Archive for the ‘opinion/news’ Category

Journalism’s “extinction event” will lead to new and better choices for news

Posted: February 4, 2024 by John Ruberry in blogs, business, culture, internet/free speech, media, News/opinion, opinion/news
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By John Ruberry

Big News is having a bad time of it. Paul Farhi, who accepted a buyout from the Washington Post, asked in the Atlantic–a magazine that is propped up by billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs–“Is American Journalism Headed Toward an ‘Extinction-Level Event?'”

With massive layoffs not only at the Post, which is owned by Jeff Bezos, but also the Los Angeles Times–and with Sports Illustrated being probably as dead as the Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl dreams–the answer may be a loud “Yes.” 

Meanwhile, in Democrat-controlled Illinois, the Illinois Local Journalism Task Force, created by legislation in 2021, is betting on the dinosaurs, that is, traditional media. Last week, the task force issued its recommendations for journalism in the Prairie State.

“Its proposals are mostly about getting taxpayers to pony up and putting government in control,” Mark Glennon says in Wirepoints, “[with] no mention of journalism’s own failures.”

Indeed, there are many failures. The glaringly obvious one–unless you work in mainstream media–is that journalists are pushing a narrative to score love from the 20 percent of the population who are far-leftists. Even in Illinois, a blue state, there are not many ultra lefties–they might make up 25 percent of the populace here.

Among the recommendations from the tax force include a whole slew of tax credits for local news sources, including for subscriptions, businesses who advertise with them, as well as for local news providers hiring reporters.

Every one of the recommendations from the task force are wretched ideas that I could eviscerate easily one by one, but to save time, I’ll move on. But not yet. Besides these tax credits, the task force recommends exempting local news sources from Illinois’ corporate income tax. 

Some states have no corporate income tax.

News should be a mass market product, not a niche offering, but the liberals in charge have turned it into that. Again, I’ll be brief. Most Americans–and yes, most Illinoisans–believe there are only two genders, and most had doubts about the COVID propaganda of 2020-21. And most of them are fed up with the lamestream media minimizing the ongoing crisis with rampant crime.

Yeah, I get it, the internet has hurt local news providers. But they didn’t adapt. The same with Big News.

Let’s talk about extinction events. Real ones. Extinction is usually portrayed as mass death, yet it’s also a mass life event. 

Following the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, the lystrosaurus, a runt buck-toothed freak reptile, thrived, along with many other emergent species. Soon, geologically speaking that is, came the dinosaurs. After the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, different small animals, mammals and birds among them–as well as fungus–prospered.

There’s never been more media–or more information–than there is now. Print newspapers are sometimes called dinosaur media.  I believe they should always be named as such. Among the new media are of course blogs such as this one, YouTube and Rumble video channels, streaming services, podcasts, and so much more. A consumer of information is now faced with a daunting challenge. Because finding enough time to sift through all of the choices–let alone absorb all of them–is impossible. 

Last Thursday, Chicago Tribune reporters held a one-day strike against its owner, Alden Capital, a hedge fund firm. “We often say, ‘Newspapers are not dying, they’re being killed,'” Gregory Pratt, a committed left-wing Trib journalist, told WGN-TV. 

Wrong, Pratt. Newspapers are being killed because journalists are emitting an unpopular product and looking down on their customers.

Let’s return to the Illinois Local Journalism Task Force. 

In its rancid report there is a map of Illinois. Counties with few media choices are marked in that map in different shades of red. One of those is McHenry, which is northwest of Chicago. I know of two great news sites reporting about McHenry County: Cal Skinner’s McHenry County Blog and the Lake and McHenry County Scanner–a suburban answer to the phenomenally successful CWB Chicago. I’m certain that the task force didn’t include these sites in their elitist media tally. 

Another fabulous Illinois news source is the aforementioned Wirepoints.

Big creatures usually don’t survive natural mass extinction events. Small ones, nimble animals, find opportunities in an altered world.

Remember, lystrosaurus made way for larger and grander beasts, such as the Tyrannosaurus rex. Today’s blog may become tomorrow’s News Corp–the parent company of Fox News, Dow Jones, HarperCollins, and so many more.

Humans will always crave information–it’s in our DNA–it is just a matter of how it’s delivered to us. We’ve come a very long away from when the evening news was a caveman squatting in front of a bonfire telling whoever was sitting in front of him how that day’s hunt went. If that prehistoric anchorman delivered fake news–“I killed six mammoths today with my bare hands!”–his audience simply walked away. Kind of like what consumers of Big News are doing now.

The dinosaur media–and the Illinois Journalism Task Force–doesn’t get it.

John Ruberry blogs regularly from the Chicago area at Marathon Pundit.

Leftist group of Chicago municipal staffers cheers on students cutting class to attend Gaza ceasefire rally

Posted: January 28, 2024 by John Ruberry in crime, education, Israel vs Hamas, News/opinion, opinion/news, politics
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By John Ruberry

On Friday afternoon, just blocks from Chicago’s City Hall, two students–Robert Boston and Monterio Williams–were shot to death on a crowded street outside Innovation High School. It was like a scene from the old Untouchables television show.

Yesterday on X, Chicago Progressive Staffers, which describes itself as a “coalition of progressive staffers from the Mayors [sic] Office and [the] City Council, posted this troubling message. “WOW! Thousands of @ChiPubSchools students are organizing a walk out on Tuesday in support of @AldermanLaSpata & @RossanaFor33’s Ceasefire resolution that’s being voted on Wednesday Jan 31. The youth will always lead us.”

Yes, “The youth will always lead us.” That’s the messaging that was drilled into Mrs. Marathon Pundit when she was a Young Pioneer in the Soviet Union.

Like Washington DC, Chicago is built on onetime swamp land. Think of the Chicago Progressive Staffers as part of the city’s Deep State. As for the two alderpersons mentioned in that X post–Daniel LaSpata and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez–the sponsors of the Gaza ceasefire resolution, both are members of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Leftists nationwide, nearly to a person, are calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war because Hamas, which attacked the Jewish state on October 7, is losing.

Back in Chicago, so far this weekend—as of 3:00pm CST on Sunday–two people have been shot to death and at least 12 others have been wounded. 

And Gaza ceasefire resolution–or no ceasefire resolution–however Chicago’s City Council votes won’t make a difference. Just as the countless resolutions approved by the City Council condemning communism in Eastern Europe had no effect on America winning the Cold War. 

Tuesday of course is a school day in Chicago, so essentially, Chicago Progressive Staffers, this anonymous group of city hall leftists, is cheering on students cutting class.  

On the flipside, it’s easy to say that Chicago Public Schools students who play hooky on Tuesday won’t miss much. Not even one-quarter of them are proficient in reading or math at grade level. And nearly half of CPS students missed 18 days of class during the 2021-22 school year. 

So, what’s one more day away from school, right?

Chicago might be a better place if the Chicago City Council plays hooky–indefinitely. Last month, Edward Burke, who was a Chicago alderperson for a record 54 years, was convicted on corruption charges. In the last five decades, 38 members of the Chicago City Council have been found guilty of federal crimes, which averages to one aldercritter heading to the House of Many Doors every 16 months.

Perhaps Hamas might reply, “Thanks, but no thanks” if the Chicago City Council’s Gaza ceasefire resolution passes. Hamas deservedly already has a very bad reputation.

But as bad as the Chicago Public Schools system is, its students belong in school on Tuesday. And the Chicago City Council needs work on improving life in the city.

Such as aiding law enforcement so it can adequately protect Chicagoans. Or bringing back school choice to Chicago.

John Ruberry regularly blogs at Marathon Pundit.

Chicago mainstream media ignores rumors that Mayor Brandon Johnson has suffered panic attacks

Posted: January 21, 2024 by John Ruberry in crime, culture, immigration, media, News/opinion, opinion/news, politics
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By John Ruberry

There are a couple of good ways to feel the pulse of what is going in politically in Chicago–and they both involve John Kass, a former Chicago Tribune columnist. You can read his new columns at JohnKassNews.com and you can listen to his Chicago Way podcast.

In his most recent podcast, Kass’ guest was longtime Chicago television reporter, Anita Padilla, who now reports for the Florida Voice. They speak freely about current events, something that was hard for them do to when they worked in the legacy media.

Chicago’s mayor, leftist and Chicago Teachers Union product, Brandon Mayor, was discussed. It was Padilla who brought up a topic that the local mainstream media won’t touch–rumors that Johnson, who was sworn into office last spring–has suffered panic attacks since becoming mayor.

“Because sources told me–two sources–told me that he has been in the hospital for these panic attacks,” Padilla told Kass. “And he is stressed out because this is a big, big job for him.”

Kass replied, “He wasn’t ready for it.” Padilla immediately responded back, “He’s not ready for it, he’s not ready for it. He’s not a leader.”

In October on JohnKassNews, Kass discussed the Johnson panic attack speculation.

The rumors flying through City Hall from sources are that Johnson has suffered at least two episodes that are being described by some as “panic attacks.” I’m not a doctor. I wouldn’t know what to prescribe. But I do know this: as Johnson continues to panic, speculation is growing about a replacement if he can’t do the job.

He’s proven he can’t do the job.

And Kass appears to be right. The local legacy media quickly moved on after it was revealed that, as the Chicago Sun-Times reported, that Johnson “unwittingly” signed an extension of a $10 million contract with ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection company. On the campaign trail, Johnson vowed to cancel that deal.

The speculation about, well, the speculation of Johnson’s panic attacks centers on the migrant crisis. Chicago is a sanctuary city, although America’s third-largest city has not been an able sanctuary host.

A 2,000-person migrant tent city on the Southwest Side–a project Johnson championed–was vehemently opposed by neighborhood residents. Citing environmental concerns, Gov. JB Pritzker pulled the plug on the camp last month–a rare instance when I supported an official action of his–but after the city spent nearly $1 million on it. This summer, many migrants were sleeping at police stations and inside O’Hare Airport terminals.

Two weeks after the migrant tent city was cancelled, a five-year-old Venezuelan boy died at a migrant shelter, an old warehouse, also on the Southwest Side. The boy’s cause of death has not been determined, but conditions in the shelter, which the Johnson administration had been aware of since October, were horrid. Third World-like. Among the problems in the old warehouse were cockroach infestation, exposed piping with raw sewage, not enough bathrooms, and widespread illness.

Johnson will soon have even more to panic about. Crime was the biggest issue of last year’s mayoral campaign. Voters chose to ramp up Johnson’s predecessor’s failed approach to tackle the “root causes” of crime, rather than fighting criminals. Delayed until last September because of a court challenge, Illinois’ no-cash bail SAFE T-Act is finally in effect. Johnson scored a lucky break on that litigation, because the Chicago crime rate usually goes down, along with the temperatures, when summer ends. But the full effect of the pro-criminal SAFE T-Act probably won’t be felt until spring, when those crime rates go back up and Chicago’s career criminals will be emboldened, if they aren’t already, with the belief that crime does pay, even if you are arrested.

And there is now a migrant crime wave in Chicago and the suburbs, although for the most part, the mainstream media is ignoring it.

And this summer, in a foolish move by the Democratic National Committee, the city of Chicago, and the state of Illinois, the Democratic National Convention will convene in Chicago. Many expect violent protests and yes, riots. Which led the Chicago Contrarian to remark on X, “If @ChicagosMayor is experiencing panic attacks over illegals flooding Chicago, one wonders what kind of hysterical meltdown he will suffer when confronted with the maelstrom of rage and rioting the DNC will bring.”

Such a “maelstrom” could end up as a morbid morph of the George Floyd riots of 2022 and the DNC outrage of 1968.

And the “panic” could be spreading to Johnson’s staff. Last week a Bloomberg reporter, Ian Kullgren, was jostled by someone in the mayor’s inner circle. ”Unbelievable, “Kulgren posted on X, ” A staffer for @ChicagosMayor just physically shoved me for trying to ask the mayor a question. 1st time in 15 years as a reporter I’ve had anything like this happen.”

Let’s Go Brandon.

John Ruberry regularly blogs at Marathon Pundit.

Damning OIG report leads to an obvious conclusion: Chicago Public Schools system has too much money

Posted: January 14, 2024 by John Ruberry in crime, education, News/opinion, opinion/news, politics
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By John Ruberry

When I was in sixth grade at Palos East Elementary School near Chicago, for two semesters the school principal withheld my report card–pretty good ones by the way–because the shrewish school librarian said I failed to return a book. I told her that I did, but that wasn’t good enough for her. 

Eventually, the missing book turned up. It was a school library employee, possibly “the Shrew” herself, who misplaced that book. 

Which brings me to a story out of Chicago that is not getting nearly enough coverage The disappearance from mid-2022 to mid-2023 of electronic devices–laptops, iPads, and more–over 77,000 devices, according to a report from the Chicago Public Schools’ Office of the Inspector General. 

Sure, the local media reported on the OIG report for a couple of days. But they of course lean left, and the sympathetic media has moved on to other stories, such as criticizing Texas governor Greg Abbott for sending buses with illegal migrants to the Chicago area. Of course, our “betters” in the media rarely condemn the politician who is at fault for the migrant crisis–Joe Biden.

Back to CPS: The OIG says there have been no repercussions for the students who failed to return them. Their parents weren’t sent a bill–and yes, the kids certainly received their report cards. The value of those lost and stolen devices is massive, over $23 million. In 2021-2022, CPS spend $123 million on technology devices. “You can’t pin this on COVID,” CPS Inspector General Will Fletcher told CBS Chicago. “You can pin this on students who are just taking devices and not returning them.”

CPS, with COVID-related funding drying up next year, faces a huge deficit. But when reading the OIG report, one can conclude Chicago Public Schools has too much money. It’s time for CPS to go on a diet, or be put into some kind receivership, possibly under federal control–but only with a Republican in the White House.

Too much money? Yeppo. If $23 million in equipment goes “missing” and it only becomes public knowledge because of an OIG report, then there is not a lack of money issue for Chicago schools.

Let’s not place all of the blame on the students for the thievery. The report also notes that at three dozen CPS schools, every tech device was marked lost or stolen. All of them. An inside job? That’s likely, in my opinion.

Here’s some more waste: Could these devices have been tracked. Yes. OIG Fletcher also told CBS Chicago, “The district spends about two and a half million dollars on software that’s meant to track and locate devices, but the district just wasn’t using that software.”

The Office of the Inspector General previously discovered over a dozen CPS employees, some in leadership roles and collecting six-figure annual sinecure salaries, allegedly fraudulently obtained PPP loans. And one elementary school assistant principal has allegedly stole over $270,000 from her school.

Even worse than theft and incompetence is sexual assault. During the same time period covering the thefts, the OIG discovered eight substantiated adult-against-child incidents of sexual abuse.

Last year Chicagoans made the horrible mistake of electing leftist Brandon Johnson mayor. He’s a former CPS teacher and Chicago Teachers Union instructor. Johnson apparently is too busy criticizing Greg Abbott–a Google News search retrieved no comments from Johnson, the CTU pick for mayor, about the OIG report.

Chicagoans voted for more failure.

Are the students learning anything at CPS schools? Not really, over three-quarters of them test below grade level. 

Now back to report cards: Here is my grade for Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Teachers Union, and Brandon Johnson.

It’s an F minus. 

And I will happily hand out those report cards.

John Ruberry, who attended a CPS school as a kindergartener, regularly blogs at Marathon Pundit.

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