Good morning, Chicago. We survived the arctic blast but snow might be coming.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news conference on Jan. 21, 2025. (WTTW News)
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Illinois is suing to block President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, while state leaders brace for potential raids aimed at removing individuals in the U.S. without legal documentation.
Federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials could be targeting as many as 2,000 Chicagoans, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday morning.
“I don’t know whether they’ll effectuate that or how,” Pritzker said. But Pritzker also said that President Donald Trump’s new administration has had zero communication with his office about ICE’s plans. That lack of information is “just more evidence of the chaos and confusion that they’re trying to sow” Pritzker said in response to reporters’ questions after an unrelated press conference. “It’s very disappointing,” the Democratic governor said.
Trump’s immigration czar Tom Homan has said ICE agents would carry out mass raids in Chicago first, but walked that back after media reports the blitz would begin the day after Trump’s inauguration. But after widespread reporting the raids would begin Tuesday, Homan told the Washington Post that leaked information about the plans would endanger ICE agents so those plans were off, and that he didn’t know why there was such immense focus on Chicago given that the raids would be carried out all over the U.S.
Republican state Rep. Dan Ugaste, of Geneva, called on Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to cooperate with ICE. “The safety of our residents is paramount, and allowing federal officials to remove criminals from jails instead of neighborhoods would make much more sense and could possibly save lives,” Ugaste said.
State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, said as a “birthright baby” born to parents who came to America from China who now represents primarily immigrant communities in Chinatown and Pilsen, she’s concerned and outraged about the impact of the order and the threat of raids alike.“They’re terrorizing my communities,” Mah said.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a lawsuit Tuesday afternoon challenging Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship. Illinois joined a coalition with three other states in filing suit.
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Michael Eric Dyson appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Jan. 21, 2025. (WTTW News)
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Author and university professor Michael Eric Dyson is known for his rapid-fire commentary — threading hip-hop lyrics with bible verses in his signature alliteration to make his point about politics, pop culture and certainly racial justice in America.
The Vanderbilt professor was back in Chicago recently for multiple Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances. We sat down with him to get his thoughts on the latest, where in classic Michael Eric Dyson fashion, he did not hold back in his critique.
On the next four years:
"Well, first of all, he's inheriting a tremendously robust economy, much like the former President Obama said, “yeah, you did great because I gave you a great economy.” ...At the same time, he's already developed a list of people that he wants to go after: Liz Cheney and John Bolton—and these are not raving left-wingers. These are not radical libertarians or even liberals."
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(OntheRoadPhoto / iStock)
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The votes have been tallied and for the second year in a row, a legendary figure from WGN-TV has topped the list of winners in Chicago's snowplow naming contest.
Give it up for Bozo the Plown, a punning tribute to the classic children's TV clown and star of WGN's long-running “The Bozo Show.” In 2024, Tom Skilling, WGN's now-retired chief meteorologist, was honored with the snowplow Skilling It.
Here are the other winners in 2025, announced Tuesday by the Department of Streets and Sanitation:
Lollaplowlooza
My Kind of Plow
Snower Wacker
Scoop, There It Is!
Bean There, Plowed That
In the coming weeks, signage for the winning names will be installed on one snowplow in each of the city’s six snow districts. While it hasn't been a particularly snowy winter in Chicago, there's still plenty of time for Bozo, Scoop and friends to see action.
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Back in the Day: January 22, 1975 - Led Zeppelin Plays Chicago Stadium
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On this day 50 years ago, the British rock band Led Zeppelin capped off a three-night residency at the near-20,000 capacity Chicago Stadium. The band played for three hours and had no opening act, playing several songs off their then-forthcoming album Physical Graffiti. While the sold-out show was a success and featured renditions of crowd favorites like “Stairway to Heaven,” “Rock and Roll,” and “Whole Lotta Love,” the tour was fraught with injury and illness. Before embarking on the tour, guitarist Jimmy Page broke one of his left hand’s fingers on a train door. Though that’s the hand he uses to fret his guitar, reviews state that he made it through the gig with only minor adjustments to the arrangements.
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Local Live Music Recommendations for Jan. 22-Jan. 28
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Friday, Jan. 24:
Elucid, Rich Jones at Schubas. Tickets.
A local rapper, songwriter and producer opens for the Queens rapper and Armand Hammer member.
Saturday, Jan. 25:
Accessory, Owen, Perfect Skin, Tim Kinsella & Jenny Pulse at Sleeping Village. Tickets.
This stacked bill is a benefit show for Noise For Now, a reproductive justice organization.
Sunday, Jan. 26:
Pile, Marcus Drake, Bursting, Sen Morimoto (DJ) at Sleeping Village. Tickets.
A showcase featuring artists signed to local label Sooper Records.
Meshell Ndegeocello at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
Boundary pushing jazz in Pilsen.
Monday, Jan. 27:
Dogcatcher, Wild Trout, John Herrin at Empty Bottle. Free.
This local show is part of the Ukrainian Village mainstay’s Free Mondays.
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Where's your favorite place in Chicago to get a cup of coffee? Tell us why.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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