Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons
1,680 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 months ago - ★★★★★ - 67 ratingsWBEZ's daily talk show brings listeners the news and conversations that matter most to their day-to-day lives.
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Episodes
Progressive Chicago Aldermen On What Comes Next
March 27, 2023 11:05 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MBBack in 2019, a wave of younger, more progressive aldermen joined Chicago’s City Council, some of them self-identified Democratic socialists. This year, they won a second term. Reset is joined by two progressive aldermen — one soon to start his third term in office, the other his second — to hear about their plans for the coming years and how they see themselves working with a Vallas or a Johnson administration. Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th Ward joined the council in 2015. Alderman Andr...
Drag Is Under Attack Across The Country
March 25, 2023 12:05 - 15 minutes - 7.28 MBAcross the country, drag performances are under attack: Republican lawmakers in states like Arizona, Oklahoma, Idaho and Kansas are moving to regulate when and where drag can take place, and Tennessee has already restricted performances in public. We checked in with ACLU Illinois’s Ed Yohnka after an Illinois bakery announced it’s closing this month after threats last summer for planning a drag event. We also heard from Alex Grelle, Chicago drag theater queen and performer, to hear his though...
WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: March 24, 2023
March 24, 2023 21:30 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBMore dramatic testimony in the ComEd trial. Abortion opponents descend on the State Capitol. Meanwhile, endorsements continue to roll in for Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with Paris Schutz, reporter and anchor, WTTW-TV, A.D. Quig, Cook County and Chicago government reporter for the Chicago Tribune and Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Chicago’s Hottest Spring Events
March 24, 2023 21:30 - 15 minutes - 7.24 MBIn Chicago, you have to take advantage of every warm day you can. Luckily, WBEZ’s got you covered with a guide to the hottest events of the season. We checked in with editor Cassie Walker Burke to get the scoop.
What Happens When Chicago Police Seize Guns
March 24, 2023 11:05 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBThe Chicago Police Department has prioritized seizing illegal guns. A new investigation suggests that tactic is not leading to meaningful improvements to public safety and that it’s upending the lives of Black men in the city, who have guns seized at five times the rate of any other racial group. Reset learns more about the arguments for and against this tactic and what happens when police prioritize seizing guns with Lakeidra Chavis and Geoff Hing from The Marshall Project.
Inside The Illinois Affordable Housing Crisis
March 23, 2023 21:30 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBA new report shows no state in the country has enough affordable housing for the families most in need. Reset discusses what’s driving the shortage in Illinois, how a lack of affordable housing can put a family’s health at risk and how organizations and lawmakers are working to close the gap with Bob Palmer, policy director of Housing Action Illinois, Amanda Henley, community expert of the Housing Committee at the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Nancy Heil, chair o...
‘When Magic Happens’: Get To Know WBEZ’s Newest Podcast
March 23, 2023 21:00 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MB“Three Black women. Three generations. No filters.” That’s the tagline for WBEZ’s latest podcast. Reset sits down with “When Magic Happens’ hosts Cheryle Jackson, Jennifer “Shea Love” Long and Taylor Coward.
Meet The Chicagoan Who Makes Sex Scenes Safe Yet Realistic
March 22, 2023 20:42 - 13 minutes - 6.02 MBHow do you help actors feel safe during intimate scenes in film with nudity or simulated sex? Hire an intimacy coordinator. Much like a stunt coordinator in action movies, intimacy coordinators are essential in scenes involving full or partial nudity. As a part of our Chicago Innovators series, Reset is joined by Chicago-based intimacy coordinator Jessica Steinrock to learn about her work.
Many Chicago Homes Have Dangerous Levels Of Lead Paint
March 22, 2023 20:09 - 15 minutes - 6.9 MBLead paint was banned in Chicago in 1978, but many city homes still contain potentially toxic levels of the substance. Reset learns the details of an investigation into this citywide problem from WTTW’s Paris Schutz.
Illinois Families Are Drowning In Medical Debt
March 22, 2023 19:52 - 21 minutes - 10 MBA new report details the financial and emotional toll medical debt is having on Illinois families. Meanwhile, a proposed state law could be a win-win for both debt-burdened patients and the hospitals that treat them. Reset digs into the problem and possible solution with two authors of the report: Luvia Quiñones from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and Carrie Chapman from Legal Council For Health Justice.
BIPOC Med Students Reflect On Their Journeys To Becoming MDs
March 22, 2023 11:05 - 17 minutes - 16 MBMatch Day is when medical students find out where they’ll be doing their residencies. It can be a festive, or stressful, affair, with schools hosting ceremonies for students and families. Reset checked in with two medical students at RUSH Medical College — Jordan Cisneros and Sharice Hall — to hear about the process of getting their match and to hear about the challenges Black and Latino med students face on their journeys to becoming MDs.
The Nepali Government Wants Its Necklace Back
March 21, 2023 21:30 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MBA collection of South Asian art, donated by the late arts patron Marilynn Alsdorf is causing problems for the Art Institute of Chicago and raising questions about origin and ownership. ProPublica and Crain’s Chicago Business recently published an investigation which uncovered evidence that at least several pieces in the large collection were stolen and exported illegally. Reset sits down with Elyssa Cherney from Crain’s and Steve Mills from ProPublica to learn more. We also hear from Erin Tho...
Don’t Text Me — Lolla and Pitchfork Lineups Just Dropped
March 21, 2023 20:36 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBIn Chicago, the unofficial marker of spring is when the music festival lineups for Lollapalooza and Pitchfork are released. Reset reviewed the 2023 headliners and musical guests for the fests with Ayana Contreras, content director for Vocalo and Leor Galil, writer for the Chicago Reader.
Next Chicago Mayor Will Be Flooded With Water Troubles
March 21, 2023 09:30 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBHundreds of thousands of lead pipes need to be replaced. Homes are flooding due to climate change. Water bills are too high for some residents to afford. And parts of Chicago’s shoreline are falling into the lake. Those are a few of the water issues Chicago’s next mayor will need to address, according to a new op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times. Reset speaks with Joel Brammeier, president and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, for more.
Indiana-born Aminah Nieves On Her Role in The Prequel Series ‘1923’
March 20, 2023 21:30 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBTeonna Rainwater’s story of abuse is just one of the brutal pieces of historical fiction in the “Yellowstone” prequel “1923.” The hit series has a stellar cast that includes Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren and Hammond, Indiana’s own Aminah Nieves. Reset learns more about Nieves and what it’s like to play her character Teonna Rainwater.
Chicagoans Reflect On 20 Years Since Iraq War Began
March 20, 2023 21:30 - 21 minutes - 20 MBIt’s been two decades since the U.S. invaded Iraq over alleged weapons of mass destruction. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed, and no “WMDs” were found. Today many analysts say the war and 2011 American withdrawal destabilized the country and paved the way for the Islamic State’s rise to power in 2014. Reset hears from Iraqi refugee Ekram Hannah (with MIRA: Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance) and Thomas Day, a former military journalist and veteran, about how they are...
The Revolving Door Of Child Placement In Illinois’ Foster System
March 20, 2023 11:05 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBTens of thousands of children in the Illinois foster care system face a constant cycle of being moved from one place to another. Reset speaks to CBS-2 Chicago investigative journalist Dave Savini about his team’s investigation into this ongoing issue.
Andy Shauf on His New Album Norm
March 18, 2023 11:05 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MBReligious imagery, small town ideals, and complicated relationships shape the work of Andy Shauf, a Canadian singer-songwriter. We discuss his interest in God as a concept and the new album Norm. Andy Shauf joins Reset ahead of his show in Chicago.
WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: March 17, 2023
March 17, 2023 21:30 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBThe trial of the so-called “ComEd Four” is now underway, and the search for Chicago’s next police superintendent is on. Meanwhile, mayoral endorsements keep rolling in. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with The Washington Post’s Kim Bellware, Chicago Tribune’s Ray Long and former CBS-2 politics reporter Derrick Blakley.
Chicago Leads On Global Conservation Efforts On Land And Sea
March 17, 2023 20:00 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBThe Shedd Aquarium and The Morton Arboretum have been named the first Centers for Species Survival focused on trees and freshwater species. They’re now part of a network of nine other centers around the world. Reset learns more about how this designation will expand their conservation efforts globally. We check in with Chuck Knapp, vice president of conservation research at Shedd Aquarium and co-chair of the IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group; Silvia Alvarez Clare, director of global tree co...
New Rail Merger Could Bring More Train Traffic To Chicago Area
March 17, 2023 11:05 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBGroups opposed to the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merger say they don’t want the additional noise, potential disruptions and increased risk of crashes and exposure to hazardous materials the merger could bring. Reset learns more about the deal from WTTW investigative reporter and producer Jared Rutecki.
Who Will Be The Next Chicago Police Superintendent?
March 16, 2023 21:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBChicago’s next mayor will have to choose the new Chicago Police Department superintendent. Reset hears analysis from police accountability experts and a former CPD sergeant about what they’d like to see in the next hire and what challenges lie ahead.
The Long-Awaited ‘ComEd Four’ Trial Is Now Underway
March 16, 2023 21:00 - 16 minutes - 14.6 MBFour people with connections to ComEd and former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madgian go on trial over an alleged bribery scheme to push the utility company’s legislative agenda in Springfield. WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos and Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel join Reset to explain the players, the stakes and what it all means for Illinois politics.
Black Families Hit Hardest By Rise In Sudden Infant Deaths
March 16, 2023 11:05 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBA new CDC study reveals an increase in the rate of unexpected deaths among infants during the first year of the pandemic, particularly among Black infants. Reset speaks with health experts about risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUIDS), and how to be proactive about infant safety.
Beyond Campaign Talking Points, What Can Reduce Crime In Chicago?
March 15, 2023 21:00 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBPaul Vallas has positioned himself as the “tough on crime” candidate. Meanwhile, Brandon Johnson is calling for a comprehensive approach to public safety. Northwestern University professor Andrew Papachristos joins Reset to discuss what’s shaping the candidates’ views and what research shows about efforts that really work on the ground.
Governor Pritzker Signs Mandatory Paid Leave Into Law
March 15, 2023 21:00 - 7 minutes - 7.03 MBIllinois is now the third state in the U.S. to mandate paid leave to be used for any reason. Reset checks in with WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman for the latest details of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which Governor JB Pritzker signed into law Monday.
Chicago’s Top Doc On $23.8 Million Settlement With E-Cigarette Maker JUUL
March 15, 2023 11:05 - 16 minutes - 15 MBThe lawsuit against JUUL Labs is one of several steps the city of Chicago has taken in recent years to stop smoking rates from climbing. Reset checks in with Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Alison Arwardy about how vaping affects teens’ lungs and overall health and how the city plans to use the settlement money to fight underage smoking.
How Recent Bank Failures Fit Into Fed’s Fight Against Inflation
March 14, 2023 21:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBNew data out Tuesday show inflation remains a thorn in the side of the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, bank failures have Americans on edge. Reset checks in with NPR chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley for the latest on inflation, recent bank failures and what it all means for the economy.
Illinois Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments On SAFE-T Act
March 14, 2023 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBState lawmakers passed a law eliminating cash bail, as part of the SAFE-T Act, that went into effect Jan. 1. But some prosecutors filed lawsuits challenging the law’s constitutionality, putting the law on hold a week into the new year. WBEZ reporters Mawa Iqbal and Shannon Heffernan join Reset to discuss the oral arguments heard by the state’s highest court Tuesday morning.
How Culpable Are Chicago Officials For Fatal Fires In The City?
March 14, 2023 11:05 - 17 minutes - 7.92 MBAt least 53 people have died in residential fires in Chicago since 2021. An investigation from the Better Government Association and the Chicago Tribune shows the city could be doing more in response to complaints about faulty wiring, missing smoke detectors and other safety issues. It also shows that inspections have been lagging. Reset learns why the city has failed to prevent these deaths and discusses potential solutions with Better Government Association reporter Alex Nitkin and former C...
How Vallas And Johnson Would Handle Taxes And City Finances
March 13, 2023 21:00 - 11 minutes - 5.12 MBCrime has overshadowed the economy in the Chicago mayor’s race, but it’s important to understand how a Vallas or a Johnson administration will approach budgeting, property taxes, pension payments and the city’s finances. WBEZ city politics reporter Mariah Woelfel explains.
How To Vote In Chicago’s April 4 Mayoral Runoff
March 13, 2023 21:00 - 8 minutes - 4.11 MBIt’s a quick turnaround between the Feb. 28 municipal election and the April 4 runoff, but the Chicago Board of Elections is ready. Reset checks in with Max Bever from the Chicago Board of Elections about everything Chicago voters need to know as they prepare to pick a mayor and vote in key aldermanic races that have also gone to a runoff.
Architects Re-imagine Bungalows And Three-Flats To Create New Housing Options In Chicago
March 13, 2023 11:05 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBA Chicago Architecture Center design competition aims to bring creative new forms of affordable housing to six neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West sides. Reset talks to the center’s CEO Eleanor Gorski about the Come Home Initiative.
Where To Find The Best Hot Chocolate In Chicago
March 11, 2023 12:05 - 12 minutes - 5.64 MBSome folks — much of the Reset team included — can’t get their day started without a strong cup of coffee. But host Sasha-Ann Simons is not one of those people. In fact, her morning go-to is hot chocolate. So to feed the anti-coffee host’s sweet tooth, and to get folks through this chilly season, Reset is on the hunt to find the best hot chocolate in Chicago with some help from listener recommendations.
Numero Group Gives New Life To Archival Music
March 10, 2023 22:13 - 13 minutes - 6.12 MBJapanese rock. Ohio soul. UK rave. Country noir. Those are just a few of the many playlists curated by the folks at Numero Group, a Chicago record label that focuses on curating collections of archival music. Reset checks in with Numero Group co-founders Rob Sevier and Ken Shipley about giving new life to records from the past that have been neglected, overlooked or not widely distributed.
WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: March 10, 2023
March 10, 2023 22:00 - 43 minutes - 20.1 MBPaul Vallas and Brandon Johnson face off in Chicago’s first mayoral runoff debate, and the endorsements in the race are rolling in. Field Museum staff vote to unionize, and faculty at Chicago State University are voting on whether to strike. Reset breaks down those top local stories and more in our Weekly News Recap with New York Times Chicago bureau chief Julie Bosman, Chicago Sun-Times education reporter Nader Issa and Hyde Park Herald reporter Aaron Gettinger.
Illinois Mental Health Program For Kids Plagued By Problems
March 10, 2023 12:05 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBScreening, Assessment and Support Services, or SASS, is an Illinois program that focuses on connecting kids from low-income homes with mental health services. But some children are falling through the cracks. Reset digs into a WBEZ investigation of the issues and shortfalls with reporters Kristen Schorsch and Sarah Karp.
Takeaways From Chicago’s First Mayoral Runoff Debate
March 09, 2023 22:00 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBPaul Vallas and Brandon Johnson clarified their policies and took digs at their opponent at the NBC-5 and Telemundo Chicago forum. Reset catches up on the debate with WBEZ city government and politics reporter.
Bill McKibben Says Baby Boomers Need To Join Gen Z In The Climate Fight
March 09, 2023 22:00 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBAround the world, young people are on the frontlines of the fight to protect our planet from climate change. And for good reason — they’ll bear the brunt of destruction. Reset talks to author and environmentalist Bill McKibben about why “experienced Americans” over 60 also play a vital role in taking on climate action.
Illinois Set To Lose Some Of Its Last Remaining Prairieland
March 09, 2023 12:05 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MBThe FAA has approved the Rockford International Airport’s plan to build a road through a section of native dry gravel prairie, home to an endangered species called the rusty patched bumblebee. Reset hears from environmental activist Robbie Telfer of the group Save Bell Bowl Prairie about how we got here and how this will impact some of the last prairieland in Illinois.
Vallas, Johnson Head Into First Mayoral Runoff Debate
March 08, 2023 22:00 - 9 minutes - 8.81 MBFormer Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson will face off in the first mayoral runoff debate Wednesday night at 6 p.m. on NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago. Reset discusses with Tessa Weinberg, WBEZ city government and politics reporter.
It’s About Damn Time…To Celebrate Women Film Directors
March 08, 2023 22:00 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBYou can see award-winning movies from international film festivals at the Gene Siskel Film Center through the end of March. Eleven of them are directed by women. To mark International Women’s Day, Reset talks to Rebecca Fons, director of programming at the Siskel about the festival and some of her favorite women-directed films from the series.
Mayor Lightfoot Wants More Chicagoans To Move Downtown. Will They Come?
March 08, 2023 12:05 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBIn cities across the country, fewer people are going downtown than they did before COVID-19. Here in Chicago, developers have responded to the city’s request for proposals with six ideas for how to bring LaSalle Street back to life. Reset gets the details from Block Club Chicago reporter Melody Mercado.
Chicago’s All-Women Mariachi Band Is Breaking Cultural Barriers
March 07, 2023 21:51 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBThe group Mariachi Sirenas is challenging stereotypes while honoring Mexican traditions. Reset sits down with members Ibet Herrera and Laura Velazquez to learn more about their music and roots.
Cook County Is The Worst Smog Polluter In The Country
March 07, 2023 21:08 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBNew EPA data show that air pollution from Chicago and the rest of Cook County makes its way to neighboring states, and Wisconsin suffers the worst. Reset checks in with Chicago Tribune environmental reporter Michael Hawthorne for more on how Chicago and its suburbs are polluting places like Wisconsin, Michigan and even Connecticut.
New Bill Would Make Ticketing Illinois Students Illegal
March 07, 2023 12:05 - 12 minutes - 11 MBA $200 ticket for truancy. A $175 fine for having a vape pen. A $450 ticket for disorderly conduct. In schools across Illinois, students are being ticketed and fined for minor offenses that previously may have warranted a trip to the principal’s office or detention. Reset talks to reporters Jennifer Smith Richards and Jodi Cohen who have shone a light on the ticketing. Their work has prompted a bill in Springfield that aims to make the practice illegal.
What Will It Take To Save Chicago Theaters?
March 06, 2023 22:14 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBPandemic-era federal funds were a lifeline for Chicago theaters. Now, those federal funds are drying up. And theater seats aren’t filling up at the same rate as before the pandemic. Do theaters need to rethink their business model to stay alive? Reset checks in with Jeannie Lukow, executive director of Porchlight Music Theater, Kara Riopelle, managing director with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Tribune critic Chris Jones and Claire Rice, executive director, Arts Alliance Illinois.
Women Make 82 Cents For Every Dollar Men Make
March 06, 2023 21:59 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBIn recent decades, more women have pursued higher education and have joined the workforce, helping narrow the wage gap between men and women during the '80s and '90s. But that progress has stalled over the past two decades, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis. Reset talks to Felicia Davis Blakley, president and CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women and Sharmili Majmudar, executive vice president of policy and organizational impact at Women Employed about closing the gap in the Chica...
Chicago Mayoral Hopefuls Vallas, Johnson Differ Sharply On Education
March 06, 2023 12:05 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBThe Chicago mayoral runoff pits a serial schools CEO against a former high school social studies teacher backed by the teachers union. Reset talks to Chicago education reporters Sarah Karp and Mauricio Peña about the candidates’ deep ties to education and different approaches to schooling.
Chicago’s Top Federal Prosecutor Steps Down
March 04, 2023 13:05 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBFor the past five years, U.S. attorney John Lausch has led major corruption cases against Ald. Ed Burke and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. His last day as U.S attorney for the Northern Illinois District is March 11. Reset discusses his time in office and his impact on Chicago and Illinois politics with Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.