Morning Shift Podcast

Chicago faces a $1.15 billion deficit. To raise revenue, Mayor Johnson proposed a corporate head tax that would charge companies with 100 or more employees – who spend 50% of their time in Chicago – $21 per employee per month. This would raise an estimated $100 million annually and would be used to fund community safety and violence interruption. But some business leaders say it's a “job killer.” In the Loop speaks with Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, Julie Dworkin, co-executive director of the Institute for the Public Good and Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association for different viewpoints on the corporate head tax. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

“A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power” lays out Jackson's memorable presidential runs of the 1980s, his roots in Chicago and how his push for a “Rainbow Coalition” changed American politics. In the Loop checks in with first-time author and CNN news anchor Abby Phillip to discuss her new book. For a full archive of In The Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

A car chase involving federal agents ends in a chaotic scene in East Chicago. Lawmakers seek transit funding solutions in Springfield. Mayor Johnson pitches a corporate head tax in his budget address.

Federal agents arrested immigrants across the Chicago area and detained U.S. citizens, including a teen protester and will extend their stay at Great Lakes Naval Base. Lawmakers in Springfield condemned ICE raids and explored state responses to federal agents in Illinois. Mayor Johnson pitches a corporate head tax in his budget address. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with journalists Alex Nitkin with the Illinois Answers Project, City Cast Chicago's Jacoby Cochran, and Violet Miller with the Chicago Sun-Times. For a full archive of In The Loop interviews, head over to www.wbez.org/intheloop.

A high school choir from Auburn Gresham made it all the way to the finals in the national competition show ‘America's Got Talent' last month. Now they're back in Chicago and back in class. In the Loop checks in with members Derrick Davis, Bernard Freeman, Kevin Wilson and Tyshawn Brown about their journey to Los Angeles, the “brotherhood” they enjoy in the choir and what comes next for each of them. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Since President Trump announced at a White House news conference on Sept. 22 that pregnant women's use of acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol, might raise the risk of autism in their children, claims about the drug have been circulating online. But this isn't the first time moms have been blamed for their children's autism. In fact, an early theory of autism revolves around the term “refrigerator mothers.” In the Loop discusses this history of parental shame and uncovers the genetic components of autism with psychologist Dr. Latha Valluripalli Soorya at Rush, and J.J Hanley, a film producer and local mother of an adult with autism. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop

In an op-ed in the Sun-Times, public health experts call for maintaining medical facilities as “sanctuaries that protect human life,” and outline steps to protect patients from immigration enforcement. In the Loop talks with Dr. Linda Rae Murray, professor, University of Illinois Chicago's School of Public Health and former chief medical officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health, and Dr. Claudia Fegan, national coordinator for the Physicians for a National Health Program and former chief medical officer of Cook County Health. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop

Chicago legal advocates and volunteers in communities are quickly responding after ICE arrests to protect immigrants' rights. In the Loop talks with Resurrection Project chief program officer Erendira Rendon, National Immigrant Justice Center director of litigation Keren Zwick, Pilsen Rapid Response Network organizer Diego Morales of PUÑO and Southwest Rapid Response organizer and CPS teacher Kat Zamarron. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Texas National Guard arrived in the Chicago area, then a judge granted a temporary restraining order on deploying the guard in Illinois. Meanwhile, ICE arrests and raids continued and the Chicago area began to feel the effects of the ongoing federal government shutdown. Reset dives into those and other top local stories with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mark Norkol, Fox 32 political correspondent Paris Schutz and Borderless Magazine editorial director Mauricio Peña. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

You might mistake a recent video released by the Department of Homeland Security for an action movie trailer. It shows Border Patrol agents in military fatigues entering an apartment building in South Shore and arresting people alleged to be connected to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. Reporting from WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times and other outlets confirm that U.S. citizens were detained for hours, some of them in handcuffs and zip ties. None of that was shown. In the Loop talks to Jim Warren with NewsGuard and security affairs expert Robert Pape of UChicago about whether or not the federal government's videos of immigration raids – such as the one in South Shore – amount to propaganda about Chicago crime and immigrants. For a full archive of In The Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

A government shutdown is underway. The National Guard has arrived in the Chicago area, and immigration enforcement has escalated in recent weeks. In the Loop host Sasha-Ann Simons and the show's listeners ask Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson about his plan to create “ICE-free zones” and get his thoughts on the federal deployment of National Guard troops, among other topics. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Trump administration has paused $2.1 billion in federal funding for infrastructure projects in Chicago, including the long-awaited extension of the Red Line. In the Loop discusses the impact of this pause on residents, public transit and the environment with Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce executive director Andrea Reed, UChicago Harris School of Public Policy research professor Justin Marlowe and In the Loop sustainability contributor Karen Weigert. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/in-the-loop.

Dennis Rodkin reports.

President Trump called National guardsmen from Illinois and Texas to Chicago, and they could arrive any day now. In the Loop checks in with Illinois Veterans for Change chair Jesse Rojo and About Face: Veterans Against the War member Aaron Hughes, an Illinois National Guard veteran, about the President's decision to send troops to Chicago and other U.S. cities. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

After months of warnings, the federal government said 100 National Guard troops will be deployed in Chicago. President Trump told military leaders to use U.S. cities as a “training ground” for operations. Meanwhile, immigration arrests and protests continue throughout the Chicago region. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with WBEZ senior editor Alden Loury, WTTW news correspondent Nick Blumbert and Block Club Chicago reporter Mack Liederman. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Aquinas Literacy Center is a McKinley Park organization that provides free one-on-one English tutoring to adults, many of whom are immigrants. In the Loop talks about the importance of this work during a time of frequent ICE raids with Aquinas Literacy Center executive director Alison Altmeyer and tutors Peter Harley and Tom Dankers. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

As e-bikes and e-scooters grow in popularity as an accessible and affordable transit option, many cities and suburbs are creating rules for how, when and where they can be used, leading to a patchwork of regulations. However, some people are now looking to Springfield to set a statewide standard. In the Loop explores what's needed with a panel of stakeholders: Nik Hunder, policy analyst and researcher, Chicago, Bike Grid Now!; Micheál Podgers, urban planner; policy director at Better Streets Chicago; IL State Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

More than half of American adults say they aren't getting enough sleep. Beyond being tired and irritable, persistent sleep deprivation has been linked to many physical and psychological issues, from weight gain and heart disease to depression and dementia. On this episode of In the Loop we speak to Dr. Sabra Abbott, a sleep specialist at Northwestern Medicine about improving sleep hygiene. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

As we head into fall premiere season, here's a reminder: The Bear, The Chi, Chicago Fire, Med, P.D., and more are shot in Chicago. In the Loop learns about what goes into bringing some of our favorite shows to the screen with cinematographer Joe Jody Williams and set decorator Eric Frankel. For a full archive of In The Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago schools lose millions in federal grants. Protests gain steam outside the ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview. Chicago's City Council reaches a compromise on allowing so-called “granny flats.” In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with WTTW Chicago politics reporter Heather Cherone, Axios Chicago reporter Carrie Shepherd and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Tom Schuba. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The West Woodlawn home of Emmett Till and his family is in the process of becoming a museum and memorial. In the Loop checks in with architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin, cousin of Emmett Till and former resident of the Emmett Till House Ollie Gordon and Willie Douglas, organizer with Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 21, which is helping rehab the home. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Illinois is one of several states that have created guidance for vaccines that diverges from federal recommendations. As we enter respiratory illness season, what does that mean for medical treatment? In the Loop talks to Chief Operating Officer for Cook County Department of Public Health Dr. Kiran Joshi, Division Head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Lurie Children's Hospital Dr. Ravi Jhaveri and Founding Board President of the Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition of Healthcare Equality Creopla Hampton. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

A surprising trend in the job market is worrying economists. College-educated people are making up a larger subset of people who are unemployed for six months or longer. Automation, shrinking industries and federal cuts play a role. In the Loop digs into the issue with New York Times reporter Noam Scheiber and DePaul University professor of economics Brian Thompson. For a full archive of In The Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Federal tax credits for electric vehicles are ending at the end of September, but rebates in Illinois remain. These rebates have been a key tool for the state to achieve its goal of having 1 million electric vehicles on Illinois roads by 2030, though there is a very long way to go on that front. In The Loop discusses what prospective buyers need to know and what this federal change could mean for Illinois' transition to electric with Mark Cassidy, operations management, EV Energy Group and Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago's Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Federal agents step up immigration raids. The Cubs make it to the playoffs. Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar dies at 79. Kim Bellware of the Washington Post, WBEZ's Sarah Karp and Mitchell Armentrout of the Chicago Sun-Times break it down for us. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

While many efforts continue to educate immigrants and citizens alike on “Know Your Rights,” many people have already been detained by ICE. So, what are people doing right now to support them and their families? In the Loop sits down with local organizations who are supporting those who have been detained, hears what it was like in detention and what's next as the city continues to see increased activity by ICE. We check in with Kabataan Alliance Midwest and Tanggol Migrante Chicago member Louise Macaraniag, Organizing Communities Against Deportation leadership and growth organizer Evelyn Vargas and Midwest Immigration Bond Fund co-vice president and immigration lawyer Lee Vanderlinden. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

We're six months out from the statewide Illinois primary, and the main showdown is shaping up to be the Democratic race for Dick Durbin's Senate seat. Political analysts suggest this rare open-seat race will favor Democrats, though that's not assured. So far, nine Democrats have entered the race, with three notable candidates – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congresswoman Robin Kelly and current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton – rising to the top. On this episode of In The Loop, host Sasha-Ann Simons and our panel of Illinois politicos size up the candidates and break down the race to replace outgoing Senator Dick Durbin in D.C. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

As heightened immigration enforcement continues, we learn how the city's chief executive is working to keep residents safe. In the Loop sits down with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to learn how he's balancing national attention with the day-to-day needs of the city residents. Plus, he answers callers' questions. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicagoans are living longer — at least nearly as long as they did pre-pandemic, according to new data from the Chicago Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, the life expectancy gap between Black and non-Black Chicagoans is narrowing, but according to CDPH, there's still a long way to go. In the Loop finds out more about how far the city has come in improving the health and longevity of residents and what challenges may lie ahead. We check in with Ayesha Jaco, executive director of West Side United; The Rev. Marshall Hatch, senior pastor, New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church; and Dr. David Ansell, professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center and author of The Death Gap: How Inequality Kills. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

WBEZ's new show “In the Loop” is your place for Chicago-area news and culture. Host Sasha-Ann Simons and executive producer Dan Tucker break down what to expect. Check this feed every weekday afternoon to stay In the Loop.

As the summer winds down, we wanted to share some highlights of conversations we've had on Reset over the last few months. From our immigration series to conversations with music legends to sitting down with Sasha's mom, we're looking back on an eventful season. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In 1991, a high-profile and controversial Supreme Court confirmation hearing led Carol Moseley Braun to run for the U.S. Senate. “The good people of Illinois saw fit to elect me,” Moseley Braun says. That's when she became the first Black woman to serve in the upper chamber. At the same time, Braun was the first woman senator to represent the state of Illinois in Congress. Braun details her childhood, that journey to Congress and the international success that would follow in a new memoir, “Trailblazer: Perseverance in Life and Politics.” Reset sits down with Carol Moseley Braun to learn more about her Chicago upbringing and storied career. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In the early hours of April 16, 1983, 23-year-old Karen Schepers of Elgin went missing after a night out with co-workers. And over four decades later, the Elgin Police Department's Cold Case Unit takes this missing persons case on again. The detectives behind the case document their investigation in the first season of the “Somebody Knows Something” podcast. Reset sits down with Elgin Police Department Chief Ana Lalley, detectives Christopher Hall and Andrew Houghton, and Sergeant Matt Vartanian to learn more about their work and the pod. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C. earlier this month as a part of President Donald Trump's effort to mitigate crime in the capital. And Chicago could be next. City and state leaders, such as Gov. JB Pritzker, have made their message clear. “Do not come to Chicago.” Since then, the White House has issued a press release of its own. A bullet-pointed list of crime statistics and headlines. Reset will go behind those headlines and fact-check the White House's claims that Chicago residents want the National Guard in the city with WBEZ criminal justice reporter Chip Mitchell and Northwestern professor Andrew Papachristos. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As students return to campuses across the nation, a new documentary explores the legacy and new challenges faced by historically black colleges and universities. Reset learns more from Brandis Friedman, WTTW anchor and co-producer of the documentary “Opportunity, Access & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs.” We also hear from Felecia Commodore, associate professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois has been a leader in the data center boom, with more than 220 across the state. However, those centers use up tons of water, often from the same sources that local communities rely on for drinking water. Advocates that work to protect the Great Lakes (and local drinking water) are raising the alarm on the burden this could put on Illinois municipalities in the short and long term. Reset gets the details from Jen Walling, executive director, Illinois Environmental Council; and Joel Brammeier, president, Alliance for the Great Lakes. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The historic Charnley-Persky House in the Gold Coast is a rare two-fer co-designed by a pair of architecture giants: Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. The building at 1365 N. Astor St., which is often called the first modernist house in the world, was designed in 1891 when Sullivan was 35 years old and his employee Wright was 24. In this episode of What's That Building?, Sasha Ann Simpons and Dennis Rodkin tour the Charnley-Persky House for a closer look at this unique property. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago-based emergency room physician Dr. Thaer Ahmad is one of the dozens of health care workers from the area who have traveled to Gaza to provide humanitarian aid since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Ahmad and his colleagues are sharing their experiences with Illinois lawmakers in an effort to highlight the starvation in Gaza and to stop weapon transfers to Israel. Reset hears from Dr. Ahmad, WBEZ city politics Mariah Woelfel and Ertharin Cousin, former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme.

Chicago's Inspector General urges City Council to police bad behavior. Democratic legislators return to Texas for a redistricting vote. Former Northwestern football coach reaches settlement with the university. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul files more lawsuits against the Trump administration and politicians push for Southwest side communities to be declared disaster areas after flooding. Reset dives into these and other top local stories with City Cast Chicago executive producer Simone Alicea, FOX 32 political correspondent Paris Schutz and WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The first wind phone was created in Japan by Itaru Sasaki after losing his cousin to cancer in 2010. He installed a disconnected rotary phone in his garden as a way to connect with his cousin after their death. In 2011, after a tsunami hit the coast of Japan, destroying cities and leaving hundreds of people missing, Sasaki then relocated the phone booth on a hill overlooking the ocean to give others a way to connect with their lost loved ones. And now in 2025, one mother in Geneva, Ill., wants to bring a wind phone to the far western suburb. Reset learns more about this effort and navigating grief. We'll hear from Elaine Haughan, who lost her son James in 2021; Liam Jackowiec, best friend of James Haughan; and Neal Parker, with the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, which invites visitors to use the wind phone they have available by its butterfly garden. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Trump administration is considering reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. This change could have major implications for cannabis businesses in Chicago. Reset sits down with Cannabis Business Association of Illinois' executive director Tiffany Ingram, nuEra's Jonah Rapino and Umi Dispensary's Akele Parnell to understand how this reclassification could impact the local industry and what it could mean for consumers. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Famous for its grandeur and colossal size, the Uptown Theatre celebrates its 100-year anniversary. Over the last century, the Uptown has seen its highs and lows, but after being shuttered in 1981, the “palace” now needs a $190-million revamp. Robert Loerzel's new book, The Uptown: Chicago's Endangered Movie Palace, relives the glory days of the theatre through photos and archives. Many, like Loerzel, hope the Uptown Theatre will be restored to its former purpose and splendor through the help of donor and state funding. Reset hears more about the Uptown Theatre's history and future from Loerzel, Preservation Chicago executive director Ward Miller, and David Syfczak, caretaker for the Uptown Theatre for the last 30 years. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.