Long-time pollster John McLaughlin joined host Michael Patrick Leahy on Wednesday’s episode of The Tennessee Star Report for a fascinating discussion of what the national and state polling means, which polls to watch, and what to watch for as more polling comes out.
Read the full storyDay: October 3, 2023
Fiscal Conservatives from Arizona and Tennessee Helped Depose Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House
U.S. Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) laid it all on the line Tuesday afternoon in supporting a motion to vacate to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) from the post he has tenuously held for less than a year.
“Speaker McCarthy has failed to demonstrate himself as an effective leader who will change the status quo. He has gone against many of the promises he made in January and can no longer be trusted at the helm,” Biggs said.
Read the full storyAfter Ouster, McCarthy Will Not Seek to Reclaim Speaker’s Gavel in Next Leadership Fight
Ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will not seek to reclaim his post in the next leadership vote after lawmakers voted to remove him on Tuesday.
Read the full story‘Shell Shocked’ Kevin McCarthy Will Not Run for House Speaker Again Following Removal
Fox News Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will not run again for House speaker, multiple sources told Fox News Digital following a narrow vote to remove him from the role on Tuesday. Speaking with Fox News Digital after a GOP conference meeting following McCarthy’s ouster, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., described the now former speaker as “shell shocked” at the meeting and “down, as anyone would be.” READ THE FULL STORY
Read the full storyHouse Is Vacant After Gaetz’s Motion Passes, Removing McCarthy as Speaker
The GOP-led House of Representatives voted Tuesday in favor of Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz’s effort to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position.
Read the full storyTucker Carlson and Victor Davis Hanson Discuss New York’s Civil Case Against Former President Donald Trump
In episode 27 of his newest production, “Tucker on X,” Tucker Carlson interviewed historian and frequent guest on the former primetime host’s Fox News show, Victor Davis Hanson.
Read the full storyVivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie Slam the RNC After the Organization Threatened to Expel the Candidates for Engaging in Separate Debates
GOP presidential candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie have spoken out against the Republican National Committee (RNC) after it was reported the group has threatened to expel the candidates from participating in future RNC-organized debates.
Read the full storyAttorney General Skrmetti Files Complaint Against DHS and ICE After the Agencies Failed to Provide Information on Illegal Migrants Being Bussed to Tennessee
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed an official complaint against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday, alleging the two entities have failed to produce documents regarding the release of immigrant detainees into Tennessee.
Read the full storyEducation Choice Analysis Ranks Tennessee at No. 6 in the Nation
Tennessee ranked No. 6 nationally with a grade of B in the ALEC Index of State Education Freedom.
Grades were scored overall from tabulating funding and financing programs; charter schools; homeschooling; virtual schooling; and open enrollment. The overall score was 71.5 points, which trailed only Florida (95), Arkansas (92), Indiana (86.6), Arizona (84) and Iowa (78)
Read the full storyTennessee U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett Tells Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to ‘Stay in Your Lane’ Amid Criticism of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz
Tennessee U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) responded to a tweet by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich criticizing Florida U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL-01) “suicidal efforts to cripple the House GOP.”
Read the full storyTennessee Titans to Host Outreach Event for New Stadium Project
The Tennessee Titans recently announced an outreach event for individuals and businesses interested in becoming part of the team’s new stadium project is set to take place on Thursday, October 19.
Read the full storyKnox County Deputy ‘Seriously Wounded’ in Shootout, TBI Investigating
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is investigating after a fatal officer-involved shooting in Knox County Sunday night that left a deputy “seriously wounded.”
“TBI special agents are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Sunday night fatal officer-involved shooting in Knox County, which also left a deputy seriously wounded,” TBI said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Read the full storyMetro Police and Fire Team Up with Nashville Domestic Violence Office for Food Drive
The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and the Nashville Fire Department (NFD) are teaming up with the city’s Office of Family Safety (OFS) for a food drive that began Monday.
“Metro Nashville Police Department and Metro Nashville Fire Department partner with the Office of Family Safety to provide food for Davidson County residents experiencing interpersonal violence,” says an announcement on OFS’ website.
Read the full storyBiden’s Support Among Minority Voters Is Plummeting as Trump Gains Ground, Poll Finds
President Joe Biden is losing substantial ground with minority voters while former President Donald Trump is gaining significantly, according to a poll released on Monday.
Biden’s support among black, Latino and Asian voters fell from 63 percent in July to 47 percent, according to the Monmouth University Poll. Trump’s support among these demographics rose from 23 percent to 33 percent during the same time period.
Read the full storyNewsom’s Identity Politics Pick to Fill Feinstein’s Seat Isn’t from California, Raising Constitutional Questions
California Governor Gavin Newsom has tapped Laphonza Butler, a far left abortion-on-demand activist, to fill the Senate seat long held by Democrat Diane Feinstein, who died Friday.
There’s one very big problem. Butler, a lesbian who fits Newsom’s identity politics-driven pledge to pick a black woman to serve out Feinstein’s current term, isn’t a resident of California.
Read the full storyJoe Biden Admits No Labels Will ‘Help the Other Guy,’ Argues Backers Making ‘Mistake’
President Joe Biden said Arizona’s newest political party, No Labels, will help his eventual Republican opponent in the 2024 presidential election during a Sunday interview with ProPublica.
Biden said No Labels will harm his electoral prospects during an interview with reporter John Harwood, asserting its organizer Joe Lieberman is making a “mistake” by abandoning the Democratic Party for a third party effort.
Read the full storyRamaswamy Campaign Urges RNC to Limit GOP Presidential Primary Debate Stage to Five Candidates
Asserting the current crowded GOP presidential primary debate stage is too cluttered, the campaign for Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is asking the Republican National Committee to trim the number of contestants for the next debate in November.
Ben Yoho, CEO of the Ohio businessman’s presidential campaign, proposed revised criteria for candidates to make next month’s debate stage in Miami.
Read the full storyFederal Court: Atlanta-Based Grant Program Exclusively for Black Women Likely Violates Civil Rights Act
An Atlanta-based venture capital firm’s grant program that is exclusively available to businesses owned by black women was blocked by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in a Saturday injunction that prevents funds being dispersed for the “racially exclusionary” grant program.
The 11th Circuit voted 2-1 to grant the injunction requested by the non-profit American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), a project of conservative legal strategist Edward Blum, which is suing the venture capital Fearless Fund over its race-based Fearless Strivers Grant.
Read the full storyMichigan Lawmakers Sue to Overturn Election Changes
Eleven Michigan Republican lawmakers filed a federal lawsuit challenging election changes voters approved in 2018 and 2022.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, the plaintiffs say election officials violated state legislators’ rights because the U.S. Constitution and the Michigan Constitution require state legislatures to regulate the times, places, and manner of federal elections.
Read the full storyPurple Commonwealth: Virginia Poll Shows 42 Percent to 42 Percent Split Between Republicans, Democrats
Old Dominion residents go into the commonwealth’s Nov. 7 legislative elections equally split between Democrats and Republicans, with 42 percent of voters telling the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies poll of 1,000 Virginia adults conducted Sept. 5 through Sept. 11.
“Virginia has rapidly returned to its purple state status,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, and the center’s director. The poll included 833 registered voters, 771 likely voters, and carries a 3-percentage point margin of error.
Read the full storyOhio Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to End Critical Nursing Staffing Issues
A bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers introduced a bill last week into the Ohio House of Representatives to address critical staffing issues in Ohio’s nursing workforce.
The Safe Patient Care Act, introduced by State Representatives Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) and Elgin Rogers (D-Toledo), would ensure that patients in the state of Ohio receive the highest quality care and that nurses receive reasonable workplace protections.
Read the full storyConnecticut to Move Presidential Primary Date
Connecticut is one of the last states in the nation to hold a presidential primary, but that would change under a proposal awaiting action by Gov. Ned Lamont.
A proposal approved by the state Legislature last week during a special session would change the presidential primary date to the first Tuesday in April, which in the next nominating cycle would be April 2. Under the current law, the primary is held on the last Tuesday, which would be April 30. Lamont, who backs the move, is expected to sign the bill into law.
Read the full storyCommentary: Judgment Day in America
To save America, first save the court system. Because it may be the last institution in the country doing its job — repelling progressive insanity. Four sound, sage judgments last Friday battered the Left all the way up from a local school district to the White House. Two of them made it a very bad day for the trans movement. But all stress the urgency of voting conservative to maintain righteous normalcy, far more than political circuses like last Wednesday’s Fox Business/Univision/RNC-mounted Republican Primary Debate.
Read the full story160 Arrested in Statewide Human Trafficking Crackdown Operation
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday that 160 individuals have been arrested as a result of a week-long human trafficking crackdown across the state.
Read the full storyPolice Leaders Say ‘Legislative Fix’ Only Way to Resolve SRO Issue after Moriarty letter
The state’s largest police association sent a letter to its members last week saying a “legislative fix” is the only way to address concerns with a new law impacting school resource officers (SROs).
This comes after Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty sent a letter Wednesday to the police chiefs in her county that reignited confusion with the new law.
Read the full storyBernie Kerik to Invoke Fifth Amendment in Georgia Trump Case Unless He Receives Immunity: Report
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) subpoenaed Bernie Kerik, demanding he testify in her racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and those who helped him contest the 2020 election. A lawyer for Kerik reportedly replied to Willis on Monday, declaring the former New York Police Department (NYPD) commissioner and alleged unindicted co-conspirator would not testify under oath without assurances he will not be prosecuted.
Kerik was previously identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case against Trump and his allies by CNN, and the outlet now claims to have reviewed a Monday letter from lawyer Tim Parlatore, who represents Kerik, that rebukes Willis’s demands.
Read the full storyWisconsin League of Women Voters Weighs In on University of Wisconsin System Diversity Issue
The League of Women Voters in Wisconsin is taking a stand on the fight between Republican lawmakers and the University of Wisconsin over diversity, equity and inclusion money.
The League encouraged Republicans to release $32 million that’s being held in an effort to get the university to move away from diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Read the full storyWisconsin Human Trafficking Task Force Focus on Victims
The beginning of Wisconsin’s new task force on human trafficking is coming with a warning.
Lawmakers on Wednesday held the first meeting of House Speaker Robin Vos’ Task Force On Human Trafficking, and while the group said the focus will be on victims, it will also delve into the details of the trafficking of children and other young people.
Read the full storyGov. Hobbs Asked DHS Secretary Mayorkas for More Border Support, Continuing to Bus Migrants North
Gov. Katie Hobbs expressed frustration with the federal government on its handling of the border crisis in a meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last week.
On Monday morning, Hobbs went into her conversation with the immigration head, in which she asked for increased federal support. When The Center Square asked about issues at Arizona ports of entry, Hobbs said it was part of the conversation.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Tiera Kennedy
Rising country artist, Tiera Kennedy, delivers a song from her upcoming debut album, “Jesus, My Mama, My Therapist,” to country radio, a tune that is as gutsy as it is fun.
Read the full storyOhio Attorney General Warns Drug Cases Involving Elephant Tranquilizer on the Rise
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is urging Ohioans to take caution as Carfentanil, a lethal synthetic opioid, has reemerged in several drug cases across the state.
Read the full storyOhio’s Miami University Tells ‘Social Justice’ and CRT Degree Programs to Fix Lack of Interest
Low-enrollment degrees at Miami University need to adapt or die, according to a memo from school officials.
Majors in “social justice, “critical race and ethnic studies” and “art history” are among those that must adapt their offerings in order to survive. The Oxford, Ohio university is facing a $36 million budget deficit.
Read the full storyCommentary: Inside the Defamation Lawsuit That Could Blow Southern Poverty Law Center Wide Open
The Southern Poverty Law Center is notorious for branding mainstream conservative and Christian organizations, such as the Alliance Defending Freedom and Moms for Liberty “hate groups” or “antigovernment extremist groups,” placing them on a map alongside chapters of the Ku Klux Klan.
Many of the SPLC’s targets have sued for defamation, but almost every lawsuit has failed. Earlier this year, however, a judge allowed one defamation lawsuit against the SPLC to move forward.
Read the full storyCommentary: Making Space for Silence
In our lives of technology, distraction, and immediacy, silence is often lost. Our minds and bodies need some quiet time, some space to rest. Without this, we become burned-out, stressed, and exhausted. But our lives are busy, and we have responsibilities, jobs, and families. How do we daily make room for silence? Here are some suggestions.
Read the full storyExpert Estimates $25 Billion of Fraud Annually in Federal Food Stamp Program
A security expert says Congress should reduce food stamp fraud as it faces a Saturday deadline to renew the Farm Bill.
Haywood Talcove is the CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ Government Group, which provides fraud prevention tools to 26 state unemployment programs and 50 U.S. banks.
Read the full storyGOP Lawmakers Say Marine Corps’ Diversity-Focused Officer Program May Discriminate Based on Race, Gender
Two Republican lawmakers are questioning whether a Marine Corps program created to attract minorities to apply as officers may discriminate based on applicants’ race or gender, according to a letter obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The “Diversity Aimed Officer Program” (DAOP) takes enlisted Marines and exposes them to senior leaders and the officer training environment near Washington, D.C., with hopes the exposure will convince them to seek careers as officers, according to the program page. But, Republican Reps. Jim Banks of Indiana and Mark Alford of Missouri allege the program appears structured to prioritize female and non-white applicants, contradicting the service’s legal obligation to a merit-based recruiting and promotion process, according to a letter addressed to Dr. Michael Strobl, the Marine Corps human resources chief, dated Oct 2.
Read the full storyCommentary: Ensuring Substitute Teachers Are Trained on Safety Procedures in Tennessee
Our schools are the bedrock of our communities, serving not only as centers of education but also as places of refuge and safety for our children. In an era of heightened concerns about school safety, it is essential that we leave no stone unturned in ensuring our schools are secure environments. One critical aspect of this is the requirement for substitute teachers to be adequately trained on lockdown procedures and safety protocols. It’s a seemingly small detail, but it plays a pivotal role in keeping our schools safe and our students protected.
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