THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR SPECIAL CHICAGO TONIGHT.

COVERAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, FORMER PRESIDENT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S NEWLY MINTED RUNNING MATE IS SET TO TAKE THE STAGE IN MILWAUKEE TONIGHT.

THIS HAS THIS EVENING'S SPEAKERS SHIFT THE FOCUS TO ISSUES OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY.

IT'S BEEN A DECADE SINCE A REPUBLICAN WON A STATEWIDE ELECTION IN ILLINOIS.

BUT PARTY LEADERS SAY THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO REVERSE THE POLITICAL TIDE.

OF COURSE, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND NOW HIS RUNNING MATE, JD VANCE WILL PLAY A ROLE AS WILL A NEW STATE PARTY LEADER WHO MADE A FIRST APPEARANCE TODAY SINCE WINNING THAT TITLE.

AND JOINS US NOW FROM MILWAUKEE'S PFIZER FORM WITH MORE.

AMANDA.

YES, SEVERAL DELEGATES TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION ME THAT THEY ARE HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES.

NOT A HUGE SURPRISE.

IF THEY'RE HERE.

THEY COURSE, GOING TO BE SOME OF THE PARTY'S MOST FERVENT SUPPORTERS AND THAT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OUTSIDE OF WEEKEND BEING HERE IN MILWAUKEE.

TOUGH THESE DAYS TO BE A REPUBLICAN FROM ILLINOIS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLIE MYERS.

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN THE SUPER MINORITY.

WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING THING IF WE CAN SEE DONALD TRUMP?

ACTUALLY HELP ILLINOIS GAME BACK.

I WANT TO 40 OUT OF 118.

YOU WANT TO TRY TO RUN OF SPRING FIELD.

THAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR DISTRICT.

THAT'S NOT EASY WHEN YOU'RE ONE OF 40.

AS YOU HEARD MYERS HOPEFUL THAT TRUMP IS GOING TO HELP ELECT MORE REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS, BUT HE RECOGNIZES HE SAYS THAT IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, MEMBERS OF HIS PARTY HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT POLICIES AND PEOPLE LIKE TRUMP THAT ARE POPULAR AND HE'S PART OF THE STATE.

SO IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO FLY IN SUBURBS WHERE MODERATE CLASSICALLY PERFORM BETTER.

THERE'S A DIVIDE THAT HAS LONG BEEN SIMMERING BETWEEN CONSERVATIVES AND MODERATES.

THAT LONG?

A SOURCE OF TENSION, ILLINOIS, REALLY REACHING A FEVER PITCH THIS YEAR.

AND SORTS OF DIVISIONS ARE ACTUALLY WHAT CHASE OUT.

THE OUTGOING CHAIR OF THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY IN A SINGING RESIGNATION LETTER.

JOHN TRACY QUIT AFTER BUT SELF TITLED GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT WENT AFTER HIM AND OTHER PARTY LEADERS.

THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT SEEM TO WANT TO CREATE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE PARTY LIKE DIVISION BETWEEN THE SO-CALLED GRASSROOTS AND THE SO-CALLED ESTABLISHMENT.

AND THERE THERE IS NO SUCH THING REALLY.

IT'S ONE PARTY.

WE NEED TO BE ONE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND SURE THE PRIMARY GOING TO BE DIVISIONS SHOULD BE BETWEEN GRASSROOTS AND ESTABLISHMENT OR ANY OF THE GROUPS.

IT SHOULD BE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES.

BUT ONCE IT'S OVER, WE UNITE AS ONE PARTY, NOT SEPARATE DIVISIONS.

TRACY SAYS HE FULLY BACKS HIS SUCCESSOR.

THAT IS ATTORNEY KATHY SALVI.

SHE WAS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR U.S. SENATE LOST TO INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT TAMMY DUCKWORTH IN HER FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH SINCE WINNING BUT CHAIR'S RACE ON FRIDAY.

TALKED ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES.

WE'RE NOT THE PARTY OF DIVISION IN DIVISIVE.

WE'RE THE PARTY HOPE AND OPTIMISM AND A BETTER REALLY DOING A BETTER FUTURE FOR AMERICA CHILDREN.

YOU DO NOT BURNING BUILDINGS IN USING INCENDIARY LANGUAGE WHEN OUR PRESIDENT WAS NEARLY ASSASSINATED.

DO YOU KNOW?

THAT'S ALL HE SAYS.

BUT ALREADY SHE'S WITNESSING THE PARTY COALESCING AROUND TRUMP AND ALSO WATCHING HIS DELEGATES TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION WHO HADN'T TALKING AGES ARE ONCE AGAIN HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK THAT BEING FOR HOURS AND HOURS TOGETHER ON THE FLOOR ON A TROLLEY TO GET AROUND TO GET TO THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL DO THAT AND PROBABLY AIDED BY SOME OF AFTER PARTY YEARS BEEN 50 HAVING.

HE SAYS THAT SHE CONSIDERS STATE PARTY NOW TO BE LIKE HER 7 FILED.

AND SHE SAYS THAT AS SHE DID WITH HER, SHOULD KIDS PARTY WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG AND THEY WERE FIGHTING.

SHE WANTS MEMBERS OF THE GOP TO TALK IN SET ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES.

I THINK ALL OF US HERE NEED TO START PULLING THOSE PEOPLE.

LISTEN, I LOVE THIS PARTY BECAUSE WE AIR OUR DIRTY LAUNDRY WITH ONE ANOTHER AND IT GETS INTO THE PRICE OF THE FINE PEOPLE.

BUT WE NEED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S GIVE THAT PERSON THE BENEFIT WITH NEW FRESH DAY WE WILL WIN ELECTION HERE ILLINOIS.

LET ME REMIND YOU AGAIN, THE PUBLIC AND UNITY WINS IN 2024.

SELL OUTGOING.

SURE.

TRACY WAS AND UNABLE TO GIVE A YES OR NO ANSWER.

WHEN I ASKED HIM WHETHER THE REPUBLICANS THAT NEED TO HEAR AND LOOK THAT MESSAGE ARE AT THE CONVENTION TO BE ABLE TO HEAR US AND TO EMBRACE CRAZY, BY THE WAY.

HIS FINAL DAY ON THE JOB WILL BE TOMORROW FOR IT REALLY IS DONALD TRUMP'S BIG SPEECH AND THEN CELL B TAKES OVER ON FRIDAY.

SHE'S GOT A LOT WORK CUT OUT FOR HER WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDRAISING.

I GUESS WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT HOW WELL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOESN'T, ILLINOIS, BY LOOKING AT NUMBERS FROM 4 YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A MATCHUP BETWEEN NOW PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OF THE ROUGHLY 6 MILLION ILLINOIS IN TO CAST VOTES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 2020.

TRUMP WAS 1 MILLION VOTES BEHIND.

BACK ALL RIGHT, AMANDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND OF COURSE, WE'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

BUT FIRST, CHICAGO POLICE OFFICIALS MADE THE TRIP TO MILWAUKEE TODAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE AT THE RNC AHEAD OF NEXT MONTH'S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION RIGHT HERE IN CHICAGO.

WBTW NEWS REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW FROM OUTSIDE PABST BREWERY.

THAT'S WHERE AN EVENT IS ABOUT TO START.

MATT CPD OFFICIALS HOPING TO GET OUT OF THEIR VISIT TO THE RNC.

YEAH.

POLICE OFFICIALS CAME TO MILWAUKEE TODAY.

THEY WANT TO GET A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT HOW AUTHORITIES HERE HANDLING SECURITY ISSUES AROUND THE CONVENTION HALL FROM THEIR TORY PROTEST SITES.

THE TORY OPERATIONAL COMMAND CENTERS.

AND THEY'RE ALSO DOING JUST THE CONCRETE BARRIERS AND FENCES THAT HAVE BEEN UP ALL AROUND THE CITY, RESTRICTING ACCESS TO THE CONVENTION SITE CPD POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN IN TOWN ALL WEEK ALREADY ASSISTING WITH SECURITY.

BUT OFFICIALS CAME TODAY TO GET A BETTER BEHIND THE SCENES.

LOOK HOW OPERATIONS ARE HEAD BEING HANDLED AHEAD OF NEXT MONTH'S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION BACK IN CHICAGO.

HERE'S WHAT CPD DEPUTY CHIEF DWAYNE DE VRIES HAD TO TELL ME ABOUT THAT OR PERIMETER IS VERY KNOW WE'VE GOT CHECK COMING IN OURSELVES KNOWS, BUT IT'S BEEN I SEEN IT ALL BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY MONTH IS GOING TO BE CHICAGO.

SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE HERE IS KIND OF LAID BECAUSE THE FENCING AND A LOT OF THE SYSTEMS WILL BE THE SAME AND DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD.

AT CPD IS ALSO PLAYING A ROLE IN RNC THIS WEEK.

WHAT WE KNOW.

AS I SAID, A FEW DOZEN CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN HAND ASSISTING ALL WEEK.

MILWAUKEE BROUGHT IN POLICE OFFICERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO HELP HANDLE THE LARGE CROWDS PROTESTERS AND OF COURSE, SECURITY AROUND FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND THE DELEGATES INSIDE THE CONVENTION HALL THEMSELVES TO THIS POINT, SECURITY ISSUES IN AND AROUND THE CONVENTION HALL HAVE BEEN VERY MINIMAL.

POLICE SAID THERE'S BEEN VERY FEW ARRESTS.

VERY FEW ISSUES AND THEY'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE INTO NEXT MONTH'S CONVENTION AS WELL.

THERE WAS ALSO A MAN WHO WAS FATALLY SHOT ABOUT A MILE FROM THE CONVENTION HALL ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

ARE THERE ANY LESSONS THAT CPD IS TAKING AWAY FROM THAT INCIDENT?

SO THAT SHOOTING INVOLVED POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE IN TOWN FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO, TO HELP WITH RNC SECURITY.

THEY WERE OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER SITE.

THE SECURITY FOOTPRINT AND THEY SAID THE INTERVIEW WHEN THEY SAW A MAN WITH 2 KNIVES ATTACKING ANOTHER PERSON.

SO CHIEF DEGREES TOLD ME THAT OUTSIDE POLICE COMING TO CHICAGO FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION WILL BE STATIONED WITHIN THAT SECURITY FOOTPRINT.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO SHIPPED TRICK CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS WERE OUT HANDLING ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY DURING THIS CONVENTION.

HE CALLED THE SHOOTING FORTUNATE SITUATION.

HE SAID OPTION OFFICERS ARE TRAINED, INTERVENE WHEN THEY SPOT VIOLENT CRIME AND SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT HERE.

HOW IS CPD PREPARING FOR THE EXTENSIVE PROTESTS THAT ARE EXPECTED AT THE NEXT MONTH HERE IN CHICAGO?

CHICAGO, OF COURSE, IS NO STRANGER TO PROTEST BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.

BUT CPD OFFICERS HAVE BEEN GOING AND UNDERGOING TRAININGS FOR MONTHS.

NOT ONLY ABOUT HOW TO PROPERLY HANDLE LARGE CROWDS, BUT ALSO DE-ESCALATION TACTICS AND WAYS TO PROTECT PROTESTERS.

FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WHAT CHIEF DEBORAH DEFREEZE HAD TO SAY ABOUT CHICAGO'S PLANS FOR NEXT MONTH.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING PROTESTS IN CHICAGO EVERY WEEKEND AND THEY HAVE A PEACEFUL AS THE CITY CHICAGO.

WE WON'T TOLERATE FROM LIKE TO VITTI VANDALISM OR VIOLENCE.

BUT AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE PEACEFUL, WANT SPEAK THEIR VOICES.

WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

AND OF COURSE, MATT, WE MENTIONED THAT YOU OUT THERE IN FRONT OF PABST BREWERY.

WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?

YEAH, THERE'S AN EVENT HERE IT'S A GROUP OF ANTI-TRUMP REPUBLICANS ARE INCLUDING FORMER ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN JOE WALSH WERE SPEAKING AT AN EVENT HERE TONIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE RNC.

OKAY.

MATT MASTERSON THERE, MILWAUKEE FOR US.

THANKS SO MUCH, MATT.

AND NOW WE GO BACK INSIDE A PFIZER FOR AMANDA.

AMANDA WITH ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN DARIN LAHOOD THERE.

AMANDA.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

REPRESENTATIVE TO BEGIN WITH YOUR COLLEAGUE MARY MILLER HAS JUST CALLED FOR THE HEAD OF SECRET SERVICE TO RESIGN IN LIGHT OF THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT FROM YOU, REAR WHAT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE WELL, WE JUST HEARD ON A BRIEFING THIS AFTERNOON.

I SERVE ON THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

I'M A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR.

IT APPEARS NOW THAT THE SECRET SERVICE HAD INFORMATION WHERE THE SHOOTER WAS THAT IT DIDN'T TAKE ACTION.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE CALLS FOR THE HEAD OF THE SECRET SERVICE TO STEP DOWN.

THE ANSWER IS YES, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

AND A LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICANS ARE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON YESTERDAY WERE FORMING A TASK FORCE TO LOOK INTO THIS TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

BUT GET TO THE BOTTOM AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WHAT ELSE DID YOU LEARN?

EVERYTHING YOU CAN WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT CLEARLY MISTAKES WERE MADE.

THINGS WERE NOT DONE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THIS INDIVIDUAL.

THE ASSASSIN THIS CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

SO PROTOCOLS WERE NOT ABIDED BY WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THAT IS WE NEED TO HAVE A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATELY THAT HAS SUBPOENA POWER.

THAT FOLLOWS THE FACTS AND EVIDENCE.

AND HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH ANY OF YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES ABOUT THAT?

I AM NOT.

BUT IT FROM SOME OF THEIR COMMENTS THAT I'VE SEEN PUBLICLY.

THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF AN INVESTIGATION.

ALSO NOW I KNOW RIGHT TO SERVE IN DIFFERENT CHAMBERS, BUT NONE THE LAST, YOU KNOW, A JD VANCE, THAT SENATOR WHO WILL NOW BE THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.

I HAVE MET A SENATOR BRIEFLY A COUPLE TIMES.

I DO NOT KNOW HIM.

THOUGHTS ON THIS IS A CHOICE THIS AND I THINK IT'S GREAT HAVING A HE IS SOMEBODY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A LOT OF FAITH WHAT I LIKE ABOUT HIM.

HE'S YOUNG.

HE'S 39 YEARS OF AGE.

SO THAT SHOWS DISTINCTION BETWEEN TRUMP AND BEING ALMOST THE HOV.

SECONDLY COMES FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, YOU KNOW, A VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY IN A RUST BELT TOWN ON THE OHIO THIRDLY, HE'S A FORMER MARINE MILITARY GUY.

HE'S LIVED THE AMERICAN DREAM, RIGHT, WENT ON TO BE A LAW SCHOOL BECAME VERY SUCCESSFUL, WROTE A BEST-SELLING BOOK.

IT'S GOT A YOUNG DYNAMIC FAMILY REALLY HEAR FROM HIS WIFE TONIGHT.

LASTLY, I LOVE THE FACT THAT HE SPEAKS THE WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO WIN THIS ELECTION.

WE'VE GOT TO WIN WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN.

HE SPEAKS TO WORKING PEOPLE.

CAN YOU IMAGINE DOING THAT JOB BEING POTENTIALLY IN PLACE TO BE PRESIDENT?

IF YOU JUST 39, CANNOT BUT JOB HE WOULDN'T BE DETECTED.

HE WASN'T QUALIFIED TO DO NOW I CURIOUS YOUR YOUR FATHER, WHO I ALSO KNEW UNCOVERED WHEN HE WAS IN POLITICS.

HE AS YES, YOU HE WAS A REPUBLICAN, BUT HE'S UNDER A DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION.

IS THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY UNDER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA?

WHAT HIS THOUGHTS THE RISE OF TRUMPISM AND THE TURN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

WHY YOU HAVE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN, LISTEN, I'VE BEEN DONE TALK ABOUT FAMILY DINNER.

COURSE, I'M VERY CLOSE WITH MY MOM AND DAD, BOTH UNLIKE MANY FAMILIES, WE DON'T KNOW WE ON EVERYTHING.

WE DON'T AGREE ON ALL POLITICS.

I'M MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE LIVE, A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT.

WHAT ARE PART REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS CHANGED?

DONALD TRUMP IS NOT OUR NOMINEE FOR THE 3RD TIME 2016, 2020 AMOUNT, 2024 IS EVOLVED AND CHANGED.

HOW JUDGES GOT MUCH MORE NATIONALIZED AND YOU SEE THAT NOT REFLECTED IN HOUSE RACES, SENATE RACES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

BUT REMEMBER, DONALD TRUMP 9 PEOPLE RUN AGAINST HIM IN THE PRIMARY.

HE BEAT THEM BECAUSE THE GRASS ROOTS SUPPORT HIM.

AND I REALLY LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTS A STRONG ECONOMY, FIXING THE SOUTHERN BORDER, GETTING ENERGY, A LOWER, NOT COUNTRY ENERGY AWAY FROM A GAME BACK TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF WOKEISM AND CANCEL CULTURE.

LASTLY, HOW JITTERY ABOUT THE FUTURE?

NOT ABOUT THE PAST.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BINARY DECISION BETWEEN TRUMP AND BIDEN, IT'S VERY CLEAR ENERGY, THE ENTHUSIASM, THE OPTIMISM AT THIS CONVENTION WITH TRUMP INSTEAD OF SPEAKING OF IT, THERE'S REPORTING NOW PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS COVID JUST PUTTING THAT OUT IN, OF COURSE, AS YOU NOTED THAT PATH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS TAKEN GET THE PARTY'S NOMINATION VASTLY DIFFERENT WITH COMPETITION VERSUS THE CLEAR PATH THAT BIDEN UNTIL NOW BETTER OR WORSE FOR YOUR PARTY PRESIDENT BIDEN THE DEMOCRATS NOMINEE, DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THEIR POLITICS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

BUT THIS RACE FOR PRESIDENT CHANGE WHEN 2 MONUMENTAL THINGS HAPPEN.

THAT DEBATE PERFORMANCE 3 WEEKS AGO WAS A DISASTER.

THERE'S NO WAY TO PUT LIPSTICK ON A DEMOCRATS ARE IN A FREE FALL RIGHT NOW AND THEN LOOK AT THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY THAT CHANGE THE DYNAMICS, THAT ICONIC PICTURE, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S A FIGHT FIGHT, FIGHT WITH BLOOD DRIPPING DOWN HIS FACE.

SHOW'S STRENGTHS ARE CURRENT SHOWS LEADERSHIP.

AND I YOU KNOW, THAT IS REALLY SET THE TONE FOR THIS CONVENTION.

WE HAVE SO MUCH OPTIMISM, TOGETHERNESS, UNITY.

AND SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE, BUT WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED AND DISCIPLINED ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER.

5TH.

BUT THIS CONVENTION, I THINK SETS THE TONE VERY WELL FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

ONCE AGAIN.

THAT IS U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DARREN, THE HOOD.

ALL RIGHT, AMANDA, THANK YOU.

AND OF COURSE, OUR THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVE LAHOOD AS WELL.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN IN A LITTLE BIT.

AND NOW WE GO OUT TO REPORTER NICK BLUMBERG WHO IS ALSO IN MILWAUKEE COVERING THE RNC.

NICK, YOU WERE AT THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN BREAKFAST THIS MORNING.

WHAT WAS ON THEIR AGENDA?

WELL, WE HAD A GUEST SPEAKER WHO IS TALKING ABOUT A BIG PART OF THE ILLINOIS ECONOMY.

AGRICULTURE U.S.

CONGRESSMAN GT THOMPSON OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHO'S THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.

HE SAID THAT ILLINOIS'S FARMERS ARE KEEPING THE ECONOMY MOVING AND KEEPING THE NATION FED.

NOW HE WAS JOKING THAT HE WASN'T EVEN TRY TO COMPARE THE SIZE OF THE AVERAGE PENNSYLVANIA FARM TO THE HAVE RIDGE, ILLINOIS FARM SAYING FOLKS IN THE LAND OF LINCOLN MEASURE THEIR ACREAGE IN 5 DIGITS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT'S JUST 3 NOW.

IT'S A THOMPSON'S MESSAGE WAS THAT TRUMP HAS TO GET REELECTED BECAUSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN FAILING FARMERS ON THINGS LIKE TRADE POLICY OR OVERLY AGGRESSIVE CLIMATE REGULATION.

THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR HIM BECAUSE AS THOMPSON PUT IT AMERICA IS A CENTRAL AMERICA.

HE GOT A BIG CO SIGN ON THOSE COMMENTS FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MARY MILLER OF ILLINOIS.

HERE'S A BIT OF WHAT THEY BOTH HAD TO SAY.

THANK YOU.

ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL SAYING CALLED AS A ISSUE.

LOVES CO YOUR WHOLE CAUSE THINGS TO SO SOME PRETTY FIERY WORDS THERE FROM MILLER AND SOME COMMENTS THAT DON'T EXACTLY ALIGN WITH THE SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS.

HER COMMENTS WERE ECHOED BY HER HUSBAND, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS MILLER.

HE SAYS THE IDEA THAT GREENHOUSE GASES ARE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO HUMAN CAUSED CLIMATE CHANGE, WARMING THE PLANET TO UNSAFE TEMPERATURES AND CREATING EXTREME PATTERNS OF WHETHER HE JUST DOESN'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.

MILLER SAYS WE DON'T HAVE A CLIMATE CRISIS.

WE HAVE A COMMON SENSE CRISIS.

HE DENIES THE DATA THAT SCIENTISTS USED TO COME TO THAT WIDESPREAD CONSENSUS SAYING HE'S 7 YEARS OLD.

HE'S GOT 7 YEARS OF DATA AND HE JUST DOESN'T SEE IT.

SO, NICK, THE FOCUS FROM THE ILLINOIS DEDICATE DELEGATIONS GUEST SPEAKER THIS MORNING WAS ON A HUGE PART OF THE ILLINOIS ECONOMY.

WHAT WAS HIS MESSAGE?

WELL, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND CARBON EMISSIONS.

AND WE HEARD THE REACTION THERE FROM THE MILLERS.

BUT SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS IN THE DELEGATION TOOK A MORE NUANCED STANCE ON THINGS.

YOU KNOW, THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT THEY, YOU KNOW, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT INTO PLACE IDEA THERE IS A BIT MORE CARROT THAN STICK.

IT SET ASIDE SOME 20 BILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT WITH THE USDA CALLS CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY PRACTICES.

ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS FROM THE YALE SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT GOT KICKED OFF LAST YEAR WITH A TOTAL OF 3.1 BILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT TO HELP FARMERS KEEP TURNING OUT CROPS.

WELL, CUTTING SOME OF THE DAMAGING GREENHOUSE GASES.

SO WE ASKED ABOUT THOSE ISSUES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, WHETHER CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN ISSUE.

WE TALKED WITH ILLINOIS'S OUTGOING REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN DON TRACY.

HERE'S A BIT OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE PUBLIC AND OUR ENVIRONMENTALISTS, RICHARD NIXON, A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT HE BROUGHT HE GAVE BIRTH TO THE EPA.

YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE THERE IS CLIMATE CHANGE.

THERE ARE ISSUES OUT THERE.

WE NEED TO MAKE THIS A BETTER, CLEANER WORLD, BUT WE'RE NOT CRAZY CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS.

THERE'S NO CLIMATE CRISIS THERE.

CLIMATE ISSUES, THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE'RE NOT CRAZY.

ENVIRONMENTALIST WERE RATIONAL.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE BRAND, AS I ALREADY KNEW THAT ILLINOIS LED THE NATION IN PUMPKIN PRODUCTION.

I LEARNED DURING THOMPSON'S SPEECH, BUT ILLINOIS ALSO LEADS THE NATION IN HORSERADISH PRODUCTIONS.

I THINK THAT THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE ENJOYING A PRIME BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW, NICK, I LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY IN THIS JOB, DON'T ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND WE'RE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH MORE FROM THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE WITH OUR ENTIRE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM TO STAY WITH US.

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 OF THESE DO THIS.

SO WHILE THIS IS THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, IT IS ALSO A TIME AS WE'VE DISCUSSED FOR ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS TO MEET RESET AND LOOK AHEAD HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT MUCH MORE AREAS.

OF COURSE, OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

WELCOME ONCE AGAIN FROM AND HAVE A SHARON LUMBER.

WE'VE GOT THE WHOLE GANG AGAIN.

I'M HEATHER STARTING WITH YOU.

SO THE ILLINOIS GOP THIS MORNING SPOKE ABOUT ITS AMBITIONS AS IT WORKS TO INCREASE ITS POWER IN THE STATE.

WHAT'S THE PLAN?

WELL, THIS WAS NEWLY ELECTED CHAIR CATHY SALVY IS FIRST CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THE DELEGATION TO SPEAK TO PARTY LEADERS AND TO SET A NEW COURSE FOR THE PARTY.

AND SHE ACKNOWLEDGED IT HAD BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE THE REPUBLICANS IN ILLINOIS HAVE WON A STATEWIDE OFFICE.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT SHE SAID.

I WOULD LIKE ANYBODY.

WE NEED IS OVER.

WE'RE GOING DO IT.

WELL.

SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT LIGHT ON SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WOULD CHANGE.

BUT SHE PLEDGED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING CAMPAIGNING IF NECESSARY DOOR-TO-DOOR TO MAKE THE CASE THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD USHER IN A NEW WAVE OF PROSPERITY.

BUT SHE KNOWS THAT IS A BIG HILL TO CLIMB FACING FUNDRAISING PROBLEMS AND A BADLY FRACTURED PARTY.

AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A WEEK.

NICK, WE EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF THE SPEECHES TONIGHT TO FOCUS ON FOREIGN POLICY.

OF COURSE, YOU SPOKE WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT WILL BE LISTENING TO THOSE SPEECHES TELLS ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I SPOKE EARLIER TODAY WITH MATT BROOKS.

HE'S THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN JEWISH COALITION.

CERTAINLY BROOKS AND MANY OTHERS ARE GOING TO BE LISTENING FOR REFERENCES TO POLICY TOWARD ISRAEL AND HAMAS THAT ONGOING CONFLICT THERE, BROOKE, SAID WHEN HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE RNC LAST NIGHT, IT WAS THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME AND IT HIGHLIGHTED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT HE TOLD ME.

WHEN I STOOD UP THERE.

AND I TOLD THE ROOM TO CHEER IF THEY SUPPORT ISRAEL JUST WAS A DEAFENING ROAR FROM THE CROWD.

YOU KNOW, I SAID TRY THIS AT THE DEMOCRATS CONVENTION IN CHICAGO NEXT MONTH, YOU KNOW, THE PERSON WOULD BE BOOED OFF THE STAGE.

YOU CAN'T SAY YOU'RE PRO ISRAEL INTO THESE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THERE IS A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THAT.

THERE IS PRO-ISRAEL PARTY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY MANY FOLKS ON THE LEFT EVEN THE FAR LEFT, SEE THE DEMOCRATS AS BEING FAR TOO PRO-ISRAEL.

THEY SAY IT IS AN APARTHEID STATE THAT THEY ARE OCCUPYING TERRITORY.

WELL, INDIANS HAVE HISTORICALLY LIVED FOR CENTURIES THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND THEY THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BEEN FUNDING A WAR WITHOUT A MORAL JUSTIFICATION.

AND I IMAGINE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PROTEST TO THAT EFFECT AT THE DNC.

BUT BROOKS WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THE POINT PRO-ISRAEL JEWS AND PRO-ISRAEL VOTERS IN GENERAL HAVE A HOME WITHIN THE GOP.

ALL AMANDA TRUMP'S VP PICK, JD VANCE.

WE KNOW HE'S EXPECTED TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND WE HEARD SOME REACTION FROM ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS TELL US WHAT THEY THOUGHT.

PLEASE TO LAST TO LEAVE, YES.

SOME REPUBLICANS SAY THEY JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO SAY MUCH ABOUT HIM, BUT THAT THEY TRUST TRUMP TO MAKE A QUALITY SELECTION AND THEN OTHERS ARE ALREADY REALLY EXCITED.

SO LET'S HEAR FROM STATES UNDER TERRY BRYANT WHO SAYS SHE HAS CHILDREN WHO ARE MILLENNIALS IN THEIR 40'S AND A SON INCLUDED WHO SAYS THAT THIS IS THE GREATEST DECISION THAT TRUMP COULD HAVE POSSIBLY THAT IS A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON.

AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE A JD VANCE.

AND AGAIN, REMEMBER, I COME FROM THE PART OF ILLINOIS THAT WE KNOW IS GOD'S COUNTRY.

AND IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY, JD VANCE'S STORY RESONATES LOUD AND CLEAR.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING HIM.

JEANNE.

THAT THE EXACT OPPOSITE IMPRESSION THAT WE GOT FROM GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER JUST THE OTHER DAY WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT AND HE SAID THAT HE COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE REASONS THAT THAT CAN'T BE BAD FOR THE COUNTRY BELIEVES THAT HE HAS EXTREME USED, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO AN ISSUE NEAR AND DEAR TO HART AND HIS POLITICAL AGENDA.

AND THAT IS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IT.

SO LET'S HEAR FROM WHAT PRITZKER HAD TO SAY ABOUT WHAT HE BELIEVES ARE.

THE VANCE IS A POOR USE THAT ARE GOING TO CHASE INDEPENDENTS HE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS VERY EXTREMIST VIEWS AS YOU MAY KNOW, HE IS NOT JUST IN JOYCE, AGAINST REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, BUT HE ALSO THINKS THAT IF YOU'VE BEEN RAPED.

HAVE HAD INCEST COMMITTED AGAINST YOU THAT YOU SHOULD BE FORCED TO HAVE THAT CHILD.

HE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS RIDICULED WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PRETTY LONG LIST OF A VERY, VERY EXTREME VIEWS THAT HE HOLDS.

AND I THINK, COURSE, IT'S IN KEEPING WITH THE MAGA EXTREMISM OF THE BROADER REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO AGAIN, HE SAID THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE'S NOT SURPRISED IS BEING EMBRACED BY REPUBLICANS HERE AT THE RNC.

BUT PITTSBURGH POLICE THAT THIS IS NOT THE PICK THAT IS GOING TO HELP THE TICKET FOR AND I HEAR SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM THERE BEHIND YOU GETTING STARTED FOR THE EVENING'S PRIME TIME SPEECHES.

OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE DISCUSSION ON ALL OF THAT LATER ON TONIGHT AT 10:00AM AND EVEN IF HE HAD HER FOR NUMBER 16.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR NOW.

BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR MORE LIVE CONVENTION COVERAGE TONIGHT AT 10 AS WE BREAK DOWN DAY 3 OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN THE MEANTIME, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR A LIVE BLOG COVERING THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CONVENTION.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M GRANT FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT 10.

CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW, OFFICES PERSONAL INJURY, LAW