The Fran Spielman Show

Sun-Times City Hall reporter and avid baseball fan Fran Spielman is joined by former Chicago Cubs TV voice Len Kasper, who is leaving to fill the vacant play-by-play spot in the White Sox’ radio booth. Kasper, who has been with the Cubs for 16 years, will join analyst Darrin Jackson on the Sox’ new home, ESPN 1000.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara. Catanzara argued that the sympathetic remarks he made to WBEZ-FM Radio were made after he had watched television coverage of the Capitol siege for only 30 minutes—before the damage, destruction and deaths had been revealed. Also discussed, the recently passed criminal justice reform bill and...

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel to discuss Wednesday's storming of the U.S. Capitol by “a riotous mob — insurrectionists, domestic terrorists” as labeled by President-Elect Joe Biden Thursday afternoon. Other topics include what to expect at the start of Biden's term and what lies ahead for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by her colleagues Tim Novak and Mark Brown to discuss a tumultuous year in local and state politics. Topics include Governor J.B. Pritzker's handling of the pandemic at the state level, what's in store for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s response to a botched police raid.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Chicago’s health commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, to discuss the city's vaccine plan and when we can expect to return to a more normal way of life.

Arguing that it’s time for a “new generation of leaders,” City Clerk Anna Valencia said Tuesday she’s forming an exploratory committee to run to succeed retiring Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Thursday morning she joined Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman to discuss the current state of City Council and why she's looking to run for state office.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson to discuss school re-openings and what a safe return will look like in 2021.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by businessman, philanthropist and host of CNBC's "The Profit," Marcus Lemonis, to discuss his recent partnership with Grubhub. Lemonis is attempting to battle food insecurity with the newly established "Plating Change" program through The Lemon-Aid Foundation.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Chicago Federation of Labor president Bob Reiter who voiced unwavering support for embattled Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, even though a new federal indictment plunges deeper into Madigan’s once impervious inner-circle. The CFL has an ownership stake in Sun-Times Media.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Budget Committee Chairman Pat Dowell (3rd) to discuss this week's virtual budget meeting and what is in store for the city of Chicago heading into 2021.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel to discuss the presidential election, why he thinks Biden will be victorious and what the potential new administration will have to address when they move in in January.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by incumbent Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to discuss her campaign against challenger Pat O'Brien and what's next for her administration should she be re-elected.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman celebrates 100 episodes as she is joined by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to discuss the current state of the pandemic and what that means for her newly released city budget.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Chicago's first Chief Marketing Officer, Michael Fassnacht. Together they discuss Fassnacht's role in rebranding Chicago amid challenging times. “If you look at the mayor and what she represents — her history, her background, her personality — people are very intrigued by that. They might not agree with everything. But, they’re intrigued and...

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall. He argues that beleaguered Chicago taxpayers and business owners ravaged by the pandemic can’t take any more punishment. Instead, he’s urging the mayor to wield the budget axe.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by outgoing executive editor Chris Fusco in his final days after 20 years with the paper. The former reporter and current top editor reflects on his storied career and details his next chapter as the founding executive editor at Lookout Local, a media startup in California that aims to rejuvenate local news.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Samir Mayekar, deputy mayor for economic and neighborhood development to discuss Chicago's plan to recover from the pandemic.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by legendary journalist Carol Marin to discuss why she's stepping down from on-camera reporting and what she's pursuing in the next chapter of her career.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter and longtime Ravinia attendee Fran Spielman is joined by Welz Kauffman, who will be stepping down as CEO and president of the Ravinia Festival at the end of September after 20 years.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Chicago's City Budget Director Susie Park and Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett to discuss the city's financial recovery and how to recoup the damage done to the budget caused by the pandemic.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to discuss her role in the national Democratic stage and why she's throwing her support behind Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Sydney Roberts, chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Of nearly 1,000 complaints filed against Chicago Police officers since the death of George Floyd, roughly 170 had enough supporting evidence to warrant full-blown investigations by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, COPA’s chief administrator said...

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer Luke Figora to discuss what campus life will look like for Northwestern University students this fall.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by City Council Committee on Public Safety chairman Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) to discuss the demands of being a CPD officer and what the future looks like for the country's second largest police force.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Chicago Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney to discuss games without fans in the stands and the future of revenue for the ball club amid the pandemic.