Morning Shift Podcast

August 6 marks 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima. Its effects are still being felt all across the world eight decades later. Reset discusses with DePaul University religious studies professor Yuki Miyamoto, Japanese Art Foundation board president John Donners and Rebecca Ozaki and Jeannie Tomoda Harrell, program directors at the Japanese American Citizens League Chicago.

We'll hear movie buffs' reviews of summer hits and get recommendations for films and local festivals to check out. We'll check in with Rebecca Fons, director of programming at the Gene Siskel Film Center, Michael Phillips, film critic for the Chicago Tribune and Jeremy Marder, programmer and manager at the Music Box Theatre. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois has joined a multi-state federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's efforts to limit gender affirming care for young people. This comes as the fourth major hospital in Chicago rolls back the kind of care offered to patients under 19 years of age. To fill in these gaps, a rapid response team of volunteers is working to connect families to alternate providers. Reset learns more from Asher McMaher, executive director Trans Up Front Illinois who is coordinating this team, Dr. Jessica Lapinski, a physician at Outpatient Family Medicine Transformed who provides gender affirming care, Michelle Vallet, parent of a trans teen who works to foster understanding among allies, and Kristen Schorsch, WBEZ health care reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Need to let off some steam and yell into the void? Well, you're not alone. In fact, you can head to North Avenue Beach on Sunday evenings and meet up with Scream Club Chicago, where the one thing everyone has in common is that they really need to indulge in a good scream. If screaming is not for you, and you're looking for something a bit more melodic, there is always the Chicago Circle Singing. They meet once a month, and anyone – no matter the skill or talent level – can join and belt one out. Reset sits down with the founders and members of Chicago Circle Singing and the Scream Club about finding catharsis – and community – in screaming and singing. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With the first day of classes just weeks away, we're asking: How did Chicago teens spend their summer vacation? Turns out, some got to work, gaining new skills and experiences in preparation for the start of school. Reset hears from teens about how hard it was to land a job, where they ended up, and what lessons they're taking away from the summer season. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With the first day of classes just weeks away, we're asking: How did Chicago teens spend their summer vacation? Turns out, some got to work, gaining new skills and experiences in preparation for the start of school. Reset hears from teens about how hard it was to land a job, where they ended up, and what lessons they're taking away from the summer season. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With the first day of classes just weeks away, we're asking: How did Chicago teens spend their summer vacation? Turns out, some got to work, gaining new skills and experiences in preparation for the start of school. Reset hears from teens about how hard it was to land a job, where they ended up, and what lessons they're taking away from the summer season. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis is leaving Congress. Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg dies. Canadian wildfires cause Chicago to once again have the worst air quality in the world. Plus, the Illinois Governor is urged to declare a state of emergency for flooded neighborhoods and much more. Reset goes behind those headlines and more with NBC-5 Chicago reporter Christian Farr, Block Club Chicago reporter Francia Garcia Hernandez and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mitchell Armentrout. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

We hear the story of a local woman, “Maria,” who fled war-torn Syria for the United States more than 10 years ago. While her request for asylum languished in the courts for the last seven years, she carried on the work of creating a new life, forming a community, and working as an immigration advocate. Just this week, she found out that her request for asylum has been denied. She now finds herself in a state of limbo, unable to return to her own country out of fear of persecution, uncertain of a future here. In the final installment of our weeklong series looking into what it's like to be an immigrant without permanent status in the U.S., we focus on the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees. We speak with “Maria” from Syria; Maya Oyarbide-Sanchez, Refugee One Wellness Director; Heena Musabji, Legal Director at CAIR-Chicago; and Maketh Mabior, a former refugee from Sudan and lay leader of the South Sudanese congregation at St Paul's Church. All of today's guests work on representing, resettling, and supporting refugees and other displaced people under a cloud of uncertainty created by the current administration. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Lollapalooza is in full swing as thousands of fans descend on Grant Park, snarling traffic. We'll give you a 101 of what you need to know, highlights of the four-day music festival, and how not to get on the nerves of fellow concert-goers. And if you're looking for counter-programming, we'll find out more of what Chicago has to offer in the coming weeks. Arts and culture experts Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis (WBEZ) and Ambar Colón (Chicago Sun-Times) break it all down. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

After over 800 student visas were suddenly revoked this spring, immigrants studying or hoping to study in the U.S. fear sudden and unanticipated visa termination. Illinois has over 60,000 international students who bring in revenue to the state and its universities. With a constant fear of visa termination, and changes to the applicant vetting process, Reset digs deeper into what it all means for international students in Illinois. Our panel: Jay, a student visa holder; immigration lawyer Scott Pollock; WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Kurian Philip; and University of Chicago Professor Clifford Ando. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The tax and spending bill recently signed into law radically alters how borrowers will pay back their student loans, lowers the amount of money graduate students and parents can borrow, and officially sunsets President Biden's SAVE program, which is known for low monthly payments, and expedited loan forgiveness. Reset speaks with student loan borrower Kia Clair, rising senior at Northern Illinois University; Alex Lundrigan, policy and advocacy manager, Young Invincibles; and Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZ higher education reporter, about how these changes could affect local borrowers and what they can do to prepare. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

From agricultural laborers to software engineers, America offers multiple pathways for people to live and work in the country on temporary work visas. However, obtaining these visas can be frustrating and workers' legal status is still tenuous. Reset hears from Coleman Immigration founding partner Christina Coleman and one Chicagoan about his experience on a temporary work visa. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Retirement is out of reach for a growing number of Americans who simply can't afford to stop working. But seniors looking for work often face age discrimination. A program in Chicago provides job training, computer skills, and resume coaching for low-income seniors and has placed hundreds of seniors in jobs in community centers, schools, and public assistance programs. But as of July 1 of this year, the 140 seniors participating in this program have been furloughed due to federal and state funding cuts. Reset speaks with Sheryl Holman, CEO, Community Assistance Program. Plus, Patricia Johnson, Sandra Robinson, and Sharon Rainey, who participated in CAP's Senior Community Service Employment Program. They share how CAP's training and job placements helped them, and what needs to be in place for them to thrive. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Amidst the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, green card holders are getting caught in the middle. Stories persist of people with lawful permanent residency being detained and denied re-entry into the country, despite the law seemingly being on their side. As fear and concerns continue to grow, so does the conversation around what some call the “right” and “wrong” ways to enter the country. But what does it really mean to go through the process the “right” way? Reset hears from a local immigration lawyer and two Chicagoans about their experience getting a green card. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

On July 19, My Block, My Hood, My City hosted its annual Downtown Day. The event brings teens downtown to experience some of what Chicago has to offer. While groups like MBMHMC work to forge connections between teens and their community, proposals like the failed “snap curfew” ordinance can make some young people feel like city leaders don't trust them. Reset sits down with My Block, My Hood, My City CEO Jahmal Cole, high schooler Damarion Spann and Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children's chair Dr. John Walkup to discuss how this lack of trust affects young people's outlooks, and how to help forge the connection between the city and teens. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Two houses, both alike in dignity, in fair Chicago, where we lay our debate. Which of these two homes are the oldest in the land? Well, therein lies the dispute. For Part One of Two in Reset's latest “What's That Building,” Sasha and architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin visit two sites in Chicago and try to answer the question: which can claim the title of Chicago's oldest house? First up: Noble-Seymour-Crippen House. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Former ComEd CEO and Madigan confidante is sentenced to prison. O'Hare sees the busiest day ever. Vandals target immigration organizations in Little Village. NASCAR passes on another race in the Loop and Chicago Mayor Johnson introduces a new plan to snuff out smoking on CTA. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with Block Club Chicago reporter Mack Liederman, Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel and WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

On July 26, 1990, then-President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, into law. This was a turning point for the quality of life for disabled people in the country. But disability rights activism didn't start when the ADA was introduced into Congress. Reset talks about disability advocacy before and after the ADA. We also dig into recent efforts to weaken it and how the community continues to fight. Our panel: Charles Petrof, senior ADA attorney with Access Living; Mike Ervin, writer and disability rights activist; and T.J. Gordon, co-founder of Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

More Illinois suburbs are cracking down or regulating the use of e-bikes and e-scooters. In Fox Lake, e-bikes and e-scooters are now banned from sidewalks. In Elk Grove, riders must have a driver's license. And in Hinsdale, children are banned from riding e-scooters altogether. The patchwork of rules is leaving many potential riders confused on what they can and can't do. Reset finds out more about how local municipalities are trying to balance mobility with safety. We chat with Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig B. Johnson, Jim Merrell with Active Transportation Alliance, and Dave Simmons with Ride Illinois. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As we head into the dog days of summer, it's time to make the most of the season and check off items on our summer bucket lists. So, we sat down with John Kessler, Chicago Magazine dining critic, Ambar Colón, Chicago Sun-Times arts and culture reporter, Mike Davis, WBEZ theater reporter to get dining, ice cream and theater recommendations. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As dangerous heat bears down on Chicago, we get tips for staying safe. Plus, how climate change is making conditions riskier for all residents, especially those who work and spend lots of time outside. We sat down with Gaby Gracia, deputy director Great Lakes Center for Farmworker Health and Wellbeing at the UIC School of Public Health, and also Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Damen Silos in McKinley Park on Chicago's Southwest side serve as a visual reminder of the city's history as an agrarian trading center. But the process to demolish the silos is now underway. Reset speaks with Kate Eakin, executive director of McKinley Park Development Council, and Chicago journalist Robert Loerzel about the role the silos played in early 20th-century Chicago and what lies ahead for the site and the surrounding neighborhood. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago just saw its most violent non-holiday weekend so far this summer. This comes just three months after local violence prevention groups learned the Department of Justice grants those groups depended on. Despite all that, however, community violence intervention efforts in Chicago are growing, with shootings and homicides down during the first half of 2025. Reset digs into how Chicago can keep up momentum despite federal funding cuts with Vaughn Bryant, executive director of Metropolitan Peace Initiative; Garien Gatewood, deputy mayor of community safety for the city of Chicago; Michael Harris, outreach worker at the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago; and Katie Hill, executive director, University of Chicago Crime Lab. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

While Ford City Mall in West Lawn faces demolition and going the way of many of its mall brethren, two other suburban shopping centers in the area are thriving. A “reader's choice” report from USA Today says Oakbrook Center in the western suburbs and The Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont are among the best in the nation. Reset looks at what makes these and other Chicago-area shopping centers great and discusses how local malls are changing to draw visitors at a time when malls nationwide have been in decline. Our guests: Amanda Lai, Director of Food Industry Practice at McMillanDoolittle; Meha Ahmad, Reset senior producer; Rachel Herzog, Crain's Chicago Business commercial real estate reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

An ongoing Sun-Times investigation tracking items at Jewel, Mariano's, Target and Walmart shows most common grocery purchases cost more today in the Chicago area than they did when President Trump came into office promising lower prices. And local shoppers are struggling to keep up. Reset learns more about how Chicago residents and business owners are adapting to higher prices and what comes next. Our guests: Stephanie Zimmermann, Chicago Sun-Times consumer investigations reporter; Amanda Lai, director of food industry practice, McMillanDoolittle; Errol Schweizer, publisher of The Checkout Grocery Update; and Sana Syed, senior director of strategic initiatives at IMAN, which runs the Go Green Community Fresh Market. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Congress cuts federal funding for public media. Chicago Public Schools lays off nearly 1,500 staff. Disgraced former congressman Jesse Jackson prepares for a possible comeback. And Chicago City Council fails to override a mayoral veto of the “snap curfew.” Reset breaks down those stories and more with AXIOS Chicago reporter Carrie Shepherd, WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp and Block Club Chicago reporter Quinn Myers. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joined Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons in-studio for a public forum answering live questions from listeners including everything from how community members can have greater input into development projects in their wards to whether bike lanes will be built on the West Side of Chicago. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With tariffs leading to higher prices on everything from clothing to electronics, is this an opportunity to rethink what we buy, and how often we buy it? In Chicago, a range of businesses and groups are helping residents rethink the typical consumer mindset by reusing items, and even buying locally. Reset learns more about the “circular economy,” how it works in Chicago, and how it could help your wallet – and by extension, the environment. We checked in with Jonathan Pereira, executive director Plant Chicago; Bob Shea, founding director of Devices 4 the Disabled; and Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago's Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

They use up massive amounts of electricity and water, strain state resources, and get hundreds of millions of dollars in tax subsidies. So what benefits do data centers actually bring to Illinois residents? Reset digs into this question with Sarah Moskowitz, executive director of Citizens Utility Board, and Brett Chase, environmental reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In a new exhibition, Chicago's Floating Museum pays homage to Bronzeville's Mecca Flats through its Floating Monuments series. Built in 1892 as a hotel for visitors to the World's Fair, the Mecca Flats was later converted into apartments that served Chicago's African American community on the South Side. But by the 1950s, the building was demolished to make way for the Illinois Institute of Technology's S.R. Crown Hall. Now, the Floating Museum is honoring the Mecca Flats' contribution to Chicago's culture with an inflatable replica of the apartment building. Reset examines the history of the Mecca, the legacy of urban renewal and the displacement of Black residents with Faheem Majeed, artist and co-director of the Floating Museum, and Rebekah Coffman, curator of religion and community history architecture at the Chicago History Museum. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With a shortage of more than 150,000 homes in Chicago, the city is seeking new solutions to provide quick and affordable homes to residents. Modular homes and accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are seen as the most effective solution to this crisis, providing Chicagoans with cheaper access to housing. Reset learns more about the fight to legalize the construction of new ADUs and the overall fight for affordable housing in Chicago, with Bob Palmer, policy director at Housing Action Illinois; Alex Nitkin, government finance and accountability reporter at Illinois Answers Project; and Tim Swanson, founder of Inherent L3C. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

State Farm will raise home insurance premiums for new and current Illinois customers starting mid-July, saying it's getting too expensive. In 2024, the company said it paid out more in claims than it collected in premiums. Illinois residents will see an average increase of 27%. Reset hears how this could affect residents, with Nedra Sims-Fears, executive director of the Greater Chatham Initiative, and Kaila Lariviere, manager of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

After the devastating heat wave that hit Chicago in 1995, the city has introduced numerous different plans and programs to fight the heat. But is it enough? Is Chicago fully prepared to prevent another tragedy? Reset finds out with Kaila Lariviere, manager of Emergency Management Services for the city of Chicago; Sheetal Rao, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago; and Daniel Horton, assistant professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Heat is the most hazardous weather event in the world. The UN estimates that mortality for people over 65 years old increased by 85% between 2017 and 2021. As climate change brings more extreme temperatures, we examine the short- and long-term effects of heat exposure. Plus, what we need to do to address health inequities and disparities to prevent a repeat of the 1995 heat wave that killed 739 Chicagoans. Reset learns more from Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago's Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility and Dr. Kiran Joshi, Chief Operating Officer for Cook County Department of Public Health.

Former alderman Ed Burke was released from prison and former alderwoman Carrie Austin has been ruled too sick to stand trial. Meanwhile, current alderman Walter Burnett announced he's stepping down, city lawyers have approved more police misconduct settlements and Mayor Johnson had some harsh words for the Trump administration. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with WTTW Chicago politics reporter Heather Cherone, Block Club Chicago reporter Madison Savedra and WBEZ data projects editor Alden Loury. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As we mark 30 years since Chicago's deadly 1995 heat wave, we look at the way social isolation contributed to the death of hundreds of residents and what's being done today to prevent that from happening again. Reset speaks with Carol J. Sharp, president and CEO of The Night Ministry; Jahmal Cole, CEO and founder of My Block My Hood, My City; and Margaret Laraviere, deputy commissioner of senior services for the Department of Family and Support Services.

Chicagoan Lou Della Evans Reid co-founded the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in the 1950s and led its 200-person gospel choir. She was a pioneer in the modern gospel music scene, putting Chicago on the map as a hub of the genre. She died at 94. Reset hears her life story from Bob Marovich, gospel music historian, author, radio host and founder of Journal of Gospel Music.

Thirty years ago, a deadly heat wave hit the Chicago area, overwhelming city agencies, the power grid, and ultimately contributing to the deaths of 739 people. What did that week look like to the residents, the first responders, and the journalists who reported on it? Reset revisits the summer of 1995 with Chicago Fire Department Deputy Commissioner Brandon Keller, WBEZ listener Stephanie Behne and Maudlyne Ihejirika, Field Foundation Director of Journalism and Storytelling. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Today marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 14th Amendment, which established citizenship for freed slaves and women. The anniversary comes at a time when birthright citizenship is under threat by the Trump administration. Reset digs into what a weakened 14th Amendment could mean for Americans with Evan Bernick, associate professor of law at Northern Illinois University, and David Stovall, professor of Black Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

This week marks 30 years since a blistering, oppressive heat wave boiled the Midwest, hitting the Chicago area the hardest. Temperatures reached a height of 106 degrees, and the heat index soared to the 120s. The heat – combined with a number of overwhelmed city agencies and a buckling power grid – would contribute to the deaths of 739 people. Reset looks back at the summer of 1995 and digs into whether Chicago is ready today for similar heat waves with NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg, author of the book “Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago.” For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

On Monday, President Trump announced new tariffs on 14 different countries that would be taking effect on August 1. These tariffs range from 25% to 40%, and are focused predominantly on Asian countries. Reset sits down with Cécile Shea, nonresident senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, to find out how these tariffs could impact both Illinois. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.