Capitol Cast: Illinois
212 episodes - English - Latest episode: 23 days ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsNews and analysis of Illinois state government
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Episodes
Week in Review - July 31
July 31, 2020 15:48 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBA rebellion within House Democrats is threatening House Speaker Michael Madigan’s grip on power. Schools are preparing to reopen amid a pandemic that seemingly won’t go away. And Capitol News Illinois is taking on a new project with a new reporter.
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Thaddeus Jones
June 26, 2020 20:02 - 21 minutes - 30 MBAs part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about the power of conversation to highlight misunderstandings and bring Illinoisans together, and Jones’s hope this era’s civil rights movement is not fleeting. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Tom Demmer
June 25, 2020 20:02 - 20 minutes - 27 MBState Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, the Deputy House Republican Leader, discusses how the Black Lives Matter movement is resonating in largely rural, white regions like his, and how he thinks Republicans can find common ground with those who are calling for broad-scale reform. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Will Davis
June 24, 2020 20:41 - 26 minutes - 33.6 MBAs part of our ongoing project series, "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, speaks with Capitol News Illinois about what tools lawmakers can use to advance racial equity in the state. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Lamont Robinson Jr.
June 23, 2020 18:32 - 11 minutes - 16 MBAs part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Lamont Robinson Jr. (D-Chicago) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about improvements he said the legislature needs to make, and his message for Illinoisans — that this social movement is one society needs to tackle together. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Sen. Jacqueline Collins
June 19, 2020 19:49 - 22 minutes - 19.4 MBAs part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about achieving racial equity in banking, how the media treats issues of racism and more. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin
June 18, 2020 18:42 - 18 minutes - 24.7 MBAs part of our ongoing project "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin (D-Olympia Fields) speaks with Capitol News Illinois about the role of what she called “attitude” in changing public sentiment toward race, and how negative media portrayals of black communities do more harm than good. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. LaToya Greenwood
June 17, 2020 20:08 - 14 minutes - 18.7 MBRep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, discusses the issue of racial inequities in the Metro East area and the mood of that community in the wake of protests that have erupted in Illinois following the killing of George Floyd. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Sen. Robert Peters
June 16, 2020 20:05 - 16 minutes - 14.4 MBAs part of our ongoing project, "Perspectives on Progress," Illinois state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, shares his thoughts on the May 25 killing of George Floyd, how he thinks Illinois should move forward amid the protests, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its financial impacts, and what role the media plays in shaping the conversation. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Sen. Kimberly Lightford
June 15, 2020 20:25 - 17 minutes - 23.3 MBAs part of our ongoing project, Perspectives on Progress, Illinois state Sen. Kimberly Lightford talks about her source of hope and how she does not want Illinois to miss its chance to address systemic racism. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Maurice West
June 12, 2020 19:53 - 14 minutes - 18.7 MBRep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, talks about how Illinois can move forward in the wake of protests and demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. His key message: Listen to the voices of the unheard. Music credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Marcus Evans
June 11, 2020 19:08 - 22 minutes - 11.3 MBAs part of our ongoing project, Perspectives on Progress, state Rep. Marcus Evans reflects on his experiences with police and how he would like to see the conversation around policing in the U.S. and Illinois focus on “bad individuals” using police powers wrongly, rather than a condemnation of policing in general. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Curtis Tarver
June 10, 2020 19:50 - 11 minutes - 16.5 MBAs part of our ongoing project, Perspectives on Progress, Illinois state Rep. Curtis Tarver talks about what he is seeing as daily demonstrations in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, continue, as well as what changes he thinks must occur. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
June 09, 2020 20:29 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBAs part of our ongoing project, Perspectives on Progress, state Rep. Chris Welch talks about his reaction to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, as well as his perspectives about the nationwide protests that event sparked and where he thinks the state of Illinois should go from here. Music Credit: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Perspectives on Progress: Rep. La Shawn Ford
June 08, 2020 19:19 - 23 minutes - 20.8 MBCapitol News Illinois launched its new "Perspectives on Progress" podcast series Monday, June 8 in an effort to broadcast conversations about race in America and Illinois. To begin the series, the Statehouse news bureau reached out to the 31 members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to hear their perspectives and share their experiences with racism and their thoughts on what actions, legislatively or otherwise, are needed to move forward. Our first guest is Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chic...
Illinois Starts to Reopen
May 29, 2020 18:51 - 17 minutes - 16 MBA week after the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up a historic special session, the state has entered Phase 3 of the reopening plan. Reporters Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki, Rebecca Anzel and Ben Orner analyze the status of the pandemic and how the General Assembly responded to it.
Statehouse Coverage in a Pandemic
May 18, 2020 18:53 - 21 minutes - 20.7 MBFour interns with the University of Illinois Springfield's Public Affairs Reporting program talk about their experience covering the Illinois Statehouse during a pandemic. Guests are Kade Heather, Tim Eggert, Neil Earley and Ben Orner.
The Fiscal Hit from COVID-19
April 24, 2020 19:08 - 16 minutes - 22.2 MBMichael Belsky, executive director of the Center for Municipal Finance at the University of Chicago, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on state and local government revenues and what they should be doing to brace for it.
Economic Fallout from COVID-19
April 10, 2020 21:55 - 18 minutes - 24.6 MBThe COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on the Illinois economy. Economist Kenneth Kriz of the University of Illinois - Springfield talks about how it could impact state revenues and services, while Frank Manzo of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute talks about one way the state might be able to blunt some of the impact.
State Budgeting in a Pandemic
April 03, 2020 21:48 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MBThe COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the Illinois economy, forcing Gov. JB Pritzker and state lawmakers to completely rethink the budget plan for the next fiscal year. Sens. Andy Manar (D) and Dan McConchie (R), the chair and minority spokesman of a Senate budget committee, share their views.
Economic Impact of the Coronavirus
March 27, 2020 21:42 - 9 minutes - 14 MBUniversity of Chicago economics professor Dan Black talks about the economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic could haveafter more than 114,000 Illinoisans filed first-time unemployment claims.
Elections Amid Coronavirus
March 20, 2020 16:46 - 22 minutes - 29.7 MBThe Illinois primary elections took place in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic. Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections, discusses how it went.
Coronavirus Puts General Assembly on Pause
March 13, 2020 20:39 - 6 minutes - 8.09 MBAs the coronavirus pandemic spreads in Illinois, the legislative session has been put on pause, along with many other ordinary things in life. Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki discuss how this could impact the rest of the session.
Where's the Property Tax Reform?
March 06, 2020 22:06 - 14 minutes - 16.5 MBWhile Republicans complain Democratic leaders aren't moving forward on property taxes, Rep. Michael Zalewski, who chairs the House Revenue and Finance Committee, talks about how difficult the issue is to resolve.
Coronavirus Response and a Statehouse News Wrapup
February 28, 2020 23:52 - 14 minutes - 16.1 MBGov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot explain the state's response plan for the spreading coronavirus outbreak, dubbed COVID-19. Plus, the Capitol News Illinois team talks about some of the big Statehouse news of the past week.
Blagojevic Freed amid New Corruption Study
February 21, 2020 14:01 - 12 minutes - 15.3 MBFormer Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is freed from prison during the same week a new study is released showing Chicago the most corrupt city in America, and Illinois the third-most corrupt state. University of Illinois at Chicago political science professor Dick Simpson discusses his research and the history behind the state's corrupt politics.
Budget Address Preview
February 17, 2020 22:07 - 13 minutes - 14 MBGov. JB Pritzker will deliver his second budget address on Wednesday, Feb. 19. But lawmakers are also focusing on their own legislative agendas, including proposals to let college student athletes sign endorsement deals, and a proposed constitutional amendment to overhaul the state's redistricting process ahead of the 2020 census.
Primaries, Voter Registrations and Ethics
February 07, 2020 21:35 - 16 minutes - 19 MBThe Iowa caucus debacle has some people thinking it should be Illinois' turn to host the first presidential primary; Secretary of State Jesse White Answers lawmakers about errors in the state's automatic voter registration system; and a former legislative inspector general says reports of lawmaker wrongdoing are getting swept under the rug. Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki and Rebecca Anzel discusss.
2020 Session Opens Under Ethics Cloud
January 31, 2020 19:07 - 14 minutes - 16.1 MBGov. JB Pritzker gave an upbeat State of the State address, but a dark ethical cloud still hangs over the Illinois General Assembly. Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki analyze the week's news.
2020 Session Preview
January 24, 2020 22:18 - 12 minutes - 12.8 MBThe Illinois Senate has a new president and the 2020 legislative session is about to get underway. Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki and Rebecca Anzel talk about what's ahead.
Gov. Pritzker's First Year
January 14, 2020 18:16 - 20 minutes - 23.2 MBIn an interview, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker reflects on his first year in office and his priorities for 2020. Discussion and analysis with Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki.
2019 Year in Review
December 13, 2019 23:33 - 17 minutes - 17 MBNewly-elected Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker dominated Statehouse news in Illinois during 2019, but federal corruption probes involving several sitting lawmakers also caused a distraction. Analysis from some of the leading players in the General Assembly and discussion with reporters Peter Hancock, Jerry Nowicki and Rebecca Anzel.
llinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke
November 25, 2019 15:45 - 11 minutes - 21 MBCapitol News Illinois reporter Rebecca Anzel talks with the new chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Anne Burke, about her legal career, goals and advice.
Veto Session Roundup
November 15, 2019 23:15 - 21 minutes - 26 MBA roundup of the final week of the 2019 veto session in Illinois. Pension fund consolidation, ethics reform, a failed effort to pave the way for a Chicago casino, and a surprise announcement moments after lawmakers adjourned.
Previewing Week 2 of Veto Session
November 09, 2019 00:41 - 10 minutes - 16.5 MBLawmakers return to the Statehouse on Nov. 12 for the final three days of the veto session. Peter Hancock and Rebecca Anzel preview what's ahead.
Justice Lloyd Karmeier Reflects on His Career
November 05, 2019 20:36 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBIllinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier sits down with Capitol News Illinois' Rebecca Anzel for a one-on-one interview to discuss the court, challenges and his own personal connection to the state's highest court.
Veto Session Week 1 Recap
November 01, 2019 23:52 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBCapitol News Illinois' Jerry Nowicki talks with Sam Dunklau of NPR Illinois about the happenings of the first week of veto session, including the arrest and resignationof a state representative, the movement of a bill allowing college athletes to collect endorsement deals and more.
Veto Session Preview
October 25, 2019 19:37 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBA pension consolidation proposal, some cleanup to legislation legalizing adult use recreational marijuana, and a bill to ban flavored tobacco and vaping products will be considered when the Legislature returns for the fall veto session. The Capitol News Illinois reporting team discusses these issues and more.
Election Security 2020
October 18, 2019 18:04 - 22 minutes - 23.9 MBThe Illinois election system was the target of Russian hackers in 2016. Can that happen again in 2020? Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections, discusses what the state is doing to improve cyber security and the different types of threats that still exist.
Sandoval Probe, death penalty and insulin costs
October 11, 2019 22:28 - 11 minutes - 13.1 MBThe federal probe into Sen. Martin Sandoval heats up with the release of unredacted copies of the federal search warrant that was executed last month. Rebecca Anzel discusses a renewed effort to reinstate the death penalty in Illinois. And Jerry Nowicki discusses a legislative effort to lower the out-of-pocket cost of insulin.
Sandoval, Sterigenics and Paid College Athletes
October 04, 2019 14:44 - 11 minutes - 12.3 MBAmid an FBI probe, Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls on a state senator to step down as chairman of the Transportation Committee; Sterigenics says it will not reopen its Willowbrook plant; and one lawmaker wants college athletes in Illinois to get paid for endorsement deals.
Illinois Supreme Court Circuit Riding
September 19, 2019 02:25 - 16 minutes - 17.4 MBThe Illinois Supreme Court took to the road to hear two cyber-related cases before a large audience at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey.
Kids in Medicaid - Former lawmakers sue - Raoul fights opioids & tech
September 13, 2019 21:12 - 14 minutes - 16.6 MBState officials plan to shift 74,000 of the state's most vulnerable children into a managed care Medicaid plan; two former lawmakers are suing the state hoping to collect back pay they claim to be owed; and Attorney General Kwame Raoul goes up against opioid manufacturers and tech giant Google.
Final Flurry of Bill Signings and Look-Ahead to Veto Session
September 06, 2019 19:00 - 13 minutes - 14.4 MBGov. J.B. Pritzker signed 591 bills into law during his first year as governor, including a flurry of bills leading up to the deadline. Now attention turns to the upcoming veto session, which begins in late October, and some of the new issues that are likely to come up then.
Madigan Report, Bill Signings and a Rare Veto
August 23, 2019 17:22 - 16 minutes - 18.5 MBRoundtable discussion of the culture of bullying and harassment in House Speaker Michael Madigan's office, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's signing of protections for immigrant tenants and a new minimum teacher salary, and Pritzker's veto of a bill dealing with weapon-like items in public schools. Peter Hancock, Rebecca Anzel and Jerry Nowicki.
Democrats, Republicans and the Illinois State Fair
August 16, 2019 20:02 - 15 minutes - 17.4 MBAfter one of the most significant legislative sessions in recent memory, Illinois Democrats and Republicans gathered in Springfield this week to begin shaping their messages about what happened, and how they plan to carry that message into the 2020 election cycle.
State Government and the Economy
August 09, 2019 19:19 - 17 minutes - 19.9 MBTodd Maisch, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, talks about the state of the economy, whether state government is helping or hurting, and what the business community still hopes to accomplish in the Statehouse.
State Fair Preview
August 02, 2019 01:03 - 8 minutes - 12 MBThe Illinois State Fair opens Aug. 8. It's been a cultural institution in Illinois since 1853. John Sullivan, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, joins other officials in talking about what's new and improved this year, what the fair means to many people, and some new developments in the agriculture industry today.
Title X, Immigrant Children and Sterigenics
July 26, 2019 16:36 - 14 minutes - 16.6 MBRound table discussion: Gov. J.B. Pritzker challenges the Trump administration on two fronts: Title X funding and legislation protecting immigrant children. Meanwhile a political battle brews over whether Sterigenics can reopen its facility in Willowbrook. Peter Hancock, Rebecca Anzel and Jerry Nowicki discuss.
The Corwin Amendment
July 19, 2019 23:14 - 7 minutes - 8.91 MBIn 1862, Illinois lawmakers ratified the so-called "Corwin Amendment," a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would have preserved slavery in the Southern states. Now, Republican state Sen. Jason Plummer is pushing a resolution to rescind the state's ratification.