Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, and I’ll play this intro safe because my fiancé thinks I’ll get fired for some of my more, shall we say, entertaining messages. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Bombshell report finds widespread sexual harassment in Springfield

A long-awaited report from a former federal prosecutor painted a damning image of powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office, where low-level staffers feared sexual advances, faced career-threatening bullying from a one-time top Madigan aide and wore fake wedding rings to fend off “creepy” visitors.

But the report stopped short of blaming Madigan for the work culture he presided over. The report instead blamed a former chief of staff whom Madigan fired last year over misconduct complaints.

The report comes after numerous allegations of sexual harassment hit the Illinois Capitol during the height of the #MeToo movement, causing critics to accuse Madigan of not appropriately handling misconduct complaints.

Madigan said in a statement today that he takes responsibility for not doing enough to prevent sexual harassment in his office and that additional steps will be taken. [WBEZ]

2. Trump says he’s considering payroll tax cut

President Donald Trump today confirmed he is eyeing a payroll tax that could put more money into workers’ paychecks as economists increasingly worry about a looming recession. [Washington Post]

While discussing the potential payroll tax cut, Trump maintained the economy is still going well. But the president and his advisers have privately been crafting a plan to help boost the economy and prevent a recession, reports The New York Times. [New York Times]

The payroll tax could also help boost consumer spending, which makes up 70% of the U.S. economy, but The Washington Post reports that turbulence on Wall Street could undermine public confidence and prevent Americans from opening up their wallets. [Washington Post]

3. Trump appears to shift (again) on gun background checks

That’s according to White House aides, congressional leaders and gun advocates who spoke to The Washington Post.

President Donald Trump earlier this month said there was “a great appetite” to expand background checks after mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio left 31 people dead.

And while a White House official said Trump has not changed his position, recent remarks from the president have instead focused on keeping guns out of the hands of people with mental illnesses.

After conducting a poll, Trump’s political advisers warned him that Republican voters do not broadly support significant action on guns, the Post reports. [Washington Post]

4. Democrats spend millions in state races with eye toward redistricting

In Republican-controlled statehouses across the country that appear vulnerable, Democrats are focusing on down-ballot races in hopes of flipping state governments, which hold power over the once in a decade act of redrawing congressional district maps.

Why is this important? Because depending on the party in control, districts can be remade to benefit and boost the number of districts beholden to that party.

The stakes are high for redrawing maps of congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal judges should stay out of policing political boundary disputes. That means if a political party or some other group is unhappy with a state’s maps, well, they appear to be mostly out of luck until 10 years later, when the maps are redrawn again. [AP]

5. Lightfoot’s to-do list in Springfield to help close Chicago’s budget gap

Mayor Lori Lightfoot will ask state lawmakers to let Chicago tax high-end professional services and raise the transfer tax on the sales of homes worth $1 million or more, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

It’s not entirely clear which high-end services will be taxed, but Lightfoot has previously said she was looking at accounting and legal services. Lightfoot is expected to frame the tax increases as the only options to prevent more property tax hikes.

Lightfoot will also ask state lawmakers to fix a plan to create a Chicago casino. A recent report said the legislature’s “onerous” fee and tax structure makes the casino project unattractive to investors.

Lightfoot is scheduled to formally unveil her plans to address the city’s $1 billion budget gap during a prime-time speech on Aug. 29. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Here’s what else is happening

• Here are five things to know about Chicago Public Schools’ budget — and how you can weigh in on it. [WBEZ]
• Billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker spent $275,000 of his own money to renovate his government office in Chicago. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• Italy’s prime minister decided to quit. [AP]
• With little to do in their neighborhoods, West and South side teens head downtown. Online invites circulate, drawing teens as well as police. [WBEZ]

Oh, and one more thing …

The Uptown apartment once home to the mastermind behind Game of Thrones is on the market.

In the early ’70s, author George R.R. Martin lived in a $150-a-month apartment at 932 W. Margate Terrace after he graduated from Northwestern and before he wrote his first book.

Now, the place has been converted into a condo and is listed for $354,900, according to Block Club Chicago.

A Game of Thrones-themed open house is slated for Saturday. [Block Club Chicago]

Tell me something good …

What’s your favorite cartoon, whether currently or from your childhood?

Nico Casas tweets:

“Favorite cartoon? If I want my sides to split from laughter: Animaniacs. If I want to escape into a space cowboy fantasy: Cowboy Bebop.”

And Katie Bywater writes:

“Avatar the Last Airbender! It made me laugh and cry and wish I had my own air bison to fly around on and cuddle.”

What’s your favorite cartoon? Feel free to email or tweet me, and I’ll include your messages here.

Have a nice night! I’ll see you tomorrow.