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Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln | | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. The world turned on its ear over the long weekend: A war broke out, the House speaker’s race is up in the air and Iowa’s first-in-the-nation Democratic caucuses are dead.
|  | TOP TALKER | | Gov. JB Pritzker condemned the “horrifying attacks on Israel” by the Palestinian Hamas group over the weekend. “In Illinois and across America, the people of Israel are in our prayers,” Pritzker said in a social media statement and reiterating his sentiments on CBS' Face the Nation. And 18 members of the Illinois General Assembly signed a letter calling for peace in the Middle East. “There are people across Illinois, many of whom are our constituents, who are watching this situation unfold and experiencing deep pain as they worry for loved ones,” the members said. “We will not be able to achieve peace when millions of Palestinians are denied basic human rights.” State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, the first Palestinian American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly, was among those signing the letter. “I'm absolutely heartbroken by the violence,” Rashid said in an interview with Playbook. “I mourn the loss of all innocent lives, and the killing of civilians should always be condemned. No matter who the perpetrator is, and no matter who the victim is, it is never acceptable to target civilians.” Rashid’s view: “We have to address the root cause of the conflict, which is the decades long oppression and systemic systematic violence against millions and millions of people,” a reference to Palestinians living in territory occupied by Israel. That take vs. the hardline support for Israel will become a talking point as the 2024 elections unfold, especially within the Democratic Party. Should Democrats back Israel unequivocally? Or will there be a call for a ceasefire? RELATED Evanston mother, daughter missing in Israel after Hamas attack and are feared kidnapped, by Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo U.S. sends Israel air defense, munitions after Hamas attack, by POLITICO’s Connor O’Brien, Joe Gould, Paul McLeary and Lara Seligman How the left sees the war in Israel, by POLITICO’s Alexander Burns
| | THE BUZZ | | DOING A DOUBLE-TAKE: A Washington Post story links Kevin McCarthy’s downfall as House speaker to Illinois’ congressional redistricting. The story prompted a furious take-down by Anne Caprara, the chief of staff to Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. She called the Post piece “absolute hot garbage.” The Post singles out Illinois Democrats’ redistricting efforts as helping propel right-wing Republican Mary Miller to Congress. The story blames gerrymandering for “hollowing out the moderate political center and driving both parties further toward the ideological fringes.” Pushing back: Caprara called the Post piece “insanely disingenuous,” adding the birth of the Tea Party — not Democratic gerrymandering — is to blame. Republicans “used Fox News to water the conspiracy garden. And when it helped them win in 2010, they never looked back. MAGA extremism was a direct result of a concerted GOP effort to radicalize their own party,” Caprara wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The other talking point: The Post suggests that the Illinois maps were drawn to make it easy for Dems to win, Deputy governor Andy Manar posted on social media that he was “speechless” at the suggestion. He says Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski in IL-13 and Congressman Eric Sorensen in IL-17 both faced formidable GOP candidates POLITICO’s Ian Ward's story links the Tea Party to the latest Republican troubles. If you are Andy Manar, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | At North Shore Congregation Israel at 10:15 a.m. to deliver remarks at Jewish United Fund’s Israel Solidarity Gathering — At Eli’s Cheesecake at 11:50 a.m. to mark the bakery's expansion groundbreaking — At the University of Chicago at 5:30 p.m. for a panel discussion on leadership with the Institute of Politics.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events.
| | WHERE'S LORI | | No official public events. Before you put on your coat, send me a line: skapos@politico.com
| | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | SPOTLIGHT | | — COLUMN | Melissa Conyears-Ervin: “I was a victim of domestic violence. Other victims should know they aren’t alone:” Chicago’s city treasurer shares a personal experience of surviving domestic violence at the hands of a former boyfriend. “I have been in the public eye and managed to keep this a secret for the last 26 years. Imagine how many others have or are currently doing the same,” she says in a deeply personal column in the Sun-Times. — Champaign Police investigate ‘agency culture’ of not following domestic violence reporting laws, by university reporting fellows Farrah Anderson and Diana Leane and published via Invisible Institute and Illinois Public Media. — Domestic violence survivor wants to honor women’s resilience with Burr Ridge gala. ‘These women are champions,’ by Tribune’s Darcel Rockett
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Meet the Pritzker who’s working to turn Virginia blue: Adam Pritzker, a member of Illinois' famous family, cofounded The States Project, which is investing millions in state legislative races across the country for 2024 and in Virginia next month. “I don't think anybody would say that the presidential election is under-resourced or under-covered by the media. But state legislative candidates are,” Pritzker told your Playbook host in an interview. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign says it has recruited all 102 delegates it needs to get on the ballot in Illinois for next year’s primary. “We have the infrastructure. We have the momentum. We are the first one out of the gate,” Joan McCarthy Lasonde of the Illinois DeSantis organization told Playbook., — Laura Yepez announced her bid for 1st Ward committee person. Yepez owns and runs the Wicker Park Inn. She's facing Ald. Daniel La Spata, who serves as alderman and committeeman of the 1st Ward. — Joe Cook, who’s running for Democratic committeeman in the 45th Ward, has secured endorsements from Sen. Dick Durbin, Congressman Mike Quigley and Illinois Atty. Gen. Kwame Raoul. Here’s the full list.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The local chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has written a letter to lawmakers urging opposition of the so-called “right of first refusal” bill that Gov. JB Pritzker has vetoed. The measure would grant downstate utilities, primarily Ameren Illinois, the authority over transmission line construction. The measure is expected to come up during the Illinois General Assembly’s veto session that starts Oct. 24. Read the letter here. — Illinois population becoming higher-paid, more foreign-born, but state losing older, Black and rural residents, study finds, Tribune’s Robert McCoppin reports
| | MIGRANT MOVES | | — Amundsen Park closure delayed as city looks for an alternate site for migrant shelter: After complaints about taking away resources used by young people, Ald. Chris Taliaferro said the city is considering a site across the street, by Sun-Times’ Violet Miller. — Chicago-area religious leaders studying the migrant issue, by Sun-Times’ David Roeder — Column: Instead of going to the border, Mayor Brandon Johnson should head to a community meeting, writes Tribune’s Laura Washington
| | CHICAGO | | — With subminimum wage set to be phased out, tipped workers and restaurants wonder what’s next: Watch for legislation to move in Puerto Rico and nine states, including Illinois, come January. Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd) described the Chicago vote as "one giant step" toward the goal of eliminating the subminimum wage across the U.S, reports Tribune’s Talia Soglin. — Millions in PPP, other Covid relief fraud went to gangs, by Sun-Times’ Frank Main. — From dwindling audiences to increased costs, report spotlights a crisis for Chicago’s theater community, by WTTW’s Paris Schutz and Andrea Guthmann — Bally’s temporary casino at Medinah Temple nets $6.7M and 80,000 visitors in first few weeks, by Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout — COLUMN: Is Chicago’s NHL team supporting Native causes — or buying silence? Asks The Washington Post’s Kevin B. Blackistone
| | TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES | | — CTA Brown, Orange Line schedules down more than 25 percent, by Sarah Freishtat — But … CTA sees surge in hiring over the past year, reports WBEZ’s Claudia Morell
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — West Aurora School District expects to get at least $350,000 as part of settlement of national lawsuit against e-cigarette company, by Aurora Beacon-News’ Linda Girardi — Judge dismisses lawsuit over proposed land swap between park district and billionaire Justin Ishbia, by Bob Goldsborough for the Tribune.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Michael Frerichs, the Illinois state treasurer, has been chosen as the next president of the National Association of State Treasurers. — Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky headlines Saturday's “Lead Like Lincoln” fundraiser sponsored by state Rep. Suzanne Ness. Details here
| | | | GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked if it’s OK for political ads to use AI. Steve Brown, the former Illinois House spokesman: “I would want a process where anything produced by AI would be reviewed by a human being before being released.” Bill Cameron: “Could AI really make political ads more deceptive than they already are?” Mike Gascoigne: “Politicians are supposed to be about creating jobs and putting people to work, and if they give part of their campaign to AI they are undermining that message.” Jim Montgomery: “Seems like another means for voters to trust political campaigns even less.” Aside from your bedroom, where in your house do you spend the most time? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — RFK Jr. goes independent. Does that hurt Biden or Trump? POLITICO’s Steven Shepard weighs in — Biden faces a host of crises and a stress test for his theory of the presidency, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire, Adam Cancryn and Jennifer Haberkorn — Army to Congress: Do your job so we can help Israel and Ukraine, by POLITICO’s Paul McCleary and Connor O’Brien
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Oct. 27: A memorial service will be held for the late federal Judge James B. Zagel, who died in July. Details here
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Director Theresa Eagleson is leaving the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which she has led for the past five years, according to the governor’s office. Lizzy Whitehorn becomes director Jan. 1. Whitehorn has been first assistant deputy governor for Health and Human Services.
| | | EVENTS | | | — Wednesday: Climate change, extreme weather and modernizing the Illinois power grid will be discussed by ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones, WGN meteorologist Tom Skilling and Argonne National Laboratory’s Paul Kearns. Crain’s Executive Editor Jim Kirk will moderate. Details here — Oct. 16: Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Jonathan Jackson (IL-01) headline a City Club of Chicago discussion on the Farm Bill. They sit on the House Ag Committee. Details here — Oct 17: Crowell & Moring’s Midwest Government Contracts Seminar in Chicago will address what to expect in 2024 in infrastructure, bid protests, disputes, intellectual property, investigations and artificial intelligence. Here’s the agenda, and here’s how to register.
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Matthew Beaudet and Timothy Thomas Jr. for correctly answering that the Harlem Globetrotters played their first game in Hinckley, Ill. TODAY’s QUESTION: What two Chicago streets are named after a person who fought against the United States in a time of war? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Cook County Judge Teresa Molina, former state Sen. Ira Silverstein, office manager for the lieutenant governor Leticia Romero, Brookings Institution fellow Tonantzin Carmona, consultant and former congressional candidate Robert Emmons Jr., UnidosUS Latino Vote Initiative VP Clarissa Martinez, Goldman Sachs’ Avi Davidoff, digital strategist Justin Kulovsek, Glencore government relations head Seth Levey and journalist Carol Marin, who heads DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity and Excellence. And special greetings to Sen. Dick Durbin’s state director, Clarisol Duque, who ran Sunday’s Chicago Marathon in 3:39:24. -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 | | | | |  |
