It is round two of the federal government vs. Rod Blagojevich. But the large crowds waving in the streets are gone. So are the throngs of national and international journalists who jockeyed for the best reporting spot inside the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago's South Loop. Where’s the Elvis impersonator who provided some comic relief after a long day of testimony and F-bomb filled secret government wire tap recordings? The trial simply doesn't provide the grand theater it once did.

Although many have moved on from the sideshow that has become Rod Blagojevich, the case continues to be a high stakes poker match of sorts between an ever angry team of federal prosecutors seeking to convince a new jury that former Gov. Blagojevich broke numerous federal laws; which included allegedly trying to trade President Barack Obama’s former senate seat for some kind of personal gain. They have dropped their case against the former governor's brother, Robert Blagojevich.

Blagojevich’s legal team, now missing the dramatic Sam Adam, Jr., continues to refute the allegations made against their client. They made such a compelling enough case during the first trial that the jury could only find the former governor guilty of lying to the FBI; and was deadlocked on the 23 other charges.

Here, we'll provide a daily recap of coverage from the second Blagojevich trial, with some commentary from Progress Illinois staff furled in for good measure.

To start at the beginning...
Check out the Tribune's comprehensive timeline of the entire Blago saga, and their highlights from the first trial. Jury selection took over a week long, but the second trial -- described by the Sun-Times as "the low budget sequel" -- started on May 2.

Monday, May 2
Read here about the 12 jurors and 6 alternates that will hear the trial. In opening statements, the prosecution honed in on the five “shakedowns” attempted by Blagojevich, while the defense said “Rod got nothing” in each of those allegations.

Tuesday, May 3
Blago's former chief of staff John Harris is called among the first witnesses to touch on one of the three "shakedowns." First up, prosecutors zeroed in on the Senate seat allegations. Blagojevich had allegedly asked about becoming ambassador to the U.N., India or South Africa, or Commerce Secretary, in exchange to appointing Valerie Jarrett to Obama's old Senate seat. FBI Special Agent Dan Cain also took the stand to discuss the secret recordings that will be played, and the defense asked previously blocked questions.

Wednesday, May 4
Harris is still on the stand as more recorded calls are played. Blago is heard snapping at his wife, yelling that she is wasting time. A possible job with SEIU (which sponsors Progress Illinois) for either him or his wife is also discussed once it was clear his first appointment choice of Secretary of Health and Human Services is not an option.

Thursday, May 5
In recordings, Harris (who is still on the stand) allegedly passes on the message from then-White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel that Jarrett will be appointed a position in D.C. Blagojevich's foe Jesse Jackson Jr. is also mentioned for the Senate seat.

Friday, May 6
The trial was cut short, as approved by Judge James Zagel, after defense lawyer Aaron Goldstein -- who was to cross-examine Harris -- went home sick after lunch. Testimony ended on the alleged scheme to get Blago a $1.5 million contribution in exchange for appointing Jackson Jr. to the senate seat.

Monday, May 9
Goldstein was objected over 100 times throughout his cross-examination of Harris and the second witness of the day, SEIU's Tom Balanoff. The objections were on the basis that Goldstein's questions are violating court orders by arguing that Blago isn't guilty because his advisers never warned him against himself. Zagel, who sustained nearly all of the objections, threaten "I'm coming very close to sitting you down. Don't do this."

Balanoff testified Obama said the Senate appointee needed to be good for Illinois and would win a re-election, and that while Jarrett would be a good replacement, the then-President-elect said he  preferred she go to the White House. After Jarrett later withdrew her name from contention, Blago is heard on tape talking to his wife about how Emanuel pushed Jarrett for the Senate because he didn't want her in the White House. Balanoff also said that while Blago pleaded for the health and human services secretary position, the former governor also settled for the creation of a not-for-profit that he could head up, in exchange for putting Jarrett to the Senate.

With the jury excused, Zagel again scolded Goldstein for going beyond the prosecution's scope. After court, Patti Blagojevich then said "I almost want to cry" because Zagel's rulings on the objections were "a deliberate attempt to hide the truth."

Tuesday, May 10
Zagel denies a request by the defense to include an email Balanoff sent to fellow union leader Andy Stern. Blago's former deputy governor Doug Scofield takes the stand, as the infamous "f***ing golden" tape is played. Heard on the tape is Blago slamming Obama,  Scofield (who is not charged in the case) encouraging Blago to gain leverage, and Blago talking about his money issues. Prosecutors then called IRS Agent Shari Schindler to lay out the top 10 things Blago spent his money on --topping the list was the $400,000 Blago spent on clothes.

Wednesday, May 11
Zagel again denies a request by the defense, as Blago attorney Lauren Kaeseberg asked the judge to declare a mistrial. Indian businesss man and former state employee Rajinder Bedi takes the stand to testify that he met with Blago's brother Robert to plan a fundraiser. It was here that Bedi says a plan involving wealthy businessman Raghu Nayak got underway, that would have Blago appoint Jackson Jr. to the seat in exchange for $1 million in fundraising money. Former deputy governor Robert Greenlee also takes the stand to confirm his knowledge of the alleged scheme to appoint Jarrett to the seat, and testified Blago lashed out on him when he suggested Tammy Duckworth to the position. Tapes are also played that show when Blago first got word a pending federal investigation had recordings of his conversations, and thoughts about brokering a deal to appoint Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the seat. Blago also got hit for trying to shake down Children's Memorial Hospital for campaign contributions --Blago allegedly wanted a rate increase for doctors to get contributions from hospital CEOS.

Thursday, May 12
Greenlee took the stand and said Blago is lying when he says he wanted to appoint Madigan to advance his agenda in Springfield because Blago wanted money to appoint Jackson instead. The troubled defense had to preview it's questions with the jury out of court for approval by Zagel, but then cross-examined Greenlee about the morning of Blago's arrest, and then about the allegations with the Children's hospital. FBI agent Dan Cain also went back to the stand to explain more about the sweep, while the defense tries to tie Obama to the shakedown.

Monday, May 16
The prosecution has hinted the trial could come to an end by this week, while Judge Zagel, again, denies the requests by the defense. Today’s include:
1) a motion to check the transcripts in an interview between the FBI and Obama
2) a motion to prevent jurors from knowing the timelines of the conversations until after closing arguments

The one-time Children’s Memorial Hospital lobbyist John Wyma was on the stand as the defense cross-examined, which prompts Zagel to scold the defense again. When the defense asks questions about the meaning of the slang term “f*** ‘em” so fondly used by Blago, Zagel and the prosecution intervenes. On a third questionable instance, Zagel dismisses the jury and calls for a break when the he said the defense was trying to put the government on trial.

The next witness on the stand was Children’s Memorial Hospital CEO Patrick Magoon, who testified that Blago agreed to a rate increase for doctors at his hospital but that he also got a call from Blago’s brother, Rob, asking for a $25,000 donation to the former govenor’s campaign fund -- something he called “inappropriate” and “illegal.” Zagel dismissed the jury to preview the defense’s questions about Magoon’s salary and the hospital’s cash situation, which Zagel eventually ruled to exclude.

Former Prairie Materials executive Gerald Krozel took the stand as the prosecution moved to alleged a third shakedown. Krozel testified that Blago had a $6 billion proposal that the exec felt was tied to how much money the state’s road-builder organizations could raise for the former governor. The Blago team also wanted him to raise money before it would be literally illegal, citing a new 2009 law that would prohibit companies with state contracts to contribute campaign money.

Tuesday, May 17
Krozel mentions his sick wife as the prosecution questions him about why he initially lied to the FBI about feeling pressure from Blago. He said he was “terrified.” Lon Monk, a former close friend and chief of staff to Blago, then takes the stand to testify he took $70,000 to $90,000 from fundraiser Tony Rezko, who has been convicted corruption. Monk also testifies he tried to shakedown racetrack exec Johnny Johnston by trying to get a campaign contribution in exchange for a bill signed into law that would be benefited two of Johnston’s tracks.

Wednesday, May 18
Monk is being cross-examined by the defense, testifying that some of the Rezko bribes were kept from Blago and acknowledging what he did was illegal. Most of the questions to Monk were objected, which led Zagel to call it “an abusive cross-examination.” Monk has plead guilty to conspiracy to solicit a bribe, but the prosecution drove home this point: Blago instructed him to do it and Blago would have benefited.

Thursday, May 19
Academy for Urban School Leadership Executive Director Donald Feinstein testified the school was promised a $2 million grant, while the prosecution is alleging Blago tried to shake up then-Congressman Emanuel who's district included the school. Blago's former deputy governor Bradley Tusk then takes the stand to testify that Blago was blocking the grant because he was waiting for Emanuel's brother to host a fundraiser for the former governor first. Zagel, per what is now usual, scolded the defense, while the prosecution rested their case. The defense asked if they could begin to call their witnesses on Wednesday but Zagel denied the request. The case picks up on Monday.

Friday, May 20
The defense lawyers were in court to discuss their case and said they had 10 potential witnesses. While Zagel has already denied their request to start their witnesses on Wednesday, the defense said “people of some prominence” will be called and therefore need advanced notice to schedule time for it. Their witness testimonies are said to only last three days.The defense has said they will play taped phone calls unused by the prosecution and is likely to ask Zagel to drop charges now that the prosecution has rested. See this clip of Blago’s attorney Sheldon Sorosky discussing the defenses’ case:

Tuesday, May 24
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that several sources confirm Blago himself is set to take the stand and testify in his own defense. It is unclear when he will testify but the defense will start it’s case Wednesday.

Wednesday, May 25
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told jurors in the federal corruption trial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich that he was never propositioned by anyone as he raised the possibility of having Valerie Jarrett appointed to fill President Obama’s former seat in the U.S. Senate. It was the heart of his testimony that lasted about six minutes. Mayor Emanuel also said he was not asked to host a fundraiser for Blagojevich in return for receiving a $2 million grant for a school in his former North Side congressional district.

Government lawyers, meanwhile, chose not to cross examine Mayor Emanuel as part of their case against Blagojevich; now in its fourth week. Mayor Emanuel strode into the court room Wednesday morning looking confident and answered questions very directly.

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. told the Blagojevich jury he was not on favorable speaking terms with the former governor. The South Side Congressman then went on to say he never directed anyone to raise money for Blagojevich in return for getting an appointment to the U.S. Senate.

The defense talked to Zagel about playing "Madigan deal" tapes, which the judge says is only permissible in court if Blago takes the stand.

Jesse Jackson Jr., Rahm Emanuel Testify in Rod Blagojevich Corruption Retrial: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Thursday, May 26

Former governor Rod Blagojevich took the stand today to testify in his retrial. Check out our liveblog for a play by play of his first day of testimony.