In the Loop (Segments)

On Wednesday, a group of Chicago faith leaders protested outside Chuck’s Gun Shop in south suburban Riverdale, Ill. The demonstration was in response to the toll of gun violence in Chicago and across the country. Reset learns more about the effort and what local faith leaders are doing to keep their communities safe. Host: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang Producers: Stephanie Kim Guest: Chris Harris Sr.

So far in 2022, there have been nearly 300 mass shootings in the U.S. And after the supermarket shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., and the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the nation’s focus has zeroed in on tackling gun violence with renewed vigor. As lawmakers work to pass a bipartisan gun bill, Reset discusses what local leaders can do to address gun violence in Chicago and Illinois. Host: Esther Yoon...

Chef Jordan Wimby, also known as The Melanin Martha, strives to use food to create a space for people to learn about where they come from. Reset learns more about how she’s trying to address issues of access, trauma, queerness and self-care through cooking. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Brenda Ruiz, Meha Ahmad Guests: Jordan Wimby

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. and has evolved into a celebration of Black music, arts, literature and culture. In honor of the federal holiday, Reset checks in with two Black bookstore owners to hear their Juneteenth must-reads. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Marie Mendoza Guest: Verlean Singletary, Nzingha Nommo

Musician Melody Angel recently performed at Chicago’s Blues Fest, bringing a modern and youthful edge to the beloved genre. And she’s back with new music in her album Foxy. Reset sits down with the artist about going to Chicago’s Blues Fest as a baby, the first time she heard Prince, and why she thinks a love for the blues is a prerequisite for loving all music. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producers: M...

Musician Melody Angel recently performed at Chicago’s Blues Fest, bringing a modern and youthful edge to the beloved genre. And she’s back with new music in her album Foxy. Reset sits down with the artist about going to Chicago’s Blues Fest as a baby, the first time she heard Prince, and why she thinks a love for the blues is a prerequisite for loving all music. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producers: M...

For generations, LGBTQ literature was inaccessible to many readers. But over the past few years, queer people have had more opportunities than ever to see themselves in the stories on the shelves of their local bookstores and public libraries. Reset explores the growing landscape of queer fiction with three guests who have built careers on it. Host: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang Producer: Sarah Stark, Isabe...

In his new book An Immense World, Ed Yong takes a break from his tireless pandemic reporting for The Atlantic to take readers inside the wondrous and innumerable different ways animals perceive the world around them — from bees and songbirds to scallops and crocodiles. Reset sits down with the award winning writer to learn more about the book and some of his favorite quirky wildlife. Host: Esther...

The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol will focus the fourth day of hearings on the pressure former president Donald Trump and his allies put on state legislatures to overturn the elections. Reset checks in with a legal expert for a preview of today’s meeting and for key takeaways from the hearings so far. Host: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang Producer: Lynnea Do...

Neil Steinberg’s dad is 89. The former nuclear physicist is not as sharp as he once was. And Neil says, it’s time to listen to him. Reset checks in with a writer who shared his personal story ahead of Father’s Day. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producers: Daniel Tucker Guests: Neil Steinberg

The primary election is less than two weeks away. Reset’s Weekly News Recap has analysis of the races and candidates and an update on the 2023 mayoral election. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producers: Andrea Guthmann Guests: Amanda Vinicky, Jacoby Cochran, Mariah Woelfel

The James Beard Awards returned to Chicago this week after a two-year hiatus. Reset talks with the city’s sole James Beard Award winner and a few finalists. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Brenda Ruiz Guests: Erick Williams, Jason Hamel, Timothy Flores, Genie Kwon, Brenda Ruiz

The Federal Reserve Bank on Wednesday hiked its benchmark interest rate by 0.75%, the biggest increase since 1994. More interest rate hikes are expected in the coming months as the Fed seeks to curb the highest inflation in 40 years. Reset checks in with an expert to better understand inflation and what’s being done to rein it in. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producers: Daniel Tucker, Stephanie Kim Gues...

Since the beginning of the year, lawmakers have introduced more than 300 anti-LGBTQ bills in state legislatures across the country. On Wednesday, President Biden signed an executive order combating “discriminatory legislative attacks.” Reset talks to three Chicago-based advocates to understand what this order means. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark Guests: McKensie Mack, LaSaia Wade, S...

Chicago author Toya Wolfe’s debut novel Last Summer on State Street is a coming-of-age story about growing up in the Robert Taylor Homes in Bronzeville in the late '90s. Drawing from her own experience growing up in the housing project on the South Side, Wolfe weaves a tale of friendship, segregation, community and compassion. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producers: Meha Ahmad, Sasha-Ann Simons Guest: T...

Looking for a way to celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage Month? We’ve got you covered with Caribbean-made and island-themed movies that will transport you to the tropics. Reset discusses the history of the month and movies to watch to mark the occasion. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sasha-Ann Simons Guest: Anna-Lysa Gayle

In the last two years, the number of police officers inside Chicago Public Schools has dropped by one-third. Since 2020, it’s been up to local school councils to decide whether to keep officers in the building. Reset learns more about how CPS is changing its approach to addressing root causes of student behavior. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Stephanie Kim Guests: Nader Issa and Sarah Karp

Artificial intelligence becoming sentient might not be as far off as we think. Reset talks about a Google engineer’s claim that the company AI is alive, and how far technology has come in achieving consciousness. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Brenda Ruiz Guest: Nitasha Tiku

Lake Michigan’s rising water levels could mean catastrophic consequences for areas near current or former industrial sites. That’s according to a new report from the Environmental Law and Policy Center, which also offers recommendations for how to combat this potential devastation. To learn more, Reset goes straight to the source. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producers: Meha Ahmad, Sarah Stark Guest: Ho...

This Thursday the NPR comedy quiz show Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me! emerges from a two-year stretch of recording by Zoom. Starting June 16, host Peter Sagal, scorekeeper Bill Kurtis, and a rotating panel of comedians will take the stage before a live audience at the elegant 125-year old Studebaker Theater in the Loop’s Fine Arts Building. Pre-pandemic, the show taped its episodes at the Chase Bank Aud...

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producers: Stephanie Kim Guest: Cassie Burke

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Christian Elliott Guest: Sarah Freishtat

More than two years into the pandemic, kids under 5 are expectedly weeks away from having an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine. Reset asks an infectious disease specialist why the process has taken so long. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Claire Hyman Guest: Dr. Mia Taormina

In 2012, when Casey was on birth control, she discovered she had somehow gotten pregnant. In 2018, when she was between IUDs, Casey discovered she was pregnant again. Despite having a good job and a good husband, Casey didn’t want a baby. Reset talks with Casey and asks: who are abortions really for? Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Isabelle Earl Guest: Kristen Schorsch

At 17 years-old, Jane discovered she was pregnant after being sexually assaulted. Her pro-life upbringing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints left her scared and ashamed to try and get an abortion. So, she took matters into her own hands. After sitting in a hot tub for hours, drinking extensive amounts of caffeine, and relentlessly exercising, Jane induced a miscarriage–a excrutiati...