| | | |  | | By Shia Kapos | Happy March, Illinois. And Happy Casimir Pulaski Day to all those who celebrate. At the Hideout Thursday: Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi will talk about how his office determines your property tax bill. Tickets here
|  | TOP TALKER | | | 
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will testify before a congressional committee on Wednesday. | Charles Rex Arbogast/AP | WAITING FOR DRAMA: We’re expecting viral moments in Washington this week when President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Tuesday and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other big city mayors appear before a congressional hearing Wednesday. Both are ripe for unpredictability. Consider the diplomatic drama that happened Friday when Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in the Oval Office. Anything can happen. Johnson will join the mayors of New York, Boston and Denver to defend their sanctuary city status while also trying to avoid the Capitol Hill spectacle that embarrassed three Ivy League presidents a little over a year ago. Our home page story is here. Mayors could take a beating: “Republicans will use the Democratic mayors as punching bags to create viral moments to sway public opinion to their side. This is a hearing created to advance Trump’s agenda,” writes the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet. The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee has already hinted as such in an overly dramatized video of the situation on X. There’s a lot on the line for Johnson politically. His performance could give him a boost at a time when his approval ratings are hurting. Those of us who watch the mayor closely know he’s experienced at pivoting from hostile questions and skilled at soaring oratory. Johnson’s message: “I just want to make sure that people understand that [this is] a city that has been established by immigrants and migrants who were formerly enslaved,” he told reporters about what he hopes to relay during the hearing. “It’s the global capital of the world, and we’re going to continue to show up at our very best.” To prepare for the grilling, mayors have enlisted the help of outside attorneys and anyone with insight about testifying before Congress. Johnson turned to two folks he’s sometimes criticized: former Mayors Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot. Lightfoot’s advice comes from her experience working with Republicans. She’s a former federal prosecutor who worked with GOP elected officials — including representing congressional Republicans in two high-profile redistricting cases. The city’s corporate counsel, Mary Richardson-Lowry, is also advising on how to respond to legally sensitive questions. And Johnson said he’s turned to Congressman Danny Davis and former Education Secretary Arne Duncan, too. In a statement, Lightfoot said, “When Chicago leaders are given a national platform, it’s important to combat the cynical and false narratives about our city. Anything I can do to help push back against the Trump Republicans and right-wing media to tell the true story of this great city, I will do. I look forward to talking with Mayor Johnson.” A bright spot for Johnson: He’ll see a friendly face when he sits down. Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) also sits on the committee. RELATED Illinois Dems call Trump's Oval Office blowup with Zelenskyy a 'national disgrace,’ by the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles Chicagoans rally in support of Ukraine after Zelenskyy’s contentious meeting with Trump, by the Tribune’s Adriana Pérez
| | THE BUZZ | | | 
Former Gov. Bruce Rauner, pictured in 2018, tried to cut government while he was in office. | Matt Marton/AP | Former Gov. Bruce Rauner is among Republicans looking at Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency with a bit of nostalgia, uncertainty and caution. In an interview, Rauner acknowledged the challenges of trimming government. “There are all kinds of restrictions and union rules and regulatory rules for what you can do as an executive versus what needs legislative or other approvals, including union approvals and employee approvals,” he said. “It was very, very, very tough to shrink.” Read our story on the home page. Former Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Mitch Daniels of Indiana also have their takes on what Musk and Trump are doing. RELATED Musk’s DOGE moves to cancel leases for federal offices across Illinois, by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos Trump is all-in on DOGE. It’s a political gamble, by POLITICO’s Megan Messerly Chicago scientists reel from Trump funding cuts: 'We are just going to abandon all those discoveries,’ by the Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg — Springfield Urban Forestry Commission members resign: “Trump administration halts $900K grant for tree planting in disadvantaged neighborhoods,” by Karen Ackerman Witter for Illinois Times.
| | WHERE'S JB | | In East Alton at 10:30 a.m. to mark the Wieland factory expansion — At Lewis and Clark Community College at noon to amplify his plan to offer bachelor degrees at select community colleges
| | 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
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump’s funding freeze, will host Lauri Morrison-Frichtl during the president’s speech before Congress on Tuesday. Morrison-Frichtl is executive director of the Illinois Head Start Association, which has been affected by the freeze. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) will bring Eric Rodriguez for Trump’s speech. Rodriguez is a disabled Army veteran who works at the Hines VA Hospital and is concerned about Trump’s cuts to veterans’ services and the rights of unionized federal employees, according to Garcia’s team.
| | TAKING NAMES | | — Gov. JB Pritzker appeared on “The View” on Friday railing against President Donald Trump. Watch it here. And he talked about Democratic messaging here. — Rahm Emanuel, Chicago’s former mayor, was on Bill Maher’s show Friday, giving his two cents on what Democratic mayors should be talking about. Watch here — State Comptroller Susana Mendoza headlined a Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance Political Action Committee benefit the other day in Lincoln Park. Mendoza used the platform to criticize Mayor Brandon Johnson's $830 million borrowing plan that the City Council approved — not-so-subtle signal of her possible interest in challenging the mayor in 2027. In the room: Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita; Alds. Nicole Lee (11th), Ray Lopez (15th), David Moore (17th), Silvana Tabares (23rd), Felix Cardona (31st) and Andres Vasquez (40th); former Ald. Joe Moreno; NBOA President Mike Glasser; BOMA Director of Government Affairs Amy Masters; and Urban Center CEO Juan Rangel.
| | BUSINESS OF POLITICS | | — Gov. JB Pritzker received a few standing ovations at a sold-out for the Democratic Party of DuPage Gala on Sunday. He was introduced by Intersect Illinois Chair John Atkinson. Also in the room: Sen. Durbin, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Illinois Attorney Gen. Kwame Raoul, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and numerous congressional Democrats, including Robyn Kelly, Sean Casten, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Bill Foster, Delia Ramirez and Chuy Garcia. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Personal PAC, the Illinois reproductive rights advocacy group, is out with its endorsements for the April 1 consolidated elections. “These city, county, and school board officials influence funding decisions for clinics, sexual health education, public health initiatives, and so much more,” Personal PAC CEO Sarah Garza Resnick said in a statement. The list is here. — Darby Hills chosen — again — to succeed Dan McConchie in state Senate: To settle a legal complaint about the first selection process, the Republican committee went through it all again, by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau.
| | THE STATEWIDES | | — Illinois bill aims to add more oversight of homeschooling: “An Illinois lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require families to tell their public school districts if they are homeschooling,” by Capitol News’ Molly Parker and Beth Hundsdorfer — Supreme Court declines to review Carbondale abortion clinic ‘bubble zone’ ordinance: “The case could have overturned similar protections nationwide,” by the Saluki Local Reporting Lab’s Carly Gistand. — Sean Grayson’s attorneys seek change of venue in Sonya Massey case, by the Illinois Times’ Dean Olsen — Major construction underway on I-55 near Springfield, by the State Journal Register’s Tom Ackerman
| | CHICAGO | | — Chicago Loop Alliance expands 2025 programming and drive more foot traffic into the Loop, by the Sun-Times’ Abby Miller — ‘The Bear,’ ‘Dark Matter’ are filming in town. But Chicago’s Film Office has no leader, by WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers
| | COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS | | — Cook County’s conviction integrity unit repeatedly denied freedom to incarcerated people who were later cleared: “Despite its celebrated record of exonerating more people than any comparable unit nationwide, an Injustice Watch investigation found 21 people who were denied relief by the group before flawed evidence later led to their exonerations,” by Injustice Watch’s Dan Hinkel. — Bears resume studies for potential redevelopment of Arlington Park, by the Daily Herald’s Christopher Placek — Fear of ICE arrests keeping customers at home, immigrant-owned businesses in Aurora say: ‘The streets were so lonely,’ by the Tribune’s Molly Morrow
| | HIGHER-ED | | — Northwestern University to get visit from federal antisemitism task force: “The task force was created following Donald Trump’s executive order on ‘Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,’” by the Sun-Times’ Cindy Hernandez.
| | Reader Digest | | We asked what buzzwords have to go. Robert Christie: “‘Bandwidth,’ as in I’m not sure we have the bandwidth to get the job done. Just a cop-out for saying you lack the energy or know how to complete the task. That word needs to go.” John Engle: "’Forcing function.’ Heard it used many times, but virtually never correctly.” Mark Fowler: “‘Circle back’ clangs in my ears.” Donna Gutman: “It’s a tie between ‘core competency’ and ‘low hanging fruit.’” Charles Keller: “‘Reach out.’ How about we just call them instead?” Josh Moderman: “‘RIF.’ Call it what it is…mass layoffs.” Jeff Nathan: “DOGE.” Demi Palecek: “Thought leadership’ or ‘smart casual.’ If you say either of those I already know you don't know how to save a PDF without yelling at your staff and your LinkedIn is cringe.” Omari Prince: “Robust ... It's the most overused word in Springfield.” Ebony Scott-Anderson: “If I hear ‘holding space’ or ‘emotional labor’ one more time, I might need someone to hold space for me while I process the emotional labor of not committing a heinous crime.” Scott Simon: “‘Stakeholders.’ An inflated phrase that obliterates meaning — and is probably meant to. And ‘bad actors.’ Nicholas Cage used to be considered a bad actor. Now the phrase is used to mean any person or group who does something nefarious.” Myk Snider: “Buzzword.” Next question: What brand are you loyal to and (briefly) why? Email skapos@politico.com
| | IN THE SPOTLIGHT | | — EVERYTHING IS POLITICS: “Anora,” the dramedy about a young sex worker and a Russian oligarch’s son, was the runaway winner at last night’s Academy Awards ceremony, winning five Oscars, including best picture. “‘Anora’ is having a good night,” host Conan O'Brien told the audience. “I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian.”
| | THE NATIONAL TAKE | | — Why Mike Johnson will struggle to keep his promises, by POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill — Centrist Dem group rails against leftist identity politics and purity tests, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren — Murkowski rebukes Trump over Ukraine: ‘Walking away from our allies,’ by POLITICO’s Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing
| | IN MEMORIAM | | — Mary Carol Vanecko, sister of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, has died: She was “fiercely proud of her family's contributions to the city,” via CBS 2’s Adam Harrington. Here’s the obit.
| | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jim Nowlan for correctly answering that the first president that Abraham Lincoln met in person was Martin Van Buren in 1842. TODAY’s QUESTION: What was the name and eventual route number of the first transcontinental highway in the U.S., which ran across all of Illinois? Email skapos@politico.com
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY | | Hotel & Lodging Association CEO Michael Jacobson, Cook County Assessor chief of staff Scott Smith, Irish Fellowship Club Executive Director Kathy Taylor, Blue Plate Chicago CEO Jim Horan, The Hill Bar and Kitchen Group’s Molly Higgins Cassin and photographer Diane Alexander White -30- | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | |
