Illinois Playbook Newsletter

Shia Kapos offers an essential summary of political happenings in Illinois, often referred to as the Land of Lincoln.

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Yes in Rivas’ Back Yard

1 day ago | politico.com | Lindsey Holden

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is continuing his affordability focus by supporting a group of housing bills and creating subcommittees to work on child care, transportation and other costs. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP ROB THE BUILDER: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is throwing his weight behind a slate of housing affordability legislation — including some hotly contested fast-tracking bills — and taking a wait-and-see approach to others.
RFK Jr. could pull Covid vax for kids

1 day ago | politico.com | Chelsea Cirruzzo |Kelly Hooper

With help from David Lim and Erin Schumaker HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has questioned the need for kids to get a Covid-19 vaccine. | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images RETHINKING SHOT — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is mulling removing the Covid-19 vaccine from the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, two people familiar with the discussions told POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn.
This primary ain’t big enough for the two of us

1 day ago | politico.com | Nicole Norman |Blake Jones |Dustin Gardiner |Melanie Mason

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco addresses supporters of President Donald Trump during a rally in Coachella, California on October 12, 2024. | Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images THE BUZZ: GRAND OLD SHOWDOWN — Steve Hilton’s now-official campaign for the governor’s mansion has locked him and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — the only other major Republican in the race — in a battle for the heart of the California GOP.
Why China’s Xi is watching the Trump-Powell clash

1 day ago | politico.com | Victoria Guida

Editor’s note: Morning Money is a free version of POLITICO Pro Financial Services morning newsletter, which is delivered to our subscribers each morning at 5:15 a.m. The POLITICO Pro platform combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the day’s biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. President Donald Trump once asked his millions of Twitter followers: Who is the U.S.’s bigger enemy: Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell or Chinese leader Xi Jinping?
Cuomo and competency

1 day ago | politico.com | Nick Reisman |Jeff Coltin |Emily Ngo

With help from Cris Seda Chabrier Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is running on his managerial competence, despite recent blunders made by his campaign. | KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images TALK TO THE MANAGER: Andrew Cuomo is running on his perceived competence. Someone may want to tell his campaign.
Andrew Cuomo’s running on competence. He keeps making campaign blunders.

1 day ago | politico.com | Nick Reisman

“It’s always about what’s going to get him a good headline than what’s going to solve the problem,” said former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, a former Cuomo ally-turned-foe. “His goals are always transactional and short term. True leaders in the civic arena think in long terms about solving problems.” Problems lurked beneath the surface of many of Cuomo’s signature accomplishments.
Apocalypse now

1 day ago | politico.com | Mickey Djuric |Nick Taylor-Vaisey |Sue Allan |Mike Blanchfield

| Subscribe here | | Follow Politico CanadaThanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. T-minus 5 days. In today’s edition:→ PIERRE POILIEVRE’s worst-case scenarios. → What should we make of those voter lineups? → Preview of a policy nerd’s Coachella. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Leader Mark Carney during the leaders' debates. This week, gloves are off.
How 3 Republicans survived their town halls

1 day ago | politico.com | Mia McCarthy |Lisa Kashinsky

IN TODAY’S EDITION:— The GOP guide to town hall management— Johnson tees up next week on the floor— So much for the “millionaires’ tax”? Rep. Byron Donalds engaged with testy constituents on Tuesday night. | Alex Brandon/AP The two-week congressional recess is now more than half over, and most Republican lawmakers have taken NRCC Chair Richard Hudson’s advice and avoided holding in-person town hall meetings. But not all.
Trump's return sparks a K Street gold rush

2 days ago | politico.com | Caitlin Oprysko

Lobbying revenues were up nearly across the board during the first three months of 2025, with a handful of firms cashing in on their ties to the president and his inner circle. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he arrives at the White House after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Washington.
A house divided by housing

2 days ago | politico.com | Jeremy B. White |Dustin Gardiner |Lindsey Holden

California lawmakers are fighting over housing policies that proponents say are needed to increase the state's housing supply more quickly. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP HOUSING STALEMATE: Nothing unites — and divides — California Democrats quite like housing. Everyone agrees homes and rent are too expensive. (Indeed, housing and homelessness were resoundingly the top issues for California voters in a recent POLITICO poll).