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A new Congress gets ready to meet in Washington.

But first, though still an office meet for what's called a lame duck session.

And we talk with the heart, the soul, and the voice of transcribing an orchestra as they get ready to rock out your holidays in the cities.

It's the 20th year for the Trans-Siberian orchestra, the lost Christmas Eve rock opera.

I got a chance to tal with music director al Petrelli and vocalist Kayla Reeves about the Decembe 20th performance in the cities.

Stay tuned for that.

But first, last month, Congressman Eric Sorensen won reelection to a second term to Congress.

His margin of victory and his total vote count was higher in this election than in his first.

But he still returns to a House that's controlled by Republicans.

In January, the 119th Congress will be ruled by a razor thin GOP majority, just two seats, with two othe Republican seats being vacated.

Some of the biggest issue facing the nation may be delayed until after January 3rd, when the new Congress is sworn in.

We talked with the Illinoi 17th District Congressman Eric Sorensen, reelected in November, and Representative Sorensen and I worked together for several years at Wqad TV when he was a meteorologist.

November elections are over.

Republicans saw some real great strength.

What does that mean for Congress?

I mean, you are it's a very razo thin majority for Republicans.

But what does it say for you and your party?

I mean, look, I mean the top of the ticket, and the fact that we, you know, are not inaugurating Kamala Harris, I mean, it's a disappointment the disappointment to Democrats.

Let's be honest, however, you know, I think that we need to now focus on how we are better communicating with the American people.

You know, one of the things when I got to Congress, you know, I decided I' not going to play politics here.

That meant that I was able, up until November 5th, to to prove that I was working for the people, whether they were Democrats or not.

You know, if you had a Trump sign in your front yard.

Yeah I'll go and knock on your door.

I'll talk with you.

I'll engage with you.

The same thing with Republicans across the aisle in Congress.

You know, I will work with them and in any way that I can, but I don't think that it worked everywhere.

Well, as you well know, with a razor thin, margin for the Republicans, that depends on every Democra standing in opposition to them.

With it being so close, because we always talk about what Republicans have to do, doesn't it put more pressure on Democrats to be lockstep with the party?

And is that exactly what you're going to have to do for two years?

Well, I think it means that those members of Congress who are more bipartisan, it means that we need to show up.

We need to engage.

Right.

Because we can be the the ones that can move forward important legislation.

You know, it can't be that the extremes in our political partie are the ones driving the ship.

Because now we're seein what happens when that occurs.

You know, for instance, you know, when we talk about farm bill, we need to get this thing out the door.

The fact that we are very clos to nearing the end of the year without one, it puts so many of our family farmers in jeopardy, it should never have gotten to this place.

But that's the extremists.

But we're talking about a farm bill that should have been passed a year ago.

I mean, this is just a one year extension to the 2018 farm bill.

And let's be honest, Republicans are going to wait until they're inaugurated, when they can control both houses in order to pas what they want for a farm bill.

Right.

So it means that there are going to be members of Congress, like, Congressman Randy Feenstra of Iowa, that he is playing the middle of the road.

He's a good moderate on our agriculture committee.

He's the one saying that we need to make sure that the safety net is there for our farmers, which is the same thing that I'm saying.

But because he is part of the majority party, it is incumbent on him to to communicate those things.

And I'm thankful that I can work with him to say, we need to fight fo these things to get this done.

But look, Jim, we shouldn' have never gotten to this point.

The 201 farm bill had an expiration on, and then we just kept extending it.

And I remember this time last year I wanted the extension to go to March, because I didn't want to see politics become a part of this five year farm bill.

And it couldn't we couldn't do that in March.

We had to go to September because the commodity scrips go September to September for their, their budget.

They we get to September and there's a stalemate.

And why was there a stalemate?

Because the, the folk on the other side of the aisle said, we're just going to wait until we have, both chambers of Congress and we have the presidency, and then we can do whatever we want.

We don't need Democrats.

But to be honest, that's that's to be expected.

I mean, that that is typical politics.

And you look at, the Senate, Democrat not releasing really a farm bill until after the election with Debbie Stabenow really waiting for the last minute.

I mean, a pox upon both houses.

Well, well, we know one of the things, for instance, like I was a I was a yes vote in committee for this GOP farm bill.

Why?

Because the producers, the ag stakeholders, the farm, are the food banks, I should say.

They all said that this was good.

We need to make sure that we have, crop insurance.

And that is bolstered in this new farm bill.

So I was able to vot yes to get it out of committee.

Let's get it to the floor of the House.

But then it was on the majority party, and the Republicans blocked it.

It never got to the floor of the House.

And so I was fine getting it to the floor of the House, making sure that we can shore up Snap benefits and then get it to the Senate.

And and it just got bogged down in politics.

And that' what doesn't work in Washington.

Well, and as you said, bipartisan.

And you're talking about, Republican support, House AG, Chair Thompson said he'll oppose any spending measure that leaves out billions in extra farm aid.

So it sounds like even he will be going up against, the Republican Party in some ways.

What do yo really think is going to happen as far as a farm bill is concerned?

Do you think it's just a ca that's going to be kicked down?

The road even further?

Well, look, I have a grea relationship with chairman G.T.

Thompson.

I think he' a tremendous member of Congress.

He has been the chairman of House AG for a long time.

He knows how to do these things.

And and look, he understands what our producers need.

And it's not jus what corn and soybean producers need, you know, it's.

What, you know, sugar beets farmers up in the Dakotas.

It it's it's what, cotton farmers need.

It's what?

Tobacco farmers, they have everything.

That safety net is not in this current farm bill.

Why isn't it there?

Let's be honest.

It's not there because there's extremists over here on the far right in the Freedom Caucus.

They think that this is a waste.

And so now you have the Freedom Caucus.

That is going to say every penny that is spent on Americans is a waste because it's not from me.

You know, look where these Freedom Caucus members live.

They don't live in agricultural areas.

They're not sitting there on the Agriculture Committee.

They're not standing up for our family farmers and our producers to make sure that these livelihoods can last for many more generations.

Well, as you well know, a great deal of the farm bill is for, supplemental, help from food stamps that used to be called, almost 80%.

And it used to be bipartisan support for the farm bill, with rural Republican farmers protecting Republican lawmakers, protecting farmers and urban Democrats protecting, the snap benefits.

Are you seeing that anymore?

Or are you still worrie because there was always calls to take Snap benefits and food benefits out of the farm bill, right.

So one of the thing that I was talking to Chairman Thompson about this, is we have to make sure that there's a pay for, for everything that is in the farm.

Bill.

And we have to make sure that we're decreasing the number of people that need food assistance.

Okay?

So let's let's go away fro the farm bill for just a moment, all right.

What are we doing to lower costs at the grocery store?

If we lower the cost at the grocery store, then there's fewer people that are going to need that snap assistance.

Right.

And so then now it makes sense that we can do both of these things and have the same net effect.

Right?

Because we're we're lowering the food insecurity in the country.

So it's it's a big thing.

We have to look at the forest through the trees.

But also we do have to make sur as people are struggling today that we're not taking their help away because, look we just got through a pandemic, the cost of of food, it's coming down considerably from where it was even this past summer.

But people are struggling today, and we have to make sure that the government is working for them.

Let's talk about the stopgap spending bill that's necessar to keep the government running.

That's going to b the most important vote that you probably gonna make this week.

What what are you hoping gets accomplished?

And once again, it is stopgap.

It just means that probably come this spring, the funding of the Trump budget I think is going to be released.

Trump budget is going to be released in February.

And so it's basically funding until then.

So what we need to make sur in this continuing resolution is we are not cutting the assistance.

You know, I and I kno that the incoming administration and and you know what I, I want to find government ways too.

Right.

But we have to make sure that the cuts aren't happening here in this CR.

We also have to make sure that the farm bill is attached to the CR, because we're going to come up to a cliff on December 31st.

If the farm bill literally expires, it means that, for instance, our our dairy farmers, they're going to have a really tough time because now, a gallon of milk is going to be $10 because you go back t the reference prices from 1945, it's called the dairy cliff.

We can't go over this cliff.

We have to make sure that th farm bill is attached to the CR.

Now, what's happening here early this week is the fact that we have to vote on the CR by Thursday.

Jim.

And my office.

No office has text of this budget.

This budget is going to be thousands of pages.

We know that this CR was needed by this week.

Why didn't the speaker of the House work on it?

I was at a football game this past weekend.

Why wasn't he working on this?

Why didn't we, as members of Congress, have 435 copies of this so that we can look at it line by line to know how we're going to vote?

You know, a lot of folks in Washington, they say, oh, things are rushed through.

This is a case example where people are willing to play politics instead o actually getting the job done.

Let's talk about the Biden legacy.

You came out actually asking the president to step down, before he got out of office.

Why was that an important move for you?

You look, you know, I was hearin from a lot of our constituents.

You know who?

You know, I can even say that I'm a constituent of the Illinois 17 to.

You know, I've got aging parents.

I have parent that are pushing 80 years old.

And I think everybody has family members who are aging.

And I've gotten to know President Joe Biden over my years of of being in Congress.

I've been able to work with him.

I've been able to travel on Air Force One with him.

And but look, h wasn't the man for the moment.

Do you think he waited too long?

And that's why Kamala Harri wasn't able to win the election.

You know, I could we could play.

Could have would have.

Shut up.

But but look, I mean, I just think that this is an overarching theme that we as Democrats, we have to talk about things differently.

We have to get back to the hometowns of America.

The fact that we didn't wi seven out of seven swing states, it wasn't because of the top of the ticket.

Just because we as Democrats, we have to get back into hometowns and meet the needs of people.

And I hope that we're able to do that.

And so there will be a, a flip in, in two years.

But that's up to us as Democrats, as lawmakers, as as leaders to show our work.

You're trying to get on the Armed Services Committee, because one of your biggest constituencies is the Rock Island Arsenal.

How concerned are you about funding for the Defense Department, I guess, and for the Arsenal in the in this upcoming budget?

Well, look, I've heard from leaders at the Arsena also working with Senator Tammy Duckworth, who's on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

We need to make sure that there is minimum work requirements for those at JMC.

And for the rest of the arsenal.

For the sole purpose is i there is ever a world conflict or a conflict in Southeast Asia, we have to ramp up our production.

And so we'v got state of the art equipment that is sitting on the Rock Island arsenal.

If we have zero things, if we are appropriated funds to build nothing, well, then how are we going to ramp up from zero?

We need to ramp up from a dozen.

We can go from 12 to 12,000 if we have a conflict that we need to react to.

And so, you know, I have put forth a bill, that means that there's minimum requirements for work on the Arsenal.

But also as we go forward, I have looked and I've thought to myself, where am I best suited to do the wor for the people of this district?

You know, I like to thank, you know, as a meteorologist in Congress, you know I can go and play checkers and, and, do some really cool stuff with NASA, and space.

I'm the ranking member on the space subcommittee.

Or I can go and play ches on the Armed Services Committee.

I can make sure that we are increasing the workload and the value of the Rock Island Arsenal.

On the Armed Services Committee, I can make sure that the Army Corps of Engineers is continue to be funded as we increase the funding of what we need to keep the channel of the Mississippi River open to make sure that we're investing and and locks and dams, also understanding that we have, the Illinois National Guard in Peoria, we need to make sur that we're upgrading the C-130s, that are being teste there and flown out of Peoria.

So those are things that I can do, and I can have a tangible effect on our district in a Trump administration because Trump's not going t take money out of our military.

I got to be able to go to Washington and grab the funding and say it is best needed.

Here you are at the Southern border.

Earlier this year, he saw firsthand some of the, efforts that, border control is either failing or is succeeding.

You do know also that, on day one, president elect Trump is is saying there's going to be mass deportations and the city of Chicago is preparing for that.

What do you think the impact would be in western Illinois?

And should local government and state government be fighting it?

Look, we have to make sure, first of all, that the 14th amendment to the Constitution is is upheld.

And I'm very concerned, you know, we've got so many folks here that are contributing t the economy of western Illinois.

You know, I'm, I'm worried that on, January 20th or whatever the future president decides that he's going around round people up, that all of a sudden you're going to see students that don't go to school anymore because maybe they have a parent.

I just I just believe that the United States i one of the greatest things about our country is we are a land of immigrants.

Now, I want to make sure tha people are immigrating legally.

I want to make sure that the the border is secure.

And I think making sure that we're focused on the solutions here, not tearing families apart, which is what happened, you know, in 2017 and 2018.

You, also know about the Rena Kron well, story the, former controller in Dixon who just, received a clemency from, President Biden.

You had posted on social media that you thought that the decision was B.S.

like, there's not much you could do in regards to clemency, but does this not point out that there is something wrong with the system?

I mean people are going to look at that and they're going to look at Hunter Biden and they're going to say, what the hell is going on?

Right?

You know, I think this is one of those things where, you know, I know how important this i to people in northern Illinois.

You know, I was talking with controllers of, some of the Quad Cities just this weekend, and they said, I'm a controller, I'm a treasurer.

And the fact that we now see this person who embezzled all of this taxpayer, you know, money, 54 million, $44 million and then gets off scot free.

What does that say to other people?

It says that there' going to be a slap on the wrist.

And so I know how important this was and the visceral feeling that we have of this person that took advantag of all of us, duped all of us.

And so, yeah, it it is B.S.

that this person is out scot free, because it hurts so many people.

You know, I think that was a mis Illinois 17th District Congressman Eric Sorensen.

We reached out to newly reelected Iowa first District Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

We hope to talk with her in the coming weeks.

We're just days away from the holidays, and we hope the lead up to your celebrations aren't stressing you out.

So we've got some great ideas for events that could let you enjoy the season a little bit more.

Thanks to visit Quad Cities.

Check out the things to do this week in the Quad Cities.

Start of with watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on December 17th at the Adler Theater.

Then you can attend a polar pajama party on December 19th at the Putnam Museum.

Next, try out an open mic night on December 19th at the bootleg Hale of Huntington's.

Then John Deere employees can get two free tickets for Storm Hocke at the Viper Arena at the mall.

And finally, bring your dogs the lights and leashes so they can see those lights.

The Quad City Botanical Center.

For more events like these, visit our events calendar at.

Visit Quad cities.com.

It is a true crowd favorite for the holidays.

The Trans-Siberian orchestra.

It's got two shows on December 20th performing its classic rock opera The Lost Christmas.

I got a chance to tal with music director al Petrelli, who has been with TSO since the start.

And vocalist Kayla Reeves, who told me about performing with this iconic group at this time of year.

So take me back to when you were 12 years old with Kayla Reeves and the triple threat.

Man, I haven't heard that in such a long time.

That was my very first band.

I started that band when I was 12 years old, and we were just best friends, just roaming around Texas playing the Blues had a blast because the music has been in you since you were just a little kid.

Yeah, I read an interview where, you know, you really discovered i when you were seven years old, and you've never stopped since then.

Right.

I mean, I always say that sing.

I sin because it makes me feel good.

And over the years, it's evolve into a real spiritual practice.

And to be able to perform this great music.

The lyrics, Paul O'Neill's incredible catalog, the story of the last Christmas Eve.

It makes my job easy because I connect to it.

I put myself in that scenario in that situation and, it's just an honor to be able to sing this incredible work that Paul has written.

And, al, you've been part of TSO since the beginning.

I mean, the first album in 1996, does it ever get old?

It's like asking me, you know, do I ever get tired of my kissing my children?

Good morning.

Well, you know, I love this thing like it's my own.

You know, I was there.

I recorded the opening notes to Christmas Eve Sarajevo in February of 1995.

And when I hear it to this day, it just gives me chills.

You know, I've watched an infant grow up to be 30 years old.

I'm so proud of it.

And that's exactly the way you look at it.

Right.

And every performance is new, is it not?

Absolutely.

Well, I should just said since we were puppies, we've been dreamin about doing something like this.

Never mind this, you know.

And I got to watch the Beatles on Ed Sullivan in 1964.

I was two years old, and my feet?

Pajamas.

That was it, Brother Hooks.

So this will never get old.

I mean, it doesn't matter I put a Les Paul around my neck.

The stage lights up, the house, lights go down.

Excuse me.

The curtain comes up.

I'm 14 all over again.

Every day, sometimes twice a day.

Al, how tough is it to keep the energy going?

I mean, you're talking about a high impact, orchestra.

And it's got to take a wear on you.

No.

It don't.

I love it.

Listen, somebody asked us earlier today, you know, how do you get in shape for a tour like this?

With us, we never get out of shape, you know?

I mean, we're working on this thing all year long.

It's not like, you know, you going into, you know, a box and mash, and you got to wait for six week to get into shape for the fact we're kind of at the ready all year, you know?

In years past, we've been touring all summer and, spring and summer and TSO it's done.

The other bodies of work like Beethoven's last night, other works that we've had.

So.

But again, in the mindset that you're just up there doing what you've been dreaming about since you were a kid, you know, I never get tired of it.

Ever.

And the people of Moline make it easy.

Yeah.

The the audience energy.

Right?

Right.

You do feel I mean, that's what I always wonde is that as a performer on stage, you can't really see individual faces out there necessarily.

I mean, but you do pick up on the energy.

Yes.

An you can see a lot of the faces.

I mean, I squint a lot at my age, but what are you going to do?

But again, going back to the folks in the audience, a lot of these people have been coming to see us for decades now, and we affectionately refe to them as the repeat offenders.

So I spent a good portion of the evening looking up, saying, oh my God, you know.

And when they hold u their brand new baby, you know, and they were babies when they come to see us the first time, like maybe, you know, 2002, 2003.

So we're all growing up together and they're coming out like 3 or 4 generations deep now.

Hela, tell me about the special feelings you get during the Christmas season, because, I mean, TSO and Christmas are almost one in the same right?

You know, it's just wonderful to be.

We're a big family, you know?

And so when we step foot into production rehearsals, there's a lot of love in the room.

It's like, all right guys, it's time to get to work.

Let's carry out Paul's vision.

Let's celebrate his incredible work.

And, you know, just have a blast with the people of Moline and all across America for the for the eight weeks that we're going to be roamin around l, XL known for charity.

You're hitting a milestone this year.

Tell me a little bit about that and your ticket sales.

Well, the first show we ever did was 1999 Tower Theater in Philadelphia.

Sold it out.

3000 seats were stoked.

It was awesome, you know.

And Paul said he wanted to take a dollar from every ticket that was sold and put it back into the community.

I said, that' an incredibly beautiful thought.

Wonderful.

And he goes, yeah, but we're going to do it forever.

Every ticket we ever sell, $1 will go back.

And since it's the holidays, you know, he wanted to help.

He wanted to change the world.

You didn't talk about it.

He actually did it.

So we crossed over.

We're past 20 million tickets sold now.

And if you do the math, at a dollar shot, he's made a big impact.

And I'm really proud of him.

And I'm proud to be part of an organization that puts community first, not just like a rock band coming into town and, you know, making a lot of money in and, you know, Paul wanted to make sure that he helped the community.

You know, it's the holidays.

And it seems like all the problems in the world magnified as somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Well, it's also nice to continue that legacy.

I mean, so important.

Is it so important?

Yeah.

And we will continue on until we sell our thank God.

Hopefully that never happened.

But we'll see.

You were talking about the fans in Moline.

What about the fans in general?

I mean, you have people like you said, they they plan their holidays around seeing you and justifiably so because you just leave your concerts just full of energy.

Actually, we're a little tired at the end of it as well.

Obviously not as tired as you but there's just so much energy to each performance there is awesome.

I remember when I recorded the opening of that song 30 years ago, and I looked at Paul, and this is really powerful, and I said, I hope to God people hear it one day.

That's all I was hoping.

And you fast forward to December of 95 and it was accidentally played on a couple radio stations in America, and within days it was the number one requested song in America.

People had never heard anything like that before, you know, around the holiday time, you know, a Christmas song.

And they grabbed on to it like it was theirs and they never let go.

And you can't market this band.

You know, I couldn't have scripted this with you and said, okay, we're going to do this, this, this, this is become what it's become.

This is an organic growt that's taken 30 years to build.

The fact that we're still talking about it, the fact that people are bringing their children and their children, bringing their children every year.

You know, I'm just really proud of the art form the Paul created all those decades ago.

Like I said at the top of our conversation, like one of my children growing up becoming the president, you know, didn't see this one on the horizon.

But I'm really proud.

Daily, you're such an important part of TSO right now.

But but you're a part of something bigger, it seems, you know with this particular orchestra.

Is that the way you feel?

Oh, 100%.

We really are a part of something big.

Paul O'Neill really wanted to change the world.

And like al said, he didn't just talk about it.

He really did.

And to be to be a part of that and to actually have, you know, firsthand conversation with people that have told you what an impact and how, you know, this music and this show has changed their lives.

I mean, that's just a huge honor and a huge responsibility to continue to make it a bigger and better show year after year.

And we're going to continue to do that.

Guys, I'll give you the last word.

Anything that you want to say to the audience that's going to be coming to see the show in Moline.

Can't wait.

Yeah.

Can't wait.

Whatever you think it's going to be, you're wrong.

I promise.

our thanks t Trans Siberian Orchestra music director al Petrelli and TSO vocalist Kayla Tso.

Marking 30 years of touring coming up in 2026.

Next week on the cities we take a look at the embattled programs known as D-I diversity, Equity and inclusion.

We'll talk with a leading voice in Dei in the cities about the mission of Dei programs here, and the opposition it faces i some sectors of our community.

Join us for that next week right here on the city's on the air, on the radio, on the web, on your mobile devic and streaming on your computer.

Thanks for taking some time to join us.

As we talk about the issues on the city's.

At IHMVCU.

We've always been here for you.

You are and always will be our top priority.

We care about your financial health and we are here.

IHMVCU is a proud supporter of Wqpt.

Public Affairs programing on Wqpt is brought to yo by The Singh Group at Merrill, serving the wealth management needs of clients in the region for over 35 years.