>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

in divinity from this treatment has the evening off.

Here's what we're looking at.

Donald Trump saw a big win in last week's election.

So did his legal team.

A look at what his re election could mean.

There's ongoing legal cases.

A federal judge finds a state law banning the sale of so-called assault weapons unconstitutional.

We have local reaction.

>> Will hardy milk swish?

Swish swish.

>> And we revisit our conversation with legendary children's musician's musician Jenkins, who died this weekend at the when it.

>> And now to some of today's top stories, one of Chicago's signature music festivals will not be returning to the city next summer.

In an online statement, Pitchfork Organizer's did not say why the fest is leaving after its start here 19 years ago.

>> It just says that the festival landscape continues to evolve rapidly and that the decision was not made lightly.

Organizers did not say if the festival will be held in a different city instead, just that pitchfork will produce events in 2025.

Illinois lawmakers return to the Capitol tomorrow.

The General Assembly's technically back for veto session.

But there are no veto bills to consider.

Instead they'll take up new or unfinished business.

Democrats who control the legislature could push guardrails ahead of Republican Donald Trump returning to the White House.

Other measures potentially on the agenda includes raising the minimum wage for disabled workers and gun storage requirements the two-week veto session is the last time lawmakers are set to meet this year.

Russian It's Veterans Day top city and state officials commemorated the occasion with a ceremony thanking troops for their service.

But U.S.

Senator Durbin says some Americans let veterans down last week.

>> Have election few days going to hear about it.

One-third of the people eligible to vote did not register and vote one out of 3.

It does not honor our veterans.

We honor our veterans using that right to vote.

Whatever choice, order.

>> Chicago was also designated a Purple Heart city during the event the proclamation was presented to retired Lieutenant Colonel Eldridge Johnson Junior.

The first African-American to serve as an Illinois Air National Guard pilot.

Thanks.

Post office and government offices that were closed today.

He'll be back open tomorrow.

And up next, how Trump's reelection upended his legal battles backs 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 of these donors.

>> The November 5th election wasn't just a victory for President-elect Donald Trump's campaign.

It was a win for his legal team, too.

He is now at the first convicted felon to be elected president, which could mean a pause or even end to his legal troubles beyond his 34 count conviction in the New York hush money case.

Trump still faces an election interference case Georgia.

Plus, 2 federal cases related to the January 6th Capitol attack in his possession of classified documents at his Florida estate.

Here to break down how things could change is Harold Krantz, professor of law at Chicago.

Can't College of Law.

Thanks so much for joining us.

Now.

We know that he is already making history.

Really?

How unprecedented is it to have a president elected in a candidate who's in this sort of legal mark?

We've had one candidate before Eugene Debs back and let the Socialist Party way back when.

>> But this is obviously an president.

He's the first person ever be convicted felon who's been elected president.

And this will have a huge impact on his legal cases going forward.

Different for different for like 3 sets of cases but happy to sketch the difference.

Yeah, let's right.

Let's start with what he what he's already been convicted of sunset cases, of course, for the salon net is for the falsifying business records related to these hush money payments during his.

>> First run for the presidency, sentencing was supposed to happen later this month.

Do you expect that it will continue even even before that tomorrow, the judge will decide whether to threw out the conviction because of the Supreme unity decision.

There is one reading of the Supreme Court's musician which says that you can't use information from official discussion between the president's close advisers, even as a way to.

Flush out whether or not he's guilty of the president guilty of some other crime.

So he will have to make an assessment about whether particularly the testimony of Hope Hicks for press secretary for President Trump.

So in fact, did the New York proceedings as to throughout the verdict in which I would open up for another you had a clean another trial after he stepped down from being president case, it would be an delay.

It would be after presumably for years that he serves out here.

>> And that, again, is related to the immunity case that was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court relation to another Trump case.

Right.

And in terms of the federal cases, they're gone.

They're gone for 2 reasons.

First of all, President Trump will be head of the Justice Department is head of the Justice Department.

He can say dismiss the cases.

>> But the second reason is that there is a longstanding government decision that.

President should not be criminally prosecuted when they're in the White House been completely or can they be picked back up?

As you noted, maybe in 4 years time or so that the Fed won't won't be because the president has, again, will direct the attorney general to dismiss the cases.

>> So by that time, statue of limitations will run the New York case.

That's a possibility.

And the Georgia case, the 4th while the other case, federal cases, the documents case in Florida, which is not going anywhere anyway because the trial judge basically ruled in all sorts of ways for President Trump so he could avoid I thought was a very clear cut documents case in terms of reaching classified documents, protocols so that that's not going anywhere.

And it's on down 11th circuit.

Anyway.

case interesting is the Fulton County Kingston, which is a racketeering charge for interfering in the elections.

And that's been a whole because of funny Willis and the questions about what happened with her appointment of a special counsel.

>> with supposedly she had relations so tied up for reasons having nothing to do nothing to President.

Right hand.

>> So they could resume, but probably again, they won't do while Houston presidency probably would only resume in 29 after he steps down.

So if presumably the prosecutor is a Democrat or whatever the political tide would be at that time.

Yeah, they do.

There is a document that has been issued in the case.

It's very complex there.

People already pled guilty in the And so >> there's a lot there that 2 to tie President Trump to election interference, putting a of limitations or could be it would be held infected.

The agreement would be to hold over the case assuming he would then claim that the statute limitations had run no in so many of these cases, it was in part a strategy.

It seems on Trump's legal teams to happen.

Also.

>> It just lock to delay, delay, DeLay.

Would we be in a different spot had any of these gone forward earlier?

should prosecutors have moved quicker?

I think that >> prosecutions was blocked in some cases.

I mean, by happenstance Georgia case by the judge in the Florida case.

And so wheels of justice to move slowly and stuff happens.

And we we see the delay and the President Trump, lawyers did a great seeking Lakers.

They knew that delay was on the side of their client and they ended being right.

But I just want to quickly transition civil cases are going to go on the U.S. Supreme Court decided during the Clinton administration when he was sued by Paula Jones for improprieties, that a sitting president could be responsible for a civil damages action.

And that would not distract the president from his office, but he's the president.

How do you get any sort of fair ruling expected judge to come number ticket you have a president who's?

>> really say that he'll use his powers to punish those who defy him while the 2 cases that have just recently are on appeal.

You know, one being the from Eugene Carroll for defamation by 80 million dollars.

>> I think that appeal is not going to leave.

Tarnish the office or distracting.

And I think we'll be able to get a fair hearing from the New York courts on that one.

And another New York court in terms of the fraud case against him from inflating the value of his land.

That's like it's 350 million dollars.

That appeal is going forward as well.

May be reduced.

But I think that will continue without fear.

What I don't know about is in civil damages for what that he participated in the election interference case.

People who were injured have sued him personally.

And that may be too close to his actions prep fire president for this court.

So that's the one that we have to look at, that that they may say no, that's not going forward.

Sure.

We'll have you back to learn more when and if that happens as well as any potential partners related to those attackers January Thank you so much for lending your expertise.

My pleasure.

All right.

Once again, that with the Chicago Kent School o'clock.

Up next, a blow to state lawmakers efforts to restrict assault weapons.

Stay with us.

>> A federal judge has ruled Illinois's ban on semiautomatic guns as unconstitutional to protect Illinois Communities.

Act has since 2023 banned assault weapons as well 15 round handgun magazines.

10 round long gun magazines.

Gun owners claim that the ban infringes on their constitutional right to bear arms while gun control advocates argue that it's common sense way to protect Illinois residents from guns that are designed to be extraordinarily lethal.

Here with more on this recent ruling, John Schmidt, a member of that gun violence prevention, PAC's executive also former associate U.S. Attorney general.

And then joining us via Zoom is Dan Eldridge.

President of federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois.

He is among the gun shop owners suing Illinois in this federal case.

Thanks to each of you for joining us.

And and I'm going to actually begin with you zoom.

You have called this a victory.

How major is it in that?

Do expect it will set a precedent.

>> Behind me that, you know, this was a major win, judgment claims said a number of places in this 168 Page ruling, the peak is not unconstitutional front.

The Second Amendment must be enjoyed.

I think that we can better prepared in the state.

We have the facts and constitutional law on our side and we want play that more than just dunks.

>> Now I'm going to take this over to you.

What did he mean by more than just guns?

And by the way, this is not particularly a surprise ruling on its not a surprise to anyone.

I think everyone would have been a maze if and had not joined the statute.

He did it a year and a half ago after the statute was passed, he enjoyed it even though at that 0, 2, other federal judges had come out the other way.

>> His injunction was immediately state by the Court of Appeals, the Court of Appeals and took it up on review and reversed it.

And that decision then went up to the Supreme Court United States with didn't review it.

So his injunction last time around never had any impact.

This time.

He has stated himself for 30 days.

So what's going to happen and that 30 day period?

I think the attorney general who has already filed appeal will ask the 7th circuit to extend the stay.

>> I would be very surprised.

And I think the plaintiffs in the case would be very surprised if the 7th circuit doesn't extend it.

So the court of Appeals will then set a briefing and argument on this new injunction and probably hear arguments sometime next year.

>> So translation right now, there's a 30 minute period regardless of this ruling where the has been ruled unconstitutional, that the law is still in effect in new expect that that is going to be continued.

>> Dan, that to you, Dean, do you believe that this will go into effect in 30 days?

No ban on so-called assault weapons ban in Illinois?

Are you, therefore, I preparing this sell the sort of weapons for holiday shoppers.

>> No, we have no expectations of that.

But going to clarify a couple things here.

The >> what happened last year was we want to preliminary injunction from just when the Northern district cases lost motions for preliminary injunction.

>> And our preliminary injunction was stayed.

That was a very brief.

You look at it by the 7th Circuit Judge Easterbrook himself said that he was leaving the door open to being convinced.

Then these are not military weapon.

So it was really both of these.

>> We're very, very preliminary maneuvering and its.

>> Frankly, astonishing to somebody, somebody who's not familiar with the proceedings federal court that 18 months later, we're finally getting to the meat of the of the merits here.

>> as you said, there's been a lot of legal wrangling rulings back and forth.

When will this be settled?

Dan, is this something that you believe is going to go to the U.S. Supreme Court?

>> Well, there's a lot of moving parts so our kids will proceed.

got stops.

Firms were before we get there.

Yes, yeah.

Well know our case will proceed to the 7th circuit.

state has already filed a notice of appeal which we expected answer to previous question.

No word.

We have no expectations that we will get another so-called Freedom under the injunction.

We do have a week when we could.

>> In fact, so and transfer these prohibited items back in April and May of We don't anticipate that happening again.

So what will happen now is, you know, our case, it'll go to the 7th circuit, some candle.

>> But a 3 judge panel doesn't exist anymore.

Just and Wood has retired from the judiciary.

She's retired from the bench.

So right now it's where the same panel is split.

Fifty-fifty between used a rope rent.

Perhaps your earlier guests can inform us on how these panels are made up.

We just don't what the end will be.

>> You don't know what the panel beaten already know.

The decision.

I want to go to something that you do know.

This is a law that has now been effect for nearly 2 years.

What has the impact Well, the biggest impact is you cannot go out in Illinois if you're a primo are like the Highland Park Killer who wants to find a gun to kill as many people as possible and buy an assault weapon Ken Ar 15 round and you go up to 30, 40 Round magazine capacity.

It hasn't stopped any law-abiding citizen from going in and buying all the guns that they need for purposes of self-defense, Mr. Eldridge and his colleagues have a very active business and they can and should continue to happen.

>> What we've learned is we can stop the sale of these weapons, which we have learned saved lives, I think is save lives.

And to the extent the primo's of the world have not been able to go out and buy those weapons in Illinois, most incredible band and that would be even better.

But I think it is save lives in on the act.

>> your reaction to that by the way, would be to alleged Highland Park shooter for really the mass shooting during Independence Day that set this line motion.

>> I think it's quite a stretch to say save lives for a number of reasons.

There are nationwide some if you include the full spectrum of of weapons banned under this act, there's probably 30 or 50 million weapons in circulation.

So Holt of new sales transfers knowingly.

But if there's a lot of water in the pool already in most of these are the fast majority of these are below mind, citizens for for lawful purposes has it saved lives?

let's look at the as they contribute to 2 homicides.

Firms related homicides are generally about 11,000 a year book justified unjustified.

But that's that's been on suicide.

Firearms generally in that range.

Long rifles, shotguns are responsible for something like 400, the vast preponderance of of misuse of firearms is in the not the rifle.

So.

>> It's a stretch to say that saved that it's a funny lines and more importantly, is massive, massive Richmond of of constitutional Rights.

>> John, last word to you.

We have a very short bit of time left, but you again have argued that these weapons deserve special treatment because they are so very lethal.

Now, do you have an expectation you brought up a federal Under a Trump presidency?

Is there any likelihood know?

>> But we know for a fact that during the 10 years the federal ban was in effect.

We had a substantial reduction in mass shootings in America and we can look at states that have banned assault weapons and high capacity magazines and see the same effect.

But no, I have no optimism.

under President Trump, we're going to see federal That was the last word.

Thank you again for your time.

That is John Schmidt with the gun violence Prevention.

>> Political Action Committee Committee also to in owner of next son's shooting Range, I believe is the official name Thanks to both of you for your time.

>> And up next, revisiting our conversation with the first lady of Children's Music.

Stay with us.

The woman known as the first Lady of Children's Music died at the age of 100 this weekend.

Ella Jenkins was raised in Chicago.

She wrote and performed music for children since the 1950's and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, chef ski spoke with Jenkins back in 2014 as she was being interviewed for a documentary about her life and work.

Take a look.

>> Lynn Jenkins lives and breathes music.

Even as she waits for the documentary crew to finish setting up Ella passes the time with her harmonica.

Okay.

So I was a Kunz has been writing and performing music for children for more than 50 years.

She's released.

39 records won Grammys and performed around the world, but she's most at home in a classroom with children.

Here we go This is from a 1991 are you?

I'm Liz loving and respectful approach with children is legendary.

know, we did about it.

filmmaker Tim Farron says he's seen her magic with kids even when she's not you will find the one kid there and before, you know, it will be together, you know, singing and talking and having a great time.

>> It's just something that's innate and who she is.

One of her earliest musical influences was her uncle Floyd.

She called him Uncle Flood.

So when I hear him play and saying, >> I a long and sometimes even with a little dome and others that.

Good girls and women do whistle.

Sometimes when I'm taking a bad guy with with Sullivan.

>> Jenkins was born in St. Louis and grew up in Chicago.

A mother may not have approved whistling, but she was okay with the harmonica.

>> She's a new with the cold.

They were in many different suburban homes and she cook sometimes Royce And then close when you as you see no money and we do music and that's what I got acquainted.

But my own harmonica have won second.

All say >> Ellis says she listened to records and the radio went to stage shows, but she also had a keen ear for the everyday music she heard around her as a child like the man selling produce.

And I remember the lot of I >> If you want a he or how she and her girlfriends had their own way of calling each other to come outside.

Is >> Away?

A way as what you heard this sound?

You can do you a window that meant coming down, dancing to get together or high school chance.

>> Plus, the man team, the team dollar.

was the man of team, Jenkins has a degree in sociology from San Francisco State back in Chicago.

She brought her love of music and the new songs she was writing to her work with children at the YWCA.

>> and she performed at folk clubs around Chicago.

you go?

>> That landed her a job and wt TWC Children's show the Total Club they are using instruments a very much like the Spanish Kipnis because one of the hosts she saying folk songs and brought in folk music from around the world and that one did up there.

Cole Ella Jenkins first record have the dry but descriptive title call and response rhythmic group singing.

And it's one of the styles she's best known for.

You know, they're like you should.

She says she got the idea from cab Calloway who she saw as a kid at the Regal Theater in use.

The hand out the sound than you think.

>> Said back to me that and yeah, I'm >> course you are evil who view?

So it was an audience.

>> That involved with that move and the spent the she really is what you She is a genuine warm person and a pioneer in early television.

She was a pioneer in education.

>> marched for civil rights.

I don't know what kids could be without her.

I mean it to that fundamental Well, you any state any more than you can imagine.

folk music without Woody Guthrie Pete Seeger and use game you know, school where Squish and even at 90 she's working her magic with a starstruck reporter.

Mayor Roy.

She could a good day.

>> So no plans to stop it.

you you when you step you might >> Lot flop flop at the end of the world.

Go of the need deal with eye.

That was one of the highlights of my life Colin with my.

That was Again, a conversation from 2014 with musician Elledge in Cannes for more on her life and on her career, you can visit our website.

>> And that is our show for this Monday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 and at 10 state lawmakers return to Springfield for veto session.

Our spotlight politics team on what to expect.

Thank you to our veterans and to their loved ones for their service and sacrifices.

Now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, in Divinity.

Thanks for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a great night.

>> Closed caption made possible by Robert a cliff and click a Chicago personal injury and wrongful death proud to recognize its turns