Tag: Stephen Joncus

13-45 Battle Lines Have Been Drawn | Oregon Censorship Lawsuit Filed

13-45 Battle Lines Have Been Drawn | Oregon Censorship Lawsuit Filed

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Show 13-45 Summary: A split show this week. First up, we talk about the battle to get School Choice in Oregon on the November 2024 ballot. There’s been some confusion out there about the funding and how the typical strings-attached could impact home schoolers. Except that is not the case in this case. Find out why. But the bulk of the show is discussing the Oregon censorship lawsuit just filed this week. We bring on the lawyer in the case to discuss why it was brought. And what was so incendiary in Oregon’s “election disinformation” surveillance system. Don’t miss the state’s response to some Republican senators who dared question the state. The war is on.

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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: Nov 11th & 12th, 2023 | Guests: Donna Kreitzberg and Stephen Joncus

This Week – In the Trenches

There was a flurry of letters this week as opposing sides squared off over our 1st Amendment rights and, what many feel, is Oregon’s government attack on its own citizens. And from an office no less, that is the supposed to be the defender of Oregonians’ rights—the Secretary of State.

Two weeks ago, we brought you the shocking story of the Secretary of State seeking to hire an AI firm to track, monitor, and report anything the SoS Office deems “mis-, dis-, or mal-information” about the elections. (See Show 13-43, “Oregon’s New Surveillance System to Track, Censor “Election “Disinformation.”) The RFP they posted sought an Orwellian tech company that would surveil social media, websites, blogs, podcasts, and even radio broadcasts.

As we continue to cover this developing fight to protect our rights, there have been some breaking news items as the Secretary of State rightly felt the heat. Among the developments are a new lawsuit filed in federal court, thanks in large part to I Spy listeners’ multiple donations and generosity.  A big thank you to all who donated to make this legal defense of our First Amendment possible.

Also, the Republican Senators and Representatives sent a letter to the Secretary of State, admonishing the government’s actions and demanding that they stop.  But, not surprisingly, the government effectively responded with “It’s no big deal, we’re just monitoring.  And oh by the way we did the same in 2022 and see, no big deal. Plus, other states are doing it too.”

Great way to build trust, Oregon.

This week, we take a look at the legal issues behind this horrible idea.

Questions about School Choice Funding and Regulations

Map: Astounding Home Schooling Student Enrollment Increases by State, via Washington Post
Click map for full size

But first up we bring on Donna Kreitzberg to bring us a quick update on the hard work to get school choice  on the November 2024 ballot. I Spy Radio has fielded a lot of questions about the funding mechanism for this ballot initiative. Why? Because we have smart listeners. And people know that whenever there is government funding, there are strings attached. So wouldn’t that mean that stay-at-home parents who home school their children will be facing regulations tied to that funding?

The short answer is no. Not in this case.

Because we really dig deep into how Education Freedom for Oregon’s ballot initiative specifically protects against that. It will add an amendment to Oregon’s constitution that protects the choices parents make about their children’s schools.

That constitutional amendment ensures the funding attached to the children does not open the door to government regulations. This is especially true for home schooling — parents choices will be protected and puts a firewall between parents and government regulation. And that will keep government out of the classroom.

Have you signed the school choice ballot initiative petitions? You can download a single-signature petition or a petition with room for ten signatures. Head here to get your petitions and be part of the solution! Be sure to sign both of the ballot initiatives.

Note: there is a third school choice ballot initiative being floated by lobbyists that would not protect parents and home schoolers. In fact, it will almost likely inadvertently open the door to it and even religious based private schools.

Lawsuit to Block Oregon’s Free Speech Surveillance System

Then we welcome Oregon attorney Stephen Joncus, who filed the Oregon censorship lawsuit suing Governor Kotek, Secretary of State Griffen-Valade, and Elections Director, Woon. We discuss the impact the surveillance would have on Oregonians, the destruction of our privacy, and the suit’s request to put a halt to this contract.

Tune in to hear about the Oregon censorship lawsuit, why it was filed, what was so wrong with the State’s RFP for

To nutshell things, the entire problem is the State operates behind closed doors and is doing its best to keep it that way. They sue people who want to look. Or ask for access to public databases. They keep things behind a wall of secrecy, and now they want to block and control communication and discussion about a situation they have kept hidden. And then wonder why people question the integrity of the elections. And will attack anyone who does questions — to paint them with the Yellow Star of “disinformation.”

Read the Oregon censorship lawsuit, Thielman, et al. v. Kotek, the letter from GOP legislators demanding the SoS cease and desist, and the Secretary of State’s response to the legislators about their Orwellian RFP. As we predicted, it’s “Oh, we’re not really stopping free speech.” Sure. Threats don’t have a chilling effect on speech, does it Oregon?

Where are the democrats in all this? U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is against the government monitoring its citizens. So where are other democrats? Unless you speak out against censorship, you’re for it.

And, oh, by the way, it turns out there’s already another surveillance system already in place. That was news to us too. Don’t miss this important show!

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

School Choice Segments

Oregon Censorship Lawsuit Segments

I Spy Radio Show
Oregon’s 2022 Primary | Spoiled Ballots and No Freedom of Information

Oregon’s 2022 Primary | Spoiled Ballots and No Freedom of Information

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Show Summary: For those who think election fraud didn’t and couldn’t happen, along came Oregon to prove them wrong. Washington County sues a voter to prevent the release of a database; and spoiled ballots in Clackamas. We talk with attorney Stephen Joncus about Washington county suing a voter to prevent the release of a database. And with Don Powers about suspicious spoiled ballots

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of June 2021
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

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: May 28, 2022 | Guests: Stephen Joncus & Don Powers

This Week – Oregon’s Primary and the Suspicions the Followed

After a much-needed break last week, we’re back at it this week, taking a hard look at two examples right here in Oregon that should make everyone question the integrity of our elections. First up, Washington County, which is suing a voter for asking for public data. Because of course elections that are above board and honest, naturally sue voters to stop the release of public data.

Then its the mess in Clackamas County that has even democrats questioning what is going on with tens of thousands of spoiled ballots.

Stephen Joncus: the FOIA Lawsuit Against a Voter, Tim Sipple

When you’ve got nothing to hide, because the election was honest and above board, what’s a county got to do to prove it? Why, sue a voter who asked for public database.

As absurd as it sounds, and as counterproductive as it is to developing trust in our elections systems, that’s exactly what Washington County is doing. Suing a voter. For asking for a database. And not even the database, the actual 2020 election database. No, this is a test database.

Keep in mind, a database is a list of numbers and text. That’s it. Why would you keep a database, a test database, secret? And so secret that you’re willing to sue a voter. And not just sue them but threaten them with forcing them to pay your legal expenses. Oh. And the State of Oregon decided to join in. And also threaten them with their legal expenses too.

See how all these suspicions just keep growing?

Does Oregon really think this is the way to gain trust in its elections? Because it doesn’t take a genius to know their actions are the opposite of trust.

Don Powers: Suspicious Spoiled Ballots in Clackamas County

As if Washington County aren’t enough suspicions, we’ve got spoiled ballots in Clackamas.

A printer they had used for over 10 years is being blamed for a printing error that caused a white line to run through some of the ballots’ security barcode. Hence, the spoiled ballots.

Odd that it happened just after the printer had been bought by an out-of-state buyer. There may be nothing there, but the timing does get one’s suspicions up.

But why is it that the printer’s scanner works fine but the county’s does not? And why is it that the county initially misled the public about the extent of it. It went from “Oh, it’s just a few” to “There are tens of thousands of spoiled ballots” over a few days.

And why did the county decide to have county county workers fill in new ballots? Why not simply count the ballots by hand and manually mark them as counted?

And why did observers of the count witness county workers changing votes?

So many suspicions. So many questions about these spoiled ballots. We talk with Don Powers, co-chair of the ORP’s election integrity committee, to try to get some answers. We’ll have Don back next week to continue the discussion because there were even some more issues that we just ran of time.

Be sure to check out cleanvoterrolls.com

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

  • It’s a database. Excel vs SQL (via mooc.org)
  • Documents in the Tim Sipple case via his attorney, Stephen Joncus:
    • Clear Ballot Contract (PDF)
    • Feb 15, 2022 Order Washington County DA (PDF)
    • April 5, 2022 Corrected Opposition to Motion to Intervene (PDF)
  • The new site Don Powers mentioned is t cleanvoterrolls.com