[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN A MOMENT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND SPENT HIS SECOND DAY IN CHICAGO MEETING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

GARLAND SPOKE ABOUT THE NEW JOINT FEDERAL AND C.P.D.

GUN TRAFFICKING STRIKE FORCE AFTER VISITING WITH MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN AND DICK DURBIN IN CHICAGO YESTERDAY.

GARLAND ANNOUNCED THE STRIKE FORCES IN MULTIPLE CITIES TO COMBAT RISING GUN VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE AND MORE IN A MOMENT.

>> THE COVID SITUATION IS WORSENING WITH LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE THE LOLLAPALOOZA FESTIVAL GETS UNDERWAY IN GRANT PARK.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 8,000 NEW COVID CASES THIS WEEK AND THAT IS UP MORE THAN THREE-FOLD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT A DAILY AVERAGE JUST UNDER 20,000 VACCINES.

THE SEVEN-DAY TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 3.3% AND 58% OF ILLINOIS ADULTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED WITH 73% HAVING AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

>> AN EFFORT TO REVIEW SOME OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL CITY MONUMENTS STALLED ONE YEAR AFTER STATUES OF EXPLORER CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WERE REMOVED INCLUDING IN GRANT PARK.

THE STATUES HAVE BEEN SITTING IN STORAGE AS THE MAYOR VOWED RACIAL HEALING AND HISTORICAL RECKONING PROJECT.

THE COMMISSION FLAGGED 41 MONUMENTS AS QUOTE PROBLEMATIC.

THE CITY WAS SUED TO HAVE THE COLUMBUS STATUE REINSTATED.

>> AND NOW ON TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL.

JOINING US ARE LOURDES DUARTE OF WGNTV NEWS, CRAIG DELLIMORE OF WBBN NEWS RADIO, JOAN ESPOSITO.

>> AND SARAH SCHULTE OF ABC7.

CRAIG DELLIMORE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS IN TOWN SECOND DAY IN CHICAGO IN SUPPORT OF THE ANTIVIOLENCE NEW STRIKE FORCE.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT HE SAID.

>> I'M NOT HERE FROM WASHINGTON TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO I'M HERE FROM WASHINGTON TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU IN COOPERATION WITH THE AGENCIES I'M SEEING AROUND ME ARE THE KEY FOR THIS TO WORK.

>> WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS GUN STRIKE FORCE ANNOUNCED THAN PREVIOUS EFFORTS LIKE OPERATION LEGEND UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

>> OPERATION LEGEND WAS MORE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WAY OF PUTTING BOOTS ON THE GROUND HERE IN MORE OF AN ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY.

THIS STRIKE FORCE THE AIM IS REALLY TO HELP THE FEDS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRACK DOWN WHERE THE GUNS ARE COMING FROM AND TO STOP THEM THAT WAY.

SO IT'S REALLY A DIFFERENT FOCUS.

BUT IT'S STILL PERSONNEL BEING PUT ON THE TASK AND FRANKLY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET MANY DETAILS FROM THEM.

I THINK A LOT OF THAT HE SAID IS GOING TO BE WORKED OUT BY WHAT THE LOCAL U.S. ATTORNEY CAN SAY ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED AND WHAT THE POLICE CAN SAY ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED.

I KNOW IN SOME CASES THERE WILL BE TRAINING EVEN FOR LOCAL POLICE ABOUT SOME OF THE TECHNIQUE FOR TRACKING THE GUNS DOWN.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO BEEF UP THE GUN TRAFFICKING EFFORTS.

JOAN ESPOSITO HAVEN'T THE FEDS BEEN DOING THAT TRYING TO BRING FEDERAL GUN TRAFFICKING CASES?

>> YEAH, EVERYONE'S BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON THIS PROBLEM AND WE HAVE NOT MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

AND I THINK THAT THIS STRIKE FORCE IS A FABULOUS IDEA.

BUT HERE IS WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT: WE'RE ALREADY GETTING REPORTS OF COPS BEING TOLD THEY HAVE TO WORK 12-HOUR SHIFTS.

VACATIONS CANCELED.

IN ONE INSTANCE AN OFFICER WORKED 17 DAYS WITHOUT A DAY OFF.

IF WE ALREADY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO DO THE JOB AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 50 AWAY AND PUT THEM ON A SPECIAL FORCE?

IT IS A GREAT IDEA BUT IS THE CITY GOING TO SUFFER?

>> A LOT OF OFFICERS TALKING ABOUT FATIGUE AND LOW MORALE AS THE MASS SHOOTINGS CONTINUE.

LOURDES DUARTE, DO YOU HAVE ANY FAITH THAT WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S TALKING ABOUT HERE AND SUPERINTENDENT BROWN IS TALKING ABOUT CAN PUT A DENT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS SUMMER AND ALL THIS YEAR?

>> CRAIG BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT THAT WE'VE SEEN OPERATIONS LIKE THIS BEFORE, DIFFERENT TASK FORCES DOING THE SAME THING.

THIS ONE IS GOING TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHERE THE GUNS ARE COMING FROM.

NOT JUST WORK HERE IN CHICAGO BUT ARE THERE NEIGHBORING CITIES OR STATES WHERE THE GUNS ARE BEING TRAFFICKED AND BROUGHT INTO THE CHICAGO AREA.

THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT WHICH IS KEY BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

BUT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE SEEN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS BEFORE AND PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS PUT IN PLACE AND MAYBE THEY INITIALLY WORK AND THEY SEE MAYBE A CHANGE IN NUMBERS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T LAST LONG ENOUGH.

>> THAT'S WHAT ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL BARR SAID WITH OPERATION LEGEND HE TOUTED IMPROVING NUMBERS AND THE NUMBERS WENT BACK UP.

AND LOURDES, NOW THEY WILL HAVE JURISDICTION TO GO TO OTHER STATES OUTSIDE THE CITY TO TRACK THE GUNS WHERE IN THE PAST THEY DIDN'T AS MUCH.

SARAH SCHULTE, LIKE ALL OF US WE'VE HEARD ALL THESE THINGS BEFORE.

DO YOU HEAR ANYTHING DIFFERENT?

>> NO.

I MEAN ON THE OTHER HAND FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE THEY CAN USE ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET EVEN IF IT'S ONE EXTRA A.T.F.

AGENT THAT CAN HELP THE CITY THEY CAN USE ALL THE HELP GIVEN THE FACT DURING FOUR YEARS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALL THEY KEPT GETTING WAS POUNDED BY TRUMP AND NO HELP AT ALL.

I THINK FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE IT AND WELCOME IT.

AM I OPTIMISTIC THIS IS GOING TO MAKE A DENT IN THE CITY'S VIOLENCE?

NO.

I DON'T.

BECAUSE AS WE'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN TRIED AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK.

>> AND CRAIG DELLIMORE THIS WEEK MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND CITY COUNCIL PASSED THE BIG NEW POLICE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.

THIS HAS BEEN DEBATED FOR FOUR YEARS.

IT LOOKED LIKE THE SIDES COULD NOT AGREE ON ANYTHING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OVER THE WEEKEND AGREEMENT EMERGED.

HOW DID THIS COME TOGETHER?

>> IT'S COME TOGETHER IN STAGES.

ORIGINALLY THERE WERE -- FIRST OFF THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AND IT'S CALLED GAPA.

AND THEN THAT WAS A PROPOSAL FOR CIVILIAN INVOLVEMENT.

THEN ANOTHER PROPOSAL CAME ALONG AND THEY WERE COMPETING FOR A WHILE.

WHAT CHANGED THINGS REALLY, WAS THE UNION OF THOSE TWO OPPOSING CITIZENS GROUPS TO SAY WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER AND PLUS THE ELECTION OF A MAYOR WHO SAID SHE WAS FOR CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT.

>> THIS IS THE CORE PART OF HER CAMPAIGN AND SOMETHING SHE RECOMMENDED ON THE POLICE TASK FORCE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COMMUNITY GROUPS WANTED THE POWER TO SET POLICY AND HIRE AND FIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT THEY SORT OF HAVE THAT BUT THE MAYOR RETAINS VETO POWER AND THE MAYOR CAN REJECT SOME OF THE FOLKS SELECTED.

IS ANYBODY SURPRISED AT WHAT THE MAYOR WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE IN HERE?

WHERE THE MAYOR RETAINS ULTIMATE AUTHORITY WITH CITY COUNCIL VETO AS WELL?

>> NO, SHE NEEDED THE VOTES.

AND SHE GOT THE VOTES AND I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE COMPROMISE OF TRYING TO GET THE VOTES.

TO GET THIS PASSED.

>> AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE WAS ARGUING THAT SHE IS THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO WEAR THE RESPONSE -- BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CRIME.

I THINK WHAT WAS THE MOST CONTENTIOUS THING WAS IN THE END, WHO HAS THE FINAL SAY ON POLICY?

AND COULD THE POLICY WAS IMPORTANT AND REALLY IT'S GOING TO BE THAT COMMISSION IN MANY WAYS.

BECAUSE IF THE MAYOR SAYS NO, I DON'T LIKE THE POLICY YOU CAME UP WITH IT GOES TO THE CITY COUNCIL WHICH HAS TO ANSWER TO THE VOTERS AND COULD VOTE A THREE FOURTHS MAJORITY TO ADOPT THE POLICY ANYWAY.

>> AND THERE MIGHT BE RESIDENTS, JOAN, THAT SAY GREAT, NEW BOARD TO OVERSEE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HOW DOES IT MAKE MY STREETS SAFER?

WHAT IS THE ARGUMENT THERE?

>> THE ARGUMENT HAS BEEN A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE SAID FOR A LONGTIME THEY WERE IGNORED THEIR VOICES WERE NOT HEARD.

THEIR COMPLAINTS WERE NOT HEARD.

AND I THINK FOR EXACTLY THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR STREETS BEING SAFER, THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THEM TO HAVE MAYBE NOT AS MUCH POWER AS THEY WOULD HAVE HAD HAD WE GOTTEN GAPA, BUT, THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

THEY HAVE A VOICE.

AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS EVEN IF THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD BY THE MAYOR AS I SAID, THERE IS A MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO REACT, WHO HAVE TO SAY YES, I HEARD YOU THIS IS WHAT I THINK OR THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OR THIS IS WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO.

I THINK THERE SHOULD BE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SEE A CHANGE IMMEDIATELY.

BUT OVER TIME, WHEN THEIR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ACTIVIST LEADERS FEEL THAT THEY ARE BEING HEARD I THINK THAT IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POLICE.

>> AND INTERESTING TO SEE WHO ARE THE VOICES AT THE TABLE, RIGHT?

WILL THOSE PEOPLE DO ENOUGH WORK AND HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO GENERATE CHANGE.

AND WILL THEY REFLECT WHAT THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE ON THEIR BLOCKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS WANT TO SEE.

I THINK IT'S ONE WE HAVE TO WATCH FOR A LITTLE BIT.

>> IT'S WEIRD ABOUT THAT.

THEY SAY THEY ARE ELECTED BUT TWO REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED IN EACH POLICE DISTRICT AND SELECT A COMMISSIONER SUBJECT TO MAYORAL APPROVAL IT IS A HODGEPODGE HERE.

BUT LOURDES ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SOME PRO POLICE ALDERMEN AND THE POLICE UNION WAS ARGUING WAS THAT THERE'S SO MANY LAYERS OF OVERSIGHT THE POLICE BOARD, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ADDING ONE MORE LAYER OF OVERSIGHT HERE IS IT TOTALLY NECESSARY?

>> BUT AT A TIME WHEN YOU ARE SEEING CRIME AT THE LEVELS THAT WE'RE SEEING IT AND PEOPLE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL POWERLESS OFTENTIMES THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO.

THE CONTROL IS OUT OF THEIR HANDS THIS IS ONE FIRST STEP IN GIVING THEM A LITTLE BIT OF POWER SO THEY FEEL MORE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITIES IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> IF I CAN ADD ONE THING, THERE WILL BE THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE REAL INFLUENCE IS GOING TO BE.

BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO MEET WITH THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RAISE THEIR ISSUES AND GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE FRANKLY, THAT IS WHERE THE MOST EFFECT IS GOING TO BE.

>> AND NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT INCREASING TRUST BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS AND THE POLICE OFFICERS IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

AND CRAIG, THE ROLL CALL, THE MAYOR GOT MORE THAN A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY INCLUDING RAY LOPEZ TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS WHO HAS BEEN A HUGE CRITIC.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT HAPPENED?

>> BECAUSE RAY LOPEZ IS ALSO VERY MUCH ANTICRIME, ANTI-GANG.

AND FRANKLY, THIS SERVES HIS COMMUNITY'S INTEREST JUST AS MUCH AS IT DOES ANY OTHER.

AND HE SAID I'M REALLY USUALLY PRO POLICE AND HE SAID I THINK THIS IS PRO POLICE.

AND JUST WATCH, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO RESTORE THE TRUST.

>> WE'LL WATCH AS THE COMMISSION GETS PUT TOGETHER.

AND LET'S MOVE ON.

IN SPITE OF THE SURGE OF THE COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT GOVERNOR GOVERNORJ.B.

PRITZKER GOVERNOR T WILL NOT STOP HIM FROM GOING TO WHAT COULD BE THE SUPER SPREADER OF THE SUMMER.

>> IF YOU ARE VACCINATED IT'S SAFE.

I INTEND TO GOING TO LOLLAPALOOZA I'M BRINGING MY WIFE AND A FEW FRIENDS.

I THINK IT'S OK. AGAIN, PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE WE ARE NOT PAST THIS PANDEMIC.

>> WE'LL SEE IF HE ATTENDS JOURNEY OR LIMP BISCUIT OR WHOEVER HE CHOOSES.

SARAH SCHULTE, I MEAN THE DEBATE IS RAGING NOW.

SHOULD LOLLAPALOOZA GO ON?

IT'S TOO LATE.

THE CITY OFFICIALS ARE NOT GOING TO PULL THE PLUG ARE THEY?

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT.

THE MAYOR MADE THAT CLEAR THIS WEEK.

SHE DID -- SHE INDICATED SHE MADE THE DECISION ABOUT LOLLAPALOOZA IN JUNE WHEN THE METRICS WERE DIFFERENT.

I ASKED IF SHE HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION TODAY, WOULD SHE MAKE THE SAME DECISION AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD.

THEY ARE WORRIED.

I THINK THEY ARE CONCERNED THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

BUT THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ARWADY THEY ARE COUNTING ON THE PROTOCOLS THAT LOLLAPALOOZA IS GOING TO HAVE WHICH IS REQUIRING VACCINATIONS OR NEGATIVE TESTS WITHIN 72 HOURS.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT IS GOING TO WORK BUT THEY ARE HOPING IT IS GOING TO WORK FOR ALL THIS.

BUT, YEAH, LOOK, I THINK THE CITY CAN'T AFFORD IT ECONOMICALLY TO LOSE LOLLAPALOOZA FOR TWO SUMMERS IN A ROW.

>> HOTELS ARE BANKING ON IT AND RESTAURANTS.

>> EXACTLY FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT THEY ARE GOING TO STAND BY THE DECISION AND MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS.

NOW, A LOT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTORS THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST IT BECAUSE THEY DO REITERATE THAT THIS IS AN OUTDOOR EVENT.

SO THE RISK IS LOWER BECAUSE IT IS AN OUTDOOR EVENT.

AND PLUS THE RISK IN CHICAGO IS LOWER BECAUSE OUR NUMBERS ARE NOT AS HIGH AS OTHER STATES.

Dr. ARWADY SAID SHE IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ZIP CODES IN CHICAGO THAN SHE IS ABOUT LOLLAPALOOZA.

>> NOT AS HIGH AS OTHER STATES BUT GOING UP AND IT CAUSED C.P.S.

TO ANNOUNCE THEY WILL REQUIRE MASKS FOR CHILDREN WHEN THEY COME BACK.

LOURDES DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT BEING CONTROVERSIAL AMONG C.P.S.

PARENTS?

IT'S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL EVERYWHERE AND THEY'VE TAKEN IT UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO SETS OF GUIDELINES THE CDC IS SAYING ONE THING AND THE AMERICAN PEDIATRICS ASSOCIATION IS SAYING MASKS FOR EVERYONE WHETHER VACCINATED OR NOT.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT TWO MAJOR AGENCIES GIVING OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE A LITTLE BIT OF ISSUE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, PARENTS WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE SAFE BUT THEY KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN 16 MONTHS A YEAR-AND-A-HALF SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN AT SCHOOL AND PROBABLY IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY GO BACK BECAUSE IT MIGHT CAUSE LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO THEIR KIDS AS THEY MOVE ON IN SCHOOL.

SO WE'LL SEE.

YEAH IT IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE WHEREVER YOU TAKE IT UP IN CHICAGO OR BARRINGTON.

>> MASKS HAVE BEEN CONTROVERSIAL FOR A LONGTIME IN GENERAL.

AND YOU'VE SEEN LOS ANGELES REINSTITUTE MANDATES.

JOAN ESPOSITO SHOULD CHICAGO FOLLOW SUIT WITH AGAIN AS WE MENTIONED CASES UP THREE-FOLD FROM THREE WEEKS AGO?

>> THREE-FOLD BUT THE INFECTION RATE THE POSITIVITY RATE IS ONLY 1.9%.

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN OUTSIDE AND RING THE ALARM BELL.

I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

AND I THINK THAT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER LOLLAPALOOZA WHETHER THAT AFFECTS OUR NUMBERS.

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL YOU CAN DO.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE ARE NOT AS GOOD AS WE WERE BEFORE, BUT WE'RE STILL A LONG WAYS FROM BEING IN BAD SHAPE.

>> AND THERE ARE STATES AND AREAS THAT ARE IN BAD SHAPE RELATIVELY RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL HAVE TO WATCH.

LET'S TALK POLITICS.

CRAIG DELLIMORE, AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SURPRISED NOBODY, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WANTS ANOTHER TERM AND HE RELEASED A VIDEO TOUTING HIS RESPONSE TO COVID.

IS THAT AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT FOR ANOTHER TERM FOR GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HIS LEADERSHIP DURING COVID?

>> I THINK IT IS A PRETTY STRONG ARGUMENT FOR HIM DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT MADE PEOPLE ANGRY HOW MUCH POWER HE TOOK AND HOW LONG HE MAINTAINED THAT SOLE POWER.

BUT, STILL, THE STATE HAS DONE BETTER THAN A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES IN FIGHTING COVID AND HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE DID MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST THINGS TO DO BUT HE DID THEM OPENLY.

HE LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING.

AND I THINK HE'S HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT KIND OF DECISIVENESS AS A PLUS.

AND LET'S FACE IT, THE OTHER THINGS THAT HELP HIM LIKE THE STATE'S CREDIT RATING GOING UP ARE GOING TO SIMPLY ADD TO WHAT IS ALREADY A POSITIVE POPULARITY RATING AMONG THE PUBLIC.

>> BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MASK MANDATES STATE-WIDE IN SCHOOLS OR EVERYBODY YOU KNOW ANYTIME SOON.

>> THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING.

>> A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

>> IT WOULD BE UNPOPULAR DOWN STATE.

LOURDES DUARTE TALKING ABOUT HIS MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19 ONE OF THE AREAS THAT HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

THERE HAVE NOT BEEN A LOT OF ANSWERS OUT OF THAT OFFICE WITH ALL THE FRAUD, FRAUDULENT CLAIMS AND FOLKS THAT CANNOT -- HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS THAT SYSTEM.

DID YOU FIND ANYTHING ELSE OUT?

>> FUNNY THAT YOU MENTION THAT WE WORKED ON A STORY THIS WEEK ON THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR I WOULD SAY A YEAR NOW TO TRY AND GET DOLLAR AMOUNT HOW MUCH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY PAID OUT IN THESE FRAUDULENT CLAIMS THE IDENTITY THEFT CLAIMS THAT SO MANY OF US HAVE BEEN HIT WITH INCLUDING MYSELF HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A NUMBER.

WE KEPT TRYING AND TRYING WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND THE NUMBER THEY GAVE US WAS $4.8 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THE STATE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE TALKED TO ONE EXPERT WHO SAYS THAT IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG JUST THE BEGINNING WE THINK THAT NUMBER WHEN THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE, FRAUD IN ILLINOIS THROUGH IBS WILL HIT A BILLION DOLLARS.

AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT AND PROBABLY THINKING WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

CALIFORNIA THEY WERE THINKING THAT THEIR NUMBER IS GOING TO BE AT $11 BILLION.

SO THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA HOW WIDESPREAD THIS ISSUE IS.

WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE 14.8 MILLION THEY SAID WELL THAT IS JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE WERE COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT AND STILL WORKING IT DOESN'T INCLUDE PEOPLE HIT WITH IDENTITY THEFT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR.

>> AND IT ISN'T JUST A QUESTION OF FRAUD, I GET INUNDATED AND I KNOW MY FRIEND TERRY SAVAGE THROUGH HER HELP LINE IS INUNDATED WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO NEEDED UNEMPLOYMENT AND COULDN'T GET, LEGITIMATELY WERE ENTITLED TO IT AND THEY GAVE UP.

THE STORIES ARE HEARTBREAKING.

I'M SURPRISED THEY ANSWERED YOU BECAUSE AS I CAN TELL THEY DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE.

>> THERE IS AN ACTING DIRECTOR AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANSWERS.

IS THIS BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WAS OVERWHELMED?

IT WASN'T PREPARED FOR THIS VOLUME OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS?

>> AND WHAT THEY WILL SAY YES, THE VOLUME OBVIOUSLY HIT THEM AT A TIME WHEN I DON'T THINK ANY STATE WAS PREPARED IT'S NOT JUST ILLINOIS WHO WOULD HAVE EXPECTED A PANDEMIC WOULD LEAVE SO MANY PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED.

THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FRAUD IS.

MEANING WHERE THE DOLLARS WERE LOST FROM WHICH FEDERAL PROGRAM.

SO THERE'S SO MANY FEDERAL PROGRAMS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING HELP THEY ARE TRYING TO QUANTIFY WHAT THE DOLLARS ARE AND WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE.

THEY KEEP WORKING ON THE SYSTEM AND IMPLEMENTING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN BUT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE SOLID THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, THIS IS HOW IT'S WORKING AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS THERE.

AS PRITZKER SEEKS REELECTION.

AND SARAH SCHULTE ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND NOTABLE, I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM AND HE CHOSE TO FOCUS ON HIS PLANS FOR THE SECOND TERM FOR FREE COLLEGE TUITION FOR ANYBODY EARNING THE MEDIAN INCOME, EXPANDED HEALTHCARE AND EXPANDED CHILDCARE AND THIS SEEMS TO ECHO THE MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN DO YOU THIS THIS IS A WINNING MESSAGE GIVEN THAT WE LIVE IN ILLINOIS AND EVERY RESIDENT KNOWS THE STATE IS NOT IN THE BEST FISCAL CONDITION?

>> WELL, I THINK BUT THAT HE HAS TO STAY ON MESSAGE AND WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

SO I THINK THAT -- WE'LL SEE IF IT IS A WINNING MESSAGE IN ILLINOIS.

THOSE ARE ALSO ISSUES THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AND YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE FREE TUITION PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WAKE UP TO THAT.

SO YEAH, I MEAN I THINK THAT -- I THINK THOSE ARE WINNING ISSUES IF WE CAN GET THROUGH COVID.

BUT IF COVID IS STILL HERE AND NUMBERS ARE GOING UP THAT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT HE IS TRYING TO DO ON THOSE ISSUES.

>> YEAH, THE POLITICS COULD BE COMPLICATED.

LET'S BROADEN OUT TO NATIONAL POLITICS.

JOAN ESPOSITO WE SAW THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY PULL ALL PICKS FOR THE JANUARY 6 COMMISSION AFTER HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI REJECTED TWO OF THEM AND NOW THERE'S TALK THAT ADAM KINZINGER WHO IS HARSHLY CRITICAL OF TRUMP MIGHT BE PLACED ON THAT PANEL.

SHOULD THE SPEAKER PLACE HIM ON THE PANEL?

>> I THINK SHE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD.

YES HE IS NOT A DEMOCRAT.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD CONFUSE HIM FOR A DEMOCRAT.

BUT HE IS A MAN OF PRINCIPLE AND HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THE BIG LIE.

HE IS NOT GOING TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE AND TRY TO MAKE SOUNDBYTES OR TURN IT INTO A CLOWN PERFORMANCE THE WAY JIM JORDAN WOULD HAVE.

I THINK THAT SHE WOULD BE SMART TO ADD HIM TO THE COMMITTEE AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS HE WANTS TO BE ON IT.

AND I THINK LIZ CHENEY IS NEGOTIATING ON HIS BEHALF.

>> AND WOULD GIVE IT THAT APPEARANCE OF A BIPARTISAN OUTCOME WHATEVER THEY WERE TO FIND.

CRAIG DELLIMORE, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT KINZINGER WILL BE PLACED ON THAT COMMITTEE?

>> I THINK THE ODDS ARE STRONG THAT HE WILL BE.

HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES, DEMOCRATS, MAYBE FROM ILLINOIS, WHO MIGHT BE WHISPERING IN THE EARS OF PEOPLE AT THE WHITE HOUSE LISTEN, THIS GUY COULD BE A CONTENDER ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE LEDGER IN THE NEXT GOVERNOR'S RACE.

SO THEY MAY NOT BE ANXIOUS TO SEE HIM HAVE THAT PLATFORM.

BUT IT MAY BE A HARD OFFER NOT TO ACCEPT.

>> AND YOU SAY THAT AS THE DEMOCRATS IN ILLINOIS MIGHT DRAW HIS DISTRICT HIM OUT OF HIS DISTRICT.

BUT YOU WANTED TO JUMP IN?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY KINZINGER HAS HIS OWN PLATFORM.

WITHOUT THAT COMMITTEE HE IS KIND OF MADE HIMSELF A NATIONAL FIGURE.

SO I'M NOT SURE PUTTING HIM AND 0 THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO REALLY GIVE HIM MORE LIMELIGHT THAN HE ALREADY HAS.

>> THERE'S 35 MILLION HEADSTART IN FUNDRAISING THAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER HAS.

DO YOU SEE THE GOVERNOR SPENDING $170 MILLION LIKE HE DID THREE YEARS AGO?

>> IF THERE IS A FORMIDABLE CONTENDER AGAINST HIM, I SUSPECT THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEND THAT MUCH.

BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT FIELD EVEN THE REPUBLICAN FIELD SHAKES OUT.

BECAUSE HE'S GOT THE MONEY.

>> THE THREE FOLKS IN THE REPUBLICAN SIDE PROBABLY WILL NOT SPEND THAT COLLECTIVELY.

BUT PRITZKER WENT UP AGAINST RAUNER A ILLINOISIAN WITH DEEP POCKETS.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

OUR THANKS TO LOURDES DUARTE, CRAIG DELLIMORE, JOAN ESPOSITO AND SARAH SCHULTE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

NOW FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND COOL THIS WEEKEND!

AND WE'LL SEE YOU MONDAY!

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