Podcast appearances and mentions of Paul Vallas

Chicago Way w/John Kass (05/05/25): This week, former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools (1995-2001) & candidate for mayor, Paul Vallas joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin with a look at how Governor JB ‘Master Oligarch of Illinois’ Pritzker is doing running the state and shares a stories about being brought before the him to […]

0:00 - Chris Krock fills in for Dan 13:19 - The Great Disintegration: Parking Scam at The Rate 25:05 - Hands off! 29:51 - 50 countries have already reached out to President Trump 49:41 - Ald Brian Hopkins defends the proposed 8pm curfew as "a small step in the right direction" For more on Ald Hopkins work for the 2nd ward aldermanhopkins.com 01:09:33 - Steven Bucci, visiting fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, believes Iran is the "key" to instability in the Middle East and explains what should be done until Iran is prepared to shut down the Houthis 01:25:52 - Vice President of Lending of Team Hochberg at Homeside Financial, David Hochberg, breaks down the Illinois SmartBuy program which pays off student loans for new and repeating home buyers in Illinois - “I don’t know where they get all this money to do all these programs” Buy a home or refinance with David 56david.com 01:43:33 - Richard Porter, former National Committeeman to the RNC from Illinois: Trump’s Multipronged Tariff Strategy 02:03:12 - Paul Vallas, policy advisor for IllinoisPolicy.org, former candidate for mayor and former CEO of CPS, weighs in on the new CPS/CTU contract. Follow Paul on X @PaulVallasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zelensky needs to make public apology 14:55- Zelensky/Ukraine continued 35:06- Rahm not done yet 53:13- Former First Deputy National Security Advisor to President Trump, KT McFarland: Ukraine is not winning the war, Ukraine is losing the war and will continue to lose the war Check out KT’s book Revolution: Trump, Washington and "We the People" 1:11:38- In-depth History with Frank from Arlington Heights 1:14:10- BLM Brandon's big hearing tomorrow 1:31:30- President at Wirepoints, Ted Dabrowksi, uses Illinois as prime example for why a "refocusing" of Medicaid is needed Check out Ted’s latest wirepoints.org 1:48:16- Carol Roth, entrepreneur and author of You Will Own Nothing: Your War with a New Financial World Order and How to Fight Back, on DOGE, tariffs and first dates at the Cheesecake Factory Check out Carol’s free economic newsletter carolroth.com/NEWS 2:09:25- Paul Vallas, policy advisor for IllinoisPolicy.org, former candidate for mayor and former CEO of CPS: The pathway to balancing the city's budget is through the public schools Follow Paul on X @PaulVallasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

0:00 - It’s official. Congress certifies Trump’s victory 13:13 - Trudeau is OUT 28:14 - Biden bitter to the end 47:03 - Eddie Arana, author of Ice Water Please: My Life As a Proud Alcoholic And a Formula to Help One Person Stop Drinking Forever, offers advice for those attempting "Dry January" 01:04:46 - State Sen Chris Miller explains why Illinois now supports insurance coverage for pap smears for men and prostate exams for women. For more on Chris’ work for district 101 repcmiller.com 01:24:29 - President at Wirepoints, Ted Dabrowski: Illinois population gains 68,000 in 2024 due to migrant tidal wave. Get Ted’s latest at wirepoints.org 01:37:03 - Paul Vallas, policy advisor for IllinoisPolicy.org, former candidate for mayor and former CEO of CPS: "only 54% of the money that goes to the schools finds it's way into the schools" 01:55:54 - Paul stays on to take your calls See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Vallas of the Illinois Policy Institute joins Bret Gogoel on Springfield's Morning News to discuss state economy, Pedro Martinez, the Chicago School Board budget circumstance, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday October 4th mass resignations from the CPS school board rocked Chicago's political landscape. Then on Monday October 7th, Mayor Brandon Johnson's made a quick turnaround to appoint new board members.   During this episode of the Crisis Cast municipal finance expert Paul Vallas joins Lissa & Thom to offer perspective and a dose of reality on the CPS turmoil. There have been months of strife between Mayor Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union, and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez over how to address the school system's fiscal cliff. Is there a CTU coup at play? How will this impact voters who get to choose a partially elected board for the first time?

Marc Sims talks with Paul Vallas about an elected School Board and reducing neighborhood crime in Chicago Illinois. Paul Vallas is the former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. CBS 2 Black women at risk of violent crime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bui_R11UVm0

John and Joe welcome Paul Vallas to the show! Paul Vallas is best known for his innovative work in public education — as superintendent of schools in Chicago and in the all-charter school system in New Orleans — and (most recently) his impressive campaign for Mayor of Chicago (he got 48% of the vote, running against the mighty machine of the Chicago Teachers Union). Joe Klein, who has been campaigning in print against teachers unions for the better part of four decades, conducted the lion's share of the interview.

In this episode I am joined by legal expert Morgan Stinger and John Zinn to discuss the Ed Burke sentencing.  Image from Hare Brained Show Notes: Chicago Sun-Times: How much jail time should Ed Burke get? Depends on which City Council member you ask. Chicago Magazine: Paul Vallas Really Loves His Broom Chicago Sun-Times: Let's all play 'Sit in Judgment of Ed Burke' Chicago Sun-Times: Ed Burke's lawyers say he deserves acquittal or a new trial Chicago Sun-Times: Ex-Ald. Ed Burke keeps law license after most Illinois Supreme Court justices recuse themselves Chicago Sun-Times: Ex-Ald. Ed Burke retires as a lawyer after the state's highest court failed to pull his law license Chicago Sun-Times: Rod Blagojevich is disbarred Chicago Tribune: Ex-Ald. Edward Burke resigns from Union League Club, scene of key meeting in corruption case Chicago Sun-Times: Former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas urges leniency for Ed Burke, ‘whom I always felt met my standards for ethics' Chicago Sun-Times: Ed Burke is asking for a new trial — with sentencing less than 3 weeks away Chicago Sun-Times: Ed Burke deserves 10 years in prison for corruption, feds say: 'He abused and exploited his office' Neil Steinberg: To love and not to count the cost WBEZ: Chicago's once-powerful Ed Burke faces sentencing Monday, ‘very humbling' days could be ahead WTTW: U.S. Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Bribery Statute at Heart of Michael Madigan Trial Politico: Supreme Court overturns Bob McDonnell's corruption convictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Vallas joins the Steve Cochran Show to reflect on Mayor Brandon Johnson's first year in office. They delve into Mayor Johnson's approach to the migrant crisis, why the Mayor should reconsider his stance on ShotSpotter, and he grades how Mayor Johnson is handling the Chicago Public Schools. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Also in the news: Alderman calls for new CTA president; Paul Vallas criticizes Johnson, praises hiring his financial officer; Strike averted by Ascesnion nurses and more.

Also in the news: Alderman calls for new CTA president; Paul Vallas criticizes Johnson, praises hiring his financial officer; Strike averted by Ascesnion nurses and more.

Also in the news: Alderman calls for new CTA president; Paul Vallas criticizes Johnson, praises hiring his financial officer; Strike averted by Ascesnion nurses and more.

Paul Vallas pleads on Ed Burke's behalf. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson discusses the concept of sacred cows in Chicago, campus protestors and Bears stadium. As in no one wants to pay for the Bears stadium, including the Bears. Also, an explanation of how the Sun-Times treats allegations of infidelity involving Jesse Jackson, Jr and Mayor Rahm. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

0:00 - Downers Grove village board meeting – removal of Bill Nienburg   12:18 - DG Village board meeting continued    31:45 - Bill Nienburg, recently removed from the Downers Grove library board, explains why he opposed "Drag Queen Bingo" at the DG library and how this lead to his removal from the library board   49:44 - Trump trials   01:01:50 - Eric Adams says Trump jury will be fair   01:06:06 - Senior Lecturer in History & Political Science Clemson University & contributing writer for the Atlantic,  Arash Azizi:  Ordinary Iranians Don't Want a War With Israel. Arash is also the author of  What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom   01:31:05 - New NPR CEO Katherine Maher, LWV loon type   01:45:15 - James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Law & Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago, Richard A Epstein:  Why further litigation is sadly necessary on Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park 02:06:28 - Paul Vallas, policy advisor for IllinoisPolicy.org, former candidate for mayor and former CEO of CPS, breaks down the Chicago Teachers Union's contract demandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Vallas joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss the Chicago Teachers Union using students to push their agenda, the long-term effects of school closures, and he shares his insights on the Cook County state's attorney election results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rush Darwich, Bruno Behrend, Paul Vallas

A protestor with a swastika sign causes a stir in Valparaiso, Indiana; Tom, Kevin, and John spar over Joe Biden's State of the Union Address; Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene goes off on a reporter; Dolton, IL Mayor Tiffany Henyard vetoes a resolution calling for an investigation into herself; Tom announces that Shinedown will be performing at Hammond, Indiana's Festival of the Lakes on July 18; former Chicago mayoral candidate and school superintendent Paul Vallas talks with Tom and Kevin about the problems facing Chicago, Illinois, education in America, and more.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has made headlines by declaring the City of Chicago's decision to terminate its contract with ShotSpotter, a technology designed to pinpoint the location of gunfire. Paul Vallas joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss why areas equipped with ShotSpotter experience higher rates of shootings, challenges hindering prompt police response to calls, and residents' reluctance to report shootings in their neighborhoods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Vallas joined the Steve Cochran Show yesterday to dispel myths surrounding charter schools. They continue the conversation on the pros of charter schools and the importance of school choice for the kids and community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Vallas joins Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, to talk about how Mayor Johnson has mishandled the migrant issue and how he would go about making changes.

Paul Vallas joins Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, to talk about how Mayor Johnson has mishandled the migrant issue and how he would go about making changes.

Paul Vallas joins Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, to talk about how Mayor Johnson has mishandled the migrant issue and how he would go about making changes.

This coming March, the ballot box will see a vote on Bring Chicago Home, an ordinance to determine if taxes should be increased on the sale of high-end properties -- ranging from residences to office buildings, valued at $1 million or more -- in order to fund programs to battle the city's homelessness crisis. Today, host Jim Hanke speaks with guests on both sides of the issue: Former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, currently an adviser with the Illinois Policy Institute, says that this tax would fall directly on commercial real estate owners who are already seeing declines in value, while Dixon Romeo (executive director of Not Me We, a grassroots community group in South Shore) advocates that the increase in taxes is minimal, and that this move could raise a projected $100 million annually to fund permanent supportive housing. Visit Illinois Policy Institute | Visit Bring Chicago Home Follow WBBM Podcasts: Twitter | InstagramFollow WBBM Newsradio: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

This coming March, the ballot box will see a vote on Bring Chicago Home, an ordinance to determine if taxes should be increased on the sale of high-end properties -- ranging from residences to office buildings, valued at $1 million or more -- in order to fund programs to battle the city's homelessness crisis. Today, host Jim Hanke speaks with guests on both sides of the issue: Former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, currently an adviser with the Illinois Policy Institute, says that this tax would fall directly on commercial real estate owners who are already seeing declines in value, while Dixon Romeo (executive director of Not Me We, a grassroots community group in South Shore) advocates that the increase in taxes is minimal, and that this move could raise a projected $100 million annually to fund permanent supportive housing. Visit Illinois Policy Institute | Visit Bring Chicago Home Follow WBBM Podcasts: Twitter | InstagramFollow WBBM Newsradio: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

(00:00) Intro (0:21) Mayoral election (7:03) Public safety (11:34) Gaining a following (17:08) Violent crimes (21:46) Chicago Police numbers (28:43) Crime numbers (32:52) Immigration (43:07) Housing issues (48:12) Minimum wage/tipping (52:54) Chicago crime stigma (56:49) Past Mayoral issues (1:00:52) Chicago Teachers Union (1:05:14) Outro Paul Vallas joins the show to talk about Chicago Politics. We get into his recent mayoral candidate run, the current crime numbers in the city, how immigration has effected Chicago, and more.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/thedogwalk

Former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas joins the Steve Cochran Show to discuss how Mayor Brandon Johnson's “Bring Chicago Home” proposal will penalize businesses, transforming abandoned buildings into affordable housing, and he shares why he believes the proposal is a tax increase in search of a program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chicago Way w/John Kass (09/11/23): Paul Vallas, former candidate for Chicago Mayor and CEO of Chicago Public Schools, joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to discuss the hypocrisy of Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates sending her child to a private school, even though she has a history of calling private schools fascist & […]

This week on The Learning Curve, guest co-hosts Charlie Chieppo and Mary Tamer, executive director of Democrats for Education Reform, Massachusetts, speak with Paul Vallas, former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools and a candidate for mayor of that city earlier this year. Vallas talks about the professional lessons he drew from public leadership, how […]

This week on The Learning Curve, guest co-hosts Charlie Chieppo and Mary Tamer, executive director of Democrats for Education Reform, Massachusetts, speak with Paul Vallas, former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools and a candidate for mayor of that city earlier this year. Vallas talks about the professional lessons he drew from public leadership, how he financed the largest infrastructure investment program in over a century in the city, and how he closed deficits and balanced budgets as head of the Chicago Public Schools. He also reflects on Chicago politics, the challenge of bargaining with teacher unions, the state of charter public schools in Chicago, and the growing political power of teachers' unions in large urban areas.

Friends of the Parks executive director Juanita Irizarry joins Ben to riff on some of the news from a week of madness. Including…MAGA making more money for Bud, the beer company they're supposedly boycotting. The city turning over public parks for private use. Paul Vallas, the lifelong Democrat, goes through another Republican phase. Corporate Chicago falls in love with Mayor Johnson. Lincoln Yards developers makes Lori Lightfoot their scapegoat. And want to do about the Bears. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Not too long ago, Brandon Johnson was virtually unknown to many Chicagoans. Now, he's the 57th mayor of America's third-largest city. His path to power, fueled by a markedly progressive campaign, was pretty unusual. Before taking the helm of Chicago, he was a school teacher, union organizer and county commissioner. Johnson, who lives on the West Side, has experienced his share of some of the city's biggest issues. But perhaps one of his biggest challenges still lies ahead: leading the city amidst the numerous inherited issues including growing public safety concerns, persistent disinvestment and a downtown that's emptier than before the pandemic. Johnson joins WITHpod to discuss his trajectory, what he envisions for Chicago, how he plans to turn his proposals into results and more.

Hello from a 90-degree day in New York!This week, we're joined by Alex Han, executive director of In These Times and a longtime organizer based in Chicago. Alex previously worked for Bernie's 2020 campaign and SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana. We get into the context behind the surprise mayoral win by former teacher and organizer Brandon Johnson, over “corporate reformer” Paul Vallas. We discuss [15:45] the values (neoliberal versus progressive) at stake in this race, [25:08] which strategies can, and can't, be reproduced by other candidates, and [1:01:30] the role of left-labor publications like In These Times in counteracting corporate media.In this episode, we ask: What made the Chicago Teachers Union become such a central player in city politics? How has “defund the police” evolved, rhetorically, on the left? How do you build a coalition that's led by progressives but populated by centrists? What should left media do to engage young people and other big yet hard-to-reach groups? For more, read: * Alex's post-election editorial for In These Times* This reflection on bargaining for the common good and the influence of the CTU * More on the deep, grassroots organizing behind Johnson's victory: 'It Was 100-Percent People Power' (Block Club Chicago) and Chicago's Rich Organizing Tradition Paid Off (The Nation) * An interview with Alex on the past and present of In These Times: What Do Movements Need from Progressive Media?* The book Jay mentions, After Black Lives Matter: Policing and Anti-Capitalist Struggle, by Cedric G. Johnson* Horrifying news of the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl in Kansas CityThanks for listening! Subscribe on Patreon or Substack, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Email us at timetosaygoodbyepod@gmail.com.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodbye.substack.com/subscribe

Brandon Johnson's mayoral election could change the national conversation about crime, schools -- and an aging Black establishment in big city politics. Chicago's recent mayoral election saw two Democratic candidates–Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas–fight for their very different visions of how the windy city should be run. The race centered debates on crime and schools, issues with inevitable implications on race and class. Chicago-native Natalie Moore, WBEZ's reporter for race, class and communities, joins host Kai Wright to discuss this election's significance, and how it reminds her of Harold Washington's historic election in 1983.  Then, Kai explores parallels in Democrat-dominated mayoral races from New York and Los Angeles with Christina Greer, professor of political science and American studies at Fordham University.   Companion listening for this episode:  Black Georgians Are Leading the Charge to the Polls (10/17/2022) Young Black voters are the key to changing the politics of Georgia. What can the rest of the country learn from the civic engagement in that state? “Notes from America” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. To catch all the action, tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on notesfromamerica.org or on WNYC's YouTube channel. We want to hear from you! Connect with us on Instagram and Twitter @noteswithkai or email us at notes@wnyc.org.  

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday, despite threats from top Chinese diplomats who warned of retribution if such a meeting occurred. Meanwhile, the U.S. stays vigilant about China's military threat and espionage methods as lawmakers push for a bill to ban TikTok. Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, joins the podcast and pitches his bipartisan legislation to enact a nationwide TikTok ban and how it would protect Americans' data from the Chinese Communist Party. Later, he explains broader intelligence concerns when it comes to China and his position on former President Trump's recent indictment in Manhattan.   Brandon Johnson won Chicago's mayoral election Tuesday night, defeating moderate Paul Vallas. The results surprised some who believed that former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's loss was a sign the city was done with progressive crime policies. Meanwhile, Judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated conservative Justice Dan Kelly in Wisconsin's Supreme Court election, giving majority control to liberals. FOX Radio Correspondent Jeff Monosso joins the Rundown to discuss issues such as crime, abortion, and legislative maps impacting the races, and how the election results could play a role in the 2024 presidential election.   Plus, commentary by Fox & Friends co-host and host of The Brian Kilmeade Show, Brian Kilmeade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just hours after being arraigned in a Manhattan court, former President Donald Trump gave a 21-minute speech to his supporters at Mar-a-Lago. He gave the speech in the same room in which he declared his 2024 presidential campaign. He began his speech by going after DA Alvin Bragg and saying he “never thought anything like this could happen in America.” Rachel Maddow told viewers the network would monitor the speech for any actual news, but otherwise, Trump wouldn't be given a free pass to vent unfiltered on MSNBC. A new poll from Fox News has revealed that Biden's approval rating among several key voting groups has reached new lows. A George Soros-backed liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate, Janet Protasiewicz, soundly defeated conservative-backed candidate Dan Kelly on Tuesday in a race that was crucial to the ideological balance of the court. Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson was declared Chicago's new mayor after defeating fellow candidate Paul Vallas, who had the backing of Chicago's police union, by around 13,000 votes. A Canadian politician proposed legislation yesterday that would criminalize “offensive remarks” made within 100 meters of drag performances. Today's Sponsors: Go to http://BUYRAYCON.com/why TODAY to get 15% off your Raycon order! Right now, you can save $200 on an EdenPure Oxileaf II Thunderstorm Air Purifier 3-pack for whole-home protection. You'll get three units for under $200. Put one in your basement, bedroom, family room, kitchen, or anywhere you need clean, fresh air. Go to http://edenpuredeals.com and enter discount code "sara3" to save $200. This supernatural thriller is perfect for your friends who love scary films and love going to church. You're going to have some great conversations afterward! "Nefarious" opens in theaters nationwide on April 14. Mark the date, and get your tickets now at http://www.whoisnefarious.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Hump Day! Emma hosts  Jarod Facundo and Luke Goldstein, writing fellows at The American Prospect, to discuss the results from last night's mayoral race in Chicago. First, Emma runs through updates on yesterday's election results, Trump pleading not guilty, and the right's response to Wisconsin's political shifts. Jarod Facundo and Luke Goldstein dive right into Brandon Johnson's unapologetically left-wing campaign for Chicago Mayor, his rejection of the Chicago political establishment, and what his victory represents for progressivism across the nation. Next, they step back to assess how Brandon Johnson even found himself in this runoff against establishment candidate Paul Vallas,  after entering the race barely above 2%, walking through his campaign's emphasis on the ground game, the role of local organizations like the Chicago Teachers Union and United Working Families, and what community organizing meant for his success. They also tackle the positive impact of his riskier policy strategies, presenting a wide breadth of solutions to the voters' public safety worries rather than taking a “tough on crime” tact, and parse through the impact of Johnson's and Vallas' respective endorsements, before wrapping up by exploring this election in relation to Chicago's recent corruption, and what it says about support for neoliberal politics and austerity. And in the Fun Half: Emma discusses doubts around Trump's 34 Felony charges with Will from Cincinnati, debates the reason behind a North Carolina Statehouse member's party affiliation swap, and covers another piece of journalistic malpractice from a Bari Weiss outlet. Dave from Pennsylvania and Kenny from Berkeley discuss the impact of AI, Kid Rock teaches approximately 20 cans of Bud Light a lesson, and Joe from South Texas asks about the Lincoln Project. Emma also touches on the “Zazademon” alter ego of AOC, plus, your calls and IMs! Check out Luke and Jarod's work here: https://prospect.org/topics/jarod-facundo/ ; https://prospect.org/topics/luke-goldstein/ Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Check out today's sponsors: Nutrafol: You don't have to choose between better hair growth and your health. There's a holistic solution for men that promotes both healthier hair and whole-body wellness: Nutrafol. Nutrafol is the #1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement, clinically shown to improve your hair growth, thickness, and visible scalp coverage. You can grow thicker, healthier hair AND support our show by going to https://nutrafol.com/ and entering the promo code MAJORITY to save fifteen dollars off your first month's subscription. This is their best offer ANYWHERE and it is only available to U S customers for a limited time.  Get FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF at https://nutrafol.com/ promo code MAJORITY. Seder's Seeds!: Sam tried to grow some cannabis last year, didn't know what he was doing, but now has some great cannabis seeds! Go to http://www.sedersseeds.com and MajorityReporters will get an automatic 15% off. Enter coupon code "SEEDS" for free shipping! Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattBinder @MattLech @BF1nn @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.com/ Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/

Trump is FINALLY indicted, bringing all the New York MAGA nutters to the yard. Former Rep. Katie Hill (CA-25) joins Francesca to weigh in on this historic day, and the first of likely many criminal charges levied on the Hamburglar of democracy. THEN, Miles Kampf-Lassin on the Chicago mayoral race and the historic campaign (AND VICTORY!) of Brandon Johnson. Paul Vallas will undoubtedly move on to privatize the education system in Argentina next. And a police union head was importing fentanyl?! Well, well well. Featuring: Katie Hill, former congresswoman, https://twitter.com/KatieHill4CA https://www.her-time.com/ Miles Kampf-Lassin, web-editor In These Time magazine, https://twitter.com/MilesKLassin https://inthesetimes.com/The Bitchuation Room Streams LIVE every TUESDAY and FRIDAY at 1/4pmEST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/franifio and Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/franifioSupport The Bitchuation Room by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/bitchationroom to get special perks and watchback privileges. Tip the show via Venmo: @TBR-LIVE Cash-App: @TBRLIVEMusic by Nick StarguFollow The Bitchuation Room on Twitter @BitchuationPodGet your TBR merch: www.bitchuationroom.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's an extra special News Day Tuesday as Sam and Emma are on Trump INDICTMENT WATCH. Then they're joined by John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for The Nation, to discuss Tuesday's Wisconsin State Supreme Court race. First, Sam and Emma run through updates on far-right legislation advancing in Tennessee, Florida, and Mississippi, Finland's introduction to NATO, Elon's court order, and Bernie's endorsement of Brandon Johnson for Chicago Mayor, before diving into the coverage of Donald Trump's impending arraignment, featuring Alan Dershowitz live with Sean Spicer. John Nichols then joins and he and Sam immediately jump back to 2010, to reflect on the hijacking of Wisconsin's political system by the Koch-funded right wing, coming to fruition with the election of Scott Walker in 2010, and seeing a mass gutting of labor rights, voting rights, and general political engagement. Next, Emma, John, and Sam parse through the consequences of this era, with the US' worst case of gerrymandering cementing GOP control for the next decade, despite Democrats sweeping in state-wide races, leaving the only viable route back to democracy through the judiciary. This brings them to today's special elections in Wisconsin, with the state's Supreme Court and Senate both featuring massive races for the future of Wisconsin's democracy. After looking at the issues that are central to Wisconsin's special election, Nichols shifts to Chicago, walking through Brandon Johnson's race against Paul Vallas, Vallas' courting of the right wing, and the impact a Johnson victory could have on the progressive movement nationwide. And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma watch Tucker clamor to make New York look worse today than it was under conservative control (it's not), talk philosophy with Ronald Raygun, and explore the mass financialization of American life with Jeff from Michigan. Ben Shapiro, notorious inspiration for multiple mass shooters, blames all trans people for the recent shooting in Tennessee, before talking with callers Ally from South Carolina about US Foods' unionization, Tommy from California about civil liability for gun manufacturers, Nick from New Jersey about Rutgers' teachers' strike, and Eric from Minnesota about gun control discourse, plus, your calls and IMs! Check out John's piece here: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/wisconsin-supreme-court-race-gerrymandering/ Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Check out today's sponsors: LiquidIV: Cooler weather makes it easier to miss signs of dehydration like overheating or perspiration, which means it's even more important to keep your body properly hydrated. Liquid I.V. contains 5 essential vitamins—more Vitamin C than an orange and as much potassium as a banana. Healthier than sugary sports drinks, there are no artificial flavors or preservatives and less sugar than an apple. Grab your favorite Liquid I.V. flavors nationwide at Walmart or you can get 20% off when you go to https://www.liquid-iv.com/ and use code MAJORITYREP at checkout. That's 20% off ANYTHING you order when you get better hydration today using promo code MAJORITYREP at https://www.liquid-iv.com/. Henson Shaving: Go to https://hensonshaving.com/majority and use code MAJORITY for a free 100-pack of blades! Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use MAJORITYREPORT to save 20% at  https://www.rhone.com/MAJORITYREPORT Seder's Seeds!: Sam tried to grow some cannabis last year, didn't know what he was doing, but now has some great cannabis seeds! Go to http://www.sedersseeds.com and MajorityReporters will get an automatic 15% off. Enter coupon code "SEEDS" for free shipping! Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattBinder @MattLech @BF1nn @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.com/ Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/

Ricochet Editor-in-Chief Jon Gabriel is in for Jim today. Join Jon and Greg as they discuss Republicans in the Tennessee State House of Representatives moving to expel three Democrats for collaborating with gun control activists and joining in their protests that disrupted proceedings on the House floor last week. They also hammer DCCC Chairwoman Suzan DelBene and her husband, Kurt, over the leaking of confidential veteran records of several Republican congressional candidates in the 2022 election cycle. Finally, they highlight the importance of today's elections for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the runoff between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson in the Chicago mayor's race.Please visit our great sponsors:4Patriothttps://4Patriots.comUse code MARTINI to get 10% off your first purchase of 4Patriots Survival Food. Moink Boxhttps://moinkbox.com/martiniKeep American farming and get FREE bacon in your first box.

Both mayoral candidates have touted their education bona fides ahead of Tuesday's runoff election. But what are their plans for the future of Chicago Public Schools and how are they different? WBEZ City Hall reporter Mariah Woelfel and Triibe digital news editor Jim Daley join host Jacoby Cochran to look through the details. We also check in on the new police oversight commission's efforts to search for a new police superintendent and make the department more transparent, and dive deeper into Paul Vallas' history of implementing charter schools in districts across the country and his plan to rehire retired Chicago Police officers. Stick around to the end for some good news and your next opportunity to catch Jacoby live at Good Evening with Pat Whalen! Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The mayoralty of Chicago will be decided next Tuesday, and its a close race between tough-on-crime Paul Vallas and current public schools union leader Brandon Johnson. Eric Zorn, longtime Chicago Tribune columnist, now editor of of the Picayune Sentinel, moderated one of the mayoral debates, and he joins us to assess the race. Plus, NCAA women's basketball ratings. And that's a Woolly Meatball! Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Subscribe to The Gist Subscribe: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chicago Way w/John Kass (03/11/23): Fresh off her role as moderator for the mayoral debate between Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas, NBC5 Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to discuss the pitfalls of being a public figure, perceived bias vs. real bias, the big questions facing the candidates before the April […]

Highlights:  ●      “In their general primary election, Lightfoot ended up finishing third, behind the more moderate liberal Paul Vallas and the hard-left cultural Marxist Brandon Johnson, garnering barely 16% of the vote. It was a humiliating defeat, making Lightfoot the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election after just one term.” ●      “Under Lightfoot, Chicago is almost a billion dollars in the red. They're economically imploding, they're culturally and socially imploding.” ●      “The left, in actually defending practices that are indicative of the very racism that they supposedly denounce, is LOSING! And that's the assessment of one of the most successful liberal politicians of the last 30 years, Tony Blair.”   Timestamps:  [01:13] Why voters ousted Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot [03:35] Lori Lightfoot as the first black, openly lesbian, and woke Chicago mayor [06:54] How Lightfoot's humiliation is indicative of the inevitable defeat of woke liberalism itself Resources: ●      BOLDLY stand up for TRUTH in Turley Merch! Browse our new designs right now at: https://store.turleytalks.com/ ●      Ep. 1461 Greta Thunberg EXPOSED! She's FINISHED!!! ●      Learn how to protect your life savings from inflation and an irresponsible government, with Gold and Silver. Go to http://www.turleytalkslikesgold.com/ ●      See how much your small business can get back from Big Gov (up to $26k per employee!) at https://ercspecialists.com/initial-survey?fpr=turley ●      Get Over 66% OFF All of Mike Lindell's Products using code TURLEY: https://www.mypillow.com/turley ●      Build a fortress to withstand any or all storms that might arise in 2023 with Food Supply at Http://GetReadyWithSteve.com and discover why PREPARATION is my New Year's Resolution at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSrwEKP2nWI ●      Go to https://www.hometitlelock.com/turleytalks and use promo code: TURLEYTALKS. Then enter your address for your no-obligation home title scan to see if you're already a victim. That's a $100 value -- FREE! ●      Join Dr. Steve for an unedited, uncensored extended analysis of current events in his Insiders Club at https://insidersclub.turleytalks.com/ ●      Make sure to FOLLOW me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrTurleyTalks ●      Get 25% off Patriotic Coffee and ALL ITEMS with Code TURLEY at https://mystore.com/turley   Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and/or leave a review.  Sick and tired of Big Tech, censorship, and endless propaganda? Join my Insiders Club with a FREE TRIAL today at: https://insidersclub.turleytalks.com Do you want to be a part of the podcast and be our sponsor? Click here to partner with us and defy liberal culture! If you would like to get lots of articles on conservative trends make sure to sign-up for the 'New Conservative Age Rising' Email Alerts.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, March 2nd, 2023. Happy Friday Jr. everyone! Fight Laugh Feast Magazine Our Fight Laugh Feast Magazine is a quarterly issue that packs a punch like a 21 year Balvenie, no ice. We don’t water down our scotch, why would we water down our theology? Order a yearly subscription for yourself and then send a couple yearly subscriptions to your friends who have been drinking luke-warm evangelical cool-aid. Every quarter we promise quality food for the soul, wine for the heart, and some Red Bull for turning over tables. Our magazine will include cultural commentary, a Psalm of the quarter, recipes for feasting, laughter sprinkled through out the glossy pages, and more. Sign up today, at fightlaughfeast.com. https://thepoliticalinsider.com/recent-study-shows-a-majority-of-americans-are-too-fat-and-dumb-to-join-the-military/ Recent Study Shows a Majority of Americans are too Fat and Dumb to Join the Military Last year, the Pentagon had to grapple with quite a few negative headlines. The most alarming repetitive headline was that recruiting goals were not met across the board. Of course, one might think that isn’t a big deal given that we have pulled out of Afghanistan and aren’t technically in an active war with anyone. That is, if you ignore the ‘secret wars’ in Syria and Iraq and our proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, but I digress. This news rightly rocked legislators and should concern Americans at large because of our increased tensions with China, which seems to be inevitably heading toward a future war. However, let’s say you think the prospects of us finding ourselves in a hot war, like Afghanistan or a conflict with China, are slim to null. The fact that most young Americans couldn’t join the military if they wanted to should matter to every American, as it directly reflects the type of society we currently elevate. A recent study has found that 77% of Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 are physically unqualified to join the armed services, up 6% from 2017. To put that into simpler terms, over three-quarters of Americans within the prime military recruitment ages are too fat to raise their right hand to serve. Look at those two statistics I mentioned again. It might be bad now, but that same demographic was just as fat and unqualified six years ago. According to 2020 numbers, 42% of American adults are considered obese, with 19% on active duty falling into that category. That number is up from 16% of obesity in the active duty force in 2015. Ironically, some of the blame, according to experts, falls on a food insecurity program many active duty and young Americans are forced to participate in. For example, the United States Department of Agriculture found in 2015 that 40% of participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are obese. An estimated 22,000 Active Duty and over 250,000 National Guard families receive SNAP benefits. For those of us familiar, that means a whole lot of government cheese and other processed food. Here’s Bill Maher on the obesity crisis: https://twitter.com/i/status/1555939261043511296 - Play Video Anybody who has tried to eat healthily knows it is costly and cumbersome. For example, research from Utah State University found that if a family of four were to grocery shop based on the healthy dietary guidelines, it would cost them approximately $14,400 annually. The recruiting dilemma facing the military, like most issues plaguing the Armed Forces, is multifaceted. Army Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson explains, “Some of the challenges we have are obesity, we have pre-existing medical conditions, we have behavioral health problems, we have criminality, people with felonies, and we have drug use.” That’s a pretty damning yet accurate depiction of America’s youth. Additionally, many Americans need help to pass the education standards the Armed Forces require. Often joked as a test you get half credit for if you can spell your name right, the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is used to see if you are smart enough to wear the uniform and what jobs you might have a natural aptitude for. According to security analyst Irina Tsukerman, “falling intelligence and education standards” have made the military less prepared for “asymmetrical or conventional challenges.” The Navy is tossing around the idea of lowering the minimum scores for acceptance on the AFQT and increasing the age ceiling from 35 to 41. Lowering standards might increase the number of recruits, but what about the quality? The Army is opting to keep its standards but has stood up what they call the Future Soldier’s Prep Course at Fort Jackson to get recruits whose scores are too low up to snuff. The Centers for Disease Control classifies obesity as a security threat stating that 1 in 5 kids and 2 in 5 adults are obese. With American kids graduating high school without knowing how to read or do simple math, one could argue our public education system is also a security threat. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/01/uk-cat-cull-was-considered-early-in-covid-crisis-ex-minister-says UK cat cull was considered early in Covid crisis, ex-minister says The UK government considered whether it might have to ask people to exterminate all pet cats during the early days of the Covid pandemic, a former health minister said. It was unclear whether domestic cats could transmit coronavirus, James Bethell said. He told Channel 4 News: “What we shouldn’t forget is how little we understood about this disease. There was a moment we were very unclear about whether domestic pets could transmit the disease. “In fact, there was an idea at one moment that we might have to ask the public to exterminate all the cats in Britain. Can you imagine what would have happened if we had wanted to do that?” In July 2020, at the height of the Covid crisis, cat owners were warned not to kiss their pets after a female Siamese became the first known animal in the UK to catch the disease. Margaret Hosie, a professor of comparative virology at Glasgow University who led the screening programme, advised cat owners at the time to “observe very careful hygiene”. It comes as Lord Bethell’s boss at the time, Matt Hancock, the former health secretary, is facing a series of claims based on a leaked cache of more than 100,000 WhatsApp messages. The messages provide an insight into the way the UK government operated at the start of the pandemic. They include the suggestion that Hancock rejected advice from England’s chief medical officer, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, to test everyone going into care homes in England for Covid. Hancock vehemently denies overruling clinical advice. A spokesperson called the claim “categorically untrue”. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chicago-mayor-lightfoot-reacts-election-loss-says-she-was-treated-unfairly-because-her-race-gender Chicago Mayor Lightfoot reacts to election loss, says she was treated unfairly because of her race, gender Ding Dong the Witch is Dead- Play 0:08-0:15 How’d that get in there? Ousted Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot explained away her Tuesday election loss as a result of her being a "Black woman in America." Lightfoot faced eight challengers and finished Tuesday night's election in third place, failing to get enough support to continue into a runoff election. Reporters pressed her on whether she believed she was treated unfairly during the campaign process. "I’m a Black woman in America. Of course," she responded, according to reports. "Regardless of tonight’s outcome, we fought the right fights and we put this city on a better path," Lightfoot said Tuesday night, adding that serving as Chicago's mayor was "the honor of a lifetime." She also blamed the tricksie hobbitses for her loss. For those keeping score: Paul Vallas lead the way with 33.8% of the vote, Brandon Johnson received 20.3%, and Lightfoot received 17.1%. With Lightfoot out of the race, Chicago Public Schools CEO and city budget director Paul Vallas will face off against Cook County Board of Commissioners member Brandon Johnson in the April 4 runoff. Neither candidate reached the 50% necessary to win the election outright on Tuesday, though Vallas came closest with 33%. Dime Payments Dime Payments is a Christian owned processing payment business. Every business needs a payment process system, so please go to https://dimepayments.com/flf and sign your business up. Working with them supports us. They wont cancel you, like Stripe canceled President Trump. They wont cancel you, like Mailchimp canceled the Babylon Bee. Check them out. At least have a phone call and tell them that CrossPolitic sent you. Go to https://dimepayments.com/flf. https://www.theepochtimes.com/mississippi-bans-gender-affirming-care-for-minors_5091041.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport&src_src=partner&src_cmp=BonginoReport Mississippi Bans ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Minors Mississippi has become the latest state to ban health care professionals from providing “gender-affirming care” for transgender youth in what officials say will stop the attempt to “push a sick and twisted ideology” on children. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, signed the GOP-led House Bill 1125, also known as the “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act” into law on Feb. 28. Under the legislation, which is effective immediately, individuals in the state are banned from “knowingly engaging in conduct that aids or abets” the performance or inducement of gender transition procedures for Mississippians under the age of 18. The bill also prevents public funds or tax deductions for prohibited gender transition procedures, noting that the direct or indirect use, grant, payment, or distribution of public funds to any entity, organization, or individual that provides gender transition procedures to individuals under the age of 18 is also prohibited. It also puts in place enforcement procedures on the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure. Any health care professional found to be in violation of the ban will have their license to practice medicine in the state revoked. The measure, which also prevents Medicaid from reimbursing or providing coverage for gender transition for persons under the age of 18, allows for health care providers to be sued by their former patients, via their “parent or next friend” within 30 years. In a separate statement on Twitter shortly before signing the law, Reeves said there are individuals in the state who are “attempting to push a sick and twisted ideology that seeks to convince our kids they’re in the wrong body and the solution is to drug, sterilize, and castrate themselves.” The signing of the bill makes Mississippi the latest state to enact a ban on gender-affirming care after South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, also a Republican, signed a similar “Help Not Harm” bill into law last month. Similar bans have also been passed in Alabama, Arizona, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, although some of them are currently being blocked by lawsuits. Nebraska and Oklahoma are also considering similar bills and last month, Republican Florida state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia introduced a bill that would require businesses that cover the cost of gender-transition medical care for their employees to pay for any subsequent detransition care. Supporters of such bills claim that they are intended to safeguard children. Experts have said that four out of five children grow out of gender dysphoria once they reach adolescence. However, opponents, including a string of major medical organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association, have all voiced support for gender transition care among minors, arguing that it is safe and effective. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which works to “protect and defend individuals’ rights,” said in a statement on Tuesday that the new legislation “shuts the door on medical best practice and puts politics between parents, their children, and their doctors.” “This life-saving care was already difficult to access for trans youth across the state, and is now entirely out of reach,” ACLU said. “Our politicians continue to fail trans youth — but we will never stop fighting back against this ongoing attack against trans rights across the nation. Trans youth shouldn’t have to fight this hard to be who they are.”

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene joins Sara on the show today to trash FBI Director Christopher Wray. FBI Director Wray gave an interview in which he refused to disclose anything about the January 6 protests. Wray defended the agency when asked about the recent Twitter files disclosing that the FBI made requests to suspend citizens' Twitter accounts. Wray said he has complete confidence in his team's ability to investigate and make arrests. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is gone; she lost last night's re-election campaign. Lightfoot is the first Chicago mayor to lose a re-election campaign since 1983. Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas will head into a runoff next month. In a rare move, a bipartisan group of congressional representatives voted yesterday to require the White House to rein in its spending. Twitter users recoiled after President Biden on Tuesday shared intimate details about his treatment in a medical facility.   Today's Sponsors: Birch Gold makes it easy to convert an IRA or 401k into an IRA in precious metals. Here's what you need to do: Text the word WHY to 989898 to claim your free info kit on gold. With almost 20 years' experience converting IRAs and 401ks into precious metals IRAs, Birch Gold can help you. Visit http://www.scoremaster.com/news to try ScoreMaster for FREE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago Way w/John Kass (03/01/23): On this edition, veteran political advisor at Serafin & Associates and co-host of The Crisis Cast Thom Serafin joins John Kass and Jeff Carlin to look at where Lori Lightfoot went wrong in her failed bid for re-election and what that means for runoff between Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas. […]

The Dog Walk Re-run: Paul Vallas joins the show to discuss the current state of Chicago Politics. We get into The Chicago Public Schools' response to the pandemic, the dispute between the Police Department and the city, comparing Chicago's current system to other cities, and more.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/thedogwalk

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily Newsbrief for Thursday, February 9th, 2023… Happy Friday Jr. everyone! Fight Laugh Feast Magazine Our Fight Laugh Feast Magazine is a quarterly issue that packs a punch like a 21 year Balvenie, no ice. We don’t water down our scotch, why would we water down our theology? Order a yearly subscription for yourself and then send a couple yearly subscriptions to your friends who have been drinking luke-warm evangelical cool-aid. Every quarter we promise quality food for the soul, wine for the heart, and some Red Bull for turning over tables. Our magazine will include cultural commentary, a Psalm of the quarter, recipes for feasting, laughter sprinkled through out the glossy pages, and more. Sign up today, at fightlaughfeast.com. https://www.foxnews.com/world/china-wants-downed-spy-aircraft-back-does-not-belong-to-us China wants its downed spy aircraft back, saying it 'does not belong to the US' The People's Republic of China is requesting the return of its surveillance aircraft after the balloon was shot down over the continental United States on Saturday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning fielded questions Tuesday about the incident, which dominated news cycles and commanded attention from U.S. politicians. Asked for additional information regarding the purpose of the spy balloon and reports of similar aircraft making routes through North American and South American airspace, Mao declined. "The Chinese side has given information about the unmanned airship on several occasions. I don’t have anything to add at the moment," she stated. The Pentagon said it "acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information" from the spy platform. But geopolitical experts said there is little reason to believe those efforts were successful as the balloon almost certainly transferred surveillance data over to China as it flew over several military bases. Asked if China has requested that the debris from the destroyed aircraft be returned, Mao said Tuesday, "The airship does not belong to the U.S. It belongs to China." Mao reiterated in her Tuesday press conference the Chinese Communist Party's claim that the balloon was civilian in nature and criticized the U.S. government for not acting in a "calm and professional manner." https://contra.substack.com/p/us-led-west-opposed-peace-deal-in?r=lj90&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post U.S.-Led West Opposed Peace Deal in Ukraine Naftali Bennett, then the prime minister of Israel, found himself praying aboard a cramped, decrepit plane last year as it sailed over Kazakhstan. The long flight, arranged with help from the Mossad, was bound for Moscow on a desperate mission: broker peace between Russia and Ukraine just after the two countries had gone to war. According to Bennett, Russian President Vladimir Putin made two major concessions during their March 5 meeting. First, he renounced “denazification”—that is, regime change in Kiev. Second, he dropped his demand for Ukraine’s demilitarization. Bennett said President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to abandon Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership in exchange. Both Putin and Zelensky seemed eager to end the fighting. But the U.S. had other plans. Bennett said a “decision by the West” was made “to keep striking Putin” through Ukraine. “They blocked it and I thought they were wrong,” he said. Bennett noted that the governments of Germany and France were pragmatic toward the idea compared to the U.S. and the U.K., which took a more belligerent attitude against Russia. Considering the U.K. is little more than a neutered lapdog of D.C., it is more than likely that it was the U.S. who decided to keep the war going. Indeed, Bennett said he deferred “to America in this regard.” In an interview with author and comedian Hanoch Daum, Bennett provided a behind-the-scenes look at his efforts to establish a ceasefire and how it initially showed promise until being doomed by imperial intrigue. It was the first time time he talked about his attempt to mediate peace between the two countries. His solution was “creating contact with both sides and trying to mediate,” leveraging his good relations with Putin and Zelensky. Bennett maintained contact with the governments of Germany, France, the U.K., and the U.S. throughout the negotiations, keeping them appraised as talks, mostly by phone, progressed. While Putin was open to diplomacy, the U.S. was not, according to Bennett. Bennett described Putin as “pragmatic” and not “Messianic” but governed by limited, concrete objectives, contra the Western portrait of him as a madman bent on world domination. Putin does not think of himself as an imperialist, Bennett said, but as someone fighting against imperialism in the form of NATO expansionism. Someone, maybe Mark Twain, said that history doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme. What Bennett revealed is a reminder that the U.S. has been calling the war tune for decades. https://www.theepochtimes.com/texas-sues-biden-admin-over-pharmacy-mandate-to-dispense-abortion-drugs_5042103.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport&src_src=partner&src_cmp=BonginoReport Texas Sues Biden Admin Over ‘Pharmacy Mandate’ to Dispense Abortion Drugs Texas filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration on Tuesday to block federal health guidance that allegedly forces pharmacies to dispense abortion-inducing drugs. The Biden administration in July 2022 released guidance requiring pharmacies to supply women with abortion-inducing drugs or risk losing Medicaid and Medicare funds, even if certain state laws prohibit the procedure. Texas argues in its lawsuit, which refers to the guidance collectively as the “pharmacy mandate,” that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has attempted to impose, via executive fiat, a federal right to abortion. The lawsuit said this was a part of the Biden administration’s “war against” the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision. That ruling reversed a 1973 ruling that made abortion legal nationwide. “But whether the Biden Administration likes it or not, the question of abortion is up to the people’s elected representatives—not unelected bureaucrats,” the lawsuit states (pdf). “The Biden Administration’s attempt to inject itself into that question is both procedurally and substantively illegal.” The HHS guidance, which involved roughly 60,000 U.S. retail pharmacies, claims that federal anti-discrimination law requires pharmacies to provide these drugs. The guidance was released on July 13, 2022, a few days after President Joe Biden, a Democrat, signed an executive order that made it easier to obtain abortion services following the Dobbs decision. However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, argues that Title IX’s anti-discrimination protections don’t require companies to provide abortions, and instead protect any person or entity from being forced to aid in the provision of abortions. According to Paxton’s office, the alleged HHS assertion that federal anti-discrimination law mandates every pharmacy to provide abortion drugs is “patently false.” Paxton further argues that the Supreme Court returned the power to decide on abortion law back to the states, instead of the federal government. The “pharmacy mandate,” therefore, preempts certain state laws, which prohibit pharmacies from providing abortion-inducing drugs, and goes against the Dobbs decision, according to Paxton. The original copy of the HHS guidance document published in July 2022 is not currently available on the department’s website, but a version archived on Jan. 23, 2023 can still be accessed (pdf). The guidance reminds approximately 60,000 retail pharmacies and their employees of their obligation “under federal civil rights laws” to ensure access to prescription medication. HHS said in the guidance that among its civil rights enforcement responsibilities, its Office for Civil Rights is responsible for “protecting the rights of women and pregnant people in their ability to access care that is free from discrimination.” Examples of discrimination include denying a prescription for medication to assist with a miscarriage and denying medication for a disability, according to the guidance. Dime Payments Dime Payments is a Christian owned processing payment business. Every business needs a payment process system, so please go to https://dimepayments.com/flf and sign your business up. Working with them supports us. They wont cancel you, like Stripe canceled President Trump. They wont cancel you, like Mailchimp canceled the Babylon Bee. Check them out. At least have a phone call and tell them that CrossPolitic sent you. Go to https://dimepayments.com/flf. https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2023/02/07/could-chicago-be-about-to-elect-a-pro-life-pro-cop-democratic-mayor-n528896 Could Chicago be about to elect a pro-life, pro-cop Democratic mayor? Chicago’s next mayoral election is quickly approaching, scheduled for the 28th of this month. Most of the polls indicate that the incumbent mayor, Lori Lightfoot, is not doing well and she might not be given another term. That wouldn’t be a terribly surprising result, given the soaring crime rates and the generally decrepit state of the Windy City these days. If that’s the case, who will replace her? Interestingly enough, one of the current frontrunners is a man named Paul Vallas. What makes him unique among Chicago Democrats is his history of being opposed to abortion and his promises to crack down on crime. But can someone like that really be elected in a liberal stronghold? (ABC7 Chicago) Chicago mayoral candidates are touting dueling endorsements as Paul Vallas comes under fire for his Democratic credentials and past statements opposing abortion. Several recent polls suggest Vallas is one of the frontrunners in the mayor’s race, so it’s no surprise he’s coming under attack, but it’s also an indication that this race will be rough and tumble in its final three weeks. One of the other candidates, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, has been running attack ads against Vallas. He dug up a clip from some years ago where Vallas describes himself as “more of a Republican than a Democrat” and saying that he’s personally opposed to abortion. Garcia is accusing him of not being a “real” Democrat and claims that Vallas would be “dangerous” for Chicago. Really? More dangerous than, say… stopping your car at a red light for more than ten seconds?Vallas has now received the endorsement of both the Chicago Tribune and the Fraternal Order of Police, which is rather remarkable. The Chicago Sun-Times has run a number of articles on this Vallas, listing all of the progressive liberals who are losing their minds about him. They’re accusing him of having trodden upon the rights of workers in previous positions he’s held and wanting to outlaw abortions. There are probably a couple of them calling him a satan worshipper by now. In other words, all of the right people hate him.

The Chicago Way w/John Kass (1/6/23): On this episode, the former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools (1995-2001) and candidate hoping to unseat Lori Lightfoot, Paul Vallas joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to discuss his plans for growing Chicago and tackling crime, education, and fiscal issues facing the city. Plus, Kasso recovers in the […]