In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in the country. It’s driven by policy decisions over the decades, but it’s also reinforced by personal networks and perception rather than experience. A new book, titled “Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How To Disrupt It,” uses first-person testimonials to explore how racist messaging can perpetuate this dynamic. Reset sits down with co-authors Ton...

Is the American Dream achieved at the expense of the American Negro? That’s the question that civil rights icon James Baldwin and conservative leader William F. Buckley debated in the Cambridge Union on February 18, 1965. A new play at DePaul’s TimeLine Theatre’s is bringing that question to modern audiences, capturing the relevance of the debate 60 years later. Reset sits down with the two lead a...

“A Raisin in the Sun” is a Chicago classic. The play by Lorainne Hansberry tells the story of a Black family looking to move out of a cramped South Side apartment and defy social and political limits to realize their dreams. There would be no “A Raisin in the Sun” without Lorraine’s father Carl Hansberry, a real estate broker turned civil rights activist who helped end restrictive covenant laws th...

What is the purpose of schools? Most people would say to teach children to meet their potential and to prepare them for the world. But in her new book “Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism,” Chicago author and sociologist Eve Ewing presents readers with an exhaustively researched history of how U.S. schools have been a place where s...

’Tis the season of love. Whether you’re dating, single, newly wed or married for years, everybody could use a little advice on love and relationships. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Reset checks in with love guru and psychologist Alexandra Solomon, who is also the host of the podcast “Reimagining Love.” For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

From jerk chicken to fresh squeezed juice to sweet treats, Chicago Black Restaurant Week offers something for everyone, not to mention an opportunity to explore a new restaurant. Reset checks in with founder Lauran Smith and participating restaurateur Dave Clausell, owner of Jerk Yard Chicago. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois is offering buyers an incentive of $4,000 per electric vehicle. But at the federal level, the Trump administration is moving in the opposite direction, cutting plans for more EV charging stations, among other moves. Reset gets the latest and learns what might be ahead for EVs in Illinois and beyond with Reset sustainability contributor Karen Weigert and Dany Robles, legislative relations...

Former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan was found guilty on 10 counts and not guilty on 7 counts. The jury did not reach a unanimous decision on 12 other counts, leading to a partial verdict. Reset gets the details from WBEZ state politics reporter Dave McKinney. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Kevin Fee is the permanent replacement for the previous legal director who was appointed to the federal bench in 2023. Fee formerly worked at the Chicago office of Sidley Austin LLP focusing on white collar government investigations and consumer class actions while maintaining a pro bono practice. Reset talks to Fee about the ACLU’s plans to hold the Trump administration accountable and protect pe...

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is one of the latest people to receive a pardon from President Donald Trump. This comes five years after Trump commuted the governor’s 14-year sentence in 2020. Reset checks in with WBEZ state politics reporter Dave McKinney. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

More than 100 people have been arrested in immigration raids in the city since President Donald Trump took office, according to Chicago officials. So, what do those raids look like? And what are community organizations doing to help immigrants know their rights? Reset checks in with WBEZ immigration reporter, Chicago Sun-Times social justice, immigration and income inequality reporter Elvia Malagó...

How is the U.S. economy doing? And what can we expect in 2025 when it comes to tariffs, jobs, inflation, interest rates and more? Reset checks in with KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As Chicagoans hunker down for what feels like the coldest stretch of a long Midwest winter, local indoor gardens are providing an escape and a taste of warmer days to come. Reset checks in with the Chicago Botanic Garden’s associate vice president Jodi Zombolo and their orchid flori-culturist Johanna Hutchins for what’s on the docket for February. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over...

Ian Maksin is one musician with a cello, but he can sound like an entire band. The cellist has toured the world, performing on his instruments and singing in nearly 40 languages. He has perfected bringing a fuller sound to audiences even when he’s playing solo. Reset sits down with Maksin ahead of a slew of shows in the Chicago area. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/re...

The Department of Justice sues Illinois and Chicago over immigration laws after Brandon Johnson agrees to testify on Capitol Hill with other sanctuary city mayors. Alder is ousted from City Council meeting and 102-year-old Chicago Bears matriarch, Virginia McCaskey, dies. Reset dives into these and other top local stories in our Weekly News Recap with Chicago reporter for Axios Carrie Shepherd, WB...

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained more than 100 people in the Chicago area in an effort to carry out President Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations. But on Monday, dozens of stores and restaurants closed as part of Day Without Immigrants in protest and to honor the contributions of immigrants. Reset checks in with Héctor Aguirre, co-owner of La Malinche Coffee and Tea House...

President Donald Trump unveiled a plan to “take over” the Gaza Strip and displace all the Palestinians living there. World leaders scoffed at the idea, and the White House has since begun to walk it back. Reset checks in with Eman Abdelhadi, assistant professor of sociology, University of Chicago and Deanna Othman, freelance journalist, Chicago media coordinator of American Muslims for Palestine P...

Only Congress can shut down the Department of Education, but President Trump is preparing an order that aims to downsize the agency and possibly move some of its functions to other departments. Reset learns more about what’s in the works and how changes to DOE could affect education in Illinois with higher education reporter for the Washington Post Danielle Douglas-Gabriel. For a full archive of R...

While some students are faced with a trip to the principal’s office for vaping or ditching class, others are met with the police intervention. While Illinois bans schools from fining students, a ProPublica and Chicago Tribune investigation found that schools exploit a loophole in the law by enlisting police to issue citations. Reset unpacks the proposed legislation that would prevent students from...

Health officials think that dead and sick birds showing up between Hyde Park and Wilmette could be a sign that the highly contagious bird flu is spreading in the Chicago area. Reset learns more about avian flu and discusses what this could mean for birds, pets and Chicago-area residents with infectious disease specialist at the University of Chicago Dr. Emily Landon and the director of Chicago Bir...

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is underway for people enrolled in Medicare Advantage who want to switch to another Advantage plan or return to Medicare Original. If you’re turning 65 this year, it’s a good idea to start to think about what plan is going to be the best for you too. Reset gets some Medicare 101 from Illinois senior health insurance program director Sandy Leith. For a...

Housing prices in Chicagoland continue to rise at a faster rate than in most other major U.S. metro areas. Meanwhile, home sales dropped locally in 2024. Reset digs into the numbers with Crain’s Business Chicago residential real estate reporter, Reset “What’s That Building?” contributor Dennis Rodkin to find out what’s driving the higher housing costs and what’s ahead for 2025. For a full archive...

Marriage is held up as an ideal, but many people are in deep partnerships with friends that society doesn’t always recognize as significant. In this episode Reset sits down with Raina Cohen, radio producer and author of the book The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center where she introduces readers to examples of friends whose relationships go far beyond what we...

On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order mandating the federal government use the word “sex” instead of “gender” and that it recognize only two sexes. The order also limits federal funding for organizations that serve trans communities. Later, he sought to bar openly trans people from serving in the military and signed an executive order that seeks to end gender-a...

Started as a small club at a local family-owned music store, The Hix Brothers Ukulele Band is now sharing the love of the little four-stringed instrument around Chicago. Reset sat down with a couple folks from the group ahead of their Feb. 2 performance at the Geneva Public Library for National Ukulele Day (and Groundhog Day). Ukulele teacher and leader of The Hix Brothers Ukulele Band Carl Hix an...