Category: History

13-48 It’s Christmastime! Dating, Origins, History, and Biblical Accounts

13-48 It’s Christmastime! Dating, Origins, History, and Biblical Accounts

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Show 13-48 Summary: Christmastime is that time of year when you run into the Christmas downers who try to convince you “real Christians” shouldn’t celebrate Christmas because it has “pagan origins.” You doubtless see them popping up on social media and among your circle of friends. And they will arrogantly scoff at anyone who doesn’t echo their dismissive Christmas attitude. The modern-day Christmas downer is a lot like the downer Puritans before them: if they don’t approve it, then it’s just not Christian. For much of American history, the Puritans and other protestant offshoots banned Christmas celebrations — especially merrymaking. This week, find out why you shouldn’t let them steal your Christmas joy. We talk with Pastor Richard Peil about the origins and history of Christmas celebrations, its potential dating, and some exciting insights into the two Biblical accounts of the Nativity story.

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Original Air Dates: December 2nd & 3rd, 2023 | Guest: Pastor Richard Peil

This Week – It’s Christmastime!

For most people, Christmastime is a joyous time. Filled with traditions, family, joy, and memories and nostalgia about Christmases past. But not for everyone. Some are committed to being the Christmas downer. Why? Because they’ve gotten it in their head that Christmas has pagan origins. That it was originally a pagan holiday that the early Church co-opted Saturnalia. Or other pagan holidays. So they spend what should be a joyous time of year dragging others down and, Grinch-like, attempting to steal others’ joy and Christmas spirit.

Don’t let them.

And when they’re not pushing the Saturnalia angle, they’ll point out similarities between the Mithra religion. Yes, there are alleged similarities. But you know who’s the greatest imitator of God and what is holy? Satan. (Funny how they forget that.) They’ll say we don’t know when Jesus was born. And that’s largely true. And they’ll also say whenever he was born it was not on December 25th, in 1 A.D. Yes, that’s possible. After all, if your focus is to pick a day that something didn’t happen, you’ve got a 364 out 365 chance of being right.

Calendars and the Dating of Christmas Day

Over the millennia, calendars and dates have been tweaked and revised and reordered to an extent that it’s hard to say which day might have been the true Christmas Day. And it’s a moving date. At one time, most scholars thought Jesus was born in 4 B.C. based largely on Josephus. But better information came to light, including a better dating for the eclipse Josephus mentioned. And, drawing on other historical sources, it’s now reliably likely that Jesus was born in  2 B.C.

But which day of the year?

Well, here’s the thing: no one knows. But it’s not the date that’s important – it’s what happened that’s important. Regardless of the day of the year. That the war against Satan had started and his time holding power over this world was coming to an end. And, as with any life, it’s not “just” that you’re born but what you do with that life. The date it started doesn’t matter in the greater scheme of things.

Origins of Christmas

We welcome back Pastor Richard Peil who leads Victory Baptist Church in Bend, Oregon, to talk about Christmas, its early church origins and beliefs. In the early days of Christianity, which had many Jewish converts and followed Jewish heritage, most people did not celebrate birthdays at all. Instead, they celebrated the day when someone died. Which is rather odd from our modern standpoint. But tune in to hear other traditions and about two competing theories of why the early church thought Jesus was conceived on March 25th. And therefore must have been born on December 25th.

We also talk about Christmas time celebrations during America’s early days. Or not. Because in some colonies and states, not only was Christmas definitely not celebrated but was even banned from being celebrated.

And then we talk about the two Nativity stories in the Bible, from Matthew and Luke. Which tell the story of Jesus’s birth from two different viewpoints. And intended for two different audiences. Why does Matthew focus on the arrival of the Magi and Luke ignores it? Why does Luke focus on John the Baptist and the shepherds? And why does Matthew ignore those?

Watch the fascinating “Star of Bethlehem” 2007 documentary by Rick Larson
Try this link if you have Amazon Prime Video

Speaking of Magi, you’ll hear what some sources think their arrival was really like. And with some historical context, you’ll never think of the “Three Wise Men” the same ever again.

Christmastime Traditions and Today

Then we wrap up with some important discussions of Christmas in today’s day and age. Should Christians even celebrate? If so, why? What do non-believers need to see and to hear during Christmastime? And the same for Christians? What traditions does Pastor Peil’s family and church family celebrate and are important to them?

So when you run into the Christmas downer, spewing their Christmastime hate, remind them the date is not important. The Joy of Christmas is found in what happened that day, not the day on which it happened.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Pastor Peil’s church is Victory Baptist Church. Their website is victoryforyou.church

The Problems Dating of Christmas

  • From Chuck Missler: When Was Jesus Born? (Koinonia House, Dec 1, 2020)
    • “We know that the flocks were in an open field (Luke 2:8). That means it was not after October, because it would have been too cold.”
    • 24 priestly courses
  • Jewish Calendar, 3BC and 2BC
  • Origins of April Fools Day (History.com)
    • “April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. …In the Julian Calendar, as in the Hindu calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1.”
  • Roman calendar (via Fandom)
  • The Essenes Calendar (Bible Prophecy Information, via Rev210.net)
    • The Essenes (who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls) kept the traditional Jewish solar calendar, not the Pharisees’ lunar calendar
    • See our previous show with Dr. Ken Johnson for a fascinating look at the Essenes — the ancient Jewish sect, including their calendar-based prophecies of Jesus’s arrival and completion of his mission as The Messiah.
  • The First Recorded Celebration of Christmas (Christianity Today, Oct 23, 2020)
    • “In an old list of Roman bishops, compiled in A.D. 354 these words appear for A.D. 336: ‘25 Dec.: natus Christus in Betleem Judeae.’ Or, ‘December 25th, Christ born in Bethlehem, Judea.’ This… is the first recorded celebration of Christmas.”
  • Historians beware! Interesting discussion on Julian/Gregorian Calendars (University of Nottingham)
    • The Julian Calendar was the system of dating followed from 46BC onwards. It established a 365-¼ year. Except it was 11 minutes too long.
    • In 1582, the Gregorian calendar corrected the over-correction by eliminating ten days and adjusting leap years. But took nearly 400 years to be universally adopted!

The Magi, Other Christmastime

  • History of the Magi (Chuck Missler, December 1, 2021)
  • The fascinating “Star of Bethlehem” 2007 documentary by Rick Larson
  • The Origins of our Christmas Traditions (KHouse.org, Seasonal Favorites, Dec 2004)
    • “The first recorded mention of December 25th is in the Calendar of Philocalus (A.D. 354).”
  • The History of Christmas: Is It Pagan? (Koinonia House, Dec 13, 2011)
    • “Tertullian (AD 160-220), the early Church writer, noticed that the pagan religion [of Mithra] utilized baptism as well as bread and wine consecrated by priests. He considered Mithraism to have been inspired by the devil, who wanted to mock Christians and lead others to hell.”
  • John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” The Greek word there for “dwelt” is  σκηνόω (pronounced, “skay-NAH-oh”) which means to tent or to encamp; which is why some translations use “tabernacled among us” instead of “dwelt among us.” See this link to Strong’s Concordance for more on σκηνόω.
  • What the Bible says about Feast of Tabernacles (BibleTools.org, No Date)
    • Required 189 animal sacrifices be made at the Feast of Tabernacles alone—more than all the other holy days combined.
  • Early Christmas (Britannica.com)
    • “During the first two centuries of Christianity there was strong opposition to recognizing birthdays of martyrs or, for that matter, of Jesus.”
  • The Christmas Story – Part 2 – Chuck Missler (Koinonia House, YouTube Channel, Dec 25, 2019)

 

 

Mark Anderson speech to CCRW luncheon - How Republicans can win in 2024 by facing the brutal facts
13-10 Major Victories from Major Defeats | How Republicans can Win in 2024

13-10 Major Victories from Major Defeats | How Republicans can Win in 2024

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Show 13-10 Summary: This week, for once, the host of the I Spy Radio is doing all the talking. Normally, I Spy is all about researching our guest’s topics, asking questions, and letting them do the talking. But recently, the Salem’s Capitol City Republican Women group invited Mark Anderson to be their speaker at a luncheon. His spoke on how Republicans can recover from major defeats, like they saw in 2020 and 2022. Using lessons from history, combined with some pivotal I Spy Radio Shows to illustrate what’s happening, he describes how Republicans can win in 2024. So on today’s show, he gives it again to our radio audience.

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Original Air Dates: March 11th & 12th, 2023 | Mark Anderson

This Week – Mark’s Speech to the CCRW Luncheon

Salem’s Capitol City Republican Women invited I Spy’s host, Mark Anderson, to give a speech on Thursday, March 9th. This week’s show, he gives it again to his entire radio audience. Note that we cut  about 7-10 minutes from the speech to fit into a a broadcast radio “hour.”

After the show airs on our network of stations, we will post the full-length speech as the podcast version.

How Republicans can Win in 2024

Mark begins the speech with what the Hungarians faced in 1241 when they were invaded by the Mongols. In the wake of a devastating defeat that saw 1/4 of his countrymen killed and virtually all of Hungary’s towns and cities destroyed, King Bela IV had to face the brutal truth: that his country and its army were completely unprepared to deal with invaders like the Mongols.

But, as Mark highlights, major victories can come from major defeats. By facing the brutal facts. Using King Bela’s reforms, combined with pivotal past I Spy Radio shows to illustrate what is happening now, Mark examines how Republicans can win in 2024. And beat the Mongol Marxists destroying America.

Disinformation and Cognitive Warfare: The New Battlefield

Disinformation by Ron Rychlak book cover
Order the book!

One of the pivotal series of shows discussed in his speech was I Spy’s series of shows on disinformation. If you have not yet read Disinformation by Lt. General Ion Pacepa and Ron Rychlak, you need to. It explains so much about what we are experiencing in America today. As our own government uses tools of manipulation, cognitive warfare, launching disinformation campaigns against unsuspecting Americans. Mark explains how we know for sure that the “Russia collusion” hoax was in fact a disinformation campaign.

One last thing. When it comes to fighting disinformation, it requires influencers and the weight of reality and truth. For example, the truth and reality of the January 6th footage. Not the edited versions the January 6th tribunal was releasing The day after his speech, there was an incredible letter from democrat Dr. Naomi Wolf, apologizing for being taken in by the Left’s and the government’s propaganda. It is a long letter, but well worth the read. Because it shows that the spell of disinformation can be broken.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Dr. Naomi Wolf: Dear Conservatives, I Apologize (Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf, March 10, 2023)
  • My “Team” was Taken in By Full-Spectrum Propaganda
  • See our shows on disinformation with the co-author of the book, Ron Rychlak
  • Battle of Mohi (Encyclopedia Britannica)
  • Battle of Agincourt (Britannica, no date)
  • PBS still spreading the disinformation about “Hitler’s Pope”: “Vatican documents show secret back channel between Pope Pius XII and Hitler” (PBS, June 7, 2022)
  • Former Public Health Officials Undermine Public Trust with Conduct Unbecoming Scientists (Epoch Times, March 10, 2023)*”Fauci and Collins owe the country an apology… [Two] of the nation’s top public health officials obstructed the proper deliberative process essential to fashioning proper policy responses to the emergency.”
The Essenes - the mysterious Jewish sect behind the Dead Sea Scrolls
12-48 The Mysterious Jewish Sect Behind the Dead Sea Scrolls: The Essenes

12-48 The Mysterious Jewish Sect Behind the Dead Sea Scrolls: The Essenes

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Show Summary: Those “400 years of silence” between the Old and New Testaments? It turns out they weren’t. The Essenes were driven from the priesthood by the Pharisees and Sadducees but kept the faith and kept prophesying. Incredibly accurately as it turns out. Maybe it’s because the Essenes correctly predicted the coming of the Messiah. To the year. A Jewish “Deep State”? Find out why they wanted to bury the Essenes and largely succeeded in driving them from history. Except even that ended up fulfilling prophecy.

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Original Air Dates: Nov 26th & 27th, 2022 | Guest: Dr. Ken Johnson

This Week – The Essenes

Since it’s the start of the Holiday Season, we thought we’d take a break from our usual and bring you a story most people have probably heard little or nothing about. You’ve undoubtedly heard about the Dead Sea Scrolls. But you probably don’t know very much about the Essenes, the mysterious Jewish sect who wrote, guarded them, and then hid them away before disappearing into history.

Many churches today talk about the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments. When God appeared to go silent and no longer talk through His prophets. But it turns out God never stopped talking. It’s just that the Jewish religious authorities at the time, the Pharisees and Sadducees, tried to silence them.

Tune in to hear about the Jewish civil war that happened between the close of the Old Testament and the opening of the New Testament. A war that drove the existing priesthood from power, seized both the religious and political power, and then did everything they could to keep the truth hidden from their own people and the world.

The Essenes: Keepers of the True Faith

This week, we welcome Dr. Ken Johnson, a Dead Sea Scrolls scholar and researcher, who has written 33 books. He walks us through the history of the Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Dr. Ken Johnson’s personal website is BibleFacts.org

The Dead Sea Scrolls are partial or complete copies of every book in the Hebrew Bible (except the book of Esther). But the Dead Sea Scrolls are not “just” copies of books of the Old Testament. There are tons of extra-Biblical writings as well. Apocryphal books like the Book of Enoch and the Book of the Giants. The Testaments of the Patriarchs, which the Essenes held to be the true doctrine, not the Pharisees’ oral tradition allegedly passed on to them from Moses. The Essenes’ commentary and interpretation on the books of the Bible. Their prophecies. Incredibly accurate ones, as it turns out. And the Essenes’ unique and sacred calendar. In fact, they considered the Jewish calendar, based on a lunar cycle, to be an abomination.

The Essenes’ calendar, divided into seven ages and further divided into various cycles and subdivisions, was central to their belief system. And they used it to make those incredibly accurate prophecies. Which is why you might want to tune in to hear how close we are to the end of that calendar.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Dr. Ken Johnson’s website is a treasure trove of Dead Sea Scrolls knowledge and information. It can be found at BibleFacts.org
  • Dr. Ken does a weekly live stream Monday nights, including a Q&A. Find his channels on Rumble, Telegram, or YouTube.
  • Check out Ken Johnson’s appearances on Prophecy Watchers., including the episode mentioned during our show where Dr Johnson showed the calendar “sundial.”
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls calendar website. Find today’s date in the Essenes’ reckoning. And see the difference between the Essenes’ calendar and the current Jewish (Pharisee) calendar. They are way off!
  • Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library. (Note however that include other caches of scrolls found and lump them in with the Essenes’ scrolls.)
  • The Miraculous Timing of the Dead Sea Scrolls Discovery (Charisma News, Nov 1, 2016)
    • “The scrolls remained hidden for anyone to find for nearly 2,000 years. And on the very day, the very day, that Israel’s rebirth was confirmed, a Jewish professor confirms the existence of ancient Israel.”
Annual Fourth of July Show: The Hand of Providence on George Washington
Fourth of July – George Washington and the Incredible Hand of Providence

Fourth of July – George Washington and the Incredible Hand of Providence

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Show Summary: It’s that time of year again: it’s our annual Fourth of July celebration. This year, we are looking back at the Guy, George Washington who got us through the war. Let’s face it. If we hadn’t won the war, the Declaration would have been just an interesting but failed experiment; a side note in history. This week, it’s a fascinating look at a man who was truly born for his time, and had the eternal Hand of Providence on him so many times that his life and what he accomplished was truly a miracle.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: June 25, 2022 | Guest: Greg Leo 

This Week – Our 12th Annual Fourth of July Show

How has it been 12 years already? Time flies when you’re keeping an eye on big government I guess, but every year we focus on the Fourth of July and events around it that make the founding of this great country so unique and special.

Previously, we’ve focused on such things as celebrating the Fourth down through History, what those early celebrations looked like. The Declaration of Independence itself, the rights and grievances listed therein. Celebrating the Fourth on the Oregon Trail, the Fourth of July during the Civil War, the first 50 years, major anniversaries, and others. And last year’s focus on the some of the signers of the Declaration (and its predecessor petition).

Looking for something fun and unique to do this Fourth? Celebrate an old fashioned Independence Day at the Newell House at historic Champoeg Park, the birthplace of Oregon. This free event includes a patriotic program with music, food, and a home-baked pie contest and auction.

George Washington

But for this year’s Fourth of July show, we are focusing on the guy. George Washington. The guy who won the war and without whom America might never have existed. Except for a brief, failed attempt at freedom. Squashed by a ruthless king.

We look at his early years, his rural upbringing that often left him feeling inadequate in high society, his involvement in the French and Indian War—which made him a celebrity on both sides of the Atlantic—and the continual Hand of Providence on his life that saved him time and again.

And, naturally, we look at his Revolutionary War accomplishments. His defeats and his victories. And how he persevered through both. We look at his personal struggles too, including getting through the deep betrayal of Benedict Arnold, which Washington blamed himself for and nearly quit.

Tune in to hear about America’s quintessential hero. The man for his time. And a man even King George III came to admire.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. The I Spy Radio Show is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

We have lots of information for you on George Washington! Be sure especially to check out the Mount Vernon and the Washington Papers sites. But, really, these are all fantastic.

General George Washington Links (as in “general”)

George Washington – French and Indian War

  • Washington: The Soldier Through the French and Indian War (via US History.org)
  • George Washington’s forays into the Ohio country shaped his career and sparked a global war (via Mount Vernon)
  • Excellent summation about Washington’s involvement in French and Indian War (via Mount Vernon)

George Washington: Revolutionary War

  • Super cool! Washington’s Revolutionary War Itinerary (via the Washington Papers)
  • List of Revolutionary War Battles George Washington was at (via Mount Vernon)*While there were over 230 skirmishes and battles fought during the American Revolution, these are the battles General Washington was present for.
  • Washington wins first major US victory at Trenton (via History.com)
  • Washington Biography: Victory, Defeat, Misery, Stalemate: the Early War Years (via SparkNotes)
  • Revolutionary War Battles (via Mount Vernon)
  • General George Washington led the American army to victory during the Revolutionary War (via Mount Vernon)
  • Appointment as Commander in Chief (via Mount Vernon)
  • As Commander in Chief (via Thimbles and Acorns)
  • Another perspective on Washington as the Commander in Chief (via US History.com)
  • George Washington’s Final Command (via Boundary Stones)
    • Did you know Washington was recruited one last time by President Adams to be commander-in-chief?

Timelines for George Washington

Facts Lists for George Washington

  • Key Facts About George Washington (via Mount Vernon)
  • George Washington’s Surveying Career (via Mount Vernon)
  • Top 10 Facts about George Washington (via TheTopTens)
  • 5 Facts About George Washington (via Colonial Williamsburg)
  • 10 Facts About George Washington (via ThoughtCo.com)
  • 11 Little-Known Facts About George Washington (via History.com)
  • Four Uplifting Facts About the Personality of George Washington (by Lioness Rue at Medium.com)
  • 11 Surprising Facts About George Washington You Never Learned In School (via Reader’s Digest)
  • 27 Facts That Paint America’s First President In A New Light (All That’s Interesting)
    • Some myths and more: cherry trees, wooden teeth, but true facts too
  • 47 Interesting Facts About George Washington That You Should Know (via The Fact File)
  • 10 Things You Really Ought to Know about George Washington (via Mount Vernon)
    • Like that he was mostly self-educated, fearless in battle, was the first to sign the Constitution, and more
  • 10 Major Accomplishments of George Washington (Learnodo-Newtonic.com)
    • accomplishments in a nutshell, French and Indian War, and Washington’s accomplishments in the Revolution
  • George Washington (via Britannica)

 

Rediscovering America - How our national holidays tell the true story of America
Restoring Easter – Why it Matters as One of America’s National Holidays

Restoring Easter – Why it Matters as One of America’s National Holidays

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Show Summary: With Easter fast approaching, we welcome back Dr. Scott Powell, author of the book, Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story about Who We Are, to talk in depth about Easter. Its traditions, its history, its meaning, and its importance to America as a national holiday.

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Original Air Dates: April 9th & 10th, 2022 | Guest: Dr. Scott Powell

This Week – Restoring Easter

We welcome back Dr. Scott Powell, author of the terrific new book, Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story about Who We Are. One of the national holidays he spotlights is Easter.

Rediscovering America - Scott Powell
Rediscovering America is available now!

Easter was the first Christian holiday celebrated by the early church. But coming up through ancient Rome, celebrating the Son of God was not an easy thing to do. And could put one’s life in danger. Tune in to hear why normally “tolerant” Rome (tolerant of other religions and gods, at least) was so intolerant of Christianity.

We also talk with Dr. Powell about Easter’s alleged “pagan origins”, Easter celebrations in the early colonies, and as America grew. And don’t miss fascinating stories about George Washington’s early realization of God’s hand on his life. Or about the Dead Sea scrolls’ authors whose own devotion to preserving the true calendar and holidays and their ties to prophecy led to incredibly accurate predictions of the coming Messiah.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links, & Further Information

Be sure to order Dr. Scott Powell’s book, Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story about Who We Are.

  • The Growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire (HistoryHit.com, 2018)
    • “Since its foundation, Ancient Rome was a deeply religious society and religious and political office often went hand in hand. Julius Caesar was Pontifex Maximums, the highest priest, before he was elected as Consul, the highest Republican political role.”
  • College of Pontiffs, Ancient Rome (via Wikipedia)
    • “The title pontifex comes from the Latin for “bridge builder”, a possible allusion to a very early role in placating the gods and spirits associated with the Tiber River, for instance”
    • “The pontifex maximus was the most important member of the college. Until 104 BC, the pontifex maximus held the sole power in appointing members to the other priesthoods in the college.”
Rediscovering America - How our national holidays tell the true story of America
Restoring America: How Our National Holidays Tell Our Story

Restoring America: How Our National Holidays Tell Our Story

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Show Summary: This week, it’s about rediscovering America, with Scott Powell, who authored the book, Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story about Who We Are.

Looking for the links mentioned during the show? Click this to jump to the links section.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: February 12th & 13th, 2022 | Guests: Scott Powell

Rediscovering America

This week it’s about rediscovering America. Scott Powell’s new book,  Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story about Who We Are.

Rediscovering America - Scott Powell
Available now!

This show looks at how we got to America’s present condition (hint: Marxists) and a look at how we start to climb out of this (hint #2: we need to remember why America is worth fighting for). Scott Powell has been a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and is currently senior fellow at Discovery Institute.

We discuss how America has fallen — and how we do we get it back? Would the Founders recognize the chaos of today? After all, they fought off their own tyranny. Although that was the King, an ocean away; not right here in the halls of our own government.

David Horowitz: “Scott Powell has made a major contribution in the research and writing of Rediscovering America, providing substantive reason for hope and confidence in the midst of troubled times. It may be the first book written in the history genre that lays out the progressive and redemptive course that is America’s greatest legacy.”

Why has America Lost Its Way?

We also talk with him about how our rapid material success as a country was not equaled by a similar and equal rapid progress in spiritual or social progress. This is very much a spiritual war we are going through, not just one of laws and regulations and elections.

And why aren’t the checks and balances—so carefully crafted by our Founding Fathers—not working right now?

“This book was written to defeat the enemies of our republic by equipping readers from all walks of life to get connected to the character and accomplishments of their forebears and the arc of redemption that defines our history. Prior generations of Americans who shared a similar greatness of moral vision and believed in the beauty of freedom and equality sacrificed their all that this nation might be protected, guided, and healed. We are called to do no less.”

We also talk corruption and abuse of power rather than institutional or constitutional failure, are the chief causes of decline in America today, and what you can do to help fix this.

Be sure to tune in — it was such an interesting discussion that we plan to have him back around Easter.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Links & Info

Be sure to order Scott Powell’s book, Rediscovering America. It is available March 8th, 2022, but you can pre-order it today.

Stories behind the story of the Arizona audit. Witnesses, historical context, and not just numbers
Voters Fight for Truth Amidst Arizona Audit

Voters Fight for Truth Amidst Arizona Audit

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Show Summary: It’s the Arizona audit — but also the stories behind the story of the audit. Including a fascinating historical context with a Constitutional law professor. And stories of the eyewitnesses to the audit — the watchers who watched the watchers. Plus, we look at the outcomes and where the audit movement is headed now.

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Six Different Times, on Eight Different Stations. Listen anywhere! Most stations stream live! Four times Saturdays, twice on Sundays, and podcast version available Mondays

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Original Air Dates: Oct 2nd & 3rd, 2021 | Horace Cooper & Chuck Wiese

This Week: Arizona Audit & Stolen Elections

It’s all about the Arizona audit this week. But we take a different tack. We look at the stories behind the story of the Arizona audit.

Head to Fix2020First.com. Sign Mike Lindell’s petition to encourage the Supreme Court to accept the bill of complaints brought by patriotic states to save our country.

We talk first with Horace Cooper, co-chair of Project 21 and a constitutional law professor who gives us some historical context of the protections our Founders put in place for elections. And a look at other stolen elections. He also gives us insights into the remedies that exist and what should have happened with the contested 2020 election. And that new law Oregon passed to prevent the scrubbing of its voter rolls? Yeah. That’s going to have, shall we say, “unique” problems.

Then we talk with our go-to scientist, Chuck Wiese.  Chuck is trained in data analysis and he goes through the numbers that prove, conclusively, that there was fraud in the Arizona election. And what points to fraud in other states.

But first we take a look at the stories now being told by the Arizona audit observers. Who, until now, have been under a non-disclosure order to not discuss what they saw and heard. Tune in to hear these important observation that adds more context to the audit, above and beyond a bunch of numbers.

If you were on the fence before, this will convince you.

It’s time to do audits. In all 50 states.

But unless and until people start going to jail, none of this matters. Because they will just try it again and again and again. Which is why you need to support election audit efforts.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Research Links & Info

Arizona Audit Results

  • AZ Audit Volunteers Reveal Findings – Disturbing Elections Irregularities Discovered (GWP Channel, Rumble, Sept 30, 2021)
  • Read the Arizona AG’s order to Maricopa County for a litigation hold (PDF)
  • Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich Sends Letter To Maricopa County – FIRST REQUEST: Preservation Of Evidence/Litigation Hold (Gateway Pundit, Sept 28, 2021)
  • Arizona Audit for Dummies w/ Senator Wendy Rogers (Rumble, Sept 22, 2021)
    • Did you know? AZ Audit survived 4 court challenges
    • Now, why would Maricopa be so against anyone looking at results? Hmm…
  • Major Audit Bombshell: Individual Busted In The Act 1 Day Before Audit Began (Populist Press, Sept 24, 2021)
    • “Ben Cotton shared the IT results from the audit of the 2020 Election Results in Maricopa County. During his presentation, he noted that files were deleted by those involved in the election. But then Cotton noted that his team was able to identify the time stamps for when the files were messed with and from that. We have captured screen shots of Maricopa County people at the keyboards during those time periods.”
  • “We Did Find Large-Scale Fraud”– AZ GOP Chair Calls For Full Canvass (Palmieri Report, Sept 28, 2021)
  • Maricopa County Releases Statement On Election Audit–Will Be Issuing A Response (Palmieri Report, Sept 29, 2021)
  • Arizona Audit Finds 86,391 Voters have No Identity Match (RSBN, Sept 29, 2021)
    • Among several damning revelations from Friday’s hearing for the Maricopa County 2020 election audit results, is Cyber Ninjas’ finding that 86,391 votes in Arizona did not have an identity match.

The Audit Movement is Spreading

  • Report Shows Fulton County, GA 2020 Election Had $2 million in Unsupported OT, 15 Missing Routers, an Agreement with the SPLC to Put in Place Drop Boxes, and More (GWP, Sept 25, 2021)
  • Now Delaware: With Only 10% of 2020 Election Results Audited, 20,000 Invalid or Suspect Ballots Identified (GWP, Sept 30, 2021)
    • “A report released from a voter group in Delaware shows it’s quite possible Joe Biden didn’t even win his home state in the 2020 Election once invalid and suspect ballots are addressed.”
    • Above is based on a story from National File, “Massive ‘Fraudulent’ Votes And Apparent Nursing Home Vote Fraud Found in Delaware In 2020 Election” (Sept 30, 2021)
  • ‘Narrative Collapse’: British Media Finally Appear to Be Questioning Biden’s U.S. Election Legitimacy (Becker News, Sept 28, 2021)
    • Original UK Times article is here

Additional Related

 

Black History Month - Voices from Black Conservatives
Black Voices | Inspiration from Those on the Front Lines

Black Voices | Inspiration from Those on the Front Lines

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Show Summary: It’s Black History Month! What better way to celebrate than with voices that get overlooked: Black conservatives. It’s all about diversity and individuality, right? Although, why is it democrats seem to shun Blacks who choose to be individuals and think for themselves? Don’t they love all Blacks? Or just the ones that fit their preconceived notion of Blacks? Wait a second. Isn’t that racist? Yes. Yes, it is.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of November, 2018
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, on Seven Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM or 99.7FM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Mondays
After the show airs on our network of radio stations, you can listen to our podcast either here on our site or your favorite podcast platform. We are now on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and more. See the full podcast list.

Original Air Dates: Feb 13, 2021 | Nadra Enzi & Melanie Collette

For a party that claims they embrace the Black community, why is it democrats seem to hate Blacks who choose to be individuals and think for themselves? Don’t they love all Blacks? Or just the ones that fit their preconceived notion of Blacks? Wait a second. Isn’t that racist?

Yes. Yes, it is.

Black History Month

Originally, we scheduled Nadra Enzi and Melanie Collette to talk about Black History Month. We came across through Project 21, a program of the National Center for Public Policy. But what they had to say was so interesting, we only spent a one segment on Black History Month.

In fact, look for both Nadra Enzi and Melanie Collette to come back on to I Spy Radio in the near future.

Nadra Enzi

Project 21, a leading voice of conservative black men and women for over 25 years. They are focused on smaller government and indivisible rights and stand together to offset the far-left’s assault on the economic gains they made during the Trump years, not only for minorities but all Americans.

We welcome first-time guest, Nadra Enzi, a self-described “American Cougar” and advocate for residents who are “clawing back” against challenges to create an environment of safety against crime. Nadra talks to us about the challenges faced by black conservatives and gives us his insights to the many Blacks who are conservative but why they stay quiet. And the incredible pressure applied to them by those who don’t want them to have a voice.

Nadra, who works tirelessly against crime, also gives us an inspirational look at the hope they’re building in the black community.

Melanie Collette

Then we welcome another first-time guest, Melanie Collette, who is the host of “Money Talk with Melanie” and a guest host of Patriot Tonight on SiriusXM. Melanie is also working on her PhD in business administration and management at Northcentral University.

In addition, Melanie has worked in education for many years and she takes us into the current abyss of the educational system and the pressures on a black woman to conform to democrat ideology within that system. Ideologies that she sees as abusive to her but, equally important, the policies and ideologies are abusive to her students. Little wonder that she is currently writing a book series, “The Angry Educator.”

If you think that challenges can’t be overcome, tune in to find some very inspirational surprises.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Links & Info

  • Find out more about Project 21 by going to its parent organization is the National Center for Public Policy, which can be found here
Getting off the path to tyranny. Stopping the slide toward socialism
Get off the Path to Tyranny | Stop America’s Slide toward Socialism

Get off the Path to Tyranny | Stop America’s Slide toward Socialism

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Show Summary: With one of the most-locked down economies in the nation, Oregon knows about tyranny. We talk with State Senator Dennis Linthicum on how we correct course—statewide and nationally.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of November, 2018
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, on Seven Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live! And find us on your favorite podcast platform.

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM or 99.7FM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Mondays
After the show airs on our network of radio stations, you can listen to our podcast either here on our site or your favorite podcast platform. We are now on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and more. See the full podcast list.

Original Air Dates: Jan. 09 & 10, 2021 | State Sen. Dennis Linthicum

This Week’s Show: Getting off the Path to Tyranny

Now on the other side of all the election let downs, illegal ballots cast, state officials stepping all over their own state’s constitution, riots, and those killed during the riots we’re shaking off the desire to hide our heads in the sand, and instead focus on fighting back.

Pretending we don’t have serious problems, or overreacting by pushing violence and government overthrow, won’t solve anything. We need a steady hand on the wheel as we try to untangle and undo the forces determined to destroy our country.

New Rules in Elections. Win if Possible. If not, Chang the Rules

A recent Just the News article from John Solomon wrote that the 2020 election wasn’t just an election, it was a political watershed in which the rules and strategy for winning were rewritten. So by not thinking it through of what has to happen now, with all these institutions and media in favor of socialism, stopping it means we must take instead seize new rules and strategy for winning.

This week, we take a deep dive into Senator Linthicum’s latest newsletter. He examines how we in Oregon have been forced into shut downs and a ruined economy through the government’s manipulation of numbers, using covid as the cover.

Jump down to read Senator Dennis Linthicum’s full newsletter

What better way to exercise their desire to rid of us our rights while making us beholden to the scraps of money tossed into households, making them grateful. A socialist-style society being formed as covid smoking flares keeps the truth hidden. Covid or global warming it doesn’t matter. It’s the same tactics designed to confuse and manipulate. Their bureaucracy of supports all respond to one goal: control of everything.

The senator walks us through how the mirrors of deception are made and used and ties it back to current events in DC. This while Trump is making clear that he may be leaving the presidency, but he’s not leaving the fight.

Neither are we.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Links Mentioned

Dr. Frank Bures: False positive COVID PCR tests sow confusion (Winowa Daily News, Jan 3, 2021)* “I have seen it written that anywhere from 25% to 40% of people with COVID infections are totally asymptomatic.”

Experts: US COVID-19 positivity rate high due to ‘too sensitive’ tests (MSN, Aug 30, 2020)

Fauci reinforces WHO’s recognition that vaccine may not prevent contraction (Just the News, Jan 5, 2021)

 Senator Dennis Linthicum’s Newsletter

The massive COVID-19 “Test-Test-Retest” scheme is the only thing that keeps Gov. Kate Brown’s lockdown hype going. The destructionists in control love their power and testing has proven to be the perfect tool. We all know that good data is a requirement for good decision making. The testing mantra was originally portrayed as the tool to help us gather good data and lead us to make good decisions. But now we see the data isn’t being used to make good decisions it is being manipulated for ulterior ends.

COVID-19 testing has expanded dramatically throughout our state and the nation. Thus, as more and more people get tested, local county health organizations can use the data to pump statistical non-information and keep the public confused and fearful. What we do see, in the statistics, is that COVID-19 “cases” might be rising but the numbers are bolstered mostly by non-ill, non symptomatic people who are presumed to have COVID-19 although they feel just fine.

False positives have long been recognized as problematic and the World Health Organization (WHO) finally released a guidance memo on December 14th, warning that high cycle thresholds on PCR tests will result in false positives. So this misguided policy perspective is unforgivable. Also, the “infection fatality rate” is falling faster as the presumed, confirmed, and asymptomatic cases keep rising. This should be great news but it is never treated by the media or political class, as such.

This makes me wonder about several things…

  1. What does our future hold?
  2. How long will these lockdowns last?
  3. Will lockdowns become a common “goto” too?

This last question may seem outlandish, but recall that the WHO’s original definition of a pandemic was regarding, “epidemics worldwide with enormous numbers of deaths and illness.” A new definition appeared on the scene right in front of what we now call the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic. This newer definition removed criteria about the severity of any illnesses and also removed the criteria for high rates of mortality. The definition now refers to a pandemic as “a worldwide epidemic of a disease.”

If you are wondering why death rates are never discussed, it is because they are no longer relevant to the definition. This means the media, health officials and the political class can push this entirely spurious statistic to keep thoughtful questioners at bay and give statistical reinforcements to the next administrative dictator.

The public was complacent with the original “flatten the curve” logic because it was to meant preserve personal protective gear, ventilators, and hospital beds. All good goals and, indeed, the death curve has been flattened for nearly eight months. Yet, death counts don’t count and case counts remain the COVID-19 boogey-man.

The above graphic for case counts shows an obvious upward trend. In fact, this statistic is so visually terrifying that scare-mongers avoid publishing the fact that the annual average compares favorably to other flu seasons. The nefarious news sources and social media networks are doing their best to censor and quiet the rising anger against their unbalanced reporting and the government’s needless and ineffective lockdown strategies.

From the data we can determine that these mandates are incapable of stopping a viral outbreak. But, what if the purpose of these mandates is not about stopping the virus? What if these mandates are about control? Monetary, physical, emotional, and spiritual control?

My press-releases over the last several weeks have tried to alert people to the changing landscape being twisted beneath our feet. The Governor is promoting “Lock-down Mania”. Why? It behooves us to question what is the end goal of her “mania”? Could it be to eviscerate the economy, sabotage our cultural heritage and preach a unique brand of medical mysticism that borders on malpractice?

The Governor’s office, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), executive agencies and Democrat cronies are perpetuating either one of two dystopian futures. They offer us, on one-hand, the statistically improbable COVID contagion that will destroy the lives of us and our loved ones; or on the other-hand, their lockdown inspired destruction of our free-market economy, complete with untold financial ruin, bankruptcy, unemployment, and despair.

Biden portrays the future as a “dark winter”, but it doesn’t have to be. The future doesn’t have to be a dimly lit hellhole of socialism if the truth can prevail. We must not allow our future to be consumed by what lies in the dark heart of these leftists who are clamoring for positions of authority within the new regime.
We must continue to unite against the left’s endless proposals for the bureaucratic central state. Stand together for the principles our nation’s founders documented so elegantly. Stand and fight for these self-evident truths:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Our individual rights and liberties are not dependent on whether the president, congress, governor, or legislature honors those rights. Those rights belong to us as individual free-will, moral agents graced with unique attributes and filled with human dignity. Our rights are eternal vouchers that belong to every person regardless of race, creed, religion or heritage and the state has no right to intervene in any person’s just pursuits for their own lives, livelihoods, and the well-being of their posterity.

I will not back down from the fight to preserve our American heritage. Together we can bring Oregon back to our original constitutional form of limited government, but we’ll need to hold fast to our principles and not let them steal our livelihoods from us.

***

Constitutional Crisis - Oregon Governor Kate Brown claims her authority exceeds the Constitution
It’s True: Oregon has a Dictator | Constitutional Crisis

It’s True: Oregon has a Dictator | Constitutional Crisis

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Show Summary: Is it time to storm the castle? You may want to after this. Governor Brown makes absurd claim her authority is higher than the Constitution. Unbelievable. Both a Constitutional scholar and the attorney for the plaintiffs in the church lawsuit v Oregon weighs in.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of November, 2018
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, on Seven Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM or 99.7FM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Air Dates: May 16 & 17, 2020 | Dr. Joyce Malcolm & Kevin Mannix

This Week: When we see a leader make a difficult decision to shut down an economy based upon the fear that millions might die, we, as fellow human beings, feel compassion and are willing to give those in charge the benefit of the doubt. In the face of a true, catastrophic emergency—like a tidal wave or earthquake—it’s reasonable to do so and most people want to do their part to pitch in and help.

But as the situation matures and it becomes clear that the actual outcomes are not as devastating as predicted, a responsible leader—looking out for the people—relaxes the emergency’s grip to ensure the peoples’ freedoms and liberties are restored as quickly as possible.  President Trump’s response has been nothing but looking out for the people, trying to protect them even though it sacrificed an amazing economy that had easily brought his 2nd term into his grasp.

The Constitution is at Stake

But not all leadership has the same philosophies or beliefs of restoring the people’s freedoms. In fact, some want to be overly “protective” (what some might call socialism) with the added emergency powers, and to put the people into a position where they are being treated as children, with no life choices because they, the leadership, know better. (What some might call fascism.)

What has been clearly demonstrated between the two choices is one understands the importance of liberty while taking precautions and acceptable risk; the other wants to safeguard their power while subjugating your freedoms. Your freedom is a direct threat to their power over you. These are the very struggles our Founding Fathers faced. And what about the rule of law to strike a balance between authority and liberty.

The Constitution vs States

With all the complexities of finding out how our Constitution interacts with states rights, the states’ Constitution, and statutes, we invite to I Spy a Constitutional scholar: Dr. Joyce Malcolm, a faculty member at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, who’s an expert on the evolution of individual rights, especially during the American Colonial era. She has testified before Congress and has had her work cited in a Supreme Court decision.

We discuss with Dr. Malcolm the broader issues of the Constitution, and how its preeminence is being challenged in the wake of Emergency Declarations. Who really has the authority here? She describes historically if other situations have ever impacted the US in any way like Covid has, with rights stripped by stay-home and business shut down orders. Does our First Amendment rights supersede our governor’s power to take them away?

Governor Brown vs The Constitution

All that to set the stage for our second guest as we take a very deep dive into what states are facing with some governors’ overreach. A couple of weeks ago, we spoke with Oregon Senator, Dennis Linthicum. He told us the governor is getting around the Oregon Constitution by not relying on the Constitution. She is, instead, relying statutory power. But isn’t Oregon’s Constitution the supreme law of the land? And isn’t the U.S. Constitution even higher than that?

“The governor’s attorneys argue that the balance between the governor’s executive orders and the freedom to practice religion favors the governor.”

We speak with Kevin Mannix (of Common Sense for Oregon) who is one of the attorneys that represents churches and businesses suing Governor Kate Brown and her administration’s emergency orders to shut things down.

Incredibly, her attorneys have actually argued in their motion to dismiss, that her powers are greater than the Constitution. And that’s just the tip of what she’s said.

The Church Lawsuit in Oregon

Tune in to hear Kevin Mannix’s response and line of attack as he fights for church members to gather for worship as they please. Along with the fight for businesses who’ve been at the whim of the Governor, who deigned to allow some to remain open while closing others. Including churches.  Mr. Mannix talks about the lawsuit, it’s status, and what it means if their injunction is given the affirmative. Are there signs she is backing down?

Listen this weekend to get some very important answers.

Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—the podcast version will be right here after the show airs.

Links Mentioned

Dr. Joyce Malcom  

  • Oregon Republican lawmaker requests special session to end governor’s coronavirus state of emergency (OregonLive, May 6, 2020)
  • Governor: Large Events Canceled Statewide Until Covid-19 Treatment or Cure is Found (Canby, May 7th, 2020)
  • AG Barr says ‘draconian’ coronavirus restrictions should be re-evaluated (NY Post, Apr 9, 2020)

Kevin Mannix

  • Oregon emergency order lawsuit raises thorny legal questions (Bend Bulletin, May 14, 2020)
  • Salem salon owner says she’s been fined, forced to close for defying state orders (KATU News, May 14, 2020)
  • Attorneys for Gov. Kate Brown say lawsuit filed in Baker County challenging executive orders is baseless, should be dismissed (Baker City Herald, May 13, 2020)
    • Attorneys from state Department of Justice say governor declared emergency under state statute, not constitution
    • THIS “The governor’s attorneys argue that the balance between the governor’s executive orders and the freedom to practice religion favors the governor.”
  • Salem church joins legal effort (Salem Reporter, May 7, 2020)

Related Links

  • All of Oregon opens, Including Portland (OregonLive, May 14, 2020)
  • Oregon Churches and Religious Leaders File Lawsuit (Willamette Week, May 7, 2020)
  • 10 Oregon churches sue governor (OregonLive, May 7, 2020)
  • Oregon churches sue Gov. Brown to reopen (Fox 12, May 7, 2020)
  • Oregon businesses sue Gov. Kate (Statesman Journal, May 15, 2020)
  • Yes, some Oregon retail stores can open (KGW, May 14, 2020)
    • “All Oregon stores can open to shoppers again Friday, as long as they aren’t in a mall”
    •  “The declaration gives the green light to furniture stores, jewelry stores, boutiques and art galleries, which were closed March 23 by Gov. Brown’s stay-home order. It also includes all other standalone shops, from toy stores to bookstores to secondhand stores. Those were never technically ordered to close, state officials clarified Wednesday.”