Illinois took center stage in national politics this week after former President Donald Trump made comments about Vice President Kamala Harris’ race. Trump made headlines for comments about Harris in Chicago with the National Association of Black Journalists Wednesday. Harris later said it’s the “same old show” from Trump. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Aug 01, 2024•31 min•Ep. 330
The failures of the Secret Service around the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump are mounting but members of Congress say there’s not been enough accountability. Trump suffered a wound to the ear, a spectator was killed and two others were critically wounded when a sniper opened fire in Butler, Pennsylvania, at a campaign rally on July 13. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned last week after a U.S. House hearing failed to get answers. On Tuesday in a U.S...
Jul 31, 2024•38 min•Ep. 329
Members of Congress, including Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, are working to get answers to what happened before, during and after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13. A joint hearing is underway unpacking the failures of the Secret Service that day in Butler, Pennsylvania. Durbin wants to know what changes are being made leading up to the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-found...
Jul 30, 2024•38 min•Ep. 328
Greg Bishop reviews some of the ongoing questions Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is getting about whether he's being vetted by Vice President Kamala Harris to be her vice presidential running mate in the 2024 election. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Jul 29, 2024•30 min•Ep. 327
Questions persist around whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is or is not being vetted as a possible vice presidential candidate for Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden announced Sunday he was not seeking reelection. He later endorsed Vice President Harris to be the nominee. Democratic leaders, including Pritzker, followed suit with endorsements of Harris. Alongside the names of Democratic governors from several other states, Pritzker’s name was brought up in reports earlier this week as a potent...
Jul 27, 2024•24 min•Ep. 325
Questions persist around whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is or is not being vetted as a possible vice presidential candidate for Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden announced Sunday he was not seeking reelection. He later endorsed Vice President Harris to be the nominee. Democratic leaders, including Pritzker, followed suit with endorsements of Harris. Alongside the names of Democratic governors from several other states, Pritzker’s name was brought up in reports earlier this week as a potent...
Jul 26, 2024•27 min•Ep. 326
As the Illinois governor weighs in on a potential vice presidential nomination, a socialist alderman from Chicago is expressing frustration with the Democratic Party. Gov. J.B. Pritzker told CNN he’d be reluctant to give up his post as governor of Illinois, but the possibility of being vice president would be appealing. “It’d be hard to resist a call and consideration if the nominee called me to ask to be considered for vice president,” Pritzker said Wednesday. He told MSNBC Tuesday that he had ...
Jul 25, 2024•35 min•Ep. 324
Vetting for potential candidates to run alongside Kamala Harris in her bid for president is underway, with a number of prominent elected Democrats under consideration, according to published reports. A Tuesday afternoon report by the Wall Street Journal said the Harris campaign sent vetting materials to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. But Gov....
Jul 24, 2024•38 min•Ep. 323
Greg Bishop reviews some of the recent headlines around whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker could be the running mate for presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Jul 23, 2024•31 min•Ep. 322
Illinois political leaders are reacting to President Joe Biden announcing he won’t run for president and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic party’s nominee. Biden made the announcement Sunday afternoon, saying the move is in the “best interest of my party and the country.” Biden’s announcement throws the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month into uncertainty, though he endorsed Harris to get the nomination. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/f...
Jul 22, 2024•40 min•Ep. 321
Illinois Republicans are making the case for more public safety in the Land of Lincoln while attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Tuesday’s theme at the RNC was “Make America Safe Again.” Earlier in the day, Illinois Republicans gathered for their breakfast off site. U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Hindsboro, said the Biden administration’s open border is allowing crime, drugs, human trafficking and terrorists in.
Jul 20, 2024•24 min•Ep. 319
Outgoing Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy, U.S. Rep. Darin Lahood and other state GOP leaders answered questions about election integrity, the Secret Service's handling of the security detail at the campaign event Saturday where former President Donald Trump was grazed by a bullet and another man was killed, and other issues Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7c...
Jul 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 320
Some Black leaders from the Chicago area are urging others to ditch Democrats and vote Republican. After Wednesday’s GOP breakfast outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Wednesday, Republican Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Bob Fioretti made his case to the media that he will bring back law and order. Pastor David Lowery Jr., a pastor with Universal Baptist Church in Harvey, stood alongside Fioretti and said Black voters should join him in ditching the Democratic party. S...
Jul 18, 2024•38 min•Ep. 318
Illinois elected members of Congress and the state legislature answered questions from the media Tuesday during a gaggle at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Jul 17, 2024•32 min•Ep. 317
Politics continue in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump with both sides in Illinois taking stock of the temperature of the rhetoric this election cycle. In Pennsylvania Saturday, a Trump rally attendee was shot and killed and Trump was injured after a would-be assassin opened fire minutes into the former president’s speech to a crowd in an open air field. The assailant was shot and killed by law enforcement. At an unrelated event in Springfield, Illinoi...
Jul 16, 2024•19 min•Ep. 316
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is responding to questions about a hot mic comment this week where he said of the presidential race, “I don't like where we are.” Every appearance Pritzker has in front of the media this week, he’s been peppered with questions about President Joe Biden’s physical and mental fitness to serve. Biden’s fitness to serve as president has been the major national political story since his poor debate performance late last month. Some are looking to a Biden news conference la...
Jul 13, 2024•24 min•Ep. 314
Greg Bishop reviews a few moments of President Joe Biden's performance at separate events Thursday and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's continued questioning about Biden's fitness to be the Democrats' candidate for the November election. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Jul 12, 2024•22 min•Ep. 315
Greg Bishop reviews recent comments from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker about their support for President Joe Biden, despite concerns of his fitness to serve. Pritzker was caught in a hot mic moment saying "I don't like where we are." Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Jul 11, 2024•31 min•Ep. 313
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker remains steadfast in his support of President Joe Biden despite concerns about the president’s fitness. Pritzker was in front of the media for the first time Tuesday since he met with other governors and Biden last week at the White House. He shared what his message to Biden was. “I said, ‘you need to go out there and talk to the American public more,’” Pritzker said. “It was important. I think they took too long. I think he admitted this, to after the debate for him ...
Jul 10, 2024•30 min•Ep. 312
Greg Bishop reviews the recent headlines about Democrats saying President Joe Biden should step down ahead of the party's convention this August. Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Biden delegate, provides some insight. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Jul 09, 2024•19 min•Ep. 311
Amid concerns of President Joe Biden’s fitness to serve another four years in office, an Illinois congressman says he should step down. But a delegate says the party must unite ahead of the convention. Speaking with MSNBC Friday, Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley said Biden should secure his legacy. “The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and to prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let somebody else do this,” Quigley said. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedo...
Jul 08, 2024•22 min•Ep. 310
Greg Bishop reviews some of the headlines and comments after Democratic governors met privately with the Biden administration Wednesday and reviews the many times Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked about his presidential aspirations. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Jul 05, 2024•12 min•Ep. 309
The U.S. Supreme Court declined taking up the cases challenging Illinois' gun ban, saying they aren’t ready yet but also criticizing an appeals court’s rationale for denying a preliminary injunction. Tuesday, Justice Clarence Thomas denied writs of certiorari for the six cases challenging gun bans in Illinois. “Petitioners sought a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the law, arguing that the law violates their Second Amendment right to ‘keep and bear Arms.’” Thomas wrote. “This Co...
Jul 04, 2024•24 min•Ep. 308
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has said it won’t take unfinished cases challenging Illinois’ gun ban without final judgment from the appeals court, it’s back to the lower courts. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas declined to hear cases from Illinoisans suing over gun bans. The opposing sides of the debate see Tuesday’s outcome differently. Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Illinois’ ban on the sale and possession of more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazine capacities in January 2023...
Jul 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 307
Reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court granting "absolute immunity" to the president of the United States when acting in his core constitutional duty is getting reaction from Illinois elected officials. Monday’s ruling comes in response to former President Donald Trump's claim that he has presidential immunity against the charges brought against him over actions he took as president. He is the first former president to face criminal charges. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-n...
Jul 02, 2024•19 min•Ep. 306
An annual rite of summer in Illinois is approaching soon with another increase in the state’s gas tax along with a slew of other tax increases. In total, Illinois will see $1.1 billion in tax hikes over the next year. They will support a record-high $53.1 billion state budget. Taxes for gasoline will be 47 cents per gallon and 54 cents per gallon for diesel. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...
Jul 01, 2024•22 min•Ep. 305
Recent rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court impacting firearms has those in Illinois’ gun control debate declaring their sides are bolstered. In the case Garland v. Cargill, the majority opinion said federal government agencies cannot create laws through rulemaking, as was done with the ATF banning devices that can connect to a semi-automatic rifle to increase the rate of fire.
Jun 29, 2024•24 min•Ep. 303
Greg Bishop reviews some of the reaction from Illinois Democrats and Republicans to Thursday evening's presidential debate between incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx
Jun 28, 2024•33 min•Ep. 304
A ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court about a federal bribery statute is expected to impact the high profile trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as a defense attorney for the ComEd Four found guilty last year expects a retrial. Madigan was charged with 22 counts of corruption in 2022 in a case federal authorities called “Madigan Enterprise.” They alleged over nearly a decade, Madigan used his position as House Speaker to steer contracts and no-show jobs from Commonwealth Edison...
Jun 27, 2024•28 min•Ep. 302
Beginning July 1, Illinois will have a new state agency set to roll out over the next three years to handle all things early childhood development. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1 Tuesday in Chicago. He said transferring early childhood services from three different state agencies to a new one will streamline things for parents. “The Department of Early Childhood, our first ever unified state agency dedicated to supporting Illinois’ youngest children and their parents,” Pritzker said.
Jun 26, 2024•37 min•Ep. 301
