>> Good evening and thanks for joining us for a special year in review.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

We hope you're having a great holiday season before we ring in 2026, we're taking a look back at some of the major events and notable names that shaped the year.

And if your brain's feeling as fragile as mine is right about now, here's a quick refresher >> we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came deal cibo.

They paid deal D.

>> Miley known about it all.

>> Judge Blake, he absolutely took issue with Madigan's decision to testify and willfully perjured himself repeatedly.

The people of Illinois have honored me with this responsibility longer than anyone elected to the Senate in our state's history.

I'm truly grateful.

>> For a century, public transit has been the backbone of our region.

>> As a team, we might.

Okay.

be able morning.

>> One thing is clear, none of what Trump is doing is making Illinois safer.

If those city council members are not looking out for working people that I'm happy to do it on on the board.

>> Our city young people deserve everything.

And then some world-class city deserves a world-class soccer team to have a world class soccer team.

>> Whatever world class soccer stadium to match.

>> And now to our week in review panel.

Joining us are alignment rout of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Melody Mercado, a block club.

Chicago Rima mean of Chalk Beach, Chicago and Maggie Hendricks of Yahoo.

Sports, thank you all for being here.

Let's get right to it.

So it's been almost a year now since President Trump's second inauguration.

We'll get to the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement in just a moment.

But I want to start by asking each of you for one other issue where you see Trump 2 point.

Oh, as having a major impact on it's what's on your radar of the biggest My radar is public health factor.

We've seen Trump's new secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Junior.

>> Install a lot of vaccine skeptics in the administration already rolling back some guidelines are recommendations for families as far as vaccinations for in fence.

We learned in that you can't really take state-by-state approach to public health and, you know, Illinois is trying to sort of implement its own vaccine recommendations, but it's hard to imagine that there's not going to be some pretty dire effects down the road.

Yeah, quite a patch work that's being created.

Melody, what about you?

>> I think we've seen tariffs and changes with the various visa programs affect a lot of people locally and nationally.

But specifically the Syble Institute, which is the oldest Burning Institute in the United States.

Think the Pabst Brewing Coors Light.

Like all those people went to that institution located in Chicago, the relocating to Canada at the beginning of next year as a result of difficulties with their students visas.

And a lot of them are international.

I would say that, sir, very direct impact of the Trump administration locally.

Absolutely.

Reno, what are you looking You know, this administration has made clear that they want to dismantle the federal education department, but at the same time, they've also made clear that they want.

>> Schools across the country, including right here in Chicago to operate policies in ways that they in Chicago alone.

The federal government he cut funding for certain programs for CPS at a time where CPS was facing a very big budget deficit.

So and and that was in regards to programs that they viewed to be discriminatory to white students or to students who don't identify as transgender gender nonconforming.

So I'll be really curious to see if they continue to take steps in that direction next year.

Maggie, what are watching?

I mean, in the world of sports, the thing that has been huge is again going after transwomen and not gender conforming athletes because the executive orders that he has put in has made it so trans people can't compete at any level.

And so even things like local cyclocross races are being affected.

That Transwomen can't compete and its.

It's just like a local race and they still can't compete.

Yeah, it's not just NCAA D One.

This is this is happening at every level.

Exactly do once you get to Operation Midway Blitz.

You know, melody, the Trump administration certainly lived up to its vow of aggressive immigration enforcement and >> well exceeded its kind original plans to go after these so-called worst of the worst.

You've been on the block club team that's following the impact of that kind on the ground in Chicagoland communities.

What sort of effect have you seen on people's day-to-day lives from that enforcement surge?

>> Yeah, I think it's changed one.

How the immigrant community moves in Chicago.

We've seen a lot of people whether documented or undocumented scared to leave their homes because they they don't want a border patrol or ICE officer to come up to them and demand that they see sort of document Haitians of being a citizen.

We've seen nonprofits and rapid response networks really step up to the moment to advocate for the members of the immigrant community.

Whether that be hosting know your rights workshops handing out whistles for people to blow when ICE is in the area and even connecting people with free or low-cost legal services.

We've all polls also have seen local officials really step up in their neighborhoods as well.

Whether that be at the local level, the all Alder people, the mayor or the governor really trying to put in some sort of safety net work to try to make to try to help people as much as possible.

Stay safe.

>> Yeah, it certainly changed just the day-to-day life and on sidewalks and a Chicago neighborhood.

just once bustling areas somewhat vacant.

You know, to that point about local officials met, we've seen folks on the ground state reps alders out there with whistles.

We've also seen, you know, efforts stymie enforcement rain in some of the potentially dangerous tactics.

You know, lawsuits many from Attorney general.

I will new laws at, you know, from the state level on down.

Do you think that pushback has proven effective or is it too soon to to rate?

Exactly.

I think it's too soon to say on a lot of these efforts >> yeah.

Like you Illinois Attorney General Kwame Rose joins or initiated.

But every lawsuit that's been filed against the Trump administration by Democratic let states at the state level lawmakers have passed a few laws that are the idea is to sort tamp down on deportation operations from happening in courthouse is are daycares are hospitals, but that's already being challenged by the Trump administration.

We're really seeing a push in poll between state and the federal government.

And so far kind of feels like the federal government is winning with the supremacy Clause behind But it's again, this is kind of you talk to JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon They say they're doing everything that they can do.

We'll see where that takes us next year.

Yeah, I think we're going to very interested to see where this goes in.

I mean, you know, Rima.

>> Many of the family swept up in this inforcement push have school-age children.

How been affecting CPS.

Yeah, we found, you know, earlier this year that after Operation Midway Blitz was announced in September, we saw.

>> School attendance And then other news outlets have reported similar dips during increased immigration enforcement actions in their neighborhoods and, you know, when you talk to families, even when you talk to families about their kids, they are scared.

They have suffered mental health consequences from even the specter of increased immigration enforcement.

And at the same time, the district individual schools, educators, you know, in in that have tried to step up protecting students and ensuring that they have a safe place to be during the day.

And I imagine that if you know, Greg Bovino is back in Chicago that there there might be some of those same trends next year's.

Well, yeah, this certainly is not a story that's going away.

And I know you all will be keeping a close eye on it.

switching gears.

>> Maggie, this year saw a south suburban boy, a son to a job never held by American.

That's but from Dalton properly known now as Pope Leo, it felt like his elevation brought out everybody, civic pride, not just Catholics.

Is fair to say?

Absolutely.

It's so fun to all these people will go to an audience in Rome and someone will yell.

>> Like someone even yelled to him, we know he's a White Sox fan, right?

But somebody yell go Cubs and Houston, but they I just I love idea of that possibly the other night.

The pope either getting up early in Rome are staying up late to watch the Bears game.

to think about the trade, the bishop's miter for those cheese grater.

Well, okay.

How about that?

Do you think having a Sox fan in the Holy See's can help the South Siders next already did they just signed somebody that they had no business fighting?

So I have to think that was a little bit of divine intervention there.

Okay.

On a mission from All right, Mitch, some late breaking news before the holiday break.

>> Despite calling this budget immoral and warning that it could be out of whack by mid-year.

Mayor Brandon Johnson did not veto the rival plan crafted by Alders.

He did sign executive orders barring the sale of medical debt and trying to cap police overtime.

What do you make of his maneuver there?

How he tried to square that circle?

That's the bare really trying to save face for what's I mean pretty.

it just beautifully.

The biggest loss of his tenure so far when it comes to an emboldened city Council you know, this is a budget trying to pass with controversial effort tax corporations for the number of employees that have large corporations.

That the business.

he was dead set against the governor was dead set against the sand.

majority of the council was too.

So the council passed a budget, their own budget, which is just something don't see in Chicago.

And yeah, was his executive order today.

He can say that he's taking an effort to a big part of this.

This rival budget proposal selling some of the city's debt to private collectors, which he calls immoral move.

That's going to hurt poor working families.

And with this executive order, he can said he's trying to make sure that the debt collection that does happen happens you know, some sort of regulated way, you know, targeting certain people on maybe not that the most vulnerable folks out there.

But at the end of the day, this is this is a really big goal to take at the end of the year.

you know, Melanie, it feels like one of the major threads of Mayor Johnson's tenure.

>> Has been a sometimes tense relationship with Alders.

I mean, does it feel like there's any chance to repair those bonds after 2 really tough budget cycles, especially with the city election cycle about to ramp up next year.

>> I mean, I think a lot of the rhetoric of what we've been hearing from Alders that are not part of you know, progressive inner circle is that they feel left out of briefings.

They feel left out of decision-making and specifically with the budget as well.

We've heard we've heard all saying that they weren't briefed and to they were not briefed properly, which and their minds.

I'm sure that means maybe week or 2 weeks ahead of time to be able to to really sit with the information and understand it.

I I think that there are a lot of relationships that need to be repaired here.

I think that this was obviously big revolutionary move from past city councils that just sort of stamp what the mayor had has wanted to implement and legislation or the budget.

But I think it's really important to note that Brandon Johnson is the most progressive mayor we've had since Harold Washington and in the 80's.

And I would say that, although we Democrat run city, the majority of City Council is not as progressive Democrat Brandon Johnson.

And that really showed in this whole budget process.

Yeah, there was almost a tension built into it from the moment he was elected irrespective of any of the policy choices that they had to make.

>> Alright, well, Mitch, after years of rumors and investigations and a lengthy trial last year.

>> This year we saw former state House Speaker Michael Madigan's convictions.

Sentencing imprisonment.

Did you ever expect to see the golden hammer fall so far?

The velvet Hammer sees the fall so far.

You know, it's it's such a long I honestly going through some of the stories this year.

kind of forgot that conviction back in February.

I mean, it feels like kind of a different lifetime.

>> Thank you.

I with this investigation started.

I mean, that's pre-pandemic.

I mean, this is something that's the city the state's going grapple for a long time.

But >> Mike Madigan, I mean, he's the face of Illinois politics for half a century, not and exaggeration to say that any major piece of legislation from the early 70's through the, you know, 2000 it went through him and to see this figure, head of Illinois politics go down.

It's you know, it's a seismic shift at the same time.

It's also kind of the end of this air of public corruption trials have been going through the Dirksen Federal Building curious to see what direction the Trump Justice Department goes I think it's safe to say there's more corruption going on out We'll There's also a big shakeup coming for the state's congressional delegation.

We've got Senator Durbin's retirement.

>> 5 contested House seats between folks retiring or pursuing another office.

Could all this sort of congressional musical chairs at least temporarily, maybe reduce Illinois's clout on Capitol Hill?

will see.

I mean, it's guess.

>> all these Democratic seats are going to stay Democratic seats.

What?

I don't know how much it's going to change the state's full cloud when they head back to DC but as far as the cloud within the state.

Yeah, I mean, it's kind of a free for all at this point.

Dozens of candidates lining up for seats that, you know, really haven't been open or without incumbent since before I was born in some cases.

It's again, that's just really it just goes to show how seismic of the year this is for politics across the board Illinois.

been a thing or 2 going on typically glee.

>> A nother big story this year.

They came out of Illinois politics.

This 4, on the good side.

Most folks would Maggie, after this 11th hour deal during the fall veto session.

State lawmakers pass a deal to boost transit funding to restructure the oversight.

Definitely, you know, good news for riders potentially, but does it feel like it's still potentially going to take awhile for CTA?

Metra Pace, 2 to win back the writers that that they may have lost over the years.

Yeah.

I think the biggest thing is they have to continue to show start to show.

>> That they can be on time that they can't, that you can feel safe on the bus if you feel safe on the train, they have to make sure that they're sharing stories all the time of people feeling like they can use the bus the train reliably.

And I not even one of those people that sure I want them I would love to take a bus and train more if don't think there's going go fast, you know, I think that money will help, but they're just going to have really have to put the proof in the pudding.

Yeah, of course, with the Federal Transit administration looming and threatening to remove maybe that'll rally Chicagoans to their side.

Looking for a quake.

maybe stop people people not yelling about how.

>> Bike lanes run everything anymore.

all right will remain a now.

Former CPS CEO Pedro Martinez pushed out for his refusal, at least in part to backs.

Major borrowing by CPS.

His tenure ended in June.

The mayor's handpicked successor, Jacqueline King, also was very skeptical of, you know, those sorts of borrowing efforts.

you surprised to that, you know, maybe disagreement with with the mayor that shows her?

I think everyone was surprised to you you know, she came from the mayor's office, Dr Macklin King, who continues to be.

>> The interim CEO.

So there was this thought that she will align with the mayor's office and she didn't.

She proposed budget for this fiscal year rejected the idea of taking out a loan to help the city pay a much debated municipal pension payment.

And, you know, part of this, I think in a big story of this year for CPS is that there is a very large partly elected school board.

And I think the influence from members of that board who didn't want make that payment didn't want to borrow and then outside groups who also post that move are really influential in helping craft the eventual budget that CPS did pass.

Well, yeah.

Speaking of Dr, King serving in an interim capacity.

>> It seems like the search for a permanent school CEO was kind of getting close to the finish line.

Then we heard from the mayor who said, no, it's still What do we know about where that processed?

And last month there were 2 finalists.

And you now we know who those folks are.

Former schools chief in New York City, current superintendent of schools in Denver.

But as soon as those names came out and as soon as it was made public, that the school board start getting really close.

There are some local organizations, including the Chicago Teachers Union and the West Side branch of the NAACP.

That >> kind of took issue with the process.

They angry that the names you being made public.

They were also the NAACP in particular, was concerned that Doctor King had been removed as a finalist or rather didn't make it to that stage so.

It seemed like the whole process had to suddenly gone on pause.

They were expected to hire someone by the end of this month.

We don't quite know where the process stands, but we do know a couple school board members confirmed that they in their words, recalibrating process and it's possible.

We'll see.

It's possible they're interviewing other folks and that we might see a new picked by the school board in the next couple months on another big story that happened earlier in the year.

To your point about being like point that that happened this this was a long-awaited contract with the CTU got done the first time in 15 years.

There was a contract deal without at least a strike authorization vote.

>> Do you think there's a thaw in relations between the teachers union and the district and city leaders with the too soon to tell.

>> You know, I think there certainly they're certainly continues to be tension on that front.

And I don't think it's exactly something that's going away.

Again.

We have an elected school board.

It will be fully elected next year.

We will have those elections next year.

And I think I think the union it just like other interest groups is going to be pushing to continue to have influence and city politics and school board politics.

And I think the tensions that arose from those negotiations are still for many people.

Still very fresh.

Yeah, not necessarily something that's dissipated with the signing of the contract.

Yeah, exactly.

I will.

Maggie in a pleasantly surprising The Bears are quick this season still some nail-biters in these games, though.

>> Have to think.

But and and also who cares right now because there.

>> Trying so hard to make things.

I interesting particular past weekend was very interesting.

But what it's also it's just It's fun to probably where of their shares.

probably, you know, and see a team that having fun too.

It's like that's who you want to cheer for.

Well, it doesn't feel like this is, you know, the kind of a team that we can expect continued success from whether it's in.

>> The playoffs are next season.

What are you looking for?

I mean, I think that we're seeing a good partnership Ben Johnson Caleb Williams and we're seeing.

>> Players like DJ Moore who clearly want to be a B at bear for the rest their life.

When he cursing out the other team and So, you know, I mean, when you have those moments, you are seeing not just good for this season, but possibly good into the future.

I feel like I need to knock out.

Yeah, right.

As I'm saying all these things absolutely well.

And of course, this is all happening with the backdrop of the team's quest for a new stadium.

>> Latest developments, Mitch's that now they're looking at Northwest Indiana.

you feel like This journey they're on is going to wrap up any time soon.

It doesn't feel like it just >> yeah, I believe the first time the Bears threaten to move to Arlington Heights was back in 1975. after they got us on field and they friends northwest Indiana.

95.

So there's a cycle here.

They're going back to the old familiar playbook for sure.

And a strange announcement to make you know, today before the biggest game, there's a plate and 7 years, right?

Yeah, I mean, completely just throwing cold water so much excitement that was happening in Chicago.

>> I did not.

I understand there are probably people that were nosing around and they wanted to get ahead of it.

you could done this on Monday?

know, and the Bears have been really.

>> Trying to get state lawmakers in their corner for a few for years.

Now.

But really did not make any new friends by making this announcement threatening to cross the border to Indiana they need to a pretty significant change to state law and they say they're running out of time.

But again, they've also said the same things for a couple years in a row now.

Yeah, I mean, how about that?

None these is just getting to be the Kevin Warren that cried Wolf.

>> I mean, I think history shows that this is what the bears to anything time.

Every time we we see no matter what team asked for it, there's just no appetite to give out public subsidies for a stadium of any cut.

Yeah, we're not exactly flush with cash here these days.

>> Okay.

Maybe one new team that isn't looking for any public funding for its stadium is the Chicago Fire.

This new complex they're planning in the 78.

Is that the kind of thing that you think has the potential to draw in new fans with this big splashy development?

Yeah, the location of it in particular makes it very easy for fans to get to it because right now going to games at Soldier Field isn't the easiest thing when they weren't seeking stadium really wasn't the easiest thing to get to.

>> So this kind of thing, there's great public transit to it.

I mean, it's just right after rumors about so I mean, I think you would even be able to take the water taxi bear.

So I think there's a lot of of excitement around it when it gets its belt.

It's Belton.

You know what?

I'm pretty excited of the idea of going to a stadium that my tax dollars did not help and especially some place that's been such a long-running vacant site has such a troubled history.

>> You got to imagine they're they're pulling in some goodwill by people or you can see that actually doing something with Yeah, it's kind.

It's always been a crazy thing to me.

Whatever I drive driven by that area to even think like.

How how is that much Goodland just sitting there and the idea that there's going to be something that is is an anchor in brings everything together is is pretty interesting.

Yeah, it's going to be something to watch out for.

Think they're planning to break ground early in 2026.

Well, we've got about a minute left, but I want to get to Maggie was bit of a tough season for the Chicago Sky despite having a really talented team.

What are you going to be watching out for next season?

I think the biggest thing that well, the biggest thing right now in the WNBA is getting a contract between players and the league.

And so if that doesn't happen, we won't be watching the basketball at all.

But if we are, it will be watching for House Courtney VanderSloot and saying if she can come back from awful ACL tear in exciting so well and it's going to be a real, especially how much momentum women's basketball has had behind in the last couple years.

If there is a strike, if there is a lockout.

Yeah.

I mean, thing is is that the players have so much power in this position because they can.

This isn't like NFL where you can't go play for another.

have many, many options.

So it's going to be an interesting thing to see how it all shakes out because the players really are the ones in the powerful position.

Will you for are all in a very powerful, powerful position, talented journalist that you are.

But we are out of time.

So our thanks to Mitchell arm and Trout.

Melody Mercado.

Rima mean and Maggie Hendricks.

And we're back to wrap things up right after this.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part why the Alexandra and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation, additional support is provided by.

>> And that's our show for this Friday night.

Stay connected with our reporters and what they're working on by following us on Instagram at W T Tw Chicago.

Now for the Week in review.

I'm Nick Bloomberg.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy, stay safe and stay informed.

>> Happy New Year's cheers, this well-deserved, you know that a great Ok, before we go.

Each year brings with it, you know, little tragedies when that really got me this year was that the raffle was probably made by things How are you with this digs?

>> A lot of science for them to figuring And I just feel like you could just left Chicago have also.

You just that there was a scientist that was like that like well at rodents, it would lead And you kind of got appreciate aside.

Just like respects than knowledge that someone has saying, sorry, I just can't let that slide.

There's something in that closed captioning is made possible.

>> Why Robert, and the Chicago