Is JB fighting for Illinois or the viewers on MSNBC?—Smoke-Filled Room—Episode 92

This is the type of week we’re glad to have a podcast to talk through everything that’s happening in Illinois politics. From Pritzker’s budget address to the drama in Senate District 26, we have a lot of expertise to share.

Joining Collin Corbett on the Smoke-Filled Room is State Representative Kyle Moore, The Illinoize’s Patrick Pfingsten, policy expert John Lopez, and Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak.

Pritzker unveiled his 2025 budget this week and we break it down. Representative Moore kicks off the episode sharing what the atmosphere was like inside the House chambers, and we discuss how the $55.2 billion budget continues to increase spending. We talk about how the $3.2 billion deficit miraculously disappeared. We caution that praise for “no new taxes” is premature. And we close out our budget analysis calling out Pritzker’s brazen attempt to appeal to MSNBC’s audience by comparing Republicans to Nazis.

Other big political news this week was Darby Hills being picked over Marty McLaughlin to fill Dan McConchie’s seat in Senate District 26. We give the full back story on the appointment process, including a number of details people have missed in their reporting. We also talk about the lawsuit filed to block Hills’ appointment. It’s another week of Republicans infighting instead of fighting the Democrats.

Chris and John debate Trump’s pick for Labor Secretary before we hit on the latest News You Can Use which includes a bill that outlaws private health insurance, another that reduces safety by de-incentivizing people from reporting if their firearms are lost or stolen, and Brandon Johnson’s “brilliant” new borrowing plan that would cost Chicago taxpayers over $2 billion.

Finally, as always, we have a lot of fun with our OG and Clown of the Week nominations, including some submitted by our viewers and listeners. Bet you didn’t know that LEGO bricks were anti-LGBTQ+, did you?

00:00: Introductions
03:34: Pritzker Proposes $55.2 Billion Budget that Continues Increasing Spending
14:16: $3.2 Billion Deficit Curiously Disappears, Filled with Half Billion in Budget Gimmicks
18:55: Praise for No New Tax Hikes Way Premature
24:50: In Speech Aimed Mostly at Rachel Maddow, Pritzker Likens Trump to Hitler and GOP to Nazis
38:15: Darby Hills Chosen Over Marty McLaughlin to Fill Dan McConchie's SD26
01:08:21: Boy, that Escalated Quickly: Fight Intensifies Over Trump's Pick for Labor Secretary
01:19:21: Aurora Democrat Proposes Bill that Outlaws Private Health Insurance
01:20:17: Northbrook Democrat's Bill De-Incentivizes Gun Owners from Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms
01:22:03: Republican and Democrat Join Forces to Lift Restriction on Nuclear Reactors
01:23:16: Brandon Johnson's Ridiculous Borrowing Plan Would Cost $2 Billion
01:24:49: OG & Clown of the Week
01:38:04: Closing Thoughts