Routine matters that once sailed through without a whimper were placed under the microscope — and it wasn’t limited to the protracted debate over Emanuel’s plan to borrow a record $3 billion. No issue was too small for the laser-like focus.

GE Healthcare is moving its corporate headquarters from the U.K. to Chicago, its CEO said Monday. “Senior executive leadership team” only is making the move. No word on how many that means.

“We’re looking at applying economic pressure on January 15th. We want to affect trading at the exchanges that Friday. We want to see if we can throw them off. We believe those are the people Rahm listens to, and they won’t want us down there disrupting the trading.” Comment: Most protesters have been peaceful, principled and lawful, but this is planning for something that’s probably criminal.

Activists from across Chicago long have stood together with the teachers union in its bitter feuds with Emanuel. But in only the last 1-1/2 years, financial connections have added to those ideological ties. A newly wealthy charitable foundation formed by the CTU is funding the three groups at the November rally and many other organizations allied with the union.