Illinois in Focus

(The Center Square) – Although most Illinois public school students test below grade level in reading and math, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is touting his administration’s record spending on public education. Pritzker addressed the Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly in Rosemont Thursday. The governor encouraged union members to fight back against potential cuts to the U.S. Department of...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop shares some of the recent debate from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state legislators about the ongoing Trump administration changes at the U.S. Department of Education. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for i...

The Center Square Associate Editor Greg Bishop talks with The Center Square's Casey Harper from the Washington D.C. bureau about Trump administration tariffs, DOGE and the border. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews Jim Talamonti's story "NFIB: Businesses would consider leaving if IL imposes non-electric vehicle ban" and watches some statements President Donald Trump made while purchasing a Tesla with Elon Musk at the White House. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Si...

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(The Center Square) – The mayor of Chicago testified during a congressional hearing Wednesday that his city is safer because of its Welcoming City ordinance. “Any actions that amplify fears of deportations make Chicago more dangerous. Those fears cause witnesses and victims to avoid cooperating with police,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. Johnson joined mayors from Boston, Denver and New York City be...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews the latest on expected efforts of President Donald Trump to order the closing of the U.S. Department of Education, and the reaction from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, to the prospect. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of the U.S. House hearing on migrant sanctuary jurisdictions featuring Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and others. He also shares some of a conversation with Illinois state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, about the state seeking to dismiss the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit against the state. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-new...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of President Donald Trump’s speech in front of a joint session of Congress and provides some of the responses from Illinois elected officials. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of President Donald Trump’s comments about the tariffs he’s imposing on Mexico and Canada and the reaction from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of the comments from Illinois' elected officials over the contentious televised meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and also reviews the back and forth over federal spending on health care. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

(The Center Square) – The Illinois House Gun Violence Prevention Committee continues to hear proposals involving further gun control measures. One would create a task force to investigate insurance mandates for gun owners. The other would increase fees for transferring firearms. State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, has House Bill 33 to increase the fee from $2 to $10 for when someone transfers a fi...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of the recent comments from Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker complaining about the administration of President Donald Trump. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of the highlights from an Illinois Auditor General report on the state’s Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors and Adults which found large cost overruns from what was estimated. This comes as groups push for more subsidies for non-citizens. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?sou...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of the headlines out the U.S. Congress with the passage of a spending plan and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s complaint to the Trump administration over the withholding of federal funds. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compa...

Greg Bishop talks with The Center Square reporter Jim Talamonti about his coverage of the historic corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan resulting in 10 convictions. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informati...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews comments Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made during his budget address, including spending five minutes talking about Nazis. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use...

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(The Center Square) – Longtime former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was convicted Wednesday on 10 corruption-related charges, but the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on an overarching racketeering conspiracy. The jury also deadlocked on all six counts that Madigan's codefendant, Michael McClain, was charged with. Madigan, 82, was charged in March 2022 with 23 counts of bribery,...

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago, and local officials alleging they are exacerbating the border crisis and thwarting federal officials with sanctuary city policies. The Justice Department asked a judge to declare the state and local laws unconstitutional under the federal government's supremacy clause. The compl...

(The Center Square) – Jurors started deliberating at the public corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in Chicago. Judge John Robert Blakey handed the case to the jury shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. The judge first provided a few final instructions about communications and asked jurors to choose a foreperson once they were...

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is already butting heads with the Trump administration about immigration and more. Pritzker said he had heard reports of about 2,000 initial immigration enforcement actions coming, but said he’s heard nothing from the Trump administration as of Day 2 of the new presidency. Pritzker also said Trump’s actions against birthright citizenship are uncons...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop shares a conversation with Illinois state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, about Gov. J.B. Pritzker and leading Democrats holding up state law prohibiting local law enforcement from working federal immigration officials. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx   Hosted by Simplecas...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop talks live with Larry Ligas, a Jan. 6 defendant, about the sweeping pardons of around 1,500 defendants by President Donald Trump. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o...

President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders on Day 1 of his presidency, including things impacting immigration. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker reacted on social media. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our coll...