State Week

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An analysis of the week in Illinois politics and government from the NPR Illinois Statehouse bureau.

Randy.Eccles


    • May 9, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 283 EPISODES

    4.7 from 49 ratings Listeners of State Week that love the show mention: illinois politics, charlie, happening, news, helped, thank, great.


    Ivy Insights

    The State Week podcast is a valuable resource for individuals, particularly Gen Z members like myself, who may not have easy access to comprehensive state and local political news. In today's political climate and with the prevalence of news deserts, it can be challenging to stay informed about the issues that directly affect us on a regional level. This podcast has played a crucial role in bridging that gap, allowing listeners to become more attuned to politics that impact their daily lives in addition to the national politics that tend to dominate our attention. Hannah's and Charlie's perspectives provide insightful takes on each week's topics, making this podcast an invaluable source of information and analysis.

    One of the best aspects of The State Week is its straight-forward approach to news reporting. The hosts present the stories without any unnecessary drama or sensationalism, allowing the importance of the content itself to shine through. This objective and fact-based presentation style ensures that listeners receive a fair and unbiased overview of Illinois politics and government. By focusing on stories relevant to Illinois specifically, this podcast provides essential context and analysis for those seeking a deeper understanding of local dynamics.

    While The State Week excels in informing listeners about state and local politics, it could benefit from expanding its coverage beyond Illinois. As someone who moved to Illinois from another state, I initially had no knowledge of what was happening in Illinois politics. However, by listening to this show over the years, I gained valuable insights into local issues as well as historical context behind them. Nonetheless, including occasional segments or episodes dedicated to broader national or regional topics would be beneficial for listeners seeking a more comprehensive understanding of political dynamics across different states.

    In conclusion, The State Week podcast fills an important void by delivering comprehensive coverage of state and local politics in Illinois. Its informative nature helps combat news deserts and provides necessary insight into issues that impact our daily lives just as much as national politics do. By presenting stories without bias or dramatic embellishment, this podcast offers an objective review of the most important news in Illinois politics. While expanding its coverage beyond Illinois could be beneficial, The State Week is undeniably a treasure trove of information for those seeking to stay informed about state and local politics.



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    Latest episodes from State Week

    State Week: Pritzker on the national stage

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 28:59


    Illinois' governor takes his message to a wider audience.

    State Week: Will ethics changes follow corruption convictions?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 27:12


    Despite high profile scandals, lawmakers seem to be in no hurry to pass new ethics reforms.

    State Week: Durbin bows out

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 28:07


    The longtime U.S. Senator from Illinois has announced he won't seek another term.

    State Week: International college students face an uncertain future

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 28:07


    From funding freezes to visa terminations, higher education is a focus of the Trump Administration.

    State Week: Pritzker makes his own trade agreements

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 28:59


    The governor signed a trade memorandum with the U.K. this week, which follows on the heels of a visit to Mexico that also included an agreement.

    State Week: Tariffs and election fallout

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 28:59


    President Trump announced his long-awaited plan for foreign tariffs. The decision has been criticized by Democrats, businesses and economists. It comes on the heels of an election this week that raised concerns for Republicans.

    State Week: Durbin's decision

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 28:59


    Durbin, 80, was already facing calls to step aside when his term ends. Now many progressives are turning up the heat. As for his plans, Durbin has only said he will make a decision "soon."

    State Week: Education under Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 28:59


    Education at all levels is facing more scrutiny from the Trump Administration. We discuss what it could mean.

    State Week: Donald Trump's GOP appeal

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 29:01


    Trump's support among Republicans remains strong.

    State Week: A lack of clarity

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 28:59


    The threat of tariffs and federal spending cuts is shaking governments, businesses and the economy.

    State Week: Uncertainty going forward

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 28:59


    It's difficult to budget for another year when there is little clarity on what the Trump Administration will do.

    State Week: Pritzker lays out budget, slams Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 28:59


    The Governor's budget plan would raise spending amid concerns over the future of federal funds.

    State Week: Madigan convicted, Blagojevich pardoned

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 28:59


    We discuss the federal trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan wrapping up and President Trump's decision to issue a pardon to Rod Blagojevich.

    State Week: The Trump Administration targets Illinois

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 28:59


    The Department of Justice is suing the State of Illinois, along with Chicago and Cook County, over "sanctuary laws" that limit cooperation with immigration authorities.

    State Week: Illinois leaders push back against President Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 28:59


    The week began with immigration raids in Chicago and a federal funding freeze. It ended with the governor saying Donald Trump is unfit to be president.

    State Week: Illinois leaders push back against Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 28:59


    The week began with immigration raids in Chicago and a federal funding freeze. It ended with the governor saying Donald Trump is unfit to be president.

    State Week: Illinois braces for Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 28:59


    From deportation raids to withholding federal funding, many have concerns over what the new administration will mean for the state.

    State Week: Indiana makes an overture for dissatisfied Illinois voters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 28:59


    The Indiana House Speaker has introduced a plan to create a bi-state commission to look at bringing some Illinois counties into his state.

    State Week: Madigan takes the stand

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 28:59


    In a surprise move, the former Illinois House Speaker decided to testify in his own defense in his corruption trial.

    State Week: Assault weapons ban to stay in place while challenged through courts

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 29:00


    The State Week panel discusses the assault weapons ban challenge, updates the Bears stadium planning, talks state flag designs, and more.

    State Week: Prosecutors move closer to wrapping up their case against Madigan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 28:59


    After weeks of testimony, the prosecution could soon rest in the racketeering and conspiracy case against the former Illinois House Speaker and his close advisor.

    State Week: Illinois budget concerns are growing

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 28:59


    As Illinois nears the halfway point of the fiscal year, there are dark clouds forming in the state's financial picture.

    State Week: Fall session ends

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 28:59


    We discuss some of the legislation that made it through over the two week session and what lies ahead.

    State Week: Illinois Democrats brace for Trump 2.0

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 28:59


    The state's majority party is considering ways to strengthen laws ahead of Trump's potential policy changes.

    State Week: Election takeaways

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 28:59


    Democrats held onto seats in congress and the Illinois General Assembly. But Republicans found reason for hope.

    State Week: Previewing the election in Illinois

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 28:59


    Along with the race for president, there are many other decisions for voters in the state.

    State Week: Testimony begins in Madigan's trial

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 28:59


    Madigan is accused of racketeering and bribery during his time as Illinois House Speaker.

    State Week: Election Day draws closer

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 28:59


    Our panel talks about the role Midwest states will play in choosing the next president.

    State Week: The case against Madigan

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 28:59


    The long-awaited trial of the former Illinois House Speaker is getting underway in federal court.

    State Week: What changes might come from Sonya Massey's death?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 28:59


    Massey, an unarmed Black woman, was shot and killed in her home by a former deputy this summer. The case has put more focus on police hiring and training.

    State Week: Will the state be asked to help with Chicago's fiscal woes?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 28:59


    A dire financial picture will test Mayor Brandon Johnson and could lead to requests for help from the state.

    State Week: A court weighs the future of Illinois' assault weapons ban

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 28:59


    A federal court judge in East St. Louis will issue a ruling in coming weeks.

    State Week: Illinois higher education challenges

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 28:59


    Many colleges and universities are dealing with financial concerns amid enrollment worries.

    State Week: Illinois' clean energy future

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 28:59


    Can the state meet its climate goals?

    State Week: Illinois' culture of corruption

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 28:59


    The Chicago Tribune's Ray Long joins the panel to discuss a series on those who have betrayed the public's trust.

    State Week: Democrats leave the convention energized

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 28:59


    The Democratic National Convention in Chicago appears to have accomplished its goal.

    State Week: Looking ahead to the DNC

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 28:59


    Chicago is playing host the Democratic National Convention for the first time since 1996.

    State Week: With the VP slot filled, what's next for Pritzker?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 28:59


    Our panel looks ahead.

    State Week: Pritzker and the Veep sweepstakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 28:59


    The Illinois governor is among those who have been vetted by the Harris campaign.

    State Week: Kamala Harris and Illinois

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 28:59


    What does the switch to Harris mean for Democrats and Republicans in Illinois?

    State Week: Illinois Republicans look ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 28:59


    The state's GOP is energized with new leadership following the national convention in Milwaukee.

    State Week: Pritzker stands by Biden, at least publicly

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 28:59


    Illinois' governor said this week he fully expects Joe Biden will be the nominee of the Democratic Party.

    State Week: The state of journalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 28:59


    In this special State Week episode, we discuss the problems facing the news industry and what the future may hold.

    State Week: The Dobbs decision and Illinois — two years on

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 28:59


    This week marked two years since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. In that time, Illinois has become a safe haven for abortions and women's health procedures.

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