Take 1 with Bill Cameron

This week Bill talks with Jim Nowlan, Author and former Illinois House Member about being a moderate republican in the modern era.  They discuss the changes in the Illinois GOP, the far-right movement caused by the "Trump Effect" and what might be coming to Illinois' political future.  Issues discussed include the 2028 ballot referendum to review the current Illinois constitution, statewide distri...

This week Bill talks with Adam Andrzejewski, CEO and Founder of OpenTheBooks.com. It details spending by governments at all levels and the waste that goes with it. Andrzejewski, who ran for Illinois Governor as a Republican in 2010, talks about all of the unnecessary furniture the government buys. Also, is there any accountability when it comes to wasteful government spending? School superintenden...

This week, Bill Cameron talks with Jonathan Jackson, member of the US House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st District. He is the latest son of Rev. Jesse Jackson to be in Congress and took over for long-time Congressman Bobby Rush in January. Rep. Jackson is on the Committee of Foreign Affairs and spoke on the situation in Israel. His gave an update on his dad who was recently diagnosed with...

This week's guest on Take 1 with Bill Cameron is former Chicago Mayor, Lori Lightfoot. She's been teaching a class at Harvard this semester about leading during a global pandemic and how to deal with the media. She talks about how her class is going. Lightfoot discussed the Chicago media who covered her for a term. Migrants starting getting bussed to Chicago while she was still mayor, what needs t...

This week, Bill let former WLS newsman John Dempsey get in on the action. John interviewed journalist and author Meg Kissinger. Her book “While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence” is out now. She discussed growing up with parents who suffered with alcoholism and mental illness while trying to raise 8 kids in an age when mental illness was not talked ab...

This week Bill is joined by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. She talks about what's being done with the county's least favorite tax...the property tax. How do you get more people into homes and then get them to pay less property taxes? How are property taxes effected by crime? Pappas gives her thoughts on the Brandon Johnson Administration and if he's prepared to be the mayor for the rest of hi...

Bill Cameron digs into his personal audio archive to bring us his interview with then Sun-Times reporter Harry Golden Jr. who covered City Hall and Chicago politics for over 20 years until his death in 1988.  Harry tells some stories from his past and discusses mayoral politics leading into the 1987 election.  The roundtable with Ray Long, Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone and Dave Stewart discussed curr...

University of Illinois Professor Michael LeRoy talks with Bill Cameron about the good and the bad inside the college football industry.  The round-table with Ray Long, Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone and Dave Stewart discuss Governor Pritzker's announcement of a new EV battery manufacturing plant in southern Illinois.  What considerations did the state give out to lure this manufacturing plant to Illin...

It's Labor Day weekend and leading Chicago and Illinois politicians are united with business leaders in a common cause for a change.  Both are calling on President Biden to expand work permits to include long-term immigrants and asylum seekers who do want to work.  This past week, Mayor Brandon Johnson joined Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Chuy Garcia to push for this at the American Business...

This week, Bill Cameron is joined by former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and 2023 Chicago Mayoral finalist Paul Vallas. They talked about the conviction of Michael Madigan's former right-hand-man Tim Mapes. Why are Chicago and Illinois politicians so corrupt? Vallas talks about Brandon Johnson's first 100 days in office and he is not impressed. Does Paul think the White Sox are on the verge of mo...

This week, Bill Cameron remembers Danny Rostenkowski, who was a US Rep from Chicago for decades. He became the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee and then spent 15 months in prison for corruption. Rostenkowski died 13 years ago this month. Bill covered Rostenkowski for most of his political career and he played some of Danny's greatest hits from over the years. The round-table with Ray Lo...

Bill Cameron talked to the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, former US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. He now runs Chicago CRED which helps to reduce gun violence in the city. Duncan talked about what is working and not working about Chicago trying to reduce gun violence. He discussed his relationship with the new Chicago Mayor even as Duncan endorsed Paul Vallas. Duncan also gave his tho...

Bill Cameron talks to Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) for his reaction to the charges against former President, Donald Trump who was indicted for alleged efforts to overturn 2020 election and block transfer of power at the U.S. Capitol.  Krishnamoorthi also addressed the recent conspiracy claims made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alluding to Kennedy as being a "Nut" in crazy town. The round-tabl...

This week, Bill is joined by the second-term Senator from Illinois, Tammy Duckworth. They discuss Republicans holding up the Defense Spending Bill. The Senator also talks about her excitement for the Democratic National Convention coming to Chicago next year, Election 2024 and gave her reaction to the death of Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz. The round-table with Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone, Ray Long...

This week Bill is joined by Matthew McFarland from the Lawndale Christian Legal Center which helps try to prevent violence by disrupting the cycle of youths getting arrested and getting stuck in the legal system. Matthew details his nearly lifelong struggle with drugs and how his life was helped by a judge who kept him out of jail. McFarland gives his thoughts on the Illinois Supreme Court decisio...

This week, Bill Cameron is joined by Congressman from Illinois (D) Mike Quigley, whose district includes much of the north side of Chicago, as well as the northern and north west suburbs. They discussed the threats to democracy within the country and from outside of the United States. Quigley also talked about his relationship with new Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and his excitement about the Bla...

This week, Bill Cameron is joined by longtime Illinois Senator, Dick Durbin.  They discuss the success of the recent NASCAR event held in Chicago, The Senator also has insight on the recent Supreme Court decisions involving Affirmative Action and the ruling against the EPA and its authority to regulate the nation's wetlands and waterways.  Durbin commented on gun violence issues noting his attenda...

More Illinois politicians, including the "ComEd 4" and James Weiss, have been convicted of corruption this year. It's time to revisit and hear from the experts, why they keep stealing. On the round-table with Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart and Ray Long discussed why the media spent more time talking about the five rich people who died looking for the Titanic instead of the 700 migrants t...

This week, Bill played a portion of Governor J.B. Pritzker's commencement speech at Northwestern University earlier this week. He channeled his inner Michael Scott from "The Office" with Steve Carell in the crowd. His daughter was graduating. On the round-table with Ray Long, Dave Stewart and Heather Cherone talked about the latest political figure to be convicted of corruption. This time, it was...

This week, Bill talks with David Kolata, the Executive Director of the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). Kolata talked about the recent hikes in utilities in Illinois including People's Gas and if they should be such expensive hikes.  This week's round-table with Ray Long, Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone and Dave Stewart. They discussed the trial of connected businessman James Weiss, why do Illinois politi...

Bill Cameron talks to Jack Lavin, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to get the organizations viewpoint on several challenges Chicago area businesses are dealing with in the post-pandemic. Starting with Chicago's new mayor, Brandon Johnson, and his new perspective on dealing with crime, mental health assistance, job placement and overall public safety. The round-table with Ra...

This week, Bill talks with Pat Brady, former chair of the Illinois Republican Party to get his views on the upcoming Presidential campaign and those considering a race against Joe Biden.  The GOP wants to keep control in congress and gain control of the Senate, and their nominee could have a significant impact on other races across the country.  Brady also discusses the necessary changes the Illin...

This week, Bill Cameron is joined by former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who is calling on Gov. JB Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon, and House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch to hold a special session to address corruption in Illinois government and its operation. Can that actually be accomplished?  Quinn thinks the time to ask is now.  Quinn also has an opinion on the recent request by the Chi...

This week, Bill talks with 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins. He represents much of the north side near downtown and parts of downtown. Hopkins discussed what his hopes and fears are for the Brandon Johnson Administration. Johnson will be inaugurated on Monday. Hopkins accepted a position offered by Johnson to be the new chairman of the Public Safety Committee even though Hopkins supported Paul Vall...

This week, Bill talks with Chicago Tribune reporter Joe Mahr. He along with Megan Crepeau wrote a story about all the delays in the criminal justice system in Chicago. Why do these delays happen, how do they effect the people stuck in the system and what's being done to fix it? The round-table with Ray Long, Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone and Dave Stewart talked about the guilty verdict in the "ComEd...