By Shia Kapos

Happy holidays, Illinois. Thank you for subscribing, for having fun with Trivia and Reader Digest, and for being an engaged and thoughtful reader. It means a lot.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Today is our last edition for the year. We’ll be back to our normal schedule Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.

��GATHER ROUND THE TREE: You’ve had a wild year, so take a breath and find time to relax — and of course keep your sense of humor. Here’s our holiday gift list for Illinois public officials who stood out for their work — and their flubs.

To Gov. JB Pritzker, a 3D wood-carved map of New Hampshire because it looks like he’ll be spending a lot of time there over the next few years.

To Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson: A personalized “Staff Attrition” advent calendar, where each door reveals a tiny cardboard figure of a departing city aide, just to keep track of who left the office. And for his stocking: Press conference stress balls, to handle all the questions from the Fourth Estate.

To House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch: Catnip to calm everyone down when herding the cats in the Illinois General Assembly. On herding cats, “Don’t let anyone tell you it’s easy.”

To Senate President Don Harmon: Fancy golf balls featuring the face of Donald Trump.

To Republican Leaders John Curran and Tony McCombie, the book, "Loneliness: How to be Alone but Not Lonely," because being in the super-majority in the General Assembly can be lonesome.

To Ald. Maria Hadden: An “I Survived the Budget Vote” T-shirt, a limited edition custom keepsake marking the razor-thin legislative miracle.

To Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa: Tickets to a Georgia Satellites concert to see them perform “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.”

To Cook County Board of Review’s Samantha Steele: A personalized beauty pageant-style sash that reads “I’m an Elected Official” to let everyone know her distinguished status and a custom-made “elected official” parking sign.

To Congressman Jonathan Jackson: Tickets to see Steppenwolf’s “Purpose” on Broadway, which details the life of an influential civil rights leader's family.

To Illinois Republican Chair Kathy Salvi: A case of Chicago keychains to hand out to Republicans who want Chicago to secede from Illinois — a reminder that the city is an economic driver of the state.

To Jason Lee, the mayor’s senior adviser: A pair of Lucchese Randall cowboy boots so he feels at home, whether it’s Chicago or Texas.

To Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates: The book "Tribalism is Dumb" by Andrew Heaton to maybe find a way to seek compromise with the city.

To Democrat-turned-Republican Dave Nayak, a pet chameleon.

To Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi: A gift certificate to AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago to relax because he’ll need it for when the reassessment tax bills come out.

And to Matt Eberfluss, the ousted Bears coach, a Michael Kors Lennox-gold tone watch with a second hand.

Thanks to the elves who offered suggestions for the list!

Political strategist David Axelrod, speaking to reporters in Boston in 2022, is wrapping up "The Axe Files" podcast after nine years. | Josh Reynolds/AP

MEDIA MATTERS: David Axelrod is ending The Axe Files podcast, “at least for now,” he said on his 605th show Thursday featuring his friend, Rahm Emanuel.

Axelrod reminisced about notable interviews, saying, “I wanted this podcast to be one small antidote to the coarse nature of today's politics and social media culture that so often reduces people to negative caricatures and robs us of our common humanity.”

In his interview with Emanuel, a fellow Chicagoan who’s returning to the city after serving as ambassador to Japan, Axelrod asked whether he might run for U.S. Senate, governor or mayor again, noting the mayor “right now is not very popular in the city ... What are you thinking?”

Emanuel responded: “All of the above and none of the above. I'm going to come home to Chicago and spend time talking to people, connecting … and see what I think is a possibility. I love public service, and I’m hoping there’s another role. I have had both appointed positions and electoral positions. And there's more than one way or one path in public service. That’s the honest answer.”

If you are Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com

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Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (gasp!) a complaint? Email skapos@politico.com

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— TRIBUNE SCOOP: Mayoral adviser told CPS board he wanted Martinez out: Mayor Brandon Johnson has dodged questions and even denied that he wants to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. Now comes a leaked email showing he’s been in on the plan for months, via reporters Nell Salzman, Gregory Royal Pratt and Alice Yin.

There’s an outcry: Johnson’s effort to get the Chicago School Board to fire Martinez tonight is drawing criticism from potential future mayoral candidates:

Janice Jackson, the former CPS CEO, called it “dirty Chicago politics at its worst.” Her full statement is here.

State Rep. Kam Buckner wrote an op-ed in the Tribune, saying firing Martinez would create “instability” that would “weaken” CPS’ ability to function effectively and erode public trust.

Ald. Gilbert “Gil” Villegas retweeted a scathing Crain’s editorial that takes Johnson to task for pushing out Martinez so he can put lackeys on the school board to vote yes for a budget that is to the union’s liking.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza reposted the editorial, too.

Ald. Bill Conway called it “irresponsible” to oust Martinez “simply for refusing to take out a high-interest short-term loan to fund school operations.” His full statement is here.

Ald. Andre Vasquez said Martinez “made the right call" to reject the mayor's demand to take out a $300 million payday loan. His full statement is here.

And Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias defended Martinez at an unrelated news conference, saying, “He’s willing to make tough decisions.” Watch it here.

A mayoral ally pushed back: Ald. William Hall issued a statement claiming Martinez funneled “millions of dollars … into expanding state prisons, further fueling the school-to-prison pipeline that devastates Black and Brown youth across this city.” And he called Martinez, “Prison Pipeline Pedro.” His full statement is here.

Point being: This is no pre-holiday sleepy Friday news day.

— $820M sustainable aviation fuel plant is coming to southwest Illinois: “The facility will produce 120 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually, preventing 25 million metric tons of carbon emissions over its lifespan. Avina’s selection of Illinois aligns well with the state's push toward more renewable energies, the governor’s office said,” by St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer.

— MADIGAN TRIAL: Testimony returns to Eddie Acevedo’s AT&T contract as defense case gets underway, by WTTW’s Matt Masterson 

Related: Developer says he never felt intimidated to hire Madigan’s law firm, by the Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau

And this: Former AT&T Illinois exec accused of bribing Madigan gets new trial date, by the Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles and Jon Seidel

— Immigration drives 68,000 increase in Illinois population, Census reports, though residents keep moving out, by the Tribune’s Robert McCoppin

— Lincoln presidential library historian who voted against purchase of controversial flag is now out of a job, by the State Journal-Register’s Steven Spearie

— Illinois' first drive-thru DMV kiosk opens in Lombard, by the Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout

— Here's the skinny: Atty Gen. Kwame Raoul is warning Illinois residents looking to purchase GLP-1 medications — including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound — “to be aware that many sellers advertising these name brand medications are instead offering unapproved versions of these products that may put people’s health at risk.”

— CTA officially secures $1.9B in federal funding for Red Line extension before Biden’s term ends: “Officials hope to break ground on the 5.6-mile extension in late 2025, with service beginning in 2030. The train line was first floated back in the 1950s,” by WTTW’s Nick Blumberg.

— The mayor’s “Aldermanic Holiday Party” was Thursday, and we hear 16 of the 50 City Council members attended.

— Dozens of elected officials demand Cook County chief judge make immediate changes in domestic violence court: “Almost 30 Chicago-area elected officials have signed a letter demanding Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans permanently reassign Judge Thomas Nowinski after he declined to detain a man who then allegedly killed his wife,” by the Sun-Times’ Sophie Sherry.

— Far-right provocateur Nick Fuentes says a 'would-be assassin' came to kill him at his suburban home: “Fuentes’ account aligns with a statement released by Berwyn police, which said a man wanted in a triple homicide downstate was killed in a shootout with officers near Fuentes’ home,” by the Sun-Times’ Matthew Hendrickson, Tom Schuba and Cindy Hernandez.

— Booze, cigars purchased On Elmhurst D205 credit card, records show, by the Patch’s David Giuliani

— Former Congressman Peter Roskam hosts The Cloakroom podcast series, featuring R’s and D’s from the House and Senate.

— University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos has been named one of this year's winners of the prestigious Enrico Fermi Presidential Award, the White House announced Thursday.

POLITICO Pro's unique analysis combines exclusive transition intelligence and data visualization to help you understand not just what's changing, but why it matters for your organization. Explore how POLITICO Pro will make a difference for you.

We asked what you hope the new year brings for Illinois.

Terrell Barnes: “Local political candidates who prioritize the strength and unity of the community over the influence of party insiders from both sides.”

Eli Brottman: “More inclusion of young and disabled people.”

Michael Gascoigne: “A limit to the influence of money on politics. It should be about ideas, not dollars.”

Dave Lundy: “A surprise $3 billion revenue bump would be nice.”

Joan Pederson: “End boutique units of government, of which Illinois has thousands. Looking at you, townships and mosquito abatement districts!”

Timothy Thomas: “Consolidating or eliminating local government units.”

Patricia Ann Watson: “That those entrusted to elected or appointed offices and benches remember there is common good.”

Next question: What are your political predictions for 2025? Email skapos@politico.com

— Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) gave a shoutout on the House floor Thursday to Omer Osman, who’s retiring as head of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Like Lahood, Osman is from Peoria. “Omer has truly lived the American Dream,” LaHood said in telling Osman’s story. The video is here.

— Congressman Jonathan Jackson (IL-01) condemned Elon Musk’s “online tantrum and former President Donald Trump’s interference” on the spending bill, saying it would have “devastating consequences for Chicago residents, undermining public safety, economic stability and the wellbeing of working families.”

— Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) are urging Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to provide guidance to states on expanding coverage for fertility services, including in vitro fertilization.

— Trump and Johnson weigh the pros and cons of a shutdown, by POLITICO’s Rachael Bade

— Biden is AWOL as Washington spirals into shutdown chaos, by POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn

— Judges increasingly alarmed as Trump’s Jan. 6 clemency decision nears, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney

THURSDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Ashvin Lad for correctly answering that Fort Defiance (or Camp Defiance) was the Civil War military encampment located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who’s the former statewide candidate who was once crowned Miss America? Email skapos@politico.com

Today: State Appellate Judge Bertina Lampkin and Cook County Circuit Judge Andrea Webber.

Saturday: White House Special Assistant to the President Michael Negron, FleishmanHillard Senior Account Exec Ken Lowe, Cozen O’Connor lobbyist Patrick Carey, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland Senior Attorney Barbara Barreno-Paschall and restaurateur Kevin Boehm.

Sunday: Former Congressman Bill Lipinski, U.S. House Chief Receptionist Shonna Smith Jackson, Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund Executive Director Carlton Lenoir Sr., political consultant Kitty Kruth, Zapwater Communications CEO David Zapata, OutVote Press Secretary Mara Kelly, fashion exec Ikram Goldman, former Chicago Woman Publisher Sherren Leigh, Playbooker Joseph (J.T.) Varallo, Ipsos What the Future Managing Editor Kate MacArthur and restaurant businessman Nick Kokonas.

�� And Happy Birthday to all those celebrating over the next two weeks. Birthday card here

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