On Background: WBEZ's Politics Podcast - WBEZ Chicago

Latest Episodes:

The Election Is Over. Now What? Nov 09, 2018

Show notes

We’ve spent months talking about which candidates might win in Tuesday’s election. Well, now we know. So let’s talk about how they’re going to govern, and what challenges lie ahead. Buckle up.

Each week at On Background, WBEZ’s team of political reporters brings you the backstory on the week's big story. Host Becky Vevea and guests take you inside the back rooms of Chicago and Illinois government to better understand the people, places and forces shaping today’s politics.

The Red (or Blue?) Chicago Suburbs Nov 02, 2018

Show notes

The counties surrounding Chicago have been reliably Republican for most of the last century. But that could be shifting as demographics change and political boundaries move. WBEZ’s Becky Vevea talks with reporters Carrie Shepherd and Dave McKinney to understand what is happening in some key suburban areas and why it matters for the future of politics in the region.

Race In The Governor’s Race Oct 26, 2018

Show notes

In his first term, leading one of the nation’s most racially diverse states, Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s appointees to government boards and cabinet positions were overwhelmingly white and male. That’s according to an investigation led by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos, who joins us to explain the findings — and to take a look at how J.B. Pritzker has handled his own stumbles in discussions about race.

Midterm Madness LIVE! Oct 19, 2018

Show notes

The WBEZ politics team hosted a live version of On Background at the Chicago Cultural Center on Tuesday, and today we’re bringing you the best parts of that program. The show featured a sharp panel of reporters, a packed house, and lively discussions about what life might look like in 2019 for the (new?) governor of Illinois. We also asked what type of role Illinois voters will play in determining who takes the U.S. House of Representatives this November (“A big role,” says one of our panelists).

Join host Becky Vevea, WBEZ state politics reporters Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold, WGN political reporter Tahman Bradley, Univision reporter Mariano Gielis, and political reporter Mary Ann Ahern from NBC 5 Chicago.

Music:

Daniel Caesar - Best Part (feat. H.E.R.)
Jamila Woods - LSD

9 Races In 18 Minutes: Your November Election Audio Cheat Sheet Oct 12, 2018

Show notes

There’s been a lot of talk of who will control Congress and which governor will run the state of Illinois for the next four years, but there are dozens of other races on your November ballot. Every statewide office (besides Illinois' two U.S. senators) is up for a vote. Many county seats are too. And the people in those jobs will be spending your money and making laws about your life. So in this episode, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about some of the other important races on the ballot — all in the time it takes for our producer, Justin Bull, to drink a cup of coffee.

Reporting in this week's episode came from Claudia Morell, Michael Puente, Kristen Schorsch, Carrie Shepherd, and Mariah Woelfel. Justin Bull provided production assistance.

Neglecting Veterans, Removing Toilets, Criminal Finger Pointing Oct 05, 2018

Show notes

The candidates for Illinois governor are both accusing the other of criminal conduct. WBEZ reporter Dave McKinney explains what led the state Attorney General to open a criminal investigation into Governor Bruce Rauner’s handling of a Legionnaires outbreak at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy. But Democrat J.B. Pritzker isn’t squeaky clean either. This week, a report from the Cook County Inspector General surfaced accusing Pritzker of tax fraud.

What Do The Wannabe Governors Stand For Anyway? Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

The candidates for Illinois governor have been so busy attacking each other that WBEZ wanted to make sure you — the voter — know what they actually stand for. We asked all four candidates — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Democrat J.B. Pritzker, the Conservative Party’s Sam McCann, and Libertarian Kash Jackson — to complete a policy questionnaire. In this week’s On Background, we look at the candidates’ answers, or lack thereof.

Check out each candidate’s complete questionnaire response here (with the exception of Gov. Bruce Rauner, who did not fill one out.)

Debate Season Begins Sep 21, 2018

Show notes

The fight between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrat J.B. Pritzker to be Illinois’ next governor is getting personal. When they met in the first debate of the campaign on Thursday, Rauner said Pritzker lacked the character to hold public office. Pritzker retaliated by saying everything Rauner lists as accomplishments happened in spite of him, not because of him. State Sen. Sam McCann and Kash Jackson are also on the November ballot.

Host Becky Vevea talks with WBEZ's Tony Arnold about what happened at the first debate.

Chicago’s First Alcalde? Sep 14, 2018

Show notes

Chicago has elected a number of Latinos into political office, including aldermen, county commissioners, state representatives, and members of Congress. But the city has never had a Latino mayor.

Could 2019 be the year?

Host Becky Vevea interviews Victor Reyes, a top member of Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration and leader of the now defunct Hispanic Democratic Organization (HDO). And WBEZ’s Claudia Morell explains why a Chicago electorate split into nearly even thirds has yet to produce a Latino mayor. Plus, a look at the possible candidates ahead of the February mayoral election.

With Rahm Out, Who’s Chicago’s Next ‘Boss’? Sep 07, 2018

Show notes

The week started with a bombshell announcement from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. On Tuesday, joined by his wife Amy Rule, the two-term mayor announced he will not seek a third term in February. In this episode you’ll hear a one-on-one interview with Emanuel and WBEZ City Politics reporter Becky Vevea. They talk about his biggest regrets, where he’s headed, and what it was like holding the seat once held for nearly half a century by the Daleys.

What brought us to this game-changing moment in political history? WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos explains the context: how Emanuel went from the chosen successor of the Daley dynasty in 2011 to the first mayoral candidate to be pushed into a runoff in 2015. From Laquan McDonald and police reform, to broke pension funds and record tax hikes, he explains how Emanuel would have had the hardest election of his life.

City political reporter Claudia Morell digs into the history of what it takes to win a mayoral race in Chicago.