TGIF, Illinois. The drive from Springfield was uneventful.

Mayor Brandon Johnson made a b-line to former Mayor Lori Lightfoot Thursday night at a celebration party for Michael Fassnacht, the outgoing CEO of World Business Chicago.

Johnson embraced Lightfoot, who’s mom just passed away. The warm moment didn’t go unnoticed by the movers and shakers at the Accenture offices on Madison Street in Chicago.

The embrace helped melt away some of the tensions about why the group was gathered: to mark Fassnacht’s exit from the economic development group he’s headed for four years. He’s leaving less than a year into Johnson’s first term.

The mayor sang his praises, as did a new member of WBC’s board, Charles Smith, a businessman and mayoral ally trying to get to know the business community. The party was a good way to start.

Some of the city’s biggest names in government and business were on hand, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago 2024 Host Committee Executive Director Christy George, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Vice Mayor Walter Burnett Jr., Deputy Mayor Kenya Merritt, mayoral adviser Jason Lee, city Treasurer Anna Valencia, BMO Bank CEO Darrel Hackett, BMO Vice Chair Eric Smith, ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones, Peoples Gas President Torrence Hinton and SPAAN Tech CEO Smita Shah.

Also spotted: Cleveland Avenue’s Andrea Zopp, PNC Bank’s Scott Swanson, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres’ David Reifman, United Airlines Robert Rivkin, University of Chicago’s Derek Douglas, Pritzker Traubert Foundation’s Cindy Moelis, Joyce Foundation’s Ellen Alberding, civic leader Kelly Welsh, the Civic Committee’s Erika Poethig, public affairs strategist Alan Solow, M. Harris & Co.’s Melissa Harris, Ignite Blue Partners Kaitlin Delaney and Kelsey Nulph and Polsky Center’s Samir Mayekar.

It felt like a retirement party, but Fassnacht isn’t going far. He’s now working on development projects for Bob Clark’s Clayco’s real estate company. Fassnacht is also staying on the board of World Business Chicago, offering insight as the organization works with the new administration.

EMBRACING DEI: While Republicans continue to batter diversity, equity and inclusion policies around the country, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch told members and supporters of the Illinois Black Legislative Caucus in Springfield that DEI is more important than ever.

“It’s everything we do every day. We know that democracy works for everyone,” Welch told the crowd gathered at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum.

Asked after the speech, Welch told Playbook, he’ll continue speaking out on DEI. “It’s intentional,” he said, adding he’s not concerned about the conservative backlash against DEI policies or the culture wars that are fueled by the debate.

DEI in his DNA: Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, passed legislation five years ago that requires corporations based in Illinois to report the racial and gender makeup of their boards to the Secretary of State’s Office. The University of Illinois examines the data to show how many women and minorities are on the boards.

If you are Kenya Merritt, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email [email protected]

No official public events.

No official public events.

No official public events.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email [email protected]

— IL-12 AD WAR: Congressman Mike Bost’s campaign is out with a TV ad featuring his endorsement by Donald Trump. GOP challenger Darren Bailey is out with his own ad attacking Bost on immigration.

— In IL-04 Democratic primary, Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia faces Ald. Raymond Lopez: Money is the issue, by WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg and Dan Mihalopoulos

— In IL-11, GOP congressional candidates complain of ‘moral decline’ in U.S.: Jerry Evans, Susan Hathaway-Altman and Kent Mercado are the Republican candidates hoping to unseat Congressman Bill Foster, by Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau.

— Eileen O’Neill Burke has been endorsed by Merrionette Park Mayor Jose Nevarez, Worth Township Democratic Organization and former Chicago Ald. James Cappelman. And Comptroller Susana Mendoza has followed up her endorsement with a video.

— Michael Crawford has been endorsed by former Secretary of State Jesse White in the 31st District state rep race. Crawford faces veteran state Rep. Mary Flowers in the race.

— Amy Murri Briel is out with a digital video in her bid for state representative in the 76th District. She’s in the Democratic primary along with Cohen Barnes and Carolyn Zasad. Current state Rep. Lance Yednock, also a Democrat, isn’t running for reelection.

— Dave Nayak, candidate for state senator in the 20th District, has donated $40,000 to his campaign. He’s a Democrat facing incumbent state Sen. Natalie Toro and fellow challengers Graciela Guzman and Geary Yonker in the primary.

— More on Illinois Policy’s push to oppose the transfer tax measure, by Crain’s Dennis Rodkin

— State picks up travel tab for migrants who want to leave Chicago: “At least 3,194 individuals have received financial support from the state of Illinois to reunite with friends and family in other states and U.S. cities since mid-November, according to state data. The state has spent over $620,000 on travel tickets and taxi fares to airports, trains or bus stations to connect with family and friends, which city and state officials call ‘diversion and outmigration,’” by the Tribune’s Nell Salzman.

— End of life bill: Legislation that could make Illinois the latest so-called “right-to-die” state is being endorsed by the Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter and the Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea. Details here

— Bill would permit supervised use, decriminalize magic mushrooms in Illinois, by the State Journal-Register’s Patrick Keck

— Opinion: IVF debate is deeply personal for state Treasurer Michael Frerichs: “In vitro fertilization made it possible for Erica to conceive and for us to start a family,” via the Tribune.

— Mel-O-Cream doughnut shop, which opened in the 1930s, is moving locations, by Natalie Morris for the State Journal-Register

— Survey shows Illinois best represents America and Utah is furthest from doing so, by Deseret News’ Emma Pitts

— Why is Jerry Reinsdorf spending millions buying up parking lots around the United Center? “As the White Sox and Bulls owner seeks $1 billion in state funding for a new South Loop ballpark, he’s spending big to gobble up lots around the Bulls home, records show,” by the Sun-Times’ Tim Novak and Robert Herguth.

— Mayor Johnson spends $8.6M on nine-month ShotSpotter deal — more than entire past year’s cost: “Johnson announced last week that the city planned to shut down the gunshot detection system after the historically violent summer months and the Democratic National Convention, making good on a key campaign promise,” by the Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba and Fran Spielman.

— Mayor’s borrowing plan raises questions about how the city will spend the money, by WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel

— Chicago Board of Education votes to remove police officers from schools, by Chalkbeat’s Reema Amin

— Hard liquor sales proposed at rooftop clubs surrounding Wrigley Field, by the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman

— Wife, son of Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones (who’s also a state rep) made six figures working with city, by the Daily Southtown’s Hank Sanders.

— FBI investigating Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard while Illinois attorney general orders her charity to stop soliciting donations, by the Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan

— Terry Cummings, a Chicago native and NBA star, will see his jersey retired at DePaul University during halftime at Saturday’s DePaul vs. Georgetown game at Wintrust Arena.

We asked what political skill carries you through life:

Janice Anderson: “Knowing how to listen.”

Lou Gale: “Public speaking, working collaboratively, advocating for a position, and even making small talk.”

Michael Gascoigne: “Empathy.”

Daniel Goldwin: “Honesty.”

Alison Pure-Slovin: “The ability to work with diverse groups of people.”

John Straus: “Listening.”

Timothy Thomas Jr.: “Triangulation, made famous by President Bill Clinton. It means taking the best and eliminating the worst of opposing positions and putting one’s own seal on it and in so doing, staying above the fray.”

Patricia Ann Watson: “The ability to connect, inform, inspire.”

NEXT QUESTION: What’s your favorite thing to watch on TikTok?

— Middle East war: Jonathan Schulman, a political scientist at Northwestern University, along with a team of researchers, surveyed more than 30,000 Americans for a new look on attitudes toward Israel and Palestine, Jews and Muslims. The results, shared exclusively with POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook, show that the loudest, more absolutist activist voices on both sides of the conflict don’t reflect the feelings of the country writ large.

— How did South Carolina primary become such a snoozer, asks POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin

— Biden targets Trump on IVF ruling, as GOP scrambles, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison

— Biden’s big bet on EVs is poised to take a detour, by POLITICO’s Zack Colman

— Howard Brown Health names interim president and CEO: “Dr. Robin Gay, who most recently served as the health care provider’s chief dental officer, takes over the role formerly held by David Munar,” by the Sun-Times’ Emmanuel Camarillo.

— Tomorrow night: Cornel West, the Independent presidential candidate, sits down with N’Digo’s Hermene Hartman. The show airs on NBC 5 at 1 a.m. after SNL and will be rebroadcast on Channel 25 during the week.

— Sunday: Ald. Matt O’Shea’s annual Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast benefits the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. Details here

— Feb. 29: Legal Services Corporation, which funds civil legal aid for low-income Americans, hosts a symposium with leaders from Chicago’s sports, business, government and legal communities. Details here

THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jay Vincent for correctly answering that Rep. Charlotte Reid was the first congresswoman to attend a House session while wearing pants. She wore them on the last day of session in December 1969.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who did Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s oldest son, credit with saving his life when he was pinned between a train platform and a moving train? Email [email protected]

Today: Joyce Foundation Education Program Director Stephanie Banchero, “American Pharaoh” author Elizabeth Taylor, The Conference Board’s Chief Marketing Officer Wendi Taylor Nations, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s Chief Speechwriter Ziya Smallens, Illinois Labor Relations Board Local Panel Chair Lynne Sered, Cresset Capital Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Malkin, Better Government Association Public Policy Director Bryan Zarou, health care leader and educator Joseph Topinka and NewsNation Senior Booking Director Erenia Michell.

Saturday: Former Gov. George Ryan, former state Rep. Mark Batinick, sheriff’s adviser and 38th Ward Dems President David Feller, Ravinia Festival CFO Peggy Papaioannou and Skillman Foundation CEO Angelique Williams-Power.

Sunday: State Sen. Cristina Castro, state Sen. Napoleon Harris III, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Governor’s Office of Constituent Affairs Director Stacie Barton Hackler, Dover Strategy Group’s Abby Lerner, broadcaster Tsi-Tsi-Ki Félix and Illinois Times’ photographer extraordinaire Lee Milner.

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