Author: Zachery Schmidt

Movies to Watch This Weekend

Zachery Schmidt

  Stuber: If you are in search of a hard-hitting action comedy movie this weekend, Stuber might be the movie for you. Stuber is about an Uber driver Stu (Kumail Nanjian) who happens to pick up a detective Vic (Dave Bautista) while he is trying to catch a killer. The movie chronicles this unlikely pairing as they try to capture the fugitive. This movie opened up Friday and has received mixed reviews from movie critics. Rotten Tomatoes rated the movie at 46 percent. However, fans have rated the move at 82 percent. Crawl: Crawl details the story of the journey of a young girl named Haley (Kaya Scodelario) who is at home when a Category 5 hurricane hits her Florida home. Instead of listening to evacuation orders, she decides to look for her missing father Dave (Barry Pepper). As Haley locates her father, who is hurt, they both are trapped by the floodwaters. On top of dealing with the rising stormwater, the father-daughter duo has to fend off a group of alligators. Can they survive? Find out this weekend in your local theaters. This movie came out Friday and has received positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes movie critics gave the horror…

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Steve Bannon Thinks the Hong Kong Protests Are the Most ‘Important’ World Event Currently Occurring

Zachery Schmidt

  Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon believes the Hong Kong protests are the most “important event” happening in the world right now. “It’s monumentally important. Number one, remember the whole world has bought into this lie that the Chinese people are not ready for democracy, that the Chinese people can’t govern themselves,” Bannon told The Epoch Times in an interview. “I keep saying it’s the most racist thing I’ve ever heard, it’s unacceptable that the world’s capitals and the world’s media and the world’s established order have bought into this.” Tensions started in Hong Kong when a proposed bill would have allowed for transferring people to China for trial. Critics believed this legislation would hurt semi-autonomous Hong Kong, and said that residents transferred to China might not receive the same political rights. To show their displeasure, more than a million people in Hong Kong took to the streets June 9 to protest this proposed bill being pushed by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam. Quickly, the protests became violent as police and demonstrators clashed. VIDEO: 🇭🇰 Mothers in Hong Kong hold a rally to support youth-led anti-government protests #HKprotests pic.twitter.com/kZ3C8L0agq — AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 5, 2019 https://twitter.com/XyzaCruzBacani/status/1147119288722968576 another…

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Happy Independence Day, Tennessee

Zachery Schmidt

  Happy Independence Day! As America celebrates her 243th birthday, families and friends are coming together to enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, patriotic fireworks, parades, and generally speaking, all things patriotic. In America’s early days, however, such was not the case. A long-standing argument brewed among the Founders as to which day should be “Independence Day:” July 2, when the Declaration of Independence was proposed; or July 4, when the history-making document was signed. The idea to mark the importance of Independence Day at all got a big boost after the victory of the War of 1812 when the Federalist Party and Democratic-Republicans political parties started having their own separate celebration. These events grew in popularity as major celebrations for people, and were celebrated by hosting all-day events featuring bonfires, concerts, parades and public canon firings – taking place on either July 2nd or the 4th. It was a little more than a decade later – exactly fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence – when Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826 – that the argument was settled once and for all. It took Congress another 44 years to make Independence Day a federal holiday…

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President of World’s Largest Hispanic Christian Organization Visits Same Migrant Center as Ocasio-Cortez and Sees Completely Different Story

Zachery Schmidt

  The president of the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization toured the same Texas migrant center that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) viewed and saw a completely different scene. Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, the president of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), was “full of indignation” after seeing reports of soiled diapers and centers lacking basic hygiene and sanitary items. Thus, he asked the White House to grant him immediate access to a detention facility. On Monday, Ocasio-Cortez toured an El Paso County detention center and described horrible conditions at the facility. “Just left the 1st CBP facility. I see why CBP officers were being so physically &sexually threatening towards me. Officers were keeping women in cells w/ no water & had told them to drink out of the toilets. This was them on their GOOD behavior in front of members of Congress,” she tweeted. Just left the 1st CBP facility. I see why CBP officers were being so physically &sexually threatening towards me. Officers were keeping women in cells w/ no water & had told them to drink out of the toilets. This was them on their GOOD behavior in front of members of Congress. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 1,…

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Chick-fil-A Worker Hailed as Hero for Saving Young Boy’s Life

Zachery Schmidt

  A Chick-fil-A employee is being celebrated as a hero for his actions to save a customer’s life. Logan Simmons, a worker at a Chick-fil-A in Flowery Branch, Georgia, jumped out of a drive-thru window to save the life of a six-year-old who was chocking. A young @ChickfilA worker jumped into action when a boy was choking in a car. https://t.co/iFN0IUDyvH TONIGHT AT 11: What the teen told @JustinWilfonWSB about the terrifying moments. pic.twitter.com/KKTlljgW72 — WSB-TV (@wsbtv) June 28, 2019 Simmons promptly acted after he heard the boy’s mother calling for help. The boy had wrapped his seat belt around his neck. “I just jumped out the window and ran straight down to the car,” Simmons told Atlanta’s WSB-TV 2. “It was the quickest option.” Simmons said he could see the boy’s face turning red and losing pigmentation. To save the boy, he took out his pocket knife and cut the seat belt loose to free the young child. The boy’s mom called Simmons an hour later to thank him for his heroic actions. Once Simmons got home from work, he “nonchalantly” told his parents about his day. “He’d been home for a couple of hours and he said nonchalantly,…

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Independence Day Across America: Fun and Festivities to Join in Tennessee

Zachery Schmidt

  Check out these and other great events all across the Volunteer State. Knoxville Events: Festiville on the 4th: Knoxville is hosting a July Fourth event called “Festival on the 4th” that will take place at the Worlds Fair Park. Families will get to enjoy miniature golf, music, games and fireworks. This event starts at 4 p.m. and goes till 10 p.m. For more information go to visitiknoxville.com. Farragut Independence Day Parade: Families going to a parade on America’s birthday is an annual tradition. To continue this tradition, Knoxville locals can head over to Farragut High School for the “Town of Farragut Independence Day Parade.” Come celebrate America’s birthday by seeing floats, antiques, old cars and music. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. and goes to 12:30 p.m. Farragut’s July Fourth parade’s route will start on Stadium Drive and go to Boring Road. Mabry Hazen House: A house built in 1858 is hosting an event to celebrate America’s 243rd birthday. The Mabry-Hazen House is putting on an event where can get tours of this Victorian-era home, food, beer, live music and a great lookout spot for fireworks. This event costs $12 and starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 10…

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Wayfair Workers Protest at Company’s Headquarters Over Selling Furniture to Immigrant Detention Centers

Zachery Schmidt

  Wayfair employees and their supporters gathered to protest outside the company’s Boston headquarters Wednesday after learning the online retailer sold bedroom furniture to detention centers housing migrant children. According to NBC News, people protesting shouted “this is what democracy looks like” and “Hey-Hey, Ho-Ho, ICE contracts have got to go.” It was awesome to see the turnout today. Thank you to everyone who showed up to the #WayfairWalkout pic.twitter.com/x4oUttSv9i — wayfairwalkout (@wayfairwalkout) June 26, 2019 pic.twitter.com/ojaRQmDtPC — wayfairwalkout (@wayfairwalkout) June 26, 2019 The protests started after employees found out that Wayfair had fulfilled a $200,000 order to BCFS, a non-profit government contractor that manages the camps’ migrants are currently staying in. The facility receiving the order currently houses 3,000 migrant children, according to a letter sent last Friday to the company’s leadership team and signed by more than 500 workers. Receipts (for those who asked): Follow @wayfairwalkout Support #Lights4Liberty Donate to #RAICESTEXAS#CloseTheCamps pic.twitter.com/hKBKHIaRck — Grace, as in AMAZING #BLM #ProtectTransKids (@guiltyx) June 25, 2019 “We believe that by selling these (or any) products to BCFS or similar contractors we are enabling this violation and are complicit in furthering the inhumane actions of our government,” the letter states. The Wayfair…

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Supreme Court Strikes Down Tennessee Liquor Law

Zachery Schmidt

  The Supreme Court ruled against a Tennessee law that requires people to live in the state for two years before acquiring a retail license to sell alcohol. The court’s 7-2 decision ruled that Tennessee’s law had violated the Constitution’s Commerce Clause, which gives Congress the power “to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States.” “Because Tennessee’s two-year residency requirement for retail license applicants blatantly favors the state residents and has little relationship to public health and safety, it is unconstitutional,” conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the majority opinion. The case (Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Assn. V. Russell F. Thomas, Executive Director of Tennessee Alchohol Beverage Commission, Et Al.) gave the Supreme Court a chance to define the 21st Amendment’s scope, which allows states to regulate alcohol sales within state lines. Previously, the court ruled against Michigan and New York laws prohibiting out-of-state based wine companies from shipping wine within their states. In the Granholm v. Heald case, a 5-4 decision decided these state laws also violated the Commerce Clause. “While this requirement is less extreme than the others that the Sixth Circuit found to be unconstitutional, we now hold that it also violates the Commerce Clause…

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Stephanie Grisham Is Named New White House Press Secretary and Communication Director

Zachery Schmidt

  Stephanie Grisham is becoming the new White House press secretary and communication director, according to First Lady Melania Trump. “I am pleased to announce @StephGrisham45 will be the next @PressSec & Comms Director! She has been with us since 2015 – @potus & I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country. Excited to have Stephanie working for both sides of the @WhiteHouse. #BeBest” I am pleased to announce @StephGrisham45 will be the next @PressSec & Comms Director! She has been with us since 2015 – @potus & I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country. Excited to have Stephanie working for both sides of the @WhiteHouse. #BeBest — Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) June 25, 2019 Grisham becomes the fourth women to hold this position after Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced her resignation earlier this month. Also, she replaces Bill Shine who left his position in March. Sanders showed support for her successor on Twitter. “@StephGrisham45 will be an incredible asset to the President and the country. I’m sad to leave the WH, but so happy to leave our team in such great hands. Stephanie will do a…

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Movies to Watch This Weekend

Zachery Schmidt

  In this week’s edition of movies to watch, a popular kids movie hits the big screen and America’s favorite doll comes back to life. Toy Story 4: Your favorite characters, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, are back on the big screen this weekend with the premiere of Toy Story 4 Friday. In the fourth installment of Toy Story, Buzz, Woody, Bonnie and new character Frankie goes on a new adventure where Woody meets an old friend. The movie, starring Tim Allen and Tom Hanks, received positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes has given the adventure film a 98 percent rating. Even the audience agrees with the critics, as it has given the film a 96 percent rating. Child’s Play: A common theme of summer movies is happiness, but this horror movie is anything but that. Child’s Play, which debuted Friday, focuses on a young boy named Andy Barclay who gets a doll from his mom. Andy becomes attached to the doll, which has named itself Chucky, and becomes his best friend. However, as soon as Andy grows attached, the doll literally takes on a life of its own and starts terrorizing his family. The 1988 rebooted movie has received mixed…

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From Watch Parties to Street Fairs, Tuesday’s Official Launch of President Trump’s 2020 Re-Election Campaign Promises to Have Something for Everyone

Zachery Schmidt

  The long-awaited kickoff to President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign for 2020 has finally arrived and much like the president himself, it is turning out to be the first of its kind, anywhere. The event – an all day affair Tuesday dubbed “45 Fest” – is already setting records as organizers prepare for President Trump’s arrival at Orlando’s Amway Center tonight at 8pm, and will be carried live online and on air. Like most campaign-style rallies, the Trump campaign is making accommodations for supporters unable to get into the 20,000-seat arena. “We are building large movie screens outside to take care of everybody. Over 100,000 requests. Our Country is doing great, far beyond what the haters & losers thought possible – and it will only get better!” the president tweeted Monday. Big Rally tomorrow night in Orlando, Florida, looks to be setting records. We are building large movie screens outside to take care of everybody. Over 100,000 requests. Our Country is doing great, far beyond what the haters & losers thought possible – and it will only get better! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 17, 2019 In anticipation of what President Trump promises to be “a very exciting evening,” supporters began…

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USDA Workers Turn Backs to Sonny Perdue After Announcing Relocation from D.C. to Kansas City

Zachery Schmidt

  American Federation of Government Employees turned their backs on Agricultural Secretary Sonny Perdue Thursday while he spoke after the USDA announced its plan to relocate workers from Washington D.C. to the Kansas City region. Perdue announced the same day the reason for moving the Department of Agriculture’s research agencies – the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture – was to be closer to prominent farming areas, according to Politico. “Following a rigorous site selection process, the Kansas City Region provides a win-win: maximizing our mission function by putting taxpayer savings into programmatic outputs and providing affordability, easy commutes, and extraordinary living for our employees,” Perdue said. American Federation of Government Employees members from NIFA snd ERS turn backs on Agriculture Secretary Perdue at session on their unwanted relocation from DC to Kansas City area. #USDA pic.twitter.com/40JlVtuXFl — Jerry Hagstrom (@hagstromreport) June 13, 2019 The USDA believes Kansas City is the “hub” of the agricultural industry, and the move will save taxpayers money. The government agency believes it can save “nearly $300 million nominally over a 15-year lease term on employment costs.” These predicted savings will allow for funding of critical agricultural areas, according to…

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Movies to Watch This Weekend

Zachery Schmidt

  The summer is in full swing and that means a variety of movies are rolling out to audiences across the globe. This weekend, a couple of remakes of popular movies are set to be released today nationwide. Men in Black: International This movie is the fourth installation of the Men in Black series, which dates back to 1997. Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson star as two agents who fight aliens on Earth with advanced weaponry. But in the heat of battle, the duo discover they must face a far more dangerous foe – within the ranks if their own MiB. This science fiction movie has not done well with the critics. Rotten Tomatoes’ movie critics scored this a 27 percent rating while the audience gave it a 70 percent rating.   Shaft: Forty-eight years after the original Shaft movie came out, the fifth movie in this series hits theaters today. Shaft takes place in Harlem, New York and is about an FBI cyber security expert (Jessie Usher) who joins forces with his estranged father (Samuel L. Jackson) to investigate a friend’s mysterious death. This action comedy has received mixed reviews so far. Rotten Tomatoes scored this movie a 37…

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Sarah Huckabee Sanders to Leave White House at the End of the Month

Zachery Schmidt

  White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is stepping down at the end of June, President Donald Trump announced on Twitter Thursday. “After 3 1/2 years, our wonderful Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be leaving the White House at the end of the month and going home to the Great State of Arkansas . . . She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas – she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done,” Trump wrote. ….She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas – she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019 Sanders thanked the President on Twitter after he announced her resignation. “I am blessed and forever grateful to Donald Trump for the opportunity to serve and proud of everything he’s accomplished. I love the President and my job. The most important job I’ll ever have is being a mom to my kids and it’s time for us to…

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Pilots Honor Military and First Responders at Great Tennessee Air Show

Zachery Schmidt

  Tennesseans showed up in large numbers at the “Great Tennessee Air Show” at the Smyrna Airway to see the Blue Angels take the sky this weekend. People’s anticipation for the flying halted momentarily as it started to rain right before the airshow festivities. However, the weather cleared up to allow for flying to commence. Blue Angels were not the only aerial displays people got to see. In total, 12 different types of flight teams and skydivers performed at the airshow this weekend. The crowd gave a roaring shout when the Blue Angels started their boisterous engines up and took off. Once the Angels were in the air people were amazed at the deafening aerial displays being put on by these pilots. A common theme of all the pilots this year was honoring military men and women. Before almost every routine, pilots did a gesture to pay tribute to the people who protect our country. Honoring the military was a common theme throughout the airshow. Mission BBQ, one of the vendors at the airshow, has a noon tradition of stopping everything while its workers say the national anthem every single day. “Our two founders wanted to come up with an…

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Ilhan Omar Filed Joint Tax Returns with Man She Wasn’t Married to, Media Ignores Bombshell

Zachery Schmidt

  An investigation by Minnesota’s Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board into Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) found she violated campaign finance laws dating back to when she served a single term in the State House of Representatives from 2016-2018. But conservative Twitter quickly uncovered a more shocking detail in the report: she filed joint tax returns with a man she wasn’t married to. The report states that Omar filed joint tax returns in 2014 and 2015 with Ahmed Hirsi, even though she was married to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi from 2009-2017. “One payment of $750 was made to De Leon & Nestor, LLC for obtaining immigration records and one payment of $1,500 was made to Frederick $ Rosen, Ltd. for services related to Mr. Hirsi’s and Rep. Omar’s filed joint tax returns of 2014 and 2015,” Thursday’s report states. The Star Tribune, Minnesota’s most popular media outlet, picked up the story, but made no mention of the fact that Omar filed joint tax returns with Hirsi. “Media has hid the truth about Ilhan Omar for three years. It’s about to ruin them all,” said PJ Media‘s David Steinberg, who explained the bombshell in a Twitter thread Thursday. BREAKING — Important Ilhan…

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Seventy-Five Years Later: D-Day Remembered by Those Who Were There

Zachery Schmidt
D day

  Seventy-five years ago today, the United States joined with Great Britain, the free French forces, and Canada to mount a bold invasion of the beachhead in Normandy, France as a last-ditch effort to gain a foothold in Europe against the conquering forces of Hitler’s Germany. To commemorate this significant event, President Donald Trump read the prayer President Franklin Delano Roosevelt read over the radio while the troops stormed the Normandy beaches during his Great Britain visit Wednesday. Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. They will need Thy blessings, for the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. But we shall return again and again. And we know that by thy grace and the righteous of our cause our sons will triumph. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Thy will be done Almighty God Amen The…

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Minneapolis Temporarily Cancels City Staff Segregated Race Talks

Zachery Schmidt

  Minneapolis city officials have temporarily canceled segregated race-relations talks with city employees, and all fliers promoting the event around Minneapolis City Hall have been pulled down, according to the Star Tribune. “Sacred Conversations with City Staff” was scheduled to take place in May, June and July. The first discussion was supposed to take place on May 30 but was postponed. These conversations centered around the 400-year anniversary of African slaves coming to Jamestown, Virginia. “It came to my attention … that sessions had been promoted publicly in a way the city does not condone, as we cannot nor will we divide people based on race, ethnicity or any other protected class,” City Coordinator Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde (pictured above) wrote in a statement to the Star Tribune. As the Minnesota Sun reported, these talks planned to segregate city staff into “black-bodied” and “white-bodied” staff to have a discussion about “how they relate to the enslavement, resistance and continual push for liberation for African American people.” The talks were meant to allow city employees to reflect on “what they are learning related to their role in the City.” Each month of these talks had a specific topic planned for these race discussions.…

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Buckeye Institute Argues for a New Bill That Could Help Ohioans with Their Debt

Zachery Schmidt

  Buckeye Institute research fellow Greg Lawson appeared in front of the Ohio House Financial Institutions Committee Tuesday to support a proposed bill that could help Ohioans be able to resolve their unresolved debt easier. “Ohio’s arbitrary fee caps and poorly tailored law makes it harder for some debt settlement firms to operate here; which, in turn, makes it harder for many of your constituents to reduce and settle their outstanding debts,” Lawson said Tuesday to the Committee about House Bill 131. Lawson thinks the bill’s policies will help clarify the legal rules for debt settlement companies, which will help Ohioans to manage their debt. The research fellow noted people in Ohio have an average of $5,583 in credit card debt more than 10 percent of the median household income. He described the difficulties this debt can have on people in an Akron Beacon Journal op-ed: “Ohioans already suffer under the burdens of regulation and occupational licensing restrictions. Those burdens limit job opportunities, impede career advancement, and can even add to the debts that debt settlement firms help to resolve. Reducing, restructuring and retiring old debts are hard enough for most people. Renaming debt settlement services as the “unauthorized practice…

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Minneapolis Will Host Segregated Race Talks for ‘White Bodied’ and ‘Black Bodied’ City Employees

Zachery Schmidt

  Minneapolis is holding segregated race talks amongst its city employees this summer. During “Sacred Conversations with City Staff” black and white employees will be separated to reflect upon the “how they relate to the enslavement, resistance and continual push for liberation for African American people.” The talks will be once a day in May, June, and July. Each month has a special topic for its talks. May’s theme is “Remembering Who We Are,” June’s theme is “Recovering the Narratives of Oppression and Liberation” and July’s theme is “Re-imagining a Future without Harm.” The discussion in May was postponed, according to its website. Discussions for what they deemed “black-bodied staff” and “white-bodied staff” will take place in separate places. City staff will be provided a number of resources and a time to reflect on “how what they are learning related to their role in the City.” Minneapolis will host speakers to talk to the city’s employees about how the institution of slavery has affected Minnesota. On August 20, an event will take place to commemorate the exact date the British brought over African slaves 400 years ago. Also, during this event city staff and community members will have a discussion…

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On Trump’s Newest Tariff, Minnesota’s Rep. Angie Craig Tweets, ‘Where Is the Adult in the Room Who Knows What the H*** They’re Doing on Trade?’

Zachery Schmidt

  Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-2) sent a tweetstorm Friday night talking about President Trump’s new threatened tariffs on Mexico. “Where is the adult in the room who knows what the hell they’re doing on trade?” Craig continued by saying small businesses and farmers will be the ones affected by the “President’s reckless trade wars.” Where is the adult in the room who knows what the hell they're doing on trade? https://t.co/aHTkWG3YVi — Angie Craig (@AngieCraigMN) May 31, 2019 “Our small businesses and farmers pay the price for this President’s reckless trade wars – not China, not Mexico – our communities pay,” Craig tweeted. In her next two tweets, she talked about her personal experience with farmers. “I watched my grandfather lose his way of life in the 1980’s farm crisis. I’ve sat with dairy farmers who wonder how their going to make it another year. This isn’t a game – this is people’s livelihoods.” “Farmers are the fabric of greater MN and deserve better than the President’s twitter trade war.” Farmers are the fabric of greater MN and deserve better than the President’s twitter trade war. — Angie Craig (@AngieCraigMN) May 31, 2019 Trump threatened on Twitter Thursday to put…

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Ohio’s Presidential Hopeful Tim Ryan Moves to Flip on ‘Impeachment’

Zachery Schmidt

  Ohio Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) has tightened his stance on impeaching President Trump after Robert Mueller’s press conference this week. “I don’t want to impeach him. I have been around 20 years and I know what will exactly happen. It is going to be very divisive for our country. But, it looks like we have to because he’s not a king,” Ryan said in an interview with NPR on Thursday. Ryan later added he had read the Mueller Report a couple of times and found multiple occasions where President Trump obstructed justice. “We may be left with no choice at this point, but to impeach him,” the presidential candidate said. The Ohio Representative seems to have found Mueller’s press conference compelling. “I’m a lot closer today than I was yesterday,” Ryan Said; adding, “I think what Mueller said [Wednesday] basically said that he would have indicted the president, but for the fact that the law would not allow it.” During the special counsel’s press conference, he addressed the concerns about his report. He told a group of reporters not enough evidence to determine if Trump had committed a crime. Also, Mueller said that his testimony if subpoenaed to testify…

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Amy Klobuchar Defies Meghan McCain Request, Talks About John McCain Story on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Zachery Schmidt

  Amy Klobuchar addressed the controversial story about John McCain mentioning dictator names during President Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Jimmy Kimmel Live. During her Tuesday late-night show appearance, Kimmel asked the Minnesota Senator about McCain story she told last weekend. “Now you told a story at one of these rallies this weekend that I found so interesting about the late Senator John McCain,” Kimmel said. Klobuchar said McCain was referencing parts of the speech and mentioning dictator’s speeches during the inauguration. In addition, McCain referenced these dictators because he was concerned “about what this meant with this president,” according to the presidential candidate. She would not mention what dictator names the late Senator repeated to her and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. “I think the point of the story was that John McCain was a student of history and so he knew what was coming,” Klobuchar said. “He knew these cries for isolationism, what that meant if we don’t stand with our allies, what that meant for America’s standing in the world. And that’s what he was doing. He had said things similar to this publicly as well.” As the Minnesota Sun reported earlier this week, McCain’s daughter and View co-host…

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Far-Left Group ‘Gender Justice’ Sues Minnesota to Further Loosen Abortion Restrictions

Zachery Schmidt

  As the nation sees many states make laws restricting abortion, a lawsuit in Minnesota tries to do the exact opposite. Gender Justice and the Lawyering Project filed a lawsuit on behalf of abortion rights advocates in the Ramsey County District Court where the plaintiffs are targeting laws which they deem restrictive. The lawsuit is targeting certain laws such as requiring a 24-hour waiting period and letting parents of patients under 18 known of the procedure. In addition, the lawsuit wants to eliminate the law requiring fetal remains to be cremated or buried. “Minnesota abortion laws are not only outdated, but they are harmful. Far too often they prevent people from getting the care they need when they need it,” Gender Justice Executive Director Megan J. Peterson said. Peterson went on to add that these laws serve no medical purpose and reflected “outdated, patriarchal views of women.” The lawsuit cites the 1995 Doe v. Gomez case, where the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled the state’s constitution allows for abortions in Minnesota and the right to decide to have an abortion without government interference. “We know too well that women and people who can get pregnant can never be equal in society…

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Ohio Tea Party Leader Does Not Buy Into Robert Mueller’s Press Conference

Zachery Schmidt

  A local Ohio Tea Party leader believes Robert Mueller’s statements today were an attempt by the “Deep State” to help House Democrats push for impeachment after efforts to oust President Trump through the Special Counsel’s office failed. Tom Zawistowski, the President of We the People Convention, thinks it was not happenstance that Mueller’s press conference was the same day as former FBI Director James Comey’s op-ed appears in the Washington Post. “Today, wasn’t it a coincidence, that out of nowhere, Robert Mueller pops up on my TV at 11:00 AM to make a statement about his infamous ‘Mueller Report?’ Just happens to be the same day that Jim Comey has an op-ed in the Washington Post attacking the Barr investigation. Just happens that Attorney General Bill Barr is in Alaska and not part of this event,” the grassroots leader wrote in a statement. Mueller appeared in-person to deliver remarks Wednesday to address on-going concerns about his two-year-long investigation. He defended his investigation and reiterated that “insufficient evidence” existed to charge a “broader conspiracy.” Even though the Special Counsel defended his investigation, he did not fully clear President Donald Trump of any wrongdoing – although such a declaration would be well beyond the…

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Meghan McCain Blasts Presidential Candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar for Dishing on Sen. John McCain ‘Reciting the Names of Dictators’ at Trump Inaugural 

Zachery Schmidt

  Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar revealed an unusual detail about what deceased Arizona Senator John McCain said during President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration. Klobuchar told an Iowa crowd Saturday that McCain kept saying dictator names to her during Trump’s 2017 inauguration speech, according to CNN. This conversation happened while Klobuchar sat between Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and John McCain, according to the Huffington Post. “I sat on that stage between Bernie and John McCain, and John McCain kept reciting to me names of dictators during that speech because he knew more than any of us what we were facing as a nation,” Klobuchar said. “He understood it. He knew because he knew this man more than any of us did.” McCain played an important role in spreading the fake Steele Dossier, which claimed the Russian government had damaging information about Trump. The Daily Caller reported that David Kramer, a former associate of McCain, provided the dossier to reporters from several media outlets. In unsealed court filings, Kramer said McCain gave a copy of the dossier to former FBI Director Jim Comey. “I think they felt a senior Republican was better to be the recipient of this rather than a…

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Rep. Jim Jordan Believes Democrats Want to Stop Trump at Any Cost

Zachery Schmidt

  Ohio Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH-4) thinks Democrats will do anything to stop President Donald Trump. Jordan defended the president after Nancy Pelosi and Trump made comments about each other this week, explaining in a Friday Twitter thread how the Democrats are committed to stopping the president at any cost. “Democrats are engaged in presidential obstruction. They’re so desperate to stop the President that they won’t help the country. The President’s had enough! Can’t blame him,” Jordan tweeted. Democrats are engaged in presidential obstruction. They're so desperate to stop the President that they won't help the country. The President's had enough! Can't blame him. (1/7) — Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) May 24, 2019 The Ohio representative explained how the Democrats were trying to stop the President. “Congress has a legitimate constitutional role to conduct oversight of the executive branch. But that’s not what the Democrats are doing. They’re digging into the President’s personal life from BEFORE he was a candidate. There can only be one reason to do this: POLITICS.” Then, Jordan compared how the Republican-controlled Congress acted compared to a Democratic-controlled Congress. Compare that to what the Democrats are doing. They're going after: -The President's PERSONAL tax returns-The President's PERSONAL…

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University of Ohio State Police Officer Awarded Nation’s Highest Public Servant Award

Zachery Schmidt

  An Ohio State University policeman received a prestigious honor for his response to a 2016 shooting on the school’s campus. President Donald Trump awarded Officer Alan Horujko the Medal of Valor at a May 23 ceremony celebrating first responders. Horujko stopped a terrorist attack at Ohio State in 2016. The officer shot and killed Abdul Razak Ali Artan after he drove into a crowd and attacked people with a knife. One person died and 13 people were injured during Artan’s attack. “There was a plan that had me there that day,” Horujko told Ohio State in 2017. “It seems like the stars aligned in some way to put me right there where I was needed to protect those people. So that’s why I’m just very grateful that happened.” Trump noted Horujko during the ceremony. Also with us today is Officer Alan Horujko of the Ohio State University Police. On November 28, 2016, an ISIS-inspired terrorist sped into a crowd of students at Ohio State. I remember that. He then got out of his car and chased them with a knife. Alan ran to the scene and yelled at the man to drop his knife. The man charged toward Alan…

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Sixteen Men Arrested Trying to Sexually Exploit Children in Ohio

Zachery Schmidt

  An undercover task force in Ohio arrested 16 men (pictured above) for trying to sexually exploit children. This is the second successful undercover operation this year. In March, a task force targeting human trafficking arrested eight people. One person was also charged with felony drug possession. “This trap will be laid time and time again until the message reverberates – don’t buy sex in Ohio,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement announcing the arrests. Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene had a warning for child predators who are looking to do similar crimes in Northeast Ohio. “We are very pleased with the outcome of the operation. This task force is not going to give up or let up on these types of crimes,” Greene said. “If you are someone using the internet to exploit underage children, we want you to know you may be talking to us.” The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force was created three years ago when Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was the state’s attorney general. Youngstown is Mahoning County’s biggest city and a little less than 230,000 people live in the areas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “Human trafficking is a horrific crime, and…

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Ohio’s Presidential Hopeful Tim Ryan Wants to Overturn the Hyde Amendment

Zachery Schmidt

  Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) believes the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funding from going to abortions, should be overturned. This amendment has exceptions for when the mother’s health is in jeopardy or in cases of rape and incest. “Of course we’ve got to fund Planned Parenthood, we’ve got to get rid of the Hyde Amendment, we’ve got to make sure we invest into women’s health care. ” Ryan told MSNBC’s “Live With Stephanie Ruhle” on Wednesday. Ryan told Rule how important elections are in getting anti-abortion laws struck down. “But the reality is we’ve got to win elections … we now have the federal courts peppered with conservative pro-life justices. The Supreme Court is a conservative pro-life court. We’ve got to start moving in the right direction here politically and getting elected so that we appoint the judges and we win elections in these states.” These pro-abortion comments came a day after the presidential candidate spoke at a pro-abortion rally on the steps of the Supreme Court. Ryan asked protesters outside the Supreme Court when legislators were going to “give a sh– about the baby once it’s born.” Also at the rally, the Ohio representative shared how he flipped…

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Shaker Heights Ohio Considers Passing a LGBTQ Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

Zachery Schmidt

  The U.S. House of Representatives passed its controversial Equality Act last week, and now a local city council in Ohio is looking to follow suit. Shaker Heights City Council is considering legislation that would create a new chapter in the city code, Chapter 516, which would protect the LGBTQ community against discrimination in the areas of employment and public accommodations. The City Council first discussed the legislation during a May 13 work session. Shaker Heights implemented a Fair Housing Act in 1992 to prohibit discrimination based on race, color and religion. The city amended its Fair Housing Act in 2006 to include “sexual orientation and gender identity,” according to the new anti-discrimination ordinance. Cuyahoga County, where Shaker Heights is located, already passed an ordinance in 2018 that made it illegal “to discriminate in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations.” The new Shaker Heights ordinance, like the Cuyahoga County ordinance, seeks to explicitly extend protections to the areas of employment and public accommodations, although it’s unclear what, if any, additional protections the town ordinance would provide that aren’t already covered in the county ordinance. “In Ohio, it’s still legal to fire people or deny them housing simply because they…

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Amy Klobuchar Refuses to Take a Position on Late-Term Abortion

Zachery Schmidt

  Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar refused to take a position on late-term abortions during her appearance on The View. During Friday’s television appearance, View host Meghan McCain asked Klobuchar about her position on the topic. Late-term abortions have been a controversial issue recently after the comments Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam made on this issue. The presidential candidate side-stepped this question by saying she is for “a woman having the right to make a choice about her own body.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-_IOULlCzc As McCain asked another question, Joy Behar, McCain’s View co-host, came to the Klobuchar’s defense by saying “it is so rare” for late-term abortions to occur. “I don’t think it should be that hard to say ‘I’m not for late-term abortion,’” McCain said after not getting a direct response from Klobuchar. However, the Minnesota senator did address her concern for Roe v. Wade being overturned as Alabama and Missouri have recently passed laws tightening their state abortion laws. “They are taking us backward and they are basically criminalizing doctors when they do this,” Klobuchar said. She said there has been an “assault” on women’s health because of efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and take away the Affordable Care Act. “The…

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President Trump Calls Mueller Report ‘The Greatest Political Hoax in American History’ at Rally

Zachery Schmidt

  In his first rally since the Mueller Report release, President Donald Trump calls the Russia probe “the greatest political hoax in American history.” “This witch hunt was never really just about me. It was always about stopping you –  the millions and millions of freedom-loving citizens who rose up on that incredible November day, remember that day?” Trump said. The Mueller Report found there was no obstruction or collusion with Russia on the part of Donald Trump or his campaign staff. From a heartfelt statement of sympathy and support for the victims of Saturday’s vicious synagogue shooting in California, to his long record of campaign promises kept,  Trump touched on many topics at a packed Saturday night event Green Bay, Wisconsin. An event, the president noted, that was specifically scheduled for same time as the 2019 White House Correspondents Dinner. .@realDonaldTrump #MAGA Rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin is underway… pic.twitter.com/YEZXpW1pqr — Dan Scavino Jr.🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) April 28, 2019 To start the event, Trump addressed the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting in San Diego where he said anti-Semitism “must be defeated.” “Tonight, America’s heart is with the victims of the horrific synagogue shooting,” he said, adding that the entire nation “stands…

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Tim Ryan Says It Is ‘Intellectually Dishonest’ to Call Obama-Turned-Trump Supporters ‘Racist’

Zachery Schmidt

Ohio’s Rep Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) once again went against traditional Democratic talking points by saying it is “intellectually dishonest” to call 2016 Trump voters “racist.” The Presidential hopeful made these remarks in a recent appeal to people in Iowa who were Obama and Trump supporters, according to the Iowa Gazette. “I think it would be helpful for us to say why did they vote for Trump. They voted for Obama twice. So I think it’s intellectually lazy to say everyone’s a racist,” Ryan said. “There are people who are hurting and hurting economically.” Ohio Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) believes he can win back the Barack Obama voters who voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election,  according the Gazette. “Trump did well in my district. I did well in my district. I believe I can communicate to a lot of people who voted for Donald Trump that I have a plan that will actually get us home,” Ryan said. “I think communicating with people in Youngstown, Ohio, is not much different than Davenport or Dubuque or Des Moines or Sioux City. These are working-class towns, working-class people. They want to trust you, and they want to know you have a plan.…

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Charlie Daniels and The Journey Home Project Announce Pentagon Art Exhibit

Zachery Schmidt

Country music icon Charlie Daniels has opened an art gallery of combat and civilian photographs by veterans and their families at the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C. The Journey Home Project (TJHP), a nonprofit founded by Daniels, teamed up with the Rich Poverty organization to create the new art exhibit called The Alliance Collection. This collection displays photos from over 50 veteran artists from around the world. “It’s a real honor to do anything that benefits our heroes in the military, and to be a part of something displayed in the Pentagon makes it even more special,” Daniels said. The exhibit will be on display through March 2020 and is free to the public for viewing while touring the Pentagon. The collection of photos features a wide range of military history. Photos displayed range from World War II to the present day. The Alliance Collection has contributions from across the world, including photos from veterans from Belgium, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. “Each corridor of the Pentagon has displays of our nation’s military history,” said TJHP board member Major General Terry “Max” Haston (retired). “These professionally designed exhibits reflect the factual lineage of our services. The Rich Poverty Alliance Collection goes beyond…

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Proposed Ohio Constitutional Amendment to Award Electoral Votes to Winner of National Popular Vote Clears Initial Hurdle

Zachery Schmidt

A state constitutional amendment to award Ohio’s electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote cleared of one of its earliest hurdles this week. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost called it a “fair and truthful statement of the proposed law” in an April 1 letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. The amendment was submitted to Yost’s office by election lawyer Don McTigue, who sent a petition to the Attorney General’s Office with 1,000 signatures. The petition states: This amendment would add Article XX, Section 1 of the Ohio Constitution to: Express the will of the people that every vote for president be valued equally and that the candidate who wins the most votes nationally becomes President. Require the General Assembly, within sixty days of the Amendment’s adoption, take all necessary legislative action so that the winner of the national popular vote is elected President. In his response, Yost said it is his “statutory duty to determine” whether the petition contained a “fair and truthful statement of the proposed law or constitutional amendment.” With Yost ’s certification, the proposal heads to the Ohio Ballot Board, which has 10 days to determine if “the submitted ballot language only contains one…

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Daylight Saving Time This Sunday

Zachery Schmidt

Americans – except for those in Arizona and Hawaii – will wake up this Sunday, March 10, and realize an hour has been deleted from their day. Welcome to daylight saving time! Beginning on March 10 2:00 a.m. through Nov. 3 2:00 a.m., clocks will ‘Spring forward’ an hour. The short answer to why we go through this yearly ritual is so that we can enjoy more of the natural daylight in the Summertime. So the hour people will lose on Sunday is totally worth it to enjoy more daylight in the Summer! This is not a worldwide phenomenon. Less than 40 percent of the world participates in daylight saving time, according to timeanddate.com. Daylight saving time has been traced back to Benjamin Franklin who floated the idea around in 1784. This practice started in 1916 in Germany and Austria when they turned their clocks an hour ahead, according to timeanddate.com. America formally started daylight saving time in 1918 and continued the tradition ever since. Enjoy this video, when you wake to enjoy your 23 hour day! Remember to set your clocks an hour ahead.   – – – Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Battleground State News. Photo “Sunset”…

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President Donald Trump Wows Conservatives at 2019 CPAC

Zachery Schmidt

President Donald Trump delivered a raucous, rally-style speech during his appearance at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Saturday where he let capacity crowd know how he felt about everything from the Robert Mueller Investigation and Hillary Clinton’s emails to the booming US economy and North Korea. During one of the president’s longest speech to date, Trump was not shy about telling the crowd how he honestly felt about the  Mueller Investigation. “Unfortunately you put the wrong people in a couple of positions, and they leave people for a long time that should not be there and all of a sudden they’re trying to take you out with bullsh*t,” Trump said to the crowd. The president criticized Jeff Sessions’ lack of a role in the investigation. “Now Robert Mueller never received a vote, and neither did the person that appointed him,” Trump said in a southern accent. “As you know the attorney general says, ‘I’m going to recuse myself.’ And I said, ‘Why the hell didn’t he tell me that before I put him in?’” The Mueller Investigation was not the only thing that Trump critiqued. The president called asking Russia to get Hillary Clinton’s emails a “joke.” “If…

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McConnell: President Donald Trump Will Sign Funding Bill, Announce National Emergency for Border Wall

Zachery Schmidt

President Donald Trump is set to declare a national emergency Thursday evening to deal with the southern border crisis, a move that will come as he signs the bi-partisans border security legislation passed by the Senate earlier in the day and expected to be passed later in the day by the House, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday afternoon from the floor of the Senate. “He has indicated he is prepared to sign the bill. He will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time,” Senator Mitch McConnell said. “I’ve indicated to him that I’m going to support the national emergency declaration. So for all of my colleagues, the President will sign the bill. We will be voting on it shortly.” The Senate voted 83-16 to pass the border security legislation today and the House will vote on the measure tonight. By declaring a national emergency, President Trump will move forward on the construction of a physical barrier along the country’s porous southern border to the extent that is lacking in Thursday’s bipartisan measure. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement on Trump’s plan. Statement on Government Funding Bill: pic.twitter.com/DrNv9D4rEi — Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45)…

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Sherrod Brown Takes Shots at President Trump in New Hampshire Visit

Zachery Schmidt

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) took shots at President Donald Trump this weekend in New Hampshire by calling his populism “phony” and saying he’s a “bully.” Brown’s “Dignity of Work” tour made two stops in New Hampshire over the weekend in a visit to the state with the second earliest primary. At a Friday round-table event about jobs and the economy, the Ohio senator commented on Trump’s populism when talking to reporters. “His phony populism is you divide people and you push people down to lift some others up. Real populism is not racist. It’s not anti-Semitic. It doesn’t divide people. It doesn’t do hate speech and real populism is fighting for workers,” Brown told Fox News  Friday in Hampton, New Hampshire. 2020 Watch-NOW: Asked if there are already too many progressive populists in the Democratic nomination race, @SherrodBrown -in NH- tells @seacoastonline @foxnewspolitics "I put my record up against anybody for fighting for workers" #NHPolitics #FITN #2020Election pic.twitter.com/rbx5nvnbkB — Paul Steinhauser (@steinhauserNH1) February 8, 2019 The next day at a bookstore event in Concord, New Hampshire, he called Trump a “bully,” according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.  “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “I don’t know if we…

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Judson Phillips Commentary: Bill Lee and the Death of a Dream

Zachery Schmidt

by Judson Phillips   Bill Lee is now the Governor of Tennessee. I did not support Bill Lee in the primary. That does not matter, as Lee beat Congressman Diane Black, Randy Boyd and then Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell. Lee also crushed Karl Dean in the General Election. Conservatives were elated. Conservatives had mostly rallied around Bill Lee early in the campaign. Lee’s campaign focused much on his Christian faith and the tragedy surrounding the death of his first wife. His campaign was long on story and short on specifics. His “Ten for Tennessee” was a mostly aspirational platform, lacking almost totally in specifics. For Tennessee conservatives, Bill Lee was a dream come true. Conservatives were tired and disheartened after eight years of a very liberal Bill Haslam administration. After watching a conservative agenda die for eight years and watching government grow at the same rate that Democrats would have grown government, conservatives were excited about Bill Lee. He was a handsome, charismatic candidate who was one of them. For many conservatives, election night was the highwater mark. Lee drubbed Dean and that election was never in doubt. But then, things changed. Soon after the election, “Ten for Tennessee,”…

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OFF THE RECORD: Is Bill Lee Closing in on an Education Commissioner?

Zachery Schmidt

Rumors out of the Bill Lee Transition Office are circulating that his list of possible Education Commissioners is being narrowed as they are apparently wrapping up interviews this week. In the next week the Lee team plans to wrap up their selection of Commissioners. Some of the names that continue to be mentioned as potential contenders for Education Commissioner include: – Former House Speaker Beth Harwell – Athens City Schools Superintendent Melanie Miller – Maryville City Schools Director Mike Winstead – Interim Ed. Commissioner Lyle Ailshie – Former Achievement School District Supt. Malika Anderson – Former Asst. Ed. Commissioner Kathleen Airhart – Louisiana Commissioner of Education John White – Professional Educators of Tennessee Exec. Dir. JC Bowman – Former State Rep. Eddie Smith (Knoxville) Former Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, who actively promoted Common Core, oversaw and essentially created Tennessee’s testing nightmares, and who admittedly voted for Barack Obama before being tabbed by Governor Haslam for the top Education job in Tennessee, is reportedly NOT on the short list. However, the large number of Bill Lee insiders who previously worked for Huffman’s ex-wife Michelle Rhee at StudentsFirst, may be a red flag that anything is possible.        …

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