The 21st Show

If it seems like the mood of the nation right now is “angry,” there is some data to back up that observation. According to the Mood of The Nation Survey from American Public Media and the McCourtney Institute for Democracy, nine in ten Americans can name a recent news event or something about our country’s politics that made them mad. A sociologist, a clinical psycholog...

The Springfield-based Illinois Times is celebrating its 50th anniversary-surviving many changes in journalism from the rise of the Internet and social media to the collapse of classified advertising. The owner and editor of the paper joins today's program. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that m...

An investigative journalist who reported on the death of a mentally ill woman in an Illinois jail discusses her findings and the challenges people with mental illnesses face in jails across the state.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show...

George Packer is best known for his journalism. He's been a staff writer at The Atlantic magazine since 2018, and before that spent 15 years at The New Yorker. He’s also written books on American politics and foreign affairs. His previous books include The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq (2005) and The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America (2013). Now, for the first time in decades, he’s...

There's a lot of passenger rail projects underway across Illinois with some pushing full-steam ahead and some in railway limbo.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we...

The historic government shut down just ended, but improvements in air travel are not expected right away. Air traffic controllers are increasingly calling in sick resulting in the cancellation of more than 10,000 flights in the last few days.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories tha...

Robert Moore was the second Black U.S. Marshal for Central Illinois. He also served in many other roles in law enforcement at a time when opportunities for Black people were limited. Moore's self-published memoir expores his pioneering career.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter...

This year's State of Change special produced by Illinois Public Media focuses on prarie preservation and restoration in Illinois.

William Smith was a Native American, who relocated to Chicago. Some high school students in Illinois co-produced a film on his life, which is to be screened at Chicago's Goodman Theater this weekend.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on th...

To mark Veterans Day, Illinois women who’ve served in the military speak about some of their experiences and reflect on some of their struggles.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea...

"America the Beautiful" is a well-known song celebrating the country and praising its natural wonders. But what do we know about the life of the person who wrote the lyrics? A new documentary explores Katharine Lee Bates, a poet, professor, and university administrator, who is credited with writing the iconic song. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connectin...

The longest federal government shutdown seems to be inching closer to its end. In a previously taped interview, Senator Tammy Duckworth discusses aviation safety, SNAP, ICE agents, and what this upcoming Veteran's Day means to her.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the...

Lee Hawkins is a journalist, a podcast producer, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. But in his new book, he turns his skills toward telling his own family’s story. It’s a memoir across 400 years of enslavement, Jim Crow, and beyond — and how the trauma of those experiences is passed from one generation to the next. The book is called, “I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Fre...

An actor, who is also a Peoria-based food influencer, joins the program today to discuss his content.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an em...

A major distributor of books for libraries is shutting down. We’ll talk about why, and how that’s affecting the work of Illinois libraries.     The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share...

For the first time since the program's inception in 1964, money for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has run dry. What are the broader implications of this for people and the economy? Experts and the head of one Illinois food bank weigh in. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stor...

Lawyer and former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party Don Tracy is one of eight Republicans who filed for the 2026 primary in the Illinois Senate race. He Tracy weighs in on issues that he may face if elected.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st s...

A panel of experts involved in the field of education across the state discuss why school start times are what they are, and whether they should, or even could, change. Some sleep experts weigh in as well.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts...

On Halloween, we’ll talk with an Illinois couple who’ve made a former funeral home into their home. The house was among the competitors on the new season of HGTV’s “Scariest House in America.” They share what drew them to the home, what it was like being on an HGTV show with Retta, and why they didn't actually want to win the $150,000 grand prize renovation.

The Illinois General Assembly wrapped up a brief but highly productive fall legislative session in which they tackled the financial problems of mass transit agencies, energy prices, immigration enforcement, and "medical aid in dying" for terminally ill patients. We’ll talk with a reporter who was covering it well into the early hours of this morning.

On Wednesday, after more than 11 hours of deliberation, a Peoria jury found former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Sonya Massey in her home near Springfield last year. The jury, however, acquitted Grayson on the more serious charge of first-degree murder — which could have resulted in a lifetime prison sentence. We'll talk with a repor...

Founded in 1968, Red Lobster once had more than 600 locations across the U.S., Canada, and overseas franchises. But last year, the $2 billion revenue company went into bankruptcy, reorganized, and came out with new ownership and new leadership. The company has sought to revamp operations, make changes to its menu, and close a few locations. According to USA Today, five Illinois Red Lobsters have c...

Journalists have captured many striking images of ICE and Border Patrol operations in Illinois — and documented the people demonstrating against them. We’ll talk about what it’s like covering the chaos through the lens of a camera.

Illinois state Rep. Hoan Huynh, D-Chicago, says a federal agent pointed a gun at him last week. The government says he was interfering in immigration enforcement; he says he was warning constituents about their rights. “We don’t have any weapons; we were only recording what they’re doing," Hyunh told The 21st Show. "And if what they’re doing is actually legal, then they should not be afraid for it...

There's trouble for soybean farmers in Illinois and beyond. Drought conditions have made for a faster-than-average harvest, but a big problem remains the ongoing trade war and the lack of places for farmers to sell their beans. We’ll talk about that, how what’s happening in China and Argentina affects farmers in Illinois, and other headwinds for American agriculture.