In an interview w/ Channel 7 this week, Mayor Daley casually mentions that he has re-thought the longer school day. Without a plan for increased instruction, he says he’s not so sure the longer hours are worth it. It seemed a bit like a swipe at Rahm Emanuel — maybe Daley’s first in such a public way. We suggest that it could be a rebuke, but it also could be Daley’s way of sending Rahm a message, that he believes public sentiment is moving away from the “full school day”, and he’s offering Emanuel cover.

The guests were polite, but seemed extremely under-whelmed with the concept. In fact, Sam Hudzik (Political Reporter/WBEZ-FM) and Mark Brown (Columnist/Chicago Sun-Times) don’t think Daley’s statement will amount to much of a setback for Emanuel at all. At this point, they say, it doesn’t seem to matter all that much what Daley says.

Also up for discussion: some of the more arcane aspects of lucrative pension deals … the appointment of U.S. Attorney Dan K. Webb to lead an independent review of the David Koschman case…. and the cautionary tale of state representative Derrick Smith.