Washington D.C. Archives - Tennessee Star

Biden Admin Won’t Say How Much ‘Emergency’ Funding for Colleges Remains Unspent, Proposes Another $12 Billion Anyway

April 13, 2021April 12, 2021 Admin

Disclosure: The writer of this piece served as the U.S. Department of Education’s Press Secretary from summer 2019 through the end of the Trump administration and was involved in the announcement of the creation of the Education Stabilization Fund transparency portal.

Congressional Democrats and President Joe Biden enacted $40 billion in additional higher education relief funding without any public information on if, or how, the $21.2 billion allocated in December 2020 had been spent.

Even though colleges and universities were required to report their spending on January 28 and then again on February 8, the Department of Education’s Education Stabilization Fund transparency portal is still showing spending data as of Nov. 30 of last year.

Disparate Treatment in Two Fund-Raising Fraud Cases Renews Debate Over Dual Justice System

April 6, 2021April 5, 2021 Admin

Just a few short weeks apart, the U.S. Justice Department settled two major fund-raising cases involving foreign money injected into American elections.

In February, a longtime Democratic bundler named Imaad Zuberi, who also donated to Donald Trump’s inauguration, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and millions in fines in a criminal information that alleged he routed foreign money into U.S elections, sometimes through straw donors.

Last week, Nigerian-Lebanese billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, 75, a large donor to the Clinton Foundation, got a fine, no prison and deferred prosecution for allegedly routing his foreign money to straw donors to help Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign and some GOP congressional candidates. An associate also made a secret loan to Obama-era Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who failed to disclose the assistance.

Commentary: Holding Big Tech Accountable for January 6

April 3, 2021April 2, 2021 Admin

Nearly 300 Americans face a slew of charges related to the melee on Capitol Hill last January. As I’ve reported over the past few months, offenses range from assaulting a police officer to destroying government property to trespassing.

More than 70 protestors stand accused of “aiding and abetting” various crimes; even people who didn’t vandalize the Capitol or even enter the building have been charged with helping others do damage and interrupt Congress’ certification of the Electoral College results.

Nonviolent offenders languish behind bars for months, denied bail, and transported to Washington, D.C. to await delayed trials. Federal prosecutors suggest President Trump could be indicted for fueling the chaos that day. Democratic congressmen want their Republican colleagues held accountable for their alleged role, too.

Georgia State Senate Democrats Want Washington, D.C. Statehood

March 2, 2021March 1, 2021 Chris Butler

Democrats in the Georgia General State Senate have proposed certain resolutions for this current session, all of which support politically left-leaning causes, one of which cites influence from the United Nations. Georgia State Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) and 15 other state senators filed a resolution that urges the U.S. Congress to grant statehood to Washington, D.C.

Democrats in Congress Renew Push for D.C. Statehood, but It Faces Uphill Climb in Senate

February 18, 2021February 17, 2021 Admin

Democrats in Congress are renewing their push for Washington D.C. statehood with their party in the majority in the House and Senate.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the non-voting House member representing the District, has reintroduced the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which has picked up 210 Democratic co-sponsors so far. Delaware Democratic Sen. Tom Carper introduced the Senate version of the bill, which has 39 Democratic co-sponsors to date.

Capitol Police Chief: Capitol Needs ‘Permanent’ Wall to Protect Congress

February 1, 2021January 31, 2021 Admin

Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said the U.S. Capitol needs a permanent wall to protect Congress members in the wake of the riots on Jan. 6.

“In a statement on Thursday, Pittman said the security at the Capitol building must include a “permanent fencing” barrier — a similar barrier to the one halted by President Joe Biden’s administration at the U.S.-Mexico border,” Breitbart reported.

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett on Navigating Through the Waters of Washington, D.C.’s Woketopia

January 29, 2021January 28, 2021 Julie Carr

Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett to the newsmakers line to discuss Woketopia in Washington and seeking the wisdom of God.

Tennessee Residents Who Traveled to Washington, D.C. This Week Say The Vast Majority of People There Were Peaceful

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Chris Butler

Williamson County Republican Party Chair Cheryl Brown said this week that members of the mainstream media unfairly depicted supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump as people “who stormed the Capitol” and wanted to destroy Washington, D.C. But Brown, who was one of hundreds of Tennesseans who traveled to Washington, D.C. Wednesday, said she came only to make the case for a free and fair election.

Tennessee Residents Ask for Prayers as They Travel to Washington, D.C. Wednesday for Donald Trump

January 5, 2021January 4, 2021 Chris Butler

By bus, by car, or by plane, hundreds of Tennesseans will travel nearly 700 miles to Washington, D.C. Tuesday and Wednesday to rally at the Capitol Mall to support U.S. President Donald Trump. Some of the people making this journey told The Tennessee Star Monday that they likely can’t access certain basic luxuries while there — not even restaurants or hotels.

Firearms Prohibited in DC During Pro-Trump Protests, Police Say

January 5, 2021January 4, 2021 Admin

Firearms will be prohibited within 1,000 feet of demonstration activity in Washington, D.C. this week, according to notices posted by the Metropolitan Police Department.

All firearms are banned within 1,000 feet of where the signs are posted ahead of pro-President Donald Trump demonstrations against certifying the electoral college votes for the 2020 presidential election, Fox 5 reported. Protests are expected at Freedom Plaza, near the capitol building and at the National Mall.

Virginia Opts Not to Join Climate Initiative, for Now

December 26, 2020December 25, 2020 The Center Square

Virginia was not in the first slate of states to join the Transportation and Climate Initiative, which proponents argue will help fight climate change and opponents assert will increase costs for households.

Under the multistate agreement, a state would agree to establish a cap on diesel and gasoline sales and require wholesales to purchase carbon allowances to go over that limit, which effectively creates a carbon tax. The initiative has received support from many Democrats and opposition from Republicans.

BLM’s National Arm Gave Little to Local Chapters While Reaping Millions, Local BLM Chapters Allege in Statement

December 1, 2020December 5, 2020 Admin

Ten local Black Lives Matter chapters issued a statement Monday accusing the movement’s national arm of providing little to no financial support to its local chapters, which are responsible for carrying out BLM’s mission.

The local chapters, including those of Washington, D.C., Chicago and Philadelphia, said in the statement that Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation has provided no acceptable financial transparency surrounding the “unknown millions of dollars” it has reaped since its founding in 2013.

Trump Supporters from Across America Flood Washington DC at the Million MAGA March

November 15, 2020November 15, 2020 Eric Burk

People from all over the United States filled the streets of Washington D.C. on Saturday at the Million MAGA March for two reasons: to encourage President Trump, and to signal concern over the recent elections. Instead of a formal Trump-campaign event, the rally was a grassroots-style march that attracted a broad swath of Trump supporters ranging from pro-life Catholic organizations to far-right militias. The Trump motorcade made an appearance earlier on Saturday morning, and the crowd continued to grow until about mid-afternoon.

Citizens Concerned About Election Integrity to March for Trump in Every State Capitol, Washington on Saturday

November 12, 2020November 11, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

A series of marches supporting President Donald Trump and to demand election integrity are being held throughout the country at noon local time on Saturday.

The March for Trump will be held in every state capitol as well as at Freedom Plaza, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C., according to the event website. The website links to America First Projects.

Hacker Accessed D.C. Donor Information from Virginia Hospital Center For Months

November 6, 2020November 6, 2020 Corinne Murdock

An unauthorized party accessed donor and fundraiser information for months from Virginia Hospital Center (VHC), who has served the Washington, D.C. area for 75 years. The company, Blackbaud, also reported many of its other clients’ donor and fundraising data jeopardized by the hackers.

VHC stored donors’ personal information. This included names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses – even birth dates and the last four digits of credit card numbers. Hackers had access to these records for approximately three months, from February to May. However, the last traces of hacking didn’t cease until early June.

Commentary: D.C. Mayor’s Committee Recommends Removing Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument

September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 Admin

Holy Cow, the cancel culture has sunk even further. Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, Alexander Graham Bell, Ben Franklin, Woodrow Wilson, and many more names from American history are now personas non grata in Washington DC. A committee formed by the mayor has recommended taking their name off city-owned buildings. They also recommended removing federal assets such as the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument.

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser formed the District of Columbia Facilities, and Commemorative Expressions Working Group, also known as the DC FACES Working Group.

Freedom Works Adam Brandon Describes Leaving the White House in Fear While Terrorized by Protesters

August 29, 2020August 28, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on the John Fredericks Show, host Fredericks welcomed Freedom Works President and CEO Adam Brandon to discuss the terrifying scene of violent protesters outside of the White House after the president gave his RNC acceptance speech Thursday evening.

House Passes Bill to Make DC a State

June 27, 2020June 26, 2020 Admin

The House of Representatives passed a bill Friday that would make Washington, D.C., a state amid increasing congressional support for the nation’s capital to be granted statehood.

The “Washington, D.C. Admission Act,” which had 227 Democratic cosponsors, was originally introduced by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.’s nonvoting at-large representative in Congress, in October of last year. It passed Friday 232-180 without any Republican support.

Crom Carmichael Discusses the United States Merit Systems Protection Board

June 16, 2020June 15, 2020 Julie Carr

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist, Crom Carmichael to the studio.

During the second hour, Carmichael discussed a little known body called the Merit Systems Protection Board, which is comprised of three members nominated by the President of the United States to protect from political and partisan personnel practices. He described the board as a bureaucracy that is set up and spends tens of millions of dollars a year while striving for unattainable perfection.

Tennessee National Guard Soldiers Sent to DC Amid Unrest

June 6, 2020June 5, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

About 1,000 citizen-soldiers with the Tennessee National Guard were deployed to the nation’s capital this week to help keep the peace outside the White House.

Like many major cities, Washington has seen massive demonstrations in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was allegedly murdered by Minneapolis police. Many of the protests have taken a violent turn as Washington braced for what was expected to be its largest protest yet Saturday night.

More Active-Duty Troops Leaving D.C., Others Remain on Alert

June 6, 2020June 5, 2020 The Associated Press

Nearly 500 of the active-duty troops brought in to help if needed with the civil unrest in the nation’s capitol have been given orders to leave Washington after a fourth day of largely peaceful protests, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and other officials said Friday.

But a number of other active-duty soldiers remain on alert in the region, prepared to respond if needed.

Blackburn Sponsors Bill to Name Street Outside Chinese Embassy in Honor of Late Doctor the Communist Government Punished For Blowing Whistle on Coronavirus

May 9, 2020May 8, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) co-sponsored a bill Thursday to rename the street outside the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. “Li Wenliang Plaza” to honor the late Dr. Li Wenliang, the Wuhan doctor who warned the world about the coronavirus before the Chinese Communist Party silenced him.

Blackburn is joined in the effort by U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ben Sasse (R-NE) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Y), according to a press release from the Tennessee senator’s office.

American Inventor Series: Benjamin Banneker, a Black Tobacco Farmer Who Surveyed the Nation’s Capital

September 29, 2019September 30, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Benjamin Banneker was much more than just an inventor. As a mathematician, astronomer, landowning farmer, writer, and surveyor, Banneker was one of the most influential African Americans alive during America’s infancy.

Just Under Half of D.C. Public School Students Attend Charter Schools Despite Reported Antipathy by City Officials

September 4, 2019January 23, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

Just under half (47.3%) of Washington, D.C., public school students attend charter schools despite a reported antipathy towards them by city officials.

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

June 16, 2019June 15, 2019 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…

‘Rolling Thunder’ Roars into DC, Trump Says it Will be Back Next Year

May 27, 2019May 26, 2019 Admin

President Donald Trump is indicating that hundreds of thousands of “Rolling Thunder” motorcycles will be back next year to participate in the Memorial Day observance in Washington, after organizers said Sunday would be the last such ride. “The Great Patriots of Rolling Thunder WILL be coming back to Washington,…

Commentary: From Bush to Trump, the Hard-Left Deep State Alliance Endures

December 5, 2018December 5, 2018 Admin

by Joseph Duggan A future American history exam will ask students to recall a U.S. president who relied heavily on the political intelligence-gathering and counsel of one or more of his adult children. This president bypassed the foreign policy and diplomatic bureaucracy and practiced a notably personal style of…

Christian Movement that Began on National Mall Will Spread to Every State in 2018

September 26, 2018September 25, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

A Christian movement that started as a gathering on the National Mall in 2017 will soon be kicking off a nationwide three-day prayer and worship vigil set to occur simultaneously in every state capital. The event, called “Tent America 2018” and sponsored by Awaken the Dawn, started last year when…

STUDY: Most Federal Employees Are Paid More Than Their Private-Sector Counterparts

September 8, 2018September 7, 2018 Admin

Compensation for federal, state, and local government employees cost U.S. taxpayers $1.9 trillion in 2016. This amounts to an average of $15,176 from every household in the United States. President Trump recently moved to rein in some of these costs by canceling pay raises for federal civilian employees, who received $331 billion in compensation…

Hundreds Of Federal Employees Will Be Moved Out Of Washington, D.C.

August 12, 2018March 19, 2020 Admin

by Tim Pearce The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is moving two agencies and roughly 700 federal employees out of Washington, D.C., to save money and improve the department’s service to taxpayers. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Thursday that the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and…

House Defunds D.C.’s Attempt to Restore the Obamacare Individual Mandate

July 21, 2018July 20, 2018 Admin

By Robert Romano The House of Representatives voted 226 to 189 to prohibit the use of funds for District of Columbia’s Health Insurance Requirement Amendment Act of 2018 in an amendment to H.R. 6147 by U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ga.). The D.C. law would require, beginning in 2019, that D.C. residents maintain individual health…