Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap, May 16, 2025

Nearly a dozen South Side elementary students sickened after ingesting marijuana edibles. Mayor Johnson reaches the midpoint of his term. Congressional competitions heat up in the race to replace retiring Sen. Durbin and Rep. Schakowsky. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap with a panel of journalists. This week we have Block Club Chicago reporter Mack Liederman, WBEZ senior editor of government, politics and safety Angela Rzas O’Toole, and government finance and accountability reporter with the Illinois Answers Project at the Better Government Association Alex Nitkin. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Bulwark Podcast - S2 Ep1044: Peter Hamby: All in Service of Kissing Trump’s Ass

MAGA is having a performative tantrum calling for James Comey to be jailed over a seashell meme because the daily job of Trump's supporters and Cabinet members is to try to warm his heart—that includes Kristi Noem changing her face and Tulsi firing top intel officials because they told the White House the truth it doesn't want to hear. Meanwhile, fentanyl deaths and violent crime fell dramatically last year, and border crossings have plummeted, but the administration keeps hyping a "crisis" to try to justify suspending habeas corpus. Plus, Tim briefly goes back to his comms job, the GOP's bill is not on a glide-path, Dems think their leaders are "spineless," Gavin tries "just win" on for size, Kamala mulls the CA governor's race—and new baby advice!! 

Peter Hamby joins Tim Miller for a bountiful weekend pod.

show notes

Consider This from NPR - Connecting the dots on DOGE

It's been six months since President Trump first announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, which has dramatically shrunk parts of the federal government. And with so many individual stories about federal workers losing their jobs around the country, the big picture can sometimes look blurry.

A team of NPR reporters has been looking at agencies — from food inspectors to nuclear scientists to firefighters and more — and today, we'll connect some of the dots on how DOGE cuts have impacted workers, and hear how Americans far beyond Washington may feel the effects of these cuts.

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Consider This from NPR - Connecting the dots on DOGE

It's been six months since President Trump first announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, which has dramatically shrunk parts of the federal government. And with so many individual stories about federal workers losing their jobs around the country, the big picture can sometimes look blurry.

A team of NPR reporters has been looking at agencies — from food inspectors to nuclear scientists to firefighters and more — and today, we'll connect some of the dots on how DOGE cuts have impacted workers, and hear how Americans far beyond Washington may feel the effects of these cuts.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The Daily Signal - Victor Davis Hanson: Biden’s Enablers Never Told Us Why They Did It

Why did the DNC, White House staffers and even seasoned journalists lie to the American people when they decided to run cover for Joe Biden?

 

It's not enough just to say, “Politics. We want power.” What was the strategy to make you do something so egregious, asks Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words:”

 

“The same existential is why do all these reporters say now, ‘We were in on the deal, we covered up for Biden’? ‘The Biden staff did it.’ ‘No, the media did it.’ But they all agreed that he was non compos mentis. He was cognitively challenged when he was nominated, when they cleared the nomination field out. They got rid of Buttigeig. They got rid of Elizabeth Warren. They got rid of Sanders. They all disappeared quickly.

 

“And then they used this waxen effigy as a veneer. But why? That was very risky to do that. They all tell us they did it but they don't tell us why…


They saw this as a wonderful opportunity. Use Joe Biden and just have him come in three days a week, stumble through stuff, and then push through the most left-wing, nihilistic, destructive, socialist agenda in history.” 


👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1…  

 

👉If you can’t get enough of Victor Davis Hanson from The Daily Signal, subscribe to his official YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/victordavishanson7273…  

 

👉He’s also the host of “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” available wherever you prefer to watch or listen. Links to the show and exclusive content are available on his website: https://victorhanson.com 

 

The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories, like this one, without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ 

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WSJ What’s News - Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls for Fifth Straight Month

P.M. Edition for May 16. The University of Michigan’s preliminary consumer-sentiment index fell to 50.8 in May. WSJ economics reporter Chao Deng says the data surprised economists, and reflect fears of higher prices driven by sweeping tariffs. And higher education reporter Sara Randazzo says President Trump’s funding cuts have delivered a broad hit to universities from the Ivy League to state schools. Plus, Boeing will avoid prosecution over violating an earlier criminal settlement under a tentative deal with the Justice Department. Pierre Bienaimé hosts.


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1A - The News Roundup For May 16, 2025

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case about President Donald Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship. House Republicans unveil a bill to cut congressional spending.

The U.S. and China hammer out a trade deal that reduces tariffs for 90 days. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East, announcing a slew of economic deals and partnerships. But back home, a luxury jet from the Qatari government takes over the headlines.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

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WSJ Minute Briefing - U.S. Stocks End the Week Up, Despite Consumer Anxiety on Trade

President Trump said the U.S. will unilaterally set tariffs for many countries, as a new survey showed high levels of consumer anxiety over trade. Plus, Charter Communications agreed to buy rival Cox Communications in a multibillion-dollar deal. And Novo Nordisk shares fell after the Ozempic maker said its CEO will step down. Danny Lewis hosts.


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The Journal. - How ‘The Joker’ Rigged the Texas Lottery

A global team of betting whizzes hatched a scheme to take down the Texas Lottery. The plan was led by a London banker-turned-bookmaker and a mysterious professional gambler nicknamed ‘The Joker.’ The duo partnered with a Texas company and local retailers to print more than 99% of all the lottery tickets sold. And the jackpot was worth almost $100 million. The WSJ’s Brad Reagan explains how they pulled off the heist. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 


Further Listening:

- How an Antiques Dealer Uncovered a Massive Museum Heist 

- Inside an iPhone Heist 

- How Investigators Cracked a $3.4 Billion Crypto Heist 

- Six Days of Chaos at MGM’s Casinos 


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