JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT FOR OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN DAY 2 OF THE CONVENTION IS KICKING OFF IN MILWAUKEE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

AND AMONG THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR FROM A NUMBER OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S PRIMARY OPPONENTS WHO ARE NOW BACKING HIM.

AND WE GO OUT TO AMANDA SHE'S KICKING OFF OUR TEAM COVERAGE LIVE AT PFIZER FORUM IN MILWAUKEE, WHERE THE CONVENTION IS TAKING PLACE.

AMANDA?

YES, BRAND IS.

EVENING'S CONVENTION IS REALLY JUST GETTING UNDERWAY.

DELEGATES, AS YOU SAID, SET TO HEAR FROM PRIMARY RIVAL NIKKI HALEY AS WELL AS REPUBLICAN LEADERS OF CONGRESS.

AND THEN WITH THE CAMPAIGN IS CALLING EVERY DAY AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY CRIME.

THE THEME OF TONIGHT IS MAKING AMERICA SAFE ONCE AGAIN, ASKED ILLINOIS'S INCOMING REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEWOMAN WHAT THAT MEANS TO HER.

ERICA, SAY JUST MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LIVE ABOUT FREELY WITHOUT THE OF HAVING LOOK OVER OUR SHOULDERS.

THE NEWLY ADOPTED NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PLATFORM FOCUSES A LOT ON CLIMATE.

IT BLAMES ON MIGRANTS CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER ILLEGALLY.

THE PLATFORM CALLS WERE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND FOR STOPPING WHAT IT CALLED THE MIGRANT CRIME EPIDEMIC.

IMMIGRATION.

ALSO A CHIEF CONCERN FOR CHAIR OF ILLINOIS'S DELEGATION TO THE RNC.

CONGRESSWOMAN MARY MILLER.

PEOPLE COME OVER BORDER, YOU TRAFFICKING.

TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY AND SAY I THINK IT'S TREASONOUS OF JOE BIDEN AND HIS.

ADMINISTRATION OPEN BORDERS INTO, BY THE WAY, ARE IMMIGRATION SATURDAY'S SHOOTING OF TRUMP AT HIS RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA HIGHLIGHTS ANOTHER PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN, GUN VIOLENCE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HASN'T COME UP ALL THAT MUCH SO FAR HERE AT THE RNC VOTE.

WE ARE, OF COURSE, GOING TO BE LISTENING TO TONIGHT'S SPEAKERS TO SEE WHETHER CHICAGO AND IT'S GONE.

PROBLEMS BECOME A REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS AS THEY HAVE FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT IN THE PAST.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT I SPOKE WITH, NUMBERS OF ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN DELEGATION ABOUT AT THE MORNING MEETING ASKING DOES THAT SHOOTING ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP CHANGE THEIR POSITION ON GUN CONTROL FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, FIRST-TIME DELEGATE FROM A WORLD SAYS THE ANSWER'S NO.

I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MAJOR THAT HAS TO CHANGE EXCEPT FOR WE HAVE TO START ENFORCING THE LAWS.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE SEEM TO GOTTEN AWAY FROM THAT AND GIVING EVERYBODY A PAST THAT IF YOU WANT TO STEAL WITHOUT WASN'T DOLLARS, IT'S OK IF YOU WANT TO WALK INTO A STORE AND WALK OUT MERCHANDISE, WHAT I'M GONNA CALL THE KIND THE COPS EARNING A SHOW UP.

WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO, YOU KNOW, BROKEN WINDOWS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO, YOU KNOW, JUST ADDRESSING IT.

LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

HE SAYS THAT THE MAN WHO SHOT FROM WAS TROUBLED AND THAT THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT POLICY AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL THAT CAN CURE THAT.

OTHER MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS'S DELEGATION SHARE THAT VIEW AND SAY THAT IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF DOING MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR A SEAT IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

REAGAN DURING SAYS SHE STANDS FIRM IN BACKING THE SECOND SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT.

KNOWING THAT I HAVE A LAWFUL WEAPON IN MY HOME THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO PROTECT MY FAMILY, MY CHILDREN, MY HOME.

BUT WE DO HAVE CRIMINALS THAT ARE TAKING THESE WEAPONS TO THE STREETS.

AND WE SEE THE NUMBERS IN CHICAGO IS JUST HEARTBREAKING.

I WISH THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CHICAGO.

DEREK IS THE PLAINTIFF IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL LAWSUIT.

2 RIVERS ILLINOIS'S BAN ON AR 15 WEAPONS LIKE THE GUN THAT WAS USED TO SHOOT TRUMP.

NONE OF THE DELEGATES THAT I INTERVIEWED SAID THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED EVEN AFTER SATURDAY.

AND JOINING DEMOCRATS WHO'VE BEEN CALLING FOR SIMILAR FEDERAL ACTION TO BAN SO-CALLED ASSAULT WEAPONS RATHER.

HE SAID THAT THEY WERE EXCITED TO SEE TRUMP MAKE A SURPRISE APPEARANCE LAST NIGHT AND HE'S SHOWING UP DEMONSTRATES HIS RESILIENCE, STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP.

GRANDEST, BACK TO AMANDA.

THANK YOU.

OF COURSE, WILL SEE YOU AGAIN A COUPLE TIMES A BIT LATER ON IN THE SHOW.

THE STAKES OF THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ARE STARK, ESPECIALLY FOR CHICAGO AND ITS RESIDENTS.

W T TW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW FROM MILWAUKEE'S RIVERFRONT WITH MORE.

HEATHER, YOU KNOW, TO HEAR GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER AND MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TELL IT THE PROSPECT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP RETURNING TO THE WHITE HOUSE REPRESENTS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO CHICAGO AND ITS RESIDENTS.

TELL US WHY.

WELL, BOTH GOVERNOR PRITZKER AND MAYOR JOHNSON TOLD REPORTERS THAT NOT ONLY DOES FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP POSE A THREAT TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, GIVEN HIS SUPPORT FOR THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE JANUARY 6 CAPITOL INSURRECTION, BUT ALSO HIS CONTINUED LIES ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION.

BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR CHICAGOANS COULD FIND THEIR RIGHTS CURTAILED SICKNICK THAT SIGNIFICANTLY MAKING THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN A DIRE THREAT FOR CHICAGOANS WHO RELY ON BEING ABLE TO GET REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE OR GENDER AFFIRMING CARE OR WHO SIMPLY WANT TO BE PART OF THE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.

ALL OF THOSE ISSUES WOULD BE DIRECTLY IN THE PRESIDENTS SITES.

AND HE HAS SAID THAT HE WILL ROLL BACK DEMOCRATIC LED EFFORTS ON ALL OF THOSE HEATHER, CHICAGO, RED REPUBLICAN LEADERS, THOUGH THEY TOLD YOU THAT A SECOND TERM FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD MEAN A RETURN TO THE STRONG ECONOMY OF 2019 BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

WHAT DO THINK WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

WELL, THEY SAY THAT THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE OVERBLOWN BECAUSE ILLINOIS HAS PROTECTIONS FOR ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ON THE INSIDE STATE LAW.

HOWEVER, THEY SAY THAT TRUMP WILL EXTEND OF THE 2017 PACKAGE OF TAX CUTS HE SIGNED INTO PERMANENTLY AND THAT WILL NOT ONLY ENCOURAGE BUSINESS CREATION.

IT WILL REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT, EVEN THOUGH UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS AT HISTORICALLY LOW LEVELS, BUT THAT IT WILL HELP SPREAD PROSPERITY THAT CAN'T HELP BUT HELP CHICAGO FAMILIES NOW STRUGGLING TO BUY A HOUSE OR TO MAKE THEIR RENT.

AND THEY SAY THAT IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER.

HEATHER, TRUMP WAS PRESIDENT, HE FREQUENTLY TARGETED CHICAGO.

REMIND US WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WELL, SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE IN JANUARY 2017, HE TWEETED THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO, QUOTE, SEND IN THE FEDS TO ADDRESS WHAT HE CALLED HORRIBLE CARNAGE IN CHICAGO.

IN ADDITION, HE ATTEMPTED TO YANK MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC SAFETY GRANTS FROM THE CITY BECAUSE OF ITS STATUS AS A SELF-PROCLAIMED SANCTUARY CITY, WHICH PROHIBITS CITY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING POLICE OFFICERS FROM COOPERATING WITH IMMIGRATION AGENTS IN DEPORTING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

NOW THAT EFFORT WAS ULTIMATELY UNSUCCESSFUL.

BUT THE PRESIDENT HAS VOWED TO REDOUBLE THOSE EFFORTS IF ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM.

AND AS WE HEARD AMANDA SAID, HE IS PROMISING THE LARGEST DEPORTATION EFFORT IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, I THINK IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

HOWEVER, IT WILL NO DOUBT SEND CHICAGO'S UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY INTO THE SHADOWS AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO ACCESS CITY OFFICIALS FOR FEAR OF DEPORTATION.

AND OF COURSE, WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM YOU AS WELL AND NICK BLOOMBERG WILL JOIN US AS WELL IN JUST A FEW MINUTES ROOM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BUT FIRST, MORE ABOUT WHAT THE MESSAGE OF SAFETY COULD LOOK LIKE AMONG REPUBLICANS AND WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT TONIGHT, WE'RE JOINED BY ERIC NEWS THAT A POLICY ANALYST AND COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WHERE HE ALSO RESEARCHES POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND PULLING.

ERIC, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

SO AS WE'VE SAID, TONIGHT'S THEME IS MAKE AMERICA SAFE ONCE AGAIN.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TO HEAR TONIGHT?

WELL, THESE ARE KEY THEMES.

AND ACTUALLY THE KEY LOGIC OF, YOU KNOW, TRUMP'S ORIGINAL 2016 CAMPAIGN WAS IMMIGRATION.

RIGHT?

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECENT POLLING, GALLUP SAYS THAT THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS THAT WANT TO REDUCE IMMIGRATION IS THAT A 20 YEAR HIGH.

SO IMMIGRATION AS AN ISSUE OF THAT SNOW, THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS OF TONIGHT.

THAT IS A KEY BENEFIT TO THE REPUBLICANS AND PART OF TRUMP'S LOGIC HIS CAMPAIGN.

YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE THEY LINK IMMIGRATION TO GUN VIOLENCE, RIGHT IN CRIME.

RIGHT.

AND SO THAT WILL BE SORT OF THAT FUSION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE AMERICA SAFER AGAIN BY DEPORTING MIGRANTS AND THIS SORT OF LUNCHES AND 2.

COMPLETE LOGIC OF WHO DONALD TRUMP CRIME AND VIOLENCE COULD BE A BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUE FOR IT FOR THE G I P G O P EXCUSE ME.

COULD YOU KNOW, COULD TONIGHT SWAY ANY VOTERS IN, YOU KNOW, THE BATTLEGROUND STATES LIKE WISCONSIN.

I THINK SO BECAUSE IMMIGRATION IS ON THE TOP ISSUES AT POLLING ON PEOPLE'S MINDS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE VIEW TRUMP VERSUS BIDEN IMMIGRATION, TRUMP HAS A NATURAL ADVANTAGE.

SO BRINGING MORE WE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION HURTS BITE.

NOW THE NUMBERS SINCE BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER CLOSING THE BORDER.

PART OF CROSSINGS ARE SOME OF THE ALL-TIME LOW SINCE BIDEN TOOK OFFICE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY RESONATE WITH PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT THE MIGRANTS ALREADY HERE.

IT SAYS LINKAGE TO CRIME.

AND I THINK THAT BASICALLY THE MORE THAT THE TRUMP TALKS ABOUT IMMIGRATION, THE MORE BENEFITS.

SO, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOME CODED OR EVEN NOT SO CODED RACIAL REFERENCES TONIGHT.

BOTH TALKING IMMIGRATION, WHICH CAME UP A DECENT BIT OVER THE COURSE OF LAST NIGHT'S SPEECHES, BUT URBAN VIOLENCE, GUN VIOLENCE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WE'LL HEAR ALONG THOSE LINES.

OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT GUNS BEING THE PROBLEM.

THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A POLICING AND GOT TALK ABOUT ISSUES FROM PALE, FOR ILLINOIS AS THE PROBLEM.

SO AS YOU HEARD IN THAT CLIP THAT THE BROKEN WINDOWS THESIS THAT IF WE JUST CRACKED DOWN, ESPECIALLY ON SMALLER CRIMES, THEN THESE LARGER GUN VIOLENCE WILL GO AWAY AND THAT'S NOT REALLY SERVE ACCURATE.

YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT GUN VIOLENCE.

STATISTICS IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF OUR POPULATION CHICAGO AND AN ILLINOIS ACTION, A PER CAPITA BASIS, GUN VIOLENCE IS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN MANY SO-CALLED RED STATES.

SO REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

FROM A LARGER PERSPECTIVE, YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY LIKE CHICAGO.

WE'RE IN A BLUE STATE AND BLAMED IT ON THE FACT THAT IT RUN BY DEMOCRATS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S CRIME OVER RUNNING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE RUN BY DEMOCRATS, THAT SOMETHING WE'LL PROBABLY HEAR MORE THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT.

I MEAN, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

YOU CAN HEAR ABOUT REPUBLICAN UNITY, RIGHT?

THESE ARE THE 2 THEMES.

YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE SCALISE, HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER WHO IS HIMSELF A VICTIM OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE AT A A SHOOTING, A CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME.

SO WHAT HE HAS TO SEE WILL BE VERY PERSONALLY ABOUT THAT MOMENT.

SO I SEE THAT WILL PROBABLY ONE WAY THEY'LL CONNECT THE A TRAGIC EVENTS OF SATURDAY TRUMP AND ALSO SPEAK FROM THE HEART ABOUT AND TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, WITH LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE EXPECTING TO HEAR A LOT OF PERSONAL STORIES TODAY FROM SOME OF THE SPEAKERS, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, AT ONE OF THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVE STEVE SCALISE, AS YOU SAID, BUT SO-CALLED EVERYDAY AMERICANS.

BUT WILL THOSE STORIES PLAY INTO THE REPUBLICAN MESSAGING?

I THINK OFTEN OUR PEERS, EVERYDAY PEOPLE ARE POWERFUL MESSENGERS, WRITE THEM ARE CREDIBLE.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES RATHER THAN A POLICY POSITION.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HIGHLIGHTING AND INTERWEAVING IT THE PUBLIC LEADERS THEY'RE SHOWING UP TONIGHT.

THIS, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THIS ALL COMES ON THE HEELS OF A THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP MAKING A STRONG SHOWING LAST NIGHT THE FIRST NIGHT OF RNC.

HOW DOES ALL OF THIS SORT OF POSITION HIM IN THE EYES OF THE PARTY AND SET UP?

YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, SET UP THEIR THEIR CONVENTION FOR THIS WEEKEND GOING FORWARD.

TRUMP'S MESSAGING FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS THAT HE IS BEING PERSECUTED FOR REPUBLICANS.

THEY'RE GOING AFTER ME.

AND I'M HERE FOR YOU RIGHT, THAT HE'S A MARTYR.

NOW WE CAN SAY I'M LITERALLY A MARTYR.

I TOOK A BULLET FOR YOU.

I'M HERE TO BE YOUR SHIELD.

I'M UP AND I WILL SERVE SEAVIEW AND REPRESENT YOU.

AND THAT SIR REALLY PLAYS IN THAT EVENT TOTALLY PLAYS INTO HIS NARRATIVE THAT HE'S COMMUNICATING FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

OKAY.

SO WE'LL PROBABLY HEAR SOME MORE OF THAT THIS WEEK AS WELL.

I'M ERIC NESBITT.

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO STICK AROUND AND HANG OUT WITH US AND TALK TO OUR WHOLE TEAM IN A FEW MINUTES.

AND SO WE'LL SEE THEN.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

BUT FIRST, WE GO BACK TO PFIZER FOR HIM AND OF IN A KEY WITH CHUCK CHICAGO GOP CHAIR AMANDA.

YES, FRED, THIS A POSITION THAT MISTER HERNANDEZ JUST TOOK OVER IN MAY, BUT REALLY, YOU'RE LONGTIME BOB WAS 28 YEARS WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, MOST OF WHICH IS A DETECTIVE.

SO SOMETHING WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT FROM A REPUBLICAN DELEGATES HERE IS THAT ONE OF THE ON ISSUES AT THE ROOT OF CRIME IN ILLINOIS, IN CHICAGO, IN PARTICULAR IS STATUS AS A SANCTUARY CITY.

SO I'M CURIOUS, HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED POLICE WORK?

WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT COME UP?

YOU KNOW, I SEE IT COME UP IN MY WHEN WE HAD OUR POLICE STATIONS FULL MIGRANTS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR.

WE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ENOUGH WORK IS AS POLICEMEN WORKING IN OUR CITY.

I'M TRYING TO COMBAT CRIME AND THEN HAVING I'M GOING INTO THE THESE MIGRANTS BECOMING A HOMELESS SHELTER.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WAS THERE ANY CAUSE OF KNOW WE HEARD FROM CONGRESSWOMAN AND CHAIR OF THE DELEGATION TODAY THAT SHE BELIEVES MIGRANTS ARE TERRORISTS COMMITTING CRIMES, GUN VIOLENCE?

NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE AS FAR AS THAT.

BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE A SECURE MAKERS.

OUR COUNTRY SECURE OUR NEIGHBOR, SECURE.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHO'S WHO LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

UNFORTUNATELY.

MOST AMERICANS DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

MOST MOST IMMIGRANTS COME HERE AND DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

CHICAGO ALSO HAS A REPUTATION ONE REFERENCED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR REALLY HAVING AN ISSUE WITH GUN VIOLENCE.

DESPITE GUN CONTROL MEASURES IN PLACE IN THE CITY AND STATE.

WHAT ARE WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BE WISE TO ADOPT BROADER APPROACH COULD CURB GUN VIOLENCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR PARTNERS WITH THE ATF, FBI, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COME INTO CHICAGO AND HELP US CURB VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHICAGO OVER THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, WE HAD OVER 100 SHOT MURDERED OUR STREETS.

THIS IS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

BUT WE CAN'T JUST KEEP SAYING IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

WE NEED OUR PARTNERS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO COME IN AND GIVE US A IF PRESIDENT TRUMP WERE TO BE ELECTED, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE HE COULD DO ABOUT YES, THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING HAVING A RENEWED COMMITMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WITH THE THIS TWEET WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN COOK COUNTY IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TRUE PROSECUTOR THAT'S COMMITTED TO PROSECUTING CRIME IN THE CRIMINAL KNOWS IT.

AND THE CRIMINAL HAS THE UPPER HAND.

RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW MORE THAN EVER TO MAKE CHICAGO SAFER AGAIN.

HOW WOULD THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CHANGE WITH THE COOK COUNTY PROSECUTORS OFFICE IS DOING?

I SO I WAS A DETECTIVE FOR 28 YEARS.

I TOOK SOME CASES FEDERAL YOU KNOW, AT THE DIRKSEN FEDERAL BUILDING, YOU DO 85% OF THAT FEDERAL SENTENCE.

THAT WORD GETS OUT ON THE STREET THAT WE ARE PROSECUTING CRIMES FEDERALLY AND FEAR GOES OUT TO THE STREET AND THEY WILL NOT.

THEY WILL KNOW THAT WE MEAN BUSINESS.

WE NEED TO CURB THE VIOLENCE.

WE NEED DONALD TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AGAIN, JUST AS OF MAY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS FERNANDEZ CHAIR THE COOK COUNTY GOP.

BACK TO YOU THINK IT'S.

ALL RIGHT, AMANDA, THANK YOU.

AND OF COURSE, OUR THANKS TO CHUCK AND WE'RE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH MORE FROM THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE.

STAY WITH US.

CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE IT IS DAY 2 AT THE RNC.

WE GET LOCAL REACTION TO TRUMP'S VP PICK.

DEMOCRATS MAKE A VISIT TO WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS GET SOME ADVICE IS THE ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THEIR POWER IN THE STATE HERE WITH ALL THAT AND MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM AMANDA, VICKI HATTER, SHARON AND NICK BLUMBERG.

WELL, WHEN I SAY HERE, I MEAN, MILWAUKEE, WE'RE ALSO JOINED ONCE AGAIN BY NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S ERIK NISBET.

THANKS, EVERYBODY FOR STICKING AROUND.

I'M AMANDA TO YOU FIRST.

AS WE KNOW, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCED OHIO SENATOR JD VANCE HAS HE'S A VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK AND WE HEARD SOME REACTION FROM ILLINOIS SENATOR DURBIN.

TELL US YES, BRAND AND OTHERS REALLY ARE CRITICAL OF FANS FOR SAYING THAT YOU PUT A PRIORITY ON CURBING CRIME.

AGAIN, THAT IS THE THEME OF TONIGHT'S CONVENTION.

AND YET THEY SAY THAT HE SORT OF HURTING CHICAGO BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BY LEAVING THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, RESPONSIBLE, OF COURSE, FOR DEALING WITH MANY GUN CRIMES GANG VIOLENCE AND A POLITICAL PROSECUTION AS WELL, LEAVING THAT WITHOUT A PERMANENT LEADER.

BECAUSE VANCE BLOCKED BIDEN'S NOMINATION OF APRIL PERRY TO THAT JOB CONTINUALLY.

LET'S HEAR FROM DRIVEN HIMSELF.

WHY WOULD HE WANT TO STOP?

CAREER PROSECUTORS FOR MOVING FORWARD TO PROTECT US.

HE WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT IT.

HE WAS RETRIBUTION FOR THE WEAPONIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TOWARD DONALD TRUMP.

STRICTLY A POLITICAL MOVE, HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MERITS OF THE NOMINEES FOR THE NEEDS TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

THAT DOES NOT GIVE ME A LOT OF HOPE IN TERMS OF WHAT POLITICS MEAN FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR LAW AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

SO THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL IN THAT POSITION AND ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY.

SO IT'S NOT AS IF THE POSITION IS COMPLETELY VACANT.

NONETHELESS, WITHOUT A PERMANENT LEADER.

BY THE WAY, PERRY IS SET TO BECOME AROUND THE PATH ANYWAY TO BECOME A FEDERAL JUDGE NOW HAS APPOINTED BY BIDEN THAT WOULD COME WITH A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT AS OPPOSED TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S POSITION THAT SHE HAD BEEN SET TO BECOME THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD OUT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT CHICAGO WHEN THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE WHIMS OF WHOEVER IS IN POWER IN THE WHITE NICK BLOOMBERG, THE GUEST SPEAKER AT THIS MORNING'S ILLINOIS DELEGATION, BREAKFAST HAD A MESSAGE THAT MIGHT SOUND COMING FROM A REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

HE SURE DID.

THAT WAS FORMER CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN OF NEW YORK ZELDIN UNSUCCESSFULLY NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IN 2022.

NOW A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN REALLY CRITICAL OF PROPOSED AND PASSED LAWS TO EXPAND VOTER ACCESS, THINGS LIKE EARLY VOTING OR MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

BUT DELLE DONNE URGED ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN DELEGATES TO TAKE A MORE PRAGMATIC APPROACH.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE VOTER ID.

BALLOT.

HARVESTING SHOULD NOT BE LEGAL IN ANY STATE.

UNIVERSAL.

MAIL-IN BALLOTING SHOULD NOT BE LEGAL IN ANY STATE.

WHEN THE DEMOCRATS CHANGE IN ELECTION LAW IN A PARTICULAR STATE.

AND IT IS THE LAW FOR THAT ELECTION.

I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD REALLY LEANING INTO THAT LAW INSTEAD OF BOYCOTTING THAT LAW.

SO ESSENTIALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LAWS EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM.

INSTEAD OF SITTING ON THE SIDELINES.

SELDEN ALSO TALKED ABOUT DURING HIS CAMPAIGN VISITING SOLIDLY BLUE DISTRICT TRYING TO MAKE INROADS WITH BLACK AND LATINO AND ASIAN VOTERS IN PARTICULAR.

YOU KNOW, HE SAID YOU KNOW, POLITICAL TYPES TOLD HIM, DON'T BOTHER GOING THERE.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO WIN.

THEY ALWAYS VOTE DEMOCRATIC.

BUT WHAT HE SAID IS THOSE ARE THE EXACT KINDS OF PLACES THAT REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE CAMPAIGNING.

OF COURSE, ELTON'S CAMPAIGN WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE JURY'S OUT ON THAT APPROACH.

BUT CERTAINLY HE WAS ENCOURAGING REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS NOT TO JUST SIT ON THE SIDELINES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE IN THE MINORITY.

INTERESTING APPROACH.

NICK, IT'S BEEN 72 HOURS, OF COURSE, SINCE THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE A ENDED WITH A PRESS CONFERENCE HERE IN MILWAUKEE HEADLINED BY NEW JERSEY SENATOR CORY BOOKER, WHO REALLY FOCUSED TRIED TO REFOCUS THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TRUMP PROJECT 2025.

SO WE'VE TALKED A LOT TONIGHT ABOUT THAT.

MASSIVE DEPORTATION EFFORT THAT TRUMP HAS PROMISED.

THAT IS PART OF PROJECT 2025 WHICH LAYS OUT SORT OF 180 MANDATE FOR WHEN TRUMP OR THE NEXT CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT TAKES OFFICE.

AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING.

WE'LL SORT OF HELP COMMUNICATE TO NOT JUST THE PEOPLE, CHICAGO, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS, BUT IN SWING STATES SORT OF WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THIS ELECTION.

IT IS A SWEEPING DOCUMENT THAT WOULD REALLY REORIENT THE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT WOULD MEAN A LOT OF CHANGES FOR AND AND TRANSGENDER AMERICANS.

AND THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN WANTS TO HAVE.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO STOP FOCUSING SO MUCH ON THE PRESIDENT'S DEBATE AND HIS AGE, HIS VERBAL STUMBLES AND THEY'RE HOPING NOW THAT THE DANGER OF THE IN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IS PASSED.

THEY CAN GET BACK TO THOSE ISSUES.

ALL THAT SAID, ERIK NISBET, YOU KNOW, HOW THE YOU KNOW, HAVING SURVIVED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT?

HOW DOES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR DEMOCRATS OR HOW DO THEY HAVE TO HOW THEY GO ON THE ATTACK AGAINST TRUMP?

LOGIC OF THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN THAT TRUMP IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACIES, EXISTENTIAL THREAT AND THAT TYPE OF LANGUAGE.

THAT TYPE OF FOCUS HAS TO BE PUT ON PAUSE FOR A WHILE.

THEY MIGHT TRY TO PIVOT MY FOCUS ON 2025 SERVE A VENUES ARE INDIRECT WAY TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT.

BUT MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT FOCUSED ON DEMOCRACY AND ABOUT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT ECONOMY, ITS IMMIGRATION, IT'S INFLATION AND ITS ABORTION.

SO ONE WAY THEY MIGHT PIVOT SOME BATTLEGROUND STATES IS FOCUSED ON ABORTION RIGHTS, FOR EXAMPLE, MOTIVATE PEOPLE.

IT'S HARD TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ABOUT DEMOCRACY BEING THE BALLOT AND HARD TO USE LANGUAGE OR RHETORIC THAT TAX TRUMP DIRECTLY AS A THREAT.

BECAUSE THAT IS THE POINT YOU'RE INCITING VIOLENCE TO POINT THE BLAME.

BECOMES A BLINKING AND THEN IT'S OK WHILE SO.

TRUMP BEING A VICTIM OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE ALMOST UNDER CUTS.

THAT IDEA THAT HE'S A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY LIKE SINGER LEE.

HEATHER, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM A CHICAGO AND ON THE REPUBLICAN STAGE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE REVEREND COREY BROOKS WHO'S BEEN ON OUR SHOW A NUMBER OF TIMES, WILL DELIVER THE CLOSING PRAYER SESSION.

HE, OF COURSE, IS BEST KNOWN AS THE ROOFTOP PASTOR.

HE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF 2 YEARS LIVING ON A ROOF IN WOODLAND TO RAISE MONEY FOR A NEW CHURCH AND A COMMUNITY HE IS A REPUBLICAN AND HE SAYS HE'S BEEN TARGETED BY THOSE VIEWS.

HE IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF PERSON THE REPUBLICANS ARE HOPING TO SHOWCASE IN THIS CONVENTION TONIGHT.

ALL LOTS FOR ALL OF US TO LOOK AT.

LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING.

IT WILL BE BACK HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT LATER LATER AND HAD ONEK BLUMBERG AND OF COURSE, ERIK NISBET.

NORTHWESTERN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR NOW.

PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR MORE LIVE CONVENTION COVERAGE TONIGHT AT 10:00PM.

WE'LL BREAK DOWN DAY 2 OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION WITH IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS FROM OUR TEAM IN THE MEANTIME, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR LIVE BLOG COVERING THE VERY LATEST NEWS FROM THE CONVENTION.

AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

STAY RIGHT THERE.

NOW FOR OUR CONVENTION COVERAGE FROM PBS NEWS HOUR NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

ACTION NEWS MAY PASS BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW CHICAGO, PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH.

THAT PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS FOUNDER AND SENIOR ROBERT CLIFF, WHO RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS BY SUPER LAWYERS