Daywatch: Mayor Johnson again faces thorny politics of picking appointments
As the departure of Ald. Walter Burnett leaves Mayor Brandon Johnson with the challenge of picking his third Zoning Committee chair, the City Council's Black and Latino caucuses have already begun jockeying for the highly coveted leadership spot.
Burnett, often dubbed the 'dean' of the council as its most tenured member, will step down at the end of July, vacating both his committee chairmanship and role as Johnson's vice mayor. The Zoning appointment has been one of the freshman mayor's biggest political conundrums throughout the first two years of his term, and his next choice is expected to make waves in a council where racial politics remain an undercurrent.
To that end, the heads of both the Black and Latino caucuses are calling for the chairmanship to go to one of their members. And vice chair Ald. Bennett Lawson, who is white, has expressed interest in the permanent role too.
Read the full story from the Tribune's Alice Yin.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including nursing homes cited for 'severe' violations, what the jury viewed during the third day of the trial for the man accused of killing Chicago police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso and what to expect at Wrigley this weekend following the All-Star break.
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The House gave final approval to President Donald Trump's request to claw back about $9 billion for public broadcasting and foreign aid early today as Republicans intensified their efforts to target institutions and programs they view as bloated or out of step with their agenda.
The vote marked the first time in decades that a president has successfully submitted such a rescissions request to Congress, and the White House suggested it won't be the last. Some Republicans were uncomfortable with the cuts, yet supported them anyway, wary of crossing Trump or upsetting his agenda.
Hundreds of protesters demonstrated against President Donald Trump and his administration's policies in the Loop yesterday as part of nationwide 'Good Trouble Lives On' rallies, decrying cuts to social services, mass deportation strategy and restrictions on civil liberties.
Among the rally attendees were the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates. Johnson told the crowd that America under Trump was making an 'alarming and fast descent into authoritarianism,' but vowed that Chicago would fight back.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has doled out tens of thousands of dollars in fines to dozens of nursing homes throughout the Chicago area, including a handful where 'severe' violations led to residents' deaths, the agency announced this week.
Cook County Democrats punted on endorsing anyone for Cook County assessor yesterday, putting two-term incumbent Fritz Kaegi at risk of an open primary fight as he vies for a third term.
Prosecutors opened the third day of trial for the man accused of killing Chicago police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso with the slain officer's own body-worn camera footage that captured the moments just before his death.
Will County Board members voted yesterday to remove the controversial 143rd Street road widening project from the county's five-year transportation plan, but actually stopping the project from advancing will require a separate vote, the county's attorney said.
The Naperville City Council has signed off on two new residential developments — one with rents ranging from $3,900 to $5,000 — that will add a total of 154 new homes to the city when construction is complete.
Chicago Bears second-round draft picks Shemar Turner and Ozzy Trapilo have agreed to four-year rookie contracts, sources confirmed to the Tribune. The news comes two days before Bears rookies report for training camp at Halas Hall.
The All-Star break is considered a time for players to catch their breath, decompress and get ready for the second-half push, writes Paul Sullivan.
But for Chicago Cubs fans who watched their team outperform expectations in the first half, the break was just four more days of worrying about whom President Jed Hoyer will acquire at the trade deadline and how they'll fend off the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.
It seems everyone needs to have an 'artist-in-residence' these days, writes Hannah Edgar.
Though lofty, the title, as interpreted in recent seasons by the Grant Park Music Festival and the Chicago Symphony, tends to overpromise. It's becoming industry parlance for 'has at least two bookings with us a season' — significant for the artist and presenter, maybe, but mostly a blip for audiences.
Amid federal funding cuts, this year's Rhythm World is nearly half as long as originally planned, spanning six days instead of 10.
Organizers opted to shorten the 35th anniversary programming so they could weather changes without losing the heart of the festival, they say. But their choice is becoming a familiar one these days, as federal downsizing places pressure on arts organizations across the Chicago area to make do without funding.
There are activities we can't wait to experience here each summer — catching a concert in a park; watching Buckingham Fountain's majestic water display explode 150 feet into the air; taking a dip to cool off in Lake Michigan; swaying with thousands of others to the sounds of the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field; or just playing tourist in our hometown.
Yet Chicagoans of another era had their own ways of celebrating warm weather that we just don't do today. Here's a look back at six of them.
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Los Angeles Times
10 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
With gavel in hand, Trump chisels away at the power of a compliant Congress
WASHINGTON — 'Mr. President, this is the gavel used to enact the 'big, beautiful bill,'' House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a White House signing ceremony on the Fourth of July. 'I want you to have it,' he said. Handing over the gavel delighted President Trump who, seated behind a desk outdoors, immediately tested it out with a few quick thumps. The moment left a memorable mark on a historic day. The gesture reflected a traditional nod of honor, from one leader to another, a milestone of the Republican Party's priority legislation becoming law. But the imagery also underscored a symbolic transfer of political power, from Capitol Hill to the White House as a compliant Congress is ceding more and more of its prerogative to the presidency. Since Trump's return to the White House in January, and particularly in the past few weeks, Republicans in control of the House and Senate have shown an unusual willingness to give the president of their party what he wants, regardless of the potential risk to themselves, their constituents and Congress itself. Republicans raced to put the big package of tax breaks and spending cuts on Trump's desk by his Independence Day deadline. Senators had quickly confirmed almost all of Trump's outsider Cabinet nominees despite grave reservations over Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, Pete Hegseth as the Pentagon chief and others. House Republicans pursued Trump's interest in investigating his perceived foes, including investigating Democratic President Biden's use of the autopen. But at the same time, Congress hit the brakes on one of its own priorities, legislation imposing steep sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, after Trump announced he was allowing President Vladimir Putin an additional 50 days to negotiate a peace deal, dashing hopes for a swifter end to the conflict. This past week, Congress was tested anew, delivering on Trump's request to rescind some $9 billion that lawmakers had approved but that the administration wanted to eliminate, including money for public broadcasting and overseas aid. It was a rare presidential request, a challenge to the legislative branch's power of the purse, that has not been used in decades. 'We're lawmakers. We should be legislating,' said a defiant Sen. Lisa Murkowksi, R-Alaska, as she refused to support the White House's demand to rescind money for National Public Radio and others. 'What we're getting now is a direction from the White House and being told, 'This is the priority. We want you to execute on it. We'll be back with you with another round,'' she said. 'I don't accept that.' Congress, the branch of government the Founding Fathers placed first in the Constitution, is at a familiar crossroads. During the first Trump administration, Republicans frightened by Trump's angry tweets of disapproval would keep their criticisms private. Those who did speak up — Liz Cheney of Wyoming in the House and Mitt Romney of Utah in the Senate, among others — are gone from Capitol Hill. One former GOP senator, Jeff Flake of Arizona, who announced in 2017 during Trump's first term that he would not seek reelection the next year, is imploring Republicans to find a better way. 'The fever still hasn't broken,' he wrote recently in The New York Times. 'In today's Republican Party, voting your conscience is essentially disqualifying.' But this time, the halls of Congress are filled with many Republicans who came of political age with Trump's 'Make America Great Again' movement and owe their ascent to the president himself. Many are emulating his brand and style as they shape their own. A new generation of GOP leaders, Johnson in the House and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have pulled closer to Trump. They are utilizing the power of the presidency in ways large and small — to broker deals, encourage wayward lawmakers to fall in line, even to set schedules. Johnson, R-La., has openly pined for what he calls a 'normal Congress.' But short of that, the speaker relies on Trump to help stay on track. When Republicans hit an impasse on cryptocurrency legislation, a Trump priority, it was the president who met with holdouts in the Oval Office late Tuesday night as Johnson called in by phone. The result is a perceptible imbalance of power as the executive exerts greater authority while the legislative branch dims. The judicial branch has been left to do the heavy lift of checks and balances with the courts processing hundreds of lawsuits over the administration's actions. 'The genius of our Constitution is the separation of power,' said Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the former speaker, in an interview on SiriusXM's 'Mornings with Zerlina.' 'That the Republicans in Congress would be so ignoring of the institution that they represent, and that have just melted the power of the incredibly shrinking speakership' and Senate leadership positions, 'to do all of these things, to cater to the executive branch,' she said. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., endured Trump's criticism over his opposition to the tax and spending cuts bill. The senator raised concerns about steep cuts to hospitals, but the president threatened to campaign against him. Tillis announced he would not seek reelection in 2026. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted against that bill and the rescissions package despite Trump's threat to campaign against any dissenters. One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, appears to be pressing on, unphased. He recently proposed legislation to force the administration to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, something the president had been reluctant to do. 'Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that if the president wants something, you must do it,' said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in a Senate speech. 'We don't have to do this. We don't have to operate under the assumption that this man is uniquely so powerful.' Mascaro writes for the Associated Press.
Chicago Tribune
10 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Lake County treasurer has hopes for statewide post
Democratic elected officials across Illinois are lined up for political chess games, moving in all different directions on the state board, lining up their futures for the 2026 elections. Many are vying, few will be knighted. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, kicked off the match as the 80-year-old announced in April he would not seek re-election to another six-year term, bringing out what is now a three-person field to take his seat. In May, 9th Congressional District Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, said she would not run for another term in the district that includes a slice of Lake County. Her announcement has created a crowded field of candidates. Then last week, Susana Mendoza of Chicago, the popular three-term incumbent Illinois comptroller and the state's highest-ranking Hispanic official, announced she was retiring. That opened up another statewide seat, so far bringing out four hopefuls seeking to replace her. One of those candidates is two-term Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim of Mundelein, a former village trustee. Before that, she was a business management professional in the nonprofit, public and private sectors. Other candidates include state Rep. Margaret Croke of Chicago; state Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago, supported by state Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park; and Champaign County Auditor George Danos. There may be others waiting in the wings for the March 17, 2026 party primary. The general election is Nov. 3. Cook County Democratic Party slatemakers last week endorsed by a slight margin Croke, who is backed for the post by Illinois House Speaker Emanual Welch of Hillside. It is expected their Lake County counterparts will support Kim. Harmon made an unsuccessful attempt to reverse Croke's endorsement, the Chicago Tribune reported. He noted the endorsed statewide party slate had no Latino or Asian representation or anyone from outside Chicago, and warned, 'I think this is a problem for us as Democrats.' That may be a predicament for Dems, but the statewide Republican Party has another dilemma: Waking from its moribund condition and fielding a solid statewide and countywide slate of candidates. At the Cook County session, Kim stressed her background in technology and pledged to bring 'innovation and modernize how we manage money in the state,' according to the Tribune. 'These are unprecedented times, and people we love are afraid, and we need a fighter at every level.' In emailed answers to questions from the Tribune, Kim said she can provide 'a local executive's perspective' to the comptroller's job. She said she wants to run for the office because she thinks it needs someone who understands how to responsibly manage public dollars. 'This isn't just the next step on the political ladder for me — it's a continuation of the work I've already been doing,' Kim told the Tribune. 'As Lake County treasurer, I've managed over $3 billion in taxpayer funds, launched financial education programs, and modernized how we serve the public. I've thought seriously about running for this office ever since it became clear Comptroller Mendoza wouldn't be seeking re-election.' For Kim, though, it is a heavy lift in a statewide contest. Few Lake County officials have made the next step. The state's political boneyard has a number of Lake County candidates residing there. Such as former Sheriff Mark Curran of Libertyville, who lost to Durbin in the 2020 general election. He also failed in a run for the Illinois Supreme Court in the 2022 general election to Democrat Elizabeth Rochford, who had defeated Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering in the party primary. Further back, state Sen. Grace Mary Stern of Highland Park, ran for lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket in 1982 led by Adlai Stevenson III. The duo narrowly lost to incumbent Gov. James Thompson and his running mate George Ryan, who eventually became governor. Further back, the well-liked state Sen. Adeleine Geo-Karis, R-Zion, lost out in a try for the comptroller's seat in 1986. She was beaten decisively by incumbent Democrat Roland Burris, who eventually ended up a U.S. senator. Successful statewide candidates from the county included Ryan's running mate when he ran for governor in 1998, state Rep. Corinne Wood, R-Lake Forest, who became the state's first female lieutenant governor. Ryan and Wood decided not to run for re-election in 2002. Ingleside's William Stratton, a Republican, was elected Illinois governor in 1952, serving two terms until his defeat for an unprecedented third term in 1960 by Democrat Otto Kerner. At the time, Stratton was the youngest governor in the U.S. His imprint on the state is the beginning of the Illinois tollway system. Stratton Lock and Dam on the Fox River is named for him, as is William G. Stratton State Park in Morris on the Illinois River. First day to circulate petitions for established-party candidates in next year's elections begins Aug. 5, with petition-filing running from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Kim hasn't said if she will seek a third term in her Lake County post while running for the state job. If she decides to forgo re-election in the treasurer's race, that could open up a countywide scramble for the seat, meaning some folks already are planning their opening gambits on the political chess board.
Newsweek
11 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Democrats Get Good News from Most Accurate Pollster About Key Trump Issue
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. American voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on immigration, which has been a key issue for President Donald Trump throughout his political career, according to a new poll from AtlasIntel. Heath Brown, professor of public policy at the City University of New York, told Newsweek in part that "it could come down to the difference between campaign rhetoric and actual governance." Newsweek reached out to the Republican and Democratic national committees for comment via email. Why It Matters Trump, for a decade, has emphasized immigration as his key policy—launching his 2016 presidential campaign with a promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, with a focus on mass deportations during his 2024 campaign. Polling suggested immigration was a key issue as to why many of his voters supported him over former Vice President Kamala Harris last November. However, a flurry of recent surveys suggests the GOP's grip on immigration has slipped amid backlash to his mass deportations. This includes the latest survey from AtlasIntel, which was the most accurate pollster during the 2024 election. What to Know The pollster found that Democrats now have an advantage over Republicans on most key political issues, including inflation, healthcare, and foreign policy. It also found that Democrats have chipped away at Republican support on immigration issues. Demonstrators hold up signs outside an immigration court in New York City during the Good Trouble Lives On protests on July 17, 2025. Demonstrators hold up signs outside an immigration court in New York City during the Good Trouble Lives On protests on July 17, 2025. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images Only 45 percent of respondents said they trusted Republicans more on immigration, while 49 percent said they trusted Democrats more on the matter. Meanwhile, a majority of Americans also disapprove of Trump's handling of immigration, with 53 percent giving him negative marks and only 42 percent approving of his approach, according to the poll. The poll surveyed 1,935 respondents from July 13 to July 18, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Heath Brown, professor of public policy at the City University of New York, told Newsweek that "it could come down to the difference between campaign rhetoric and actual governance." "Vague campaign promises to address immigration policy may have been popular among voters in 2024," he said. "However, faced with the reality of extreme immigration policies that curtail non-US students enrollment at US universities, raid places of work and education, and prohibit due process for deportation cases, a majority of Americans are very much opposed." The poll is a "reflection of the overall dissatisfaction of many Americans with the Trump policy agenda," he said. Throughout Trump's second term in office, there has been an increase of ICE raids across the country that have sparked protests in places like Los Angeles. Thousands of immigrants, including some who are in the country legally, have been arrested. Other measures, like the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in Florida's Everglades, are unpopular among most Americans. Proponents of the fast-build center, however, say it is necessary to deal with the number of new beds needed. Supporters of the GOP's immigration policy note that border crossings have decreased under his administration. What People Are Saying Representative Mike Levin, a California Democrat, wrote in an X post Saturday: "Latest Reuters poll shows disapproval for Trump's immigration policy has surged since February. Americans want security AND humanity, not cruelty and chaos. That's why we need bipartisan, common sense reform like our DIGNITY Act, rooted in real solutions." CNN Harry Enten said earlier in July: "The American people have turned against President Donald Trump on what was his best issue. One in which he had a positive net approval rating for most of his term, and arguably the issue that got him, of course, the GOP nomination all the way back in 2016. And one of the issues, of course, he used last year to quite a successful degree." What Happens Next Trump's mass deportations continue across the United States, though parts of his immigration agenda have been held up in court. Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" increased funding for ICE.
