| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. Readers’ views run the gamut on whether they’d pardon their children, in Reader Digest.
|  Ambassador Rahm Emanuel speaks to Chicagoans at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | Rahm Emanuel took center stage in Chicago Tuesday night, extolling America’s role on the world stage — and sounding like a man who isn’t finished with public life. “Around the world, people bet long on America,” the U.S. ambassador to Japan said in a speech at the Council of Global Affairs Leadership Awards dinner at the Ritz-Carlton. Emanuel was an honoree. Coming home: Emanuel, the former two-term mayor, said he’ll be returning to Chicago in six weeks after spending the past three and a half years overseas. His next move: Emanuel declined to share plans with Playbook. Might he run for chair of the Democratic National Committee? He wouldn’t say. Asked by NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern about a possible Senate run, Emanuel wouldn’t answer that either. And the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman wondered about a possible run for governor. Emanuel said he supports Gov. JB Pritzker “100 percent,” adding, “When he makes his decision, I will make mine, and I will support my governor and his desire for reelection. My assumption is he’s running for reelection.” In front of the crowd, Chicago’s former mayor didn’t talk politics, focusing instead on the world view of the United States. “Being away from America, you learn a lot. You get a perspective — the good, the bad and the ugly. Having been away, there's a lot of strengths that America has that sometimes we don't see. We give lip service to having an entrepreneurial economy. But the ecosystem that we have around our entrepreneurial society is unique and distinct. It doesn't exist anywhere else.” On world opinion: “I'm not worried about America's place in the world because around the world people bet long on America. ... They will sign up for alliances and partnerships with this country because for all our flaws — and we're not perfect — we are a better bet than Russia, China, Iran or Venezuela.” On China: “Every time we invest in our alliances and every time we invest in our allies, our deterrence grows stronger. China is a country that is isolated and isolates itself. The worst day they have is when they see what we're building with other countries in the region who want to be part of America.” Emanuel was interrupted throughout by applause from the crowd of longtime supporters and former City Hall staffers including Steven Koch, who served as deputy mayor; Joe Deal, who was deputy mayor; and top aides and political advisers Lisa Schrader, Mike Rendina, Sarah Hamilton, Matt Hynes, Michael Ruemmler and Becky Carroll. Also honored at the event were United Airlines’ Brett Hart and trial lawyer Shoba Pillay. GCM Grosvenor CEO Michael Sacks got the biggest laugh introducing Emanuel, his close friend, saying, “I’m not entirely sure how to introduce Rahm, because in Japan, Rahm would be ‘his excellency,’ which he likes in this room. To most of you, he is ‘hizzoner’ or ‘da mayor.” Also In the crowd: Council on Global Affairs President Ivo Daalder, UL Solutions CEO Jennifer Scanlon, William Blair Chairman Emeritus John Ettelson, former U.S. Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin, First Assistant State’s Attorney Anna Demacopoulos, attorney Craig Martin, businessman Thomas Meagher Jr., consultant Joyce Winnecke and businessman George Houlihan, former Cinespace CEO Alex Pissios, Executive Club CEO Margaret Mueller, Better Government Association CEO David Greising, Big Shoulders Fund CEO Josh Hale and journalist Virginia Groark, Resolute’s Adam Gypalo, U. of C. oncologist Olufunmilayo Olopade, businesswoman Cherilyn Murer, civic leader Maria Wynne, Really American founder Justin Horwitz, Wakaru Communicaton’s Cécile Shea and entrepreneur Matt Moog. Elected folks included Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, 43rd Ward Democratic Committeeperson Lucy Moog and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who was spotted in an animated conversation with Emanuel ahead of the program. RELATED OPINION: Can Rahm Emanuel flip the script again? “The progressive left despises his pragmatism and liberal centrism. He has a reputation for abrasiveness. … But he also has a gift for constructing winning coalitions with difficult, unexpected partners,” by Bret Stephens in The New York Times. It’s the Corruption, Stupid, Emanuel Q&A with Ezra Klein in The New York Times
|  | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | At Oakton College at 11 a.m. with Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita for the inaugural Cook County Language Access Summit
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | | REGISTER NOW: As the 118th Congress ends, major decisions loom, including healthcare appropriations. Key focus: site neutrality. Can aligning hospital and clinic costs cut federal spending, reflect physician costs, and lower patient expenses? Join policymakers and providers to discuss. | | | | | | | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — In an autopsy on Kamala Harris’s campaign, statistician Nate Silver says Quentin Fulks, the principal deputy campaign manager of the Kamala Harris campaign and a former Illinois campaigner, showed “more self-awareness than the other staffers [who] pretty clearly live within a bubble. They don't seem to understand how Harris’s brand came across to the general public or what arguments were plausibly likely to persuade swing voters,” via Substack. — Chicago election officials want more voting sites, council members float agency consolidation, by WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Madigan Trial | Danny Solis leaves witness stand in Madigan's trial, 8 years after becoming FBI mole, by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Matthew Hendrickson and WBEZ’s Dave McKinney — Hey Jane is expanding abortion access through Planned Parenthood of Illinois partnership, Medicaid services: “The telemedicine abortion provider is bolstering its presence in the state because clinics have become strained with patients traveling from across the country for care,” by the Sun-Times’ Kaitlin Washburn. — Illinois has put an end to the ‘injustice of cash bail’: “Amid a national backlash against criminal justice reform, Illinois has achieved something extraordinary. It’s working better than anyone expected,” by Bryce Covert for The Nation.
| | | CHICAGO | | | — Chicago is closing its biggest tent city, but comes up short on promised apartments: “The tent dwellers left out include a couple recovering from addiction and seeking work. Reporter Chip Mitchell shadowed them,” by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell. — Mayor Brandon Johnson tells City Club he wants Chicago under 500 homicides in 2025, by the Tribune’s Alice Yin — Aldermen blast mayor’s handling of staff abuse allegations: “Practically speaking,” the mayor should have known about the troubling allegations sooner, Ald. Scott Waguespack said, via the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan and Alice Yin. — SEIU threatens lawsuit over CTU contract negotiations with CPS, by the Tribune’s Nell Salzman, Talia Soglin and Gregory Royal Pratt — City Clerk Anna Valencia’s office is launching the CityKey online platform, which means you can now apply online and receive your free CityKey ID through the mail. Details here
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Ducks to water: At the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners’ swearing in ceremony Tuesday, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch introduced Board President Kari Steele and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias introduced newly elected Commissioner Precious Brady Davis. Also sworn in were Marcelino Garcia and Sharon Waller. In the crowd: former Secretary of State Jesse White, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison and Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos. — Cook County is launching a free doula program for pregnant patients: “The county’s move comes as deaths among pregnant women — while rare — have increased across Illinois,” by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch. — Palatine passes local grocery tax, 2025 budget, by the Daily Herald’s Steve Zalusky — Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard, who’s also the mayor of Dolton, loses her bid for re-election: “State Sen. Napoleon Harris was selected as the party’s nominee for supervisor,” by Fox 32’s Nate Rodgers. — Elk Grove Village trustee race could be uncontested if candidate is tossed from ballot, by the Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | — Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin was unanimously re-elected as the Senate’s second-highest ranking Democrat, the Senate Democratic Whip. In a statement, Durbin said, “The Nov. 5 election showed that our nation remains divided, and we face many challenges ahead. I look forward to continuing to serve my caucus and the American people in this role.” — Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced “a new privileged resolution to force a vote by the full House of Representatives within two legislative days to require the House Ethics Committee to release its report into allegations of serious misconduct by former Congressman Matt Gaetz,” according to Casten’s team.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton was elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, a Democrat from Edwardsville, was elected vice chair of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact at the group’s recent annual meeting. — Chance the Rapper wins nearly $140K for Chicago charity on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, by WGN 9’s Alonzo Small
| | | | Billions in spending. Critical foreign aid. Immigration reform. The final weeks of 2024 could bring major policy changes. Inside Congress provides daily insights into how Congressional leaders are navigating these high-stakes issues. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked whether you’d pardon your child if you were president. James Cappleman, the former alderman: “I would pardon my son or daughter if the incoming elected leader swore he was out to get me and my family.” Janice Anderson: “Simply pardoning someone does not genuinely assist in their growth or rehabilitation. A tough love approach is much more effective in helping someone, regardless of who they are.” Denise Barreto: "Given the way justice is delivered in this country historically to Black people, I absolutely would pardon my derelict adult offspring." Brian Caminer: “If there was remorse, absolutely.” Alexander Domanskis: “I would not pardon them. It would take away the strong stance of integrity and the rule of law.” Rev. Dr. William Crowder Jr.: “Yes, I would pardon my son or my daughter, if I were not the author of the 1994 crime bill!” Dave Dahl: “I told them early on we would not bail them out.” Mike Gascoigne: “I would pardon my child in an instant and without hesitation.” Miracle Jenkins: “No. You cannot use your wealth and power to bail your kids out of trouble without deeply upsetting working-class voters.” Shawn Kasserman: “My love of my children would play a huge role, I would issue the pardon.” Jim Lyons: “Yes, unless they murdered or raped someone.” Michael Novak: “Every individual, regardless of their relationship to me, should face the consequences of their actions.” Donovan Pepper: “Yes, I would pardon my sons, but only if the circumstances were similar to Hunter Biden’s!” Tom Schlenhardt: “No. That would just enable them further.” Warren Silver: “If my son was the declared target of my successor, you bet I'd pardon my son.” Bill Utter: “As the first Mayor Richard Daley once said: ‘If a man can’t put his arms around his sons and help them, then what’s the world coming to?’” Patricia Ann Watson: “Pardon only if my son accepted accountability, was genuinely remorseful, successfully in or working out rehabilitation/treatment, and no victim(s).” Next question: What world issue do you follow closely? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Tom Vilsack on Democrats’ rural woes: ‘You gotta be selling a vision,’ by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin — Trump considers DeSantis for Defense secretary as Hegseth appears to falter, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout, Meridith McGraw and Kimberly Leonard — Trump cites Hunter Biden pardon in latest bid to wipe out his hush money conviction, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden — Korea’s Yoon, backpedaling, promises to lift martial law, by POLITICO’s Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Amanda Sands and Jessica Genova have launched Sands Genova Strategic, a political consulting firm focused on campaigns, state parties, labor organizations and general consulting work. Genova previously held positions with the Illinois Democratic Party, and Sands has managed political campaigns across the country. — Amanda Agosti, the chief program officer at City Club of Chicago, is leaving the organization. It was announced at Tuesday’s luncheon.
| | | TRIVIA | | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mary Kay Minaghan for correctly answering that Judson Miner was the Chicago corporation counsel who later helped start the law firm that would later hire Barack Obama. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who’s the former WCIA reporter and University of Illinois Springfield alum who worked in the George W. Bush administration? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Chicago commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Rachel Arfa, first assistant Board of Review Commissioner Dan Balanoff, political pollster and consultant Rod McCulloch, BDO Senior Employment Counsel Sarah Schanz, Lawrence Hall CEO Kara Teeple and restaurateur Alpana Singh. -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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