SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Bailey and the Dinosaurs dominate Republican Day...Podcast preview with Senate GOP Leader John Curran

August 21, 2026

Good morning, subscribers.

Between Governor’s Day and Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair this week, we had 16 different political day or Fair related segments on the radio. Go listen to them all.

We’ll have a podcast out later today. We taped visits with Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield). Listen, I came up in radio, so State Fair video ain’t gonna be perfect, but it’s the content that counts. (Subscribers, stand by for more.)

I’ll also be on WGN-TV’s “The Point” tonight at 6:45 wrapping up State Fair political days.

There is nothing on Governor Pritzker’s public schedule today.

Is that it? I think so. I’m ready for the weekend.

Let’s get to it.

BAILEY’S STATE FAIR MESSAGING GOES THE WAY OF THE DINOSAURS

Former State Senator Darren Bailey, the Republican nominee for Governor, hoped a captive audience of Republican faithful, TV cameras, and reporters looking for some juice in the Governor’s race would help him lob attacks at Governor JB Pritzker at the State Fair Republican Day Thursday.

Instead, Bailey’s pivot to the fall campaign was distracted by private school curriculum, cagey answers, and dinosaurs.