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Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

Jesse Jackson Jr. is seeking a return to Congress.

Jackson, the son of civil rights advocate Jesse Jackson, announced on his YouTube channel Wednesday that he is running to represent Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District in the US House. […]

“Like my father before me, I ask for your vote, as a vote for a new direction for this district, this party and this nation,” the younger Jackson said. “A vote of conviction. A vote of conscience.”

Jackson touted himself as having “spent my entire life fighting for working people, and I will continue to fight to reform the system to create greater fairness, equity and opportunity for all communities.” The 60-year-old added that he will fight “against the forces of evil and fascism” if voters send him back to Washington.

* Hilarious…

Jesse Jackson Jr's announcement video for Congress links to https://t.co/VMyZoUsuyy, which goes not to his website but to the below Politico story.

(The QR code works, though.)https://t.co/xJAdlD4ipQ pic.twitter.com/XsHJcBNjpf

— David Weigel (@daveweigel) October 8, 2025

His campaign took the video down…

* Click here for a little background if you need it. A completely false and now-deleted post from 7th Congressional Candidate Anthony Driver Jr…

According to his campaign, Jason Friedman has “no affiliation and nothing to do with Friedman Real Estate.” Multiple outlets who covered the rally where Driver also made this claim (Block Club and Tribune) did not report on the erroneous accusation.

* Raja Krishnamoorthi’s Senate campaign…

Today, Raja for Illinois released its fourth television ad, “Serious Times.” In the new spot, Raja outlines his plan to address the harm that Donald Trump has caused Illinoisans head-on, reversing his cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, blocking him from deploying the National Guard without the Governor’s request, and reining in his innumerable additional abuses of power. […]

Along with the ad, the campaign launched TrumpAccountabilityPlan.com to highlight Raja’s 17-point plan to rein in executive overreach.

“We’ve had some fun with my name, but this election is deadly serious,” said Raja in the new ad. “That’s why we’ve released a detailed plan to take on Trump. Like my name, it’s too long for a 30 second ad, so here’s the highlights: repeal Trump’s Medicaid cuts that give billionaires another tax break, and stop presidents from abusing power.”

Since July, Raja for Illinois has blanketed Illinois airwaves with television ads, running “Bullies,” which highlights Raja’s record of standing up to bullies like Donald Trump, “Underdog,” which tells the story of how Raja’s upbringing instilled in him a lifelong commitment to fighting for others, and “29”, which features Raja speaking directly to the pain many Illinoisans are feeling as a result of the Trump Administration.

The video…

Transcript…

[RAJA] As always, you can just call me Raja.

[MAN AT DOOR] Hi Raja!

[BARBERSHOP QUARTET] (singing, unison) Raja!

[RAJA] We’ve had some fun with my name, but this election is deadly serious.

That’s why we’ve released a detailed plan to take on Trump.

Like my name, it’s too long for a 30 second ad, so here’s the highlights.

Repeal Trump’s Medicaid cuts that give billionaires another tax break and stop presidents from abusing power.

What Trump’s done must never happen again.

I’m Raja Krishnamoorthi, running for Senate and I approve this message.

* On to the 7th Congressional District. Press release…

Dr. Thomas Fisher, an emergency physician and health equity leader running as a Democrat for Congress in Illinois’ 7th District, today announced his campaign has raised over $375,000 in only seven weeks since launching.

“In the ER, urgency is everything — our campaign is bringing that same pace to fixing healthcare, and an economy that leaves too many people behind,” said Dr. Thomas Fisher, candidate for Congress in IL-07. “This early support tells me people are ready for a representative who knows what it’s like to take care of people hurt and sickened while just trying to live and will fight to lower costs, protect care, and deliver for families on the South Side, the West side and the western suburbs. I’m grateful, hopeful— and ready to earn every vote and take on Donald Trump’s attacks on our health and freedoms.”

The funds will help the campaign expand direct voter contact and communicate Dr. Fisher’s vision to ensure affordable, accessible care and greater economic opportunity across the district.

5 Comments

‘We could hear them laughing’

Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Religion News Service…

Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

* More…

Tribune | Oak Park elected officials stand against ICE after township trustee Juan Munoz detained in Broadview:

* Sun-Times | Feds dropping charges against couple who lawfully carried guns outside ICE facility: The move comes after a grand jury refused to hand up an indictment in the case, a defense attorney told the Chicago Sun-Times. Richard Kling cited the old expression that a good prosecutor could convince a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich. “Apparently they had less evidence than a ham sandwich,” said Kling, who represents Ray Collins.

* Tribune | Charges dropped against couple in Broadview immigration protest after federal grand jury refuses to indict: Although Havey said the charges were being dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning prosecutors could seek to refile the case within 30 days, Kling said he highly doubted that would happen, noting the standard to get an indictment was very low. “If they couldn’t get a grand jury to indict, how are they going to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury?” he said.

* ABC Chicago | Decision on lawsuit over Broadview ICE detention center fencing will be made by Thursday: judge: The north side entrance of the facility remains blocked by tall fences. Attorneys for the federal government argued in court the fencing across Beach Street was needed to conduct business and to protect vehicles and personnel, after conflicts erupted during protests of ICE action during “Operation Midway Blitz.”

* News Nation | Feds use ‘violent force’ on protesters, press, clergy at Broadview ICE facility: ACLU suit: The ACLU filed the suit jointly with a coalition of news outlets, media associations and protesters, including the Illinois Press Association, Block Club Chicago and the Chicago Headline Club. In it, they say federal agents used “indiscriminate” force and interfered with First Amendment rights, including freedoms of speech and the press. “Never in modern times has the federal government undermined bedrock constitutional protections on this scale, or usurped states’ police power by directing federal agents to carry out an illegal mission against the people for the government’s own benefit,” the scathing suit read.

32 Comments

Good morning!

Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Today’s song wasn’t intended by the late songwriter Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) to be about this topic, but art is universal and it touched me deeply, so I’d like to send it out to everyone who is either enduring cancer and everything that goes with it or loves someone who is…

Sometimes I get so sad
Sometimes you just make me mad

It’s a sad and beautiful world
It’s a sad and beautiful world

Sometimes I just won’t go
Sometimes I just won’t say ‘no’

It’s a sad and beautiful world
It’s a sad and beautiful world

Sometimes days go speeding past
Sometimes this one seems like the last

It’s a sad and beautiful world
It’s a sad and beautiful world

Ms. Staples will be at the Chicago Theatre in January.

* How’s your life?

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