September 2020 - Page 10 of 11

Commentary: Who Are BLM Global Network Foundation?

September 5, 2020September 4, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

With protestors taking to the streets all over the United States to protest police brutality after the killings of unarmed Black men, the Black Lives Matter phrase has become synonymous with the movement. Regardless of where you find yourself on the ideological spectrum, a significant percentage of those protesting have done so peacefully, but it’s the violent protestors and Antifa thugs that continue to get most of the attention, and the media would have it no other way; after all, who wants to watch continuous news about protestors marching peacefully, that’s boring, right? For a news media that’s become all about rating and being first, they only care about what drives ratings and suits that agenda.

New York City Has Worst Unemployment Rate as One in Three Workers Worry About Job Security

September 5, 2020September 4, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

As Americans approach Labor Day, with roughly 10.2 percent unemployed, a new survey conducted by WalletHub found that one in three Americans worry about job security.

In its nationally representative Coronavirus & Labor Day Survey, WalletHub found that Americans want extended COVID-19 relief. Of those surveyed, 74 percent said Congress should continue to extend additional federal unemployment benefits until their respective states fully reopen.

Tennessee Businessman and Former Convict Says a Pardon from Donald Trump Could Complete His Path to Redemption

September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Chris Butler

Robert Sherrill, a 37-year-old Madison resident, today is a successful businessman who works with at-risk children and runs a local company with nearly $1 million in revenue.

Sherrill has enough clout to have a face-to-face meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

Representative Denver Riggleman Announces Exploratory Committee for 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial Election

September 5, 2020September 4, 2020 Jacob Taylor

Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA-05) announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for governor of Virginia in the 2021 gubernatorial election.

The first-term congressman and former intelligence officer made the announcement during an appearance on Virginia Free radio hosted by Chris Saxman on the John Fredericks Radio Network.

Pam Bondi: Changing Polls Reveal Democrats Fear That President Trump Is Going to Continue to Save Our Country

September 5, 2020September 4, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredericks welcomed former special advisor to President Trump’s administration Pam Bondi to weigh in on changing polls moving towards Trump and Democrat desperation.

Rep. Morgan Griffith Weighs in on Pelosi’s Salon Snafu and Trump’s Prospects to Take Virginia

September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on The John Fredericks show, host John Fredericks welcomed Virginia’s 9th district U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith to discuss Nancy Pelosi’s salon snafu and how Trump could take the state of Virginia in the 2020 Presidential election.

House Passes Eight Police Reform Bills, Republicans Feel Unheard

September 5, 2020September 4, 2020 Jacob Taylor

House Democrats passed eight different policing reform bills during its Friday session, leaving Republicans lawmakers feeling ignored and unheard by the majority.

The policing bills spanned from banning no-knock search warrants and the use of neck restraints by law enforcement to requiring that officers report any wrongdoings by their colleagues or be subject to discipline.

11 Arrested During Protest Outside Richmond City Justice Center

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Jacob Taylor

Richmond Police arrested 11 people during a protest outside the Richmond City Justice Center on Tuesday.

The group was gathered outside of the Justice Center to protest conditions in the Richmond jail after COVID-19 outbreak among 100 inmates and staff was reported.

Del. Rob Bloxom Commentary: Virginia Democrats’ Bill Proposals Are ‘Nothing Short of Shocking’

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

The Virginia House of Delegates was under Republican control for more than twenty years. This year, the Democratic party is in control of the House of Delegates, along with the Senate, and the Governor’s Mansion. This is the first time in three decades in which one party has had complete control.

The Republicans left the present Democrat controlled house with the title of being the number one rated state to do business, according to CNBC. We were also rated the third safest state in which to live and first in recidivism in the United States.

Oregon Coronavirus Fund May Violate Constitution by Excluding Non-Black Applicants, Experts Say

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

A COVID-19 relief fund for African-Americans operated out of Portland, Ore., with federal tax dollars may run afoul of both the Constitution and 1964 Civil Rights Act if it excludes non-black applicants, legal experts warn.

The Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief + Resiliency said it seeks to offer “economic relief for the Black community, who are among Oregon’s most vulnerable groups due to systemic divestment and disparities widened and exacerbated by COVID-19.” The program is administered by two local nonprofits, the Contingent and the Black United Fund of Oregon.

Operation Legend Made 2,000 Arrests, Seized Around 182 Pounds of Drugs Since July, DOJ Says

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Operation Legend, a federal initiative to combat murder and violent crime in major U.S. cities, has recorded over 2,000 arrests and seized large quantities of narcotics since the program’s July inception, according to the Department of Justice.

A total of 147 people have been arrested for homicide, 544 firearms have been seized and around 182 lbs (83 kilograms) of narcotics, including heroin, cocaine, meth and fentanyl, have been removed from the streets during the operation, according to a Thursday Department of Justice press release.

Majority of Voters Prefer Pandemic Decisions be Made at the Local and State Levels

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

A majority of registered voters in America favor pandemic-related policy decisions be made at the state and local levels, according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen.

Just over 50% of voters would prefer “letting state and local officials determine the appropriate policies for their communities,” while 37% favor “a national shutdown of the economy that closed all but essential businesses.”

Analysis: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Support Abortion up to Birth

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

In the face of overwhelming facts to the contrary, five prominent “fact checkers” are claiming that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris don’t support legalizing abortion up until birth. To reach this false conclusion, these individuals repeatedly use a propaganda technique condemned by George Orwell, the author of 1984.

Commentary: Catholics Should Not Vote for Fake Catholic Joe Biden

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Democrat Joe Biden has built his half-century in politics largely on the myth that he is a faithful Catholic with working class roots. In reality Biden is neither a faithful Catholic, nor a friend of America’s blue-collar citizens.

Commentary: Antifa Aren’t Revolutionaries -They Serve the Powers That Be

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Antifa rules the streets of Portland and sows chaos in many other American cities. Millions of Americans don’t like Antifa, but many struggle to figure out who these black-masked radicals really are.

Conservatives like to call Antifa “fascist” or the modern-day successor to the Ku Klux Klan. Liberals will insist either that Antifa is a nonexistent, right-wing fantasy or that they’re secret white supremacists out to discredit the “peaceful” protesters.

Facebook Will Ban New Political Ads One Week Before the Election to Curb Misinformation

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Facebook announced Thursday that it would bar any new political ads from its platform in the final week before the election.

The social network also said that it would remove any measures attempting to dissuade people from voting and would block any candidate’s attempts to claim false victories before official results have been reported, The New York Times reported.

US Citizen Turned ISIS Fighter Pleads Guilty to Terror Charge

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

A 23-year-old U.S. citizen pleaded guilty to a terror charge Wednesday after being captured in 2019, according to the Department of Justice.

Omer Kuzu “pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to provide material support to terrorism,” according to a DOJ statement.

Virginia Beach Seeking to Jail Man for Having Junk in His Yard

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Eric Burk

Virginia Beach is seeking to jail Bruce Smith for storing junk in his yard, according to WAVY.com. Smith said he’s paid the city $5,200 in fines over the past year due to cars, boats and other items on his property.

Raheem Kassam on BLM and Antifa: This is How You Establish Tyranny in the Long Run, Through Fear

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Julie Carr

Thursday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredericks welcomed guest Raheem Kassam who is a political activist, media personality, and co-host of War Room Pandemic to weigh in on Wednesday nights Washington, D.C. riots and protests.

COVID-19 Precautions Might Help Prevent the Flu, Experts Say

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Eric Burk

Winter is ending in the Southern Hemisphere and country after country — South Africa, Australia, Argentina — had a surprise: Their steps against COVID-19 also apparently blocked the flu.

“Both seasonal flu and COVID-19 are spread by droplets and both have a respiratory impact,” explained Julie Grimes, Public Information Officer for the Virginia Department of Health.

House Committee Advances Bill Allowing for Early Release of Violent Offenders Through Earned Sentence Credits

September 4, 2020September 4, 2020 Jacob Taylor

The House Committee on Courts of Justice advanced a bill Wednesday that would allow for the early release of violent offenders by implementing a new earned sentence credit program.

The bill bars prisoners convicted of capital murder and most acts of violence involving minors from earning credits, but, conversely, includes first-time offenders convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, carjacking, rape and child pornography, among others.

Biden Meets Jacob Blake’s Family to Start Wisconsin Trip

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 The Associated Press

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden began a visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin on Thursday by meeting with the family of Jacob Blake, the Black man whose shooting by a white police officer sparked days of sometimes violent and destructive protests.

Biden’s trip to Kenosha, the first of his general election campaign against President Donald Trump, is testing his pitch that he’s a unifying figure, able to lead the country through a national reckoning with systemic racism along with the pandemic and its economic fallout.

New Jobless Claims Fall Below One Million, Beat Wall Street Expectations

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims decreased to 881,000 last week as the economy continues to suffer the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Department of Labor.

The Department of Labor figure released Thursday represented a decrease of new jobless claims compared to the week ending on Aug. 22, in which there were 1,006,000 new jobless claims reported.

JMU Temporarily Moves Classes Online, Sends Students Home Due to COVID-19 Concerns

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Jacob Taylor

James Madison University (JMU) is temporarily moving classes online and sending students back home because of a rise in COVID-19 cases and a lack of room for positive students to quarantine, JMU President Jonathan Alger announced Tuesday.

The announcement from Alger to the JMU community comes less than a week after in-person classes had resumed.

State Senator Bryce Reeves Commentary: Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and Virginia Democrats

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

While Virginia’s government is experiencing massive budget shortfalls because of the coronavirus pandemic, Democrats in the House of Delegates chose to line their own pockets rather than help their constituents.

On Tuesday, August 18, General Assembly members convened for a special session to address the budget, criminal justice reform, and COVID-19 impacts. Before we gaveled in, Governor Ralph Northam and Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne gave a presentation to both money committees in the General Assembly regarding the fiscal impact the coronavirus has had on our Commonwealth. The conclusion was that Virginia is experiencing a $2.7 billion budget shortfall. And in times like these, every penny counts and should be spent responsibly.

‘I am Antifa’: This Antifa Supporter Could Be Portland’s Next Mayor

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Portland’s next mayor could be an open supporter of Antifa, the violent, far-left movement whose members have unleashed violence in cities across America.

Left-wing activist Sarah Iannarone will face incumbent Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler in a runoff election on Nov. 3 after neither candidate received a majority of votes in the first round of voting.

Nancy Pelosi Ignores COVID-19 Rules, Gets Hair Done

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was filmed breaking San Francisco Covid-19 rules by getting her hair done indoors and without a mask, Fox News reported.

In security footage shared with the channel, the California Democrat can be seen walking through eSalon in the city’s Pacific Heights neighborhood at around 3:10 p.m. Monday, with wet hair and no mask on her face. Pelosi is followed by the stylist, who is wearing a mask.

Commentary: Bannon Case May Rest with Stockman Petition

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was recently indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for his role in the highly successful “We Build the Wall” online fundraising program started by Purple Heart recipient, triple-amputee Iraq war veteran Brian Kolfage. Kolfage was also indicted.

Bannon, Kolfage, and two other defendants who were indicted in this matter pleaded not guilty on Monday, and their trial is set for May 24 next year.

Erin Perrine Weighs in on Joe Biden’s Shrinking Poll Numbers and President Trump’s Leadership for America

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks show, host John Fredericks welcomed the Director of Press Communications for the Trump-Pence 2020 Campaign, Erin Perrine to discuss Joe Biden’s shrinking poll numbers and President Trump’s continued leadership for Americans.

133 Illegal Immigrants and Nearly $48 Million Worth of Drugs Seized at Texas Border in 5 Days, CBP Reports Show

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Customs and Border Protection arrested 133 illegal immigrants and seized roughly 7,630 pounds of narcotics were seized at the border between Texas and Mexico over five days, according to the agency.

Authorities intervened in drug smuggling, human smuggling and trafficking and illegal crossing attempts, and recovered around $47,863,472 worth of narcotics, according to 15 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports between Aug. 25 and Aug. 28.

The John Fredericks Show: Corey Lewandowski Touts Trump’s Stamina and Momentum

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredericks welcomed Corey Lewandowski to discuss Trump’s momentum and how his campaign is now driving the narrative.

Battleground Michigan: Lawsuits Challenge State’s Coronavirus Restrictions, Ballot Rules

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

A pair of lawsuits filed against top-ranking state executives in Michigan seek to challenge the recent policies the two Democrats have put in place as part of their efforts to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak there.

The suits, filed by the Thomas More Society on behalf of several Michigan plaintiffs, argue that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have, respectively, suppressed political speech and unlawfully altered the state’s absentee voting system, according to a press release from the Thomas More Society.

DOJ and DHS Confirm Active Federal Probe into Criminal Activity and Funding Related to Violent Riots

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security confirmed this week that the DOJ is investigating the organizers and funders behind the violent riots that have engulfed the country since May.

“We are investigating coordinated, criminal activity—not First Amendment activity—and violence related to riots, destruction of federal property and violence against law enforcement officers,” said DOJ spokesperson Kerri Kupec on Tuesday.

Virginia Congressman Ben Cline on Nancy Pelosi’s Hypocrisy and Elements of the Proposed New Stimulus Package

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredericks welcomed Virginia’s sixth district congressman Ben Cline to weigh in on Nancy Pelosi’s no mask-wearing hair salon visit and the current stimulus package deal points under consideration.

Commentary: Trump’s ‘If by Whiskey’ Speech

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

In 1952, Mississippi State Senator Noah Sweat famously gave a speech on the subject of prohibition, which was still highly debated in the South. Promising not to shy away from controversy, he spoke:

Biden to Visit Kenosha on Thursday After Blasting Trump for Visiting Riot-Torn City

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

After the Biden campaign criticized President Trump’s trip to Kenosha Wisconsin as “self-centered” and unproductive, former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, have announced that they will visit the riot-torn city on Thursday.

“Vice President Biden will hold a community meeting in Kenosha to bring together Americans to heal and address the challenges we face,” his campaign said in a press release. “After, Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden will make a local stop.”

Commentary: When Joe Does Iraq

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Fourteen years ago today marks the low point of the Iraq War. Mounting U.S. casualties and raging sectarian violence in an undeclared civil war was the order of the day. That changed late in the afternoon when Sheik Sattar Bezia abu Risha handed me a hand written three page document that would become the charter of the Anbar Awakening. The very thought of Iraqi tribal leaders siding with American forces, especially in Ramadi — the most dangerous city in the world, and the site of the first al Qaeda Caliphate — was unprecedented alliance. Anbar Was Lost was both the front page headline and the consensus intelligence assessment, and any mention of progress was deemed unbelievable. We had found an ally that was willing to fight the terrorist of Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) with us. Sadly, most of those freedom fighters are dead today because of the poor policy decisions and neglect of the Obama-Biden White House.

Commentary: Why Does Democrat Michael Bills Keep Buying up Ex-Republican Politicians?

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

“I went, wait a minute, they literally are writing the laws for a couple million dollars a year in contributions and some lobbyists, I can do that.”

— Michael Bills, “A multimillionaire sets out to conquer Dominion,” Virginia Mercury (October 2019)

After Five More Charged in Connection with June 10 Protests, Leading Virginia Democrats Appear at Rally Supporting Senator Lucas

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Eric Burk

Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) appeared alongside former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D), Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, and U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Newport News) at a rally of over 100 people outside a Portsmouth church on Tuesday, according to reporting by The Associated Press. The rally came after police charged five more people in relation to a June 10 protest.

Senate Advances Bipartisan Bill to Establish Commission on Civil Rights and Policing, Among Others

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Jacob Taylor

RICHMOND, Virginia – In the first fully in-person session of the week, the Senate advanced a bill that would establish a civil rights and policing commission on Wednesday.

The commission’s purpose is to review civil liberties, civil justice and policing in Virginia, and to make policy recommendations to the General Assembly.

Freitas and Good Will Appear on Ballots After Lawsuit Challenging Paperwork Filing Extensions Dismissed

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Eric Burk

Delegate Nick Freitas (R-Culpepper) and fellow Republican congressional candidate Bob Good will appear on ballots this November after a circuit court judge dismissed a lawsuit that tried to block the candidates from the election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) filed the lawsuit challenging the State Board of Elections’ (BOE) authority to grant filing extensions to the candidates. Freitas is running for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Good is running for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District.

Virginia Tech, Town of Blacksburg Prohibit Tailgating, Ask Fans to ‘Homegate’ Instead

September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 Jacob Taylor

Virginia Tech and the town of Blacksburg announced Tuesday that tailgating for football games is prohibited out of concerns the activity could increase the spread of COVID-19.

The announcement specifically prohibited tailgating on university or town parking lots as well as other public places, and instead asked Hokie fans to watch games while “homegating” with friends or family as a more safe alternative.

Commentary: President Trump Declares He Will Clean Up Portland’s Violence If the Mayor Does Not

September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

“Portland is a mess, and it has been for many years. If this joke of a mayor doesn’t clean it up, we will go in and do it for them!”

That was President Donald Trump on Twitter renewing his warning to Oregon Democratic Governor Kate Brown and Portland Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler that if they will not get political violence in Portland, Oreg. under control soon, he will have no other choice but to federalize the National Guard to restore civil order in the city.

Russian Troll Farm Behind 2016 Ruse Hires Left-Wing American Writers, Creates Fake News Site to Target Voters: Report

September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

The Russian group responsible for trolling voters in 2016 is using a phony news website and recruiting American left-wing writers to create content designed to inflame the electorate before the presidential election, according to a report published Tuesday.

Facebook removed a network of accounts and pages Tuesday tied to the Russian Internet Research Agency or people affiliated with the group, the social media platform noted. The group also recruited a slew of left-wing journalists and activists to produce content about U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, media reports show.

Third Virus Vaccine Reaches Major Hurdle: Final U.S. Testing

September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 The Associated Press

A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.

AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.

John Fredericks Commentary: Trump Surges as Blacks, Hispanics Abandon Biden

September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

President Trump’s re-election campaign, labeled DOA by the fake news legacy media only a few weeks ago, is now surging in the latest public opinion polls and surveys.

Trump’s post-convention lift looks more like a rocket than a bounce.

Commentary: Teachers Unions Are More Powerful Than You Realize, But That May Be Changing

September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Teachers unions throughout the US claim to be looking out for the best interests of teachers and students, but they are deeply political organizations with significant influence over what, how, where, and with whom most children learn.

While the nation’s largest teachers unions have long been deeply connected to the Democratic Party and left-wing ideology, this political affiliation has become increasingly apparent in recent months. From hinging their support for reopening schools on outrageous policy demands to launching court battles, threatening strikes, and openly supporting disturbing actions during recent protests, today’s teachers unions are more powerful and dangerous than many parents may realize.

Four Little-Noticed Trends That Suggest Trump Could Have an Edge in November

September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Almost all recent national polling has shown President Trump consistently behind Joe Biden. According to RealClearPolitics, which uses averages of released polls, Biden remains up in the national polls, the battleground states, and even the betting odds. The current electoral count at RealClearPolitics stands at 115 for Trump, 212 for Biden and 211 tossups, with 270 votes needed to win.

Do these statistics imply a Biden wave on Nov. 3? Or are we seeing a repeat of 2016 when almost nobody predicted Trump would — or even could — win?

Poll: Nearly Half of All Voters Concerned Violent Riots Will Come to Their Communities

September 2, 2020September 1, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Nearly half of all registered voters in the country are concerned that violent riots could arise in their own communities, according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen.

A total of 48% of voters expressed fears that the destructive protests across the U.S. in recent months might happen their own neighborhoods. Just 20% of voters, meanwhile, are not at all worried, while 30% said they were “not very worried” about the possibility. And 3% said they were unsure.