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| By Shia Kapos |
Happy Monday, Illinois. After breaking even in poker, we’re hoping the week goes the same. Yesterday’s startling news: FBI investigating Florida incident as ‘an attempted assassination’ on Trump, via POLITICO
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 | TOP TALKER | |
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Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks at the Harris Theater in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. | David Kindler for Chicago Humanities Festival |
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson brought her book tour to Chicago on Sunday for a Q&A with Valerie Jarrett of the Obama Foundation. The event was sponsored by the Chicago Humanities Festival. Brown Jackson talked about her history-making role as the first Black woman to serve on the high court and how her upbringing led her to the position. Jarrett shared tidbits from Brown Jackson’s book, “Lovely One,” which traces her family's rise from segregation to her confirmation as a Supreme Court justice all within one generation. We learned how she got her name — Ketanji means “Lovely One” in West Africa, that her parents were both educators, that she was a debate champion in high school and that she met the love of her life in college. She also talked about how the high court hears cases and goes about writing opinions. What she didn’t talk about: Controversies such as the Supreme Court’s recently adopted code of conduct that was put in place after reports of some justices receiving undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy friends. Before she took the stage: Brown Jackson met with four members of the Illinois Supreme Court, including Justice P. Scott Neville, Joy Cunningham, Elizabeth Rochford and David Overstreet. Neville shared a chart showing how Illinois’ highest court has transformed over the years from being a predominantly white male bastion to one of the most diverse state supreme courts in the country. There are five women. and three of the Illinois justices are African American. Cunningham introduced Brown Jackson to the audience gathered at the Harris Theater. Giving a shout-out: Brown Jackson also talked about her Chicago connection — her brother, whom she gave a shout-out during the program. Ketajh Brown is a Chicago commercial litigation associate in Dowd Bennett’s Chicago office.
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| | THE BUZZ | |
THE BLACK VOTE: The threat of lagging Black turnout looms over Kamala Harris’ campaign, reports POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson and Brakkton Booker. “Driving up Black voter turnout is crucial to Harris’ chances of winning in swing states across the county,” according to Brittany and Brakkton. Even in blue cities like Chicago: Some voters want to hear more on policy. The debate, for example, didn't address immigration (but for the strange pet-eating comment by Donald Trump). “I don't know that there was any real conversation on either side about whether it is a problem or what we're going to do about it,” said Bertina Power after a South Side debate watch party. “There was no plan on either side. He brought it up as a major issue, and she just didn't really address it at all.” If you are Ketajh Brown, 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 | |
| At 305 West Madison Street at 10 a.m. for the Sankofa Village Wellness Center groundbreaking — At Soldier Field at 1:30 p.m. for a Chicago Football Classic press conference.
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| | Where's Toni | |
| At Hoyne Avenue and 143rd Street at noon to announce the completion of the Dixmoor Water Main Infrastructure Improvement Project. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
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| 2024 WATCH | |
— Pritzker tells reenergized Democrats to turn Iowa back to purple with down-ballot votes: “The Illinois governor headlined the Polk County Democrats’ Steak Fry at Des Moines Water Works Park, which drew an estimated 500 guests. The event typically is used to boost down-ballot candidates in contested races such as Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Pritzker told reporters before the event he was ‘very confident’ Iowa voters can flip some of the state’s four congressional seats — all held by Republicans,” by the Des Moines Register’s Marissa Payne. — What a second Trump term would mean for Chicago: “Local government and big cities would be big losers under Trump,” former Mayor Lori Lightfoot tells Ted McClelland of Chicago magazine. — In IL-11, Jerry Evans will be feted at a fundraiser Friday in his bid to unseat Democratic Congressman Bill Foster. Headliners: Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi and her husband Al, along with former Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy and his wife Wanda, and Patricia and Vince Kolber, the former GOP finance chair. Details here — Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett will host a Young Professionals Rooftop Happy Hour at Joy District in Chicago. Crockett was recently named a national co-chair of the Harris-Walz campaign. Details here — Kate Doyle, who’s running for Chicago School Board District 2, has been endorsed by Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th).
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| THE STATEWIDES | |
— Downstate federal trial poses latest test for Illinois gun ban: “A federal judge will consider a challenge to the constitutionality of a law that is almost two years old and has so far withstood a barrage of challenges from gun rights advocates,” by the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner. — Illinois harm reduction organizations await $15M in settlement funding in effort to reduce opioid overdoses: “Providers across the state say they could do much more with additional funding, but getting money from the remediation fund is complicated,” by the Tribune’s Olivia Olander. — A year after end of cash bail, early research shows impact less than many hoped or feared: “Jail populations did go down a bit, and the research suggests that the rate at which people are being released from jail pretrial likely hasn't changed dramatically,” by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock. — In bribery trial, feds allege AT&T boss bribed Madigan with contract for political ally Eddie Acevedo, by Capitol News’ Hannah Meisel — James Jennings has been appointed director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency pending state Senate approval, according to Gov. JB Pritzker’s team. Jennings has been serving as interim director since July and before that was deputy director of the agency.
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| CHICAGO | |
— Mayor Johnson slow on push to put civilians in CPD jobs: “A year ago, the mayor pledged to create 398 civilian positions in his 2024 budget plan. … But as of this month, only 51 of those roles have been filled, according to the city’s budget office,” by the Tribune’s Alice Yin. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Latinos Progresando is releasing an 88-page study on the Mexican population in Chicago. Interesting bullet point: Chicago’s Mexican population is younger than all other racial and Latino groups and comprises nearly 25 percent of city residents under 40, according to the group. — Mayoral aide Kennedy Bartley has called on aldermen to apologize about her past controversial comments, by ABC 7’s Sarah Schulte — Chicago saw just one bicyclist killed this year — but activists say that’s one too many, by the Sun-Times’ Kade Heather — Open House Chicago returns Oct. 19 and 20. List of sites here — Mural celebrates Illinois’ South Side senators: Obama, Braun and Burris, by the Sun-Times’ Genevieve Bookwalter — “The Bear” won big at the Emmys, via Variety
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| COOK COUNTY | |
— Evanston has paid out just over $5M in reparations so far: The funds will be distributed to 141 people directly affected by unfair housing practices, by the Tribune’s Richard Requena.
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| | TAKING NAMES | |
| — Names behind memorial: Illinois billionaire Jennifer Pritzker and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun were early supporters of the $44 million effort to build a World War I memorial, which has finally been unveiled in Washington, by The Washington Post’s Katie Shepherd. — Adam Kinzinger doc ‘The Last Republican’ shows toll of opposing Trump, by The Washington Post’s Jada Yuan — Fred Lebed, of Moore, Lebed Sawyer Public Strategies, was honored at the Croatian Fraternal Union of America’s Annual Award Banquet over the weekend in Lemont. National officers of the Croatian Fraternal Union from around the country attended. — Around the world in 108 days, Chicago to Chicago: Lael Wilcox ends her 18,125 mile trip in 108 days, breaking the previous record of 124 days, by the Sun-Times’ Violet Miller.
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| | Reader Digest | |
| We asked about advice you got that turned out to be bunk. Ian Van Dinther: “Never set a car battery on a concrete floor or it will drain the charge — total nonsense.” Ashvin Lad: “A lobbyist once told me that I ‘need to have enemies ... visible enemies ... because being friends with everyone will be an eventual downfall.’ I'm still trying to understand the rationale.” Gail Morse: “When people say ‘Everyone is out to get you!’ I think that is bunk. Be careful, but most people are just trying their best.” Kathy Posner: “Mark Twain’s advice that ‘20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.’” Mark Rosenberg: “Don’t buy Apple stock! That cost me.” Next question: What one thing instantly makes your day better? Email skapos@politico.com
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| THE NATIONAL TAKE | |
— ‘Springfield, Ohio, is caught in a political vortex, and it is a bit out of control,’ by POLITICO’s Adam Wren — They died with the AC off: Why the government pays for heating but not cooling, by POLITICO’s Thomas Frank — Why Biden’s multibillion-dollar plan to build America’s next tech powerhouses is getting starved, by POLITICO’s Christine Mui and Mohar Chatterjee
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| IN MEMORIAM | |
— Joe Monastero, longtime owner of far North Side Italian restaurant Monastero's, has died at 93, by the Sun-Times’ Mitch Dudek
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| Transitions | |
— Benjamin Kirschner is now a partner in Honigman’s Institutional Real Estate Practice Group in Chicago. He was at Sidley Austin.
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| | TRIVIA | |
| FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jim Nowlan for correctly answering that bartender Mickey Finn was known for slipping knockout drops into patrons’ drinks, then robbing them. It is the origin of the phrase: "slipping someone a mickey.” TODAY’s QUESTION: Who blocked Illinois Gov. Frank Lowden from getting the presidential nomination in 1920? Email skapos@politico.com
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY | |
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Toya Harvey, former Des Plaines Ald. Malcolm Chester, American Medical Association Chief Comms Officer Rodrigo Sierra and Playbooker Marshall Hatlee. And belated greetings to state Sen. Doris Turner, whose birthday was Saturday. -30- |
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