The Week in Review
Week in Review: Trump Funding Freeze Sows Confusion; ICE Raids Begin
It’s been less than two weeks since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. He promised his second term would begin with a historic start. Fair to say, that much is true.
A directive from the president via the Office of Management and Budget to freeze federal grants and loans — impacting billions of dollars in funding — triggered chaos and confusion.
Medicaid was one program immediately impacted with states across the country, including Illinois, saying they were unable to access payment systems.
Meanwhile, immigration raids across the Chicago area have led to more than 100 arrests and spread fear in migrant communities. But efforts to educate migrants on their rights are frustrating Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan, who complained that migrants in Chicago are “very well educated” on how to avoid arrest.
While Mayor Brandon Johnson would like to keep the focus on Trump’s actions, Johnson has been forced to defend failing to abide by the city’s ethics code regarding the disclosure of gifts.
Illinois Republicans are suing over what they say is a gerrymandered legislative map.
And jury deliberations begin in the corruption trial of former longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his confidant Michael McClain.
Guests:
Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune | @rap30
Katrina Pham, Borderless Magazine | @KatrinaPham_
Carrie Shepherd, Axios | @cshepherd
Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois | @hannahmeisel
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