Morning Shift Podcast

Chicago's premiere alt-weekly has been a hub for art, music, and local investigations since the 1970s. Following a brief hiatus from print, the Chicago Reader is returning to print with a fresh approach to its locally-rooted writing and reporting. We check in with the Reader's editor-in-chief Sarah Conway, and features writer Katie Prout, on how its team is building on the legacy of the Reader to create a renewed vision for community-focused journalism. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

About 17 of the 32 people charged with nonimmigration crimes during Operation Midway Blitz have had their cases dropped with no convictions. Regardless, the toll that comes with federal prosecution doesn't just disappear as soon as the case does. In the Loop talks to Jocelyne Robledo, a defendant of one of the 17 failed prosecution cases and with Jon Seidel, Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Six Illinois Democrats boycott President Trump's State of the Union address. Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker demands a $8.6 billion refund for Illinois taxpayers after the Supreme Court rules against Trump tariffs. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Axios Chicago reporter Monica Eng, WTTW anchor and host Brandis Friedman and WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Who gets to be an American citizen? And what rights does citizenship afford? Those questions are explored in the new book, “Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth.” Local author Daisy Hernández blends personal stories with a retrospective on how citizenship was initially constructed and how it's changed over time. In the Loop sits down with the author to discuss. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

A racial slur at the British Film Awards is the latest of several recent public racist incidents that have left Black people feeling dehumanized and disrespected. Today on In the Loop, how much longer will Black and Brown people be asked to extend grace that they are often not afforded? We talk about healing from racial trauma with Pilar Audain, associate director of Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Greater Chicago; Brandon Pope, president of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists; and Danielle Robinson Bell, associate professor at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In 2024, Republicans won on an anti-immigrant platform. Vice President Kamala Harris had a “tough on the border” message. Now, Democratic candidates for Congress and Senate are rallying around an anti-extreme immigration enforcement message, while some pundits warn that immigration could cost Republicans in the midterm. In the Loop discusses what changed and how strategists make calculations of what will move voters. Our panel today: Jason DeSanto, senior lecturer in the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and Democratic debate strategist, and Diego Morales, organizer, PUÑO (Pilsen Rapid Response Network). For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court decided that President Trump's global tariffs on imported goods were unconstitutional. With Trump promising to find other ways to impose his tariffs, small business owners are unsure of how or if they'll get their entitled refunds. In the Loop spoke with Stephen Woldenberg, Senior Vice President of Sales for Learning Resources, the Vernon Hills-based business that led the charge to bring the legal case to the country's highest court. Plus, we talk to Cécile Shea, nonresident senior fellow on security and diplomacy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Chicago City Council fails to override the mayor's veto of an ordinance banning intoxicating hemp products, Gov. JB Pritzker blasts President Trump in his State of the State address and Illinois reports its first measles case of 2026. In the Loop goes behind the headlines in the Weekly News Recap. Today's panel: Christian Farr with NBC-5 Chicago, Simone Alicea with City Cast Chicago, and Alden Loury of WBEZ. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

It took years for U.S. leaders to address the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. One public figure that wasn't afraid to bring the challenges the LGBTQ+ community were facing to the forefront was the Rev. Jesse Jackson. In the Loop reflects on Jackson's work pushing progressive ideas and being an avid supporter of the LGBTQ+ community with Northwestern professor Martha Biondi and Equality Illinois CEO Channyn Lynne Parker. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In the Loop continues to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. His 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns were ultimately unsuccessful, but he proved that a Black American could have success at the polls and opened the door for diversity in politics. In the Loop examines how Rev. Jackson changed the political landscape of the Democratic party and paved the way for a new generation of Black political leadership with Field Foundation Director of Journalism and Storytelling Maudlyne Ihejirika, Northwestern University political science professor Alvin Tillery and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, former U.S. Senator from Illinois. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson's story in Chicago begins in the 1960s when he moved to the city to study at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Not long after his move, he met Martin Luther King Jr. and asked him for a job at the Chicago chapter of Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Operation Breadbasket. Since then, Rev. Jesse Jackson became a symbol for the Civil Rights Movement, Black politics and Black America. Rev. Jackson died on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the age of 84. In the Loop looks back at the life and impact of the Rev. Jesse Jackson on civil rights, politics, the nation and Chicago with Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ and Natalie Moore, senior lecturer, Northwestern Medill School and Chicago Sun-Times columnist. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Tired of visiting a news website and getting hit with a paywall? Hollywood actor John Cusack feels your pain – and wants outlets to free the news that you need. Cusack and Seth Stern from the Freedom of the Press Foundation stop by to talk about what's at stake when newsrooms are gutted, journalists are under fire, and information is gatekept. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Illinois joins three other Democrat-led states in suing the White House over public health funding cuts. Amazon announces drone delivery coming to southwest suburbs. Portage, Ind., unveils its pitch for a Bears stadium, as northwest suburban residents and mayors rally to secure a stadium in Arlington Heights. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in our Weekly News Recap with WTTW Chicago politics reporter Heather Cherone, Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel and Capitol News Illinois state government and politics reporter Hannah Meisel. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Between the 1930s and '50s, Chicago was a hub for Black writers, poets and creatives – an era known as the Chicago Black Renaissance. A number of great literary, music and art names came out of Chicago during this renaissance – including Gwendolyn Brooks, Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, Nat King Cole, Langston Hughes and many more. In the Loop dives into Chicago's poetry scene then and now, with Chicago Public Library's division chief of Archives and Special Collections Chianta Dorsey, Chicago's first Poet Laureate avery r. young and Sudanese-American poet and archivist Israa Abbas. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order Jan. 31 instructing Chicago police to document alleged abuses by federal immigration agents and refer wrongdoers to the Cook County State's Attorney for prosecution. State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke questioned the order's legality, calling it “wholly inappropriate,” and Mayor Johnson walked back his order on Tuesday, saying officers would still document alleged misconduct but would not refer cases to the county's top prosecutor. Mayor Johnson answers questions from listeners and host Sasha-Ann Simons about that and other topics. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

For 115 years, the City News Bureau was a training ground for young journalists in Chicago. Known for its long hours, low pay, and intense, fast-paced atmosphere, the wire service broke stories on courts, crime, and government for local papers, television, and radio stations. The new book Sirens in the Loop tells the story of the City News Bureau through the voices of former staffers. In The Loop hears about what a day in the newsroom of City News was like from James Elsener, the co-author of “Sirens,” and City News alums Abdon Pallasch and Rummana Hussain. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Lori Lightfoot has worked as Chicago's mayor, a federal prosecutor and a top leader on police accountability. She wants local officials to do more to counter ICE. In the Loop learns about her ICE Accountability Project and how she thinks local officials can respond in the face of aggressive immigration enforcement. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson defends an executive order that requires Chicago police to help hold ICE agents accountable for alleged abuses. Marimar Martinez, a Chicago woman shot by Border Patrol, speaks out in an exclusive WBEZ-Sun-Times interview and on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, Reshona Landfair, the Jane Doe in R. Kelly's infamous tape, is out with a memoir, Who's Watching Shorty?, where she tells her story and “reclaims her name.” In the Loop goes behind the headlines of those and other state and local stories Better Government Association president David Greising, Axios Chicago reporter Monica Eng and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Violet Miller. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Literary hub, polling place, warming center and now… food pantry? Some libraries can do it all. With 81 branches, the Chicago Public Library system is one of the largest and most robust in the world. On today's In the Loop, we look at how libraries are about a lot more than just books with Chris Brown, Chicago Public Library Commissioner, Megan Greenback, Legler Library Assistant Director and Mary Davis Fournier, Executive Director, Public Library Association. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The U.S. withdrew from the World Health Organization in January, citing an alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, states like California and Illinois are taking matters into their own hands and joining the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN. In the Loop sits down with Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health; Ameya Pawar, president and CEO of Michael Reese Health Trust; and Dr. Emily Landon, infectious disease specialist at University of Chicago. We find out more about how joining this network will protect Illinois residents and how this keeps the state informed about potential public health threats. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

An Amazon data center is set to break ground in Hobart, Ind., this spring. Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun says the company will pay the $47 million upfront which could be used for infrastructure improvements. But residents say they still have not received a site plan and are asking for independent environmental impact studies. In the Loop hears from Angelita Soriano, a Hobart resident, and Jen Walling, executive director for the Illinois Environmental Council, which is supporting legislation that would put guardrails on data centers' impact on the environment. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Online retail behemoth Amazon is closing all of its branded grocery stores — but already has the greenlight to experiment with a new retail idea: a “first-of-its-kind Amazon superstore” that is coming to south suburban Orland Park. Is this the future of retail, and what does it mean for local businesses and residents? In The Loop finds out more about the approved plan and if it could be a potential blueprint for more “superstores.” We hear from Jim Dodge, mayor of Orland Park, and Steve Caine, partner and retail expert with Bain & Company. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago City Council advances plan to strengthen enforcement of the Welcoming City Ordinance. THC drinks have come to the United Center. A Congressional Budget Office report shows $21 million was spent on deploying the National Guard to Chicago for “Operation Midway Blitz”.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Fox 32's Paris Schutz, WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos and Carrie Shepherd of AXIOS Chicago. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

There's hardly a better example of how Chicago's old buildings keep finding new life than a three-story place on Champlain Avenue in Woodlawn, just half a block south of Washington Park. Built back in 1923, the building has been a synagogue, then home to several Christian congregations. Today, it's something entirely different. Part single-family home, part creative workspace, part artists club — and still a work in progress. Even some of the original materials are being reused. In the Loop gets a tour of the space from Dennis Rodkin, Crain's Chicago Business senior real estate reporter, and Amber Ginsburg, artist, teacher and civic director of the Narrow Bridge Arts Club. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

After the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minnesota, fear, anger, and organizing have surged in communities already on edge. In the Loop checks in with Jered Weber-Johnson, Rector of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in St. Paul and Brandt Williams, senior editor at Minnesota Public Radio about how residents are pushing back and calling for federal agents to leave town. Then, we bring the conversation home and hear from Miguel Alvelo Rivera, member of the Northwest Side Rapid Response Team in Chicago. What could this escalation signal for the Chicago area, as federal agents are expected to return this spring? For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The field to replace longtime Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is a crowded one: 16 people are vying for the nomination. Leading in the polls are Congresswoman Robin Kelly, representing Illinois' 2nd district, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who represents Illinois' 8th district and Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. For a sense on where they stand on key issues, WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics and International House hosted a U.S. Senate Democratic Primary debate ahead of the March 17th primary. The rules of the debate: Candidates had two minutes to answer a question, and 30 seconds for a rebuttal at the moderators' discretion. They also had a chance to make opening and closing remarks – two minutes for opening and one minute for closing. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

For the first time, when the EPA is considering new limits on air pollution, it will no longer estimate the monetary cost of lives saved from regulations. Instead it will only calculate the cost of the rules for companies. The Trump administration says this will rectify “misleading” data about the benefit of regulations, but experts warn this could make it easier to roll back gains made from the Clean Air Act of 1970. In the Loop discusses how this move could impact our health with Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at the Respiratory Health Association, Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago's Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility and Anthony Moser, board president Neighbors 4 Environmental Justice. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Why did Chicago just agree to ban some hemp products? Who is falling behind in the race to replace Sen. Dick Durbin? And did a Chicago landlord tip off ICE? In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Tahman Bradley, WGN political editor, Bob Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times investigative reporter, and Mack Liederman, Block Club Chicago reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago Restaurant Week is back starting Friday, Jan. 23 until Feb. 8. In the Loop sits down with WBEZ food and drink writer Maggie Hennessy and moderator of local food subreddit group Mitch Gropman, to discuss all things Chicago food. We also get tips to make snagging your next reservation a breeze. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

This month marks 60 years since the start of the Chicago Freedom Movement, when Martin Luther King Jr. moved to North Lawndale on the West Side to protest discriminatory housing practices and high rents. Today on In the Loop, a panel of experts examines what's changed for Black Chicagoans six decades later. Guest Pamela Stalling, VP of Housing and Financial Empowerment, Chicago Urban League Alden Loury, WBEZ data projects senior editor David Stovall, Professor of Black Studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago

College used to be a reliable path to a professional career. Now, facing an increase in layoffs and a difficult job market, some workers say it's not enough. In The Loop learns more about why this is happening and what it means for both workers and the economy. We sat down with New York Times reporter Noam Scheiber, and Sarah Rand, a strategic communications consultant. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago Bears gear up for a freezing playoff game against L.A. Rams, while state politicians warm up to an Arlington Heights stadium. Former DePaul basketball players are accused in a gambling scandal. Chicago joins Illinois in a lawsuit against White House over federal immigration enforcement. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Jacoby Cochran, host of City Cast Chicago, A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune Cook County and Chicago government reporter and Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government and politics reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Jan. 15 is the deadline to enroll in health insurance plans through the federal government's ACA Marketplace at Healthcare.gov. But Illinois residents will have until Jan. 31 to enroll through the state's marketplace Get Covered Illinois. It announced it will extend the deadline for Illinois residents to enroll in a plan as many are struggling to find one that's within their budget after ACA subsidies expired at the end of 2025. For the latest on this extension and how Illinois residents can get support, In the Loop sits down with Galo Granda, Access Community Health Network patient benefit specialist and navigator, and Get Covered Illinois director Morgan Winters. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The multibillion-dollar project Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's South Side promises to be one of the largest private investments in the area. Backers of the project say it will be an economic boon for the area, creating jobs and affordable housing. But some residents are concerned about the economic and environmental impact the 128-acre park will have on the area. On today's In the Loop, who benefits from the forthcoming Quantum campus? We ask our panel: John F. Zasadzinski, professor of physics, Illinois Institute of Technology; Samir Mayekar, associate vice president and managing director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; and Clifton Muhammad, member of the South Side Environmental Task Force. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In the Loop checks in with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for our monthly “Ask the Mayor” series and takes listener questions on the immigration crackdown, city budget, public safety, the Bears playoff victory and more. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Bookstore giant Barnes & Noble is opening new locations in downtown, Hyde Park, Oak Park and Skokie. As the chain continues to see growth since its change in leadership in 2019, some are concerned about the return of the big-box bookstore where small, independent bookstores already exist. In the Loop talks about the Barnes & Noble expansion in Chicago, its impact on local bookshops and how indie bookstores and large booksellers can coexist in the city. We speak with Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt, Volumes Bookcafe co-owner Rebecca George and Call & Response Books owner Courtney Bledsoe. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Ticket prices reach a record high for the Bears and Packers wild-card game, the city of Chicago adds a new surcharge for ride shares, and U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley announces plans to run for Chicago's next mayor. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Melody Mercado, Block Club Chicago reporter, Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune city hall reporter and Sarah Karp, WBEZ education reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

How many of this week's top local headlines do you remember? We put our live studio audience in the hot seat for the high-stakes prize of some WBEZ swag. Plus: We're dusting off our vocal pipes and learning to sing in harmony with Davin Youngs, the founder of Chicago Circle Singing. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Effective January 14, immigrants from seven Latin American and Caribbean countries who entered the U.S. with Family Reunification Parole after 2023 will have their legal status revoked and will have to leave the country. The Trump administration says it's going after fraud and lackluster vetting processes set forth when former President Biden streamlined this process. In the Loop learns what this latest termination of legal status means for immigrants in our area from Nicole Hallett, clinical professor of law and director of the Immigrants' Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

It's that time of year again: coughs, sniffles and a whole lot of people feeling achy and run down. Chicago is among several US cities experiencing a surge in influenza cases, and a new strain of influenza called subclade K or “super K” is partly to blame. On today's In the Loop, we talk with experts about how to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Our panel today: Dr. Brian Borah, medical director for the Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Program at the Chicago Department of Public Health; and Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, emergency physician at Rush. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

After seizing the Venezuelan president and his wife, President Donald Trump says the United States plans to "run" the country for an unspecified amount of time, zeroing in on advancing American oil interests there. Illinois leaders are raising major concerns and questions about the U.S. strike, and calling for a push to “take back” the power of Congress. We check in with U.S. congress members from Illinois, Robin Kelly and Mike Quigley. Plus, we get insight from national security expert Robert Pape from UChicago on what comes next in Venezuela and how this could affect Chicago. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

According to GoFundMe's end-of-year report, campaigns to fund basic necessities like housing, utilities and groceries are on the rise after quadrupling in 2024. In the Loop gets insight on how we got here, how this impact is felt locally, and local efforts to close gaps through mutual aid efforts and policy shifts. Dion Dawson, founder, executive director Dion's Chicago Dream and Bob Palmer, Policy Director Housing Action Illinois and Rep. Brad Schneider, 10th District sat down with host Sasha-Ann Simons. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.