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Author: Kemberlee Kaye

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Kemberlee Kaye

Kemberlee Kaye is the Senior Contributing Editor of Legal Insurrection, where she has worked since 2014 and is the Director of Operations and Editorial Development for the Legal Insurrection Foundation. She also serves as the Managing Editor for CriticalRace.org, a research project of the Legal Insurrection Foundation.

She has a background working in immigration law, and as a grassroots organizer, digital media strategist, campaign lackey, and muckraker. Over the years Kemberlee has worked with FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, James O'Keefe's Project Veritas, and US Senate re-election campaigns, among others. 

Kemberlee, her daughter, and her son live a lovely taco-filled life in their native Texas.

You can reach her anytime via email at kk @ legalinsurrection.com.

You wouldn't know it from reading the Associated Press headline, but the latest terrorist attack which left three dead was perpetrated by a gunman who yelled, "Allahu Akbar" while being arrested. The AP isn't wrong that the suspect said "God is great", but why translate a common jihadi mantra? Thanks to 9/11 and the ensuing war on terror, ever American is familiar with the negative connotations of "Allahu Akbar".

Citizens of Georgia's sixth Congressional district flocked to the polls today to select a replacement for former Rep. Tom Price, who now serves as HHS Secretary in Trump's administration. Progressive Democrat, Jon Ossoff, hopes to pass the 50% threshold, which would allow him to avoid a runoff. Everyone is mandate-hunting. Democrats desperately hope to take home a runoff-less win to prove America's wholeheartedly rejecting Trump's agenda.

Salma Hayek and John Lithgow teamed up for the upcoming Beatriz at Dinner. Billed as a dark comedy, the preview looks more like a parody found on Saturday Night Live than an actual movie meant to be taken somewhat seriously. The plotline of the dramatic comedy has been described thusly:

In an interview with the Boston Globe, Sen. Elizabeth Warren claimed Sen. Mitch McConnell won't even say hello to her after she violated Senate rules during floor debate over the confirmation of Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. According to the Globe:
“I’ve spoken to him, but he has not spoken to me,” Warren said, laughing in a disbelieving way, shaking her head. “I say hello to Mitch every chance I get, and he turns his head.”

Though Obamacare was designed to force the American health insurance system into a single payer model, the free market has found a workaround. A growing number of practices are working directly with uninsured patients or with patients forgoing insurance benefits for a better price tag. Health insurance premium hikes, ridiculously high deductibles, and scant coverage make for-profit specialist shops all the more attractive.

During a forum Thursday, CIA Director Mike Pompeo debunked a prevalent myth about Trump's engagement with intelligence briefings. "How do you describe where the relationship is between the White House and the Intelligence Community?" Pompeo was asked. "It's fantastic," he replied to a room full of chuckles. "No, don't laugh, I mean that."

Earlier this week, I blogged about New York's 'free' college tuition initiative. Not only is there no such thing as a free lunch, there's definitely no such thing as a free government offering as The Excelsior Scholarship illustrates. Among the many strings attached to the tuition program, one of the most unrealistic is the requirement that tuition recipients serve state work time after graduation. Those finishing a two-year degree would be required to remain in New York for two years post-college while bachelor degree holders would be required to stay in the Empire State (presumably working) for four years. Leave before the state-mandated time and the scholarship turns into a loan that must be paid back. New York's Director of the Division of Budget in the Governor's office read our post and offered an alternative explanation to the unworkable (as I called it) tuition program. For debate's sake, we've posted his response in full beneath.

According to a report by the Washington Post, the FBI obtained a FISA warrant last summer to monitor former Trump adviser, Carter Page. WaPo's report is based on information provided by anonymous sources not at liberty to discuss the investigation. The FBI and DOJ believed Page may have been acting as a foreign agent. So far, this is the closest public evidence that there may have been Trump camp/Russian collaboration, but even at that, obtaining a warrant is not indicative of collusion, simply a suspicion of.

Polling conducted by Gallup earlier this year found that the number of Democrats "extremely" or "very proud" to be American is down by eleven percentage points compared to similar polling last year. There's been little change in patriotic sentiment for those self-identifying as either Republican or Independent. Gallup first conducted the poll in 2001.

New York state recently passed legislation making it "free" to attend two and four-year state colleges. It's so free, it's estimated to cost New York state taxpayers a paltry $163 million per year. Called a "last-dollar" plan, would-be participants must first apply for federal monies before turning to the state for assistance. This 'free tuition' only covers half the cost of attending school and doesn't cover incidentals like books, fees, or housing. Oh, and participants must finish school on time.

House Republicans held meetings late into Tuesday night, hoping to find some consensus on health insurance reform before the upcoming recess to no avail. By all accounts, there's still no other Obamacare repeal plan and so lawmakers, including Vice President Pence, are still trying to make the failed American Healthcare Act (AHCA) work.

A recent revamp of Trump's National Security Council cut former Breitbart News Chief Executive Steve Bannon's role entirely. Bannon's role as a National Security Advisor was controversial from the get-go.

What's the fastest way to ruin anything? Inject politics into it. This well-known, but unwritten rule of the Universe seems to have escaped ESPN, who's now doubling down on their political banter. The once great sports broadcasting network recently revised their discussion rules so as to accommodate for increased political commentary germane to the sporting event being covered.

Last week, the Washington Post published a profile on Vice President Pence's wife, Karen. As WaPo reported, Mrs. Pence "never weighs in on or attempts to influence policy" nor does she wish to speak on her husband's behalf. Though if you'd like to learn more about her work in art therapy, she'll gladly speak about her passions there.