EQUITY ISN'T JUST PART OF OUR COVID-19 STRATEGY.

EQUITY IS OUR COVID-19 STRATEGY.

THAT'S WHY AS SOON AS WE SAW THESE NUMBERS WE DOUBLED DOWN EVEN HARDER ON OUR EFFORTS TO DRIVE THESE LIFE-SAVING VACCINES INTO COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THEM MOST.

>> AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE STORY LATER ON THE PROGRAM.

STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 2200 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 IN THE LAST 24 HOURS AND 63 ADDITIONAL DEATHS THAT MAKES FOR A STATE-WIDE TOTAL OF 1.17 MILLION CASES AND 21,192 DEATHS.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS 3.3%.

>> A COOK COUNTY JUDGE TOSSES 9 MORE CONVICTIONS RELATED TO DISGRACED FORMER C.P.D.

SERGEANT RONALD WATTS.

THE DISMISSALS CAME IN A ZOOM COURT HEARING TODAY.

THEY LOST CONFIDENCE IN EVIDENCE PRESENTED MOST OF THEM DRUG OFFENSES.

WATTS WAS FEDERALLY INDICTED IN 2012 AND FOUND TO HAVE RUN A PROTECTION RACKET FOR A DECADE PLANTING AND FABRICATING EVIDENCE AGAINST INNOCENT PEOPLE WHILE FACILITATING THEIR OWN GUN AND DRUG TRADE AND 100 CONVICTIONS TIED TO WAFTS HAVE BEEN THROWN OUT.

AND JOINING US ARE MIKE PUENTE OF WBEZ.

TONYA FRANCISCO OF WGNTV NEWS.

DANA KOZLOV OF CBS2 NEWS AND DEAN REYNOLDS A VETERAN NATIONAL NEWS REPORTER BASED IN CHICAGO.

DANA KOZLOV I WILL START WITH YOU, MICHAEL MADIGAN LOST HIS SPEAKERSHIP EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND ANNOUNCES HIS DECISION TO RESIGN DID THAT COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

MAYBE A FEW PEOPLE BUT SINCE THE DAY HE WITHDREW HIS CANDIDACY TO BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, FOLKS I SPOKE WITH SAID IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME THERE IS NO WAY MICHAEL MADIGAN WHO HAS HAD 36 YEARS AS SPEAKER IS GOING TO WANT TO SIT IN A SMALLER OFFICE REPRESENTING HIS DISTRICT AS A REPRESENTATIVE.

SO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVED IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

AND YESTERDAY, OF COURSE, HE SENT OUT A STATEMENT ANNOUNCING HIS RESIGNATION BY THE END OF THE MONTH AND BY 6:00 P.M.

IT WAS AN IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION WHICH I'M UNCLEAR AS TO WHY THE CHANGE.

I NEVER GOT A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON THAT.

NO, I DON'T THINK IT IS A SURPRISE TO MANY.

>> IT WAS A SURPRISE, THE FIRST STATEMENT WAS IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

TONYA FRANCISCO ANY CLUE WHY HE WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN AT THE END OF THE DAY DECIDE NOPE, I'M HANGING IT UP RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU KNOW IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SIMPLY HAVING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE ASKING HIM WHY NOW?

WHAT IS GOING ON.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

IT'S HARD TO SAY.

HE IS ONE OF THE POLITICIANS THAT MANAGES TO KEEP HIS CARDS CLOSE TO THE VEST.

YOU DON'T'S KNOW ANYTHING THAT HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW UNTIL HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW IT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU HAVE TO WATCH AND WAIT.

HE IS VERY CRAFTY HE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONGTIME AND I HE LEARNED FROM RICHARD J. DALEY WHO TAUGHT HIM AND HIS SON WELL ABOUT HOW POLITICS WORKED HERE IN THE STATE.

YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LOYAL TO YOU.

AND THEY WILL REWARD YOU WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

>> DEAN REYNOLDS, YOU HAVE OBSERVED NATIONAL POLITICS FROM CHICAGO.

SURELY YOU HAVE BEEN A CHICAGOAN FOR A LONGTIME.

IS MADIGAN'S LEGACY MORE COLORED BY ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION?

UNWIELDLY POWER OR IS THERE A POSITIVE LEGISLATIVE LEGACY HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL BE DETERMINED ON THE WAY HE GOES OUT.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE REMEMBER UNFORTUNATELY THEY MAY NOT REMEMBER GOOD THINGS THAT HE DID.

IT WILL BE HIS LEAVING, IF YOU WILL, THAT WILL STICK IN THE MINDS OF PEOPLE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIM IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A VERY WONDERFUL EXIT FROM POLITICAL LIFE.

>> AND OF COURSE, THERE'S THAT ComEd INVESTIGATION THAT IS STILL ONGOING.

WHERE HE HAS BEEN NAMED AS PUBLIC OFFICIAL A ALTHOUGH HE HAS NOT BEEN INDICTED.

MIKE PUENTE, MADIGAN IS STILL THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS.

DOES THAT MEAN HE IS STILL GOING TO WIELD POWER EVEN THOUGH HE IS NO LONGER IN PUBLIC OFFICE?

>> HE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF POWER LIKE DONALD TRUMP IS NO LONGER IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

MICHAEL MADIGAN IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE WHATEVER LEVERAGE WHATEVER POWER WHATEVER INFLUENCE HE HAS.

YOU DON'T STAY IN OFFICE FOR THAT LONG AND THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SAIL OFF INTO THE SUNSET WILLY-NILLY.

HE WANTS TO CONTROL PARTS OF THE STATE AND HE HAS BUILT A LEGACY AND A LOYAL FOLLOWING.

SO HE IS GOING TO HAVE HIS FINGER IN THE PIE OF A LOT OF THINGS UNLESS SOMETHING COMES UP.

>> GOOD ANALOGY WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT MAYBE OUT OF OFFICE BUT MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES STILL SOME GOING TO KISS THE RING.

DANA KOZLOV, ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, THE COMMITTEE MEN IN THAT DISTRICT WILL GET TOGETHER AND AS IS TRADITION HERE IN ILLINOIS, THEY ARE GOING TO PICK THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY LAWMAKERS FOR SOME REASON RESIGN AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR TERMS.

THAT DISTRICT IS MOSTLY LATINO.

ANY IDEA WHO MIGHT TAKE THAT SEAT?

>> I MEAN, I HONESTLY HAVEN'T YOU KNOW, TAKEN A DIVE INTO THAT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I KNOW FROM FOLKS I'VE TALKED TO AND THINGS I'VE READ IN THE LAST DAY THERE'S INFIGHTING.

THERE MIGHT BE A POWER STRUGGLE BUT ULTIMATELY, THE FORMER SPEAKER FORMER REPRESENTATIVE MADIGAN HAS STILL SO MUCH SAY AND HE HAS THE LOUDEST VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHOSEN.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT FOR SURE.

BUT I DO THINK THERE WILL BE PUSHBACK EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE PERSON THAT Mr. MADIGAN WANTS TO TAKE HIS SEAT.

>> AND HOUSE LATINO CAUCUS PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT DISTRICT IS THE SECOND HEAVIEST LATINO DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

SO THAT OBVIOUSLY IS SOMEONE THAT THEY WOULD EXPECT WOULD GO TO A LATINO OR LATINA.

AND THE OTHER STORY.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS STANDING BY HER POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN IN SPITE OF A SCATHING REPORT BY THE CITY WATCHDOG ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE TO LAST SUMMER'S PROTESTS.

>> I HAVE A THOUSAND PERCENT CONFIDENCE IN DAVID BROWN'S ABILITY.

YES, THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES NO QUESTION.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT I THINK HAS OWNED THAT RESPONSIBILITY IN ITS OWN AFTER ACTION REPORT PUT OUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS AGO BEFORE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

>> TONYA FRANCISCO THIS REPORT INCLUDES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID ALMOST NOTHING RIGHT THERE WAS NO PLANNING FOR A MASS ARREST SITUATION.

BODY KASMS WERE NOT TURNED ON AND FOLKS WERE GETTING AWAY WITH DAMAGE AND OTHERS WERE ARRESTED AND THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTATION OF ANYTHING.

HOW DAMAGE SOMETHING THIS REPORT?

>> IT IS A HUGE SCRAMBLE.

THE ONE THING I THINK ABOUT IS THE LOSS IN VETERAN LEADERSHIP AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU HAD A LOT OF COMMANDERS, DEPUTY CHIEFS THAT HAD 30 PLUS YEARS ON THE FORCE THAT COULD HAVE YOU KNOW, PULLED HIM ON THE COATTAILS AND SAID IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WE'VE DONE THIS AND DONE THAT.

AND PAST EXPERIENCE IS WHAT PREPARES YOU FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

YOU HAD THE LAQUAN McDONALD VIDEO WHEN IT WAS RELEASED.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THOSE VETERANS WERE THERE IN THE 60s AND 70s DURING THE MLK RIOTS BUT THERE IS A HISTORY IN THIS CITY OF WHEN RIOTING STARTS IT TENDS TO SPREAD INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO IF YOU HAD HAD SOME VETERANS IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN DISCUSSIONS AND MOVING FORWARD.

THIS IS STARTING TO BE A PATTERN.

WE TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WE'LL GET BETTER.

WE KNOW WE'RE NOT THERE YET WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

THE NUMBERS KEEP SLIDING BACKWARDS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THE CITY REGARDLESS OF THE MAYOR, THE CITY IS GOING TO ACCEPT THOSE I DON'T WANT TO SAY EXCUSES BUT REASONS FOR FAILURE ON SITUATIONS THAT MOST THE AVERAGE PERSON COULD HAVE PREDICTED COULD HAVE COME ABOUT.

>> THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

>> YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST HATE TO SAY ROUND OF RIOTS AND PROTESTS THE FIRST DAMAGING ROUNDS BACK AT THE END OF MAY, BEGINNING OF JUNE.

ONE THING I REPORTED ON THEN AND MANY ALDERMEN SAID WAS THAT THEY TRIED TO REACH OUT, REMEMBER SUPERINTENDENT BROWN HAD ONLY BEEN SUPERINTENDENT FOR MAYBE A MONTH OR SO AT THAT POINT.

BUT HAD SAID WE WERE NOT LISTENED TO.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.

WE HAD CONCERNS WE KNEW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE TRIED TO BRING OUR CONCERNS TO THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION TO HIGHER RANKING POLICE OFFICIALS AND THEY CLAIMED BACK THEN THEY WERE SHUTDOWN.

SO THAT COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO WHY THINGS WENT SO AWRY EARLY ON.

BECAUSE THE FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE LENT INSIGHT, THE COMMUNITY LEADERS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE WARDS SEVERAL CLAIMS THEY WERE NOT LISTENED TO.

>> AND THIS WAS UNREST UNSEEN HERE BY MANY COMMUNITIES SINCE THE 1960s.

AND TONYA MENTIONED ALL THE TOP LEVEL COMMANDERS THAT HAD LEFT.

AND ALSO AT THE TIME DEAN REYNOLDS, BROWN WAS NEWLY ON THE JOB.

DOES HE WEAR THE HAT FOR THIS?

OR DOES HE GET SORT OF A PASS BECAUSE HE WAS STILL LEARNING THE CITY AND LEARNING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK HE GETS A PASS AT ALL.

HE IS THE TOP GUY.

IT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY.

HE CANNOT WALK AWAY FROM THAT.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT REPORT WAS THAT HAD LOUSY INTELLIGENCE.

THEY WOULD HAVE HAD MUCH BETTER INTELLIGENCE IF THEY HAD BEEN WATCHING TELEVISION AND SEEING THE PICTURES FROM MINNEAPOLIS AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

I MEAN, HOW THEY COULD NOT HAVE FORESEEN THIS COMING AND NOT AT LEAST HAVE BEEN READY IN SOME WAY FOR IT, IS A MYSTERY.

AND YOU KNOW, THE OTHER BAD THING ABOUT THE REPORT IS THAT WHILE IT'S SHOCKING, IT'S NOT SURPRISING, REALLY.

I MEAN YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD MANY TIMES WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ESPECIALLY THE LEADERSHIP.

WE'VE TRIED OUTSIDERS, GARRY McCARTHY.

INSIDERS, EDDIE JOHNSON AND NOW BACK TO AN OUTSIDER, DAVID BROWN AND IT STILL KEEPS COMING BACK TO THE SAME THING BASICALLY, BUMBLING, STUMBLING RESPONSES.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH TURNOVER AS YOU MENTIONED AND OFTENTIMES THE SUPERINTENDENT FALLS ON THE SWORD FOR THE MAYOR AS McCARTHY DID FOR EMANUEL AFTER THE LAQUAN McDONALD SITUATION.

MIKE PUENTE, ANOTHER ROUND OF UNREST HAPPENED LATEER IN THE SUMMER DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THAT DEPARTMENT HAS IT UNDER CONTROL NOW?

>> WELL, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

HUFF A SPIKE IN CARJACKINGS.

WHILE THEY ARE WORRYING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST SUMMER YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PRESENT.

CHICAGO IN SOME AREAS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOT SAFE.

I COVERED A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT CHICAGO RESTAURANTS THEY ARE TRYING TO OPEN AND GET MORE PATRONS IN.

BUT THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE CRIME THAT IS IN AND AROUND THEIR RESTAURANTS.

AND THE CHICAGO PD, THE CITY, ISN'T DOING ENOUGH TO QUELL THE VIOLENCE.

LAST YEAR IN THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW, THEY GOT TO DEAL WITH THE NOW.

IF AND HE DOESN'T GET IT UNDER CONTROL HE COULD BE OUT.

>> CARJACKINGS ARE UP AT AN ALARMING RATE.

LET'S MOVE ON TO OTHER POLITICS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER UNVEILED HIS BUDGET WITHOUT THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE AT THE CAPITOL.

HE TOOK AIM AT THE G.O.P.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HE AND THEN REPUBLICAN LEADER JIM DURKIN SAID IN RESPONSE.

>> TWO MONTHS AGO, I ASKED REPUBLICANS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THEIR PROPOSALS TO CLOSE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DEFICIT.

I WAS MET WITH SILENCE.

APPARENTLY THEIR IDEA OF BIPARTISANSHIP ENDS WHEN HARD CHOICES MUST BE MADE.

>> THE GOVERNOR KEEPS FINDING WAYS TO BLAME REPUBLICANS FOR ALL HIS WOES.

HE SAYS WE ARE NOT WILLING TO MAKE HARD CHOICES BUT I REMIND YOU WHAT WE DID TWO YEARS AGO WE MADE HARD CHOICES.

BUT NOW HE IS GOING BACK ON HIS WORD.

>> DANA, WE HATE TO TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS BECAUSE WE HAD ONE BUT THIS BUDGET ADDRESS COMES AS ONE REPUBLICAN THROWS HIS HAT IN THE RING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAINST PRITZKER AND OTHERS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

DO YOU THINK PRITZKER IS GOING TO WEAR THE HAT FOR THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND PERHAPS SUFFER POLITICALLY BECAUSE OF?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS LAST YEAR FEELS LIKE 20 YEARS.

AT LEAST.

AND SO WITH THAT POLITICALLY SPEAKING, PEOPLE HAVE SHORT MEMORIES.

AND IT COULD -- HE COULD WEAR THAT HAT AND IT COULD BE A BAD THING.

IN ANOTHER SIX MONTHS IN TERMS OF THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE, AND THE GOVERNOR, I BELIEVE HE SAYS HE BELIEVES HE HAS DONE WHAT HE BELIEVES IS THE BEST OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IN THE MOST WAYS.

BUT IN SIX MONTHS, IF WE ARE BEYOND THE PANDEMIC, BEYOND SHUTDOWNS, THEN FOLKS WHO ARE ANGRY NOW MAY NOT BE ANGRY THEN.

IF THERE IS AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

IF OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS.

I THINK THE VERDICT'S OUT ON IF THIS LAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR BOTH PANDEMIC SPEAKING AND BUDGET WISE, I THINK THE VERDICT IS OUT ON EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS GOING TO MEAN FOR THE GOVERNOR IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> OBSERVERS HAVE SHORT ATTENTION SPANS AND SIX MONTHS THEY MIGHT NOT REMEMBER THIS ALTHOUGH IT BEARS REPEATING THAT THERE ARE GOVERNORS FACING TROUBLE RIGHT NOW.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR CUOMO, CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR NEWSOM FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

A LOT OF THIS WHO COULD HAVE PLANNED FOR.

LET'S MOVE ON TO OTHER NEWS.

VACCINE DISTRIBUTION DISPARITIES DOG THE ROLLOUT.

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE SLUGGISH SERVICE LED BY BOBBY RUSH RAISES HOPES FOR CHANGES.

AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS ACQUITTED IN THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL A CIVIL SUIT IS FILED FOR THE CAPITOL INSURRECTION AND REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KINZINGER HONORED BY TIME AS HIS FAMILY REVILES HIM FOR HIS VOTE TO IMPEACH TRUMP.

FIRST, TONYA FRANCISCO, THE MAYOR TODAY SAID THAT THE NUMBERS THOUGH THEY ARE NOT GOOD RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF VACCINE EQUITY THEY ARE IMPROVING.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

FIRST OF ALL, I DID A REPORT ON THIS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY'S NUMBERS THE NUMBERS ARE AN ESTIMATE AND THEY ARE FILLED IN WITH EXTRAININGIOUS INFORMATION ZIP CODES AND SUCH BECAUSE ARE YOU NOT REQUIRED TO LIST YOUR ETHNICITY OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT IDENTIFIES WHO YOU MAY BE.

SO THE CITY IS USING A FORMULA I THINK IT'S BY LOYOLA UNIVERSITY TO FILL IN THE GAP ABOUT WHO IS GETTING THE VACCINE.

AND THE CITY CLAIMS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE VACCINATED WERE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND MOST OF THOSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THE NORTH SIDE AND LAKEFRONT AND IN THE AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE THE HIGHER NUMBERS.

THE QUESTION I HAVE IS IF YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND I'VE BEEN TWICE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVING CHILDREN THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE HOSPITAL ARE NOT DOCTORS AND NURSES.

THEY ARE THE TECHNICIANS.

YOU HAVE THE OTHER FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY LIVE ON THE NORTH SHORE.

SO THEY SHOULD BE VACCINATED AND THE QUESTION BECOMES ARE THEY NOT BEING VACCINATED FOR FEARS OR CONCERNS?

IF YOU LISTEN IN THE COMMUNITY THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THIS VACCINE IS SAFE.

SO IN TALKING TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND REPRESENTATIVE LA SHAWN FORD AND DOCTORS THEY SAY THERE HAS TO BE AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AS WELL.

IT CAN'T JUST BE YOU OPEN UP A VACCINATION CENTER AND SAY EVERYBODY IS GOING TO COME IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

IF YOU DON'T EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHY THEY NEED THE VACCINE AND WHY IT'S SAFE AND ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET A HIGH VACCINATION RATE BECAUSE PEOPLE REMEMBER THE DISPARITY IN THE BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITY AND PHYSICAL EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED ON BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY NOT TOO LONG AGO.

YOU HAVE TO NOT ONLY HAVE THE VACCINE AVAILABLE YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT GO WITH THE VACCINE.

>> CERTAINLY LOTS OF SKEPTICISM IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

AND I KNOW EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THE ROLE OUT.

DEAN REYNOLDS, IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER AGO BUT WE ARE SIX DAYS FROM THE IMPEACHMENT ACQUITTAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

WHAT IS THE KNEE-JERK POLITICAL FALLOUT HERE FOR BOTH PARTIES?

>> WELL, I THINK FROM THE DEMOCRATS' POINT OF VIEW THEY WERE ABLE TO TARNISH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEGACY.

THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY GOAL ALL ALONG BECAUSE GOING INTO THIS, THEY PRETTY MUCH KNEW THAT THE REPUBLICANS WERE NOT GOING TO GO ALONG IN ADEQUATE NUMBERS TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT OR TO CONVICT HIM AND DISQUALIFY HIM.

FROM THE REPUBLICAN POINT OF VIEW, IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

BECAUSE THE PARTY IS CLEAVED BETWEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE PRIMARY VOTERS.

THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY GO TO THE POLLS IN THESE PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND SELECT THE CANDIDATES.

THEY ARE DIVORCED FROM THE FULL REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE.

THERE'S MUCH LARGER GROUP OF REPUBLICANS AND THAT GROUP.

BUT YOU HAVE THE MITCH McCONNELL'S AND THE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN'S ON OPPOSITE SIDES.

YOU HAVE KEVIN McCARTHY TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND TRIANGULATION BETWEEN HIS HOUSE MEMBERS, THE SENATE UNDER MITCH McCONNELL AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BUT YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO THINK THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WISH THAT THEY COULD MOVE ON.

CERTAINLY ELECTED REPUBLICANS.

THEY DON'T VOTE THAT WAY NECESSARILY BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU HEAR ON BACKGROUND.

>> THAT SEEMS TO BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GRASSROOTS REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL WHO HAVE BEEN STEADFASTLY LOYAL TO PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO ARE SENSORRING MEMBERS OF THE PARTY THAT HAVE GONE AGAINST TRUMP LIKE ADAM KINZINGER.

THE G.O.P.

REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOUTH OF HERE.

SO MIKE PUENTE, KINZINGER CALLED OUT TODAY BY THE WILL COUNTY REPUBLICANS.

DO YOU THINK HE IS GOING TO GAIN TRACTION IN THE FIGHT HE LAUNCHED TO TAKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AWAY FROM TRUMP?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE AN UPHILL CLIMB BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A LOT OF CIRCLES IS STILL POPULAR.

THEY LIKE THE WAY HE LED THE COUNTRY.

A LOT OF FOLKS ON THE LEFT SEE HIM AS -- DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE DID.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE REMAINS VERY POPULAR.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO TAKE TIME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT SEEMS LIKE HE HAS AN UPHILL CLIMB MAY WANT TO CONSIDER HOPPING OVER TO INDIANA WHERE HE WILL BE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS MIGHT SUPPORT HIM.

>> AND PARIS THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE?

>> YOU KNOW, BEN SASSE MADE A GOOD POINT HE SAID HE TALKS TO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN HIS STATE, AND HE DOESN'T FIND ANY OF THEM TO BE AS FAR RIGHT AS THE PARTY OFFICIALS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING ALL THE SENSORRING AND I WOULD THINK THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN A LOT OF THE STATES CERTAINLY IN LOUISIANA AGAINST SENATOR CASSY AND OTHERS.

>> THEY ARE CALCULATING A LOT OF VOTERS ARE NOT AS FAR RIGHT AS THE POLITICIANS.

DANA KOZLOV, YOU SEE ADAM KINZINGER IN ATLANTIC AND "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND THE "WASHINGTON POST" LAUNCHING THIS COUNTRY FIRST PACT.

IS THERE A RISK OF OVEREXPOSURE AND PERHAPS AS HE SHOULD GO TO WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE.

IN THIS MEDIA WORLD PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT PERSUASIONS ARE WATCHING DIFFERENT OUTLETS.

PERHAPS ADAM KINZINGER NEEDS TO GO TO FOX NEWS?

THAT IS TO YOU, DANA.

IT WASN'T MUCH OF A QUESTION.

>> ARE YOU ASKING ME TO BE HIS ADVISER?

>> NO.

>> WELL, MY ORIGINAL QUESTION IS THERE A RISK OF OVEREXPOSURE CONSTANTLY OUT THERE IN THE PRESS MAKING THIS CASE?

>> YOU KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS A RICK OF OVEREXPOSURE, RIGHT?

AND IT COMES DOWN TO TIMING AND WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR AND WHO WANTS TO HEAR WHAT.

AND I THINK RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND ALSO WHO IS SECURING HIM AS A RESULT.

>> HIS FAMILY.

>> HIS FAMILY AND THE 11 MEMBERS IN THAT HANDWRITTEN LETTER.

BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS...

IT IS REFRESHING IN MY OPINION.

POLITICS ASIDE, TO SEE HIM AND HEAR HIM SPEAK HIS MIND.

NOW, WHAT HIS ULTERIOR MOTIVES ARE WE CAN ALL DISCUSS, TOO.

BUT I DO THAT THAT IS REFRESHING.

CERTAINLY THERE WAS ALWAYS A RISK OF OVEREXPOSURE AND PEOPLE CAN TURN ON ONE DAY AND NOT LIKE YOU THE NEXT WEEK.

>> AND THE SAME POINT YOU MADE ABOUT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WHO KNOWS WHERE THE ELECTORATE IS GOING TO BE IN SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR DEPENDING WHAT HAPPENS.

EVERYBODY HAS A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN AND LOTS OF THINGS CHANGE.

AND THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY.

MY THANKS TO MIKE PUENTE, TONYA FRANCISCO, DANA KOZLOV AND DEAN REYNOLDS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> AND BEFORE WE GO, A PERSONAL NOTE WE WANT TO EXTEND OUR THOUGHTS TO WTTW DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ALEX BESS ELF WAS CRITICALLY INJURED LAST WEEK IN A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT IN AVON DAILY WHILE ON HER BIKE AND BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO POLICE REPORT THEY ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THE HIT-AND-RUN SUSPECT.

SHE IS UNDERGOING SURGERY SO SHE CAN BREATHE WITHOUT A VENTILATOR AND IS EXPECTED TO FACE A LONG RECOVERY.

AND WE WANT ALEX AND HER FAMILY TO KNOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HER AND PULLING HARD FOR HER RECOVERY AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HER BACK AT WORK.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" STREAMED ON Facebook, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

WITH SOME CHICAGO OFFICIALS SAY THEY SHOULD BE DOING TO PROTECT THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND JOIN US 6:00 P.M. SUNDAY FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" WHERE THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE SCATHING REPORT ON C.P.D.

'S RESPONSE TO THIS SUMMER'S UNREST WILL BE EXPLORED.

AND WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. ALL NEXT WEEK.

AND CATCH THE DOC BROLL MEN INDUSTRY MANDELA IN CHICAGO.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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