HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON OUR SPECIAL CHICAGO TONIGHT.

COVERAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN DAY 3 OF THE CONVENTION IS IN THE BOOKS AND NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY WERE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS WAS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S RUNNING MATE WHO CLOSED OUT TONIGHT'S PROCEEDINGS.

NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM A MAN TO THE NICU SHE IS INSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER IN A FEW MOMENTS.

BUT FIRST, WE START OUR TEAM COVERAGE WITH HEADER.

SHARON, WHO IS IN MILWAUKEE AS WELL.

HEATHER, WE JUST WRAPPED UP THE 3RD NIGHT OF THE RNC, WHICH WAS A NEWLY MINTED VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, JD VANCE'S BIG NIGHT.

OF COURSE.

HOW DID HE INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?

IRAN DUST?

WE HEARD TONIGHT FROM JD VANCE WHEN HE BECAME THE OFFICIAL NOMINEE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ALONGSIDE DONALD TRUMP.

LET'S LISTEN.

MY MESSAGE TO MY FELLOW AMERICANS, THOSE WATCHING FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS SHOULDN'T WE BE GOVERNED BY PARTY THAT IS UNAFRAID TO DEBATE IDEAS AND COME TO THE BEST SOLUTION.

THAT'S THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THE NEXT 4 YEARS.

UNITED IN OUR LOVE FOR THIS COUNTRY AND COMMITTED TO FREE SPEECH AND THE OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

AND SO TONIGHT, MISTER CHAIRMAN, I STAND HERE, HUMBLE.

AND I'M OVERWHELMED WITH GRATITUDE TO SAY I OFFICIALLY ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION TO BE VICE PRESIDENT.

OKAY.

SO WHETHER THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FOCUS TODAY ON VANCE'S STANCE ON ABORTION, WHAT DID WE HEAR FROM HIM ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS TODAY?

WE HEARD NOTHING FROM JD VANCE ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, PERHAPS BECAUSE HE HAS A RECORD OF SOMEBODY WHO IS IN FAVOR OF THE NATIONAL ABORTION BAN AS WELL AS AS ENFORCING THE FEDERAL LAW THAT WOULD PREVENT ABORTION PILLS FROM BEING PRESCRIBED VIA TELEHEALTH AND SENT IN THE MAIL.

THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE YET TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE OF ONE IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

AND EARLIER TODAY, YOU ALSO NEWLY ELECTED ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR KATHY SALVI ABOUT HER POSITION ON ABORTION.

LET'S LISTEN TO THAT EXCHANGE.

BUT I CAN TELL ON THAT ISSUE, I KNOW THAT WE WILL ADHERE TO THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

WE'RE A PARTY OF THE PEOPLE FREEDOM.

AND I'M VERY HONORED TO BE THE NEXT YEAR.

WAS IMPORTANT NATIONAL BAN ON ABORTION.

POSITION IS THE PARTY CHAIR WILL BE TO COLLABORATE WITH EVERY OF PERSON WHO'S ON THE BALLOT TO SUPPORT THEM AND WINNING ELECTION.

AND I SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

HEATHER, YOU DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER ABOUT WHETHER SHE SUPPORTS A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

WELL, THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEMS FACING JD VANCE AND DONALD TRUMP.

THERE IS THEY ARE CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

MOST AMERICANS POLLING TELL US FAVOR ABORTION RIGHTS, BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS COMMITTED TO RESTRICTING ABORTION RIGHTS IF NOT WITH A NATIONAL BAN USING THE 14TH AMENDMENT, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM TO BASICALLY REDEFINED CEDIS PEOPLE AND ENTITLE WING THEM TO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT AS WE MOVE TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THROUGH THE FALL CAMPAIGN, THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO FIGURE OUT AN ANSWER TO THEIR VOTERS AND SWING VOTERS WHO ARE FOCUSED ON THIS REALLY CRUCIAL ISSUE.

AND THE THEME OF THE NIGHT MAKE AMERICA STRONG AGAIN.

WE KNOW WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT WHEN WE HEAR FROM YOU AND OTHERS A LITTLE BIT LATER ON IN SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

BUT HOW DID VANCE TALK ABOUT THE THREATS THAT ARE FACING THE NATION?

WELL, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THEY REALLY PLAYED UP HIS BACKGROUND AS SOMEBODY WHO FOUGHT INTERACT.

HE SAID THAT WHILE CAREER POLITICIANS LIKE JOE BIDEN, WHO IS BEEN IN OFFICE BASICALLY AS LONG AS HE'S BEEN ALIVE, DONALD TRUMP AND GOT IT RIGHT.

EVEN THOUGH DONALD TRUMP'S RECORD ON THE IRAQ WAR IS A LITTLE ON NOT QUITE AS CLEAR CUT AS HE HAD IT.

WE ALSO HEARD HIM SAY THAT HE WOULD DEFEND THE COUNTRY.

OF COURSE, THAT'S THE OATH HE WOULD TAKE IF ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT.

WE ALSO HEARD THROUGH THE NIGHT FROM VETERANS, BOTH VETERAN FROM WORLD WAR.

2 AND VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN.

HE TOLD TRULY HARROWING STORIES OF EVACUATION OF AFGHANISTAN AND THE SUFFERING THAT THEY AND THEIR LOVED ONES ENDURED.

IT WAS A NIGHT WHERE IT DIDN'T REALLY SORT OF PLAYED UP AND THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, WHO, OF COURSE, HOPES TO SERVE FOR ANOTHER 4 YEARS IN THAT ROLE.

OKAY.

HEATHER, THANKS.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN A LITTLE BIT LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT FIRST I'M AND EVENT.

OKAY.

SHE'S BEEN INSIDE MILWAUKEE'S FISERV FORUM THIS EVENING.

AMANDA JOINS US NOW WITH THE ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER AMANDA, YES, THANKS SO MUCH TO TONY MCCOMBE FOR JOINING US YOU AS EVERYONE IN THIS ARENA HAS JUST HEARD FROM JD VANCE WHO IS IN THE POTENTIAL TO RISE FROM US SEN VICE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM HIM THAT YOU LIKED IT WAS VERY EXCITING.

I HEARD OBVIOUSLY UNITY.

SOUNDS LIKE HE IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A CONNECTION BEING FROM THE MIDWEST.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT.

I ROOTS IS LIKE A LOT OF US.

SO THAT WAS EXCITING.

THAT IS TO YOU KNOW, HEY, THIS IS TIME WHERE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THAT I TALKED REALLY FEEL MOMENTUM THAT TRUMP IS RISING.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU HIM DOING FOR ILLINOIS OR IS HE A DRAG ON THE TICKET, PARTICULARLY I THINK I THINK BOTH BIDEN AND TRUMP HAVE BEEN IN THE HAVE BEEN A DRAG ON THE SUBURBS FOR SURE IN ILLINOIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK BECAUSE OF OUR ECONOMY IS SO TANKED AND THAT THAT HAS TO BE THE THE BLAME TO BIDEN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE'S OUR PRESIDENT IS HE'S OUR LEADER.

SO I DON'T SEE THAT NOW.

I THINK BOTH THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE HAVE SOME ISSUES AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

SO IN ILLINOIS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO TRY TO REALLY REACH OUT TO THOSE SUBURBAN VOTERS?

AND WHAT DISTRICTS ARE YOU PLAYING IT IN THE BUT I THINK THAT JUST HAVE TO GET THEM SHOWING THAT WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS IS, IS IS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE GROCERY STORE WHICH WAS GOING ON AT THE GAS.

YOU KNOW, THE GAS COM.

AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.

IT'S THEY SEE I DON'T I DON'T HAVE TO PUSH THAT ON THAT.

IT'S REALLY WHAT'S GOING ON EVERY DAY WITH SO THAT'S THAT'S ISSUE THAT DISTRICTS WERE PLAYING IS OBVIOUSLY THE OPEN SEAT.

76 45.

THAT'S THAT.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY 1, THAT WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN NOW IS IN MADISON COUNTY WITH THAT THIS BILL THAT CAME FORWARD WITH KATIE STEWART, A DISTRICT WITH JAKE, EVEN COMING FORWARD.

THAT COULD BE ONE THAT'S VERY INTERESTING IN THAT WE HAVE A FEW AND THAT'S EVER THAT WE ARE GOING TO YOU KNOW, WE TALKED EARLIER TODAY ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD BEING IN THE SUPER MINORITY.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT LIKE.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABLE TO GET YOUR POSITION ACROSS EVER.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THEY ALWAYS SAY HOW ARE YOU RELEVANT?

UNITE YEAR AND THE SUPER 40 OUT OF 118 FEET.

BUT I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME WHERE THE ALL THE CAUCUS THAT REPRESENTS ALL 102 COUNTIES AND WE ARE ABLE TO STOP BAD LEGISLATION.

A LOT OF TIMES THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE THROUGH THE RULES THAT THEY HAVE ROB FORWARD.

SO, YEAH, WE'RE DEFINITELY WE HAVE A GREAT CAUCUS.

WE HAVE MEMBERS THAT DOCTORS, LAWYERS, TEACHERS, EVERY WE HAVE A THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING OF COURSE, HAS BEEN A THEME OF THE WEEK HERE AT THE CONVENTION, AS WELL AS THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION HAS BEEN BUT THERE'S ALSO THIS UNDERLYING THEME, THIS TENSION THAT HAS LONG BEEN PROPERTY IN STATE PARTY DIVISION.

WE SAW THAT WITH ON CRAZY, REALLY ESSENTIALLY BEING FORCED OUT SO WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW, THOSE QUOTE, UNQUOTE, GRASSROOTS FOLKS AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

YEAH.

JUST WE HAD THAT THEIR DELEGATION BREAKFAST AND KATHY SAUDI WHO IS NOW GOING TO LEADING ARE STARTING ILLINOIS GOP SHE STARTED.

SHE HAD A GREAT START TO THE DAY AND WE LOOK REALLY FOR HER BRINGING THE PARTY TOGETHER.

AND HOW CAN SHE DO THAT, SHE'S GOING TO WORK OR TAIL YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T DO IT BETTER.

AND THAT'S WHAT I MEANT ABOUT.

NOT JUST THEIR WORK JUST GOING TO TRAVEL THE STATE.

SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING AND HERE'S THE REPUBLICANS REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL JD VANCE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES, BUT WE WE CAN COME TOGETHER.

WE WILL COME TOGETHER AND THAT WILL HAPPEN IN ILLINOIS AND HAS HAPPENED.

I THINK I HAVE A VERY DIVERSE CAUCUS BOARDING AND WE PULLED IT ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND LET YOU ENJOY THE REST OF THE EVENING.

AS WE'VE GOTTEN AS MUSIC AIRING ON.

YEAH, YOU SO MUCH THAT IS HOUSE MINORITY LEADER AT HOME MAY BE OK?

ALL RIGHT, AMANDA, THANK YOU.

AND OF ME AS BUT AND WE'LL SEE YOU A LITTLE BIT LATER ON THE PROGRAM.

I SHOULD MENTION.

BUT FIRST, WE'VE GOT SOME MORE ANALYSIS OF THE 3RD NIGHT OF THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

WE'RE JOINED AGAIN BY ERIC NEWS, THAT POLICY ANALYSIS AND COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING TONIGHT.

SO TONIGHT'S THEME, MAKE AMERICA STRONG AGAIN, FOCUSING ON FOREIGN POLICY FOR MOST PART LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT ENTIRELY A LITTLE BIT.

YES.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR TONIGHT?

WELL, IT'S INTERESTING.

THE BIG GAME TONIGHT WAS AGAIN, IMMIGRATION.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW IT WAS MORE IMMIGRATION AND CRIME LAST NIGHT.

IT WAS REALLY IMMIGRATION IN TERMS OF FOREIGN POLICY START OF THE INVASION NARRATIVE LINKING IT TO CHINA, DRUGS.

THEN THEY SHIFTED OVER TO THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES, AFGHANISTAN, ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND THEN SERVE ENDED WITH A FOREIGN POLICY IN TERMS OF TRADE THAT'S A STORY ABOUT NAFTA, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW IT HIS THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM, HIS COMMUNITY AND HIM PERSONALLY.

YEAH, HIS FAMILY AND HIS PERSONAL STORY.

LET'S I GUESS A LITTLE BIT OF FACT CHECKING ON BECAUSE THEY HAVE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THAT WARS WERE STARTED UNDER BIDEN WHEN THEY WERE NOT.

THAT RIGHT UNDER TRUMP AND BLAMED BIDEN FOR THE BOTCHED AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL, ENABLING IRAN FAILING TO BRING HOME THE ISRAELI HOSTAGES WHO WERE TRAPPED GAZA.

SHOULD BRING THAT UP FOR US HOUSE.

HOW WEARING A LOT BIDEN, RIGHT?

I MEAN.

AFGHANISTAN, AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL IS PROBABLY A TURNING POINT FOR BIDEN IN A SENSE THAT THE MESSINESS, THE LOSS OF LIVES, IT REALLY DID SHIFT SOME NARRATIVES AROUND BY BECAUSE BIDEN CAME IN AS FOREIGN POLICY WAS HIS THING.

THAT WAS EXPERT IS GOING MANAGE CRISES AT THE SAME TIME THAT WHOLE CRISES WAS SET UP BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THEY NEGOTIATED WITHDRAWAL THAT TIME FRAME.

AND SO REALLY THE SHERIFF HAVE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOW THAT ENDED THESE OTHER CRISES.

YOU KNOW, BIDEN HAS BEEN STRONG AND HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL.

OBVIOUSLY, HE'S GOT A LOT OF FLAK WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY FOR HIS POSITION ON ISRAEL.

AND SO THAT IS THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY LIE AT BY FEET.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ISRAEL?

HE'S DONE A LOT TO HELP SUPPORT ISRAEL AND BRING THE HOSTAGES HOME AND SUPPORT.

AS YOU LOOK AT SOME US.

IT ARE ALSO SORT OF THE POSITIONING TRUMP, AS YOU KNOW, OTHER COUNTRIES WON'T CREATE WARS OR START CONFLICTS.

RILEY, OUT OF RESPECT OR OF UNITED STATES UNDER PRESIDENT.

AND THAT'S NOT REALISTIC.

RUSSIA WOULD INVADED UKRAINE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT WAS TRUMP OR BIDEN.

RIGHT.

TRUMP WOULD NOT STOP THAT WHAT HAPPENED?

THE HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL.

WHAT HAPPENED, WHETHER IT WAS TRUMP OR BIDEN?

SO IT'S NOT REALLY REALISTIC TO THINK THAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO SUDDENLY STOP BEING AGGRESSIVE, BEATING OTHERS, STOP ATTACKING OTHERS.

IT'S SIMPLY HAVE A CHANGE IN PRESIDENCY.

THAT'S NOT HOW THE WORLD WORKS.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT SENATOR JD VANCE.

FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR FROM HIM AS THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIS SPEECH?

HIS SPEECH?

I MEAN, EARLIER NIGHT, THE RHETORIC IS MORE HEATED.

HIS SPEECH WAS NOT I ONE COMMENTATOR DESCRIBED AS MEAT POTATOES, RATHER THE RED MEAT.

IT WAS A LITTLE LOWER ENERGY THAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD SO I WAS SURPRISED BY THAT.

I THOUGHT TO BE MORE ENERGY, MORE ENTHUSIASM.

AT THE SAME TIME HE LAID OUT HIS BIO, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO DO SOME SELF TO THE NATION.

HE TRIED TO LINK THE IMPACT, THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS WE'VE SEEN IN THE MIDWEST ON MANUFACTURING AND OTHER FACTORS DIRECTLY TO BIDEN AND HIS RE POPULIST RIGHT IS BLAMING THE LEAVING THE BUREAUCRATS.

WE HEARD THAT SOME OTHER SPEECHES, RIGHT?

AND THAT REALLY IS THE VISION THAT HE EMBRACES.

WHAT WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD FOR HIM?

WHAT ELSE GOING HEAR FROM HIM AND I AND HE IS KIND RESISTED SAYING AGREEING TO A DEBATE WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND UNTIL THE DEMOCRATS KNOW WHO THEIR NOMINEE BEING LOCATION GUY WHO THEY'RE TRYING SEE NEW 8, THAT MIGHT NOT BE JOE BIDEN, THE HEAD OF THE TICKET.

INVEST HE CAN'T COMMIT TO MEETING TOMORROW HIRES.

I THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY ROLL HIM OUT IN THE MIDWEST RIGHT?

BATTLEGROUND STATES, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA.

HE IS A SAFE CHOICE IN THE SENSE MAYBE MORE OF A CONFIDENCE CHOICE LIKE TRUMP FEELS CONFIDENT HE LIKES WHERE IS IN THE RACE RIGHT NOW.

THE REPUBLICANS THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE WAY AHEAD.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A LANDSLIDE IN THE FALL.

SO YOU PICK SOMEONE WHO BASICALLY ALLIANCE WITH HIS IDEOLOGY AND YOU CAN ROLL OUT AND SPEAK TO THOSE LIKE THE BASE.

IT SEEMS TO BE THE HE'S THE BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS THE BASE, RIGHT?

HE IS.

HE IS THE MAN WHO REPRESENTS SO MANY OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS WHO ARE LIKE HIM AND MAYBE COME FROM, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITIES LIKE HIS VERSUS TRUMP, WHO WHO IS IS A WEALTHY MAN AND GREW UP.

DEFINITELY.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE IS HE'S A SMART GUY.

HE CAN LAY OUT IF HE'S GOING TO BASICALLY MOVE FORWARD TRUMPS IDEOLOGY, RIGHT?

HE'S GOING TO BASICALLY PUT IT TOGETHER IN A COHESIVE WAY AND CARRY THAT FORWARD PAST SORT OF TRUMP.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ERIC HAS BEEN GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK WITH SPOTLIGHT THE TEAM IS IN MILWAUKEE.

OF COURSE, THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME MORE ANALYSIS OF TODAY'S EVENTS AND LOOK AT WHAT TO EXPECT FOR TOMORROW RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT THESE DO THIS.

OF COURSE, IT'S BEEN ANOTHER BUSY DAY AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IS AND THAT IS ON TOP OF THE NEWS TODAY THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.

AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS, OF COURSE, SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

WELCOME ONCE AGAIN, THE TEAM FROM MILWAUKEE AND VICKI HAD A SHARON NICK BLUMBERG AS WELL AS OUR GUEST AGAIN HERE IN STUDIO, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S ERIC NESBITT.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

SO HEATHER, TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT TOOK THE STAGE THIS EVENING.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID.

WHEN JOE BIDEN KAMALA HARRIS REFUSE TO EVEN COME TO TEXAS AND TO THE BORDER CRISIS THAT THEY CREATE IT.

I TOOK THE BORDER TO THEM.

I THINK AGAIN, BUSTING TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WE CONTINUED BY SAYING MY LIST.

SANCTUARY CITIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND THOSE BUSES WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL UNTIL WE FINALLY SECURE OUR BORDER.

ALL RIGHT.

NOT BE ASLEEP.

CHICAGO IS ONE OF THOSE CITIES THAT GREG ABBOTT SAYS HE PREFER BELIEVES UP SENT THE BORDER TO, QUOTE, UNQUOTE.

HEATHER, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CHICAGO?

WELL, IT MEANS THAT GREG ABBOTT IS TO PREPARED TO SEND AS MANY BOSSES AS POSSIBLE TO CHICAGO.

OF COURSE, ONLY ABOUT A MONTH AWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION AND EVERYBODY AT CITY HALL HAS BEEN EXPECTING SORT OF A NEW SURGE OF BUSES TO ARRIVE IN THE CITY JUST IN TIME TO MAKE GETTING READY FOR THE CONVENTION.

MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THAT WILL HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS MAKING THEIR WAY TO CHICAGO HAS BEEN STEADY AND THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS IN CITY SHELTERS HAS BEEN DROPPING SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE PEOPLE TO COME.

IF THEY MAKE BUT CHANGES MADE BY PRESIDENT BIDEN HIMSELF THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER MAY MEAN THAT THERE AREN'T AS MANY PEOPLE GETTING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER REQUESTING ASYLUM AND BEING ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE COUNTRY WHILE THEIR CASES FINALIZE.

THAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS FACING US AS PREPARE TO WRAP UP THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION AND PREPARED TO COVER THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

YEAH, WE'LL BE WRAPPING IT UP TOMORROW NIGHT.

OF COURSE OF IT.

TONIGHT, HEATHER, THERE WERE ALSO DEPORTATION.

IN THE CROWD ARE SIGNS THAT WERE CALLING FOR MASS DEPORTATIONS.

WHAT DO YOU TAKE AWAY FROM WELL, THIS IS AN EXPLICIT PROMISE IN BOTH PROJECT 2025 WHICH WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT LAST NIGHT FROM THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND THE THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM ITSELF.

DONALD TRUMP HAS PROMISED TO DEPORT ALL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM AMERICA.

AND HE HAS SAID THAT IF YOU CAN'T MANAGE TO GET THEM BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY, HE WILL HOLD THEM IN TENT CITIES ALONG THE BORDER UNTIL THAT'S POSSIBLE.

NOW, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE SORT OF SAYING THIS WOULD BE A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING.

IT WOULD BE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE JUST IN CHICAGO ALONE AND THAT IT IS LIKELY NOT SOMETHING THAT HE COULD FOLLOW THROUGH.

IT'S CLEAR THE SIGNS WERE PRE PRINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THE DELEGATES TO WAIVE.

AND IF THAT'S NOT A SIGN OF SERIOUSNESS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.

ALL RIGHT, NIC, EARLIER TONIGHT, A FORMER ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN PROBABLY KNOWN TO OUR AUDIENCE, MADE HIS CASE AGAINST TRUMP'S RE-ELECTION BID.

WHAT THAT'S RIGHT.

FORMER CONGRESSMAN JOE WALSH IS ONE OF THE ANTI TRUMP REPUBLICANS WHO'S MADE HIS WAY TO MILWAUKEE ESSENTIALLY TO PLEAD WITH MODERATE REPUBLICANS PACK ANYONE HE CAN CONVINCE WHO MIGHT BE VOTING FOR TRUMP.

I WOULD IMAGINE NOT TO CAST THEIR BALLOT FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

HERE'S SOME OF WHAT WALSH HAD TO SAY.

YOU WANT IN THIS MOMENT THAT A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY OR DON'T.

STOP THERE.

THERE'S TO SPEAK ABOUT.

SO CLEARLY WALL SEES THIS IN SORT OF EXISTENTIAL TERMS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES.

OUR COLLEAGUE MATT MASTERSON WAS THERE REPORTING ON SOME OF WALSH'S COMMENTS WHO CALLED TRUMP QUOTE, A JACK.

HE SAID IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW, ABOUT PRESERVING OUR DEMOCRACY SIMPLY CANNOT VOTE FOR TRUMP.

IT'S INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, ALONG THOSE LINES, WE HEARD A LOT IN TONIGHT'S SPEECH IS ABOUT THIS IDEA OF PUTTING PUT LAWFARE, YOU KNOW, A FORMER TRUMP ADVISER, PETER NAVARRO, SPEAKING ONSTAGE HOURS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON AND ESSENTIALLY ACCUSING, YOU KNOW, THE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES OF BEING WEAPONIZED AGAINST CONSERVATIVES.

NOW, WALSH IS ONE OF JUST A FEW ANTI-TRUMP REPUBLICANS WHO'VE ACTUALLY STUCK TO THEIR GUNS.

YOU KNOW, NIKKI HALEY, RON DESANTIS, FORMER BITTER RIVALS OF HIS WHO ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, BENT THEIR KNEE LAST NIGHT AND MADE THEIR PEACE, MADE THEIR SPEECHES AT THE RNC.

SO IT'S CERTAINLY INTERESTING TO SEE EVEN FOLKS LIKE NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR DOUG BURGUM, WHO, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY AN ENEMY BUT WAS PASSED OVER AS A POTENTIAL VP YOU KNOW, HE WAS MAKING A SPEECH TONIGHT TALKING A LOT ABOUT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

OBVIOUSLY, NORTH DAKOTA, A HUGE ENERGY PRODUCER, PERHAPS AUDITIONING FOR A CABINET POSITION.

THING OR THE OTHER.

SO AND HOW WHILE SHES CERTAINLY MAKING A FIERY CASE AGAINST TRUMP, WILL IT TAKE DOESN'T SEEM ESPECIALLY LIKELY.

ALL AND MOVING OVER TO YOU BECAUSE SOME MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION, THEY TURNED THEIR BACKS TONIGHT ON CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ DURING HIS SPEECH.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

SO THIS WAS NOT ENTIRE DELEGATION BY ANY MEANS.

REALLY JUST A FEW MEMBERS.

AND COMES, OF COURSE, AFTER THE REPRESENTATIVE HAD BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE FOR POSSIBLE MISCONDUCT.

AND SO THE PEOPLE FROM THE DELEGATION THAT I TALKED TO SAY THE BELIEVE THEY KNOW THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE AND THAT THEY BELIEVE CONCERT WITH THAT, THAT GATES IS UNFIT HER OFFICE, THAT HE SHOULDN'T BE SERVING TURNING THEIR BACKS ON HIM DURING THE ENTIRETY OF HIS SPEECH WAS THEIR TIME AND THEIR WAY OF DEMONSTRATING THAT WITH THEIR WAY OF SHOWING IT QUIETLY, THEY SAY THAT THEY DIDN'T TRY TO BRING A TON OF PEOPLE ON BOARD OR MAKE ANY THING LOUD ABOUT IT.

BUT THEY THEY WANTED IT TO BE BIT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE INSTITUTION THAT THEY BELIEVE IS THE U.S. CONGRESS THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE SERVING.

I THINK THAT TRUMP'S DETRACTORS WOULD, OF COURSE, POINT OUT CONCERNS ABOUT ANY POTENTIAL ABUSE PROPAGATED BY REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ.

ALSO COME AS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE AND FORMER PRESIDENT THAT THESE VERY SAME DELEGATES ARE CHEERING FOR BEEN AN ACCUSED OF IS COURT ACTIONS TOWARD WOMEN.

THAT IS NOT EVIDENTLY ANYTHING NOR A AND INDICTMENTS ARE EVIDENTLY MAKING THE RIGHT HE HASN'T.

PRESIDENT TRUMP UNFIT FOR OFFICE IN THEIR YOU ALSO SPOKE TO ILLINOIS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOOD TONIGHT'S EVENTS.

YOU KNOW, SPEECHES THAT WE AS WELL AS OF COURSE, SENATOR JD VANCE.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THEM BRIEFLY?

AGAIN, TONIGHT WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE SAFETY AND THE NOTION OF AMERICA FIRST, WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY POLICY, WHEN IT COMES TO NOT SPENDING MONEY ON THE WARS OVERSEAS.

AND REALLY THAT IS WHAT THE DELEGATES SAY.

THEY WANTED TO HEAR MORE OF THEY SAY IN IF YOU HAVE CRUMBLING BRIDGES IN AMERICA, IF YOU HAVE POVERTY IN AMERICA, DON'T BE SPENDING IN SENDING THAT MONEY OVERSEAS.

THEY BELIEVE I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING HE'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, BUT THEY THE ONES THAT I TALKED TO SAY.

THEY BELIEVE THAT AMERICA WOULD NOT BE AT WAR OR NOT SHOULD NOT BE HELPING UKRAINE THAT RUSSIA PERHAPS WOULD NOT HAVE INVADED UKRAINE HAD IT BEEN A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION VERSUS A BIDEN WON AND THAT IS THE SORT OF NOTION THAT THEY EMBRACE THAT THEY'RE CHEERING ON TRUMP WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT IF THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT WILL BE RESTORED.

I WANT TO GET YOU BACK IN HERE, ERIC NESBITT, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE EVENTS OF TONIGHT AND ONE OF THEM.

ONE MOMENT THAT I THINK PROBABLY STANDS OUT IN ALL OF OUR MINDS IS THE VIDEO THAT PLAYED RIGHT BEFORE THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES TOOK TO THE STAGE.

SOME ABOUT THAT.

THAT VIDEO IS VERY POWERFUL VERY EMOTIONAL TALKING ABOUT THE LOSS OF THOSE SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN.

I'M TALKING SORT OF REALLY THAT WHOLE SEGMENT WAS TO SHOW THAT JOE BIDEN IS NOT UP TO BEING COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

AND THAT TRUMP UNDERSTANDS THEM.

HE AND THAT I THINK WOULD RESONATE WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT WAS SUCH AND IT'S SORT TIED INTO A SUMS.

A STATEMENT THAT BIDEN SAID IN THE DEBATE RIGHT?

TALK ABOUT THAT.

IT WAS MISCONSTRUED.

IT WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE'S NOT SOLDIERS IN WARS EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS MISCONSTRUED AS SOME SAY THAT NO SOLDIERS HAVE DIED UNDER HIS WATCH.

AND THAT WAS WHEN THE CLAIMS YOU SAW HERE TONIGHT THAT THEY WERE SAFE.

AND SO THAT THAT I WILL BE A POWERFUL MESSAGE.

AND ONE OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR TODAY AND AS FAMILIES TOOK TO THE STAGE AND WE'RE SPEAKING OF BE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WET EYES IN THE AUDIENCE.

A LOT FOLKS ON THEIR FEET CHEERING HIM AT A CERTAINLY A FOR THOSE EVERY DAY.

TYPE STORIES ARE TRYING TO WEAVE INTO THE CONVENTION YES, YES, LOTS OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE, FAMILIES WHOSE, YOU KNOW, WHOSE LOVED ONES HAVE SERVED AND GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY.

THAT IS WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE.

IT OBVIOUSLY BIG NIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT FOR EVERYBODY RIGHT AND THEN HAD A SHARON, NICK BLUMBERG AND NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR THE FINALE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST COVERAGE NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF.

AND CLIFFORD PERSONAL INJURY, LAW FIRM, DEDICATED TO