The Rundown | Chicago News

Latest Episodes:

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is urging people to stay vigilant even as Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino could be on his way out of town. Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a long-lost Purple Heart Medal to the family of a World War II veteran. Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is going to continue his bid for Illinois governor. Plus, after police killed George Floyd in 2020, there was talk of a racial reckoning. In the theater community, that reckoning took the form of a letter titled “We See You, White American Theater.” The letter demanded that theaters stop tokenizing artists of color and start implementing company-wide anti-racist training. It would ultimately be signed by one-hundred-thousand artists, including many in Chicago. Five years later, my colleague Mike Davis set out to learn what changed.

Monday, November 10, 2025 Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is under fire for voting to advance a Republican-led House measure that would help end the government shutdown. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he’s confident police did not violate the welcoming city ordinance when responding to protests this weekend. The National Weather Service said a La Nina pattern will be active through February, which could mean a colder and snowier winter. Plus, five years after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, the Sun-Times and WBEZ surveyed 21 arts, culture and humanities nonprofits to see what progress they made toward meeting their public promises of better reflecting the city they serve. Sun-Times reporter Erica Thompson talks about the survey and what she learned.

'The Story of Violence': a radio play Nov 08, 2025

Show notes

WBEZ’s Prisoncast! and the Mud Theatre Project present a new radio drama — written and performed almost exclusively by currently or formerly incarcerated thespians. “The Story of Violence," based on an award-winning script by playwrights at Dixon Correctional Center in Illinois, examines Chicago’s gun violence problem through five characters’ perspectives as their lives intersect at a downtown hotel room.

Friday, November 7, 2025 Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

O'Hare International Airport today is second in the nation in flight cancellations. The federal government says it's largely complying with an order to improve conditions at the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement processing facility in suburban Broadview. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wants members of the United Nations to come to the city – and see ongoing human rights violations for themselves. Plus, President Donald Trump has been outspoken in blaming crime on ‘sanctuary’ policies in Democratic states, but the numbers don’t tell the same story. Sun-Times reporter Sophie Sherry breaks down the facts for us.

Thursday, November 6, 2025 Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction governing the use of force by federal immigration officers in Chicago. In a separate case, a judge ruled yesterday that the Department of Homeland Security has to improve conditions for detainees at the immigration processing center in suburban Broadview. Chicago-area commuters may soon see the impacts of a massive transit-deal that is awaiting Governor JB Pritzker’s signature. Plus, WBEZ reporter Chip Mitchell brings us tape of U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino's sworn testimony in the case of federal immigration officers' use of force in Chicago.

Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

A high-stakes hearing is underway over the treatment of protesters and journalists covering the Trump Administration’s Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. Chicago’s acting cultural commissioner says the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is entering a new era. A D.C.-based conservative activist group is suing Illinois for records on the state’s role in offering refuge to Texas Democrats this summer. Plus, Sun-Times reporter Lauren FitzPatrick teamed up with the paper’s photojournalists to document ICE agents as they fan out across area streets in large numbers making arrests. She found that not all federal immigration officers are wearing ID badges on their uniforms more than three weeks after an order from a federal judge.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

Immigrants who have recently been detained at the immigration processing facility in suburban Broadview testified in federal court about the conditions there. The Regional Transportation Authority is walking back its 10 percent fare increases for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace next year. In a surprising move, Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher Shota Imanaga is set to become a free agent. Plus, there have been daily demonstrations outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in west suburban Broadview. One form of protest on Monday was music. WBEZ’s Michael Puente takes us there.

Monday, November 3, 2025 Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Illinois and 20 other states are suing the Trump administration to block a rule that could make some government and nonprofit employees no longer eligible for student loan forgiveness. Students and staff are celebrating the opening of a new facility at the Philip J. Rock Center and School in west suburban Glen Ellyn. It’s a major-league-high three Gold Glove winners this year for the Cubs. Margaret Burroughs is well known as the founder of the DuSable Museum. But perhaps lesser known is her decades long work in prison education. In honor of what would have been her 110th birthday on Nov. 1, Curious City brings us that story.

Friday, October 31, 2025 Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

A measure that would allow citizens to sue Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents now awaits the governor’s signature. A bill to let people who are terminally ill end their own lives medically has cleared the Illinois legislature. Illinois lawmakers passed an energy bill last night that will strengthen the reliability of the electrical grid. Plus, horror writers gathered at the University of Chicago’s Divinity School recently to discuss the ways they approach the genre. It was part of the American Writers Museum’s upcoming exhibition called American Prophets: Writers, Religion and Culture that opens in November, exploring the ways writers tap into religion and spirituality. WBEZ contributor Adora Namigadde spoke with writers Tananarive Due, Matt Ruff and Juan Martinez.

Thursday, October 30, 2025 Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made a plea to federal immigration agents to leave children alone over Halloween. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in Gary, Indiana today and denied any American citizens are getting caught up in immigration enforcement operations despite numerous confirmed reports of such incidents. Graduation rates in Illinois have reached a 15-year high while other measures for high school students are lagging behind. Plus, federal immigration agents were out in force during the most recent Chicago school board meeting. Members were distracted as their phones lit up with messages about what had been going on outside. WBEZ’s Sarah Karp tells us what happened as the news from the street filtered into the board chambers.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Rundown | Chicago News

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected