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Nerdette had the great privilege of hosting a live WBEZ event with Samantha Irby to celebrate the release of her newest book Quietly Hostile. Like her other books, it's a collection of essays that span a huge variety of topics. She writes about lesbian nun porn fantasies, living with teenage stepkids, why her wife has SO many condiments in their fridge, and chronic illness. (If you've read Sam's work before, you won't be surprised to hear it includes a lot of diarrhea.)In addition to her essays, Sam also writes for TV. She wrote for And Just Like That…, the new Sex and the City reboot, along with the cartoon Tuca & Bertie and the Hulu adaptation of Lindy West's book Shrill.We chatted about her relationship to fans who know intimate details about her life, why she hates New York, and her favorite toilet paper.]]>
This week, Greta is joined by host of City Cast Chicago Jacoby Cochran and WBEZ reporter Araceli Gómez-Aldana. We get into the newly announced sequel to Freaky Friday and whether Martha Stewart's Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover is really breaking down barriers. Then, NPR host-at-large Elise Hu tells us about her new book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. It's about how South Korea is a leading influencer of beauty standards and trends worldwide, from multi-step skincare routines to lipstick colors to plastic surgery. Her book is heavily-reported, but it also offers up her own reflections on the intense pressure around women's appearances and how Elise wants her own daughters to think about beauty. ]]>
Today, we're focusing on Chicago — the country's third largest (and one of the most diverse) cities, and a city that has been a blueprint for housing segregation. While the discriminatory practice of racial redlining was officially outlawed in 1968, the practice still reverberates throughout the city today. For every dollar loaned by banks in Chicago's white neighborhoods, they invest just 12 cents in the city's Black neighborhoods, and 13 cents in Latino areas, according to a 2020 study by WBEZ and City Bureau. A typical household's wealth in the richest area of Chicago is 206 times higher than a typical household's wealth in the poorest area. This continued inequity lies at the crux of the city's ongoing struggles against gun and gang violence, unemployment, and homelessness, but are often overlooked. The system was designed to create these problems, and has worked as intended. Now, it's time to learn how so many Chicagoans were set up to struggle, and how we can all be a part of undoing the legacy of racism that pervades the city's maps. Here to talk to us about Chicago's infamous housing history, ongoing consequences, and nationwide influence, is Mike Amezcua, associate history professor at Georgetown University and author of “Making Mexican Chicago: From Postwar Settlement to the Age of Gentrification.”
Monday, May 8 marked the start of Mayor Lightfoot's final week as mayor of Chicago, and she delivered a goodbye address. Reset hears what she said and reviews her tenure with Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government and politics reporters.
Season five of WBEZ's Making podcast brings you the origin stories of some of the world's biggest leaders and game changers. The latest installment begins with a two-part exploration into the making and “unmaking” of Chicago's Kanye West, now known as Ye. Reset chats with Making host Brandon Pope.
The Chicago Bears are one step closer to moving away from Soldier Field to northwest suburban Arlington Heights. The team filed paperwork Wednesday to begin the demolition of the Arlington International Racecourse, which sits on the site of their proposed new stadium. Reset gets the latest details on the team's next steps from WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout. The Chicago Bears are one step closer to moving away from Soldier Field to northwest suburban Arlington Heights. The team filed paperwork Wednesday to begin the demolition of the Arlington International Racecourse, which sits on the site of their proposed new stadium. Reset gets the latest details on the team's next steps from WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout. Get Reset in your inbox every morning by signing up for our newsletter.
With a South by Southwest debut, and Bonnaroo in their future, it's safe to say local indie-trio Friko are blowing up. The band joins Reset in the WBEZ's performance studio to play a LIVE set and chat about putting a song together, their friends in the scene, and plans for the future.
The “ComEd Four” trial ended earlier this week when four former executives and lobbyists for the utility company were found guilty on all corruption and bribery charges. The case was billed as the biggest Illinois corruption trial in more than a decade. Now, that title and focus is likely to shift to next year's corruption trial involving former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, whose voice, shadow, and legacy loomed large over these proceedings. WTTW's Amanda Vinicky and WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos join host Jacoby Cochran to give their reactions on the trial's outcome. The trio also discuss unionization efforts among state government staffers, PPP fraud allegations against one of Chicago's most profitable restaurants, and some good news on the pitch and in the garden. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Police stations, park district buildings, closed schools being used to house migrants, as more arrive on buses from Texas. Mayor-Elect Johnson chooses an interim police superintendent. Reset goes behind the headlines on the Weekly News Recap with Mike Lowe, reporter for WGN TV News, David Greising, president of the Better Government Association and Ray Long, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter and author of The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer
This week, the K-Pop Dreaming team is bringing you a special episode from our friends at, “Shoes Off: A Sexy Asian Podcast” from the public radio station, WBEZ. It's a podcast that celebrates badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. In this episode stand-up comic, Atsuko Okatsuka, is taking the world by storm with her first HBO special, The Intruder, and her viral Drop Challenge on TikTok. She talks about how she learned English by watching Scooby-Doo, what it means to be named Margaret Cho's comedy heir, and how she took her mom and grandma everywhere — including to her honeymoon.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will continue to bus more migrants to sanctuary cities like Chicago over the next few weeks. But the city is already struggling to find shelter and resources for more than 8,000 migrants who've arrived in Chicago since August. Reset talks to Sun-Times reporter, Elvia Malagón, and WBEZ reporter, Mike Puente, about the conditions asylum seekers are facing.
All four defendants in the “ComEd Four” trial have been found guilty on corruption charges, including a nearly decade-long scheme to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for legislation favorable to the utility giant. When the trial began in March, WBEZ politics reporter Dave McKinney explained why it was Illinois' biggest corruption trial in over a decade and how the scheme affected anyone who gets an electricity bill. This conversation originally aired March 20, 2023. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On Tuesday, 12 jurors handed down a guilty verdict to the four defendants in the ComEd bribery trial. Though a big win for the prosecutors, the fight is long from over as the case will likely head to Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Reset hears the latest from a WBEZ political reporter, Dave McKinney, and what's next for the defendants and former House Speaker Michael Maddigan, who is set to begin his trial on April 1, 2024.
After the Northern District refused several lawsuits attempting to block the ban, a Southern District judge has ruled in favor of allowing assault weapons across the state. The ruling comes in the midst of a flurry of lawsuits and legislation following the Highland Park shooting. Reset checks in with WBEZ statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal.
Last week, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announced she will not be seeking a third term next year. Foxx was first elected in 2016 on a reformist agenda, supporting the end of cash bail, going after wrongful convictions, and expunging records for low level marijuana charges. However, she also faced constant criticism, with leaders blaming her office for spikes in crime. WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith talks with host Jacoby Cochran about Foxx's legacy. Some good news: It's farmers market season. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In what ways is democracy under threat in the United States? And how do we strengthen our union? Those are two of the key questions posed in a new series of reports, editorials, podcasts and radio segments from WBEZ and the Sun-Times called “The Democracy Solutions Project,” which will run through the 2024 presidential election. The project is a partnership between Chicago Public Media and the University of Chicago's Center for Effective Government at the Harris School of Public Policy. To kick off the project, Reset sits down with the center's director Will Howell.
April 26, 2023 Moderated by WBEZ’s Shannon HeffernanHarold Pollack, Matt Richards, Sheriff Jerry Clayton City Club event description: Join us for a conversation on what we are learning from collaborations among public health leaders, law enforcement officials, and researchers about ways we can improve emergency first-response and follow-up to mental health crises. The City Club […]
Only one in four third graders in Illinois can read at grade level, a gap that has only widened since the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this disparity in literacy, the Illinois State Board of Education is seeking to overhaul the way reading is taught by the state, and lawmakers want to give them a deadline to do it. Reset hears the latest on the proposed changes from Cassie Walker Burke, WBEZ editor.
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announces she's not running for a third term. Plus, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson picks more members of his transition team. Reset goes behind the headlines of these stories and more with Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project for the Better Government Association, Heather Cherone, Chicago politics reporter for WTTW, and Kimberley Egonmwan, commentator for WVON and attorney.
More than 7,000 mostly Venezuelan asylum seekers have arrived to Chicago from other states since last fall, many of them sent here by bus, train, or plane with no access to shelter, food, or medication. The scramble among state and city officials to provide resources and financial support continues as new arrivals take shelter at O'Hare and in police stations. Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by WBEZ's Susie An and Northwestern professor Arionne Nettles to talk about that as well as Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson's plan for youth employment, financial aid struggles for college students, and problems at Urban Prep Academy. And of course they share some goooood newwwws, including a showcase from Deeply Rooted Dance and a happy birthday to our favorite podcast host. Also be sure to check out Monica Eng's James Beard-nominated profile of former Tribune food critic Paula Camp. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chicago is home to many federally recognized Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi. However, the guidance for teaching Native American history is based on pre-1900 standards. Reset hears from Susie An, WBEZ education reporter, who has been following the issue and Andrew Johnson, board member of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, about how to improve education and how this relates to the fight for native land.
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx has decided not to run for a third term, leaving the seat up for grabs next fall. Kim Foxx made history in 2016 when she became the first Black woman to be elected Cook County State's Attorney. The progressive prosecutor announced Tuesday she won't seek another term. Reset discusses what's next for Foxx and the country's second-largest prosecutor's office with WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith.
Public health and drug enforcement officials are raising alarms about a veterinary tranquilizer known as Xylazine. Reset hears from Matt Kiefer, digital editor for WBEZ, and Dr. David A. Ansell, Professor of Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, about how substance is impacting the opioid epidemic and what health and community organizers are doing to address it. Then they talk to Lindsay Allen, health economist, assistant professor in Northwest, and Vauna Hernandez, executive director of Phoenix House, about how expanding medicaid for residential treatment centers could help the opioid crisis.
Financial aid letters aren't federally regulated and can vary wildly from college to college. Most high school seniors across the country must decide where to go to college in the fall by May 1. Money can play a big role in which school they pick, and that can be challenging if you don't have a good grasp of what your financial aid package offers. Reset learns more about how to understand those award letters from WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Philip.
On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled to allow continued access to the drug Mifepristone by sending it back to the courts. Reset gets the latest on the case what it means for reproductive care access with Kristen Schorsch, health and county government reporter with WBEZ and Megan Jeyifo executive director Chicago Abortion Fund
Alderman Ed Burke gives his final speech on the floor of the City Council. Meanwhile, a judge upholds Illinois' assault weapons ban. Reset goes behind the week's headlines with Monica Eng, Chicago reporter for AXIOS, Carrie Shepherd, lead producer of daily podcast and newsletter City Cast Chicago, and Patrick Smith, criminal justice reporter, WBEZ.
Nearly half of medical positions inside Illinois Prisons are unfilled, according to a recent WBEZ story looking at these realities of an aging incarcerated population. Reset speaks to criminal justice reporter, Shannon Heffernan, to learn more.
Chicago gets the DNC, staff at local universities continue to strike, and workers at the Museum of Science and Industry vote to unionize. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with Alice Yin, politics reporter for the Chicago Tribune, David Greising, president and CEO of Better Government Association, and Dave McKinney, WBEZ state politics reporter.
Reset digs into the five ways Mayor Elect Brandon Johnson plans to improve public safety in Chicago with WBEZ criminal justice reporters Chip Mitchell and Patrick Smith.
When Magic Happens: Whip my Hair with AJ Johnson The crackle of a hot comb, the sting of creamy crack, the wash ‘n' go turned wash and fro – Black women's hair has seen it all. This week, Cheryle, Jennifer and Taylor get follicles-deep into hair malfunctions, hair journeys, and beyond-hair stories. Then, we hear from celebrity hair stylist AJ Johnson, who's styled the best of the best, and he busts all your hair myths and teaches us how to practically get wiggy with it
Public university professors across Illinois are fed up, with faculty from Chicago State University and Eastern Illinois University already on strike, and staff at Governor's State University set to strike on Tuesday. Reset learns more about what's driving faculty at public universities in Illinois and across the country to hit the picket line. Reset checks in with WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Philip and Valerie Goss, CSU faculty union president.
Brandon Johnson's mayoral election could change the national conversation about crime, schools -- and an aging Black establishment in big city politics. Chicago's recent mayoral election saw two Democratic candidates–Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas–fight for their very different visions of how the windy city should be run. The race centered debates on crime and schools, issues with inevitable implications on race and class. Chicago-native Natalie Moore, WBEZ's reporter for race, class and communities, joins host Kai Wright to discuss this election's significance, and how it reminds her of Harold Washington's historic election in 1983. Then, Kai explores parallels in Democrat-dominated mayoral races from New York and Los Angeles with Christina Greer, professor of political science and American studies at Fordham University. Companion listening for this episode: Black Georgians Are Leading the Charge to the Polls (10/17/2022) Young Black voters are the key to changing the politics of Georgia. What can the rest of the country learn from the civic engagement in that state? “Notes from America” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. To catch all the action, tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on notesfromamerica.org or on WNYC's YouTube channel. We want to hear from you! Connect with us on Instagram and Twitter @noteswithkai or email us at notes@wnyc.org.
Chicago gets a new mayor. The trial of ComEd lobbyists continues. Two firefighters die in the line of duty within two days. Protesters postpone the opening of an Englewood grocery store. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Kesling, Block Club Chicago investigative editor and reporter Mick Dumke and WBEZ data projects editor Alden Loury.
Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated former State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly in a divisive election on Tuesday for an open Supreme Court seat. Chuck Quirmbach of WUWM in Milwaukee explains the results and what we can expect now from the court. And, WBEZ's city government reporter Mariah Woelfel talks about Brandon Johnson's win in the Chicago mayoral election. Then, former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 34 felony charges. He's accused of covering up payment to an adult film actress to conceal an alleged affair and influence the 2016 election. Election lawyer Jerry Goldfeder explains the charges. Plus, in Los Angeles, a street medicine team is turning to technology to better serve the needs of people who are homeless. STAT's Mohana Ravindranath joins us.
Chicagoans feel unsafe, and many blame Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The two Democrats on the ballot to replace her have starkly different views on what the city should do next. WBEZ's Patrick Smith and Mariah Woelfel explain. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd with help from Paul Robert Mounsey, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Do you know what a police officer does on a day-to-day basis? It's not something Chicago's Police Department grants public access to, and it's what Chicago's new Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability leader Anthony Driver says has led to a lack of empathy and understanding between the community and police. Reset spoke with WBEZ reporter Patrick Smith to learn more.
Several recent polls show a tight race between Chicago mayoral runoff candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas. City Council members are pushing to have more independence from the next mayor. Plus, the Fed's star witness takes the stand in the ComEd bribery trial. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Kim Bellware, national and breaking news reporter for The Washington Post, John Fountain, journalism professor at Roosevelt University and Heather Cherone, Chicago politics reporter for WTTW.
There are nearly 100 crisis pregnancy centers in Illinois, but many of them do not provide abortion care, medication or contraceptives. A proposed bill would allow people to sue the centers for deception, misrepresentation of facts and interfering access to abortions. Reset discussed the proposed legislation with WBEZ reporter Mawa Iqbal and Megan Jeyifo, executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund.
hat were the mayoral hopefuls like as kids? Teens? Young adults? Brandon Johnson is the son of a pastor and one of 10 kids in a family who lived in Elgin. Paul Vallas, the second of four kids, started life in Roseland and as a teen moved to suburban Alsip. Reset heard from WBEZ reporters Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg to learn more about the candidates' backstories.
More dramatic testimony in the ComEd trial. Abortion opponents descend on the State Capitol. Meanwhile, endorsements continue to roll in for Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with Paris Schutz, reporter and anchor, WTTW-TV, A.D. Quig, Cook County and Chicago government reporter for the Chicago Tribune and Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.
In Chicago, you have to take advantage of every warm day you can. Luckily, WBEZ's got you covered with a guide to the hottest events of the season. We checked in with editor Cassie Walker Burke to get the scoop.
This week, we are making space to commemorate three years since COVID first hit the U.S. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast co-hosts Susie An and Esther Yoon-Ji Kang of WBEZ help us to reflect on what we learned about ourselves during the past three years and what we hope to keep with us in the future. Plus, actor Mae Whitman tells us about starring in the new Hulu musical ‘Up Here,' out now! You may remember Mae as Anne Veal from ‘Arrested Development' (her? Yes, her.). We chat about treating yourself gently, the power of vulnerability and how Mae got the courage to take on her first singing role.
“Three Black women. Three generations. No filters.” That's the tagline for WBEZ's latest podcast. Reset sits down with “When Magic Happens' hosts Cheryle Jackson, Jennifer “Shea Love” Long and Taylor Coward.
This month, the Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case examining the Safe-T Act. The legislation would bring sweeping reform to the state's criminal justice system, but one policy in particular has caught the eye and the ire of prosecutors: the elimination of cash bail. Proponents say ending cash bail bonds will get rid of inequities that favor the rich; opponents say it will lead to a rise in crime. What does the fight over cash bail in Illinois tell us about criminal justice in America? References: Season 4 of WBEZ's Motive podcast Safe-T Act and cash bail goes before Illinois Supreme Court | WBEZ Chicago The Chicago Community Bond Fund I Was Locked Away from My Children for 14 Months Because I Couldn't Make Bail The Lifeline and 988 Guests: Lavette Mayes Shannon Heffernan (@shannon_h) Insha Rahman Credits: Jonquilyn Hill, host Sofi LaLonde, producer Cristian Ayala, engineer A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Week two of “ComEd Four” trial gets underway today. That's the trial of four former executives and lobbyists who are accused of bribing lawmakers to pass legislation that was favorable to the utility giant. They are also connected to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who was considered for decades as the most powerful politician in the state. But the trial should also be of interest to homeowners, renters — anyone who gets an electricity bill — because the alleged corruption affected rates. WBEZ politics reporter Dave McKinney tells host Jacoby Cochran what we've learned so far and why this trial matters. Some Good News: The Gene Siskel Film Center is celebrating composer John Williams this week. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The trial of the so-called “ComEd Four” is now underway, and the search for Chicago's next police superintendent is on. Meanwhile, mayoral endorsements keep rolling in. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with The Washington Post's Kim Bellware, Chicago Tribune's Ray Long and former CBS-2 politics reporter Derrick Blakley.
Four people with connections to ComEd and former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madgian go on trial over an alleged bribery scheme to push the utility company's legislative agenda in Springfield. WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos and Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel join Reset to explain the players, the stakes and what it all means for Illinois politics.
Illinois is now the third state in the U.S. to mandate paid leave to be used for any reason. Reset checks in with WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman for the latest details of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which Governor JB Pritzker signed into law Monday.
This week, we are leaning into baking! First, our panelists, senior producer of WBEZ's Reset Meha Ahmad and the host of WNYC and Futuro Studio's La Brega podcast Alana Casanova-Burgess, stop by to chat about the decline in college English majors, a study that finds a connection between mask-wearing and self-perceived hotness, and our most recent baking endeavors. Then, Bon Appétit food editor Shilpa Uskokovic stops by to discuss her March cover story all about cakes! We explore her philosophy on food and her secret to the best brown butter. Plus, baker and food stylist Jesse Szewczyk shares four surprising and delicious cookie recipes from his book ‘Cookies: The New Classics.' You can find all of the recipes mentioned in today's episode at our website: https://tinyurl.com/35zsvrsv
WBEZ reporter Shannon Heffernan brings us the story of Anthony Gay, who was sentenced to seven years in prison on a parole violation but ended up with 97 years added to his sentence. Gay lives with serious mental illness, and after time in solitary confinement, he began to act out. He was repeatedly charged with battery – often for throwing liquids at staff. Gay acknowledges he did some of those things but says the prison put him in circumstances that made his mental illness worse – then punished him for the way he acted. With help from Chicago-based lawyers, Gay appealed to the local state's attorney. What happens when a self-described “law and order” prosecutor has to decide between prison-town politics and doing what he believes the law requires? Finally, host Al Letson speaks with Ear Hustle co-creator and co-host Earlonne Woods about the power of local prosecutors and the complicated politics of prison towns. This episode is a partnership with the podcast Motive from WBEZ Chicago. Support Reveal's journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/weekly Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram