former Chicago Alderman
Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago; former Alderman for Chicago's 44th Ward (1971-1979)
PROFILE
Dick Simpson
Guest
FROM Dick Simpson
Which Way, L.A.?
Obama and Emanuel: Great Team or a Mismatch? White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters today that the President will have an announcement tomorrow . Nobody now doubts the announcement will be that Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is leaving the White House to run for Mayor of Chicago.
To the Point
Obama and Emanuel: Great Team or a Mismatch? Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is stepping down, and Rahm Emanuel wants the job. President Obama is expected to announce his Chief of Staff's departure tomorrow. Emanuel has been the "get-it-done insider" to Obama's "visionary outsider," praised for legislative successes and scapegoated for defeats. But along the way, Emanuel has angered conservative Republicans, who think Obama has gone too far, and alienated liberal Democrats who say he hasn't gone far enough. Will his departure unite a divided White House? Who will be next? What are his chances at home in Chicago?
To the Point
Illinois Governor Blagojevich and the Politics of Corruption On Monday of this week, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested and charged with offering Barack Obama's senate seat for sale to the highest bidder. The President-elect, himself a product of Chicago politics, made a distinction yesterday between what he called two separate traditions: public service and "what's in it for me." But, in a political system that's based on wheeling and dealing, what constitutes breaking the law? Just how did Blagojevich step over the line? Does the incident reveal anything about Obama? With the US preaching democracy, how does it look to the rest of the world?
Recommended
To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.