Wiretapped conversations have taken center stage at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain. Prosecutors played a series of recordings during testimony from FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald Thursday afternoon. McDonald said he had been working on the Madigan investigation since 2014. He also said that the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays for investigators.
Oct 26, 2024•24 min•Ep. 389
Greg Bishop talks with The Center Square reporter Jim Talamonti about his coverage of the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Oct 25, 2024•24 min•Ep. 390
Greg Bishop reviews the statement from the Illinois State Rifle Association reacting to a shooting incident involving former Illinois Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger at a Democratic Missouri U.S. senate candidate's event where a fired bullet sent shrapnel, injuring a local reporter. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Oct 24, 2024•33 min•Ep. 388
Witness testimony has resumed in the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain. Former State Rep. Scott Drury, D-Highwood, returned to the stand for additional cross-examination Wednesday morning after beginning his testimony on Tuesday. Drury and Madigan defense attorney Todd Pugh had several combative exchanges over a variety of issues. U.S. government prosecutor Amarjeet Bhachu said the prosecution planned to call utility ...
Oct 23, 2024•37 min•Ep. 387
Prosecutors and defense attorneys selected a jury along with six alternates on Monday before breaking for lunch, making way for opening arguments to begin this afternoon in the high-profile corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Madigan appeared in court Monday with his legal team. He also had some supporters in the gallery. His daughter, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and wife, Shirley.
Oct 21, 2024•25 min•Ep. 386
A ruling on whether Illinois’ gun and magazine ban is unconstitutional is expected to come sometime after Monday. Illinois banned the sale and possession of more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities during lame duck session of the Illinois General Assembly in January 2023. Federal lawsuits were then filed against the law. Southern District of Illinois federal Judge Stephen McGlynn gave litigants in the consolidated case a month to file final briefs when he wrapp...
Oct 19, 2024•24 min•Ep. 384
Greg Bishop talks with The Center Square's Jim Talamonti about the jury for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corruption trial and the expectation for opening statements Monday afternoon. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Oct 18, 2024•34 min•Ep. 385
Gun stores across Illinois are preparing for the possible outcome of a federal court striking down the state’s gun and magazine ban. Sometime after Oct. 20, Southern District of Illinois federal Judge Stephen McGlynn could rule on the consolidated case challenging the ban. Some expect he will issue a permanent injunction. This could be his second strike against the law. On preliminary grounds last year, McGlynn issued an injunction that lasted six days before the appeals court put a hold on his ...
Oct 17, 2024•9 min•Ep. 383
Greg Bishop shares conversations he had with Nicole from GAT Guns in East Dundee about being prepared for another possible injunction against Illinois' gun ban. @WashingtonGunLaw host William Kirk shares some of his thoughts on the importance of representation and the trajectory of the gun ban case. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Oct 16, 2024•28 min•Ep. 382
Greg Bishop shares a conversation with Illinois State Rifle Association's Ed Sullivan about proposed legislation from gun control groups to enhance safe storage of firearms and lost and stolen reporting requirements.
Oct 15, 2024•15 min•Ep. 381
A newly released database of gender transition procedures on children reveals at least 418 patients in Illinois received such treatment since 2019. Billing to insurance companies totaled at least $644,000. The Stop The Harm Database from the national group Do No Harm analyzed billing codes from insurance companies in regards to gender transition and youth. Nationwide, they found nearly 14,000 minors underwent sex change treatments. Of that, more than a third had surgeries and more than half had ...
Oct 14, 2024•35 min•Ep. 380
Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn continues to push for voters to approve a non-binding question on the Nov. 5 ballot to bring about a “millionaire surcharge.” Illinoisans pay the second highest property taxes in the United States, according to multiple nationwide surveys. The total amount paid annually by Illinois property tax payers is $23.2 billion, according to Quinn. With early voting ongoing, one of the advisory questions voters are being asked is whether those making more than $1 million sho...
Oct 12, 2024•24 min•Ep. 378
Greg Bishop talks with The Center Square reporter Jim Talamonti about the first week of coverage of the corruption trial against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Oct 11, 2024•46 min•Ep. 379
Greg Bishop reviews the latest update from Wednesday's court session in the corruption trial against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan where prosecutors and defense questioned potential jurors. Jury selection continues Thursday. Former Gov. Pat Quinn shared some of his thoughts on the ordeal. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Oct 11, 2024•37 min•Ep. 377
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday morning in the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Potential jurors reported to court Tuesday morning and filled out questionnaires. United States of America v. Madigan et al is being held at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse in Chicago. Attorneys appeared in Courtroom 1203 on Tuesday afternoon to discuss pretrial issues after a schedule change. Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain...
Oct 09, 2024•35 min•Ep. 376
Tuesday is Day One of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's and co-defendant Michael McClain’s trial on racketeering and bribery charges. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch announced a federal jury’s indictment of Madigan on March 2, 2022. “The indictment accuses Madigan of leading, for nearly a decade, a criminal enterprise whose purpose was to enhance Madigan’s political power and financial well-being while also generating income for his political allies ...
Oct 08, 2024•12 min•Ep. 375
Several groups have filed legal challenges against an Illinois law regarding interchange fees. The Interchange Fee Prohibition Act doesn’t ban or restrict credit card swipe fees, but it limits banks from charging interchange fees on tax and tip revenues. The law, which was backed by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, was the first such statute in the country. Banking trade groups argued in court that the law would “throw well-operating payment card systems into chaos.”
Oct 08, 2024•40 min•Ep. 374
A judge on Wednesday denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's motion to dismiss some of the charges he faces before trial next week. Judge John Robert Blakey also denied a motion from Madigan's co-defendant in the case, Michael McClain, for a separate trial. McClain, a former state lawmaker, lobbyist and longtime Madigan ally, had asked for his own trial without Madigan because Madigan's defense team plans to blame McClain for the multi-year corruption scheme.
Oct 05, 2024•24 min•Ep. 372
Greg Bishop reviews the history of charges against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan who faces trail in Chicago starting next week. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Oct 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 373
Greg Bishop reviews a rough play-by-play from Wednesday's federal court hearing in the Northern District of Illinois where Judge Iain Johnston took attorneys for Illinois and Cook County to task over implying his ruling against the state's prohibition of canceled carry creates a public safety risk. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Oct 03, 2024•45 min•Ep. 371
The Illinois Attorney General’s office has apologized to a federal judge demanding answers after implying his ruling against the state’s mass transit concealed carry ban has “safety implications.” Northern District of Illinois federal Judge Iain Johnston ruled the Second Amendment is violated by the state’s prohibition of people carrying concealed firearms on mass transit. The state appealed and in a motion said the “the potential safety implications of the Court’s order are highlighted by a rec...
Oct 02, 2024•40 min•Ep. 370
Greg Bishop shares a conversation with Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson about the legal fight over Illinois' prohibition of concealed carry on mass transit as the state appeals a district court ruling. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Oct 01, 2024•36 min•Ep. 369
Greg Bishop reviews some of the moments from a recent Illinois House hearing about the state's high property taxes where witnesses discussed a nonbinding resolution on the Nov. 5 ballot to ask voters whether millionaires should be taxed a surcharge to fund a property tax relief fund. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Sep 30, 2024•38 min•Ep. 368
Businesses and banks are at odds over a pending Illinois law banning credit card fees when customers pay for taxes and tips. Illinois Retail Merchants Association President and CEO Rob Karr said recent polling shows overwhelming public support for the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. The law slated to take effect next July prohibits banks and credit card companies from charging swipe fees on the state and local sales tax and tip portion of a transaction when the consumer pays with a credit or de...
Sep 27, 2024•24 min•Ep. 367
Greg Bishop talks with Todd Vandermyde to review recent filings in separate cases impacting Cook County's gun and ammo tax and the mass transit concealed carry prohibition case. He also reviews a recent appeals court decision denying the state's motion to stay a case challenging the Firearm Owner's ID card. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Sep 26, 2024•33 min•Ep. 366
Greg Bishop reviews a recent ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court in a case challenging a provision of Illinois' Firearm Owner's ID card law. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Sep 25, 2024•36 min•Ep. 365
The state of Illinois is appealing a ruling that the ban on carrying concealed firearms on public transit is unconstitutional. The case Schoenthal v. Raoul, filed two years ago, challenges Illinois’ concealed carry law that carves out places like mass transit where people licensed to carry firearms concealed are prohibited from carrying. Late last month, a Northern District of Illinois federal judge sided with plaintiffs, saying the law violates the Second Amendment. Support this podcast: https:...
Sep 24, 2024•25 min•Ep. 364
While the bench trial for Illinois’ gun and magazine ban is over, the reverberations could impact a separate lawsuit against banning firearm silencers. Litigants in the trial that wrapped up Thursday argued over the difference and similarities of now banned semi-automatic only firearms and military rifles that go full auto or burst. Plaintiffs worked to address the issues raised by the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals that sided with the state on preliminary grounds last year, saying semi-a...
Sep 23, 2024•33 min•Ep. 363
The bench trial for the challenge to Illinois’ gun and magazine ban continues in East St. Louis. Illinois enacted a ban on semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities in January 2023. Lawsuits challenging the law in federal court went all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court on preliminary grounds. Justices denied the request, saying they wanted a full case on final judgment. Monday began the trial to get to final judgment in the courtroom of federal Judge Stephen McGlynn.
Sep 21, 2024•24 min•Ep. 361
Greg Bishop reviews the closing arguments from the plaintiffs and defense in the bench trial of Illinois' gun and magazine ban, as well as some of the closing comments from federal Judge Stephen McGlynn about historic riots where Black residents were victimized. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Sep 20, 2024•37 min•Ep. 362
