>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Some Jewish people are saying the Trump administration is politicizing the fight against Anti-Semitism with your local reaction.

The ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China has local business owners caught in middle.

And efforts to modernize and increase accessibility at the circuit court clerk's office.

>> Now to some of today's top stories, Governor JB Pritzker is doubling down on comments this weekend where he called out, quote, Do nothing.

Democrats for failing to push back against the Trump administration.

Pritzker made the initial comments at a speech for New Hampshire's Democratic Party where he attacked.

Trump will also noting short comings in his own party with listening to political types instead of the American people.

Today he responded to reporters questions about the speech.

>> Look, this is about the fact that the so much has not been accomplished.

That could have been in the example.

I'd like to give you is that we've had for now.

I think about 60 new, 15, 16 years, $7.25 minimum wage in the United States.

As we have done in the state of Illinois where we raise the minimum wage to $15 we ought to be doing at least that at the federal level.

And so from my mind, that is an example of something that instead of doing nothing, we had to do something about and that is what I'm calling for.

Among Democrats.

>> Pritzker made the comments today at University of Illinois-Chicago rally against the Trump administration is targeting of universities.

>> She may be 164 years old and weigh 2000 pounds.

But people's gas says.

It is time to retire the utility today removed and formally retired the natural gas mean that had been running under Wabash Avenue since Abraham Lincoln became president the year the Civil War began 18.

61.

And so it's no hyperbole to say that this pipe has quite literally.

>> true at all through the great Chicago fire through the rebirth of the city and the city's natural evolution throughout its history in time and well into the 21st century.

>> Over the years, the old cast iron pipe has provided gas services to Chicago icons like the Palmer House Hotel in Miller's pub.

But over time, old pipes leak causing safety hazards and environmental damage.

People's gas.

As the newer plastic system reduces methane emissions by eliminating weeks.

new pilot project is looking to attack Chicagos rat problem at the source by using birth control instead of poison.

The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce is currently testing brat contraception and Lincoln Park is about to follow suit this summer with a pilot project of its own advocates say poison is becoming less effective in brats but are lethal to other animals, including birds that prey on Earlier attempts to use birth control for rats were not successful, but it was administered as a liquid.

New versions of now been developed in pellet form.

Up next, the Trump administration threatens to defund elite universities citing an increase in Anti-Semitism.

That's right after this.

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

The gym and K maybe family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> President Donald Trump has made good on his promise to freeze federal funding to universities.

He cites a rise in Anti-Semitic attacks and institutions.

Inadequate response while some Jewish people are skeptical of the administration's motivations saying he's politicizing Anti-Semitism, others a welcoming the administration's actions.

Joining us to discuss this more are David Goldenberg, the Midwest regional director of the Anti-Defamation League and Howard DePaul University graduate students and Jews for Justice.

President Northwestern University.

Legal professor Sean Bernstein and Rabbi David Chapman Congregation, Beth Shalom, thanks to all of you for joining us.

So Sean Bernstein host will start with Northwestern as we know.

It's now one of the federal government's targets.

They have had 790 million dollars in federal funding frozen.

In your view, is this a fight about public safety and Anti-Semitism and public safety for Jewish students in particular, on university campuses or is this part of the president's larger battle against higher Ed?

That's really important question.

And I I worry a lot about what's happening with this because I think that Anti-Semitism is being misused.

>> For political purposes and it's particularly hard to believe that an administration that has said certain things like that, you Charlottesville rally that you know, good people on both sides.

Jews will not replace us.

We've Schumer's not really Jewish because the way he does things we've seen if Jews vote for Harris, they aren't really Jews, right?

There's just a lot of things that.

Make it hard to believe that Anti-Semitism is really but thereafter.

I think it's also, you know, we think of a JD Vance's public statements about universities being the enemy.

And when you put those all together, it's just very hard to believe that life think foes.

Anti-semitism is important.

I just it's hard for a lot of people.

I think that I know to to understand believe that that's actually what's going on rather than just meant dismantling universities.

at Munson question to you.

>> Thanks for asking the question.

I I serve a community that has felt not just felt that has been unsafe and has I've heard stories of college students that have been harassed and attacked in and just trying to live their lives as students and they haven't been able to pursue their studies in the way that they would like to.

And so I think it's more than a perception, especially in the in year and a half since October, 7th.

I think it's become a real critical issue.

So, look, I think it's complicated.

I reckon I welcome any efforts to seriously combat Anti-Semitism and at the same time, I also think that we have to remember that Jews are always safest and democracies will rule of law and Justice's is observed.

So it's difficult for me to say which policy is or isn't the right policy or the wrong policy share some of the skepticism.

But I also know that for our community, there's a real sense of urgency around safety on campus that frankly has not been taken seriously as it should have been up until now.

>> Okay.

So to that point, David Goldenberg and audit from ATL, you all found that in 2024.

For the first time, a majority of all Anti-Semitic incidents.

That's more than 5500 incidents were related to Israel of all Israel related incidents.

Nearly 2600 took place at anti-Israel rallies in the form of Anti-Semitic speeches.

Chance signs, slogans.

What do you think colleges could college campuses should be doing to push back against Anti-Jewish attacks?

Absolutely.

Well, first, I want to make clear we tracked well over 5,000 anti-Israel rallies on college campuses.

>> And roughly half of them needed into the audit because well over 2500 of them, we couldn't find acts of Anti-Semitism that were part of those rallies.

So it's important on a college campus.

Freedom of speech that ability exists, right?

Like that's that's an important place.

And the First Amendment guarantees that right.

And at the same time on college campuses.

When you have chance calling and celebrating violence against Jews anywhere and everywhere.

We've Jewish students who are being harassed, you have issues literally physically being attacked on college campuses from protests and events that and speakers who are coming to campus who are really fanning the flames of Anti-Semitism.

It's a problem.

And for universities the need to have in place the policies and practices to make sure that they can respond when 2 issues are not attack, Anti-Semitism should be protected under codes of conduct and they also have a voice, a voice to say.

This is the expectation that all of our students are going to feel safe here on campus.

And when those incidents occur that take aggressive action, including discipline and even explosion, if necessary, if that's where if if there's a violation of codes of conduct targeting members of the Jewish community, do you see the president raising concerns, though, about Anti-Semitism in any other sector the way he is about higher But >> we welcome any time a president or an elected official.

>> Raises concerns about Anti-Semitism because as you speak there, campus or other places, ATL, his scream from the rooftops about problems for years that universities have failed Jewish students and failed to take necessary action.

So as it relates to the president and his motives, you've got ask him.

there's a man on the red team and not on the blue team and the Jewish team and what I can tell you is that Anti-Semitism has reached epidemic levels on college campuses and we all need to do something about it.

O and you've been to pull student for about 6 years.

What shift have you seen on campus?

>> Going back to the October 7th.

>> I don't really think I've seen much of a ship.

I think that we remain pretty stocked.

And I think it really does depend what kind of communities you're in.

And also how you view.

Anti-semitism.

I think that there is a concerted effort not only by individuals in our community, but by the administration, by universities all across the country to equate Anti-Semitism, anti Zionism, I think on some level there are adults.

There are respected individuals in our communities, organizations that are telling Jewish teens they should be afraid and viewing these things.

Are these actions as credible threat small?

This is all really in the context.

After October 7.

On a genocide that's happening and we have to understand that Jewish safety.

These are words.

These are conversations that need to start at home.

We need to have a conversation with all types of Jews, Jews of color, anti Zionist Jews, Jews who do support Israel.

We need to have real conversations with all of these people to best address Anti-Semitism.

But really these protests in my view are a voice for people who have been under siege for.

Almost 100 years.

>> I'm Rabbi Chapman.

What are you hearing from your congregants?

>> I'm hearing from congregants who they themselves are college students or their kids or grandkids or college sons that they that they have felt unsafe.

They felt unsafe for a long time in various settings and campuses.

I remember when I was a college student, which was quite a while ago, long before October, 7th, I sometimes felt unsafe or expressing a view of support for Israel or even just expressing my Jewish identity in different settings.

So I don't think it's an illusion.

I think it's really is happening.

And I think it's something that that does give me as as a religious leader.

A lot of concern.

And I am also hearing from congregants that are concerned a lack of to process about sliding away from democracy and transparency.

And that is troubling as well.

You know, we teach a religion and revere in the Tora a system of laws and justice and a system of fairness and transparency.

And I think that is really important to when you look at Jewish history again, those are the situation.

Those are the settings in which Jews have been most safe as settings where a rule of law democracy is respected.

Shauna is there.

Can you think of a moment in history that resembles this moment sort of the what some people are calling up a little hesitation or politicization of weaponization.

>> Of racial or religious not directly.

But I do see, I think part of what's happening in my mind with using Anti-Semitism in this way, despite the real concerns that there that we should have about Anti-Semitism.

>> Is Over over the centuries there have been attempts by people in power to separate groups of people to keep them from seeing their common, their common needs.

Right.

The fact that there's racism in.

Sexism Anti-Semitism so they can billion 16.

76 enslaved black people and injured white servants rose and the black codes where the response by people with power to say we're going to make sure that black people, white people don't realize they haven't thing in common.

And I I don't think we've seen things like this weaponization of Anti-Semitism before, but we have scenic have repeated and ongoing use of differences among groups of people to try to.

Put wedge between them.

And I'm afraid that that's what's happening here.

And I worry when we say.

And it's something let's bring in these efforts kneecap universities because what they've done.

First of all, it's bad for Jews because Anti-Semitism, I think it's going to be stimulated by these kinds of actions.

I worry about that.

I also think at the moment, Jews are the cars that people are like administration's and they care about what happens when that's no longer the case and then other groups become, you cause celeb branches become the target.

So I think it's a dangerous route to go that a minute left.

David Goldenberg, there's some concern that anti Zionist speech or critiques of Israel can be.

>> Confused or conflated with Anti-Semitism.

Having people tell the difference between legitimate, you know, political expression versus Anti-Jewish sentiment.

>> Like any thriving democracy, criticizing Israeli policy is actually kind of who we are as a Jewish community.

You're not going to find someone who criticizes Israeli policy.

Arguably more than me.

And at the same time, though, when you're out there calling for the elimination of the state of Israel, which is what you're seeing at some of these rallies.

That's an extreme view.

90 1% of Americans think that Israel should exist as a safe haven for the Jewish people.

Almost 90% of American Jews identifying believe that there should be a Jewish homeland in the safe haven.

Those who don't in don't beat that quick or city largely on the extremes of the of our own community.

So when you're out there calling for the elimination of Israel, that's a problem.

When you're calling for violence against Jews, that we've crossed the line as well.

And when you're really suggesting the Jews are more loyal to Israel than that, we are to our home country.

That also is Anti-Semitic.

And we see all of that and all these roads sounds like you feel there's a pretty clear line when when very that out loud market, OK, we'll have to leave it there.

My thanks to all of you for joining us.

Thanks to our guests, David Goldenberg.

>> And Howard, Shauna, Bernstein and Rabbi David Chapman.

Up next, we hear from shop owners in China town who are caught in the middle of a trade war.

The U.S. China Trade War has been ratcheting up for nearly a month now.

President Donald Trump first announced new tariffs on almost all U.S. trading partners in early April with China becoming the main target.

>> Taxes on Chinese imports are currently sitting at 145%.

Beijing has retaliated with tariffs of its own taxing American goods.

125% local shop owners in Chicago's Chinatown community are bracing for the consequences of the ongoing feud.

Here's producer Shelby Hawkins with the story.

>> I-10 Eugene moving to court.

Just seeing what would a into huge Oneida.

Now that you go, you how to climb through that and and still may know.

We tell most 2022, clearly open Grace grocery store in 9 years ago.

Shortly after moving to Chicago.

>> To shop operates as both a grocery and a gift shop.

>> He estimates about 95% of his products.

Are Chinese imports doesn't Florida.

People have sir, what a teen goes on time >> which came in the 2 when and what I mean.

It was a dollar night.

Was everything at us and tend come in a tin cup and the 2 inches is you >> In addition to protecting his business from tariffs.

also finds himself defending his situation to friends and family back in China.

>> 3, how many in a zoo in 2 on the of Bohol to ties.

You don't come or house and that we make will isn't data.

So as a now come to come >> Tariffs implemented by the Trump administration are expected to raise prices in effect more than just shop owners in Chinatown.

Could put a strain on other industries manufacturing farming and steel.

Domestic and global stock markets have taken a downward turn since the back and forth care of started and the uncertainty make sea cucumber city manager.

I lay a little nervous.

>> A a single loving back at home.

Then we say want to see little Elian a the Glenn chasing height.

Gun show Goldman kind of the law they ca.

We are seeing the dish Gaza.

think I got home.

I didn't have.

>> Sea cucumber.

Cities sells traditional Chinese medicines, dried seafoods and candies.

They've been operating for 3 years made on it on that McAuliffe, the head.

>> State.

>> So using the whole dynamic how you my the whole, the financial holding child that, Megan a so yeah.

Let's like I've been a Antonio holdings declined to Hawaii.

Kai hold the Bible.

Find to see him the counting.

>> Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned other countries against making trade deals with the Meanwhile, President Trump is pressuring other nations to isolate China.

Even business owners caught in the middle.

>> You us and out of going into lockdown as it pulls you along got a Tyco would and will concede ago when my on a tdi, you read it So we need those things out.

well, you won.

Causing ago, just as odd.

That could just how to finally catch up with who to so >> For Chicago tonight, I'm Shelby Hawkins.

>> And there's more of this story on our website.

The Cook County Circuit Court clerk may not be a political office.

You're very familiar with.

They're charged with managing court records and court orders and serving more than 400 judges across Chicago and Cook County in just a few months into her term clerk, Marianna Speropoulos is out with a new progress report.

Joining us now with some of the reports takeaways is Marianna Speropoulos clerk of the circuit Court of Cook County.

Welcome to Chicago tonight.

Thanks on the show ran So you reached 100 days in office last month, roughly 150 days this week.

What were your priorities coming into the position?

>> Well, transparency, accessibility and accountability.

And those are sort of the pillars that everything that we've focused on in the office have to run through those values.

For example, transparency, we want to make sure that people know what we're doing.

So we stab lish the first ever data dashboard.

So you can see how many cases have been initiated.

What areas of law, what locations and as people give us their feedback on that will be changing and developing that much.

Like I said, this is the first time that's ever been done.

And and in terms of accessibility, we want to make sure people can access the court system and the services that we provide.

We have a lot of forms.

Weve got language access because it can be an intimidating process.

If you're going to go through the court system.

So we want to make sure there's that language.

Accessibility, you can get all kinds of data through our records center on our website.

You can also plea and pay your tickets on our website and we're going to develop.

We're in the process of developing an app.

So you'll able to navigate the course of court system on your phone as well.

Ok?

>> What were some of the errors your office found?

I think there was reports that when you got into office, there was some work that you found.

It had not been tightened just a little We found a little bit in terms of accounting.

So, for example, we have to do a lot of reporting.

We do a lot of data collection and we have to do reporting to the Supreme Court of Illinois, the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts and and Cook County as well.

>> And as you can imagine, we initiate cases collect that information.

So we have to put it in Their specific data reporting office of the chief judge also user information.

So that hadn't been done in 2023.

2024.

So we caught up make sure that our staff was dedicated to that catching up on what we have to report.

Also in terms of a county making sure that our house is in order in terms of the finances, there's fines and fees were collecting.

We also have a few huge budget.

So want to make sure I heard the right people who have expertise in accounting and they can take care of that.

And so, you know, there's there's a lot on our plate, but we're doing I think a great job.

And I've got a great team dedicated to that.

You mentioned, of course, creating the county's first public-facing data dashboard.

Currently it goes back to 2020.

What are the plans to continue adding?

>> So again, as we see people requiring different information, we're open to that.

We want to develop that site.

we see it as like a living site.

>> In terms of responding with people's needs are if they want to see other information, we'll start looking into that and to see how we can provide for OK, you're planning a push for legislation that would bring your office under the state's FOIA law.

The Freedom of Information Act law.

>> Why wasn't your office?

And I know you've only been there for a few months of is not your department yet, but why wasn't this office already under the state's for So I can't speak to what the previous administration did.

We are certainly dedicated to the freedom of information.

>> And and we will be providing that information and are currently doing that through our data dashboard through our records center.

Like I said, you can ask for all kinds of information and documents from our office through our online site.

So we're going to continue to provide that.

And will it be having the conversations with state legislatures in order to get some kind of legislation going forward.

But it will take time.

It's a process and we have to have a lot of conversations about that.

You also you currently have been internal inspector general that you've appointed.

But you said that you plan to bring your office under the county's IG.

What is your what's the status of that plan?

>> So the plan was to see what the county it looked like and what the relationship is, what the dynamic is to make sure that we have oversight.

>> I've hired the head of my inspector general is someone from Copa from the city and they have a lot of experience in terms of investigative experience.

And we also put out a customer service survey.

So any of those results go directly to our inspector general in case there's something that needs to be investigated.

So the public has any compliments or complaints.

All of that goes directly to the inspector general to make sure that we're looking into any problems that are rising and to that customer service survey, the stuff that doesn't need to be investigated on.

What are you hearing from them from residents were hearing, you know, good things.

We've got some great staff.

They've been there for a long time.

There's a lot of institutional knowledge.

We have provided customer service training so that our staff can handle any kind of scenario there might be coming up, try to defuse emotional situations of if necessary, just making sure that we're providing a professional, respectful type of environment for people to come into the court system.

What's next?

What about the next 150 days?

What are your priorities were excited?

Because we want to develop something called the citations and what that means, what is, you would have electronic ticketing.

So some of the suburbs have it right now, but it's not sink up to our software so we don't get it in real time.

And then we'll be talking to the Chicago Police Department to make sure that we can get them on board with electronic ticketing as well.

How would that work beyond what we already know about like speed and red-light camera tickets?

Well, the city of Chicago handles those.

We do moving violations.

But in terms of the ticketing, it's really just the process in terms of getting that data right away.

So, for example, if you've a moving violation ticket, you want to pay it right away if you came in the next day, we wouldn't have it into But electronic ticketing would get it immediately.

Much Europe.

It.

Yeah.

For to OK U.S.

Circuit court Clerk, Marianna Speropoulos.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Thanks for >> And that is our show for this Monday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

>> Now for all of us here in Chicago Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed caption news move Why Robert a cliff and Clifford law office, a Chicago personal injury and wrongful death that serves the needs of