By John Kass

October 25^th, 2025

It’s time for me to wind down the website. Past time. I held on too long because it had cost me too much in pain and psychic blood at the hands of the jacobin newsroom union that destroyed the once-great Chicago newspaper that I loved. And I loved it for those decades and decades.

But  I’ve run my race. Now it is time for me to go. Past time. I didn’t want to consider it once. I was afraid. I wouldn’t even dare brush up against it.

Especially when clinging  rather desperately to some old man dreams of myself as Larertes in his garden, an old man still hoping  to prove his worth as the warrior he once had been, still insisting he had spears left to throw.

But I’m old now. There are no spears.  Five strokes in three years convinced me. After that wonderful Indian Summer that we just had, the sky grew cold and  I finally came face to face with it: Betty explained the math. Five strokes in three years, she said, And you can still speak, you can still read and use a search engine, you can read Victor Davis Hanson and Plato, you can still discuss the great ideas.

But another stroke? I didn’t need any further convincing. I couldn’t contemplate the alternatives.

There was a dark chilly sky overhead. The wind was up. You could feel it in your hair. It was a Dylan Thomas kind of day, a Simon and Garfinkle kind of day.

I’d written a version of this in an email to our contributors at JohnKassNews.com and called it “Winding Down.” Within hours I was contacted by the left-wing Axios, the left-wing Politico and left wing Chicago Tribune, all requesting comment. I wasn’t interested in their cheap shots.

But then a call came in from my friend Dan Proft, the conservative Salem radio talk-show host on Chicago’s Morning Answer AM 560. When I was unfairly slandered by the jacobin newsroom union—and some others I had considered as friends were silent and afraid– it only was Proft, Charles Lipson and Tom Bevan of Real Clear Politics who stood to defend me.

Proft invited me on his show, the Morning Answer. And I leave the link here if you’d like to listen.

 

Untold origin story: The Two Thoms

Before I end this, and before you get to the Frequently Asked Questions, I need to tell you one last story the origin story of JohnKassNews.com It is the story of my good friends, the two Thoms.

Thom Serafin, who until recently was boss of his own public affairs firm and the late Thomas Donovan, who for years was the chief of staff of Mayor, Richard J. Daley. Both have been good counselors. Donovan died recently and his departure left a hole in my life. I came to rely on both men and their good common sense.

Donovan warned me about the corporate Tribune  as I was leaving the paper. They’ll want you to stay close but they’ll stab you in the back and destroy your reputation.  Thom Serafin was less Machiavelli, but he kept telling me you’ve got to have a plan. I didn’t know a plan. I had no plan and I didn’t know what to call this new venture. He said call it what it is , simple, call it John Kass News.com.

I loved it. And even though some of the leftists seethe and clenched their tiny fists in rage, I was happy. I was free.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL SUBSCRIBERS

All subscribers will continue to receive  columns and The Chicago Way Podcast up until Thanksgiving. Along with that content will be The Best of Kass: a group of select columns over the past few years. 

What will happen to my subscription?
All subscriptions are paused and are not currently being billed. You’ll keep full access, and John Kass News will continue publishing through Thanksgiving. After that, annual subscribers with time remaining will receive an email explaining their options, including a prorated refund.

Is there anything I need to do for my subscription or account?
No. You don’t need to take any action at this time. We’ll email you with details before anything changes.

Can I still buy merchandise?
The online merchandise store will close on December 31. Until then, you can continue to make purchases.

What will happen to the columns?
All columns will continue to be available on johnkassnews.com.

What will happen to the comments sections?
The ability to post new comments will be turned off a few days after the final column is published.