ICE protests hit Chicago

Politico

11-06-2025

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Happy Wednesday, Illinois. Driving downtown is always an adventure.
TOP TALKER
RIPPLE EFFECT: Thousands of demonstrators marched through downtown Chicago on Tuesday, stopping traffic in the Loop and along DuSable Lake Shore Drive to protest the Trump administration's immigration raids that have erupted in California and across the country.
Chicago police and protesters clashed, vehicles were vandalized and CTA bus service was suspended, according to the Sun-Times live updates.
Protesters carried signs criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement including: 'ICE belongs in our coffee, not in our communities,' via the Tribune's Caroline Kubzansky.
The New York Times has video.
The politics of it all: Trump's aggressive action in California — sending in the National Guard and Marines to deal with protests typically handled by local police — is putting Democrats across the country on the spot.
Do they speak out against the action or lay low so as not to call attention to their own cities and states?
Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth issued statements Tuesday condemning violence caused by protesters and also attacking Trump's actions. And Illinois Atty. Gen. Kwame Raoul said he supports a California lawsuit filed against Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in response to their 'unlawful orders to federalize the California National Guard,' according to a statement.
Raoul said local police can handle any Illinois protest, and he pointed to demonstrations during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last summer as an example. 'Local law enforcement knows how to best protect both free speech and public safety,' he said.
Other usually outspoken Democrats have kept quiet. Even the Illinois Democratic Party, which had been issuing a daily email attacking Trump, has stayed silent on the protests and Trump's response.
We asked a party spokesman what's up. 'Time and time again, Donald Trump shows us that he is more than happy to use human suffering to wage a political battle. In fact, he probably enjoys it. Trump is racist, cruel and chaotic, and maybe most of all — he's petty,' Gwen Pepin, the party's communications director, said in a statement.
Congressman Mike Quigley echoed that in his statement about the military actions, saying, 'We cannot give Donald Trump the reaction he so clearly wants. We cannot give him an excuse to militarize our nation's second-largest city further, or to spread his dictatorial mandate to others.'
Lying in wait: Gov. JB Pritzker, who signed on to a letter condemning Trump for taking control of the National Guard, has otherwise been quiet on Trump deploying Marines.
Watch for him to speak out Thursday when he defends Illinois' laws protecting undocumented residents during a congressional hearing in Washington.
RELATED
Another protest against the Trump administration is being planned Saturday at Daley Plaza, by the Block Club's Noah Asimow
George Floyd unrest informs Trump's response to Los Angeles protests, by POLITICO's Myah Ward
Top Republican breaks with Trump's Marine deployment to L.A., by POLITICO's Joe Gould
Newsom gains a step in brawl with Trump: 'It'll help Gavin — especially if he gets arrested,' by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White and Melanie Mason
A Chicago judge says an immigrant who was framed for threatening Trump can be freed, by WBEZ's Anna Savchenko
THE BUZZ
COMPETITIVE IL-08: Military veteran Dan Tully is throwing his hat into the Democratic primary for the congressional seat now held by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who's running for Senate. Here's Tully's kick-off video.
His background: Tully has served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve and was an associate at Skadden Arps and Kirkland Ellis in Chicago. Most recently, he was a legal adviser in the U.S. Commerce Department. In a statement, he said he left the job because he believes Trump 'is a danger to our country, our economy and our democratic way of life.'
Tully's work experiences, he adds, make him 'uniquely positioned' to hold public office and 'help protect the rule of law, defend our healthcare and retirement benefits, and champion liberty, freedom and democracy.'
He joins a crowded field for the suburban district that covers parts of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties. Democrats already in the race are Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, community leader and small-business owner Junaid Ahmed (who challenged Krishnamoorthi in 2022), Hanover Park Trustee Yasmeen Bankole, branding expert Christ Kallas, policy expert Sanjyot Dunung and businessman Neil Khot.
If you are Gavin Newsom, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: [e-mail]
WHERE'S JB
No official public events
WHERE's BRANDON
In City Hall at noon for a Q&A with reporters — At the Disney II Magnet School at 1:30 p.m. for a soccer field ribbon-cutting
Where's Toni
No official public events
Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email [e-mail]
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— NEW THIS MORNING: Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia has endorsed Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in her bid for U.S. Senate. 'Juliana Stratton exemplifies pragmatic leadership, and she knows how to bring diverse voices together to get big things done for her constituents. Chicagoans and Illinoisans across the state are looking for an experienced leader who will fight for them in the Senate, and I'm confident that Juliana is the right person for the job,' Valencia said in a statement announcing her support.
— Former Barrington village board candidate Jesse Rojo running for state House seat: He's a Democrat running for the seat currently held by Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills, by the Daily Herald's Steve Zalusky.
— Ted Mason has been endorsed by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez in his campaign for Cook County commissioner. 'I am proud to endorse Ted Mason for Cook County Commissioner. I know that he will be a partner to me at Cook County as we work to advance policies that will help working families,' Ramirez said in a statement.
— Illinois Senate President Don Harmon faces potential $9.8M fine for improperly accepting campaign cash, by the Tribune's Ray Long
ILLINOIS' POPE
— Divine revelations: Pope Leo XIV's attendance at 2005 World Series leaves champion White Sox with an immaculate legacy, by the Tribune's Andrew
THE STATEWIDES
— State agrees to pay $1.3M for never-built migrant tent encampment: The governor 'made the highly publicized decision to halt construction of the shelter encampment in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood in December 2023,' pointing to environmental concerns. 'The decision caused the project to be scrapped, and it signaled an early political rift between the governor and Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was pushing for the shelter to be built as winter arrived,' by the Tribune's Dan Petrella.
— Feds want new trial for state Sen. Emil Jones III: 'It's been a little more than a month since Jones' trial ended with a hung jury. Prosecutors say Jones agreed to protect a red-light camera executive in exchange for $5,000 and a job for a former intern,' by the Sun-Times' David Struett and Jon Seidel.
— Despite setbacks, gun rights groups continue push to overturn Illinois assault weapons ban: 7th Circuit prepares to hear another appeal, by Capitol News' Peter Hancock.
— Trial lawyers benefit from '11th hour' legislation passed by Illinois lawmakers, by Jonathan Bilyk for Legal Newsline
CHICAGO
— CPS CEO Martinez nears exit after being fired by Mayor Brandon Johnson: 'He returned to his high school alma mater for an 8th grade graduation ceremony on Tuesday, the same place where four years earlier Mayor Lori Lightfoot named him to the post,' by WGN 9's Tahman Bradley.
— Ald. Anthony Napolitano seeks power to ban short-term rentals from Chicago precincts: 'Airbnb criticized the proposed ban, arguing in a statement it threatens to destabilize short-term rental tax revenue earmarked to fight homelessness and aid domestic violence survivors,' by the Tribune's Jake Sheridan.
— Top spot at Chicago Film Office finally filled: Chicago native Natasha Olguin tapped for key cultural post, by WTTW's Patty Wetli
— Planned Parenthood-affiliated group at DePaul is disbanded: 'DePaul told the organization, Planned Parenthood Generation Action DePaul University, that the university does not allow student groups to work with outside organizations 'whose core missions are in direct conflict with the values and teachings of the Catholic Church,'' by the Sun-Times' Kaitlin Washburn.
— National take | Chicago's public transit is in limbo: 'The question of reform versus securing new funding options is at the heart of the debate around Chicagoland transit,' writes the American Prospect's Emma Janssen.
COOK COUNTY
— Glen Ellyn League of Women Voters denied a spot in village's 4th Of July Parade after decades: The group says its application was denied due to an 'unsubstantiated' claim, by Patch's Lisa Marie Farver.
— Rosemont cracks down on fake weapons at fan fests, by the Daily Herald's Christopher Placek
TAKING NAMES
— HERE COMES THE JUDGE: Michael Cabonargi has been appointed by Justice Joy Cunningham and the Illinois Supreme Court as an at-large circuit judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Cabonargi is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mary Ellen Coglan, according to a statement from the Illinois high court. Cabonargi's appointment is effective Friday. He most recently has served as counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and before that was with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration.
— Ahead of his 98th birthday, George E. Johnson reflects on trailblazing career in hair care industry, by the Sun-Times' Erica Thompson.
— R. Kelly claims his life is in danger, seeks help from judge — or Trump, by the Sun-Times' Jon Seidel
Reader Digest
We asked when politics changed your purchase decisions.
Mike Gascoigne: 'I'm boycotting Target for their elimination of DEI programs.'
Charles Keller: 'I'll never buy Warby Parker glasses because they use their advertising dollars not to gain customers but as a political cudgel.'
Kevin Lampe: 'Beginning when I boycotted grapes as a child, politics always enters my mind when making purchasing decisions.'
Ed Mazur: 'No grapes during the workers actions in California in 1965. La Huelga!'
Dennis Rendleman: 'I haven't been to a Hobby Lobby since 2014 when it refused to include contraception in its health insurance program based upon alleged 'religious' objections that were founded in part on specious science.'
Timothy Thomas: 'I keep a supply of shopping bags in my car as my personal protest against the 10-cent bag tax imposed when shopping in the city, which is claimed to be an environmental measure but feels more like a money grab.'
NEXT QUESTION: What do you do for civic engagement besides voting?
KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION
— Brad Schneider has a vision for how moderate Dems can help their party climb out of the wilderness: 'Move fast and fix things,' he told Semafor's Eleanor Mueller.
THE NATIONAL TAKE
— Musk admits he went 'too far' attacking Trump: Regrets, the tech billionaire has a few, by POLITICO's Seb Starcevic
— Chicago-based American Medical Association to ask Senate to investigate RFK Jr.'s firing of vaccine committee members, by the Tribune's Lisa Schencker
— From Los Angeles to Washington, Trump leans in as commander in chief, by POLITICO's Megan Messerly, Jack Detsch and Paul McLeary
— Most GOP lawmakers plan to skip Trump's big parade, by POLITICO's Lisa Kashinsky, Calen Razor and Mia McCarthy
— 'Big, beautiful bill' spurs Democratic plans for emergency actions to counter cuts, by POLITICO's Jordan Wolman
IN MEMORIAM
— Margaret 'Peggy' Schultz, a former Village of Homewood trustee, has died. She also took part in the national 'Postcards to Voters' project, encouraging citizens to vote in their local elections. Her obit is here.
TRIVIA
TUESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Barry Nodulman for correctly answering that John Nicolay and John Hay were the two Illinoisans who served as personal secretaries to President Abraham Lincoln,
TODAY's QUESTION: What World Series game had two future world leaders in attendance? Email [e-mail]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Lake County Democrats Chair and former state Rep. Lauren Beth Gash, former state Rep. Cal Skinner Jr., entrepreneur and senior adviser to the governor Lee 'Rosy' Rosenberg, Terminal Getaway Spa CEO Marko Iglendza, Holistic CEO Tom Alexander, ARC Strategies founding partner Jason Rubin, GOP political consultant Nick Klitzing and civic leader Maria Smithburg
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