>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE WEEK IN REVIEW.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HYPE UP THE NEW INGLEWOOD NATURE TRAIL.

THE TRAIL IS SLATED TO BE BUILT ON AN ABANDONED RAIL TRACK LOCATED BETWEEN 58 AND 59 STREETS AND RUNS FROM WALLACE STREET TWO POINT AVENUE.

THE PROJECT RECENTLY RECEIVED A $20 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT BUT WILL NEED MORE THAN A FEW MORE TO COMPLETE.

>> THE TRAIL WILL SERVE AS A PHYSICAL CONNECTOR AND PATHWAY TO COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION BY PROVIDING NEW SPACE WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF NATURE AND ACCESS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

>> WORKERS WERE LOCKED OUT OF CHICAGO CITY HALL THIS MORNING TO FOR SEVERAL HOURS BUT THAT WAS THE PLAN.

CHICAGO POLICE AND FIRE OFFICIALS CONDUCTED AN ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING EXERCISE TO PREPARE THEMSELVES JUST IN CASE AN EVENT LIKE THAT EVER OCCURRED.

THE BUILDING STAYED CLOSED FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING TO 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND THE ACTUAL EXERCISE TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR.

>> THE GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE THESE EVENTS.

TO STOP THESE EVENTS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, BUT PRACTICING THIS WILL KEEP US IN BETTER SHAPE AND KEEP OUR PREPAREDNESS UP TO PAR AND KEEP OUR COMMUNICATION WITH OUR FELLOW PARTNERS THE BEST WE CAN DO.

>>> ILLINOIS LOSES ITS LONGSHOT BID TO BECOME THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY STATE IN THE NATION.

THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS CHOSE SOUTH CAROLINA TO BE THE PARTIES FIRST PRIMARY STATE IN 2024 MEANING THE IOWA CAUCUSES WILL NOT BE FIRST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS.

AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA, THE TOP FIVE STATES IN ORDER ARE NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEVADA, GEORGIA, AND MICHIGAN.

CHICAGO IS STILL VYING TO HOST THE 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

>>> JOINING US, OUR POLITICAL EDITOR, EDITOR FOR THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER ON OUR GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TEAM.

ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, ED BURKE FINALLY CALLS IT A CAREER AFTER 54 YEARS.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THE CANDIDATES SUBMIT THEIR PETITIONS TO GET BACK ON THE BALLOT.

GARCIA SCORES A MAJOR UNION ENDORSEMENT WHILE LIGHTFOOT FACES ETHICS COMPLAINTS.

A NEW REPORT SAYS PROPERTY TAXES WENT UP THE MOST AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS.

REPUBLICANS STILL AREN'T HAPPY AND MEANWHILE DEMOCRATS PROPOSED A STATEWIDE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN BUT IT WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN UP NEXT YEAR.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED LEGISLATION TO AVERT A POTENTIALLY CRIPPLING RAIL WORKER STRIKE AND TWO CONTROVERSIAL FIGURES WITH ANTI- SEMITIC VIEWS AND TIES TO CHICAGO DINE WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THERE WAS A LOT TO GET TO.

LET'S START WITH THE LEGACY OF ED BURKE.

I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS WEEK HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THAT FEDERAL INDICTMENT.

HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR GETTING RICH AND HAVING THE BEST PLOWED STREETS IN CHICAGO DURING BIG SNOWSTORMS, AM I MISSING ANYTHING?

>> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SUMMARY.

I THINK A LOT OF HIS LEGACY WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER HE'S CONVICTED BECAUSE HE'S INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, BUT HE HAS BEEN UNDER INDICTMENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND HE'S BEEN IN ALDERMAN AND DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEEMAN SINCE BEFORE I WAS BORN SO SINCE THE 60s AND IT'S AN AMAZING LEGACY, BUT IT'S BOOK ENDED BY THIS CORRUPTION SCANDAL WHERE HE SAT IN OFFICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND USED A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT HE RAISED TO DELAY AND DELAY JUSTICE, WHICHEVER WAY THAT GOES, AND THE OTHER BOOK AND OF COURSE IS HIS ROLE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY IN THE 80s IN THE COUNCIL WARS ERA WHICH IS A DISTANT MEMORY IF IT'S EVEN WITHIN THE MEMORY OF SOME OF US HERE IN CHICAGO.

>> OPPOSING THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR IN THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

>> EXACTLY.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SHORTCHANGE A 54 YEAR CAREER BUT THERE WERE SOME POLICY THINGS THAT HE SPEARHEADED.

>> INDEED, HE WAS THE PERSON REALLY MOVING THE BAN ON INDOOR SMOKING WHICH WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL AT THE TIME AND THE MEETINGS WERE EXPLOSIVE IN THOSE DAYS.

IN FACT, PEOPLE USED TO SMOKE IN THE CITY COUNCIL SO IT WAS A BIG FIGHT AND ALSO, HE PUSHED FOR CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS, SO YES, THERE ARE SOME THINGS LIKE THAT AND HE ALSO FANCIED HIMSELF A HISTORIAN OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THAT WOULD COME UP NOT ONLY IN THINGS THAT HE WROTE, BUT ALSO IN HIS SPEECHES ON THE FLOOR WHEN SOMETHING MONUMENTAL WHAT HAPPENED, HE WOULD BE THE ONE.

>> HE WOULD WAX POETIC, HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS ORATORY.

HE RAN FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS UNDER INDICTMENT SO WHY HANG IT UP NOW?

>> NUMBER ONE HIS WIFE WAS RETIRING.

THAT WAS A BIG DEAL, THE TRIAL DATE DRAWING CLOSER AND HIS BROTHER ENCOURAGED HIM TO RETIRE EARLIER SAYING BASICALLY HE HAD HEALTH ISSUES AND HE'S GETTING UP THERE IN AGE AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS AS MUCH FUN ANYMORE NOT LEADING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND NOT BEING AT THE CENTER OF ATTENTION OR SITTING AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.

>> HE DID NOT HAVE THE PROFILE THAT HE ONCE HAD.

>> HIS WARD WAS REMAPPED TO TAKE OUT HIS MOST AVIRULENT SUPPORTERS AND TAKE THAT SECTION OUT SO HIS CHANCES OF BEING REELECTED THIS TIME WERE MUCH LOWER.

>> MOSTLY LATINO WARD AND THE TWO CHALLENGERS.

IS HE GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY?

>> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE'S AT RIGHT NOW BUT I THINK WE ADDED A SEPARATE CAMPAIGN CAN PITY THESE AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $12 MILLION.

>> THAT'S THE ACCUSATION THAT HE LEVERAGED HIS POWER TO BENEFIT HIMSELF WHEN IT'S HIS PRIVATE LAW FIRM SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHAT HIS PERSONAL WEALTH WOULD BE EXACTLY, BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM BEFORE, THAT HE SAVED EVERYTHING, LIKE HE STILL HAS HIS FIRST COMMUNION MONEY SO THIS IS A GUY WHO I DO THINK HAS SOME RESOURCES THAT HE ALSO HAS VERY EXPENSIVE LAWYERS.

>> A WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER.

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT FILES HER PETITIONS TO RUN AGAIN, JULIE GARCIA FILED HIS PETITION, HE MADE A THING ABOUT HIS PETITION STACK BEING THIS BIG AND HER STACK BEING THIS BIG, IS THAT GOING TO MATTER IN THE LONG RUN?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK WHAT MATTERS IS THE BACKING.

>> HE GOT THE ENDORSEMENT OF LOCAL 150 EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF THESE OTHER PROGRESSIVE UNIONS HAVE ALREADY PICKED THEIR CANDIDATES, SO IS IS GOING TO GIVE A BOOST?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THROUGHOUT THIS.

I WILL BE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE UNION SUPPORT IS PEOPLE ON THE GROUND FOR ONE BUT ALSO IN A LOT OF THESE CASES IT'S A LOT OF MONEY SO I WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHERE THE REST OF THE SPLIT GOES.

>> THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME OF THESE UNIONS ARE GOING TO HOLD BACK UNTIL THEY SEE WHO IS IN THE RUNOFF BECAUSE THIS IS A WIDE-FIELD AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO COMMIT YOUR MONEY YOU WANT TO BE BEHIND A WINNER.

>> LIGHTFOOT FACING AN ETHICS COMPLAINT THAT SHE TOOK CAMPAIGN MONEY FROM THE OWNER OF THE CHICAGO FIRE, THAT TEAM WON HER SUPPORT TO BUILD A BREAKFAST FACILITY ON FORMER CHA HOUSING LAND, DOES THIS LOOK BAD OR IS IT WITHIN THE LAW?

>> I THINK IT DOES LOOK BAD.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WITHIN THE LAW OR NOT, THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF LOOPHOLES TO THESE RULES THAT ARE INTENDED TO PREVENT EVEN THE IMPRESSION OF PAY TO PLAY.

THE FORMER MAYOR ALSO HAD A LOT OF RULES BUT WE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE YEARS THAT THEY ARE MASSIVE LOOPHOLES THAT YOU CAN DRAG THROUGH SO IN THIS CASE YOU HAVE A GUY WHO IS A BILLIONAIRE MULTIPLE TIMES OVER WHO OWNS A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM, A MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER FRANCHISE AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FEE FOR LEVEL CORRUPTION OR ANYTHING, BUT THIS WAS LAND THAT WAS PUBLIC HOUSING WHEN THEY STARTED KNOCKING IT DOWN THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE IT AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY PROMISED.

INSTEAD THAT LAND IS GOING TO A PROFESSIONAL FRANCHISE OWNED BY A VERY RICH GUY WHO THEN GIVES $25,000 A COUPLE MONTHS LATER TO THE MAYOR AND REMEMBER SHE HAD TO USE SOME OF HER CLOUT TO PUSH IT THROUGH.

THERE WAS RESISTANCE AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PRACTICE FACILITY.

I DO THINK IT'S AN ISSUE OF PERCEPTION.

>> THIS COMPLAINT WAS FILED BY HER NEMESIS SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME SOUR GRAPES.

YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS MIGHT HURT HER CHANCES OF REELECTION?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK IT WILL HURT HER CHANCES.

>> HOUSING ADVOCATES OBVIOUSLY, THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE PROMISED REPLACEMENT HOUSING ON THAT LAND AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A REPORT THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE THAT SHOWS THAT THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY IN THE COUNTY WENT UP FOUR PERCENT.

>> WHAT A SHOCKER.

>> AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES SKYROCKETED IN SOME LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> THE FACT THAT THERE WAS SUCH A REDUCTION IN THE VALUE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DONE BY THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW THAT IT SHIFTED MORE BURDEN NOT ONLY UP TO LATINO COMMUNITIES BUT ON TO EVERYONE.

>> LATINO COMMUNITIES HERE MENTIONING, THEY ARE GENTRIFYING A LOT SO BASICALLY HE'S SAYING I DID WHAT I PROMISED I WAS GOING TO DO, SHIFTING THE BURDEN FROM RESIDENTIAL, BUT THE BOARD OF REVIEW DECIDED TO GO THE OTHER WAY SO IS THIS WHAT'S CAUSING THE RATE TO RISE SO MUCH?

>> THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING REPORT DONE BY THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT LEVIES WENT UP.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS RAISE THEIR LEVY.

THE COVID REDUCTION FOR THE ASSESSOR PUT INTO PLACE ALSO PLAYED A ROLE, IT LOWERED PROPERTY VALUES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND WHEN THEY SHOT BACK UP BECAUSE THE COVID MARKET WAS SO INSANE IT MADE PEOPLE'S BILLS SKYROCKET SO WE CAN'T BLAME ALL OF THIS ON THE BOARD OF REVIEW.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT PLAY BUT FOLK BASICALLY DON'T CARE.

>> HOMEOWNERS ARE BEARING MORE OF THE BURDEN AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> IS THERE ANY KIND OF RECOURSE?

AS WE MENTION THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS USING LAWYERS LIKE ED BURKE OR AT LEAST BACK IN THE DAY THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD DO AND MIKE MADIGAN WOULD GO TO THE BOARD OF REVIEW UNSUCCESSFULLY GET THOSE BILLS DOWN.

WHAT'S THE RECOURSE?

>> THERE WAS ONE THAT ACTUALLY FLAGGED THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

>> AND THEN THE OTHER IMPACT YOU'VE GOT IS IN THE GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS, THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CRYING AND IN ANGER ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN TAXES GO UP AND HOME PRICES GO UP BECAUSE IT'S MORE AFFLUENT PEOPLE MOVING IN AND THAT WILL ALSO PLAY INTO THE ELECTIONS COMING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE TOLD YOU SO.

WE TOLD YOU THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED OUT.

>> IT WILL BE TOUGHER TO STAY IN THESE PLACES AS THEY GENTRIFY.

LET'S MOVE TO NEWS IN SPRINGFIELD, DEMOCRATS FINALLY PASSED LONG-SOUGHT CHANGES TO THE SAFETY ACT.

WHAT ARE THESE CHANGES AND WILL THEY ASSUAGE THE PROSECUTORS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS?

>> IT WON'T ASSUAGE ALL OF THEM BECAUSE SOME OF THEM REALLY WANT TO FILE A LAWSUIT TO SCRATCH THE ENTIRE LAW, BUT IT IS SATISFYING SOME OF THEM.

WHAT THEY ENDED UP DOING IS ADDING MORE CRIMES THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE HELD AHEAD OF TRIAL.

CASH BOND GOES AWAY AND I THINK PEOPLE JUST THINK IF WE START PUTTING MORE MONEY BACK, IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY.

THE ISSUE IS THE PEOPLE CAN BE HELD WITHOUT BAIL AND NOW THERE'S MORE OFFENSES FOR THAT.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHANGE THEY'VE MADE IN THEY'VE ALSO TWEAKED SOME OF THE FORMULAS.

>> THEY ALSO ADDED IF YOU ARE FLIGHT RISK THEY CAN ISSUE A SUMMONS OR AN ARREST WARRANT AND I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED BY THAT, PEOPLE THAT DEAL WITH EVERYDAY LIFE SITUATIONS WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A COURT DATE SO THAT'S WORRISOME.

>> SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THE JUDGE NOW CAN USE AND DEFENDANTS HISTORY OF NOT SHOWING UP FOR COURT DATES TO DMM A FLIGHT RISK AND THUS THEY MIGHT HAVE TO BE DETAINED SO YOU'RE SAYING SOME FOLKS THAT MIGHT GET THEM CAUGHT UP IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY HAD LEGITIMATE REASONS.

>> I FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT WHOLE SITUATION.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE DONE IS TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT KIND OF STANDARDS CAN BE USED TO KEEP SOMEONE, BEFORE IT WAS KIND OF AMORPHOUS.

NOW THEY ARE MORE EXPLICIT AND WE WILL HAVE TO SEE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEY'VE GOT TWO YEARS TO WORK THIS OUT AND THEN THEY ENDED UP RUSHING TO DO IT IN A MATTER OF MONTHS.

>> THE STATES ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THESE DETENTION HEARINGS, ARE THESE OFFICERS READY FOR THIS?

>> THERE WERE 100 OUT OF 100 TO COUNTIES WHERE THE PROSECUTORS WERE OPPOSED, BUT LESS I HEARD THE ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTORS HAS COME AROUND ON THIS, AT LEAST WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE IN SPRINGFIELD IN THE PAST WEEKEND THAT WOULD PRESUMABLY BE SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR OF THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET, SO I THINK THIS WAS A BEING THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE DURING THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE REPUBLICANS AND I WOULD SAY THEY BANKED ALL THEIR HOPES ON THAT ISSUE MORE THAN ANY OTHER.

AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK.

>> AND YET IT DID SPUR SOME OF THESE CHANGES TO BE MADE ALTHOUGH I THINK THE SPONSORS WOULD SAY THESE ARE MORE CLARIFICATIONS THAN ANY SORT OF ESSENTIAL.

>> A LOT OF THEM WERE SAYING THIS WAS TRUE FROM THE BEGINNING BUT MAYBE THE LANGUAGE WASN'T CLEAR.

>> THERE WAS FEAR THAT ON JANUARY 1 THE DOORS OF THE JAILS WOULD OPEN UP PEOPLE WOULD RUN OUT, THEY BASICALLY INSTITUTED A TIERED SYSTEM'S A LOWER-LEVEL OFFENSES.

>> THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING HELD TO HAVE TO BE TITIAN TO BE RELEASED, IF YOU THINK YOU FALL UNDER THIS, YOU CAN ASK FOR HEARING, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EVERYBODY BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WILL KNOW THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A SHOT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

DO YOU THINK THE STATES ATTORNEYS AND PUBLIC OFFENDERS WILL BE READY TO DEAL WITH THIS?

>> I CAN'T REALLY SAY, I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GETTING READY BUT TO SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE READY, WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE.

>> SON SAY THEY SUPPORTED IN PRINCIPLE BUT NOT THE WAY IT IS.

THE DUPAGE COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY, WHO HAS BEEN WON OVER HERE?

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.

>> I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY SAY THIS.

>> COOK COUNTY IS COOL WITH IT.

>> A LONGTIME SUPPORTER AND THEY HAVE THE LARGEST JAIL POPULATION OF THE STATE SO THEY WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.

>> ALSO IN SPRINGFIELD NEWS, BOB MORGAN INTRODUCED GUN- CONTROL MEASURES TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS, HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES, EVEN THE DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD SUPER MAJORITIES FOR A LONG TIME, GUN CONTROL HAS NOT BEEN THE EASIEST THE TO PASS SO ARE THEY ASSANGE TO PASS IN THE NEXT SESSION?

>> NO, NOTHING IS ASSANGE TO PASS.

GUN LEGISLATION IS NOT A REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC ISSUE, IT'S A CHICAGO DOWNSTATE ISSUE AND THAT'S GOING TO STILL BE THE CASE.

I SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR OF HIGHLAND PARK WHERE THEY HAVE AN ASSAULT WEAPON BAN IN THEY'VE HAD SINCE 2013, EVEN BEFORE AND IT'S BEEN UPHELD AND THE MAYOR IS VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY HAVE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE, THIS CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR AREA, TOO, THIS IS NOT JUST NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND THAT IT ISN'T TAKING GUNS AWAY THAT PEOPLE NEED, IT'S TAKING AWAY WARLIKE WEAPONS.

>> HOW IMPACTFUL IS A STATEWIDE BAN WHEN ALL THE STATES SURROUNDING ILLINOIS HAVE THESE GUNS FREELY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE?

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE LEGISLATION WE'VE HAD AND YET STUFF FLOODS IN FROM INDIANA WHICH IS NOT VERY FAR, IT BORDERS THE CITY ITSELF AND MUCH OF THE STATE, SO THERE WAS A FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN ONLY FROM 1994 TO 2004 WHEN IT EXPIRED AND I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> BIDEN HAS PROPOSED OR WANTS TO REINSTITUTE THAT BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY WILL DO THAT.

>> IN ILLINOIS IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AFTER WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FOURTH OF JULY ON HIGHLAND PARK IN THAT PARADE, THEN I MEAN ALYSSA >> OR WHAT HAPPENS IN CHICAGO ALL THE TIME LIKE GARFIELD PARK WITH 11 PEOPLE SHOT IN THE SPAN OF THREE SECONDS.

>>> LET'S MOVE ON TO NATIONAL NEWS, CONGRESS PASSES LEGISLATION TO AVERT A RAIL STRIKE AND BIDEN SIGN THE BILL INTO LAW THIS MORNING.

>> THE NATION'S RAIL SYSTEM IS LITERALLY THE BACK BONE OF OUR SUPPLY CHAIN AND SO MUCH OF WHAT WE RELY ON IS DELIVERED ON RAIL, FROM CLEAN WATER TO FOOD AND GAS AND EVERY OTHER GOOD.

A RAIL SHUT DOWN WOULD HAVE DEVASTATED OUR ECONOMY.

MANY OF THE U.S. INDUSTRY IS WOULD LITERALLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT FREIGHT RAIL.

>> SO SOME OF THE UNIONS WERE STILL HOLDING OUT, ARE THEY UPSET THAT THIS LAW PASSED AND THEY BASICALLY HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK AND CAN'T STRIKE?

>> THEY ARE VERY UPSET.

THEY WANTED SEVEN DAYS OF PAID SICK LEAVE WHICH WASN'T PART OF THIS DEAL SO THE DEAL THAT BIDEN SIGNED IS THE DEAL THEY DID BACK IN SEPTEMBER TO PREVENT THE STRIKE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW SO THEY DIDN'T GET THAT, THEY BASICALLY GOT A 24 PERCENT RAISE AND THEY ALSO GOT HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND BIDEN IS ACTUALLY GETTING A LOT OF SMOKE FOR THIS BECAUSE HE SUPPOSED TO BE PROUNION BUT HE SAID HE WOULD GO BACK AND DEAL WITH EATING PAID SICK LEAVE FOR ALL WORKERS BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A TIMELINE FOR WHEN HE WILL DO THAT.

>> THERE WAS A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED SEVEN DAYS OF PAID SICK LEAVE FOR THESE RAIL WORKERS THAT GOT FILIBUSTERED IN THE SENATE SO IS THAT PRETTY MUCH DEAD ON ARRIVAL?

>> IT WAS INTRODUCED BY BERNIE SANDERS AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 60 VOTES AND I THINK IT WAS LIKE 52 SO THEY WERE SHORT AND IT DIDN'T GET THE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD GET.

>> HOW DID THIS GET DONE?

IT'S INTERESTING THE OTHER BILL DID GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING BUT I REALLY DO FEEL BAD FOR THE WORKERS.

IT'S DEFINITELY TOUGH, IT WAS SOMETHING I FEEL LIKE OTHER PEOPLE EXPECTED.

JUST BECAUSE BIDEN SIGNED LEGISLATION DOESN'T MEAN, I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FOR AN OFFICIAL STRIKE.

LIKE WORKERS CAN'T SLOW THEIR PACE.

>> SO YOU ARE SAYING THERE MIGHT BE SOME ACTION?

BUT WE SHOULD MENTION THAT SOME UNIONS WERE OKAY WITH THAT DEAL THAT BIDEN HAD OKAYED.

>> PUBLICLY I THINK HE WILL FACE THAT, BUT WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT, THEY WANT THEIR CHRISTMAS, SO THEY ARE SYMPATHETIC BUT THEY ARE NOT READY TO SACRIFICE BEING ABLE TO GET THE GOODS THAT THEY NEED IN THEIR HOMES.

>> I WANT TO BRING UP THIS NATIONAL STORY BECAUSE THERE ARE CONNECTIONS TO CHICAGO, THE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DINNER WITH TWO, VERY PUBLIC ANTI-SEMITES.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THESE IDEOLOGIES, WHITE SUPREMACY AND ANTI- SEMITISM BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THE GUY TRYING TO BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE COURTS REPRESENTATIVE LIKE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE WHO ASSOCIATES WITH SOMEONE LIKE NICK FUENTES, CAN YOU CONCLUDE THAT INDEED THERE HAS BEEN A PLACE FOR MAYBE A SMALL PLACE IN THE GOP FOR THESE IDEOLOGIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

KEVIN McCARTHY ANOTHER THING I REMEMBER WITH HIM AFTER THE JANUARY 6 THE REST WERE MADE OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ENTER THE CAPITOL, ONE WHO IS FROM THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS HAD MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO KEVIN McCARTHY AND OTHER REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS LOCALLY AND SOME OF THOSE REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS GAVE THE MONEY BACK.

KEVIN McCARTHY DIDN'T EVEN CALL US BACK MUCH LESS GIVE THE MONEY BACK.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT THERE'S A NARROW MARGIN FOR HIM TO BECOME THE SPEAKER AND IT SEEMS TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO CONDEMN THE FAR RIGHT AND HE SEEMS TO BE MAKING DEALS WITH THEM IN ORDER TO COALESCE HIS POWER AND BECOME THE SPEAKER, BUT NICK FUENTES, KANYE WEST, ALL YOU CAN SAY IS TWO VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ENDED UP TOGETHER AND CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AS WE SAW, NOT JUST ANTI-SEMITISM, BUT ALSO MISOGYNY.

>> AND AUTHORITARIANISM, NONBELIEF AND DEMOCRACY.

>> THERE WERE PRO RUSSIA COMMENTS, PRO VLADIMIR PUTIN COMMENTS SO IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE WHOLE GAMUT OF OFFENSIVE SPEECH.

>> IS THE FACT THAT TRUMP HAD DINNER WITH THESE FOLKS AND THERE ARE SOME IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CALLING IT OUT, IS IS GOING TO DAMAGE HIS HOPES TO BE THE LEADER AND WHEN THE PRIMARY IN 2024?

>> LET'S FACE IT, THEY ARGUE, IF YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO THE REPORTS OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE DINNER, THEY WERE ARGUING WITH HIM, SO I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER CASE WHERE YES, HE SHOULDN'T HAVE INVITED THEM BUT HE CAN'T BE ACCUSED OF ACTUALLY EMBRACING THEM.

>> FOR HIM TO SAY HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, IS THE SECRET SERVICE VETTING ANYONE WHO'S GOING TO GO FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT?

>> THE REPORTS I SAW IS HE SAID HE WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH NICK FUENTES AND HE WAS NOT GOING AS FAR AS MAYBE THEY WOULD'VE LIKED WHAT HE SAID HIS PEOPLE, HIS ADVISORS WERE HOLDING HIM BACK SO WAS THAT A TACIT EMBRACE?

>> WHO KNOWS WHAT TO BELIEVE BUT I BELIEVE ALL FOUR OF YOU, BUT WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.