Re: "There's almost 40 billion dollars in internet connectivity and they never connected anybody to the internet."

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five territories participating in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program have approved Internet for All plans. NTIA approval means all 56 states and territories are taking the next steps to request access to their allocated BEAD funding and select the providers who will build and upgrade the high-speed Internet networks of the future.

For the State of Tennessee,

The Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program is a federal initiative administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Adminstration (NTIA). Through this program, Tennessee has been given $813,319,680.22 to expand high-speed internet access through infrastructure and adoption programs.

I guess it's up to the states (locals) to implement the distribution of internet throughout the state.

Re: "Ten million dollars for circumcisions."

Right out of the 100 minute speech by the president on March 4, 2025.

The $10 million contract for "male circumcision," for example, funds HIV/AIDS prevention in Mozambique, which has one of the world’s highest rates of HIV infection. Based on research, the World Health Organization has for several years identified voluntary circumcision as a low-cost but highly effective form of HIV/AIDS prevention.

The procedure can reduce the likelihood of contracting HIV by as much as 60%, studies found. Trump has not always opposed such funding; between 2007 and the end of 2023, PEPFAR, or the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, supported over 32.5 million circumcisions, including in Trump’s first term.

Rep. Tim Burchett to host telephone town hall, after party leaders urge against in-person meetings

(link...)

Credit: C-SPAN
Author: WBIR Staff
Published: 8:48 PM EDT April 1, 2025
Updated: 8:48 PM EDT April 1, 2025
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Republican Representative Tim Burchett, from Tennessee, said he is planning to host a telephone town hall soon. It's set for Monday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m., after marking the 100th day of the 119th United States Congress. Anyone interested in participating can register for the town hall here.

RSVP registration will end on April 10 at 5 p.m., according to a newsletter from Burchett's office.

On March 4, Burchett's office said he didn't plan on hosting any upcoming town halls. Republican leadership has urged lawmakers not to have in-person town hall meetings after such meetings have resulted in condemnation and clashes between representatives and constituents.

On March 21, the Knox County Democratic Party and Indivisible Knoxville hosted an "Empty Chair Town Hall" event, meant to give the Knox County community a chance to vent frustrations over recent decisions by the Trump administration and the region's federal lawmakers.

The event was primarily directed at Burchett. According to a release, constituents at the event condemned Burchett's vote to approve a federal funding bill that would lead to cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP while increasing the federal deficit, after he said he received a call from President Donald Trump.

Organizers for the "Empty Chair Town Hall" event said they invited Burchett, Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn and Republican Senator Bill Hagerty but none appeared for the event. State Democratic Representatives Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) and Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) appeared at it.

His office said he could not attend the "Empty Chair Town Hall" event because "due to high demand, we’re unable to accommodate every privately-organized event invitation. The Congressman’s calendar books up weeks - sometimes months - in advance."

According to a press release, at least 300 people were estimated to have participated.