This week started off with the countries of North America backing away from a trade war. President Donald Trump paused his planned tariffs against Mexico and Canada after his administration negotiated with both countries. Later in the week, the president shifted his attention farther abroad, proposing that the United States take “ownership” of Gaza and redevelop the area into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced its plans to dramatically slash staffing worldwide for the U.S. Agency for International Development, leaving fewer than 300 workers out of thousands for an agency tasked with fighting epidemics, educating children and providing clean water across the the globe. But on Friday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from placing employees on paid leave. Another policy litigated in court this week? Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship. A second federal judge blocked the effort to end automatic citizenship for the children of parents who are in the U.S. illegally.
The U.S. Senate confirmed five of the president’s nominees this week — among them, Russell Vought, one of the architects of Project 2025, as White House budget director and Pam Bondi as attorney general. One of Bondi’s first moves was a lawsuit targeting Illinois over its sanctuary city laws. The federal government is also eyeing cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency, moving to fire or force out more than 20% of the agency’s Chicago staff.
Republicans in Springfield walked out of the chamber en masse Wednesday to protest several bills proposed by Democrats that call out the Trump administration’s recent moves. Two of the state’s biggest unions appear to be in conflict after Service Employees International Union Illinois State Council passed a resolution saying that it is “under attack” by the Chicago Teachers Union.
A resolution proposed in the Chicago City Council would ban people who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots in Washington from working in the city government. The family of Dexter Reed, who was killed by police during a 2024 traffic stop, could get $1.25 million in a settlement with the city. Also, the city’s cultural affairs commissioner, Clinée Hedspeth, is facing bullying allegations and criticism from the Chicago arts community.
And Chicago lost a legend this week. Bears owner Virginia McCaskey passed away Thursday at age 102. She is the last link Bears fans have to her father, George Halas, who helped start the NFL. Those hoping to pay their respects to the team’s longtime principal owner may do so at a visitation Tuesday in Des Plaines.
Speaking of football, the Kansas City Chiefs are trying to earn their third consecutive Super Bowl trophy this Sunday. Will the Philadelphia Eagles end their streak?
Here’s the latest installment of the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz, with excerpts and utterances from Feb. 2 to 8. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.
