* From Gov. JB Pritzker’s press conference today…
Q: [Some people are saying] this is all political. You won’t call the president, because you have your own aspirations…
Pritzker: That’s silly. That is absolutely ridiculous. Let me be clear, the President is begging me to call him, to ask him to do something that we don’t want. He wants me to call him and ask him to call in National Guard to the city of Chicago. We don’t want it. So that’s why I’m not calling the president.
I have been very clear about what we do want. What we do want is civilian law enforcement assistance. We want to make sure that we have enough FBI, ATF DEA on the ground. We have some already. As you know, they do really good work, working in tandem with state police, working in tandem with Chicago Police Department, but we can use more. We can interdict more drugs and more guns that are coming across the border, into the city, into the state of Illinois. And there’s more work that we can do to make sure that we’re fighting crime with, again, civilian law enforcement. And I’ve been very clear about that. The President wants me to call him about National Guard. I’m not going to do that. […]
Q: Don’t you think if you maybe called him, you can lower the temperature and all of this, and you can ask for the civilian resources, the law enforcement, not military resources that you just talked about. For example, sir, if you were president, and you wanted someone to call you, would you want them to call you?
Pritzker: No, I would pick up the phone and call them. What I don’t understand, why everybody doesn’t understand this. It’s as if he’s begging me to call him because he wants me to ask him for National Guard. That is what he is trying to do.
There’s a second reason, and you should pay close attention to this. He wants to set into the fact pattern that the governor called him to ask for help. Why? Because he’s going to end up in court. He’s going to end up in court, and that will be a fact that they will use in court that the governor called to ask for help. And I’m sorry I’m not going to provide him with evidence to support his desire to have the court rule in his favor. I’m just not going to do that.
Please pardon any transcription errors.
- Incandenza - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 3:55 pm:
It’s good to see some very clear-eyed responses in the face of the press asking questions to try and paint the governor as somehow lacking in action. While the press works 24/7 to sane-wash the president, bring their attention back to what we know the president’s ridiculous goals are and expose the childish and pathetic character of him and his tactics.
- Google Is Your Friend - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 4:22 pm:
- Incandenza - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 3:55 pm:
Just look at the meltdowns the Politico/Axios types and right-wing media are having over the tweets from Newsom’s press office, when Trump tweets (or “truths”) like that daily.
- Irreverent - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 4:34 pm:
I’m honestly having a tough time believing those questions were asked in good faith. I’d love to be wrong, but the cynical answer increasingly seems to be the correct one.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 4:39 pm:
What naive child asked Pritzker those questions? Embarrassing stuff.
- Captain Obvious - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 4:41 pm:
My question to JB is this: Since you recognize the pressing need for more civilian law enforcement what plans do you have to assist the city of Chicago in beefing up their police department to combat crime? How about the state police?
- Leslie K - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 4:52 pm:
@Captain Obvious, the Gov said “we can use more” civilian law enforcement. That is hardly expressing a “pressing” need.
- Anon62704 - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 5:01 pm:
=what plans do you have to assist the city of Chicago in beefing up their police department to combat crime?=
If CPD headcount is 1000-1500 below what it should be, and Chicago just had a summer with its fewest murders since 1965, could it be that more LEO isn’t the answer to preventing violence?
https://www.wbez.org/news/2025/09/03/chicago-sees-its-fewest-summer-murders-since-1965
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 5:05 pm:
=My question to JB is this:=
I take it that you haven’t tuned into or seen any of the multiple press conferences that the Governor has held over the past week or so. Because the answer to your question doesn’t reflect a failing on the part of the Governor but rather the narrow sources you choose to gather news and information from.
- CA-HOON - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 5:07 pm:
That Northwestern law degree being put to good use, love to see it.
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 5:08 pm:
The president just declared that he will most likely go to New Orleans first, or instead of, Chicago. Citing that he was sure that the repbulican governor of that state would welcome him with open arms to clean up a Democratic city. Did Trump just flinch??
- CA-HOON - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 5:10 pm:
@CaptObvious
You might better ask the Trump admin why they *cut* hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to civilian law enforcement. And as Pundent already pointed out, the governor has been addressing this head-on. You just haven’t been paying attention.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 5:32 pm:
The governor might be right. A Republican governor asked for help. The president is considering sending troops to New Orleans. And crime will be fixed in two weeks (his words). Chicago and New Orleans have had significant or substantial decreases in crime.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 5:41 pm:
=My question to JB is this:=
Now is not the time for your questions. Now is the time for thoughts and prayers
…especially because Pritzker is about 2 years ahead of you.
- Give us Barabbas - Wednesday, Sep 3, 25 @ 9:11 pm:
I can tell which reporter asked that leading question without the audio. Indiana is where a lot of the illegal guns coming into Chicago are originating, maybe go haunt them for a while?
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 4, 25 @ 11:43 am:
Billionaire vs. Billionaire. Both posturing over who will be calling who and when and why and whatever. Both claiming to protect the ordinary citizen from declining or spiking violence, depending upon who is talking at the moment. The Labor Day weekend violence is an annual event. I happen to fall into the group that is less tolerant over criminal violence. Zero would be ideal but not a reachable goal. What is?
In my Lake County clueless local politicians were horrified last Friday over the prospect of military occupation of two existing military bases and one National Guard base, including whether or not military vehicles will be driving around the County. They gave their rousing oratory in front of the Naval Station in North Chicago.
I have been living in Lake County for 45 years, and yes, military vehicles use the same streets I often use. The speakers expressed ridding Lake County of military vehicles. What is left of Ft. Sheridan Army Base is a little over a mile from my home. What is the National Guard base is a mile from my home. The Naval Station is five miles from my home. Two days ago I got a haircut and sat next to someone in full military garb without a weapon who was waiting his turn for a haircut. We talked baseball. He wasn’t wearing a mask. I see a bunch of them walking daily along the bike trail to get coffee at McDonalds on Sheridan and Old Elm Road. All three bases are along the lakefront. Makes you wonder sometimes about politicians and their observational skills.
- Pundent - Thursday, Sep 4, 25 @ 1:49 pm:
=I happen to fall into the group that is less tolerant over criminal violence.=
Is there a “pro criminal violence” group? Do they advocate for unfettered access to guns? Because that would be crazy amirite?
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 4, 25 @ 2:40 pm:
=== Is there a “pro criminal violence” group? Do they advocate for unfettered access to guns?===
Ask the Democratic Politicians of Lake County (and a couple of visiting Statewide ones). They sure were offended over the presence of these bases, one dating post civil war no less.
“Unfettered” do not include “protesters” who routinely pelt police with rocks, frozen water bottles, while being masked and dressing alike. Someone forgot to give them the memo that gun access is unfettered. Add Subway sandwiches to the pelting list now.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 4, 25 @ 2:50 pm:
===They sure were offended over the presence of these bases===
I read a couple of stories about that protest, but didn’t see anything in there like what you are claiming. Got a link?
- Pundent - Thursday, Sep 4, 25 @ 3:33 pm:
=They sure were offended over the presence of these bases, one dating post civil war no less.=
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that what people are offended by is the exploitation of our military and bases for purely political purposes.
But if you’ve got a source that says otherwise I’m all ears. But until I see that I’m going to otconsider your outrage to be nothing more than a deflection from the reality that many of us clearly see.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 4, 25 @ 5:03 pm:
Here is one you can trace back to last week. I’ll give full credit to the Mayor of North Chicago for keeping his comments on an even keel.
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2025/09/04/300-ice-agents-expected-to-operate-out-of-naval-station-great-lakes-as-governor-says-operation-to-begin-this-weekend/
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 4, 25 @ 5:07 pm:
One from last week:
https://abc7chicago.com/post/lake-county-leaders-pushing-back-plans-use-naval-station-great-lakes-host-ice-immigration-agents/17682128/
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 4, 25 @ 5:19 pm:
===They sure were offended over the presence of these bases, one dating post civil war no less.===
===One from last week:===
I read that story earlier and nobody is complaining about the very existence of the bases.