Is this America’s Golden Age?—Smoke-Filled Room—Episode 88

It’s episode 88 of the Smoke-Filled Room which means it better be great because it’s the Patrick Kane episode—and, rest assured, we deliver.

Helping us cover federal and state issues impacting Illinoisans are State Senator Terri Bryant, Champaign County GOP Chairwoman Susan Mantell, policy expert Susan Langlotz-Johnson, Cor’s political experts Chris Jackowiak and Michael Butler, and host Collin Corbett.

We officially have a “new” president who is talking about the “Golden Age of America.” We discuss if Republicans will capitalize on the opportunity at hand and take full advantage of the power they hold in Washington. 

Our guests each have law enforcement, corrections, and military backgrounds, so it’s no surprise they have a perspective on how the state’s relationship with ICE and the Trump administration will play out. Plus we discuss recent polling on where Americans stand on deporting illegal immigrants, and call out Pritzker for falsely claiming non-citizens don’t receive government services.

We shift from one controversial topic to another, jumping to talking about abortion with the Born Alive bill in DC and Planned Parenthood closing 4 Illinois clinics due to a financial shortfall (but Pritzker will surely make sure Illinois remains the nation’s abortion capital).

We close out this week’s Smoke-Filled Room with some quick hits like Stellantis crediting Trump for their decision to re-open the Belvidere plant while Pritzker plays little brother looking for credit, Pritzker trying (poorly) to redefine Midwestern values, and a CNN poll finding favorability for Democrats is at an all-time low.

00:00: Introductions
02:17: Are We in the "Golden Age of America"?
14:55: Illinois Law Enforcement Forbidden to Work with ICE While Most Americans Want Illegals Deported
28:35: Pritzker Falsely Claims Non-Citizens Don't Receive Government Services
36:04: National Republicans Continue to Put Pressure on Democrats Via "Born Alive" Abortion Bill
38:57: Planned Parenthood Closing Four Illinois Clinics Due to Financial Shortfall
48:46: Stellantis Commits to Re-Opening Belvidere Plant, Cites Trump While Pritzker Fumes
51:41: Union Proposal to Fix Tier 2 Pensions Would Cause Pension Costs to Soar
01:01:41: Government Makes Opening and Operating New Child Care Centers in Illinois Unnecessarily Difficult
01:06:00: Nine Township Elections to Feature IPI Advisory Questions on Pensions, Fair Maps, and Unfunded Mandates
01:09:37: JB Pritzker Trying to Redefine Midwestern Values
01:18:10: CNN Poll Finds Favorability of the Democratic Party at an All-Time Low 
01:26:59: OG & Clown of the Week
01:37:07: Closing Thoughts