>> Good evening and thanks for joining us on the week in review.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

The pressure on Illinois.

House Speaker Chris Welch isn't going anywhere as questions swirl around whether he'll keep his position.

Is, you know, branches of government.

And I think that that decision will be made by House members.

Governor JB Pritzker calls for greater transparency and improve safeguards against harassment but won't opine on Welch's post.

But an outspoken Democratic lawmaker says she doesn't think a new working group Welsh set up will be credible or effective.

I don't know specifically.

There's the political will to address just the CPS problem.

>> On the heels of the Chicago school board passing a budget counting on unsecured state funding.

Some lawmakers say the only possible way forward is to address needs of school districts statewide.

I am through.

>> 100 in deeply humbled to announce.

I'm running to next mayor.

>> The worst kept secret in politics is out as secretary of state Alexi, Julius announces his bid to lead Chicago and businessman Willie Wilson announces he's running to making a 4th attempt at the mayor's meantime, Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez suits over what he claims are onerous ballot access rules and Chicago's U.S.

attorney says there's no need for a special prosecutor probe of the broad view, 6 rate.

>> And now to our week in review panel.

Joining us are Patrick thanks to not the Illinois's political blog, Laura Washington of the Chicago Tribune and ABC, 7 news, Sherri Shepherd of Axial Chicago and Michael of WBEZ.

Thank you all for being here.

get right to it.

Lots to cover as always.

You know, Laura, the issue of harassment facing House Speaker Chris Welch still firmly in the spotlight in the news this week.

What are you watching for us gauge how likely it is that he retains his speakership?

I'm I'm watching, particularly for the women in legislature and what kinds of positions they're going to take They've been mostly quiet so far.

The roots Republican women been speaking Republicans in general.

you know what happened?

Mike Madigan, the within women's leadership brought him down.

And I think there's going to be more shoes to drop.

That may be more information out there.

Some people, including the governor saying they're waiting to see what more there is before they take a position.

Women have the ability to house Democratic women had the ability vote as a block to replace Welsh tomorrow.

46 out of 78 members.

They can do whatever they want.

Problem is they're split.

>> Most of the Democratic women that I've been speaking to are are frustrated with Welsh.

They're unhappy with this story.

He has a strong group of support from the black women in the House Democratic Caucus.

So at this point, he safe within that group.

The question is what keeps coming out and who steps up?

There's there's no other female candidate that would be emerging at this point.

There's no moderate candidate would be emerging at this point.

There's no black or Latino candidate would be emerging at this point.

No, they say can't beat somebody with nobody.

Absolutely.

But they're also afraid.

I mean, we have an election coming up in November made some some of these people have.

>> They have races that they that they need to win they need know relate better to races.

But if they go across him, then that you could get could eventually later.

he's going to go, you know, try to primary them and 2 or 4 years.

Sure if you remain speaker, he's going to be still very powerful course.

Well, and we saw, you know, the speaker doing the media rounds this week, including apologizing for his own conduct, about communicating with the former staffer pledging to do better, you know, from from what you've seen, does it feel like that that message is getting through that its landing?

Yeah, I mean, as did make a lot of Democrats aren't speaking up with the exception Representative Kelly Cassidy and she actually didn't support his speakership when he was first elected after Michael Madigan.

>> Was forced to step down.

So I mean, maybe other others will speak up.

He, you know, the speaker will upset.

He's embarrassed, but I don't know if the message is getting through.

I don't know actually what other shoe could drop at this point since the you know, the inspector general's report is already out.

It's pretty damning.

and Tribune is still work Jeremy will get yeah.

Sure for sure.

So, yeah.

I mean, I think again, the speaker still should probably be looking and seeing what's happening in.

>> To Lawrence coin of like he's still very powerful.

He did give bent in 1.4 million dollars to get him re-elected after these allegations first surfaced in 2023.

So.

>> let's be clear.

He saved.

in 2024 point had been down to get Shanahan in early October in 2024, he's been a million dollars on broadcast TV in the last couple of weeks of that election to say that by about 2000 votes, he didn't just like overlook what happened or or or spend a little bit of money on one of his members.

He went out of his way to save a member of the he knew this about of people.

There are people inside that caucus that are not going to forget the well.

And the question is, what was his motivation for doing that, right?

He says it was labor.

labor was behind him.

A keyboard to keep labor happy.

But >> some people labor movement say that's not the case.

There's there's conspiracy theories out there.

may be that knew something that he needed to protect themself about.

but but it it was absurd he's a very sour.

He spent that one love to take back now a median, the sea for him to write.

It was the difference in 78 77.

Right.

And you're still in the super majority in one we heard Mike Governor Pritzker sort of stopping short of weighing in on whether the speaker should keep his job.

Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Similarly, you know, didn't weigh in one way or the other.

You know, that sort of support for Welsh perhaps eroding or is this just them kind of staying out of the House representatives business?

I think it's in trying to stay ahead of the House of Representatives business.

>> I mean, you got to think the governor, maybe there's something that could hit him with this whole controversy.

He needs Welch and really tough time for him to backtrack now.

into to your point about the African-American legislators and African American voters.

>> going want to do anything to unsettled look like he's going after criticizing the first black in the country, not just in Illinois, what you know, and Kerry were talking a little bit about representative, you know, Cassidy declining to join Welch is working group essentially saying she's worried it's a PR stunt.

She was also, you know, one of the people out front early on, you know, pushing against Speaker Madigan.

I mean, what did you make of her comments about that harassment working group?

Yeah, I mean, I think a working group just just as it is in the private sector.

We always are a little skeptical that any change is gonna come from it.

I mean, you know, so I didn't super surprise me since as you noted, you know, as we talked about, she hadn't supported him before.

>> So if he's going whether she's going to get more Democrats from the Women's caucus to join remains to be seen.

I mean, I don't think that the mayor has much to gain from calling for Welsh is well step down.

It will what remains to be seen.

What the governor has to as ugly as we get closer November.

If it's going to hit him, he's probably going to make some sort of moved to call for his head to step down.

Going to be very interesting to see if anything else comes out about this.

But doesn't feel like this story is going away necessarily any time soon.

Another bit of business in Springfield, State lawmakers have and getting a lot of questions over the past week after the Chicago school voted to pass a budget that includes 150 million dollars in expected state funding that they want to see past in the veto session.

Patrick, any measure needs a three-fifths majority to pass with immediate effect in November.

You know, is there any path forward given that steep hurdle to mix metaphors?

0, 0, at this point, right?

0 chance that there's just magic 150 million dollars for the first EPS tickets.

>> The gets past during veto session.

One, there's already an issue inside the statehouse with CPS.

They they get more money per pupil than any other school district in the state.

was a kid in Chicago worth more than a kid in Vienna.

That's in Southern Illinois they have.

25 times enrollment.

Probably part of it, right.

But for people, right her people spend it right or or Springfield or what cities anymore like that, right?

Cps gets way more parking than everyone else.

>> And to just throw more money at them is not going to get support from Republicans or Democrats at this point.

So if the speaker is going to have to make this a Christmas tree to put a whole bunch of school spending on too.

The suburbs and downstate and try and make his members happy that price tag.

It's really high really fast to the tune of 750 million, a billion dollars.

Where does that money come from?

You talk about a general tax increase at that point.

Either income tax or corporate tax increase and good luck finding the votes that know of course be.

The speaker says he never he never heard anything but a number.

never put a number on his commitment.

The 150 million or anything else.

And he said he would work to try to get more funding would to use around.

he's surely heard.

Yeah he never promised yet, but he's he's he's being used now as a by to you and see to use taken, take, taken him out there, making him their their their symbol for >> their costs.

And that's the cost of doing that for political cover would be to you saying help me?

Sure.

My base because I've got political problems.

And if he doesn't come through for them and he has a whole new problem with a big part of his constituency and in African-Americans and progresses.

And that gets him in even hotter water.

If we get into 2027 now.

>> Well, turning to some city news, the the mayor's race is not until Feb.

You're the mayor's election, I should say isn't until February, but we get new entrance every day to more this week Alexi Giannoulias and Willie Wilson.

How do you see that?

The state of the race for Chicago, as you said in your intro, no big surprise lead to one of the The state of the race is elected to do.

General perceived as a for is a frontrunner along with Brennan.

Just assuming Brandon Johnson runs.

>> Wilson is the sport I'm running for mayor.

I think he's perceived and could be a spoiler for Brandon Johnson in particular because he has strong base in African American community.

The last 3 elections, he's gotten around 10%.

You can probably get that much again.

And that's going to come right Brandon Johnson tied.

>> It's interesting talking about, you know, yes, as a frontrunner, you know, a lot of folks point to his political war chest, which is, you know, play But, you know, we saw in the Senate race that Raja Krishnamoorthi had a huge can cash advantage and it didn't end up, you know, working to his benefits.

Absolutely.

So can see this story play out all over again.

And other similarity is that he's starting so early.

>> As you say, months out, spending a lot of money up front with same thing that Krishnamoorthi did a lot to try to define himself.

In meantime, some of his opponents include particularly to threatens, held back and and and waited until the right time, which was cause public going to be early next year to really come in.

So he may be starting to early.

May burn out too fast.

It let's be clear.

The front runner didn't win the last couple.

actions and Willie Wilson played a role in that as well.

He, you know, helped Lori Lightfoot get past.

You know, Toni Preckwinkle of it.

So, you know, it remains to be seen.

Obviously frontrunners.

We equate with huge war chest at this point because Julius has a big they're going to be a lot of questions about authenticity because I know you do it since 2005.

>> Covered his first race for treasures race for U.S.

Senate.

He's come back in 2021.

He has never used the kind of progressive language that he's been using in the last few days.

And if that doesn't come across as authentic with voters like Brandon Johnson came across as authentic with his very progressive messaging voters are going to see through that no matter whether you have 22 million dollars in the bank or 2 million dollars or $2.

And the bank credits it's so so he's gonna have to really find a way in.

And there's there's been a few cases in the interviews he's done in the last few days where there hasn't been a lot of there there.

So he's really going to have to try and find a message that people can relate to and think Israel other than well.

Here's just another politician.

Talk about one of things I think he's trying to do is be mama.

Ask that he played basketball for the millionth time.

>> Plus, Stephen, the way he's even Laura he's got out now, it's like, you know, very Your finest, uplifting and, >> you know, like you say, though, that there's not much meat on those bones.

just a lot of rhetoric.

But do know how popular Willie Wilson is, too, with those big gas giveaways, not just in the city and Glover Yeah.

I mean, you know, working working poor people.

They know maybe can relate to him in.

>> They define him off right.

he'd have to do that.

So, you know, I just though took a laid-back type of person.

How aggressive are they going to get to the really want this varies?

Wilson are you know yeah.

Well, in the other question about authenticity, I mean, says, of course, running for re-election as secretary of state while he's also running for mayor.

>> You do voters care about that double dipping or is it just crashed journalists and political watchers which they about this idea it nobody cared.

Now it's getting get out there.

But, you know, people I think people really even understand the system.

Well, enough to.

>> realize what's going with that.

It's a lot of questions online.

I saw when Politico reported it, you know, like we can he do that.

But as we saw Airbus, who is now the congressional candidate, you know, the night like?

>> just didn't seem to bother people, even now they have to a special election in Evanston.

So, yeah, should they care?

Probably.

But I don't know if they even know I've been told, but that they're pulling both statewide and in the city.

Voters understand And if Republicans had any real presence on that.

>> On the statewide ballot instead candidate, you've never heard of that as $1800 They could make it an issue.

In fact, they should probably find a real Republican and, you know, with some name ID and with some fundraising capacity, put him on the ballot, make it a thing over the next 3 months.

Because right now it's just a waste of time.

But what I find really interesting is this exam and dozes making it issue of this with Giannulli is but the even though she did it time there's even a river that 2019?

Yeah.

red for the in 2019, not the not the double dipping, right, but she but she's for are forgotten that you get that.

after the election by everybody, he right.

>> And of course, we may have no other candidates likely Cook County Treasurer, Maria Pappas, you know, announcing after like I did write to several people who are doing that.

Yes, it's going to quickly students quickly, but remembered absolutely would be replaced by special election do.

would be replaced by appointment governor says the mess of an off cycle elections but keeps itself rights immigration related news this week, Mike, the state of Indiana is suing the town of Merrillville for trying to bar any new immigration facilities.

What are the details there?

>> Well, just just a full focus on northwest Indiana.

Historically Democratic areas.

So mayor of bedroom, retail community.

>> Indiana, the very red state, they have a law that requires communities to cooperate with ICE and Department of Homeland Security.

Well, just was looking for warehouses immigration detention center.

They looked at some several large ones in Merrillville Marable says, you know, this you don't want this here.

So they pass a resolution back in January, just a resolution, not an ordinance.

They're well aware that a resolution can keep the federal government out.

But the attorney general in Indiana starched Trump supporter Todd Rokita says that it's too interfering with the federal government and now we're going to you and take you to court, even a resolution is to find resolution.

But Marable so far is not backing down.

We really are digging their heels are already digging their heels in there.

People are saying a look at some of the council people saying, well, this is violating our First Amendment rights.

If you look at that point, it is a little troubling in that the Attorney General Todd Rokita describing even residents who have spoken up against an immigration detention center as activists who are resident of the town.

They have a right say whatever they want to say.

So it's interesting to see how far he gets in this.

It's filed in Lee County, Indiana, with a judge there.

So could be tossed out.

We'll see.

And another case that doesn't necessarily seem like the charges might stick.

But nice has threatened.

Cook County Sheriff Tom you know, with charges as well as the >> Hennepin County sheriff who that oversees Minnesota for not allowing agents access into jails to make immigration-related arrests mean.

Lot of legal experts don't necessarily think that they're actually going to fight charges.

But as the sort of indicate the Trump administration's commitment to trying any avenue possible in its push for mass deportation?

Well, absolutely.

We we we see the difference between the state Illinois and Indiana, Indiana.

That happened.

>> You know, another lawsuit filed against the sheriff here, Sheriff Tom Dart is trying to keep the federal government out.

They're going to push back.

How tough?

How far can the age is actually going?

The federal government?

We'll see.

>> Another federal lawsuit, Laura, the Trump administration has been attempting to get access to unredacted data on Illinois voters which a federal judge said is not going to fly.

Do you think the fight ends here?

And this this the case in a number of other states as well.

>> The Trump administration never stops and they did.

They never give up.

So I mentioned that they'll they'll be more pushing back on that.

But I mean, is this a no-brainer the information that they're seeking is private information is kind of, you know, so scary numbers addresses that kind of thing.

Ages is the kind of thing that can be used for many in various reasons.

So it makes sense that information should not be released.

Patrick, election-related federal lawsuit here.

Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez suing the state over the signature requirements for independence to get on the ballot.

Probably a long shot for him to get back on in this current congressional race that he was vying for.

Do you think this suit might make it easier for independence and future cycles.

It should.

I do know that it will.

I also don't know why he's going to federal court for this because it's state gets to mandate the law's for.

>> For ballot access petition signatures and that sort of thing.

So I I'm sure he's going to talk you know, an equal protection sort violation.

But I think if you're the state Board of elections, just show up with Article One Section 4 and say it's our job to enforce this law and see you guys later.

And he's probably done.

question is what Myra Macias does.

I was told for a pretty good source that her petitions had been remedied.

Just after the arbitrary deadline, that state Board of elections placed if she files and circuit court to probably get on the ballot.

And and then that makes things a lot more complicated for Patty Garcia as she's trying to sneak her way into into his office.

And I mean, both of them, you know, they all are insecure Lopez.

They're sort of speaking for all the activists and progressives who say, wait a second, what happened here because many of them see that Garcia sort of hand-picked Patty Garcia, no relation.

>> And that is something that they see as old machine politics.

Laura's covered it for a long time.

She knows it well like, you know.

And so that is see sort of speaking for them.

I think at this point with his with this last month, members of the record just for the record that the independent candidate for Governor Corbett, 5 37,000 signatures to get on about way more than a congressional candidate needs.

So what are they can plan and what you know, but they but that that they they were going to challenge.

I mean, there's there's no one cares about that that race and a daily Bailey spent ton of money yeah, but thing is it, you know?

>> They did.

They care about it because of the wage joint panel this that the law, the law has been there for a long time, right?

Right.

Or even if a long So the so it's it's really not about.

>> The fairness of the independent issue was about what happened, what you them.

>> Well, another another legal matter.

Guess this is the legal section of the Kerry U.S.

Attorney Andrew Boutros acknowledging that mistakes were made and everyone's favorite passive voice prosecuting the broad view 6 but says the special prosecutor isn't necessary says there are reforms under way.

What did you make of that?

So goes back to one of his former TSA is assistant U.S.

attorneys there is you know, allegedly nefarious behavior by her in the broad view, 6 case that, you know, you and I have actually talked to on the show before.

And so Boutros is covering us.

Give a little bit by saying, OK, she left, she's gone.

But no, this didn't go any deeper.

This didn't go any farther.

Well, there has been reports that it did go a little beyond that You know, that's part of why she stepped down.

yeah, I don't expect him to say yes, come in and investigate my office deeper.

Not many people do invite know, who knows?

It could be You know, we've got a federal judge expected to rule on this issue later this month.

I mean, given some of the court setbacks that that Boutros in his office have faced, do you think their arguments are going to carry the day here in a normal world?

Boutros should be big trouble.

>> Right.

But the Department of Justice is anything but normal right And it's all about loyalty it in and he was prosecuting people who were disloyal or or or aggravating to to the Trump administration.

So there's whether he's a Trump supporter or not.

There's certainly going to be a less of a level of scrutiny there, right or wrong.

That's not how the DOJ usually works.

And that's that that may help him in the >> All Switching gears very much so we do with it.

The lettuce is safe yet or not.

We sure hope it But Mike, I mean, the cyclists prices outbreak now in 15 states.

You talked with the man who didn't just get sick with the illness.

There is some lasting fallout.

Tell us about that story.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Edgar Mercado, 50 year-old from Jefferson Park Area got sick about a month ago.

Want to talk about with this 14 year-old son couple of days later started getting really sick, better written.

look, I know the dinner time.

So it got to very careful about it.

He got sick was diagnosed with having just like was borup.

And it really just took about the last few days where he feels normal.

He is suing Taco Bell and Taylor Farms for injuries.

>> Now he's only one of 300 people in Cook County Cook County area.

>> Who are being represented by this one law farmer, according to Illinois Department of Public Health, there's almost 1000 people have been sickened by by this cycle.

could see many more cases here carry a piece you had this week.

Undocumented students in Illinois have long been able to pay in-state tuition eligible yet certain But you know down state federal dealt a blow to that.

What happens next year?

What's AGS office told me right before came on that the the legislature legislature passed a statute that wouldn't disrupt this eligibility for so many students for so many in state, unauthorized immigrants to, you meet the requirements to get in-state tuition, but also can get map grants, which is another.

>> Important wave, financial assistance for only students.

So they are not.

They had until actually today to appeal it.

They had a two-week window.

And so they don't seem too concerned.

I guess they said they found it, but it won't affect because it won't affect the 2027 28 students.

Because of this statute that they got into the And this is I mean, these these sorts of, you know, supports that the tuition, the grand season in place for quite some since think was the first bill that passed.

And then obviously there's been there is something called the Dream.

Illinois Dream Fun, which is a privately funded scholarship for Dreamers, which of course Taco.

So, yeah, this has been on the books for 20 decades.

Well, it it feels like we've been talking for decades because the conversation has been sofa.

Unfortunately, we are out time.

So our thanks to Patrick things for Washington, Kerry Shepherd and Michael Point today.

And we're back to wrap things up right after this.

>> Tonight's presentation of Week in review is made possible in part by an and rich com BNSF railway.

And Francine and Doctor Anthony Brown.

Chicago tonight is made possible in part by the Alexander and John Nichols.

Fate.

The Pope Brothers Foundation, additional support is provided by.

>> And that's our show for this Friday night.

Visit our website for the latest from W T Tw News including details on a piping plover chicks fest happening in Waukegan.

Now for all of us here at the week in review.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy, stay safe and stay informed.

Have a great weekend.

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what are we going in the who visit the shed is what you got the new ones if they have names already or if we get to although share thoughtless of them, flying them in are pretty amazing.

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Snows captioning is made possible.

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