Chicago Contrarian, The Podcast

In an unexpected move, Superintendent of Police Larry Snelling retired on Wednesday. Why now? What next? Who will lead CPD? Despite a massive federal crackdown, the Chicago Tribune reporting dredged up the Broadview Six in its article on the arrest of hundreds of criminals. Is this more agenda journalism? How has Governor JB Pritzker's equity agenda doing for Illinois? We'll discuss.

In response to a grim death toll over Father's Day and Juneteenth weekend, Left-wing clergy and community activists demanded an ordinance to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Is this a productive response to the plague of violence in Chicago? The CPS budget is, once again, in the headlines. Will CPS cut two weeks of classroom instruction to help fill a massive budget gap? Will Mayor Joh...

The Grant Park cross burner is arrested. Merline Lu admitted to burning the cross in an interview with NBC 5's Chuck Goudie. What's next for Lu? Chicago's parking meter is back in the news. Can aldermen flex some muscle to stop the proposed sale? Is it worth the trouble? Though it is a milestone, Mayor Johnson's response to the news that Elon Musk had broken new ground in personal wealth seemed bi...

CPS CEO Dr. Macquline King appeared in front of the U.S. House to discuss CPD district policies conflicting with federal law. How did King perform? Elections for the BOE are underway. Who is running? What are the implications of the first fully elected board? The Broadway 6 case is back in the news. Did federal prosecutors really engage in misconduct? We'll discuss.

The Chicago Bears announced they will leave Chicago for Hammond, Indiana. What next? State Comptroller Susana Mendoza officially entered the race for mayor. How will her entry impact the 2027 race for City Hall? Charges were dropped against the Broadview Six protesters. We will examine the charges of "misconduct. "

Mayor Johnson traveled to Rome to meet the Pontiff. Immediately, the trip caused controversy. Why? In a major blow to the Chicago Teachers Union, the CORE caucus failed in its bid to raise $8.5M to fund elections. What is the impact on the November elections and the February 2027 mayoral race? Memorial Day weekend was a mess. While there were few homicides, numerous shootings took place and teen m...

Stacy Davis Gates picked a fight with Michael Sacks. Sacks fires back. Activists lose their court battle to have a special prosecutor in Midway Blitz. Was justice for illegal immigrants the goal? Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson have words over the loss of the Bears. We'll discuss.

A conversation with Don Tracy, GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate.

The Board of Ethics has fined former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas for illegal campaign contributions. Why now? CPS' budget woes return. Will CPS make the necessary cuts to stay afloat? The Cook County EM program is revealed to have no accounting for 248 criminals. This latest scandal over the program, how can EM survive? We'll discuss.

Former CPD and author Marty Preib joins our panel to discuss Chicago's exoneration industry.

16 months after leaving office, Kim Foxx returns to the headlines and for all the wrong reasons. In a stunning admission, Foxx admitted she believed two men freed by her office were actually guilty of a grisly crime. A Walgreens branch in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood is closing over a high loss rate and unsafe conditions. Ald. Will Hall calls it "corporate greed. " Is Hall right? Cook County Boa...

In this episode of Chicago Contrarian, The Conversation, the panel welcomes Juan Rangal, civic activist and CEO of the Urban Center. In our conversation, we discuss a wide range of subjects, particularly the Urban Center's role in reviving Chicago and the upcoming Board of Education elections.

On Saturday, April 25, two CPD were shot at Swedish Hospital. One was killed; a second was gravely injured. What led to the shooting? What role does the Pre-Trial Fairness Act play in the shooting? WHat role do Cook County judges play? How did moderate Dems. respond to the shooting? We'll discuss.

CTU's day of civic action may have hit an obstacle. CPS parents are now threatening a lawsuit to prevent a "free" day. Mayor Johnson's coveted "millionaires' tax"failed to gain enough traction in the General Assembly. What will the Democrats and Chicago's progressives do next? In another attempt to kneecap SA Eileen O'Neill Burke, activists are now claiming EOB has been compromised in their effort...

The battle over whether the CPS or CTU will prevail on May 1 intensified this week. Are students being used to front for CTU members' politics or is May 1 a civic exercise? Aldermen in the City Council fail to marshal sufficient support to override a mayoral veto on One Fair Wage. How many jobs will be lost in the next year? Homeless in Chicago parks may soon be allowed to remain indefinitely if t...

AG candidate Bob Fioretti sits with Contrarian's panelists to discuss his campaign to unseat AG Kwame Raoul.

The family of Adam Toledo, an armed gang member shot dead by Police is suing over his death. Should Toledo's family receive a payout? The Chicago Teachers Union is sponsoring a "walkout" to protest Trump again. The union is calling for students to be excused from class if they choose to participate. The CTU is calling this a learning experience for "civic action." Is it a learning experience or is...

Mayoral candidate Liam Stanton joined host Jim Bosco, Paul Vallas, and the founder of Contrarian, Florian Sohnke, to discuss his candidacy. Mr. Stanton was asked a broad range of questions on problems confronting the Windy City

An expected report on CPD drew some odd conclusions, mainly over Police Districts' staffing levels. Is manpower properly distributed properly in Chicago? A recent study revealed Cook County taxes have risen at twice the rate of inflation. Is there any end in sight to unmanageable property taxes in Cook County? Unsurprisingly, Mayor Johnson is contending with another flop. With his choice of Walter...

The shooting death of a Loyola student by an illegal alien has Chicago in an uproar. Will Gorman's murder finally provoke some real thought among progressives to change their stance on illegals in the city? After Ald. Samantha Nugent entered a proposal to freeze the third step for an increase to Chicago's minimum wage, Mayor Johnson vetoed the measure. What does this mean for the future of hospita...

Primary elections took place on March 17. Who were the big winners and losers? Another contender to become CEO of the CPS has dropped from consideration. Who is left? What is the trouble with seating a CEO to lead the nation's fourth-largest school system? Mayor Johnson dismissed two key public safety aides on Thursday. Why was Garien Gatewood shown the exit? `What does this say about the future o...

Mayor Johnson's proposed ordinance creating "Democracy Zones" for elections goes bust. Why? Was the mayor protecting democracy and election integrity or was he attempting to create a path for illegals to vote? Unsurprisingly, the CTU has called for "No Work" day for May 1. The union is billing this as an activity to teach "civic engagement." Is this a learning experience for students or using stud...

Earlier this week, Mayor Johnson had "big news" for Chicago. While many were expecting a monumental political or economic development, Johnson had nothing. Is being ranked as the top relocation site for businesses meaningful when Chicago continues to lose businesses? As election day draws closer, we examine the Board of Review race between incumbent Samantha Steele and challenger Liz Nicholson. In...

Mayor Johnson flew to Washington, D.C. to offer a rebuttal to the SOTU address. Why? Johnson showed up at a protest to deliver an anti-Trump harangue. Who paid for the trip? Was this official city business? Desperate to deflect from the Tyler Technologies debacle, a nine-page letter rebuking County Treasurer Maria Pappas as a bully was released to media. What is behind the letter? With Preckwinkle...

After years of threats and months of back-and-forth discussions with state and city leaders, Chicago Bears' management announced the franchise would resettle in neighboring Indiana. Is Chicago going to be without a NFL franchise? Nearly six years ago, Lori Lightfoot capitulated to a mob and removed two statues of Christopher Columbus from Grant and Arrigo parks. The city announced neither would be...