Category: Politics

Suburban Chicago event brings national experts on Russian influence, Washington ethics, media future

February 13, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suburban Chicago event brings national experts on Russian influence, Washington ethics, media future Unify Our Voices, a year-old grass-roots Chicago-area group, is sponsoring a 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 event featuring nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations dedicated to protecting American democracy by bolstering the government’s adherence to ethics, analyzing Russian influence in our country, and promoting an…

Events, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Madigan dismisses aide accused of sexual harassment

February 12, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Madigan dismisses aide accused of sexual harassment By Ray Hanania [UPDATED Tuesday Feb. 13, 2018] Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced the dismissal of a longtime aide after charges he “made unwanted advances” and sent a woman “inappropriate text messages.” Madigan praised the woman for speaking out and instructed his attorney to “conduct a…

Chicago, Government, News, Politics

Illinois Candidates showcase Arab American breakfast event Sunday Feb 18

February 12, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Candidates showcase Arab American breakfast event Sunday Feb 18 More than a dozen Democratic candidates vying for contested races in the March 20 Illinois primary election have confirmed their appearances at the annual Candidate’s Breakfast hosted by the state’s largest Arab American political organization. The Arab American Democratic Club will host candidates running for…

elections, Events, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Pritzker, Brannigan and the “politics” of apologies

February 8, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pritzker, Brannigan and the “politics” of apologies Some Arab American and Muslim activists have launched a vicious campaign against Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan who expressed opinions critical of the “Middle Eastern” community that they claimed were racist. Brannigan apologized three times but they refused to accept her apology. However, J.B. Pritzker slammed Muslims as…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Anti-Drug Industry Media Firestorm: Unscientific, Dishonest, Dangerous

February 7, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Anti-Drug Industry Media Firestorm: Unscientific, Dishonest, Dangerous Guest columnists Sandip Shah and Helen Shao argue that drug companies are being unfairly criticized, that development of drugs costs far more than media claims. Drug research is expensive By Sandip Shah and Helen Shao Have drug companies been lying about their development costs to justify high prices?…

Blogger, Commentary, Guest Commentary, Health, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Obit: Illinois legislator George Shadid, 1929 – 2018

February 4, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Obit: Illinois legislator George Shadid, 1929 – 2018 Lebanese American legislator based in Peoria, Illinois dies, February 3, 2018. George P. Shadid ( born on May 15, 1929) died on Saturday February 3, 2018 according to friends and family. Shadid, 88, was a pioneer in American and Illinois politics, the inspiration of the growing and…

breaking news, elections, Government, News, Politics

Rod Blagojevich getting revenge against political foes

February 3, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Rod Blagojevich getting revenge against political foes Most people believe former Governor Rod Blagojevich is guilty of misconduct in office, but there are just as many who believe that the punishment was excessive and driven by the hatred that Illinois’ Democratic establishment had against him. Blagojevich was arrested in 2008, prosecuted and convicted. The judge,…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Television, Videos

Cook County GOP Chairman Endorses Bruce Rauner for Re-election

February 2, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County GOP Chairman Endorses Bruce Rauner for Re-election Cook County Republican Party Chairman Sean M. Morrison announced his personal endorsement of Governor Bruce Rauner for re-election this morning. Citing Governor Rauner’s tireless efforts to rebuild the Republican Party in Illinois and fight one party rule in Springfield as the two central reasons for Chairman…

Government, News, Politics

Woman legislators join in endorsing Marie Newman for Congress

January 22, 2018January 22, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Woman legislators join in endorsing Marie Newman for Congress Chicago’s Top Progressive Female Legislators Back Marie Newman for Congress. Newman Kicks Off the ‘Year of The Woman’ With Support from Chicago’s Powerhouse Female Legislators This week, nine of the top female legislators in the Chicago area joined together to endorse Marie Newman in her bid…

elections, Government, News, Politics, women

Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most

January 18, 2018January 18, 2018 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most Gov. Bruce Rauner launched a new series of ads attacking J.B. Pritzker, associating Pritzker with disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich. But the ads are premature and come during the March 20 Democratic Primary rather than in the November General Election campaign. It suggests that Rauner fears Pritzker…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Rauner’s Blago Ad shows he fears Pritzker most

January 18, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Trump releases winners of 2017 “Fake News” Awards

January 18, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Trump releases winners of 2017 “Fake News” Awards 2017 was a year of unrelenting bias, unfair news coverage, and even downright fake news. Studies have shown that over 90% of the media’s coverage of President Trump is negative. Below are the winners of the 2017 Fake News Awards. 1. The New York Times’ Paul Krugman…

Editors Pick, Government, Media Bias, National, News, Politics

War heats up between Lipinski and challenger Newman

January 17, 2018November 30, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

War heats up between Lipinski and challenger Newman Congressman Dan Lipinski is facing a stiff challenge from popular newcomer Marie Newman in the March 20, 2018 Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District. Both candidates released lists of endorsements on Wednesday with Lipinski receiving support from 30 mayors in the district and Newman receiving the…

Chicago, elections, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Movie Review: “The Post” when newspapers had more respect

January 12, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Movie Review: “The Post” when newspapers had more respect The new movie “The Post” is a powerful film that takes Americans back to 1971 when journalism was a profession dominated mostly by principle. Truth outweighed political partisanship. But in watching the movie this week, it only made me sad. Because it reminded me how badly…

Blogger, Books & Films, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Video Interview with veteran journalist Bruce DuMont

December 12, 2017September 8, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Video Interview with veteran journalist Bruce DuMont By Aaron Hanania Bruce DuMont was hooked by broadcast journalism when he was just 10 years old. His uncle Allen B. DuMont founded the DuMont Television Network and in 1968 became a producer for WGN 720 AM Radio. DuMont quickly rose to become a well known TV and radio…

Aaron Hanania, Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Who are the Arabs of the Southwest Suburbs?

December 9, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Who are the Arabs of the Southwest Suburbs? The recent personal attacks against a trustee in Palos Township has sparked a discussion about who are the Arabs of Chicagoland. I have spent most of my life studying and writing about the American Arab community, authoring dissertations and studies on them at Northern Illinois and the…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Features, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

The bullying of Sharon Brannigan

December 7, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 6 Comments

The bullying of Sharon Brannigan Sharon Brannigan, a suburban Township politician who made some improper comparisons while arguing about immigration policy has suddenly become the target of the protesters against anti-Muslim, anti-Arab racism. But in their protests, they have turned into bullies who yell, scream, and disrespect the image of what Arabs are all about. And…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Government, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Video: Adventures in remembering Harold Washington

November 25, 2017September 8, 2024 Aaron Hanania No Comments

Video: Adventures in remembering Harold Washington I traveled with my dad this week to a meeting of former Chicago City Hall reporters at Italian Village to mark the 30th anniversary of the passing of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. Afterwards, we went to WGN AM 720 radio to join “The Download” radio host Justin Kaufmann for…

Aaron Hanania, Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, Radio, Videos