Who's Left in the Media That You Can Trust?

Immediately following the 2020 election, a number of conservative Americans became totally disillusioned with Fox News, which had long been a favored source of information. 

Alternative news outlets began a meteoric rise, with cable news network Newsmax taking the lead. 

For the first time in more than twenty years, Fox was beaten by its competitors in key ratings demographics and Greg Kelly’s show on Newmax at 7:00 p.m. EST beat Martha MacCallum’s show on Fox News.

Yet even with Newsmax’s newfound success, they’ve allowed the same strategy that brought them to prominence and damaged Fox News to seep into their own programming. 

On Tuesday, February 2nd’s edition of “American Agenda,” Newsmax co-anchor Bob Sellers was conducting an interview with Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow. The irony is thick, as the anchor was asking Lindell about the cancel culture and whether he thought the banning of his personal and business Twitter accounts was going to be temporary or permanent. 

Lindell was focused on saying he thinks the Twitter ban is permanent, as he intends to release today evidence he’s collected against Dominion Voting Systems that shows election fraud and that Twitter wants to prevent him from doing so. Instead of letting Lindell speak, Sellers talked over him and the control room at Newsmax saw fit to turn down the volume of Mike Lindell’s audio so that the speech of anchor Bob Sellers overrode him and was the dominant audio, effectively censoring Lindell on live television.

Sellers stated, "We at Newsmax have not been able to verify any of those kinds of allegations," he said. "We just want to let people know that there's nothing substantive that we have seen. And let me read you something.

"The election results in every state were certified," Sellers said."Newsmax accepts the results as legal and final. The courts have also supported that view." Instead of letting Lindell speak any further, Sellers asked his producers to end the interview, but when it wasn’t done immediately, the anchor just got up and walked off the set, live on the air. 

While the evening lineup at Newsmax has been forthcoming regarding events and news about the lightning fast change in America’s culture since the Biden administration has taken power, the afternoon show is clearly taking a different view of things. 

At least seventy four million Americans voted for Donald Trump and that large block of voters represents a significant part of the country. With mainstream media’s clear hatred of all things Trump, it was a surprise to many when Fox News shifted tone towards the type of language and coverage found commonly at CNN, CBS, NBC and MSNBC. The Newsmax team will lose its newfound viewers quickly if they follow suit. 

Censorship is gaining ground at an unprecedented pace. While social media platforms label comments as hate speech, the real agenda is to eliminate speech that they hate. Opposing views are being silenced at an alarming rate as the American marketplace of ideas grows cold. To see a news organization practice censorship in real time, live on the air, is disturbing. If Newsmax allows this type of behavior to stand, who’s left that will honor the real tenets of journalism - to report without bias? 

Watch the clip here: 

https://rumble.com/vdjxkx-newsmax-shuts-down-interview-with-mypillow-ceo-over-comments-on-dominion-vo.html?mref=6zof&mc=dgip3&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OANN&ep=1

Lexington Fiber Optic Company Partners with Aiken Electric Co-Op to Offer Internet Service for Rural Areas

The digital internet deserts in Aiken and surrounding counties will soon be delivered a broadband oasis – a hopeful signal to all rural South Carolina that help is on the way.

Aiken Electric Cooperative has announced it is partnering with CarolinaConnect, a Lexington fiber-optic internet service provider, to deliver affordable high-speed internet across its territory. 

 

“The lack of internet service throughout rural South Carolina, particularly the House District I serve, is the number one issue (complaint) for most folks,” said Bill Taylor, member of the South Carolina House of Representatives District 86. “Without a reliable, high-speed internet connection, families and businesses are left behind. This announcement is a life preserver for those wanting to connect to communicate, educate, do business, receive telehealth services and gain from all the advantages offered by high-speed internet, including a Wi-Fi connection for their cell phones that also lack adequate service.”

 

Rural digital deserts are not exclusive to South Carolina. The Pew Research Center reports that about 73% of American adults have a home broadband connection. However, only 63% of rural Americans have broadband internet access. 

 

The lack of broadband service to rural areas has been understandable because of the expense of installing fiber optics in sparsely populated areas, as opposed to installing these services in more urban areas with a much larger customer base.

  

Grant monies fund the first phase of this effort to expand access to a modern fiber-to-the-home network. Due to the grant requirements, service will first be available to Aiken Co-Op members in the Wagener-Perry-Salley area as early as this summer. After completing this first phase, service will become available to unserved and underserved members on a substation-by-substation basis over several years. A more detailed schedule of the projected network build-out is in development. 

 

"Just as we did more than 80 years ago in bringing electricity to our rural communities, today we are bringing a much-needed service to our members," said Gary Stooksbury, CEO of Aiken Electric. 

 

"We believe providing exceptional broadband access is consistent with our mission of empowering our local communities and enhancing our members' quality of life. Access to high-speed broadband will enable members’ greater access to education, technology, conferencing, and many other opportunities given the challenges brought about by COVID-19."

 

The Aiken Coop is a member-owned utility that serves nearly 50,000 customers in a nine-county area. For more information about Aiken Electric Coop's and CarolinaConnect's internet offerings, or to receive alerts when service is available in your area, visit https://www.carolinaconnect.com and join the list.

 

The Death Tax 2.0: Eliminating the Stepped-Up Basis

For many South Carolinians, their largest source of wealth is their home. When a family home transfers to an heir or heirs after a death has occurred, that transfer can represent a large amount of value. If the stepped-up basis for the purposes of capital gains is eliminated, the taxation of an inherited property will increase exponentially.

In accounting, basis is the starting point for calculating capital gains taxes. Think of basis as the asset’s purchase price: You owe taxes on capital gains above the basis. 

 

The Biden administration has made its intentions clear to raise estate taxes and capital gains to the extreme. Capital gains are profits made from the sale of either investments or properties. In the current structure, capital gains are taxes at a preferential rate that can be as low as 15%. The plan proposed by Biden would hike the long term capital gains tax to 39.6% for certain Americans, representing the largest increase in capital gains taxes in history. Why should you be concerned? This change would make selling property much more expensive for many property owners. 

 

Under the current laws, when a property owner dies, the cost basis of the property is stepped up to current market value. This provision essentially means the current value of the property becomes the basis. For example, suppose you inherit a house that was purchased twenty years ago for $40,000 and now it’s worth $240,000. You’d receive a step up from the original cost basis from $40,000 to $240,000. If you sell the property, you will not owe any capital gains taxes. 

The good news about capital gains on real estate is that the IRS typically allows you to exclude up to: $250,000 of capital gains on real estate if you’re single and $500,000 of capital gains on real estate if you’re married and filing jointly.

In 2017, the Trump administration doubled the federal estate tax exemption and indexed it for inflation. For the 2020 tax year, the federal tax exemption allowable is $11.58 million for singles and $23.16 million for couples. As long as your estate is valued at under the exemption amount, it will not pay any federal estate taxes, and the vast majority of estates do not owe any tax. 

 

Tommy Trantham, principle and owner of Trantham’s Tax and Financial in Bamberg, S.C. is wary of any changes to the stepped-up basis” If you lose the step-up in basis, then a lot of people are going to have to sell inherited property to pay the tax,” he said. “If Biden jumps the capital gain rate to 39.6%, you will get hammered when you do sell it. I’m praying it doesn’t come to that.” 

 

Insiders speculate that the Biden administration is considering a change in the triggering event for capital gains tax to be assessed. As it stands now, capital gains tax is assessed and paid when an asset like a home or tract of land is sold for a profit. Biden’s approach would seek to classify capital gains as realized whenever an asset or property changes hands, not necessarily at the occasion of a sale. It would happen any time the title changed, meaning heirs would likely have to pay capital gains taxes of up to 39.6% whenever the home or land passes on to the next heir. 

 

A report prepared for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, the Palmetto AgriBusiness Council, South Carolina Farm Bureau and Clemson University Public Service Activities found that agriculture-related business is responsible for 9.1 percent of the economic activity in the state of South Carolina. In a small state like South Carolina, that percentage of agribusiness means a significant portion of land is used for farming.

 

This elimination of the stepped up basis and the change in triggering events for the payment of capital gains taxes would kill the agriculture industry and force family farms to sell out just to pay the taxes. To complicate matters, this tax would be in addition to an inheritance tax that could also be levied.

 

“You have to work this step up in basis with the unified credit, so there’s not going to be any estate income taxation. With the current eleven million per person exemption and the inherited property passing through at cost plus improvements versus market value at the date of death is a huge difference. If the Biden changes take effect, you’d have to sit on a property until another administration comes in and changes the rules before selling or willing it to an heir,” Trantham commented. 

 

“When you have estate income taxation, there’s not any because of the unified credit. If it was back at the one million dollar exemption where it used to be, any farmer that died, the family would have to sell the entire property to pay a tax bill. We sure don’t want to go back to those days,” he said.

 

Joe Wilson works to keep Parris Island open

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), Senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05), and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced the Parris Island Protection Act, which prohibits the use of federal funds to close or plan the closure of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. This legislation is in response to reports that the U.S. Marine Corps is considering shutting its recruit training base at Parris Island, South Carolina to meet the gender integration requirements included in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.

“I am grateful to introduce this important legislation with Congressman Ralph Norman and Congresswoman Nancy Mace, which ensures that Parris Island will not be closed,” said Congressman Wilson. “Parris Island and its facilities provide unique value to South Carolina and the Marines, and I have no doubt that it can meet the standards set forth by the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Any proposals to close the base are misguided, especially given the facility’s significant economic impact and the thousands of jobs it provides for the State of South Carolina. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the Marine Corps to ensure that Parris Island remains open.”

“For over a century, brave men and women with spirit and determination have been molded into Marines at Parris Island. With its rich history, this base is of significant importance to South Carolina, our nation, and our military,” said Congressman Norman. “As long as I serve in Congress, I will fight to preserve Parris Island and make sure it remains the preeminent training facility for the U.S. Marine Corps.” 

"Since opening over a century ago, Parris Island has served a vital role in the defense of America. Over one million brave marines have trained at the base and served our country in every conflict since World War I, including every woman who has ever served as a marine,” said Congresswoman Mace. “Parris Island is fundamental to our national defense, and I am pleased to join Congressmen Wilson and Norman to ensure it remains open to train marines for generations to come."

West Columbia’s River District Plans Busy Year for 2021

The newly revitalized West Columbia River District is making plans for a productive 2021.  

The River District Association of West Columbia (Association) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to increase the economic vitality, development, and beautification of member businesses and properties; to build networking relationships with other groups who have similar interests; and to promote historic preservation and serve the community.

With a goal of promoting business development from the public to its members, several activities are in the works to bring people to West Columbia. A benefit to members will be available in the form of cooperative advertising, allowing smaller companies to participate in ad venues that might not otherwise be affordable to them. 

 

The next membership meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, February 3rd at 8:00am at Carolina Together, 803 Meeting Street, West Columbia SC 29169. There is no charge for the breakfast at this meeting. Initiatives for the coming year will be discussed and committee assignments opened for volunteers. Business owners and interested community partners are invited to attend. Since individual breakfasts are being prepared, please RSVP to Steve Cohen at homeconceptstoo@gmail.com so that the correct number of meals will be available.

 

Regularly scheduled membership meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month. In order to give members an equal opportunity to attend, the meeting time will rotate every other month from morning to late afternoon. With a breakfast meeting in February, the March meeting will be at 5:00pm on March 3^rd.

For more information about the West Columbia River District, check out their website at www.westcolumbiariverdistrict.org. 

Lindsey Graham, the Chameleon of the Senate

Photo credit: dailywire.com

Lindsey Graham, a longtime South Carolina politician who has only recently shown his favor to true conservatives view, claims to be unhappy with this latest impeachment trial targeting former President Donald Trump. If he disagrees so strongly, why isn't he pushing for dismissal? 

On Tuesday, Graham used his still active Twitter account to publish the following statement, “I’ll try to achieve the ‘impartiality’ of @SenSchumer, @SpeakerPelosi and other leading democrats when it comes to impeachment. I’m confident I’m as impartial regarding the impeachment trial as @CillizzaCNN is in covering the news and Republicans!”

 

If Trump is no longer president, what’s the purpose in proceeding with an impeachment trial in the Senate? First, we have to understand what impeachment is and the possible outcomes of an impeachment charge and trial. 

 

Impeachment is a process used to charge, try and remove a public official for misconduct while in office. The power of impeachment is a constitutional power belonging to Congress. In impeachment proceedings, the defendant does not risk forfeiture of life, liberty, or property. According to the United States Constitution, the only penalties allowed to be imposed by the Senate are removal from office and disqualification from holding any federal office in the future. After removal from office, the removed person may be open to criminal prosecution for the actions that brought on the impeachment. 

 

Trump can’t be removed from office, as he is now a private citizen. The clear desire of those pushing for this trial is to disgrace Trump in the public eye and prevent him from ever holding a federal public office again. It’s not enough for Trump to be out of office – he must be destroyed and prevented from coming back in the 2024 election. 

 

Proceeding with the trial at all is a waste of legislative time and purpose. There are many pressing issues for the nation, but this trial of retaliation will go forward on February 8^th. 

 

Graham’s stock went up with the conservative base when he made an impassioned speech at the 2018 Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing for his ultimate appointment to the United States Supreme Court. “What you want to do is destroy this guy’s life and hope you win in 2020. You’ve said that. This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics. Boy, y’all want power. I hope you never get it.”

 

Conservatives everywhere cheered his sudden show of passion and firm stance for a Republican court nominee. Yet three years later, and immediately following a razor thin victory over Democrat candidate Jamie Harrison’s challenge to his own Senate seat, Graham offers effusive congratulations to Harrison for being named chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). 

 

"Congratulations to @harrisonjaime for being selected as Chair of the @DNC," Graham said in a tweet. "This is a big honor and I’m confident he will do a good job representing the Democratic cause. Jaime will be a formidable opponent." 

 

When multiple allegations of election fraud were made regarding the 2020 election, Graham told The State newspaper that, “Trump and his allies must stop pushing claims that widespread voter fraud stole the election for President-elect Biden.” However, he donated $500,000 to Trump’s legal efforts in mounting election result challenges in several key states. 

 

South Carolina 2020 real estate market is a record year

COLUMBIA (Jan. 27) -- South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) today released its December 2020 statewide real estate market data and its 2020 annual market report and video. The data show a record-breaking year despite the pandemic.

 

"Because SCR fought for real estate to be deemed an essential service, REALTORS® were able to continue to work for homeowners throughout an unprecedented time, said Morris Lyles, SCR 2021 president and Realtor® at ERA Wilder in Columbia.

Realtors® closed out December with a 20% increase in closed sales, an increase in median sales price of 13%, and 40% less inventory compared to December 2019.

In examining the annual market report, pending sales increased 5%, finishing 2020 at 104,998. Closed sales were up 2.4% to end the year at 101,500. Hilton Head, Beaufort, Charleston, Greenwood and Aiken led the state in closed sales.

“101,500. That number represents the total of closed transactions for 2020. That's the highest ever recorded for South Carolina,” said SCR CEO Nick Kremydas.

Comparing 2020 to the prior year, the number of homes available for sale was lower by 36.8%. There were 16,840 active listings at the end of 2020. New listings decreased by 6% to finish the year at 118,667.

 

Inventory was an issue throughout the year, with only 16,840 homes currently for sale in South Carolina. That is a 37% drop from 2019 and 50% less inventory than what was available 2016.

 

Home prices were up compared to last year. The overall median sales price increased 12% to $245,000 for the year. Single family home prices were up 12.6% compared to last year, and condo home prices were up 12%.

 

Sellers received, on average, 98% of their original list price at sale, a year-over-year improvement of 0.6 percent.

 

Some trends including inventory shortages and buyer demand are expected to continue into 2021. 

 

Up-to-date and archived reports are available at screaltors.org/marketreports.