9,679,764 SARS-COV-2 cases worldwide with a total of 491,095 deaths. The USA has 2,444,488 cases with 124,897 deaths. Alabama tops the scales at 33,717 cases. Baldwin County seems suspiciously COVID-19 free-ish. The White House CoronaVirus Taskforce had a press conference today for the first time in months in response to the resurgence of new cases around the Country (Florida and Texas in particular). Fairhope City Hall closed yesterday when it was discovered a staff member who attended the City Council Meeting this week was positive for COVID-19 and potentially infected others. Responsibility, Fairhope and other municipalities in the area have canceled 4th of July fireworks. The SEC and NCAA demand the State of Mississippi remove the confederate battle flag from being displayed as a portion of their state flag; Capt. Raines, as a native, weighs in. We watch Matthew McConaughey have an uncomfortable conversion that launches us into such a nebulous argument that it led to the discussion of not releasing this video, but in the end it is an honest disagreement based on race, history, bias of positions, and perception. According to cited sources 1,000 people are killed at the hands of law enforcement each year when being taken into custody. Of these 25 % are black (African American) when this demographic only represents 13% of the population. But take into consideration that his demographic also commits 50% of all violent crime….we disagree, enough said (See Time Magazine, John McWorter assoc prof of English at Columbia University). We watch a police video from Dallas, Texas of Tony Timpa’s death (a mental patient who called the police for help). No malice on the part of law enforcement here, just a complete lack of training in this area of interaction. And then we go back to Ferguson, Missouri related to the death of Michael Brown and hear from Officer Darren Wilson, the only person left alive to tell the tale. In the meantime, monuments and statues are going on the bonfire. Teddy Roosevelt is too controversial for New Your City and protesters were “shooed away” after trying to topple Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square in Washington D.C. Columbus is in the cross-hairs, even though one of the most famous black (African American) intellectuals in the world, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, believes that the discovery of the new world and the reunification of the “People of the America’s” with the rest of the world was “the most important thing to happen to our species in recorded history”. And we give you a little backstory on how Andrew Jackson’s treaty of Ft. Jackson with the Creek “Redsticks”, after the Fort Mims massacre (1813 Baldwin County, Alabama), ceded lands to the Whitesticks (allies of the US) which is the site of the Poarch Creek Indians (PCI) Gaming’s Wind Creek Casino. During the Pensacola Campaign, General Jackson and Mrs. Rachel Jackson stayed at Montpelier for three months, the plantation home of James Manual Earle in North Baldwin County. He also gave his famous speech rallying his troops from “Jackson Oak” at the now abandoned settlement of Blakely, Baldwin County, Alabama which is a National Historic Site.

Backstory Podcast

Backstory Podcast # 42 Resurgence

8.5 Million SARS-COV-2 cases Worldwide, with 2,215,000 cases in the USA, 119,000 deaths and Baldwin County still must not be testing widely because our numbers remain incredibly low with neighboring Florida predicted as the new epicenter for infections. The movement that we have seen across the country in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement has led to protest across this country for weeks, clashes with law enforcement, looting, vandalism, arson, and the removal of public statues depicting Confederate “soldiers, statesmen, or collaborators”. Rayshard Brooks was killed this past week by Atlanta Police Officers resulting in said officers being charged and the Chief of Police resigning. Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, and the State of Mississippi flag are all on the chopping block. We know how to get Mississippi to change, hold college football to ransom! Also portraits of former Speakers of the US House of Representatives have been taken down at the capital because of their affiliation at some point with “The Confederacy”. Former Governor Don Siegleman was in Fairhope last night at a book signing. We went and will fill you in. Please go check out the documentary “Atticus and the Architect” about the prosecution. Fairhope controversies continue, shocker. A new power plant, a new Baldwin County Jail, a new Justice Center in Bay Minette, all during a time of uncertain economic times. And if you want to throw a statue in the Alabama River we suggest Dr. J. Marion Sims, the father of gynecology who experimented on enslaved Americans without anesthesia; We’ll carry the feet, you get the head.

Backstory Podcast # 41 Unforeseeable

7.5 Million SARS-COV-2 cases Worldwide, with 2,042,000 cases in the USA, 115,000 deaths and Baldwin County sees an uptick of 50 cases since last week. Complaints were delivered last week to the Alabama Ethics Commission regarding alleged improper purchases and self dealings related to several Board Members and staff at North Baldwin Utilities. These purchases were justified, just like the Mega-Site purchase, under the guise of economic development. We play “Ethics Jeopardy”, poorly. The movement that we have seen across the country in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement has led to protests across this nation for weeks: clashes with law enforcement, looting, vandalism, arson, and the removal of public statues depicting Confederate “soldiers, statesmen, or collaborators”. We have a frank discussion about race, the movement, the changes we have seen that we like and the absolute untenable demands of some of the protesters (or those who allegedly speak for them). Auburn University, Birmingham, Mobile and the US Military are discussing changes to the names of buildings, removal of statues, and even an asinine demand that we “abolish or defund” the police. WE agree that police policies need to be reformed and discuss the militarization of local law enforcement, as a negative result of the hero worship culture that has been put forward; the Police are not the Military and should not be armed as such. Raines and Harry discuss the preconceptions they had about our country being destroyed by a couple of well-intentioned Professors at Auburn and Mississippi State Universities. How many ways does the mere existence of the Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit concern you? Paul lays out the “Faux Candidates” of Catalyst. Gulf State Park still wont tell us how much money this 3rd party running the joint is costing us. Please go check out the documentary “Atticus and the Architect” about the prosecution of former Governor Don Siegleman. Jerry Carl gets a much appreciated endorsement from incumbent Congressman Bradley Byrne. We discuss "wish-list judicial reforms" or at least the concept that political contribution disclosures by our Judiciary should be on the table. We give you our take on the lessons of The Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement (a tragic turning point), and what this current movement means for our Constitutional Republic moving forward.

Backstory Podcast #40 Ethics Complaints

The SARS-COV-2 pandemic ravages the world with 6,804,044 cases- 1,909,077 in the US with 18,000 cases in Alabama and 300 in Baldwin County. This crisis has taken a backseat to the current protests and outrage at the death of George Floyd at the hands of Law Enforcement. This 8:46 Murder- caught on video- was the spark that ignited outrage across the USA from the Black Lives Matter movement and by non-traditinal protesters on this issue (white people). It’s complicated but if you aren't outraged that a fellow citizen was choked to death with his hands cuffed behind his back, please go elsewhere. The militarization of the police forces in this country is one issue, where we believe, a bad policy decision led us to where we are today. We also advocate for reform of the position of Sheriff in Alabama following the Maryland Model whereby the Sheriff is relegated to a glorified jailer (immunity in tact for good reason) with the County hiring a professional police force (THAT DOES NOT HAVE IMMUNITY). After filing an Ethics Complaint against the Sheriff Huey Mack (CEO of Mack Funeral Home), Harry’s courthouse security pass was reinstated. The removal of Admiral Semmes statue in Mobile discussed as well as the man’s legacy to Naval Warfare (video at the end of podcast). Raines nurses a hangover as he tells us about the protests he has been to in Houston. The Co-option of:1) the term and Flag of the Revolutionary War “dont tread on me” by the Tea Party, 2) the Confederate battle flag by white supremacists, and 3) the Good Ole Boy System by Catalyst here in Baldwin County. We mourn the death of Moody Police Sgt. Stephen Williams who died in the line of duty this week (Harry’s co-worker at the City of Alabaster). The Auburn Family mourns the loss of Coach Pat Dye, a good man and role model that should all aspire to emulate. Paul’s trip to the Fairhope City Council meeting (for an explanation of the total goat-f*&! That is the McSharry assault prosecution) goes viral. Tropical Storm Cristobol is heading to NOLA but we are on the “bad side” of the tropical rotation, plan for 5 days of constant rain and wind. Former Secretary of Defense and Marine General James Norman Maddis (Mad-Dog) expressed his outrage at President Trump’s leadership during this time of crisis. Go check it out in The Atlantic. Using tear gas on peaceful protesters for a photo op…..Former US Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions was in town this week stumping for his old Senate seat and had his picture-took with DA Robert Wilters, Bay Minette Police Chief Al Tolbert and PD Mayor Robert Wills (talk about the wrong stuff, photo enclosed). The Backstory Turkey Take-out is none other than former Baldwin County Commissioner and “Strawman” Tucker Dorsey. There is a new lawsuit against his handlers Bass and Delaney related to the Bellaton Development on 181 in Daphne, allegations of fraud and all the other crap you’d expect. Movie suggestions, personal stories, indian pottery, Beretta shotguns, and much, much more.

Backstory Podcast #39 The Catalyst Effect

5,851,494 SARS-COV-2 infections world-wide, 1,720,0000 in the USA with 16,554 in Alabama with 281 cases in Baldwin County, Alabama. The CDC says antibody tests are at best 50/50. The Bully Pulpit as coined by President Teddy Roosevelt, meant "the best" or "greatest"; time has not been kind to the term "BULLY" and we have some prime examples. President Donald J Trump has taken to Twitter and made some questionable comments to say the least. Suggesting that former Republican Congress Joe Scarborough (R-Pensacola, Florida) killed one of his staff members, regardless of the evidence to the contrary. When flagged by Twitter he responds with an Executive Order related to censorship on social media platforms. Bully. Mr. Ripp attended the Fairhope Council Meeting and the Bully Catalyst Council was on full display. Mr. Ripp was advocating for Paula DiNardi, the victim of an assault case at the hands of local Irish Pub owner Ronan McSharry, the case was tossed by Circuit Judge Clark Stankoski. The City Prosecutor "mansplained" to Mayor Karen Wilson that he has nothing to account for to the People, Ms. DiNardi, nor to her. Locally Sheriff Huey Mack (as a petty retaliation for Paul Ripp dragging him into court by his ear) has suspended Mr. Still's security pass to the Courthouse over some suspicious photography activity that Mr. Still explained to the Courthouse Security Committee; who have refused to buck the Sheriff. This is the second since the Podcast started that the Sheriff has employed this tactic but this time Mr. Still is not allowed to take any electronic devices into the Courthouse. Bully. An addendum has been filed to the Judicial Inquiry Commission Complaint filed against Circuit Judge Joseph Norton with some interesting diagrams that purport to demonstrate several conflicts of interest in his hearing the Bass v. Baldwin County Sewer Service (Burke, Delaney, Pennstar, ect, ect, ad nauseum). Strawman Dorsey, Taxman Elliott, and a menagerie of other Catalyst players in this episode.

Backstory Podcast #38 The Bully Pulpit

I am asking the Committee to immediately reinstate my Courthouse Security Pass. This is completely retaliatory, unethical, and unacceptable to me as a member of the Bar and a citizen of this County.

An Open E Message To The Baldwin County Courthouse Security Committee

Paul Ripp goes to the Fairhope City Council Meeting to get some answers surrounding the alleged mishandling of the case detailed below. As you will see the wagons circle, adults are told they don't understand plain language, and the Council- when cornered- adjourn the meeting. The idea that something like this is going on should make you go to the meeting next time to advocate for the victims. If you are a resident of Fairhope, you are a victim of this miscarriage of justice as well. You paid good money for it. MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — The assault charge against Ronan McSharry, owner of McSharry’s Irish Pub in Fairhope, has been dismissed by a Baldwin County Circuit Judge. On Thanksgiving Day 2018, McSharry was accused of pushing a Fairhope woman off a barstool at a different Fairhope establishment. The victim in the case was alleged to have suffered a concussion from the incident. McSharry was convicted of Assault 3rd degree in Fairhope Municipal Court in April of 2019. He appealed that conviction. During the appeal, defense attorney John Beck filed a motion to dismiss the charge because the complaint “does not charge an essential element of the charge of Assault in the Third Degree.” The complaint, as originally filed in Fairhope Municipal Court, reads as follows: OFFENDER, RONAN FRANCIS MCSHARRY, DID, WITH INTENT TO CAUSE PHYSICAL INJURY TO ANOTHER PERSON, TO WIT: PAULA DINARDI, BY PUSHING HER IN THE CHEST AGGRESSIVELY AND PUSHING HER OFF HER BAR STOOL. THESE EVENTS OCCURRED IN THE POLICE JURISDICTION OF FAIRHOPE, AL. The Alabama definition of Assault in the Third Degree states: A person commits the crime of assault in the third degree if: (i)With intent to cause physical injury to another person, he causes physical injury to any person Beck argued in the filing that because the complaint doesn’t allege that an injury happened, the charge should be dismissed. McSharrys attorney filed the motion to dismiss on January 7, 2020, but the response wasn’t filed by Fairhope’s attorney Marcus McDowell until January 22, 2020. On the same day, McDowell also filed a motion to amend the complaint to correct the alleged error, that motion was denied and the case was dismissed by Baldwin County Circuit Judge Clark Stankoski on March 27. Attorneys are given seven days to file responses to motions, according to the Alabama Rules for Criminal Procedures. John Beck tells NBC 15 that the one-year statute of limitations on misdemeanors had also passed by the time the motion to amend the complaint was filed. Court records indicate that on two separate occasions, the Fairhope City prosecutor failed to file paperwork with the court within the legally allowed timeframe. An appeal filed by Fairhope to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals challenging the dismissal wasn’t filed until April 17, 2020. The appeals court denied that appeal request. McSharry still faces a public intoxication charge.

City Of Fairhope City Council Meeting May 28, 2020

By Jeff Burlew Tallahassee Democrat Posted Mar 18, 2020 at 1:57 PM An FBI agent checking out a complaint about police corruption in Franklin County ended up handcuffed in the back seat of a patrol car after running into deputies who doubted his true identity. The ordeal unfolded after Special Agent Alexis Hatten traveled from Panama City to Carrabelle to ask about a citation the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office gave to a prominent businesswoman but later pulled back from the courthouse. It escalated into a roadside confrontation — all caught on bodycam video —between Hatten and the deputies. During the six minutes Hatten spent locked in the cruiser, he cried out for cool air and demanded to be released. “I can’t believe this is happening,” the veteran FBI agent said. “You think this is funny, but it won’t be funny after today.”

Backstory Podcast Solo #2 Local Law Enforcement (Franklin Co. Florida)

5,154,492 SARS-COV-2 cases Worldwide- 1,610,000 in the US- 13,418 in Alabama- 270 in Baldwin County. Hydroxychloroquine revelations from the White House. Acute Kidney Injury resulting from COVID-19. Logic applied to Wuhan geography. Speaking of plagues we wish we could get rid of, Huey Mack has been named the 4th most powerful local government elected official according to the YellowHammer News. ADEM and AG Marshall sue Fairhope for violation of the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act (will cost millions, too bad they blew it on some land by the airport). Possible State and Local deficits due to Emergency shut-down. Raines says the F word, we watch a cool video montage, we discuss Scrushy-Seigleman, the Balch and Bingham firm featuring Big-Wig Birmingham executives and a for-sale State Rep related to a refusal of the AG to turn over records related to their prosecution (from some years ago) under the Alabama Open Records Act. McSharry slips the noose, for good (assault of a woman captured on video). Who will speak for Paula DiNardi? Paul Ripp has asked every level of law enforcement in this State and the Federal Authorities to look into this case. No response. Busy cracking a cell phone at NAS Pensacola to verify what we already knew.

Backstory Podcast # 37 Accountability (e)

No Representation is made that the quality of legal services to be preformed is greater than the legal services provided by other lawyers. The Southwest Alabama Police Academy was a fixture in our small town of Bay Minette in Baldwin County, Alabama. You are about to hear an unbelievable tale of political co-option of the system and our local loss of the Southwest Alabama Police Academy at Faulkner State Community College (now Coastal Alabama CC). So to quote some Raines Rushin: CUI BONO? Literally meaning "who benefits?," cui bono? is a rhetorical Latin legal phrase used to imply that whoever appears to have the most to gain from a crime is probably the culprit. The participants: District Attorney David Whetstone, District Attorney Judy Newcomb, ADA (now State Rep.) Matt Simpson, Sheriff Huey Mack, Executive Secretary of the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission: Chief Alan Benefield (Chief of what I have no idea) and let's not forget the Examiners of Public Accounts who never in 20-odd-years audited this place before the 2003 investigation. And at the time Congressman Byrne was making his bones cleaning up the 2 year college system and this was a part of that cleanse, as Rep. Simpson can surely attest (ADA who prosecuted Mrs. Vines). Interestingly, the defense raised eyebrows at the fact this career bean-counter at the Examiners of Public Accounts suddenly became the CFO at Bishop State Community College. These are the stories that we know and are going to continue to tell. From the source. Mr. Davis and Mrs. Vines did a very brave thing to come on here and speak truth about powerful people. I hope you will thank them if you ever have the pleasure to meet such a fine lady and gentleman. What a DAMN Tragedy.

Backstory Podcast Solo #1 Southwest Alabama Police Academy (SWAPA)

4.5 Million SARS-COV-2 cases worldwide with 1,442,924 in the United States of that 11,216 in Alabama and 244 in Baldwin County (with 8 deaths). The Ripp Report: Catalyst Baggage, The US Supreme Court this week took up 11 cases on Writs of Cert: requests for the court to accept 11 cases arising from lower court decisions involving plaintiffs seeking redress for violations of their civil rights. In 10 of the cases — in all but one, the government defendants were in law enforcement — the civil rights claims were dismissed because courts granted the defendants qualified immunity. In one case the courts denied immunity. Additionally- Wisconsin Supreme Court rules their Governor can’t maintain his stay at home order, over the top judicial activism. Alabama SB 161 use of Cares Act (Sen Doug Jones burns his time asking questions about safeguarding the Cares Act Money from his home legislature), farmers are destroying pigs because there are not workers at the slaughterhouses, University of West Florida Staff member has Covid-19, Auburn says it will have football and class as usual, Joe Rogan moving to Texas? Who cares? Rep. Dan Crenshaw (Will Ainsworth tweeted at Tesla this week as well after Elon says he’s leaving California if they don’t open up), Sen Richard Burr (R-NC) resigned from his position as the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee when it was revealed he was the subject of an FBI investigation into insider trading related to information he used to profit before Sars-Cov-2 was announced as a National Public Health Emergency (think what would Paul Hubbard do?), Mississippi casinos open May 21, Gadsden State is getting back to class, 401 new cases on Thursday May 14 2020, highest number of cases reported in one day in Alabama. Please follow the link in the comments to Backstory Podcast Solos #1 SWAPA (an unbelievable co-option of the system). Category

Backstory Podcast # 36 Immunity

New SARS-COV-2 numbers top 3,935,000 worldwide, with 1,282,000 in the United States- 9,375 in Alabama- 205 Cases in are Baldwin County as of May 8, 2020. Alabama's trajectory does not meet the CDC gating requirements. Ripp v. Mack (Sheriff of Baldwin County) Petition Denied (details below), Governor Ivey announces an extension of the "Safer At Home Order" with relief for close contact services and restaurants (with restrictions on social distancing). The Governor can't yet visit her classmates at the nursing home. The importance of contrarians. Be your own filter when it comes to the news you ingest, especially when you read about Michael Flynn getting off the hook with the US Department of Justice.

Backstory Podcast #35 Contrarians

Raines Rushin interviews Paul Ripp regarding the petition he filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus compelling the Sheriff of Baldwin County, Alabama, Huey Mack, to enforce Governor Ivey's "Safer At Home Order".

Backstory Podcast Special- Writ Of Mandamus (Ripp V. Mack)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPnrB4P1WP4

Backstory Podcast #34 Safer At Home

Our Heros Edition (Li Wenliang RIP, Jack Wilson, Capt. Brett Crozier, Commissioner Omari Hardy) It takes courage and fortitude to act when others will not, be-damned the consequences. Covid-19 in Alabama in one month has gone from 242 on March 24, 2020 to 5,832 as of April 24,2020. Baldwin County now has 143 cases. A new condition has presented as a result of having the SARS-COV-2 infection: Corona Toes (images inside). Ripp sends a letter to the DA regarding the McSharry dismissal. Earth Day, Oil Consumption, and be sure to load up on UV rays and Lysol they kill the virus in the body in seconds (oh wait that's "not factual" just like hydroxychloroquine).