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Michael said it best during the episode: Democrats in Springfield are doing everything they can to tax whatever everyday Illinoisans enjoy. It’s exactly what we’re seeing play out in Springfield as veto session comes to an end. 
We record on Thursday afternoon, so you will know a little more than we did about what has and hasn’t passed, but we still give you the political strategy and insider moves that are shaping the biggest policy decisions in Illinois.
Former State Representative Dan Caulkins, Illinois policy expert Jim Reis, Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak, and host Collin Corbett begin this week’s SFR diving into energy. Democrats are pushing a bill that will increase electric bills for all consumers across Illinois. It’s why farmers, manufacturers, and even county governments are fighting against it. But, hey, just trust the same people who have been actively raising our energy costs since 2016. It’ll lower costs this time…right?
The second biggest topic in Springfield is the transit debate. When we recorded, there was no language yet on the new bill or how they would fund it. But we discuss how the governance structure of the new transit bill will strip power away from the suburbs and put more power into the hands of JB Pritzker and Toni Preckwinkle. And we talk about all the horrible revenue ideas Democrats have proposed so far.
We later have a more detailed discussion around redistricting than we intended. An interesting point was made: with Pritzker desperately trying to be relevant in the presidential discussion, can he afford to not insert himself in the redistricting game? We break down how this would actually play out from a voting perspective since candidates are filing to be on the ballot for these districts right now.
We get into Illinois considering decoupling from the federal government’s tax deductions for working families and manufacturers to fill the state’s budget deficit, how Democrats are changing election law yet again to their electoral benefit, plus other bills that weren’t getting as much attention like assisted suicide. And we close down this week’s episode covering a lot of updates from around the state on immigration.
00:00: Introductions02:48: The Same People Constantly Raising Our Energy Costs Say Trust Them, This Time Costs Will Go Down21:57: No Deal on Transit as of This Recording, but Clearly Suburbs Are Gonna Get Screwed37:15: Decoupling Quiet as of This Recording, but Democrats Planning on It to Plug Their Budget Hole41:25: We Keep Hearing Redistricting Won’t Happen, but We Have an Interesting Angle53:25: Democrats Again Planning a Big Elections Omnibus That Benefits Them01:05:27: The Bears Continue to Bungle Springfield01:09:27: What Else Are We Hearing About Veto Session?01:14:25: Immigration a Hot Topic Throughout the State This Week01:25:43: More Problems at Pritzker's DCFS as Reported Missing Children Jumps 935% 01:28:09: Illinois Can't Even Implement DEI Efforts Correctly 01:30:14: Illinois Has Highest Mortgage Rates in the Midwest 01:31:55: Illinois Credit Rating Still the Lowest of Any State 01:33:06: OG & Clown of the Week 01:41:27: Closing Thoughts 

If you had any of our topics on this latest Smoke-Filled Room on your Illinois politics bingo card, we’d suggest you go play the lottery. This week had a year’s worth of drama and headlines that left our guests scratching their heads.
Helping make sense of everything are State Senator Terri Bryant, former State Representative Mark Batinick, host Collin Corbett, and Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak.
We have a new Republican in the race for governor and they’re jumping in about as late as possible. Rick Heidner enters the race seemingly out of the blue. Collin and Chris share insight into how his campaign came to be behind the scenes. All we can say is that it’s Illinois politics at its…uh…"finest.”
If you thought the governor’s race couldn’t get weirder…it does. Because a leaked unfiled lawsuit has the Bailey campaign on defense, then somehow the Dabrowski campaign on defense. All sorts of people being attacked, very few of them candidates…and none of them the one we should be attacking, JB Pritzker.
Later we dive into how the political landscape across Illinois is about to change massively as far far far left Stacy Davis Gates was named the head of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. The Chicago Teachers Union is now running one of the state’s teachers unions. Most agree, this is not good for Illinois.
We discuss some additional political topics before Senator Bryant shares what Illinoisans should be paying attention to next in veto session when it comes to energy. Price increases have hit working families, manufacturers, and businesses hard, and Terri and Collin talk about why…and how it may be about to get even worse. Plus, they get into what else to expect during the final 3 days of veto session next week.
We close down this week’s Smoke-Filled Room warning Republicans to take note of the Democrats’ enthusiasm, and give you specific headlines to focus on in your outreach over the next week, before closing down SFR.
00:00: Introductions02:56: Prayers for the Baileys After Tragic Helicopter Crash06:42: Rick Heidner Jumping Into Republican Gubernatorial Race at the Last Minute22:37: After Leaked Lawsuit, Republican Gubernatorial Race Already Devolving40:46: CTU and Stacy Davis Gates Take Over the Illinois Federation of Teachers46:03: Texts Between Pritzker, Curran, and McCombie Highlight Difference in GOP Caucus Approaches58:11: Surprise, Surprise: Don Harmon May Skirt Responsibility for Breaking Election Law After All01:07:57: Energy Policy Center Stage at Next Week's Veto Session01:22:45: No Kings Rallies Should Concern Republicans Over Midterm Voter Enthusiasm01:30:46: Democrats Admit Fear of Their Base Leading to Shutdown, Unpaid Military Families 01:33:17: Supervisor Punished for Bullying and Sexual Harassment Back to Work in Pritzker's IDOT 01:35:38: After Receiving Millions in Tax Breaks, Rivian Hiding Huge Reduction in Normal Workforce 01:37:25: Illinois Projected to Lose Most Residents in Country Between Now and 2050 01:38:49: Average Cost of Family Health Insurance Now Nearly $27,000 01:40:25: Trump's Approval Rating on Economy Hits Lowest Ever 01:42:20: OG & Clown of the Week01:53:03: Closing Thoughts

We have a packed agenda this week because there is a lot going on in Illinois politics. Just this week, Q3 fundraising reports were due, veto session began in Springfield, we entered week three of the government shutdown, and much, much more.
Giving you the inside scoop and analysis this week, alongside host Collin Corbett, are Lemont Township Supervisor Mike Shackel, Director of the Illinois Freedom Caucus Collin Moseley, and Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak. They begin by breaking down the latest financial disclosures of our federal and state candidates.
Starting with the US Senate, Raja is steamrolling Robin Kelly and Julianna Stratton in fundraising. We discuss if Kelly is even trying to win or if she’s just playing spoiler and whether Pritzker will rescue Stratton. On the Republican side, Don Tracy is the clear leader and frontrunner. We then discuss the (mostly lackluster) numbers from Republican candidates in key Congressional districts, including the 17th, 6th, and 14th, though there are promising signs in the 8th.
Then, in the Governor’s race, Ted Dabrowski has taken a commanding lead in fundraising, with $1.5 million cash on hand compared to paltry sums for Bailey and Mendrick. We discuss what this means for the race, and wonder whether Bailey could end the primary if he just hunkered down in Q4 and raised the money one would expect from a serious candidate.
Most weeks, that would be enough for headline discussions, but this week was also the first week of veto session. Although not much happened legislatively, a lot happened politically. Democrats spent the first week complaining about Trump instead of lowering the cost of living for working families. In fact, they’re planning votes for the week after next that will raise costs on working families and small businesses, including making manufacturers pay to fill the budget hole that everyone knew was coming when the Democrats passed a fake “balanced” budget in May.
We dive into the latest on immigration, explain what Democrats are demanding to finally stop their government shutdown, and cover six news stories you should be talking about.
Watch the latest episode below on YouTube or here on Spotify.
[Video]
00:00: Introductions03:02: How Well Did Your Candidate Fundraise in Q3 of 2025?41:39: First Week of Veto Session All Politics49:41: Washington Delivered Tax Relief, Now Pritzker and Springfield Democrats Want to Take It Away53:37: Immigration Violence Continues to Escalate and Broadview Protests Get Weird01:02:21: Don Harmon May Actually Be Held Responsible for Breaking Election Law01:05:54: Democrats Continue Government Shutdown Over $1.5 Trillion in Additional Spending01:12:19: Republicans Don't Get Awards01:20:09: Pillowgate Roils Norine Hammond's HD94 Race01:28:09: Brandon Johnson Wants to Raise Taxes Further, Including Reviving the Head Tax01:30:26: Illinois Continues to Attack State's Businesses By Suing State Farm01:31:11: Illinois Has the 3rd Worst Rainy Day Fund in the Country01:32:39: Glenview Democrat Trying to Push Homeowners Insurance Companies Out of Illinois01:33:53: Fraternal Order of Police Call for Removal of Pritzker's Department of Corrections Director01:35:57: Stellantis to Reopen in Belvidere, but with a Major Catch01:37:47: OG & Clown of the Week01:53:50: Closing Thoughts

Illinois is the epicenter of the national news again this week, and JB Pritzker is making the most of turning serious issues into political theater. We dive deep into everything from what’s going on in Chicago, to what to expect in veto session next week, and the latest political campaign developments that you should know about.
State Senator Chris Balkema and former McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally give unique perspectives from the legislative and legal sides, while Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak give the political perspective that only insiders are thinking about. They join host Collin Corbett who breaks down the strategy, polling, and messaging Republicans need to consider on key issues.
We begin in Chicago, where violence against federal law enforcement continues to escalate, and “leaders” like Pritzker and Brandon Johnson are egging it on. Just this past week, we saw cars ramming into ICE vehicles and even a bounty being placed on the Border Patrol agent in charge. It’s scary to imagine where we’ll be next week if this continues.
But, Republicans have to be careful how they message this topic, because polling shows that there is limited support from voters for troops on the ground in Chicago. Immigration doesn’t play nearly as strongly as messages about safety, and that should be our focus: keeping families safe.
Later we preview veto session, which starts next week. While we shouldn’t expect much during the first week, all eyes will be on transit, energy, and the mega projects bill that would facilitate the Bears building their new stadium in Arlington Heights. 
Chris Balkema, especially, gives great insight into pending energy legislation. While Republicans continue to call for a commonsense all-of-the-above energy approach, Democrats in Illinois are only interested in pushing their green agenda that will continue to raise electricity prices for working families. Even as Democrats in states like Wisconsin and California take more balanced approaches.
We kick off our political conversation previewing fundraising on the Republican side in the race for governor. There are a few positive signs, but overall, each of the candidates are going to need to up their games to prove they can raise what it will take to defeat Pritzker.
We give you updates in HD94 and HD51, then have a fun discussion submitted by a loyal viewer about potential corruption under the new slating process, before closing down with our recurring ending segments.
00:00: Introductions03:14: Violence Against Federal Law Enforcement Continues to Escalate44:27: Springfield Veto Session Begins Next Week49:41: Will Springfield's Promised Action Help or Hurt Skyrocketing Energy Rates?01:03:10: A Preview of Illinois Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Fundraising Shows Concerning Signs01:18:09: Norine Hammond Being Challenged By Josh Higgins in HD94 Republican Primary01:22:48: HRO's Preferred Candidate in HD51 Emerges, Lori Smith to Face Tosi Ufodike in Primary01:30:17: Does the No Slating Law Increase the Risk of Corruption by Incentivizing Candidate Payoffs?01:36:06: Supreme Court Indicates Favorability Towards Bost's Challenge to Late-Arriving Mail-In Ballots 01:38:22: Hooray, Illinois Now "Only" Has the 3rd Highest Corporate Income Tax Rates 01:39:02: Student Vaccine Records Being Shared in Quad Cities School District Raises Privacy Concerns 01:41:15: OG & Clown of the Week01:47:12: Closing Thoughts 

We know many viewers come for the topics on politics but make sure you stick around for the policy discussions, especially this week as we have experts who give insight into veto session, labor, the government shutdown, and more.
Former State Representative Tom Demmer, policy expert Sharon Langlotz-Johnson, Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak, and host Collin Corbett kick off this week’s Smoke-Filled Room talking about the governor’s race, particularly Darren Bailey’s rollout. 
Producer Note: We will be an open forum through the Primary Election with guests backing a variety of candidates so every perspective is heard. Reach out if you’d like to join an episode to share your opinion.
We discuss how Darren needed to have an improved message this time, and in his rollout, he did. There were some mistakes in and after the rollout, which we talk through. And in both major candidates, we want to see more sustainable fundraising and endorsements.
We then talk about the US Senate race on the Democratic side. Pritzker’s team is riding to the rescue for Juliana Stratton, with improved messaging and a PAC that will likely be well funded. Is this a turning point for Stratton, or will she and Pritzker fail to catch Raja in the polls? 
After catching up on some other campaign news, we talk about the Democrat-led government shutdown in Washington, after Republicans wouldn’t meet their far-left demands that would cost taxpayers upwards of a trillion dollars. It’s Republicans’ fault and shutdowns are bad…but also, Democrats did this for good reasons, and shutdowns are not a big deal. Make sense?
Later we talk about AFL-CIO taking a hard left turn, Tom gives great insight into how Springfield works and what it means for transit during veto session, and another member of Pritzker’s Peacekeeper program was arrested, this time for punching a police officer.
00:00: Introductions03:04: Bailey and Dabrowski Campaigns Pushing for Credibility in Gubernatorial Campaigns42:54: Pritzker's Team Coming to Stratton's Rescue as Raja Widens Lead for US Senate54:58: Jeff Wilson Running to Unseat Nikki Budzinski in IL-1356:12: Democrats Get the Federal Government Shutdown They Wanted01:01:45: Illinois AFL-CIO Declares War on Taxpayers and the Business Community01:12:37: Taxpayers Brace as Upcoming Veto Session Likely to Feature CTA Bailout01:21:36: Another Pritzker Peacekeeper Arrested After Trying to Punch Chicago Police Officer01:27:15: Report Shows Only a Third of Illinois Students Meeting National Benchmarks01:30:09: Domestic Violence Surging in Chicago, Yet Brandon Johnson Cutting Support Funding in Half01:31:15: Researchers Find Over Half of Firearm Injury Treatment Paid by Medicaid01:33:15: US Economy Grows Much Stronger in 2nd and 3rd Quarter Than Analysts Expected01:35:46: Trust in Media Hits Record Low in the US01:38:24: OG & Clown of the Week01:51:02: Closing Thoughts

Next week is the start of October, the month petitions start getting filed. The next stage of campaign season is nearly here…
Collin Corbett and Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak are back in your inbox, along with State Representative Travis Weaver and President of the Lake County Republican Federation Larry Falbe who kick off the episode talking about the latest in the governor’s race.
Darren Bailey made his campaign for governor official on Thursday, announcing at 3 locations throughout Illinois with his running mate Aaron Del Mar. With Darren now in the race, alongside Ted Dabrowski and Jim Mendrick, we have a real primary on our hands. Our guests share who they think can win, not only in the Primary Election, but also in the General against Pritzker. We dissect turnout and how support for different candidates in different regions could tip the scales. No matter what, we have to remember the main goal is defeating Pritzker next November.
We then get into the comptroller’s race and how Karina Villa is pushing the race far left already. Voters want the comptroller to be a check-and-balance on the governor, which these Democrats clearly will not be. The further left candidates like Villa and Margaret Croke go, the more of an opportunity this gives a Republican like Bryan Drew to win.
Our panel shares their thoughts on Terra Costa Howard being appointed judge in DuPage County, and she will have to run in that subcircuit in the next election. While her House District 42 and that subcircuit are strongly Democrat, this is a prime opportunity for the homeschool community to step up and move some numbers in both races, helping Republicans throughout DuPage County and statewide.
We later dive into multiple topics where political violence is the unfortunate theme. We discuss how the left’s rhetoric around ICE and immigration is pushing people towards violence. And in remembrance of Charlie Kirk, a resolution was put forward in Congress to condemn his assassination, yet 7 Illinois Democrats voted against the resolution and 3 more didn’t vote. 
We call out Pritzker for blaming Trump for his request for state departments to cut their budgets by 4%, talk about how Gen Z males are leaning more Republican, and close down the episode with news you can use to motivate the base to donate or volunteer.
00:00: Introductions02:52: Darren Bailey Announces for Illinois Governor with Running Mate Aaron Del Mar34:39: Karina Villa Already Dragging Democrat Field for IL Comptroller Far Left41:31: Terra Costa Howard Appointed DuPage County Judge, Opens Up HD4245:48: Democrat Challenger Emerges Against Republican Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison47:25: Violence Increasing at ICE Facilities as Immigration Rhetoric Hits a Fever Pitch01:03:19: Pritzker Admits Illinois Economy Weak While Trying to Pass the Blame01:09:54: Illinois Democrats Oppose Resolution Condemning Charlie Kirk’s Assassination01:19:05: Gen-Z Males Trending Strongly Towards Republicans01:28:20: Brandon Johnson Calls Law Enforcement a Sickness01:30:04: Pritzker’s Department of Corrections Letting Employees Game the Overtime System01:30:56: Economist Says Illinois In or at High Risk for Recession01:33:27: BIPA Continues to Harm Illinois Economy01:35:04: Mover Data Shows People Fleeing Blue States Like Illinois01:36:07: OG & Clown of the Week01:44:36: Closing Thoughts

Politics doesn’t sleep in this state and this week’s episode is proof of that. We could spend an entire episode talking about Pritzker’s hypocrisy, or the latest in the governor’s race, or with what’s happening in our state prisons, but we put it all (and more) into one episode for you.
Joining Collin Corbett on the Smoke-Filled Room are campaign expert and education advocate Chelsie Leffelman, podcast host and Bailey supporter David Blumenshine, and Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak.
Over just the past week, JB Pritzker was caught hypocriting (we kids say that’s a word) 4 times: (1) he blamed ICE for a death while conveniently not mentioning that person resisted arrest, fled, and hit and dragged an ICE agent with his car; (2) he said “good Democrats” use independent commissions in redistricting, trying to tie himself to that group…yet he’s the one who approved the most gerrymandered maps in America; (3) he bemoaned Jimmy Kimmel being suspended, despite his support for silencing Republicans and conservatives he disagrees with; and (4) he continued to blame Trump and Republicans for the rhetoric that led to Charlie Kirk’s assassination…when he has been one of the biggest culprits on the left.
Later we discuss how a member of the state’s Peacekeeper program was spotted taking a photo with Pritzker, then several days later was involved in a burglary that led to the death of a man who was about to become a father…leaving behind a now single mother and their baby boy. This individual was receiving money from taxpayers, despite being wanted in 4 different states.
Before diving into politics, our panel shared their thoughts on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and how the left has gone too far intentionally taking his (and other conservatives’) quotes out of context to incite hatred, which we’ve seen can lead to violence. 
Since our last episode, Ted Dabrowski made his run for governor official. We share our thoughts on the race, and how defeating Pritzker is bigger than Ted, Darren Bailey (who will be announcing his campaign soon), and any other candidate—it’s about who can defeat Pritzker. So, yes, we’ll be hard on the candidates, because they need to put together serious campaigns that can win.
As we close, we cover the latest developments in IL-8 and some State House seats, discuss more shocking news out of the state’s Department of Corrections, and more on this week’s Smoke-Filled Room.
00:00: Introductions03:22: Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar Passed Away09:00: Pritzker the Hypocrite Caught Hypocriting Four Times in One Week19:14: Days After Photo with Pritzker, Taxpayer-Funded Peacekeeper Participates in Deadly Burglary27:55: The Left Intentionally Taking Charlie Kirk and Other Conservatives Out of Context to Incite Hatred46:16: Ted Dabrowski Officially Launches Campaign for Illinois Governor01:22:40: Republican Jennifer Davis and Democrat Melissa Bean Enter IL-8 Race01:26:23: Gabby Shanahan in for Rematch Against Harry Benton in HD9701:29:36: Republican Field to Replace Paul Jacobs in HD118 Already Packed01:31:23: Joseph Johnson to Challenge Marty Moylan in HD5501:33:02: Female Prisoners at Pritzker's IDOC Allege Widespread Abuse and Retaliation 01:35:27: Chicago Pension Funds Facing Emergency Because of Underfunding 01:38:29: OG & Clown of the Week01:49:41: Closing Thoughts 

No jokes or quips to kick off this week’s Smoke-Filled Room episode. We began recording about 24 hours after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and each of our guests were still processing what happened.
Collin Corbett, State Representative John Cabello, Wirepoints founder Mark Glennon, and Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak shared their thoughts and raw emotions about what took place in Utah on Wednesday. 
The killing of Charlie Kirk is a tragedy, yet we see people on social media celebrating while JB Pritzker tries to blame this on Trump, even though Pritzker told Democrats “these Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.” We later discuss what made Charlie such an effective and persuasive communicator.
Unfortunately, there were more senseless murders this week in the country. We talk about the killing of Iryna Zarutska from North Carolina who was murdered by a man arrested and released 14 times. It’s hard to comprehend how people can justify this criminal’s actions, but the Democrats do. There are eerie parallels to Illinois policymakers.
We then catch you up on the latest political news. We start with the governor’s race where Darren Bailey will be announcing his run for governor with Aaron Del Mar as his running mate. And Mark Glennon shares some breaking news that Ted Dabrowski will be announcing today (Friday) and will also be releasing the name of his lieutenant governor pick. Ted has been busy fundraising, we’re just waiting on the official announcement.
Plus we cover the latest in Senate Districts 18 and 33 before getting into how the White House is pushing Republicans in Congress to better message the Big Beautiful Bill, focusing on how it’s benefiting working families.
This week’s news you can use section is a must listen: Pritzker’s Corrections Department hasn’t monitored recidivism in over 3 years, 26% of Illinois public school students are chronically absent, Brandon Johnson rightfully says that Pritzker and Springfield Democrats aren’t standing up for working families, and more.
00:00: Introductions00:58: Arlington Heights Native Charlie Kirk Assassinated37:21: Iryna Zarutska Murdered By Man Arrested and Released 14 Times49:32: IL Gov Race: Bailey and Del Mar to Announce Next Week, Dabrowski Raising Real Money01:01:08: Bill Cunningham to Retire, Making SD18 Race Potentially Interesting01:04:15: Senate Democrats Have Their Candidate in Don DeWitte’s SD3301:05:46: White House Pushing Congressional Republicans to Message BBB Better01:10:06: Pritzker's Department of Corrections Hasn't Monitored Recidivism Since 202201:16:27: Worker in Pritzker's Youth Prisons Faces 15 Felony Counts for Sexual Misconduct01:20:08: 26% of Illinois Public School Students Chronically Absent01:23:51: Brandon Johnson Says Pritzker and Springfield Democrats Not Standing Up for Working People01:26:21: BLS Data Shows Economy Cratered Under Biden, But Worrying Signs for Trump and Republicans Too01:29:45: Upward Mobility Shows the American Dream Is "Alive and Well"01:33:18: OG & Clown of the Week 01:37:02: Closing Thoughts

Football season is back, and Illinois sports betters will be paying extra thanks to Democrats. Democrats question why they are underperforming with young men. If only Republicans had a serious candidate for governor to speak out on these issues…
Joining Collin Corbett on Smoke-Filled Room this week, along with Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak, are former State Representative Dan Caulkins and policy expert Carolyn Schofield.
The group begins discussing the latest around the National Guard and ICE in Chicago. While whether the National Guard will come to Chicago is up in the air, it sounds like ICE is ramping up their presence. We talk about how Blacks and Hispanics are more supportive because they are the ones being impacted by crime the most, but Pritzker and Democrats would rather cater to liberal whites. 
We respond to Pritzker’s conspiracy theory that Trump is deploying troops to interfere with the 2026 elections…14 months from now. We’ve become so numb to what Pritzker says because nothing is ever the full truth, but that doesn’t make it right.
Finishing this topic, we analyze recent polling about federal help in Chicago, especially how Hispanics are supportive of more law enforcement, despite what Democrats try to say. This is why Hispanics continue moving towards Republicans. This aligns with a later topic in the episode where we highlight how Republicans are passing Democrats in voter registration across the country.
We then discuss the political landscape, starting with the governor’s race. We’re still in the same position as last week, and the week before that, and the week before that, and... Ted Dabrowski busted the fundraising caps but has yet to officially announce, and there is no news from Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar. We talk through scenarios, including how Bailey performed in 2022 compared to Rauner in 2018 in key legislative districts we need to win in 2026.
We discuss updates in HD47 and HD52 before highlighting this week’s news you can use and OGs and clowns of the week.
00:00: Introductions04:04: ICE Ramping Up Operations in Chicago, National Guard May Not Come20:20: Pritzker Starts Conspiracy Theory Claiming Trump Deploying Troops to Interfere with 2026 Elections30:46: Chicago Situation Shows Why the Left Is Struggling So Badly with Hispanics39:31: Dabrowski Inches Closer to IL Gov Campaign Announcement While Bailey / Del Mar Rumors Fly01:07:12: House Republican Pick to Replace Amy Grant in HD47 Emerges: Robert Vrankovich01:09:29: Democratic Primary to Challenge Marty McLaughlin in HD52 Down to 2 Candidates01:11:25: As NFL Season Starts, Sports Bettors to Pay Surcharge on Bets Thanks to IL Dems01:22:00: Democrats Falling Behind Republicans in Voter Registration Across the Country01:25:21: Democrat Addison Township Supervisor Doesn't Even Live in the Township01:28:22: Justice Department Sues Illinois Over In-State Tuition and Scholarships for Illegal Immigrants01:30:31: Homeschoolers Alerted that Terra Costa Howard Considered Frontrunner for Judicial Appointment01:34:28: OG & Clown of the Week01:46:18: Closing Thoughts

Illinois is at the epicenter of the national news this week which means we have a lot to cover in this week’s Smoke-Filled Room.
State Representative Patrick Sheehan, Chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans Jim Rule, Cor’s political experts Michael Butler and Chris Jackowiak, along with Collin Corbett, begin by discussing the topic everyone in the country is talking about: will the National Guard be sent into Chicago?
Brandon Johnson and JB Pritzker have been holding press conferences and making media appearances telling Trump not to send in troops to help clean up crime. Pritzker’s hypocrisy shines: during COVID, he was willing to infringe on our rights to save just one life. Yet when Trump wants to do it, JB puts up a fight.
There are a ton of campaign updates, and we start with the governor’s race. We play out what a Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar ticket would look like. Can they bring our party together and create the “big tent” we need to win in 2026? Plus, we still don’t know if Ted Dabrowski is getting in the race. Is it too late?
In the race for US Senate, Don Tracy put $2 million into his campaign, showing he is going to run a serious campaign that is capable of winning and helping down ballot Republicans. On the legislative side, the number 1 pickup opportunity for Republicans is SD48, and Republicans have a serious candidate in Frank Lesko to take on Doris Turner.
The Q2 Illinois Voter Tracking Poll by EmpowerToWin was released this week, and the main takeaway (yet again) was Illinoisans cannot afford to live here. This isn’t just a Republican feeling either—every demographic, even liberals and Democrats, are saying Illinois is too expensive. Yet voters are ok with the direction Illinois is headed and slightly optimistic about our economy. This shows voters won’t just break our way in the election—we have a lot of work to do to win.
We later get into CTA’s fiscal cliff, Democrats going scorched-earth, and 10 topics of “news you can use.” And, before signing off for Labor Day weekend, we give our OGs and clowns of the week. 
00:00: Introductions02:05: Trump Threatens to Send National Guard to Chicago22:21: Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar Considering Team Up in Illinois Governor's Race40:24: Don Tracy Shows Commitment to US Senate Race, Puts In $2 Million44:59: Republicans Get Their Candidate, Frank Lesko to Challenge Doris Turner in SD4847:00: More Candidates Announce in State Legislative Races50:30: Latest Illinois Voter Tracking Poll Shows Top Issues Right Now01:00:32: Popular Transportation Program for People with Disabilities Defunded to Delay CTA's Fiscal Cliff01:08:11: Scorched-Earth Dems Willing to Hurt Everyone As Long As They Hurt Their Enemies01:13:30: Despite Obvious Evidence of Abuse, 10 Different DCS Caseworkers Did Nothing to Help Mackenzi Felmlee01:17:27: Pritzker's IDOC Failures Force Illinois Inmates to Be Stuck in Solitary Confinement for Two Years01:18:53: Pritzker's Administrative Failures Again on Display As IDHS Audit Worst Lawmaker Has Ever Seen01:19:49: Pritzker Takes Credit for New Fertilizer Plant Announced Back in 201301:21:47: Pritzker's IDES Celebrates State's Unemployment Rate Despite Being Ranked 40th in the Country01:22:50: In IL, Donations to Dem Politicians More Important to Hospital Than Treating Chicago's Most Vulnerable01:23:47: Chicago Public School's Debt Over $28k Per Student01:25:16: Chicago Grocery Store Owner Given 3.5 Year Prison Sentence for $8.3 Million in SNAP and WIC Fraud01:26:00: Health Insurance Premiums to Increase to Cover Laser Hair Removal for Transgenders01:27:03: Half Million Dollar Superintendent Retires, Will Receive Obscene Pension01:29:00: OG & Clown of the Week 01:36:59: Closing Thoughts