illinois

'It's all a big show': Illinois governor exposes Trump official behind 'staged' raids

During a Tuesday press conference, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) took direct aim at President Donald Trump after he reiterated his plan to send the National Guard to his state.

Pritzker held his press conference directly after Trump concluded his own remarks to reporters in the Oval Office. In one exchange, Trump promised that he was going to send troops to Chicago, Illinois, though he refrained from saying exactly when he would order the deployment. Pritzker — who is considered a contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination – particularly took issue with Trump requesting that he "beg" the administration for federal assistance.

"I also have experience asking the president for assistance, just to have the rug pulled out from underneath me," Pritzker said. "I refuse to play a reality game show with Donald Trump again. What I want are the federal dollars that have been promised to Illinois and Chicago for violence prevention programs that have proven to work."

"That is money that Illinois taxpayers send to the federal government," he continued. "And it's an insult to any and every citizen to suggest that any governor should have to beg the president of any political party for resources owed their people."

The two-term Illinois governor went on to say that Trump's plan to conduct immigration raids in Chicago will likely resemble the administration's efforts in Los Angeles, California, in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents largely focused on detaining day laborers with no criminal record despite a promise to only target violent offenders. He added that White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller likely chose September as the month the administration would zero in on Chicago due to planned events celebrating Mexican Independence Day (which takes place on September 16). And he specifically identified the Trump administration official spearheading the effort in Chicago.

"None of this is about fighting crime or making Chicago safer. None of it," he said. "For Trump, it's about testing his power and producing a political drama to cover up for his corruption. If you need any proof of this — that it's all a big show — well, look at who they're putting in charge: Gregory Bovino, a guy who desperately wants to be a reality TV star."

"He led the cruel adventures of ICE in Los Angeles, and he's been sent here to do the very same thing" Pritzker said. "Go look at his social media. He terrorizes innocent people, and then posts on TikTok edits of himself. Apparently, this is a Trump administration norm, because the last time we saw staged major ICE raids in Chicago, they sent Dr. Phil here to embed with the agents so he could get views and likes for his social media."

Watch the video of Pritzker's comments below, or by clicking this link.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

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Trump may slap blue state's taxpayers with $1 billion charge over feud with governor

Local taxpayers in a Democratic-run state may be in for a nasty financial surprise if President Donald Trump continues his standoff with their governor.

The Daily Beast reported Thursday that Trump is threatening to claw back federal money Congress already appropriated to Illinois unless Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) officially asks the White House for the funding. And if he follows through, Illinois taxpayers may have to pony up the money themselves.

Approximately $1.15 billion in federal money has been approved for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois (just southwest of Chicago) to have a new system in place to prevent carp from swimming upstream into Lake Michigan and disrupting sensitive ecosystems. Michigan is paying $64 million for the anti-carp system, while Illinois committed to $50 million, but the vast bulk of the cost is being shouldered by the federal government.

Trump insisted to reporters earlier this week that Pritzker will have to call the White House before he'll officially disburse the money.

"I didn’t get a request from the governor of Illinois," Trump said. "Until I get that request from that guy [Pritzker], I’m not going to do anything about it."

If Trump were to withhold the money for the project, it would be a violation of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which prevents presidents from freezing money already appropriated by Congress. The law originates from former President Richard M. Nixon's administration, in which Congress passed the law in order to stop Nixon from withholding funds for projects he didn't personally approve of. Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution specifically gives Congress the power of the purse, saying the legislative branch alone "shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States."

Trump's feud with Pritzker — who is rumored to be a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 – has been escalating as the president has threatened to deploy the National Guard to Illinois, ostensibly to address crime in Chicago. Pritzker has forcefully responded to Trump's threat, and pointed to figures showing that violent crime is actually down in Chicago, and that cities in red states with higher crime rates like Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee may be better served by the federal government.

Click here to read the Beast's full article (subscription required).

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'Insult to her memory': Family blasts Kristi Noem for using daughter's death in 'heartless political agenda'

Parents of a 24-year-old woman who was murdered in Springfield, Illinois, in 2023 have slammed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for relocating her Illinois speech to the location where their daughter was killed, saying Noem is using the victim to "advance a cruel and heartless political agenda."

"Our daughter Emma radiated love and light everywhere she went and for all people. Even as a child, she was a friend to everyone and someone who spoke up for the less fortunate. She dedicated her life - her career and her free time - to causes of social justice and equity," wrote the parents of Emma Shafer in a statement released Wednesday, as reported by NBC Chicago.

"To see her used by Secretary Noem and others to advance a cruel and heartless political agenda is not just deeply painful to us — it is an insult to her memory," the statement added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Noem visited Springfield, where she criticized the state's Democratic leaders for their sanctuary policies that she said shield undocumented immigrants. In her remarks delivered close to the location of Shafer's murder, the secretary said Shafer's murderer was in the United States illegally at the time of the incident.

Noem stood alongside government officials and what she referred to as "angel families"— families she claimed had loved ones affected by crimes committed by individuals residing illegally in the U.S.

Shafer's parents chose not to attend the secretary's news conference and were reportedly holding a protest blocks away from Noem's news conference.

"Noem's words are in direct conflict with who Emma was as a person. Emma built up community and stood with all members, including immigrants," they said in their statement.

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Governor brutally mocks Kristi Noem ahead of upcoming visit with message to 'pet owners'

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is scheduled to fly to the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday for a press conference decrying the state's approach to immigration. Now, the Prairie State's Democratic chief executive is trolling Noem ahead of her visit.

Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson tweeted Tuesday that Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office issued an announcement ahead of Noem's arrival. The statement asked "all pet owners in the region to make sure all of your beloved animals are under watchful protection while the Secretary is in the region."

That statement is almost certainly a reference to Noem's autobiography in which she recalled taking her family dog, Cricket, into a gravel pit and shooting it to death because it wasn't good at hunting prey. After experiencing severe backlash over the passage, she later defended killing Cricket by pointing out that she also killed three horses in that same gravel pit.

Noem's office has stated that her press conference in Springfield, Illinois will "highlight how sanctuary policies in Illinois have unleashed violence on American citizens — including rape, sexual assault, murder, shoplifting, and more — while shielding illegal aliens responsible from facing consequence."

However, Pritzker spokesperson Alex Gough told the Tribune that Illinois is "fully compliant with federal law" regarding immigration, and that one state law House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) criticized was "was bipartisan and signed into law by a Republican [former Governor Bruce Rauner]."

"Despite the rhetoric of Republicans in Congress, this public safety law ensures law enforcement can focus on doing their jobs well while empowering all members of the public, regardless of immigration status, to feel comfortable calling police officers and emergency services if they are in need of help," Gough said.

Pritzker — who is rumored to run for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination – has said he plans to "voluntarily appear" before Comer's committee alongside Govs. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.) on June 12. Comer and committee Republicans plan to question the governors about their respective states' approach to enforcing federal immigration law.

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