>> Hey, everyone, thanks for joining us on the weekend review.

I'm Amanda a mass resignation hit CPS.

>> I was elected to fight for the people of this of the city and whoever is in the way of that.

>> Rather than fire the district's CEO or side with the mayor by taking out a high interest loan, the Empire Chicago Public Schools Board of Education will step down and a fresh layer of turbulence to already chaotic school year with the Chicago teachers union at the bargaining table.

Everybody has to compromise because there isn't all the money in the world.

>> Available to do all the things that that we'd all like to do.

>> And candidates running for the first time to serve on the CPS port voting is already underway in Illinois.

The contest for president is looking neck in neck, bringing the can next to the battleground states of the Midwest.

It had gentlemanly debate between their running mates move the needle.

It is a tense time, but consumers can breathe easy.

At least a quick strike at the ports keeps the supply chain safe.

>> Before we get to our week in review panel, a focus on the day's breaking shocking, frankly, news all 7 members of the board that oversees Chicago public schools will exit this month.

Joining us now via zoom to give us is the latest.

Is Raymond mean of choppy Chicago?

Thanks so much.

Busy day for you.

I know because this is such a stunning move here.

Can you explain?

Why is this happening?

>> Where to start?

But to make it as brief as possible, there were, you know, they're reported.

Tensions between Mayor Brandon Johnson's office, CPS and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.

>> For really months now, as the district crafted budget for this current school year.

You know, the mayor disagreed with, you know, cuts in the budget publicly said so.

And then eventually, you know, there was a lot of tension over the fact that CPS did not want to take on 125 million dollar pension payment.

So that kind of ripped it up the tensions and then ultimately the mayor's office asked CPS to take on a short-term loan to help cover that pension costs as well as well as costs related to the new teachers union, contract negotiated.

And all of these tensions kind of culminated a couple weeks ago when Brandon Johnson called Pedro Martinez and his office and asked him to And I should say that the Board of Education, which is appointed by Johnson has so far declined to take on that That loan payment passed the budget without approving the pension payment and also has declined to fire it And so today is that is the latest in this turmoil.

The entire board announced that it will be stepping And that statement was made in tandem with the mayor's office.

So where does that leave things?

As you noted, these are members of the board who were appointed by Johnson himself defying.

>> His desires.

So what is this a sign of?

We're not going to do it and therefore we're going to exit or is this an agreement with him?

Yes, so it has been very hard to get clear explanation of a kind of you know, why And, you know, board members have declined to comment beyond the statement that was >> released today.

And we should say that the mayor's out this statement between the board and the mayor's office that was released to the press today said that this is actually just of transition Chicago is about to welcome a hybrid elected and appointed board.

That will be seated in January for the first time in its history.

And, you know, the statement said this is just something we're doing to help facilitate that transition.

And so let's the official word.

But, you know, I've had sources tell me that that's not really the full truth, that there was a pressure campaign from the mayor's office, too kind of, you know, have board members step down.

And and as if you're not going get with the program, move on essentially is what the U.S. okay.

What does this mean for Pedro Martinez?

The CEO hit, as you noted, it is a really at the center of this chaos.

Does this mean that he will be losing his job in short order?

So we'll have to see it, you but, you know, one could speculate that the mayor will now choose replacements for the board right ahead of the elected school board coming in.

And so what the mayor could do is appoint folks you know, may move to fire Pedro Martinez.

But what's important to remember is that Martinez's contract actually has clauses that either require can if they want to fire him, they have to fire him for cause.

So that means, you know, accusing him of potentially something criminal something more simple like a, you disobeying the board or making the district looks and the other option is to fire him, give him 6 months notice meaning he would stay in the position for 6 months and then would be owed, you know, many weeks of severance.

And so it is it's still yet to be seen what will and hard EMA, a change like this being made without the expectation from Johnson's office that there has to be a bigger change to come after the facts right?

It absolutely.

And actually, you know, I asked this very question to Deputy Mayor Jan Johnson, who, you know, oversees education policy in the mayor's office.

teachers union as well.

Correct.

Yes, yes.

Used to work for the CTU.

And, you know, she said I asked her, is this something that the mayor wants his new whoever's coming next to do to fire Martinez and to prove a short-term loan.

And, you know, she didn't directly answer that question.

But she said, you know, we are trying to transform schools.

That's why Brandon Johnson was elected.

And, you know, the new board will have to figure out how to pay for these upcoming costs that are going to be right in front of us.

And that's that's about as much as they would say.

So many unknowns here we had, despite all of the reporting that the mayor wanted Martinez out and this change the mayor.

I know this week denying that he had asked for Martinez to exit.

So so much there.

Want let you go.

But just briefly here, how shocking how big is deal is this?

This is this has never happened before.

And mayors never replaced a board like this or has had to face that decision so quickly.

And I feel pretty comfortable saying that this is going to be a very defining moment for his Marelli.

Thank you so much for your perspective.

We're very glad to have your expertise again on this breaking news of the day.

We want to bring our panelists and on this discussion as well.

So let's introduce them joining us this evening.

Chris Jones from the Chicago Tribune, Amy of the Chicago Sun-Times and also Alden Loury of WBEZ.

Also from Washington, D.C., Via Zoom, Lynn Sweet.

Also of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Let's stick with CPS for a bit.

Kristen, want to stick with as Rima noted, that mayor said that this is about transitions, that you can have some of the appointed members.

>> Of the board sticking on come January when those who win in the November election will join.

Do you buy that?

You know, I don't think anybody buys that.

I don't think anybody on the bull buys out.

I'm not sure even the matter would buy that.

That's clearly, you know what's not going on.

What's not what's going on here.

>> I think this is a sort of cowardly move on the part of the broad just to put it bluntly.

I don't know which of them support the mayor in this in this issue of the loan in the issue of 5 of the firing Mister Martinez.

And I don't know which of them are opposed to it.

And I think that's what they wanted.

I don't think any of them wanted to show that happened.

So that into it with the administration wanted to, you know, sort of keep that bona fides.

OK and the people who wanted to oppose it don't have to oppose the And I think it's ultimately not a good, not a good thing.

I think we should have transparency and we should be clear what you know, why these board members resigning person by person.

One of reasons is it the same reason is it different reasons who believes who supports alone?

Who does not, who supports Mister Naughtiness, who does not?

We don't know any of it.

And there is 0 transparency yet nobody seems to know or is at least speaking on the record.

I know a lot of education journalists have been asking those questions and you're not hearing anything from the members of the board.

All did.

Can you weigh in on?

>> And that they are shows today chose to do this job, right, right, I think, you know, Chris is right.

This is what we don't know exactly why the fact that all 7.

Resigning in one fell swoop is an indication that there is at least some level of agreement that.

>> You know, we're on same boat in some way.

I'm wondering if there's some board members who are really adamant about wanting to to depart and then there were others who may be a little on the fence.

And the sense was maybe as a sign of solidarity.

Well, let's just all step away.

We don't know.

But I think the reasons why this is occurring perhaps will become clear once we see what happens from here on out the mayor is going to pick 7 people to fill those seats.

Those people are going to have to decide ultimately on whether Martinez stays or goes, they're probably going to be a big part of whether or not we get this loan and how they're going to handle the budget situations.

And then, of course, the season to see to contract.

>> So what's at play there in the contract on Well, I don't know the particulars in terms of the that they were ones.

There's a significant level of increase that that that that that the the union seeking, particularly considering the district's strain finances is a really big ask.

So when this all shakes up at the end of the day, I think it will be revealed to us maybe why why we are where we hoping that you can weigh in here.

>> Is this a review of the mayor's agenda?

He has said >> that he was elected to change Chicago's schools chose these people to carry out that mission.

And now really in a relatively short amount of time flipping the script.

>> We're not there is big difference between change in chaos.

This is not change.

If Brandon Johnson becomes a one term mayor, let's time stamp it for these days surrounding school board mess.

Then, you know, this is not how you make people make parents want to put their children in public schools.

And this is a test of the Chicago teachers union.

Just today.

They don't or not least 140,000 different community should try to influence this school board election that now is our we're not not just getting straight.

This is not how you do change, don't contain and then you have your own school We are So in the middle of this all you could find 7 other people who are not up to speed.

Let me make a quick prediction.

Do really think this is not going to cross?

Are taxpayers in Chicago?

Millions may be of dollars in litigation over what may happen.

Not only in what happens to Pedro drugs, kept can't rationally but do you really think that if this school takes out what some have called payday loan to pay CTU, increase that there's not going to be lawsuits about it.

Let's get real here.

>> in westward to you on this topic, Chris, there is so much to Malta.

And I know our alderman already sent a newsletter out saying I'm disturbed by it.

And I we consider my local alderman, frankly, to be one of that.

The mayor's allies.

Where does this leave him with the city council in just in general his power beyond CPS?

Well, I think with this and other issues like ShotSpotter, it leaves him in a very vulnerable position with City Council.

I think all of this stems from.

>> What he should have done is recuse himself in terms of matters relating to see to you.

was never going to It doesn't mean that he wasn't the right thing to do.

I mean, everybody knows that they helped elect him.

They he should have said, Look, I'm I'm gonna stand.

I'm gonna I'm gonna stand out from this.

>> I'm going to, you know, stand for what I believe in.

And my job is to take care of the interest of the city, not CTU.

Now he's in have a compounding mess as a consequence of not having the backbone to stand up there and say that and that's it.

It's it's just a as Len says, Essendon spiraling element of chaos in the city in Lynn wants to say more land.

Back to you.

What you're trying to get in there.

>> This air that was blocked by the Chicago teachers Union.

Everybody.

They are getting what they paid for.

mayor and your team, if you're listening, I know this sounds harsh.

You know how this got started.

And, you know, bankrolled your campaign and you know who mission Egypt.

This is the result how the Brandon Johnson was.

Strachan and this is what it has brought to this precipice that we're on now.

>> Chicago families all waiting to learn what this means for them, particularly those who school-age children.

Meanwhile, we're also going to have to wait at least a couple more weeks to learn what the mayor's vision is for the overall city budget, which is facing a deficit.

As we noted, in part because CPS shifting pension costs back to the line there, you know, all done.

Is there going to be an extra couple of weeks for the mayor to cook up a budget, going to make any any difference?

You suppose I don't know.

This is this is the mayors in really tight, tight bind If I mean, if CPS gets gets his lawn.

>> I if the mayor is able to in some kind of way, peas willing to kind of go back on this promise around property taxes that could be a potential fix.

>> But, you plus a billion dollar deficit.

I mean, in previous budgets, most recent budgets and we were talking about, you know, I don't know fraction of that.

So.

I don't see any easy way he gets out of this.

And, you know, all of this really, I think is also just one last point on on the on the CPS thing.

I see this as like a real legacy moment for I don't know how he escapes being remembered anything other than life would have the pandemic.

Well, Rahm Emanuel had to the McDonald video.

He had the closure of the schools unless your name is daily.

I don't know.

You can have come to her stock in Munich.

Let's not forget the >> So yeah, I don't see how he hounded by.

change in what his administration will be known for now, let's move on to find out who might leading our country a little bit here.

I want to begin actually talking about the vice presidential debate 8.

When everybody here?

Watch it.

Okay.

All right.

Amy, I'm going to go to what are your big takeaways here from that debate?

think it's going to make a difference.

>> I think it was not as bombastic I expected.

It was, you even as our Sun Times headline You know, Good West, Nice and that it was like surprising to see.

>> Both bands and kind of trading off compliments here and there that surprised me.

>> and that they seem to have some common ground and some issues too.

I think the consensus on the debate was that it doesn't change very much.

But at least got to, you know, showcase these these candidates for the first and last time before the election.

I mean, I was a little surprised that watts's performance wasn't strong as I thought it would be as sitting governor he seemed more anxious than I expected increase.

One of the other big takeaways I think came toward the end when a question was asked, actually not the moderators, but Governor Walz you abide by the result of the 2020 election.

Is that something that should last in?

>> Voters memories and be the takeaway here is that just what the Harris campaign wants?

Well, I think I think Vaughn says that that's his existential problem.

He he please Trump an say what is good for the American people.

At the same time.

>> He had a very good debate.

I thought I'll so I thought won the debate.

To the extent that you can define winning a debate in rhetorical terms.

He certainly was the more >> sort to a person of the 2 and that debate.

I think he you can say he made a better case for Trump and Trump makes for Trump.

And I also think that you could say that the debate was more to what Americans expect from the debate.

It was civil.

It both candidates were respectful.

It was like thank God for that.

After having Trump in the other debate.

But violence has this problem.

Well, he con sort of upset the boss and knows that.

And he's made of Faust and buck in say in refusing to say that in 5 they know the the election was the election.

He can do it.

And that's his problem in this insurmountable for in London to you in Washington because we are, you 30 days plus or so out from the election.

>> people can already cast their votes here in Illinois and in Chicago is specifically as it this week.

>> What is your assessment of the race?

>> Well, my chest, I particularly want to say on the debate moment and the end about the election.

Denialism is lasting more than debate story because that is being sent out multiple social media platforms, free media paid media.

So what sliver of people in those 7 swing states for whom this matters, message will get out.

So where do we stand now?

It's tight race.

President Obama is going out on the campaign trail in swing states now for the ticket.

Finally Obama does things when he wants to do it.

You have an abundance of cash Harris has going for her to spend money on the campaign things and you have Trump advance for also and the states we have in Illinois volunteers being volunteer going 2, Wisconsin, Michigan, because we're well positioned to do that.

And there's no presidential race in state.

So export state when it comes to volunteers.

And a lot of our elected officials are also earn the road.

By the way, Mayor Johnson was also planning being on the road for the ticket.

He's also planning to go London.

I guess maybe he'll be there when the Bears are playing and we'll see how that out.

Is the cities in crisis, right, everyone.

All stories are one, but that's where we're right now.

>> Johnson going to one day.

And while the vaers are there and we have Governor JB Pritzker ahead of the election, fact may be packing his bags right now.

So that tomorrow morning he can head off to Japan.

Amy, I know you cover economy.

Any notes there in terms of what why we have our leaders heading overseas.

>> I don't know whether adding overseas, as everyone will the economy's is probably even it is number one thing on most voters minds, especially critical voters in swing states.

And it does come down to our people able to make ends meet.

Are they able to pay for gas or groceries?

We all know inflation has been one of the overarching huge issues last year since the pandemic.

And so people will know if they if they go to the polls and they're feeling like they're struggling you know that that is what it may come down to can can people make ends meet Lakers?

I do think, you know, I can be critical of the map, but I do think he's right to go to the best game in London and schmooze with the business interest.

There is a major media market is the Chicago Bash.

You'd expect the mayor of Chicago.

That's nothing wrong with that.

And has bears aren't paying for anybody here is going come back and sort out the mess talking you know, before move on from the Sorry, go for.

>> He's going to because Rahm Emanuel is the ambassador there.

It's 40 people.

When you look at who's going.

>> It is veritable who's who?

And you are kind of if we're doing the Bears analogy.

kind of like a tailgate party.

>> Before the end of manuals tenure in Tokyo.

So that's kind of take it for what it You know, 40 people when you look at the list is going to do whatever they're doing.

I'm sure there really were the things that I just want our listeners to know.

They are going to have him around him had section when they get there.

>> And before Emanuel moves on, should there be a change in new who runs the White House included in the delegation, by the way, developers, including who are hoping to get some state money to build that stadium at the 78 called.

And I just wanted to briefly go to you because it's a thoughtful member of media.

do you think of how the coverage has We've had now special counsel Jack Smith court filing over President Trump's efforts to stay in power after losing 4 years ago saying that he was ordered to crimes.

If you feel like this is getting the coverage that it deserves, where how that going think it can get right play?

You have wow, this is an incredibly tight, tight, tight rope to walk here because certainly pressure on prosecuting Donald Trump while it has legitimacy.

Certainly across the board, the timing and the fact that coming right in the middle of very contentious presidential election, it's hard for at least the appearance of partisanship potential partisanship being a part of the prosecution.

And the Trump campaign is really leaning begun to that.

almost kind of making him out to be a political martyr in some respects.

And given what the timing of all of this, it's hard for people not to give some credence to that I think we've heard a lot about the prosecution.

We start to hear some details now.

The arm and, know, hearing about some of the back story that was going on some conversations, the former president having heating up to the January 6th so that this was apparently something it was on his mind.

Big question is, is it criminal?

You know, is it is it actually a crime?

And and that's the thing that I think is still to some degree difficult.

If this goes down considering we're right on the doorstep election or potentially right after the election when he could be reelected.

I just don't see how this does not come up with some big partisan Thank you for that.

We are nearly out of time.

So we want to make sure that we think our panel us Chris Jones, >> All the Maori and Sweet, also thanks to remit mean from Chicago.

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 caught.

Bnsf railway, Francine and Doctor Anthony Brown.

And the moment, however, progressive philanthropic fund honor of them and how 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 is our show for this Friday night.

Don't forget, you can get Chicago tonight in the week in review streamed on Facebook, YouTube and our Web site W T Tw Dot com Slash news.

>> And make sure to tune in tonight at 8 for the premiere of Chicago Stories, amusement parks.

>> For an even deeper look at a locking for a skew food.

Yeah, it's a bit of twist and turn from week in review duties.

I got to visit 6 Flags, Great America to ride the American Eagle.

It was a good time.

Let me tell Amy, before we end the show, want to go to you and can share that?

>> Then we had this strike until January 15th, but it.

>> It's why suspended.

We thought there was going to strike out have been suspended.

But one on.

That's right.

So that is piece of good news from this week.

Is dockworkers strike on the east and Gulf coasts that are going to >> basically shut down those ports has and has been suspended till January 15th.

So dockworkers Lee back at work.

You'll be able to get your bananas and your Christmas presents a I mean, I'm I'm joking, but supply chain.

It was another huge problem during the pandemic where goods and products and parts were all backed up ports.

And so, you know it was it was hard.

It was hard for the economy to function.

So and this change the whole tenor violet's sure could have.

And could cost billions of dollars in economic impact.

people were braced for the possibility you know, another hit to the economy just when it looks like it's it's sort of reviving inflation is down.

So eyes in the closed captioning is made possible by Clifford and Clifford Law offices, a Chicago personal injury and wrongful death.

>> That is proud to recognize its 20 attorneys recognized in