[♪♪♪] >> 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 JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> CHICAGOANS WILL GET TO WEIGH-IN AND LEARN MORE ABOUT NEW WARD MAP PROPOSALS NEXT WEEK.

THE CITY COUNCIL'S RULES COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED TWO VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE NEWLY RELEASED PROPOSED MAP FAVORED BY THE COUNCIL'S BLACK CAUCUS THEY WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT TUESDAY AT 3:00 P.M. AND FRIDAY AT 1:00 P.M. AND THEY WILL BE VIRTUAL.

THE CITY COUNCIL'S LATINO CAUCUS FILED FOR ITS PROPOSED MAP TO BE PLACED ON NEXT JUNE'S PRIMARY BALLOT AS A PUBLIC REFERENDUM.

WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE IN JUST A BIT.

>> A SURPRISE HOSPITAL VISIT TODAY FROM A HUSBAND AND WIFE BEARING GIFTS.

FORMER AND FORMER FIRST LADY BARACK OBAMA AND MICHELLE OBAMA SURPRISED PATIENTS GIVING OUT GIFTS AND CHATTING WITH THE RESIDENTS.

THE TWO ALSO MET WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT ANTIVIOLENCE INITIATIVES AND TOURED THE TRAUMA CENTER AT YESTERDAY'S VISIT TO A SOUTH SIDE YMCA.

>> THE CHICAGO BEARS MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION LEAVING THE CITY FOR AIRING TON HEIGHTS, UNITED AIRLINE ALSO MOVE 900 WORKERS FROM THE WILLIS TOWER TO A FACILITY NEXT SPRING.

THE NEW FACILITY IS REPORTED TO BECOME UNITED'S PRIMARY OPERATIONS CENTER AND WILL MAINTAIN SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT THE WILLIS TOWER.

TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL JOINING US ARE CRAIG DELLIMORE OF BIOETHICIST.

WBBM NEWSRADIO.

AND GREG PRATT OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" AND MIKE LOWE AND LYNN SWEET OF THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES.

HERE IS WHAT THE LATINO CAUCUS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE BLACK CAUCUSES WARD MAP.

>> THIS WOULD BE A JOKE.

IF IT WASN'T JUST AN INCREDIBLE FAILURE AND BREACH OF TRUST.

>> CRAIG DELLIMORE TO THE CHICAGOAN THAT SAYS OF ALL THE THINGS I NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHY AM I HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT MAPS, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WHO REPRESENTS YOU AND WHY THEY REPRESENT YOU IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THINGS IN CHICAGO AND ANY DEMOCRACY.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO MAP IT OUT BY RACE AND CUTTING OUT THEIR ENEMIES.

>> AND THAT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE REPRESENTED IN SOME OF THE PROPOSALS.

CRAIG DELLIMORE THE TUSSLE HAS BEEN BETWEEN THE BLACK AND LATINO CAUCUS.

IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT THEY ARE MOVING TOWARD A COMPROMISE?

>> NOT REALLY.

THE CLOSEST THEY HAVE COME IS THAT THE BLACK CAUCUS HAD BEEN TRYING TO STICK WITH HAVING THE 18 MEMBERS IT APPARENTLY HAS AND THE 18 WARDS THAT ARE MAJORITY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WARDS.

HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN HUGE POPULATION LOSSES IN THOSE WARDS.

AND THEY HAVE SEEMEDDED TO SETTLE IN THAT MAYBE IT WILL BE 17, CERTAINLY IT IS UNDER THE MAP THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE: THE REAL PROBLEM IS WITH THE HISPANIC CAUCUS, THE LATINO CAUCUS.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 13 LATINO WARDS.

THEY SAY IT SHOULD GO TO 15 BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN POPULATION AMONG THOSE WARDS.

>> RIGHT, REFLECTING THE POPULATION GAINS.

AND LYNN SWEET THERE WAS A LOT OF CROWING IN CHICAGO ABOUT THE DECEMBER FIRST DEADLINE FOR CITY COUNCIL TO GET 41 VOTES TO APPROVE ANY MAP BEFORE A REFERENDUM AND THEN THE DEADLINE COMES AND GOES.

AND THEY STILL HAVE TIME OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO FIGURE THIS OUT AMONGST THEMSELVES.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, LET'S THESE PEOPLE DECEMBER 1 DEADLINE WAS PHONY IT WAS SELF IMPOSED THEY NOW NEED 41 VOTES TO AVOID A REFERENDUM.

THIS IS SIMPLE ARITHMETIC.

AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE THINK OF THIS AND FRAME IT, THE REFERENDUM IS THE WORST OUTCOME FOR EVERY MEMBER OF COUNCIL EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL.

BECAUSE THEN IT'S OUT OF YOUR HANDS.

THIS IS GOING TO GO TO A DEAL.

THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS DRAMATIC AND THE ALDERMEN ARE CRYING FAIR OR NOT FAIR, THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT GET TOGETHER ARE COALITION FOR A MAP THAT GETS 41 VOTES IT'S SETTLED.

BECAUSE NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF A BLACK MAP AND A LATINO MAP ONE THING WE SHOULD POINT OUT EVERY MAP FOR THE FIRST TIME PUTS CHINATOWN IN ONE PLACE THAT WILL PROBABLY PRODUCE AN ASIAN-AMERICAN MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

LET'S KEEP THIS SIMPLE.

IT IS JUST A MATTER OF FINDING 41 ALDERMEN WHO CAN HAVE AGREEMENT.

THEY WILL MAKE DEALS AND THIS IS A LOT OF PUBLICITY BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.

MAYBE NOT YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE PEOPLE THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE.

ONE QUICK THING THIS RULES COMMITTEE HAS TO PUT THE MAP ON-LINE AND MAKE IT SO PEOPLE CAN ENLARGE IT AND LOOK AT IT IT CAN BE DONE AND THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID IT AND YOU CAN FIND OUT WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS.

IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THAT PROPOSED MAP IS NOT ON-LINE.

>> AND ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PROPOSED MAP FAVORED BY THE BLACK CAUCUS UPLOADED IN THE PDF AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO READ.

I THINK OTHER FOLKS TRIED TO -- >> EVERYONE WHO IS LISTENING IN CITY COUNCIL, FINDS THIS AS ABHORRENT AS IT IS, PUT THE MAP ON-LINE.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT CALL DAN HARMON OR CHRIS WELCH THEY CAN DO IT.

>> THERE ARE SOME OBSERVERS THAT TRIED TO TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO MAKE IT CLEAR.

MIKE LOWE, THE RULES COMMITTEE BROUGHT IN AN INTERESTING PERSON TO SORT OF LEAD THIS MAP DRAWING FOR THE MAP FAVORED BY THE BLACK CAUCUS AND THAT IS MIKE CASPAR THE LONG TIME COUNSEL FOR HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE MADIGAN.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WENT THAT ROUTE?

>> I THINK IT'S UNCLEAR ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THAT JUST CASTS THE MADIGAN STINK IF YOU WILL ON THE PROCESS.

AND TO LYNN'S POINT ABOUT THE ARTIFICIAL DEADLINES THE MAYOR HERSELF WAS OUT OF TOWN ON THE DAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON THIS.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE LIKE LYNN SAID, IS SOME COMPROMISE HAMMERED OUT IN THE BACK ROOMS AND MAYBE CASPAR CAN DO THAT.

>> THERE'S MARTY QUINN MADIGAN'S PROPERTY JAY AND -- PROTEGE.

AND ED BURKE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HIS WARD IS SAFE SHOULD HE RUN FOR REELECTION.

THEREBY THINGS THAT PUNISH POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS TO INCUMBENTS.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE?

>> WELL, IN THE 50TH WARD, DEB SILVERSTEIN'S WARD IS DRAWN WHERE HALEY IS NOT IN THE WARD.

IN BURKE'S WARD -- >> SOMEONE TALKED ABOUT CHALLENGING SILVERSTEIN?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE ARE SIMILAR STORIES IN JIM GARDINER'S WARD AND THE 14TH WARD AT BURKE'S WARD AND THE 43rd WARD SMITH'S WARD AND EVERYBODY SAYS THAT NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND SOMETIMES IT IS AND SOMETIMES IT ISN'T.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

>> AND GILBERT VILLEGAS THE LATINO CAUCUS CHAIR FEELS THAT HIS WARD WAS STRETCHED OUT INTO AREAS HERETOFORE UNKNOWN TO PUNISH HIM FOR CHALLENGING THE BLACK CAUCUS' MAP.

>> IT'S 41.

THE PEOPLE WHO YOU DESCRIBED IN THOSE WARDS, PERHAPS THE WHITE MAJORITY WARDS THEY NOW HAVE ENORMOUS LEVERAGE IN THE PROCESS THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A SHORT TIME AGO.

BECAUSE THEY COULD BE A BLOCK MOVE A LINE A FEW BLOCKS HERE GIVE ME THIS, GIVE ME THAT.

JUST KEEP THINKING 41 AND ANOTHER THIRD BLOCK GETS TOGETHER, THEN THEY HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THE DEAL.

>> YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT.

SOME OF THOSE WHITE ALDERMEN OR OTHER ALDERMEN THEY HAVE LEVERAGE NOW BECAUSE NONE OF THE GROUPS LATINO OR BLACK HAVE 41 VOTES.

I WANT TO OWN R MENTION -- >> REMEMBER THERE IS ANOTHER MAP.

>> THE PEOPLE'S MAP.

>> IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION.

EVERYBODY COULD HAVE A MAP.

IF THEY PUT THIS STUFF ON-LINE, MANY PEOPLE CAN SUBMIT MAPS AS THEY DID IN THE STATE.

OK.

SO THIS IS AS A PUBLIC INTEREST GROUP PUT IT ON-LINE AND LET EVERYBODY DRAW A MAP THEY DID THIS IN THE STATE IN THE END I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH, THERE WILL BE A THIRD BLOCK EMERGING THAT WILL SWING BACK AND FORTH TO SEE WHAT MAP CAN HELP THEM THE MOST AND THE DEAL WILL BE MADE.

>> CRAIG DELLIMORE THERE'S ONE ALDERMAN 11TH PATRICK DALEY THOMPSON UNDER INDICTMENT THE 11TH WARD IS WHERE A PROPOSED MAJORITY ASIAN-AMERICAN WARD AND HE PUT OUT A LETTER SAYING THAT WOULD BE RACIST?

>> HE WAS SAYING HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO REPRESENT A DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND SHOULD BE APPRECIATED FOR THAT AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE -- ALTHOUGH HE DID WALK IT BACK A LITTLE BIT AND SAY HE WAS NOT SAYING THAT HE THOUGHT A 49% ASIAN WARD WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHINATOWN BECAUSE THEY FRANKLY SAID QUICKLY OH, NO, IT'S NOT.

BUT AS ALDERMAN UNDER INDICTMENT, HE IS BEING, I THINK, LOOKED OVER AS SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN SHOVE ASIDE AND IS CARRIE AUSTIN WHO IS ALSO UNDER INDICTMENT AND AGREED TO NOT -- DECIDED SHE WILL NOT RUN AGAIN RATHER THAN BE IN A WARD THAT HAS BEEN DILUTED.

>> LONG TIME 34TH WARD CARRIE AUSTIN.

AND THAT WARD IS MOVING FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO THE NEAR WEST SIDE.

MIKE LOWE, THE MAYOR ON THIS PROGRAM AND OTHERS SAID SHE HAD SUPPORTED AN INDEPENDENT PROCESS FOR DRAWING THE MAP.

AND THAT IS NOT WHAT IT HAPPENING.

DOES SHE DESERVE SCRUTINY FOR GOING BACK ON THAT PROMISE IF?

>> INDEED, ANYTIME A PUBLIC OFFICIAL MAKES A PROMISE LIKE THAT AND WE HAVE THE MESS AND ALL THE PLANS OUT THERE WITHOUT ANY INDEPENDENT PLAN, CERTAINLY SHE DESERVES SOME CRITICISM FOR THE WAY THIS IS GOING RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT'S EARLY AND I THINK WE'LL GET TO A POINT WHERE WE REACH SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE AGREEMENT AND NOBODY WILL BE HAPPY.

>> THE MAYOR'S GOTTEN GRIEF FOR BEING IN WASHINGTON D.C. WHERE YOU ARE INSTEAD OF PRESIDING OVER THIS DECEMBER FIRST SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE THE MAPS WERE TAKEN UP.

WAS THAT A PRODUCTIVE TRIP OUT THERE FOR HER?

>> THE QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS DURING A 53-MINUTE PLUS EPIC ZOOM SESSION.

GREG WAS ON IT, CRAIG WAS ON IT.

SO THIS TRIP TOOK WEEKS AND WEEKS TO PLAN.

SHE HAD MEETINGS AT THE WHITE HOUSE JUST PUTTING TOGETHER A DELEGATION DINNER.

IT IS RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT SHE KNEW IN ADVANCE THAT WEDNESDAY WOULD BE THE DAY THAT ANOTHER MAP WOULD BE PROPOSED.

I THINK PULL UP THE MICROSCOPE A LITTLE BIT.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING SHE COULD HAVE DONE THAT SHE COULDN'T HAVE DONE BY PHONE OR ZOOM.

WHEN YOU ASK IS IT PRODUCTIVE?

THERE IS SO MUCH MONEY COMING TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND OTHER AGENCIES, OTHER UNITS OF GOVERNMENTS THE MORE SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE IN'S AND OUT'S OF GETTING THE MONEY SHE MET WITH THE TOP PEOPLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT ARE STILL FORMING THE RULES.

WE WRITE THAT A BILLION PLUS IS COMING TO ILLINOIS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU JUST GET A CHECK AND THAT'S IT.

SOME IS FORMULA AND SOME IS DISCRETIONARY.

WE AS THE CITY OF CHICAGO AS AN OFFICE HERE THE BRANCH OF CITY HALL THE WOMAN WHO RUNS THE CITY OF CHICAGO AFTER OFFICE WAS WITH THE MAYOR.

I FOLLOWED THEM AROUND YESTERDAY AND SHE MET WITH HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI.

AND SHE DID HAVE TWO FUNDRAISERS WHILE HERE SPEAKING OF MONEY.

>> SHE HAS LEVERAGE FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO AS THESE RULES ARE BEING WRITTEN AROUND THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WILL BE COMING TO THE CITY IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

CRAIG DELLIMORE THIS WEEK, THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED SHE IS THROWNING THE -- DROPPING THE LAWSUIT AGAINST FOP AND JOHN CATANZARA WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

WHY THAT MOVE?

>> SHE SAYS THAT IT'S BECAUSE SO MANY POLICE ARE OBEYING THE MANDATE THAT IT SHOWS THAT ALTHOUGH CATANZARA HAS BEEN PUBLICLY URGING HIS MEMBERS TO DEFY THE LAW, THAT THEY ARE IGNORING HIM.

CATANZARA HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HOW MANY OF HIS MEMBERS ARE OBEYING THE LAW.

AND SAYING THAT IT'S ONLY BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS THREATENED THEIR JOBS WHICH FRANKLY THAT WAS THE POINT OF THE MANDATE.

BUT NEVERTHELESS SHE IS SAYING IT'S BECAUSE HE IS BEING IGNORED AND THE LAWSUIT FILED BY THE FOP THAT IS A COUNTER LAWSUIT IS STILL IN EFFECT.

>> DPREG GREG CATANZARA AND >> CATANZARA AND THE FOP GOT A FAVORABLE RULING FROM LABOR BOARD.

>> IT'S POSITIVE BUT NOT THE END.

THE LABOR BOARD AGREED THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO HEAR THE COMPLIANT THAT THE CITY HAS A DUTY TO BARGAIN WITH THEM OVER THE VACCINE MANDATE.

THE CITY HAD NOT LOST THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD THING FOR THE CITY EITHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AND THE LABOR BOARD DOES NOT BRING PEOPLE IN WILLY-NILLY.

ONLY WHEN THEY THINK THERE'S SUFFICIENT TO SHOW.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER NEXT STEP IN THE LONG WINDING SAGA OF DAYS OF OUR VACCINE LIVES.

>> DAYS OF OUR VACCINE MANDATE LIVES.

ANOTHER SAGA HERE THAT IS FIT FOR A SOAP OPERA IS THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT TRIAL.

THE DEFENSE STARTED MAKE ITS CASE.

MIKE LOWE SET THE SCENE INSIDE THE COOK COUNTY COURTROOM FOR US.

>> THE FIRST QUESTION MOST PEOPLE HAVE IS THIS STILL GOING ON?

AND OF COURSE EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WAS OVER AND THEN THE PANDEMIC DELAY.

WE HAD THE LOOKING BACK INTO THE CHARGES BY SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DAN WEB AND JUSSIE SMOLLETT HAS BEEN REINDICTED ON SIX COUNTS OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT FOR LYING TO POLICE ON POLICE REPORTS MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS.

WE THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A CIRCUS ATMOSPHERE LIKE WHAT WE SAW IN KENOSHA WHERE THERE WERE PROTESTORS OUTSIDE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

AND THAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN THE CASE AT THE COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT BUILDING.

IT'S QUIET OUTSIDE.

JUSSIE SMOLLETT HAS BEEN SHOWING UP WITH HIS ENTOURAGE OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND LAWYERS.

AND THE PROSECUTION OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR DAYS MADE A METHODICAL CASE SHOWING VIDEO EVIDENCE, TALKING TO BOTH OF THE BODY BUILDING BROTHERS THE OSUNDAIRO BROTHERS WHO THEY CLAIM THAT SMOLLETT ENLISTED THEIR HELP IN CREATING THIS AND ORCHESTRATING WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED A HOAX HATE CRIME ATTACK.

AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS OF TENSION AND DRAMA BECAUSE THE JUDGE JAMES LYNN HAS KIND OF PUSHED TO GET THIS DONE QUICKLY.

HE HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WANTS IT TO BE A SPEEDY TRIAL AND EFFICIENT TRIAL AND HAVING THE JURY SIT AND HOLD COURT FOR 12-13 HOUR DAYS.

TODAY HE DECIDE TO GIVE THEM THE DAY OFF AND RESUME MONDAY.

AND THE QUESTION IS WILL SMOLLETT TAKE THE WITNESS STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

>> YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULD HAVE TO.

BUT THE OSUNDAIRO BROTHERS AND FRIENDS OF SMOLLETT, THEIR TESTIMONY IS PART OF THE EVIDENCE THAT THIS, INDEED, WAS AN ALLEGED STAGED HATE CRIME.

HOW COMPELLING WAS THEIR TESTIMONY ON THE STAND?

>> IT WAS VERY COMPELLING AND CONVINCING THE EXACT -- SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER R POLICE DETECTIVES WERE ALSO WITNESSES IN THIS CASE.

I THINK THERE WERE 26 TOTAL OFFICERS WHO INVESTIGATED.

AND FOUR OF THEM WENT TO THE WITNESS STAND TO TESTIFY THAT WHAT THE OSUNDAIRO BROTHERS TOLD THEM CHECKED OUT.

AND THEN THE JURY SAW FRAME-BY-FRAME VIDEO EVIDENCE OF FOR EXAMPLE, JUSSIE SMOLLETT'S CAR DRIVING AROUND ASHLAND AND IRVING PARK AT THE TIME THE BROTHERS SAID IT DID.

THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE MEETING WITH HIM.

THAT HE GAVE THEM A $100 BILLION AND WENT TO THE CRAFTY BEAVER TO BUY THE SUPPLIES INCLUDING A RED HAT TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND TOLD THEM THE THINGS TO SAY THAT HE THOUGHT WOULD GET MEDIA ATTENTION AND IT DID.

>> THIS MOUNTING MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE AND THAT TESTIMONY, THE POLICE OFFICERS TELL US IN SHORT WHAT THE SMOLLETT VERSION OF THIS STORY IS?

>> SO JUSSIE SMOLLETT'S DEFENSE IS THAT THIS WAS A REAL CRIME.

AND THAT HE IS A REAL VICTIM.

IN OTHER WORDS THAT THE OSUNDAIRO BROTHERS DID ATTACK HIM.

IS WHAT HE IS CLAIMING SAYING IT WAS A HATE CRIME BECAUSE THEY WERE HOMOPHOBIC AND THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE SHARED TEXT MESSAGES, SAYING INSENSITIVE THINGS ABOUT GAY PEOPLE IN THE PAST.

BUT THERE'S ALSO AMPLE EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE NOT HOMOPHOBIC PRESENTED BY THE PROSECUTION BOTH PARTICIPATED IN THE GAY PRIDE PARADE IN CHICAGO IN 2015 AND WORKED AS BOUNCERS AT BOYSTOWNS BARS AND WENT TO THE FAMOUS BATH HOUSE ON HALSTED STREET STEAM WORKS A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH JUSSIE SMOLLETT.

THAT DOESN'T PAINT A PICTURE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMOPHOBIC EVEN IF THEY MAY HAVE USED INSENSITIVE LANGUAGE IN TEXT MESSAGES FROM YEARS AGO.

THAT IS THE DEFENSE THIS IS A REAL CRIME AND SMOLLETT IS A REAL VICTIM.

>> AND IT WAS THE OSUNDAIRO BROTHERS IN HIS EYES THAT PERPETRATED THIS.

AND WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT HE SAYS IF HE TAKES THE STAND.

ISN'T A SPEEDY TRIAL OR PERHAPS AS SPEEDY AS THE JUDGE WANTED.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE SPIKE IN COVID CASES WE'VE SEEN THIS WEEK.

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER Dr. ALLISON ARWADY WAS ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LAST NIGHT, SHE TALKED ABOUT THIS SPIKE TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE COMBINATION OF INCREASE IN CASES AND INCREASE IN POSITIVITY TELLS US THIS IS NOT JUST AN ARTIFACT RELATED TO TESTING OVER THANKSGIVING.

THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY A SURGE.

>> GREG PRATT THE DOCTOR SAID THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE ANY NEW MITT GATIONS OR -- MITIGATIONS OR SHUTDOWNS LIKE THAT.

DO YOU THINK THAT THAT COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE LIKE A MANDATING VACCINES TO GO TO RESTAURANTS OR BARS OR CLUBS LIKE NEW YORK HAS DONE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, NATIONALLY WITH THE PREVALENCE OF THE VACCINE WHERE IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED IT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE.

PUBLIC POLICYMAKERS EVERYWHERE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYMORE RESTRICTIONS AND IN CHICAGO THEY DON'T WANT TO DO MANDATES LIKE FORCING RESTAURANTS TO DO THAT.

THEY WANT THEM TO DO IT BY THEMSELVES N CHICAGO, WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT MORE OR LESS THE STATUS QUO FOR A WHILE UNTIL AND UNLESS HOSPITALS START GETTING OVERWHELMED.

AND IT IS A REALLY CHALLENGING PUBLIC POLICY QUESTION TO BALANCE FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE VACCINE WHICH MAKES A DIFFERENCE BOTH IN TERMS OF SPREAD AND IN TERMS HOW SICK YOU GET.

>> ON A NATIONAL LEVEL PRESIDENT BIDEN IS TRYING TO LAYOUT A WINTER STRATEGY WHICH INCLUDES FREE ACCESS TO AT HOME COVID TESTS.

TELL US HOW NECESSARY THOSE ARE?

>> WELL, IT'S ONE OF THE PILLARS OF WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE EMERGENCE AND HAVE INSURERS PAY FOR THE TESTS.

IT'S ONE THING I DON'T THINK HOME TEST AGO LOAN WILL TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THERE IS A MEDICAL PANDEMIC PROBLEM HERE AND ALSO IT IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR WHETHER OR NOT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN WHICH CAME TO POWER SAYING THEY KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THIS PANDEMIC, AND NOW WE HAVE THIS NEW VARIANT ON THE SCENE.

SO THE HOME TESTING I THINK IS ONE, NOT THE MOST, IMPORTANT COMPONENT HERE.

JUST TWO DAYS AGO WE HAD THE FIRST CASE ONLY IN CALIFORNIA AND NOW WE ALREADY HAVE THE SPREAD.

SO THE CHALLENGE HERE IS POLITICAL AND COMMUNICATING AND MAYBE CONVINCING MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE AND THEN YOU HAVE THE COMPLICATING FACTOR OF OF COURSE, GETTING PEOPLE ON THE BOOSTER.

RIGHT NOW TOO SOON SO SAY IF THE BIDEN WINTER COVID PLAN WILL HELP HIM POLITICALLY AND HELP MOST IMPORTANT MUTE THE RISE AND THE SPREAD OF THIS VARIANT.

>> COVID MITIGATIONS AND VACCINATIONS HAVE BECOME TOTALLY POLITICAL MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

CRAIG DELLIMORE WHAT ABOUT CHICAGO PUBLIC OFFICIALS?

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING OUT WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT NOW THERE ARE REPORTS OF FOLKS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE CAUGHT THAT VARIANT?

>> WELL, THE MAYOR HAS SAID AND Dr. ARWADY THAT THEY ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR IT AND THEY EXPECT IT TO BE HERE AND IT MAY ALREADY BE HERE AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET.

BUT NO ONE IS PREDICTING THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE ANYMORE MITIGATIONS.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT THERE IS ALREADY AN INDOOR MASK MANDATE IN PLACE STATE-WIDE AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER HAS SAID SINCE THE STATE ONE DAY I BELIEVE IT WAS WEDNESDAY HAD 11,000 NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN THE STATE.

>> THAT IS THE MOST -- THE LAST TIME IT HAD THAT MUCH OR MORE THERE WERE NO VACCINES.

>> AND SERVICE OF IT WAS ONLY 6,000 THE DAY BEFORE.

SOMETHING SERIOUS IS GOING ON.

DON'T EXPECT THE MASK MANDATE TO GO ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON.

>> WHAT ABOUT HOLIDAY PLANS?

ARE PUBLIC OFFICIALS GOING TO RECOMMEND NOT GATHERING OR NOT TRAVELING?

>> THEY HAVE NOT DONE IT YET.

BUT WHAT THEY KEEP SAYING IS EXERCISE CAUTION, DO THE THINGS THAT WE WERE DOING BEFORE THE VACCINE.

AND JUST DO THEM AGAIN TO KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM GETTING SICK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LYNN, I WANT TO GO BACK TO NATIONAL NEWS.

THE SUPREME COURT HEARD THE MISSISSIPPI ABORTION CASE IN WHICH JUSTICES HINTED THAT THEY MIGHT OVERTURN ROE V. WADE ENTIRELY.

ILLINOIS HAS ABORTION PROTECTIONS ON THE BOOKS.

ARE THOSE CERTAIN TO STAY AROUND SHOULD THE COURT, INDEED, OVERTURN ROE V. WADE?

>> YES.

BECAUSE ILLINOIS IS RUN BY DEMOCRATS AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GOVERNOR.

ONE BYPRODUCT OF THAT TEXAS CRAFT ON ABORTION AND WHAT EVERYONE KNEW WAS THIS SUPREME COURT CASE IS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A REPEAL OF THE PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LAW IN ILLINOIS WHICH THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT HE WOULD SIGN IT.

ILLINOIS IS BRACED TO BECOME ONE OF THE STATE'S HAVEN STATES WHERE YOU CAN HAVE WITH CERTAINTY IN THE COMING YEARS KNOW THAT ABORTION WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE NO MATTER WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAYS AND GIVEN THE ARGUMENTS IT LOOKS LIKE A 6-3 DECISION TO ERODE EXISTING ABORTION RIGHTS IT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

>> WE DID HAVE SOMEONE FROM AN ANTIABORTION GROUP SAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP THEY WANT TO COME AFTER STATES THAT STILL HAVE ABORTION LAWS ON THE BOOKS.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

OUR THANKS TO LYNN SWEET, CRAIG DELLIMORE, GREG PRATT AND MIKE LOWE.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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