Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

An Illinois state judge has decided to give class treatment to claims that Apple Inc. illegally mishandled biometric voice data the technology giant obtained from residents who’ve used Siri on its devices.

Resolving the plaintiffs’ Biometric Information Privacy Act claims on a classwide basis “is the most efficient and fair way to proceed” in their case, and “is consistent with the policy goals underlying the class action mechanism,” Judge Michael Mullen of Cook County Circuit Court said in his order Thursday.

Class certification is appropriate because it will allow the court in one fell swoop to address several common questions, including whether the voice feature vectors that help Apple identify an individual using its Siri digital assistant constitute the type of voiceprints that should be subject to the Biometric Information Privacy Act’s informed-consent requirements, Judge Mullen said.

The ruling certifies a class of all Illinois residents who have used Apple’s Siri function and had their voiceprints or identifiable biometric feature vectors computed from their voice signals or raw audio collected and stored from Sept. 14, 2014, to the present. Evidence in the case demonstrates that about 3 million class members fall under that definition, class attorney David Golub of Silver Golub & Teitell LLP told Law360 on Friday.

* The Triibe…

Yet another “Operation: Midway Blitz” case has been thrown out of federal court. Oak Park attorney Scott Sakiyama received a petty citation in October for allegedly impeding Border Patrol agents. Magistrate Judge Heather McShain dismissed the case last month.

Court documents Sakiyama gave to The TRiiBE specifically show his citation was dismissed at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Jan. 12. Sakiyama said he received news of the dismissal notice from his own attorney after sending federal prosecutors “a couple of videos that we had.”

A source in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago separately corroborated that a prosecutor recommended dismissing Sakiyama’s citation after reviewing video footage his attorney provided. The TRiiBE has not received or reviewed the footage. […]

The citation is also contradicted by video footage shared to Facebook from the day of his arrest. That footage shows Sakiyama being pulled out of the driver’s side of his car, which is stopped behind the agents’ vehicle, not in front of it.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Election ’26: 4 Democrats seeking to replace Mendoza as Illinois comptroller: Mendoza herself has been an outspoken supporter of boosting the “rainy day” fund and has continued to advocate for ways to increase its size. The fund’s $2.4 billion balance only funds about two weeks of state operations, and lawmakers suspended the monthly transfer to the fund this year to free up money for other priorities in a tight budget year. “To continue to put money away for a rainy day when we’re in the middle of a tsunami, that’s not when we should be putting money away for a rainy day,” Villa said, adding “there’s no way to prioritize that in this budget.”

* Capitol City Now | Amazon has donated 1,000 of the devices to Illinois survivors of domestic violence: “I would like to thank Amazon for giving 1,000 survivors in Illinois an added layer of security,” Raoul said at an announcement in Chicago. “These Ring cameras are for peace of mind to survivors who want to know who is on the other side of the door before opening it. The ability to monitor their homes when they are not there allows survivors to know whether a predator is waiting for them.” […] “For nearly fifty years, the (Illinois Coalition against Domestic Violence) has served as the statewide leader in domestic violence advocacy and awareness,” said the coalition’s president and CEO, Carrie Boyd. “With domestic violence homicides having increased by approximately 140 percent in the last several years, while other violent crimes have decreased, this public safety measure is needed now more than ever.”

* ABC Chicago | 1K Ring cameras donated for Illinois domestic violence survivors as part of new initiative: “We launched a pilot program, with free devices and subscriptions, and just two weeks later learned that a survivor was quickly able to activate her safety plan, where she received a motion alert that alerted her that her abuser was approaching her home, with a weapon,” said Raquel Medrano, with Amazon Public Policy.

* Sen. Graciela Guzman | Illinois families can’t keep paying the bill for climate change damages: Across Illinois, people are making hard decisions about what they can afford and what they cannot. A public works director weighs whether to repave a street or replace a storm drain after another heavy rain. A homeowner opens the mail and braces for an insurance premium increase that pushes a family budget over the edge. These moments are becoming more common, and they point to a system in which families and local governments carry most of the cost of a changing climate, while the companies that helped drive this damage continue to post profits. That is why I am introducing the Climate Change Superfund Act in the Illinois Senate.

* Windy City Times | Equality Illinois leader at 2026 gala: Organization “built to face” political challenges: Equality Illinois’s new CEO, Channyn Lynne Parker, gave the keynote at the rights-advocacy’s 2026 annual gala the evening of Jan. 31, where she asserted that the event, which according to estimates hosted about 1,500 attendees, was “not just a gala—it is a sanctuary.” Parker praised both Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both of whom were in attendance that evening at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. Both politicians, she said, made clear that “dignity is not conditional” in the state.

*** Chicago ***

* ABC Chicago | New program offers volunteer opportunities for SNAP recipients amid new requirements: The non-profit launched “Snap Together Volunteers,” which offers accessible volunteer opportunities for seniors at the Nourish Chicago Pantry, located at 2102 W Ogden Avenue. This program is designed specifically for older adults, aged 55 to 64, who need qualifying volunteer hours.

* Fox Chicago | Fight over multi-billion dollar quantum computer campus on South Side not over: With their sights now set on the November general election, they rallied on Wednesday, calling on the community to support a new ballot initiative that lets voters consider whether the microelectronics park currently under construction on the site of the former U.S. Steel plant should be relocated in favor of grocery stores, affordable housing units, and youth centers.

* Bond Buyer | Chicago Transit Authority plans return to market with $575M deal: Wells Fargo Securities will price for the Chicago Transit Authority $575 million of first and second lien sales tax receipts bonds on Thursday, Feb. 5.

* Sun-Times | Accused fake cop beats third impersonation case after defending himself in Cook County trial: Ellis was arrested twice in the 1990s for felony police impersonation and convicted of both offenses, along with arson in 1997. Ellis’ latest legal saga began in March 2018 when Chicago cops pulled over his car on the South Side for having an expired temporary license plate. When he opened his wallet to give them his driver’s license, the officers spotted a laminated identification card from the Pembroke Township Police Department. The officers couldn’t find any evidence of a Pembroke Township police department, so they arrested Ellis on a felony charge of impersonating a cop.

* Tribune | Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter sued by minority partner for allegedly ‘self-dealing’ to devalue other shares: Minority owner Steven Rogers, an Englewood native and entrepreneur who was an early investor in the team, alleges in the suit that Alter abused his financial control of the Sky’s operations to “self-deal” stakes to boost his own shares while decreasing those of minority partners. “Alter’s actions breached his fiduciary duty to the minority investors … and unfairly deprived them of the value of their investments,” the lawsuit said.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Harvey Council to hold special meeting Monday to appoint acting mayor after Christopher Clark death : Shirley Drewens is the current mayor pro temp. The town of Harvey has been dealing with a financial crisis. It’s in debt by more than $150 million and has been forced to lay off many city workers, including more than half of the fire department employees. It is a stressful time for the city’s elected leaders, who have appealed to the federal and state governments for help.

* Daily Herald | St. Charles plastics plant remains open after being bought by German firm, saving jobs: But when 86 workers were listed by Microplastics Inc. in St. Charles, a last-minute reprieve for “a majority” of them is exactly what happened. And it came from Dippoldiswalde, Germany. After months of expecting the manufacturing plant to close down for good, the German-based company MATEtronix acquired Microplastics Inc., rehiring a majority of the same employees and keeping the equipment in St. Charles.

* Daily Southtown | Mokena village officials updating website, not logo, administrator says: The mockup presented in November was part of an informal discussion about the village’s larger project to redesign its website and revamp village operations, he said. Tomasoski said village officials started rethinking village operations in late 2023, early 2024 when a new wave of staff members were hired after several retirements. The influx of staff was a big change from when he started in 2015, he said, when the newest hire had been there for 15 years and some staff members had a tenure of more than 30 years. Naturally, he said, the new staff members prompted new ideas and processes.

*** Downstate ***

* WGLT | All this snow hasn’t done much to reduce drought in Central Illinois: State climatologist Trent Ford with the Illinois State Water Survey said the last six months are the driest August-to-January period on record for the Twin Cities at 7.1 inches of precipitation, according to climate records dating back to 1893. The only drier six-month period came during the Dust Bowl period, stretching from December 1933 to May 1934.

* WIFR | Public comment wanted on proposal for transportation funds in Rockford: Region 1 Planning Council is the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Rockford Urban and Metropolitan Area. The organization has established a preliminary plan for projects to receive federal funding through Surface Transportation Block Grant, Transportation Alternative Program and Carbon Reduction Program.

* WGLT | Union opposes Unit 5’s move to reject teacher resignation: Kathryn Monti submitted her resignation to the Unit 5 school board to take a new teaching job elsewhere. The school board rejected the resignation, saying Monti resigned mid-year with insufficient notice, and referred the case to the state superintendent for a possible license suspension of up to one year. A request to Unit 5 for the date of Monti’s resignation was not immediately returned. Monti has already left the district.

* WCIA | Movie filmed in Central IL comes to the big screen in Savoy: “Moses to Black,” was showing in theaters in Savoy, and the movie was filmed all across Champaign County. In Champaign, Urbana and Rantoul with Flyover Film Studios, at least 100 people were there to see the film, and members of the Champaign County Film Office were there as well. A Q&A was held discussing the benefits of showing large film projects in Champaign.

*** National ***

* AP | What to know about the partial government shutdown: The partial government shutdown is vastly different from the record closure in the fall. That is mostly because this shutdown, which started Saturday, does not include the whole of government and may not last long, even as it now drags into the new week. The House had hoped to pass funding legislation quickly when lawmakers return Monday evening, and that would have ended the shutdown. But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., now says he is hoping to have the package considered “at least by Tuesday” as he scrambles to round up votes and Democrats hold out for deeper changes to immigration enforcement.

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Catching up with the congressionals

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Federal candidates had until Saturday night to file their fourth-quarter 2025 paperwork. Evanston Now’s Matthew Eadie on the numbers out of the 9th Congressional District…

A barrage of out-of-state donors supercharged State Sen. Laura Fine’s congressional campaign in the final quarter of 2025, giving the Glenview legislator more money in the bank entering 2026 than any of her competitors.

Financial disclosures filed Saturday night show that out-of-state support accounted for over 90% of the $1.26 million Fine raised in the final three months of 2025. […]

Biss reported raising about $658,000 in the final three months of the year, entering 2026 with just over $1.37 million in his war chest. His contributions last quarter came largely from inside Illinois, over 70%, according to an Evanston Now analysis of his donors. […]

In a statement, Fine’s campaign sidestepped questions about her out-of-state donors, instead suggesting Biss’ end-of-year fundraising shows he “struggles to raise money.”

“He is relying on hundreds of thousands of dollars in out-of-state money from independent expenditures to highlight a barely-there record that he keeps changing,” a spokesperson from Fine’s campaign told Evanston Now, saying her campaign is gaining momentum, citing her list of local endorsements.

* The Biss campaign’s response to Sen. Fine’s fundraising haul…

Recently released campaign finance reports show that state Sen. Laura Fine’s congressional campaign raised more money in the fourth quarter of 2025 from donors who previously gave to Donald Trump ($53,350) than from donors living in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District ($32,795). Since launching her campaign, Fine has taken in nearly $60,000 from Trump donors, who have collectively given more than $200,000 to Trump’s political committees (link).

“Laura Fine’s fundraising tells you everything you need to know about whose side she’s on,” said Biss for Congress Campaign Manager George Lundgren. “Fine raised more money from donors who backed Donald Trump than from people who actually live in the 9th District last quarter, and those same donors have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into Trump’s political operation. With Chicagoland and our democracy under attack, voters deserve a representative who will fight for us, not for Trump donors looking for another ally in Washington.”

* Sen. Mike Simmons also took a swing at Sen. Fine…

New Federal Election Commission reports show that Laura Fine’s congressional campaign is being funded by some of the country’s most prolific Republican megadonors. These major donors to Fine’s campaign are some of the country’s largest donors to Senator Ted Cruz, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, the Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“There will always be powerful interests trying to buy elections,” Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons said. “The real question is who is willing to take their money. I’m running because our communities deserve representation that answers to voters, not Republican donors or special interest groups. You can’t take on Republicans if they are the ones funding your campaign. Neighborhoods like the one I grew up in are never going to see real progress if we elect Democrats who accept contributions from Republican megadonors.”

This latest FEC report comes after Matthew Eadie’s article in Evanston Now detailed how AIPAC has been soliciting donations from across the country to support Fine’s campaign. The conservative special interest group has been backing candidates nationally that refuse to condemn Benjamin Netanyahu and have called for continued unconditional military aid to Israel. The Intercept reported that Fine even had a private fundraiser in Los Angeles hosted by AIPAC Board President Michael Tuchin.

Simmons has built his campaign around rejecting corporate PAC and AIPAC money and fighting for working families, immigrants, and communities too often ignored by politicians funded by wealthy insiders.

“This race presents a choice,” Simmons added. “You can have a candidate supported by Republican megadonors and special interests, or you can have someone who is accountable to the people who live here.”

* More fundraising numbers from the Daily Northwestern…

Abughazaleh reported a yearly total of $2.7 million, Biss raised $1.98 million and Fine raised $1.92 million, while Andrew collected $1.21 million and Huynh’s haul totaled just over $1 million. […]

According to FEC filings, Fine ended the year with the most cash on hand, with over $1.43 million — just ahead of Biss’ $1.37 million, followed by Andrew with $961,000, Abughazaleh with $810,000 and Huynh with $737,000. […]

In a statement to The Daily, a spokesperson from Amiwala’s campaign wrote she had completed her 270th meet and greet in the district and has one of the “strongest in-district donor bases and grassroots operations.”

“We’ve been thoughtful and responsible with every dollar because this is a people-powered campaign, backed by neighbors across IL-09,” the spokesperson wrote.

* In the 7th CD, Melissa Conyears-Ervin reported raising $112,000…

The Melissa Conyears-Ervin for Congress campaign for the 7th Congressional District kicked into high gear at the start of 2026 with a strong cash position of $215,000 on hand and an announcement she raised $112,000 in the first four weeks of the year.

Now, her campaign announced the addition of a new member of her growing coalition: the proud professionals of the Chicago Teachers Union. Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin released a statement at the beginning of Black History month about the final six week stretch of the campaign.

* In the 2nd CD, Sen. Robert Peters goes after Donna Miller. Press release…

The vast majority of the funds Donna Miller raised for her congressional campaign in Illinois’ 2nd District in the fourth quarter of 2025 came from donors who have a history of giving to Donald Trump or the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to her quarterly filing with the Federal Election Commission posted Saturday night.

Miller, a Cook County Commissioner, reported raising $39,000.00 from Trump donors in the fourth quarter. A full listing of those donors is available here.

She also reported raising at least $875,350.92 in the fourth quarter (83% of her total) from donors who have given to AIPAC or its affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project, since 2023. A full listing of those donors is available here.

This represents a massive spike in fundraising for Miller, who prior to this quarter, had reported raising only $242.494.02. During the previous quarter, Miller reported only $250 from a single Trump donor, and $750 from a single AIPAC donor.

“Donna Miller should be honest with the voters of the 2nd Congressional District about who is funding her campaign–and why,” said Robert Peters campaign manager Matthew Fisch. “Right wing forces have apparently decided that Donna Miller is their best investment in this race. That should be a red flag for every voter as Trump wreaks havoc on our communities.”

State Sen. Robert Peters has raised $903,000 from more than 30,000 individual grassroots donors overall since entering the race in May 2025. He is supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and more.

* On Friday, 2nd CD candidate Jesse Jackson Jr. claimed a fire destroyed campaign paraphernalia…

Jackson’s opponent Sen. Willie Preston called for an investigation into his claim. Press release…

Illinois Sen. Willie Preston called for a full investigation late Saturday after fellow 2nd District Congressional candidate Jesse Jackson Jr. made claims that a Joliet printing plant explosion destroyed Jackson yard signs, mail and other materials.

The Joliet explosion at Union Signs occurred Thursday.

Yesterday, Jesse Jackson Jr., the former representative who was jailed for stealing campaign funds, claimed on Instagram that several of his signs and other campaign materials were “casualties” of the explosion.

Preston, chair of the Illinois Senate Black Legislative Caucus, is calling on state and federal authorities to investigate the Jackson explosion claims to ensure no broader wrongdoing.

* More…

Press Release | National committee to preserve social security and Medicare endorses Melissa Bean for congress:

* Daily Herald | Candidate’s supporters come together to knit, crochet for people in need: People filled Democratic 9th District hopeful Kat Abughazaleh’s office in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood to knit and crochet hats, gloves and scarves. The items subsequently were given away to people in need of warm gear during the cold snap. “It has been so cold, we gave them away right away,” campaign spokesperson Ramiro Sarmiento said. Abughazaleh, of Chicago, has been known to knit during candidate forums and other public events. But the former journalist and internet personality wasn’t at the gathering.

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SDG warns Pritzker over ‘tax break handout to school-choice billionaires’

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. From that link is this Tribune story…

Illinois could soon opt into the first federal school voucher program — an initiative long-championed by private school advocates and religious conservatives — but Gov. JB Pritzker has yet to weigh in.

Under the program, part of the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, donors can get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 for giving to scholarship-granting nonprofits. Those scholarships can go to private school tuition, transportation and other education-related expenses. […]

“We will evaluate the issue through a lens focused on affordability for working families and what best supports Illinois students, families, and public schools,” according to the statement [from Gov. Pritzker’s office].

In a July email, however, Pritzker’s office criticized the program, noting that it could “potentially (reduce) state and federal funding for public schools.” […]

“It’s a federal tax credit, so it doesn’t take any state or local resources,” [Andrew Broy, the president of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools] said.

* CTU/IFT press release…

A statement by the Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Federation of Teachers President Stacy Davis Gates on Trump’s School Voucher Tax Scheme and pending decision by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on opting Illinois in:

“When Donald Trump slipped a school voucher giveaway into his so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, it was never about kids. It was a tax break handout to school-choice billionaires and a backdoor scheme to privatize public education. Then and now, we—as parents, educators, and Illinoisans who understand what’s at stake—have been clear: private school vouchers are a scam designed to undermine public education. This $1,700 federal tax credit isn’t about opportunity; it rewards the ultra-wealthy while draining resources from the educational communities that serve the vast majority of our children.

Here in Illinois, voters were clear, and the General Assembly honored that mandate by overwhelmingly rejecting school vouchers. That is why it is both troubling and confusing that Governor J.B. Pritzker would even consider opting Illinois into Trump’s federal voucher tax scheme. At a moment when the governor and general assembly still owe more than $5 billion to our public schools, any wavering on this issue breaks faith with Illinois families and the values they have repeatedly affirmed at the ballot box.

Illinois should not send public dollars to private schools with no transparency, no public oversight, and no real commitment to equity—schools that routinely exclude or push out Black students, students with disabilities, and English-language learners. We already rejected this failed experiment when Bruce Rauner and his allies tried to force voucher schemes on our state–but the Illinois Police Institute always forgets that part.

Trump repackaging the same idea at the federal level doesn’t change the facts: vouchers siphon resources from the students with the greatest needs and redirect them to the wealthiest families, hollowing out public institutions in the process.

You cannot say you support equity while starving the institutions that make equity possible. You cannot celebrate Black History Month on one hand while undermining Black students, Black families, Black working people, and their communities with the other. Allowing private school voucher schemes to take root in Illinois, in any form, would be a betrayal of our responsibility to young people and the public schools where their futures are built.”

Emphasis added.

Also, note the “Illinois Police Institute” reference.

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Roundup: Illinois Accountability Commission hears expert testimony on ICE, CBP misconduct

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* On Friday, five subject matter experts testified before the Illinois Accountability Commission at its second meeting. The panel was created by Gov. JB Pritzker via executive order in October. Author and journalist Garrett Graff on his testimony…

I was called as the commission’s expert witness on the history of problems, corruption, and training within CBP and ICE — a story I’ve covered for more than a dozen years, as regular readers of this newsletter know. To prepare, I spent the last week re-reading and re-familiarizing myself with DHS scandals and waves of corruption and mismanagement — and found myself horrified anew. […]

I also totaled up some new numbers to get at the scale of the problem:

Criminality is so rampant inside CBP that it has seen one of its own agents or officers arrested every 24 to 36 hours since 2005. CBP’s misconduct scandal is so long-running that today it would be old enough to drink.

In total, according to CBP’s own discipline reports, over the 20 years from 2005 to 2024 — the last year numbers are available — at least 4,913 CBP officers and Border Patrol agents have been arrested themselves, some multiple times. (In 2018 alone, a single CBP employee was arrested five times.) To put that number in perspective:

• The population of CBP agents and officers who have been arrested would make it roughly the nation’s fourth largest police department — equal to the size of the entire Philadelphia police.

• Indeed, for much of the 2010s and likely before and since, it appears the crime rate of CBP agents and offices was higher PER CAPITA than the crime rate of undocumented immigrants in the United States.

* Capitol News Illinois…

Ahead of the commission’s second public hearing Friday, Pritzker asked the commission to expand its review to include major Trump officials, including the now-ousted Customs and Border Patrol “commander at large” Gregory Bovino, White House “border czar” Tom Homan, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy.

“For too long, Gregory Bovino and his rogue federal agents have terrorized communities in Illinois and across the country, violated our people’s constitutional rights, and unleashed violence at every turn,” Pritzker said. “Bovino packing his bags cannot detract from our mission (of) accountability.”

In addition to eight named officials, Pritzker’s request applied to additional “deputies, subordinates and officials across the Trump hierarchy who may have played a role in the federal deployments.”

The commission agreed to take up that mandate, with Commission Chair and former U.S. District Court Judge Rubén Castillo signaling that the commission may recommend disciplinary action or prosecution related to the shootings of Silverio Villegas González, a father of two killed by ICE agents in Franklin Park in September and of teaching assistant Marimar Martinez, shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in October.

* Center Square…

[Deborah Fleischaker, who previously served in the US Department of Homeland Security for 14 years and as ICE’s chief of staff and assistant director for regulatory affairs,] said immigration enforcement has shifted from rule bound to outcome driven.

“Leadership communicates desired headlines, and officers are expected to lead the news instead of delivering public safety results,” Fleischaker said.

Fleischaker said public safety is not enhanced when immigration enforcement is driven by quotas and involves rapid hiring and shortened training.

“Such enforcement does not enhance public safety. It erodes trust, discourages cooperation with law enforcement, redirects other law enforcement activities, robs officers of their discretion and ultimately makes communities less safe,” Fleischaker said.

* Tribune…

The commission […] also released its preliminary report Friday which laid out issues it would like to address, such as limiting agents’ use of tear gas, pepper spray and masks that conceal their identity. The report said, for example, it would want to improve “existing federal standards for use of crowd control weapons.”

However, it offered little insight into how it would accomplish these goals. The commission is restricted by the state’s limited authority. It has no subpoena power and no direct law enforcement authority. It simply said it would be interested in hearing proposals from the public. […]

“We will have conversations with those in local law enforcement to suggest prosecutions that should be occurring even as we speak. That’s where we’re headed,” Castillo said Friday. He’s previously said “nothing is off the table” as far as recommendations the commission can make to the state.

* More…

Sun-Times | Chicagoans continue calls to abolish ICE as worry persists over feds’ spring surge:

* WAND | IL Accountability Commission highlights aggressive ICE tactics used in Chicago, Minneapolis: “What has become apparent to the public is that these are not just cases of excessive force, but cold-blooded killings of Americans,” said retired Chicago Police Department Commander Cindy Sam. “These federal agents are not just serving law enforcement, they are acting as judge, jury and executioner.”

* ABC Chicago | IL Accountability Commission on Midway Blitz calls for rogue federal officers to face prosecution: The commission chairman contended that if the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez last fall during an ICE traffic stop in Franklin Park had resulted in disciplinary action, then perhaps the pair of deadly shootings this month in Minneapolis might not have happened. “Definitely, it seems we need some changes in state law to encourage local officials to actually prosecute agents who are conducting misdeeds, because it seems like the federal government is not going to do that,” Castillo said.

Comment

Fun with numbers

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You probably saw this development over the weekend. From the Texas Tribune…

Democrat and machinist union leader Taylor Rehmet won the special election Saturday to represent a solidly red Texas Senate district that President Donald Trump carried by 17 points in 2024, a stunning upset that injected a fresh and urgent sense of a panic into the GOP from the Texas Capitol to the White House heading into November’s midterm elections.

With ballots tallied from all but a handful of voting centers, Rehmet had 57% of the vote, besting the 43% for his GOP opponent, conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss, who vastly outspent Rehmet as Republicans including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick mounted a furious funding push in a bid to tilt the election in their favor in the final days.

Patrick, the Senate’s powerful presiding officer, had raised alarm bells about the race and urged Republicans to turn out — as did Trump, who posted three separate get-out-the-vote messages on social media in the 48 hours preceding the election.

This is not a transferable result. It was a low-turnout special election held on a Saturday during unusually miserable winter weather. The Republican candidate had serious flaws. Texas is its own world. Etc.

* But just for snicks, I asked Isabel to look at what would happen here if all Republican-held Illinois state legislative districts that Trump won by as much as 17 points (or that Trump lost) in 2024 flipped to the Dems.

Purely hypothetically, the Illinois House Democrats would pick up 19 seats (for a grand total of 97 out of 118), and the Senate Dems would gain 8 (for a total of 48 out of 59).

Again, this ain’t happening. It’s just a little math exercise. And ten months is an eternity in politics (maybe ten eternities, or forty, or three hundred). Things can always change. But, if there is no radical DC course-correction or a drastic improvement in the economy, you’ll very likely be saying goodbye to a bunch of Statehouse Republican incumbents come November.

* Whatever the case, I’m guessing the Republicans are pretty relieved that the Democrats passed a bill to ban parties from appointing candidates after the primary to vacant legislative ballot slots. Some of those above-mentioned Republican-held districts have no Democratic candidates on the ballot.

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When the legend contradicts the actual facts, stick with the legend

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Chicago Tribune covered a Republican gubernatorial candidate forum in Tazewell County…

Chicago recorded 416 killings in 2025 — the city’s lowest homicide total in more than a decade — while shootings, defined as incidents in which at least one person was killed or wounded, fell by about one-third compared with 2019, according to department data. […]

“I don’t think crime has gone down,” said Heidner, a real estate and onetime-embattled video gambling operator from Barrington Hills. “People aren’t safe. They’re not safe. They’re getting killed. They’re getting robbed. They’re getting raped.”

“Liars use numbers. Crime has not come down,” said Mendrick, the DuPage County sheriff, who contends the method of calculating crime statistics has changed and that “gangbangers don’t call the police on each other, so none of those are being reported.” He adds that “medical technology” is saving the lives of drug victims, reducing drug-related crime statistics.

Dabrowski, a conservative activist from Wilmette who has made a career offering his opinions based on data, said that “after so many years of so much crime, a lot of people don’t report crimes anymore. … Massive numbers of crimes aren’t reported anymore because the police (don’t) come.”

(Headline derived from this.)

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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small.

We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Matt and Sabrina in Rantoul who serve their communities with dedication and pride.

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The debates produced future ad fodder

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column was written before news emerged that Gov. JB Pritzker had contributed $5 million to the super PAC supporting Juliana Stratton…

The top three Democratic U.S. Senate candidates faced off twice last week.

The first debate wasn’t televised, so the live audience was quite small. The second debate was televised, so the audience was bigger.

However, these debates don’t attract even a smidgen of the audience of presidential debates, when half the country often tunes in.

The object here is to generate video clips for TV ads and social media promotion and to manage conventional news coverage, which can then be used in ads. Like it or not, that’s where most people will be exposed to the debates.

Effectively conveying those messages requires money and creativity. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., has so far raised and spent the most money. And while he has a substantial lead in the polls, it’s unclear yet if his wide support is paper-thin, meaning he could be taken out with some strong attacks.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton really took it to her two opponents during Monday’s debate, which was sponsored by the Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ and the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.

Krishnamoorthi especially seemed caught off guard at Stratton’s aggressiveness, including on his refusal to completely abolish ICE.

Stratton repeatedly dissed the other two candidates for taking corporate PAC money, forcing them to explain their positions.

Voters don’t generally do nuance, so when you’re explaining in campaigns, you’re not winning.

Both pointed in response to Stratton’s backing by a “dark money” super PAC. She didn’t explain, but that committee will actually be reporting its contributors.

Stratton has lately taken Krishnamoorthi to task on a host of issues, including his rather meaningless vote for an antisemitism resolution that, in passing, congratulated immigration enforcement. But she forced him to explain it.

After Krishnamoorthi and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., struggled long and hard with a question on whether they agreed with Trump on anything, Stratton said, “I’m not going to the United States Senate to find something to agree with Donald Trump on.”

When asked if they backed him, both Krishnamoorthi and Kelly said they hadn’t made up their minds about reelecting Chuck Schumer as the Democrats’ Senate leader. Stratton said: “No.”

Polls have shown for months that Democratic voters hold their party’s congressional wing in low esteem. This ain’t rocket science.

But by Thursday’s ABC7 debate, the putative front-runner seemed to have regained some of his bearings.

Krishnamoorthi tried to turn the tables on the ICE question, accurately saying that his position of wanting to “abolish Trump’s ICE” is identical to Gov. JB Pritzker’s. The governor is popular enough with his party members to help blunt the ICE attack at a time when polls show strong Democratic support for abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

“I’d be curious if my colleagues agree with this position,” Krishnamoorthi said, gesturing at Stratton, who did not explain herself.

But Krishnamoorthi then upped the ante: “Rick Pearson asked Lt. Gov. Stratton if she were to abolish ICE, where should the duties be transferred? She said, ‘CBP.’ I think that would be a grave mistake. CBP is who employs Greg Bovino. CBP is who actually shot and killed Alex Pretti.”

I would assume that if Stratton’s numbers start to move up or she directly attacks Krishnamoorthi on ICE, her unwise U.S. Customs and Border Protection comment will come back to haunt her.

Meanwhile, when asked about the Senate confirmation process, Stratton said she will not vote for any nominations made by Trump. Kelly made the same pledge.

Krishnamoorthi, instead, focused only on the appointment of federal judges in Illinois and gave a very D.C.-centric answer involving independent review panels and “blue slips.”

As we saw with ICE, he can learn, but Raja just exudes “congressman.” Kelly has the same affliction, although it’s less pronounced. It’s almost like a nearly incurable disease, and Dem voters at least say they’re looking for something more authentic these days,

Authenticity, however, can be stretched. When asked by ABC7’s Craig Wall, “What specific actions would you take in the Senate to help working families struggling with affordability?” Stratton said she and her spouse “have to sit down and we have to budget every single week.”

“We have to think through, what are we bringing in? What’s going to go out?” Stratton said.

My associate Isabel Miller decided to check the numbers, and Stratton and her spouse make a combined $283,000 a year.

The Stratton campaign was not amused by this observation. “What’s the salary cap for being allowed to budget for weekly expenses?” OK, good point. And it is possible that she may not have a job in a year. But still.

If Raja decides to use it, Stratton’s answer about the border patrol is a potentially fatal error.

Discuss.

16 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Pritzker gives $5 million to boost Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s Senate bid. Sun-Times…

* Related stories…

• Tribune: Gov. JB Pritzker throws Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton a $5 million lifeline for her US Senate bid
• The Intelligencer: U.S. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton brings message, love of cinnamon rolls to Edwardsville
• The Daily Northwestern: Krishnamoorthi dominates 2025 fundraising in U.S. Senate race

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* Gov. JB Pritzker does not have any public events today.

* At 10:30 am, Attorney General Kwame Raoul will join the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence to announce a new community initiative with Ring, an Amazon company, aimed at providing domestic violence survivors with technology and safety tools. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* WGN | New requirements for SNAP benefits go into effect Sunday. What does this mean for SNAP benefit recipients?: Meanwhile, local food pantries have been bracing for a last-minute rush before changes to SNAP take effect Sunday. At Common Pantry in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood, workers were trying to increase their inventory ahead of changes to SNAP, but they said nothing they do will be able to meet the need that’s coming.

* Sun-Times | Chicago bank fails, becoming first in nation to go under in 2026: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation ordered the River North-based bank’s closure due to concerns over its financial stability. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was named receiver and brokered the sale of most of the bank’s $261 million in assets to First Independence Bank in Detroit, including all deposits. Customers still have immediate access to their money, and loan customers’ payments are still due.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Medium | Why is the Illinois Democratic Party spreading disinformation about Democratic candidates?: Two such mailers I’ve received are attack ads against Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, who is running for the Illinois State House of Representatives. […] The attack ads claim that “Miguel Alvelo-Rivera and the politicians behind his campaign are pushing their own shortsighted agenda in our community” and juxtapose this claim, and other similar claims, with images of Miguel alongside Donald Trump and Elon Musk — suggesting Alvelo-Rivera is funded by or at least aligned with extremist Republicans. If true, this would be disqualifying for Alvelo-Rivera. So let’s look at what politicians back his campaign – — a relatively standard slate of Democrats, including Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, who has long spoken against Musk and Trump and has put forth legislation to abolish ICE.

* Center Square | Pritzker celebrates expansion of French cheese maker in GOP leader’s district: Pritzker announced that Savencia Cheese USA would add a new production line at its facility in the Stephenson County village of Lena, creating 50 new jobs while retaining 125 existing positions. […] McCombie, R-Savanna, and whose district includes Lena, said creating more jobs is a plus but criticized Pritzker’s policies. “Job growth is always positive, and we can and should be doing more to make it a trend in our state,” McCombie said in a statement to The Center Square.

* CBS Chicago | GOP Illinois gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski breaks down his policies: Ted Dabrowski is running in the Republican primary for Illinois governor. He joins Dana Kozlov to outline his policies on immigration enforcement, property taxes, education funding.

* Journal Courier | Gambling mogul, Republican gubernatorial candidate may visit Jacksonville: Rob Winchester, a long-time lobbyist and previous senior adviser to former U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, has been hired by Heidner’s campaign to visit central and southern Illinois counties and pitch him as the Republican choice for governor in the upcoming primary. He said Heidner would likely be visiting Morgan County in the middle of February, though it has yet to be finalized.

* Tribune | Illinois advances in bid to move up 2028 Democratic presidential primary date, but hurdles remain: In essence, the Rules and Bylaws Committee chose to advance all 12 states that applied to be one of up to five states in the early, pre-Super Tuesday window of the primary process. […] But Illinois, with a costly Chicago media market that covers the region where most of the state’s voters reside, might struggle with the fairness standard aimed at allowing smaller, lesser-funded candidates a chance to present their case.

*** Chicago ***

* WBEZ | Affordability — or the lack of it — will define Chicago’s housing market this year, experts say: In the greater Chicago region, home sales in 2025 rose slightly by 0.6% year over year, with nearly 89,100 homes sold, according to Illinois Realtors. In 2024, 88,560 homes sold in the region. Meanwhile, home sales across Illinois grew by 4.2%, compared to 2024, when 131,194 homes sold that year. For December, the Chicago metro area saw 6,637 homes sold, down 0.2% from December 2024 sales of 6,650. Across the state, home sales in December were up 2% year over year, with 10,237 homes sold, according to the trade association.

* WTTW | Judge Reverses Order, Says Rahm Emanuel Does Not Have to Testify About CPD’s ‘Code of Silence’: U.S District Court Judge John Tharp said that he reconsidered his decision to allow lawyers for Ebony Tate, her mother, Cynthia Eason, and four children to call Emanuel after lawyers for the city renewed their vigorous objections to having the former mayor and potential presidential candidate testify. Allowing Emanuel to testify would make it impossible for the eight officers named in the lawsuit and the city to get a fair trial and turn it “into a media circus when he has nothing to do with the claims against them,” according to lawyers for the city of Chicago.

* Tribune | Acting CTA chief lays out priorities after dodging fiscal cliff: When asked about riders who remain frustrated by the frequency and reliability of bus and train service — and who are clamoring for more in the wake of last year’s transit funding bill — Leerhsen cautioned that most of the new dollars expected to come in later this year will go toward sustaining current service levels. When it comes to increases in service, she pointed to an announcement she made last fall of planned 24-hour service on the Orange Line to Midway International Airport. Currently, only the CTA’s Blue and Red lines run 24/7.

* WBEZ | Community members warn that Chicago History Museum cuts could impact scholarship of city history: They are also asking the museum to restore hours at the Abakanowicz Research Center, which were limited following a decision to reduce its staffers to part-time status in July. Advocates say reversing that decision will help strengthen the museum’s identity as a prestigious institution that informs visitors from all over the world about the history of Chicago and America.

* Sun-Times | White Sox legend Frank Thomas upset with being left off team’s Black History Month graphic: That’s when the Sox published a social-media graphic celebrating “momentous firsts” to commemorate the start of Black History Month. The graphic included moments such as Ken Williams and Jerry Manuel becoming the first Black general manager/manager duo in major-league history. There was one glaring — and, frankly, irresponsible — omission: Thomas, a two-time MVP and the best hitter in franchise history.

* Sun-Times | Basil Talbott Jr., Chicago Sun-Times political editor, dies at 89: The fair-minded, truth-seeking Chicago Sun-Times political journalist would never indulge in their emoluments, like a free lunch at a fine restaurant. “Basil would have nothing of that. Absolutely nothing. He insisted that what he would tell the public would be what he believed without any editing or constraint because he was in bed or in debt to somebody,” said Ron Grossman, a retired Chicago Tribune columnist and longtime friend of Mr. Talbott.

* Fox Chicago | Chicago Auto Show 2026: Everything you need to know: Chi-Town Alley: The new showcase celebrates Chicago’s automotive communities. The brand-new exhibit will highlight performance cars, custom builds and street-inspired designs.

* CBS Chicago | Miami Heat build 54-point lead, roll past Chicago Bulls 134-91 with Adebayo, Larsson each scoring 20: The 54-point hole was Chicago’s biggest since a 58-point deficit against Boston on Dec. 8, 2018. The Bulls’ biggest deficits this season were a pair of 41-point games — one against Minnesota on Dec. 29, the other also against Miami on Nov. 21. Kel’el Ware scored 17 points, Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each scored 14 and Davion Mitchell returned from a shoulder injury to score 13 for Miami, which played without guard Norman Powell (personal reasons) and Tyler Herro (ribs). Powell was announced as an NBA All-Star selection shortly after tip-off on Sunday, getting that nod for the first time in his career.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* WGEM | Lawsuit filed against City of Quincy, employee by man who threatened alderman: A lawsuit was filed on Friday against the City of Quincy and City of Quincy employee Thomas Pugh. According to court documents, the lawsuit was filed by Benjamin J. Inman, the man who was recently convicted of threatening an alderman and is charged with possession of child porn. […] Court filings allege that Pugh knowingly cyberstalked and harassed Inman as an employee of the City of Quincy. On Jan. 8, Inman stated twice during proceedings that he could prove that a city employee planted the alleged child porn to frame him.

* NYT | Police Report Backs Activist’s Account in Clash With ICE Agent Near Chicago: Mr. Held told The New York Times last week that he had followed Mr. Saracco in late December after the agent left the Broadview facility, and an altercation occurred. Mr. Saracco, who according to the police report initially denied being a law enforcement agent, told police officers who were called to the scene that Mr. Held “began walking up to his vehicle” and recording him on his phone while he was pumping gas into his car. Mr. Held has said he was standing on the sidewalk recording when Mr. Saracco approached him.

* Daily Herald | Ex-Huntley school board member gave no reason for sudden resignation: When members of Bittman’s slate took control of the board that year, they chose him to be school board president. Laura Murray became vice president but Bittman and Murray lost their leadership spots after a different slate, backed by a group that opposed the direction Bittman’s slate took the board in, took control of the board last year. Paul Troy then became president. Bittman’s departure leaves Murray as the only member of the slate elected in 2023 left on the school board.

* WGN | Sixth water main break within a week affects more than half the residents in south suburban Dixmoor: Village President Fitzgerald Roberts said Sunday night he hoped repairs would be completed by midnight. WGN-TV has been awaiting confirmation from village officials Monday morning on whether the problem has been resolved. Between 800 and 1,000 homes have been impacted, according to officials, which is more than half the village.

* Shaw Local | Megalodome Golf launches $50 million investment fund to build domed golf course in Oswego: Canada-based Megalodome Golf has announced that it has launched a $50 million investment fund to build its nine-hole domed golf course near Route 30 in Oswego. The company made the announcement recently on its website. In September 2024, Oswego village trustees unanimously approved the concept plans of Megalodome Golf.

*** Downstate ***

* The Daily Illini | ‘Fell the enemies:’ Illini Republicans support ICE amid Minnesota killings: In a post that included a stylized graphic of a presumed federal officer holding a gun to someone’s head, Illini Republicans stated that they “stand with ICE” amid the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. The RSO referred to Pretti and Good, two United States citizens who were both killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the past month, as “traitors.” As of Sunday, the group removed the graphic but kept the larger post, which garnered more than a thousand comments on their Instagram account.

* 25News Now | Suspect in Peoria County deputy’s shooting has been running from the law since 2024, court records say: “He faces a long recovery, but we are grateful that he is in stable condition,” the sheriff said. Formal charges have not been filed yet against Bell for the deputy’s shooting. He faces several preliminary charges including attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, armed violence.

* WCIA | Woman robbed by men claiming to be U.S. Marshals in Decatur: Police: Hagemeyer said a female victim reported that two men had been knocking on doors in the hallway of the hotel she was staying in. She peered out the door and saw that they claimed to be U.S. Marshals. She went back into her room, but before she shut the door they forced their way into her hotel room. Hagemeyer said they flashed a badge at her and claimed to have a warrant out for her arrest. The two men dumped her purse out and stole money and her phone. They left on foot after that, Hagemeyer said.

* PJ Star | New details on how much money Peoria could gain from casino settlement: The city of Peoria estimates it could receive about $1.8 million annually as part of a settlement agreement with Boyd Gaming that will see Peoria drop its objections to plans for a new Par-A-Dice Casino. City Manager Patrick Urich told the Journal Star on Sunday that the settlement agreement, which will be voted on by the Peoria City Council on Monday, was being worked on by attorneys as late as Friday afternoon. The special council meeting was announced on Saturday.

* WGLT | After relocating one fire station, Normal will share internal data on response times: Normal IAFF Local 2442 has repeatedly claimed in town hall settings and at town council meetings that closing the College Avenue station would negatively impact response times and urged the council to keep it open after the new eastside station came online. Union members also claim certain populations of the town would be left vulnerable, including children and seniors.

* 25News Now | Thousands gather for Illinois Music Education Conference while boosting Peoria’s economy: More than 2,100 student musicians from over 215 schools across the state, along with about 10,000 family members, filled the civic center to showcase their talents. Since Thursday, students in grades four through 12 performed in concerts, danced, participated in other theatrical activities, while music teachers attended professional development workshops. Organizers said the event also gives a boost to Peoria businesses, pumping dollars into the local economy.

* WBEZ | The quiet, wintry thrill of a freezing Illinois canyon hike: Matthiessen, the lesser known of the two neighboring parks in this area, is named after the industrialist who operated it as a private, 176-acre “Deer Park” in the late 19th century. His crew constructed trails, bridges, stairways and dams that still stand. After his death, the land was bequeathed to the state, which added parcels to make up 2,000 acres today. It doesn’t boast its neighbor’s soaring views of the Illinois River, but the park does have a less trampled feel.

*** National ***

* CBS | Officials in Minnesota allege Bovino used language offensive to Jews on conference call: The call, which was held on Jan. 12, five days after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, involved multiple federal officials who were trying to coordinate a Saturday meeting to discuss issues related to the massive deployment of federal immigration agents in the area. Bovino was told on the call that Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, an Orthodox Jew, could not attend that meeting because he observes the Sabbath. Bovino allegedly responded with audible frustration that Rosen was not available for the Saturday meeting, sources familiar with the planning call said. One of them recounted that Bovino replied, “Do Orthodox criminals also take off on Saturday?” That source said Bovino also used the phrase “chosen people” in a disparaging manner.

* AP | Fundraising hauls show RNC vastly outpacing Democrats ahead of midterm elections: The Republican National Committee has vastly outpaced Democrats in the crush for cash ahead of the midterm elections, holding a nearly $100 million advantage at the close of 2025, according to year-end filings to the Federal Election Commission. As Democrats have struggled in the Trump era, the RNC tallied $172 million raised in 2025, with $95 million cash on hand at year’s end. In contrast, the Democratic National Committee posted $145 million for the year, with $14 million on hand — and $17 million in debt, to start the new year underwater.

* Fortune | Newly released emails and a Trump-ordered investigation have thrust billionaire LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman into the Epstein firestorm: Bondi has attempted to further connect Hoffman to Epstein in the past. During her contentious Senate Judiciary Committee testimony on October 7, she repeatedly invoked Hoffman’s name when questioned about Epstein and Trump and called him “one of Epstein’s closest confidants.” Hoffman has repeatedly denied any such allegations. On November 14, Hoffman hit back, taking to X to demand “Trump should release all of the Epstein files: every person and every document in the files.” The LinkedIn co-founder accused Trump’s probe of being “nothing more than political persecution and slander” and claimed he was never a client of Epstein’s nor did he engage with him in any capacity other than fundraising.

* AP | From Elon Musk to the former Prince Andrew, a who’s who of powerful men are named in Epstein files: The billionaire Tesla founder turns up at least a few times in Friday’s document release, notably in email exchanges in 2012 and 2013 in which he discussed visiting Epstein’s infamous Caribbean island compound. But it’s not immediately clear if the island visits took place. Spokespersons for Musk’s companies, Tesla and X, didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday or Saturday.

9 Comments

Good morning!

Monday, Feb 2, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Grammy Award-winner…