| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. I’m on jury duty tonight ... for “The Trial of Pericles.”
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
National Democratic Party leaders meet at the Hilton Chicago on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | CONVENTION ZONE: National Democratic Party leaders visiting Chicago hammered home a message Tuesday: It’s time to brag about President Joe Biden’s accomplishments. “I encourage you to speak boldly about everything this president has done,” Minyon Moore, chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, told party leaders gathered at the Chicago Hilton for a meeting on the party and the convention this August in Chicago. “I have worked for several presidents, and I can tell you he is unprecedented in the work he has done and we should be proud and we should be bragging,” said Moore, a Chicago native. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz echoed that. He relayed a story about a $2 billion bridge being built in his state thanks to funding made possible by the Biden administration. “When we have these projects, let’s put up a sign that says ‘Brought to You by Joe Biden!’” Walz said. And Christine Pelosi, who does leadership training for candidates, said she likes to see social media focused on promoting Biden instead of attacking Donald Trump (as fun as that is, she told Playbook). Mayor Brandon Johnson, who also spoke to the group, also sang the praises of the Biden-Harris ticket, the Democratic Party and, of course, Chicago, “the greatest city in the world.” Getting down to business: The Democrats are in town to get the lay of the land for the Democratic National Convention that's coming this summer. (They’re touring the United Center this morning.) During Tuesday’s meeting, the group also approved DNC Chair Jaime Harrison’s slate of nominees to the convention’s Credentials, Rules and Platform standing committees. Money talks: Chris Korge, the DNC Finance chair, announced the Biden Victory Fund raised $187 million in the first quarter — “$60 million more than any Democrat. And we’ve had some very good fundraising presidents,” he said, adding that March was the first month in which grassroots fundraising exceeded big donors. Something to brag about. RELATED Handling protesters: The Chicago City Council is expected to consider an ordinance today that would permit law enforcement officials to enforce restrictions near the United Center and McCormick Place during the convention.
| | | THE BUZZ | | |  Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, left, joined Gov. JB Pritzker and Penny Pritzker, U.S. special representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery, in Chicago on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | UKRAINIAN PM IN CHICAGO: Gov. JB Pritzker and his sister, Penny Pritzker, the special envoy for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery, rolled out the red carpet for Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Tuesday. A day in Chicago: Shmyhal visited with Illinois business leaders in the morning, headlined press events with the Pritzkers in the afternoon, spent time with Mayor Brandon Johnson and spoke to a crowd at the University of Chicago in the evening. A pic! Shmyhal's message was simple: Ukraine needs American military investments to push back against Vladimir Putin’s army, and it needs business investments to prevent Russia from paralyzing the country. “We need to recover our economy,” Shmyhal told reporters. It’s personal for the Pritzkers. Their great grandfather, Nicholas Pritzker, fled Kyiv 140 years ago to escape Jewish persecution and eventually made a home in Chicago. During his comments, the governor praised President Joe Biden, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and “the vast majority” of Illinois’ congressional delegation that supports aid to Ukraine. But he took aim at Republicans in Washington who “lack the courage and moral fortitude to stand up for our allies in Ukraine/ … It’s time for the American people to speak up and tell Congress to reaffirm our nation’s support.” Penny Pritzker said she remains hopeful Congress will come through with an aid package. And she's spent plenty of time talking to members of Congress about supporting Ukraine. Those talks often start with her sharing her family’s story, but she also addresses the cost of delaying aid to Ukraine. “If we were supplying air defense and missiles to allow Ukraine to defend itself, then there wouldn’t be a destruction of the energy infrastructure within the country,” she said. “It makes no sense for us to allow for the destruction and then spend the next day trying to figure out how we’re going to get new energy capability to the country.” If you are Chris Korge, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Capture Jobs Now: A coalition of business, labor and agriculture groups have united behind legislation to create jobs and boost Illinois’ economy through carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. According to a study from the University of Illinois, CCS has the potential to create 14,400 jobs. CCS will help Illinois’ thriving industrial sector reduce greenhouse emissions while spurring economic development across the state. Let’s capture jobs now with CCS. | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | In City Hall at noon for the Chicago City Council meeting — At Garfield Park Fieldhouse at 6 p.m. to attend the People's Plan first quarter update.
| | | Where's Toni | | | At Stroger Hospital at 9:30 a.m. for the launch of Cook County Health’s robotic surgery program. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | | | SPOTLIGHT | | — ‘SILLY’ TALK: The Madison County Board is expected to meet today to debate a possible referendum this fall for voters to decide if Madison County should secede from the state of Illinois. Madison County Democratic Party Chair Randy Harris and Illinois Democratic County Chairs' Association Mark Guethle criticized the plan, calling it, “silly, reckless, and just plain dumb. The board should not even call this resolution for a vote,” according to a statement.
| | | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | | — Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts issues statement endorsing Eric Wallace for Cook County GOP chair, calling him an “asset to the party”: Wallace is challenging incumbent Sean Morrison for chair of the Cook County Republican Party, according to the Illinois Review. — The clerk’s race: Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison has thrown his hat in the ring to be appointed for the Cook County clerk post that was held by the late Karen Yarbrough. Morrison also wants to run for the seat in November. He worked alongside the office over the past five years, including to expand languages from four to 12 options on suburban Cook County ballots. If elected, Morrison would be the first openly LGBTQ+ individual elected to a Cook County county-wide office. — Welch’s union backers: Greg Kelley, the president of SEIU Healthcare of Illinois (and surrounding states), and James Sweeney, president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, are urging the Cook County Democratic Central Committee to appoint House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch to fill Karen Yarbrough seat as Democratic committeeperson for Proviso Township. Kelley’s letter is here. And Sweeney’s letter is here. — Leading the charge on truth in campaigns: “Denyse Wang Stoneback, a former Democrat state representative, is spearheading a movement to achieve a goal that cynics might say is more difficult than mixing oil and water. She wants to inject truth into political campaigning,” by Derrick Blakley for Center for Illinois Politics.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is issuing the office’s “first ever” Modernization and Efficiency Report detailing the office’s progress revamping programs under its umbrella. Some highlights: A “Do-it-Online” program for renewing driver's license and license plate stickers, electronic registration and title program, ‘Fast-Lane’ kiosks and Court of Claims electronic filing. Here’s a DMV kiosk that will soon be in grocery stores. The full report is here. By the numbers: With the new system, clicks for online driver’s license and ID renewals went from 36,000 a month to 93,000 a month, according to the report. — Labor fumes as Illinois looks beyond natural gas: “Unions helped Gov. J.B. Pritzker pass a sweeping climate law in 2021. Now, they accuse the Democrat of killing jobs in the rush to electrify buildings,” by POLITICO E&E’s Jeffrey Tomich. — Antisemitic acts in Illinois and nation at worst levels ever, Anti-Defamation League says, by the Sun-Times’ David Struett
| | | | A message from Capture Jobs Now:   | | | | | CHICAGO | | — IN CITY HALL: Aldermen fighting gun violence deem ShotSpotter an ‘invaluable tool’ as council to consider bucking Johnson on the technology: “Fourteen aldermen in the 17 wards with the highest gunshot victimization rates told the Tribune they want to see the police response tool remain. Those aldermen — all representing South and West side wards — view the tool as a way to get first responders to gunshot victims faster, rather than the too-costly impetus for over-policing it has been labeled by opponents,” by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan. — SCOOP: Ald. Timmy Knudsen is introducing legislation aimed at combating the recent rise in hate fliers. The ordinance imposes a fine on those who participate in distributing hate literature. — CTU seeking most ‘ambitious’ demands ever in new contract, wants bargaining done in public, by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp — New leader of Jesse Jackson’s civil rights organization steps down just months on the job, by The Associated Press’ Sophia Tareen — City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin fined $60,000 for misuse of city resources, by the Tribune’s Alice Yin
| | MIGRANT MOVES | | — New migrants get work permits. Other undocumented immigrants want them, too: “It’s offensive that my employees and other immigrants are being leapfrogged by new arrivals,” said Sam Sanchez, owner of Moe’s Cantina in Chicago and a board member with the National Restaurant Association, by The New York Times’ Miriam Jordan and Lydia DePillis. RELATED — The White House is monitoring Mayorkas impeachment — but not actively working the trial, by POLITICO’s Jennifer Haberkorn and Myah Ward
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Oberweis Dairy laying off workers after filing for bankruptcy, by the Daily Herald’s Susan Sarkauskas — Schaumburg trustees poised to adopt $341 million budget for ‘more challenging’ year ahead, by the Daily Herald’s Eric Peterson
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Lawsuit alleging rampant racism at Chicago Water Department cleared for trial, by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner
| | | | POLITICO IS BACK AT THE 2024 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO will again be your eyes and ears at the 27th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles from May 5-8 with exclusive, daily, reporting in our Global Playbook newsletter. Suzanne Lynch will be on the ground covering the biggest moments, behind-the-scenes buzz and on-stage insights from global leaders in health, finance, tech, philanthropy and beyond. Get a front-row seat to where the most interesting minds and top global leaders confront the world’s most pressing and complex challenges — subscribe today. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what high-profile trial kept you riveted: Lissa Druss: “The O.J. Simpson trial. I covered it as a TV news producer in Los Angeles.” Mariynn Miller: “The Duquesne Spy Ring, the largest espionage case in U.S. history that ended with convictions of 33 members of a Nazi German espionage network.” James Straus: “The Chicago 7, I wasn't sure of what side I was on at age 15. Somehow, I was allowed to watch. Abbie forever!” Timothy Thomas Jr.: The trial of former City Treasurer Miriam Santos. “I wrote my master’s thesis on it.” Claude Walker: The Chicago 7 trial. "What riveting characters.” Chris White: “The proceedings around protesters, including myself, arrested at the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.” NEXT QUESTION: What do you brag about?
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joined Monuments for All for a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol to continue her call for President Biden to invoke the Antiquities Act to recognize the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot as a national monument. Watch it here.
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — On Day 2, Trump met some of his jurors. His lawyers met their social media accounts, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden — Trump moves to flip the script on New York trial, by POLITICO’s Emily Ngo and Meridith McGraw — Has Biden considered having an Iran strategy, by POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi — Progressives seek to neutralize AIPAC’s spending threats, by POLITICO’s Nicholas Wu and Madison Fernandez
| | TRANSITIONS | | — ABC 7 Chicago VP of News Jennifer Graves is retiring after over 20 years in role, via ABC 7 — Dana Popish Severinghaus is partnering with Noted Advisory, a boutique consulting firm. She was director of the Illinois Department of Insurance.
| | | IN MEMORIAM | | | — Rev. Walter "Slim" Coleman, Chicago activist and community organizer, dies at 80: “Coleman's activist and organizing work in Chicago dated back to the Civil Rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s,” by CBS 2’s Adam Harrington. — Paul Colgan, a public affairs exec with Strategia Consulting, has died, according to the firm. “He was a valued member of our Strategia family and a cherished friend to many of us,” according to a statement.
| | | | A message from Capture Jobs Now: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a proven technology that can advance Illinois’ clean energy goals and spur economic development. CCS projects capture CO2 emissions at the source, and transports and stores them permanently below impermeable rock thousands of feet underground. New CCS legislation in the General Assembly would allow Illinois to deploy CCS projects at scale, creating thousands of new jobs in infrastructure construction and at operating facilities. And CCS can position Illinois’ strong manufacturing industry as a leader in decarbonization efforts nationwide. Let’s capture jobs now with CCS. | | | | | EVENTS | | — Tonight at 6 pm: NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday” host Scott Simon, a Chicago native (and Playbook reader!), will visit the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for a conversation about journalism and politics with Institute director John Shaw. Registration encouraged
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Herman Stade auctioned off his 49 acre farm on Higgins Road known as Orchard Place on July 25, 1942. The property became part of O'Hare airport, code name ORD. TODAY’s QUESTION: Where was the first home of Argonne National Laboratory (after the world’s first self-sustaining nuclear reaction)?
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Ald. Jim Gardiner, attorney and Evanston Democratic Committeeman Eamon Kelly, state Senate Dems’ adviser Jake Butcher, Bully Pulpit’s Alex Kellner, Legal scholar professor Richard Epstein, comms pro Robert Christie, Bird Rides Senior Manager of Government Partnerships Vaughn Roland, White House spokesman and assistant press secretary Jeremy Edwards and Block Club editor and reporter Mick Dumke. -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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