Latest news with #BradSchneider
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Move fast and fix things': New Democrats push to lead their party's revamp
Brad Schneider has a vision for how moderate Democrats can help their party climb out of the wilderness: 'Move fast and fix things.' The Illinois congressman chairs the House's New Democrat Coalition, whose 114 members look for ways to meet Republican colleagues in the middle. He took the job in November, just after voters handed complete control of Washington to Republicans amid deep-seated economic dissatisfaction. Now Schneider is pushing for a lead role as the party's center seeks to reorient Democrats away from the progressive surge of the last five years. He wants to provide a roadmap for how Democrats can coalesce around wedge issues like Israel's war in Gaza, immigration, the debt, and cryptocurrency so they can win back Congress in 2026. 'Elon Musk has a reputation: He wanted to move fast and break things,' Schneider told Semafor from his Capitol office on Monday. 'The New Dems are looking to move fast and fix things.' Eleanor Mueller: What's your vision for how New Democrats can unite the various corners of the Democratic Party? Brad Schneider: We are the center of how we move the party forward. There's a lot of consternation about a lack of a single voice or a single leader for the Democrats. But we have an incredible talent pool — not just the 114 New Dems, but the folks we have in governorships. We're talking about ideas and policies that will improve life for all Americans — actually lower costs, make it easier to get ahead, and address the issues that we are facing from infrastructure. We've been talking about immigration and ways to move that forward since as long as I've been in Congress; innovation and also America's role in the world. Our message is about moving the country forward together, all Americans, and doing it in a way that isn't promising castles and clouds like Bernie Sanders likes to do, but just saying, 'How do we build from the ground up, step by step, so that we're going to be better and stronger and move forward each and every day?' Republicans say that the rioters in Los Angeles are doing what Democrats want. Why are they wrong? LA was quiet and calm, and then ICE began raids by showing up, sometimes in the dark at night, sometimes wearing masks. It's not that transparent. I think there is broad agreement throughout the country that, if there are people in this country who shouldn't be here, who are a threat to their communities, we should be taking actions to make sure that that threat is removed. But a country of laws, a country that celebrates its foundation on the Constitution and its implementation of those laws, due process and transparency — that stuff that we should welcome in the light of day, without the mess. The authorities in California and Los Angeles were taking the appropriate actions. The administration and Republicans, they're using this to further their narrative, to throw gasoline on the fire, to try to spark more anxiety and more fear. We should all be very concerned. I know in my community, people are anxious, people are scared. I also know in my community, we had a town hall on Saturday, and the questions were about, 'How do we protect the Constitution? How do we uphold the rule of law?' Do you think non-citizens participating in the protests should be deported? No. The Constitution uses the word 'citizen' 22 times; the word 'person' 49 times. There's only three places where the two are linked. People in the United States have the right to free speech. I'll defend people's right to speak, even when I disagree to my core with what they're saying. That doesn't give them the right to commit acts of violence, to intimidate, harass, and threaten other people. When it crosses the line, there should be consequences for everybody. Speaking of free speech, we've seen a lot of daylight in the party when it comes to the war between Israel and Hamas. How do you see the caucus moving forward on it? I don't think there's any debate that this war is horrible. And then within that, there's a debate of how to get to the most expeditious end — I know, for me, that's getting the hostages released, Hamas relinquishing control of Gaza, abandoning its threat to Israel, and then working within the Abraham Accords. The debate's fine. But denying the legitimacy of Israel or calling for the destruction of the Palestinians, you've crossed the line on both sides. How do you see the party moving forward on digital assets, given that there are Democrats with real hesitations around Trump-affiliated digital assets and then others who say Congress needs to act? The fact that the corruption is transparent and out in the open doesn't make it any less corrupt. But Congress can't wish away what's happening out in the world — and crypto is happening. How can the New Democrats bring party leadership along for what you want to do? We all have a great relationship with leadership. Leader Jeffries has been unfairly criticized, in my view, for going out of his way to listen to his caucus. There's a lot of different perspectives. But New Dems are the core; we're the majority of the caucus at 114 members. We are in the trenches, fighting on the front lines, dealing with the concerns of people who say, 'I can go either way. I'm looking for someone who's going to show us a vision to take us down the road that will lead to a better life for me and my family.' How are you thinking about the four-person race for ranking member on House Oversight in the context of the larger conversation about how Democrats treat seniority? I want to make sure we have the best person who is leading in committee, who knows how Congress works — which is complicated and nuanced in the best of times — but who also reflects who we are as a country. So I think there's a mix. I think seniority is something that you consider, but should not be determinative. Do you think there need to be more structural changes to how Democrats select committee leaders? I have ideas I will share with you at this time in 18 months.


Chicago Tribune
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Party, bike rodeo mark opening of Fox Lake beach; ‘It's a space for families to connect'
Fox Lake officials held a party and bike rodeo to mark the grand opening of the beach on Nippersink Lake in Lakefront Park. The village and Fox Lake Police Department partnered in sponsoring the three-hour event, which included organized games, a DJ, giveaways, prizes, the operating splash pad, airborne colorful beach balls, a Zumba class, and a number of food trucks offering food and drink. The park's amenities are free year-round and open from 8 a.m. until dusk, depending on the weather. The ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of Lakefront Park was in May 2024, with the groundbreaking in June of 2023. U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, secured $750,000 in federal funding to help build out the lakefront. The property along Nippersink Lake used to be grassy leading up to the water's edge, which was good for fishing enthusiasts angling from the banks, but not so much for people wanting to dip their toes in sand. The beach is not staffed by lifeguards, so adults must be present to watch their young swimmers. 'This new beach is more than just sand and shoreline,' Fox Lake Mayor Donny Schmit said. 'It's a space for families to connect, for kids to play and for our community to enjoy the waterfront we're so lucky to call home. 'We're proud to open Lakefront Park Beach as a place where memories will be made all summer long,' he said. 'We're an inclusive, welcoming community.' Jennifer Kuhn, Fox Lake's program and events manager, said having a public beach is rare in Lake County's Chain O'Lakes system. 'This is one of the only public beaches in the area on the chain,' she said. 'Most of them are private or (Homeowners' Association) owned. Parks are really a great place for people to connect to make connections in the community. 'We're thrilled that we have this to offer to not only the residents, but visitors from surrounding communities,' Kuhn added. The Bike Rodeo is in its fourth year, according to Jonathan Cawley, head of bicycle patrol for Fox Lake police, and also the school resource officer at Grant Community High School in Fox Lake. He said Saturday's rodeo had the best 'turnout that we've ever had, so it's nice.' 'It teaches bike safety,' Cawley said. 'We do a free helmet giveaway, and then we run them through a skills course and we teach them some safety about riding their bikes in the summertime … stopping at stop signs, riding with traffic, using hand signals. 'And they also get their bike inspected,' he said. 'They get their bike tuned up, make sure it's safe and ready to go for riding around this summer.' Zach Cressler of Ingleside accompanied his son Zayden, 5, at the playground. 'The new park is great,' he said. 'Fox Lake did a really good job on it. The community needs to focus more on good family opportunities like this to enrich the community, and just bringing together people from all over. It's going to be cool for the Fourth of July celebration.' The adjacent splash pad was busy with children in swimsuits who showed their delight at the water fountains and sprays at perhaps their first splash pad experience of the season. Amira Darr, 2, of Fox Lake, rode playground swings and the kiddie green merry-go-round in view of her parents Shafi and Amberr. 'We love it; it's actually great for the kids,' Shafi Darr said of the reimagined lakefront. Fox Lake neighbors Matt Hoeft and Dayna Haight stood in the bicycle tuneup line with Hoeft's children Piper, 9, and Wren, 4. 'I think it's wonderful, the kids get to be safer and have fun in the process, (as well as) meet some of the officers,' Matt Hoeft said. To that, Dayna Haight said, 'It builds community.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Green River Road 1 reconfigured after 2024 washout
HENDERSON COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT) – In February 2024, receding floodwaters caused a portion of Green River Road #1 in northern Henderson County to wash into the Green River. Fast-forward to May of 2025 and the area is repaired and a new section of the road has been moved by 65 feet, keeping it away from the banks of the Green River. Officials initially feared these repairs would exceed $200,000. Henderson County Judge Executive Brad Schneider says the final price tag was $70,000, with 75% of that covered by state grants. The cost was considerably lower, according to Schneider, thanks to the county using recycled concrete rubble from the ongoing I-69 Ohio River Crossing (ORX) project to repair the area. HPD arrests two juveniles following car theft report Henderson County Engineer Nick Stallings says 850 feet of new roadway has withstood two rounds of flooding, including the historic floods in April of 2025. 'We were actually lucky with the second flood because the waters came in slow and they left slow,' explains Stallings. 'So, with slow, stationary, stagnant water, it doesn't pour everything out. So if it came in quick and went out quick, that would be a turbulent flow, that would take out more of our road.' Towards the end of his presentation, Stallings jokingly said he believes this will be the last update on Green River Road 1, a nod to the hope that this new configuration will stand up against future flooding. Green River Road 1 reconfigured after 2024 washout Boat tour sheds light on Pigeon Creek debris 'Please stop': Trash dumping and theft on the rise at Evansville Rescue Mission Teen Outback exploring historical designation to save facility New Jasper swimming pool ready for holiday weekend Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


NBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
‘No willingness' from Republicans to work across the aisle on Trump agenda bill, says House Dem
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) joins Meet the Press NOW after Republicans advanced a bill to fund President Trump's 19, 2025


CNBC
14-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Rep. Brad Schneider on House GOP tax plan: Republicans are going to do it their way or no way
House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the House Republican tax package, whether the bill will get any Democratic support, and more.