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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Monday, Illinois. A Musk v. Zuckerberg cage match? We can’t wait.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | |  Then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, at podium; Congressman Mike Bost, to his right, and fellow Republicans at a news conference in 2021. | AP Photo by Scott Applewhite | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is coming to Illinois in 10 days to headline a fundraiser for incumbent Congressman Mike Bost, who’s facing a competitive primary in the 12th District with former gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey. Establishment support: McCarthy and the National Republican Congressional Committee, which he controls, see Bost as an ally and want to protect his incumbency. Bost is a five-term lawmaker who also chairs the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Bost’s challenge is keeping hold of the GOP evangelical base that has supported him in years’ past. This election is different because Bailey has already shown he also has a firm grip of conservative Republicans. The Trump factor: Both Bailey and Bost would like an endorsement from the former president, who we expect is too preoccupied these days to make one. So Bost and Bailey try to show their support. Bost’s campaign page features previous quotes from Trump praising the Illinois congressman. And Bailey had a front-row seat at a Trump fundraiser earlier in the summer. Check out The Buzz. Awkward scheduling: McCarthy will be in O’Fallon on Aug. 17 for Bost’s luncheon fundraiser. That’s the same day as Republican Day at the State Fair when all the big GOP names show a united front to kick off the campaign season. It wasn’t ideal, but “with multiple schedules, we had to work with the day that aligned” with everyone, Bost’s spokesman Myles Nelson told Playbook. Fundraising details here RELATED The swamp meets Will County: Before he was elected to the Will County Board, Republican Daniel Butler attended then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally. His election is a signal of the deep divide within the Republican Party, reports Tribune’s Rick Pearson. Butler's victory is otherwise an anomaly in Will County, which is trending Democratic. “I see nothing happening that’s going to stop that,” said Roger Claar, the former longtime mayor of Bolingbrook, who previously sat on the Illinois Republican State Central Committee. Jim Durkin agrees: “There’s some pretty high-spirited Republicans in Will County that trend extremely conservative, but it doesn’t match up and it doesn’t play in a general election,” the former Illinois House GOP leader said.
| | | THE BUZZ | | | Hello, Lori Lightfoot: The former mayor sat down for a beer and a one-on-one with WGN 9 political analyst Paul Lisnek. Lightfoot isn’t letting on what she’ll do after her stint at Harvard, but she knows it won’t be a job in the Biden administration. “I have no intention to leave Chicago. My daughter's a rising sophomore in high school, and I want to make sure that I am here and present for her,” she said. More take-aways: Lightfoot has talked to former Mayor Richard M. Daley about how to navigate life as a “former mayor.” … She hopes the Bears stay in Chicago, and if they were to leave, she doesn’t know if she’d give up her season tickets…. Crime is a court issue, she said…. And regarding the 2024 election, Lightfoot expects the economy and abortion rights to be the main drivers. “If women don't have bodily autonomy, you stop our ability to participate in the economy.… I think that [issue] is a way to bring younger voters to the polls,” she said. Are you an ultimate Springsteen fan? Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com.
| | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events.
| | Where's Toni | | In Champaign at 2:30 p.m. for the 2023 Edgar Fellows Program. Call it an aspirational ask: Send me a line: skapos@politico.com
| | | | A NEW PODCAST FROM POLITICO: Our new POLITICO Tech podcast is your daily download on the disruption that technology is bringing to politics and policy around the world. From AI and the metaverse to disinformation and cybersecurity, POLITICO Tech explores how today’s technology is shaping our world — and driving the policy decisions, innovations and industries that will matter tomorrow. SUBSCRIBE AND START LISTENING TODAY. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — Midwest emerges as a return-to-office champ, soundly beating the Northeast: “The region's offices were twice as full as the Northeast, according to new research. Shorter commutes (are) likely boosting visits,” by Bloomberg’s Matthew Boyle. — Pritzker signs bills honoring ancestry of Native Americans in Illinois: “A new law calls on the Illinois State Museum and federally recognized tribes to help return the Native remains and artifacts for proper burial. The law will also allow the state to create a cemetery for remains that are unable to be identified,” by WAND’s Mike Miletich. — The governor also signed into law: A bill that allows masters in social work candidates to count experience instead of just test scores to earn a degree. The bill’s chief senate sponsor was state Sen. Karina Villa, a licensed school social worker. — Also, there's a new law to strengthen protections for temp workers, by Tribune’s Talia Soglin and Laura Rodriguez Presa — And a new transit law includes reduced fares, requires zero-emission buses, by NBC 5’s James Neveau — State watchdog investigating employees accused of bilking federal pandemic aid program, reports Capitol News’ Molly Parker — Illinois leads the nation in number of tornadoes, by Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin — Monthly Covid deaths at an all-time low in Illinois, reports Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin But, but, but: There’s a Covid uptick, and a new vaccine is coming in the fall, by WTTW’s Eunice Alpasan
| | CORRUPTION CHRONICLES | | — Former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes heading to trial on charges he lied to federal grand jury investigating his boss: “According to prosecutors, Mapes lied repeatedly in his March 31, 2021, grand jury testimony in an ill-fated attempt to protect his longtime boss, claiming he couldn’t recall anything relevant about Madigan’s relationship with Michael McClain, the speaker’s longtime confidant at the center of the probe,” by Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Ray Long. The Mapes-McClain friendship ran deep: “Prosecutors say the recordings they plan to play for jurors reveal a “close friendship’ between Mapes and McClain. [One call has Mapes saying:] ‘You’re the only person’s made me cry,’” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.
| | CHICAGO | | — FOP’s John Catanzara blasts Brandon Johnson for calling teen looting a ‘trend’: “Nobody is renaming anybody little mini-Al Capones. But they certainly, in many cases, had the same, terrorizing effect that Al Capone had 100 years ago,” the Chicago police union head said. Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman reports. — Chicago Police Board’s disciplinary power undercut by arbitrator’s ruling: “The ruling allows officers accused of the most serious wrongdoing to bypass the board, taking their cases to an independent arbitrator behind closed doors,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba. — The Tribune followed a migrant family’s 48-hour trip from El Paso to Chicago, by Nell Salzman with photos by Armando L. Sanchez — Ald. William Hall says he finally signed a lease to open a ward office — five months after his election, by Block Club’s Atavia Reed
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Making it official: Clayton Harris III is announcing his candidacy today for Cook County state’s attorney. Harris worked as a Cook County assistant state’s attorney in the Criminal Appeals, Traffic, Narcotics and Special Prosecutions divisions under former State’s Attorney Richard Devine. Harris also had stints with Mayor Richard M. Daley’s and then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administrations.
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — It's not just O'Hare: Suburban airports pumping billions into the economy: “The Covid-19 pandemic decimated passenger air for months, but it's bouncing back,” reports Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke. — Union Pacific and Metra are working to change hands: “UP wants out of running commuter trains, to concentrate on its core freight-hauling business. Metra wants to take over those commuter operations.” Now, they’re working out the details, reports Evanston Now’s Jeff Hirsh. — AG Kwame Raoul sides with Winnetka in Open Meetings Act dispute related to lakefront land controversy, by Tribune’s Alex Hulvalchick
| | DAY IN COURT | | — Former Alton union leader admits moving stolen money, by The Telegraph’s Ron DeBrock — Oak Forest man sold machine gun conversion ‘switches’ to undercover agent: feds, by Sun-Times’ Violet Miller
| | TAKING NAMES | | — The return of Luis Gutierrez: The former Illinois congressman and immigration champion is joining CASA, an immigration group with 150,000 members in 46 states and Puerto Rico. "In the 2024 election, he's going to make a big difference for us in the Puerto Rican community in Pennsylvania," said Gustavo Torres, CASA's executive director. Gutierrez talked to The Messenger about his new move and how he’s dealing with macular degeneration. Adrian Carrasquillo reports. — Republican state Rep. Jeff Keicher was honored by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois with its 2023 Legislative Leadership Award for promoting land restoration. He carried House Resolution 92 to raise awareness about the benefits of prescribed burning. — Big names for Big Shoulders: Businessman David Herro and Chicago Dancing Festival’s Jay Franke led fundraising for Big Shoulders Fund’s golf classic, which raised $850,000 for scholarships.
| | | IN MEMORIAM | | | — Leo Louchios, a longtime aide in the Secretary of State’s Office and a noted Democratic adviser, has died. Louchios was senior adviser to former Secretary of State Jesse White and more recently Alexi Giannoulias. Visitation and funeral Thursday. Details here
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what book you’d like to write. Jim Rule, chair of the Tazewell County Republican Central Committee: “Life lessons moms and dads teach their children. I’d feature my parents.” Brian Bernardoni: “Community engagement through change at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field.” Ed Epstein: “The Chicago Democratic Machine.” Michael Gascoigne: “A modern Wizard of Oz set in Springfield.” Tammy Hansen: “A children’s book about adjusting to life with a sibling affected by a traumatic brain injury.” Lucas Hawley: “City halls in America.” John Howell of WLS radio: “My radio memoir will be entitled: ‘I Wish I Could Remember if These Stories Are True’ or ‘Talk Radio: Don’t Worry About Getting It Right, Just Get It On!’” Mike Johnson: “Urban agriculture and high-rise hot houses.” John Kupper: “Republicans, like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who stood up against Donald Trump’s assault on our democracy.” Reginald McCoy: “Children’s books about self-confidence and overcoming being bullied.” Mark Michaels: “My mother’s father’s unsolved murder in 1936. Family lore is that he was murdered by Murder Inc. because he rejected the mob’s demand to unionize.” Mike Matejka: “Illinois’ labor history. I’m working on it now.” Jim Montgomery: “A book titled ‘Leadership by Walking Around — With Donuts.’ I found I was a more engaged leader through conversations with staff, peers and constituents over a cup of coffee and a donut.” Steve Smith: “A history of the Chicago Police Department.” Phil Zeni: “My immigrant families.” What non-political vocation is good preparation for politics? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Ron DeSantis on whether Trump lost 2020: ‘Of course he lost,’ he says in interview with NBC’s Dasha Burns — Still … DeSantis’ conservative populism has left some donors chafing, by POLITICO’s Sally Goldenberg and Gary Fineout — But … The once-Trump-supporting Uihleins have spent millions to help DeSantis, by Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau — Trump wants a new judge and venue change, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Kelly Garrity
| | WEDDING BELLS | | — Daniel Lippman, POLITICO’s White House and Washington reporter, and artist Sophia Narrett were married at the Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C. Pix via Washingtonian
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to NPR’s Scott Simon for correctly answering that Abraham Lincoln used the Farmer’s Almanac to secure an acquittal for William “Duff” Armstrong in an 1857 murder case. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who were the Cubs playing in 1948 — the day Norman Rockwell painted The Dugout? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Congresswoman Mary Miller, Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino, Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer, former Ald. Ariel Reboyras, Ignite Blue Partners founding partner Kelsey Nulph, former Senate candidate Alan Keyes, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning government affairs exec Chad Phillips, Rush Medical Center comms manager Polly Tita and former FBI Director Robert Mueller. -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 | | | | |  |
