WATCH: Officials shift shutdown blame; agreed-bill process upended; GOP offers solutions

WATCH: Officials shift shutdown blame; agreed-bill process upended; GOP offers solutions

October 2, 2025/
Spread the love

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares reaction to the partial federal government shutdown with Vice President J.D. Vance blaming Democrats and Gov. J.B. Pritzker blaming President Donald Trump.

Bishop also shares information about two measures filed by statehouse Republicans, one to reverse the state’s laws that prohibit state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement and another distancing protesters for police.

Finally, Bishop shares reaction to the agreed-bill legislative process between labor and business being upended with labor reportedly walking way from the table. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Republican state Rep. Dan Ugaste share their thoughts.

Subscribe to Illinois in Focus Daily with The Center Square on YouTube. You can also subscribe to the Illinois in Focus podcast to get the entire show uninterrupted.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Experts dispute Arizona governor's claims about state-funded school choice program

Experts dispute Arizona governor’s claims about state-funded school choice program

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Arizona education experts are pushing back on claims Gov. Katie Hobbs made about the Empowerment Scholarship Account program during her State of the State this...
lincoln way school district 210 logo.2

Lincoln-Way Board Approves Girls Flag Football for 2026-2027 Season

Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education Meeting | Jan. 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education unanimously approved the addition of girls flag football...
DOJ claims 'substantial progress' made on Epstein files, but no new releases

DOJ claims ‘substantial progress’ made on Epstein files, but no new releases

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Four weeks after the congressionally-mandated release deadline, the Department of Justice says it is making “substantial progress” in its review of the millions of remaining...
Trump eyes tariffs to pressure Greenland

Trump eyes tariffs to pressure Greenland

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said Friday that he could use tariffs in his bid to annex Greenland, an Arctic island with critical mineral reserves, proximity to...
Group wants records on Minnesota child care assistance program

Group wants records on Minnesota child care assistance program

By Hayley FelandThe Center Square A Washington, D.C.–based oversight organization has formally asked the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families to provide internal records that relate to the state’s...
WATCH: Ives investigates tax dollars for NGOs; Republicans say Pritzker raising energy prices

WATCH: Ives investigates tax dollars for NGOs; Republicans say Pritzker raising energy prices

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop talks live with Jeanne...
ICE hiring ban bill reignites SAFE-T Act fight at Illinois Capitol

ICE hiring ban bill reignites SAFE-T Act fight at Illinois Capitol

By Catrina Baker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A newly introduced bill that would bar former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from working in...
Illinois Quick Hits: OIG recommends firing 5 employees

Illinois Quick Hits: OIG recommends firing 5 employees

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago Office of Inspector General says its work in the fourth quarter of 2025 led to...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Executive Committee Advances Dissolution of Southeast Joliet Sanitary District

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | January 8, 2026 Article Summary: The Executive Committee moved forward with two resolutions to facilitate the dissolution of the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District...
Will County Board Graphic.01

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for January 6, 2026

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Will County Board Legislative Committee met on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to finalize the county’s state and...
Firms team up with states to scrutinize health care spending

Firms team up with states to scrutinize health care spending

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square A number of companies have responded to state financial officers’ December letter urging them to audit their health care spending. In line with multiple initiatives...
St. Paul students marked absent after protests against ICE

St. Paul students marked absent after protests against ICE

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Hundreds of students from high schools in St. Paul, Minnesota, walked out of class this week to protest the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement...
Poll: Trump’s approval rating falls 16% in Arizona

Poll: Trump’s approval rating falls 16% in Arizona

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Arizonans declined 16 percentage points from February to December, a new poll shows. Noble Predictive Insights released a poll...
SCOTUS to consider second election law case

SCOTUS to consider second election law case

By Andrew Rice | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that an Illinois congressman had the right to sue the...
Chicago council considers 'not a tax' surcharge on hotels

Chicago council considers ‘not a tax’ surcharge on hotels

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s city council is considering a new assessment on hotel stays that supporters say would raise about...