| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Thursday morning, Illinois. Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks are raising eyebrows, including from the GOP, via POLITICO. Breaking overnight: U.S. House holds onto the majority, clinching the trifecta
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Gov. JB Pritzker takes questions Wednesday at the Willard Ice Building in Springfield, where he gave remarks on the building's 40th anniversary. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — Gov. JB Pritzker and fellow Democrats in the state’s General Assembly are using Project 2025 to make a checklist of sorts about the legislation they might pursue starting next year. Project 2025 looms: President-elect Donald Trump has distanced himself from the controversial policy proposals crafted by the Heritage Foundation, but Democrats across the country, including in Illinois, aren’t taking any chances. “We're looking at those things,” Pritzker told reporters at an unrelated press conference Wednesday. “It's clear that his administration is going to have the ability to make changes and proposals. And so we are just here, the state of Illinois, having to deal with whatever those changes may be.” “We're not going to assume that every bit of Project 2025 is necessarily going to be sought after by the Trump administration,” Pritzker said. But it’s no coincidence that he and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis have started the nonprofit Governors Safeguarding Democracy initiative. Hunkering down: Some Democratic lawmakers, who have a supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly, are studying Project 2025 through the lens of the election — and the message that voters are concerned about their pocketbook. “Many of us are looking at what we need to do to protect working class Illinoisans from Project 2025,” said state Sen. Robert Peters, ticking off tariffs, mass deportations and crypto corruption as issues of importance. Other 2025 proposals on Democrats’ radar include reversing the Food and Drug Administration's approval of using the abortion pill mifepristone; calling for Health and Human Services officials to state that “the ideal family” includes a married man and woman; and expelling “aliens” who come to the U.S. in “mass migrations.” CBS News has a good explainer on Project 2025 here. More from the Pritzker presser: Play it again: He reiterated he’s not thinking about a presidential run. “I mean, it's 2024, I still have two years left to serve in the term that I'm in as governor. As you all have heard me say time and time again, I love this job, and there's an awful lot about it that I believe I can do to protect people from the problems that seem to want to come from Washington, D.C., over the next two years. So, I'm looking forward to doing that.” On party politics: Pritzker said he's keeping tabs on who might take over as chair of the Democratic National Committee. The governor said he couldn’t name any one candidate he likes more than another. There are “four or five” who could step up, he said. “I like all of the names that I've heard, so I'm not going to make a decision about that now about who I might support. Also in Springfield … Unions rallied at the Capitol, urging lawmakers to change the state’s tiered pension system: “Public sector unions argue that Illinois is in danger of breaching a ‘safe harbor’ provision triggered if benefits fall below what Social Security would pay,” by WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky. Pritzker says it needs to be dealt with: “It’s not something that needs to get done exactly in the next session, but it’s clear it needs to be dealt with because otherwise you create a whole other liability for the state,” Pritzker said, via the Center Square’s Greg Bishop. How convenient: Lawmakers didn’t convene at the Capitol on Wednesday until 1 p.m., after the union protest.
| | THE BUZZ | | SPEAKING OF THE DNC: Rahm Emanuel is getting batted about as someone who could take over the Democratic National Committee or run for another office — though he's not saying he's interested. Name dropped: “It’s unclear what office Emanuel could run for — Illinois governor should JB Pritzker not seek a third term, DNC chair or president would each have their appeal — but his message for Democrats is unmistakable,” writes POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin. “Identity politics did not work electorally and it failed miserably strategically,” Emanuel said in a sweeping piece titled: Democrats wonder: Are we too correct? “For now,” the former Chicago mayor and ambassador to Japan, told your Playbook host, “I’m focused on finishing my job here as I’m supposed to. Thinking about what’s next. Listening to folks.” If you are Jared Polis, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | In Alton at 4 p.m. to tour the Wedge Innovation Center
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At 4624 West Madison Street at 10 a.m. to attend the Malcolm X College west campus expansion groundbreaking — At City Hall at 2 p.m. to preside over a special meeting of the City Council
| | | Where's Toni | | | At the UIC Forum at 5:45 p.m. to provide welcome remarks at the Chicago Innovation Awards Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | | The lame duck session could reshape major policies before year's end. Get Inside Congress delivered daily to follow the final sprint of dealmaking on defense funding, AI regulation and disaster aid. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — MADIGAN TRIAL | Defense hammers star Madigan witness on gun form gaffe, divorce, memory, motive: 'Did you really believe that?' “Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and an ally are on trial for a racketeering conspiracy. Madigan is accused of leading a criminal enterprise designed to enhance his political power and enrich his allies,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Matthew Hendrickson and WBEZ’s Dave McKinney. — Carbondale faces legal battle over protest restrictions outside abortion clinics: “Pro-life group challenges city’s now-repealed ‘buffer zone’ law, potentially reshaping protest laws nationwide,” by Carly Gist and The Saluki Local Reporting Lab. — Intersect Illinois says new corporate projects rose 15 percent last year, by Crain’s John Pletz — Plan to ban carbon injections near aquifers stalls in Senate, by Capitol News’ Ben Szalinski — Black Caucus raises alarm: The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus issued a statement in response to recent racist text messages targeting Black Americans in Illinois. “These messages, part of a disturbing and growing nationwide trend, are a direct attack on the dignity and humanity of Black people and all marginalized communities. … We are particularly concerned about the impact on young people.” The caucus urged those who have received the racist text messages to call the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
| | ELECTION FALLOUT | | — Trump makes gains among Chicago Latino voters unsatisfied with Democrats: “Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris won the vast majority of Latino precincts in Chicago, but her margins were often smaller than Joe Biden’s in 2020. Residents say it came down to the economy,” by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout and Emmanuel Camarillo.
| | CHICAGO | | — Aldermen struggle with Johnson’s ‘rudderless’ lobbying office amid budget negotiations: “The whole entire process has been dysfunctional,” said Ald. Matt O’Shea. “I don’t care what neighborhood you’re in or what member of City Council you’re talking to, everybody — I mean, everybody — is angry and frustrated with the situation we’re in. … And to hear yesterday that there’s been great collaboration is insulting.” The Tribune’s Alice Yin and Jake Sheridan report. — Illinois AG Raoul warns Mayor Johnson to reconsider police reform budget cuts or risk being held in contempt, by the Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba and Fran Spielman — Will Chicago arts see a boost next year from City Hall? Numbers tell mixed story, by WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers — Navy Pier Marina: How Chicago politics delayed construction for 8 years, 3 mayors: “Eight years ago, Randy Podolsky thought it would be smooth sailing for his plan for a 150-boat transient marina next to Navy Pier. Then Chicago politics got in the way,” by WGN’s Ben Bradley. — Durbin, Duckworth, House Democrats demand feds fix Legionella problem at Loop buildings, by the Sun-Times’ Brett Chase — City commission approves $98 million in TIF funds for massive LaSalle Street renovation, by the Tribune’s Brian J. Rogal — POT POURI: Watch for Ald. William Hall (6th) to introduce a draft hemp ordinance designed to prevent hemp products from getting into the hands of minors.
| | TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES | | — CTA Board approves last budget boosted by pandemic-era stimulus, pushes Dorval Carter for more transparency and collaboration, by WTTW’s Nick Blumberg — Google paying to move CTA Clark/Lake entrance in Thompson Center to Clark Street, by the Sun-Times’ David Struett — 40 percent drop in Metra trains could come in 2027, executive director warns, by the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke — Fun Take: The first run from Chicato to Miami: The Sun-Times’ Ellery Jones and Pat Nabong rode the very first run of Amtrak's Floridian train from Chicago to Miami, via X.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Maywood Park District employees working without pay as district faces financial cliff, by the Tribune’s Caroline Kubzansky — Clerk Nyota Figgs challenges Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones’ filing for reelection, by the Tribune’s Olivia Stevens — Glen Ellyn Village Board appoints acting president after former president steps down over loss of key reelection endorsement, by Bob Goldsborough for the Tribune
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Robert Jones plans to step down as University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign chancellor and vice president of the University of Illinois System at the end of the current academic year, according to the university. Jones has led the flagship public university for nine years. — In D.C.: Ameya Pawar, CEO of the Michael Reese Health Trust, and Blair Harvey, the group’s chief program officer, were in D.C. on Wednesday for the Grantmakers in Health Policy Exchange. The foundation, which focuses on health equity, recently invested in Illinois’ medical debt relief initiative. They met with Michael Negron , special assistant to President Joe Biden and a former City of Chicago exec who oversees the Biden strategy on medical debt. The goal: Pawar and Harvey discussed how the foundation can tap its advocacy capacity to shape policy on medical debt.
| | | Reader Digest | | | We asked what you wrote to your legislator. Mike Gascoigne: “I wrote state Sen. Doris Turner to see if we could change the state Columbus Day holiday to Indigenous People's Day. I know that is a touchy subject with some people, but I think it is the just thing to do.” Ed Mazur : “In 1980, I wrote to state Rep. Woods Bowman regarding the Illinois House of Representatives’ Cutback Amendment.” Timothy Thomas: “As a teen, I wrote to the late Rep. Ethel Skyles Alexander to apply for an Illinois General Assembly Scholarship, which she awarded — an act that jump-started my interest in government and politics.” Chris White : “A state rep was very helpful in reaching out to a health system that had denied Paxlovid to my son when he had Covid and significant risk factors.” Next question: Who should take over the Democratic National Committee? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Trump’s first-term errors could make or break his foreign policy agenda, by POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi — ‘Left turn and off the bridge’: Trump’s spy pick stuns intel world, by POLITICO’s John Sakellariadis — Gaetz resigns from Congress — possibly skirting long-awaited Ethics report, by POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers and Jordain Carney — Johnson clinches GOP speaker nomination — but the real test looms in January, by POLITICO’s Olivia Beavers and Jordain Carney
| | | | Policy change is coming—be the pro who saw it first. Access POLITICO Pro’s Issue Analysis series on what the transition means for agriculture, defense, health care, tech, and more. Strengthen your strategy. | | | | | | | TRANSITIONS | | — Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is now a senior partner at Chicago-based Vistria Group. He has been with the firm since January, based in Cambridge, Mass. — Dr. Michelle DallaPiazza has been named the new medical director of Howard Brown Health’s transgender and gender non-binary care efforts. DallaPiazza has been an associate professor with Rutgers Health’s Medicine, Infectious Disease and Director, Transgender Health Program.
| | EVENTS | | — Save the dates: Rainbow PUSH Coalition will be celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 20, coincidentally the same day as the presidential inauguration, with Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. as the host. The theme is “The Journey of Hope and Healing.” A day of service and learning is planned for Jan. 18. Details here: https://pushexcel.org
| | TRIVIA | | WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Clem Balanoff for correctly answering that Mathias “Paddy” Bauler, an alderman from 1947 to 1967 took the Irish nickname when he earlier was a boxer. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who’s the Chicago baseball star who ran for 8th Ward alderman? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Obama Presidential Center President Valerie Jarrett , Elk Grove Township Democratic Committeeman Ted Mason and lobbyist and former Chicago alderman Gene Schulter. -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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