HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR SPECIAL CHICAGO TONIGHT.

COVERAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN DAY 2 OF THE CONVENTION IS WRAPPING UP IN MILWAUKEE WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMMIGRATION IN PARTICULAR TOOK CENTER STAGE AS DID MANY OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S PRIMARY RIVALS.

WE WILL HEAR FROM AMANDA BEEN OKAY.

SHE IS INSIDE THE CONVENTION IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.

BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO START OUR TEAM COVERAGE WITH NICK BLOOMBERG IS COMING TO US LIVE FROM OUTSIDE THE AUNT OUT BAR.

THAT'S NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER WHERE ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A LATE NIGHT RECEPTION SHORTLY.

JUST WRAPPED UP, OF COURSE, THE SECOND NIGHT OF SPEECHES AT THE RNC.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING.

WHILE BRANDIS, WE HEARD FROM A PARADE OF TRUMP'S FORMER GOP CHALLENGERS WHO HOPE TO UNSEAT HIM IN HIS BID FOR PRESIDENT FOLKS LIKE NIKKI HALEY, RON DESANTIS AT ONE TIME, BITTER RIVALS OF HIS.

ALSO HEARD FROM SOME OF THE PERHAPS LESSER KNOWN CANDIDATES LIKE THE ROUTES AROUND THE SWAMI.

OF COURSE, THE REAL STAR OF THE EVENING AS ANYONE WHO'S WATCHING EARLIER IN THE DAY NOSES GOVERNOR JIM JUSTICE IS BULL DOG, BABY DOG.

BUT WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, HEARD A LOT ABOUT IMMIGRATION, THE SOUTHERN BORDER CRIME TYING IN WITH TONIGHT'S THEME OF MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.

SPEAKERS LIKE SENATOR TED CRUZ DESCRIBED THE ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AS AN INVASION HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STEVE SCALISE MAKING THE UNFOUNDED CLAIM THAT THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAS, QUOTE, OPENED THE BORDERS.

THOSE SORTS OF CLAIMS HAVE, OF COURSE, BEEN ECHOED BY ILLINOIS POLITICIANS.

WE ARE WITH THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION EARLIER TODAY AND WE HEARD CONGRESSWOMAN MARY MILLER MAKING ACCUSATIONS WITHOUT OFFERING SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF MIGRANTS COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES ARE HERE TO TRAFFIC DRUGS RATHER THAN TO FLEE VIOLENCE OR PERSECUTION.

NOW, WHILE THERE WEREN'T MANY ILLINOIS POLITICIANS WHO TOOK THE STAGE TONIGHT, WE DID HEAR FROM CHICAGO IN PASTOR COREY BROOKS WHO JUST DELIVERED THE CLOSING PRAYER.

BROOKS IS WELL KNOWN FOR SPENDING NEARLY A YEAR ON THE ROOF OF HIS CHURCH TRYING TO RAISE MONEY FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND NIC, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT MAKING AMERICA SAFE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF THIS HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON IMMIGRATION TONIGHT.

BUT CHICAGO HAS ALSO BEEN TARGETED DURING THE CONVENTION FOR BEING UNSAFE WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENT CRIME.

WHAT KIND OF REACTION HAVE YOU HEARD?

THOSE CLAIMS?

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE WASN'T QUITE AS MUCH MENTION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT, BUT COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX DID GOT CALLED OUT BY NAME BY ONE OF THE SO-CALLED EVERYDAY AMERICANS WHO THE RNC IS FEATURING EACH EVENING.

YOU KNOW, SHE WAS LISTED IN A LAUNDRY LIST OF WITH THE PROGRESSIVE BENT THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE TARGETED FOR WHAT THEY SEE IS NOT APPROPRIATELY PROSECUTING VIOLENT CRIME.

SHE WASN'T TARGETED TONIGHT FOR ABANDONING MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

NOW, AS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR TIM SCOTT TOOK SOME JABS AT CHICAGO TALKING ABOUT ITS VIOLENT CRIME RATE.

IT'S UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS.

SCOTT ALSO SPOKE AT AN EVENT WE WENT TO EARLIER TODAY.

IT WAS A GATHERING OF BLACK REPUBLICANS CONVENED BY AURORA MAYOR RICHARD IRVIN WAS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IRVING HAS FOUNDED CALLED BLACK REPUBLICAN MAYORS ASSOCIATION.

AND WE ASKED URBAN FOR HIS TAKE ON SCOTT'S COMMENTS ON CHICAGO.

URBAN TOLD ME THAT WHILE HE WISHES MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON WELL, HE THINKS THAT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IS FAILING.

CHICAGOANS.

BLESS OUR GREAT NATION.

FROM PROJECT GOOD ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO TO ALL 4 CORNERS OF THE GREAT NATION.

FROM THE HEELS OF WEST VIRGINIA AND TENNESSEE TO BEVERLY HILLS IN CALIFORNIA.

ALL THE WAY.

TO THE HOMIES IN LOS ANGELES.

AND THAT WAS, OF COURSE, PASTOR COREY BROOKS.

WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF BENEDICTION AT THE END IN THERE FOR YOU.

NOW, LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT MAYOR RICHARD IRVIN HAD TO SAY ABOUT SENATOR SCOTT'S COMMENTS ON CHICAGO.

ON THE SOUTH SIDE WEST SIDE AFTER AMERICANS STILL STRUGGLING AND STRUGGLING FOR GENERATIONS.

A MATTER OF FACT, JUST JUST RECENTLY HAD MIGRANTS COMING TO COMING COME INTO THE COUNTRY MAY SPEND MORE MONEY.

HYBRIDS 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER URBAN'S EVENTUALLY UNSUCCESSFUL BID FOR THE GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY IN 2022.

IN THAT RACE, HE EVENTUALLY CAME IN 3RD DESPITE HAVING 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FROM HEDGE FUND BILLIONAIRE KEN GRIFFIN.

NOW DURING THAT RACE, URBAN WAS SLAMMED BY SOME CRITICS AS BEING INSUFFICIENTLY CONSERVATIVE FOR HIS PAST SUPPORT OF BLACK LIVES MATTER AND ROARS.

PRIDE PARADE.

AMONG OTHER THINGS.

NOW AT THAT WBTW NEWS OBTAIN TAX WHERE URBAN DESCRIBED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AS BIGOTED AND IDIOT.

WE ASKED URBAN TODAY ABOUT HIS PREVIOUS CRITICISM OF TRUMP AND HIS STANCE ON THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.

AND HE SAID, LOOK, THE CHOICE IS CLEAR DESCRIBING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS AN ELDERLY MAN AND SAYING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS STRONG AND POWERFUL.

IT'S CLEAR CHOICES.

AND ALTHOUGH I'VE A CRITICAL OF MANY OF OUR LOOK THIS IS THAT I THINK RIGHTLY SO.

DECIDED OPEN HIS EYES THE ALL TIME.

DON'T MEAN I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GO FORWARD.

NOW, GIVEN THAT HE'S LAUNCHED AN ORGANIZATION BRINGING TOGETHER BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND GIVEN THAT PREVIOUS RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE, WE ALSO ASKED URBAN ABOUT HIS FUTURE POLITICAL PLANS, HIS TERM AS MAYOR IS UP IN SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.

AND BRAND IS HE TOLD US RIGHT NOW SERVING AS MAYOR OF AURORA IS WHERE HE IS MEANT TO BE.

ALL RIGHT.

NIC BLUMBERG, THANKS SO MUCH.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN JUST A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT NEXT, AMANDA BEEN A KEY HAS BEEN INSIDE MILWAUKEE'S PFIZER FORUM THIS EVENING.

AMANDA JOINS US NOW WITH A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION.

AMANDA.

YES, I'M HERE WITH A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS ACTUALLY ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE PALATINE TOWNSHIP OR REPUBLICAN PARTIES.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERIN DAMAR.

WE WERE A BIT SURPRISED AT LEAST HAVE TALKED TO SOME OF YOUR FELLOW DELEGATES GET CHICAGO DIDN'T COME UP MORE OFTEN.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP A LOT OF REPUBLICANS SPEAK ABOUT VIOLENT SUMMER.

DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE WRONG GIVING CITIES LIKE CHICAGO AS EVIDENCE RE RE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT AS WELL?

A LITTLE SURPRISED ABOUT IT.

BUT SEEING THAT THE DELEGATION FROM THE GREAT STATE OF THE WE CAME 126 PEOPLE STRONG, RIGHT CLOSE TO STAGE.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON'T WANT SEE SO MUCH ABOUT THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, A CRIME BEEN EMERGING ISSUE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SERIOUSLY HAS INTEREST IN CHICAGO.

AS YOU KNOW, DURING THE RECENT 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, YOU KNOW, OVER 100 PEOPLE SHOT.

SO THAT IS A TOP ISSUE FOR THE PRESIDENT.

AND WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT KIND POINTS AND VISION HAS PRODUCED COME CONSTITUTION.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT TONIGHT?

THAT WAS THE THE ENTIRE FOCUS MAKING AMERICA SAFE ONCE AGAIN.

I THINK THEY GIVE A LOT OF GREAT EXAMPLES OF HOW THERE HAS BEEN REAL LIFE ISSUES RUNNING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY CRIME.

I THINK THEY NEED TO LOOK AT IT FROM HOLISTIC APPROACH AND WITH ARE GOING TO BE ABLE ALLOCATE DIFFERENT FEDERAL FUNDS TO SOME OF THE CITIES AND DESPERATELY NEEDED THOSE FUNDS.

NOW WE'RE GOING STEM SOME OF THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE THAT SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN ALSO.

AND NOW YOU MIGHT CREATE HOLISTIC APPROACH, GIVING PEOPLE THEIR DEFENSIVE DUTIES FOR DRUG ABUSE AND PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES IN THE TOP.

YOU FEEL LIKE THE UNOFFICIAL THEME OF TONIGHT WAS HEARING FROM SOME OF TRUMP'S RIVALS IN THE PRIMARY IF THERE WAS A SOMEWHAT MUTED RESPONSE, WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE?

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM GOVERNOR DESANTIS FROM AMBASSADOR HALEY KIND OF FEEL LIKE FAMILY REUNION A LITTLE BIT DIDN'T.

WE'RE TRYING TO BRING EVERYONE BACK INTO THE FOLD.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

WE WANT TO SHOW UNITY.

WE WANT TO SHOW RESILIENCE THAT WE GET ALL THE OTHER DETRACTORS NRA BOARD.

LISTEN FOR.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE.

YOU KNOW, ME KNOW THOUSANDS HERE, NOT A LOT OF THEM WERE ON BOARD IN 2016 AND THERE'S BEEN EVOLUTION OF PEOPLE GETTING MORE AND SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO THE PROGRESS DID DURING HIS ELECTION PRESIDENT.

DID ANY OF THAT RING HOLLOW, THOUGH?

YOU HAD SO MUCH CRITICISM, EVEN FRANKLY, HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK BEING A QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NEVER TRUMPER ONES ON TIME.

DID THAT.

IT IS THIS A SIGN THAT YOU HAVE TO BE WITH TRUMP OR YOU'RE NOT WELCOME IN THE PARTY?

I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY OPPOSITE.

YOU THINK THAT THAT SHOWS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND, YOU KNOW, JD VANCE OR TO BRING PEOPLE IN THAT WERE DETRACTORS AS LONG AS THEY'VE COME ALONG NOW BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT WE NEED EVERY REPUBLICAN ON BOARD.

WE NEVER EVERY PERSON EVERY VOTER THAT OUTING TO GET ON BOARD WITH CAN TAKE IT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE BEATING JOE BIDEN BY OVER 6 POINTS, IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT RACE IN NOVEMBER.

AND WE JUST HAVE A IF YOU A LITTLE BIT LEFT, BUT YOU PUT YOUR HAT IN THE RING TO BE THE NEXT CHAIR OF THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY.

YOU TOOK YOUR NAME OUT, BUT WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH?

THE MINGO THAT WAS MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE GRASS ROOTS PEOPLE WHEN I SAY GRASSROOTS, I MEAN, THE VOLUNTEERS THAT COME TO PARADES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WAS LAWN SIGNS ON THE GROUND GO TO MONTHLY MEETINGS AGO TO LINCOLN DAY DINNERS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD A VOICE FOR PART TOO LONG.

THE ESTABLISHMENT AND A LOT OF THE DONOR CLASS AND TURNED A DEAF EAR TO THAT GROUP AND BY RUNNING TO GETTING A LOT OF DRESSES SUPPORT FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.

THERE'S 102 COUNTIES, 32 OF THEM OR DURING THIS RACE.

I GAVE BUT ULTIMATELY THE MOST WERE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES WERE WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR VOICE.

THAT OUR VIEWERS THIS EVENING.

ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS MR. ALL RIGHT, AMANDA, THANK YOU.

AND OF COURSE, THANKS TO A AIR AND OMAR FOR JOINING MAYBE WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN IN JUST A BIT.

OF COURSE, BUT FOR MORE ANALYSIS ON THE SECOND NIGHT OF THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, WE'RE JOINED NOW BY ERIC NESBITT NESBITT AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

POLICY ANALYSIS AND COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

SO TONIGHT'S THEME, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT A BIT.

MAKE AMERICA SAFE ONCE AGAIN.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR TONIGHT?

WELL, REALLY IT WAS REALLY MORE ABOUT IMMIGRATION WITH CRIME SUBSERVIENT TO THAT RIGHT?

SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT CRIME IS ONLY SECONDARY.

IMMIGRATION IS FRONT AND CENTER WAS ABOUT THE SO-CALLED INVASION ACROSS THE BORDER.

AND THEY REALLY PUT OUT THEY HAD STORIES AND POLICY INTER WATT INTERTWINED TO BASICALLY PROVIDE SERVE THIS CONTEXT THAT IMMIGRATION IS THE FOREMOST PROBLEM WE NEED TO DEAL RIGHT, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH HAS TRUMPS LOGIC SINCE 2016, I THOUGHT IT WAS A PRETTY DECENT SIZE DEPARTURE, BUT ALSO EVIDENCE OF THE SHIFT OF THE PARTY THAT ONCE UPON A TIME SORT YOU KNOW, THE CRIME AND PUNISHMENT TOUGH ON CRIME KIND OF RHETORIC THAT WE TYPICALLY HEAR ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT THAT WAS NOT THE MESSAGING THAT WE HEARD TONIGHT.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A DEPARTURE FROM WHAT WE USUALLY HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC CRIME IS SIMPLY USED AS A MEANS TO MAKE ARGUMENT ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

ALL RIGHT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE CLAIMS ABOUT IMMIGRATION FORTUNE NOT BASED ON FACT.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THEY ONE.

MIGRANTS ACTUALLY COMMIT LESS CRIME.

THAT'S LIKELY BEING PRESENT ACTUALLY DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE SORT OF JUST IT'S A OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY RECOMMEND GETTING TONIGHT.

AND YOU YOU MENTION ONE FACT CHECK.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS THERE TRUTH ALL THEIR ARGUMENTS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES?

NOT BASIS THAT DISTANCE?

YOU KNOW, IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE ACTUAL HARD EVIDENCE, NOT, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THE STORIES ARE SHARED TONIGHT, WHICH ARE TRAGIC.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THOSE ARE PERSONAL STORIES, BUT THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ACTUAL DATA WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME AND IMMIGRATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND IMMIGRATION.

AND LISTEN, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY PASS A LAW LAST YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A COMPROMISE DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS TO DEAL WITH IMMIGRATION, GAVE SOMETHING BOTH PARTIES TRUMP SCUTTLED AND HE'S CALLED BECAUSE I WOULDN'T GET TAKEN AWAY.

HIS NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT HE'S CAMPAIGNING OUT RIGHT NOW.

A COUPLE YOU KNOW, DRAMATIC OBVIOUSLY THERE THE ONE WE HEARD THE SO-CALLED EVERYDAY AMERICAN MOM GAME AND AND FUN ARE SPEAKING ABOUT LOSING HER TEENAGE SON TO FENTANYL, LEAST OPIOIDS COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BLAMING ANYONE THAT SUPPORTS OPEN BORDERS FOR HIS DEATH.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OPEN WATERS ARE THE SOURCE OF THE ANOTHER ONE.

ANOTHER MOM, THOUGH, IS YOU SORT OF HAD A DIFFERENT POSITION, MADELINE, BRAME AND ACTIVISTS IN A MOTHER WHO LOST HER WHO WAS A VETERAN TO A STABBING IN NEW YORK.

SHE CALLED OUT THE PROSECUTORS, INCLUDING THIS IS THE ONE INSTANCE WHERE WE DID HEAR CHICAGO GETTING NAME CHECK WHERE SHE CALLED COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX.

THERE WAS A BIT OF THE BACK.

THE BLUE.

DID YOU EXPECT TO HEAR MORE OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT DID YOU HEAR OF THE SORT OF SUPPORTING THE POLICE OPPOSITION TO DEFUNDING THE POLICE ARGUMENTS?

IT WAS IT WAS BARELY THERE.

I MEAN, THEY HAD A POLICE OFFICER ON, BUT THE MOST HORRIBLE STORIES WITH THE STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD LOST LOVED ONES LINKED TO IMMIGRATION.

RIGHT WHEN THAT MOTHERS TALKED ABOUT HER BOSTON DRUGS, PEOPLE ARE STANDING UP AND CRYING AS A POWERFUL MOMENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT POLICE ARE CUT SOME OF THE CLOUD OF THE MESSAGES.

AND THAT WAS A POWERFUL MOMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE HEARD A COLLEAGUE THAT PBS NEWS HOUR JUST A MOMENT AGO, REFERRING TO THE SPEECHES FROM SENATOR MARCO RUBIO.

AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY.

BUT OTHERWISE IT WAS SORT OF A CHILL NIGHT.

IT SEEMED APPROVE BROAD A BIT OF, YOU KNOW, MIGRANTS ARE COMING TO RAPE YOUR WOMEN MOMENT, WHICH IS VERY HARD BACK TO SOME OF THE VERY RACIST RHETORIC HAD HISTORICALLY IN OUR COUNTRY BUT OVERALL, I THINK THEY START WANTED SHOW THEY WANTED A HUMAN ICE.

TRUMP.

THEY DIDN'T.

YOU WANTED SOME INTEREST BUT NO DRAMA.

HE THREW OUT SOME RED MEAT TO THE BASE ON THESE ISSUES.

THEY BROUGHT IN A MARCO RUBIO AND NIKKI HALEY TO BE SORT OF THIS TRANSITIONAL BRIDGE SERVE ALMOST THEY HAD LAURA TRIPS AND THE NIGHT POSITIVE THING.

THEY'RE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THEY'RE KIND OF COMFORTABLE IN THIS POSITION AS THE PARTY OF TRUMP AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT QUITE AS MUCH.

VERY COMFORTABLE.

YEAH, THAT PINK PANTS.

I MEAN, THEY THERE WON'T LISTEN THEIR HEAD IN THE POLLS.

THEY HAVE MATCHED ON DONATIONS RIGHT?

THEY FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE WHERE THEY ARE IN THE ELECTION NOW THEY NEED TO BE DRAMATIC, RIGHT?

WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP YOU AROUND.

ERIC HAS THANK YOU NEWS, BUT THANK YOU SO BECAUSE WE'RE BACK WITH THE WHOLE SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM FOR MORE ANALYSIS OF TODAY'S EVENTS AND A LOOK AT WHAT TO EXPECT FOR TOMORROW.

BUT AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT, HE'S MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND CAME MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE AND WE'RE JOINED NOW BY HEATHER SHARON AND NICK BLUMBERG REPORTING FROM MILWAUKEE AS WELL AND OF IN A KEYS.

STILL INSIDE MILWAUKEE'S PFIZER FOR HIM AND HERE IN THE STUDIO.

JOINING US AGAIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S ERIK NISBET.

SO HEATHER, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE TONIGHT, CLOSING IT OUT.

WAS CHICAGO PASTOR COREY BROOKS MAKING AN APPEARANCE AT THE RNC DELIVERING THE CLOSING PRAYER.

WHY WAS HE CHOSEN FOR THIS ROLE?

WELL, HE'S EXACTLY THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT REPUBLICANS ARE ATTEMPTING TO APPEAL TO.

HE'S BLACK.

HE'S FROM PRIMARILY DEMOCRATIC CITY AND HE'S SOMEBODY WHO WAS REJECTED, SORT OF THAT GOVERNING EAST FOES.

HE'S ALSO SOMEBODY WHO SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, BLACK PEOPLE WHO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS OFTEN DO SO UNTHINKINGLY.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT SORT OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

HE SEES SORT OF CHICAGO'S BLACK COMMUNITY AS MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN YOU WOULD THINK.

HE'S ALSO SOMEBODY WHO SAYS HE'S BEEN SORT OF TARGETED FOR HIS POLITICAL BELIEFS.

HE'S BUILDING A MASSIVE COMMUNITY CENTER AND WOODLAWN.

HE IS ASKED THE CITY FOR HELP BUILDING THAT FACILITY AND HE HAS NOT GOTTEN.

HE SAYS ANY HELP FROM THE CITY AND HE BELIEVES THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S NOT A DEMOCRAT.

AND THAT IS EXACTLY IN LINE WITH SORT OF THIS NARRATIVE OF SORT OF, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING TARGETED BY THE POLITICAL ELITE THAT DONALD TRUMP REALLY SORT AND EMBRACES.

AND THAT IS WHY COREY BROOKS GOT SUCH A HUGE SPOTLIGHT TODAY.

I'M SURE THAT HE HOPES THAT IT WILL TRANSLATE INTO ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT HE CAN USE TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT HE SERVES IN ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST VIOLENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

BUT BERG, TODAY'S MAJOR THEMES, OF COURSE, THE CONVENTION, SAFETY AND HOW ARE REPUBLICANS APPROACHING THIS ISSUE AT THE DNC AND RNC EXCUSE ME?

IT DON'T RUSH US.

WE'LL GET TO NO, I MEAN, I THINK YOU YOU AND PROFESSOR THAT, YOU KNOW THIS.

BUT RIGHT ON THE MONEY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS WAS SO HEAVILY FOCUSED ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW THE BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAS OPENED THE BORDERS.

IN FACT, YOU KNOW, EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A MOVE TO YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO ASYLUM SEEKERS IN A SORT OF PUTTING PERHAPS I'M PUTTING THE LIE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, OFFERING SOME IMPORTANT CONTEXT TO THAT NOTION OF JUST WIDE OPEN BORDERS.

THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF REFERENCES TO VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS'S ROLE AS A QUOTE, UNQUOTE BORDER CZAR.

NOW, CERTAINLY THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT VICE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF HEAT AT THE RNC, BUT ONE HAS TO WONDER AS WELL, GIVEN ALL THE SPECULATION ABOUT WHETHER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S REELECTION BID WILL CONTINUE IF THEY WANTED TO PUT A LOT OF FOCUS ON KAMALA HARRIS AND TRY TO LAY THE BLAME FOR SOME OF THE BILLS THAT CONSERVATIVES SEE, AS YOU KNOW, COMING FROM IMMIGRATION AT THE FEET OF HARRIS.

AND THEN ALSO TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE POINT.

THERE WERE SOME EFFORTS TO TIE IMMIGRATION TO VIOLENT CRIME.

AND TO SAY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, BLACK AMERICANS HAVE SUFFERED.

WE HEARD FROM MADELEINE BRAND TALKING ABOUT THE LOSS OF HER SON.

AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, I WAS LIED TO.

I WAS DECEIVED.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM, YOU KNOW, AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY TALKING ABOUT WE NEED TO EXPAND THE PARTY, YOU KNOW, SO THERE WERE SOME OVERTURES THERE TO BRING IN MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

BUT REALLY IT WAS A HEAVY FOCUS ON IMMIGRATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, THOSE EVERYDAY AMERICANS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM RAN THROUGH A BIT OF A LAUNDRY LIST OF, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THAT VERY MOVING STORY ABOUT FENTANYL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, 10 CITIES BEING CHASED DOWN THE STREET.

ALL THESE SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, OFTEN APPEAR IN CONSERVATIVE CRITIQUES OF DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED AREAS.

BUT YEAH, FOR YOU KNOW WHAT A NIGHT THAT WAS ABOUT SAFETY.

IT WAS VERY MUCH ABOUT SAFETY AT THE BORDER, BUT CERTAINLY AS THIS PARTY HAS ALIGNED ITSELF WITH TRUMP THAT VERY MUCH ALIGNS ITSELF WITH ONE OF TRUMP'S BIG PRIORITIES HAVING THAT BORDER WALL BUILT AND RESTRICTING IMMIGRATION RIGHT IN ON SAFETY NIGHT.

I THINK ALL OF US WERE EXPECTING THERE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE NAME CHECKING OF CHICAGO.

I THINK WE'RE PREPARED FOR IT.

I'M WORRIED.

NICK, HEATHER, WERE EITHER OF YOU SURPRISED THAT?

YOU KNOW, WE CHICAGO DIDN'T COME UP BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN PUNCHING BAG WHERE THE PRESIDENT THE PAST.

YEAH, I I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THE DATA HAS COMPLICATED THIS NARRATIVE OF CRIME IN CHICAGO IS DOWN DOUBLE DIGITS THIS YEAR AS COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR.

DESPITE THE ARRIVAL OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS, MANY FROM VENEZUELA, ANY SORT OF FLEEING ECONOMIC COLLAPSE AND TRYING TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES IN CHICAGO.

BUT SIMPLY PUT THAT IF, YOU KNOW, THE MIGRANTS WERE BRINGING BRINGING CRIME AND THAT YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED CITIES WERE UNABLE TO START COPE WITH THAT PRESSURE, WE WOULD NOT SEE DOUBLE-DIGIT CRIME DROPS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THIS NARRATIVE IS MORE COMPLICATED, WHICH IS WHY YOU REALLY HEARD ANECDOTAL INDIVIDUAL STORIES BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT IF THE DATA WAS MOVING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE INCREASES WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC YEARS.

THE REPUBLICANS WOULD NOT HESITATE TO MAKE THAT CASE, BUT THEY SIMPLY CAN'T.

AND I THINK THE PROFESSOR'S POINT WAS WELL TAKEN THAT THIS IS A NARRATIVE THAT RELIES ON TRULY RACIST NOTIONS PEOPLE WHO ARE LATINO MOSTLY COMING INTO AMERICA.

IT ALSO SEARCH SEARCH TO SORT YOU KNOW, EXPOSED THAT TENSION BETWEEN BLACK CHICAGOANS IN PARTICULAR AND LATINO CHICAGOANS WATCHING COGGINS FEEL VERY ANGRY THAT THEY HAVE SUFFERED FOR DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE WOOD LINE WHERE COREY BROOKS SERVES THE COMMUNITY.

THAT IS SORT OF THE POLITICS BEHIND THIS.

BUT OF COURSE, THERE ARE REAL PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE I ALSO THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE INFLUX OF, YOU KNOW, MANY THOUSANDS OF NEW ARRIVALS COMING INTO CHICAGO AND TO OTHER DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED CITIES THAT'S DRIVEN BY THE DECISION REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT OF TEXAS TO BUST THOSE MIGRANTS INTO THOSE CITIES ESSENTIALLY TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PUT THE HEAT ON DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AND SAY, HEY, YOU WANT TO BE A SANCTUARY CITY, YOU WANT TO SANCTUARY STATE.

OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO SEND THESE FOLKS UP NORTH TO WHERE YOU LIVE.

SO I THINK THAT ALSO IS PART OF THE REASON WHY YOU'RE SEEING SO MUCH FOCUS ON IMMIGRATION AT THE RNC.

IT SORT DOVETAILS WITH THAT REPUBLICAN EFFORT TO CREATE A POLITICAL CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO NEW ARRIVALS.

SO, OK, I WANT TO GET HIM AND IN HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOME FUN STUFF WITH THE INSIDE FISERV FORUM THERE.

AMANDA BUT ON THAT FLOOR EARLIER TODAY, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN FOR ILLINOIS, RICHARD PORTER HAD AN ALTERCATION WITH MATT GAETZ.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

THAT STAGE YOU WOULD GET OFF THE WHAT HAPPENED.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE THERE THE FORMER SPEAKER BEING INTERVIEWED AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ, WHO, OF COURSE, WAS REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OUSTING INTERRUPTED, SAID YOU'RE GOING TO GET FOOD AND THEN MCCARTHY'S LONG TIME.

GOOD FRIEND.

THAT'S ILLINOIS.

REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN RICHARD PORTER.

WELL, YOU AND HE HIT.

I TALKED WITH HIM LATER JUST A BIT AGO, IN FACT, AND HE SAID, PARDON MY LANGUAGE.

BUT I'M NOT SORRY AT ALL.

FOR WHAT I SAID.

HE SAID THAT REPRESENTIVE GATES WAS ACTING LIKE A SCHOOLYARD BULLY AND THAT THAT SORT OF BEHAVIOR IS INAPPROPRIATE.

YOU SHOULDN'T ACT LIKE A HE WAS STANDING UP FOR HIS FRIEND, BUT HE WOULD HAVE SET THAT SORT COMMENTARY THAT HE HEARD IT FROM ANYBODY BECAUSE THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY MADE THE ROUNDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA NOT JUST IN ILLINOIS.

PORTER SAID THAT HE WAS GETTING TEXTS FROM PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

SOME OF WHOM SAID, HEY, YOU SHOULD IMPACT THE THE NEXT AS HOUSE SPEAKER.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT?

THIS IS MORE OF ALL OF WHAT WE NEED.

PEOPLE CALLING LIKE IT IS.

THIS DOES, HOWEVER, THINK BELIE SOME OF THIS TALK THAT WE KEEP ON HEARING HIS REFRAIN IN TERMS UNITY, UNI UNI AND OF COURSE, THE APPEARANCES OF TRUMP'S PRIMARY CHALLENGERS BECAUSE YOU SEE RIGHT THERE GATES AND REALLY THAT TRUE CONSERVATIVE WING THE MEGA FOLKS ARE NOT PERHAPS FULLY WILLING TO ACCEPT THOSE WHO AREN'T 100% ON BOARD.

BY THE WAY, HAPPENED TO CATCH UP MCCARTHY IN THE HALLWAYS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER RIGHT AFTER THIS CONFRONTATION AFTER THIS KERFUFFLE IN, HE DOES MAINTAIN THAT PARTY IS UNIFIED AND THAT HE IS FULLY BEHIND TRUMP.

I'M ERIK NISBET.

I WANT TO GET YOU IN HERE BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO SAW TONIGHT THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING IS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOWING UP FOR THE SECOND NIGHT AND SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE.

IT'S KIND LIKE THE KING WATCHING HIS OWN CORONATION.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT?

IS IT STRANGE?

I WELL, I THINK IT'S VERY TRUMP.

FIRST OF ALL, BEING SERVED IMPERIAL WHERE YOU SAW THAT HIS MAIN RIVALS FOR THE RECENT PRIMARY AND FORMAL RIVALS FROM THE PRIMARY BEFORE THAT IN 2016 COMING ENDORSING HIM SORT OF PRESENTING THEMSELVES TO THE I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THIS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT THAT HE SHOWS UP PHYSICALLY.

HE SHOWS UP THAT HE'S IN GOOD HEALTH.

HE'S ROBUST.

HE'S SMILING.

HE'S HEALTHY AGAIN, TRYING TO SHOW CONFIDENCE AND BECAUSE OF THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AND TRYING TO SHOW A CONTRAST.

THE COUPLE SECONDS TOMORROW IS MAKE AMERICA STRONG AGAIN.

WHAT DO WE THINK THAT NIGHT IS ABOUT?

PROBABLY ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY.

I WOULD ASSUME WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

THEY HAD SOME MILITARY CANDIDATES ON TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT THAT AND IT TO OPEN WITH THE DIALOGUE THERE.

TRAIN PRESENT BIDEN AS WEAK BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.

SO WE'LL SEE THE DO MORE OF THAT TOMORROW.

OKAY.

TOMORROW, BE FUN.

WILL ALL BE MOST OF US WILL BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR ERIC NESBITT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND COURSE, GETTING IN MILWAUKEE AND NICK FROM BIRKENHEAD USHER AND THANKS TO SEE TOMORROW.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW AT 5, 30 10 FOR DAY 3 COVERAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST CONVENTION COVERAGE NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT.

A CLIP AND CLIFFORD CONGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH THAT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS FOUNDER AND SENIOR PARTNER ROBERT CLIFF, WHO RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS BY