| | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy Monday, Illinois. Congrats to the Eagles on the big win.
|  | TOP TALKER | | SCOOP: A new issue advocacy effort "focused on ensuring that integrity, transparency and competence remain central to leadership and policy making in Springfield and City Hall" has launched with a digital ad attacking Mayor Brandon Johnson and left-leaning aldermen. Who's in charge: Common Ground Collective is led by Chuck Swirsky, who will serve as executive director. Swirsky is the former senior adviser to the Chicago Public Schools CEO and most recently accused the Chicago Teachers Union’s of “hateful antisemitism” on his social media accounts. In a statement to POLITICO, Swirsky didn’t mention antisemitism specifically but said Common Ground Collective will work to "protect the city and state from extremist policies that focus on division and threaten the economic well-being of hard working families." Swirsky’s take: Illinois needs to “recenter conversations around issues that can help us emerge from the multiple crises we face, and hold leaders accountable who continue to push personal agendas that ultimately harm our communities and institutions,” he said in his statement. It's a targeted campaign: Swirsky has also worked on political campaigns for members of Congress and was the longtime campaign manager for Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut — so he’s well-familiar with how a targeted issue campaign works. Common Ground Collective has already launched an ad focusing on several Chicago aldermen who Swirsky says, “have supported extremist policies at the expense of prioritizing solutions to address our city’s various real crises.” One ad reads: “Chicago is in a crisis: budget crisis, violence crisis, education crisis, transit crisis. Mayor Brandon Johnson is in over his head. And Ald. [Daniel] La Spata has his back, not ours.” The ad also urges voters to call the alderman and “tell him to show some courage and stand up to Mayor Johnson.” See the ad here. Common Ground Collective is a 501(c)4 that could launch an independent expenditure in the future that would help boost candidates. "We will be well funded and prepared to have this effort make a difference,” said Swirsky who also serves as board president alongside Paul Rosenfeld, a Democratic insider whose wife, Ellen Rosenfeld, was elected to the school board after a bitter campaign.
| | THE BUZZ | | HENRY HYDE'S NAME: The DuPage County Board is considering a resolution at that would change the name of the Henry J. Hyde Judicial Office Facility to the Judicial Office Facility, stripping Hyde’s name from the title. Hyde is the late Illinois congressman and abortion-rights opponent who’s known for the Hyde Amendment, which bars the government from helping fund abortions. The reason: “While Congressman Hyde was a well respected Republican elected official, the Hyde Amendment is very offensive to women,” said Board Chair Deb Conway, who’s behind the resolution. “Women who cannot afford private insurance should not have less access to health care.” During her campaign for the board, Conway told the Daily Herald she would remove Hyde’s name from the court building. Conway is a Democrat who previously served in the Illinois House. Her resolution has drawn scrutiny from Jeanne Ives, a Republican who also served in the Illinois House. In her Breakthrough Ideas email, Ives called the resolution “mean-spirited,” noting it follows President Donald Trump’s executive order Enforcing the Hyde Amendment. The DuPage County Republican Party posted a message on its Facebook page urging residents to tell board members to reject the measure.
| | WHERE'S JB | | At 555 West Monroe at 10 a.m. to sign Karina’s Law that protects survivors of domestic violence
| | WHERE's BRANDON | | No official public events
| | Where's Toni | | No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com
| | | | We’ve re-imagined and expanded our Inside Congress newsletter to give you unmatched reporting on Capitol Hill politics and policy -- and we'll get it to your inbox even earlier. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | IN THE SPOTLIGHT | | — ALL THE GLAMOUR: Saturday’s Equality Illinois gala offered up glittery sequins, an open bar and a celebratory mood. Check out the parade of politicos here. But the party chit-chat at the Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue also was dark. Guests trashed President Donald Trump’s executive orders to upend diversity, equity and inclusion programs. They criticized Republicans’ support for cuts to social service programming. And they shook their heads at Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller’s dig at the trans community. “It was vile,” said Precious Brady Davis, a transgender elected official who sits on the water board. She was referring to a floor debate in which Miller yielded her time to "the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride,” a reference to Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress. The mood shifted to action when Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker took the stage. The rallying cry: “We must close ranks and fight. Your allies, our allies who talk a good game when it’s easy, have to steel themselves for battle now,” said Pritzker, who received an extended standing ovation before making his remarks. “I will fight like hell for you. When Donald Trump comes for our LGBTQ+ community, I will do everything in my power as governor, as a human being, to stand in the way to block him.” Johnson gave an equally powerful speech that was interrupted numerous times by applause from the 1,300-plus guests. “I’m hoping this evening reinvigorates and reassures and re-energizes us for the future,” said the mayor. The event raised more than $1.1 million for Equality Illinois. RELATED Lurie Children’s Hospital pauses gender care surgeries for those younger than 19, by WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch Illinois among 19 states sue Trump, Treasury to halt DOGE access, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Emily Ngo Illinois joins in accusing Trump administration of continuing to block federal climate funding, by POLITICO’s Nicole Norman and Blanca Begert Republican response: Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi urged Pritzker to “get out of the way” of the White House efforts, saying the governor’s “relentless attacks on the Trump administration have alienated federal partners, jeopardized critical funding opportunities and left Illinois taxpayers holding the bag,” according to a statement,” via WBBM’s Hayley Hansen. Pritzker pokes at Trump: The governor had some fun by poking at Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. With his tongue firmly implanted in his cheek, Pritzker said Lake Michigan should be renamed Lake Illinois. Watch his “special announcement” here.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Behind-the-scenes staff acrimony mirrors public tension between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker: Anne Caprara, the governor’s chief of staff, pulled out of planning meetings with chiefs of staff of the mayor and Cook County Board President Tony Preckwinkle after the Springfield battle over hemp. It indicates “Pritzker was chapped at Johnson for working against the governor’s hemp tax proposal, but also portends that conflict could persist between the two Democratic leaders as they try to repel President Donald Trump’s agenda and tackle other issues facing both the city and state,” by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig and Alice Yin. — Head Start headaches: Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Tammy Duckworth addressed concerns about the effects of federal cuts will have on Head Start programs. They made their point Saturday at the Two Rivers Head Start Agency. Duckworth said “the uncertainty” is prompting some Head Start providers to consider pulling out of the program. — Massey family, Sangamon County reach agreement to $10M settlement, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie — Happening today: Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs and JPMorganChase will unveil a reproduction of a ledger that contains records of Abraham Lincoln’s banking activity ahead of the former president’s birthday on Wednesday.
| | CHICAGO | | — Chicago restaurant workers prepare as ICE arrests cast fear, uncertainty over industry: “Restaurant owners are preparing alongside workers and their advocates. One of those restaurateurs posted a ‘Know Your Rights’ flyer in his kitchen. Another chef said he was keeping a binder of talking points at the front door of his restaurant of what to say if ICE agents tried to enter,” by the Tribune’s Zareen Syed and Talia Soglin. — Immigration advocates rally in Little Village in response to Trump administration sweeps, by the Sun-Times’ Jessica Ma — Chicago to be home of global Covid-19 monument to honor victims, frontline workers, by Joanna Marszałek for the Sun-Times — The United Center hasn’t been served by a Pink Line station since it opened. Could redevelopment plans change that? The Tribune’s Sarah Freishtat reports.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — CTA not liable in death of woman who tried to retrieve cellphone from tracks in 2019, appeals court rules, by the Sun-Times’ Mary Norkol — Soldier from Chicago gets 9 years in prison for trafficking guns that fueled South Side gang war, by the Sun-Times’ Frank Main
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — BUSINESS OF POLITICS: Democrats far outspent GOP rivals in suburban U.S. House races — none more than Raja Krishnamoorthi, by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau — ‘Yeah, I gave him the finger’: Campton Hills trustee in hot water again over zoning flap, by Shaw Local’s Brenda Schory — MWRD, Forest Preserves are partnering in a flood control study focused on the southeast suburbs, by the Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Former Gov. Pat Quinn is calling for new laws to change the petition drive process to address ethics issues in government. “It’s long overdue,” Quinn told a gathering for the League of Women Voters of Illinois' annual Issues Briefing. He hopes the pending verdict for former House Speaker Michael Madigan on corruption charges spurs lawmakers to act. “Illinois shouldn’t be the laughing stock because of corruption in government,” he said. — U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and The Chicago Community Trust’s Marisa Novara will be honored next month at the Neighborhood Housing Services gala. Details here — Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey was inducted Saturday into Saint Louis University Law School’s Order of the Fleur de Lis.
| | | | A new era in Washington calls for sharper insights. Get faster policy scoops, more congressional coverage, and a re-imagined newsletter under the leadership of Jack Blanchard. Subscribe to our Playbook Newsletter today. | | | | | | | Reader Digest | | We asked who your first guest would be if you were a late-night talk show host. Matthew Beaudet: “Matthew McConaughey. He’s a straight shooter but a caring dude too.” Bea Campos Cottrell: “Barack Obama, of course.” Mimi Cowan: “Christy George talking about the crazy behind-the-scenes events of the Democratic National Convention.” Janyce Eviston: “Gov. JB Pritzker.” Charles Keller: “Economist Thomas Sowell.” Alison Slovin: “Noa Tishby and Emmanuel Acho, who wrote The New York Times best-seller ‘Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew.’” James Straus: “Taylor Swift, of course.” John Straus: “Barack Obama.” Ian Tobin: “My favorite presidential historian, Heather Cox Richardson. She can help contextualize where we are and how the hell we got here.” Next question: Do you still use pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters? Email skapos@politico.com
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Trump says he has directed US Treasury to stop minting new pennies, citing rising cost, by The Associated Press — Inside the House GOP clash over tax cuts, by POLITICO’s Benjamin Guggenheim and Meredith Lee Hill — As Trump steamrolls Washington, courts flex their power to slow him down, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Joe Noonan for correctly answering that Bertha Palmer, whose husband Potter Palmer built the Palmer House Hilton, is credited with creating the world’s first brownies. Here’s the recipe TODAY’s QUESTION: What two artifacts were added most recently (the same year) to the Tribune Tower facade? Email skapos@politico.com
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