| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Tuesday, Illinois. Something tells me the next four years are going to be wild.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | | 
Tom Homan, right, poses for selfies at a Chicago Republican event on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | MAKING A SPLASH: Tom Homan took the stage in Chicago on Monday to George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone.” The incoming “border czar” then crassly attacked Illinois Democratic leaders on immigration. And as he made his exit, Homan posed for selfies and took a slug from a bottle of beer. Stirring the pot: “Chicago is in trouble because your mayor sucks and your governor sucks,” Homan said on stage for a Chicago GOP event. He was referring to Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson — both of whom have spoken out against Presidenet-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans. On immigration, Homan said he would “welcome” Illinois Democratic leaders to “come to the table. … Help us protect you,” he said. “Please. But if you don't, get the hell out of the way.” The crowd ate it up: The holiday event was organized by Chicago’s Northside Republicans and the Law & Order PAC and held at Biagio Events space in the city. Pritzker gives an eye-roll: “It’s no secret that Illinois will face countless, baseless attacks over the next four years from the Trump Administration,” Matt Hill, the governor’s spokesman, said in a statement. “Rather than responding to every ridiculous boast from Trump lackeys, Gov. Pritzker is focused on what he was focused on during the first Trump term: leading our state with competence instead of chaos.” More from POLITICO's home page: Homan says children born in the U.S. to non-citizens would be part of the deportation effort Giving the brushoff: Though Homan took time earlier in the day to visit Chicago pastors, he didn’t make the first move to call the governor or mayor. “They need to reach out to me,” Homan told your Playbook host. The Illinois Democratic leaders need to “come to the table” the way New York Mayor Eric Adams did to talk about how to work with ICE, Homan said. Some background: Pritzker and Johnson have condemned plans for mass deportations. The Illinois Trust Act and the Chicago welcoming city ordinance prevent local law enforcement from taking part in immigration and customs enforcement, and state lawmakers are looking at other ways to make sure state law can’t be circumvented. On Illinois’ rules about working with ICE: “Change the law,” Homan told your Playbook host. The mayor’s hopes Trump takes advantage of the power he has to “actually pass substantive immigration reform policy,” Johnson said at an unrelated event earlier in the day. Chicago Alderman Nicholas Sposato, one of the very few Trump supporters on the 50-member City Council, said he liked what he heard from Homan and doesn’t believe Illinois or Chicago sanctuary city status should prevent ICE from coming to town. “It means law enforcement just has to stay out of the way,” Sposato said. Also in the room: Dr. Dave Nayak, a Democrat-turned-Republican who introduced Homan, Ald. Raymond Lopez, Commissioner Sean Morrison, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, pollster Matt Podgorski, former state’s attorney candidate Bob Fioretti, political consultant Shando Valdez and retired Chicago Police Sergeant and former political candidate John Garrido.
| | THE BUZZ | | STAFFING DRAMAS: Mayor Brandon Johnson says top adviser Jason Lee voting in Texas is ‘personal matter’: “Records obtained by the Tribune show Lee’s voter registration address was listed in Houston, and one document indicates he told Texas election officials he lived there. Lee has also served as Johnson’s senior adviser since the mayoral transition in May 2023 and signed an affidavit that month attesting that Chicago is his permanent home,” by the Tribune’s Alice Yin. Question: Can a city employee vote in another state? by NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern Mayor’s chief of staff says ‘peace circle’ plan was for other problems that a former top staffer faced: “Cristina Pacione-Zayas made the comments in an interview with WBEZ amid fallout over allegations of misogyny against former communications director Ronnie Reese,” by WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg. — The City Council Women’s Caucus has released a statement about workplace harassment in the mayor’s office: “While we recognize City government and citywide policies have been updated in recent years to address this problem, those policies are only so good as they are actually being implemented.” Full statement is here. If you are Jason Lee, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | On the CTA Pink Line at 3:10 p.m. to mark the holiday season on the CTA’s Holiday Train
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events
| | 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. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — MADIGAN TRIAL: Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski testifies about influence of Madigan during Pritzker ascension: “The congresswoman was an aide to Gov. JB Pritzker when then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan allegedly agreed to help Danny Solis land a paid seat on a government board.” The nickname they gave Madigan was the “sphinx,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel. — Brace for a nationwide shuffle of corporate headquarters: “A wave of company relocations is coming, and cities are lining up to lure them with tax breaks and moving incentives. But does landing a big HQ still matter?” by Bloomberg’s Patrick Sisson. — Illinois better prepared for possible recession than it was in 2007 or 2020, study shows, by the Tribune’s Robert Channick — Wetlands save the Midwest billions in flood damage costs, study shows, but they’re disappearing, by the Tribune’s Adriana Pérez — Civil rights groups urge state lawmakers to pass measure amid recent rise in hate crime, by WGN 9’s Judy Wang, Marisa Rodriguez, Sean Lewis — The electoral vote: Gov. JB Pritzker and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias have signed the official documents certifying Illinois’ slate of electors who will vote for president and vice president. Pic!
| | CHICAGO | | — Cloud computing tax threatens Chicago’s Silicon Valley ambitions: “Mayor wants to boost unusual levy to bridge a budget shortfall. Lofty Ventures says tax will hurt ‘entire tech community here,’” by Bloomberg’s Miranda Davis, Shruti Singh and Isis Almeida. — Rogers Park men’s homeless shelter opens on Clark Street: “North Side Housing and Supportive Services, which has operated a men’s shelter on the North Side since 1984, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the mayor on hand,” by the Block Club’s Madison Savedra — How city politics has led to a housing shortage: A multistep zoning process and aldermanic prerogative are to blame, by Leigh Giangreco for Chicago magazine. — The Michelin stars are out: “Cariño, a Mexican and wider Latin American-inspired concept in Uptown by chef Norman Fenton, is the latest Chicago restaurant to gain a Michelin star,” by Crain’s Brandon Dupré.
| | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | | — Arlington Heights board inks deal to lower Bears’ tax bill until stadium construction begins: “The 8-0 vote of the mayor and trustees is the first step in the approval process for the 12-page memorandum of understanding, which would lower the Bears’ tax bill at the 326-acre Arlington Park property at least through 2027,” by the Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek. — Becoming Clark Griswold is holiday magic for ‘Christmas Vacation’ superfan, by the Tribune’s Peter Breen
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) has been named co-chair of the Steering & Policy Committee for the 119th Congress, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced. — Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie has been in Israel as part of the State of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Midwest Delegation information trip. McCombie is refiling a resolution in the next General Assembly in remembrance of Oct. 7. — Kimberly Duchossois has donated $2 million to The HAP Foundation for Palliative Care Education. Duchossois is a member of the family that had stakes in in Arlington Park and Churchill Downs.
| | | SPOTTED | | | — The big 5-0: Chicago Ald. Nicole Lee held a 50th birthday fundraiser at the Morgan Arts Complex in the Bridgeport neighborhood of her 11th Ward. Celebrating with Lee: Fellow Alds. Peter Chico, Stephanie Coleman, Pat Dowell, Jason Ervin, Bennett Lawson, Greg Mitchell, David Moore, Julia Ramirez, Monique Scott, Nick Sposato, Andre Vasquez and Desmon Yancey, and state Rep. Theresa Mah, Treasurer Melissa Conyears Ervin, former Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza, CFL Secretary-Treasurer Don Villar, recently elected Board of Education member to-be Yesenia Lopez and Dan Lynch of United Airlines, where Lee previously worked. — Holiday cheer: the APS and Associates holiday party at avec on Monday drew a crowd, including Alds. Walter Burnett, Jr., William Hall, David Moore and Desmon Yancy, County Commissioner Bill Lowry, Mayoral Senior Adviser Jason Lee, former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, World Business Chicago CEO Charles Smith, Midwest Broadcasting/WVON CEO Melody Spann-Cooper, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry CEO Chevy Humphrey, Avoq’s Eric Sedler and Obama Foundation Government Affairs exec Josh Harris.
| | | | 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 who you’d add to Mount Rushmore. Mark Batinick, the former state legislator: “Benjamin Franklin, known as the ‘First American.’ His journey from an indentured servant to a figure of immense wealth and influence embodies the American dream. Franklin's contributions to science, philanthropy, literature, civic life and politics represent a legacy of achievement the world may never see again.” Cameron Findlay: “Take back Theodore Roosevelt's spot (He was always an odd choice.) and add the two true colossi of the 20th Century:, Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt.” Rick Garcia: “Susan B. Anthony or, to keep with the theme, Barack Obama.” Lucas Hawley: “Eisenhower, he was America at its best when the world and country always needed a person of Character and leadership.” Carlton Hull: “Barack Obama.” Charles Keller: “Donald J Trump, if he doesn't do it himself first.” Kevin Lampe: “Rosa Parks.” Marilynn Miller: “Who else but Obama?” Michael J. Novak: “Crazy Horse or Sitting Bull. It would be a powerful symbol of recognizing Native American history and contributions.” Scott Simon: “Harriet Tubman.” John Straus: “Barack Obama.” Next question: What’s your take on cursing in public? Email skapos@politico.com
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — Congressman Jonathan Jackson criticized the acquittal of Daniel Penny, who faced charges related to the death of Jordan Neely, a young Black man experiencing a mental health crisis on a New York City subway. “The outcome of this trial forces us to confront troubling questions about the society we are becoming. Is this who we are? Are we willing to accept a new normal where vigilantes feel entitled to take justice into their own hands, especially when it comes to Black lives?”
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — What to know about arrest of suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO, by The Associated Press — Chicago grand jury charges Syrian intelligence officials with war crimes, by the Tribune’s Caroline Kubzansky — This Vietnamese American candidate just blew up the Democratic campaign playbook, by POLITICO’s Melanie Mason
| | EVENTS | | — Wednesday: “The Next Frontier: Advancing the Green Economy” is the subject of a City Club discussion with Elevate’s Anne Evens, Eco Solutions Enterprise’s Senyo Ador, Evergreen Climate Solutions’ Michelle Carr and North Lawndale Employment Network’s Brenda Palms. Moderator: Andy Beideman of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation. Details here
| | TRIVIA | | MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Richard J. Greenfield for correctly answering that the Joffrey Ballet was the first dance company to perform at the White House. TODAY’s QUESTION: What Illinois university left the Big 10 Conference? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, Chicago Ald. Felix Cardona Jr., former state Sen. Jacqueline “Jacqui” Collins, Feminist Midwife LLC founder and writer Stephanie Tillman, entrepreneur Valerie Beck, MVF Global VP of Sales Jason Anciulis, Lakeside Cemetery Association’s (and former Sen. Mark Kirk aide) Ed Kelly and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. -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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