"Inside Game" was a 2019 movie about an NBA game-fixing scandal centering around game 7 of the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings. 

NBA Sports paraphrasing former NBA Ref Tim Donaghy described the scandal, "long time NBA official Dick Bevatta was a fixer of sorts for the league. And in the controversial Game 6, he may have helped change the outcome of the game and eventually, the series."

With the Kings entering game six with a 3-2 series lead, the furious two final two minutes, NBA refs called foul after foul on Sacramento to will the series to a Game 7 while ignoring fouls clearly committed by Los Angeles. The Lakers went on to win the series in seven games and would win their third NBA championship in three seasons.

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While not rising to the level of criminal conspiracy, Republicans like us, fighting to save our state from rising taxes and record crime, feel like we’re up against a similar "inside game." The players: the Chicago Democratic Machine and the Chicago media.

Make no mistake – we’re a blue state. Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Kerry, Al Gore, and Bill Clinton all won our state in resounding fashion. 

In 20 years a Republican has held the governor’s mansion only once and for just one term. The last time we held the speakership in the General Assembly, the Gin Blossoms were the hottest band in the country and DVDs had just begun to go on sale. 

Illinois Republicans have not held a majority on the state supreme court since our new constitution was written in 1970. Meanwhile, our Democratic counterparts have been able to pass the most gerrymandered maps in the country – decreasing accountability. 

Despite these facts – thanks to our governor’s record on crime, taxes, and corruption – we’ve got a chance. 

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Our governor, J.B. Pritzker joined California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and and then-New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in instituting some of the worst lockdowns in the country. 

Crime is at record highs and with the looming end of cash bail in our state, even Democratic State’s Attorneys are suing the Pritzker administration to stop the release of violent criminals. Now queue the inside game. 

An outside group supporting Pritzker’s opponent Republican Darren Bailey ran an ad titled "Scream" seeking to bring to light voters’ top issue -- the rise in crime. 

The ad featured an assault taking place on the streets of Chicago -- an all too common occurrence in Pritzker and Lori Lightfoot’s city. 

Gov. Pritzker and Illinois Dems feigned outrage that anyone dare bring to light the violence brought out by their signature legislation. Pritzker appealed to the Chicago media and the ad was taken down within days. Whistle on red. 

Trying to hold onto their slim State Supreme Court majority at any cost, Democratic outside groups are spending millions in competitive judicial races to run jarring ads accusing our candidates of wanting to "criminalize" abortion. 

Their sources? Nowhere to be found, because they’re false. We appeal to the ref, no call on blue. The ads stay up. 

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Recently a candidate running against 30-year- Democratic incumbent Rep. Jan Schakowsky had a stand-in appear for him at the endorsement session of a suburban Chicago newspaper. 

This was clearly a prank -- though one that distracted from Schakowsky’s terrible record in Congress.

The Daily Herald effectively called it an unprecedented affront on democracy and demanded condemnation from the State Republican Party. Flagrant foul on red. 

Meanwhile, they’ve completely ignored Congresswoman Schakowsky’s husband’s own history as an anti-Trump provocateur guilty of the same behavior they condemned. No-call on blue. 

We’re at a crossroads in our country’s history. Americans’ trust in the ability of newspapers, television and radio news reporting to deliver the news fairly and honestly hovers around record lows according to a 2021 Gallup report.

Speaking on the topic of media trust with former NBC News "Today Show" anchor Matt Lauer in 2017, former President George W. Bush said frankly, "You used to matter more when there were like three of you." 

To his point, more voters now seek their news from social media or non-traditional sources than ever before. The lesson is clear -- in an environment where mainstream media outlets must compete for viewers, trust matters and if viewers don’t trust traditional media, they will go somewhere else for their news. 

America’s mainstream media must return to holding Democrats and Republicans equally accountable. A consistent standard is all the public demands. 

That is how to restore faith in journalism, and end the "Inside Game" here in Illinois and our country.

Kanye West, the embattled rapper now known as Ye, appeared to support sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving in a series of Instagram posts on Sunday.

Ye posted headshots of Smith and Irving in subsequent posts, as well as former NFL running back-turned-Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker.

"It’s actually some real ones still alive that ain’t afraid no more I’m with you Time to build our own So the #redmedia can never control or diminish us again," Ye wrote as the caption for the Smith photo.

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On the Irving photo, Ye wrote, "There’s some real ones still here."

Last week, Smith reversed his original stance on Ye following the business mogul’s antisemitic comments. On Oct. 22, he spoke about his thoughts on Ye in an episode of his "Know Mercy" podcast.

"West continued his rhetoric that Jewish people are the reason for his bad business deals and for the backlash he has received," Smith said. "I thought the brother was worth billions. What you mean? What bad deals? How many bad deals did you have if you’re worth $7 billion? How many bad deals did you have if you’re worth, if you’re calling yourself the richest black man in American history? How many bad deals did you have? What do you mean? Which way is it, Kanye? If Jewish folks are at fault for the bad business deals that cost you money, how are you saying that while bragging about being the richest black man in American history? Which one is it? Either they helped you or hurt you. They helped you or they hurt you. Pick one. They did both? That’s what they did? Really, really?"

Smith later added that "when you’re wrong, you’re wrong."

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"When you’re incendiary, you’re incendiary. When you’re insensitive, you’re insensitive," Smith said. "And when you see him oblivious or indifferent to history and the impact that it has on any group of people in this world, Black, White, Jews, gentile, it don’t matter. Latinos, Asian Americans or whatever, you got to be called on the carpet for it, especially when you don’t seem to have an apologetic bone in your body. And that’s where we are with Kanye West as we sit here right now. Because ladies and gentlemen, excuse my language, but this s--- is bad. This is really, really bad what he has been doing."

Irving came under fire late last week for sharing an antisemitic film on social media. He said he meant "no disrespect" and on Saturday night was pressed about the decision to promote the movie.

He defended his right to post whatever he believes after his actions were denounced by Nets team owner Joe Tsai and the NBA.

"We're in 2022. History is not supposed to be hidden from anybody, and I'm not a divisive person when it comes to religion," Irving said. "I embrace all walks of life."

Irving added: "I’m not going to stand down on anything I believe in. I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me."

Since Ye's antisemitic remarks — tweeting that he would go "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE" — companies have severed ties with his Yeezy fashion brand. He also lost key figures from his sports agency.