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| By Shia Kapos |
Presented by McDonald's |
Happy Tuesday, Illinois. The Illinois primary is three weeks away. Last night: President Joe Biden headlined “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” where he addressed his age and the Middle East War. Clip!
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 | TOP TALKER | |
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Matt Walsh, the Illinois native who starred in "Veep," is now tackling the Lincoln assassination in a new film. | Evan Agostini/Invision/AP |
Matt Walsh, who starred as the bumbling presidential press secretary in HBO’s “Veep,” is returning to television in a new political show: “Manhunt,” a historical drama about the events following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It’s a limited series on Apple TV+, premiering March 15. His character: Walsh, who won two Emmys for his Mike McClintock character on “Veep,” portrays Samuel Mudd, the physician and Southern sympathizer who cared for John Wilkes Booth after he assassinated Lincoln. POLITICO talked with Walsh about the project. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity. You grew up in the Chicago area, went to Hinsdale South High School and graduated from Northern Illinois University. Did that give you a special connection to a Lincoln project? “Much of what we covered in junior high and high school never touched on the complexities of the assassination and the manhunt of Booth and all the characters surrounding it. It was fascinating to me. Being from Illinois and being an actor it was a great opportunity to serve a great story.” Given “Veep” is a political parody and “Manhunt” is a political thriller, are you interested in politics? “Every time I do a project like this I learn more about politics. For this, it was reading the book and doing a deep dive about the almost collapse of the union during the Civil War. It educated me about how democracy is very precarious. So, yeah, every time I do a project that immerses me a little bit more, but I don’t know anything about politics. I would never want to be a politician. That's the most difficult job in the world.” Did rough and tumble Illinois politics inspire you? “When I got cast in ‘Veep,’ I was able to draw on my history of the stories I've read in the Tribune and the Sun-Times and the way things work. And even like, you know that you have to know a guy who knows a guy to get their blessing. It’s very distinctive in Chicago and really helped me with my character on ‘Veep’ because it was about relationships and making sure you curry favor with the people who would help you along the way.” “Veep” sometimes mirrored life in the Trump administration. Did you realize that at the time? “It was sobering. It was ridiculous fiction and became a sobering documentary. I think there were many concepts in the writers room that were ruled out because they were too ridiculous — and then they became reality.” Do you see similarities between the Lincoln-era uprising and politics today? “These were men fighting brothers with guns and killing each other. And today, obviously, we're still using words. And no one's fighting to enslave anyone anymore. So, that was a much more heated awfulness. Before the assassination, Lincoln was trying to forgive those people who were enemies. He really wanted to pardon their sins and bring them into the fold so the war could be over because punishing them and ostracizing them would only further entrench those old beliefs and create more. … It was just so tenuous. The cocktail was much more explosive than it is now.”
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| THE BUZZ | |
BALLOT BRAWL: A judge made it official Monday, issuing her order that the Bring Chicago Home referendum should not be counted on the primary ballots in Chicago. The city is gearing up to appeal, and the Chicago Board of Elections might do the same. Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized the decision in this good explainer from ABC 7’s Craig Wall. At issue: Building industry groups “argue the ballot question was unconstitutional and violated state law by asking voters to approve both a tax cut and tax hike at the same time,” reports the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. The Bring Chicago Home campaign applauded the city’s plan to appeal and also reminded people to keep voting, since the referendum will stay on the ballot as the votes are being banked should the ruling be overturned. Want to know more? The League of Women Voters in Chicago has put out a study on the referendum. If you are Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
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| A message from McDonald's: From 2021 to 2022, the McDonald’s System contributed over $3.2 billion to Illinois’s economy, supporting over 50,000 jobs statewide. McDonald’s presence in local communities throughout Illinois generated nearly $700 million in federal, state and local tax revenue, providing funding for public schools, infrastructure, parks and more. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in Illinois and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/il. |
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| WHERE'S JB | |
At Heartland Community College in Normal at 10 a.m. for the opening of the Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Training Academy.
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| WHERE's BRANDON | |
No official public events.
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| Where's Toni | |
At the Cook County Building at 9 a.m. to call attention to CPR/AED training. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
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| CONVENTION ZONE | |
— Claudia Chavez is joining the Democratic National Convention team in Chicago as senior director for political and coalition outreach. She was special assistant to the president for candidate recruitment in the White House. Chavez is a Chicago-area native who worked for Joe Biden in Iowa and Illinois during the 2020 Democratic nominating contests and oversaw Midwest battleground states during the general election. Chicago insiders will also remember her as an adviser in former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office.
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| 2024 WATCH | |
— Democrats running to replace State’s Attorney Kim Foxx answer five key questions: Yes or no answers from Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III on topics ranging from gun possession to prosecutor unionization, by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell. ... Also in the race, Harris has been endorsed by Congressman Danny Davis and Jonathan Jackson. — In the Illinois Supreme Court race, Justice Joy Cunningham told the Daily Line that “it makes no sense” to say the state’s high court is not diverse because there is no Latino on the court. She was criticizing challenger Jesse Reyes who says the court needs Latino representation. Cunningham’s comment drew criticism from the Illinois Latino Agenda, the Latino Leadership Council and HLAI-Serving the Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois. In a statement they said they're “ shocked” by Cunningham’s statements. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not a zero-sum game.” — Endorsements: The Worth Township Democratic Organization is out with its endorsements ahead of the March 19 primary. Read them here. The group also plans a candidate convention March 5. — Kurt Prenzler has been endorsed by Congresswoman Mary Miller in his bid for Madison County Board chair. He’s the incumbent. The endorsement comes days after Prenzler was censured by the Madison County Board “for handing out political business cards on county property, by The Telegraph’s Scott Cousins.
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| A message from McDonald's:   |
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| THE STATEWIDES | |
— Gov. JB Pritzker pushes maternal health funding at planned South Side birthing center: Pritzker wants the Illinois General Assembly “to prioritize the maternal health and ‘birth equity”’ funding initiatives in his budget. It was his first public appearance in Illinois since he unveiled his budget in an address to legislators in Springfield last week,” by the Tribune’s Olivia Olander — Seven new city cultural districts are now eligible for millions in state funding for preservation efforts, by the Block Club’s Mack Liederman — Good trouble: Gov. JB Pritzker was introduced by Bill Ocasio, CEO of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, at an event there Monday. Ocasio caught Pritzker off guard, saying, “When are you going to run for president?” The governor took to the podium and responded with a smile: “You’re going to get me in trouble. Good trouble.”
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| CHICAGO | |
— The ShotSpotter deal might be illegal: “That’s because the original contract with ShotSpotter's parent company, SoundThinking, was never competitively bid or subject to the city’s normal procurement process, which requires what's called a ‘request for proposals.’ … But the city’s Law Department says “a myriad of code provisions” permit the mayor’s extension,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba. — Cubs want $30M to boost security outside Wrigley Field, and maybe secure an All-Star Game: “A spokesman for the mayor, a Cubs fan who threw out a first pitch after being elected mayor, was non-committal,” Crain’s Justin Laurence reports. — Chicago Red Stars join the teams seeking public funding for a stadium: “Red Stars Executive Chairperson Laura Ricketts and team President Karen Leetzow recently met with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and are scheduled to meet this week with Illinois Senate President Don Harmon,” by the Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro and Jeremy Gorner. — Cook County judge denies extension on stoppage of police discipline cases, reports the Tribune’s Sam Charles. — Judge tells mother of man accused of killing Chicago Police Officer Ella French to cover shirt asking justice for son, by the Sun-Times’ Sophie Sherry
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| COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | |
— Iris Martinez, the clerk of the Circuit Court, pushed back Monday at the public defender’s office in a report put out by the Illinois Answers project. Here’s her statement — The Central Tri-State Tollway is getting smarter with addition of digital messaging, by Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke — Evanston City to ‘explore legal options’ against hate speech, by Evanston Now’s Bill Smith
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| MEDIA MATTERS | |
— Bill Cameron interviews Patrick Wohl, author of the new book “Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion.” In the book, Wohl details a 1990 suburban Chicago race for the Republican Party nomination for state representative that became a national proxy battle over abortion, via WLS.
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| On the ground in Albany. Get critical policy news and analysis inside New York State. Track how power brokers are driving change across legislation and budget and impacting lobbying efforts. Learn more. |
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| Reader Digest | |
We asked how you determine someone's politics without asking: Suzie Bassi: “A red Maga hat would be a dead giveaway.” Randy Bukas and Cynthia Ann Given look at stickers on their cars. Marty Green: “When people opine on guns, immigration, social issues etc.” Chris Kolker: “What they watch for national news?” Ed Mazur: “If they’re men, check the width of their tie. Wide means liberal, Democrat. Narrow is conservative Republican.” David Melton: “Their take on cultural issues.” Michael Synowiecki: “If someone is a Democrat, they watch CNN. I notice it in my lunchroom.” Christine Walker: “I they’re registered to vote if they’re planning to vote in the upcoming election.’” NEXT QUESTION: What’s the last thing that made you cry?
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| THE NATIONAL TAKE | |
— Biden's never been driven by human rights. This time, it might cost him, by POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi — Michigan’s primary is about to reveal how vulnerable Biden is on Israel, by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider Adam Cancryn — Biden to visit southern border Thursday — the same day as Trump, by POLITICO’s Eli Stokols — Jack Smith says Trump’s handling of classified docs was far worse than Biden’s, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney
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| TRANSITIONS | |
— Lara Cooper has been promoted to senior VP of communications at C-Strategies. — David Tanner is now co-managing partner at Polsinelli law firm’s Chicago office, where he’s been a real-estate attorney for six-plus years.
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| A message from McDonald's: McDonald’s is an economic engine for the state of Illinois, contributing over $3.2 billion to our state’s economy, directly employing nearly 38,900 Illinoisans and supporting an additional 12,800 jobs statewide. It’s also an engine of opportunity: 1 in 4 independent McDonald’s operators in Illinois began their careers as restaurant crew members, generating wealth for their families and local communities. We are proud to call Chicago and Illinois our home, supporting public schools, parks and more through the nearly $700 million in federal, state and local tax revenue generated by the McDonald’s System’s activities. And thanks to the generosity of McDonald’s customers and owner/operators, the $2.3 million raised through Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2022 provided over 23,000 overnight stays for families with children receiving medical care in Illinois. Learn more about McDonald’s impact on local communities in Illinois and nationally by visiting https://www.mcdeconomicimpact.com/state-impacts/il. |
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| EVENTS | |
— Thursday: Conscious Capitalism Chicago chapter is screening “Beyond Zero” and holding a fireside chat with the film’s director, Nathan Havey. Details here — Monday: Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran headlines a fundraiser in Quincy for the Illinois GOP. Details here — March 6: Matt Dietrich, public information officer of the Illinois State Board of Elections, will discuss “how Illinois ensures election security and integrity.” Details here
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| TRIVIA | |
MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Janet Mathis for correctly answering that Ronald Reagan was a lifeguard at Lowell Park on the Rock River before becoming an actor, governor and then president. TODAY's QUESTION: What pension plan is widely believed to have been the precursor to Social Security? Email skapos@politico.com
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY | |
Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, former state Rep. Coy Pugh, nonprofit leader Sara Albrecht, United Airlines Corporate Safety VP Sasha Johnson, attorney Ted Tetzlaff and cannabis lobbyist Trevian Kutti. -30- |
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