star’s “Gill Report,” hosted by Political Editor Steve Gill, is expanding its reach into West Tennessee Monday evening as News/Talk 101.5 fm WNWS in Jackson begins broadcasting the show each weekday evening at 8 pm Central Time. The show has been airing in Knoxville on 92.3 fm WETR weekdays at 6:30 Eastern Time since early March. “We are excited about being able to reach listeners in West Tennessee and expect to add even more stations in the next few weeks,” Gill said. “Heading into the primary and general election season in Tennessee, it is more important than ever to make sure conservative voters are informed and energized. As we grow Tennessee Star’s reach, both online and on-air, we plan to have even greater impact and influence in the political arena.” National media outlets have shown a sudden interest in The Tennessee Star’s operations and impact in recent weeks. “We appreciate the attention,” Gill noted, “and expect it to increase over the next six to eight months.” Those wanting to listen to the Tennessee Star “Gill Report” outside the Jackson and Knoxville areas can listen to the live streams available on WETR and WNWS.

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Hans von Spakovsky Commentary: Rudy Giuliani Is Right: Settlement With Stormy Daniels Didn’t Violate Campaign Finance Law

May 7, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

by Hans von Spakovsky Rudy Giuliani sent opponents of President Donald Trump into a wild flutter in an interview Wednesday night with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity. Giuliani, the former New York mayor who is now part of the president’s legal team, said that one of Trump’s personal lawyers, Michael Cohen, had been reimbursed for the settlement he entered into with an adult film star on the president’s behalf days before the election. Those claiming the settlement with Stormy Daniels was a campaign-related expense and a violation of campaign finance law don’t have much of a leg to stand on. This is particularly so given that the Justice Department tried to make a similar legal claim against former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards without success. The payment was seemingly a nuisance settlement, the kind that celebrities make all the time when faced with meritless claims that will cost far more to defend than making a quick payoff without all of the bad publicity that usually accompanies such cases. [ The liberal Left continue to push their radical agenda against American values. The good news is there is a solution. Find out more ] That is particularly true when celebrities are faced with the threat of…

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‘Let Me Assault YOUR Reputation’ – MSNBC Panel Turns Into Dumpster Fire

May 7, 2018May 6, 2018 Admin

by Peter Hasson An MSNBC panel quickly deteriorated on Saturday after Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz and Democratic Senate candidate Richard Painter got into a heated dispute and began slinging accusations at each other. The two panelists initially clashed over Dershowitz’s negative characterization of Robert Mueller, but the disagreement soon turned into personal attacks. Dershowitz noted “two tragedies” with regard to the Mueller investigation. “One, the way the White House has behaved and second, the way Mueller, who has a mixed reputation when I was in Boston with regard to four innocent people who spent their life and two of them died in jail — “ Dershowitz said, before Painter interrupted him. “That is not true. You cannot say that, professor. That’s a lie,” said Painter, who has made a name for himself with his hysterical attacks on President Donald Trump.” “Do not assault his reputation. That’s just not true.” “Then let me assault your reputation,” Dershowitz fired back. “Let me talk about your reputation. Painter is trying to turn — parlay his anti-Trump zealotry into a position.” The conversation further deteriorated from there, as Dershowitz — who was hard to hear because of a spotty Skype connection — accused Painter of lying “repeatedly about my background and expertise,” while Painter continued…

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FBI Faced ‘Conundrum’ In Its Investigation Of Michael Flynn

May 7, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

by Chuck Ross In late 2016, then-FBI Director James Comey was ready to shut down a counterintelligence investigation the bureau had open on Michael Flynn, the retired general who was set to serve as Donald Trump’s national security adviser. Investigators “had not really substantiated anything particularly significant” in its investigation into Flynn’s possible links to foreign governments, Comey’s deputy, Andrew McCabe, told Congress late last year. But the case took on new life just days into Flynn’s White House tenure. As is now widely known, Flynn lied to two FBI agents during a Jan. 24, 2017 interview about his contacts several weeks earlier with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador at the time. Flynn, who resigned on Feb. 13, 2017, has since pleaded guilty in the special counsel’s Russia investigation to making false statements to the FBI. [ RELATED: Here Is House Intel’s Long-Awaited Russia Report ] But newly unredacted portions of a report from the House Intelligence Committee show that FBI leaders faced a “conundrum” about how to proceed with the Flynn investigation. The report cites testimony provided by both Comey and McCabe regarding Flynn. Comey testified in March 2017 “that he authorized the closure of the [counterintelligence] investigation into General Flynn by late…

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Billionaire Responsible For Sketchy Clinton-Flint Program Has A Few Skeletons In His Closet

May 7, 2018May 6, 2018 Admin

by Chris White The wealthy Democratic money-man, who financed a program former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton created to help Flint, is doing well in his campaign for Illinois governor — but records show he has a history of using black people as political pawns. Federal law enforcement officials captured phone conversations between billionaire J.B Pritzker and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in secret wiretaps as they investigated the latter for political corruption. Most of the nearly 10-year-old discussion revolved around debating which black state politician Blagojevich should use to replace then-outgoing Sen. Barack Obama. The 2008 conversation, unsealed in May 2017, is likely to become a topic of conversation as Pritzker’s campaign for governor shifts into overdrive. He currently has an 18 point lead in the polls over incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, according to a Victory Research poll conducted in April. But the conversations are damning — as was his role in a sketchy Flint jobs program Clinton spearheaded during the 2016 presidential election. During one conversation, Pritzker gave the now-disgraced former governor a new name as a potential senate pick to replace Obama, who had to resign his position after winning the 2008 presidential election. Their discussion entailed hashing…

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NSA Tripled The Amount Of Surveillance It Conducted In 2017

May 7, 2018May 6, 2018 Admin

by Eric Lieberman The National Security Agency (NSA) tripled its collection of Americans’ phone call and text message records in 2017, according to U.S. intelligence agency report published Friday. The federal surveillance agency gathered 534 million records in 2017, a 151 million increase from 2016. The government “has not altered the manner in which it uses its authority to obtain call detail records,” Timothy Barrett, a spokesman at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, told Reuters. “We expect this number to fluctuate from year to year.” Americans weren’t the only ones looked upon on by U.S. authorities. Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which was renewed earlier in the year, investigators spied on 129,080 non-U.S. citizens living abroad, an uptick of 22,611. Over a five-year span, the surveillance of foreigners rose roughly 45 percent. [ RELATED: The Battle Over The Government’s Massive Surveillance Powers Has Arrived ] Section 702 of FISA is a huge point of contention politically and societally, as civil liberties advocates and more privacy-focused lawmakers say it’s often used beyond the legal bounds with authorities scooping up the communications of law-abiding Americans. Those in the larger intelligence and law enforcement community, however, argue that it’s critical for protecting…

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