EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE WEEKEND REVIEW.

I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

AMANDA VICKI HAS THE EVENING OFF.

GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER JOINS A HASTILY SCHEDULED MEETING OF UNSETTLED BIDEN SUPPORTERS.

JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO BE OUR NOMINEE UNLESS HE DECIDES OTHERWISE.

THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN TRIES TO RIGHT THE SHIP HAS SOME DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AND BIG MONEY DONORS START PUBLICLY CALLING FOR A NEW CANDIDATE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS ALL ABOUT ABOUT TRYING TO OVERTHROW A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.

A SUPREME COURT RULING SPARKED BY CHARGES.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TRIED TO ILLEGALLY STAY IN POWER.

CREATES BROUGHT NEW IMMUNITY PROTECTIONS FOR PRESIDENTS IN OTHER SUPREME COURT NEWS.

THE JUSTICES TURNED AWAY CASES CHALLENGING ILLINOIS'S ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

FOR NOW.

CHICAGO'S UNFUNDED PENSION DEBT KEEPS ON CLIMBING UP NEARLY 2 BILLION DOLLARS FOR A TOTAL TOPPING.

37 BILLION.

AND PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE SET TO GET UNDER WAY FOR A BOLD PLAN TO MERGE THE CTA, METRA AND PACE.

AND NOW TO OUR WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL.

JOINING US ARE MORE WASHINGTON OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND ABC 7, OUR OWN HEATHER SHARON, STEVE DANIELS, ALSO FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND ROB HEART OF WBBM NEWSRADIO.

THANKS TO ALL FOR BEING HERE.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

ALLURE WASHINGTON.

THE PRESIDENT IS SURROGATES.

HIS STAFF HAVE BEEN IN DAMAGE CONTROL MODE ALL WEEK.

HE HAD A BIG RALLY EARLIER TODAY.

WE'VE GOT A PRIMETIME INTERVIEW COMING UP THIS EVENING.

TURNING TO THAT MEETING WITH WITH PRITZKER AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS.

HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT DO YOU THINK MOVES LIKE THAT CAN REALLY HAVE ON THE PRESIDENT'S CANDIDACY?

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE PROBABLY ONLY HAS SEVERAL MORE DAYS TO TO REALLY TURN THIS AROUND.

BUT IT REALLY SEEMS TO ME LIKE WAS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE RIGHT AFTER THE DEBATE.

THAT WASN'T REALLY CLEAR EXPLANATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS LIKE LOT DRIP, DRIP THINGS DRIBBLING OUT SOME PEOPLE WHO SOME OF TOP LEADERSHIP IN THE PARTY WERE UNHAPPY BECAUSE HE DID.

WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM DIRECTLY.

IT WAS NOT A LOT OF GOOD ORGANIZING GOING ON AND THERE WAS NO CLEAR MESSAGING AND NO CLEAR STRATEGY.

EARLY ENOUGH.

AND SO NOW THEY'RE TRYING REALLY TRYING TO PLAY CATCH-UP.

YEAH, NOT NOT A FULL-COURT PRESS RIGHT AFTER IT HAPPENED.

KIND LIKE THE INTERVIEW THAT HE'S THAT HE'S DOING TODAY THAT HE COULD HAVE DONE AN INTERVIEW A COUPLE DAYS AFTERWARDS MAY BE QUELLED SOME FEARS AND CALM.

SOME PEOPLE DOUBT IF THEY SORT OF LET ROLL ON ITS OWN.

AND WHEN YOU LET A STORY THAT YOU DON'T LIKE, ROLLING CAN GET OUT OF CONTROL.

WE STARTED TO SEE BUSINESS LEADERS, EVEN SOME MAJOR DONORS CALLING FOR BIDEN TO STEP DOWN.

ROB HEART.

IF THE MONEY DRIES UP, IS THAT LIKELY TO TURN THE TIDE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT THE MONEY IS NOT GOING TO DRY UP IN A MEANINGFUL SENSE BECAUSE EVEN AFTER THAT DEBATE PERFORMANCE, THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN WAS QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST FUNDRAISING DAYS.

THEY HAVE HAD A HISTORY WITH THE CAMPAIGN.

THEY RAISE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF OF THAT.

MOST OF IT FROM SMALL DONORS.

SO AS LONG A COMMITTED DEMOCRATS KEEP CLICKING ON THOSE ACTIVE BLUE LINKS, THE MODERATE.

THE MONEY IS NEVER GOING TO TRULY RUN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE IS THAT THE POLLING, THE GOOD POLLING, THE INTERNAL POLLING FROM THE CAMPAIGNS THAT'S GOING TO COME IN AND THAT'S A TELLTALE.

AND IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH GOVERNORS AND SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND SAY, NOT ONLY IS THIS GOING TO BE DISASTER FOR YOU, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS GOING TO BE A DISASTER DOWN BALLOT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE.

AND THAT IS THEY'RE GOING TO START REALLY PREVAILING UPON PRESIDENT'S INNER CIRCLE AND HIS FAMILY TO SAY BE HANGING UP FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY AT TIMES FOR YOU TO STEP ASIDE BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

YOU KNOW, HEATHER SHARON, A FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN KEEPING UNUSUALLY QUIET THESE LAST FEW DAYS.

WE STILL DON'T HAVE A VP ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT 10 DAYS OUT FROM THE RNC.

DO YOU THINK THE STRATEGY RIGHT NOW IS TO JUST LET NEGATIVE COVERAGE OF BIDEN DOMINATE THE, YOU KNOW, THE MEDIA?

WELL, IT'S A POLITICAL TRUISM THAT IF YOUR OPPONENT IS DROWNING, YOU DON'T WANT TO REACH OUT A HAND AND THAT'S WHAT SORT OF TRUMP SAYING SOMETHING SORT OF NEWSWORTHY OR CONTROVERSIAL COULD REALLY HAPPEN THAT WE SAW HIM BREAK A LITTLE BIT OF THAT SILENCE TODAY DENOUNCING THE PLAN KNOWN AS PROJECT 2025, WHICH WAS AUTHORED BY HIS AIDES AND SORT OF HIS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF AUXILIARY CAMPAIGN STAFF SAYING, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, WHICH UP SOME OF THE MEDIA OXYGEN TODAY.

AND I THINK THAT WAS WHY WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM HIM BECAUSE HE'S AT LEAST A DISCIPLINED ENOUGH.

JUST SORT OF LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE SAYING, HEY, YOUR OPPONENTS DON'T FROM A LANDLINE.

HE WAS ENTIRELY SITE WAS WHICH IS YOU KNOW IT.

THAT'S A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST.

KIND OF THE SITUATION.

BUT HE WAS TRUE THING AS THEY SAY, QANON MEANS AND TALKING ABOUT HOW FORMER CONGRESSMAN LIZ CHENEY NEEDS TO BE SUBJECT TO A MILITARY TRIBUNAL.

SO IT WASN'T LIKE HE WAS JUST SITTING BACK AND LOOK AT THE SITUATION COME TO HIM.

HE HAD THINGS TO SAY, BUT YOU STILL GET A PLACE FOR PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION WHILE HE WAS.

BUT HE WAS LAYING A LOT INTO COUNIL.

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE HER NAME IS BEGINNING TO EMERGE AS THE POSSIBLE BENEFICIARIES SUCCESSOR AND BY DOES DECIDE TO SUBSIDE.

SO HE'S HE'S HIGHLIGHTING ALL OF THE NEGATIVE SHE HAD.

SHE SHE HAS.

AND THE THING IS WHERE IS IF A BIND US TO STEP AWAY, WHOEVER ENDS UP INHERITING EARNINGS UP TO IN THE FIGHT FOR THE DELEGATES.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF OPPOSITION RESEARCH.

THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN'S BEEN ALREADY HAVE READY TO TO ROLL OUT FOR ANY ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES WAS NOT BEEN DOING IS BALLY'S AND THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT GET A LOT OF TV COVERAGE.

YEAH, TRUE SOCIAL HIM.

HE CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES.

NOW HE'S GOING BE COMPLETELY QUIET FOR, YOU KNOW, TEN-DAY CAESARS 8 DAYS OR WHATEVER.

IT'S BEEN.

BUT YEAH, I THINK THERE IS A SENSE THAT THERE'S A SELF-DISCIPLINE HERE THAT PEOPLE ARE WOULD ARE SURPRISED TO SEE FROM HIM.

BUT BY THE WAY, THAT ALSO HAPPENED DURING THE DEBATE.

YES, HE LIED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS EVERYBODY WOULD EXPECT HIM TO DO.

BUT HE HE WAS DISAPPOINTED.

BUT HE HAD JOE BIDEN UNABLE TO COMPLETE A SENTENCE IN A NORMAL.

NORMALLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT DONALD TRUMP TO BE DOING A SITUATION LIKE THAT WOULD BE TO TRY TO TRY TO DESTROY AND THERE WERE A FEW BARBS, BUT IT WAS IT WAS NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT.

YEAH, RELATIVELY RESERVED.

WELL, YOU KNOW, LAURA MENTIONED VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, STEVE, THE TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD HAD A PIECE OUT, YOU KNOW, CALLING OUT SOME DEMOCRATS FOR FLOATING ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATES OTHER THAN HARRIS, WHO'S IN MANY WAYS A LOGICAL CHOICE.

I MEAN, HOW TRICKY OF A SITUATION ARE THEY IN AS THEY LOOK TO A POTENTIAL HAHA, I MEAN, THAT'S THE TRICK BOX AND FRANKLY, JOE BIDEN HAS PUT THEM IN THE BUT THE TRICK BOX THAT THEY'RE IN IS A REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT ONE TO TO GET AWAY FROM.

I MEAN, WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO SAY THERE WAS WHETHER HE STAYS IN OR NOT, SHE BECOMES MUCH MORE OF A FOCAL POINT.

THEN SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN BEFORE AS YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN A FOCAL POINT BEFORE, TOO.

THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WOULD HAVE GONE AFTER HER FOR SURE.

THE REPUBLICANS WERE TEEN ARE UP FOR IT FOR A YEAR.

PLUS, BUT THIS WAS GOING TO BE FAR MORE.

AND FRANKLY, THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO LEAN INTO THAT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK THAT, HEY, SHE'S GROWN A LOT.

SHE'S I THOUGHT SHE DID FANTASTIC AFTER DEBATE.

TOBACCO IN TERMS OF GOING ON.

THAT'S WHEN THE NETWORKS AND AND REALLY EXCELLENT JOB UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO REALLY, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NO CHOICE.

THEY THEY NEED TO GET HER OUT EITHER WAY BECAUSE FRANKLY, IF YOU'RE VOTING FOR JOE BIDEN, YOUR THERE'S A DECENT CHANCE.

KAMALA HARRIS IS GOING TO BE SITTING THERE BEFORE THE END OF 100 BUCKS, THOUGH, IS THAT SHE SHE IS A LOGICAL SUCCESS AND HE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT.

BUT HER HER POPULARITY RATINGS ARE ALMOST AS BAD AS JOE BIDEN'S AND SHE'S.

SHE'S FELT SHE HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN OF GREAT SERVICE IS A VICE PRESIDENT.

SO NEW THE NEW TO SKIP OVER HER.

YOU SKIP OVER HER FOR ANYONE DOESN'T EVEN MATTER.

YEAH, SHE'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN WILL NEED IF YOU PICK A GREAT AGGRESSION WITH WOMEN WHOSE ANOTHER WOMAN YOU'RE GOING HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE APPEARANCE THAT YOU'RE DEPRIVING A BLACK WOMAN OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO STEP UP AND SHE SHE IS A LOGICAL CHOICE.

BUT LOGISTICALLY SPEAKING IN LEGALLY SPEAKING, SHE MAY BE THE ONLY OPTION BECAUSE SHE HAS ACCESS TO ALL OF THE BIDEN-HARRIS CAMPAIGN MONEY THAT 212 MILLION DOLLAR WAR CHEST THAT THEY'RE SITTING ON TOP OF AND ON TOP AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE HAS THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN APPARATUS AT HER DISPOSAL.

IF YOU GET ANYBODY ELSE HAVE TO REBUILD EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH FROM THE FUND RAISING TO OFFICE LEASES.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE CLOCK'S TICKING.

YOU'VE GOT 18 WEEKS UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

WELL, THIS WEEK MARKED THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN TO PUBLICLY CALL FOR BIDEN TO STEP DOWN.

WE'VE SINCE HAD MORE COME OUT.

AN ECHO THAT LET'S HEAR SOME OF THE FIRST TO JUMP HAD TO SAY ALONG WITH PART OF AN INTERVIEW THE PRESIDENT DID THIS WEEK, ONE OF SEVERAL HE'S BEEN DOING IN AN EFFORT TO SALVAGE THE CAMPAIGN.

I SALUTE PRESIDENT BIDEN.

I JUST FEEL THAT IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO STEP ASIDE.

IF WE WERE TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT WHAT HE ALLOWED US TO GAIN IN 2020.

HE DELIVERED FROM 12.

THEN HE COULD BE DELIVERING US TO TRUMP THIS YEAR.

I HAD A BAD NIGHT AND A BAD NIGHT.

FACT OF THE MATTER IS YOU KNOW, IT WAS I ACTUALLY I SCREWED MADE IN THE STATE.

AND BUT I LEARNED FROM MY FATHER REALLY GET NOT GOING TO GET BACK UP.

SO FRAMING THAT AS SIMPLY A MISTAKE.

I MEAN, STEVE DANIELS, IS THAT LIKELY TO RESONATE WITH VOTERS KNOW?

I MEAN, YOU CAN RING THAT BELL THAT I MEAN, THEY'LL BE IF HE STAYS AND THEY'LL BE RUNNING THOSE ADS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS WE AS WE GO INTO THE CAMPAIGN WITH AWFUL OPTICS YOU KNOW, WHAT HE CAN DO IS WHAT HE IS DOING IS HE'S BEEN TO LAURA'S POINT VERY, VERY SLOW IN DOING IT SLOWER THAN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THE INTERVIEW TONIGHT WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HE'S DOING LET SUPPOSEDLY DOING A PRESS THURSDAY NEXT 2 WEEKS AFTER SHOULD HAVE THE THAT ALREADY HAPPENED SHOULD BE HAPPENING EARLIER THAN THURSDAY.

SO IF HE DOESN'T, IF HE DOES WELL IN THOSE YOU KNOW, HE STAYED.

THERE'S A DECENT CHANCE THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL SIMPLY SWALLOW HARD AND SAY.

ODDS AREN'T GREAT, BUT THE ODDS GOING THE OTHER WAY ON THAT.

GREAT EITHER.

WE CAN'T MAKE HIM LEAVE SO WELL.

IF THE PRESIDENT DOES STEP DOWN.

I MEAN, HEATHER, HOW WORRIED DO YOU THINK PARTY LEADERS ARE ABOUT POTENTIAL CHAOS THAT VACUUM AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALSO HAVE BEEN JOKING FOR YEARS NOW ABOUT LIVING IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

WE WOULD TRULY BE LIVING IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES TO HAVE A MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES STEP AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE NOMINATION JUST BEFORE HE'S CROWNED, IT WOULD ADD A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY AND SORT THINK ANXIETY TO THE CHICAGO CONVENTION THAT WE'RE COMING UP ON.

I ALSO THINK THAT WE'RE SORT DEALING WITH A SITUATION WHERE IF IT'S NOT PARIS, THERE'S REALLY NO MECHANISM TO SORT OF MAKE IT SOMEBODY ELSE, WHICH MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DEALING WITH NOT ONLY INERTIA AND SORT OF PEOPLE'S FONDNESS FOR JOE BIDEN, BUT ALSO A QUESTION OF HOW DO WE ACTUALLY MAKE THIS LEGALLY WORK AND HOW DO WE AVOID MAKING A BAD SITUATION WORSE?

YEAH.

THE STATE BY STATE RULES.

SO MANY COMPLEXITIES THERE WILL FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO GOT A PRETTY FAVORABLE RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK.

THIS ISN'T A CASE RELATED TO HIS EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION FOUND PRESIDENTS HAVE ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION FOR ACTIONS RELATED TO THEIR CORE EXECUTIVE POWERS.

PRESUMPTIVE IMMUNITY FROM OFFICIAL ACTIONS NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTLY RELATED TO THEIR CORE POWERS.

LAURA WASHINGTON, WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT NOT BY THE SUPREME I YEAH, I HAD A SENSE BECAUSE THEY WERE DELAYING A DECISION FOR SO LONG THAT THEY WERE MOVING IN A DIRECTION THAT WAS GOING TO BE PROBABLY BE FAVORABLE TO THE DONALD TRUMP.

AND AND YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO DON'T SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP WERE UPSET ABOUT THE DEBATE.

LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY THIS WEEK ABOUT THIS DECISION.

THIS THIS DECISION.

I THINK HE'S PUT A LOT OF FEAR INTO INTO PEOPLE'S MINDS ABOUT KIND OF POWER DONALD TRUMP OR A PRESIDENT WILL HAVE GOING FORWARD.

UNLIMITED POWER DID IN TO DO ANYTHING TO BE IMMUNE FROM IT.

SO IT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL DECISION.

WELL, AND IT FOLLOWS IN A PRETTY LONG LINE OF EXPANSIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER.

AND MEAN, STEVE DANIELS, DO YOU THINK THERE ARE STILL ADEQUATE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE?

WELL, I YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT IT'S NOT ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY.

THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT WHAT IT IS IS THE THING?

I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE SUPREME COURT, CERTAINLY PEOPLE ANY LEGAL.

FOUNDATION OF ANY KIND, WHERE DID THEY GET CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO COME UP WITH THIS?

BUT WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR THIS?

SIMPLY A 6 JUSTICES DECIDING.

WELL, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WE DON'T LIKE IT THAT A PRESIDENT MIGHT GET SECOND GUESSED AFTER THE FACT THAT GO BACK TO THE FEDERALIST PAPERS ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

AND WASN'T HOW OUR FOUNDERS WERE THINKING ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

NOW IT IS TRUE THAT THE EXPANSIVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MUCH MORE COMPLEX WORLD AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

IT'S A TOUGH CALL.

I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS YET I THINK THERE ARE STILL CHECKS AND BALANCES, BUT THEY'VE BEEN WEAK.

AND YES, THERE'S AN ETHICALLY ERODED QUITE A BIT OVER THE YEARS.

ALSO, THE SUPREME COURT TURNED AWAY A CHALLENGE IS TO ILLINOIS'S ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THAT WAS PASSED IN THE WAKE OF THE JULY 4TH MASS SHOOTING IN HIGHLAND PARK 2 YEARS AGO TO VICTORY FOR GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES.

BUT HEATHER, THE CHALLENGE IS STILL MOVING FORWARD HERE IN ILLINOIS.

THIS ISN'T QUITE GOING AWAY.

IT IS NOWHERE NEAR DONE.

AND WE HEARD FROM BOTH JUSTICES ALITO AND THOMAS, THAT IF IT WAS UP TO THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE STEPPED IN AND STOP THIS LAW FROM BEING ENFORCED, WHICH INDICATES THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE SORT OF A SUBJECT OF MUCH LITIGATION AND MUCH DISCUSSION AS WE GO FORWARD.

THE QUESTION, I THINK REALLY BIG REALLY REMAINS IS HOW THE SUPREME COURT CONTINUES TO SORT OF PARSE THE BREWING DECISION WHICH STARTED EXPANDED SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO TO HAVE ALL SORTS OF GUNS AND WHETHER THEY SORT OF SEE THIS IS SORT OF AN EXEMPTION LIKE THE ONE THEY CARVED OUT EARLIER THIS TERM FOR PEOPLE CONVICTED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR IF THEY SEE THIS IS SORT OF THAT SORT OF INALIENABLE RIGHTS TO HAVE WHATEVER KIND OF GUN YOU WANT IN REALLY ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

YEAH, I MEAN, GIVEN THAT NOD FROM JUSTICES ALITO AND THOMAS ROBERT, DO YOU EXPECT THAT THIS WILL MAKE IT TO THE SUPREME COURT EVENTUALLY REALLY HAD THE ESSENTIAL WORK BACK TO YOU AND TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN SUCCEED NEXT TIME.

SO THERE'S CLEARLY A ROAD MAP FOR FOR HAVING THIS CASE COME BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT WAS REMANDED BACK TO THE LOWER COURT.

SO THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THIS DECISION ON GUNS TO KIND OF HUNT FOR NOW, BRING IT BACK LATER.

JUST RAISES THE STAKES IN THE ELECTION AND BETWEEN THE PANIC ABOUT THE DEBATE ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND THEN THE IMMUNITY DECISION ON MONDAY.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CARRY JOE BIDEN OVER THE FINISH LINE IF YOU DECIDE TO STAY IS THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WITH THEIR HAIR ON FIRE RIGHT ABOUT ABOUT ABOUT WHAT THE SUPREME COURT CAN GIVE TO.

DONALD TRUMP MIGHT ACTUALLY BE REVERSED 2016.

EVERYONE SWALLOWED THEIR PERSONAL DISDAIN FOR DONALD TRUMP.

BUT REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES VOTED FOR HIM ANYWAY BECAUSE THEY DO.

THE COURTS WERE IMPORTANT AND THEY KNEW HE WOULD DELIVER CONSERVATIVE OUTCOMES FOR I THINK ABORTION RIGHTS ARE BIG PART OF THAT, TOO, BECAUSE WE SAW THE SUPREME COURT STARTED NOT SORT OF STOP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM REQUIRING STATES TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ABORTION CARE IN STATES THAT HAVE BANNED ABORTIONS UNDER ALMOST EVERY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE SORT OF THE SENSE THAT IT WAS SORT OF BULLET DODGED IN THAT SPECIFIC SENSE.

BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IF TRUMP IS ELECTED, HE WILL BE MOVING TOWARDS A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN AND THAT THOSE SORT OF EXEMPTIONS WOULD NO LONGER EXIST IN 2025.

AND THAT'S AN ARGUMENT THE PARTY HAS BEEN MAKING STRENUOUSLY AND BIDEN'S MAKING STAY UP TO THIS POINT TIME NOW, AS YOU SAY, WE HAVE 2 OTHER BIG ISSUES THAT THEY COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

BUT THEY'RE STILL MIRED IN THIS AND THIS DEBATE WHICH MAY GO ON FOR QUITE A WHILE ABOUT WHO THE NEXT NOMINEE WILL BE, THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE AND A TIMER TO LOSE REST STRATEGY, TO GET IT TO EXECUTE TO FAIR ON THE TRUMP ABORTION BUSINESS.

HE HAS SAID NOW REPEATEDLY THAT HE WILL NOT DO A NATIONAL ABORTION HE HAS SAID YOU HE SAID EVERYBODY LOVES IT, THAT THE STATES ARE DEALING WITH THE AND THAT THEY ARE.

BUT BUT BUT NONETHELESS, THAT'S WHAT HE HAS SAID.

NOW.

EVERYBODY CAN TAKE HIS RECORD FOR WHAT HE SAYS AND THEN AND THEN WHAT HE DOES FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

BUT JUST TO JUST BE CLEAR ON WELL, TURNING TO SOME CITY NEWS, HEATHER, WE'VE GOT NEW NUMBERS THIS WEEK ABOUT JUST HOW BAD CHICAGO'S UNFUNDED PENSION DEBT HAS GOTTEN REALLY BAD.

WHAT ARE NUMBERS LOOKING SO IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CITY'S PENSION DEBT HAS GROWN APPROXIMATELY 2 BILLION DOLLARS TO MORE THAN 37 BILLION DOLLARS.

AND IN PART, IT'S BECAUSE THE CITY IN THE STATE HAS SORT OF CHANGED THE WAY THEY CALCULATE THAT DEBT.

THEY NOW ARE NO LONGER SORT OF IGNORING CHANGES THAT THEY MADE TO THE WAY FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE PENSIONS ARE PAID.

IT'S ALSO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE STOCK MARKET WAS REALLY FALL TALL AND THAT MEANT THAT THE INVESTMENT RETURNS WERE SORT YOU KNOW, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE WHERE THEY REALLY WANTED THIS COMES EVEN AFTER THE CITY IS PAYING MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN THE REQUIRED TO AN ATTEMPT TO SERVE.

START STARTED CHIPPING AWAY AT THIS BACKLOG, WHICH IS REALLY THE LEGACY LEFT TO THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS FROM DECADES AGO WHEN THE CITY IN THE STATE BASICALLY STOPPED PAYING THESE BILLS BECAUSE THEY HAD OTHER THINGS THAT THEY WANTED TO DO WITH THAT MONEY AND AS ALL THINGS HAPPEN, IT IS TIME TO PAY THE PIPER AND NOW IT IS UP TO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO AND THINGS ARE EVEN MORE COMPLICATED 2010 FIX THAT WAS DESIGNED TO SORT OF SOLVE THESE ISSUES.

ALL THE BILL FOR THAT IS THAT IS NOW COMING DUE.

SO THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FALL VETO SESSION.

WELL, AND WE'VE GOT THIS NEW CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE THAT CHARGED WITH COMING UP WITH NEW REVENUE SOURCES.

SPEAKING OF SPENDING PRIORITIES.

YOU KNOW, IF THEY COME UP WITH ANY PLANS TO GET PUT INTO ACTION, DO YOU THINK SOME OF THAT MONEY COULD GO TOWARD PENSIONS OR MIGHT IT BE EARMARKED FOR OTHER PRIORITY WAS?

SO THE IDEA IS THAT THE CUSTOM CHICAGO CASINO, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT AND TRIBUNE FREEDOM TOWER'S SUPPOSED TO PAY 200 MILLION DOLLARS TOWARD THE CITY'S POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS.

AND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SORT OF GIVE BREATHING ROOM NOW THINK IT'S YOU SEE NO ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

BUT THE TEMPORARY CASINO IS SORT OF FALLEN SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS.

AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER BALLY'S IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO BUILD THAT CASINO.

NOW, IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THAT MEANS A LOT OF THAT NEW REVENUE IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THOSE PENSIONS BECAUSE THE CITY SIMPLY CANNOT JUST SAY AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT LATER.

THAT'S BEEN TRIED.

THE RATINGS AGENCIES ESSENTIALLY WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO DO THAT, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE'S LESS MONEY FOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO DO WHAT HE WAS ELECTED TO DO TO CREATE MORE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS TO INVEST IN THE SOUTH AND THE WEST SIDES.

SO THERE'S REALLY NO GOOD OPTION ON THE TABLE THAT THAT CITY GOVERNMENT FOR YOU.

THIS RATINGS AGENCIES ARE AWFULLY TESTING FATHER'S DAY IS COME IT'S IT'S FATHER'S DAY A FRIDAY AT ALWAYS TAKE A BAD PUN.

NO, NO.

WE'VE GOT A FEDERAL WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT THIS WEEK FROM A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF BOARD OF REVIEW COMMISSIONER SAMANTHA STEELE.

HE SAID HE FACED RETALIATION AND TERMINATION AFTER HE SPOKE WITH THE COUNTY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL AS PART OF AN INVESTIGATION.

STEVE DANIELS, IS IT SOMETHING OF A RARITY TO SEE THIS KIND OF A WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT COMING UP IN THE WORLD OF CHICAGO POLITICS?

YOU BUT BUT IT BUT IT IS IT IS PUT A SHINING A LIGHT ON THE BOARD OF WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT HERE IN THE YEAR OR 2 YEARS.

PROPERTY TAXES ARE THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN A SLOW-MOVING TRAIN WRECK.

ANY MORE OF THAT RAIN IS REALLY PICKING STEAM IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS.

IT'S A COLOSSAL DISASTER, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THERE'S THE PROPERTY TAX BILLS FOR HOMEOWNERS.

THERE ARE QUADRUPLE YEAR-OVER-YEAR.

IT'S INSANE.

THE SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO A LESSER DEGREE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, THE YEAR AFTER THAT AND THE BOARD OF REVIEW PLAYS THE ROLE AND CHECKING THE ASSESSOR'S WORK.

AND MANY CASES WHAT THE BOARD OF REVIEW HAS DONE HAS BEEN TO REDUCE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH MEANS THE RESIDENTIAL PACE MORE.

SO SAMANTHA STEALS AND A LOW QUIET NIGHT IN A QUIET WAR.

IT'S A PRETTY MUCH AN OPEN WAR WITH THE 2 BOARD OF REVIEW OVER SOME OF THESE ISSUES, THIS WHISTLEBLOWER SUIT, I THINK, IS PART OF ALL OF THAT YEAH, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE ALL GOING TO LEARN A LOT ONGOING INVESTIGATION AS WELL, WHICH IS USED BE ON THE WHISTLEBLOWER.

AND IT'S ALL COMPLICATED BY THE FIGHT OVER THE ARLINGTON HEIGHTS PROPERTIES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, FOR ITS KD, THE ASSESSOR BASICALLY SAID, LOOK, IF USE PAID ALMOST 200 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE PROPERTY, THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD BE WORTH.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE TAXED AT THE BOARD OF REVIEW DISAGREED AND NOT SORT OF WHAT THIS WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGATIONS IS ALL ABOUT, WHICH IS AGAIN, MORE INDICATION THAT THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM IS VERY COMPLICATED.

AND, YOU KNOW, IS IT EQUITABLE, I THINK IS THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THAT COMING UP.

WELL, NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A BILL THAT PROPOSES CONSOLIDATING CTA, METRA AND PACE, ALSO GIVING THEM ABOUT A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS IN EXTRA FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, ROB HEART, A LOT OF FRUSTRATED PASSENGERS ANGRY ABOUT SERVICE LEVELS IN THE YOU KNOW, COVID ERA POST-COVID ERA.

DO YOU THINK THIS MERGER IS THE KIND OF PLAN THE AVERAGE RIDER MIGHT HEAR ABOUT SAY, WELL, YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE.

WELL, IF YOU'RE A LIKE ME, YOU KNOW, THE RTA HISTORY BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS THAT YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE GREATEST PIECES OF EVOLUTION IN THE HISTORY OF THE RTA.

GOING TO 1974.

HAVE ALL COME FROM CRISES.

EVEN THE FOUNDATION OF THE RTA IN 1974.

STEM FROM CTA SERVICE CUTS IN THE 2 OF THE RAILROAD PROVIDE A COMMUTER SERVICE FROM THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY.

AND THAT'S WHY THE RTA WAS FORMED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND THEN AFTER THE FISCAL CRISIS IN 1981, THEY WERE FOR THAT AGAIN.

AND THAT WAS THAT WAS THE BIRTH OF METRA AND PACE BECAUSE PACE TOOK OVER FOR A LOT OF THOSE SUBURBAN BUS SYSTEMS THAT WERE IN VARIOUS STATES OF FINANCIAL HEALTH.

AND LIKE NORTH STUFF LIKE THAT.

THAT WAS MEANT IS THAT THE RESCUE SUBURBAN BUS SERVICE, WHICH WAS IF YOU PROPOSITION 40 YEARS AGO.

SO NOW WE'RE STARING AT A FISCAL CLIFF AND REORGANIZING THE TRANSIT AGENCIES UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.

ALL THE SERVICE BOARDS IN ONE PLACE.

THEY WILL MAKE A LOT OF SENSE BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS A CRISIS THAT MOVES IT FORWARD.

AND WE'RE CERTAINLY IN ONE NOW WITH A 700 MILLION DOLLAR FISCAL CLIFF COMING UP IN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF JUST TAKE THE CTA.

YOU I MEAN, ELECTED OFFICIALS GET A LOT OF SWAY WHEN IT COMES TO APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THESE 3 BOARDS TO THE RTA BOARD.

DO YOU THINK LOCAL ELECTED GOING TO WANT TO GIVE THAT POWER THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT.

THE DID NOT GOING WANT TO GIVE UP CONTROL EITHER.

AND AND, KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DOLLARS ATTACKING THIS THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP CONTROL THOSE DOLLARS.

HEATHER, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

I MEAN, TRANSIT LEADERS OF ALL THE AGENCIES HAVE BEEN PUSHING BACK PRETTY HARD, INCLUDING CTA CHIEF DORVAL CARTER.

ANY IDEA WHERE MAYOR JOHNSON STANDS ON THE IDEA?

WELL, I THINK THAT THE QUESTION SO HE SAW HIS NOMINEE TO THE RTA FOR THE REVEREND IRA ACREE WITH DRY AND IN COLLEGE MONTH THAT HE COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE HE HAD NO SPECIFIC SORT EXPERTISE ABOUT TRANSIT.

SO I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER WE SEE A MOVE TOWARD SORT DEMANDING SORT OF TRANSIT EXPERTS TO SORT OF HANDLE THESE ISSUES AS OPPOSED TO SORT OF POLITICAL SORT OF FRIENDS AND SORT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED PEOPLE GET THEIR SERVED THE WAY IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN CHICAGO.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY SORT OF A QUESTION WHO IS TRANSIT SORT OF A FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OPERATION OR NOT.

WELL, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON IT WOULD SAY PROBABLY YES, BUT WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

YOU MAY NOT BE TRANSIT EXPERTS, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

ONE OUT OF 4.

PRETTY HANKS TO LURE WASHINGTON.

OTHER SURE AROUND STEVE DANIELS AND ROB HEART AND WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY AND AND RICH CAR.

BNSF RAILWAY, FRANCINE AND DOCTOR ANTHONY BROWN.

AND THE MOMENT HOW A PROGRESSIVE PHILANTHROPIC FUND IN HONOR OF EVEN MOMENT NOW SUPPORTING QUALITY JOURNALISM.

CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

IF YOU'RE STILL LOOKING TO MAKE PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND, BUT NEED A LITTLE INSPIRATION.

CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH FESTIVALS.

NOW FOR THE WEEKEND REVIEW.

I'M NICK BLUMBERG.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

OKAY.

WEEKEND PLANS.

ANYBODY CHECKING OUT NASCAR, BIG RACE THIS WEEKEND ANYWHERE NEAR DOWNTOWN.

SHE FLED TO MICHIGAN THAT'S GOING TO A LOT OF SOMEONE'S GOING THE CONVENTION.

PALOOZA.

YEAH.

HOW DO GET OUT YEAH.

STAY FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE.

LEAST HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND MASSIVE CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM, DEDICATED TO PRESERVING