The rise of Nazi rhetoric

Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln

Nov 20, 2023 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Good Monday morning, Illinois. We’re remembering first lady Rosalynn Carter. TOP TALKER Gov. JB Pritzker talks to MSNBC's Jen Psaki in an interview that aired Sunday, November 19, 2023. | MSNBC GOING NATIONAL: Gov. JB Pritzker and former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, two high-profile Jewish political leaders, called out antisemitism over the weekend. In an interview: Pritzker condemned former President Donald Trump for using language that echoes Nazi Germany, and Emanuel became a victim of antisemitism when his Michigan vacation home was spray-painted with the word “Nazis.” Pritzker’s rebuke: “The rhetoric that’s being used by Trump, by some of the MAGA extremists, is rhetoric that was used in the 1930s in Germany,” Pritzker told MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki in a far-reaching, half-hour interview. Pritzker said he is “deeply concerned” about former Trump’s comment equating immigrants with “vermin.” History lesson: “In Germany in the 1930s, people that they didn’t want to have power, people that they wanted to separate and segregate, they began calling them immigrants, even people who had been in Germany for generations. This is a way to begin to segregate people and then eventually … dehumanize and kill people,” Pritzker said. Emanuel feels it firsthand: The former Chicago mayor, who’s now U.S. ambassador to Japan, was in town over the weekend but not at his southwest Michigan home where the word “Nazi” was spray painted on a fence. He had a response: “Our family is very proud of how our friends, neighbors and the community have rallied to our support and in a singular voice in condemning hatred and bigotry,” Emanuel told the Sun-Times, which broke the story. The other takeaway from Pritkzer’s interview: “People have to get a spine. The NRA has controlled the Congress for far too long." Here’s his full interview THE BUZZ Political science professor Constance Mixon, appearing here on a WGN program, testified at former Ald. Edward Burke's trial last week. | Screenshot CHICAGO WAY 101: The first witness in the high-profile corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke gave a civics lesson on Friday to jurors on how Chicago politics works. Aldermanic power: City Council members operate like “mini mayors,” explained Constance Mixon, a political science professor from Elmhurst University – and a familiar name to regular Playbook readers. Burke was the “dean” of the City Council and “a fixture” given he’d served there 50 years until his retirement earlier this year, Mixon explained. “As mayors came and went,” she explained, Burke was the “one constant.” But who really had power? Though Burke was powerful, Mixon acknowledged that the council was a “rubber stamp” for former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who led the city when the feds raided Burke’s office. Burke’s attorney, Chris Gair, quoted from Mixon’s book, “Twenty-First Century Chicago,” in which she described Emanuel as a “force of nature.” Asked if she believed that, Mixon said yes. Mixon brought charts and graphs to show how the council passes legislation, gets elected and holds on to power running key committees such as Finance, which was headed by Burke for years. “We don't want nobody nobody sent.” The phrase coined by the late Abner Mikva was also explained. Early in his career, Mikva famously walked into a Chicago ward office and inquired about volunteering on a campaign. A cigar-chomping ward boss asked who sent him. “Nobody,” said Mikva, to which the ward boss responded, "We don't want nobody nobody sent." The phrase would encapsulate Chicago’s long history of patronage, which looms over the trial. Who’s on trial: Burke and his longtime political adviser, Peter Andrews, face various counts of racketeering, bribery and extortion. Businessman Charles Cui is also on trial. The other big name looming over the court case is former Ald. Danny Solis, who wore a wire for the feds, ultimately leading to the charges against Burke. Mixon’s charts showed how powerful Solis was, too, as head of the city’s Zoning Committee. If you are Ed Burke, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com   GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.     WHERE'S JB No official public event. WHERE's BRANDON No official public event. Where's Toni At Mt. Olivet Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. for a committal service for unborn, indigent and unknown persons. Before you start brining, email at skapos@politico.com THE STATEWIDES Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed the state's marriage equality bill into law 10 years ago. | M. Spencer Green/AP — 10 years ago today, Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation making Illinois the 16th state to legalize same-sex marriage: “Despite this legal backing and widespread support, advocates say it’s a precarious time for LGBTQ rights in the United States, including the freedom to marry,” reports the Tribune’s Angie Leventis Lourgos. — A landmark jury verdict threatens to upend home buying and selling. In Illinois, changes are already underway: A jury found that several large real estate brokerages “conspired to artificially inflate commissions on home sales,” reports the Tribune’s Lizzie Kane. — State school board weighs increased funding requests ahead of budget season, by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock — Dan Wright 'ready to get to work' as new Seventh Circuit Court associate judge, by the State Journal-Register’s Patrick M. Keck — Covid-19 hospitalizations are up 17% in Illinois, by the Sun-Times’ Violet Miller — How El Niño will affect the winter, by NBC 5’s Kevin Jeanes CHICAGO — ‘Bring Chicago Home’ proposal aims to boost funding for homeless services. But a similar measure in LA slowed real estate sales: “With not a lot of digging, you’ll find it’s been a disaster for LA real estate,” said Matthew Hargrove, CEO of the California Business Properties Association. In Chicago, there’s a worry that raising any tax “will sabotage” recovery in the real estate market, reports the Tribune’s Brian J. Rogal. — Mayor Johnson’s budget relies on tens of millions in additional fines: “Johnson’s 2024 financial package counts on $46 million more in fines and fees than this year, a 15% increase. In all, the mayor expects to bring in $348 million from things like parking tickets, red-light and speed enforcement fines, moving violations, booting fees, sanitation code violations and housing court fines,” by the Tribune’s A.D. Quig. — What the city’s new 60-day shelter limit means for migrants: “Volunteers said they want more clarity from the city on how the policy will work, how extensions for families will be determined and what will happen to those who get kicked out of the shelter system,” by Block Club’s Quinn Myers and Ariel Parrella-Aureli. — Chicago cops tied to Oath Keepers barred from testifying in court, Kim Foxx decides, by the Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba and WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos. — CTA Yellow Line crash caused by ‘design issue,’ National Transportation Safety Board says, by the Sun-Times’ Mohammad Samra and Violet Miller. — Record number of Thanksgiving travelers expected at O’Hare and Midway, by the Sun-Times’ Phyllis Cha — PREPS! Kenwood high school captured the 2023 Varsity Football Championship in a 26-19 thriller over Whitney Young, via Chicago Public League Athletics. BUSINESS OF POLITICS — A Tribune editorial calls Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin ‘ethically challenged’ for her dealings with bankers: “The city treasurer has no business asking banks of any kind — especially those to which the city already has business ties — to lend money to friends or other associates,” according to the editorial. Reader Digest We asked about Thanksgiving entrees you always prepare: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton: “Nothing beats my macaroni and cheese made with four different cheeses. Shout out to our dairy farmers!” House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch: “Baked ham, turkey, grandma’s dressing, sweet potatoes and collard greens.” Comptroller Susana Mendoza: “Sweet yams with baked marshmallows.” Randy Bukas: “Kugelis, the Lithuanian potato dish.” Ed Mazur: “Mushroom soup, string bean and French onion casserole. Tradition, Tradition.” For tomorrow, what political discussion blew up your Thanksgiving dinner? FROM THE DELEGATION — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Congressman Jonathan Jackson’s D.C. office received a suspicious package Friday that was determined not to be dangerous, he said Sunday. The package contained a white substance, so the staff followed protocol and contacted authorities. There’s "heightened concern" for safety since last week's violent protest at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington D.C., Jackson told Playbook. He was among congressional lawmakers evacuated from the headquarters as protesters called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Funny thing — Jackson is calling for it, too. — Reps. Jesús “Chuy” García and Delia Ramirez lead a national Green New Deal rally in Chicago’s Little Village: Chicago was the second stop on a national tour calling for greater federal investment in climate policy. “The tour aims to pressure President Joe Biden to commit to climate goals ahead of the 2024 presidential election,” by Tribune’s Ilana Arougheti. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Senate Dems stake their 2024 hopes on last 2 red-state incumbents, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett — How a flood of congressional retirements is rocking the 2024 elections, by POLITICO’s Steven Shepard — Biden orders top aides to prepare reprimands for violent Israeli settlers in West Bank, by POLITICO’s Alexander Ward   GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.N. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     TRANSITIONS — Kayla Graven is stepping down as Downtown Springfield Inc. director, by the State Journal-Register’s Patrick M. Keck. EVENTS — Nov. 28 and 29: One Aim Illinois’ two-day virtual policy summit addresses gun violence and features state Sen. Robert Peters on Nov. 28 and state Rep. Kam Buckner on Nov. 29. — Dec. 15: Latino Caucus co-chairs state Sen. Celina Villanueva and state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, both Democrats, are hosting a holiday fundraiser. Details here TRIVIA FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Bill Kresse for correctly answering that the Singer Singers were young women who campaigned for former Chicago Ald. Bill Singer. They were known for singing campaign songs on street corners. TODAY's QUESTION: What’s the poo crew famous for in Chicago? Email skapos@politico.com HAPPY BIRTHDAY President Joe Biden, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy J. St. Eve, Cook County Judge Jill Rose Quinn, University of Chicago professor Geoffrey Stone, Veteran Affairs exec Katrina Howard, marketing consultant Beth Goldberg Heller, PR pro Bill Strong and Playbooker James Teague. And belated greetings to veteran newsman Charlie Wheeler, who celebrated Saturday, and MWRD Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, who celebrated Sunday. -30-   Follow us on Twitter Shia Kapos @shiakapos   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

To change your alert settings, please log in at https://www.politico.com/_login?base=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com/settings This email was sent to rouf@idiot.cloudns.cc by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Please click here and follow the steps to unsubscribe.