3X Emmy award-winning journalist, storyteller and video marketer. Chicago bred. San Diego based.

Joined April 2011
1,678 Photos and videos
Rafer Weigel retweeted
Insane corruption from a homeless project in Los Angeles, California - The Weingart NGO got a $30 million dollar grant for homeless housing - A senior citizen home was cleared of elderly residents - The property was listed on the market for $11.2 million, but it was then sold to Weingart for $27 million (huge gap of money that disappeared) The city pays the NGO extremely high rates, $400,000 per bed per year for homeless housing on this property The building sits empty The NGO has no obligation to put a homeless person in a bed, so they can bill for every room at $400,000 per year with no one in them It doesn’t stop there. Taxpayers also cover the purchase, operations, upkeep, and problems even if the facility sits empty The Weingart NGO operates around 10 similar homeless housing facilities We need prison sentences for every Democrat involved in these deals and every NGO executive Spencer says he will hand them over to the IRS and DOJ for investigation and prosecution I saved him some time and looked up who handed the money out Key Democrats Who Oversaw the Money - Mayor Karen Bass (Democrat) - Former Mayor Eric Garcetti (Democrat) - Key member on the Housing & Homelessness Committee is Nithya Raman (Democrat) who has been involved in oversight and funding decisions - LA County Board of Supervisors (All Democrats) I think the problem is clear
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Rafer Weigel retweeted
The same Supervisors who lecture the rest of us about "No Kings" are voting today to extend their own time in power. Funny how that works. Voters capped Supervisors at two terms in 2010. It passed by nearly 70%. Now the same politicians who benefit are asking voters to undo it, with ballot language written to mislead and a package of popular reforms wrapped around it for cover. You don't get to march against kings on Saturday and crown yourself on Tuesday.
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A #Chicago institution. My late father and Mike Royko played on his 16” softball team back in the 70’s. #RIP
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Sam Sianis — the legendary, longtime owner of Billy Goat Tavern and a true Chicago original. Sam passed away peacefully this morning in his sleep, surrounded by his loving family. Sam was more than a restaurateur; he was a Chicago legend. His tireless work ethic, devotion to his beloved Tavern, and deep love for this city made him a cultural icon and an inspiration to all who knew him. Above all, he was a devoted family man and a cherished friend to countless people whose lives he touched. Loved by many, he will be deeply missed. May his memory be eternal.
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Andrew is one of the good guys and an excellent reporter and writer. Please keep him in mind if you hear of any reporter/writer openings. #journalism and #news are rough businesses.
Some life news. I was laid off today after 21 years with the AP. I am now a free agent, so if you know of any openings …
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Rafer Weigel retweeted
Everyone should be arrested. Every car impounded. Period!
During a street takeover near Grant Park, a car rams a responding CPD vehicle and pushes it back. Onlookers cheer it on. Our intrepid mayor, @ChicagosMayor, expects us to believe this insanity is normal and acceptable.
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Part of the reason #Chicago corruption has been so rampant for decades is that #news outlets for decades has rarely held politicians and officials accountable. #journalism
You just can't hate Chicago media enough. Yesterday, @CWBChicago reported Kim Foxx admitted under oath she believed two men convicted for a grisly murder were guilty of the crime, yet her office helped clear them. This should have been front-page news. Not one word.
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Rafer Weigel retweeted
California Rep Kevin Kiley says they have learned the $100 million dollar pacific palisades Fire Aid concert money was laundered to nonprofits “What we have learned is absolutely beyond belief — Tens of thousands of people donated raising a hundred million dollars for what they was were told was direct relief for the victims. But now we've learned that this money didn't go to the victims at all. Instead, it went to nonprofits” Here are some examples - CA Native Vote Project: $100,000 for voter participation for Native Americans - Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE): $250,000 for programs prioritizing undocumented immigrants - Altadena Talks Foundation: $100,000 went to supported podcasts, including Toni Raines podcast - NAACP Pasadena: $100,000 political advocacy - Los Angeles Black Worker Center $550,000 to political advocacy organizations - Center for Applied Ecological Remediation: $500,000 for fungus/microbe/plant soil remediation projects Over $500,000 went to bonuses for nonprofit leaders and consultants
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Rafer Weigel retweeted
This Is Gavin’s Real Legacy California is staring down $30 billion in structural deficits every single year and the state’s own analysts cannot tell you how many workers are on the payroll or what they cost. Billions in surpluses were squandered on programs that were never affordable and the Democratic supermajority ignored every warning. Californians will be paying for this long after Gavin leaves to chase his next job. #FixCalifornia nypost.com/2026/04/29/us-new…
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Rafer Weigel retweeted
Businesses are closing because Chicago has been neither business friendly nor responsive since 2020. We refused to hold looters accountable. We downplay “smash & grabs” and shoplifting as nothing more than an insurance issue. We disregarded people’s enterprising spirit and faith in the American dream. We discounted the personal sacrifices people made because the narrative demanded crimes of the present be ignored as retribution for the sins of the past. In essence: reparations by criminal action. And yet somehow my fellow politicians act stunned by the outcomes they promoted.
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Forget John Blackwell. I’m excited to see this kid as a freshman this season. I feel he’s gonna thrive in year one under Underwood’s top notch staff and could be another one-and-done which is great for the program #illini #illinibasketball @IlliniMBB
#Illini signee Quentin Coleman won the Iverson Classic 3 point shootout. Illinois is getting a star in the 5-star guard
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#illinois gov @GovPritzker throws @ILJudgesAssoc under the bus for letting dangerous criminals walk the streets to commit more crimes.
Gov JB Pritzker on case of the career violent criminal out with no bond due to Illinois’ Safe-T act, who allegedly shot 2 Police officers, Killed one: “in most of the cases where Republicans have complained about the SAFE-T, it's actually been the bad decision by an elected judge in Illinois or up. Or no hearing at all because the prosecutor didn't bring it to the judge. And that has been a reason why somebody gets let out. A judge can make this decision, a judge should have made the decision to keep that person in jail.”
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3 years ago, my company met with @ILJudgesAssoc about fixing their “soft on crime” image. They passed. Here’s a thought: instead of spending money to look tough on crime… why not actually be tough on crime? A Chicago police officer is dead. This isn’t messaging. It’s leadership.
Apr 26
Today's shooter at Swedish Hospital has quite an arrest record. According to what I'm told, Alphanso Talley was also on EM for an armed carjacking last year.
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Rafer Weigel retweeted
Sources: The man who killed a Chicago cop and gravely wounded the officer’s partner: • Is an electronic monitoring escapee • Is a parole absconder • Has armed robbery and armed carjacking cases pending cwbchicago.com/2026/04/cop-k…
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Why I moved here #sandiego
San Diego (first time ever) field report: People here are way more fit and somehow don’t make it their entire personality like NYC Tacos on every corner, all have a line Everyone’s outside… running, lifting, surfing, doing something. Very active Girls are effortlessly hot, not trying nearly as hard No one is in a rush, but everything still gets done Perfect weather is just… normal here. Cali vibes are real, packed day today
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Rafer Weigel retweeted
.@ESPN anchor @notthefakeSVP Scott Van Pelt is right. This guy is an idiot. #hotdogs #nfl #ketchupgate #bears #chicago
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The 57th pick of the @NFL draft by the @ChicagoBears C Logan Jones got a lifetime supply of ketchup from #Heinz. Just make sure he doesn’t put it on a hot dog. #bears #nfldraft  #Chicago @HeinzTweets
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This is the pick I wish the @ChicagoBears had traded up for instead of trading down for a TE they didn’t need.
The @Patriots got better tonight. No doubt. #ProIllini x #NFLDraft
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Rafer Weigel retweeted
Vrabel and Russini seem to really love each other and love spending time together. They should just leave their spouses and become a couple.
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NEW: Leaked CTU delegate email ahead of May Day: A masterclass in “ethical behavior.”
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