* The question about Mayor Johnson during the debate last night was a bit difficult to watch. Click here for the clip…
Q: Do you approve of the leadership of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and will you support his re election?
Raja Krishnamoorthi: Do you have another question? I’m just kidding.
Q: Congressman Krishnamoorthi, you’re first.
Raja Krishnamoorthi: I’m first. Okay. [audience laughs] Well, look, yeah, look, I think that. Let’s see. I want to see where Brandon Johnson is going to take us. As I said, look, we have tremendous potential in Chicago. We are an amazing city in the Chicago region and all of Illinois for that matter. And the question is, do we bring people together and try to find our boldest common denominators, or do we go a different direction? And I’m always fearful when we might be dividing more than uniting, because when we’re attacking each other, we can’t attack our common problems. And so what are some of those issues that we have to deal with? One is we have to continue to build upon the record that, for instance, Governor JB Pritzker has done at the state level with attracting jobs…
Q: I’m sorry, Congressman. The question wasn’t about the governor, it’s about the mayor. So without attacking specifically, do you approve of his job performance so far? Do you imagine yourself supporting him in a re election?
Krishnamoorthi: Yeah, let me get to that. So basically, what I’m trying to say is this, my support for him will depend on do we do more of building on consensus and bringing people together to tackle our common problems, attracting more economic development, especially the south and west sides of Chicago. Do we work together with business more and trying to find places where we can help them and we can create a win-win? Do we also deal, continue to deal with the public safety issues in a way that recognizes the long term concerns about criminal justice, while at the same time people’s legitimate fears about crime? I would also say this, which is we have tremendous potential. Brandon Johnson can preside over a renaissance in Chicago, but only if he takes the best parts of Chicago and amplifies them.
Juliana Stratton: I’m very grateful for the ways that we have stood together here in the city of Chicago and in the state of Illinois, especially in the wake of all of these attacks by Donald Trump and his administration. And you all might have seen when he was threatening to send federalized troops to our city, we all stood together, federal elected, the Governor and I, county and the city of Chicago to say that we don’t welcome Donald Trump here, that we don’t want his troops, and that we’re going to stand up for our neighbors. So that kind of collaboration must continue. I don’t know if he has announced that he’s running for re election, so I have no comment on that at this time.
Robin Kelly: Like any elected official, people would say this about me: There’s some things you agree with and some things you don’t agree with. I will give him a great compliment on how he handled ICE. And actually, I will give him a great compliment when Chicago was on stage with the DNC, Chicago did a fantastic job under his leadership, and when he had to, he was summoned to DC on the Oversight Committee, and you would be proud of how he stood up and defended Chicago and took a lot of heated questions, but he did a really, really good job. I don’t know if he’s running again. He hasn’t said that to me, but I think that in this next year, time will tell what happens with the budget, what happens with school, what happens with businesses coming in and out of Chicago, can you bring the council together?
FBI Director Kash Patel’s remarks about firearms following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal agent has sparked anger from gun rights advocates.
“You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple. You don’t have that right to break the law and incite violence,” Patel said during an interview on Fox News on Sunday.
Bringing a gun to a protest in Minnesota is legal. As far as Pretti inciting violence, that’s a thoroughly debunked and discredited remark.
* Anyway, the react to Patel’s comments and the entire situation by gun rights groups has been widespread, so I’ve been asking the Illinois State Rifle Association for comment. Here it is…
The Illinois State Rifle Association is concerned about recent statements from US Attorney Bill Essayli and FBI Director Kash Patel implying that people do not have a right to carry firearms at protests. The ISRA maintains that individuals have a constitutional right to carry a firearm at a protest, provided they are acting lawfully. ISRA calls for an open and transparent investigation into the recent shooting incident in Minnesota.
The association also commends Illinois General Assembly members who previously opposed the Second Amendment but now recognize the right to carry firearms outside the home. The Illinois State Rifle Association looks forward to collaborating with these legislators to review and address unconstitutional laws, beginning with Section 65 (”Prohibited Areas”) of the Conceal Carry Act of 2013 (430 ILCS 66/65).
* It’s not legal in Illinois for a licensee under the Conceal Carry Act to bring their weapon to a permitted protest or demonstration…
Sec. 65. Prohibited areas. (a) A licensee under this Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on or into: […]
Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from the unit of local government, provided this prohibition shall not apply to a licensee who must walk through a public gathering in order to access his or her residence, place of business, or vehicle.
* I reached out to the Illinois State Board of Elections for a response. Board spokesperson Matt Dietrich confirmed the voter registration number and wrote this…
The first field that a user of the online registration portal sees is an attestation — under penalty of federal prosecution — to citizenship and eligibility to vote. This is the same attestation that registrants must sign if they register in person at the local election authority’s office or through the Automatic Voter Registration program at drivers license facilities and other participating state agencies.
Federal law prohibits election authorities from making documentary proof of citizenship a condition of voter registration.
(a) In general
The Election Assistance Commission-
(1) in consultation with the chief election officers of the States, shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out paragraphs (2) and (3);
(2) in consultation with the chief election officers of the States, shall develop a mail voter registration application form for elections for Federal office;
(3) not later than June 30 of each odd-numbered year, shall submit to the Congress a report assessing the impact of this chapter on the administration of elections for Federal office during the preceding 2-year period and including recommendations for improvements in Federal and State procedures, forms, and other matters affected by this chapter; and
(4) shall provide information to the States with respect to the responsibilities of the States under this chapter.
(b) Contents of mail voter registration form
The mail voter registration form developed under subsection (a)(2)-
(1) may require only such identifying information (including the signature of the applicant) and other information (including data relating to previous registration by the applicant), as is necessary to enable the appropriate State election official to assess the eligibility of the applicant and to administer voter registration and other parts of the election process;
(2) shall include a statement that-
(A) specifies each eligibility requirement (including citizenship);
(B) contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement; and
(C) requires the signature of the applicant, under penalty of perjury;
(3) may not include any requirement for notarization or other formal authentication; and
(4) shall include, in print that is identical to that used in the attestation portion of the application-
(i) the information required in section 20507(a)(5)(A) and (B) of this title;
(ii) a statement that, if an applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has declined to register will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes; and
(iii) a statement that if an applicant does register to vote, the office at which the applicant submits a voter registration application will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes.
This primary race could come down to a Trump endorsement. Ergo the election denial nonsense.
I stand with Angel Parent Joe Abraham and he stands with me because we both believe federal authorities must remove from our streets illegal immigrants who pose a threat to public safety. Joe’s daughter Katie was killed by an illegal immigrant in Urbana one year ago.
We also both believe the families victimized by illegal immigrants protected by sanctuary-supporting politicians like Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson deserve justice.
While there is, of course, a legitimate First Amendment right for people to protest policies with which they disagree, there is no right to interfere with lawful law enforcement operations. Ever.
I find it interesting that the protesters on the streets of Chicago, along with Pritzker and Johnson, who otherwise oppose individual gun rights, have no problem with someone tracking federal officers in Minnesota for the purpose of impeding their enforcement operations while armed with a handgun.
I also find it interesting that Democrats conveniently call for more civility in our politics when it suits them, but remain quiet when their allies demonize ICE and other authorities, falsely suggest that we are in a civil war, falsely claim there is a federal occupation of their community, falsely accuse officers of “disappearing people” and call for the unilateral, indiscriminate arrest of ICE officers and defunding of the agency.
The hypocrisy of Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson runs deep. They engage in violent, incendiary rhetoric – calling federal officers “authoritarians”, “fascists” and “jack-booted thugs” – and then feign outrage when violence spurred on by their words inevitably erupts.
The unnecessary loss of life is always and everywhere a tragedy. The way to avert such tragedies with respect to federal law enforcement is to make your views known peacefully without crossing the line into illegally impeding their operations or resisting a lawful command when directed to stand down.
It is no coincidence that the places where most violence has occurred are in sanctuary states and cities that continue to prioritize criminal illegals over their own citizens.
Illinois should join the vast majority of states in this country that reject chaos-creating sanctuary policies.
The peaceful and orderly transfer of criminal illegals directly to federal authorities – rather than releasing them back onto our streets and forcing federal officers to track them down – should be Illinois’ policy going forward.
As governor, I will do all I can to prevent violence and to restore the law and order Illinoisans deserve. I will work responsibly with federal authorities to remove criminal illegal immigrants who pose a threat to public safety.
* Democratic Party of Illinois…
After failing to respond to questions about Donald Trump’s federal agent killing a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, Ted Dabrowski – who last year questioned whether Trump’s use of federal force was constitutional – refused to condemn the death of Alex Pretti. Dabrowski instead issued a rambling statement attacking Democrats and criticizing protesters.
In response, the Democratic Party of Illinois released the following statement:
“Last year, Ted Dabrowski said Donald Trump’s deployment of federal personnel ‘may not be constitutional.’ Now, after Trump’s continued federal overreach killed another person, he’s trying to walk back those statements in an effort to boost his flatlining polling and deflect from questions about where he truly stands. Using this tragic killing to score political points and deceive voters is outrageous.”
Dabrowski failed to clarify whether he still stands by his earlier concerns about Trump’s federal actions or if he has abandoned them for political expediency. With his polling numbers slipping and divisions within his party growing, Dabrowski owes Illinois voters a clear answer. Instead, he’s choosing political self-preservation over principle.
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* US Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly spent much of their US Senate debate last night defending their votes and their positions with long explanations after prodding by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. That is never a good thing. But, as I told subscribers this morning, I’m not sure much news and chatter about this debate will actually penetrate the white noise. We’ll see.
Stratton was the lone contender to call for the abolishment of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in the wake of the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota by immigration enforcement agents there. Krishnamoorthi called for an end to “Trump’s ICE,” no additional funding for immigration enforcement operations and an inspector general to investigate the agency. In Congress, Kelly has filed articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem, secretary of Homeland Security, which is over ICE and Border Patrol.
“I want to abolish ICE because this agency cannot be reformed,” said Stratton, the two-term running mate of Gov. JB Pritzker. “We are looking at what’s happening and it doesn’t matter whose ICE it is. ICE needs to be abolished and we need to move this country forward and make sure our communities are safe.”
“Check the record. Check how I vote. I vote like the people who put me in office want me to vote,” Kelly said. “And the corporate PAC money I take — you see who I take corporate PAC money from, unlike the commercial that the lieutenant governor has, that is paid for by dark money.”
“The corporate PAC money I take” is a very DC response.
Also, it’s not a dark money PAC, but Stratton ignored the jab rather than trying to explain like her opponents did time after time.
Asked to name a Trump policy they support, Kelly said she’s no supporter of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but she appreciates his focus on “wellness and exercise and eating properly.”
Krishnamoorthi said he agrees with Trump that “we have to be concerned about our manufacturing workers and what’s happening to them” in the trade war with China.
Stratton said “there’s nothing that I’m going to say today that I can think of that I agree with Donald Trump on.”
Kelly: What do I support? That is, let me, let me think about that really, actually, even though he doesn’t follow it himself. I do not. I sit on Energy and Commerce, healthcare is my biggest portfolio. So I do not support Secretary Kennedy, but I do support their one little thing they were trying to do as far as wellness and exercise and eating properly and more preventative to keep us healthier. And I have legislation around food is medicine, so I do a lot of work, you know, around that. As I said, I have 4,500 farms in my district, so I work a lot with my farmers. And that would be working with the farmers getting people, especially people low income communities that live in food deserts, they would have vouchers to get fresh vegetables and fruit and things like that. So that little thing that I can think of that they were trying to do with Americans being healthier, even though that they said that, but then, on the other hand, you know, they don’t want you to have vaccinations and things like that. So they they’re talking out of two sides of their mouth. That’s something I do think that, you know, exercising, eating properly, that’s a good thing.
Krishnamoorthi: Well, he’s such a stable genius I don’t know where to start. Look, this guy is absolutely taking a monkey wrench, a sledgehammer toward democracy right now. Not only that, he’s doing that to the American dream. And I told you all about that previously. The one thing where I do agree with him is I think that we have to be concerned about our manufacturing workers and what’s happening to them. Unfortunately, the Chinese Communist Party made it their plan to essentially make a lot more stuff than they’d ever need for their country, export the surplus to the United States and other nations at prices beneath the cost of production, dumping it on our markets, driving out their competition. Then they monopolize the market, and then they coerce us to do other things with their monopoly. They weaponize their monopoly. And so I do think that there is increased attention being paid to this particular issue. We have to stand by our workers. We have to stand by people who do everything they can every day to feed their families, to educate themselves, to go to work, play by the rules, and when other countries break trade rules and create an unlevel playing field, that’s unfair. Now where I disagree with him is everything else. So levying tariffs on everything from everywhere increases the prices on everything for everyone. It hurts businesses. It hurts Miles Craft in Rockford, which is devastated by these tariffs. It hurt the farmers at Kindred Farms in Atlanta, Illinois, which I visited because they’re in the crosshairs of this trade war with China, not to mention hurting working families who can’t afford the increased prices. [Cut off by moderator]
Stratton: Donald Trump is not a normal president. In fact, he’s not a normal person. And when I look at this President and his authoritarian agenda, I always say that we’re not just looking at the rise of fascism, we are staring it right in its face. He’s terrorizing our communities. He’s stomping on the Constitution. He’s stomping on the rule of law. Look at the incompetence in his cabinet, and that’s not even a strong enough word. We are seeing a president who is making us a laughing stock on the global stage. He lies. He told us on day one he was going to lower costz, lower inflation, and he has only made things worse. So no, there’s nothing that I’m going to say today that I can think of that I agree with Donald Trump on. And what I will tell you is I’m not going to the United States Senate to find something to agree with Donald Trump on I’m going to the United States Senate to represent you and take your voices with me.
While Kelly and Krishnamoorthi left the door open to potentially backing [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as the Democratic leader], Stratton was the only candidate who outright refused to back the New York Democrat as leader again.
“I’ve already said that I will not support Chuck Schumer as leader in the Senate, and I’m the only person on this stage that has said so,” Stratton said.
* On to the spin. First paragraph from each of the three campaigns’ post-debate press releases. Krishnamoorthi…
Tonight, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi won the first Illinois U.S. Senate primary debate. Over the course of the hour, while his opponent focused her time not on solutions but cheap political attacks, Raja spoke directly to Illinois voters about his fight to rein in the Trump Administration, lower costs, and ensure that every Illinois family has the opportunity to thrive.
Kelly…
At tonight’s first debate in the race for U.S. Senate, Robin Kelly stood out as the only candidate in the race who rose above political attacks to demonstrate to Illinois voters how she will not just fight but win for them. Her experience and proven track record were on full display, setting her apart from her opponents.
Stratton…
It was abundantly clear to anyone watching tonight that Juliana won this debate – and it wasn’t even close. We’re glad voters had the opportunity to see the contrast firsthand. Juliana is offering bold, unapologetic leadership that fights for working Illinoisans, while Congressman Krishnamoorthi is offering more of the status quo that centers special interests and DC insiders. We look forward to taking the stage again on Thursday.
* ICYMI: Illinois Racing Board Suspends Hawthorne’s Harness Racing License. The Paulick Report…
- The Illinois Racing Board announced on Monday, Jan. 26, that it has suspended the organization license of Suburban Downs, Inc for failure to provide documentation demonstrating its financial integrity and proof that they can meet the minimum standards outlined in the Horse Racing Act.
- Hawthorne’s financial troubles have intensified over the past two months, driven by its failure to meet Illinois Racing Board licensing requirements and by ongoing bounced checks for purse payments.
- The failures have prompted harness racing participants to renew their call for state legislation to revoke Hawthorne’s veto power over any competing new racino in the south suburbs.
- Hawthorne could get its license back if it can prove it meets the minimum requirements of operating a harness meet.
We’ll have a blog post up about last night’s US Senate debate shortly!
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*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***
* Tribune | ‘Not sustainable’: New SNAP work requirements could leave up to 340,000 Illinois residents without enough food: The Rev. Sandra Gillespie, the assistant pastor at Chosen Bethel Family Ministries, said many of her clients are in a similar situation as Robinson and they’re “terrified.” She spends time with clients searching for jobs on Indeed or for other volunteer opportunities. But the options are slim for those with a criminal background, mobility issues or minimal work experience. Because many of the changes are confusing, many clients also don’t fully understand the new requirements, she said. […] “What’s scary is the look on their faces when I say, ‘You could potentially lose your SNAP for three years,’” Gillespie said. “That is ridiculous.”
* Crain’s | Illinois says Coinbase sports contracts are bets, not financial instruments: The state said Coinbase’s proposed offerings with online prediction market operator Kalshi do not meet the definition of financial instruments that fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Commodity Future Trading Commission and therefore are subject to state regulation. “Athletic competitions are not inherently financial, economic or commercial in nature,” the state said in a federal court filing. “The contracts that Coinbase are offering Illinois consumers are not ‘swaps’ because neither the occurrence nor the outcome of an athletic competition is inherently financial, economic or commercial in the same sense as a change in interest rates or the relative value of two currencies.”
* STLPR | Facing ‘insurmountable challenges,’ Alton Steel will close its doors this week: State Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, and state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Godfrey, said Monday they were “shocked” and “stunned” to learn of Alton Steel’s sudden closure and vowed to seek answers from company leaders. “Just weeks ago, Alton Steel was actively hiring, and there were no indications that these jobs or this facility were at risk,” Harriss said in a statement. “Families built their plans and their futures around this work, and that sense of stability has been pulled out from under them without warning.”
*** Statehouse News ***
* Daily Herald | GOP hopefuls dig into taxes, school choice at gubernatorial debate: “How to stop a supermajority from spending all your money is charge them with crimes,” Mendrick of Woodridge said. He touted his experience as a financial crimes investigator. “The way we stop them is we start going into fraud — sweeping motor vehicle funds, taking your local distributive funds from your mayors.”
* The Daily Egyptian | Gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey rallies support in southern Illinois: The primary election is on March 17, which is also Bailey’s 60th birthday. During the time in between, Bailey and Del Mar are going to be gathering support. “We’re going to go down hard,” Del Mar said. “We are going to knock on a couple doors, some doors we’re going to kick down.”
* Capitol News Illinois | Interview with Illinois Comptroller Candidate Stephanie Kifowit: As a part of a series of interviews focusing on contested races for major-party nominations in the March 17 primary elections, Capitol News Illinois reporters Peter Hancock and Brenden Moore talk with state Representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) about her campaign for Illinois Comptroller.
* WTTW | As Chicago Ethics Board Surpasses 6 Months Without a Leader, Enforcement Actions Stall: Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward), the chair of the Ethics and Government Oversight Committee, said there was no reason the mayor’s office has not found a replacement for Conlon, who announced in June he would step down when his term expired in July. “The mayor’s record shows a continued lack of commitment to ethics and government oversight,” said Martin, who has long been critical of the time it has taken Johnson to fill vacant seats on the Ethics Board.
* Tribune | Lawyer for woman shot by Border Patrol agent in Chicago wants bodycam footage, other evidence made public: In his eight-page motion, attorney Christopher Parente wrote that despite all charges being dropped against his client, Marimar Martinez, in November, the government “continues to prosecute her character in the court of public opinion,” with labels of “domestic terrorist” and other falsehoods still visible on official government websites and social media. Parente also said two U.S. citizens by immigration officers this month in Minnesota — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — were “engaged in similar peaceful protests as Ms. Martinez at the time of their killings.”
* Tribune | Judge overturns conviction in 2002 murder, orders release of imprisoned man: On Thursday, Cook County Judge Tyria Walton vacated Porter’s conviction and ordered a new trial after finding that the officer’s history of alleged misconduct “undermines the confidence of the earlier verdict rendered in Mr. Porter’s original trial.” Cook County prosecutors now must decide whether they will attempt to try Porter again or dismiss the case. At a bond hearing Monday, Porter was ordered released on electronic monitoring pending retrial.
* ABC Chicago | Name a cockroach after your ex program returns at Brookfield Zoo Chicago for Valentine’s Day: For a $15 donation, you can name one of the Madagascar hissing cockroaches that lives in the Hamill Family Play Zoo after that un-special someone in your life. […] The first name of the hissing roach will appear on the Cockroach Naming Board posted outside of the Hamill Family Play Zoo. The board will be unveiled on Valentine’s Day.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Tribune | Cook County Board president candidates tussle over costly tech upgrade: Reilly and Preckwinkle are set to face off in the March Democratic primary to lead the Cook County Board, the county’s $10 billion budget, and its health system and Forest Preserve District. Reilly has made one of his core criticisms of Preckwinkle’s four terms as board president the long-standing, ongoing problems with upgrading the county’s property tax system, which have led to significant delays and lots of finger-pointing among elected officials seeking to avoid blame. In an endorsement session with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Preckwinkle acknowledged the latest problems with the upgrade that delayed distributions of tax money “have real consequences for schools and other taxing bodies,” but noted that she tried to minimize the damage by offering short-term interest-free bridge loans.
* WGN | Cook County Assessor Kaegi faces fierce challenge from Democratic party-backed Hynes: As campaign season heats up, Kaegi and Hynes have really been getting after it. On Monday, Kaegi took aim at Hynes’ campaign donations, calling him a “lap dog” for big developers and donors that also support Republicans. The candidates sat for interviews with the Chicago Tribune editorial board on Monday. After meeting with the paper, Hynes called Kaegi’s attacks “ridiculous”, drawing a direct line to President Donald Trump.
* Crain’s | State permit doesn’t automatically entitle Sterigenics to pollution coverage, court finds: Insurers are not necessarily required to pay out on pollution-related claims to companies with a standard liability policy, even if the company has a state permit for pollutants, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled last week. The case involved Sterigenics, a medical supply sterilization company that operated in the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook and was tied to elevated cancer rates in the area. Several hundred lawsuits filed against Sterigenics and its one-time parent company Griffith Foods claimed that long-term exposure to ethylene oxide emissions led to Willowbrook residents contracting cancer. One case resulted in a $363 million award to one resident, Susan Kamuda, the largest jury verdict for a single plaintiff in Illinois history.
* WGLT | Bloomington council OKs ban on kratom, synthetic alternatives: The vote on the kratom ban was the only item of regular business during the 80-minute meeting. The proposal passed unanimously with two absences [Jenna Kearns, Cody Hendricks]. There was no debate following the staff’s formal presentation. “This ordinance comes from a place of caring for our neighbors and taking residents’ concerns seriously,” said Mosley. “This is a local government doing exactly what we’re supposed to do, responding when a credible issue affects the well-being of our residents.”
* WGIL | Knox County Mental Health Board to allocate $1.8M for local services: Board Chair Steve Watts appeared on Galesburg’s Morning News to discuss the board’s work. Established by 2017 referendum, the board levies a 0.15 per $100 property tax, projecting $1.7 million in revenue for the 2025 tax year. Watts, an original member since inception along with John Schlaf and Luke Raymond, explained the narrow mandate and common misconceptions about broader funding eligibility.
* Rockford Register Star | Rockford’s ‘Get ‘er done’ chairman dies at age 72 : A longtime public servant known for his “get ‘er done” attitude and who led the Winnebago County Board for 12 years has died at age 72. Former Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen was first elected to county government in 1984. After leaving the board for several years in the 90s, he was appointed chairman in May 2004. Christiansen was first elected to the post in November 2004. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2012 before deciding not to seek a fourth term.
* WCIA | Central IL officials continue to urge caution on the roads after winter storm: Public works officials said that it’s not from a lack of effort; snow plow drivers have been running for days now. However, when the weather is as cold as it is, there’s only so much they can do because the snow and ice isn’t going anywhere. “Salt loses its effectiveness when it’s 15 degrees or below that,” Paul Wappel with the Illinois Department of Transportation said. “There’s a little bit of science to that, trying to know, ‘When do you put salt on? When do you not?’”
*** National ***
* The Atlantic | Greg Bovino Loses His Job: Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role as Border Patrol “commander at large” and will return to his former job in El Centro, California, where he is expected to retire soon, according to a DHS official and two people with knowledge of the change.
* NYT | The ‘R-Word’ Returns, Dismaying Those Who Fought to Oust It: Use of the word has skyrocketed on X, Mr. Musk’s social media platform. In 2020, it appeared on the platform, then known as Twitter, just over 2,000 times a day, according to a recent study by two Montclair State University researchers. That number is now over 46,000 times a day — a more than 2,000 percent increase.
* CNBC | Musk’s $1 trillion pay package renews focus on soaring CEO compensation: Over the past 50 years, top CEO compensation has climbed 1,094%, according to the Economic Policy Institute. That compares to a 26% increase in typical worker compensation. Median total compensation for S&P 500 CEO’s was $17.1 million in 2024, up nearly 10% from 2023, according to Equilar, a corporate analytics firm. CEOs now make 192 times more than the average employee, up from a 186 to 1 ratio in 2023.
* Reuters | Meta, TikTok, YouTube to stand trial on youth addiction claims: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (META.O), is expected to take the witness stand. The company will argue in court that its products did not lead to K.G.M.’s mental health challenges, Meta’s lawyers told Reuters ahead of the trial. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was also expected to testify, as his company was named a defendant in the lawsuit. Snap (SNAP.N) agreed on January 20 to settle K.G.M.’s lawsuit. A company spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the deal.
* Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton during the US Senate debate last night…
I came here tonight to let you know that is the leader that I will be. I will never forget what’s important to the people. It’s why my campaign is ‘Give the people what they want,’ and I want to give the people what they want by listening and taking action, just as I have done as a state representative and the lieutenant governor for the past seven years.
* OK, that can go at least a couple of ways. The Kinks…
Give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
The more they get, the more they need
And every time they get harder and harder to please
The Roman promoters really did things right
They needed a show that would clearly excite
The attendance was sparse so they put on a fight
Threw the Christians to the lions and sold out every night
You got to give the people, now
Give the people what they want
Well, well, well, well, right now
(Don’t you know you)
You got to give the people (Whatever)
Give the people what they want
Well, I done been all over the world
And everybody feels the same
It’s a unanimous decision
I said they’re ready for a change
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
