Day: June 12, 2018

The Tennessee Star Increases Focus on Battleground States

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Gill Battleground States

The Tennessee Star is increasing its coverage of Battleground States as the nation moves towards the 2018 Mid-term elections. A new link on the website is devoted to stories and reports from states where voters will determine control of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives in November. “The intense battle between Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Phil Bredesen may have an impact on the control of the Senate, although Blackburn remains the favorite,” Tennessee Star Editor-in-chief Michael Patrick Leahy pointed out. “But Tennesseans are also interested in what is happening in House and Senate races in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Missouri, Florida, and Michigan to name a few. Our new section devoted to Battleground States coverage will not only keep Tennessee voters informed about the political campaigns in those states but also remind them of the importance of the Tennessee Senate race in the national balance of power.” The link for Battleground States appears in the top line section of The Tennessee Star. Political Editor Steve Gill noted that there are about a dozen House races in Ohio and Pennsylvania that can either preserve the Republican Majority in the House or swing control to Nancy Pelosi and the…

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Twitter CEO Caves To Liberal Backlash, Says He Was Wrong To Eat Chick-Fil-A

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Jack Dorsey

by Peter Hasson   Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Sunday expressed regret over eating at Chick-fil-A, because of the chicken company’s CEO’s personal views on gay marriage. Dorsey tweeted a screenshot from his phone that showed a purchase he had made at Chick-fil-A using a mobile application. After a liberal backlash, however, Dorsey apologized for eating at the popular fast food restaurant.   At issue was Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s 2012 support for defining marriage as between a man and a woman, which he described as “the biblical definition of a family.” “Please delete this or follow up with how much free advertising you’re going to give GLAAD” Former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien was among those to call out Dorsey for eating at the self-described home of the original chicken sandwich. O’Brien indicated that Dorsey had sinned by publicly eating at Chick-fil-A during gay pride month. “You’re right,” Dorsey conceded. “Completely forgot about their background.” – – – Peter Hasson is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation. Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson.                        Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide…

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President Donald Trump Meets Kim Jong Un in Singapore for Historic Summit

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Trump and Kim at Summit

by Steve Herman   President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have moved on to a working lunch of beef short ribs, sweet and sour crispy pork, and braised codfish. Among those joining the leaders on the U.S. side were Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House chief of staff John Kelly and national security adviser John Bolton. The North Korean delegation included Kim Yong Chol, a top aide to Kim Jong Un who recently met Trump at the White House. Early,Trump said a one-on-one meeting withKim was “very, very good,” and he spoke of having an “excellent relationship” as they held talks Tuesday in Singapore about the possible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. After about 40 minutes alone, except for interpreters, Trump and Kim each brought a small delegation of officials for more extensive talks. The U.S. side included Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. “We will solve a big problem,” Trump said ahead of the main talks. Tuesday’s unprecedented first meeting of a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader began with Trump and Kim coming together in front of a background…

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Commentary: No One on Earth Is More Prepared to Meet Kim Jong Un Than President Trump

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Trump - Kim Summit

by Jeffery Rendall   It’s always curious to watch the lead-up to a high-profile boxing match; the more you see the respective camps maneuver the more you recognize the “show” isn’t really about the fight itself. After all, two guys roped into a ring beating the stuffing out of each other isn’t all that interesting (except maybe in a morbid way) — it’s more like the media and fans are sizing up the opponents to determine who might best use his tools and technique to gain an advantage. Regardless, in the end it doesn’t matter. All the pre-event hype invariably leads to one of the participants laying on the canvas receiving the ten-count. Hours in the gym, skill and experience no doubt guided the winner. But let’s face it – it boils down to whomever was the tougher guy. The establishment media lead-up to President Donald Trump’s meeting with NORK dictator Kim Jong-un this week sounded a lot like a boxing match promotion. Trump threw the talkers into a tizzy last week when he said he wasn’t doing much preparation for his face-to-face with Kim. Essentially Trump suggested he’ll go with his instincts when the time comes. Trump’s hostile critics were…

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OFF THE RECORD: President Trump Singlehandedly Delivers the Most Eyebrow-Raising G7 Trade Summit Ever

Chris Alto
OFF THE RECORD

After years of mundanity surrounding the G7 world trade summit – the once-a-year snore-fest where the six, or seven, (or eight) leaders of the West come together as frenemies to see who can pick each others’ pockets most stealthily – we were treated to perhaps the most entertaining piece of political theater the world has ever seen. The excitement began when President Trump arrived. Last year, you’ll remember he made headlines over his ‘step aside‘ moment caught on camera. And you might also remember that – apart from the typical preening over ‘climate change’ initiatives like the Paris Accord (and the United States’ refusal to sign on) – the meeting came and went without much notice. Heck – even the protesters didn’t even bother to show up. The reason why is simple enough: this was President Trump’s first visit, and I suspect he wanted to do two things: (1) Observe; and (2) Give our trading partners a chance to do the right thing on their own. After all, that’s what friends do, right? Well, it’s a year later, and President Trump has been very vocal – some might even say notorious! – about his positions on trade. – America First –…

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Nunes Accuses DOJ Of ‘Obstruction’ In Battle Over FBI Informant Documents

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Devin Nunes, Rod Rosenstein

by Chuck Ross   House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes is giving the Department of Justice until Tuesday to provide documents about an FBI informant used to spy on the Trump campaign. In a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Friday, Nunes accused the agency of “obstruction” and using “an array of tactics” to withhold the documents about the spy, who is believed to be former University of Cambridge professor Stefan Halper. In the letter, Nunes said he wants the documents provided to the Intelligence committee and “designated staff” instead of only to the so-called Gang of Eight, as the Justice Department has requested. “DOJ continues to obfuscate and delay its production using an array of tactics, such as incorrectly categorizing the requested documents as Gang-of-Eight-level material in order to limit access,” Nunes wrote, according to Fox News. “Such conduct by DOJ is unacceptable because the Gang-of-Eight is a legal fiction that has no basis outside of the confines of Presidential approval and reporting of covert actions.” The Gang of Eight consists of the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees, as well as Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The battle…

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Italy’s New Interior Minister Demands Boat Carrying Migrants To Turn Around

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Matteo Salvini

 by Gabrielle Okun   Italy’s new interior minister demanded that a rescue boat carrying migrants from Libya turn around, according to the BBC Sunday. Matteo Salvini, the new Italian interior minister from the “Lega Nord” party, said a boat carrying migrants in the Mediterranean Saturday should instead go to Malta, BBC reported. The boat called the Aquarius was carrying 639 migrants, including 123 minors, as well as seven women who were pregnant, the Daily Mail added. “Malta takes in nobody,” Salvini said. He argued that Malta is instead closer to Libya, so the boat should instead go there. “Saving lives at sea is a duty, but transforming Italy into an enormous refugee camp is not,” Salvini added on Facebook Monday. “Italy is done bowing its head and obeying. This time there’s someone saying no.” “Enough,” he added. Salvini previously told migrants to “pack their bags” because the good times are over during a rally in Northern Italy. Malta refused to take the migrants, arguing they have no legally obliged since the ship was already headed to a rescue center in Rome. UPDATE: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain will accept the Aquarius. The ship will dock in Valencia, Spain, according to the BBC Monday. – – – Gabrielle Okun is a…

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Diane Black Applauds University of Tennessee’s Decision to Keep Tuition Rates Flat in Chattanooga and Knoxville

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Diane Black

The University of Tennessee’s decision Monday to freeze tuition rates for their Chattanooga and Knoxville campuses drew strong praise from gubernatorial candidate Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06). “We need to keep higher education affordable for students in Tennessee. Not every student needs to go to college, but those that are shouldn’t be burdened by unreasonable debt as a result,” Black said in a statement, adding: I applaud the University of Tennessee System for taking a common-sense step to incentivize students to work hard and get their degree faster with less debt. As governor, I will work to make college degrees and trade certificates more affordable and attainable for all Tennesseans. And I’ll work to restore the governor as a voting member of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees to make sure our higher education institutions receive the executive oversight they deserve. The university of Tennessee Subcommittee on Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid met on Monday to address tuition rates. While the subcommittee voted to keep the rates level at Chattanooga and Knoxville, students at the University of Tennessee, Martin will see a 3 percent increase. KnoxNews.com reporter Erica Breunlin noted that this will be the first time in 30 years that tuition rates…

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China Watching Kim-Trump Summit Closely

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President Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un

China may not be participating directly in the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but in some ways Beijing will be the invisible third party in the room. Like many countries in the region, China will be watching the Trump-Kim summit closely for signs of the possible impact the meeting could have on its interests. During the roller coaster run-up to the sit down, China has played a significant role. Analysts note Beijing’s participation in expansive international sanctions was a key factor in getting Kim to the negotiating table. Even though, Beijing has tapered off its enforcement in recent months. “China was participating in an unprecedented sanctions regime, very close to embargo, without Chinese participation it would be much less likely that North Korea’s government would’ve agreed to talk,” said Andrei Lankov, director of the Korea Risk Group, a provider of risk analysis, news and information on North Korea. Before Tuesday’s meeting, Xi Jinping met twice with Kim Jong Un. On Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Kim flew to Singapore on an Air China passenger jet. It did not clarify whether Beijing footed the bill, but that it provided the plane at…

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Arrest of 114 Illegal Immigrant Workers in Ohio Has Landscapers Worried Over Immigration Raids

Jason M. Reynolds
Landscape Worker

Landscaping businesses that are facing a severe labor shortage and increased demand for services are sweating over the federal government’s June 5 arrest of 114 illegal immigrant workers in Ohio, the Associated Press reported. People in the industry believe the raids will make it tougher to persuade Congress to allow more foreign workers into America for seasonal jobs. “I believe most of us are doing things the right way, but every company is going to be worried that they’re going to be raided,” said Joe Drake, who runs JFD Landscapes in Chardon, Ohio. Drake spent the past week in Chicago meeting with other seasonal employers to create a strategy to persuade Congress to ease restrictions on H2-B temporary visas. This year, a federal lottery for the first time determined which employers would get their allotment, initially capped at 66,000 workers until the Department of Homeland Security announced it would allow another 15,000 additional visas. The agents carried out raids at two separate locations of Corso’s Flower and Garden Center — one in Sandusky and the other in Castalia, The Tennessee Star reported last week. It was one of the largest such stings in years. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it…

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Yale Trustee Candidate Running On Platform Of Smashing Political Correctness

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James Kirchick

by Rob Shimshock   A candidate for Yale University’s board of trustees is intent on smashing political correctness, particularly after the 2015 cultural appropriation scandal on campus. Yale graduate James Kirchick suggested that he saw the beginnings of leftist intolerance on campus when he noticed an underrepresentation of liberals in the school debate club, according to The College Fix. Kirchick announced his candidacy for Yale’s board of trustees in a Wall Street Journal column entitled “I’m Running to Restore Yale Values”. Kirchick cited Yale students’ viral surrounding and lecturing of former headmaster Nicholas Christakis after his wife, professor Erika Christakis, sent a campus-wide email in which she expressed skepticism that students had to be warned about “appropriate Halloween wear.” “When the university rewarded two of the mob’s leaders with a prestigious prize, something was deeply amiss,” Kirchick stated. “Further developments have only confirmed my worries. Yale ditched the title “master” on the ludicrous grounds that it is racist; a survey finds half the faculty approves of “trigger warnings” for readings and classroom discussions, and the number of campus administrators continues to swell while the cost of attending has increased to $70,000 a year.” The candidate also cited the yellow-light rating assigned to Yale by…

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Tennessee GOP Slams ‘Two Faced’ Phil Bredesen for Taking Big Bucks From Chuck Schumer

John Bryant
Phil Bredesen, Chuck Schumer

The Tennessee Republican Party has already smacked Democrat Phil Bredesen for being “personally courted” to run for the US Senate by New York Democrat Chuck Schumer, now they’re going after Bredesen, with the help of the Washington Post, by pointing out that Schumer is “backing up the money truck to the Bredesen campaign.” Via the Washington Post, it seems Schumer’s group is planing to drop at least seven figures into Tennessee on Bredesen’s behalf. That would make Bredesen the best liberal Democrat Schumer’s D.C. money could be – and the exact opposite of the type of representation Tennessee chose when they helped to elect President Donald Trump. The top Senate Democratic super PAC plans to spend about $80 million to reserve fall airtime for television commercials in nine battleground states, a sizable early investment in pursuit of winning control of the Senate. Senate Majority PAC will soon secure post-Labor Day airtime in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia, the group told The Washington Post. The spending represents its first wave of fall reservations, officials said. “We are implementing an aggressive media strategy,” said Senate Majority PAC President J.B. Poersch, a close ally of Senate Minority…

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GOP Gubernatorial Hopeful Bill Lee Trolls Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey Over Chick-Fil-A Kerfuffle

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Bill Lee

Franklin-area businessman and Republican candidate for governor Bill Lee showed his support for Chick-Fil-A while at the same time poking fun at Twitter founder and CEO Jack Dorsey’s apology over the weekend for the “crime” of enjoying a chicken sandwich. Had a hankering for some @ChickfilA today. Cc: @jack pic.twitter.com/QwpBJS1t8w — Bill Lee (@BillLeeTN) June 11, 2018 At issue is a tweet by the social media giant’s founder proudly displaying his app-enabled purchase of a Chick-Fil-A meal. Reaction from the activist Left – especially from the LGBT quarters – was withering, and soonafter, Jack Dorsey capitulated, replying to former CNN anchor, “You’re right. Completely forgot about their background.” The ‘background’ Dorsey is referring to is a series of statements made by Chick-Fil-A’s Chief Operating Officer Dan Cathy from 2012 regarding his support of the biblical definition of marriage of one man and one woman, which triggered simultaneous boycotts by the left and BUY-cotts by the right. Ultimately, the fast-food stores’ sales rose an astonishing 12 percent, though the company’s owners stepped back from their support of conservative causes. “Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena,” the company said in a statement in…

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