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Politico
2 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
A sanctuary showdown
Happy Thursday, Illinois. And thank you for your Reader Digest comments on dramatic takes on political scandals — Broadway better watch its back. TOP TALKER PUSHING BACK: The City of Chicago has joined a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration for withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities. 'Federal funding should never be used as a tool to coerce local authorities into compliance with unlawful mandates,' Corporation Counsel Mary B. Richardson-Lowry declared in a statement that cuts to the heart of the legal argument: that Washington cannot hold the purse strings hostage to force political compliance. The city expects to receive about $3.5 billion in federal dollars this year, reports the Block Club's Quinn Myers. The legal maneuver on Wednesday came a day after federal officers descended on the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture in Chicago, raising tensions between Illinois elected officials and the Trump administration. According to museum officials, officers, who they presumed were immigration officials with U.S. Homeland Security, entered the museum parking lot Tuesday and refused requests to present a warrant, badge or identification. They were assessing entry and exit points for upcoming events, museum officials said at a press conference Wednesday. The museum is hosting its annual Barrio Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday. But, but, but: Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied the department targeted the museum, stating it was a visit by the Chicago Financial Crimes Task Force 'related to a narcotics investigation,' reports WTTW's Matt Masterson. Whoever visited the museum created anxiety and fear within the community and prompted elected officials to organize a press conference to denounce actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 'This seems to be a plan to terrorize,' said Ald. Jessie Fuentes of the 26th Ward, where the museum is located. And Ald. Gilbert 'Gil' Villegas echoed the message, saying, 'Right now, what we have in the White House is a domestic terrorist.' Their provocative language underscores the deep divide between Illinois and the White House on immigration issues. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, who was also at the press event, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, expressing her concerns about the museum confrontation. Get used to the uproar: President Donald Trump's megabill includes $170 billion for border and immigration enforcement, which means Illinois will remain in the feds' sights. 'We're going to continue to fight every single way to block ICE,' said state Rep. Lilian Jimenez, architect of legislation that bars ICE from entering schools. 'This is our home.' Here's the lawsuit that the city joined And here's video of the press conference More details: Federal officers' presence stokes deportation fears, by the Tribune's Nell Salzman Related: The Chicago churches on the frontline of Trump's deportation wars, by The Bulwark's Adrian Carrasquillo THE BUZZ THE CHICAGO WAY: Walter Burnett, the long-serving alderman and vice mayor of Chicago, is stepping down at the end of the month to open a lane for his son to possibly take his seat. According to Burnett: 'My wife told me she's been at home by herself for 30 years,' scooped the Block Club's Melody Mercado. 'She said, 'You put in your time. Now, come home.'' But Burnett still wants to keep working. He's being considered for a job heading the Chicago Housing Authority. And if that doesn't work, he may run for Congress in the 7th District seat, he told Playbook. The dominoes: Burnett wants his youngest son, 29-year-old Walter Burnett III, to be appointed to his 27th Ward seat. Burnett's other son, state Rep. Jawaharial 'Omar' Williams, had expressed interest in the job, too, but recently changed his mind, Burnett told the Block Club. If you are Tricia McLaughlin, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB No official public events WHERE's BRANDON No official public events Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ BUSINESS OF POLITICS — DAVID AXELROD predicts Democrats will win back the U.S. House in 2026. 'I would rate their chances very high, primarily because history is very, very strong in this regard,' he told the Sun-Times' Fran Spielman in an interview touching on a range of political issues and characters, including Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker, Rahm Emanuel, Michael Madigan, Ed Burke, Rod Blagojevich and Donald Trump. On Dems taking the House, the political guru said, 'Republicans have a razor-thin margin. There are enough targets for Democrats to pick up. And their chances were improved by the passage of this bill that the president likes to call 'The Big Beautiful Bill,' which is a real misnomer because it was a flat-out exchange between tax cuts for the wealthy. and healthcare for working people and the poor.' The full interview is here. — Speaking of Rahm Emanuel: If he runs, he'll bet on candor defeating the 'culture police,' writes George F. Will in The Washington Post — Samantha Steele is going to seek re-election for her Cook County Board of Review post — instead of running for Cook County assessor. The decision came after her office was honored by the National Association of Counties for its programming and service work. Steele 'doesn't want to see all her good work unravel,' said a spokesperson, adding the commissioner also wants to be available to her high-school senior daughter instead of battling for a new job. — In IL-08: Candidate Junaid Ahmed raised nearly $350,000 since announcing his candidacy for Congress last month. — Endorsement: Robert Peters, the Illinois state senator running in the 2nd Congressional District, has been endorsed by state Sen. Mattie Hunter, who is also the assistant majority leader in the Senate. THE STATEWIDES — State Farm to raise Illinois homeowners insurance rates by 27.2 percent in August: The rate hike, 'one of the largest in the state's history,' is due to the increase in 'extreme weather events,' by the Tribune's Robert Channick. — Audit finds state agency fell short on social equity initiatives outlined in Gov. JB Pritzker's landmark climate bill: 'The state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity failed to implement programs designed to assist clean energy contractors in underserved areas and to deliver clean energy jobs training to people exiting Illinois prisons,' by the Tribune's Olivia Olander. — Illinois to return $45M of missing money to residents: 'This is not a scam,' via ABC 7 CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools facing cash crunch as it works to close $734M deficit: 'District leaders must find a way to close the deficit either by finding more revenue, making more cuts, or borrowing money,' by Chalkbeat's Reema Amin. — CPS wants more students from all backgrounds to get the chance to skip a grade, by WBEZ's Sarah Karp — Chicago's summer jobs program sees another year of growth following pandemic-era dip, by WBEZ's Mariah Woelfel — Judge rules ex-Ald. Carrie Austin medically unfit to face trial on corruption charges, by the Tribune's Jason Meisner — Tuesday night's flash flooding was a 'one-in-500-year' event, by NBC 5's Kevin Jeanes — Sculptor Richard Hunt's life is on exhibit in Chicago — and it's a walk through Civil Rights history, by WBEZ's Mike Davis COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — Bears stadium survey addresses seating chart, ticket prices and 'VIP tailgating': The questionnaire seeks thoughts on a 'state-of-the-art stadium that will serve all of Chicagoland and the state of Illinois' but doesn't mention the NFL franchise's 326-acre Arlington Park property specifically, by the Daily Herald's Christopher Placek. — Harvey Ald. Colby Chapman declares victory after charges dismissed: She says the charges stem from a political dispute with Mayor Christopher Clark, by the Daily Southtown's Mike Nolan. — Cook County now faces class-action lawsuit over tax sales that stripped home equity, by Crain's Dennis Rodkin — Michael Jordan's former Highland Park estate listed on Airbnb, by ESPN's Kalan Hooks Reader Digest We asked what political scandal would make the best musical. Zachary Brown: 'The saga of New York Congressman Daniel Sickles who murdered his wife's lover but was acquitted, becoming the first person in the country to successfully use the temporary insanity defense.' Larry Bury: 'The Magic Shoeboxes' based on the life of former Illinois Secretary of State Paul Powell. Writers would have so much to work with: In his hotel room he also had 49 cases of whiskey, 14 transistor radios and two cases of creamed corn.' John Engle: 'The Teapot Dome corruption scandal of the 1920s.' Mike Gascoigne: 'The Bush v. Gore debacle. Hanging chads need their own song.' Jarod Hitchings: 'The Shoebox Shuffle about Paul Powell.' Bob Kieckhefer: 'Paul Powell's 'shoebox cash stash,' with Julianne Moore playing Marge Hensey, described by the politically incorrect 1970s media as Powell's 'shapely red-headed secretary.'' Jim Lyons: 'Watergate, with the president singing a song called 'I Am Not a Crook.'' Dan Mattoon: 'The story of U.S. Rep. Wilbur Mills and Fanne Foxe, the stripper known as 'the Argentine Firecracker,' who leapt from a limo into Washington's Tidal Basin after a night of drinking in the 1970s.' Dennis Rendleman: 'The story of Orville Hodge, the Illinois state auditor who in the 1950s stole $1.5 million in state funds. One song, a la Hamilton's 'The Room Where it Happens' could be 'The Till Where It's Taken.'' Tomás Revollo: 'Former Congressman George Santos' fabricated biography!' David Schroeder: 'Watergate. The abundance of personalities set to music and song would be highly entertaining.' Timothy Thomas: 'Shoebox — the Musical Life and Times of Paul Powell: How a man of humble Southern Illinois roots came to accumulate over $750,000 stuffed in shoeboxes as Illinois Secretary of State.' Erika Weaver: 'Hell & High Water: The Story of Poppa Pope,' a character on 'Scandal.' NEXT QUESTION: If you had to survive a presidential debate using only quotes from one movie, which movie would you choose? KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Getting schooled: Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth questioned the qualifications of President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Dr. Anjani Sinha, at his confirmation hearing Wednesday. 'This is not a glamour posting. You need to shape up and do some homework,' she said. Video here — A conservative take: Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller posted her views about people who speak other languages: 'In America, we speak ENGLISH — and that goes for truck drivers, construction workers, factory employees, store clerks, delivery drivers, warehouse crews, and everyone in between,' she posted on X. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Trump promises a farm labor fix. Ag secretary is stuck in the middle, by POLITICO's Jake Traylor, Myah Ward and Samuel Benson — Trump's assault on Big Law has been a big mess, by POLITICO's Ankush Khardori — Civil servants hold out hope their lawyers can still save their jobs, by POLITICO's Erin Schumaker TRANSITIONS — Doni Robinson is now of counsel in Barnes & Thornburg Intellectual Property Department. She was with Reed Smith. EVENTS — Today at 6:30 p.m.: Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) hosts a telephone town hall to discuss how the president's budget reconciliation bill will impact Illinois. Callers can dial in here (833)-708-2162 to join. Streaming here — Sunday: Let's Talk Womxn with hosts Rohini Dey, Tina Tchen, Shital Daftari and Becky Carroll, is holding a Summer Disco Social. Details here TRIVIA WEDNESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Carson Conlon for correctly answering that former Mayor Richard J. Daley was first elected to the Illinois House as a Republican. TODAY's QUESTION: Who's the social reformer whose work led to an Illinois law limiting women's working hours and prohibiting child labor? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Former Congressman John Cox Jr., former state Rep. Carol Sente, Illinois Manufacturers' Association President and CEO Mark Denzler, nonprofit leader Sunny Fischer, Faegre Drinker Senior Director Olivia Pantoja, TresserLabs Chief Engagement Officer Tom Tresser, civic leader Toni Canada, Wall Street Journal reporter Heather Haddon, Champaign News-Gazette reporter Paul Wood and journalist Brandon Smith -30-
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
The stories we tell about the stars — Nahrizul Adib Kadri
JULY 10 — Not long ago, I was in the dentist waiting room at the Faculty of Dentistry, flipping through an old issue of Reader's Digest — the kind where the pages feel like they've passed through many hands. Somewhere in the middle, I came across a short piece on Planet Vulcan. Not the Star Trek kind, mind you. This Vulcan was a theoretical planet once believed to orbit between Mercury and the Sun. In the 19th century, French astronomer Urbain Le Verrier noticed that Mercury's orbit didn't behave the way Newtonian physics said it should. The math didn't add up. So he hypothesised another planet — Vulcan — to explain the wobble. For decades, astronomers looked for it. They believed it was there. Until 1915, when Einstein's theory of general relativity offered a different explanation. Mercury wasn't being tugged by some hidden mass — spacetime itself was bending under the gravity of the Sun. Vulcan quietly vanished, not with drama, but with understanding. And that stayed with me. There are so many things around us that we do not know yet. — Unsplash pic Why? Because for almost fifty years, people searched the skies for something that wasn't there. Not because they were foolish, but because they were following the best story available at the time. And when a better one came along, they moved on. It's a reminder that science, for all its rigour, isn't about final truths. It's about our best attempt at understanding, for now. And when the understanding deepens, the story changes. That doesn't make the old story worthless — it means we're still learning. That shift matters. Especially for those of us who work in science. We like to think we're chasing certainty, but often, we're narrating the evolving shape of what we think we know. The formulas and theories, the charts and conclusions — they're chapters. Not endings. There was a time in my life when I saw science as a vault of fixed answers. But the story of Vulcan reminded me that knowledge moves — and that movement is not failure. It's growth. Even our most accepted ideas today might one day be reframed. Not discarded, but seen differently. Quantum mechanics, for example, was once viewed as too strange to be useful — yet it now forms the basis of the smartphones in our pockets (movement of electrons in semiconductors is based on quantum physics). Flight was long considered a fantasy, until the Wright brothers proved otherwise (flapping wings were thought the only possible way to fly). And in hospitals, something as basic as handwashing was once ridiculed, even as it quietly saved lives — until science caught up and proved Dr Semmelweis right (he suggested doctors to wash their hands when going to different parts of hospitals in 1840s, long before bacteria and viruses were discovered). We forget how many of our current realities were once seen as impossibilities. And that's why storytelling matters. Not the embellishment of fact, but the craft of carrying curiosity. The willingness to hold a narrative loosely, knowing it may shift. Scientists, teachers, students — we're not just collecting data. We're passing along a torch: here's what we've seen so far. Now go ahead and explore more of the darkness ahead. I think often about the question my son once asked after watching Marvel's Avengers: Endgame: 'Is time travel real?' Part of me wanted to say no. But then I paused. Maybe not yet. And maybe that pause is the real answer. The door isn't closed — it's just not open yet. Rumi once wrote, 'Beyond ideas of rightdoing and wrongdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there.' To me, that field is where science and wonder overlap. Where we speak not in absolutes, but in possibilities. So, if you've ever been told something is settled — that the facts are fixed, that the story is over — it's worth remembering Vulcan. Not because the planet was real, but because the pursuit of it led us somewhere better. It asked better questions. It kept us awake. And maybe that's the point. In a world that moves fast, that begs for certainty, maybe it's not our job to provide conclusions. Maybe it's to keep asking. To stay alert. To keep telling the story, knowing the ending hasn't been written yet. The universe isn't done surprising us. * Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya. He may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Politico
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Preckwinkle is running
Presented by Good Monday morning, Illinois. Say hello to Danny Nguyen, who will be shepherding the newsletter this week while your Playbook host takes a bit of a break. Programming note: Reader Digest and Trivia are paused this week, but we'll have plenty of news to fill the rest of your time. TOP TALKER SCOOP: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is running again, she told your Playbook host in an exclusive interview. 'I'm running for reelection, and I'm looking forward to another four years serving the people of the county,' said Preckwinkle, who celebrates her 78th birthday today. Age is not a number as long as you're up for the fight, she added. 'I feel good. I work hard at my job, and I'm gonna do that.' Preckwinkle will be running on successes, including expanding health care for county residents, advocating for the pretrial Fairness Act that eliminates cash bail based on a judge's decision on safety and risk and submitting year-after-year balanced budgets 'without any new taxes. ... I'm proud of that work,' she said. The Democratic board president was first elected to the job in 2010 and earlier served 20 years on the Chicago City Council. She meets regularly with Gov. JB Pritzker to talk about the state of government and for a time had similar meetings with Mayor Brandon Johnson, too. 'I've got my own lane,' she said. Looking ahead, Preckwinkle's big worry is how the Trump administration's government cutbacks will affect county residents, especially when it comes to health care. Health care hassles: 'The county is a provider of Medicaid services and we have a Medicaid managed care program, so if there's a reduction of the size of the program as a result of federal cuts, we're going to be heavily impacted. Residents would lose coverage, and there is no way around it,' she said. The county has retired $455 million in Medicaid debt with the help of strategically allocated dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act that's benefited more than 288,000 people, she said. The uncertainty of what's happening in Washington could impact Medicaid and infrastructure projects, she said. 'I am not going to predict what's going to happen in Washington, but the uncertainty and the sort of brutality of the kinds of things they are talking about is very, very concerning.' About the campaign: It's headed by her political adviser, Scott Kastrup. And a fundraising reception will be held Tuesday to ramp up the campaign. Details here THE BUZZ MEMORY LANE: During an event Friday honoring former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch shared a story about the first time they met. He was an intern at WGN, and she was the Cook County recorder of deeds at the time and running for U.S. Senate. Moseley Braun stopped by WGN for an interview, and Welch stood with her for a photo that he's kept ever since. He shared it on stage during a tribute to Moseley Braun's career. History in the making: Moseley Braun would become the first Black woman senator, and Welch went on to become the first Black Illinois House speaker. Here's the picture that Welch saved. Friday's event at RPM Seafood in Chicago drew a large crowd for the speaker's Black Excellence in Bleu foundation. Also honored: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke, Ald. Pat Dowell, Chicago Sky Co-Owner Nadia Rawlinson and America Scores Executive Director Kimberly Townsend. WHERE'S JB No official public events WHERE's BRANDON No official public events Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email skapos@ THE STATEWIDES — Immigrant families scramble as state health insurance for some noncitizens faces the axe in Gov. JB Pritzker's budget plan, by the Tribune's Laura Rodriguez Presa and Dan Petrella — How life changed when Illinois' pandemic lockdown began five years ago — here's what you told us, by WBEZ's Isabela Nieto and Araceli Gomez-Aldana — New campaign: Americans for Prosperity-Illinois is launching a statewide video campaign opposing House Bill 2827, the Homeschool Act that would require oversight requirements for homeschooling families. — Illinois votes on a new state flag design — and chooses the current one, by The Associated Press's John O'Connor CHICAGO — Chicago wants city contractors to share in budget pain: 'The city is asking city vendors to take a 3 percent haircut on their existing contracts,' by Crain's Justin Laurence... The request drew criticism from Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a statewide office holder who is mulling a potential bid for mayor. — Trump administration targets University of Chicago over DEI, by Crain's Brandon Dupré IN MEMORIAM — Marian 'Cindy' Pritzker, the aunt of Gov. JB Pritzker and the matriarch of one of Chicago's wealthiest families, died Saturday at 101, the Chicago Tribune reported. She's been a force in the city's public library system, working to increase the public library system's book budget in the late 1900s. She also brought to the Chicago Public Library Foundation a library commissioner instrumental in overseeing the construction of dozens of libraries from 1994 to 2012. Her service will be private. The obit is here. SPOTTED — IRISH EYES: It was a see-and-be-seen weekend celebrating St. Patrick's Day. At the American Partnership's annual breakfast at the Union League Club, we spotted Alds. Walter Burnett Jr. and Brian Hopkins, Clerk of the Court Mariyana Spyropoulos and former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson. The Irish Fellowship Club dinner at the Michigan Avenue Hilton on Friday evening also drew a crowd, including Chicago parade Chair Jim Coyne, Illinois Attorney Gen. Kwame Raoul, state Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Commissioner Bill Daley and Ald. Bill Conway. Business and political movers and shakers packed the St. Patrick's Day Party at Gibsons. It was hosted by Neal Zucker and Marko Iglendza and Ashley and Pam Netzkey. Gov. JB Pritzker and MK Pritzker were spotted swaying along with the bagpipers who entertained. Also in the room: Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke, County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, state Rep. Margaret Croke, Alds. Timmy Knudsen and Bill Conway, former Mayor Richard M. Daley and former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley (who held their annual party on Saturday). Sen. Dick Durbin made it back from Washington, D.C., to attend the Saturday service at Old St. Patrick's Church. And Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson were front and center for the Chicago St. Pat's parade. TAKING NAMES — Museum founder Peggy Montes helped establish Chicago's Women's History Month — and still is a 'lady in motion,' by the Sun-Times' Mariah Rush — PERFECT GAME: William Duff Jr., who recently retired as executive director of the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association, was inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Illinois State Hall of Fame on Saturday. And Keith Hamilton, the new executive director of the Illinois association, is being inducted into the National USBC Hall of Fame in Las Vegas in May. Hamilton was inducted into the International Bowling Media Association Hall of Fame in 2021. THE NATIONAL TAKE — White House seriously considering deal from Oracle to run TikTok, by POLITICO's Dasha Burns, Megan Messerly, Brendan Bordelon and Meredith Lee Hill — 'Beyond my wildest dreams': The architect of Project 2025 is ready for his victory lap, by Michael Hirsh for POLITICO Magazine — Liberal group calls for Schumer to step down as minority leader after spending bill vote, by POLITICO's Jessica Piper Transitions — Federal judge Jim Shadid to become Bradley University's next president: 'Shadid currently serves as a senior U.S. District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, appointed to that position by President Barack Obama,' by CIProud's Andy Kravetz. — Jasculca Terman Strategic Communications CEO Mary Patrick is retiring after working at the firm for 40 of its 44 years of business. Starting July 1, senior VP Jessica Smith, who's also a managing partner, moves up to CEO. And COO Lauren Foley takes on a managing partner title, too. Founders Jim Terman and Rick Jasculca aren't going anywhere. EVENTS — Tonight: State Rep. Bob Morgan is holding a town hall with a guest speaker: Congressman Brad Schneider. Details here — March 26: Immigration is the subject of a Working Women's History Project forum featuring University of Illinois professor Xóchitl Bada, Southside Together's Dixon Romeo and Chicago Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto. Your Playbook host is moderating. Details here — April 12: Dave Kohn, Chicago Water Management deputy commissioner by day and rock drummer at night, hits the stage with Kitty Devine and the Big Whoop at Montrose Saloon in Albany Park. Details here HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Wayne Township Supervisor Randy Ramey, former state Sen. Darren Bailey, Invariant exec and former U.S. Senate policy adviser Joe Bushong, political consultant Chris Shaffer, MBM Advantage Managing Partner Mark Peysakhovich, public affairs pro Larry Farnsworth, real estate guru Kathleen Weiss Boyle, Assistant AG Jake Leahy and journalist Maureen O'Donnell.
