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In this episode, 10 Family Office Myths exposed (and debunked). https://youtu.be/j1cgcZZcRBM Welcome back and Happy New Year on the Wealth Actually podcast. I’m Frazer Rice. We have a fun show today where we talk about 10 myths in the family office space. Mark Tepsich, who runs the family office governance practice at UBS is here as we dish into the ideas and concepts that are misunderstood in the family office world. Summary This conversation delves into the complexities and myths surrounding family offices, exploring their structure, governance, and the unique challenges they face in wealth management. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the specific needs of families and the role of family offices in managing complexity and preserving wealth across generations. It also addresses common misconceptions about family offices, including their necessity, governance, and their relationship with institutional investors. Takeaways Family offices are established to manage complexity in wealth.Not all family offices are the same; each has unique needs.Governance frameworks are essential for effective family office management.Many family offices outsource functions rather than internalizing them.The myth that 85-90% of family offices shouldn’t exist is false.Shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves is a debated concept in wealth preservation.Family offices need to adapt to the evolving needs of families.Investment functions in family offices are often secondary to administrative roles.Family offices are driven by complexity rather than just size.The future of family offices may involve more direct investment opportunities. Chapters: Family Office Confidential 00:00 Understanding Family Offices: Myths and Realities02:02 The Complexity of Family Office Structures04:37 Debunking Common Myths About Family Offices06:17 The Role of Outsourcing in Family Offices07:54 Generational Wealth: The Shirt Sleeves Myth10:51 Flexibility vs. Permanence in Family Offices12:48 Governance and Decision-Making in Family Offices15:49 Investment Functions in Family Offices18:05 Size vs. Complexity in Family Offices20:09 Family Offices vs. Institutional Capital21:19 The Aspirational Nature of Family Offices23:30 The Relationship Between Family Offices and Institutions25:36 Technology in Family Offices: Current Trends29:03 Family Offices and Private Equity: A Comparative Analysis Myths 85-95% of FO’s should not exist vs. “there is no such thing as a family office’ Family office internalize everything A Family Office Anchored by an operating business is the same that is one funded solely by liquidity event Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves is myth Family offices are designed to be permanent’ Family Offices don’t need high end (almost SOX) like governance Family Offices are driven by net worth (no, by complexity) Family Offices are built on a robust investment function (no, it”s complexity management- often rooted in bookkeeping and accounting) Family Offices are like institutional Capital (no, many more motivations than pure returns- including whimsy and the knee-jerk ability to override the IPS) Family Offices are the right result for a career (they could be, but it is extremely unlikely- a lot of things have to be “just right” and there is little to know patience for development Family Offices make great wealth clients (very much depends on the function and the product- they can be difficult consumers) Family office tech is best – in – breed (No and it probably never will be) Family offices shun Large institutions (Surprisingly, no- needed for deals, expertise, and most importnatly financing and introductions) Keywords family offices, wealth management, governance, investment strategies, family dynamics, myths, financial planning, family wealth, complexity management, family governance Transcript: Family Office Myths Busted Frazer Rice (00:04.462): Welcome board, Mark. Mark Tepsich: Hey, Frazer, good to see you again. Appreciate the opportunity. Frazer Rice: Likewise. So let’s get started first. We’re going to go into some of the myths around family offices. But you really participate in kind of an interesting subset of that in terms of helping families design and govern them. What exactly does that mean on a day-to-day basis for you? Mark Tepsich: Yeah, good question. So, you know, it means a couple of things, right? So if you think about a family office, you have families that are at the inception point, right? Where things are getting too complex for them. They need to set up some sort of infrastructure. And it’s really like, what is a family office? What can it do for me? What are the pros, cons, and trade-offs? Where do I start? What’s the infrastructure, the systems? Who do I hire? How do I structure a compensation? So you’ve got families maybe coming at it. From post liquidity event, maybe coming at it from, we need to lift up, lift out this embedded family office out of the business to, hey, we’re an existing family office. We’ve got, you know, we’re evolving, right? The family’s growing, their enterprise is changing, the world around us is changing. People are leaving the family office, the next gen’s getting incorporated into the family office in some way. We’ve got some questions that could be, how do we engage the next generation through the family office? Mark Tepsich (01:21.614): How do we make decisions, communicate around our shared assets and resources, which could be a portfolio, maybe even a business, or hey, how do we come together and hire? What is this profile of this person look like? Who should we hire and not hire? What’s the structure of their compensation, carry co-investment, leverage co-investment? What’s the tech stack look like across accounting, consulting, reporting? Now, how do we insource and outsource? So it’s sort of. I like to call it organizational capabilities. So, you know, sometimes it’s soup to nuts, like starting from zero, other times it’s, we’ve been around for a long time, but we have a couple of questions. So that’s kind of my day to day. And, you know, I’ve been living this really since 2008 pre-global financial crisis. Frazer Rice So we’re going to go into, I think, some of the craziness of the family office ecosystem where we have people who wear many hats, people who wear masks, some people who are jokers and other people who are really good technicians and provide a lot of great insight. One of the things you were talking about is that the different types of mandate can be different. And I think maybe one of the first myths we should tackle is the The bromide that if you’ve seen one family office, you’ve seen one family office, which is thrown around at every family office conference and everybody chuckles for a minute and then it sort of washes away and no one cares anymore. What do you think about that statement? Mark Tespich (03:19.006): So I don’t necessarily think it’s true. And here’s what I mean. Let’s make an analogy to this, right? A business needs certain core infrastructure to just operate, right? And using accounting back office, you know the inflows, the outflows, you know, if you’re make a decision, these are the steps you have to go through. And so a family office, right? It needs to incorporate that, but it needs to incorporate it with the family and the family enterprise that is existing for that family, right? So, yeah, each family office is different because each family is different, but that’s like saying you’ve seen one business, you’ve seen one business, right? The strategy could be, the culture could be different, but, you still need some core operating infrastructure. And again, there’s accounting infrastructure, and that’s the basics, right? So there’s a curl of truth, but largely I think that it is false. Well, and at the same time, yes, families are different, but in general, families are trying to get to the same place, which is, know, they want to steward the wealth. They want to make sure it benefits the family and the other constituencies. And they want to make sure that it’s preserved over time. And those functions, you know, it’s very infrequent. You’d find the functions not there. And so how you get from A to B may be different, as you said, but there are a lot of universal truths to setting one of these things up. Frazer Rice So one of the other myths that we’ve come across is the idea that 80 to 90 percent of family offices shouldn’t exist. is, people and families set these up for, let’s call it the wrong reasons. Maybe it’s fear of missing out, maybe it’s great cocktail party chatter, maybe it’s an overdiagnosis of their needs. What do you think about that? Mark Tepsich Again, false. know, family offices are largely a function. They largely exist because there’s a market scale here. And what I mean by that is when you look under the hood at a family office, you’ve got basics of an accounting firm. You’ve got basics of an investment slash wealth management firm. You’ve got the basics of a legal slash tax firm. And then you’ve got essentially everything in between. And when you look at professional service firms out there, They can’t provide all of those under one roof, whether compliance or regulatory reasons. But the other reason is because no business model out there can really scale the complexity that each one of these families has. So yeah, you could outforce a lot of this stuff, but at the end of the day, family offices often exist because of a market failure. so, false, 85 to 90 % of family offices should exist. Frazer Rice (05:41.164) One of the other things, I’ve been around enough of these getting set up, is that the family office, if we get into sort of a technical structure, such that you set up a structure so that you’re able to deduct the expenses related to administering the wealth around that, that’s a valid reason to do things in addition to the organizational component. So I agree with you that there’s, to say that they shouldn’t exist is sort of belying the notion that these functions should take place internally. And I think you spoke to that. And I guess that gets to another myth, which is that family offices should internalize all of these functions. You just talked about it a little bit, that that’s not a great business model either. Mark Tepsich No, mean, yeah, so, you know, 85 to 90 % of family members out there, you just use that statistic, outsource a fair amount of things, right? And what that means is let’s just use tax counsel, for instance, right? This is something that these issues exist in every family office, they exist for every individual, but at the end of the day, should you have, you know, a tax counsel in-house in a family office that’s only doing, you know, income tax advisor work? Probably not. For 95 % of family offices because the frequency just isn’t there, right? So, you if you look at general councils alone, right? So they should have a broader mandate than income tax. should have well-transferred estate planning. Every family has those issues, but do they have the frequency to warrant bringing that individual, that professional and the rate, the cost? Probably not. a lot, you know, most family offices outsource a fair amount of whether it’s investment management, manager selection and due diligence. So false. Most fair amount offices do outsource a fair amount. Frazer Rice (07:31.374) One the things, this is one of my favorite controversial topics in the family office ecosystem of vendors that are out there is this notion that shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves is a myth. that the, and for those who don’t know what that means is, know, the first generation has generated the wealth, the second one enjoys it. And then the third one for a variety of reasons is ill-equipped to carry the wealth forward. And then everyone kind of goes back. It transcends culture. It’s lily pad to lily pad. You know, there’s a British version and a Russian version and whatever version. But the advice ecosystem around this is such that there’s a lot of debate about the statistics that have, quote unquote, proven that. And I can listen to that and say, yes, those may be very narrow. But there is a myth out there that shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves is a myth. Maybe you have some comments on that. Mark Tepsich Man, this is a tough one. I will say this will probably be the toughest one. So I think once a family becomes wealthy, right? And you can kind of define that as, the wealth, meaning the financial wealth will last a few generations with really out, with really nobody working, right? Let’s just define it that way. It’ll last a couple of generations if you make some not dumb decisions, we’ll call it. I think such as the financial markets today, right, as long as you’re diversified, you will stay wealthy. Does that mean you are going to have the same amount per capita over time? Maybe not, right? So if you look at it today, is a nuclear family of four, and you look at it 50 years from now, and the family is 30 people, right? I don’t know what the growth rate would have to be on those assets. So I think the family will remain wealthy whether they remain, you know, on a per capita basis, right? That’s a different story. I think what this is missing, however, I think the numbers kind of overshadow what this is getting at. I think when you look at it, when you take a step back, that first generation wealth creator, right? Will the family continue to be builders and entrepreneurs down the road? Frazer Rice (09:50.26) That I think that’s the question. Will they continue to kind of reach their full potential? I think that is that should be the focus. I’m going to punt on this one. I think it’s TBD and it’s there’s no set answer. I think the idea that the returns, To get back to your point is that as you go from generation to generation, the complexity increases, I’d say geometrically. Whereas the assets in many ways are going to be designed to increase linearly. And so at some point it may be 14 generations down the line when you’ve got 300 people that you have to take care of, are those assets gonna be in place to be able to support the level of living that people expected in generation one, two, and three? I think that’s the equation we’re all trying to fight. And so I’d say while Shirt Sleeves to Shirt Sleeves isn’t necessarily a prophecy, it’s definitely something that has to be addressed. So I’m gonna say that the fact that Shirt Sleeves to Shirt Sleeves is a myth, I think that’s the myth. Mark Tepsich So that’s where I draw my line in the sand there. think there’s an equation you constantly have to fight. Okay, so here’s another one. Family offices are designed to be permanent. I happen to think that they start out trying to be permanent, but in actuality, they really have to be more flexible and flex with the needs of the family, even at the first or second generation. Yeah, I would agree. Often they’re established for a good reason, right? That reason is complexity. Whether that complexity continues to exist for the family is a different story, right? You might have a business being sold. The family might just say, “hey, we don’t need to do all these direct investments, these alternate investments. Let’s just keep it simple, keep it passive.” I don’t think they’re designed to be permanent. I think families don’t really think about that too much. They want to exist for probably the existing generation that’s leveraging it and they wanna transition it, to your point, be flexible over time. But I don’t think anyone like a business, right? If you think about a business, the business generally speaking, it’s meant to exist in a perpetuity. That’s why you have a business, right? It’s not a sole proprietorship, but a family office, I think it’s TBD, right? So, you know. I don’t think anyone’s setting up a family that will say this is going to exist a thousand years from now. And I think if they came out and said that, think that it would add question and motivations. Frazer Rice Maybe we may be welcoming the Martians, we may be speaking Mandarin. There’s a thousand things that could happen in between here and then, that’s for sure. Here’s a myth that I think you and I are both going to agree is one, which is that family offices, for the ones that we think are going to try to persist, don’t demand necessarily Sarbanes-Oxley or high-end governance. Mark Tepsich I think as family offices mature, meaning as the family evolves, they do need some sort of decision-making framework. Especially if they’re going to really come together and act like somewhat of an institution. What I mean by that is, under the hood of a family office or under the hood of a family, let’s say there’s 10 family members. Let’s say there’s 20 to 25 trusts within that. You know, you could come together and pull your assets, right? And pull your resources. That’s part of the reason for having a family office. And so you just have a larger pool of capital. When you’re doing that, you do need governance. Okay? But if you’re gonna have, it’s just like, hey, we’re gonna have our separate portfolios. We’re not gonna come together and have pooled investment vehicles. You might not need an investment company, okay? And there might be good reasons to have an investment committee. In fact, many the investment committees I see, they’re not like college endowments where, we got eight people or nine people on here. We need to agree at least have five people to agree to allocate to this manager or change the allocation or change the IPS, depending on where that authority resides. I often see many investment committees for families, hey, we’re just collaborative in nature. We’ll get together. We’re going to have a meeting and talk about different strategies. Different advisors, things we should be doing. But if they’ve always had to agree at the family business level, they might not wanna have that same construct in the family office slash investment portfolio. If they’ve always struggled, know, come into agreement at the family business, now they’re gonna like, hey, we’re gonna recreate this dynamic. don’t have a binding construct. In fact, we ran a report, it’s coming out hopefully in the next couple of weeks. on family enterprise governance and a component obviously is the investment committee. 70 % of the investment committees out there are advisory in nature, meaning they don’t make binding decisions. They take it back to the trustees or whoever the authority is and they say, hey, here’s what we think, right? So individual family investors, whoever that is, co-trustees, it’s a, okay. So I do think governance is important, but it depends on what you mean by that, right? Should there be an IPS in place? I 100 % think that each family investor should have an IPS in place. The biggest mistake I see there is, hey, we’ve got this shared pool of capital. We’ve got 50 trusts. We’ve got one single IPS, right? I think that is a big mistake. don’t think that’s good governance. So it really depends on what you mean, but I think, yes, there should be some decision-making framework that you’re following. Otherwise, what exactly are you? Adhering to it, right? Like, what is your framework? What is your decision making tree? Frazer Rice (15:53.902) On top of that, possible myth. Family offices are built on a robust investment function. I mean, yes, there are some that are like that, right? You know, there’s a big names out there, MSD, Pritzker, so on and so forth. Those are the exceptions rather than the rule. Most family offices, 85 to 90 % are formed to manage the complexity, right? So again, otherwise you’re gonna have all these outsourced providers and that just doesn’t make sense when you’re trying to make a decision, because you need all the different parts to come together. They’re often built as administrative functions first, rather than, we’re gonna go start the next, you know, a private equity firm. that’s false. Frazer Rice The, as I like to say, probably to the boredom of a lot of people who talk to me a lot is that a lot of these really are built on a bookkeeping or an accounting spine. You’ve got to manage the inflows and outflows of everything and keep track of what you have or else you can have a great investment function, but things are going to spill all over the place. Mark Tepsich (17:30.872) I’ll never say, yeah. mean, and that actually goes back to good governance, right? So I always say, it’s not provocative. I’ll say, listen, this is not a provocative answer, but you need to create that first. And most of the people that are considering this rate are business owners. So they’ll intuitively get that. In fact, that function might exist somewhere at the business, but it’s really not organized. And without that function, like, it’s hard to make a decision, right? If you’re going to allocate 20 % of your portfolio, to private equity drawdown vehicles. got cap calls, capital commitments, distributions, like that needs to be budgeted and forecasting, right? So a lot of these families will have, one nuclear family can have three to four homes, 10 bank accounts, 20 entities. It’s not like a single piggy bank that you could take cash out of and move it every which way, right? Those are owned by different vehicles, different trusts, different assets and things like that, so. Frazer Rice Here’s a myth that I espouse which is Family offices and whether you have one or not is driven solely by size whether you have five billion or two hundred million or something like that that if you aren’t a certain size you shouldn’t have one and if you’re Of a certain size you must have one. Mark Tepsich That’s a myth. It’s driven by complexity first. I’ve seen, I’ve spoken to people that are worth two to $3 billion. It’s concentrated in a few stocks, meaning like they were early stage employees, right? They’re still in it. They’re getting a healthy dividend at this point. Guy talked to couple years ago. He had two homes, two cars, probably 95 % of his network was tied up into two separate securities that were probably traded. And he’s like, I don’t think I need a family office. You want to know what one was, what it could do from. And I’m like, listen, if you don’t have the complexity, it probably doesn’t make sense. Okay, if you can make a decision within whatever framework you have, whatever complex you have. Now, the other, you know, there is a cost factor to it, right? It gets easier to start a family office, meaning hire a couple of people, if you’ve got the… asset base for it to make sense on a cost perspective. So most of the time it’s driven by complexity, but cost does become a factor, right? If you’re worth a hundred million dollars, you’re to go hire 10 people. That probably doesn’t make sense. Frazer Rice (19:28.342) Right. Well, on top of that too, if you, and there’s a sort of the difference between a family office driven by a liquidity event and meeting that’s, that’s all you have versus a family office that’s tethered or sorry, a family business that’s tethered to it, that is also generating cash flows to help pay for things that that’s a big part of the decision. Because if you’re hiring people, you know, a CIO minimum, absolute minimum is probably $500,000. They’re going to need people, you know, you’re looking at at least 3 million. just to get the thing up and running before you start figuring out what you actually have to do. And so the concept that the size is going to dictate completely, it underscores sort of that cost component that you described there. Frazer Rice This is an interesting one and I like this concept to talk about. Family offices are like institutional capital as investors. Mark Tepsich Again, myth, there are some, again, there are some that are like institutions. They have the size and the sophistication. Oftentimes you see them, they’re former PE or hedge fund founders, right? That just aren’t doing any more of it. They made their wealth in the financial ecosystem, in the markets. And so they’re very sophisticated. But by and large, I mean, they’re sort of quasi-institutional, right? So I’ve seen multi-billion dollar family offices that Again, they’re more of the administrative hub rather than, we’re gonna be splashing around and playing in the markets and using a lot of leverage and doing a lot of control equity investments. So by and large, it’s the myth. 85 to 90 % are institutional-like. They are there to fill a need and that need is complexity management. Frazer Rice Here’s one on a different angle, which is family offices are the goal for people in the wealth management industry to work for, meaning family offices are a great aspiration for people who work in the industry and that that’s universal. Mark Tepsich (21:34.35) Myth, I think it’s an option. I think it’s interesting. I think it is a growing opportunity for folks that work in, you know, maybe wealth management or investment management or the financial ecosystem. But you didn’t, again, family has been around for a long time, but they’ve really only became, you know, kind of popular post global financial crisis with the rise of PE because of ZERP. You know, I’ll talk to a lot of people that are like in the hedge fund ecosystem looking for a change, right? And I say like, listen, like these opportunities for you are out there, but it depends on the family. It depends on their compensation philosophy as on the culture that you’re going to have to live within. There’s a lot of key man risk. Is it an opportunity? Yes. But again, it is, it is family office by family office. Frazer Rice I tell people too, it’s for people who are used to having lots of clients or lots of institutional support that is going to be a shift. It’s different to have one client. It’s different to have a scenario where the business of a family office, the business model of that particular family office can change on a dime. And if you don’t share the last name of the family you’re working for, you could be in a tough spot. Mark Tepsich Yeah, “we’re gonna build out a sustainability impact portfolio. We’re gonna build out, we’re gonna have a direct investment initiative. We’re gonna allocate whatever, a few hundred million dollars to it.” That person, that professional gets there and then a year or two or three years goes by and the strategy changes because a family member too had to change a heart. And then it becomes, okay, why am I here? Where am I gonna go now? So again, they could be great opportunities. I had a great experience.but it really just depends on the family. Frazer Rice (23:26.894) Here’s one, and you’ve got UBS over your shoulder there, so this is dramatic foreshadowing in some ways, but I think it bears talking about. It’s that family offices shun the large institutions, and that they want it bespoke, they want something peculiar all the time. What do you think about that? Mark Tepsich No, I mean, it goes back to the earlier myth that, you know, basically we’re saying family office should, family office do outsource a lot, right? So again, most family offices are five to eight people, right? I call it family office island, meaning you’re there on the island and you’re like, what is going on outside of the island or off of the island? You know your island really well, right? You know the family, know all the facts inside and out, but they are, I mean, there’s a reason why all these institutions, including UBS, has built out the resources to cater to family offices, right? I’m the perfect example. They brought me on to help our clients build family offices, right? They would not do that if it was gonna cannibalize their business. So they could be great clients and other times it’s like, hey, we’re very insular and we’re gonna keep everything close to the vest. Again, it’s family office to family office. But by and large, they’re great wealth clients. Frazer Rice No, and they also, you know, they need institutions to partner with of size, whether it’s at custody or lending or any number of other functions that are out there. Sometimes, you know, the RIA space is such that, you know, they try to be all things to all people and the appeal of being in, you know, the billionaire space. It takes a lot of people and a lot of effort and frankly a different business model to deal with that and to just sort of wander in and say we’re great and we can do these things. I think that’s a short road for a lot of institutions. Frazer Rice (25:17.602) Again, like we are brutally honest too. And I’ll, and here’s what I mean by that. Well, like we’re rated a lot of things, but I’ll say like, listen, there’s things that we can’t do for you. We can’t be your accounting back office, right? Like we just don’t offer that. We don’t have it. We’ve got a couple firms that would do that. They’re pure plays on it. So they’ve got to be good at it. but you know, use the various institutions for what they’re good for. They’re, know, again, that’s why you’ve got a family office. You can kind of pick or choose and be agnostic as to what you’re using them for. Frazer Rice If we wind down here a couple of last ones: The tech that family offices rely on is going to be best in breed. Mark Tepsich I, listen, I have this power station all the time with family office meeting, like what, what, you know, what tech providers should we be looking at? Listen, family office have grown in, right over the past 10, 15 years that there’s not a question. they’re historically, right. had to use in a family office, had to take basically institutional tools, try to repurpose them for the family office and they just, they’re just kind of clunky, right? The family office is still a cottage industry. If you’re trying to sell the family offices, you’re selling the two firms with five to eight employees, right? So the tools are going to continue to get better. But in my opinion, they’re always going to lag the institutional tools and kind of sophistication. But that’s also because institutional tools are very kind of narrow and deep, whereas the family office tech tools, you’ve got the accelerated reporting, but it needs to link to the accounting. That’s an issue. And so the family of standard day is left with like a bunch of disparate fragmented systems that have a challenge talking to each other. With that said, AI, I’ve been talking to a lot of these sort of mom and pop shops, I’ll call them. They’re firms that are trying to incorporate AI to break down these walls. So it’s not fragmented disparate systems. I use the analogy of it’s like jailbreaking an iPhone. I don’t know where this is gonna be in a couple of years, but I think the tools are going to continue to improve. But again, you’re probably not going to take a family office tech tool and deploy it at institutional scale. So if that answers your question, I guess it’s a measure. Frazer Rice First of all, I think it’s going to take a long time before something, quote unquote, replaces Excel, which is still a powerful tool that is flexible and does what it says it’s going to do. And people use it sometimes at their own peril to be the underpinning of everything. the one thing I would add is that the mom and pop software components, I think, have a lot of great ideas. The total market to sell into that, though, does not necessarily make for a great software business. As you say, to get those tools that are specific and required at the family office level to be profitable, you got to figure out a way to sell that into something bigger. I’m not sure there is anything bigger. Mark Tepsich (28:49.358) Yeah, I mean, you’d be better selling it to, you know, small businesses, right? So, I mean, the tools are going to get better, but there’s been a lot of interest recently in the past couple years. I don’t think, I think most of them are not going to survive. I don’t want to say there’s only going to be a couple winners, but on the Consolidated Reported Front, I really think there’s only going be a couple winners because you need scale. And again, family office, if you’re looking to make a decision, you’re like, well, okay, well, 5,000 users use Adapar and 50 use this other platform. So which one are you gonna choose? You don’t wanna onboard to the one that has 50 and then three years down the road, they’re out of business, or there’s fold or something like that. So with scale comes a little bit of security that at least you know that a lot of other people are using. You could point to that. Frazer Rice Last question. Family offices will rival PE firms in terms of influence in the investing market? 85 to 90 % will not rival PE firms. That’s not what they’re set up for. That’s not the goal of most family offices. Again, it’s complexity management. Will some rival PE firms? Yeah. But again, you… Listen, I’ve seen some family office go out there and raise their party capital. When they do that, they’re not a family office anymore. They might have a component in there, but they’re private equity firms. What you’re getting at is private equity firms are raising a fund every couple of years. Can a family office do that? No, because once they do that, they will be a private equity firm. So PE by and large has an infinite capital source, as long as they are good at what they do, right? So with that said, you know, there’s a lot of entrepreneurs that are are post liquidity events have played in the direct investment space, they really wanna do it. They’re still young, right? They’re billers, operators created. They wanna do it from a different vantage point. They’re coming to a realization: “that w”We need to start a fund.” I really love that story because again, they’re founders and operators. They didn’t come from the financial ecosystem first to do this. So I think they’re putting a different spin on PE. I think it’s great for the PE industry as a whole, by the way. And I think, if you’re a founder or a business owner, you might have an easier time taking an equity investment from somebody like that, who’s known in that specific industry that they made their money in, who’s had to make payroll. And they probably have a different timeline than normal PE that’s looking to flip every three to five years. So I think as an investor, I think that would be an interesting investment opportunity, right? And so it’s like, okay, well, part of my PE allocation, you know, This might look interesting. I hesitate to make, you know, I’m not an investment person, so. Frazer Rice Great stuff. Mark, how do people find you and reach out? Mark Tepsich I’m on LinkedIn. I would attempt to just spell my name with my email address at ubs.com, but it’s very lengthy. You just hit me up on LinkedIn. But, Frasier, I appreciate the time. This was great. Frazer Rice I’ll have that in the show notes and as a final parting, we sort of listen to people say, the family space is getting loud. I’m not sure it is. I think the vendors are more loud than the family offices are. I don’t know what your experience is there. Mark Tepsich 100%, the family members themselves are still quiet. You don’t see them out there on LinkedIn. It is the ecosystem to your point around them that is getting loud, right? It’s LinkedIn. It’s like, you know, every time I’m on there, it’s like somebody’s got something to say about families, which is good. Again, if you think about every boom in history, they attract people, right? You could say the same thing about AI, right? But again, it’s become loud, but that’s the industry. It’s not the family offices themselves. Frazer Rice Great stuff. Thanks, Mark. Mark Tepsich Thank you, Frazer. Appreciate it. FAMILY OFFICE DEFINED MORE ON FAMILY OFFICE DESIGN WITH ED MARSHALL https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Actually-Intelligent-Decision-Making-1-ebook/dp/B07FPQJJQT/
Short of approval of state legislation granting the NFL franchise a long-term property tax break at Arlington Park, Pritzker went on to say it's up to the Bears to seek help from individual taxing bodies in and around the 326-acre siteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shaw-local-s-bears-insider-podcast--3098936/support.
Short of approval of state legislation granting the NFL franchise a long-term property tax break at Arlington Park, Pritzker went on to say it's up to the Bears to seek help from individual taxing bodies in and around the 326-acre siteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shaw-local-s-bears-insider-podcast--3098936/support.
WBBM political editor Geoff Buchholz reports on reaction from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and his main Republican challenger Darren Bailey to this week's fatal shooting by an ICE agent of a woman in Minneapolis.
Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureTrump placed tariffs on many nations, the Asian nation exports are surging, even with the tariffs. More money for the people. Fuel prices are below $2 in many states. Trump has cut 646 regulations.Trump is using the Jacksonian Pivot to bring down the [CB] and go back to the constitution. The [DS] is losing it money laundering system. They are having a difficult time funding their operations. Trump is continually putting the squeeze on the [DS] and each nation run by dictators is going to fall one by one. Trump gave the [DS] 8 months to comply with his EO. He brought the NG into their states, they forced them out. He gave them a chance but they decided to escalate the situation. Next move is POTUS. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2008258196322856968?s=20 all-time high. This is despite US tariffs which were initially set at to 49%, but later negotiated down to ~20%. At the same time, Chinese exports to the US plunged -40% YoY in Q3 2025. This comes as the region has a massive cost advantage over US and European manufacturing, which ranges from 20% to 100%, even after tariffs. Companies use Southeast Asian economies as alternative export bases to avoid China’s 37% reciprocal tariff. As a result, the amount of trade rerouting from China hit a record $23.7 billion in September. US trade flows are shifting sharply amid tariffs. https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/2008327708200104042?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2008516399564509382?s=20 https://twitter.com/DrJStrategy/status/2008306299235189133?s=20 and a decisive shift of policy emphasis toward productive capital and economic sovereignty rather than financial engineering, Trump has reoriented the engines of growth toward productive capital, investment, industry, and national capacity. Anchored by the Trump Corollary, asserting a sovereign, American‑led Western Hemisphere and demonstrated in both the flawless military operation in Venezuela and the broader regime‑pressure strategy, this doctrine is not theater but an integrated fusion of economic, security, and hemispheric power. These changes are as profound in their structural implications as the original Jacksonian pivot, and those who assume Trump is a merely performative politician and strategist are therefore sorely mistaken, confusing a disruptive style with a coherent focused project to realign America's coalition, its economic model, and its role in the world. Political/Rights https://twitter.com/KatieMiller/status/2008286018722562351?s=20 https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/2008263492030349618?s=20 Hilton Axes Hotel From Their Systems After Video Shows Them Continuing to Ban DHS and ICE Agents https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2008497245826556404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008497245826556404%7Ctwgr%5E65c50b3797a2e502ba8c026a05c290955554706a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2026%2F01%2F06%2Fhilton-axes-hotel-from-their-systems-after-video-shows-them-continuing-to-ban-dhs-and-ice-agents-n2197811 Less than two hours after the video had been uploaded to X, Hilton issued another statement saying they were dropping that particular hotel from their list of franchisees and accusing ownership of lying to them about making corrections to their policy. https://twitter.com/HiltonNewsroom/status/2008522493171298503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008522493171298503%7Ctwgr%5E65c50b3797a2e502ba8c026a05c290955554706a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2026%2F01%2F06%2Fhilton-axes-hotel-from-their-systems-after-video-shows-them-continuing-to-ban-dhs-and-ice-agents-n2197811 Source: redstate.com https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2008256013162410201?s=20 mandatory detention without bond hearings. Judges opposing the move admitted the goal is to promote self-deportation rather than extended courtroom battles. Conservatives say the numbers reveal a coordinated judicial campaign to override Trump’s immigration policy. SCOTUS has yet to rule on the matter. DOGE Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board Votes to Dissolve Organization in Act of Responsible Stewardship to Protect the Future of Public Media The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress to steward the federal government's investment in public broadcasting, announced today that its Board of Directors has voted to dissolve the organization after 58 years of service to the American public. The decision follows Congress's rescission of all of CPB's federal funding and comes after sustained political attacks that made it impossible for CPB to continue operating as the Public Broadcasting Act intended. Source: cpb.org Geopolitical https://twitter.com/Object_Zero_/status/2008524560891588691?s=20 flight path (ballistic or powered) from Kola to anywhere on the lower 48, then everything goes over Greenland. Greenland is the theatre where any strategic exchange between Washington and Moscow is contested. If you want to intercept a ballistic missile, the best point to do so is at the apogee, at the top of the flight path. The shortest route for an interceptor to get to an apogee is from directly below the apogee. That's where Greenland is. So, without stating what should happen here, this is **why** the Trump administration says they **need** Greenland for national security. The other thing that is happening is that the Northern Passage through the Arctic is opening up, and soon there will be Chinese cargo ships sailing through the Arctic to Rotterdam. It's faster than the Suez and the ships aren't limited to Suezmax size so China and EU trade is going to accelerate a lot. This means Chinese submarines will also be venturing under the Arctic into the Northern Atlantic, IF THEY AREN'T ALREADY DOING SO. Hence, the North East coast of Greenland serves not 1 but 2 critical strategic security objectives of US national security. If this wasn't clear to you, please understand that the Mercator global map projection is for children and journalists only. It is not a useful guide to where any countries or territories actually are in the real world that we live in. No self respecting adult should be using Mercator for their worldview. Anyone saying “there must be some other secret reason for Trump being interested in Greenland” is a certified ignoramus. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2008414070425206927?s=20 permission from the Ministry of Defense. “We want to clarify that what happened in downtown Caracas was because some drones flew over without permission and the police fired dissuasive shots. No confrontation took place. The whole country is in total tranquility,” said a Spokesman for the Information Ministry. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2008420269480694261?s=20 Miraflores Presidential Palace. Seems like a failed coup attempt https://twitter.com/jackprandelli/status/2008298246675021881?s=20 offshore oil, creating a massive geopolitical risk. The most immediate outcome in capture of Maduro is to neutralize this threat and secure the operating companies stakes in Guyana, as well as Western Hemisphere’s energy security. By stabilizing Guyana’s production, which is set to hit 1.7 million barrels per day, the intervention guarantees way more oil flow in near term than reviving Venezuela’s aged infrastructure and heavy sour oil. This move protects billions in U.S. investment and positions Guyana producers as the ultimate winners. https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/2008448254095012088?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2008591197728813564?s=20 Mass Protests Enter 9th Straight Day in Iran — Regime Accused of Killing Young Woman and Multiple Peaceful Protesters as Officials Deny Responsibility — Brave 11-Year-Old Iranian Boy Calls on Nation: “Take to the Streets! We Have Nothing to Lose!” (VIDEO) Protests against Iran's murderous Islamic regime continued across the country for a ninth straight day over the weekend, as nationwide unrest intensifies and the government struggles to maintain control. Demonstrations have now spread to multiple cities throughout Iran, with citizens openly defying the Islamic Republic and targeting its symbols of power. The latest wave of protests was initially sparked by the collapse of Iran's currency, further devastating an already-crippled economy and pushing ordinary Iranians to the brink. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2008537318035173629?s=20 https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2008532051331526713?s=20 https://twitter.com/infantrydort/status/2008501122902774238?s=20 when reminded that teeth still exist. They insist the world runs on rules now and that borders are sacred. Also that true power has been replaced by paperwork. This belief is not moral in the least. It's f*****g archaeological. They live inside institutions built by violence, defended by men they no longer understand, and guaranteed by forces they refuse to acknowledge. Like tourists wandering a fortress, they admire the stonework while mocking the idea of a siege. They confuse order with nature. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Then blame the person that reminds them of this. Civilization is not the default state of humanity. It is an achievement that is temporary, fragile, and expensive. It exists only where force once cleared the ground and still quietly patrols the perimeter. A lion does not debate the ethics of hunger. Neither does a starving empire. History is not a morality play, it is a pressure test. When pressure rises, abstractions collapse first. Laws follow power; they do NOT precede it. Property exists only where someone can prevent it from being taken. Sovereignty is not declared, it is enforced. The modern West outsourced this enforcement, then forgot the invoice existed. So when someone points out uncomfortable realities (whether about Greenland, Venezuela, or the broader balance of power) they respond with ritual incantations: “You can't do that.” “That's wrong.” “That's against the rules.” As if the rules themselves are armed. As if history paused because we asked nicely. This is how empires fall. Not from invasion alone, but from conceptual rot. From mistaking a long season of safety for a permanent condition. From believing lethality is immoral instead of foundational. Every civilization that forgot how violence works eventually relearned it the hard way. The conquerors did not arrive because they were monsters; they arrived because their victims could no longer imagine them. The tragedy is not that power still exists. The tragedy is that so many have forgotten it does. Idk who needs to hear this but civilization is a garden grown atop a graveyard. Ignore the soil, and someone else will plant something far less gentle. Hate me for being the messenger and asking the hard questions about conquest if you want. You're just wasting your time. War/Peace Zelenskyy Announces the Appointment of Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland as Economic Advisor Chrystia Freeland was the former lead of the Canadian trade delegation when Trudeau realized he needed to try and offset the economic damage within the renegotiated NAFTA agreement known as the USMCA. Freeland was also the lead attack agent behind the debanking effort against Canadian truckers who opposed the vaccine mandate. In addition to holding Ukraine roots, the ideology of Chrystia Freeland as a multinational globalist and promoter for the World Economic Forum's ‘new world order' is well documented. given the recent revelations about billions of laundered aid funds being skimmed by corrupt members of the Ukraine government, we can only imagine how much of the recovery funds would be apportioned to maintaining the life of indulgence the political leaders expect. In response to the lucrative “voluntary” appointment, Chrystia Freeland has announced her resignation from Canadian government in order to avoid any conflict of interest as the skimming is organized. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2008618653500273072?s=20 https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/2008610869924757613?s=20 this aligns with Trump’s stated approach, where Europe takes a leading role in postwar security but with American support to ensure durability—such as the proposed 15-year (or potentially longer) guarantees discussed in recent talks. The “Coalition of the Willing” (including the UK, France, Germany, and others) is coordinating these pledges to reassure Kyiv, but the framework explicitly ties into U.S.-backed elements like ceasefire verification and long-term armaments. Russia has not yet shown willingness to compromise on core demands, so the deal’s success remains uncertain, but this step advances the security pillar of the overall plan. Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/DerrickEvans4WV/status/2008435766742179996?s=20 dangerous diseases. Parents can still choose to give their children all of the Vaccinations, if they wish, and they will still be covered by insurance. However, this updated Schedule finally aligns the United States with other Developed Nations around the World. Congratulations to HHS Secretary Bobby Kennedy, CDC Acting Director Jim O'Neil, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, CMS Administrator Dr. Oz, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, and all of the Medical Experts and Professionals who worked very hard to make this happen. Many Americans, especially the “MAHA Moms,” have been praying for these COMMON SENSE reforms for many years. Thank you for your attention to this matter! DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2008416829404746084?s=20 https://twitter.com/WeTheMedia17/status/2008558203077095579?s=20 President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2008278499153637883?s=20 who tried to kill Justice Kavanaugh at his family home in Maryland. Read: https://twitter.com/mirandadevine/status/2008312587197497804?s=20 https://twitter.com/PubliusDefectus/status/2008542355838955625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008542355838955625%7Ctwgr%5E08a8ea4b3726984aaeb1e460fafe90ec5a25b84f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhillary-clinton-launches-attack-trump-january-6%2F Developing: Lt. Michael Byrd Who Shot Ashli Babbitt Dead on Jan. 6, 2021 in Cold Blood, Runs an ‘Unaccredited' Day-Care Center in Maryland at His Home and Has Pocketed $190 Million in HHS Funds Captain Michael Byrd and his home daycare in Maryland. In one of his autopen's last acts before Joe Biden left office was to pardon Capt. Mike Byrd, the DC officer who shot and killed January 6 protester Ashli Babbitt in cold blood during the protests on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. Paul Sperry discovered recently and posted on Tuesday that Former Lt., now Captain Mike Byrd, has been running an unaccredited day-care center with his wife in their Maryland home since 2008. That is nearly 17 years! The Byrds have received $190 million in this HHS day-care scheme. Via Paul Sperry. Via Karli Bonne at Midnight Rider: https://twitter.com/PattieRose20/status/2008547480431218991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008547480431218991%7Ctwgr%5Ec607b3d9ed0b3fbdb6e390fdfadc416d9a45a379%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F%3Fp%3D1506321 Source: thegatewaypundit.com The White House has published a page revealing the full TRUE story of January 6 — before, during, and after. It includes: – Video and evidence showing Nancy Pelosi's involvement – A complete, detailed timeline of events – A tribute to those who died on or because of J6 A full investigation into Nancy Pelosi and everyone involved is now essential. You can view the page here: https://whitehouse.gov/j6/ https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/2008569594550895005?s=20 EKO Put This Out April 28, 2025. President Trump signs Executive Order 14287 in the Oval Office. The title reads like standard bureaucracy: “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens.” But in the third paragraph, a single phrase changes everything: Sanctuary jurisdictions are engaging in “a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law.” Insurrection. The exact statutory term from 10 U.S.C. §§ 332-333 . The language that unlocks the Insurrection Act of 1807. Georgetown Law professor Martin Lederman publishes analysis within days. The executive order mirrors Section 334 requirements. The formal proclamation to disperse before military deployment. It designates unlawful actors, issues formal warning, establishes consequences. Governors dismiss it as political theater. Constitutional attorneys recognize something else. The proclamation was already issued. Trump just didn't announce it as such. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK January 20, 2025. Inauguration Day. Hours after taking the oath, Trump issues Proclamation 10886 declaring a national emergency at the southern border. Section 6(b) requires a joint report within 90 days on whether to invoke the Insurrection Act. The deadline falls April 20, 2025. Eight days later comes Executive Order 14287 . National emergency declaration establishes crisis conditions. The 90-day clock forces formal evaluation. The executive order provides the legal predicate. Section 334 of the Insurrection Act mandates the president issue a proclamation ordering insurgents to disperse before deploying military force. April 28 order satisfies every requirement. It names the actors. Describes their unlawful conduct. Warns of consequences. Grants opportunity to comply. Governors treated it as negotiation leverage. It was legal notification. The trap locked in April 2025. Everything since has been documentation. THE TESTING PHASE Throughout 2025, the administration attempts standard enforcement. National Guard deployments under existing authority. October 4, 2025 . Trump federalizes 300 Illinois National Guard members to protect ICE personnel in Chicago. Governor J.B. Pritzker files immediate legal challenge. Federal courts block the deployment. Posse Comitatus restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement. November 2025 . Portland judge issues permanent injunction against Guard deployment in Oregon. December 23, 2025 . The Supreme Court denies emergency relief in Trump v. Illinois. Justice Kavanaugh files a brief concurrence with a consequential footnote: “One apparent ramification of the Court's opinion is that it could cause the President to use the U.S. military more than the National Guard.” Northwestern Law professor Paul Gowder decodes the signal : “This is basically an invitation for Trump to go straight to the Insurrection Act next time.” The courts established ordinary measures cannot succeed when states organize systematic resistance. They certified that regular law enforcement has become impracticable. They documented the exact threshold Section 332 requires. The founders designed a system that assumed conflict between federal and state authority. For decades, that friction was suppressed. Emergency powers normalized after 9/11, federal agencies expanded into state domains, courts deferred to administrative expertise. The Guard deployment battles weren't system failure. They were constitutional gravity reasserting itself. Courts blocking deployments under Posse Comitatus didn't weaken Trump's position. They certified that ordinary measures had become impracticable, crossing Section 332's threshold. December 31, 2025 . Trump announces Guard withdrawal from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland via Truth Social. Governor Newsom celebrates: “President Trump has finally admitted defeat.” But the machine's interpretation misreads strategic repositioning as retreat. You cannot claim ordinary measures have been exhausted if contested forces remain deployed. Pull back. Let obstruction resume unchecked. Document the refusal. Then demonstrate what unilateral executive action looks like when constitutional authority aligns. THE DEMONSTRATION Trump v. United States . THE HIDDEN NETWORKS Intelligence sources describe what the roundups since fall 2025 actually target. Embedded cartel operatives running fentanyl distribution chains under state-level protection. The riots following military arrests aren't organic resistance. They're funded backlash from criminal enterprises losing billions. Pre-staged materials appear at protest sites. Simultaneous actions coordinate across jurisdictions. The coordination runs deeper. Federal employee networks across multiple agencies held Zoom training sessions in early 2025. Officials with verified government IDs discussed “non-cooperation as non-violent direct action,” the 3.5% rule for governmental collapse, and infrastructure sabotage through coordinated sick calls. They planned to make federal law enforcement impracticable. The exact language Section 332 requires. Sanctuary policies exist because cartel operations generate billions flowing through state systems. Governors sit on nonprofit boards receiving federal grants. Those nonprofits contract back to state agencies, cycling federal dollars through “charitable” organizations. Cartel cash launders through these same construction and real estate networks. When Trump's operations extract high-value targets, they disrupt the business model. The Machine defends itself through coordinated obstruction designed to make federal enforcement impracticable. This transcends immigration policy. This tests whether states can capture governance for criminal enterprises and nullify federal supremacy. THE LINCOLN PARALLEL Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation confounded supporters and critics alike. Abolitionists expected moral thunder. Instead they received dry legalese about “military necessity” and “war powers.” The document deliberately avoided the word “freedom.” It specified which states, parishes, counties. It exempted border states still in the Union. Constitutional historians recognize the genius. Lincoln wasn't making a moral proclamation. He was establishing irreversible legal predicate under war powers. Once issued, even Northern defeat couldn't fully restore slavery. The proclamation made restoration of the old order structurally impossible. Trump's April 28 order follows identical construction. Critics expected immigration rhetoric. Instead: technical language about “unlawful insurrection” and “federal supremacy.” Specified sanctuary jurisdictions, formal notification procedures, funding suspensions. Avoided inflammatory language. Constitutional attorneys recognize the structure. Irreversible legal predicate under insurrection powers. Even political defeat cannot fully restore sanctuary authority. States would have to prove they're not in systematic insurrection. Both presidents disguised constitutional warfare as administrative procedure. THE COMPLETE RECORD When you review the eight-month timeline you recognize what most ‘experts' miss. The April 28 EO satisfied every Section 334 requirement. It designated sanctuary conduct as insurrection. It provided formal notification. It established consequences. It granted eight months to comply. Compliance never arrived. California and New York passed laws shielding criminal networks. Illinois officials threatened to prosecute ICE agents. Multiple states coordinated legal defenses against federal authority. Courts blocked every standard enforcement attempt. They certified that ordinary measures have become impracticable. Every statutory requirement checks complete: Formal proclamation warning insurgents to disperse: April 28, 2025 Executive Order 14287 Extended opportunity to comply: Eight months from April to December 2025 Documented systematic multi-state obstruction: Sanctuary laws, prosecution threats, coordinated resistance Exhausted ordinary enforcement measures: Guard deployments blocked by federal courts Judicial certification of impracticability: Supreme Court ruling with Kavanaugh footnote The legal architecture stands finished. The predicate has been established. Only the final triggering event remains. Thomas Jefferson signed the Insurrection Act into law on March 3, 1807 . He understood executive authority: forge the instrument ahead of the storm, then await the conditions that justify its use. Abraham Lincoln used it to preserve the Union when eleven states organized systematic resistance. Ulysses S. Grant invoked it to shatter the Ku Klux Klan when Southern governments refused to protect Black citizens. Dwight Eisenhower deployed federal troops to enforce Brown v. Board when Arkansas chose defiance. Each invocation followed the same pattern. Local authorities refuse to enforce federal law. The president issues formal proclamation. Forces deploy when resistance continues. The current situation exceeds every historical precedent in scale and coordination. Multiple state governments coordinating systematic obstruction. Sanctuary jurisdictions spanning dozens of cities. Criminal enterprises funding the resistance through captured state institutions. The April proclamation gave them eight months to stand down. They chose escalation. THE COUNTDOWN The January 4 statement confirms what the legal timeline already established. Prerequisites met. Constitutional threshold crossed and judicially certified. The operational timeline is active. The next escalation triggers the formal dispersal order. Section 334 requires the president issue proclamation ordering insurgents to “disperse and retire peaceably to their abodes” before deploying military force. That's the legal tripwire. Once issued, if obstruction persists after the compliance window closes, federal troops can enforce federal law. Active duty forces under the Insurrection Act. Constitutional. Unreviewable. The forces won't conduct door-to-door immigration raids. They'll provide security perimeters while federal law enforcement executes targeted operations against high-value assets. Operatives. Trafficking nodes. Criminal infrastructure. Targeting oath-bound officials elected and appointed, as well as federal employees who swore to uphold federal law and chose insurrection instead. THE RESTORATION Sanctuary jurisdictions received explicit insurrection warnings last spring. More than half a year to comply. Every olive branch rejected. Courts blocked ordinary enforcement repeatedly, certifying impracticability. The Venezuela op demonstrated unilateral resolve. Yesterday's statement activated the operational sequence. Pattern recognized. Machine is exposed. Evidence is complete. What remains is execution. They're just waiting to hear it tick. The most powerful weapon restrains until every prerequisite aligns. Until mercy extends fully and meets systematic rejection. Until the constitutional framework demands its use. Every prerequisite has aligned. Mercy has been extended and rejected. The framework demands its use. Revolution destroys. Reversion restores. The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves. The Insurrection Proclamation frees a republic. https://twitter.com/EkoLovesYou/status/2008304655156342936?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2008597603412308341?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");
Traditional therapy ends at the office door — but mental health crises don't keep business hours.When a suicidal executive couldn't wait another month between sessions, ChatGPT became his lifeline. Author Rajiv Kapoor shares how AI helped this man reconnect with his daughter, save his marriage, and drop from a 15/10 crisis level to manageable — all while his human therapist remained in the picture.This episode reveals how AI can augment therapy, protect your privacy while doing it, and why deepfakes might be more dangerous than nuclear weapons.You'll learn specific prompting techniques to make AI actually useful, the exact settings to protect your data, and why Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's AI therapy ban might be dangerously backwards.Key Topics Covered:How a suicidal business executive used ChatGPT as a 24/7 therapy supplementThe "persona-based prompting" technique that makes AI conversations actually helpfulWhy traditional therapy's monthly gap creates dangerous vulnerability windowsPrivacy protection: exact ChatGPT settings to anonymize your mental health dataThe RTCA prompt structure (Role, Task, Context, Ask) for getting better AI responsesHow to create your personal "board of advisors" inside ChatGPT (Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, etc.)Why deepfakes are potentially more dangerous than nuclear weaponsThe $25 million Hong Kong deepfake heist that fooled finance executives on ZoomChatGPT-5's PhD-level intelligence and what it means for everyday usersHow to protect elderly parents from AI voice cloning scamsNOTE: This episode was originally published September 16th, 2025Resources:Books: AI Made Simple (3rd Edition), Prompting Made Simple by Rajeev Kapur----GUEST WEBSITE:https://rajeev.ai/ ----TIMESTAMPS0:00 — The 2 AM mental health crisis therapy can't solve1:30 — How one executive went from suicidal to stable using ChatGPT5:15 — Why traditional therapy leaves dangerous gaps in care9:18 — Persona-based prompting: the technique that actually works13:47 — Privacy protection: exact ChatGPT settings you need to change18:53 — How to anonymize your mental health data before uploading24:12 — The RTCA prompt structure (Role, Task, Context, Ask)28:04 — Are humans even ethical enough to judge AI ethics?30:32 — Why deepfakes are more dangerous than nuclear weapons32:18 — The $25 million Hong Kong deepfake Zoom heist34:50 — Universal basic income and the 3-day work week future36:19 — Where to find Rajiv's books: AI Made Simple & Prompting Made Simple
He's running for the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois, and shares his resume with the Annie Frey Show. But can he beat Pritzker?
Ryan Wrecker talks with Dylan Sharkey about Illinois' grocery tax changes, shifting the 1 percent tax from a statewide requirement to an optional local levy, and the debate over Governor J.B. Pritzker claiming credit for eliminating it. Sharkey explains how Illinois compares to other states on grocery and overall taxes, concerns about the state budget process and transparency, regional political divides, and the pressure of property taxes and pension costs.
Hour 3 centers on the Minnesota fraud scandal, with Braden Perry breaking down how prosecutors build large federal fraud cases, likely charges, following money domestically and overseas, statute of limitations issues, and political factors affecting investigations. Ryan also weighs in on media trust, reacting to a CBS anchor's on-air pledge and contrasting network coverage of the fraud story. The hour includes discussion on higher education and Western civilization, a brief health update on Scott Adams, and an interview with Dylan Sharkey on Illinois' grocery tax changes, budget transparency problems, property taxes, universal basic income pilots, federal education funding, and Governor J.B. Pritzker's national ambitions.
Ryan Wrecker fills in across all three hours with a wide-ranging show covering politics, culture, media, and policy. The program opens with workplace banter, national headlines, and New York politics surrounding Zoran Mamdani, followed by market updates, Boeing defense contracts, tariff delays, and discussion of Elon Musk's Neuralink. Ryan Schmelz joins to break down Capitol Hill battles, government funding deadlines, ACA subsidy debates, midterm-year dynamics, foreign policy developments, and the chaotic Sugar Bowl finish between Ole Miss and Georgia. Later hours focus on alleged large-scale Minnesota fraud involving federal aid programs, media trust and newsroom bias, higher education and Western civilization debates, and a somber health update on Scott Adams. Braden Perry provides a legal breakdown of how prosecutors build major fraud cases, while Dylan Sharkey examines Illinois grocery tax changes, budget transparency issues, property taxes, universal basic income pilots, education funding, and Governor J.B. Pritzker's national ambitions. The full show blends serious policy discussion with pop culture, sports, and humor throughout.
What is going on in Minnesota?! A massive fraud scandal is exposed, raising serious questions surrounding local leadership, immigration, and the use of American taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile, is #NeverTrump over? And finally, Pope Leo is “very disappointed” by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's latest decision. All this and more on the LOOPcast!Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast02:22 SERIOUS Business in Minnesota30:51 #NeverTrump is Over46:48 Good News50:41 Pope Leo Christmas + Pritzer is a Disappointment55:40 Twilight Zone1:01:33 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: loopcast@catholicvote.org SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2 Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.
More facts continue to come out around the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Who knew about the plan to murder Charlie Kirk, and when did they know it? Vice President JD Vance hosted Charlie's show yesterday and welcomed those who knew him best. The vice president goes scorched-earth on those who mocked the murder of Charlie Kirk. Should the Right try to expose those who are dancing on Charlie Kirk's grave? Hollywood is boycotting Israel. Attorney General Pam Bondi suggests the Department of Justice is about to target "hate speech," whatever that means. Looking into the “Armed Queers SLC” group that may have known about the Charlie Kirk assassination ahead of time. Robert Redford has passed away at the age of 89. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there will be no Palestinian state. How many COVID boosters are we up to? Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker calls out President Trump. Get ready for a crime cleanup, Memphis! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Original air date: August 28, 2025 This week, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker delivered an extraordinary takedown of President Trump over his deployment of the military in U.S. cities. Trump then exploded about Pritzker's impudence, calling the governor names and instructing him to bow down and beg for his “HELP” in fighting crime. Trump has threatened twice to occupy Chicago no matter what the city's residents and their elected representatives think about it, another window into his seething anger. In this standoff, Pritzker did something unusual: He communicated with his constituents from the heart, vowing to use all his power to protect them from Trump's authoritarian takeover. Rather than let Trump pretend he cares about crime, Pritzker cast Trump as the primary threat to his state's people. We talked to Brian Beutler, who has a great new piece on his substack, Off Message, taking stock of Pritzker's response. We discuss how Pritzker is shrewdly reading the moment in a way many Democrats are not, why Trump is vulnerable on crime, and what the punditry is getting so wrong about all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Original air date: August 28, 2025 This week, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker delivered an extraordinary takedown of President Trump over his deployment of the military in U.S. cities. Trump then exploded about Pritzker's impudence, calling the governor names and instructing him to bow down and beg for his “HELP” in fighting crime. Trump has threatened twice to occupy Chicago no matter what the city's residents and their elected representatives think about it, another window into his seething anger. In this standoff, Pritzker did something unusual: He communicated with his constituents from the heart, vowing to use all his power to protect them from Trump's authoritarian takeover. Rather than let Trump pretend he cares about crime, Pritzker cast Trump as the primary threat to his state's people. We talked to Brian Beutler, who has a great new piece on his substack, Off Message, taking stock of Pritzker's response. We discuss how Pritzker is shrewdly reading the moment in a way many Democrats are not, why Trump is vulnerable on crime, and what the punditry is getting so wrong about all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tune in here to this Friday edition of the Brett Winterble Show! Robyn Pfaffman, filling in on today’s edition of the show, discusses several timely topics, primarily focused on Democratic politics and recent actions by President Donald Trump. One recent development she highlights is Trump’s announcement that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at The White House on Sunday. On the Democratic side, Pfaffman explores the concept she refers to as “Democrat Mommy Makeovers.” In reference to the "Mommy Makeovers", Pfaffman explains that she was recently watching CNN and observed former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appearing on the network with a beard, which she suggests was intended to make him look older and more masculine. She also notes that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker appeared slimmer in a recent CNN appearance, estimating that he has lost about 20 to 30 pounds. Pfaffman is also joined by Newsmax host Todd Starnes, who weighs in on the current state of the Democratic Party. Starnes discusses several recent developments, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s potential presidential ambitions. He also names lawmakers he believes are exerting significant influence within the party, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett and Ilhan Omar. Starnes argues that the Democratic Party has become “radically progressive” and is leaning toward socialism. Listen here for all of this and more on The Brett Winterble Show! For more from Brett Winterble check out his YouTube channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This special edition of Illinois in Focus looks back at the biggest stories of 2025. From Gov. J.B. Pritzker's controversial budget address to Illinois DOGE's findings on billions flowing to NGOs, federal enforcement actions in Chicago, and new gun laws set to take effect in 2026. We revisit the moments that shaped Illinois politics this year. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Are the Chicago Bears really preparing to leave Illinois?
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker joins Marc Elias for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about governing through constant crisis and confronting the growing threat to American democracy. Pritzker reflects on balancing Illinois' budget, leading through COVID, responding to the migrant crisis, and pushing back against what he describes as Donald Trump's authoritarian tactics—from ICE and CBP raids in Chicago to attacks on civil liberties and democratic norms. Drawing on Holocaust history and his own life experience, he explains how democracies erode and why the danger is real. Looking ahead to 2026, Pritzker argues that while democracy is the foundational issue of our time, elections are won on kitchen-table concerns like wages, rent, healthcare, and affordability, sharply criticizing Trump's tariffs as hidden taxes on working families. The interview offers a clear-eyed look at leadership, values, and what it will take to defend democracy and win going forward. Support independent journalism: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/member-youtube Stay informed with the latest news and political analysis: https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/youtube Follow Democracy Docket: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/democracydocket.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/democracydocket Facebook: https://facebook.com/democracydocket X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemocracyDocket TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@democracydocket Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocke
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed $1.5 billion public transit-funding legislation, but Illinois consumers are expected to pay the price with higher taxes and tolls. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2111 Tuesday at Union Station in Chicago. The measure establishes the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) to replace the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and oversee the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace. The governor promised that Illinois is on the verge of a world-class transportation network. “This new law not only averts the cliff but preserves affordability and makes transit safer and more reliable,” Pritzker said. The bill passed after more than two years of discussion centered around an estimated $770 million transit “fiscal cliff” looming in 2026, but the number was revised last summer to around $250 million. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
From the disastrous legacy of Obamacare to the "lawfare" failing in Georgia, the truth is finally winning! We're seeing stalling jobs, "Blue Slip" judicial gatekeeping, and dangerous criminals released onto our streets by leaders like Pritzker—while BLM leaders are exposed for million-dollar fraud. It is time to end the nonsense, secure the border, and put American safety and national security over corporate profits! ⚖️
In this episode Pastor Raef looks at a recent bill that was signed into law in Illinois making Illinois 12th state to allow physician-assisted suicide. We'll think about this biblically. Then we'll look at the insane reality of what has happened in Canada with similar laws. And then we'll end by considering how to handle three common argument for physician assisted suicide laws.Resourceshttps://wgntv.com/news/illinois/gov-pritzker-signs-bill-making-illinois-12th-state-to-allow-physician-assisted-suicide/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HLwSO6HnSA&rco=1https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pritzker-approves-physician-assisted-suicide-law-terminally-ill-patients-despite-catholic-opposition
Greg Bishop discusses the enactment of a bill Gov. J.B. Pritzker says ushers in a world class mass transit system. Opponents say the measure allows for increased taxes and tolls, while also diverting road fund money away from downstate. Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_6e028b31-4a06-402e-9da3-0ceac33bdf41.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Top headlines for Wednesday, December 17, 2025In this episode, authorities release images of a person of interest in the Brown University shooting that left two students dead, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rules a Catholic charity can be exempt from unemployment insurance taxes, and Illinois legalizes assisted suicide, sparking debate over freedom and morality.00:11 FBI releases images of person of interest in Brown Univ. shooting00:56 Wisconsin Supreme Court says Catholic charity now exempt from tax01:45 Top conservative rebukes of Trump for 'grotesque' Rob Reiner post02:32 Illinois Gov. Pritzker signs assisted suicide bill into law03:23 Wife of US missionary sentenced 24 years in prison for his murder04:18 Angel Studios' 'Animal Farm' to star transgender-identified actor05:09 Hobby Lobby gives away 500,000 copies of 'The Case for Christmas'Subscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on XChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsFBI releases images of person of interest in Brown Univ. shooting | U.S.Wisconsin Supreme Court says Catholic charity now exempt from tax | PoliticsTop conservative rebukes of Trump for 'grotesque' Rob Reiner post | PoliticsIllinois Gov. Pritzker signs assisted suicide bill into law | PoliticsWife of US missionary sentenced 24 years in prison for his murder | WorldAngel Studios' 'Animal Farm' to star transgender-identified actor | EntertainmentHobby Lobby gives away 500,000 copies of 'The Case for Christmas' | Business
Greg Bishop reviews a recent Office of Executive Inspector General annual report showing a record-breaking number of complaints against Illinois state employees and Gov. J.B. Pritzker's reaction to the growing trend of cases of wrongdoing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for December 12, 2025. 0:30 We dig into new FBI data showing that California led the nation in active shooter incidents from 2020 to 2024 — 25 incidents, more than any other state — and the irony is impossible to ignore. This is the same state with the most aggressive gun control regime in the country: assault weapon bans, magazine limits, waiting periods, registration, red flag laws, ammo restrictions, carry permit mandates — layers upon layers of regulation. If gun control worked the way it’s sold emotionally and rhetorically, California should be the safest state in America. It’s not. That’s the core question they keep coming back to: why doesn’t gun control work where it exists the most? The answer is uncomfortable for the left. Laws don’t stop criminals. They only restrict law-abiding citizens. Shooters don’t follow magazine limits, don’t wait ten days, don’t register firearms, and don’t ask permission. California’s system controls one group of people — responsible citizens — while leaving violent criminals untouched. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The US trade deficit dropped to the lowest level in five years.That's according to data released by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Half of the commercial drivers licenses issued in the state of New York to foreign workers were issued illegally. The Leader of Black Lives Matter in Oklahoma has been arrested for embezzling $3.15 million. 12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 We step back from politics and wrestle with one of the oldest and hardest questions there is: why God allows suffering. We reflect on how some tragedies are so overwhelming, so senseless, that the only human response is to ask “why.” And they point to the assassination of Charlie Kirk as one of those moments — a young man devoted to ideas, speech, and persuasion, taken suddenly, leaving behind a family and a nation trying to make sense of it. 15:00 American Mamas Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson tackle a listener question that hits a nerve for a lot of people: what do you do when you’re in your late 50s, you know you still have something to offer — but you don’t feel a clear passion anymore? The Mamas talk about how passion isn’t always something you “figure out” in advance. Sometimes it finds you. Sometimes it only makes sense in hindsight. They reflect on how certain seasons — raising children, leading nonprofits, stepping into unexpected roles — demand everything you have, and when they end, it can feel disorienting. But that doesn’t mean you’re empty. It means you’re available. If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 After revisiting the debate over gun laws and crime, we dig into a case out of Atlanta where a homeowner shot two juveniles allegedly stealing packages off his porch. While no one defends theft, the discussion makes a clear distinction between protecting property and using deadly force. Gun rights come with limits, and firing at someone who is fleeing raises serious legal and moral questions. Exercising a right irresponsibly only undermines the right itself. 26:30 We move on to Maryland, where lawmakers are considering a $25-an-hour minimum wage — a move activists are calling “survival,” not radical. But survival for whom? We break down what a $25 minimum wage actually means for employers, especially small businesses, and why economists warn it could lock people out of the workforce entirely. When the first rung on the ladder costs $52,000 a year, employers stop taking chances — and the people shut out first are young workers with no experience. California is a real-time case study: higher mandated wages, fewer jobs, more automation, and young people locked out of entry-level work altogether. The conclusion is blunt — every time government raises the minimum wage, someone becomes unemployable by law. 32:00 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 President Trump signed legislation this week honoring the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team — and on the surface, it’s exactly what you’d expect: a celebration of grit, teamwork, patriotism, and one of the greatest upsets in sports history. But this is also vintage Trump. Because this isn’t just about hockey — it’s about symbolism. Forty-five years later, Trump is reminding the world, and especially Moscow, of what happened at Lake Placid. At the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union rolled out a fully funded, state-run, professional team designed to showcase the superiority of communism. And they lost — on live television — to a bunch of American college kids playing for pride. 35:30 Plus, it's Fake News Friday! We're putting you to the test with our weekly game of headlines—are they real news, fake news, or really fake news? From death threats against Marjorie Taylor Greene and suspected terrorists, to tech company taxes, Nigerian prince scams, and even criminals "too handsome" to stand trial, can you spot the fake news? Play along, keep score, and share your results with us on Facebook page: facebook.com/AmericanGroundRadio. 39:30 We reacted to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signing legislation legalizing assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, making Illinois the 12th state to do so. While supporters frame it as “compassion,” this argument has already played out elsewhere — most notably in Canada — and the results are chilling. 41:30 And we end today's show with some words of wisdom about work. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Greg Bishop reviews the proponents and opponents take on a measure Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Friday allowing for end-of-life options for terminally ill patients, or physician-assisted suicide. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Governor JB Pritzker visits the studio to talk to Lovett about Trump's Indiana redistricting fail, how Illinois is standing up to ICE's immigration raids, and how the governor's upbringing — a childhood of both privilege and tragedy — shaped his career in politics. Plus, Lovett asks the governor to defend his controversial Star Wars film rankings, quizzes him on some blackjack hands, and asks what we're all thinking: Is he running for President? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Crain's reporter Ally Marotti joins host Amy Guth to reflect on trends and themes in the food and beverage industry throughout 2025, including rising costs and shifts in consumer behavior, and what's in store for the year ahead.Plus: New study says Cook County property tax incentives need a refresh, Pritzker signs controversial "medical aid in dying" bill into law, Enova inks $369 million deal to transform from online lender to bank holding company and philanthropists give $11 million for Lurie Children's rare genetic disease program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says a new law to protect people from federal immigration law enforcement in Illinois is a great one, despite ethical questions about campaign donations to the bill sponsors and private right of action. Pritzker signed House Bill 1312 Tuesday at La Villita Community Church in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. The governor said the measure would provide a measure of legal protections and send a message to President Donald Trump and members of his administration. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Welcome to America! Where you work for everyone else to take your money. PLUS, Pritzker's new sanctuary protections law puts officers at risk. And Phil Kerpen, President of American Commitment, exposes the scams of AARP and asks Shaun how a non-profit can receive $9 BILLION from the largest health insurer - UnitedHealth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Donald Trump went off the rails this week on Truth Social by suggesting that anyone reporting on his failing mental and physical health was committing treason. We have never in the history of this country seen a President attack our Freedom of Speech the way that Trump has, and his suggestion is not just a passing thought - his administration would gladly lock all of us up for daring to criticize or question their cult leader. Donald Trump doesn't plan on taking responsibility for any of the bad things that he's done since taking office, and instead he's going to continue blaming all of his problems on President Biden. Aides have reportedly been begging him to stop doing this, but their pleas are falling on deaf ears. Trump's ego, narcissism, and possible dementia all prevent him from being able to own up to the fact that he's not good at this job, so he'll keep trying to convince a skeptic public that everything he does is somehow Biden's fault. Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill into law this week that makes it easier for Illinois residents to sue federal agents - including ICE - if their rights have been violated. This is a groundbreaking law that will protect the citizens of Pritzker's state, while also sticking it to the Trump administration and their unlawful actions. This is what real leadership looks like, and Democrats across the country need to be taking notes on what Pritzker is doing. Republicans in Washington are panicking as the cost of health insurance is set to rise in January, and after 15 years of promising us that they'd release their healthcare alternative to Obamacare at any given moment, they still have nothing to show for it. But this week they unveiled their "concepts of a plan", and what they're proposing to do is actually going to INCREASE the cost of healthcare for millions of people, mostly lower-income Americans. Earlier this month, Donald Trump signed an order declaring that certain files related to the Capitol Riot were covered by executive privilege and could not be viewed by anyone outside of the administration. This information came out in a court filing this week, where DOJ lawyers told the courts that they can't release the documents that were requested by a group of police officers who are suing after being injured in the riot. Trump is hiding the truth from the public, just like he is doing with the Epstein files and Jack Smith's final report. The Department of Homeland Security under the guidance of Donald Trump has instituted a new policy where they are charging people a $5,000 "apprehension fee" for being caught by ICE. This penalty is on top of all of the other usual fines and penalties that migrants can be hit with, except with one important difference: The new policy applies to children as young as 14-years old, too. They are charging children thousands of dollars for being rounded up by Trump's gestapo forces.Text and and let us know your thoughts on today's stories!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date on all of Farron's content: https://www.youtube.com/FarronBalancedFollow Farron on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FarronBalanced Twitter: https://twitter.com/farronbalanced Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farronbalanced TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farronbalanced?lang=en
Greg Bishop discusses the debate around a measure on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk about "end-of-life" options for terminally ill patients that opponents say has "grave" consequences. The measure was approved by the Illinois Senate in the final hours of fall veto session, early Halloween morning. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
0:30 - Pritzker signs legislation barring ICE from within 1000 feet of courthouses 14:46 - City Budget 39:56 - Mid Terms 58:14 - Founder & Principal Broker for HealthInsuranceMentors.com, C Steven Tucker, previews the new GOP health care proposal 01:17:09 - Aussies ban social media access for teens 01:58:17 - Professor for the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Morgan Marietta, gives a key phrase that could decide the SCOTUS Birthright Citizenship case 02:22:30 - Noted economist Stephen Moore is surprised at low polling numbers because this economy is “smoking” Get more Steve @StephenMooreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sanctuary State Policies Illinois is releasing over 1,800 illegal immigrants charged with crimes such as murder, assault, burglary, robbery, sex crimes, and drug offenses. Illinois ignored more than 1,700 ICE detainers and released individuals back into communities. Specific Cases Individuals like Victor Manuel Menendez Garcia (kidnapping), Juan Morales Martinez (fatal crash), and others accused of sexual assault and violent crimes. Also a tragic case from California involving a drunk-driving crash that killed an 8-year-old girl. Criticism of Political Leaders Governor Pritzker (Illinois), Governor Newsom (California), and New York Mayor-elect Mundani are prioritizing undocumented immigrants over public safety. Quotes statements from DHS and ICE officials urging cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Call to Action Emphasizes President Trump’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and deploying resources to apprehend criminal aliens. The issue is a battle between federal enforcement and “radical” sanctuary policies. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join Jim and Greg for the Tuesday 3 Martini Lunch as they break down why gas prices are overwhelmingly cheaper in Republican-led states, how Democrats like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker seem to think releasing criminal illegals is a great way to defy President Trump, and Jasmine Crockett's odd launch to her U.S. Senate campaign.First, they examine new AAA data showing that gas prices in red states are consistently lower than in blue states. Twelve of the sixteen most expensive states are run by Democratic governors, while eight of the ten cheapest states are led by Republicans. Jim walks through all the factors that determine gas prices and why blue states are regularly more expensive.Next, they unload on Democrats such as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker for eagerly resisting President Trump to the point of releasing criminal illegal immigrants so Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cannot detain them. Jim and Greg warn that these decisions put violent offenders back into communities simply to score political points. Will they pay a price in 2026?Finally, they dissect Rep. Jasmine Crockett's unusual launch to her Texas U.S. Senate bid, consisting only of a video of herself overlaid with clips of President Trump mocking her. She also argues she'll win because non-white voters are a majority in Texas. Jim and Greg remind her that a lot of those non-whites vote for Republicans, as evidenced by every major statewide race for more than 30 years.Please visit our great sponsors:Listeners can start a new tradition this December with 10% off at BetterHelp—visit https://BetterHelp.com/3ML to get started.Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com, use code 3ML for 50% off sitewide + $35 off during the Sizzle All the Way Sale.Try Quo for free at https://Quo.com/3ML and keep your existing number—Quo means no missed calls and no missed customers.New episodes every weekday.
0:30 - BLM Brandon shutdown 19:02 - Pritzker release...and JB knew too 37:13 - Dan's adds to his protest songs mixtape 59:32 - Crockett 01:16:13 - In-depth History with Frank from Arlington Heights 01:18:54 - CEO of Independent Women’s Voice and the president of Suasion Insights, Heather Higgins: The filibuster must fall to save the republic. Follow Heather on X @TheHRH 01:38:00 - Founder of Wirepoints, Mark Glennon, takes aim at WTTW’s Heather Cherone and other political activists posing as journalists — and their funders — asking bluntly, “What is wrong with you?” Check out Mark’s substack substack.com/@markglennon 01:52:43 - The Golden Age of Travel 02:12:07 - Host of the “The Hollywood in Toto Podcast ”, Christian Toto, on the Netflix/WB deal, the Kennedy Center Honors and his best movies of 2025. For podcast updates and more hollywoodintoto.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson battles alders over a competing budget proposal. Northwestern agrees to pay $75 million in a deal with the federal government. A new independent candidate enters the race for retiring Congressman Chuy Garcia's seat. Gov. Pritzker signs legislation allowing Illinois to set its own vaccination guidelines. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Axios Chicago reporter Carrie Shepherd, WTTW Chicago politics reporter Heather Cherone and Chicago Sun-Times politics reporter Mitchell Armentrout. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.
Angel Studios https://Angel.com/HermanJoin the Angel Guild today where you can stream Thank You, Dr. Fauci and be part of the conversation demanding truth and accountability. Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comBe confident in your portfolio with Bulwark! Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. Go to KnowYourRiskPodcast.com today. Alan's Soaps https://www.AlansArtisanSoaps.comUse coupon code TODD to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/ToddThe new GOLDEN AGE is here! Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeThe Seditious Six and The Setup // The Murdered Guardsman and The Mockingbird Media // Jesus: The Unrepentant, Illegal Immigrant … or Something. Episode Links:J.B. Pritzker claimed that President Trump's deployment of the National Guard was an "attack on the American people" and will be used to "stop the 2026 elections." Two Guardsmen are now dead about being shot on the streets in DC.Just a few weeks ago, Oregon Congresswoman Maxine Dexter (D) said the National Guard coming to cities is tyrannical and dangerous. Two National Guardsmen were just shot.Elissa Slotkin (D), one of the seditious six, suggested a few days ago that the national guard will start randomly shooting at Americans. She knew this was a lie yet said it anyway. Now two national guardsmen were shot. She knew what she was doing.Swalwell claims members of the military tell him “we shouldn't count them out as a check on abuses of power” by Trump. He then compares the US military to congress and the judiciary as checks on executive power. WHAT?Democrat leaders and activists claimed the national guard is “rounding black people up and putting them in detainment camps." Now two national guardsmen were just ass*ssinatedThe National Lawyers Guild (NLG) , the 501(c)(3) far-left legal group that advocates for Antifa violence and helps them escape justice, has launched a project to encourage seditious actions against the President. (NLG are made up of communists and anarchist extremists. They help Antifa at riots and wear green hats or helmets.) The NLG says it might be illegal for the military to assist in the removal of illegal foreign nationals, responding to civilian rioters, assisting law enforcement personnel, or attacking enemy vessels at sea. "You might later be court-martialed for war crimes or charged with violations of the law of war or human rights law. Some treaties provide for 'universal jurisdiction' for war crimes, torture, etc., with no statute of limitations, so you could be arrested in any country at any time."Psaki and MSNOW amplify the 'Dems will prosecute anyone taking part in the Mark Kelly investigation' intimidation campaign: Psaki: “What do you think the consequences should be for people who are abiding by following these steps from the Commander In Chief?" Kirschner: "They're following unlawful commands from Donald Trump. And if you're committing offenses and your defense is going to be 'I was just following orders' — You know, that didn't work out so well at Nuremberg."MS NOW's Ken Dilanian just after 3pm Eastern on the shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington D.C… "[O]f course, you know, there's so much controversy happening in the United States right now with ice, who are also wearing uniforms and wearing masks. And so there's, you don't know, people walking around with uniforms in an American city. There are some Americans that might object to that. And so apparently this shooting has happened."This is the most disgusting news segment I've ever posted in my life. Nicolle Wallace and Al Sharpton are suggesting that Trump caused the attack on our brave men of the National Guard. These people are sickening and don't deserve to have a platform to spew their bullsht.CNN guest just a few weeks ago compared the National Guard to nazis. Two National Guard members were just shot in D.C. These Democrats know exactly what they're doing. They wanted violence against the National Guard.Dr Jerry Cannon of First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte posits that Hebrews 13:2 (Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares) is about loving illegal immigrants and those "whose legal status is uncertain."
Nancy Pelosi calls Trump the worst president in American history for America's children. A new study shows how trans identification is in FREEFALL among young people, proving it's not scientifically based. Mehdi Hasan tells American Christians, “If you can have your church bell, we can have our Islamic prayer call”. Actor Jeff Daniels sings his cringe song “Crazy World” about Trump on MSNBC.J.B. Pritzker says he just got incredibly lucky and won $1 million by gambling and encouraged others to start gambling. Premiere League Club Aston Villa BANS supporters of the Tel Aviv football club over fears of violence against Jews. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says illegal immigration & fighting age men coming all across Europe into the UK is because of climate change. Britain's NHS says there are BENEFITS to marrying your first cousin?Tim Walz wants to ban “assault weapons” again. USA Cycling organizers were seen BERATING a women's sports activist who was inquiring about sex tests. A Muslim migrant in the UK is very angry because he received a ticket for parking his car on the sidewalk and blames Islamophobia. Dearborn, Michigan's mayor tells a taxpaying resident that he “doesn't belong” in the city over Islamophobia. An Indiana man was arrested over stabbing someone at a gas station after previously being arrested over 100 times and released. The UK is decriminalizing bike theft.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…Patriot Mobilehttps://PatriotMobile.com/Dana OR CALL 972-PATRIOTWhat are you waiting for? Switch today. Use promo code DANA for a free month of service.Byrnahttps://Byrna.comSave 15% sitewide during Byrna's biggest Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale. Don't miss out!AmmoSquaredhttps://AmmoSquared.comDon't get caught without ammo and be sure to tell them you heard about Ammo Squared on this show.HumanNhttps://HumanN.comStart supporting your cardiovascular health with SuperBeets, now available at your local Walmart.Noblehttps://NobleGoldInvestments.com/DanaOpen a new qualified IRA or cash account with Noble Gold and get a FREE 10-ounce Silver Flag Bar plus a Silver American Eagle Proof Coin.