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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced accusations of racism from a reporter during a press conference, following a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the city’s hiring practices.
👥 Who’s Involved: Mayor Brandon Johnson, independent reporter William J. Kelly, and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
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📍 Where & When: Chicago, Illinois; DOJ investigation announced Monday; press conference held Tuesday morning.
💬 Key Quote: “Real Chicagoans want to know: why are you a racist?” – William J. Kelly.
⚠️ Impact: The DOJ investigation could significantly affect the city’s hiring policies and political discourse around racial issues in Chicago.
HOLY SHLIT
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson just got called out TO HIS FACE about his racist treatment of white residents pic.twitter.com/SCQx61O1Lh
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 21, 2025
IN FULL:
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced pointed accusations of racism during a press conference on Tuesday, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into the city’s hiring practices for potential violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division announced Monday that it would examine whether Chicago’s employment practices reflect a “pattern or practice of racial discrimination.” The investigation appears to have been prompted by Johnson’s recent remarks emphasizing his preference for hiring black people.
“There are some detractors that will push back on me and say, ‘The only thing the mayor talks about is the hiring of black people.’ No. What I’m saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet. I don’t know too many cultures that have play cousins,” Johnson had said.
Independent journalist and former political candidate William J. Kelly confronted Johnson at the press event, accusing the mayor of engaging in divisive racial rhetoric. “Real Chicagoans woke up this morning relieved that the Department of Justice is finally investigating your race hustle,” Kelly said. He described Johnson’s remarks as “embarrassing and dangerous” for the city.
When pressed by Kelly with the blunt question, “Why are you a racist?” Johnson rejected the premise entirely. “Well, you know, first of all, I reject the idea and the premise that, somehow, that that’s an actual, legitimate question,” Johnson responded.
Kelly followed up, asking what the mayor would say to those who perceive him as racist. Johnson reiterated his dismissal of the question, stating, “Again, I reject the premise that, somehow, that your question has any legitimacy. Thank you for your time.”
The DOJ investigation could lead to significant changes in city policies, depending on its findings.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The Trump administration sanctioned two top members of Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.
👥 Who’s Involved: Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, leaders of Cartel del Noreste; U.S. Treasury Department; Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.
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📍 Where & When: Sanctions announced Wednesday; Cartel del Noreste operates near the Laredo, Texas border region.
💬 Key Quote: “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
⚠️ Impact: The sanctions aim to disrupt Cartel del Noreste’s operations, including drug trafficking, arms procurement, and violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
IN FULL:
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on two senior leaders of the Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and designated foreign terrorist organization, according to an announcement from the U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda for their roles in facilitating the cartel’s operations. Officials say the group exerts significant control over the border area near Laredo, Texas.
Ledzema, a high-ranking cartel member, was identified as overseeing the acquisition and trafficking of firearms into Mexico. According to the Treasury Department, he coordinated payments to U.S.-based straw purchasers who misrepresented themselves to obtain weapons, later smuggling them into Nuevo Laredo. One such weapon was reportedly recovered after a March 2024 cartel attack on the Mexican military.
Sauceda, previously second-in-command of the cartel, was arrested in February by Mexican authorities. He allegedly led an armed enforcement unit and was linked to violent assaults on Mexican military and police forces. At the time of his arrest, he was found with firearms, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the administration’s commitment to confronting the cartel threat, stating, “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities.” Bessent also highlighted the cartel’s role in campaigns of violence, intimidation, and terrorism that endanger communities on both sides of the border.
The sanctions were coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.
Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council, praised the administration’s actions, saying they fulfill President Donald J. Trump’s promise to prevent cartels from operating with impunity. “These actions deal a significant blow and send the message to all cartels that President Trump will follow through,” Perez stated.
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