Brad's Newsletter
As I write this newsletter, global markets are roiling from the chaos caused by President Trump’s idiotic and capricious tariff policies.
Last week I was home in Illinois for only the second week this year and had the chance to travel around the district. I visited Buffalo Grove, Glencoe, Grayslake, Greenwood, Highwood, Lincolnshire, McHenry, Mundelein, Northbrook, Vernon Hills, Wheeling, Waukegan and had the chance to talk to many different people about what’s happening in Illinois and Washington.
It’s been a whirlwind of a week in Washington, DC following President Trump taking office on January 20th. I don’t know about you, but I am for sure saying “thank goodness it’s Friday!” I can’t remember a recent week similar to this one. It started with the 60th Presidential Inauguration, where the nation watched President Trump take the oath of office in front of all living former presidents. Strikingly, we also saw four of the five richest men in the world sit by the President Trump’s side - bringing to mind President Biden’s warning that the U.S. is at risk of becoming an oligarchy.
Hello from the nation’s capital.
Happy Holidays! Irrespective of the temperate weather outside, I hope you can find time to celebrate the season and spend special time with family and friends, enjoy delicious meals, and exchange thoughtful presents.
But many people in our community don’t experience the holidays with positive feelings, so this season may we all find a place in our heart for those who struggle during the holidays, whether by extending just one more invitation to our gatherings or finding one more present for a child who might otherwise go without.
Greetings from sunny Chicago. I am happy to be home this weekend before returning back to Washington, DC for the Presidential Inauguration. |
10th News: A New Year and a New Congress
Happy New Year! Despite the winter cold, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends and are off to a great start in 2025. I was lucky to spend a few quiet days with my family and am feeling refreshed and rejuvenated as we kick off the year.
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For all of those observing, I hope you are having a meaningful Passover!
The big news of the week was that on Saturday, the House finally passed critical national security funding that will help our allies Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan counter threats from Russia, Hamas, and China. I was proud to join with House Democratic leadership to insist that, in addition to the security aid for our allies, the legislative package had to also include significant humanitarian assistance, in particular for civilians in Gaza caught in the middle of the fighting between Hamas and Israel.