Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Bentley Graves as principal in its Minneapolis office.
“Amid growing signs that the Chicago Bears are considering a move to Indiana if they can’t get the help they want from Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker says the state is still talking with the team about ways to make a stadium project in Arlington Heights work,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
“President Donald Trump and Illinois leaders are facing off once again over Trump’s threats to pull funding from sanctuary cities like Chicago by the end of the month,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Some of Illinois’ top Democrats say they’re open to considering targeted changes to Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act this spring if a forthcoming judicial report says they’re needed,” by Capitol News Illinois.
“After a defeat at the U.S. Supreme Court, lawyers for the Department of Justice told a federal judge Wednesday they’re looking to settle a litigation over President Donald Trump’s controversial efforts to deploy National Guard troops to the Chicago area to bolster immigration enforcement,” by the Chicago Tribune.
“The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed an Illinois congressman and others to pursue a lawsuit challenging the state’s practice of counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, the first of two possible rulings on the voting practice President Donald Trump and his allies have claimed without evidence is riddled with fraud,” by the Washington Post.
“Appearing Tuesday on WBEZ-FM’s ‘Ask the Mayor’ show, Mayor Brandon Johnson drew a ‘clear distinction’ between the snap curfew ordinance he vetoed last year and a version empowering Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling to declare a four-hour curfew anywhere in the city with 12 hours’ notice,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Chicago’s new plan to legalize video gambling terminals — finally passed last month as part of the 2026 budget after years of debate — is not a done deal as Mayor Brandon Johnson and key aldermen say negotiations must continue,” by the Chicago Tribune.
“It has been months since the Chicago City Council approved a plan to update the way a roughly two-mile stretch of Broadway in the Edgewater and Uptown neighborhoods is zoned. Now, a group of homeowners long opposed to the change are suing to undo it,” by CBS Chicago.
“Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago’s City Council are under pressure to settle a long-running stalemate over who should lead the Zoning Committee,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
“In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke about the steps the city is taking to help riders feel safe on the CTA,” by CBS News.
President Trump’s increased focus on foreign policy is not uncommon in a president’s second term, but his emphasis on the Western Hemisphere has surprised some, and his interventionist approach risks fracturing the MAGA movement.
Federal surface transportation funding is up for reauthorization this year, giving President Trump another shot at the “Infrastructure Week” that never materialized during his first term.
Everything is on the line this week for supporters of a crypto market structure bill as one of the two key Senate committees drafting the legislation eye the end game for bipartisan negotiations. Read the Cozen Currents here.
In this holiday special, our hosts look back on the 2025 federal landscape the only way that feels appropriate, through seasonal song parodies paired with real-world anecdotes spanning the White House and Capitol Hill. From unpacking the first year of Trump 2.0 to navigating the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, our politicos blend humor, harmony, and political and policy truths as we look ahead to 2026. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Towner French, and Patrick Martin. Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.
Legislative Analyst
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
February 10, 2026
February 9, 2026
February 9, 2026
