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

I'M PRAYERS PRAYERS.

>> I'M BRAN I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> SPECIAL COVERAGE OF TODAY'S PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION.

>> I WILL BE A PRESIDENT FOR ALL AMERICANS.

ALL AMERICANS.

>> PSH CALLS FOR UNITY WHILE WARNING AGAINST VIOLENT DISSENT.

POLITICAL SPEECHWRITERS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

>> TODAY WILL BE GREAT AND TOMORROW IS ALL RIGHT, TOO.

>> WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION ADVOCATES ON A RANGE OF PRONTS FROM ABORTION RIGHTS TO EDUCATION HAVE BIG EXPECTATIONS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR SOMETHING OF THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

>> DETAILS ON THE PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION PLAN AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE CHICAGO REGION.

>> TO OUR VERY ENGLISH R DISTIND FORMER COLLEAGUE, MADAM VICE-PRESIDENT, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM BREAK IT IS DOWN.

>> SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION TRIES TO RATCHET UP THE PRESSURE ON MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT TO PAUSE THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES IS MEETING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WANT TO TAKE A STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE AS BARGAINING BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE DISTRICT CONTINUES.

THE C.T.U.

OPPOSED A RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AS PRE-K AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS HAVE RETURNED AND K-8 TEACHERS ARE SET TO GO PACK NEXT WEEK.

ANY MEASURE PASSED WOULD NEED TO GO BEFORE THE UNION'S 25,000 RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS.

>> SOME OF THE SOUTH SUBURBS ARE GET AND READY TO LOOSEN COVID RESTRICTIONS, WILL AND KANKAKEE COUNTIES IS TO MOVE TO ALLOW RESTAURANTS TO OPERATE INDOORS WITH SOME CAPACITY I AMLATIONS AND GATHERINGS UP TO 50 PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED.

JUST SOUTH OF THAT AREA REGION 6 IS MOVING TOWARDS LOOSER RESTRICTIONS INCLUDING 25% INDOOR CAPACITY AT RESTAURANTS.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAYS SHE WILL LIFT THE CITY'S STAY AT HOME ADVISORY FRIDAY CITING PROGRESS IN GETTING THE COVID RATE DOWN.

CHICAGO COULD SOON REOPEN RESTAURANTS AT 25% CAPACITY IF IT REGISTERS A THIRD CONSECUTIVE WITH A POSITIVITY RATE BELOW 8%.

>> AND ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 4800 NEW CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS TODAY INCLUDING 107 ADDITIONAL DEATHS THAT MAKES FOR A STATE-WIDE TOTAL OF 1,081,000.

>> THE FEDERALLY INDICTED PROCEDURE OF FORMER BEARS STAR BRING AN URLACHER IS ONE OF THE PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS ISSUED LAST NIGHT.

CASEY URLACHER HAD BEEN FACING CHARGES HE WAS ACTING AS A BAG MAN FOR A SPORTS GAMBLING RING.

URLACHER IS THE MAYOR.

TRUMP IN ISSUING THE FULL PARDON SAYS IT WAS SUPPORTED BY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COUNTLESS MEMBERS OF HIS COMMUNITY.

BUT THE ACTION WAS MET WITH CONDEMNATION HERE AT HOME WITH THE ILLINOIS SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER SAYING QUOTE IT UNDERMINES THE PUBLIC'S FAITH IN OUR SYSTEM.

>> AND NOW TO SPECIAL COVERAGE OF TODAY'S INAUGURATION STARTING WITH BRANDIS AND A LOOK AT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

>> PARIS, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S FIRST SPEECH WAS A MESSAGE OF HOPE WITH AN AMERICA UNITED THEME.

BUT DURING DIVISIVE TIMES BIDEN APPEALED TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM WHILE WARNING AGAINST VIOLENT DISSENT.

FOR ALL THOSE WHO DID NOT SUPPORT THIS, LET ME SAY THIS...

HERE ME OUT MOVING FORWARD.

TAKE A MEASURE OF MY HEART.

IF YOU DISAGREE, SO BE IT.

THAT IS DEMOCRACY.

THAT IS AMERICA THE GUARDRAILS OF REPUBLIC IS PERHAPS THIS NATION'S GREATEST STRENGTH.

HEAR ME CLEARLY.

THIS AGREEMENT MUST NOT LEAD TO DISUNION.

>> AND JOINING US TO BREAKDOWN MORE OF THE PRESIDENT'S RHETORIC ARE POLITICAL ADVISER AND SPEECHWRITER MARI MASENG WILL.

WHO WORKED FOR NUMEROUS REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS INCLUDING PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.

>> AND SPEECHWRITER, JASON DeSANTO A SENIOR LECTERRER AT PRITZKER'S SCHOOL OF LAW.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BOTH OF YOU.

JASON LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WE HEARD A CLIP FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S INAUGURATION SPEECH AND THE THEME BEING AMERICA UNITED.

DO YOU THINK IT STRUCK THE RIGHT CORD?

>> I THINK IT DID BECAUSE IT SPOKE TO OUR MOMENT IN TIME WHEN WE ARE GREATLY HOPE HOW WOULD YOU CONTRAST TO SPEECHES WE HEARD FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> WELL, THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AT LEAST THE SPEECH WAS WRITTEN DOWN.

AND HE WAS -- IT WAS COHERENT.

BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME BEING VERY CHARITABLE VERY KIND TO THIS SPEECH IN THE WAY IT WAS CRAFTED.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS CRAFTED VERY WELL.

PERHAPS IT WAS AUTHENTIC ABOUT HIS HEART.

HE IS A VERY AUTHENTIC GUY BUT THE LANGUAGE WAS PEDESTRIAN.

I LOOK AT THE INTENT OF THE SPEECH AND THE INTENT OF THE SPEECH WAS UNITY, WAS HOPE, WAS WANTING TO MOVE ON.

AND I THINK A LOT OF AMERICA MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICA IS HAPPY TO SEE THIS DAY COME.

>> ON THAT NOTE YOU FELT LIKE SOME OF THE LANGUAGE BEING PEDESTRIAN.

YOU KNOW HE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A PLAIN SPEAKER.

JASON DO YOU THINK THAT TYPE OF RHETORIC BROUGHT APPEAL?

>> I THINK IT HAS BROUGHT APPEAL BUT BECAUSE IT'S SPECIFIC TO HIM.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS THAT WE WANT SPEAKERS TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND HAVE CONVICTION.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'RE SEEING THE ACTUAL PERSON.

I THINK PROBABLY TO MARI'S POINT I'VE NEVER SEEN AN INAUGURAL WITH THE WORD [INAUDIBLE] IN IT.

THAT STRUCK ME AS GENUINE TO BIDEN.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU ARE MAKING LOFTY CLAIMS TO NOTIONS OF UNITY, AND COUNSELING HOW IT IS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BEHAVE YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BRING CREDIBILITY TO THAT.

IF PEOPLE SEE ART FIST THAT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

AND YOU HAVE TO DO SHOW NOT TELL YOU NEED MORE OF A DEMEANOR THAT IS REASSURING A DEMEANOR WHICH IS CALM.

IF PEOPLE SEE THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, I UNDERSTAND HE MEANS UNITY AND BEHAVIOR IN A PARTICULAR WAY.

IF YOU WERE A SUPPORTER OF BIDEN'S YOU FELT A CATHARSIS.

IF YOU VOTED FOR TRUMP I THINK YOU FELT AT LEAST HE WOULD HEAR YOU OUT.

AND IF YOU WERE SOMEBODY NONPOLITICAL AND A LOT OF AMERICA FINDS ITSELF AND BELIEVES ITSELF TO BE NONPOLITICAL OR ABROAD YOU PROBABLY HEARD RELIEF FROM CHAOS.

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE VALUABLE AND THOSE COME FROM SOME DEGREE OF BEING PLAIN SPOKEN ENVYING ROUSE AND CALM AND REASSURING AND RESTRAINED.

>> DO YOU THINK -- DID YOU NOTE SPEECH TACTICS THAT HE MAY HAVE USED THAT DID WORK OR FELL FLAT?

>> I THINK HE TRIED TO KEEP SAYING UNITY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

TO JASON'S POINT ABOUT OR YOURS ABOUT HOW THERE WERE PEOPLE HOPING FOR TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO HAVE HOPE THAT HE WOULD REPRESENT THEM.

HE KEPT SAYING UNITY.

THEN HE WOULD FOLLOW IT UP WITH WORDS LIKE WHITE SUPREMACY.

WHICH IS JOLTING AND THE OTHER SIDE FEELS THAT THAT IS HOW HE AND HIS PARTY VIEW EVERYONE WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM.

HE USED PHRASES LIKE THE 400 YEARS OF RACIAL INJUSTICE THAT GOES BACK TO THE 1619 PROJECT WHICH PEOPLE WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM THAT'S VERY UPSETTING REFERENCE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DID VOTE FOR HIM WHO ARE VERY ANGRY ABOUT THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

AND IT'S BEEN A DIVISIVE FOUR YEARS AND HIS MENTIONING OF THESE THINGS THE PLANET CRYING OUT FOR SURVIVAL A STRETCH PERHAPS.

BUT THESE THINGS MIGHT HAVE MADE THEM FEEL BETTER.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN MAYBE IT HELPS US MOVE FORWARD.

>> FROM AS ATMOSPHERIC STANDPOINT THIS LOOKED DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS INAUGURATIONS THERE WERE NO CIVILIAN SPECTATORS.

INSTEAD 25,000 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS.

JASON WHAT EFFECT DO YOU THINK THAT SCALED DOWN SETTING MIGHT HAVE HAD ON THE OCCASION?

>> WELL, YOU DID NOT GET THE THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE WE ARE USED TO HEARING FOR SPEECHES IN THE PAST.

AND THERE WAS A STARKNESS TO IT IN REFERRING TO THE MEMORIALS HE WAS TAKING A PAGE OUT OF THE BOOK OF RONALD REAGAN WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO TAKE THAT OATH ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CAPITOL LOOKING TOWARDS THE MONUMENTS.

AND BIDEN WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND REFER TO EACH OF THEM.

BUT THERE WERE NO PEOPLE OUT THERE.

SO THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF SITUATION.

I WANT TO PICK UP ON ONE THOUGHT, THOUGH, MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO AND IT DOES RELATE TO THE SETTING A LITTLE BIT THE NOTION OF THE ARGUMENT THAT HE MADE ABOUT UNITY.

YOU KNOW IF YOU LOOK AT MOST OF THESE INAUGURAL SPEECHES, UNITY IS A KEY.

UNITY, RENEWAL OF VALUES AND URGENCY OF THIS MOMENT.

UNITY IS ALMOST ONE THAT IS DONE BY REFERENCE.

MY FELLOW CITIZENS...

WHICH GEORGE WASHINGTON STARTED WITH.

MY FELLOW AMERICANS WHICH FDR USED IN 1933.

PERHAPS THOMAS JEFFERSON 1801 WE ARE ALL REPUBLICANS WE ARE ALL FEDERALISTS.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TWO TIMES WHERE WE CAN SEE PRESIDENTS TAKING OFFICE AND MAKING SOME KIND OF AN APPEAL AND ARGUMENT ABOUT UNITY.

>> AND JASON QUICK, I WANT TO GET TO THIS OTHER POINT ABOUT THE ADDED SECURITY THAT WAS DUE TO THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL BY TRUMP SUPPORTERS TWO WEEKS AGO.

BIDEN REFERENCED THAT ATTACK TODAY AS WELL.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID.

>> HERE WE STAND JUST DAYS AFTER MOB THOUGHT THEY COULD STOP THE WORK OF OUR DEMOCRACY, TO DRIVE US FROM THIS SACRED GROUND.

IT DID NOT HAPPEN.

IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

NOT TODAY, NOT TOMORROW, NOT EVER!

NOT EVER!

[CHEERING] [APPLAUSE] >> AND MARI, FEW IF ANY SPEECHES HAVE EVER HAD TO REFERENCE AN INSURRECTION THAT HAPPENED.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS REFERENCE TO THAT?

>> OH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SPEECH.

THAT WAS POWERFUL.

AND ALL AMERICANS WERE SHAKEN TO THEIR VERY CORE BY WHAT HAPPENED HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

AND ALL AMERICANS WANT TO BELIEVE THAT WE COME OUT OF THIS STRONGER.

THAT AND HIS REFERENCE TO THE FINANCIAL STRATEGIST GUILT OF DEMOCRACY FROM GUILTY OF DEMOCRACY.

THOSE WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS.

>> THE PRESIDENT REFERENCED HOW AMERICA ON A WORLD SCALE.

>> AMERICA HAS BEEN TESTED.

AND WE'VE COME OUT STRONGER FOR IT.

WE WILL REPAIR OUR ALLIANCES AND ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD ONCE AGAIN.

NOT TO MEET YESTERDAY'S CHALLENGES BUT TODAY'S AND TOMORROW'S CHALLENGES.

AND WE'LL LEAD NOT MERELY BY THE EXAMPLE OF OUR POWER BUT BY THE POWER OF OUR EXAMPLE.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK HE PROJECTED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD TODAY?

>> THIS GOES BACK TO THE CALM AND THE REASSURANCE HE SEEMED HE HAD PASSION BECAUSE I THINK JOE BIDEN BELIEVES THAT AMERICA SHOULD BE A BEACON FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE OVERRUNNING THE CAPITOL WE DON'T LOOK LIKE A BEACON TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

WHAT WE MODEL AT HOME IS WHAT WE CAN BRING ABROAD.

I THOUGHT THAT MESSAGE WAS WELL TUNED IT PULLED FORWARD SOMETHING HE HAD SAID THE NIGHT HE WAS DECLARED THE WINNER BACK IN NOVEMBER ABOUT THE POWER OF OUR EXAMPLE.

AND IT WAS WELL DONE.

>> AND MRRI, THE -- MARI, THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH WILL BE HIS ADDRESS TO CONGRESS IN FEBRUARY WHAT WILL WE HEAR FROM THEM?

>> HE NEEDS TO HIRE SPEECHWRITERS BECAUSE IT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE A LOT OF CLIENTS I'VE HAD I JUST WANT TO SPEAK FROM MY HEART.

AND IT REALLY DIDN'T WORK.

I WOULD -- HE WILL SPEAK ABOUT A LOT OF POLICY AND GOALS.

BUT I WOULD HOPE FOR FEWER CLICHES AND MORE VISION.

BUT I HAVE TO PUT THE CRITICISM I HAVE OF HIS SPEECH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OUTRAGEOUS PRESIDENT LEFT THE STAGE TO THE TUNE OF YMCA.

[LAUGHTER] THIS WAS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THAT AND I HAVE MUCH HOPE THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER.

>> BIG DIFFERENCES.

THANKS TO JASON DeSANTO AND MARI MASENG WILL.

THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT, AMANDA VINICKY WITH LOCAL REACTION TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

STICK AROUND.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW CHICAGO SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DOING?

>> THESE ARE MORE THAN JUST SHOPPING CENTERS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE GATHERING PLACES WHERE THEY MAINTAIN THEIR CULTURE.

>> NOW, THAT NUMBER 46 IS IN THE OVAL OFFICE IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK.

INTEREST GROUPS AND CRITICS HAVE A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS FOR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND DEMANDS.

FOR A GLIMPSE AT WHAT THEY ARE HOPING FOR AMANDA VINICKY HAS MORE.

AMANDA?

>> BRANDIS, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FREQUENTLY BRAGGED ABOUT THE SOARING STOCK MARKET AND HE WAS MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR BUSINESS BY CUTTING RED TAPE BUT JAIME di PAULO FROM THE ILLINOIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS THERE ARE 120,000 LATINO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WITH LESS THAN 20 EMPLOYEES AND THEY ARE LESS CONCERNED WITH RED TAPE AND STOCKS.

JAIME di PAULO SAYS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOLLOWS THROUGH ON THE PLEDGE TO DISTRIBUTE 100 MILLION COVID VACCINES WITHIN THE FIRST 100 DAYS.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ECONOMY REOPEN AND WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF COVID.

THE FASTER WE TACKLE COVID THE FASTER WE GET THE VACCINES INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS, THE FASTER WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN OUR BUSINESSES.

WE ARE HOPING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> GETTING COVID UNDER CONTROL IS ALSO TOP OF MIND FOR KAREN TAMLEY THE HEAD OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS ORGANIZATION ACCESS LIVING.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES LIVE IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS WHERE IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF COVID.

KAREN TAMLEY HAD THE CHANCE TO MAKE HER POINT OF VIEW KNOWN TO THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE SHE WAS A MEMBER OF BIDEN'S TRANSITION TEAM.

>> ADVANCING AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE INTEGRATED HOUSING, EDUCATION, EXPANDING HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES SO THAT OUR COMMUNITIES CAN LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITIES OF OUR CHOICE WITH THE SUPPORT SERVICES WE NEED.

AND THEN JUST REALLY ADVANCING CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> KAREN TAMLEY IS LOOK FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO FULLY FUND AND SUPPORT SPECIAL EDUCATION.

ANN WHALEN IS THE POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE EDUCATION ADVOCACY GROUP ADVANCE ILLINOIS AND SAYS THAT $2 BILLION FOR EDUCATION THAT WAS PART OF LAST MONTH'S COVID STIMULUS PACKAGE SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A GOOD START WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ALREADY SIGNALED THE WILLINGNESS TO INVEST MORE IN HELP OUR SCHOOLS RECOVER FROM COVID AND REOPEN.

ADDRESS THAT LEARNING DISRUPTION AND THAT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED.

WITH THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED PACKAGE FOR BOTH CHILDCARE AND K-12 AND HIGHER ED, WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

HE IS ALSO SIGNALED HIS COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

SO WE'RE PRAISING BACK AT THE CENTER OF THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROTECTING ALL STUDENTS.

>> SHE IS HEARTENED THAT BIDEN HAS ALREADY MADE INVESTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION A FOCUS.

SAYS THAT IS AN AREA THAT RESEARCH SHOWS CAN PAY DIVIDENDS AS CHILDREN GROW UP.

MEANWHILE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION OF ILLINOIS DIRECTOR JENNIFER WELCH SAYS UNDER THE FOUR YEARS OF TRUMP THERE WAS A SLOW AND STEADY HARM TO ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, MILLIONS OF PATIENTS LOST HEALTHCARE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT IN PLACE THE GAG RULE FOR TITLE 10 FUNDED PROGRAMS.

SO HERE IN ILLINOIS THAT MEANT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LOST THAT WENT TO FAMILY PLANNING, WELL PATIENT VISITS, STI TEST AND TREATMENT.

>> TRUMP'S APPOINTMENT OF THREE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES YOUNG SO THEY WILL BE ON THE COURT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME WAS ANOTHER SETBACK FOR ADVOCATES OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FREEDOM.

WELCH SAYS THERE'S PLENTY FOR BIDEN AND HARRIS TO DO.

>> SO WHAT WE NEED THE NEW ADMINISTRATION TO DO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IS TO ELIMINATE THE GAG RULE.

AND THAT'S THE GLOBAL GAG RULE AND THE DOMESTIC GAG RULE.

SO THAT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CAN TALK ABOUT ALL FORMS OF CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION.

THEY NEED TO ISSUE THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

TODAY WOULD BE GREAT.

TOMORROW IS ALL RIGHT, TOO.

>> I ALSO SPOKE WITH THE HEAD OF THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR WHO SAYS THAT TRUMP UNION STRUCTURAL RIGHTS THROUGH THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD INCLUDING EFFORTS TO IRRADICATE THE BIGGEST BEST KNOWN RAT, CHICAGO BORN SCABBY.

>> ATTACKING OUR ABILITY TO HAVE TIMELY ELECTIONS AND UNION CERTIFICATIONS AND ALSO ATTACKING OUR RIGHT SCABBY IS A SYMBOL OF THAT FIGHT BUT IT IS ESSENTIALLY OUR ABILITY TO EXERCISE OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WHILE WE ARE OUT PUBLIC LIST SIZING OUR DISTRIBUTES WITH EMPLOYERS.

>> -- DISPUTES WITH EMPLOYERS.

>> BIDEN'S CHOICE OF A LABOR FRIENDLY SECRETARY OF LABOR MARTY WALSH IS A GOOD START AND THE OCCUPATION AND SAFETY HEALTH ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ASLEEP THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND HE LOOKS FORWARD TO OSHA ENFORCING SAFETY RULES UNDER BIDEN'S ADMINISTRATION.

MEANWHILE, THE HEAD OF CHICAGO'S COUNCIL OF AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS OR CAIR CHICAGO TRUMP BROUGHT A CLOWNISH PERSPECTIVE TO THE WHITE HOUSE HE IS ENCOURAGED THAT ALREADY PRESIDENT BIDEN USED HIS AUTHORITY TO OVERTURN THAT SO-CALLED MUSLIM BAN THAT FORBIDS TRAVEL FROM MOSTLY MUSLIM COUNTRIES.

BUT HE SAYS BIDEN CANNOT STOP THERE.

>> WE ARE TIRED AS AMERICAN MUSLIMS OF BEING SEEN ONLY THROUGH THE LENS OF NATIONAL SECURITY WHETHER INSTITUTING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OR REPEALING IT.

IT'S GOOD WE'RE REPEALING A BAD EXECUTIVE ORDER BUT OUR EXISTENCE AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT DOESN'T BEGIN AND END IN TERMS OF NATIONAL SECURITY.

OUR COMMUNITY IS CONTRIBUTING TO ALL FACETS OF AMERICAN LOIVMENT.

>> LIFE.

>> AND THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE ON BIDEN'S FIRST EXECUTIVE ACTIONS AS THEY RELATE TO IMMIGRATION IN A BIT.

WITH THAT BACK TO YOU.

>> AND COMING UP IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS WHEN WE WILL SEE NEW A BIT THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW PARIS BACK TO YOU FOR MORE SPECIAL COVERAGE OF TODAY'S INAUGURATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO WHERE DOES THE COUNTRY GO FROM HERE?

PRESIDENT BIDEN OFFERED NOTES OF UNITY AND RECONCILIATION TO A DIVIDED NATION ONE THAT SAW A VIOLENT INSURRECTION ATTEMPT AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL THE SITE OF TODAY'S INAUGURATION TWO WEEKS AGO.

THE PRESIDENT CALLED FOR AN END TO WHAT HE CALLED A QUOTE UNCIVIL WRAR.

>> THERE IS -- UNCIVIL WAR.

>> THERE IS TRUTH AND THERE ARE LIES.

LIES TOLD FOR POWER AND FOR-PROFIT.

AND EACH OF US HAS A DUTY AND A RESPONSIBILITY AS CITIZENS AS AMERICANS AND ESPECIALLY AS LEADERS, LEADERS WHO HAVE PLEDGED TO HONOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND PROTECT OUR NATION.

TO DEFEND THE TRUTH AND DEFEAT THE LIES.

WE MUST END THIS UNCIVIL WAR.

>> AND JOINING US ARE DELMARIE COBB A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL CONSULTANT WHO WORKED FOR HILLARY CLINTON'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN 2016.

ED LASKY COFOUNDER OF AMERICAN THINKER A DAILY ON-LINE MAGAZINE DEALING WITH AMERICAN POLITICS FROM A CONSERVATIVE VIEWPOINT.

AND ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS WHO SUPPORTED DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BERNIE SANDERS.

WE HAVE A RANGE OF VIEWPOINTS.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU.

DELMARIE COBB, UNITY IS THE THEME.

UNITY WAS THE THEME FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERS IF HISTORY IS ANY GUIDE THIS BIPARTISAN COOPERATIVE SPIRIT USUALLY HAS A SHORT HONEYMOON.

HOW LONG WILL THIS HONEYMOON LAST?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE SHORT.

WE ARE HEARING THERE ARE OBJECTIONS ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT BIDEN INSTITUTED.

EVEN WITH THAT THE FACT THEY HAVE ONE OF THEIR OWN WHO IS PRESIDENT AND THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO THEM THAT BIDEN COMES OUT OF THE SENATE AND HE HAS BEEN A LONGTIME FRIEND TO MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE.

AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO RUN WASHINGTON.

SO I THINK THAT WILL GO A LITTLE FARTHER THAN PROBABLY PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRESIDENTS.

>> ED LASKY, TRUMP SUPPORTERS WERE BITTER ABOUT THE ELECTION RESULT AND A MAJORITY OF THEM BY CERTAIN POLLING BELIEVED THAT THE ELECTION WASN'T FAIR THAT THERE WAS WIDESPREAD FRAUD.

BIDEN TODAY TRIED TO APPEAL TO SOME OF THOSE SUPPORTERS.

DO YOU THINK HE CAN SUCCESSFULLY GET SOME TRUMP SUPPORTERS ON HIS SIDE?

>> WELL, I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

TRUMP DID HAVE 74 MILLION PEOPLE VOTE FOR HIM.

AND I THINK WE SAW AT THE BEGINNING OF AT BRETHREN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHEN McCONNELL, THE FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CAME OUT AND SAID THAT TRUMP PROVOKED THE RIOT AT THE CAPITOL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

IT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

BECAUSE TO QUOTE TRUMP WE WILL BE BACK IN SOME FORM IN THE POLITICAL WORLD, CERTAINLY THE MEDIA WORLD.

THE QUESTION MARK WHAT DOES TRUMP DO FROM NOW ON?

AS SOMEBODY WHO ENJOYS THE SPOTLIGHT AND HAS NOT LET FAILED PROJECTS IN THE PAST KEEP HIM DOWN, THE CASINO, THE AIRLINES.

SO WE WILL BE SEEING MORE OF HIM AND I THINK THAT WILL CAUSE TROUBLE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND FOR CONSERVATIVES.

I DON'T CONSIDER TRUMP A REPUBLICAN OR A CONSERVATIVE.

>> AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS DIRECTING SOME OF HIS IRE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THOSE HE FELT WILL NOT LOYAL TO HIM IN THE END.

>> ALDERMAN ROSA, PROGRESSIVES WERE NOT SOLD ON JOE BIDEN FROM THE BEGINNING AND YOU SEE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON IMMIGRATION, AND A COVID STIMULUS PLAN HOW IS THE LEFT FLANK OF THE PARTY REACTING TO BIDEN'S FIRST ACTIONS?

>> WELL, I PROBABLY VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT AND I WOULD PROBABLY DO IT AGAIN.

WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WILL TURN THE PAGE ON TRUMPISM.

AND SIGNALS ARE HEARTENING TO PROGRESSIVES TO THOSE WHO HAVE FACED THE BRUNT OF DONALD TRUMP ATTACKS.

IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, LGBTQ COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHICH OF COURSE HAS FACED A LOT OF RACISM AND ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND MOST HEARTENED BY THE FACT WE HAVE BERNIE SANDERS AS BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR THAT SENATE HE IS PREPARED TO USE BUDGET RECONCILIATION TO PASS BOLD AND PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION AND THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED.

WE NEED BIDEN TO RISE TO THE OCCASION AND BECOME AN FDR PRESIDENT WHO IS PREPARED TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO UNITE OUR COUNTRY AND TAKE ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMIC MISERY.

>> I'M WAITING TO SEE A MEME OF SENATOR SANDERS SITTING WITH HIS COAT HEADING THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

DELMARIE COBB PRESIDENT BIDEN SPOKE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO JOURNALISTS THE ISSUE TRUTH VERSUS LIES.

A LOT OF THE TROUBLE HAS BEEN THE PROLIFERATION OF LIES, CONSPIRACY THEORIES, PROPAGANDA.

WHAT CAN BIDEN AND CONGRESS DO TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS SORT OF KAY YACHTIC -- CHAOTIC INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM?

>> I THINK WE SAW A GOOD FIRST EFFORT BY MITCH McCONNELL YESTERDAY WHEN HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO SUPPORT THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPEACHMENT.

AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT HE MENTIONED ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE RIOT WAS BECAUSE OF THE LIES.

ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T POINT A FINGER AT HIMSELF WHICH HE SHOULD HAVE, BUT BECAUSE HE ALSO HELPED TO ENABLE DONALD TRUMP AND THE LIES.

BUT STILL, THE FACT THAT IT WAS CALLED OUT.

THE FACT THAT YOU HAD THE CONGRESSMAN TODAY WHO SENT A LETTER SAYING THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT BIDEN AND REACH ACROSS THE AISLE.

THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT.

I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE CALLING A LIE A LIE ESPECIALLY NOW THAT TRUMP IS OUT OF THERE AND ALSO SUPPORTING THE TRUTH.

THAT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

AND ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF DONALD TRUMP'S LYING EVERYDAY AND THE FACT THAT HIS PEOPLE HIS SUPPORTERS HAVE ENABLED THE LIES.

>> ED LASKY IN TERMS OF UNITY, THERE'S TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON IMPEACHMENT AS WE EXPECT A POSSIBLE TRIAL TO HAPPEN IN THE SENATE NEXT WEEK.

ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT SAYS FOR UNITY'S SAKE IS THERE SHOULD BE NO TRIAL THE COUNTRY HAS TO MOVE ON.

AND THE OTHER IS THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY?

>> I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED WHETHER YOU CAN IMPEACH A PRESIDENT WHO LEFT OFFICE.

I THINK McCONNELL WILL PROBABLY SOFT PEDAL THE ISSUE AND DIRECT THE FOCUS ON HOW DO WE DEAL WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PLANS GOING FORWARD.

THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE BUSY HANDLING THE PANDEMIC.

STIMULUS BILL, INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THERE IS A LOT OF AGGRESSIVE, AMBITIOUS ITEMS ON BIDEN'S AND THE DEMOCRATS' AGENDA.

DO WE NEED AS A COUNTRY TO GO THROUGH A DIVISIVE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS THAT WILL TIE-UP THE SENATE?

FOR POSSIBLY MONTHS AS THE PREVIOUS ONE DID?

I HAVE A FEELING IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AMONG MANY CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS.

>> YOU THINK THE SENATE MIGHT NOT GO FORWARD?

>> I CAN SEE THAT.

>> CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA WHAT ABOUT THAT?

DO YOU THINK AS A PROGRESSIVE THAT THE SENATE SHOULD GO FORWARD ON IMPEACHMENT AND DO YOU SEE SOME REPUBLICAN SENATORS SIGNING ON?

>> WELL, LOOK, WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND THEY CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT AN IMPEACHMENT HEARING AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND ACTING ON A BOLD AGENDA I SEE NO REASON WHY THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE.

I WILL SAY WE SAW A PRESIDENT WHO LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND FLIRTED WITH A COUP AN ATTEMPT TO OVERTHROW THE DEMOCRATIC ELECTION RESULTS THAT WE SAW WHERE TENS OF MILLIONS CAME OUT.

AND NO, WE WANT CHANGE AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT STAND FOR AND SOMETHING WE AS A COUNTRY MUST COME TOGETHER AND SAY NEVER, EVER AGAIN.

AND SO I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT TRUMP BE HELD TO ACCOUNT.

I THINK WHILE HE WAS REMOVED FROM OFFICE HIS BRAND OF POLITICS WILL BE AROUND.

WE SAW HIM FLIRTING WITH THE MY PILLOW C.E.O.

TALKING ABOUT MOVES HE COULD MAKE IN THE FINAL DAYS TO REMAIN IN OFFICE.

HE IS A DANGEROUS MAN.

AND WE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT THIS ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY FAILED BUT IT WAS BURIED INTO THE GROUND NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.

>> SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT BUT WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO ED LASKY AND DELMARIE COBB AND ALDERMAN CARLOS RAMIREZ-ROSA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

AND STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT"...

DETAILS ON PLANS FOR A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN IMMIGRATION POLICY UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> THIS IS DEMOCRACY'S DAY.

THE DAY OF HISTORY AND HOPE.

>> AND OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TAKES A LOOK AT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST DAY IN OFFICE.

>> BUT FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION MOVED ONE STEP CLOSER TO RESISTING CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS REOPENING PLAN.

C.T.U.

'S 600 MEMBER HOUSE OF DELEGATES TONIGHT PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD SEE ALL UNION MEMBERS REFUSE TO WORK IN-PERSON UNTIL AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED WITH THE DISTRICT ON HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

SOURCES SAY THIS MEANS A STRIKE COULD OCCUR IF THE DISTRICT LOCKS TEACHERS OUT OF THEIR ACCOUNTS FOR WORKING FROM HOME.

THE MEASURE WILL NOW FACE A MEMBERSHIP WIDE VOTE THAT REQUIRES 75% APPROVAL WITH VOTING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH MIDNIGHT SATURDAY AND IT COULD GO INTO EFFECT MONDAY JANUARY 25 IF PASSED.

AND THERE'S MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> CITY OFFICIALS OUTSIDE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROBED FOR ACTIONS RELATED TO THE CASE OF ANJANETTE YOUNG.

CITY INSPECTOR GENERAL JOSEPH FERGUSON ANNOUNCED HIS PROBE OF THE BOTCHED RAID OF ANJANETTE YOUNG'S HOME WILL FOCUS ON POSSIBLE MISCONDUCT BY CITY OFFICIALS.

FERGUSON AGREED TO LOOK INTO THE INCIDENT THAT SET OFF A POLITICAL FIRESTORM AFTER CBS2-TV AIRED VIDEO OF THE RAID GONE WRONG.

FERGUSON SAID HIS OFFICE WOULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ONGOING EFFORT BY THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE AGENCY KNOWN AS C.O.P.A.

THAT IS CHARGED WITH INVESTIGATING POLICE MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS.

IF YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, SOME OF CHICAGO'S CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS MIGHT BE BACK IN BUSINESS.

THE FIELD MUSEUM ANNOUNCES IT'S REOPENING FOR MEMBERS TOMORROW AFTER SHUTTING IN NOVEMBER, DUE TO A SURGE IN COVID CASES.

THE MUSEUM WILL CAP AT 25% OF CAPACITY WITH FLOOR MARKERS TO INSURE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

THE FIELD WILL BE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC STARTING ON SATURDAY.

>> AND NOW BACK TO OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF TODAY'S INAUGURATION AND TO PARIS FOR DETAILS ON THE PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION PLAN.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD OVERHAUL THE COUNTRY'S IMMIGRATION LAWS AND PROPOSE AN EIGHT-YEAR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AS OF JANUARY 21, 2021 AND SPEED UP ACCESS FOR DACA RECIPIENTS AND BOOST BORDER TECHNOLOGY.

>> IT WAS SO CONFUSING.

ONE DAY YOU MUST FILE THIS EXTRA FORM.

NEXT DAY, YOU DON'T.

AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

YOU KNOW DACA GET RESTATED AND GOT AGAIN STOPPED.

AND AGAIN RESTATED.

>> AND JOINING US WITH MORE ARE MARY MEG McCARTHY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER.

NATIVIDAD HERNANDEZ, DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION SERVICES AT THE FRIDA KAHLO COMMUNITY CENTER IN CHICAGO'S GAGE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND DAVID APPLEGATE, AN ATTORNEY AND A MEMBER OF THE CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERTARIAN LEGAL ORGANIZATION THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY.

DAVID APPLEGATE I WILL START WITH YOU.

THE PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO EXPAND ON THE LEGISLATION WITH A FEW EXECUTIVE ORDERS THIS EVENING.

YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF THIS PACKAGE?

>> MY IMPRESSIONS AS A CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT GOALS AND SEVEN PLANKS I THINK WOULD BE GREAT STEPS TOWARD ACHIEVING THE COMMON GOAL OF IMMIGRATION REFORM.

AND WHAT PLEASES ME MOST AS A CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE IS THAT THE PROPOSAL IS TO GO THROUGH CONGRESS.

I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN MAY DO BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.

BUT THE MORE THE PARTIES WORK TOGETHER TO PASS LEGISLATION THE HAPPIER WE ALL WILL BE.

>> MARY MEG McCARTHY, DOES THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION SATISFY SOME OF THE WISHES THAT PRO IMMIGRATION GROUPS HAVE HAD FOR YEARS?

>> I THINK IT IS A GREAT BEGINNING TO ADDRESS MORE HUMANE AND JUST IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

AS WELL AS TO ADVANCE FAMILY UNITY AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ADDRESS THE LEGACY OF RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND PUT BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANTS THROUGH FOR FAR TOO LONG.

HOWEVER, I CAUTION THAT WE MUST ACT QUICKLY AND IN THE MEANTIME, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH NEEDS TO ACT TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

I'M CONCERNED THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE CONGRESS SOMETIME TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE NEED THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO REIMAGINE AN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> AND THE INK IS BARELY DRY WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY ABOUT JOE BIDEN AND ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL?

>> WELL, IT IS A FINAL JOY FOR US, I GUESS.

SINCE HE WON WE STARTED SEEING THINGS CHANGING.

I GUESS WE DON'T FEEL SO UNDER ATTACK LIKE BEFORE.

EVERYBODY, I THINK EVERYBODY AT THIS POINT IS JUST WELCOMING THE FEELING OF WELCOME TO THIS PLACE.

WE [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE CHANGES I AM OVERWHELMING.

I'M OVERWHELMED.

MY FAMILY MY OWN FAMILY IS THINKING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION CHANGE WE ALL KNOW THAT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO GO THROUGH CONGRESS.

AND I REALLY HOPE THAT THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T JUST DO EXECUTIVE ORDERS BECAUSE WE NEED A REAL CHANGE.

AND WE NEED TO THINK THAT THE PRIORITY WE ARE WAITING MY BROTHER AND MY SISTER PERSONALLY, I'M WAITING SINCE 1996 TO GET THEIR GREEN CARDS THROUGH THEIR MOTHER WHO IS A U.S. CITIZEN.

>> A LOT OF WAITING.

AND DAVID, EIGHT-YEAR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR UNDOCUMENTED I AM GRANTS, IN THE PAST -- IMMIGRANTS.

IN THE PAST OPPONENTS CALLED IT AMNESTY TO TRY AND BLOCK AN EFFORT LIKE THIS.

IS THERE ANY WORRY OR CONCERN THAT FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR GREEN CARDS OR HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND PUT ON HOLD THAT THESE FOLKS COULD JUMP TO THE HEAD OF THE LINE?

>> I THINK THAT QUESTION IS PROBABLY BETTER ADDRESSED TO THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY BUT THAT IS NOT MY UNDERSTANDING HOW THE PLAN IS GOING TO WORK.

IT WILL SHORTEN A 13-YEAR TIME-FRAME TO AN 8-YEAR TIME-FRAME.

FIVE YEARS TO GET A GREEN CARD AND THREE TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP.

BUT DACA AND THE DREAMERS WILL ESSENTIALLY IMMEDIATELY GET THEIR GREEN CARDS AND ONLY HAVE A THREE-YEAR WAIT.

>> MARY MEG McCARTHY, THE PRESIDENT IS PROPOSING TO LIMIT SOME OF THE ACTION UNDERTAKEN UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION ON I.C.E.

WITH AGGRESSIVE DEPORTATIONS.

HOW MIGHT THE PRESIDENT ACCOMPLISH THAT?

>> WELL, WE KNOW THIS EVENING HE PASSED THREE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

HE REPEALED THE MUSLIM BAN.

HE FORTIFIED THE DEFERRED ACTION DACA.

AND HALTED THE BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION AND THE FOURTH WE ARE WAITING HE PROMISED THAT HE WOULD ISSUE A MORATORIUM ON DEPORTATIONS.

THAT WOULD PROVIDE TIME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM THAT WOULD INSURE THE PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE BEEN LIVING IN FEAR OF DEPORTATION.

AND THIS MORATORIUM MUST INCLUDE A PLAN ADDRESSING THE IMMIGRATION RETENTION SYSTEM.

FOR THOSE CURRENTLY IN JAIL THEY ARE AT RISK WITH COVID.

WE NEED TO THINK OF A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION TO STOP THE DEPORTATIONS AND TO INSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A FAIR DAY IN COURT AND WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT INSURES EQUITABLE AND JUST ADJUDICATION.

>> THERE IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IS SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH REUNITING THE BROKEN UP FAMILIES AT THE BORDER.

THE CONTROVERSIAL POLICY FROM THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN SUCCESSFULLY DO THAT?

>> I REALLY HOPE SO.

I REALLY, REALLY TRUST AND I TRUST THE GOVERNMENT TO DO IT.

THE FIRST THING IS TO STOP SEPARATING FAMILIES RIGHT NOW.

AND THE SECOND THING IS JUST TO TRY TO FIND THE PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN THAT ARE STILL BEING SEPARATED AND APART FROM THEIR PARENTS.

IT IS A HORRIBLE FEELING WHEN WE DO THIS.

IT IS HORRIBLE TO THINK THAT THERE'S A BIG NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS.

STOPPING THE SEPARATION RIGHT NOW IS GOOD.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT WORK IN THE RIGHT WAY TO ASSURE THOSE CHILDREN ARE REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS.

>> DAVID APPLEGATE, YOU MENTIONED AS A CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE YOU LIKE THE LEGISLATION ESPECIALLY THE FACT IT IS LEGISLATION AND NOT BEING DONE THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER.

DO YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE 10 REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD SIGN ON ASSUMING THAT THE SENATE KEEPS THE FILIBUSTER RULES AND THEY WOULD NEED 60 TO PASS LEGISLATION?

>> WELL, MITCH McCONNELL IS A LOT BETTER AT COUNTING VOTES THAN I AM.

BUT I HAVE GENUINELY HOPED HAVE GENUINE HOPE THAT HE AND THE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER WILL WORK TOGETHER TO IRON OUT ANY ISSUES THAT THEY MAY HAVE AND PUT THIS TOGETHER.

BECAUSE IT WILL PASS THE HOUSE AND I AGREE WITH NATIVIDAD HERNANDEZ AND DISAGREE WITH MARY, THIS NEEDS TO BE HANDLED AS LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE SPEAKING TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.

SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, REFORM, AS OUR NEW DHS HEAD SAYS RATHER THAN IMPLEMENT THINGS THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH IS GOING TO ALIENATE PEOPLE IN THE OTHER PARTY AND SUBJECT TO REVERSAL.

>> THE NEW DHS HEAD -- MARY MEG McCARTHY DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?

>> NO, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.

WE NEED A MAJOR SHIFT AND I THINK THIS LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PRESENTED IS A BOLD PROPOSAL THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

I'M TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF THAT.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, AS NATIVIDAD HERNANDEZ MENTIONED, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO SEPARATE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES OR STOP PEOPLE FROM SECURING PROTECTION UNDER OUR U.S. ASYLUM LAWS.

WE NEED SOMETHING IN THE INTERMEDIATE UNTIL CONGRESS MOVES THIS FORWARD WHICH I'M HOPEFUL FOR.

>> WE'LL FOLLOW THIS IN THE COMING DAYS.

THANKS TO MARY MEG McCARTHY AND NATIVIDAD HERNANDEZ AND DAVID APPLEGATE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WITH MORE SPECIAL COVERAGE OF TODAY'S INAUGURATION.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... A SOLEMN AND SOME BER INAUGURATION DAY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AS WELL AS A HISTORIC DAY FOR VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS AND THE NATION.

OUR POLITICAL TEAM IS HERE FOR THIS SPECIAL INAUGURATION EDITION OF SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

JOINING US ARE AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

WELCOME BACK EVERYONE.

SO, PRESIDENT BIDEN STARTED HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH BY ADDRESSING THE INSURRECTION AND THE STRENGTH OF COMOK CITY.

>> WE'VE LEARNED AGAIN THAT DEMOCRACY IS PRECIOUS.

DEMOCRACY IS FRAGILE AND AT THIS HOUR MY FRIENDS, DEMOCRACY HAS PREVAILED.

[APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] FROM NOW ON THIS HALLOWED GROUND WHERE A FEW DAYS AGO, VIOLENCE SOUGHT TO SHAKE THE CAPITOL'S VERY FOUNDATION.

WE COME TOGETHER AS ONE NATION.

UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE TO CARRY OUT THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.

AS WE HAVE FOR MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES.

>> AND HEATHER WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING TO?

HIS SUPPORTERS OR A BROADER AUDIENCE?

>> HE WAS REALLY SPEAKING TO ALL AMERICANS EVERYONE INVOLVED AND THAT IS A CHANGE FROM THE FOUR YEARS UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE ADDRESSING JUST HIS SUPPORTERS AND SORT OF TAKING PAINS TO SORT OF SEPARATE GROUPS.

BUT JOE BIDEN'S MESSAGE TODAY WAS ONE OF UNITY AND MOVING PAST THE DIVISION OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

LET'S NOT FORGET A WEEK AGO WEDNESDAY PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IMPEACHED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND TWO WEEKS AGO TODAY WAS THE INSURRECTION IN THE CAPITOL.

IT HAS BEEN QUITE A THREE-WEEK PERIOD IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.

>> HASN'T IT THROW?

>> AMANDA TALK ABOUT THE CONTRAST FROM THE ATMOSPHERE TODAY COMPARED TO THE CAPITOL TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN IT WAS BEING STORMED?

>> YOU KNOW, I SAW SOMETHING ON TWITTER THE THREE I'S OF EACH WEDNESDAY OF JANUARY WHERE YOU HAD INSURRECTION, IMPEACHMENT AND NOW INAUGURATION.

SO MUCH MOVEMENT FOR THE COUNTRY AND FOR ITS PEOPLE IN SUCH A SHORT SPAN OF TIME.

IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT THE GROUND ON WHICH THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY WAS TAKING PLACE WAS JUST COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THE SITE OF A GLOBAL FASCINATION AND HORROR AS YOU SAW PEOPLE STORM THE CAPITOL, TEARING DOWN STATUES.

IT WAS A HORRIFIC DISPLAY AND WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS THERE WAS POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE WE DID HAVE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYING NO, DESPITE POTENTIAL SECURITY CONCERNS THAT THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR IN THE END.

BUT DESPITE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GO FORWARD AND CARRY OUT THIS CEREMONY SHOW THAT DEMOCRACY COULD NOT BE TOPPLED EASILY.

IT SPEAKS TO THE DIVISION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION INHERITS MUCH AS NOW PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS TRYING TO SPEAK TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

I DO THINK THERE IS A LARGE CHUNK OF IT THAT MAY BE DISMAYED, ANGERED AND FEARFUL OF THOSE RIOTS.

BUT NONE THELESS NOT BUYING WHAT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IS SELLING.

>> ON THE DIFFERENCES THAT YOU REFERENCED THERE, PARIS, SORT OF COMPARE BIDEN'S SPEECH TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AMERICAN CARNAGE SPEECH THAT HE GAVE FOUR YEARS AGO?

>> THAT SPEECH WAS VERY DARK LIKE VERY OMINOUS THREATS TO THE COUNTRY IF YOU ARE TRADITIONAL AMERICAN WHO I'M SPEAKING TO HERE.

ME BEING THE PRESIDENT.

AND I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE TO STAND UP TO IT.

AMERICAN CARNAGE WAS MORE FORESHADOWING THAN LOOKING BACK BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN CARNAGE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

CONTRAST THAT WITH WITH BIDEN UNITY.

BIDEN NEVER MENTIONED TRUMP BY NAME AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN TO PRETEND LIKE THE LAST FOUR YEARS DID NOT EXIST AND GET BACK TO A NORMAL STANDARD OF BUSINESS.

I WONDER HOW LONG THAT WILL LAST.

AND I WANT TO HIT ON THE THEME THAT BIDEN TALKED ABOUT WITH TRUTH VERSUS LIES.

THE THING ABOUT TRUTH AND LIES IS ONE OF THE THINGS AT THE BOTTOM OF THESE HUGE DIVISIONS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING WRONG IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

AND IT'S GOOD TO HEAR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ADDRESS HOW CORROSIVE THOSE THINGS ARE.

AND IT WILL HAVE TO LEAD TO SOME KIND OF LEGISLATIVE DEBATES BRINGING IN THE HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES, Facebook, YouTube, TWITTER THEY DROPPED THE BALL ON LETTING QANON TO GET OUT OF CONTROL AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES GOING WILD AND THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE DEBATE HOW FREE SPEECH FLOURISHES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN THE MEDIA ECHO SPHERE GOING FORWARD WITHOUT BEING CENSORED.

>> TODAY IS A HISTORIC DAY AS THE FIRST WOMAN WAS SWORN IN AS VICE-PRESIDENT ALSO SHE IS NOT ONLY A BLACK WOMAN BUT AN INDIAN OF INDIAN HERITAGE.

AMANDA IS THIS THE NEW FACE OF POLITICS?

YOUNGER AND MORE INCLUSIVE OF DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS?

>> I THINK DIVERSITY IT WAS HISTORIC.

IT WAS CELEBRATED NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHO YOU VOTED FOR.

THAT IS CERTAINLY MEANINGFUL AND WHILE AMERICA CERTAINLY HAS A DEEP, DARK PAST IN THE AREA TO RECKON WITH, IT FULFILLS PART OF THE PROMISE OF AMERICA.

AND GIVES HOPE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT HAVE SEEN THAT DOME WAS SHATTERED.

AND IT WASN'T BY RIOTERS.

YOU HAD A GLASS CEILING SHATTERED BY KAMALA HARRIS.

AND IT IS NEW TO POLITICS.

WE ARE IN ILLINOIS WE HAVE JUST THE ILLINOIS HOUSE THE FIRST BLACK SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WHERE IT'S MADE OF MAJORITY OF WOMEN IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

CERTAINLY, THERE IS A NEW POLITICS WE'RE SEEING AMERICA OF ALL.

THERE ARE ALL DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING LIFTED AND RAISED IN ALL SPECTERS AND POLITICS IS AMONG THEM.

>> HEATHER ANOTHER MOVING VISUAL WAS THIS STARK THERE WAS NO CROWD OF SUPPORTERS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CERTAINLY NOT IN THE CROWD IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL OR ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE.

INSTEAD SOLDIERS AND RAZOR WIRE.

TALK ABOUT THAT DIFFERENCE.

>> IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT INAUGURATION THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

IF YOU CAN CAST YOUR MEMORY BACK TO 2008, THE CROWDS THAT WERE THERE TO SEE PRESIDENT OBAMA INAUGURATED LITERALLY STRETCHED AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE AND CERTAINLY PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STAFF TRIED TO FILL IN THAT SPACE WITH FLAGS AND WITH LIGHTS ALONG THE NATIONAL MALL AND THE REFLECTING POOL.

BUT IT WAS JUST SO DIFFERENT.

AND I WAS WATCHING A LITTLE BIT OF THE CEREMONY WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTERS WHO SAW THE BARBED WIRE AND THE SOLDIERS AND I SORT OF SAID, HEY THAT IS NOT NORMALLY WHAT AN INAUGURATION LOOKS LIKE.

AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THIS INAUGURATION MEANS FOR INAUGURATIONS GOING FORWARD WHETHER THIS WILL BECOME STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES BECAUSE THREATS WILL GROW.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE OF GRAVE CONCERN BECAUSE THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN INAUGURATION FOR EVERY EVERYBODY AND THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE TWIN CRISISES OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE INSURRECTION.

>> AND THE G.O.P.

THEY STRUCK A NEW TONE HERE IS WHAT MITCH McCONNELL HAD TO SAY TO VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

>> TODAY THIS FLAG FLEW OVER OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE'S INAUGURATION AS THE FIRST FEMALE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO TO OUR FIRST DISTINGUISHED FORMER COLLEAGUE, MADAM VICE-PRESIDENT, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS FLAG WITH THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENTS AND CONGRATULATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

>> AMANDA, DO THOSE WORDS OF CONGRATULATIONS FEEL FRESH AND NEW FROM THE G.O.P.

LEADER?

>> HE CERTAINLY HAS SORT OF HAD A CHANGE IN HIS RHETORIC SINCE THE INSURRECTION.

I THINK THAT CLIP REALLY DID INCLUDE A COUPLE WORDS THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT IS FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUES.

THESE ARE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO McCONNELL KNOW.

THEY ARE NOT COMING IN AS STRANGERS.

AND THAT MAY VERY WELL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS YOU ARE TRYING TO, I THINK, SEE AND McCONNELL MADE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS THAT PERHAPS HE IS TURNING THE PAGE SOME GIVEN THAT HE IS NO LONGER THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE CHAMBER.

HE HAS TO HAVE A CHANGE IN TACT.

ALL THAT, I THINK, MATTERS THAT SAID, HE STILL I EXPECT WILL PLAY HARDBALL AND THIS IS POLITICS YOU NEED TO WIN RACES AND GET YOUR AGENDA PASSED AND THE OTHER SIDE, NOT SO MUCH.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK McCONNELL WILL BE THERE AND HE IS IN A TOUGH TIME.

IF YOU LISTEN TO FOX NEWS OR I LISTENED TO GLEN BECK ON THE RADIO, THERE ARE A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES, REPUBLICANS WHO ARE VERY UPSET WITH McCONNELL.

AND ARE OPPOSED TO THOSE SORT OF LANGUAGE THAT WE HEARD.

>> THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT POW WOMEN BY 22-YEAR-OLD POET LAUREATE AMANDA GORMAN CALLED THE HILL WE CLIMB.

>> WE'VE BRAVED THE BELLY OF THE BEAST.

WE'VE LEARNED THAT QUIET ISN'T ALWAYS PEACE.

AND THE NORMS AND NOTIONS OF WHAT JUST IS, ISN'T ALL JUST-ICE.

>> DID AMANDA STEAL THE SHOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL POEM AND ECHOED WHAT BIDEN WAS SAYING ABOUT UNITY AND TALKED THE LINE ABOUT WE'RE NOT BROKEN WE ARE NOT COMPLETE YET.

I THINK IT HIT ALL THE RIGHT NOTES AND A MORE POETIC WAY THAN BIDEN DID.

BIDEN'S SPEECH WAS A FINE SPEECH.

I WANT TO EXPAND ON WHAT AMANDA WAS SAYING WITH MITCH McCONNELL AND THIS BIPARTISAN SPIRIT RIGHT NOW.

I THINK A LOT DEPENDS ON WHETHER MITCH McCONNELL THINKS THAT HE WANTS TO WIN BACK THE MAJORITY OF THE SENATE IN 2022 AND IT WILL BE AN UPHILL BATTLE GIVEN WHAT SEATS ARE UP.

IT WILL COME DOWN WHETHER HE THINKS THE BEST POLITICAL PATH HAVING MEMBERS BE COOPERATIVE ON THE BIG PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

AND THINKING THAT THE REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE WANTS TO SEE BIPARTISANSHIP OR IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO WHETHER HE THINKS THE BEST PATH TO WINNING BACK THE MAJORITY IS STONEWALLING EVERYTHING THAT BIDEN WANTS TO DO LIKE THEY DID UNDER OBAMA YEARS AGO.

I THINK THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THAT IS GOING TO GO BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT HOW THE WHOLE CIVIL WAR AND THAT PARTY ABOUT TRUMP WHETHER YOU WANT TO CUT FROM TRUMP OR APPEAL TO HIS BASE.

IT'S STILL ALL BEING FIGURED OUT RIGHT NOW.

>> A LOT TO DISCUSS BECAUSE WE DID NOT GET TO TALK ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY I WILL SEE YOU ALL IN A WEEK AND WE'LL HAVE MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

THANKS TO OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM, AMANDA VINICKY AND HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS AND YOU CAN FIND MUCH MORE ON THE STORIES DISCUSSED ON OUR WEBSITE.

MAKE SURE TO READ HOW YOU CAN VISIT THE FIELD MUSEUM WHICH IS SET TO REOPEN THIS WEEK ALL AT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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

>> AND YOU CAN GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT BACK AT OUR REGULAR TIME 7:00 P.M. >> WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DEPARTURE FROM PUBLIC OFFICE WE DEBATE THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> AND WHY BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CHICAGO WANTS MORE BLACK AND LATINX MENTORS FOR THE KIDS THEY SERVE.

AND WE LEAVE YOU WITH CHICAGO'S SOUTH SHORE DRILL TEAM WHICH PERFORMED VIRTUALLY FOR TODAY'S INAUGURATION CEREMONY.

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

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.

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