Illinois in Focus

(The Center Square) – Closing arguments are scheduled to begin next Wednesday at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain. U.S. government attorneys wrapped up their rebuttal about 30 minutes after the Madigan defense team rested its case Thursday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews a recent letter Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul signed with other attorneys general urging the U.S. Senate to oppose the Laken Riley Act, a measure to require the detention of illegal immigrants accused of things like robbery. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxx...

Greg Bishop reviews some of the oral arguments in the Illinois Supreme Court case whether to find a state firearms statute prohibiting open carry unconstitutional.  Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_e8486efe-d2ac-11ef-ba5d-b350ddcd6572.html Hos...

Greg Bishop shares a conversation with Guns Save Life Executive Director John Boch about Monday's decision from a Cook County judge siding with gun rights advocates over the county in a case challenging the county's gun and ammo tax. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews the debate around Illinois House bill 4144 that would require police confiscate firearms from subjects of domestic orders of protection. While some Republicans supported the measure, others raised concerns it violates individuals' Second Amendment rights. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f...

(The Center Square) – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan addressed his former friendship with codefendant Michael McClain as the two men face corruption charges in federal court. In cross-examination with McClain defense attorney Patrick Cotter Wednesday, Madigan said he developed a friendship with McClain during their early years in the Illinois House during the 1970s. Madigan said the...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews the debate Sunday in the Illinois Senate around a bill repealing the requirement to publish a legal name change that Republican argue will allow illegal immigrants to hide their past. 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...

(The Center Square) – Illinois legislators return Saturday for the start of the final days of the 103rd General Assembly. One Republican legislator says that’s an opportunity to address economic concerns for taxpayers. State Rep. Jed Davis, R-Newark, said he’s excited for the so-called “lame duck session.” “So I’m like, ‘let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work,’” Davis told The Center Square. “W...

The Center Square's Illinois 2024 Year in Review including the trial of former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan, Trump made gains in Illinois, gun ban, & more. Keep up with all of the Illinois news in 2025 at The Center Square: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

The Center Square's Illinois 2024 Year in Review including the trial of former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan, Trump made gains in Illinois, gun ban, & more. Keep up with all of the Illinois news in 2025 at The Center Square: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of the concerns Illinois legislators raised about the coming 'lame duck' session, the final days of the 103rd General Assembly. 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 collectio...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of the 297 laws that go into effect Jan. 1, in Illinois, including measures impacting health insurance, employers, drivers, schools, parents and more.  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 informa...

(The Center Square) – Whether Illinois’ Firearm Owner’s ID card is constitutional is now up to a state appellate court. Illinois is one of only a handful of states that requires individuals to have a specific permit or ID to purchase firearms and one of only two states that requires one to possess firearms or ammunition. Guns Save Life brought the case against the state, saying the law violates th...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews the latest U.S. Census Bureau data showing the state gaining population, but that growth was driven by people moving to Illinois from other countries. Ted Dabrowski, president of Wirepoints, provides reaction.  Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx   Hosted by Simplec...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews the status of a challenge to Illinois’ Firearm Owners ID card law set to be heard Thursday afternoon in a state appeals court. Another case challenging Maryland’s gun owner ID law is in front of the U.S. Supreme Court for their possible consideration. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c3...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews recent comments about Illinois' sluggish economy from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, state Sen. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, and Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski. 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 in...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews Monday's Chicago City Council meeting, including public comments and alderman voicing concerns about the budget that ultimately passed. 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 collec...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews recent comments of President-Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson about plans to deport non-citizen migrants. 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 ou...

(The Center Square) – Illinois unfunded pension liability is growing. The Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability reports the latest unfunded liability is $143.7 billion. That’s $1.5 billion higher than last year and the second highest since 2020 when the total was $144.2 billion. Wednesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said they’re doing good things with pensions. “Our fun...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews a recent Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability report on Illinois unfunded pension liability and shares separate comments from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplec...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews the latest from the federal judiciary in the case against Illinois’ gun and magazine ban with the Southern District of Illinois federal judge issuing an amended final judgement and permanent injunction against the law, but acknowledging the stay on the injunction pending the outcome in the appeals court.  Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/fran...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews two separate congressional committees in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House tacking issues around immigration and border security. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_58b7f248-b72f-11ef-9975-9b2508953ffc.ht...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews some of the latest debate around border security and immigration policies, including recent comments from Trump border czar Tom Homan, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and others. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast,...

The Center Square's Greg Bishop reviews more of the reaction to a federal appeals court holding a district court injunction against Illinois' gun ban back while the case proceeds on appeal, including a conversation with Illinois State Rifle Association's Ed Sullivan. Support this podcast:  https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Ho...

(The Center Square) – Illinois’ gun and magazine ban will stay in effect pending the outcome in the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, the appeals court ruled Thursday. Illinois banned the sale and possession of more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities in January 2023. Lawsuits in federal court followed, challenging the ban based on the Second Amendment right...