Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel considering 2028 presidential run
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is considering running for president, he confirmed Wednesday.
The latest: In an interview with Crain's Chicago Business 's Greg Hinz, Emanuel said, "I'm looking at the (Democratic) field, and most importantly, what I have to contribute."
Context: Emanuel has been vocal about the future of the Democratic Party after returning from his ambassadorship to Japan under former President Joe Biden, but this is the most he's said publicly about vying for the White House.
Zoom in: He's pushing the party leaders to get back to "kitchen table issues" instead of focusing on more progressive issues and political correctness," he told Crain's.
"We have to go back to how we won. Focus on middle-class economics and values."
Flashback: Emanuel worked as a policy advisor under President Clinton beginning in 1993, before moving to Congress to represent Chicago's North Side. After orchestrating the Democrats' push to win the House in 2006, he left to join President Obama as his White House chief of staff in 2009.
All this was before running the city of Chicago for eight years, before choosing not to run for a third term in 2019.
Yes, but: Many progressive politicians don't see eye to eye with Emanuel, who has been criticized for his handling of the police murder of Laquan McDonald. He was accused of blocking the release of the video that captured the murder, which happened while Emanuel was mounting his reelection campaign in 2014.
He was also criticized for closing 50 neighborhood schools.
Reality check: The acrimony isn't just local. Progressives inside the Democratic Party, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), sought to block Emanuel's ambassadorship in 2021 because of the McDonald cover-up allegations, adding it "should be flatly disqualifying for any position of public trust, let alone representing the United States as an ambassador."
Between the lines: That bad blood may be why Emanuel is on the hunt to reclaim the Democratic party. After the loss to President Trump in November, Emanuel has tried to rally the party back to the middle.
The intrigue: Emanuel will be watching closely as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is also a potential candidate, as well as California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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Mike Lee outrages Minnesota politicians with social media jabs about lawmaker's murder
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, participates in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on May 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) Editor's note: As of Tuesday, two of Sen. Mike Lee's posts about the suspect in the assassination of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman no longer appeared on his personal X account. Lee has not made public comments about the posts. Utah Sen. Mike Lee is facing criticism from a number of Minnesota politicians after appearing to make a joke about the suspect accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, claiming it was the result of 'Marxism.' That outcry includes the chairman of the state's Democratic Party, who called Lee 'one of the most dishonorable senators in American history;' Minnesota Democrat Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, who said the joke was inappropriate and 'fuels this hatred and misinformation;'; Minnesota Rep. Kelly Morrison, also a Democrat, who said Lee's comments represented 'the watershed moment where things need to change;' and several state Republican lawmakers, who pushed back on Lee's attempt to connect the alleged shooter to Democrats. Vance Boelter was arrested Sunday night, suspected of the murder of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home. Boelter allegedly wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in a separate shooting. Police say Boelter had a 'hit list' of 45 Democrat elected officials. He's facing several charges, including first-degree murder. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the shootings 'an act of targeted political violence,' although police have yet to publicly announce Boelter's motive. Lee, who posts frequently on his personal X account, took to social media on Sunday, claiming Boelter has ties to Democrats and liberal politics. 'Nightmare on Waltz Street,' Lee wrote, attempting to connect Boelter to Walz, with his name misspelled. Lee's post featured two images of Boelter, including one taken from the crime scene. Boelter was initially appointed to a Workforce Development Council by former Democratic Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton in 2016, then reappointed in 2019 by Walz, according to the Minnesota Reformer. 'My plumber is connected to me and my wife. That doesn't mean we have anything to do with his other activities,' wrote Minnesota state Rep. Walter Hudson, a Republican from Albertville, in a social media post, arguing 'this has nothing to do with Governor Walz.' Lee also made two other posts tying Boelter to 'Marxism,' the political philosophy serving as the foundation for communism that's often used by Trump-aligned conservatives to insult Democrats. That includes a post featuring the same image from the crime scene that read 'This is what happens … When Marxists don't get their way.' Lee's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Members of Congress on edge after assassination of Minnesota state legislator Lee, a prolific poster, made the comments on Sunday morning around 9 a.m. on his personal account on X, where he is known to be more inflammatory. Hours later, at 2:30 p.m., Lee posted from his official U.S. Senate account, where he typically takes a more measured tone, writing 'These hateful attacks have no place in Utah, Minnesota, or anywhere in America.' 'Please join me in condemning this senseless violence, and praying for the victims and their families,' the post reads. The Utah senator has since faced widespread backlash for his comments, including calls for his resignation. Critics have pointed out that Boelter was targeting Democrats, that his 'hit list' included abortion clinics, and that his roommate told reporters Boelter was a Trump voter. 'Senator Lee's heinous lies have only made the pain that Melissa's loved ones and colleagues are going through even worse. Using Melissa's murder to spread these lies is an act of evil that will cement his legacy as one of the most dishonorable senators in American history,' said Richard Carlbom, chairman of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, in a statement to Utah News Dispatch. Smith, the junior Minnesota senator, confronted Lee in Congress on Monday, telling him his comments were 'brutal and cruel.' 'He should think about the implications of what he's saying and doing. It just further fuels this hatred and misinformation,' she said, according to CNN. 'I wanted him to hear from me directly how painful that was and how brutal that was to see that on what was just a horribly brutal weekend.' Smith said Lee 'didn't say a lot. 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'This is the watershed moment where things need to change,' Morrison said, urging Democrats and Republicans to condemn Lee's remarks. 'This was posted one day after my friend — one of Minnesota's elected representatives — and her husband were assassinated in a politically-motivated attack. One day after another elected representative and his wife took 17 bullets from the assassin,' she said. 'We cannot accept this from a sitting United States Senator.' Minnesota state Rep. Nolan West, a Republican from Blaine, posted to X that he has 'tremendous respect' for Lee. 'But it doesn't mean he is immune from the base impulses social media incentivizes. People say stupid stuff on the internet all the time. The best they can do is admit they shouldn't have and be better,' he wrote. Speaking on the Senate floor Monday, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, said he was 'deeply disappointed' in Lee, accusing him of taking 'cheap political shots at the other side.' 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26 minutes ago
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Sen. Mike Lee takes down controversial X posts after widespread criticism
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, participates in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on May 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah took down X posts Tuesday making an apparent connection between Gov. Tim Walz and the man accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, and blaming 'Marxists' for the murders. The change comes after blowback from Sen. Tina Smith and her staffers as well as Democratic and Republican state representatives. One X post said 'Nightmare on Waltz Street,' with pictures of Boelter, who is accused of killing Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in the early morning hours of June 14. Boelter also went to the homes of two other state lawmakers that night; one house empty, and at the other, a police officer pulled up to the house shortly after Boelter arrived, so Boelter left. Another post read, 'This is what happens When Marxists don't get their way,' with a picture of Boelter. Misinformation about Boelter's apparent connection to Walz has been circulating online since the murder. Walz reappointed Boelter to the Workforce Development Board after he was originally appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton, but Walz had no personal connection to Boelter. There have also been claims online that Boelter is a leftist, though his roommate told reporters that he is a Trump supporter. The changes to Lee's X feed come after a confrontation between Lee and Smith Monday at the U.S. Capitol. 'I wanted him to hear directly from me about how painful that was and how wrong that was,' Smith told the Star Tribune. Smith, who was a friend of Hortman's, said Lee did not apologize during their conversation. Ed Shelleby, Smith's deputy chief of staff, sent an email to Lee's staff condemning the senator's posts. 'You exploited the murder of a lifetime public servant and her husband to post some sick burns about Democrats. Did you see this as an excellent opportunity to get likes and retweet? Have you absolutely no conscience? No decency?' a copy of the email obtained by Semafor said. Several Minnesota Republicans also condemned Lee's posts. 'I have tremendous respect for Senator Mike Lee, but it doesn't mean he is immune from the base impulses social media incentivizes. People say stupid stuff on the internet all the time. The best they can do is admit they shouldn't have and be better,' Rep. Nolan West, R-Blaine, wrote on X. He later responded to his post saying, 'Respect rescinded.' 'This has nothing to do with Governor Walz,' Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, posted on X. In separate press conferences Monday, both state and federal officials addressed the misinformation that has been circulating online about the assassination. 'As our community grieves, I encourage those out there seeking to create additional chaos to stop spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories,' Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: info@ SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
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Lt. Gov. Patrick, Sen. Perry tout legislative victories in Lubbock stop
While touring major cities in Texas to highlight wins and local impacts stemming from the 89th Texas Legislature, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made a pit stop in Lubbock on Tuesday. Joined by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, both touted major wins for Texas — Perry's water bill and funding for public school and school choice, among others. Others are reading: Texas House Speaker Burrows discusses water, school choice and small business priorities However, something was also unique about this visit since the speaker of the Texas House — Dustin Burrows — is also the representative of Lubbock and has to work closely with the governor and lieutenant governor during session. "I've worked with four speakers now," Patrick said. "This was, this was light years above any other relationship." Patrick said that from day one, Burrows was in constant contact with him and the governor, and the three even reinstated what had been an abandoned tradition known as the Big Three Breakfast. Story continues after the gallery. But even outside of the breakfast, Patrick said he and Burrows met on a constant basis, where agreements on legislation were made. "When we had an issue, we sat down and worked it out — like the property tax issue to go to the level we went to a $200,000 homes exemption to eliminate school taxes for seniors," Patrick said. "He and I decided that in a 10-minute conversation, on a handshake." Patrick also said the two of them had to work on complicated bills during the session — several of which have a direct impact on West Texas. School funding for public schools and private schools drew in vocal critics around the state for and against the bills. One of those bills, as previously mentioned, was raising the homestead exemption to $200,000 for those over the age of 65. "For those of you under 65, your homestead exemption is now $140,000, meaning your school taxes will be down about 50% from where they were just several years ago," Patrick said. Those exemptions provide property tax relief, but they also impact the funding for public schools like Lubbock, Lubbock-Cooper, and Frenship ISDs in a different way. "When we cut your property taxes, we're not decreasing money from our public schools," Patrick said. "We're actually writing a check in your place." This lends itself to an $8.5 billion investment in public schools, which Patrick said the state legislature did differently this time around. "This time, Republicans and Democrats joined together almost unanimously to say, we want to put it in buckets, and the biggest bucket is prioritizing teachers," Patrick said. "They're the most important person in the school, because they're the ones who educate their child. We need to pay teachers more, and we've been doing that in the Texas Senate for the last five years." Dig Deeper: Private school vouchers are now law in Texas. Here's how they will work. Patrick said that when considering a more rural focus on this topic, lawmakers wanted to make strides in closing the $10,000 gap between rural teachers' pay and that of teachers in urban centers. It was also through working with Burrows in the House that the Senate was able to pass its school choice framework. Patrick even addressed those concerned that the school choice funding would degrade public schools, arguing that it won't. "To give you a comparison, school choice takes no money from public schools." Patrick said. "It's a billion-dollar program, a separate fund for 100,000 kids per year over here. Public schools — five and a half million kids, compared to 100,000 and about $44 billion a year, compared to $1 billion. It does not impact public schools." "We collectively will leave this session with a $20 billion commitment going forward, plus the $2.5 billion in the base budget and a billion last session," Perry said. "So we have put $23.5 billion for one of the biggest issues the state Texas faces, and that's dependable, perpetual water supply to meet the growing state needs." But the investment in Texas's water security doesn't stop there. Perry said Texans will have a chance to approve House Joint Resolution 7, which proposes an additional billion dollars to the Texas water fund from state sales taxes. Others are reading: Texas farmers face mounting expenses as droughts worsen That amendment, along with 17 other proposed amendments, will be on the November 2025 ballot. Perry also said rural Texas was able to secure a $90 million grant for emergency medical ambulance services, noting the need for rural communities to transport hurt or sick individuals to hospitals. "Rural Texas did well," Perry said. "Rural Texas — just like some of the initiatives we did in previous session, and what we continue to do this session, has never been better. Big, big wins in rural Texas." Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@ This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lt. Gov. Patrick touts legislative water bill, school funding, taxes
