>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THE WEEKEND REVIEW, I'M PARIS SCHUTZ, THE TEMPERATURE IS RISING AS THE POLES GET CLOSER IN THE RACE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR.

>> HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE CITY TO GROW AND PROSPER WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FUNDING OF POLICE , I AM NOT GOING TO DEFUND THE POLICE, AND YOU KNOW THIS.

>> JOHNSON CRITICIZES HIS TENURE LEADING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

IN WEEK ONE OF THE COMMENT FOR TRIAL, AND CPD IS OVER AND OUT FOR DAVID BROWN, AND FIRST DEPUTY, ERIC CARTER TAKES OVER.

CHICAGO AVOIDS COLLIDING WITH NASCAR, AND IN SPORTS, NORTHWESTERN MOVES ON AROUND TWO OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENTS, AND THE BEARS SIGN A FREE AGENT BUT THEY STAY ON THE SIDELINES AS HIGH-PRICED PLAYERS GO ELSEWHERE.

>> NOW TO OUR WEEKEND REVIEW PANEL, JOHN OF THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, LAUREN WASHINGTON OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, AND LAWRENCE HOMES FROM SPORTS COLUMNIST AT THE CHICAGO TIMES.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO THE NEWS OF THE DAY, WHILE WE ARE WATCHING BRANDON JOHNSON GET THE ENDORSEMENT TODAY, DOES THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR LATINO VOTERS?

>> WE WILL SEE, HE DIDN'T DO AS WELL AS I EXPECTED IN THE FIRST ROUND, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ENDORSEMENT OF THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR, GARCIA IS VERY POPULAR , IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO SEND THE MESSAGE AROUND UNIFYING AROUND ONE CANDIDATE, THAT GIVES THEM A LOT MORE MOMENTUM IN TERMS OF SPREADING THE PROGRESSIVE VOTE OUT.

WE WILL SEE IF GARCIA GETS OUT OF THE CAMPAIGN WITH THEM, I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.

>> HE WAS IN CONGRESS, AS HE TOUTED HIS OWN MULTIRACIAL GROUP OF ALDERMEN , AND AS WE MENTIONED, THE PROGRESSIVE GROUPS, HOW DOES THIS TRANSLATE?

>> THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I AGREE WITH YOU, HOW DO YOU GET SOME OF THE VOTES THAT HE MAY HAVE LEFT ON THE TABLE AND HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO VOTE FOR BRANDON JOHNSON?

THE COALITION OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FINAL SAID THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO GO AND TRY TO GET ALL OF THOSE VOTES.

THEN YOU START TO SEE THE ENDORSEMENTS GO THE OTHER WAY, SOME OF THE CASES , I WAS SHOCKED.

>> THAT WAS A SURPRISE.

>> HE WENT SO HARD AFTER BRANDON JOHNSON ON SO MANY OF THOSE DEBATES, FOR NOT REALLY SPEAKING FOR BLACK CHICAGOANS.

I THOUGHT HE MIGHT NOT HAVE ENDORSED AT ALL.

>> THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE PAUL VALLAS IS NECESSARILY SPEAKING FOR BLACK CHICAGOANS .

HE WAS ASKED DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT WHETHER HE WAS IN SOME QUID PRO QUO, AND HE DANCED AROUND IT.

>> BUT, GREENE DOES NOT HAVE A BIG KNOWN CONSTITUENT, NOT A BIG PERCENTAGE.

>> PAUL VALLAS IS CONTINUOUSLY ATTACKING JOHNSON IN THE PAST FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS A BLOW THAT HAS LANDED WITH VOTERS?

>> I THINK IT HAS PROBABLY LANDED FOR SOME, THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLEAR DIFFERENCE TO SOMEBODY WHO WATCHES THIS CAMPAIGN BETWEEN THE LAW AND ORDER CANDIDATE AND THE DEFUNDING THE POLICE CAMP.

BUT, I CAN CERTAINLY SEE WHY PAUL VALLAS WOULD CONTINUE TO HAMMER AWAY AT THAT POINT , BECAUSE CRIME HAS BEEN SUCH AN ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

>> AND JOHNSON IS TRYING TO DISTANCE HIMSELF, AND I NEVER SAID THAT, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE RECORDINGS WHERE HE PRETTY MUCH DOES SAY THAT.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS WORKING?

HE IS TRYING TO DISASSOCIATE HIMSELF FROM THAT?

>> WELL, HE HAS TO.

WHEN HE SAID THOSE THINGS ONE OR 2 YEARS AGO, DEFUNDING THE POLICE WAS MUCH MORE POPULAR.

THAT IS FADING , BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CRIME, SO HE HAS TO SHOW HE IS NOT PLAYING ON DRAMATICALLY CUTTING POLICE SERVICES.

BUT HE HAS BEEN KIND OF WEAK ON THAT, HE SAID HE'S GOING TO HIRE 200 DETECTIVES AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE PROMOTED FROM THE LOWER RANKS.

HE'S NOT COMMITTING TO REPLACING ALL OF THE POLICE VACANCIES , MORE THAN 1000 OF THEM.

>> HE IS TALKING ABOUT CUTTING FROM THE POLICE BUDGET, HE SAID IT'S GOING TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE COST, AND THAT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT FUNDING.

>> HE WAS DAMAGED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE MAYORAL ELECTION BECAUSE HE HAD PEOPLE BASICALLY PAYING HIM AS A SOCIALIST , IT WAS LORI LIGHTFOOT AND PAUL VALLAS WHO WAS DOING IT.

SO HE IS DISCONTINUING WHAT STARTED IN THE FIRST ROUND, NOW IT'S UP TO JOHNSON TO TRY TO PUSH WHAT HE IS CLAIMING WAS HIS ACTUAL AGENDA WITH POLICE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO WORK, ESPECIALLY IF HE'S CONSIDERING, WHERE YOU START LOOKING AT THE HEAT MAP OF THE VOTES , IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO CONVINCE THOSE PEOPLE THAT IS NOT WHAT HE MEANT.

THAT IS A GREAT PUZZLE FOR PAUL VALLAS TO USE TO DISTANCE HIMSELF AND MAKE A CLEAR DIFFERENCE IN WHO THEY ARE.

>> THAT'S WHY IT KEEPS COMING UP IN NEARLY EVERY DEBATE.

PAUL VALLAS IT SEEMS WAS SPARED FROM THE WORST OF THE ATTACKS DURING THE PRIMARY BECAUSE EVERYBODY SAID THEY WANTED TO FACE PAUL VALLAS AND THEY DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD WIN IN THIS RUNOFF, BUT NOW YOU SEE HIM TURNING THE HEAT UP ON BRANDON JOHNSON WHERE HE WAS MORE RESTRAINED IN THE BEGINNING.

THAT REFLECTION OF POLES, SHOWING THIS RACE REALLY TIGHTENING.

>> THERE IS A NEW ONE OUT WHICH SHOWS HIM WITHIN A COUPLE POINTS , SO IT IS CLOSER THAN IT WAS ALL ELECTION NIGHT WHEN THEY HAD DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM.

AND IN EARLY DEBATES, WE SAW PAUL VALLAS BASICALLY IGNORED A LOT OF THE ATTACKS THAT BRANDON JOHNSON WAS LOBBYING AT HIM.

NOW WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT RETURN , GOING AFTER HIM FOR LACK OF BUDGET EXPERIENCE FOR HIS TAX PLAN AND OF COURSE DEFUNDING THE POLICE OFFICERS.

>> HE HAD THE FOUR TRACK RECORD, ACCORDING TO BRANDON JOHNSON, TRYING TO TURN AROUND ALL THESE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, NEW ORLEANS, PHILADELPHIA, WHAT IS THE REALITY OF THAT?

>> JOHNSON BROUGHT SOME PEOPLE UP FROM NEW ORLEANS AND PHILADELPHIA, THEY HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY ARE SOME OF THE CONTROVERSIES THAT HE BROUGHT IN CHARTER SCHOOLS AND BASICALLY RUINED ACCESS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THAT SOME OF THESE ACTIONS LED TO LAYOFFS.

AND THIS IS HUMAN TESTIMONY , WE HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE.

PAUL VALLAS HAS BEEN COMMERCIAL IN EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM HE HAS WORKED ON, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT HE HIT ON JOHNSON'S EXPERIENCE LAST NIGHT BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE, HE HAS NEVER MANAGED ANYTHING AND HE WAS A TEACHER BEFORE THAT.

>> AND JOHNSON IS STILL PAID BY THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION AS AN ORGANIZER.

HE OF COURSE IS GETTING MILLIONS MORE FROM THE TEACHERS UNION, AND PAUL VALLAS IS GETTING ALL HIS MONEY OR THE BULK OF IT FROM THE LaSALLE STREET CROWD.

WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU ABOUT WHERE WE ARE HEADED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS?

>> THEY THINK THIS IS A NOW OR NEVER MOMENT TO ELECT ONE OF THEIR OWN TO ELECT AND LEAD THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE SEE THE CHARTER SCHOOLS SPENDING UPWARDS OF $600,000 OPPOSING BRANDON JOHNSON.

I THINK WE ARE REALLY GOING TO SEE THE MESSAGE DEFINED ITSELF IN THESE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND PEOPLE ARE FREAKED OUT AND THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.

>> LET'S MOVE ON, DAVID BROWN DEPARTS AND ERIC CARTER TAKES OFF ON THE INTERIM BASIS.

THEY TALK AUTONOMY FOR CITY COUNCIL, NONPROFITS GET THE RIGHT TO UNIONIZE, THE TRIAL FOR COMMENT IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY AND CLOSURES FOR NASCAR , TAKING CHICAGO BACK TO SEPTEMBER 1.

DAVID BROWN IS OFFICIALLY GONE, HE LEFT WITH NO FANFARE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE SNUCK OUT OF THE BUILDING.

>> I THINK PEOPLE WERE WAITING FOR HIM TO LEAVE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPECTED.

I THINK ALL THE CANDIDATES EXCEPT FOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID THEY WERE GOING TO FIRE HIM , WHEN SHE LOST, HE LEFT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THIS PROCESS.

I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NATIONWIDE SEARCH, AND IT WON'T NECESSARILY BE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE CANDIDATES WANT.

>> BUT, LAWRENCE HOLMES, WHEN DAVID BROWN CAME IN, HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO BRING THAT DOWN, THEN WE HAD A PANDEMIC AND HOMICIDES WENT UP ACROSS THE NATION, REFORM WAS SLOW TO HAPPEN UNDER BROWN.

MORALE HAS BEEN VERY LOW UNDER BROWN.

IS THIS A PART OF HIS LEGACY?

>> YES, 100%, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAYOR AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, EXPLAINED TO ME WHO THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE?

BECAUSE I THINK YOU WILL FIND THAT THE CITIZENS OF CHICAGO DID NOT LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

AND I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY, THINGS WERE SO DIFFICULT DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THAT YOU SAW SOME HARD CHOICES BEING MADE, BUT THOSE ENDED UP BEING THE WRONG CHOICES.

LIFTING OF THE BRIDGES, I WOULD NEVER GO FOR THAT.

AS A RESIDENT OF THE SOUTH SIDE, THE WAY THEY CUT PEOPLE OFF FROM BEING ABLE TO BE BACK TO THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE WAS REALLY HARMFUL AND THEN AFTERWARDS, THERE WAS THE SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM THAT GOT SHUT DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTERWARDS.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE, AND THEY TRULY REMEMBER ABOUT HIS TENURE AS SUPERINTENDENT.

>> THE IMAGES OF THE BRIDGES LIFTED FOR THAT WEEKEND .

THE PROPERTY WAS BEING PROTECTED MORE SO THAN THE PEOPLE.

>> I WAS ALWAYS MYSTIFIED WHY THE MAYOR DIDN'T HEAR FROM HIM EARLIER.

AND WHAT I HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE, SHE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF GOOD CHOICES THAT CAN HANDLE THAT KIND OF POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT IT WAS CLEAR FROM DAY ONE, HE GOT OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.

HE WAS NEVER OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, COMPARED WITH HIS PREDECESSOR , WHO OF COURSE HAD HIS PROBLEMS AND WAS VERY ENGAGED AND VERY COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND BEING SEEN ON THE STREETS.

>> FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, HE WAS PRETTY ACCESSIBLE, LIKE HE WANTED TO BE OUT THERE.

AS THE NUMBERS GOT REALLY BAD, YOU COULD NOT FIND HIM ANYWHERE.

THAT WAS JUST MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

MEANWHILE, ERIC CARTER AS A DEPUTY TAKES OVER.

HE IS SOMEONE THAT THE RANK AND FILE HAD PROBLEMS WITH.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT GOING FORWARD?

>> YEAH , I DON'T KNOW, I BRANDON JOHNSON AND PAUL VALLAS SAID THEY WANT TO FIND SOMEBODY FROM WITHIN THE RACE , BUT I DON'T THINK THERE ARE PROBLEMS WHEN OUTSIDERS COME IN.

BUT, WE DO HAVE A NEW PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING A SEARCH IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK LAUREN COULD TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO LISTEN TO PAUL VALLAS OR BRANDON JOHNSON, WHOEVER IS THE MAYOR AND JUST SEARCH THE RANK AND FILE, THEY WANT TO LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE IT'S AN INTERIM COMMISSION, THE ORDINANCE SET THIS UP AND AT SOME POINT, PEOPLE WILL BE SELECTED FOR PERMANENCY ON THIS COMMISSION, BUT THE INTERIM SAID WE ARE GOING TO START THE PROCESS, AND FIND THREE FINALISTS FOR SUPERINTENDENT.

DO THEY HAVE THIS AUTHORITY NOW?

>> YES.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HEED THE CHOICES THAT ARE PUT IN FRONT OF THEM?

>> I THINK IF THEY DON'T, IT WOULD BE A BIG REPUDIATION OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS BEFORE THEM , THE REASON WE HAVE THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, IT IS CALLED THE THIRD LEG OF REFORM, TO HAVE A COMMUNITY VOICE AT THE TABLE.

FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT WOULD BE A BAD LOOK.

BUT, IT WOULD BE BAD, AND JOHNSON DIDN'T REALLY ASSERT THEIR INDEPENDENCE THIS WEEK WHEN THE SEARCH BEGAN, WE TRIED TO ASK THEM FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS TO CARE ABOUT WHAT THESE MAYORAL CANDIDATES ARE SAYING.

>> AND THEY CAN REJECT THE THREE FINALISTS AND START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN.

AND BRING IN ANOTHER THREE.

THIS WOULD GIVE COUNSEL SOME INDEPENDENCE FROM THE MAYOR, MORE AUTONOMY.

THE CANDIDATES WEIGHED IN ON THIS, LET'S HEAR WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> I GET TO SET THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND YES, I WILL WORK WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO FIGURE OUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROVIDES THE TYPE OF BALANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY, NOT A BALANCE OF POWER.

I'M TALKING ABOUT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CITY COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY SO THEY CAN CHALLENGE THE MAYOR.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE LIVING IN A SYSTEM WHERE WHATEVER COMES FROM THE FLOOR IS ALMOST AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> IT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE, SHOULD CITY COUNCIL APPOINT THEIR OWN COMMITTEE CHIEFS AND THE MAYOR HAS ALWAYS HAD LEVERAGE TO DO THAT.

AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD GIVE THE CITY COUNCIL MORE OF A VOICE HERE AND NOT BE BEHOLDEN TO THE MAYOR.

>> I THINK THEY WILL HAVE SOME INFLUENCE ON HOW THAT GOES, AND IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M SKEPTICAL, I DON'T THINK ANY MAYOR WILL GIVE UP POWER.

ESPECIALLY A BRAND-NEW MAYOR.

SO I THINK IF THE COUNCIL REALLY PUSH AS HARD ON THESE CHANGES, I THINK YOU COULD SEE ANOTHER CITY COUNCIL WARLIKE WE HAD BACK IN THE 80s.

WHICH WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE A BAD THING.

A SHIFT OF POWER.

>> IS IT, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR?

A MORE EMPOWERED CITY COUNCIL?

MAYBE THEY HAVE A VOICE BUT THINGS GET CLOGGED UP , VERSUS THINGS GETTING DONE UNDER A STRONG MAYORAL SYSTEM ?

>> I THINK THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING THAT YOU HAVE PAUL VALLAS SAYING ABSOLUTELY, THEN YOU HAVE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ENDORSING HIM KIND OF LOOKING AT HIM LIKE WELL, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.

THAT IS FASCINATING TO ME.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS HOW DO WE WANT GOVERNMENT TO WORK?

AND THAT IS A BIG QUESTION.

THAT IS A REALLY BIG QUESTION AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL, HOW DO YOU WANT GOVERNMENT TO WORK?

AND NOBODY WANTS TO AGREE ON HOW THAT GOES.

>> SOMETIMES I WONDER IF CITY COUNCIL REALLY WANTS THAT EMPOWERMENT BECAUSE THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO STICK THEIR NECK OUT AND DO THINGS.

>> AND ORGANIZE THEMSELVES, WE SAW IT WAS NOT EASY.

AND THE PUSHBACK WAS FROM OTHER ALDERMEN WHO HAVE EITHER ENDORSED JOHNSON OR PAUL VALLAS OR NO ONE.

THEY ARE NOT IN THE ROOM AS THEY DEBATED.

SOME FOLKS WOULD SAY, THIS WAS SELF-PRESERVATION ON ACCOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY HAVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIPS.

SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND THIS WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE REAPPROVED, SO I WILL BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> WITH 16 SEATS LEFT?

>> 13, WE FINALLY GOT TO AFTER THE CERTIFICATION.

>> SO IT IS LIKELY, IF THEY DO MOVE AHEAD, THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE RECONSIDERED AND LOOKED AT AGAIN.

AND ONE QUESTION, AND I THINK THEY SAID WHAT IS THE BIG HURRY?

WHY DON'T WE WAIT UNTIL WE SEE WHAT THE FULL NEW CITY COUNCIL LOOKS LIKE AFTER THESE RUNOFFS?

>> LIKE THE COMMENT FOR THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, AND SPEAKING OF, WEEK ONE, FIRST OF ALL REMIND OUR VIEWERS WHAT EXACTLY IS AT STAKE HERE.

>> THE FREEDOM FOR FORMER COMBAT OFFICIALS AND LOBBYISTS WHO ARE ACCUSED OF TRYING TO BRIBE THE FORMER SPEAKER OF GETTING LEGISLATION PASSED.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FOUR OF THEM RIGHT NOW.

JURORS HEARD SOME AUDIO RECORDING THIS WEEK.

YOU HEARD MATT AGAIN, YOU GOT A GLIMPSE OF HOW THINGS GOT DONE AS MADIGAN AS TOP LIEUTENANT.

WHAT DID YOU LISTEN TO?

>> THE FIRST RECORDINGS CAME IN YESTERDAY AND THEY CAME IN WITH THE FORMER REPRESENTATIVE ON THE STAND.

AND TALKING TO PEOPLE AFTERWARD ABOUT IT, WE JUST HAVE TO BE EMBARRASSED, BECAUSE WHAT THE JURORS HEARD WAS MICHAEL McLEAN WHO ALWAYS HAS BEEN VERY CLOSE TO MICHAEL MADIGAN, CALLING HIM IN THE MIDST OF A SCANDAL, THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALLEGATIONS , HE HAD BEEN CLEARED BUT APPARENTLY THERE WAS SOMEBODY ELSE TALKING ABOUT COMING FORWARD AND MICHAEL McLEAN GOT ON THE PHONE WITH MIKE MADIGAN AND MADIGAN SAID, I DON'T THINK HE CAN CONTINUE ON.

AND HE ASKED, WHEN DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD ?

AND MADIGAN SAID, SOONER THAN LATER.

HE HAD DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LEGISLATURE, HE IS A LEADER AND MIKE MADIGAN WAS NOT THE PERSON TO CALL AND TELL HIM THAT HIS CAREER WAS OVER.

HE WAS HIRED TO BE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE ONE DAY AND INSTEAD, HE GETS A CALL FROM MICHAEL McLEAN WHO IS BASICALLY TELLING HIM IT IS TIME TO GO.

>> AND HE IS ACKNOWLEDGING, ONCE HE KNEW THAT MADIGAN WAS SAYING IT, HE KNEW IT WAS OVER.

BUT, WHAT ARE PROSECUTORS HOPING TO GET OUT OF THIS , AS IT RELATES TO THE COMMENT?

>> EXACTLY.

HERE'S THE POINT, THAT PROSECUTORS SAY THAT MICHAEL McLEAN PASSED ON COMMENTING , HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS AN AGENT OF MADIGAN.

AND YOU DON'T REALLY HEAR THAT, YOU HEAR MICHAEL McLEAN ON THE PHONE WITH MADIGAN DISCUSSING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

AND TELLING HIM, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, TO GO.

AND WHAT MICHAEL McLEAN DOES AS AN AGENT .

>> SO THEY ARE ESTABLISHING THAT IN THIS VERY FASCINATING CASE.

IN CHICAGO, NOW IT IS GOING TO BE SEPTEMBER BECAUSE THEY ARE ACCOMMODATING THE NASCAR RACE.

ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT THAT?

>> NO, I AM NOT.

>> YOU ARE A SPORTS GUY , ARE YOU HAPPY THAT NASCAR IS HERE?

>> IT'S PERFECTLY FINE, AND HE HAD A TRACK OF CARS , THEY COULD JUST DO THAT, THEY GO AROUND IN CIRCLES OUT THERE IN JOLIET.

I THINK IT FEELS LIKE TO ME, AND NOBODY HAS TOLD ME THIS, BUT IT FEELS LIKE THAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO SHOW A ROAD RACE SO THEY CAN EVENTUALLY GET TO A FORMULA ONE RACE WHICH IS A HIGHER PROFILE EVENT, WHICH WOULD BRING TONS OF MONEY INTO THE CITY.

BUT THIS JUST SEEMS HAPHAZARD.

AND IT STRIKES ME ALMOST LIKE THE PARKING METER DEAL WHERE IT'S LIKE, YOU FORMS OUT THE CITY FOR THREE WEEKS , AND FOR 3 YEARS?

THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

AND HAVING TO GO ABOUT MOVING TO CHICAGO AND NOT KNOWING WHEN TO DO IT, HOW TO DO IT, ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO CUT PEOPLE OFF FROM THE LAKEFRONT AND MUSEUM CAMPUS, THE ART INSTITUTE , THEY HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY JUST TO SECURE THE ART OF OUR CITY.

THEY HAVE TO SECURE IT BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION RACE IS GOING TO CAUSE.

>> AND THE SHEDD AQUARIUM, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE A TON OF MONEY BECAUSE NOBODY CAN GET TO THE FACILITY IF THIS IS GOING ON.

87 DAYS, GRANT PARK WILL BE FULLY OR PARTIALLY CLOSED BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> THE IRONY IS, YOU ARE RIGHT, THE MAYOR WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE SHE FELT LIKE IT WAS OPENING THE DOOR FOR EVEN BIGGER THINGS IN THE FUTURE.

HOWEVER, SHE HAS LEFT THIS MESS, SHE DIDN'T PLAN IT VERY WELL.

THE WHOLE CASE OF MOVING IT TO SEPTEMBER IS GOING TO BE VERY DISASTROUS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN ICONIC FESTIVAL, MOVING TO SEPTEMBER .

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE IN SEPTEMBER?

IT CAN BE CHILLY AND RAINY, TOO.

>> AND IN JULY, FAMILIES ARE ON SUMMER BREAK, WITH HOT WEATHER, MELTING ICE CREAM .

>> AND THE TURKEY LEGS.

>> I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THIS, I USE LAKESHORE DRIVE AS MY PRIMARY WAY, AND THERE'S NOTHING I HATE MORE THAN SEEING THOSE GO UP, IT JUST MAKES OUR LAKEFRONT LOOK UGLY.

>> I'VE GOT TO GET TO SPORTS.

THE BEARS, A BUNCH OF NOTABLE FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS THIS WEEK, BUT THEY AVOIDED THE EXPENSE OF MARQUEE PLAYERS.

IS THE ROSTER BETTER NOW THAN IT WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO?

>> IT WAS THE WORST ROSTER IN THE NFL, SO ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO BRING PEOPLE AND WOULD MAKE IT BETTER.

BUT, GETTING DJ MOORE AND THE NUMBER ONE PICK IS A BRILLIANT DEAL.

THESE PLAYERS THAT THEY BROUGHT IN ARE BETTER, ADMINS IS A FANTASTIC LINEBACKER, TJ EDWARDS , AS A KID, I GREW UP LOVING THE BEARS.

THEY HAVE FIVE PLAYERS NOW THAT I GREW UP LOVING ON THE BEARS, WHICH IS FASCINATING TO ME.

YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT , 22 STARTERS THAT PLAYED FOR THE BEARS LAST YEAR, 16 OF THEM NEED TO BE REPLACED.

DURING THAT ONE OFF-SEASON, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

>> MEANWHILE, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY STILL NEED AT LEAST THREE OUT OF THE FOUR POSITION ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE REPLACED.

HE DIDN'T GO FOR THOSE MARQUEE PLAYERS.

WHAT IS HIS PLAN BE?

>> PLAN B IS THE DRAFT, AND THAT'S ALSO DIFFICULT, BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT PEOPLE MOST THOUGHT WAS THE PERFECT FIT , HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF A UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA FOOTBALL FAMILY.

HE HAS 80 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, BUT HE LOOKED SLOW AND SLUGGISH, AND YOU WONDER HOW MUCH ALL OF THIS IS AFFECTING HIM.

THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE SECONDARY AND TERTIARY FREE AGENTS THEY CONSIGN BUT THE DRAFT IS PROBABLY WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO.

THIS IS A LONG PROCESS.

>> IT DOES SEEM HE IS BEING PATIENT AND NOT FALLING INTO THE TRAP OF MAKING A BIG SPLASH NOW, AND GETTING SETTLED WITH THE OVERPRICED CONTRACTS.

>> AND THE SALARY MAX FOR THE NFL IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX OF MONEY FROM STREAMING SERVICES , SO THAT IS GOING TO RISE.

THEY WILL HAVE MONEY TO KEEP GOING AFTER FREE AGENTS.

THEY STILL HAVE A PRETTY BIG BOUNTY RIGHT NOW.

THE SECONDARY AND TERTIARY MARKET OF FREE AGENTS IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL FOR THEM, AND OF COURSE THE DRAFT.

>> AND WE SAW THAT SHOW IN NORTHWESTERN, MOVING ON TO ROUND TWO, HOW REALISTIC IS THIS , HOW FAR CAN THEY GO?

>> THIS IS A YEAR WHERE I FEEL LIKE EVERY TEAM HAS A CHANCE.

LITERALLY EVERY TEAM .

AND WHAT HAPPENED, FURMAN , LOOK AT THAT.

BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE NCAA ALLOWED FOR STUDENTS TO STAY AN EXTRA YEAR , BECAUSE OF ALL THE COVID STUDENTS GETTING EXTRA YEAR IN THE NCAA, IT MEANT THERE'S MORE VETERAN PLAYERS.

THERE'S ONE GUY PLAYING IN THE TOURNAMENT, I THINK HE IS 27 YEARS OLD.

THINK ABOUT THAT, HE IS PLAYING AGAINST 18 AND 19-YEAR-OLDS, IT ALLOWS TEAMS TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTINUITY.

AND, IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL, WHICH HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL, THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GET BOLSTERED.

AND BY THE WAY, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

IN NORTHWESTERN, TWO KIDS TRANSFERRED TO NORTH CAROLINA AND DUKE.

BUT, CHRIS COLLINS HAS DONE A GREAT JOB , HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS GOING TO BE ON THE HOT SEAT , NOW HIS TEAM HAS THE CHANCE TO GO TO THE SWEET 16 AND WIN.

>> AND BRANDON UNDERWOOD IN ILLINOIS.

>> I THINK HE IS FINE, HE IS STILL RECRUITING IN THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE.

HE GOT OUTCOACHED YESTERDAY.

>>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME, WE HAVE TO BOUNCE OUT OF HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING, THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET THE WEEKEND REVIEW STREAMED ON FACEBOOK AND OUR WEBSITE, AND JOIN US TONIGHT AT 10:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

AND POWERFUL WORK AT AN EXHIBITION FROM WAR IMPACTED ARTISTS.

FROM ALL OF US ON THE WEEKEND REVIEW, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE WILL SEE YOU AT 10:00.

WE'VE GOT SPRING TRAINING AND BASEBALL TWO WEEKS AWAY, ON SPORTS RADIO, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BEARS, AND I'M NOT COMPLAINING.

>> IT'S AMAZING, WITH THE BEARS BEING AS BAD AS THEY WERE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN OUNCE OF HOPE.

AND THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED.

THE NFL MOVES THE NEEDLE.

ECONOMICALLY AND FROM A RATINGS STANDPOINT.

>> AND A LONZO BALL WITH THE CHICAGO BULLS, IS HE GOING TO PLAY?

>> I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT HIS QUALITY OF LIFE, THEN IT IS ABOUT HIM RETURNING TO THE CHICAGO BULLS.

I HOPE HE'S OKAY.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A