| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | | | TGIF, Illinois. Fingers and toes crossed for haze-free skies this holiday weekend. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Illinois Playbook is taking a short break. We’ll be back in your inboxes on Wednesday, July 5.
|  | TOP TALKER | | |  Protesters converged outside the Supreme Court in Washington on Thursday, June 29, 2023, after the court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, saying race cannot be a factor. | AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana | | The Supreme Court decisions Thursday barring colleges from using race in their admissions processes became an immediate talking point in the 2024 campaign, with President Joe Biden declaring: “This is not a normal court.” Looking ahead: We asked political consultants whether ending affirmative action in higher ed will resonate with voters the same way the end of Roe v. Wade fueled the 2022 election. The general answer is not likely — but certain voting blocks will be spurred to show up. A motivator: “I hope inactive voters across the country finally start to realize, particularly Black voters, that elections have real consequences,” said Larry Luster, a political consultant who has worked on campaigns for Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “It really pisses me off,” Luster said of the court’s two decisions on the same issue. “These actions are racist at their core.” David Axelrod, a former senior strategist for President Barack Obama, expects the rulings “will motivate some, particularly the young.” Pete Giangreco, a Democratic strategist who’s worked on nine presidential campaigns, says the Democratic base is likely to be most motivated. “Just another log on the book-burning, abortion-banning, don’t-say-gay fire that’s consuming what’s left of the Republican Party,” he said. “Center-right moderates have nowhere to go but to Joe Biden.” Aaron Del Mar, a Republican State Central Committeeman who is also an Asian-Pacific Islander, says ending affirmative action isn’t the same as ending Roe v. Wade. “Many white suburban women who would have in the past voted Republican were enraged by the Dobbs ruling, as they felt it infringed on their rights to choose and control their own bodies,” he said. “In the affirmative action cases, it’s less personal — and even if they wouldn’t admit it, it gives their own children more opportunities.” Becky Carroll, a Democratic political consultant, called the latest rulings “a wake up call to the idea that elections matter because presidents and senators control who gets appointed to federal benches. We have the ruling today because of that.” And Brian Stryker, a Democratic pollster at Impact Research, says, “Dobbs in 2024 will be the Dobbs of 2022. People are still 11 of 10 mad with good reason, so it will be hard to supplant.” RELATED — In Illinois, widespread rebuke from politicians and educators alike, via Tribune — Affirmative action is done. Here’s what else might change for school admissions, by POLITICO’s Bianca Quilantan — Clarence Thomas, Ketanji Brown Jackson air sharp disagreement on race in America, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein
| | THE BUZZ | | BUZZ KILL? Hotels are booked for the Fourth of July weekend, thanks in part to NASCAR’s Chicago debut, but restaurants aren’t sure how the weekend will play out. The big worry: Some restaurants expect suburbanites who like to celebrate the holiday downtown will stay home to avoid the congestion that comes with closed streets and NASCAR crowds. Maybe the race car crowd will pick up the slack. “I’m cautiously optimistic,” Sam Toia, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, told Playbook. “We don’t know if it will be great for business or if the weekend will be a wash.” Kevin Vaughan, who owns Emerald Loop Bar & Grill in downtown Chicago, said he’s “hopeful.” The restaurant doesn’t take reservations so he can’t gauge how business will play out for the weekend. “For every one person scared by traffic, there will be another person who isn’t afraid to come downtown,” he said. “We’re venturing into the unknown, but I’m optimistic.” RELATED: Here’s a look at the NASCAR course, via NBC 5
| | A message from Uber: What the City of Chicago uncovered about Uber. An independent study by the City of Chicago found that most Uber and Lyft drivers make $21-$30 per hour and earn over $1,000 a week* on average. Learn more about the City of Chicago’s study.*Full-time TNP driver avg hourly and weekly earnings, PPV Study April,'23 | | | | | WHERE'S JB | | No official public events.
| | | WHERE's BRANDON | | | At the Englewood Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) at 3:30 p.m. for its ribbon cutting.
| | | Where's Toni | | | At the Cook County Building at 9:30 a.m. to discuss increased minimum wages that will take effect in Chicago and Cook County on Saturday. Wear comfortable shoes on your parade routes and be sure to stay in touch: skapos@politico.com
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | THE STATEWIDES | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: On this last day of the fiscal year, watch for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza to announce that the state has paid off all its bills — the second year in a row. The accounts payable is under $500 million. And there is still $1 billion left in state coffers for the first time in more than 20 years, according to a staffer in the know. Mendoza’s office is paying $200 million each to the Rainy Day Fund, state pensions and MCAT funds for the state's schools. — Drought hits the Midwest, threatening crops and the world’s food supply: “Parts of Illinois have received only around 5 percent of normal rainfall this month,” Trent Ford, the Illinois state climatologist, told Kansas Reflector’s Matt Vasilogambros. — Appeals hearing asks whether a weapon’s popularity should exempt it from Illinois’ sweeping gun ban: The consolidated cases “all hinge on whether the individual right to bear arms under the Second Amendment extends to the more than 100 types of guns that are subject to the state ban, including the popular AR-15 rifle, and to the high-capacity magazines that also are subject to the ban,” by Tribune’s Dan Petrella. ... The hearing prompted a rally outside of the courthouse, reports ABC 7’s Craig Wall — Illinois to offer credit monitoring for those affected by cyberattack against state and others, by Tribune’s John Byrne — Creation of a tourism improvement district could fund expansion of BOS Center in Springfield, reports Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen — Illinois casinos may soon allow ex-cons to apply for jobs, by Casino.org’s Craig Boswell
| | CHICAGO | | — Migrant crisis reverses decade-long enrollment decline at CPS, top mayoral aide says: “To ensure better educational outcomes for the new arrivals, the Johnson administration plans to open an ‘enrollment center’ at Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School in time for the first day of school on Aug. 21,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — After failing to respond to migrant crisis, City Council’s immigration committee calls on itself to meet more often, by Block Club’s Mick Dumke. — State's top banking regulator joins Johnson's administration: “Chasse Rehwinkel to serve as the city’s comptroller, charged with overseeing the collection and disbursement of the city’s revenues,” reports Crain’s Justin Laurence. — Staffing shortages hindering reforms in Chicago Police Department, court monitor tells mayor, by Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm — In ‘The Bear,’ the world’s greatest restaurant resides in Chicago: “Curtis Duffy’s Ever, the Fulton Market restaurant featured in Episode 7, aspires to reach that standard,” by Eater’s Ashok Selvam.
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Highland Park community to walk parade route in show of solidarity, resilience, by Daily Herald’s Dave Oberhelman — Judge removed from ‘judicial duties’ following alleged racist comments and witness tampering, by Sun-Times’ Mary Norkol. — When and where you can see Fourth of July fireworks displays in the suburbs, via Daily Herald
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Rahm 'the un-diplomat' Emanuel reports from Japan: “The U.S. ambassador to Japan tells the behind-the-scenes story of how Joe Biden is organizing America’s allies to counter Chinese & Russian ‘coercion,’” via POLITICO. Snippet on how politics prepared him for diplomacy: “A lot of people think … that, somehow, the diplomatic life is separate from politics. Nothing could be further from the truth. If people are involved — breaking news! — politics is involved. … Politics all being personal — and understanding power, understanding communication, understanding how to message stuff — turned out to be really beneficial to being a diplomat.”
| | Reader Digest | | We asked when you received a big round of applause. Janice Anderson: “When I decided to not run for office to allow only one other candidate to run and eventually win.” Eugene Daly: “The day I retired. I think they were happy I was leaving. “ John Howell: “When giving a commencement address I announced that it was mathematically half over.” Alison Pure-Slovin: “After organizing and speaking at the United Against Antisemitism rally.” Andy Shaw: “When I announced my retirement, both times.” Phil Zeni: “When I was the University of Illinois Springfield commencement speaker in 2005.” Paul Engleman: “Twenty years ago when the Little League team I coached with Lin Brehmer won the local (Edgebrook/Sauganash) championship.” What was your first minimum-wage job? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — POLITICO’s very original, not-your-normal-politics-books summer read. It includes a Chicago classic — U.S. actively considering giving cluster munitions to Ukraine, by POLITICO’s Alexander Ward — Judge rejects Trump’s ‘presidential immunity’ defense in second E. Jean Carroll case, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Erica Orden
| | KUDOS | | — Congratulations to Randy J. Bukas, the deputy city manager of Freeport. He’s retiring and Mayor Jodi Miller has named today “Randy J. Bukas Day.” Pic!
| | ENGAGED | | — Coleman Smith, director of “The Hill” on NewsNation and “On Balance with Leland Vittert,” on Sunday proposed to Erenia Michell, senior booking producer for On Balance and a Fox News alum. The couple, who met in Chicago when launching On Balance, got engaged on vacation in Boston along the water. Pic … The ring
| | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mel Huang for correctly answering that Pauline Phillips (Dear Abby) and Eppie Lederer (Anne Landers) were twins born on July 4 who wrote competing advice columns that appeared in Chicago newspapers. TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the Illinois politician who beat out actor Hal Holbrook for a Grammy Award? Email skapos@politico.com
| | A message from Uber: Going where taxis won’t go
The City of Chicago’s own study found that nearly 30% of Uber & Lyft rides start in underserved neighborhoods like Avalon Park and Pullman.*
Learn more about the City of Chicago’s study.
*PPV Study April,'23 | | | | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Today: Cook County Circuit Court Judge Linda Perez, Worth Township clerk Eamon McMahon, former state Rep. Dave Winters, lobbyist John Kelly, Chicago YMCA CEO Dorri McWhorter, Pritzker senior policy adviser Emily Miller, attorney and political fundraiser Mike Lieber, political consultant Norm Sterzenbach and Young Democrats of Illinois President Paul Jones. Saturday: Willkie Farr & Gallagher Midwest chairman Craig Martin, Cook County Public Defender’s Office supervisor Lori Roper, Chicago Booth adjunct professor of entrepreneurship Mark Tebbe and Barbara D. Stubblefield, senior manager of community outreach at Ardmore Roderick. Sunday: Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran, state Rep. Will Davis, Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th), former state Rep. Mike Unes, SEIU executive director Jerry Morrison, Berman Institute president Sam Chapman, political consultant Bill Velazquez, legislative activist Stacey Rubin Silver, attorney Jennifer Zucker Healy, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism chief counsel Mark Palmer, lifestyle blogger Zondra Hughes and restaurateur Curtis Duffy. Monday: legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti, former state Rep. Eileen Lyons, Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson, Gibsons Managing Partner Kathy O’Malley Piccone, Swirlz Cupcakes’ Pam Rose, activist JQ Holland Darden and real estate broker Terry Schwartz. Tuesday: former first kid Malia Obama (happy 25!), former state Rep. Dan Brady, former state Rep. Sam Yingling, former DuPage County commissioner Pete DiCianni, businessman and former political candidate Chris Kennedy, Fein Solutions founder and president David Fein, DDA & Associates co-founder Kris Adams, TV anchor Diana Gutierrez and Goodman Theatre Comms Director Denise Schneider. -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 | | | | |
