| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. I'm for sunshine today to show off Chicago to some visiting colleagues.
|  | TOP TALKER | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Gov. JB Pritzker joined members of the Democratic Governors Association on a Zoom with President Joe Biden on Tuesday to talk about messaging in battleground states. On the call: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, New York Gov. Kathleen Hochul, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Lips are sealed: Along with “messaging,” Biden discussed “the stakes of the 2024 election,” a person familiar with the meeting said without divulging any juicy details. Singing the blues: Pritzker and Whitmer have been advocating for months that attention must be paid to the “Blue Wall” of the Midwest, which includes the battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. They’re the states that Biden turned blue in 2020 and the governors want to expand on that. Timing of it: The Zoom call came hours after Biden’s soft video launch announcing he’s running for reelection. Top Dem super PAC starts Biden ad blitz, pledges $75 million campaign effort, by POLITICO’s Myah Ward Biden made a lot of campaign promises in 2020. He couldn’t meet them all, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn
| | THE BUZZ | | | | 
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx responds as she receives a standing ovation after announcing she will not seek reelection during a speech at a City Club of Chicago luncheon on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. | Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP | TWO TERMS AND DONE: Kim Foxx confirmed Tuesday what’s been speculated for months: She’s not running for a third term as Cook County state’s attorney. “I leave with my head held high, my heart full, knowing that there are better days ahead,” Foxx told attendees at a City Club of Chicago luncheon on Tuesday. And before the audience had cleared the dining room at Maggiano’s Banquets, buzz began about who might run for the seat in 2024. “It’s a giant political opportunity for those willing to take the chance, raise the millions needed to seek countywide office and endure the rigors and scrutiny of what could be an 18-month campaign,” write Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Andy Grimm. Names popping up: Former Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson, former prosecutor Dan Kirk and former Cook County Board member Richard Boykin said they are considering a run. “I am deeply committed to addressing pressing issues, including the need for structural reform of municipal government and the equally pressing need for a comprehensive and effective approach to public safety. The two issues are not unrelated,” Ferguson told Playbook. Former Ald. Bob Fioretti, a perennial candidate in Chicago and Cook County, is looking “seriously” at a possible run. Former House Minority Leader Jim Durkin wouldn’t say either way, telling Playbook, “My only hope is that the next state’s attorney of Cook County will respect and elevate rights due to the innocent victims of crime and who will bring integrity back to the office.” Ruling out a run: Democratic Alderman-elect Bill Conway (34th), who lost to Foxx in the 2020 primary; and former Circuit Judge Pat O’Brien, the Republican nominee who lost to Foxx in the 2020 General Election. The Tribune takes a deep dive, looking at Foxx’s efforts at reform, addressing wrongful convictions and her handling of the Jussie Smollett case. Gregory Pratt, Madeline Buckley and Sam Charles report. Foxx slams media, critics for Jussie Smollett obsession: “Foxx said critics overlook the changes she has made and the wrongfully convicted people she's freed — instead focusing their attention on Smollett again and again,” by Block Club’s Kelly Bauer. From POLITICO’s 2020 profile: “Foxx, the rare Black woman elected as a DA, is among the first in the movement to unapologetically execute on the progressive philosophy from a position of power, spurring others to run for office.” If you are Joe Biden, Playbook would like to know when you’ll get out on the campaign trail. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | | | A message from American Beverage Association: At America’s beverage companies, we are committed to reducing our plastic footprint. That’s why we’re carefully designing our plastic bottles to be 100% recyclable, including the caps. Our goal is for every bottle to become a new one, so they don’t end up in nature. Learn more at EveryBottleBack.org. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | At the Lincoln Doubletree Hotel in Springfield at noon to give remarks at IMA/IRMA Business Day.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | At the 43rd Street pedestrian bridge at 9:30 a.m. for its ribbon cutting.
| | Where's Toni | | At the Illinois Housing Authority’s future Otto Veterans Square site at 9:30 a.m. for its groundbreaking. Thank you for reading Playbook! Drop me a line sometime: skapos@politico.com
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — Federal jury begins deliberating ComEd bribery case after prosecutors call four defendants ‘grand masters of corruption,’ by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles — Prosecutor calls payments to speaker a ‘corruption toll,’ by Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Ray Long
| | | | DON’T MISS THE POLITICO ENERGY SUMMIT: A new world energy order is emerging and America’s place in it is at a critical juncture. Join POLITICO on Thursday, May 18 for our first-ever energy summit to explore how the U.S. is positioning itself in a complicated energy future. We’ll explore progress on infrastructure and climate funding dedicated to building a renewable energy economy, Biden’s environmental justice proposals, and so much more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | LEGISLATIVE UPDATE | | TAKING AI FIGHT TO D.C.: State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen are in Washington, D.C., today to discuss Illinois legislation that could be a hallmark for how states nationwide address deepfakes — a form of artificial intelligence that makes fake images using real people’s faces. “We’ve seen online harassment and abuse increase, especially toward women, and especially women in domestic violence situations,” Gong-Gershowtiz, a Democrat from Glenview, told Playbook. Deepfakes are AI generated videos that appear realistic, showing a person’s face, for example, in pornographic settings and then distributing the images online without the person’s consent. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is among women who have been victimized by deepfakes. Gong-Gershowitz and Edly-Allen’s HB 2123 amends Illinois' revenge porn legislation that Edly-Allen carried a few years ago. That bill came about after former state Rep. Nick Sauer was indicted for posting nude photos of two women on a fake social media account. Sauer exited his legislative seat, which Edly-Allen took over before being elected last year to the state Senate. Here’s the POLITICO scoop. While nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images has long been a felony, Edly-Allen’s bill allowed for victims to pursue civil damages and to get those images removed from websites and social networking sites. The new legislation she’s proposing with Gong-Gershowitz adds AI images to the law’s language. Deepfakes and revenge porn result in “severe harm,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “It’s traumatizing, can cause depression, eating disorders and suicide,” she said. And it can harm professional reputations. In D.C.: The two Illinois lawmakers will be part of a White House task force examining “non-consensual intimate image abuse.” It’s hosted by the Gender Policy Council & the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
| | | | A message from American Beverage Association:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — Trump wins $1M property tax refund on his namesake Chicago skyscraper: “An appeals court ruled that Trump International Hotel & Tower was overvalued by Cook County officials a dozen years ago. The Chicago Public Schools stands to lose the most money — about $540,000,” by Sun-Times’ Tim Novak. — Lightfoot touts benefits of CHA land deal with Chicago Fire at groundbreaking for team’s West Side training facility,: by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman — Final results from April 4 election: “In all, the city saw 613,795 votes cast, making for a turnout of 38.67 percent, according to the election results. That was the most ballots cast in a municipal election since Feb. 23, 1999, when more than 623,000 ballots were cast,” by Block Club’s Kelly Bauer. — Off to the races: NASCAR partnership donates bikes to Chicago kindergartners, by Sun-Times’ Catherine Odom
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Donald Trump is out with a new book featuring correspondence over the years from admirers, of sorts. Along with a personal letter from now-King Charles, there’s one from Rod Blagojevich. The former governor and Illinois Review owner Mark Vargas visited Mar-a-Lago earlier this week for a book event. Price of “Letters to Trump”: $99. Pic! — MacKenzie Scott has donated $10 million to Start Early, the nonprofit that focuses on early childhood issues. News of the donation was announced at Tuesday’s fundraising luncheon by Start Early President Diana Rauner. The luncheon marked the 40th anniversary of the organization. Spotted: Former Gov. Bruce Rauner, Sinai Chicago CEO Ngozi Ezike, who was part of a panel discussion on maternal health, Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton, Deputy Gov. for Education Martin Torres, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady and Related Midwest’s Curt Bailey. Co-chairs of the event at the Hilton on Michigan Avenue were Corazon Capital co-founder Sam Yagan and The Monarch Collective CEO Suk Shah. — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski will speak at the North American Building Trades Legislative Conference today in Washington, D.C.
| | | THE STATEWIDES | | | — Hundreds of Thousands of Medicaid Recipients in Illinois at Risk of Losing Coverage: “Emergency measures designed to ensure people didn’t lose their health care during the Covid-19 pandemic are now being phased out,” by WTTW’s Brandis Friedman and Paul Caine. — Springfield Clinic upset over transparency of BCBS network adequacy, by WAND TV’s Mike Miletich — POT POURRI: Illinois colleges and growers partner on classes to meet the demand for educated pot workers, by WBEZ’s Alex Degman — Illinois cities with the worst commute, and Chicago isn’t No. 1, via WGN 9
| | | | HAPPENING NEXT WEEK! GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from May 1-4. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Incoming Park Forest mayor pledges return to community-based meetings, by Daily Southtown’s Jerry Shnay — Outgoing Lake Forest mayor reflects on tumultuous tenure, by Pioneer Press’ Daniel I. Dorfman — How Schaumburg is addressing decline in office population, by Daily Herald’s Eric Peterson
| | Reader Digest | | We asked for your ideas for an invention: Kevin Lampe: “A computer program that edits the entire Internet for grammar.” Claude Walker: “A ‘Second-hand-Yak Zapper’ that disables service to loud cellphone users within earshot.” Steve Weiss: “A square piece of plywood or light plexiglass at the top of an umbrella to prevent it from tearing or falling apart at a time of high winds.” What presidential campaign gimmick would you like to see? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — THE FIFTY | Rural America dips into its wallet as airlines drop service, by POLITICO’s Liz Crampton. — Senators plot bipartisan spending backup plan amid McCarthy-Biden split, by POLITICO’s Caitlin Emma — Biden v. Trump 2.0: What’s old is new again, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire and Meridith McGraw
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Harry Belafonte was ‘a major influence’ on his Chicago friends, they fondly recall: “The singer-actor-activist who died Tuesday at 96 left a legacy that went beyond the entertainment world — he was a fierce advocate for civil rights,” by Sun-Times’ Mariah Rush.
| | | | A message from American Beverage Association: America’s leading beverage companies - The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo - are working together to reduce our industry’s plastic footprint through our Every Bottle Back initiative. We’re investing in efforts to get our bottles back so we can remake them into new bottles and use less new plastic.
Together, we’re:
- Designing 100% recyclable plastic bottles – we’re making our bottles from PET that’s strong, lightweight and easy to recycle.
- Investing in community recycling – we’re marshalling the equivalent of nearly a half-billion dollars with The Recycling Partnership and Closed Loop Partners to support community recycling programs where we can have the greatest impact.
- Raising awareness – we’re adding on-pack reminders to encourage consumers to recycle our plastic bottles and caps.
Our bottles are made to be remade. Please help us get Every Bottle Back. | | | | | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Kevin Lamm for correctly answering that Stephen Douglas, who famously debated Abraham Lincoln for a U.S. Senate seat in 1858, also competed for the affections of the same Kentucky woman some 20 years earlier. Douglas proposed to Mary Todd, who turned him down and went on to marry Lincoln. h/t Rob Christie for finding the question. TODAY’s QUESTION: Where was Henry Ford’s first Chicago car dealership located? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | State Sen. Robert Peters, Village of Coal City trustee Tim Bradley, University of Illinois state relations assistant director Nolan Drea, author of “King” and “Ali” Jonathan Eig, comms specialist Maura Possley, Thematic Campaigns partner Larry Grisolano, Lifeway Foods CEO Julie Smolyansky, attorney Nathan Buikema, policy analyst Nick Uniejewski, Solar industry consultant Janelle Rau-Clauson and Pensions & Investments Executive Editor Julie Truck Tatge.
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