[NEWMAN]

ALRIGHT, YOU GO AHEAD, YOU KEEP IT SECRET.  BUT YOU REMEMBER THIS. WHEN YOU CONTROL THE MAIL, YOU CONTROL INFORMATION!

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

CONTROL OF THE MAIL. CONTROL OF INFORMATION. IT’S NO LONGER A JOKE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SPYING ON THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS MAIL AND IN MOST CASES THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE IS FACILITATING IT, ACCORDING TO REVELATIONS FROM A NEW WASHINGTON POST ANALYSIS.

DATA FROM 20-15 THROUGH 2023 SHOWS FEDERAL AGENCIES AND STATE AND LOCAL POLICE MADE MORE THAN 60,000 REQUESTS ASKING THE USPS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FROM AMERICANS’ ENVELOPES AND PACKAGES. . 

THE USPS APPROVING 97 PERCENT OF THOSE ASKS. WITH NO COURT ORDER REQUIRED.

THE PRACTICE OF MONITORING MAIL COVERS HAS BEEN LEGAL SINCE 1879.

THE SO-CALLED ‘MAIL COVERS PROGRAM’ IS USED TO TRACK DOWN SUSPECTS, FIND FUGITIVES, OR COMPILE EVIDENCE– AS LONG AS ALL THE DETAILS RETRIEVED COME FROM LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE PACKAGE. 

TO PEAK INSIDE, LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO GET A WARRANT. 

THE POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN RELUCTANT TO RELEASE THE FULL SCOPE OF ACTIVITY– FEARING IT COULD “ALERT CRIMINALS” TO THE PROGRAM.

FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS HAS BEEN DEMANDING TO KNOW MORE– WRITING A LETTER IN 2023 SHARING CONCERNS OVER SECRET SPYING ON AMERICAN CITIZENS, ACCUSING POSTAL OFFICIALS OF KEEPING CUSTOMERS IN THE DARK ABOUT THE FACT THEY HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO MONITORING.

THE LAWMAKERS SAY SENSITIVE INFORMATION IS STILL ON THE OUTSIDE OF MAIL–

FROM BILLS TO POLITICAL BELIEFS AND CHURCHES SOMEONE ATTENDS. THEY WANT THE USPS TO GET A FEDERAL JUDGE’S OK BEFORE APPROVING SURVEILLANCE REQUESTS.

THE CHIEF POSTAL INSPECTOR SAYS AMERICANS SHOULDN’T EXPECT PRIVACY WHEN IT COMES TO THE OUTSIDE OF THEIR MAIL. HE ARGUES THE SPYING ISN’T WIDESPREAD, SAYING THE USPS GETS 6700 REQUESTS A YEAR FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT IT’S ALLOWED ONLY IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO HELP IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP– AND SIGN UP FOR NEWS UPDATES.

[KARAH RUCKER]

THIS WEEK WE’LL SEE THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF THE 2024 ELECTION.

ON STAGE –

WILL BE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP –

THE TWO CANDIDATES THAT – EARLY ON – THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS DID NOT WANT.

AND STILL – WITH ABOUT 130 DAYS TO GO UNTIL ELECTION DAY –

THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS **REMAIN DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR CHOICES.

IN POLLING AS RECENT AS LAST WEEK –

55 PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN A PBS POLL SAY THEY AREN’T HAPPY WITH THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES’ 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

IN THE LATEST REUTERS POLL  –

20% VOTERS SAY THEY ARE EITHER UNDECIDED, VOTING THIRD PARTY, OR WON’T VOTE AT ALL DUE TO DISSATISFACTION WITH BIDEN AND TRUMP.

THERE’S A GROUP OF VOTERS KNOWN AS “DOUBLE HATERS” –

THIS MEANS THEY WOULD HATE IT IF TRUMP OR BIDEN WINS THE PRESIDENCY.

IN SIX SWING STATES –

THE NUMBER OF “DOUBLE HATERS” IS SIGNIFICANT – NEARLY 1 IN 5 VOTERS.

MEANING HOW THEY VOTE – COULD BE WHAT DECIDES THE ELECTION.

BUT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE – IT’S A CHOICE BETWEEN WHAT THEY SEE AS “THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS.”

ONE OF THESE VOTERS TELLING THE WASHINGTON POST –

IT’S REMINISCENT OF THE 2004 SOUTH PARK EPISODE – TAKING JABS AT THE THEN-UNLIKEABLE CANDIDATES DEMOCRAT JOHN F. KERRY AND REPUBLICAN GEORGE W. BUSH.

{SOT}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7pfsneLSSM

<:33-:47

“I would hope that those students and parents who question my qualities would simply look at my opponent. He is a turd sandwich. You’re a turd sandwich. No sir, if you’ll pardon me, you are the turd sandwich. You’re a turd sandwich! 

<:56-:59>

“Anyway, as i was saying. Wait i forgot what i was saying.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

BOTH BIDEN AND TRUMP CAMPAIGNS – ARE LOOKING TO CAPITALIZE ON THESE NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR OPPONENT.

MAJOR THEMES IN ADS FROM BOTH CAMPS – BEING ON THE ATTACK.

{SOTS} :26 seconds

<:08-:12>

“Stoking the flames of division and hate, now he’s pouring gasoline.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S7fktM8ygc

<1:15-1:18>

Biden and the democrats are the party of violence.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOEMX6_A8MM

<:19-:27>

“This election is between a convicted criminal and a president fighting for your family.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTdfpovdeHg

<:00-:03> “a murder on grand rapids southwest side yesterday.” <:54-:57> “he confessed that he committed the crime. Stop biden’s border bloodbath.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgtPkQtEb_k

<:24-:26>

“Donald trump doesn’t trust women. I do.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idhUuebZnkc&t=46s

<:46-:49>

“The whole country is going to hell because of this guy.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

WITH THE TWO CANDIDATES SET TO MEET AGAIN THIS THURSDAY –

IT’S LIKELY GOING TO BE A CONTENTIOUS REUNION –

WITH “DOUBLE HATER” VOTES – AND AN ELECTION – ON THE LINE.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

FOR MORE ELECTION RELATED STORIES AS WE GET CLOSER TO NOVEMBER –

DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AT SAN DOT COM.

A NEW F-B-I REPORT IS SHEDDING LIGHT ON ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENTS IN AMERICA. 

ACCORDING TO ITS ANNUAL ACTIVE SHOOTER REPORT RELEASED MONDAY – 20-23 SAW FEWER ACTIVE SHOOTING INCIDENTS THAN 20-22… LEADING TO A 4 PERCENT DECREASE. 

HOWEVER – OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS… ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENTS HAVE GONE UP 89 PERCENT, ACCORDING TO THE F-B-I. 

BUT WHAT DO THOSE STATISTICS ACTUALLY MEAN? 

LET’S START OFF WITH WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ACTIVE SHOOTER. 

THE F-B-I DEFINES “ACTIVE SHOOTER” AS ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN KILLING OR ATTEMPTING TO KILL PEOPLE IN A POPULATED AREA. 

AS WE MENTIONED, ACTIVE SHOOTINGS WENT DOWN 4 PERCENT FROM 20-22 TO 20-23 – BUT WHAT DOES FOUR PERCENT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE? 

TWO. 

THERE WERE TWO FEWER ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENTS IN 20-23 (48) THAN THERE WERE IN 20-22 (50). 

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS – THE F-B-I SAYS THERE WERE 229 ACTIVE SHOOTINGS ACROSS THE U-S. 

THAT’S UP 89 PERCENT FROM THE 121 ACTIVE SHOOTINGS IN THE FIVE YEARS BETWEEN 20-14 AND 20-18. 

IN THE 48 ACTIVE SHOOTINGS IN 20-23… 449 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 773 WOUNDED. 

TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE… MORE PEOPLE DIED AS A RESULT OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTING INCIDENT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS – THAN THE FIVE YEARS BETWEEN 20-14 AND 20-18 – WHICH INCLUDED THREE OF THE DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTINGS IN U-S HISTORY. 

LAST YEAR ALONE 105 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN ACTIVE SHOOTINGS AND ANOTHER 139 WERE HURT… 

THE SHOOTINGS HAPPENED IN 26 STATES – WITH CALIFORNIA SEEING THE MOST… EIGHT. 

FOLLOWED BY TEXAS AND WASHINGTON WITH FOUR EACH. 

THE F-B-I’S REPORT COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELEASED PRELIMINARY NUMBERS SHOWING A 15 PERCENT DROP IN VIOLENT CRIME IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 20-24 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. 

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

MORE KIDS THAN EVER ARE QUALIFYING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION ACROSS THE U-S – ACCORDING TO A WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORT.

A RECORD 7.5 MILLION STUDENTS ACCESSED SPECIAL-EDUCATION SERVICES IN U-S SCHOOLS AS OF 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, THE JOURNAL SAYS.

THAT ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 15 PERCENT  OF THE PUBLIC-SCHOOL STUDENT POPULATION.

A DECADE AGO LESS THAN 13 PERCENT OF STUDENTS QUALIFIED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

UNDER FEDERAL LAW – CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IF THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING CERTAIN DISABILITIES THAT HINDER THEIR EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING AUTISM, SPEECH IMPAIRMENTS AND ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER.

THE JOURNAL REPORTS SEVERAL FACTORS ARE DRIVING THE INCREASE – PANDEMIC DISRUPTIONS LEFT KIDS WITH LINGERING LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES…

AND PARENTS HAVE BECOME MORE ASSERTIVE ABOUT ASKING FOR SERVICES, AS THE STIGMA AROUND SPECIAL EDUCATION HAS LESSENED.

ALSO, AUTISM DIAGNOSES HAVE RISEN IN RECENT DECADES.

BUT – EVEN AS MORE STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR SERVICES… SCHOOL DISTRICTS NATIONWIDE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND ENOUGH TEACHERS – NOT JUST FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN IS WALKING BACK THESE COMMENTS THE PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE MADE ON THE “ALL-IN PODCAST” LAST WEEK:

(FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP)

“LET ME JUST TELL YOU THAT IT’S SO SAD WHEN WE LOSE PEOPLE FROM HARVARD, MIT, FROM THE GREATEST SCHOOLS AND FROM THE LESSER SCHOOLS THAT ARE PHENOMENAL SCHOOLS, ALSO. AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND I WOULD’VE DONE THIS BUT THEN WE HAD TO SOLVE THE COVID PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT CAME IN AND SORT OF DOMINATED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AS YOU PERHAPS KNOW. BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO AND WHAT I WILL DO IS, YOU GRADUATE FROM A COLLEGE, I THINK YOU SHOULD GET AUTOMATICALLY AS PART OF YOUR DIPLOMA A GREEN CARD TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THIS COUNTRY. AND THAT INCLUDES JUNIOR COLLEGES, TOO!”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT — TRUMP SAID HE WANTS TO AUTOMATICALLY GIVE GREEN CARDS TO ANY MIGRANTS WHO COMPLETE THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN RESPONSE – CRITICS — MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN LONG-TIME TRUMP SUPPORTERS — TOOK ISSUE WITH TRUMP’S PLAN.  LED BY GROUPS SUCH AS THE CONSERVATIVE IMMIGRATION ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT, THEY ARGUE THE GREEN CARD PLAN “WOULD REDUCE WAGES FOR ALL AMERICANS, INCREASE JOB COMPETITION, PARTICULARLY FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES, AND POSE A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT”.

CRITICS SAY THEY WANT THE “BEST AND BRIGHTEST” COMING TO AMERICA AND WORKING SKILLED JOBS. 

LEADERSHIP AT NUMBERSUSA – AN ADVOCATE GROUP FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEY CALL “BETTER IMMIGRATION” — TOLD THE WASHINGTON POST TRUMP’S PLAN WOULD QUOTE “TURN COLLEGES INTO VISA MILLS.”

TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN IS NOW CLARIFYING THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS – SAYING TRUMP PROMISES TO SHUT DOWN THE BORDER AND DEPORT MIGRANTS IN MASS NUMBERS IF THEY’RE ILLEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S CAMPAIGN RESPONDED THAT TRUMP FIRST TERM LEFT COUNTLES SPEOPLE DAMAGED AND ACCUSED THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF NOW PROMISING “CRUEL POLICIES LIKE ROUNDING UP IMMIGRANTS AND PUTTING THEM INTO MASS DETENTION CAMPS.” 

 A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN SAID TRUMP’S GREEN CARD PROPOSAL WOULD INCLUDE AN “AGGRESSIVE VETTING PROCESS” THAT WOULD “EXCLUDE ALL COMMUNISTS, RADICAL ISLAMISTS, HAMAS SUPPORTERS, AMERICA HATERS, AND PUBLIC CHARGES” AND THAT HIS PROGRAM  “WOULD ONLY APPLY TO THE MOST THOROUGHLY VETTED COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO WOULD NEVER UNDERCUT AMERICAN WAGES OR WORKERS.”

DURING THE ALL-IN PODCAST INTERVIEW – TRUMP SAID HE BELIEVED TOO MANY MIGRANTS COME TO THE UNITED STATES TO RECEIVE AN EDUCATION AND THEN GO BUILD COMPANIES IN INDIA OR CHINA INSTEAD OF THE US BECAUSE THEY CAN’T STAY HERE:

(FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP)

“THEY DO THE SAME BASIC COMPANY IN THOSE PLACES AND THEY BECOME MULTI BILLIONAIRES, EMPLOYING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND IT COULD’VE BEEN DONE HERE.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FOR SAN, I’M LT.

IF YOU WANT MORE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS – DOWNLOAD THE SAN APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

[KARAH RUCKER]

LAST WEEK A KEY SOFTWARE PROVIDER FOR NORTH AMERICAN CAR DEALERSHIPS BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF CAR DEALERSHIPS MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO A SCREECHING HALT, TRIGGERING WIDESPREAD DISRUPTION.

THE HACKERS, BELIEVED TO BE BASED IN EASTERN EUROPE, ARE DEMANDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RANSOM.

THE ATTACK ON “CDK GLOBAL” IMPACTED ROUGHLY 15-THOUSAND DEALERSHIPS.

SEVERELY DISRUPTING AN INDUSTRY THAT ACCOUNTS FOR OVER $1.2 TRILLION IN ANNUAL SALES.

THIS OUTAGE HIT AT A PARTICULARLY BAD TIME FOR DEALERS — RIGHT DURING A CRUCIAL PUSH FOR END-OF-QUARTER SALES.

DESPITE A BRIEF RESTORATION OF THEIR SYSTEMS, “CDK” FACED A SECOND WAVE OF ATTACKS, LEADING TO ANOTHER SHUTDOWN.

THE COMPANY HAS WARNED THAT FULL RECOVERY COULD TAKE DAYS, DURING WHICH DEALERSHIPS REVERTED TO MANUAL OPERATIONS—

SLOWING DOWN SALES, HALTING REPAIRS, AND DELAYING DELIVERIES.

THE BREACH NOT ONLY CAUSED “OPERATIONAL CHAOS” BUT ALSO LED TO A SUBSTANTIAL RANSOM DEMAND, WHICH CDK IS REPORTEDLY CONSIDERING PAYING.

AMIDST THIS TURMOIL, SCAMMERS HAVE EXPLOITED THE SITUATION, POSING AS “CDK REPRESENTATIVES” TO DECEIVE CUSTOMERS.”

IN A STATEMENT THE COMPANY WROTE:

“CDK associates are not contacting customers for access to their environment or systems. Please only respond to known CDK employees and communications.”

AFTER DECADES OF CONSOLIDATION, THE INDUSTRY RELIES HEAVILY ON A FEW PLAYERS LIKE CDK FOR ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES. THESE RANGE FROM ARRANGING FINANCING AND INSURANCE TO MANAGING INVENTORY AND PROCESSING SALES AND REPAIRS, MAKING THE VENDOR’S ROLE CRUCIAL IN DAILY OPERATIONS.

ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE FROM “THE NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION” THERE ARE ROUGHLY 16-THOUSAND 8-HUNDRED NEW CAR DEALERSHIPS IN THE UNITED STATES.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

MAKE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP – AND SIGN UP FOR NOTIFICATIONS – SO YOU NEVER MISS AN UPDATE.

YOU CAN ALSO VISIT US ON THE WEB AT SAN DOT COM.

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCED MONDAY IT WILL CONSIDER THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF TENNESSEE’S BAN ON SO-CALLED “GENDER AFFIRMING CARE” FOR MINORS.

STATE-WIDE PROHIBITIONS ON PUBERTY BLOCKERS, HORMONE BLOCKERS AND TRANSGENDER SURGERIES FOR ADOLESCENTS AND TEENS HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE COURT CASES, AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN URGING THE HIGH COURT TO TAKE UP THE CASE..

THE RULING COULD HAVE WIDE-RANGING IMPACTS–

TENNESSEE IS ONE OF 22 STATES OUTLAWING THESE TREATMENTS FOR MINORS.

SOME STATES ALSO RESTRICT SOME CARE FOR TRANSGENDER ADULTS, AND A FEW MORE CONSERVATIVE STATES HAVE BILLS PENDING TO BAN GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE COMPLETELY.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PUSHED FOR A SUPREME COURT RULING, SAYING CONFLICTING COURT RULINGS IN LOWER COURTS CAUSE “PROFOUND UNCERTAINTY” FOR AROUND 100-THOUSAND TRANSGENDER MINORS. 

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT PREVIOUSLY RULED BANS IN TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY COULD GO INTO EFFECT. WHILE FLORIDA IS APPEALING A FEDERAL JUDGE’S RULING BLOCKING STATE RESTRICTIONS ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE.

THE HISTORIC ARGUMENTS WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER.

FOR THE LATEST SUPREME COURT NEWS AND MORE– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR NEWS UPDATES.