challenges in the still early days of President Donald Trump's second term in the state is pushing back.

>> Democratic officials are sounding the alarm and in some cases filing legal challenges about the president's flurry of executive orders and policy changes.

Joining us now with more on how the state is responding is Juliana Stratton, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Lieutenant Governor.

Welcome to Chicago tonight.

Like was a sense for joining us.

Thank you for having So let's start with getting your take on some of the news of the day.

Actually, your reaction to the Department of Education beginning to shutter laying off pretty much the entire staff in the regional office that's based in Chicago.

What's the impact going to be on black and brown children in Illinois?

Well, when you think about the U.S. Department of Education and by the way, this really doesn't come to as a surprise.

Donald Trump.

>> always talked about trying to dismantle department and we see this as something that is an attack on public education.

And it's certainly going to have a tremendous negative impact on black and brown children all across the country.

Title one funds which really focus on students that are from the lowest income communities.

Students who need more resources were already in under-resourced schools.

They're going to be impacted.

Students have 504, plans or IEP students with disabilities who need additional resources.

They're going to be impacted.

So this is going to impact our students across Illinois as well as the America.

It's going to impact our teachers and educators in all of the staff.

And it's going to have devastating impacts on the education system.

Another issue that the Trump administration has come for in schools and in other sectors, as of course, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Why do you think this has become such a target?

>> It's become a target because Donald Trump and his cronies want to pit people against one another.

And that is really the goal so that we can't focus on what they are really doing in Washington, which is really trying to enrich themselves and empower themselves.

Government should really be about making people's lives better.

And that's what Donald Trump said he was going to do.

But he's been nothing but broken promises to working families all across this nation.

Look at, you know, here in Illinois, we believe that our diversity is our strength.

And we've been very bold about saying it's important to make sure that we continue to be inclusive and create opportunities that can help level the playing field.

But Donald Trump and Elon Musk and others in the White House want to pit people against each other and make people feel like they don't belong in.

We're not going to stand for it.

Many top Democrats in Washington have said they want to find ways to work with the Trump administration.

But you said this is not the time to pick and choose our battles.

How do we get stuff accomplished like that?

And do the Democrats need to be more aligned in their approach?

Well, clearly Donald Trump is not interested in getting things done or making any progress on behalf of working families.

We're saying that I mean slashing 10's of thousands of jobs.

threatening to take away health care.

You know, he promised that he was going to lower prices.

We're not seeing that happen.

Instead, we're seeing prices go up.

In fact, picking fights with our allies.

That's going to cost through purported trade wars.

It's going to cost American families about $1200 per family.

I mean, clearly there is no intent to try to make progress and get things done by this administration.

So what we need to do is we need to keep speaking to working families of America.

We need to keep talking about the issues that really matter to them how to make things more affordable for them out.

Those are the issues that we're focused on.

And in fact, when we look at what the key issues that people are concerned about, according to polling its prices and how to make sure the prices can come down.

We're seeing costs go up because of Donald Trump in Illinois.

We did things like cut eliminate the grocery tax that's going to help families where we raise the minimum wage that's going to help families.

So we're going to keep doing what we do it here in Illinois.

Under the Pritzker Stratton Administration.

And that's making sure that we're listening to working family speaking to their issues and making sure that we get things done on their behalf.

you mentioned the grocery tax.

That's a one cent per $100 of groceries.

So that ends up being about a dollar.

If you buy $100 of groceries and also raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour which when we came into office, I think it was 7.75, or 8.75 >> So over the years we raise the minimum wage.

So when you're putting money back into the pockets of working families, all of it matters.

Trust me as we're seeing grocery prices go up, they're going to be glad that grocery tax was eliminated this year, you've launched her own political action committee called Level There's been speculation about whether Senator Durbin will run for reelection.

Also speculation about your boss, Governor Pritzker and whether or not he has an Iowa higher office in his eye.

Given all that's happening in Washington right now.

If Senator Durbin does retire, are you considering a run for Senate?

Well, first of all, let me just say I consider Senator Durbin to be a real champion for working families across our state and he should decide on his own timeline what he wants to do and when he wants to do it, he is been somebody who has been a great friend and certainly I will get respect him in that space.

What I will say is just like any elected official.

I'm always evaluating where I can best serve the people of Illinois and how you can make an impact.

And I'll continue to do that.

But right now I love my job as Lieutenant Governor in hope to keep doing it as long as I can.

How would you say the Pritzker Stratton Administration is responding to the actions of the Trump administration and their impact on Illinoisans?

Well, we're responding.

Boldly were responding directly.

You both the governor and I have made it a point to use our bully pulpits to make sure that the people of Illinois know that we are going to stand with them, stand for them and we're going to fight against anything that threatens their well-being.

We have been vocal.

know, you've seen the governor.

He's been out there talking about it.

I've been out there talking about it.

And I think the other thing besides just talking is we've then making real progress on behalf of people.

I mentioned what we've done to address, you know, rising cost.

We've also, you know, look at what's happening out of Washington with threatening to through You know, congressional Republicans and Donald Trump threatening Medicaid.

I mean, who would take health care from our most vulnerable Americans.

But here in Illinois, what we're doing is we're eliminating medical debt and we're making health care more affordable for people.

So again, we're showing the contrast between the Pritzker Stratton Administration and the chaos we're seeing in Washington but said 2.4 million, Illinois.

And so 43.8% of voters cast their ballot for Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

What does that signal to you and and how are you in the governor reaching them as well?

Well, what it signals to me is that people bought into the lies that Donald Trump put forth and what he said.

He was promising.

He said it be a champion for working families that on day one he was going to get to work and life get better for working families.

And he's done the exact opposite.

And so what we need to do is we need to make sure that we're getting our message out to all voters because remember when health care is stripped away, it's going to include people who voted for Donald Trump when the prices of eggs go up as they have, it means that the people voted for Donald Trump are also going to pay more.

And when we look at jobs that have been slashed, tens of thousands of dedicated public servants, including veterans.

By the way, who have lost their jobs.

Those going to be people in our rural communities are suburban communities and urban communities.

So these issues are now touching everyone.

They're going to feel the pain.

And we as Democrats need to continue showing that we're making progress to make their lives better.

And unfortunately, Donald Trump has is not before we let you go is in the governor last year, former Vice President Kamala Harris lost her bid for President Donald Trump.

Of course.

What do you think that signals to black women in politics and women of color?

I mean, I think she was a wonderful candidate and did everything she could.

I mean, there's nothing that she did wrong for my estimation, it was a very challenging circumstance to try to run a presidential race within 107 days.

But look what she was able to do during that time and motivate so many.

It wasn't the outcome that that I hoped for many others hoped for.

But what I would say is that she was an example of what you can You know, the day after she, you know, after Election Day, you know, was a morning that I woke up saying is this moment where take our ball and go home or is it a time that we lean in and get back to work and my choice was to get back to work and keep focused and pack is an example of why that's my declaration that there's more to do.

And while we did not, you know, weren't successful in that moment, we're inspired to keep going.

And that's that's how we'll make real progress.

Ok, lots to talk about.

We did not