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| By Shia Kapos |
Happy Tuesday, Illinois. There’s nothing lazy these days about the lazy days of August. BREAKING: Biden appoints Chicagoan Edward Siskel as White House counsel. Details in THE BUZZ
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 | TOP TALKER | |
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson smiles during his inauguration as Chicago's 57th mayor on May 15, 2023. | AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast |
Mayor Brandon Johnson says Democrats across the country would be wise to follow Chicago’s lead ahead of the 2024 elections. He’s referring, of course, to the progressive agenda that elected him. Chicago as a model: “The Democratic Party as a whole definitely can model its work off of what we're doing in Chicago,” Johnson told Playbook in a one-on-one interview ahead of his 100 days in office today. Johnson’s take: “The Democratic Party represents this diverse makeup of people that come from a variety of experiences, and we don't have to be at odds with those experiences,” Johnson said. Democrats, he said, should embrace “community safety through the lens of getting at the root causes of violence, because it's happening in blue states and red states.” He’s gotta be him: Asked why he doesn’t call out the White House to get help on managing asylum seekers the way the New York Mayor Eric Adams has, Johnson said, “Some people are accustomed to the combative nature of politics. If you’ve learned anything about me, that’s not my style. That’s just not me,” Johnson said. But he and Adams talk: Johnson acknowledged he has been in discussions with Adams and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and mayors in the Midwest about looking for a “strategic way” to support migrants and those “struggling in poverty.” Speed-dating with the mayor: Johnson spoke to POLITICO and a handful of other local reporters last week to mark his first 100 days in office. The interviews were set up away from City Hall in a building, allowing each reporter to be assigned a room so the mayor could move quickly from one interview to another. We each got 10 minutes, so it felt a little bit like speed-dating. He smiled and spoke carefully. We smiled and pressed for more answers before he moved on to the next interview. Some take-aways: One interview got tense: Asked to what extent Chicago Teachers Union CEO Stacy Davis Gates is involved in his administration, Johnson said, “We have a full team that works with me. We have business partners, philanthropy, faith-based people. … I’m the mayor of the city of Chicago, Mary Ann,” he told NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern. Details here About the new supe: “We’ve shifted the dynamic in the city of Chicago. As we prepare to confirm our first police superintendent, I don’t think we’ve ever had a superintendent talk about ‘treatment, not trauma,’” Johnson told ABC 7’s Craig Wall. Story here About property taxes: “Investing in people is on the table,” Johnson told WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg, dodging a question about whether a property tax hike is on the table for Chicago residents. This was the best report RELATED — Expect Chicago’s migrant crisis to intensify as Democratic National Convention draws near, top mayoral aide says: “GOP governors want to use the crisis to embarrass Democratic mayors, said Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s deputy chief of staff,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — New York voters down on Democrats over migrant crisis, poll finds, by POLITICO’s Bill Mahoney — OPINION: Johnson needs more good hires, writes Crain’s Greg Hinz
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| THE BUZZ | |
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Chicago attorney Edward Siskel has been named White House counsel. | White House photo |
Edward “Ed” Siskel, a Chicago attorney with deep ties to Illinois, has been appointed by President Joe Biden as White House counsel, also known as the top lawyer. His backstory: Siskel served on President Barack Obama’s White House counsel and later led the City of Chicago’s Law Department during Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration. Most recently, he’s been chief legal counsel for Grosvenor Holdings, the holding company controlled by Michael Sacks, a major Democratic donor and head of the Chicago host committee for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. “A smart hire” is how Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul described Biden’s appointment. Political history: Siskel is believed to be only the second Chicagoan to serve as the top White House attorney. The late Abner Mikva served as the White House counsel under President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. Film history: Siskel is the nephew of the late famed movie critic, Gene Siskel. If you are Ed Siskel, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com.
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| WHERE'S JB | |
No official public events.
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| WHERE's BRANDON | |
No official public events.
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| Where's Toni | |
No official public events. POLITICO will be at Wednesday’s debate. Will you? Send me a line at skapos@politico.com
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| DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO APP: Stay in the know with the POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. |
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| 2024 WATCH | |
— Mark Hamberlin, who recently won a seat on the Chicago Police District Council, representing District 8, has filed paperwork to run for the Illinois General Assembly as a Democrat in the seat now held by veteran state Rep. Mary Flowers, also a Democrat, according to the State Board of Elections. — Dave Nayak, candidate for state senator in the 20th District, has officially kicked off his campaign with a video titled "Meet Dr. Dave."
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| CHICAGO | |
— SCOOP: White Sox ponder moving away from South Side home: “Jerry Reinsdorf, the team's majority owner and chairman, is considering moving the organization from Guaranteed Rate Field in Bridgeport when the team’s lease expires just six years from now,” by Crain’s Greg Hinz. — Ald. Bill Conway wants to boost law to keep anti-abortion protesters away from patients, by Block Club’s Melody Mercado — CPS disputes claim that migrant children from police station were turned away at school, by Sun-Times’ Michael Loria — Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that Bridget Early will serve as the City of Chicago’s first-ever deputy mayor for labor relations. Early was director of membership and strategic alliances for the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems. She previously had leadership roles at National Public Pension Coalition and Chicago Federation of Labor.
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| COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | |
— Arlington Heights hires lobbyists on Bears tax-break bill: Familiar names include GR Consulting’s Art Turner Jr. and Larry Luster and Mac Strategies’ Ryan McLaughlin. Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek has details
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| | DAY IN COURT | |
| — Chicago woman arrested on federal charges she threatened to kill Donald Trump and son Barron: “The five-page complaint alleged that on May 21, Fiorenza emailed the headmaster of a Palm Beach County school and wrote, ‘I will state that I will shoot Donald Trump Sr. AND Baron Trump (sic) straight in the face at any opportunity that I get!’” Tribune’s Jason Meisner reports. — Prosecutors rest their case in perjury trial of ex-top aide to Madigan as jurors hear more secret recordings, by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel
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| Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here. |
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| Reader Digest | |
We asked for your best advice to an intern: Brian Bernardoni: “Learn to say ‘I don't know, but I will find out for you,’ rather than an uncertain answer or guess.” Dave Dahl: “Shut up and listen.” Tammy Hansen: “Be really nice to the support staff, IT people and janitors. They can make your day great, or make it really difficult.” Nick Kalm: “If you’re assigned menial tasks, get them done quickly and well. Use the rest of your time to volunteer for projects and assignments.” Robert Kartheiser: “Watch. Listen. Ask questions. Participate.” Kevin Lampe: “Always say yes to assignments and going to events.” Aaron Lawlor: “Don’t listen to your parents when they complain about you not having a job that pays. It will pay off in the long-run.” Gary Mack: “"Listen carefully and think before you speak.” David Prosperi: “Work hard, ask questions and make the internship valuable for you and the company.” Nancy Shepherdson: “Cheerfully take on any task given. Your coping skills will be useful later.” Ashley Urisman: “Ask for every single opportunity you want." How do you survive a flight in the middle seat? Email skapos@politico.com
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| THE NATIONAL TAKE | |
— Chris Christie is not going to apologize, OK? POLITICO’s Michael Kruse reports — States have big hopes for renewable energy. Get ready to pay for it, by POLITICO’s Marie J. French — It’s more than a poll. The Iowa survey is grim news for everyone but Trump, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison
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| WEDDING BELLS | |
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Jam Sulahry and Sarah Kennedy were married at the Kennedy Compound on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. | Photo by Alex Gordias |
— Jam Sulahry and Sarah Kennedy were married over the weekend at the storied Kennedy Compound on Hyannis Port, where so many Kennedy family gatherings have been held over the years. This one was a celebratory event that combined Pakistani and American traditions. Kennedy is the daughter of Chicago businessman Chris Kennedy and Sheila Kennedy. Sulahry’s parents are Tariq and Saira Sulahry. Pre-wedding festivities took place with family and friends at Chris and Sheila’s home, which was also President John F. Kennedy's summer residence. The wedding ceremony was held Saturday at the main Kennedy house where Ethel Kennedy lives.
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| TAKING NAMES | |
— Charlique C. Rolle has been named board president of the nonprofit African American Arts Alliance of Chicago. Rolle replaces founding president Jackie Taylor, who is stepping down after 26 years. In her day job, Rolle is executive director of Congo Square Theatre. Vershawn Sanders-Ward becomes VP of the Alliance.
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| TRANSITIONS | |
— Denise Dimapilis is now scheduler for Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.). She was an operations intern at Invariant — Samantha McClain has been hired as chief of staff for the Illinois AFL-CIO. McClain was state director for the Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment ballot measure that recently passed. She also worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
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| | KUDOS | |
| — More than $70,000 was raised at a fundraiser over the weekend for the Michel-LaHood D.C. Congressional Internship Program, a partnership between the Dirksen Congressional Center and Bradley University in Peoria. The event featured a panel discussion on mentorship with former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Congressman Darin LaHood, state Rep. Ryan Spain and longtime Michel-LaHood staffer Carol Merna.
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| EVENTS | |
— Aug. 31: Political consultant David Axelrod keynotes the Edgar Fellows Program annual fundraising dinner at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago. RSVP by Thursday. Details here
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| TRIVIA | |
MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to state Sen. Ann Gillespie and David Schroeder of the Illinois Community Bankers Association for correctly answering that Illinois’ boundaries were changed from when it was a territory to a state so it could have access to rivers and tributaries flowing from the Mississippi River and to have an additional 40 mile frontage on Lake Michigan. TODAY’s QUESTION: Which countries outside of the U.S. have municipalities named Springfield? Email skapos@politico.com
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY | |
Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kent Delgado, former Ald. Tom Tunney, political consultant Tom Bowen, lobbyist Frank Bass, National Institutes of Health legislative analyst Essence Motley, writer Lyle Roebuck and photographer Shalimar Thibodeau Beekman. -30- |
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