Chicago Archives - Granite Grok

CARDELLO: Why is an American Mayor Kissing the Pope’s Ring

June 1, 2026 Ray Cardello

Chicago had its typical holiday weekend, as 13 people were shot during Memorial Day weekend in the Windy City. There was little said about the violence by Mayor Johnson, and instead, he led a group visit of Chicago “leaders” to Rome and a private audience with Pope Leo for Brandon Johnson. The topics discussed during … Read more

Morning Update: Has McDonald’s Had it with Crime In Chicago?

January 15, 2026January 13, 2026 The Morning Update

Today on the Morning Update, McDonald’s CEO told business leaders that doing business in Chicago is becoming a problem, and that moving their Corporate Headquarters is on the table. Ep 83 Link Check out Other Podcasts here! Check Out The Morning Update Here! – Also available on Rumble, Instagram/Reels, and Steve’s Substack. Follow ‘Grok on … Read more

MACDONALD: Girl Set on Fire Thanks to Democrat Policy

November 28, 2025 Steve MacDonald

Democratic policy has almost claimed another life on public transit. The victim is still alive, but horribly deformed after Lawrence Reed set 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on fire on a Chicago train. No word yet on whether she will be charged with illegal “smoking.” Her attacker is, like Iryna Zarutska’s, a decorated alumnus of the criminal … Read more

CARDELLO: Pritzker Running Away From Chicagoans and Toward a Presidential Run

October 15, 2025 Ray Cardello

JB Pritzker is no longer just the Governor of Illinois; he is also the first undeclared candidate for President in 2028. Pritzker will not be running as a Democrat, as the Democratic Party has ceased to exist. He will be the first presidential candidate to run as a member of the Anti-Trump Party. The Anti-Trump … Read more

CARDELLO: How Much Crime Is Too Much

September 4, 2025 Ray Cardello

he bottom line is that this is not about crime but about Donald Trump. As Senator Kennedy said of Pritzker, if Trump signed an executive order mandating breathing, Pritzker would hold his breath.

MACDONALD: Democrats Blame Trump for Chicago Labor Day Weekend Shootings

September 2, 2025September 2, 2025 Steve MacDonald

The Left is losing its hive mind over the number of shootings and deaths in Chicago over Labor Day Weekend. Headlines like fifty-three shot, seven fatally, pepper the Handmaiden media with little or no historical context. Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez says, We also have had many, many instances where the [Trump] administration has really … Read more

Grcery store empty shelves original Photo by Richard Burlton on Unsplash

Chicago Dems New Money Laundering Scam

September 4, 2024 Steve MacDonald

It has become impossible to do business in some parts of Chicago, where unprosecuted crime and rampant lawlessness have driven grocery and retail stores out of the city. We covered this last year. Unable to guarantee employee safety or economic viability, everyone from mom-and-pops to Wal-Mart has closed up shop. The result is “food deserts.” The Chicago … Read more

How Many Female Chicago Cops Does it Take To Arrest One Guy?

December 1, 2023 Steve MacDonald

If you’d like a portrait of modern policing post-George Floyd Fraud, at least in Chicago, this might be your ticket. Four CPD diversity hires. All women. At least two “of color.” One taller black man is under arrest for retail theft (which is, itself, a rare thing). They can’t get the job done.

Chicago Has a Zombie Problem

October 6, 2023 Steve MacDonald

The internet applauded when the citizens of Chicago, or whoever stuffs the ballot boxes in that corrupt city, kicked incumbent mayor Lori Lightfoot to the political curb. Her replacement, however, hasn’t received much in the way of applause since taking office.

Will Chicago’s Proposed City-Owned Grocery Stores let Criminals Shop Lift? (Which is Why the Old Stores left)

October 5, 2023September 16, 2023 Steve MacDonald

In true Democrat fashion, Chicago is proposing a government solution to address a problem it created. Local markets and grocery chains, unable to protect their employees or customers or make a profit where “petty” theft is not prosecuted, have pulled up stakes. Chicago’s mayor to the rescue?

Teacher’s Union President Blames Public Schools …

September 10, 2023 Steve MacDonald

This is my first dance with the current Chicago Teacher’s Union president. Stacy Davis Gates sent her son to a private Catholic School. When challenged on that choice, she blamed the lack of school choice, which is racist. School choice is racist, not the lack of it.

Dem’s Common Sense Gun Laws™ in Practice: 12 Homicides, 49 Wounded In One Weekend

June 2, 2023 Steve MacDonald

Democrats like to use legislative force to regulate firearms in the name of public safety, but like their climate agenda, there is no evidence that their solutions work as advertised and ample proof they do not.

No Place Is Safe From Evil

May 31, 2023 Ray Cardello

We are used to recapping the shooting numbers in Chicago on Monday for the weekend. Sadly, it is tantamount to checking the weekend box scores. This Memorial Day weekend was no different in Chicago, as eleven were killed and 53 were shot, including two two-year-old children.

Who Is Making These Insane Decisions

May 25, 2023 Ray Cardello

There is no argument that some of our bigger cities that used to be vacation and destination spots are now crime and drug-ridden hellholes that are destinations for the homeless. These are places where residents and businesses are escaping as quickly as possible, and local and state governments are at a loss for ways to reverse the trends.

Bottom Headline of the Day: When The New Chicago Mayor is Woker and Broker than Outgoing Lightfoot

May 19, 2023 Skip

True to form for a Socialist Progressive, new Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has vowed (during his swearing-in ceremony, no less) to make the financial lives of “The Rich” and Big Biz miserable since Chicago is in desperate straights in the Treasury area.

Businesses Leave Chicago To Make Room For DNC

April 16, 2023April 16, 2023 Ray Cardello

There are many potential reasons for and sub-stories about the Democrat National Committee’s (DNC) decision to hold the 2024 Convention in the Homicide Capitol of the country. The DNC has named Chicago to host the convention that should start the reelection campaign of Joe Biden.

Breaking: Lori Lightfoot Loses – Concedes Chicago Mayoral Election Loss

March 1, 2023 Steve MacDonald

Not long from now, Chicagoans won’t have Mayor Lori Lightfoot to kick around. Our own Ray Cardello predicted it yesterday, and before the night ended, he was proved right. Lightfoot didn’t get enough votes to advance to the runoff election in April.

Say Goodbye to Lori Lightfoot

February 27, 2023 Ray Cardello

The good people of Chicago are going to the voting places on Tuesday to take back their city and return it to a safe town for their families to live in. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is currently polling a distant third place and is projected to lose her re-election bid, as she should.

School Bus Photo by Austin Pacheco on Unsplash

BlogHeadline of the Day – Seriously, Kvetching about Doing What You Boasted You’d Be Doing?

October 9, 2022 Skip

Heh! Pinning virtue-signaling to the door with a railroad spike: MAY I REPEAT MYSELF? BUTCH IT UP, MARY: Sanctuary New York City Mayor Declares Emergency Over Migrants Taking Sanctuary In NYC. Your mouth wrote the checks. You should pay them. Lots of Democrat Big City Mayors (and Governors) have proclaimed themselves to be Sanctuary Cities where … Read more

One of the “Safest*” Democrat Run Cities in America Passes 500 Murders for 2022

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022 Steve MacDonald

In Progressive mythology, gun control does not mean a tight grouping on the target; it means disarming law-abiding citizens. A corollary to that is making it as difficult or expensive as possible for those who insist on protecting themselves. The stated goal is public safety but the reality is the inverse.