Happy Monday, Illinois. Sunday’s lamb didn’t disappoint.

BREAKING OVERNIGHT: Pope Francis has died.

OUR SIT-DOWN WITH PRITZKER: Gov. JB Pritzker talked about his take on the Democratic Party and how the party’s message isn’t the issue, exactly, it’s how it’s delivered. The answer: Fearlessly.

On cultural issues that Republicans capitalized on in 2024, Pritzker said it shouldn’t have been so difficult: “Stop picking on the smallest minority of people whose civil rights are just as important as yours.”

His full-throated attacks on Trump are drawing attention from prominent national Democrats. “We’re in a moment … where some people are saying, ‘We need to roll over and die’ and other people want to fight. JB wants to fight,” said David Hogg, a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.

What you’ll find interesting:

The Pritzker-Trump tension goes back decades.

The governor and his team prepared for months for a Trump presidency, just in case Kamala Harris lost.

His national speaking engagements shouldn’t be read as a lead-up to a presidential campaign. It’s all about bringing attention to Illinois.

Our full story: JB Pritzker burnishes his national brand as one of Trump’s fiercest critics

SIDE NOTE: Our interview was in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office that Pritzker uses to sign bills. It’s notable for a large portrait from the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Also in the room: Photos of his wife, first lady MK Pritzker and their children, a photo of his father, the late Don Pritzker, dressed in military uniform, a book about the late John Prine (Pritzker has become a fan of his music) and a duck call, that Pritzker said he received as a gift.

Across from the Lincoln portrait is a sign that Pritzker likes to highlight to visitors. It’s a headline: “Illinois credit rating upgraded: Moody’s upgrade is state’s first in two decades.”

RELATED

Pritzker sure seems like he’s running: “There is no doubt that he is going to run,” said Chicagoan Bill Daley, who served as President Bill Clinton’s commerce secretary and President Barack Obama’s chief of staff. “The real question is whether he runs for re-election first or just runs for president,” by The Wall Street Journal’s John McCormick.

Democratic state lawmakers start to move on promise to ‘be a check’ on Donald Trump: “With six weeks left in the spring legislative session, lawmakers have a range of measures before them that backers say are necessary to protect Illinois’ progressive policies,” by the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner.

“The proposals from Democrats who control both chambers of the legislature include financial regulation and workplace protections as well as enhancements to abortion rights and immigration policy. Republican lawmakers have dismissed those efforts as political stunts that in some cases could do more harm than good,” reports Gorner.

No official public events

At City Hall at 9 a.m. to sign an executive order with the Office of Budget and Management

No official public events

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

— In IL-09: On political newcomer Kat Abughazaleh’s bid for the seat: ‘The question is whether she can sustain and build on the buzz,’ by the Daily Herald’s Russell Lissau

— Joseph Severino says he plans to run for governor in 2026 as a Republican. He made his announcement on conservative podcaster Shaun Thompson’s show on AM 560. Severino previously ran for Congress in the 10th District in 2022 as a Republican and 2024 as an Independent. Severino has yet to file paperwork with the state. Also in the GOP race for governor is DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, who announced in February and has $100,000 in his campaign fund, according to filings with the state.

— Illinois looks to rein in drug intermediaries over high costs, but legislation is unresolved and industry says the efforts are flawed: “Gov. JB Pritzker has called for legislation that would prevent pharmacy benefit managers from directing patients to pharmacies where they have a financial interest, bar them from pocketing certain savings on medications and require them to open their books to state regulators, among other changes,” by the Tribune’s Lisa Schencker and Dan Petrella.

— Transit agencies launch ad blitz asking riders for to contact lawmakers in Springfield, by Crain’s John Pletz

— Illinois allows kids as young as 10 to be put in detention. A bill before the state House could change that, by the Tribune’s Olivia Olander

— Debate about homeschool legislation continues, by Shaw Local’s Cathy Janik

— Indiana-Illinois border bill heads to Gov. Braun’s desk, by the Post-Tribune’s Alexandra Kukulka

— Chicago Park District CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa on Riot Fest, homeless encampments and top priorities: “We need equitable infrastructure improvements. There’s a lot of need for deferred maintenance across the system. We have fieldhouses that are in disrepair. We also want to make sure that we’re providing our youth with opportunities,” by WTTW’s Brandis Friedman and Abena Bediako.

— City employees blamed for three runway ‘incursions’ at O’Hare Airport over the last year by the Sun-Times Robert Herguth and David Struett.

— Bowen HS science program gets $10K from PsiQuantum, a South Works Campus tenant, by the Block Club’s Maxwell Evans.

— 4th-generation Chicago family business reels from tariffs, by the Sun-Times’ Amy Yee.

— Thousands in Chicago at risk under Trump budget plan cutting HIV funding, advocates say, by Jon Asplund for Crain’s

— 50501 protest in Chicago draws thousands to Daley Plaza: ‘We have a civic duty,’ by the Sun-Times’ Violet Miller

— Should Cook County dissolve its four suburban mosquito abatement districts? “Some Cook County Board members are requesting closer scrutiny of the mosquito districts following an investigation by the county’s inspector general that resulted in calls for members of the appointed oversight board at one district to resign,” by the Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin.

— Former Glenwood cemetery employee charged with stealing more than $110k in funeral payments, sheriff’s office says, by the Tribune’s Rebecca Johnson

— Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library launched in Lake County to inspire young readers, by the Daily Herald’s Mick Zawislak

We asked where you went grocery shopping growing up.

Lissa Druss: “Caputo’s, the original on Harlem and Wrightwood in Elmwood Park.”

Charles Keller: “Kroger’s on the east side of Broadway at Glenlake if there were coupons in the paper. But usually Dominicks about a block further south.”

Kevin Lampe: “We shopped at the Jewels.”

Russell Lissau: “Publix, on Sample Road in Coral Springs, Florida. I worked there, too.”

LaTonya Lumpkin: “The A&P and the butcher shop inside the hyper-local Southside Chicago Beverly Store on West 87th Street.”

Ed Mazur: “The National Tea Company Grocery store at California near Augusta Boulevard. If we went downtown, my mother wore a hat and gloves.”

Marilynn Miller: “We lived in Elk Grove, long before the town was built. There was a tiny store, about a block from us, owned by Mabel Everding. We just told her what we wanted, and she went to get it.”

Joseph Monack: “A place called “Jules” on Harlem Ave that sold taco flavored ranch dressing, gum with a zebra mascot and fruit-shaped cereal.”

Joan Pederson: “Hyde Park Co-Op Market.”

Juan Rangel: “Jewels.”

Jaimey Sexton: “Kroger’s in Ripley, West Virginia.”

Timothy Powell: “Grocerland in Morton Grove on Waukegan Road. The butcher would always give me a couple of slices of bologna. A big deal for a 5-year-old.”

Alison Pure-Slovin: “Dominick’s in Budlong Woods and Hungarian Kosher Food on Devon Ave in West Rogers Park.”

Michael Stokke: “Mullins market or the Chenoa IGA.”

John Straus: “Sunset Foods in Highland Park, where my grandmother was its first customer.”

Patricia Ann Watson: “Kroger’s with mom on Fridays, Tom Boys daily fresh produce and bakery.”

NEXT QUESTION: What’s the story (in a sentence) of how you got your name?

— Jenner & Block fights Trump bid to shut down lawsuit, says executive order ‘patently unconstitutional,’ by Crain’s Mark Weinraub

— Former Pentagon official warns department’s dysfunction could topple Hegseth, by POLITICO’s Paul McLeary

— ‘Unconscionable’: Three former Pentagon officials say they don’t know why they were fired, by POLITICO’s Jack Detsch and Paul McLeary

— Malik Murray, Ariel exec and former St. Ignatius and Blue Demon basketball player, dies at 50, by Bob Goldsborough for the Tribune

— Ryan Hughes is now partner and head of U.S. Operations for Maltin PR. He was with Allison Worldwide.

— Ilya Sheyman is stepping down in June as CEO of The Good Food Institute. He’s the former executive director of MoveOn political action and was a candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 10th District.

— Wednesday: Newly named Republican state Sen. Darby Hills will be feted at an Americans for Prosperity event. Details here

— Wednesday: Rod Blagojevich keynotes a gathering in Oak Brook of the Conservative Caucus, TCC. Former Trump aide George Papadopoulos is also headlining. Details here

— May 2: Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University, will receive the annual Newberry Library Award. Details here

— May 17: Ald. Maria Hadden is having a breakfast fundraiser. Details here

FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Shawn Healy for correctly answering that Gen. Ambrose Burnside seized the office of the Chicago Times newspaper (not Sun-Times) because of its critical coverage of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the first Illinois woman elected to Congress from Illinois? Email [email protected]

State Rep. Patrick Sheehan, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Brendan O’Brien, former state Rep. Bob Winchester, Left Flank Strategies’ Bill Neidhardt, Illinois Justice Project Policy Adviser Paula Wolff, The Civil Rights Agenda founder Jacob Meister, attorney and lobbyist Scott Yonover, Free Market Ventures’ Jack Buck, The Conservation Center CEO Heather Becker, Washington Post’s Lauren Weber and the Sun-Times’ Rummana Hussain

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