[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I AM ON THISSISTIC DAY IN NATIONAL AND STATE POLITICS I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> I'M NOT CHOOSING A SIDE I'M CHOOSING TRUTH IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DEFEAT FEAR.

>> PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BECOMES THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT TO BE IMPEACHED TWICE.

LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS JOIN US TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

>> EXTREMIST GROUPS INVOLVED WITH THE CAPITOL'S INSURRECTION WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT DANGER DO THEY STILL IMPOSE.

>> WE HEAR TALK OF HEALING AFTER THE CRIMINAL ACTS ARE COMMITTED.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TONIGHT.

>> WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> ILLINOIS' NEW HOUSE SPEAKER PROMISES UNITY AS THE HISTORIC TENURE OF SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN COMES TO A CLOSE.

>> AND HOW RESEARCHERS AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY HELPED FAST TRACK THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

BUT FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

IT WAS ANOTHER HISTORY-MAKING DAY ON CAPITOL HILL.

LAWMAKERS VOTED TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AGAIN.

THIS MAKES HIM THE FIRST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY TO BE IMPEACHED TWICE.

AND IT COMES ONE WEEK AFTER RIOTERS STORMED THE CAPITOL BUILDING.

>> THE AYES ARE 232.

AND THE NAYS ARE 197.

THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE TABLE.

>> MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE SLOTTED ON JUST ONE CHARGE: INCITING AN INSURRECTION.

ADAM KINZINGER WAS AMONG THE 10 REPUBLICANS WHO CROSSED THE AISLE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT.

PARIS HAS REACTION FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> UNDER A SWEEPING 765 PAGE BILL PASSED IN SPRINGFIELD TODAY JUDGES WOULD NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO SET A CASH BAIL FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS UNLESS THEY ARE DEEMED A FLIGHT RISK OR A RISK TO SOCIETY.

ENDING CASH BAIL IS ONE OF THE CHANGES IMPLEMENTED IF GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS THE LEGISLATION.

THE MEASURE COULD ALSO REQUIRE POLICE OFFICERS ACROSS ILLINOIS TO BE LICENSED BY THE STATE AND OUTFITTED WITH BODY-CAMERAS.

CRITICS SAY THE CHANGES WOULD TIE THE HANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS AND ALLOWING CRIMINALS TO RUN FREE.

THERE'S MORE ON OUR WEBSITE AND AMANDA VINICKY WILL HAVE A LIVE REPORT ON THE OTHER BIG NEWS FROM SPRINGFIELD A NEW HOUSE SPEAKER IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

>> CHICAGOANS AGED 65 AND OVER WILL BE ALLOWED TO START RECEIVING THEIR COVID-19 VACCINATIONS NEXT WEEK IF THERE ARE DOSES AVAILABLE AFTER HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY TOLD A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE HER SAUFS ENCOURAGING DOCTORS TO PRIORITIZE OLDER CHICAGOANS WITH HEALTH ISSUES.

THE CITY IS RECEIVING 32,000 DOSES A WEEK BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY DOSES WILL BE AVAILABLE.

ALLISON ARWADY SAYS THERE IS NO REGISTRY FOR THE VACCINE AND MOST PEOPLE WILL GET VACCINATED THROUGH THEIR DOCTORS.

>> MEANWHILE, HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 5800 ADDITIONAL CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AND 97 MORE DEATHS.

THE NUMBER OF CASES IS MORE THAN ONE MILLION 46,000, INCLUDING 17840 DEATHS.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS 8.3%.

TO PARIS AND LOCAL MEMBERS IN CONGRESS ON THIS BIG DAY IN WASHINGTON.

>> IT IS OFFICIAL AND HISTORIC, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT TO BE IMPEACHED TWICE BY CONGRESS.

TODAY'S RESOLUTION PASSED THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH 232 YES VOTES AND 197 NOS.

AMONG THOSE VOTES ARE 10 REPUBLICANS.

IT IS THE MOST BIPARTISAN IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN U.S. HISTORY.

AND NOW THAT ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT MOVES 0 AND TO THE SENATE WHICH IS NOT IN SESSION.

JOINING US ARE FOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM ILLINOIS' DELEGATION, CONGRESSMAN JESUS "CHUY" GARCIA A DEMOCRAT FROM CHICAGO.

CONGRESSWOMAN LAUREN UNDERWOOD A DEMOCRAT FROM NAPERVILLE.

BILL FOSTER A DEMOCRAT FROM NAPERVILLE AND SEAN CASTEN, A DEMOCRAT FROM DOWNERS GROVE.

WE ADD WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO JOIN US AND NONE RESPONDED TO US TODAY.

WE ARE THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE.

FIRST CONGRESSWOMAN UNDER WOOD EXPLAIN YOUR VOTE TO IMPEACH TODAY?

>> I PARTICIPATED AS I DO AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS ON JANUARY 6 WHEN WE WERE GATHERED TO STERTFY THE ELECTION.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP INCITED THE VIOLENCE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE CAPITOL AS WE WERE CONDUCTING OUR CONSTITUTIONALLY OUTLINED DUTIES.

AND HE INCITED HE ENCOURAGED, HE DID NOT IN ANYWAY ACKNOWLEDGE HIS ROLE.

AND FOR THAT, I VOTED TO IMPEACH.

>> AND THERE WERE A SPECTRUM OF OPINIONS DURING THE FLOOR DEBATE.

10 REPUBLICANS DID VOTE TO IMPEACH.

LET'S TAKE A SAMPLING OF WHAT WAS SAID.

>> NOW, WE HEAR TALK OF HEALING AFTER THE CRIMINAL ACTS ARE COMPLETED.

NEVER AS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY DID I SAY JUDGE YEAH, MY GUY COMPLETED THE ARMED ROBBERY BUT LET'S HEAL NOW.

NO, THERE WAS ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT OF Mr. TRUMP IS NOT ABOUT WORDS AT A RALLY.

NO THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE UNBRIDLED HATRED OF THIS PRESIDENT.

>> WITH TRUTH COMES LOVE AND WE COULD USE THAT MY VOTE TO IMPEACH OUR PRESIDENT IS NOT A FEAR BASED DECISION I'M CHOOSING TRUTH.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DEFEAT FEAR.

>> CONGRESSMAN FOSTER WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS NARRATIVE AMONG MUCH OF THE G.O.P.

THAT THIS IMPEACHMENT IS NOT WARRANTED AND IT WILL FURTHER INFLAME TENSIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND NOT UNITE ANYBODY?

>> I THINK MOST OF THEM KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

IT WAS A VERY SOMBER MOOD IN CONGRESS IN THE RUN UP TO THE VOTE.

THERE ARE MANY REPUBLICANS THAT I WORK WITH REGULARLY THAT WHEN YOU MEET THEM IN THE TUNNEL ON THE WAY TO AND FROM VOTES THEY WOULD NOD AND SMILE AT YOU.

AND THIS TIME THEY WERE LOOKING DOWN AND AVOIDING EYE CONTACT.

AND THEY KNEW HOW THEY WERE GOING TO VOTE AND THEY KNEW THE EYES OF HISTORY WOULD NOT LOOK KINDLY ON THE VOTE THEY WERE ABOUT TO TAKE.

THEY FEEL POLITICALLY CONSTRAINED BY BEING PART OF THE PARTY OF TRUMP AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HAVE THE POLITICAL COURAGE TO DO WHAT THEY IN THEIR HEARTS KNOW IS CORRECT.

>> CONGRESSMAN GARCIA, DO YOU THINK THAT MOST OF THOSE REPUBLICANS ARE JUST TAKING A POLITICAL VOTE FEARING THE BACKLASH FROM THE TRUMP BASE?

OR ARE THEY BELIEVERS?

>> I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION.

I THINK MOSTLY THEY BELIEVE THAT TRUMP CONTINUES TO HOLD A GREAT INFLUENCE OVER THEIR PARTY.

AND THERE IS A GOOD LEVEL OF COWARDS WITHIN THE -- CORD WARD DES AND RHETORIC HAS CONSEQUENCES THE LATEST MOB ACTION ON THE CAPITOL OF THE UNITED STATES IS NOT THE FIRST TIME TRUMP AS INCITED VIOLENCE.

WE SAW IT IN CALIFORNIA.

WE SAW IT IN [INAUDIBLE] LATINO, MEXICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO WERE USED AS TARGETS.

SO THAT RHETORIC HAS CONSEQUENCES.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE WORST NATIONAL EXAMPLE.

THEY ARE FEARFUL AND THE ONLY THING THEY CAN TRY TO DO IS JUSTIFY AND CAST DOUBTS AS BEING UNREASONABLE AND NOT WILLING TO RECONCILE AND UNIFY.

IN ORDER TO RECONCILE YOU MUST HAVE ADMISSION OF TRUTH AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN WILL BE WITH THE COUNTRY FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> CONGRESSMAN CASTEN MIXED SIGNAL FROM MITCH McCONNELL SAYING HE IS OPEN TO CONVICTING BUT THE TRIAL WILL NOT BE HELD UNTIL THE DAY OF BIDEN'S INAUGURATION AND BEYOND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT DOES FOR THE EFFORT TO CONVICT?

>> WELL, LOOK, THE REASON WE IMPEACHED TODAY WAS NOT BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER ILLUSIONS THAT TRUMP WILL BE OUT OF OFFICE ON JANUARY 20.

WE'VE SEEN HOW MUCH DAMAGE HE CAN DO TO THE COUNTRY AND THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS AND THE CAPITOL POLICE ON ONE DAY.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE HIM IN THE OFFICE A DAY LONGER.

MITCH McCONNELL IS CAPABLE OF MOVING.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME ALL AMY CONEY BARRETT SHE WILL TELL YOU HOW QUICKLY HE CAN MOVE.

MITCH McCONNELL IS A COWARD.

THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS OF HIM NOT MOVING NOW IS WE WILL HAVE A FULL AND COMPLETE HEARING, FULL AND COMPLETE INVESTIGATIONS AND WE WILL HAVE CONTROL OF THE SENATE AND HAVE WITNESSES WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE IN THE LAST IMPEACHMENT AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECKONING FOR EVERYONE OF MY 197 COLLEAGUES WHO LOOKED AT EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED.

LOOKED AT TRUMP DECLARING WAR ON THE CAPITOL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1812 AND DECIDED THIS WAS A TIME TO DO NOTHING.

>> HE WILL THROW IT INTO THE HANDS OF SCHUMER AND SAY THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT.

CONGRESSWOMAN UNDERWOOD WE HAVE ELUDED TO THE TONE IN WASHINGTON AND SEEN THE IMAGES OF THE NATIONAL GUARD IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW?

>> THE CAPITOL COMPLEX HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED.

THERE ARE FENCES SURROUNDING THE ENTIRE PERIMETER.

THERE ARE EIGHT-FOOT METAL FENCES NON-SCALABLE THAT IS WHAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS TOLD US.

WE SEE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS THE CAPITOL POLICE, NATIONAL GUARDSMEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.

THERE ARE LIMITED POINTS OF ENTRY.

NO VEHICLE TRAFFIC.

THERE ARE NO PEDESTRIANS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THERE ARE NO TOURISTS.

NO GROUPS.

IT IS A DIFFERENT PLACE.

IT REMINDED ME OF A COLLEGE CAMPUS IT WAS LIKE WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE WAR COLLEGE BEING LIKE.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAPITOLS LOOK LIKE IN COUNTRIES THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF CONFLICT.

CONGRESSMAN FOSTER THERE'S SOME DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES SAYING THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE FAR, FAR RIGHT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE LEADING RECONNAISSANCE TOURS OF THE CAPITOL TO SOME OF THE ALLEGED RIOTERS THE DAY BEFORE.

HAVE YOU SEEN EVIDENCE OF THAT?

OR THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN COORDINATION ON THE INSIDE?

>> I HAVE NOT.

THAT ALLEGATION I BELIEVE CAME FROM CHERYL WHO IS A MEMBER I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR.

I EXPECT THAT THERE IS SOME FOUNDATION BEHIND THAT.

IT'S ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE CAPITOL IS THERE ARE SECURITY CAMERAS EVERYWHERE.

AND SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT INSTANCE AND WE'LL KNOW THE TRUTH.

SO IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS EVEN INDEPENDENT OF THE IMPEACHMENT CONSIDERATIONS HERE.

>> CONGRESSMAN GARCIA, YOU TOLD ME LAST WEEK WHEN YOU WERE FLYING BACK THERE WERE LOTS OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS ON THE FLIGHT AND THAT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE.

WHAT THREATS HAVE YOU HEARD TO YOUR SAFETY, TO THE SAFETY OF STATE CAPITOL AND THE U.S. CAPITOLS IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO?

>> WELL, PERSONALLY, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT MANY THREATS.

PERHAPS AFTER MY FLOOR SPEECH TODAY THAT WILL INCREASE.

BUT GETTING BACK TO THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO JUST REFUSED TO WEAR MASKS AND WHO INSIST ONCOMING ON TO THE FLOOR ARMED, WE HAVE REASONS TO BE FEARFUL OF THAT AND TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

WHEN YOU ADD TO IT, THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN COLLUSION AND COORDINATION FROM WITHIN, UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A COMPLETE AND FULL INVESTIGATION ABOUT WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED THIS IS AN UGLY CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY IN ORDER TO MOVE BEYOND THIS WE NEED TO GET THE TRUTH OUT AND THE FACTS BEFORE US.

BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE THREAT AND ACTIONS TAKING PLACE IN STATE CAPITOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THESE ARE WHITE SUPREMISTS, ARMED GROUPS AND THEY ARE A NATIONAL THREAT.

THIS HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY THE F.B.I.

AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES IN OUR COUNTRY.

IT WARRANTS THE ATTENTION OF CONGRESS AS WELL AS STATE LEGISLATORS.

>> AND WE ARE DIGGING INTO THAT AS WELL.

CONGRESSMAN CAST 10, CONGRESSMAN GARCIA ELUDED SOME BRINGING ARMS ON THE FLOOR WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE?

>> IT IS A DEEP CONCERN AND THERE IS A RULE THAT DATES BACK TO 1967 THAT MEMBERS ARE UNIQUELY ALLOWED TO HAVE FIREARMS IN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX IT IS AN OUTDATED RULE AND WE NEED TO CHANGE IT.

THERE IS A GENUINE FEAR ON CAPITOL HILL RIGHT NOW.

WE WALKED IN YESTERDAY TO THE IMAGE TOMORROWTERS AND THE FIRST THOUGHT IS YOU CAN'T GET ON THE HOUSE FLOOR UNLESS YOU ARE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS OR LIMITED STAFF.

IT IS CLEAR WHO WE'RE PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM.

AND WHEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM ARE THEN GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH THE DETECTORS SETTING IT OFF AND INSISTING THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT -- >> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES?

>> EXACTLY.

KEEP IN MIND MY FIRST AWARENESS THAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH WAS LOOKING IN THE EYES OF A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS HAD A TOUGH WEEK WITH JUST A LOOK OF PANIC SAYING BOBBER HAS GONE THROUGH.

>> THAT IS BOEBERT.

QANON SYMPATHETIC FROM COLORADO.

>> THINK ABOUT IMAGINE IF YOUR KID WAS IN A SCHOOL SHOOTING AND THE NEXT DAY THAT KID HAD TO BE EXPOSED TO SAYING THERE'S SOMEONE GOING THROUGH THAT MIGHT HAVE A GUN AND IT'S A TEACHER.

THAT IS THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE CREATING.

FOR WHAT?

WHAT DO YOU POSSIBLY GAIN OTHER THAN TO CREATE FEAR AND CREATE A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE IN CONGRESS DO NOT KNOW WHICH OF OUR COLLEAGUES ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO UNDERMINE OUR LIFE AND LIBERTY.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE AN UNTHINKABLE SITUATION IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.

WE INVITED EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO JOIN US AND NONE RESPONDED BUT OUR THANKS TO THE REPRESENTATIVES.

STAY SAFE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND IT IS A HISTORIC DAY IN STATE POLITICS.

AFTER A WHIRLWIND OF ACTIVITY THE ILLINOIS HOUSES HAS A NEW SPEAKER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1996.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US FROM SPRINGFIELD.

AMANDA?

>> PARIS, THIS IS DOUBLY HISTORIC IN THE GLEE TO WHICH -- DEGREE TO WHICH CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

TODAY MARKS THE END OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL MADIGAN'S RECORD RUN AS SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND FOR THE FIRST TIME A BLACK LEGISLATOR WILL FILL THAT ROLE.

>> FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.

>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER.

>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER.

>> OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> WHEN MADIGAN FIRST BECAME A STATE LAWMAKER 50 YEARS AGO, REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS WELCH WAS NOT BORN HE PROMISED TO MAKE CHANGES TO HOW MADIGAN OPERATED THE HOUSE THE PAST 36 YEARS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WELCH HEAPED PRASES ON HIS PREDECESSOR.

>> OUR STATE WOULD NOT BE WHERE IT IS TODAY WITHOUT SPEAKER MADIGAN.

WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FACT.

WHILE OUR STATE HAS MANY PROBLEMS, OUR SCHOOLS ARE BETTER, MORE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, AND OUR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES CAN MORE EASILY LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

THANKS TO THE STRONG LEADERSHIP OF SPEAKER MADIGAN.

>> WHILE MADIGAN DID RECEIVE A STANDING OVATION TO THOSE REMARKS HE WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR BY MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY AMID THE ComEd SCANDAL.

MADIGAN GAVE UP THE GAVEL WITHOUT A SPEECH MERELY ISSUING A STATEMENT SAYING IT WAS THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO SERVE AS SPEAKER IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THE CAUCUS I LEAVE TO WELCH AND ALL WHO WILL SERVE ALONGSIDE HIM IS STRONGER THAN WHEN I BEGAN.

AS I LOOK AT THE LARGE AND DIVERSE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WE HAVE BUILT I'M CONFIDENT ILLINOIS REMAINS IN GOOD HANDS.

REPUBLICANS SAY NO, MADIGAN DID NOT MAKE ILLINOIS BETTER.

>> HIS LEGACY LEAVES BROKEN PROMISES TO ILLINOIS TAXPAYERS.

A LEGACY DRIVEN BY ABSOLUTE POWER AND CONTROL, THE LEGACY IS ALSO ONE WHICH FAILED ITS CITIZENS WITH UNBALANCED BUDGETS, BROKEN PENSION SYSTEMS, TAX INCREASE AFTER TAX INCREASE WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT.

>> HOUSE G.O.P.

LEADER JIM DURKIN SAYS HE WAS DISAPPOINTED HOW WELCH RECENTLY CHAIRED A SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE PROBING MADIGAN'S ETHICAL CONDUCT BUT LIKE WHILE IGNORED A WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WOULD BE A CHANGE AMONG OTHER CHANGES COMING, WHILE MADIGAN HAS CONTINUED TO WORK AS A PROPERTY TAX ATTORNEY WELCH A PARTNER AT A LAW FIRM SIGNALED HE IS WILLING TO STEP AWAY FROM THAT PRIVATE WORK AND UNLIKE MADIGAN SIGNALED HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE SPEAKER FOREVER.

>> I THINK 10 YEARS IS AN APPROPRIATE TERM LIMIT.

>> IS THAT A NEW RULE?

>> I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT LAW.

YOU KNOW.

LET'S PASS A BILL.

>> STILL, WELCH IS COMING TO HIS NEWLY PROMINENT POSITION WITH BAGGAGE.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT IN THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" IN 2002 AN EX-GIRLFRIEND FILED A POLICE REPORT SAYING WELCH SLAMMED HER HEAD INTO A COUNTER DURING AN ARGUMENT AND TWICE ACCUSED OF RETALIATING AGAINST WOMEN.

REPORTERS ASKED WELCH ABOUT THE INCIDENTS THIS AFTERNOON, HERE IS HIS RESPONSE... >> I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO BEYOND THE STATEMENT.

I RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AND THERE IS NO NEED TO GO INTO THAT.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS...

I THINK YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT ONE INCIDENT WAS OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

20 YEARS AGO IN MY LIFETIME THAT WAS A LONGTIME AGO.

PEOPLE MATURE.

THEY LOOK BACK AND WOULD DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY HANDLE SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY.

AND I THINK MY LIFE'S WORK HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE SHOWS MY RESPECT OF WOMEN.

>> THE STATEMENT THAT WELCH IS REFERRING TO WAS RELEASED LAST NIGHT AND IT TALKS ABOUT THAT 2002 CLAIM OF THE PHYSICAL ALTERCATION ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE IN THE STATEMENT HE DESCRIBES IT AS A VERBAL ARGUMENT.

I WILL BE HONEST THAT I HAVE RECONCILED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL SINCE THAT NIGHT.

IN FACT, AFTER OUR DISPUTE WE SOUGHT OUT THE AUTHORITIES OURSELVES.

THEIR FAMILY LIVES IN MY DISTRICT AND ARE SUPPORTERS OF MY PUBLIC SERVICE AND WORK.

HOWEVER I MUST CONVEY MY DISMAY OF THE LACK OF DECENCY DISPLAYED BY THE G.O.P.

POLITICIANS AND THE URGE TO USE THIS REPORT AGAINST ME.

MOST DEMOCRATIC WOMEN WERE SATISFIED WITH THE EXPLANATION BUT NOT ALL.

ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT, KELLY CADDY OF CHICAGO SAID SHE COULD NOT VOTE FOR WELCH IN LIGHT OF IT.

ISSUING A STATEMENT SAYING HE HAS DENIED EACH ALLEGATION AND WE HAVE SEEN EXAMPLES OF BLACK MEN BEING WRONGFULLY ACCUSED BUT CASSIDY SAYS I FEEL STRONGLY I HAVE BEEN TOO OUTSPOKEN ON ISSUES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO IGNORE THESE QUESTIONS.

CASSIDY IS CALLING FOR A VIGOROUS REVIEW OF THE INCIDENTS.

MEANWHILE, MADIGAN HAS NOT LOST ALL POWER.

HE REMAINS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

AND CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS.

HE IS LEAVING A LOT OF WORK TO NEW ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH STARTING WITH ILLINOIS' BUDGET.

BUT PARIS THAT IS A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> AMANDA THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD BUT WELCH HAS BEEN CLOSE TO MADIGAN MAYBE NOT A SEA CHANGE AND WE'LL SEE YOU LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

UP NEXT, A LOOK AT THE EXTREMIST GROUPS INVOLVED WITH THE CAPITOL'S INSURRECTION AND THE DANGERS THEY COULD STILL POSE.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES"... WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE PREVENTS A STRONG COALITION OF BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES FORMING ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES?

>> I WANT US TO AS A NATION TO FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER.

>> GO DOWN THE BLOCK AND GET IT FROM SOMEONE LOCAL AND KEEP THE MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> BLACK JOY AND THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IS MAGICAL.

>> AS DEMOCRATS AND SOME REPUBLICANS IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP THE F.B.I.

WARNS OF ARMED PROTESTS AT CAPITOLS IN ALL 50 STATES AHEAD OF INAUGURATION DAY.

LAST WEEK'S DEADLY STORMING OF THE U.S. CAPITOL BROUGHT TOGETHER MANY EXTREMIST ORGANIZATIONS FROM RIGHT-WING MILITIAS TO MEMBERS OF THE PROUD BOYS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL THREAT THEY POSE ARE MEGHAN MURPHY-GILL, A PRO -- MEGAN SQUIRE A PROFESSOR AT ELON UNIVERSITY AND A FELLOW AT THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER AND TRACKS ON-LINE EXTREMISM.

AND DAVID GOLDENBERG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DAVID THERE WAS A POLL THAT THE ADL RELEASED FINDING THAT 77% OF AMERICANS ARE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT CONCERNED OF VIOLENCE IN AMERICA FROM ANTIGOVERNMENT AND MILITIA MOVEMENTS AND 75% OF WHITE SUPREMISTS.

64% ARE CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE FROM ANTIFA AND THERE'S BEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT ANTIFA ACTIVISTS FUELED THAT MOB.

DAVID, BREAKDOWN SOME OF THE EXTREMIST MILITIAS AND WHITE SUPREMIST ORGANIZATIONS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> FIRST OF ALL LET'S POINT OUT THAT WHAT OCCURRED LAST WEEK AND LAST WEDNESDAY WAS ARGUABLY THE MOST PREDICTABLE ACT OF EXTREMIST IN MODERN HISTORY.

YOU HAD A LOT OF GROUPS RANGING FROM THE PROUD BOYS TO THE OATH KEEPERS TO THE 3%ERS TO TURNING POINT U.S.A. AND GROUPS LIKE THAT SHOWING UP AT THE CAPITOL.

AND MINGLING WITH OTHERS JUST THERE TO PROTEST THAT CREATED THIS TYPE OF MOB MENTALITY.

AND THEY LOOK TO THE FUTURE OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR GROWING STRENGTH.

>> HOW DO THE DPPS AASSEMBLYMEMBER -- GROUPS ASSEMBLE AND COMMUNICATE?

>> THE ROLE OF THE ON-LINE PLATFORMS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

THAT IS THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF THE PLANNING WAS HAPPENING BEFORE THESE EVENTS AND FUTURE EVENTS AS WELL.

A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS FROM THE BIG MAINSTREAM PLATFORMS TO NICHE SMALLER PLATFORMS.

THEY WERE ALL INVOLVED IN THIS CASE.

>> WHAT ARE THE ONES WE MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD OF?

>> PARLER HAS GOTTEN PRESS.

THERE'S NOW STARTING TO FIND AND KEEP HOSTING THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM INFRASTRUCTURE.

GAB IS A PLATFORM THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING FOR SOMETIME.

TELEGRAM, D LIVE IS A VIDEO STREAMING PLATFORM.

QUITE A VARIETY.

>> DAVID, IN OCTOBER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME LAND SECURITY'S HOMELAND THREAT ASSESSMENT NAMED WHITE SUPREMIST EXTREMISTS SAID IT WAS THE BIGGEST THREAT FACING THE U.S.

IT READ IN PART... >> DAVID WHAT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

>> I WOULD SAY THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY THREAT BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS THAT OVER 90% OF EXTREMIST RELATED MURDERS LAST YEAR WERE COMMITTED BY WHITE SUPREMISTS.

80% IF YOU GO TO THE LAST FEW YEARS.

YOU FIND THERE ARE EXTREMISTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, THOSE WHO ARE ON THE RIGHT ARE THEY COME ACROSS AND ARE TAKING ACTION IN A MUCH MORE VIOLENT WAY.

AND YOU SEE GREATER LEVELS OF HARASSMENT OF VANDALISM OF ASSAULT AND WORSE.

SO THEIR ACTIONS ARE MUCH MORE VIOLENT AND MUCH MORE VIOLENCE-PRONE AS WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT EVENTS.

>> MEGHAN, WE'VE SEEN SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERNET COMPANIES TRY TO MAKE CONVENING ON-LINE HARDER FOR THE GROUPS WE KNOW ABOUT TWITTER AND Facebook, AMAZON WEB SERVICES STOPPED HOSTING PARLER.

ARE THESE MOVES EFFECTIVE?

DOES IT STALL OR LIMIT THE ABILITY OF THESE GROUPS TO COMMUNICATE AND ORGANIZE?

>> IT DOES.

IN FACT, CHAIRMAN'S NETWORK DISRUPTION IT DOES DISRUPT THE NETWORK EFFECTIVELY.

AND THERE ARE ACTIONS THAT CANNOT BE FORGOTTEN.

WHERE DO THE PEOPLE GO NEXT?

THEY WILL GO TO ANOTHER ONE.

UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF TIME THE PLATFORM COMPANIES ARE NOT IN COMMUNICATION WITH ONE ANOTHER.

ONE PLATFORM WILL PASS IT ON TO THE NEXT ONE TO WILL DEAL WITH IT.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMPANIES I WOULD HOPE TO COMMUNICATE AND COOPERATE A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT WE DON'T REALLY SEE A LOT OF THAT HAPPENING.

>> DOES THAT DESTABILIZATION OF THEIR COMMUNICATIONS DOES IT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TRACK THEM?

>> SOMETIMES NOT ALWAYS.

THERE ARE UPSIDES TO FOLKS MOVING TO OTHER PLATFORMS THEY TEND TO BE DISORGANIZED AND THEY MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE PLATFORM THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

AND THEN WHAT I'M FINDING IN MY WORK IN DATA COLLECTION IT IS EASIER TO COLLECT DATA FROM THE NICHE PLATFORMS THAN THE MAINSTREAM ONES IN SOME CASES.

IT IS A MIXED BAG.

>> DAVID AN F.B.I.

BULLETIN SAYS THERE ARE ARMED PROTESTS IN THE WORKS FOR STATE CAPITOLS IN ALL 50 STATES AND IN WASHINGTON D.C.

AHEAD OF THE INAUGURATION.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS PLANNED SO FAR?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING TO KNOW AIS THAT THE PROTESTS IN THE 50 CAPITOLS WAS A PROTEST ORGANIZED BY MANY BOOINGLERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP OR JOE BIDEN THEY ARE ANTIGOVERNMENT MOVEMENT.

THEY HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO DO THIS A NUMBER OF WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION AND SORT OF IN THEIR OWN RIGHTS EFFORT.

SO THEY PUT OUT FLYERS IN LIGHT OF WHAT I HEARD LAST WEEK A NUMBER OF THEM TRIED TO PULLBACK BUT THE FLYERS HAVE BEEN DISSEMINATED AND THE PROTESTS POTENTIAL ONES IN STATE CAPITOLS ARE TURNING INTO A LITTLE BIT LARGER AND BIGGER.

WE HAVE SEEN INCREASE INTENSITY IN CHATTER ON-LINE FROM EXTREMISTS AND OTHERS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE MARCHS.

BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN, TOO IS LESS ORGANIZATION THAN WE SAW AROUND PRIOR TO THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 6.

SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, THOUGH, IS REALIZE THAT WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS NEED TON PREPARED FOR THE POTENTIAL WHEN YOU GET THE EXTREMISTS MINGLING WITH OTHERS, IT CREATES A VOLATILE SITUATION WHERE VIOLENCE IS POSSIBLE.

>> AND WE HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT LEADING UP TO LAST WEEK'S ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL, WERE CONVERSATIONS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN LEADING UP TO THE 2017 UNITE ORGANIZE THE RIGHT RALLY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE.

>> THE RHETORIC HAD THE SAME HEAT BUT THE MIXTURE OF GROUPS WAS DIFFERENT AND I THOUGHT WHAT WAS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS EVENT SURPRISING WAS THE AMOUNT OF NORMAL, NORMAL REPUBLICANS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION.

IT WAS TRULY SHOCKING.

>> OK. WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE THANK YOU TO MEGAN SQUIRE AND DAVID GOLDENBERG.

>> AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"... LONG TIME HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN HAS BEEN OUSTED.

WE HEAR FROM ONE OF THE TOP REPUBLICANS IN THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.

>> I'M VOTING FOR IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE STILL THE COUNTRY MY PARENTS BELIEVED IN.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM EXAMINES THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND HOW RESEARCHERS AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY OUTSIDE CHICAGO HELPED ENABLE THE FAST TRACK DEVELOPMENT OF CORONAVIRUS VACCINES.

FIRST MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

A CHICAGO MOON IS FACING -- MAN IS FACING CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY PARTICIPATING IN LAST WEEK'S RIOT AT THE CAPITOL.

THEY LEARNED ABOUT KEVIN JAMES LYONS BECAUSE OF TWO PICTURES HE POSTED TO INSTAGRAM FROM JANUARY 5 SHOWING HIS ROUTE FROM CHICAGO TO WASHINGTON D.C. WITH THE CAPTION QUOTE I REFUSE TO TELL MY CHILDREN I SAT BACK AND DID NOTHING.

I'M HEADING TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO STOP THE SEAL.

>> AND THE OTHER IS THINGS... LYONS WAS ORDERED RELEASED ON BOND TODAY.

WHAT OTHER INFORMATION HE GAVE FEDERAL AGENTS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> INSPECTORS CITED 11 RESTAURANTS AND BARS ALLOWING INDOOR DRINKING AND DINING.

THE CITY CONDUCTED 105 INVESTIGATIONS LAST WEEK AND CITED TWO UNLICENSED BUSINESSES.

ONE A HOME AND ANOTHER AT A BUSINESS IN IN BUCKTOWN.

SINCE MARCH INSPECTORS CITED 395 BUSINESSES FOR VIOLATING COVID-19 REGULATIONS.

>> AND NOW TO PARIS WITH MORE FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> IT'S BEEN AN HISTORIC DAY IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL AND THE STATE CAPITOL WHERE MICHAEL MADIGAN'S LONG TIME ROLE AS SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE CAME TO AN END.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US NOW AGAIN FROM WHERE IT HAPPENED.

AMANDA?

>> YES, AND I'M JOINED NOT BY A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE BUT I KNOW YOU COULDN'T GET CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ON THE PROGRAM PARIS WE ARE JOINED BY THE LEADING STATE REPUBLICANS AND THAT IS THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE STATE SENATE, DAN McCONCHIE OF HAWTHORNE WOODS THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THIS IS YOUR FIRST TERM AS THE MINORITY LEADER, THE TOP REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE SENATE.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS NEW SESSION BEGINNING TODAY?

>> YOU KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING IMMEDIATELY.

I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO STAY HERE, WORK THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK WE HAVE PANDEMIC RECOVERY THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.

BUDGET ISSUES WE HAVE A MASSIVE BUDGET HOLE DUE TO COVID AND OUT OF BALANCED BUDGET THAT NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN SUPPORTED THIS YEAR ARE AND WE ARE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE HOLE.

THERE IS WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD?

OUR PHONES ARE BEING RINGING OFF THE HOOK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY IN WHICH STATE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING.

THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE STEPPING IN AND DOING THIS AND WE HAVE NOT TOUCHED ON ANY OF THAT THIS WEEK.

>> YOU WILL BE WORKING ON ALL OF THOSE ISSUES NOW NOT WITH ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

A HUGE CHANGE FOR ILLINOIS POLITICS AND UNDER THIS CAPITOL DOME WE ARE AT NOW.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LEGACY OF MICHAEL MADIGAN FOR BETTER OR WORSE AND THE NEW SPEAKER, CHRIS WELCH?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW OVER THE YEARS, THE SPEAKER MADIGAN REALLY DID CONTROL THIS STATE THROUGH IN A MANNER THAT IS ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED IN ANY OTHER STATE.

YOU DON'T SEE IT ELSEWHERE.

HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE PARTY AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CONTROL OVER INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS THAT WE JUST DON'T SEE ELSEWHERE.

NOW, WHAT I THINK IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR INCOMING SPEAKER WELCH TO DO IS TO TAKE A STEP AND REALLY BEGIN TO DEVOLVE POWER FROM THE LEADERSHIP WHERE IT'S CONCENTRATED NOW BACK TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS SO THAT THEY CAN REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND ULTIMATELY BACK TO THE PEOPLE.

SO THIS IS NOT A TOP DOWN RUN STATE.

INSTEAD THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE THE VOTERS FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICE CAN BE HEARD IN SPRINGFIELD AGAIN.

>> AND 30 SECONDS LEFT TO HERE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT PART OF THAT THIS TOP DOWN LEADERSHIP, YOUR FRUSTRATION THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTION WELL INTO THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING INCLUDING ON A MAJOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICING BILL.

>> AT 3:OUR 4AM WE GOT A 700 PAGE BILL DROPPED ON US.

ON 4:04AM WE STARTED DEBATING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN IT.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE TRUST IN SPRINGFIELD AND HAVE QUALITY PUBLIC POLICY COMING OUT OF THEIR GOVERNMENT, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO BE INVOLVED, THE MEDIA TO BE INVOLVED AND ACTUALLY HAVE ENOUGH TIME NECESSARY TO DIGEST THIS AND DEBATE IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT.

>> AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE LOOKING TO INTRODUCE INTO THE SENATE RULES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND TALKING WITH US ABOUT IT.

AND I'M SURE WE WILL BE HAVING PLENTY AS THE NEW SESSION GETS UNDERWAY THAT IS SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER DAN McCONCHIE AND BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> AMANDA I KNOW YOU WERE OUT UNTIL 4:00 A.M. AND THEN BACK AT IT AT 8:00 A.M. HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH CAFFEINE TODAY.

UP NEXT A LOOK AT THE TOOLS ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY USED TO HELP FIGHT THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19.

>> A LOT OF THE GROUND WORK TO DEVELOP A SUCCESSFUL COVID-19 VACCINE HAPPENED HERE IN THE CHICAGO AREA AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY.

THE GENE SEQUENCE OF THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19 WAS PUBLISHED BY CHINESE RESEARCHERS ONE YEAR AGO SUNDAY.

THE PUBLICATION ENABLED RESEARCHERS TO BEGIN DEVELOPING VACCINES TO DEFEAT THE VIRUS DIAGNOSED IN THE U.S. ON JANUARY 20, 2020.

AND ARGONNE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT EFFORT.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH ARGONNE HAS BEEN WORKING IS Dr. STEPHEN STREIFFER DEPUTY LABORATORY DIRECTOR FOR SCIENCE AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE ADVANCED FOR TON SOURCE.

STREIFFER IS ONE OF THE COLEADS OF THE COVID-19 RESPONSE GROUP FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY A PLEASURE THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING TO FIGHT THIS DEVASTATING PANDEMIC.

>> AND SO THIS RESEARCH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES BEFORE THE COVID-19 VARIANT WAS DISCOVERED.

HOW HAS THE RESEARCH YOU'VE DONE HELPED LEAD TO THE FAST DEVELOPMENT FOR A VACCINE FOR COVID-19?

>> IT'S BECAUSE WE STAND ON THE BACKS OF GIANTS.

AND ILLUSTRATES THE POWER OF BASIC RESEARCH.

GOING BACK INTO THE EARLY 2,000'S, RESEARCHERS USING ADVANCED PHOTO TONS HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE STRUCTURE OF PROTEINS THAT MAKEUP VIRUSES, DIFFERENT FAMILY OF VIRUSES THAN THE ONE THAT CAUSES COVID-19 BUT OTHER VIRUSES AND HOW THEY INFECT HUMAN CELLS.

AND WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IS BASED ON THAT UNDERSTAND THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY COULD DESIGN VACCINES THAT WOULD PREVENT THE VIRUSES FROM ATTACKING HUMAN CELLS AND THEREFORE WHEN SARS COV2 MATERIALIZED THEY WERE QUICKLY ABLE TO ADAPT THAT WORK TO THE SPECIFICS OF COVID-19.

TAKING 10 YEARS OF RESEARCH AND VERY, VERY SHORT TIME-FRAME COMPRESSING THAT INTO A FEW DAYS AND MAKING THE VACCINES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND COMING UP FOR THE IDEAS.

>> AND A PART IS RESEARCH DONE ON THE SPIKE PROTEINS.

TELL US WHAT THE SPIKE PROTEIN IS AND WHY THAT IS INSTRUMENTAL?

>> THE SPIKE PROTEIN IS THE DRAWING OF THE ANIMATION.

OUT OF THE SURFACE OF THE VIRUS THAT LATCHES ON TO RECEPTORS OF THE HUMAN CELLS THE FIRST STEP IN THE VIRUS BROACHING THE BARRIER OF THE CELL AND INFECTING THE HUMAN CELL.

SO IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE ARE TWO CONFIGURATIONS OR STRUCTURES OF THAT PROTEIN; THE SPIKE PROTEIN.

ONE BEFORE IT STARTS TO ENGAGE WITH THE CELL AND THE STRUCTURE ONE WHEN IT'S ATTACHED TO THE CELL.

AND WHAT THE RESEARCHERS FIGURED OUT THAT WENT INTO THE MODERNA VACCINE AND OTHER VACCINES DEPLOYED RIGHT NOW, WAS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAD TO CREATE A VACCINE THAT PROVOKED AN IMMUNE RESPONSE TO THAT FIRST CONFIGURATION, THE SPIKE PROTEIN BEFORE IT GOT 0 AND TO THE CELL NOT THE CONFIGURATION WEDNESDAY IT GET INTO THE CELL.

>> RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THE VACCINE.

ARGONNE HAS DONE MODELING WORK WITH SUPER COMPUTERS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO LEARN HOW COMMUNITY SPREAD HAPPENS.

WHAT DID ARGONNE LEARN?

>> ARGONNE HAS A MODEL WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONGTIME INDICATING THAT THE BACKGROUND WE HAVE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING TO BEAR ON COVID IS SHEN SHALL.

BUT WE HAVE A MODEL THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF SIN CITY FOR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS.

IT WAS CALLED CITY COVID.

IT IS A BIG COMPUTER PROGRAM WITH INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIONS AVATARS IF YOU ARE A GAMER THAT HAVE PROGRAM BEHAVIORS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT TO UNDERSTAND THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSE OF THE FICTITIOUS PEOPLE SO WE CAN PROGRAM THAT MODEL TO HAVE PARTICULAR BEHAVIORS LIKE HOW CLOSELY THEY FOLLOW MASK WEARING REQUIREMENTS AND EXTRAPOLATE THAT TO HOSPITAL UTILIZATION RATES BASED ON THE WAY THAT IMPACTS THE VIRUS.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND USE THAT FOR QUESTIONS THEY HAVE AS THEY TRY TO LEAD US OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU'VE STUDIED MODELS IN TERMS OF DISTRIBUTING THE VACCINE.

WHEN DO YOU THINK THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION COULD BE WIDESPREAD ENOUGH THAT WE ARE TECHNICALLY OVER THE FENCE?

>> PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS THING CALLED HERD IMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO GET 70-80% OF THE POPULATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OR PREVIOUSLY INFECTED THAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION WE NEED TO GET FOR HERD IMMUNITY AND PUT THE PANDEMIC BEHIND US.

RIGHT NOW, IN ILLINOIS WE'RE VACCINATING ON THE ORDER OF 25,000 PEOPLE A DAY.

WE NEED TO GET THAT UP TO A FACTOR OF TWO OR THREE TO GET OUT OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

THAT IS THE TARGET.

AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE BEST DISTRIBUTE THE VACCINE HOW WE SUPPORT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE INFRASTRUCTURES AND ROLL THE VACCINE TO BE GIVEN OUT AT PHARMACIES TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE POSITION VACCINES TO GET THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS ONE THING WE ARE TARGETING.

>> YOU WANT TO GET THAT TO 75,000 A DAY.

AND THERE IS A CONTROVERSY WHETHER SCHOOLS ARE SAFE AND CHILDREN AND IN-PERSON LEARNING.

WHAT IS YOUR MODELING SHOWN YOU ON THAT ISSUE?

>> SO WHAT THE MODEL SHOWS IT'S BEST THOUGHT OF AS A ZERO SUM GAME.

EVERY INTERACTION WE HAVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE INCREASES BY SMALL AMOUNT, THE STATISTICAL CHANCE OF SPREADING THE VIRUS.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS KEEP THAT TRANSMISSION BELOW THE RATES THE SO-CALLED R EFFECTIVE NUMBER BELOW ONE WHERE ONE PERSON IS GIVING THE VIRUS TO LESS THAN ONE PERSON SO THE VIRUS STAMPS OUT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BEHAVIORS THIS IS WE NEED TO TURNS OUT THAT HAVING KIDS IN SCHOOL DOESN'T INCREASE THAT TRANSMISSION RATE VERY MUCH.

WE NEED TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT FOR INSTANCE BY POTENTIALLY DOING THINGS LIKE FURTHER LIMITING OTHER INTERACTIONS AT RESTAURANTS FOR INSTANCE.

IT IS A TRADE-OFF WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE MAKE THE BEST OF SOCIETY.

>> Dr. STEPHEN STREIFFER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> ABSOLUTELY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

AND LET'S PUT THIS PANDEMIC BEHIND US.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

UP NEXT OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM BREAKS DOWN WHICH REPUBLICANS JUMPED THE PARTY SHIP AND VOTED TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

FIRST, WE LOOK AT THE WEATHER... A HISTORIC DAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPEACHED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TURNS TO SPRINGFIELD WHERE MICHAEL MADIGAN HANDS THE SPEAKER'S GAVEL OVER TO NEW LEADERSHIP.

HERE WITH THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM OF AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE, AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

SO THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT CAME SWIFTLY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

LET'S HEAR WHAT HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI AND REPUBLICAN JIM JORDAN SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES INCITED THIS INSURRECTION.

THIS ARMED REBELLION AGAINST OUR COMMON COUNTRY.

HE MUST GO.

HE IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO THE NATION THAT WE ALL LOVE.

>> WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON BRINGING THE NATION TOGETHER.

INSTEAD DEMOCRATS WILL IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT FOR A SECOND TIME ONE WEEK, ONE WEEK BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE.

WHY?

WHY?

POLITICS AND THE FACT THAT THEY WANT TO CANCEL THE PRESIDENT.

>> SO HEATHER, WE KNOW THAT MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DID CROSS THE AISLE TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT HOW MANY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

AND WHAT WERE THE ARGUMENTS OF HEALING AND RECONCILIATION VERSUS IMPEACHMENT?

>> THERE WERE 10 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED TO IMPEACH DONALD TRUMP WHICH IS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF DEMOCRATS BACK IN 1998 VOTED TO IMPEACH BILL CLINTON.

THIS IS TRULY A HISTORIC EVENT ON MANY WAYS.

BUT I THINK THAT DEFINITELY QUALIFIES AS BIPARTISAN IMPEACHMENT AND THE ONLY ONE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

YOU HEARD JIM JORDAN SAY IT WAS TIME TO LET BYGONES BE BYGONES.

I THINK IT DOESN'T HOLD WATER WITH NANCY PELOSI AND DEMOCRATS BECAUSE JIM JORDAN WAS AMONG THE REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE ARIZONA AND PENNSYLVANIA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WHICH IS PART OF THIS MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WHETHER THERE WERE IRREGULARITIES WHICH WE KNOW THERE WERE NOT.

I DON'T THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ARE SORT OF STEERING THOSE CALLS FOR RECONCILIATION.

THEY SAY FIRST THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUNISHMENT AND THEN RECONCILIATION.

>> THE PRESIDENT PERMANENTLY SUSPENDED FROM TWITTER HE TOOK TO THE WHITE HOUSE TWITTER ACCOUNT TO POST A VIDEO WHICH HE DID NOT MENTION THE IMPEACHMENT.

>> I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR...

I UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMNED THE VIOLENCE THAT WE SAW LAST WEEK.

VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND NO PLACE IN OUR MOVEMENT.

>> PARIS WHAT IS THE POINT OF RELEASING THAT VIDEO?

IS THE STATEMENT INTENDED TO HELP HIM WITH THE TRIAL IN THE SENATE LEGALLY ONCE OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALLY?

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A DAY LATE OR SEVEN DAYS LATE AND $7 SHORT AND CONDEMNING THE VIOLENCE BUT HE DID NOT DO IT SEVEN DAYS AGO ONE WOULD THINK THAT PERHAPS HE IS GETTING LEGAL ADVICE TO INDEMNIFY HIMSELF FOR FUTURE LITIGATION.

THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT LAWYERS TOLD HIM HE IS EXPOSED LEGALLY FOR HIS ROLE.

THE WORDS THAT HE USED IN THAT SPEECH TO INCITE RIOTERS.

AND WHAT WASN'T IN THAT STATEMENT TODAY ANY MENTION OF CONGRATULATIONS TO JOE BIDEN, ANY MENTION THAT TRAPESING AROUND THE COUNTRY SAYING IT WAS A RIGGED ELECTION WHICH WAS A BIG LIE.

NONE OF THAT WAS IN THAT SPEECH.

AND IF YOU WANT TO BRING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN THAT IS WHY THE TEMPERATURE IS UP.

BECAUSE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND DEMOCRACY WAS RIPPED FROM UNDER THEM WHEN THAT IS NOT THE CASE AND THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

>> WE KNOW, AMANDA, MITCH McCONNELL REJECTED AN EMERGENCY SESSION FOR THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

WHAT COULD THAT MEAN?

COULD WE SEE A TRIAL WHEN THE NEW PRESIDENT IS BEING INAUGURATED AFTER THE PRESIDENT IS OUT OF THE OFFICE?

>> SURE, WE COULD MOST CERTAINLY SEE THAT HAPPEN.

LET'S REMEMBER WHILE MITCH McCONNELL CHANGED HIS TUNE ON PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT COMPLETELY McCONNELL IS STILL LOOKING OUT FOR REPUBLICANS.

SO THAT PRESUMABLY PLAYS A PART IN THINGS.

THAT SAID WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PROCESS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS A VERY DIFFERENT ONE ENTIRELY FROM THE PRIOR IMPEACHMENT THAT TRUMP WENT THROUGH.

THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF CONFUSING CASE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UKRAINE AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND WHO SAYS WHAT THAT WAS VERY COMPLICATED.

THIS SITUATION IS NOT.

AMERICANS ALL WATCHED IT PLAY OUT IN THEIR TV SCREENS AND I THINK HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT IT.

IT IS A DIFFERENT SORT OF POLITICAL CALCULUS AS THIS COULD LAND IN THE LAP OF A DEMOCRATIC LED U.S. SENATE.

>> AND HEATHER IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN AFTER THE INAUGURATION WHAT IS THE LEGALITY GALT OF THAT?

STILL LEGAL TO IMPEACH A FORMER PRESIDENT?

>> IT IS.

OF COURSE THERE ARE DISSENTERS ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THE PAST.

HOWEVER IMPEACHMENT EXPLICITLY RESERVES POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT OF BANNING THE PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED FROM HOLDING OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.

SO MOST LEGAL SCHOLARS SAY THAT INDICATES IT MEANS IMPEACHMENT AFTER LEAVING OFFICE IS PERMISSIBLE AND WHY THAT'S REALLY THE PUNISHMENT THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS LOOKING AT BECAUSE OF COURSE HE ONLY SERVED ONE TERM IN OFFICE HE COULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RUN AGAIN IN 2024 AND THE QUESTION BECOMES DO REPUBLICANS DO 17 REPUBLICANS WANT TO PREVENT HIM FROM RUNNING AGAIN IN 2024 BECAUSE OF HIS CONDUCT REGARDING THE ELECTION AND THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL?

THAT IS WHAT WE WILL BE FACING IN THE COMING DAYS.

>> PARIS, WOULD A TRIAL THAT HAPPENS AFTER THE INAUGURATION WOULD THAT HAMSTRING THE BUSINESS OF THE SENATE THAT NEEDS TO BE HAPPENING ONCE A NEW SENATE IS SEATED?

>> A NEW SENATE COMES BACK TUESDAY THE 19TH.

THERE ARE APPOINTMENTS FOR COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON SOME OF BIDEN'S CABINET NOMINEES.

AND THE PRESIDENT-ELECT HAS BEEN SAYING THEY NEED TO RUSH SOME OF THOSE ESPECIALLY THE NATIONAL SECURITY FOLKS BECAUSE OF THE TOTALLY FRAUD SITUATION RIGHT NOW -- FRAUGHT SITUATION WITH SECURITY AND WITH POSSIBLE TERRORIST ACTIVITY AND 15,000 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN WASHINGTON BUT THEY ARE NOT GETTING THAT EXPEDITED HEARING.

THERE'S CROWING ABOUT THE FACT THAT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT WAS CHALLENGING THE ELECTION TRANSITION HAS GONE SLOWER FOR A LOT OF THE CABINET NOMINEES.

THEY ARE BEHIND.

AND THEY ARE BEHIND AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY IS FACING CRISES SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IMPEACHMENT THE CONVICTION TRIAL WILL GO HEAD GO AHEAD ON THE 20TH.

I THINK THEY WANT TO GET THEM SEATED AND STARTED ON THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF.

>> SECURITY MOVING FORWARD THERE ARE METAL DETECTORS TO GET ON TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

SOME G.O.P.

MEMBERS ARE FIGHTING AND CIRCUMVENTING THE ONES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

PARIS WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?

>> YOU HEARD THE CONGRESS FOLKS TODAY TALK ABOUT THEY ARE AFRAID.

THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU WOULD THINK YOU'RE IN A CIVIL WAR POST RECONSTRUCTION ERA WHERE [INAUDIBLE] THERE WAS CONGRESSWOMAN LAUREN BOEBERT SYMPATHETIC TO THE QANON.

CONSPIRACY THEORY.

WALKED AWAY FROM THE CAPITOL POLICE.

THERE'S ANGER AT THE CAPITOL POLICE FOR DARING TO STOP THEM IF THEIR BAG WENT OFF.

AND THIS COMES AS THERE ARE CONGRESSMEN OPENLY QUESTIONING WHETHER SOME OF THEIR FAR RIGHT COLLEAGUES WERE SOME OUT ASSISTING THE RIOTERS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THAT THUS FAR THERE ARE CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

SO YOU HEARD THE GENUINE FEAR RIGHT NOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT GENUINE PUBLIC SAFETY FEAR AND THAT IS A SITUATION I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WOULD HAVE SEEN IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN OUR POLITICS.

>> A LOT TO TALK ABOUT THERE.

WE HAVE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE STUFF THAT HAPPENED IN SPRINGFIELD TODAY.

AMANDA, SET THE SCENE FOR US WHEN MICHAEL MADIGAN YIELDED THE SPEAKER'S GAVEL?

>> YOU KNOW, BRANDIS, IT IS A BIZARRE SCENE IN PART BECAUSE OF JUST THE INCREDIBLE NATURE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD HAVE PREDICTED THIS HAPPENING.

MADIGAN SEEN FOR SO LONG INVINCIBLE, THE OLD ADD DAMAGE HE IS PLAYED 3D CHESS AND THE REST OF US ARE PLAYING CHECKERS AND NOT THINKING A GAME IS HAPPENING.

AND, YET, HE DID FALL AT THE MERCY IT WAS AN ETHICS SCANDAL, THE #METOO MOVEMENT AND THE CHANGE IN CULTURE A WEIRD SITUATION TO WATCH ALL THIS PLAY OUT THE MACHINATIONS TO PREPLACE THEM BECAUSE THE MEDIA WAS KEPT FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE PART DUE TO A PANDEMIC AND MADIGAN HAS HAD A STYLE OF HANDS OFF APPROACH WITH THE MEDIA.

SO IT WAS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN ACCESS HARD TO SEE HIM.

I WAS UP IN THE NOSE BLEEDS IN THE CONVENTION CENTER SO YOU COULD NOT SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING EVEN AS THIS MONUMENTAL TURN OF EVENTS HAPPENED IN ILLINOIS POLITICS.

>> AND REPRESENTATIVE WELCH HAD 59 VOTES FOR A WHILE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO GET THEM TO THE OTHER 10?

>> SO AGAIN, WE SAW A LOT OF MACHINATIONS UP DOWN VOTES.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THIS MORNING THE OTHER CHALLENGER CON TEPIDER FOR THE POSITION THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE JAY HOFFMAN OF THE METRO EAST HE HAD TALKS SOME WHEELING AND DEALING.

I THINK IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE AND WOMEN AS WE TALKED ABOUT DID END UP GETTING BEHIND HIM.

BY THE WAY, REALLY WELCH WAS PROPPED UP FIRST BY MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS.

THERE ARE 22 MEMBERS OF THAT CAUCUS THAT MAKES THEM A POWERFUL VOTING BLOC AND THE VOTING OF THE LATINO CAUCUS.

FOR THOSE IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE ANYBODY ELSE ASSUMING THE POSITION.

>> AND HEATHER G.O.P.

OPPOSITION RESEARCH TRIED TO SINK REPRESENTATIVE WELCH WITH FEMALE LAWMAKERS.

TELL US WHAT WAS UP THERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CLEAR THAT REPRESENTATIVE WELCH TRIED TO DOWN-PLAY THE INCIDENTS AND SAID THEY WERE LONG IN THE PAST AND YOU KNOW DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO DETAILS YOU HEARD IN AMANDA'S REPORT.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT KELLY CASSIDY WHO LED THE #METOO MOVEMENT WITHHELD HER VOTE FROM REPRESENTATIVE WELCH AND THAT WILL BE A NEXT RELATIONSHIP TO WATCH.

THERE ARE MANY WHO FELT THE NEXT SPEAKER SHOULD BE A FEMALE SPEAKER.

AND NEITHER OF THEM COULD GET TO THE MAGIC VOTE MARK AND WITH THE ALLEGATIONS SWIRLING, I THINK THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON GENDER AND SORT OF FEMALE ISSUES AND FEMALE EMPOWERMENT IN THE STATE HOUSE AT CENTER STAGE EVEN AS THE STATE DEALS WITH A MASSIVE BUDGET DEFICIT AND THE CONTINUING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND INDICATION HOW CRAZY THE WEEK HAS BEEN AND I JUST NOW MENTIONED THE RAGING PANDEMIC GOING ON.

>> THERE'S NOTHING ELSE GOING ON.

THANKS TO OUR TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS.

AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE STORIES DISCUSSED TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BREAK FROM ALL THE POLITICS NEWS, I SUGGEST READING OUR STORY ABOUT HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S VIRTUAL POLAR PLUNGE INTO LAKE MICHIGAN WITH THE POLAR BEAR CLUB ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON Facebook AND YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE.

>> WE DON'T BE DOING THE POLAR PLUNGE.

>> YOU CAN GET THE VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. WE VISIT NORTH LAWNDALE FOR THE NEXT STOP IN OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> AS A NEW HOUSE SPEAKER IS SWORN IN WE'LL BRING YOU THE LATEST FROM SPRINGFIELD.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I AM HE APPEARS >> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]