Durbin on Biden: There are ‘questions’

Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. What wild times we’re living in.

TOP TALKER

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JOE PUBLIC: Sen. Dick Durbin is acknowledging he has “questions” about President Joe Biden’s performance in the presidential debate and that fellow senators are discussing potential “alternatives,” via POLITICO.

But there’s no groundswell of Democrats urging Biden to step down. Two big names — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — said they support Biden.

Also in his court: The Congressional Black Caucus chair voiced support for Biden. Even progressives like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congressman Jonathan Jackson are backing the president.

That hasn’t stopped the hand-wringing. Democratic lawmakers in D.C. are meeting behind closed doors today to discuss the matter. As of now, six Democrats — including Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley — have publicly urged Biden to end his campaign.

There are a lot of “what ifs:” What if Biden steps down? What if Kamala Harris becomes the nominee? What if a certain governor from Illinois were to become her VP?

It’s all speculation. In the meantime, Biden has been focusing on securing the nomination instead of trying to win in November.

RELATED

Pritzker hits the trail for Biden: Gov. JB Pritzker is operating as a surrogate for Biden as the nominee. The Illinois governor will headline the Indiana Democratic Party Hoosier Hospitality Dinner in Indianapolis on Friday. Then, he heads to the battleground state of Ohio to keynote the Ohio Democrats’ Annual Family Reunion on Saturday.

Defiant Biden tells donors: ‘We’re done talking about the debate,’ by POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris and Elena Schneider

Who could actually replace Biden? POLITICO’s Caulder McHugh breaks it down

Poll finds Biden damaged by debate; with Harris and Clinton best positioned to win, by POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago

THE BUZZ

THE BRUTAL WEEKEND: Chicago was flooded with violence over the long weekend, prompting Mayor Brandon Johnson to call on the federal government to respond to mass shootings in the city “just like they do in other places in this country.”

This is a familiar story line for Chicago, which is hit hard by violence during summer holiday weekends. But the latest violence cut to the bone.

The tally: There were 109 shootings and at least 19 fatally, according to ABC 7’s team. One of those killed was an 8-year-old. At least two other children were injured.

Police Superintendent Larry Snelling was struck by the “brazenness… of those who could walk into a home and see children and women and open fire,” he told reporters Monday.

Johnson also addressed the brutality: “It’s a choice to kill. It’s a choice to kill women. A choice to kill children. A choice to kill the elderly,” the mayor said. “These are choices that the offenders made and they calculated.”

What to watch: The violent weekend comes just weeks ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which will showcase the city next month.

Snelling sidestepped whether the latest shootings indicate the Police Department isn’t ready for a large-scale event like the convention. “This is a societal issue,” he said. “The police cannot be in everybody’s backyard. They cannot be in everyone’s home. They cannot invade every single gathering where there’s a possibility that someone may show up with a gun.”

About the feds: During the convention, the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement from across the state and, even, Milwaukee, will be on hand to help Chicago Police try to keep the peace.

RELATED

Mayor is noncommittal on moving NASCAR event to a weekend less prone to violence, by the Tribune’s Alice Yin and Jake Sheridan

If you are Larry Snelling, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email: [email protected]

WHERE'S JB

At 548 Enterprise at 1 p.m. to announce CEJA Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program grantees.

WHERE's BRANDON

At the Truth Restaurant at 1:15 p.m. for a Black Women’s Pay Equity Day celebration — At the Chicago Cultural Center at 6 p.m. for the Cycle Breakers launch event.

Where's Toni

No official public events.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: [email protected]

CONVENTION ZONE

— RNC committee approves dropping national limits on abortion from party platform, by POLITICO’s Megan Messerly, Natalie Allison and Irie Sentner

— Judge rules Milwaukee protest group cannot march through RNC security zone, by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tristan Hernandez

— Donald Trump’s Republicans plan to brew up a party in Milwaukee, by USA Today’s David Jackson

SPOTLIGHT

— Boeing agrees to accept a new stain: the brand of felon: “To avoid a trial, Boeing has agreed to the terms of a DOJ settlement deal related to twin crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia in 2018 and 2019,” by POLITICO’s Oriana Pawlyk.

BUSINESS OF POLITICS

— Mark Albers has been named the new Niles Township Republican committeeman, according to a statement from Cook County GOP Chair Sean Morrison. Albers will serve the remainder of a four-year term due to expire in March 2026. The vacancy occurred when Chris Hanusiak resigned.

THE STATEWIDES

— COURT CASE | Madigan attorneys still aiming for October trial despite U.S. Supreme Court ruling: “Prosecutors have no plan to file a revised indictment against the disgraced former Illinois House speaker,” by the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.

— Some advocates say Illinois’ cannabis equity promises went up in smoke: Not everyone agrees, by WBBM’s Craig Dellimore.

— Illinois corn growers join petition to SCOTUS over California emissions mandate, by The Center Square’s Kevin Bessler

CHICAGO

— Johnson allies shoot down attempt to level legislative playing field between City Council and mayor: “The Rules Committee voted down a resolution that would have converted the Legislative Reference Bureau into the Office of Legislative Counsel. That new office would have been charged with giving “competent, unbiased advice” on parliamentary procedure and other legal matters,” by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— Mayor caught in the middle of CPS-City Hall pension disagreement, by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp

— NASCAR Chicago Street Race averages nearly 3.9M TV viewers, but falls short of last year after two-hour rain delay, by the Tribune’s Robert Channick

— Cut traffic and find a way to connect to the lake to reboot Mag Mile, study recommends, via Crain’s Danny Ecker

— Most murders of transgender women in Chicago go unsolved, by the Sun-Times’ Sophie Sherry

— Opinion: After this year’s pandemonium, Chicago’s Pride Parade should move downtown, by the Tribune’s Laura Washington


— Chicago’s 50 best restaurants, ranked by Chicago magazine

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— Glenbrook South yearbook adviser disciplined after quote flap: The adviser “prevented the publication of a student’s inflammatory comment about Israel,” by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau.

— Skokie police sergeant files lawsuit alleging gender discrimination, by the Pioneer Press’ Richard Requena

Reader Digest

We asked about the Biden age debate:

Steve Brown: “Biden is 81 years old, but Trump can’t even remember his staffers wrote the Project 2025 plan.”

Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg: “In Biden’s 81 years, he has never been convicted of a felony, announced he’d be a dictator, orchestrated the rollback of women’s rights, planned to intern immigrants or stoked a riot of election deniers.”

Julio González: “Character, policy positions, track record and a commitment to defending democracy are more important characteristics of an effective U.S. President than age.”

Timothy Jackson: “This hoopla has nothing to do with Joe Biden’s age and everything to do with the thinly veiled racist and misogynistic fear of Kamala Harris becoming president.”

Mike Johnson: “It’s like a movie: the leader gets beat up by a villain in the first act, the public abandons and turns on him in the second, and then our hero overcomes the doubts and triumphs during the big finish.”

Marilynn Miller: “If anything happens to him, Harris is perfectly capable as are many of his Cabinet and aides, so not to worry.”

Bob Reiter: “It’s bizarre that Donald Trump’s mental acuity isn’t under question, considering all of the gaffes he’s made, while Joe Biden has one of the highest performing governments for everyday people in U.S. history.”

Christine Walker: “It’s not about age: It’s about ability. No calls for Mick Jagger to call it a day.”

Jakhari Wats: “Biden may be old and showed his age at the debate, but I trust his administration for a second term, knowing that Kamala can step in if needed — and Trump’s return would end our democracy.”

Patricia Ann Watson: “The banter about Biden’s age at this point is shortsighted, self-serving, suspect, intended to sow division and create chaos.”

Daniel Goldwin: “The debate about President Biden’s age is really getting old.”

NEXT QUESTION: What makes a good vice president? Email [email protected]

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— Senate approves Chicago federal Judge Nancy Maldonado’s ascent to the Court of Appeals, by Crain’s Mark Walsh

— NATO is losing patience with one of its own members — and it’s not who you think, by POLITICO’s Paul McLeary

— 12 people to keep an eye on at the NATO summit, via POLITICO

TRANSITIONS

— Patrick Johnson and Saloni Sahara have joined Honigman’s Real Estate Department as partners in the Chicago office. Johnson was with Gould & Ratner, where he was part of the construction practice. Sahara was at Hogan Lovells U.S., where she was part of the real estate practice.

— Josh Sharp in the newly created position of senior VP of government relations at Allwyn North America. He was chief executive of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association and earlier was executive VP for the Illinois Press Association.

EVENTS

— Tonight from 5 to 7 p.m.: A 90th birthday celebration for former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will be held at Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse on Rush Street. Proceeds will benefit the Jesse White Foundation scholarship program.

— July 13: The We Are Chinatown cultural festival is being sponsored by the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community. Details here

— July 22: Our Choice Coalition, which is working to advocate for reproductive rights in Indiana, is holding a Chicago fundraiser with big Illinois names. Details here

TRIVIA

MONDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Josue Pasillas for correctly answering that New Philadelphia is Illinois’ newest national park, and it’s dedicated to Black history.

TODAY’s QUESTION: In what Illinois town was the sock monkey patented?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

State Rep. Christopher “C.D.” Davidsmeyer, former state Rep. Kate Cloonen, attorney and former state Board of Elections member Bill Cadigan, Globetrotter Engineering Chief Strategy Officer Mark Peterson, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois exec Isabel Rouse, journalism ethics adviser and former Tribune overnight editor Casey Bukro and Congressman Brad Schneider Outreach Director Ari Botbol.

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