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| By Shia Kapos |
Happy Wednesday, Illinois. I’m traveling home today from D.C., where POLITICO celebrated the holidays and a year of hard work.
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 | TOP TALKER | |
| EVERYONE’s TALKING about what Rahm Emanuel might do next. His name is still in the mix as a possible candidate to lead the Democratic National Committee, and some folks in Chicago wonder if he might return home to work in the corporate world until a political job opens up — maybe the U.S. Senate, should Sen. Dick Durbin not seek reelection. And then there’s this: Political commentators Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer and Dan Turrentine spent five minutes on “The Morning Meeting” podcast Tuesday theorizing that the outgoing ambassador to Japan and former Chicago mayor could run for president in 2028. (What would Gov. JB Pritzker say?) Turrentine’s take: “Rahm Emanuel is tough. He is unafraid to pick a fight. He is unafraid to get in your face.” The commentator compared Emanuel to President-elect Donald Trump and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have an “authenticity” about them because “they’re fighters.” Big question: “Which of these would be Rahm’s biggest weakness in a primary nomination: his record in Chicago, opposition from the progressive wing of the party, being Jewish or his personality?” The answer, Halperin said, “is opposition from the progressive wing of the party, which relates in part to his record in Chicago.” RELATED Opinion: The road back to power for Democrats: “Democrats have been here before. The road back out of the wilderness begins with messengers and messages that meet the moment,” by Rahm Emanuel in The Washington Post. News: Emanuel says it was a mistake the 2008 financial crisis ended without bankers facing 'Old Testament justice,’ by Business Insider’s Brent D. Griffiths
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| THE BUZZ | |
MIGRANT MOVES: Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is spreading the word on his social media channels to calm fears about deportations ahead of Trump taking office again. What could happen: The president-elect has vowed to execute mass deportations and to expand raids on workplaces to identify and apprehend undocumented immigrants. Garcia responds: “I know that there is a lot of uncertainty right now about what may happen to our immigrant communities when the Trump administration begins, but many people are with you,” Garcia says in Spanish on X, Facebook and Instagram. Civics lesson: The Chicago Democrat also reminded residents that Chicago and Illinois have sanctuary status, which means local law enforcement is limited in helping federal agents execute immigration searches. Garcia’s office doesn’t provide legal service, but he did encourage residents to call for guidance on where to get such information. If you are Rahm Emanuel, 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 | |
No official public events
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| Where's Toni | |
No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com
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| You read POLITICO for trusted reporting. Now follow every twist of the lame duck session with Inside Congress. We track the committee meetings, hallway conversations, and leadership signals that show where crucial year-end deals are heading. Subscribe now. |
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| WHERE'S LORI | |
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 President Joe Biden, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Amy Eshleman gathered at the White House on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. | Selfie by Joe Biden |
— SPOTTED: Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and her wife, Amy Eshleman, attended a White House holiday party with President Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon. “Bittersweet for sure, but so happy to be able to thank @POTUS in person for his service and being a true patriot,” Lightfoot posted on X. At the party, she and Eshleman got close with Biden for a selfie, but Eshleman struggled with taking the photo, Lightfoot said. That prompted Biden to say, “Give me that camera. I know how to do this.” On-the-go: Lightfoot and Eshleman returned to Illinois in time for the Economic Club of Chicago gathering with businesswoman Mellody Hobson and superstar Queen Latifah as headliners. “And then we crashed [Congresswoman] Robin Kelly’s staff party — at her invitation of course,” Lightfoot said. “It has been a whirlwind.”
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| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | |
| — Electors cast official votes for president: “Harris, Walz take Illinois’ 19 electoral votes,” by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock (with video!) — First in Playbook: The Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Training Academy announced its 2025 class. Here’s the list. — Opinion: Competent governance is a good political strategy: Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias touts his office’s work to reduce wait times at the DMV, saying, “It may not transform people’s lives, but it can begin to push back against the destructive narrative that ‘government doesn’t work,’” via the Tribune.
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| THE STATEWIDES | |
— 10 new laws coming to Illinois, including one making it easier to cancel your gym membership, by the State Journal-Register’s Tom Ackerman. — Sangamon County sheriff details new hiring procedures in wake of Sonya Massey murder, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie — Mystery drones are being seen some places. Can you shoot one down in Illinois? “The FAA says shooting any aircraft, including drones, is illegal,” by the State Journal-Register’s Tom Ackerman. — Grubhub to pay $25M in deceptive practices settlement with Illinois attorney general and the FTC, by The Associated Press’ John O’Connor — Chicagoan of the Year in Theater: Tim Rater leads Paramount Theatre in transforming Aurora’s downtown, by the Tribune’s Chris Jones
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| CHICAGO | |
— Strained City Council relationships a cost of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget: “The chaotic two-month negotiation over the city budget is now over. But the pile of criticism it ended with might be an omen for Johnson. Aldermen increasingly think he indeed does not have the answers, and instead of following the City Hall convention of looking to the Fifth Floor to chart Chicago’s course, they could instead start looking inward,” by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan and A.D. Quig. — Opinion: Will Mayor Johnson learn from his budget fiasco? “Fixing his Springfield operation ought to be job one on Johnson’s to-do list. Right after that is starting immediately, as in now, to identify and lop off the excess spending that clearly exists in city government, even if that means ticking off a few union bosses. Ditto re-establishing relationships with aldermen,” by Crain’s Greg Hinz and John Pletz. — Chicago Film Office leader out of job at city’s cultural department: “Jonah Zeiger had led the Film Office since 2022. His is the latest in a series of high-profile DCASE departures since March,” by WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers. — Principals and new school board members call for transparency by the teachers union, by the Tribune’s Nell Salzman and Sarah Macaraeg — Class action housing suit filed: Mac Properties is accused of systemically discriminating against voucher holders looking to rent in Mac’s newer, high-rise apartments in Hyde Park and steering them toward less attractive properties, by the Sun-Times’ Abby Miller. — Tap water in Chicago, suburbs, may soon look discolored: “It's all part of a change to how Chicago is treating its tap water, with efforts to reduce lead in drinking water,” via NBC 5. — Demolition starts at former E2 nightclub building where 21 people died in a stampede, by the Sun-Times’ Kade Heather
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| COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | |
— Sheriff Tom Dart plans to scrap decades-old electronic monitoring program over safety concerns: “More than 1,500 people are in the program, including more than 100 facing charges of murder or attempted murder. Dart says he thinks the program should be for people charged with lower-level crimes. He’s negotiating with Chief Judge Timothy Evans to handle all of the county’s electronic monitoring cases after April 1,” by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main and Matthew Hendrickson. — You won’t be able to use Kennedy Expressway reversibles until mid-January, by the Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke
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| POLITICO Pro's unique analysis combines exclusive transition intelligence and data visualization to help you understand not just what's changing, but why it matters for your organization. Explore how POLITICO Pro will make a difference for you. |
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| Reader Digest | |
We asked how you celebrate a birthday that butts up to a holiday. Daniel Goldwin: “My family has birthdays around Passover. Since we cannot eat bread on Passover, nothing says “Happy Birthday” like a flourless chocolate cake!” Joan Pederson: “No two-fers: either everyone in the family gets both birthday presents (regardless of date) AND holiday presents, or no one does. And don't wrap birthday presents in holiday paper.” Enza Raineri: “My son’s birthday is a week before Christmas so we have a family dinner and then on Christmas Day when the entire family gathers we have the big cake!” Emily Spangler: “My dad's birthday is on Christmas, so he gets extra gifts and his favorite kind of cake!” Next question: What recent innovation blew your mind? Email skapos@politico.com
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| KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | |
— Trump pledged to cut taxes for expats. Illinois Republican Darin LaHood wants to make it a reality: “New plan would let Americans abroad choose to join residence-based tax system,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Richard Rubin. — Illinois Democrats push to accomplish a slew of last-minute goals as President Joe Biden’s era ends, by Daniel C. Vock for the Tribune — Sen. Tammy Duckworth — a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation — joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to celebrate the new finalized rule to expand the rights of passengers with disabilities in air travel. This rule mandates that airlines meet more stringent standards for accommodating Americans who use mobility devices, requiring more training for relevant airline staff and demanding proper accountability for airlines when something goes wrong. Pics! — Sen. Dick Durbin received the Frank R. Lautenberg Highway Safety Leadership Award. Pic! — Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03) was named a changemaker for her advocacy on immigration issues, via Business Insider’s Rafael Bernal.
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| THE NATIONAL TAKE | |
— ‘Ticking time bomb’: U.S. officials worry about ISIS jailbreak in Syria, by POLITICO’s Robbie Gramer and Paul McLeary — Trump is already delivering on his promise to go after the press, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein — Former surgeon general reacts to United Healthcare CEO’s killing, by Joanne Kenen for POLITICO
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| TRANSITIONS | |
— Delio Calzolari is now Intergovernmental affairs officer in Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos’ office. Calzolari was the Forest Preserves of Cook County director of legislative and governmental affairs. — Andrew Mamo is now a practitioner in residence at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. He previously was comms director for Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-Wis.) re-elect. — Terrence Johnson has been tapped by Mayor Brandon Johnson to serve as a volunteer member of the Chicago Community Development Commission. In his day job, he’s executive director of Greenwood Archer Capital nonprofit.
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| | TRIVIA | |
| TUESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Mary Kay Minaghan for correctly answering that Ray Rayner (born Rahner), who starred in various Chicago television shows from 1953-1981, dug escape tunnels at Stalag Luft III as part of the Great Escape during WWII. TODAY’s QUESTION: Which Chicago "L" line has the fewest stations and what are their names? Email skapos@politico.com
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY | |
New Trier Township Supervisor Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg, Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia Legislative Assistant Naomi Lake, former Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan and Playbooker Sarah Willson. -30- |
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