| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | Presented by |  | | | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. Don't forget to make a costume.
|  | TOP TALKER | | TRASH DUTY: Illinois Republicans are finding themselves in the tough spot having to criticize the racist jokes made at a rally for Donald Trump — while still defending the former president. “Blowback should go to the comedian,” GOP state Sen. Terri Bryant told the Tribune’s y Olivia Olander and Jeremy Gorner. “That’s on the comedian, not on the Trump campaign.” That’s difficult to believe knowing how choreographed such events are. It’s no wonder Senate Republican Leader John Curran and House Minority Leader Tony McCombie didn’t return requests for comment. The Illinois GOP referred Playbook to the Trump campaign’s statement that the comic's attempt at humor “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.” Even state Rep. Dan Caulkins, a member of the conservative Illinois Freedom Caucus, seemed to distance himself from the comment, telling the Tribune, he didn’t think the joke was even funny and that critics should not have taken the joke (calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage”) so literally. Not everyone’s ducking the drama: State Sen. Andrew Chesney said, “If this is the October surprise the Democrats were hoping for, they will be sorely disappointed on Nov. 5.” On the other side: Jim Durkin, the former Republican House leader, called Trump “unhinged” and “a loose cannon” who “should not be serving another term as president of the United States,” according to the Trib. (Easy to say when you're out of office.) Side note: Illinois Republicans had 52 members in the state House in 2015 when Trump first walked down that escalator announcing he’d run for president. Today, there are 40 Republicans in the House, and the party in Illinois is divided with Maga folks on one side and the rest of the Republicans on the other. RELATED Trump: 'No president's done more for Puerto Rico than I have,’ by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw Biden sparks a firestorm on the right over ‘garbage,’ by POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire Bad Bunny hits back at Trump rally comedian’s ‘garbage’ Puerto Rico comment, by POLITICO’s Emmy Martin
| | | THE BUZZ | | | BUDGET TIME: Mayor Brandon Johnson gives his budget address today to a City Council that appears divided about how he plans to address a nearly $1 billion deficit for 2025 as well as a $223 million deficit in the current year. A likely property tax hike i s already getting pushback from some City Council members. Fourteen of them have signed a letter calling, among other things, for the mayor not to institute a property tax hike. It’s a no-go: “We cannot support a budget that includes a property tax increase. Period,” their letter reads . “The recently released poll shows that 90 percent of Chicagoans oppose increasing property taxes as an action the city could take to raise revenue. … This is a non-starter for us and our constituents.” The mayor will need 26 votes to get his budget passed by Dec. 31. RELATED Johnson budget will rely on property tax increase to avoid a fight with labor, by Crain’s Justin Laurence Details surrounding a property tax hike remain to be seen, by NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern If you are John Curran, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | WHERE'S JB | | | At the 555 West Monroe state office at 10 a.m. to announce a new Help Stop Hate initiative — At University of Chicago’s David Rubenstein Forum for the Climate and Energy Institute Launch (R egister to watch)
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | In City Hall at 10 a.m. for his budget address before the City Council.
| | Where's Toni | | At the Guinness Open Gate Brewery at 5:30 p.m. to give welcoming remarks at the Federation of Women Contractors’ 35 Year Celebration Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Amazon: When Elia started at one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers she signed up for Amazon's Career Choice program, jump starting her career in robotics. “Amazon offers so many career paths to explore,” she said. More than 200,000 employees have used Amazon’s Career Choice program to unlock career growth opportunities. Find out more. | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Illinois’ 17th District congressional seat gets competitive in matchup between incumbent Eric Sorensen and Joe McGraw: It’s a race “on the edge of the battleground, and so it’s receiving national resources from both parties,” an analyst tells WBEZ’s Alex Degman. Law allows Joe McGraw to run for Congress in district he doesn’t live in, by WIFR’s Nathaniel Langley — EXPANDING ITS REACH: Gov. JB Pritzker’s Think Big America has expanded its efforts to support abortion access into eight key states ahead of the election. Think Big is now supporting abortion access ballot initiatives in Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota, according to the group. — In ‘weird’ Cook County state’s attorney’s race, O’Neill Burke — who progressives called a ‘de facto’ Republican — looking to defeat GOPer Fioretti, by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig — Kristen Chiaro challenges incumbent Mike Coffey: The 95th District covers much of Springfield and Chatham, by the Illinois Times’ Scott Reeder. — Massey shooting looms over Sangamon County election of county board seats, by the State Journal-Registers’ Steven Spearie — CPS School Board: The race in the North Side's 2nd District: “The district is perhaps the city’s most racially diverse and mixes some wealthy neighborhoods with more working class and immigrant populations,” by the Sun-Times’ Nader Issa. — CPS School Board: The race in the South Side and Southeast Side’s District 9: “A former CPS board member, a mom who fought against school closings, a self-declared independent candidate and a school psychologist vie for the seat,” by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — MADIGAN TRIAL: His longtime aide takes the stand to testify against “ultimate decision maker” in the House: “Will Cousineau told jurors that Michael Madigan and Michael McClain — on trial together for a racketeering conspiracy — would sometimes arrange to use his office to meet alone. “I think [McClain] and the speaker talked on a fairly regular basis,” he testified,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Matthew Hendrickson and WBEZ’s Dave McKinney. — Former deputy in Sonya Massey shooting moved to Macon County Jail, by the State Journal-Register’s Tom Ackerman
| | CHICAGO | | — NEW YORK TIMES’ TAKE: What happened when Chicago’s mayor followed a teachers’ union playbook: “The mayor and the teachers’ union are tightly connected. The relationship has ushered in generous spending and led to political turmoil,” by Dana Goldstein. — New Chicago education board president has history of antisemitic, pro-Hamas Facebook posts: “Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson has posted dozens of antisemitic and anti-Israel messages on Facebook since Oct. 7. This month, Chicago Major Brandon Johnson elevated him to a high-profile local position,” by Jewish Insider’s Gabby Deutch. — Hate crime charges needed after Orthodox Jewish man shot on way to synagogue, officials say: “Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi is being detained on attempted murder charges in connection with the Saturday morning shooting in West Ridge, home to the city’s largest Orthodox Jewish community,” by the Block Club’s Mack Liederman. — Calls for help go unanswered amid continued decline in Chicago police ranks: “Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's campaign promise to hire 200 more detectives has not materialized,” by WGN 9’s Ben Bradley and Andrew Schroedter. — Anjanette Young on Chicago Police reform: ‘We are still waiting for some tangible action,’ by WTTW’s Brandis Friedman and Abena Bediako
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — With eye on homeless people, Mundelein bans public camping, by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau — 2025 WATCH: Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard files reelection petitions, will face Trustee Jason House in February primary; 9 seek 3 trustee spots, by the Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan and Olivia Stevens
| | ...SWAMP THINGS... | | — Retired Illinois National Guard member pleads guilty in Jan. 6 riot: “ Joseph Bierbrodt, of Sheridan, pleaded to assaulting a police officer and civil disorder, court records show,” via the Sun-Times.
| | | TAKING NAMES | | | — SPOTTED: The Philip J. Rock Center and School held a beam signing in Glen Ellyn earlier this week. It is the only publicly funded residential school for deaf-blind students in the country, according to a spokesman. In 1988, Gov. Jim Thompson, the General Assembly and Illinois School Board renamed the facility after Senate President Philip J. Rock. Along with Rock family members Jay Rock and Colleen Rock Mueller, signing the beam were: Executive Director Bonnie Jordan, Illinois Capital Development Board Director Tamakia “TJ” Edwards, state Sen. Seth Lewis, state Reps. Terra Costa Howard and Jennifer Sanalitro , DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy, DuPage Board members Lynn LaPlante and Mary FitzGerald Ozog and Strategia Consulting Chief Public Affairs Officer Tom Cullerton, a former state senator. — Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun was honored by the YWCA Metro Chicago with its trailblazer award during the group’s recent Leader Luncheon. Also honored: Lisa Duarte, a partner at Croke, Fairchild, Duarte & Beres; Dorothy Tucker and the CBS Chicago Investigating Injustice Team; and Jennifer Scanlon, president & CEO of UL Solutions.
| | Reader Digest | | We asked when you threw caution to the wind. Cliff Dolbeare: “Just last weekend, when I decided to go back for seconds on ice cream and cookies hoping that my daughters wouldn’t see me and ask for the same.” Susan Evans: “When at 23 I traveled to Kenya alone and ended up staying with an elderly British man (in his guest house) near the beach in Mombasa. It was long before smart (or cell) phones existed. It was quite an adventure!” Mike Gascoigne: “I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, for a job at age 24 without knowing anyone there. I'm an introvert so meeting people is not my forte. But I really needed a job.” Ed Mazur: “Took the Ph.D. foreign language exams in French and German on the same day at the University of Chicago in 1971. I passed both.” Timothy Thomas: “Left corporate America to heed the call from late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington for young African American professionals to join Public Service. I've never looked back.” Next question: What political costume would you like to see knock on your door for Halloween? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | A message from Amazon: 80% of employees reported skills training is one of their top priorities according to a survey by Workplace Intelligence. That’s why Amazon has committed $1.2 billion to free technical training and prepaid tuition, so all of their employees have the opportunity to learn and earn more.
"The thing that caught my eye about Amazon was the chance for career growth,” said Elia.
See the impact. | | | | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Harris contrasts Trump’s presidency against her future one, by POLITICO’s Myah Ward and Megan Messerly — How the suburbs became Harris’ clearest path to victory, by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider — How to abolish the electoral college, by POLITICO’s Jeff Greenfield
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Lori Wilcox , a former three-term Chicago Heights city clerk and Bloom Township Democratic committeewoman, has died. A celebration of life ceremony was held over the weekend. Here’s more about her life.
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Nadine O'Leary and Donna Gutman for correctly answering that Morton is known as the pumpkin capital of the world. TODAY’s QUESTION: Where were the first two state capitals of Illinois? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | | Former Congressman Glenn Poshard and author Laurence Leamer, who was born in Chicago. -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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