>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON A SPECIAL YEAR-END EDITION OF THE WEEK INTERVIEW.

I'M PARIS SHOTS SHOCKING UPSETS, CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS AND ESCALATING CRISIS SURROUNDING THE ARRIVAL AND HOUSING OF ASYLUM SEEKING MIGRANTS TONIGHT LOOK BACK AT 2023.

>> SAY FIRST TO WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK TO AND TO THE SOUL CHICAGO.

>> WITNESS BRANDON JOHNSON TAKES THE REINS AS CHICAGO'S 57TH MAYOR CAPPING AN UNLIKELY AND HISTORIC RISE BACKED BY THE POWERFUL CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION JOHNSON NARROWLY DEFEATS FORMER SCHOOLS CHIEF PAUL VALLAS IN A RUNOFF AND ENDS A TUMULTUOUS FIRST AND ONLY TERM FOR LORI LIGHTFOOT MARKED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

LET'S CONTINUE.

TO KEEP OUR CITY GREAT WITH JOHNSON COMES CONSENSUS PICK FOR NEW POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING.

ABOUT TO TOW THE LINE BETWEEN POLICE REFORM AND POLICE SUPPORT.

>> WE WILL NEVER CLOSE OUR AND SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE.

>> JOHNSON IMMEDIATELY CONFRONT CHICAGO'S ESCALATING MIGRANT CRISIS WITH THOUSANDS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS BEING SENT TO CHICAGO FROM THE BORDER.

>> THIS IS OUR BACK SO NOT YOU HAVE TAKEN UP >> COMMUNITIES PROTEST AGAINST TEMPORARY MIGRANT SHELTERS.

POLICE STATIONS GET OVERRUN AND A BOTCHED ATTEMPT TO BUILD A TENT ENCAMPMENT LEAVES ALLIES AND FOES QUESTIONING THE ADMINISTRATION'S ABILITY TO HUMANELY HANDLE THE SITUATION.

THE CRISIS COMES AS CHICAGO LANDS.

THIS SUMMER'S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1996 GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS INTENT ON SHOWCASING THE CITY AND HIS OWN ROLE AS A NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC POWER PLAYER.

THIS CASE WAS ABOUT BRIBERY AND EXTORTION.

OCCURRING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

CHICAGO CITY GOVERNMENT 2023 WAS ALSO THE YEAR.

2 HISTORIC AND POWERFUL POLITICAL RAINS CAME TO A CORRUPT END 50 YEAR.

ALDERMAN ED BURKE WHO LORDED OVER THE POWERFUL FINANCE COMMITTEE AND ALWAYS OPERATED ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE FED'S CONVICTED IN HISTORIC RACKETEERING CASE WHERE HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE TRADED CITY APPROVALS FOR ATTEMPTS TO GET BUSINESS FOR HIS PRIVATE LAW PRACTICE.

FORMER TOP COMMENT OFFICIALS AND MIKE MADIGAN CONNECTED LOBBYIST ALSO TAKEN DOWN IN MASSIVE FEDERAL BRIBERY CASE.

IT SERVES AS A PRELUDE FOR THE FORMER POWERFUL ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER'S OWN ALLEGED BRIBERY TRIAL.

AFTER MYRIAD COURT CHALLENGES.

THE CONTROVERSIAL ILLINOIS NO CASH BAIL LAW FINALLY TAKES EFFECT WITHOUT ANY IMMEDIATE APPARENT IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

MEANWHILE, CHALLENGERS LINEUP TO REPLACE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX STEPPING DOWN AFTER THIS TERM.

AND STATE LAWMAKERS CAN'T AGREE ON WHETHER CHICAGO SHOULD MOVE TO A FULLY ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD THIS YEAR.

WE'RE DOWN THE ROAD.

IN SPORTS, NASCAR SHUTS MICHIGAN AVENUE DOWN FOR ITS SOGGY HISTORIC FIRST-EVER CITY RACE IN CHICAGO.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY ROCKED BY A ABUSE AND HAZING SCANDAL THAT ENDS THE CAREER OF LONGTIME HEAD COACH PAT FITZGERALD.

THE BEARS FINISHED ANOTHER LACKLUSTER YEAR WITH BIG QUESTIONS AT QUARTERBACK AND HEAD COACH.

MORE BLAHS ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE IS JERRY REINSDORF CLEANS HOUSE AT THE TOP OF THE WHITE SOX AND BLACKHAWKS PHENOM.

CONNOR BEDARD PROVIDE SPARK OF EXCITEMENT AS FANS CAN ONLY HOPE 2024 TO BRING BETTER RESULTS ALL ACROSS CHICAGO SPORTS LANCE.

>> IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER ON THAT FRONT.

I TO OUR WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL NOW JOINING US ARE CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, RICK PEARSON, LAURA WASHINGTON, POLITICAL ANALYST FOR ABC 7 AND A COLUMNIST FOR THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

OUR OWN HEATHER SHARON AND ROBERT SCOOP, JACKSON SPORTS REPORTER AND COLUMNIST AT THE CHICAGO I'M HOPING WE CAN GET INTO ALL OF A YEAR IN ABOUT 26 A SCOOP JACKSON ONE A HALF YEAR OR MORE INTO BRANDON JOHNSON TERM AS MAYOR OF CHICAGO.

SAFER, BETTER, STRONGER.

>> NONE OF THE ABOVE.

HAHAHA.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE GETTING SOMEBODY IN OFFICE WHO HASN'T HAD EXPERIENCE IN DOING ANYTHING DOES BEGIN AT THIS MAGNITUDE AND IT'S A SLOW PROCESS.

WE'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AS A SLOW PROCESS WE WANT TO HAVE THEY WANT THINGS UP MORE QUICKER FROM HIM AND HIS ADMINISTRATION.

BUT THE TIME WE HAD TO PUT THE MINISTRATION TOGETHER, THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING AND THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE A SCENE FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING ALSO THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE PLACED DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.

AND THEY'RE KIND OF JUST FIGURING OUT AS THEY GO ALONG.

AND THIS IS THE CITY TO TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

ESPECIALLY ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS, WHICH WE'LL GET TO IT IN >> BACK MOSTLY BY THE VERY POWERFUL CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.

I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THE MOST POWERFUL POLITICAL ORGANIZATION IN ILLINOIS RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE AT THE HEIGHT OF THEIR POWER.

ARE THEY USING IT WISELY OR IS IT A CASE OF BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR RIGHT NOW?

WELL, IS VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY ANTICIPATED BACK IN MAY THAT WE WOULD SEE THE MIGRANT CRISIS ESCALATE TO THE WAY THAT WE HAVE.

WE'VE SEEN.

>> 2 MAJOR WAVES WERE APPEARED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF ANOTHER ONE IN THE MIDDLE WINTER, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNUSUAL.

AND IT'S HARD TO JUDGE WHAT BRANDON JOHNSON WOULD HAVE DONE IF HE HAD NOT HAD A FULL-BLOWN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS ON HIS HANDS.

HE WILL BE JUDGED ON HOW HE ULTIMATELY HANDLES THIS CRISIS.

THAT IS VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS, WHICH ISN'T TO SAY THAT HE HASN'T HAD ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN HIS FIRST 7 OR 8 MONTHS IN OFFICE.

HE GOT HIS BUDGET THROUGH.

HE'S GOING TO ASK VOTERS IN MARCH TO HIKE THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX TO CREATE A DEDICATED FUND FOR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.

AND THOSE ARE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT OTHER MAYORS ARE DISMAYED.

HALFHEARTED ATTEMPTS FAR SO FAR HE HAS DONE.

HE HAS DONE THOSE THINGS, BUT HE HAS JUST A MASSIVE AMOUNT ON HIS TO DO LIST FOR 2020, CERTAINLY HAS HAD A COMMAND OF CITY COUNCIL ON THOSE THINGS AHEAD OR MENTIONED WHERE WASHINGTON, BUT THAT THIS MIGRANT CRISIS THREATENED.

>> TO MAYBE LOSE HIS GRIP AS SOME OF HIS ALLIES ARE QUESTIONING.

>> ADMINISTRATION'S ABILITY TO HANDLE THIS COMPETENT.

DOESN'T THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?

LORI LIGHTFOOT DURING HER PICKED HER TERM, HAD MANY OF HER ALLIES VERY UNHAPPY WITH HER.

THE MIGRANT CRISIS REMINDS ME A LOT OF THE PANDEMIC.

2 VERY EVENTS.

2 VERY DIFFERENT TIMES.

BUT THAI ISSUES AND CHALLENGES THAT THAT THESE MAYORS, LORI LIGHTFOOT AND BRANDON JOHNSON COULD NOT ANTICIPATING AND IN MANY WAYS THAT WERE GOING TO PREPARE FOR HOW EXPERIENCED THEY ARE.

THE QUESTION IS THE MIGRANT CRISIS GOING TO DO TO JOHNSON WHAT THE PANDEMIC LORI LIGHTFOOT WOULD LIKE, IN A LOT OF MISTAKES, SHE WAS THE PERFECT MAYOR.

BUT THERE.

BUT THE PANDEMIC, I THINK REALLY UNDERMINE HER TO THE POINT WHERE SHE COULDN'T PULL THROUGH HER AGENDA AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MAKE THE INFECTION.

WANT TO SEE BECAUSE SHE WAS SO ONE THE MIGRANTS AND ALSO THE VIOLENCE THAT CAME OUT OF THE GEORGE FLOYD DEBACLE.

SO THERE IS THAT THERE WAS A LOT ON THE TABLE THAT SHE HAD TO HANDLE THAT.

AND IF YOU THINK IT UNDERMINES U.S. SEES DEFINES LEADERSHIP.

AND THERE'S GOOD IS THAT THIS THESE ARE SOME PRETTY BIG YES, BUT BUT BUT BUT I DO GET THE FEELING.

I MEAN, WE SEE THE ISSUE MOVING TO THE MIGRANT ISSUE ABOUT.

>> YOU KNOW, THE THE ENCAMPMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THIS THING AND NOW THE TOXIC WASTE SITE WHY DID THAT PROGRESS AS FAR AS WHERE THE EXPERIENCES THAT COMES IN HE DOES HAVE A PLAN IS LIKE HE'S BOUNCING FROM AND THAT'S ONE OF IN THIS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS.

I MEAN, I MEAN, HE TALKS, YOU DON'T GET ANY SPECIFICS.

IT'S A 7 LAYER WORD OF OF GENERALITIES.

WHEN YOU ASK FOR SPECIFICS, THERE AREN'T ANY.

AND FRANKLY, I THINK YOU CAN ACCOMMODATE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW HE HAD NO PREVIOUS BIG GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE.

YOU CAN I'M STILL TRYING TO WORK THIS THROUGH AND SAY AND HE'S AROUND PEOPLE.

AND WITH THAT TYPE EXPERIENCE, WHAT ABOUT 24 O'CLOCK?

LOCAL COUNTY PRESENT WHEN PRACTICAL HUSSO WHO SUPPOSED TO MENTORING HIM.

AND I'M WONDERING WHAT WHOLE TIME FROM HER ON THE CREDIT.

AND HAVE OFFERED THEIR FISCAL HELP.

AND SOME FRONT ALSO, YOU KNOW, OFFERING COOK COUNTY HEALTH AS A SCREENING CENTER FOR MIGRANTS TO GET HEALTH CHECKUPS.

BUT >> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU, RICK PEARSON'S.

IT SEEMS LIKE EACH SUCCESSIVE MAYOR, THEIR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.

RAHM WAS PRETTY THEN LORI LIGHTFOOT EVEN MORE.

SO BRANDON JOHNSON, WE'VE INTERVIEWED HIM A FEW TIMES.

IT'S HARD TO GET IT RIGHT?

HE KNOWS A LOT OF WORDS.

BUT HE DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU HE HAS?

YOU KNOW, FOLKS CAME IN AS IT IS HE GOING TO HAVE THIS VERY FAR LEFT PROGRESSIVE MANDATE MADE SOME CHOICES LIKE LARRY SNELLING AS THE POLICE CHIEF THAT THE FOP WAS IN FAVOR OF HIS CHIEF OF STAFF IS A DAILY HOLDOVER.

SO SOME PERHAPS CENTRIST TENDENCIES.

OH, FOR SURE, FOR SURE.

IF YOU EXPECTED BRINGING JOHNSON TO TAKE OFFICE IN AND BLOW UP THE SYSTEM, THAT IS NOT WHAT HE HAS DONE.

AND THERE'S A GOOD BIT OF FRUSTRATION AMONG THE PROGRESSIVES, THE GROUPS THAT WANT THAT FUELED HIS RISE THAT HE HAS NOT DONE THAT.

>> THAT CHICAGO POLICE BUDGET IS GOING TO REACH 2 BILLION DOLLARS IN 2024, THAT IS NEARLY A 3RD OF ALL OF THE CITY'S DISCRETIONARY AND IS IN MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING TOWARD LOCKING PEOPLE UP, WHICH IS ANATHEMA TO SORT OF WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND WHAT PEOPLE SORT OF SAW IN HIM AS A MAYORAL CANDIDATE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, AS WE ALL KNOW, IF YOU'RE THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO, YOU HOPE THE JACKET FOR CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

AND I IMAGINE THAT AS WE ALL SORT OF GET BACK UP, YOU KNOW, IN 2024, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE 13% DROP IN HOMICIDES WERE GETTING HER LAST ABOUT THE INCREASE IN ROBBERIES AND CARJACKINGS, ALTHOUGH CARJACKINGS ARE DOWN SORT FROM LAST YEAR.

SO HE HAS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT HIGH WIRE TO ACT.

AND HE WOULD TELL YOU THAT HE CAN'T HAVE GOTTEN ALL OF THAT DONE IN THE FIRST 8 MONTHS.

THE QUESTION IS, IS CAN HE MANAGE THE MIGRANT CRISIS AND STILL MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISES?

THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHAT?

BUT WHAT DID WHAT DID YOU OR LIFE CRIME MEAN AT HIS INAUGURATION?

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE, RIGHT?

THAT'S THOSE ARE HIS WORK.

ABSOLUTELY.

30% DROP IN MEAN THAT THAT'S NOT STILL HIGHER THAN BEFORE COVID BUT PERCEPTION UNFORTUNATELY IN POLITICS.

THAT'S THE WHITE IN THE CENTER MORE ON THE RIGHT ARE UPSET THAT HE DOESN'T MORE FORCEFULLY CONDEMN SOME OF THESE GROUP ACTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE LOOP AND VANDALISM THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THE THING THAT PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT BE ON THE BURDEN THAT THE MIGRANTS HIP PLACE IN THE CITY IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE IN NEED WHO FEEL THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION, THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE RESOURCES BECAUSE THE MIGRANT CRISIS AND THIS HAS BECOME A RACIAL ISSUE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, DIVIDE BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND LATINO COMMUNITIES, BUT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS TO FEELING IN FRONT OF AN INSIDER.

IT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS ONE OF HIS MAJOR THINGS IN HIS INAUGURATION SPEECH IS THAT HE WAS GOING TO BRING THE CITY TOGETHER.

HE UNDERSTOOD THERE BEEN A LOT OF FISHERS DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND AGAIN, PERHAPS NOT THROUGH ANY FAULT OF HIS ON THE IS NOT TOGETHER.

IT'S LESS UNIFIED THAN IT WAS WHEN HE SITTING AT TOGETHER THE CITY IN THE STATES NOT TOGETHER.

TALK ABOUT THIS PUBLIC DIVIDE BETWEEN PRITZKER.

>> AND JOHNSON ON ESPECIALLY THAT TENT ENCAMPMENT.

I DON'T RECALL A TIME WHERE >> MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR WERE PUBLICLY TRADING.

>> CRITICISMS IN THE MEDIA EACH OTHER.

THAT TO ME WAS A HIGH-PROFILE PULLED THE RUG OUT FROM THE MAYOR BY THE GOVERNOR.

BUT ALSO SHOWS I THINK THE LEVEL OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE THE COMPETENCY IS OF THE CITY RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE STATE HAD TO STEP IN AND NO DOUBT THE DNC IN AUGUST PLAYS A ROLE IN THAT.

THE GOVERNOR, THIS IS HIS BIG SHOW.

THIS IS THAT'S RIGHT.

YES, THE MAYOR, OF WEARS THE JACKET FOR THE CITY, BUT THE DNC IS A NATIONAL EVENT.

>> THIS IS PRITZKER'S BIG PARTY AS HE TRIES TO ESCALATE HIS FOOTPRINT NATIONWIDE AS A POLITICAL PLAYER.

AND IF THERE'S BAD THINGS THAT HAPPENED AT THE DNC.

YEAH, THE MAYOR GET SOME OF THE HEAT, BUT THIS WILL BE ON PRITZKER.

BUT YOU CAN ASSUME THAT REPUBLICANS WANT SOME BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN.

K SENDING MORE TO THE CITY AROUND THAT TIME?

>> RIGHT.

THAT THEY WANT TO CREATE CHAOS AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN NOTHING YET IN TERMS FLOW OF MIGRANTS ARE GOING TO COME INTO THE CITY AND THE CHALLENGES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE CHAOS.

THEY WANT TO SEE THE CITY FALLING APART BY THE TIME OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION GETS IT.

PRITZKER HE'S GOT A REAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.

HE'S NOT THE MAYOR.

HE DOESN'T RUN THE CITY, BUT HE'S GOING HAVE TO WEAR THE JACKET.

AND I THINK RIGHT NOW HE'S GOT TO BE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THIS MAYOR, GIVING THEM HOW HE'S HANDLED THE MIGRANT CRISIS AND ANOTHER ISSUE SO FAR WHETHER OR NOT HE'S GOING TO BE UP TO MAKING SURE THAT THIS CONVENTION GO SMOOTHLY.

HEATHER, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS RESOLVES IN 2024, WHERE WHERE?

>> WHERE THE TEMPORARY SHELTERS GOING TO WILL THERE BE MORE POLICE STATIONS OVERRUN?

WELL, SO DO THE BIG ISSUE IS CAN BRANDON JOHNSON WORKING WITH THE STATE AND WORKING WITH THE COUNTY GET PEOPLE OUT OF CITY SHELTER SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SENT HERE IN THE COMING MONTHS HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO AND THEN CAN THEY GET TRANSITIONED INTO MORE PERMANENT HOUSING?

>> AND THAT IS WHY YOU SAW IT.

YOU KNOW, IN OCTOBER, THE MAYOR STEPPED ON HIS OWN SORT OF BUDGET ADOPTION, ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A 60 DAY LIMIT ON STAYS FOR MIGRANTS IN CITY SHELTERS.

SO WE WILL SEE THE FIRST SORT OF EVICTION DEADLINE COM IN THE FIRST WEEKS OF 2024.

AND WHETHER THE CITY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO PUT PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET, I THINK IS VERY MUCH AN OPEN QUESTION.

AND IF THEY DO WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PEOPLE, DO THEY FALL VICTIM TO CRIME TODAY?

FALL VICTIM TO DISEASES.

IS THERE MORE SUFFERING THAT THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO ARE SORT OF SEVERAL?

WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AND MIGRANT SHELTER WHERE YOUNG BOY DIED WITH THE CONDITIONS HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN DEPLORABLE.

YEAH, IT'S SOME OF THE SHELTERS ARE DANGEROUS PLACES TO SO I THINK THE MAYOR STILL SEES THAT THESE SORT YOU KNOW, MASSIVE BASE CAMPS IS SORT OF HIS BEST SHOT.

IT SURGE CREATING A LARGE ENOUGH SPACE TO HOUSE PEOPLE IN WHAT HE WILL CALL MORE DIGNIFIED CONDITIONS.

HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT THE LAND AT 115 HOSTED WHICH WAS THE OTHER PICKS LOCATION FOR A BASE CAMP, ALSO HAS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WEEK.

THERE HAS TO BE A WHOLE STAYS TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF THAT LAND.

THAT IS VERY MUCH AN OPEN QUESTION.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THERE IS FEDERAL HELP COMING ANYTIME SOON.

SO DESPITE YOU KNOW, THE MAYORS ARE JOINING FORCES WITH NEW YORK'S ERIC ADAMS AND THE DENVER MAYOR.

SORT OF SAYING, PLEASE HELP US.

NONE OF THAT HELP IS COMING BECAUSE OH, YEAH, IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR IN 2024.

2.

SO THE MAYOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND THE FACT THAT RELATIONS ARE SO BAD WITH THE GOVERNOR ADDS ANOTHER LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY THAT WILL ONLY I THINK IN THE END MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE SEEKING HELP SEEKING TO BECOME CHICAGOANS AND ARE SIMPLY HOPING TO LIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER LIFE.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, ED BURKE CERTAINLY LIVED A GOOD LIFE FOR A LONG TIME.

50 AND CHAIR OF THE POWERFUL FINANCE COMMITTEE.

HE WAS ALWAYS A STEP OR 2 AHEAD OF THE FED'S BECAUSE EVERYONE KIND OF KNEW.

>> THEY WHAT HE WAS DOING, THE WAY HE OPERATED.

THEY FINALLY GOT HIM WHERE CONVICTION RANK.

>> IN THE ANNALS OF POLITICAL IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

DOES WHAT?

WHAT IS HE?

HE'S NUMBER 38 FROM CITY COUNCIL SINCE 1968 SOUTHEAST ARE RIGHT NOW.

I WANT PRISONER THE MOMENT, BUT PROBABLY MAYBE TOP 5.

DEPENDS ON WHAT THE SENTENCING HAPPENS WHEN IT COMES DOWN AND HOW THAT CAST UPON HIM.

BUT IT'S IT'S CALLED THE CO WE'VE KNOWN IN THOSE WHO OUTSIDE LOOKING IN POLITICS AND NOT IN IT LIKE YOU EVEN OUTSIDE.

WE KNEW HOW BUT AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, SO SEE HIM GET CAUGHT.

AND FINALLY.

GIVEN HIS COMEUPPANCE IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS ITSELF OUT.

BUT RAKING I DON'T KNOW ME AS A LOT OF PEOPLE AHEAD OF HIM THAT THAT HAVE DONE.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE A LOT WORSE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THESE THIS IS THE THING WE'VE TO THESE PARTICULAR CRIMES WERE KIND OF PETTY ANTI COMPARED TO WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE YEARS THAT THAT'S THE POINT AND THIS WHAT THEY CALL.

THE MAN WAS AN OFFICE OF 54 YEARS.

RECORD-BREAKING PERIOD OF TIME IN OFFICE.

IF HE'S NOT NUMBER ONE, HE SHOULD BE GIVEN JUST GIVEN HIS TENURE.

>> GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF POWER HE HIT.

SO ONE WONDERS WHAT DID THEY NOT GET HIM ON AND WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

BUT THE MAN HAD A LOT OF POWER.

HE CLEARLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM.

THINK USING IT.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT WHAT OTHER BODIES ARE BURIED.

IF THERE'S IF THERE'S MORE THIS OUT THERE, MAYBE BUT MAYBE WE'LL GET IT BROKE ON SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE RELATIONSHIPS ARE GOING TO COME TO FORE IN FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS.

AND THE COMMENT FOR RICK PEARSON, THE COMED BRIBERY SCHEME.

>> ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT CONVICTION IS HERE.

I THINK IT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF SETS THE TABLE FOR THE PROSECUTION OF MICHAEL MADIGAN.

MAYBE IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS WAS COMED.

>> ACKNOWLEDGING AND PAYING A 200 MILLION DOLLAR FINE THAT THEY PURPOSELY WORK TO DO FAVORS FOR MIKE MADIGAN AND THEY DID IT THROUGH THESE 4 THROUGH TO WIN MADIGAN, SUPPORT, MANNEQUINS FAVOR.

AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS ISSUE NOW GOING TO THE SUPREME COURT OVER.

THE BRIBERY STATUTE.

YOU HAVE AGAIN DO WELL, YOURS.

IT'S A IT'S A CASE OUT OF THE FORMER MAYOR OF FORMER MAYOR PORTAGE, INDIANA.

AND IT'S A QUESTION OF IS THERE EXPLICIT QUID PRO QUO TO BE UP TO BE A BRIBERY CHARGE, RATHER, THEN, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS INVOLVED A CAMPAIGN MONEY THAT WENT TO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN CONTRACTOR GOT ALL OF THESE BIG DEALS.

IS THAT AN EXPLICIT QUID PRO QUO?

THE BRIGHT THERE ARE VARIOUS COURTS OF APPEALS, THE 7TH U.S., WHICH IS US AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE AND OTHER COURTS OF APPEALS HAVE SAID THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRATUITY AND AND EXPLOSIVE.

PROMPTS AMERICAN LAWYERS OBVIOUSLY DELAYING UNTIL THAT RULING COMES TRY.

AND AND THE THE SENTENCING FOR THE COMMENT FOR ALSO BEING DELAYED BECAUSE OF THAT, IT SEEMS LIKE WITH THE COMMENT FOR FOR SO LONG AND THIS THE DEFENSE REALLY WANTED TO GET TO SQUEEZE THEM TO FLIP.

TO GET MORE ON AND YET THEY THEY JUST THEIR GUNS ALL THE WAY INCLUDING POP, POTENTIALLY GOING TO JAIL.

TRUE.

OF COURSE, THE TOP ONE OF THAT IS MIKE MCCLAIN WAS ALSO NOT ONLY CONVICTED THE COMMENT FOR, BUT HE'S ALSO A CO-DEFENDANT WITH MIKE MADIGAN AND THAT THAT CASE AS WELL.

AND THAT'S ONE WHERE MCCLAIN MADE IT VERY EASY.

I MEAN, HE WAS CAN SEE THE AREA AND IT MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO CASE GOES FORWARD.

IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT A MEDIC AND WOULD BE IN THE SAME KIND OF A JAM BURKE WAS IN THE SENSE THEIR TAPES, THEIR RECORDINGS, THAT IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, HE SAID, SHE AND AND AND I AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WHY ONE REASON WHY, BROOKE, WAS SO SO EASILY CONVICTED.

I MEAN, IS OF THE TAPES GOING TO THE CRUX OF THIS I THINK IT'S A LITTLE ANY SOLIZ.

WAS GOING TO SAY FEDS NOW POINT TO THE FACT THAT A FEDERAL JURY HAS FOUND DANNY SOLIS AT LEAST PRETTY CREDIBLE WITNESS AND SOMEONE THAT THEY FELT COMFORTABLE SORT OF USING EVIDENCE THAT HE GATHERED TO CONVICT SOMEBODY.

>> MICHAEL MADIGAN'S LAWYERS WERE IN THE COURTROOM FOR KEY MOMENTS DURING THE PARK TRIAL.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY WERE TAKING NOTES ON SORT DANNY SOLELY HOW DANNY SOLIS HANDLED HIMSELF FROM THE ON THE STAND.

HE WAS UNSHAKABLE.

I MEAN, CHRIS CARE, BERKS DEFENSE ATTORNEY GAVE HIM THE THE BOTH BARRELS AND HE WAS VERY CALM.

HE WAS VERY MATTER OF FACT THAT I THINK HE'S GOT TO GIVE MIKE MADIGAN'S A LITTLE BIT OF ONE THING TO EXCUSE ME.

THE POINT IS >> PEOPLE AREN'T POLITICAL.

THEY KNEW WITH PARK.

THAT'S THE JURY.

PEOPLE ASK ME WORKING TO GET INFECTED.

I SAID.

>> PEOPLE KNOW BURKE AND AGAIN, COMING.

THIS YET TO JURY PEOPLE MENTION HIS NAME AFTER.

THE TRIAL FOR THE CALM BEFORE.

SO THEY ALREADY HAVE MET AGAIN IN THEIR MIND.

PUTTING OUT THERE PUBLIC AND THEY WANTED TO SEND A MESSAGE.

THEY WANT SEND A MESSAGE EXACTLY VERY QUICKLY BEFORE WE GET TO SUPPORT THE NO CASH BAIL LAW, IT FINALLY WENT INTO EFFECT AFTER A SUPREME COURT UPHELD IT.

>> THE POINT BY SAYING WOULD PUT MORE CRIMINALS ON THE STREETS, ENDANGER COMMUNITIES HASN'T.

IT HAS NOT.

THERE IS NO PURGE.

THIS IS NOT A PURGE LAW.

THERE WAS NO SORT OF RAMPANT CRIMINALITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WAS THAT THIS LAW WAS DESIGNED CORRECT SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES THAT FELL HARDEST ON THE POOR, ASSIST, ILLINOIS AND IS PRIMARILY BLACK AND LATINO.

>> WHO FOUND THEMSELVES HELD IN JAIL ON CHARGES THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE NOT BEING HELD ON BECAUSE THEY COULD PUT UP BAIL.

AND I THINK THAT IT SHOULD PROMPT A RECKONING ON, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO SORT OF BLASTED THIS LAW, WHETHER THEY WILL HOUSE THAT RECKONING.

I THINK IT'S POSTPONING TOGETHER, RICK, DO THAT AT THE BILLY GOAT NASCAR.

GOOD THING.

IT'S COMING BACK NEXT YEAR, 1209 MILLION DOLLARS.

YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S GOING TURNED OUT.

>> AND THAT'S AN INTERESTING PHASE.

IMPACT WAS CONCERNED, AS THEY SAY, WAS COMPARABLE TO THE 2020 ALL-STAR GAME.

AND THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.

NBA ALL-STAR GAME, HE'S SO.

>> I CAN SEE WHY YOU KNOW MONEY AND IMPACT KIND OF ROLE IN THE CITY AND ANY TIME YOU CAN PUT THE 2 TOGETHER, THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING CONSISTENT WITH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN HOLD OFF THE RATE, RIGHT?

THEY WANT TO IF IT DOESN'T RAIN AND THAT 109 MILLION DOLLARS TO 200 MILLION, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALONG NEXT IN THE AFTERNOON YESTERDAY.

ALL NORTHWESTERN AT PAT FITZGERALD IS GOING TO GET A BIG SETTLEMENT OUT OF THEM FOR FOR THAT FIRING OVER THE HAZING SCANDAL.

WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE NO QUESTION WHEN HE WANTS TAKE THIS TO TRIAL.

JUST PAY THEM OFF BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE ANOTHER LAWSUIT IS POSSIBLY COMING FROM 50 STUDENT.

>> SO WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO UNIVERSITY BECAUSE TO HAVING BOTH OF HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.

I THINK THE PUBLIC TO SETTLE WANT TO TRY TO FIGHT THE OTHER IN COURT.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IS GOING TO BE WEAK BUT 130 MILLION DOLLARS.

>> IF THEY KIDDING.

>> SAY LET'S SETTLE 400.

BUT IF TAKE, BUT IF THEY SETTLE IS ISN'T CONCRETE PERCEPTION GUILT IN A NOW THEY COULD BE WORSE BECAUSE THE THE UNIVERSITY GUILT AND THEN THEY COME BACK WITH ANOTHER TRIAL FROM THE STUDENTS.

THE 15 HAVE MEANS TO COME UP.

AND IF I'LL GET TO THAT.

SO IT SOMETHING THEY CAN THE BEARS CAN'T REALLY PLAYOFF SAYS HERE THAT WE DON'T NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A ROOKIE QUARTERBACK, DRAKE MAYE OR CALEB WILLIAMS.

>> I THINK THE BEARS IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE TO DRAFT A QUARTERBACK BECAUSE THEY PASSED ON QUARTERBACK LAST YEAR WHEN THEY HAD THE NUMBER ONE PICK IN.

IF THEY FALL INTO THE SAME SITUATION.

THEY CAN'T PASS TWICE ON THE QUARTERBACK WHEN THEY'RE NOT SOLD ON THE CITY'S NOT SOLD ON JUSTIN FIELDS RIGHT NOW.

SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE A CHANCE.

AND HE'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO NOT JUST THE QUARTERBACK ON WHO'S GOING TO AROUND TO COACH THE QUARTERBACK.

THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF THIS COMES BACK GETS GET SEIZE.

THE BOY TO BE THE THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY LET'S SAY THE CITY THAT THE CITY DOESN'T WANT TO SEE HOW TOLL OF THE 2 QUARTERBACKS.

>> AND POSSIBLY WILLING TO QUARTERBACKS.

ALL RIGHT.

KIND OF A DARK.

PROBABLY THE BEST OF BRUSH BRYANT BRIGHTEST SHINING LIGHT IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

AND STORY OF THE WHEN THAT WASN'T HARD TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED ON SOUTH, THE NORTH SIDE OF BASEBALL WOULD HAVE BEEN BASKETBALL JUST PUT 2 GOALS TO BEAT WINNIPEG.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST THE IT'S IT'S OUR SPORTS HOPE.

>> GET.

AND YOU KNOW, HE'S HE'S SO YOUNG.

HE'S SCORING PUTTING UP POINT ON 11.

WE HAVE SEEN A LONG TIME AND YOU HAVE WAYNE GRETZKY CO SIGN ONTO SOMEONE.

WAYNE GRETZKY SAYS HE'S POT.

WHAT IS WHAT WAS IT WORTH?

IT?

THINGS POSSIBLY BETTER THAN ANTICIPATED.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS BEFORE MIDSEASON.

A GREAT TEASE.

GIVE ME THAT ON A GOOD THING.

HE'S LIKE A ONE MAN VERSION OF TOEWS AND KANE.

PLACE IN MIAMI HAVE COMBINED EXACTLY NEXT YEAR IN THE NEXT IN THE WILD CARD NEXT YEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2024.

THAT IS THEY ONLY PREDICTION WE HAVE TIME BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF WHAT A WONDERFUL 2023 IT'S BEEN AND WILL SHOW OUR THANKS TO RICK PEARSON AND LAURA WASHINGTON.

>> AND THE SHARON ROBERTS SCOOP JACKSON.

THEN WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> BEFORE WE GO, OUR LONGTIME ART DIRECTOR AND THE FOX IS RETIRING AFTER NEARLY 24 YEARS HERE, WTW LINDA WORKED AT A NUMBER OF TV PRODUCTION HOUSES AS WELL AS ABC 7.

THE WGN MORNING NEWS BEFORE COMING HERE AT WTW.

SHE'S WORKED ON COUNTLESS PROJECTS, INCLUDING CHICAGO TONIGHT IN THE WEEK IN REVIEW AND HAS CREATED THE IDENTITY FOR OUR WTW SHOWS SERIES CHANNELS AND MORE OVER HER 2 PLUS DECADES IS CREATIVE AND THOUGHTFUL, A WONDERFUL PARTNER AND FRIEND.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, SHE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE HER TALENTS ON SPECIAL WTW STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR.

BUT FOR NOW, LINDA, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

AND OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET YOU CAUGHT IT WE CAN STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OUR WEBSITE WWW DOT COM SLASH NEWS AND NOW FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW ON PARIS SHOTS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE WE FEARLESS PREDICTION FOR 2024.

GOING TO BE A WILD AND WOOLLY POLITICAL YEAR NEXT YEAR IN CHICAGO.

THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING FRESH AND NATIONALLY TO.

GOT TO THAT.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE OUTCOME OF THE BRING CHICAGO REFERENDUM IS GOING TELL US A LOT ABOUT WHETHER BRANDON JOHNSON WILL SUCCEED AS CHICAGO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE AS SOME OF COME UP AND UPSET THAT DONALD TRUMP REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

NO, NO, KIDDING.

BUT COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY TO END UP IN JAILS.

AND QUESTION ASKED.

>> AND I DO HE CAN HE BE REINSTATED IN MAINE AND COLORADO?

WELL, THAT'S SEE IF A PRETTY BOY.

BUT HEAD TO THE SUPREME COURT.

THAT'S THE STUMP THE SUPREME COURT.

COULD TAKE THAT CASE WHAT THEY'RE WAITING FOR HIM TO APPEAL.

THAT YOU'RE AT REPUBLICAN PARTY APPEALED.

YEAH.

RIGHT.

THEY WERE CLOSED.

CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES.