In a Chicago room full of power brokers, a looming question is whether a woman — a Black woman — can win. @KamalaHarris says the barrier isn’t ability but recycled myths. The pipeline is stacked. The question isn’t “if.” It’s who’s scared of the answer. politi.co/4sIIf8C via @politico

SCOOP: Rainbow PUSH’s board has unanimously chosen Yusef Jackson to lead the group —marking a generational shift. He pledges to modernize the mission — and make a major voter education push ahead of the midterms. “This isn’t a shrinking club — it’s a growing one.” www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Chicago’s ICE playbook spreads as cities challenge Trump’s crackdown

AI restores Bobby Rush’s voice for broadcast endorsement. www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

Monday! We'll be talking about the Bears — on the field and at the negotiating table — with State Rep. Kam Buckner. Come for the convo, stay for the good vibes! hideoutchicago.com/event/politi...

— Jan Schakowsky endorses Daniel Biss. — Kwame Raoul, Rep Robin Kelly, Adam Kinzinger and Rep Chuy Garcia reflect on Jan. 6. — Plus: Readers guess who will make an exit from the Trump administration. politi.co/49bVbh2 via @politico

Where's JB: At the Vatican visiting the pope!

— @SenDuckworth: Dems need to play 'hardball.' — Tense exchange btwn governor and alderman. — Bovino's exit timed with winter. politi.co/4nMwz2h via @politico

Read about the dramatic hearing at which a U.S. judge in Illinois slams feds’ credibility on use of force in 'Operation Midway Blitz.” politico.com/newsletters/il… via @politico

— ICE targets Lincoln Park nannies. — Dem Leader @hakeemjeffries in IL to talking abt redistricting. — @SeanCasten on SNAP cuts: "It’s starvation being used as a political weapon.” — SCOOP: energy bill agreement! politi.co/47Hrzai via @politico

Pope dips his toe into a US political debate. www.politico.com/live-updates...

— @GovPritzker slams plan to deploy the Guard. — 3 top US Senate candidates try to distinguish themselves. — Why NY's governor was in town: see Business of Politics in today's newsletter. politi.co/42YcONB via @politico

— Feds stage show of force in Chicago. — Big voices bashing Trump: Rahm, JB, Brandon. — Melissa Bean gets a congressional endorsement. politi.co/3IN005Q via @politico

We made it into @politico.com ! We enjoyed speaking with @shiakapos.bsky.social and Ashley Parker of @theatlantic.com. It was a fun night thanks to Rep. Sean Bagniewski and his army of helpers. www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

— @GovPritzker issues executive order for budget cuts to buffer impact of Trump agenda. — Chicago, with its meaty history, is moving up the vegan ranks. — Endorsements for Kelly and Krishnamoorthi in U.S. Senate race. politi.co/4gOxNZ1 via @politico

THIS MORNING: @GovPritzker signs an executive order directing state agencies to identify up to 4% in cuts for FY 2026 and then create a fund that can mitigate Trump administration cuts.

— DOJ jumps into Illinois gun ban case. — An IL congressional candidate is fundraising off Charlie Kirk's death. — @GovPritzker featured on today's @Morning_Joe talking about Trump. politi.co/4pBHkqd via @politico

— Trump attacks Chicago in Kirk eulogy. — Clashes erupt over ICE. — @JulianaStratton name-checks her opponents. — Anthony Driver gets SEIU support in IL-07 race. politi.co/46teyiP via @politico

— Turning fear into campaign cash. — Free speech debate envelopes Illinois. — Republican Jennifer Davis makes it official in IL-08. politi.co/4guM25f via @politico

— @GovPritzker condemns canceling @jimmykimmel. — Nora Daley on radical times and the Ch Architecture Biennial. — Maria Pappas, Brendan Reilly break the caps. politi.co/48nCYgh via @politico

Trump called Chicago a “death trap” and wants to send in the National Guard. Pritzker said his remarks are a sign “of dementia,” adding, “I think he’s losing it.” @shiakapos.bsky.social has the full story in our Illinois Playbook 👇

“This is not a joke’: Chicago leaders slam Trump after president declares ‘Chipocalypse Now’ - POLITICO www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

Sen @DickDurbin at Mexican Independence parade in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood calls Donald Trump’s post hinting at war on Chicago “disgusting.”

BREAKING: Judge Chen has blocked the Trump administration from canceling protected status for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and Haitians. Chen found both decisions were preordained, with baseless pretextual explanations. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Good discussion with Chicago’s mayor about Trump and the Democratic Party. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Why don’t you send everyone proof of life first? (Either way, Chicago doesn’t want you here)

. @ChicagosMayor urges Trump to stand down on sending in National Guard. White House pushes back saying, quit the “publicity stunts” and take a lesson from DC mayor’s tempered response, via POLITICO www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

In modern American politics, weight loss comes with the territory: www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

Chicago leans on the Democratic National Convention playbook to prepare for the National Guard coming to town. www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

Trying to be better about posting here, friends.

Sen. @DickDurbin endorses Yasmeen Bankole in the IL-08 Democratic primary -- a crowded race to fill the seat of Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who's running for Durbin's seat. Bankole previously worked for Krishnamoorthi AND Durbin.

— Mayor pushes back against ICE threat. — NEW: Raja is out with a new poll that has him leading in U.S. Senate race. — Illinois lawmakers' names found on alleged Minnesota murder suspect's notes. politi.co/45MBX0f via @politico

— Pritzker v. Trump. Get used to it. — Alderman wants hearings on "rising incidents of antisemitic and radicalization” in Chicago. — @RoKhanna endorses Junaid Ahmed for Congress in IL-08. — @SenDuckworth on a (TV) warpath. politi.co/45nQgYR via @politico

‘Mutually assured destruction’: Trump’s and Musk’s quiet day is less détente than Cold War.

Joe Walsh might run again — as a Dem. politi.co/3HluqLE via @politico

This state is the first in the country where the Freedom Caucus is in control. www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

— Biden's health, and a new book reveals some Illinois Dems have long had concerns. — Auction time for intimate Lincoln items. — Money race heats up in congressional races. politi.co/3GYIPwU via @politico

A large dust storm rolled across northwest Indiana and north-central Illinois on Friday, turning day to night in an area of the country rarely hit by dust storms.

An insightful column by Edward Keegan connects the childhood home and church of the new pope to the ordinary architecture that Chicago does so well—Chicago Tribune. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/18/c...

Pope Leo knows Illinois politi.co/3ELb6qf via @politico

Per @shiakapos.bsky.social, Raja Krishnamoorthi makes his senate bid official. The announced candidates so far are Juliana Stratton, Robin Kelly, and Raja. www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

— @JBPritzker hits a nerve in Trump world. — Crime is down in Chicago. — 100 Days of Trump. politi.co/3YoAmsW via @politico

April 29, 1974: Rep. Cal Skinner rose to complain about the volume of the new sound system in the House chamber. Speaker Robert Blair assured him they were working on it.

‘JB wants to fight’: Illinois governor embraces role as one of Trump’s fiercest foes: www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

DOGE targeted the @brookfield_zoo for its BIO-diversity. politi.co/4cBI4Wo via @politico

— Activists want immigration on the ballot. — Hold your horses on Durbin's calendar. — @KwameRaoul on the moment we're in: 'Some serious shit" — @Chicagosmayor headlines in DC today. politi.co/4jyNMuh via @politico

— @JBPritzker on the reality of tariffs. — Honors for Jim Edgar. — Unanimous support for @TonyMccombie's bill. politi.co/4joyND8 via @politico

— @RepDannyDavis “in the fight.’ — @JamesCarville and @Lis_Smith hit Chicago. — “Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger,” and other favorite movie quotes in Reader Digest. politi.co/4hZfsYg via @politico.com

— @GovPritzker sees tariff troubles. — Dan Brady elected Bloomington mayor. — Seems to be a rift between key progressives and @ChicagosMayor www.politico.com/newsletters/...