Good Monday morning, Illinois. Thanks for sharing your college memories in today’s Reader’s Digest.
TOP TALKER
Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, speaks during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. | Julia Nikhinson/AP
PLAYBOOK Q&A: The national Teamsters union decided not to endorse in the presidential race, but that hasn’t stopped local chapters from taking sides. Teamsters Joint Council 25, which represents Illinois and a portion of Indiana, was quick to announce its support for Kamala Harris. But concerns remain about the impact of the national organization's non-endorsement.
We talked to Pasquale Gianni, a spokesman for the local chapter, about why it’s backing Harris and how it’s approaching the campaign without national support.
Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity:
Why did the local chapter decide to endorse?
Donald Trump was “hostile” to unions, Gianni said. “His appointees and policies were very much anti-union. There’s been an absolute turn in the current administration. We have a more friendly labor board. So where some folks might be looking at who a president might be appointing to the Supreme Court, in our line of work, it's vitally important who they might be appointing to the NLRB,” he said, referring to the National Labor Relations Board.
Are you disappointed that the national organization didn’t endorse?
“No. We respect the process. What they did was a first of its kind of any labor organization that I’m aware of where there was an inclusive process. Membership was polled,” Gianni said.
What impact will the non-endorsement have on down-ballot races?
“It means there’s going to be a lack of a coordinated national campaign. That’s unfortunate because I have tremendous faith in our political and legislative departments in D.C. They run excellent national campaigns. So, there will be a lack of that. But we’ll certainly be running our own program here.”
Will it be harder to run campaigns?
“That remains to be seen. I think that the country itself is certainly divided, though the political landscape here in Illinois is different,” he said, a nod to the fact that it’s a blue state. “We’re going to do the best we can to run a program that looks at candidates from the top of the ticket all the way down the ballot. And we’ll be trying to assist in the grassroots operations outside of our borders where we’re needed.”
Will it be difficult to sway Trump supporters?
“Perhaps. It’s going to be our job to sell these people on why their pocketbooks should lead them in the direction of voting for the Harris ticket. People are voting for a variety of different reasons. There are social issues. In town halls in downstate Illinois, people are talking about their guns. But it’s going to be our job to really boil down which administration is going to respect their rights as a union member. And their family’s livelihood.”
Is Harris doing a good job appealing to working class voters, especially white men?
“It’s very, very difficult to follow President Biden because he is almost inarguably the most pro-union president since FDR and he makes it a point in just about every speech to pay homage to the labor movement. So, he's a tough act to follow. … I think she would be wise to up the ante on her pro-union rhetoric because those are the people that she needs.”
THE BUZZ
BIG MOVES: Matt Hill has been named the new deputy chief of staff for communications for Gov. JB Pritzker. Playbookers have gotten to know Hill over the past year as the senior director for communications for the Democratic National Convention.
Democratic pedigree: “Hill, who attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, spent the last five years as a senior communications aide for President Joe Biden,” writes the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke.
Hill steps in as Jordan Abudayyeh, the governor’s deputy chief of staff for comms and strategic media, heads out. She’s been with team Pritzker since his 2018 campaign for governor.
Also appointed is Emily Bolton as director of agency communications. She's been comms director for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Bolton steps in as Jason Rubin, who’s been deputy chief of staff for comms and agency strategy, also makes an exit.
Giving props: “Jordan Abudayyeh and Jason Rubin have been essential advisers since Day One of this administration,” Pritzker said in a statement. “While they leave big shoes to fill, I have no doubt that Matt Hill and Emily Bolton will rise to the occasion.”
If you are Sean O’Brien, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com
WHERE'S JB
At the Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center at 1:30 p.m. to mark the completion of the shoreline stabilization project
WHERE's BRANDON
At MHub at 8:30 a.m. for the Chicago Manufacturing Awards Ceremony — At 5843 South Wentworth for the grand opening of The Roux — At 5230 North Lincoln at 5:30 p.m. for the The Haven on Lincoln groundbreaking
Where's Toni
No official public events
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
— Good explainer on the new elected Chicago School Board via Democratic Committeewoman Maggie O'Keefe and CivicMatters. Watch here
THE STATEWIDES
— State agency lacks data to back $6M in unemployment claims, audit finds: “The report from Auditor General Frank Mautino’s office marked the latest criticism of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, which has come under scrutiny over the last few years for how it administered the distribution of unemployment benefits throughout the pandemic,” by the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner.
— Inside Mayor Brandon Johnson’s stunning fight for control of Chicago schools as CTU contract talks stall: “With November elections to Chicago’s first elected school board looming, the mayor’s handling of the situation has emboldened political opponents who see a perfect opportunity to tag him as beholden to the powerful teachers union, where he once worked. The school tempest also threatens to imperil Johnson’s other goals as he tries to get a 2025 budget through a deeply divided City Council,” by the Tribune’s Alice Yin.
— ‘WALK-INs’: Teaches from more than 150 schools across Chicago are holding “walk-ins” today to call for funding for public education as school districts across Illinois face budget shortfalls caused by the expiration of Covid relief funding. It’s part of a national effort in 20 cities in 17 states.
— At The Geraghty: Chicago State University’s 1st Gen Scholarship Gala awarded 2024 Cougar Servant Leadership Awards to the Obama Foundation’s Valerie Jarrett for public service, Intersect Illinois’ John Atkinson for education and equity and Congressman Danny Davis for alumni excellence.
Also in the room: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, CSU’s Zaldwaynaka "Z" Scott, Nielsen IQ North America’s Liz Buchanan, Thresholds’ Mark Ishaug, Cleveland Avenue’s Andrea Zopp, CAN TV’s Darrious Hilmon and Chicago State Foundation Chair John Robak and Executive Director Melanie Sillas. Pic!
— In Chicago: At the Hellenic Museum gala on Saturday, former Donald Trump policy aide George Papadopoulos and his wife, Simona Mangiante, attended along with politico Paul Vallas. Pic!
— In D.C.: State Sen. Mike Simmons, a Chicago Democrat, was at the White House on Friday hosting a “States Convening on Child Care” event with more than 60 legislators from 30-plus states discussing child care affordability and related issues. Pic!
Reader Digest
We asked about the college experience you’ll never forget.
Thom Clark: "The Loyola faculty and student strike to protest the Vietnam War and the march from Loyola up Sheridan Road to the Northwestern stadium for an anti-war rally."
Mike Gascoigne: “Mindy Kaling did a comedy set on the Quad of U. of I. and afterward we got to meet her and get a photograph.”
Daniel Goldwin: “The 1993-94 magical football season of the Wisconsin Badgers. Culminating in a Rose Bowl win over the UCLA Bruins, 21-16!”
Kay Hatcher: “Eating a candy bar and drinking a Tab every night studying, thinking the calories evened out. They didn’t.”
Mark Heffington: “Taking an eight-day, 2.000-mile motorcycle ride from Carbondale to Florida to New Orleans and back to Carbondale during a spring break.”
Kevin Lampe: “Anchoring the news coverage of the 1982 election at WIUM radio at Western Illinois University.”
Dave Lundy: “Staying up for 96 consecutive hours to publish an expose on the cozy endowment connections between the university chancellor, board of trustees, and local Fortune 500 companies in the political journal I founded at Wash U.”
Ed Mazur: “Playing in an intramural basketball game at the U. of Illinois against Dick Butkus.”
Mark Michaels: “Hitchhiking from Penn State on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Philly when a lavender Eldorado stopped, and a man said, 'Get in.' Spent the next two hours riding and having lunch with Muhammad Ali.”
Mark Rosenberg: “Taking my date sailing at University of Iowa and capsizing the boat in very cold water. We later got married. She still hates sailing.”
Andy Shaw: “The chaotic, occasionally violent, preternaturally exhilarating and unforgettable Vietnam War and People’s Park demonstrations in the winter of 1969 at UW Madison, where I luckily met my future wife and lifelong partner.”
Steven Smith: “Streaking. A photo of my backside appeared in the student newspaper.”
Timothy Thomas Jr.: “The moment I first saw the future Mrs. Latasha (Johnson) Thomas in Lincoln Hall Theater during a U.S. History lecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.”
Steve Weiss: “Riding on a silent bus from Navy Pier (when it was U. of Illinois at Chicago) to the L after the JFK assassination.”
Next question: What do you hope to see in the vice presidential debate? Email skapos@politico.com
— Atha Winston is now chief of staff for state Sen. Paul Faraci (52nd). Winston was promoted from district office manager.
— Joel Ebert is now senior manager of events at The Executives' Club of Chicago. He was assistant director of production at the Institute of Politics at University of Chicago.
TRIVIA
FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mary Kay Minaghan for correctly answering that the Chicago Public Schools headquarters were located at a warehouse building at 1819 Pershing Road on the Southwest Side when then-Mayor Richard M. Daley took over the school system.
TODAY’s QUESTION: Who’s the Chicago native who wrote a novel about a family taking an annual road trip to visit their “Awful Grandmother” in Mexico City? Email skapos@politico.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Governor’s Office Public Engagement Director Allison Flood, Bully Pulpit Interactive partner Bradley Akubuiro, Kindle Communications Comms VP Kelly Drinkwine, ASPC Senior Policy Director James Lewis, Schreiber Philanthropy CEO Whitney Smith, CVS Health’s Kelsey Miller, Illinois State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office Chief Deputy Director David Robinson, Playbooker Tim Heneghan and journalist and world traveler Kathy Stephenson.
And belated birthday greetings to financial therapist Carla Nodi, who celebrated Friday.
