Newsletter: Key Impeachment Witness Offers New Details

Impeachment inquiry hearing
Top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine William Taylor, left, and Career Foreign Service officer George Kent are sworn in prior to testifying before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, during the first public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump's efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents. Jim Lo Scalzo / Pool Photo via AP
Impeachment inquiry hearing
Top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine William Taylor, left, and Career Foreign Service officer George Kent are sworn in prior to testifying before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, during the first public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump's efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents. Jim Lo Scalzo / Pool Photo via AP

Newsletter: Key Impeachment Witness Offers New Details

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Hey there! It’s Wednesday, and once again I have been shunned from Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 Under 40.” Maybe I’ll make the “80 Over 80.” Anyway, here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Trump prioritized Biden investigation over Ukraine aid, witness says

William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine and a crucial witness in the impeachment inquiry, provided new information during today’s first public hearing, telling House investigators that he was told President Donald Trump cared more about investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden than he did about Ukraine.

Taylor also said an aide overheard Trump asking about “the investigations” during a phone call with Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union. You can read Taylor’s opening statement here. [NPR]

George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, also appeared before House investigators today and said Rudy Giuliani’s “effort to gin up politically motivated investigations were … infecting U.S. engagement with Ukraine.” You can find his opening statement here. [NPR]

2. Feds wiretapped calls involving confidant to House Speaker Michael Madigan

A key figure is emerging in the wide-ranging federal investigation of Commonwealth Edison’s alleged “shadow lobbying” of Illinois officials. Springfield insider Michael McClain continued getting paid by the utility giant even after he retired as a lawyer and lobbyist, according to an investigation from WBEZ and the Better Government Association.

The news comes as federal authorities are investigating whether ComEd hired politically connected employees and contractors in exchange for favorable government actions, including rate hikes.

FBI agents raided McClain’s downstate home earlier this year, and the Chicago Tribune reports authorities secretly recorded phone conversations involving McClain, who is a close confidant to powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

A ComEd spokeswoman said McClain did no lobbying work after his retirement and was paid for “political consulting services.” [WBEZ]

3. Lightfoot unveils plan to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021

Mayor Lori Lightfoot today proposed bumping up the minimum wage in Chicago four years earlier than the state. But tipped workers would only get a portion of that increase.

Lightfoot’s plan calls for hiking the minimum wage to $14 on July 1, 2020 and then $15 an hour in 2021. But for tipped workers, the current $6.40 minimum wage would be increased to $8.40 an hour next year, which is only 60% of $15. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Lightfoot is also proposing to cut penalties for possession of marijuana as the state prepares to legalize recreational pot on Jan. 1. [Chicago Tribune]

Meanwhile, Lightfoot left Springfield yesterday without a deal on her plans to hike taxes on high-end real estate sales and make a city casino more attractive to developers. [Chicago Tribune]

4. Chaos in Hong Kong fuels concerns that China will step in

The escalating, violent clashes between Hong Kong authorities and pro-democracy protesters this week is raising fears that China will intervene. China’s Foreign Ministry today said Beijing would not compromise with activists in the semiautonomous region.

Public transit and major roads were shut down today as part of a general strike in response to the death of a young protester. Some universities have either suspended classes this week or canceled programs for the rest of the semester, and students from mainland China and elsewhere have begun evacuating Hong Kong. [Washington Post]

5. It could snow tonight

After two days of record-breaking cold temperatures in Chicago, the weather is expected to get warmer the rest of the week, with up to 40 degrees possible on Sunday. Not exactly a heat wave, but I’ll take it.

But parts of northern Illinois could get hit with a snowstorm tonight, albeit a light one with only up to an inch of snow, according to the National Weather Service. [Chicago Tribune]

Meanwhile, other parts of the nation are also seeing record-breaking cold temperatures. [NPR]

Here’s what else is happening

  • Chicago teachers begin voting tomorrow on whether to accept a tentative contract agreement. [WBEZ]

  • Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the benchmark interest rate will likely remain unchanged as he expresses optimism in the U.S. economy. [AP]

  • Venice’s mayor blames climate change for the worst flood in 50 years. [NPR]

  • Here’s a sneak peak into the world’s largest Starbucks that opens Friday on the Mag Mile. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

All 30 seasons of The Simpsons can now be found on Disney’s new TV streaming service, Disney+, but eagle-eyed fans noticed the aspect ratio is off. As a wise man once said, “D’oh!”

A majority of the show’s seasons were originally broadcast in a 4:3 aspect ratio, but Disney is streaming them in a widescreen 16:9 ratio, meaning early episodes look stretched and shots are cropped to fit the new format. That’s a huge problem because many visual gags are essentially being cut from shots.

There is currently no way for viewers to change the aspect ratio manually, and Disney hasn’t said if it will make changes. [The Verge]

Tell me something good …

It’s another cold day in the Chicago area, so I’d like to know: What are your getaway plans this winter?

Marilyn Rea Beyer writes:

“We are going all the way to my hometown of Lansing, Ill., for Thanksgiving with family. My niece is coming up from Miami for the holiday! My husband and I moved back from Boston to the South Loop during the January 2019 Polar Vortex event because we love Chicago and embrace its bracing weather. XOXO Chi Town!”

What are your winter getaway plans? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

Have a nice night! I’ll see you tomorrow. And if you like what you just read, you can subscribe to the newsletter here and have it delivered to your inbox.