In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

Democratic Illinois lawmakers have slammed their Republican colleagues in the U.S. Senate for passing President Trump’s tax and spending plan. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has named a new running mate. Meanwhile, Chicago alderpersons are scrutinizing the Chicago Police Department for its response to a recent ICE raid. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with WBEZ c...

Chicago has more lead water pipes than most U.S. cities, and nearly two-thirds of children under 6 are exposed to lead in drinking water. Efforts to make the city's water lead-free have been sluggish. A Biden-era mandate requires cities to replace 20,000 lead pipes a year by 2027. Chicago is set to replace less than half of that number this year, and estimates suggest the city’s water systems won’...

Trump’s policy bill includes various cuts to Medicaid, implementing stricter requirements that will affect if people with disabilities receive health care coverage. Reset learns more about how this legislation could affect local Chicagoans with disabilities with Access Living policy analyst Sebastian Nalls and disability right activist and Medicaid recipient David Gayes. For a full archive of Rese...

Charles Leto, a 55 year old lifeguard from Lakeview who worked at Douglass Park pool, allegedly shot two teens on Thursday evening, killing Marjay Dotson, 15 and critically wounding Jeremy Herred, 14. Reset gets the latest in this case with WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

President Trump’s tariff threats and warnings about turning Canada into a 51st state have left many Canadians wondering about the future of cross-border relations. Reset asks three Canadians to share how they’re feeling about living in the U.S. right now. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Supreme Court last week ruled in favor of religious parents who demanded they should have the choice to pull their children out of lessons that included topics such as same-sex marriage. The 6-3 decision reversed a lower-court ruling that sided with the school system. Reset spoke with Pierce School of International Studies elementary school teacher Josh Lerner about what the ruling could mean...

In a 6-3 decision Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court limited the power of lower-court judges to block a president’s executive orders. The decision prevents those judges from issuing what are known as “nationwide injunctions” and means that 28 states can begin to enforce President Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship, at least temporarily. Reset spoke with Immigrants’ Rights Clinic director and...

Climate change is big, overwhelming and scary, and can make us go numb. But there is very real grief to process. Reset sits down with playwright Rozina Kanchala to hear how she used her art and storytelling to help audiences process the enormity of climate change. Her play Come Along for the Ride: A Journey Through Climate Grief is playing in Chicago this weekend. For a full archive of Reset inter...

A Midwest heat wave continues, Gov. JB Pritzker launches his campaign for a third term, hundreds rally for trans rights, and more. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Monica Eng, Axios reporter; Cindy Hernandez, Chicago Sun-Times general assignment reporter; Mack Liederman, Block Club Chicago reporter. For a full archive of Rese...

The growing presence of manfluencers – social media influencers who present themselves as men's self improvement experts – is shown to have increasingly negative effects on the mental health of young men. Young boys are often exposed to this type of content quickly after joining social media, and this can deeply affect their perceptions of themselves along with their idea of masculinity. Reset sit...

JB Pritzker announced his 2026 run for office, being the first Illinois governor to seek a third term since 1991. In his announcement, Pritzker touted his administration’s accomplishments over the last two terms, and slammed President Trump for his attacks on Illinois. Questions still remain about Pritzker’s future presidential aspirations. Reset learns about what we know so far with Chicago Sun-T...

In the face of expanded ICE raids, we get a view into what happens in immigration courts and ways advocates are ramping up efforts to connect immigrants to legal resources and Know Your Rights trainings. Reset sits down with immigration lawyer Carlina Tapia-Ruano and spokesperson Brandon Lee of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head ov...

A Black student experienced racist bullying while attending Wildwood Elementary IB School. Reports show that CPS and the school administration took limited action to protect her. Reset dives deeper into this story with Chicago Public Media reporters Sarah Karp and Nader Issa. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Chicago based show, It’s Ok To Ask Questions which streams on Peacock showcases in-depth conversations with movers and shakers in the LGBTQ+ community about their lives, how the twists and turns of life affect their relationships and what motivates their work. Reset learns more about how these stories can create dialogue with Matthew Rodrigues, host of It’s Ok To Ask Questions. For a full arch...

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, Illinois has become a “haven” of sorts for people in states with abortion bans. In 2024, roughly 35,000 patients travelled to Illinois for abortion care. Reset discusses how these bans increase wait times that can leave people in dangerous positions with executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund Megan Jeyifo, obstetrician gynecologist at UI Health Dr. Erica...

Could “granny flats” help ease Chicago’s affordable housing crisis? Many advocates and even political leaders think so – the problem is, they’re banned in Chicago. And political gridlock makes legalizing them easier said than done. Reset finds out what the process of building Additional Dwelling Units is like and what’s getting in the way of expanding this housing option across the city with a pan...

Chicago’s queer neighborhoods have a long historical lineage in Chicago. From the early underground gatherings in Towertown to the rise of Boystown. Reset sits down with a Chicago queer history scholar Professor Jennifer Brier of UIC to trace how these communities formed, adapted, and flourished in the face of discrimination and displacement, revealing how geography, activism, and culture shaped C...

There wasn’t always a “B” in LGBTQ. For years, bisexual people were overlooked, misunderstood, or excluded from both queer and straight spaces. As part of our Pride Month series, Reset explores the ongoing fight for bisexual rights and visibility with co-founder of the Bisexual Queer Alliance Chicago Michael Oboza and queer performing artist Juju Minxxx. For a full archive of Reset interviews, hea...

It’s time for your favorite weekly news catch-up! This week: thousands gather for “No Kings” protests in the Chicago area, Mayor Brandon Johnson pushes back on presidential threats to increase deportations, and Chicago’s City Council passes stricter teen curfew that could face a veto. Reset dives into these and other top local stories in our Weekly News Recap, with Ravi Baichwal, ABC-7 News anchor...

June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month, so Reset takes the moment to explore the cuisine of the islands – including Jamaican staple ackee and saltfish – with a special guest. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Attention Bach buffs, Shostakovich stans and Debussy devotees! Head over to Grant Park and you can catch free classical concerts all summer long. But this isn’t just an exciting opportunity to revel in the music, it’s a chance for up-and-coming orchestral musicians and singers to be a part of the action through the Festival String and Vocal Fellowship. Reset sits down with two fellowship participa...

ComEd recently announced a price increase in the cost of electricity that took effect starting on June 1st, but will not be reflected in electric bills until July. This price increase is due to demand across the country, largely attributed to the rapid development of data centers. Reset talks with the Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz to learn more. For a full archive of Re...

About 10% of babies nationwide are born prematurely, with some ending up in neonatal intensive care. During childbirth and critical natal care, the spotlight is on mom and baby – often leaving fathers in the shadows. But a program at Northwestern aims to give new fathers the support they need. Reset learns more about the program from Brad O’Conner, a NICU Dad and therapist at theDepartment of Vete...

Do you remember where you and your friends used to go to hangout after school? Many teenagers face the dilemma of not having a space to go spend time with friends besides school or home. Advocates argue that the lack of third spaces have contributed to large gatherings of teens, referred to as “takeovers” or trends in downtown areas. In some instances these gatherings have become violent. Reset ta...

Thousands of people gathered in Daley Plaza on Saturday, June 14, to protest the Trump administration’s policies, including his mass deportation efforts. Reset sits down with WBEZ immigration reporter Adriana Cardona-Maguigad and Strategic Coordinator Organized Communities Against Deportations Antonio Gutierrez to discuss the latest. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/re...