Story thread · 3 reports / 3 sources

5 things to know about lawyer-turned-influencer Rachel Cohen, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new chief spokesperson

wbez.org · 3dShare

A Harvard-trained attorney turned activist and influencer who gained notoriety protesting Operation Midway Blitz and boycotting her federal income taxes is being tapped to lead Mayor Brandon Johnson’s communications office. Here’s what you need to know about Rachel Cohen, 32, who is now tasked with telling Johnson’s story at a time when he’s expected to embark on a tough battle for reelection. Who is Rachel Cohen? Cohen is a Harvard-trained attorney from Ohio. She taught English literature to non-English speakers in Rhode Island before deciding to go to law school. Cohen first went viral in March 2025 when she publicly resigned from the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, accusing the firm of capitulating to the Trump administration when it was waging war on corporate law firms. The firm cut a deal with President Donald Trump to provide $100 million in pro bono work to avoid a series of executive orders. Before leaving, Cohen worked on financing for large corporations an

First report: Lawyer Who Went Viral Opposing Midway Blitz Named Mayor Johnson’s Communications Director — blockclubchicago.org, 3d