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State Week: Trump, Guns, Blagojevich And The Art Of Misdirection

State Week 23 logo (capitol dome)
Brian Mackey
/
NPR Illinois

President Donald Trump once again dangles the possibility of a commutation for impeached and imprisoned ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. 

Does anyone in Illinois support that? Why did Jared Kushner think it was a good idea?

Is this just the president trying to get the media to stop talking about his statements on the recent mass shootings in Texas and Ohio?

Plus current Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot respond to the shootings in both policy terms and what they call the president’s divisive rhetoric.

And indicted state Sen. Tom Cullerton — charged with corruption related to being on Teamsters Union payroll — loses one committee chairmanship (Labor) but gains another (Veterans Affairs).

Brian Mackey hosts with regular panelist Charlie Wheeler. This week’s guests are Tina Sfondeles of the Chicago Sun-Times and Tony Arnold of Chicago public radio station WBEZ-FM.

Brian Mackey hosts The 21st Show and formerly reported on state government.
The former director of the Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) graduate program is Professor Charles N. Wheeler III, a veteran newsman who came to the University of Illinois at Springfield following a 24-year career at the Chicago Sun-Times.
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