We asked readers for their favorite political ads of all time, and Texas Republican Gerald Daugherty's 2016 ad takes the cake. Scroll down to READER DIGEST: politi.co/4eWSPp6 via @politico
Summer break? Not quite
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Shia Kapos
@shiakapos.bsky.social
Politics reporter at POLITICO and author of the Illinois Playbook
— @ChicagoBears are back in play. — @JBPritzker's on the road promoting ag, biofuels & jobs. — @ToniPreckwinkle's presidential politics flub. — “Broadview Six” and "the fight for justice." — PLUS: A new name joins the Chicago mayor's race. www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Bears are back in play
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Presidents Obama, Biden, Clinton and Bush all came out for the opening festivities of the Obama Presidential Library in Chicago. Absent was President Donald Trump. Folks had a few things to say about that. www.politico.com/news/2026/06...
Obama opens his center with a warning about America’s future
The former president defended the courts, the press and constitutional norms — drawing sharp contrasts with the Trump era.
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— Obama Center: Beauty in the beholder’s eye. — Gov. Pritzker signs the budget and compares Trump to Rauner in projecting about 2028. — Jill Biden hits Chicago and talks about the dreadful debate. www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Obama Center: Beauty in the beholder's eye
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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
Harris hits Chicago. Questions linger
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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/...
Yusef Jackson tapped to lead Rainbow PUSH in new era
Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln
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Chicago’s ICE playbook spreads as cities challenge Trump’s crackdown
Chicago’s ICE playbook spreads as cities challenge Trump’s crackdown
Blue-state leaders are swapping executive orders, legislative strategies and public warnings.
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AI restores Bobby Rush’s voice for broadcast endorsement. www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
Jesse Jackson Jr. turns to AI to amplify Rush endorsement
The spot restores the voice of the longtime former Chicago congressman — just as AI super PACs get involved in the race.
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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...
Politico’s Illinois Playbook Live! with Shia Kapos & special guest Kam Buckner | Hideout Chicago
Politico Playbook with Shia Kapos & special guest State Rep Kam Buckner. Rep. Kam Buckner, who represents the downtown area where the Bears are located, will sit down for our Playbook Live. Buckner is...
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— 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
Schakowsky endorses Biss
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— @SenDuckworth: Dems need to play 'hardball.' — Tense exchange btwn governor and alderman. — Bovino's exit timed with winter. politi.co/4nMwz2h via @politico
Duckworth: Dems need to play 'hardball'
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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
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— 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
ICE targets Lincoln Park nannies
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— @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
Pritzker slams plan to deploy the Guard
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— 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
Feds stage show of force in Chicago
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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...
Rahm Emanuel road-tests populist message in Iowa while ‘thinking’ about 2028
At a Democratic fish fry in Des Moines, the former Chicago mayor hones in on economic fairness, education and fatigue with the status quo.
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— @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
State budget cuts ordered amid Trump fears
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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
DOJ jumps into Illinois gun ban case
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— 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
Trump attacks Chicago in Kirk eulogy
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— Turning fear into campaign cash. — Free speech debate envelopes Illinois. — Republican Jennifer Davis makes it official in IL-08. politi.co/4guM25f via @politico
Turning fear into campaign fuel
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— @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
Pritzker condemns canceling Kimmel
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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 👇
Pritzker says Trump is ‘losing it’
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“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/...
Johnson pokes at Trump and timid Dems
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