President Donald Trump pushed Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to seek federal help after over three dozen people were shot and three killed during another bloody weekend in Chicago.
“Chicago violence is unchecked and at record levels. It has never been worse! This weekend 41 people were shot, 3 DEAD. These numbers are becoming normalized. It is out of control! The city will die if the Federal Government, a fine tuned crime fighting machine, is not invited in, by the Mayor or Governor, to HELP,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117194670372847111">posted</a> on Truth Social on Monday. 
Trump&#8217;s comments came after Chicago police recorded 22 shootings in the city over the weekend. One incident occurred around midnight on Saturday when a person opened fire into a large crowd at Washington Park, Fox32 <a href="https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-weekend-violence-41-shot-3-dead">reported</a>. During that shooting, at least 15 people were shot, including one fatally. 
Pritzker, who has repeatedly fought efforts from Trump to surge law enforcement to Chicago, issued a statement on “gun violence” following the park shooting. No suspect has yet been arrested for the attack. 
“I am awaiting the call. Nobody should be forced to live under these conditions,” Trump said Monday. “Like D.C. and others, they will have almost no crime, FAST! The State and City can’t do what I do. Governor Pritzker, CALL!!!”
Trump&#8217;s deployment of federal law enforcement officers and the National Guard to Washington, D.C., has so far <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-what-trumps-d-c-crackdown-accomplished-one-year-later">yielded</a> over 16,000 arrests, the removal of hundreds of gang members off the streets, and the confiscation of 2,000 illegal firearms. 
At the end of 2025, Trump withdrew the National Guard from Chicago after the Supreme Court declined to weigh in on a lower court ruling siding with Illinois&#8217; challenge to the deployment. 
“We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact,” Trump said at the time. 
Pritzker has downplayed Chicago’s crime, saying it is just part of living in a big city. 
“Look, big cities have crime. There&#8217;s no doubt about it. But let&#8217;s just pay attention to what President Trump is doing targeting Chicago, overlooking red states that have much higher crime rates,” Pritzker told NBC 5 Chicago when asked in September 2025 if he would be comfortable telling his friends to ride the subway after midnight. 
Some states have taken an opposite approach to Pritzker’s and welcomed a federal law enforcement surge. Officials in Tennessee worked closely with federal law enforcement to crack down on crime in Memphis, a city long plagued with violent crime.

Illinois Gov. Discusses President Trump’s Plans To Deploy National Guard Troops In Chicago

Trump Makes Dire Prediction For Blue City After Weekend Of Violence

chicago

donald trump

gun violence

jb pritzker

national guard

politics

An illegal immigrant with an Illinois driver&#8217;s license allegedly sped away after striking a preteen boy in Pennsylvania, leaving him seriously injured in the roadway, authorities said.
Yorgelis Alexandra Matos-Bravo, a 29-year-old Venezuelan national living in Chicago, was allegedly speeding in a red 2016 Chevrolet Cruze when she struck the boy at the intersection of Fallowfield Avenue and Third Street in Charleroi on Sunday afternoon.  
The boy suffered serious injuries to his head and right arm. He was initially taken to Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital before being flown to UPMC Children&#8217;s Hospital of Pittsburgh with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, <a href="https://www.heraldstandard.com/news/local_news/2026/aug/25/boy-struck-by-hit-and-run-driver-in-charleroi">according</a> to court documents.
Another juvenile who witnessed the crash recorded the vehicle&#8217;s Indiana license plate number and gave it to investigators. Officers used the information to identify the car in footage from nearby surveillance cameras.
While police searched the area, Matos-Bravo&#8217;s brother arrived and used a translation app to tell officers she was returning. He said Matos-Bravo had stopped at a nearby park, where she was crying about what had happened.
Matos-Bravo returned after calling her brothers, who urged her to go back to the scene, police said. She allegedly told investigators through a translation app that she had struck the child but fled because she was shocked and nervous.
Police said the vehicle had handprints and a significant dent on its hood.
Matos-Bravo faces seven charges, including felony aggravated assault of a child under 13, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, disorderly conduct, and leaving the scene of an accident.
She was taken to the Washington County jail after failing to post a $25,000 cash bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 3.
The Department of Homeland Security said Matos-Bravo illegally entered the United States through Texas in July 2022 under the Biden administration and later obtained a driver&#8217;s license from Illinois. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer asking Washington County officials to transfer her to federal custody if she is released.
“This criminal illegal alien now faces seven charges after a hit-and-run that injured a young child in Pennsylvania,&#8221; Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. 
&#8220;She would not have been in our country in the first place if it weren’t for the Biden Administration’s open borders, and she wouldn’t have been on our roads if it weren’t for J.B. Pritzker’s sanctuary Illinois issuing her a driver’s license,” Mullin continued. “This was a completely avoidable crime that was enabled by the reckless, America Last policies of sanctuary politicians.&#8221;
Mullin added that ICE wants to ensure that Matos-Bravo is &#8220;never released onto our streets again.”
Illinois <a href="https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_tvdl22.pdf">allows</a> illegal immigrants who meet identification and residency requirements and pass vision, written, and road tests to obtain driver&#8217;s licenses. In 2024, the state replaced its Temporary Visitor Driver&#8217;s License program with standard licenses for undocumented residents and other noncitizens without Social Security numbers.

Gemini_Generated_Image_gq8vl5gq8vl5gq8v (1)

Illegal Immigrant With Sanctuary-State License Charged In Child Hit-And-Run

hit and run

illegal immigration

pennsylvania

sanctuary state

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker dropped a bizarre self-aggrandizing video on X Monday night, featuring himself posing awkwardly, captioned “Governor-maxxing.” As if that weren’t enough to make internet users spit out their coffee, the clip declared, “When you’re in an aura farming contest and your opponent is J.B.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Governor-maxxing. <a href="https://t.co/KUZRJc9ANF">pic.twitter.com/KUZRJc9ANF</a>
&mdash; JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) <a href="https://x.com/JBPritzker/status/2091993783478919327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Aura farming” is slang for intentionally acting cool or confident to stack up invisible clout points. But for the billionaire Democrat with zero street credibility, the attempt to use Gen-Z slang backfired rapidly.
Social media users immediately pounced on the clip, serving up a brutal reality check to the governor’s delusional post.
Critics quickly flipped Pritzker’s forced language against him. One viral response laid out the billionaire’s actual track record in Illinois, listing his real specialties: &#8220;Property-tax-maxxing,&#8221; &#8220;Gas-tax-hike-maxxing,&#8221; &#8220;Pension-debt-maxxing,&#8221; and &#8220;Fiscal-instability-maxxing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Gov. Pritzker&#39;s record speaks for itself:
Property-tax-maxxing Property-tax-task-force-maxxing State-and-local-tax-burden-maxxing Cell-phone-tax-maxxing Gas-tax-hike-maxxing Automatic-tax-indexing-maxxing Toll-hike-maxxing State-spending-growth-maxxing Pension-debt-maxxing…
&mdash; Brian Costin (@BrianCostin) <a href="https://x.com/BrianCostin/status/2092006673363734880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Former nuclear scientist for the US Department of Energy Matt Van Swol didn&#8217;t mince words about the state of Illinois’ first city, noting, “This is literally what is happening on the streets of Chicago on a nightly basis &#8230; You are a joke. Everything is fake, you don’t give a damn.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This is literally what is happening on the streets of Chicago on a nightly basis by Black teens. 
You are a joke. 
Everything is fake, you don’t give a damn. <a href="https://t.co/19t93E8v8R">pic.twitter.com/19t93E8v8R</a>
&mdash; Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) <a href="https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2092064670861447361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Others simply pointed out the laws of physics, cracking, “To everyone making fun of this just remember, to generate aura you must generate gravity. And in order to generate gravity, you need a large amount of mass in one object. And no other object has more mass then JB Pritzker.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
To everyone making fun of this just remember, to generate aura you must generate gravity. And in order to generate gravity, you need a large amount of mass in one object. And no other object has more mass then JB pritzker.
&mdash; John The Sheep (@JohnthesheepNAT) <a href="https://x.com/JohnthesheepNAT/status/2092081425835258169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And more:
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 <a href="https://t.co/31wDvxSFZa">pic.twitter.com/31wDvxSFZa</a>
&mdash; Jenna Ellis 🐊 (@realJennaEllis) <a href="https://x.com/realJennaEllis/status/2092087437367394681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The &#8220;aura&#8221; campaign comes as Pritzker lays the groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential bid. Despite polling in single digits among prospective Democratic candidates, Pritzker has been desperately trying to build national resistance credibility. He made headlines in April by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pritzker-calls-for-mass-protests-destruction-says-gop-cannot-know-a-moment-of-peace">bellowing</a> calls for “mass protests” and “disruption” at a New Hampshire dinner, while previously comparing the incoming administration to 1930s Europe.
Yet back home, the Pritzker’s policy blunders are giving taxpayers grief. Pritzker recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bears-leaving-illinois-pritzker-says-an-out-of-state-republican-is-to-blame">threw up his hands</a> over the Chicago Bears, allowing the iconic charter NFL franchise to consider packing its bags for Indiana after he refused to grant tax relief to keep them in Illinois. Pritzker claimed he wouldn&#8217;t use public money for billionaire sports teams, which was ironic since his administration <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/02/26/jb-pritzker-healthcare-costs-adults-without-lack-legal-status-illinois-auditor-frank-mautino?utm_source=chatgpt.com">massively understated</a> the cost of state healthcare for illegal immigrants by a staggering $1.6 billion.
Add in a history of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mr-hypocrisy-pritzker-bashes-texas-maps-forgets-his-own-power-grabs-in-illinois">signing off</a> on partisan district maps after repeatedly pledging to veto them and a legacy of <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/498263-illinois-business-owners-could-face-fine-jail-time-for-reopening-in/">COVID-19 lockdowns</a> that threatened small business owners with jail time, and Pritzker&#8217;s post looks even more ridiculous.
Pritzker’s latest stunt didn&#8217;t “farm” any “aura,” just total embarrassment.

US-POLITICS-CRIME-TROOPS-CHICAGO

Dem Governor Tries Speaking Gen Z. Gets Absolutely Cooked

2028 presidential election

chicago bears

illinois

social media

Federal agents arrested an illegal immigrant from Jordan after Illinois sanctuary authorities released him from custody despite an ICE detainer, following his arrest for allegedly carrying eight Molotov cocktails in his backpack, The Daily Wire has learned.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers caught up to Hamed Mohammed Hamed Alsaidi, 31, on Tuesday after Will County officials released him from custody and ignored a federal detainer, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told The Daily Wire.
“Even though ICE lodged a detainer, sanctuary politicians in Will County, Illinois refused to honor it and released him without notifying ICE. Fortunately, thanks to the brave men and women of ICE, we have apprehended him and he remains in ICE custody,&#8221; a DHS spokesperson said, adding that the blame is on &#8220;Governor J.B. Pritzker and his fellow sanctuary politicians&#8221; who &#8220;need to stop putting American lives at risk with their reckless, America Last policies.&#8221;
Police in Mokena, Illinois, first encountered Alsaidi at a closed gas station around 2:52 a.m. on Saturday.
At the time, the illegal immigrant allegedly gave the fake name Hakmat Saidi to the police, <a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/08/04/federal-investigation-launched-into-man-charged-in-will-county-with-possessing-molotov-cocktails/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Shaw Local.
“He was told he could not be there and was given a ride to another gas station that was open,” prosecutors said, according to the local outlet.
Officers later observed Alsaidi walking in lanes of traffic and arrested him before learning his real identity. At that point, authorities found &#8220;several bottles filled with gasoline and stuffed with rags&#8221; inside his backpack, police said.
Alsaidi also allegedly possessed a “written map of the area,” including a nearby train station and the words, “You see the mosque,” which appeared to be in reference to the Prayer Center of Orland Park, Shaw Local reported.
Prosecutors determined that Alsaidi had &#8220;an active order of protection listing residents and addresses in Orland Park,&#8221; according to the outlet. They also found that he &#8220;has twice been determined to be an inadmissible alien, once in 2024 and again in 2025, making him a flight risk.&#8221;
Still, Will County Judge Theodore Jarz granted Alsaidi&#8217;s pretrial release on Sunday and ordered him to remain at an Oak Forest residence with a GPS monitor, according to Shaw Local.
Alsaidi is charged with felony unlawful possession of a weapon and misdemeanor obstructing identification.
The Jordanian national crossed the border into California illegally in 2024 before being released into the country under the Biden administration, DHS said. He also had a prior arrest for domestic battery.

Untitled design – 2026-08-06T130425.068

EXCLUSIVE: ICE Nabs Jordanian Illegal Released By Sanctuary Authorities With Backpack Full Of Molotov Cocktails

sanctuary city

A 21-year-old leftist college student is in custody after admitting to burning a cross in Chicago’s Grant Park, saying it was a protest against the Trump administration — an act that sparked outrage from Democrats who initially called it the “seeds of racism and fascism.”
The incident first flared up on June 9. A disturbing video showed a wooden cross burning at Grant Park in Chicago. Firefighters extinguished the flames and police released photos of a &#8220;person of interest&#8221; fleeing the scene, per <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/post/1-custody-connection-burning-cross-grant-park-chicago-police-say/19308857/?ex_cid=TA_WLS_TW&amp;taid=6a314feea3997400016fe6fd&amp;utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&amp;utm_medium=trueAnthem&amp;utm_source=twitter">ABC 7</a>.
With no suspect in custody, Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential presidential contender, rushed to judgment. 
“The fact that it even occurred at all speaks to what happens when the seeds of racism and fascism grow unchecked in our country,” <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/06/11/pritzker-summons-words-of-the-late-rev-jesse-jackson-to-decry-cross-burning-in-grant-park?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Pritzker said</a>, appearing to blame the arson on the political Right. “The threats are real. And in times like these, it’s easy to fall prey to despair, to think that the fight for justice is just too costly to engage in, that the mountain is too high to climb and the path is too narrow to navigate.”
Then came the twist. 
On Monday, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQhCFLw1p80">NBC Chicago</a> identified University of Illinois Chicago senior Merlin Lu as the suspect in the cross-burning arson, who admitted to constructing and burning the cross and placing a red hat — symbolizing MAGA hats — on top in a protest against the Trump White House.
For decades, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a white supremacist group, used cross burnings to intimidate black communities. 
&#8220;How did you land on a burning cross?&#8221; reporter Chuck Goudie asked.
&#8220;Just it came up to my head one day. I wanted to find something that I could do by myself, like no organization, no friends,” Lu said. &#8220;I did know about this historical relevance beforehand, but I didn&#8217;t know the severity, how racially motivated it may seem from what I did.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/8VGIZPhP4U">pic.twitter.com/8VGIZPhP4U</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2066894517933142235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Last week, Lu sent a scripted video to the local NBC affiliate, claiming responsibility for the cross burning. In his statement, he made alarming comments about President Donald Trump.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to wait till his term ends,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t wanna wait until he may or may not get impeached. I want him gone right now.&#8221;
“On that video, are you threatening him?” Goudie asked. 
“No,&#8221; Lu replied. 
Goudie said back: “You say that you think he should be brought to an end.”
“I think no, I said, I said he deserves to stand trial to the American people,” Lu responded.
Goudie pressed again: “You use the word end.&#8221;
“That’s what I mean. By end, I don’t mean like a civil war, if that’s the imagery that you’re trying to imagine,” Lu said. 
The college senior said he was trying to send a message to Trump and what he called “MAGA Christian nationalist supporters.” 
“He’s just scamming people,” Lu said. “And I think that&#8217;s a great reflection of how this country works right now, where money controls everything. Money has power over health care, money has power over transportation.” 
Even with Lu in custody and his intentions known, Mayor Brandon Johnson <a href="https://x.com/WesternLensman/status/2066936632243007877?s=20">said</a> the incident is &#8220;a painful reminder of how hatred towards black Americans still permeates in our society.&#8221;
 The FBI is investigating to determine whether the arson amounts to a hate crime.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Brandon Johnson is asked about the guy who set up the burning cross in Chicago:
“It&#8217;s a painful reminder of how hatred towards black Americans still permeates in our society.&#8221;
It was actually an Asian socialist’s protest against MAGA. Other than all of that, dead on, Mr Mayor. <a href="https://t.co/d8gIM4RCJV">pic.twitter.com/d8gIM4RCJV</a>
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://x.com/WesternLensman/status/2066936632243007877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>

Illinois Gov. Pritzker Discusses Trump’s Authorization Of National Guard Troops In Chicago

Anti-Trump Activist Behind Burning Cross That Sparked MAGA Blame

Leftist

President Donald Trump has spoken with the family of Sheridan Gorman, the college freshman who was allegedly fatally shot by an illegal immigrant roaming Chicago earlier this month, a White House official told The Daily Wire Monday.
Gorman was allegedly shot and killed as she tried to run from crazed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rare-reason-keeps-illegal-alien-suspect-in-loyola-student-slaying-from-facing-court?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rare+Reason+Keeps+Illegal+Alien+Suspect+In+Loyola+Student+Slaying+From+Facing+Court">Venezuelan illegal immigrant</a> Jose Medina-Medina. The Loyola University student was walking with friends to see the Northern Lights around 1 a.m. on March 19 when she was fatally shot, her family said.
Medina, 25, was released after crossing the southern border illegally in May 2023 before he turned up in Chicago, where he&#8217;s accused of shoplifting from a Macy&#8217;s that June, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The Venezuelan national never appeared for a hearing in the earlier case, leading a judge to issue a warrant for his arrest.
Days after the killing, Trump slammed the Biden administration’s “open door” policies for Medina&#8217;s release.
“It’s devastating. These people were let in by Biden. We’re getting them out. We’re getting them out fast. That’s why ICE is so important. They are doing such a good job,” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-doesnt-hold-back-when-daily-wire-asks-about-loyola-murder-suspect-and-biden-era-link">told</a> Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret Olohan. “This animal, I saw the whole thing last night. They gave me a briefing.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Here is Sheridan Gorman’s mom, Jessica, speaking about her daughter at a community vigil last night.
It’s nearly impossible to watch—every mother can feel her anguish, devastation, fury, and promise to find justice for her daughter.
And we will help her fight: <a href="https://t.co/42ZZhEmHEC">pic.twitter.com/42ZZhEmHEC</a>
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) <a href="https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/2038239230497796606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gorman&#8217;s grieving mother, Jessica, delivered an emotional speech during a Saturday vigil for her late daughter.
&#8220;I want to say this gently, but honestly, as a mom, I&#8217;m angry,&#8221; Jessica Gorman said as she fought back tears. &#8220;I&#8217;m like completely heartbroken, and we are going to fight for justice for our sweet Sheridan, and we&#8217;re going to fight for change.&#8221;
&#8220;But we know, not everyone will see it the same way we do and not everyone will approach it the way we will, and that&#8217;s okay,&#8221; Jessica said, adding, &#8220;At the heart of all of this, we all want the same thing — for your children and for ours to be safe, to be protected, and to come home. Because, at the end of the day, that&#8217;s what this is all about. All of our kids, every single one of them, protecting them, loving them, showing up for them. And that is how we honor her.&#8221;
The family has criticized the responses of Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, to Gorman&#8217;s tragic slaying.
Initially, Johnson <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/us-news/chicago-mayor-asked-about-citys-immigration-policies-after-illegal-immigrant-allegedly-killed-college-student/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he planned to eventually speak with the family.
It is not clear whether or not that&#8217;s happened, as his office didn&#8217;t respond to a request for comment.
Pritzker&#8217;s office also didn&#8217;t immediately respond when asked if the Democratic official had spoken with Gorman&#8217;s family.
Medina appeared in court Friday. His initial hearing was delayed due to his hospitalization for tuberculosis.
The illegal immigrant&#8217;s defense has pointed to a 2018 incident where Medina was shot in the head while being robbed in Colombia, <a href="https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/what-we-know-about-loyola-murder-suspect-jose-medina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to WGN. The public defender presented a photo appearing to show Medina with a dent in his forehead, arguing that he is developmentally delayed and can&#8217;t read or write.
At one point, Medina asked to go back to Colombia, but was sent on a bus to Chicago, his attorney said. It was at a Windy City migrant shelter where he contracted tuberculosis.
Medina&#8217;s mother came to Chicago “to care for him” and lived with him in a shelter near Loyola&#8217;s campus, according to WGN.

White House: Donald Trump

Trump Steps In After Illegal Immigrant Accused Of Slaying College Freshman

Brandon Johnson

Democrats

Former President Bill Clinton walked back remarks he made under oath that appeared to suggest Illinois Democrat Gov. JB Pritzker accompanied him on one of the flights he took aboard convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane. 
Clinton mentioned Pritzker when asked who typically accompanied him on flights he took on Epstein’s plane, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgJrYKAl6T0">according</a> to a video released Monday by the House Oversight Committee. After the clip circulated on social media, Clinton’s spokesman asserted that the former president did not mean to say that Pritzker flew on Epstein’s plane. 
“President Clinton was simply giving an example of the many people he traveled with to see the Clinton Foundation’s work. Governor Pritzker joined a Clinton Foundation trip in 2008,” said Clinton spokesman Angel Urena. “Not on Epstein’s plane. Not with Epstein. Not with Maxwell.”
During his deposition, Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) asked who Clinton “normally” brought with him on those flights. Clinton said he “brought people who work with me, especially people who would have to follow up on the fundraising, or people who were involved” in his work. 
“I had the Secret Service with me. And then on occasion, I had people who had volunteered to help us and wanted to see what we’re doing,” Clinton added. “For example, I think it was on one of these trips, I think that I had my first trip for the man who’s now the governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker and his wife, they gave me, they helped me get started.”
A clip circulating on social media, shared by RNC Research, highlighted the exchange.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bill Clinton says he brought JB Pritzker on pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s plane: “I think that I had my first trip for the man who’s now the Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker and his wife.” <a href="https://t.co/p6GtSbpgGX">pic.twitter.com/p6GtSbpgGX</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/2028647022119551010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Pritzker campaign spokesman Alex Gough told The Daily Wire that the governor traveled with Clinton twice, but said the travel was not on Epstein’s plane. 
“Governor Pritzker was asked to travel with President Clinton on two trips, once in 2008 and once in 2013. Neither utilized Jeffrey Epstein’s aircraft, nor was he accompanied by that man or Ghislaine Maxwell,” he said. “We understand that the GOP is desperate to deflect from the heinous accusations against President Trump in the Epstein Files, but this is a particularly weak effort to assign blame where there is none.”
Gough did not provide a comment on whether Pritzker had ever had any other interactions with Epstein. 
The governor’s cousin, Thomas Pritzker, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terrible-judgement-epstein-fallout-forces-top-hotel-exec-to-leave-hes-jb-pritzkers-cousin">announced</a> last month that he was stepping down from his executive position at the Hyatt hotel corporation over his ties to Epstein and Maxwell. 
“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret. I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” Thomas Pritzker said in a <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216864815/en/Tom-Pritzker-Retires-as-Executive-Chairman-of-Hyatt-After-22-Years-of-Service-and-Will-Not-Stand-for-Reelection-to-Board-of-Directors">news release</a>. “I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims.”

Clinton Global Initiative America Meetings Begin In Chicago

Bill Clinton Walks Back Remarks Suggesting JB Pritzker Flew On Epstein’s Plane

bill clinton

house oversight committee

jeffrey epstein

Illinois businessman Thomas Pritzker said Monday he was stepping down from his executive position at the Hyatt hotel corporation over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. 
Emails released by the Justice Department show Pritzker corresponding with Epstein in the years after his 2008 convictions for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor. Pritzker is the cousin of Democratic Governor JB Pritzker and has been the executive chair of Hyatt for over two decades. 
“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret. I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” Pritzker said in a <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216864815/en/Tom-Pritzker-Retires-as-Executive-Chairman-of-Hyatt-After-22-Years-of-Service-and-Will-Not-Stand-for-Reelection-to-Board-of-Directors">news release</a>. “I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims.”
In a letter to the Hyatt board on Monday, Pritzker said he would not seek to continue as executive chair after his term ends in June 2026. 
“When I look at my care for Hyatt, my respect for good governance and the focus that [my wife] and I have on our legacy, they all lead me to conclude that what is right for Hyatt and for me is that I retire as Executive Chairman of Hyatt effective immediately and not stand for reelection at our 2026 annual shareholder’s meeting,” he wrote in the letter. 
The announcement came after emails showed him corresponding with Epstein about a variety of topics. In one email from May 2012, Pritzker boasted to Epstein about attending an apparent dinner with high-ranking Chinese officials. 
“It was beyond awesome. I should have pushed you to go,” Pritzker <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00712657.pdf">wrote</a>. “Hot sh*t in a cool place.”
Another email exchange from July 2012 included Pritzker <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00629316.pdf">telling</a> Epstein, “Still at same coordinates. Took a bath this week,” and “more good news. Expect to take a bath again next week.”
Other emails included in the Justice Department Epstein files include emails between Epstein and his associates <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02441069.pdf">scheduling calls</a> and <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02246837.pdf">appointments</a> between Pritzker and Epstein. 
Hyatt praised Pritzker in a statement following his announcement. 
“Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt’s strategy and long-term growth, and we thank him for his service and dedication to Hyatt,” said Richard Tuttle, the chair of Hyatt’s nominating and corporate governance committee.
Over the years, Pritzker made significant <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Thomas+Pritzker">political contributions</a> to both Democratic and Republican political candidates, including former President Barack Obama, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Senator Cory Booker (D-NY), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). 
The release of the Epstein files has led to a shakeup in the business and political world. 
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/keir-starmer-in-hot-seat-after-admitting-he-knew-appointee-was-close-to-epstein">faced pressure</a> after emails shed new light on the relationship between former U.S. Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson and Epstein. Last week, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-obama-white-house-lawyer-out-at-goldman-sachs-after-cozy-uncle-jeffrey-emails-with-epstein?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=SEE+IT%3A+‘Uncle+Jeffrey%2C’+Birthday+Wishes+And+‘Xo’+Emails+Rock+Obama-Era+Insider">Kathryn Ruemmler</a>, Obama’s longest-serving White House counsel, announced that she would be leaving Goldman Sachs after emails revealed her cozy relationship with Epstein.
The Trump administration has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-cabinet-secretary-confirms-he-visited-epsteins-island-with-wife-and-children-in-2012">faced questions</a> after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told senators last week that he visited Epstein’s Little Saint James Island with his wife and children in 2012.

MixCollage-17-Feb-2026-10-17-AM-917

Epstein Fallout Forces Top Hotel Exec To Leave — He’s JB Pritzker’s Cousin

'Terrible Judgement': Top Illinois Hotel Exec Exiting Position Over Epstein Ties

department of justice

Epstein Files

Ghislaine Maxwell

Even as many Americans are poised to see the benefits of the tax cuts written into President Donald Trump&#8217;s signature One Big Beautiful Bill, only a few states have fully adopted the most popular provisions into their own tax codes — and two, New York and Illinois, are actively blocking them.
Under the legislation, American workers will not pay federal income taxes on qualified tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest. Senior citizens will see an enhanced deduction of $6,000. But in a majority of states across the country, those changes will not automatically be rolled into the state tax code, meaning taxpayers may not see the full advantage intended by the provisions in the law.
According to a <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/12/26/us-news/here-are-the-blue-states-blocking-trumps-popular-tax-cut-provisions/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_social_post_id=634548005&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_social_handle_id=17469289&amp;utm_source=twitter">report</a> published by the New York Post, only four states have fully adopted all of the new tax breaks: South Carolina, North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho. Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) said that because of the way state taxes work in his state, the majority of federal tax cuts would automatically apply to state tax filings.
&#8220;Claims that Colorado is refusing to adopt the majority of tax changes from H.R.1 [One Big Beautiful Bill] are not accurate,” a spokesperson for Polis told The Post. “All tax cuts in H.R. 1 are automatically incorporated into state tax code unless there is specific action to decouple.&#8221;
The reason Colorado&#8217;s state taxes align with the federal tax code is that they are based on federal taxable income — meaning the state only taxes the amount of income remaining after all federal tax breaks are applied. Other states that use the same process are South Carolina, Iowa, North Dakota, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon.
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The majority of states rely on Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), which does not reflect any federal tax cuts, and would have to take legislative steps to allow the cuts included in the recent legislation to trickle down to the state level.
&#8220;Some states start with federal taxable income, so most of the new deductions flow through automatically unless lawmakers opt out,” Adam Michel, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, told the Post. &#8220;Many more states—blue and red—start with adjusted gross income or run their own tax system, which means they don’t pick up these new deductions unless they affirmatively pass a bill to do so.&#8221;
Arizona <a href="https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/1R/250123GRIFFINHB2081.pdf">passed a law</a> exempting taxes on tips already, and similar bills have been proposed in New Jersey and North Carolina.
Several solidly blue states <a href="https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/blog/state-decoupling-from-federal-tax-provisions/#three-paths-forward">have indicated</a> that they won&#8217;t take those steps, claiming that doing so would quickly lead to budget shortfalls. California, for example, will not adopt the new tax breaks because officials believe the state would lose too much revenue to manage the current budget. In New York and Illinois, where static conformity laws would have caused the tax cuts to automatically transfer into the state tax code, the states are requiring an &#8220;add-back&#8221; for any deductions related to taxes on tips or overtime in order to protect revenue streams.

Two Blue States Scramble To Block Citizens From Cashing In On Trump Tax Cuts

Two Blue States Scramble To Prevent Citizens From Cashing In On Trump Tax Cuts

Blue States

california

gavin newsom

Democrat Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation on Friday that conservative advocates say will turn Illinois into a hub for “suicide tourism.” 
The <a href="https://ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?GAID=18&amp;DocNum=1950&amp;DocTypeID=SB&amp;LegId=161335&amp;SessionID=114">new law</a> allows doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to end the lives of those who are terminally ill and have been given a prognosis of less than six months to live. The bill had been sitting on his desk for over a month after Democrat lawmakers in the state Senate passed the measure a few hours after midnight on Halloween in a 30-27 vote. 
“I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal illness, and I have been moved by their dedication to standing up for freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak,” Pritzker said in a <a href="https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/s/0f091ea3-1845-4a06-a5eb-8f487c594841?preview">statement</a> after signing the legislation. 
Conservatives fear that the law will force doctors to promote and make referrals for the deadly practice. It would also bar Christian hospitals from firing doctors or employees who perform assisted suicides. The Thomas More Society, which <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beyond-the-pale-jb-pritzker-could-soon-make-illinois-a-hub-for-suicide-tourism">previously told</a> The Daily Wire that it would sue to block the law if signed, lamented the news. 
“This is a dark and sorrowful day for Illinois. When the state signals that some lives are no longer worth living, the most vulnerable pay the price,” said Thomas Olp, the executive vice president at Thomas More Society. “Instead of offering true compassion, support, and care, this law offers a fatal prescription. That is not mercy. It is abandonment.” 
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The Thomas More Society said that the law would put the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable at risk and jeopardize the religious liberty of Christian doctors. 
“By legalizing physician-assisted suicide, the Land of Lincoln has crossed a profound moral and legal red line. As signed into law, this fatal misstep places vulnerable lives at risk, tramples the inherent dignity of human life, and erodes the foundational conscience rights of medical professionals and religious medical practices.” 
Illinois becomes the 12th state to legalize assisted suicide, and is the first Midwest state to do so. Thomas More Society Head of Litigation Peter Breen previously told The Daily Wire that “There’s a significant concern that this is going to turn Illinois into a suicide tourism state.”

A Moral ‘Red Line’: Pritzker Signs Bill That Could Make Illinois A Hub For ‘Suicide Tourism’

A Moral 'Red Line': Pritzker Signs Bill That Could Make Illinois A Hub For 'Suicide Tourism'

assisted suicide

Pro-Life Movement

Religious Liberty

Chicago could lose federal funding after a 26-year-old woman was set on fire on the city’s train system in what the Trump administration described as a “preventable attack.”
Federal Transit Administration Administrator Marc Molinaro sent <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2025-12/The-Honorable-Brandon-Johnson-FTA-Special-Directive-Letter-to-Chicago-12-08-2025.pdf">letters</a> on Monday to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, directing them to immediately enhance safety on public transportation. Molinaro said that officials had failed to take the necessary steps to keep the public safe.
“Creating a safe, reliable transit system is the responsibility of leaders at every level. CTA, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois have failed to meet this obligation,” Molinaro wrote. “If CTA does not promptly increase its law enforcement presence, FTA will act, including by withholding federal funds.”
The letter comes after Bethany MaGee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/woman-set-on-fire-by-convict-with-72-priors-on-chicago-train">was doused</a> in gasoline and set ablaze in an unprovoked attack on a Chicago train last month. Lawrence Reed, the man charged in the attack, had previously been arrested more than 70 times and had 15 criminal convictions.
The letter said that officials needed to “implement immediate, measurable, corrective actions to reduce assaults on transit workers and passengers and to address unsafe conditions contributing to elevated violent crime rates.”
“The horrific attack on Bethany MaGee onboard a CTA train has shaken not only Chicago but also every community that depends on public transportation. As FTA Administrator, I call on you as an elected leader and on Chicago transit officials to take decisive action on safety issues that lead to such tragedies.”
“I will not accept the brutal assault of an innocent 26-year-old woman as an inevitable cost of providing public transportation,” Molinaro added. “The attack on Ms. MaGee was preventable. Transit leaders and elected officials who fail to enforce basic laws and permit disorder to erode the integrity of their systems are making deliberate choices that endanger riders.”
According to Molinaro, violent crime on Chicago’s public transportation system is four times the national average, and assaults on passengers have surged 150% in the last five years.
Molinaro directed Chicago officials to update the city’s public transportation agency safety plans and adopt appropriate measures to address violent crime. Pritzker and other Democratic officials have long downplayed crime rates in the Windy City, claiming high crime is part of being a big city.

Trump Admin Issues Ultimatum To Chicago After Latest ‘Preventable’ Train Attack

crime

trump administration

U.S.

Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has yet to address a string of deadly violence in Chicago, including a brutal public transit attack on Monday, where a 26-year-old woman was set on fire by a career criminal, and a deadly shooting on Friday that followed the city’s official Christmas tree lighting ceremony. 
After Friday’s shooting, President Donald Trump offered to send in the National Guard. The president <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115595274389789024">wrote</a> on Truth Social on Saturday, “The people are chanting, BRING IN TRUMP!!!” 
The president has now made several offers to send in the National Guard. “Pritzker needs help badly, just doesn’t know it yet. I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in DC. Chicago will be safe again,&#8221; he stated in September, per <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-vows-crime-chicago-fast-after-violent-labor/story?id=125181053">ABC News</a>. 
Earlier this week, a 26-year-old woman was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/media/1419031/dl?inline">set on fire by career criminal </a>Lawrence Reed on Chicago’s public transit system. Reed doused the woman in gasoline before setting her on fire, per the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/11/21/us-news/chicago-career-criminal-lawrence-reed-had-over-70-arrests-before-setting-woman-on-fire-in-train-attack/">New York Post</a>. After his arrest, Reed allegedly shouted, “burn b*tch” and “burn alive b*tch.” 
Following the incident, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson requested expedited funding for Chicago&#8217;s transit system. 
“All I can say is that as awful and as horrific as this tragedy is, this is an isolated incident,” <a href="https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-mayor-calls-cta-attack-left-woman-burned-isolated-incident">stated</a> Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The level of accountability that has to happen at this moment, I trust that the federal level will do its part.” 
President Trump said on Saturday&#8217;s Truth Social post that his offer of federal support is being denied. “Governor Pritzker and the low IQ Mayor of Chicago are refusing Federal Government help for a situation that could be quickly remedied.” 
Friday&#8217;s shooting left eight people injured and one person dead after the city’s official Christmas tree lighting ceremony, CBS News<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/shooting-loop-state-randolph-christmas-tree-lighting-millennium-park/"> reported</a>. 
Mayor Johnson said he wants parents to step up and help address gun violence. 
“I am the first person to recognize that we have more work to do in this city,” he said after Friday’s shooting. “We need parents, guardians, and other responsible adults to do their best to accompany young people to large, unsanctioned gatherings where weapons are likely present.” 
Governor JB Pritzker has yet to comment on either incident and did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Daily Wire.

JB Pritzker

Still No Response From JB Pritzker After Insane Stretch Of Deadly Violence In Chicago

No Reaction From Gov JB Pritzker After Deadly Week In Chicago

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