| | | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Wednesday, Illinois. A 5:15 a.m. hotel fire alarm has us wondering what's in store for the rest of the day.
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Congresswoman Mary Miller rallied Illinois delegates at their breakfast meeting during the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO | MILWAUKEE — Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis were among the rivals and many allies endorsing Donald Trump for president last night during the second day of the Republican National Convention. The big applause came when Trump was spotted with his VP running mate, J.D. Vance, in the VIP box. The big themes focused on immigration and violence. So, it was a perfect fit for Rev. Corey Brooks, a Chicago pastor and a Republican who speaks out on about crime and violence, to give the closing prayer. Another message crept into messaging, too: media bashing. How it started: During the morning breakfast with Illinois delegates. Congresswoman Mary Miller gave a spirited speech supporting Trump before standing for a rare media gaggle with the Illinois press corps. Right out of the gate, the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner asked why Miller is “reluctant” to talk to the media. Her answer: “I’m happy to talk to people. But we would like fair coverage from the media. The media has demonized President Trump. Name-calling. That’s what my little kids did. Name calling,” Miller said. From the Tribune: “Miller didn’t address the fact that Trump has made name calling a hallmark of his political career, from his successful 2016 run for the White House, through his term as president, and in his presidential bids in 2020 and this year,” report Jeremy and Rick Pearson.
|  Journalists work outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee during the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 16, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | Trump’s name calling: He has referred to President Joe Biden as “Crooked Joe,” his 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton as “Lyin’ Hillary,” and Haley as “Birdbrain” and DeSantis as “Ron DeSanctimonious” and “Meatball Ron.” The media bashing continued at Fiserv Forum in the evening. Kari Lake, the U.S. Senate candidate — and former TV news anchor — started her speech welcoming the crowd. “We love you all. Actually, actually, wait a minute. I don’t mean that. I don’t welcome everybody in this room. The guys up in the fake news,” she said, referring to the media rows. “Frankly, you guys up there in the fake news have worn out your welcome.” Others took swipes, too, including Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was a Trump press secretary in the White House. The take-away: Republicans feel emboldened as Trump heads into the campaign season with Republicans feeling united and polling in his favor. RELATED Sparks flew, when Congressman Matt Gaetz poked at former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on the floor of the convention, and Illinois Republican National Committeeman Richard Porter told him to “shut up,” via X. Nikki Haley tried to bring unity to the RNC. Some people booed, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison, Lisa Kashinsky and Meridith McGraw Republicans show exactly how they’d run against Kamala Harris, by POLITICO’s Jessica Piper, Melanie Mason and Myah Ward
| | CONVENTION ZONE | | POLITICO-CNN GRILL: If you're in Milwaukee, come by for the talks, and if you're not, check it out online. Today's guests: Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Dr. Ben Carson. All the details are here. Police action: A fatal shooting Tuesday just blocks from Fiserv Forum, where the Republican National Convention is being held, “was determined to be non RNC,” according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The local district attorney is investigating the shooting, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. The Journal Sentinel says man yielding a knife was shot by five Columbus, Ohio, police officers in town to help with the convention. In Chicago: Ahead of DNC, Brandon Johnson puts homeless on the street to make room for tent city occupants: “Residents of a Magnificent Mile shelter are evicted to make room for occupants of a tent encampment that’s being cleared ahead of the Democratic National Convention,” by the Sun-Times’ Brett Chase, Lauren FitzPatrick and Elvia Malagón. If you are Mary Miller, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email: skapos@politico.com
| | WHERE'S JB | | At Argonne National Laboratory at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate improvements to Argonne Advanced Photo Source.
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | In City Hall at 10 a.m. to preside over the City Council meeting.
| | Where's Toni | | Online at 6 p.m. to provide remarks at Cook County's Mid-Year Public Budget Town Hall on the recently released Preliminary Budget Forecast. Read it here. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
| | | | CHECK OUT WHAT YOU MISSED IN MILWAUKEE!
Watch the full event from the CNN-POLITICO Grill at the RNC HERE.
The program featured Bayer’s Jessica Christiansen, senior vice president and head of crop science and sustainability communications, as well as a conversation with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill for discussions about agriculture, food policy and how these issues will impact the November election. | | | | | | | | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | | — Open seat: The selection process is kicking off to fill the seat that’s vacant due to the death of 2nd District Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer. Ald. Bill Conway, who’s also the 34th Ward Democratic committeeman, will serve as chair of the selection committee because he holds the largest share of the weighted vote among elected democratic committee members of the 2nd District. To apply, send PDF resumes to Dist2selection@newdayconway.com by July 26, 5 p.m.
| | 2024 WATCH | | — Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and a coalition of progressive elected leaders on Chicago’s Northwest Side have endorsed Jason Dones for the Chicago School Board in District 3.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Illinois lands federal partnership to further develop quantum projects: “The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, will take residency on the state’s soon-to-be constructed quantum campus to establish a program where quantum computing prototypes will be tested to bolster national security,” by the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles. — Most Illinois jails restrain people in chairs. Coles County ‘violently shocked’ them, too: “A few years ago, the county jail promised to stop using electrified ‘stun cuffs’ to shock people restrained in chairs. How much has changed?” Illinois Answers Project’s Grace Hauck. — Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Bears boss meet privately for first time amid stadium push, by the Tribune’s Dan Petrella — Springfield Ald. Shawn Gregory is trying to get Black Lives Matter street signs up again downtown, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie
| | CHICAGO | | — Mayor Johnson nixes plan to remove George Washington statue outside his City Hall office: “The since-rescinded decision to remove the statue had nothing to do with the former president’s ownership of slaves, the mayor’s communications director said,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman. — Johnson announces more funds for West Side homeowners impacted by flooding in July 2023, by the Sun-Times’ Kaitlin Washburn — Chicago area hit by at least 6 tornadoes, 110,000 ComEd customers are still without power: “The National Weather Service has confirmed at least six tornadoes touched down Monday night in the Chicago area. I55 remains closed in both directions in Channahon until Wednesday morning. Few injuries were reported,” by the Sun-Times’ Sophie Sherry, Mary Norkol and Cindy Hernandez. — Tornado that hit downtown and West Loop was as damaging as Category 1 hurricane, by the Block Club’s Mack Liederman — Invenergy breaks ground on $30M clean-energy training and manufacturing facility in Bolingbrook, by the Business Journal’s Wendell Hutson
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has received the Legislator of the Year award from the Illinois Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts for her work developing the Ag Connects Us All initiative. The award was presented at the association’s summer training conference in Springfield on Tuesday. Stratton is pictured here with association President Tom Beyers, right, and Vice President Dale Shumaker.
| | | | Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked what food says Wisconsin. (It’s a great list, but you forgot the Kringle.) Mary Modelski, the Cook County auditor: “Cheese curds or brats.” Tom Cullerton: “Brats, cheese curds, summer sausage and a solid fish fry.” Carol Hughes: “Cranberries!” Kevin Lampe: “Cheese curds with a side of cheese sauce.” Michael Lieber: “Fried walleye pike.” Ed Mazur: “Grilled brats from the Brat Stop.” Josh Mogerman: “The Mars Cheese Castle staples: cheese curds, summer sausage, brats, and beer!” Joan Pederson: “Bratwurst.” Abbey Romanek: “Squeaky cheese curds.” Andy Shaw: “Cheese curds and brats.” Steven Smith: “Fish boil.” NEXT QUESTION: What’s one characteristic you inherited from your parents? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Democrats have found their first big attack line against J.D. Vance, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn and Lisa Kashinsky — COLUMN: ‘Scared to death’: GOP security hawks slam Vance selection, by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin — How Donald Trump learned to love J.D. Vance, by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw — Pelosi privately fields battleground Dem calls as she works to address Biden crisis, by POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris — Inside Bob Menendez’s downfall: ‘The arrogance went to his head,’ by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman
| | EVENTS | | — Today: The Energy Thought Summit includes speakers from Exelon, Constellation Energy, Nicor Gas, Argonne National Laboratory State of Illinois and other industry leaders. Topic: Clean energy. Details
| | TRIVIA | | TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Patricia Ann Watson for correctly answering that USS Galena, an ironclad screw steamer commissioned on April 21, 1862, was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named after an Illinois town. TODAY’s QUESTION: How is "Popeye" connected to Illinois?
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Former Ald. Leslie Hairston, Chicago Senior Director of Civic and Community Engagement Maurice Green, political consultant Art Turner, campaign consultant Alaina Hampton and JPMorgan Chase’s Melanie Beatus Ettleson. -30-
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