Join veteran City Hall reporter Fran Spielman as she interviews Chicago’s biggest movers and shakers. Each week, Fran sits down with a local leader, politician or policymaker to get the inside scoop on the latest news in Chicago.
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg
40 mins; April 02, 2026
Chicago’s acting CFO Steve Mahr: Bonds, budget tensions, and pension strategy
45 mins; March 26, 2026
Breaking down Illinois’ St. Patrick’s Day election results
59 mins; March 19, 2026
Ravinia Festival president and CEO Jeff Haydon
35 mins; March 13, 2026
Oscar Predictions: ‘Sinners’ vs. ‘One Battle After Another,’ with Richard Roeper
43 mins; March 05, 2026
Rep. Kam Buckner
42 mins; February 26, 2026
Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson
58 mins; February 20, 2026
Commissioner Ivan Capifali | Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
43 mins; February 12, 2026
Debating video gaming terminals: Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) & Ald. Walter "Red" Burnett (27th)
41 mins; February 06, 2026
Cristina Pacione-Zayas | Mayor Brandon Johnson's Chief of Staff
51 mins; January 29, 2026
Boosting Chicago tourism amidst challenges: Insights from Choose Chicago's Kristen Reynolds and Guy Chipparoni
44 mins; January 22, 2026
Bears fever: A post-season deep dive with Rick Telander & Marc Ganis
42 mins; January 13, 2026
Congressman Mike Quigley
43 mins; January 07, 2026
David Greising, CEO of the Better Government Association
37 mins; December 17, 2025
Year-End Review: Chicago and Illinois politics in 2025
40 mins; December 12, 2025
Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson
36 mins; December 04, 2025
Navigating the future of Chicago's stadiums with Eleanor Gorski
33 mins; November 26, 2025
Chicago Federation of Labor president Bob Reiter
33 mins; November 21, 2025
Honoring veterans: A conversation with Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th)
40 mins; November 11, 2025
CTA's future: Funding, expansion, and security with acting president Nora Leerhsen
38 mins; November 06, 2025
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch defends revenue choices made in $1.5B mass transit bail-out
21 mins; October 31, 2025
In-depth analysis of Mayor Brandon Johnson's $16.6 billion budget proposal
42 mins; October 23, 2025
Discussing Chicago's budget with Mayor Johnson's senior adviser Jason Lee
50 mins; October 17, 2025
Chicago alderpersons discuss the impact of Trump's immigration crackdown
40 mins; October 09, 2025
Crane Kenny, Chicago Cubs President of Business Operations | Advancing to the NLDS
36 mins; October 03, 2025
Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) takes on Cook County leadership
34 mins; September 24, 2025
Chicago anchorman Bill Kurtis reflects on his career in journalism
63 hours 7 mins; September 19, 2025
A New Generation in Chicago Politics: Walter "Red" Burnett’s Vision for Change
40 mins; September 12, 2025
Financial crisis and governance challenges in Chicago: A conversation with Congressman Mike Quigley
43 mins; August 27, 2025
Commissioner for Chicago Department of Aviation Michael McMurray on O'Hare expansion
41 mins; August 21, 2025
Kam Buckner on Illinois politics and policies
50 mins; August 15, 2025
Navigating Chicago's Budget: A Conversation with senior mayoral advisor Jason Lee
67 hours 17 mins; August 07, 2025
Remembering Ryne Sandberg with Pat Hughes & "Ryno" himself
49 mins; July 29, 2025
Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar
47 mins; July 25, 2025
Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) Reflects on 30 Years in Chicago Politics and Future Plans
63 hours 2 mins; July 17, 2025
David Axelrod on Chicago Politics, Mayor Johnson's Challenges, and Democratic Party Prospects
63 hours 14 mins; July 09, 2025
Ray Long Reflects on a Storied Career in Journalism
40 mins; July 01, 2025
WBBM's Craig Dellimore: Reflections on a Legendary Career in Journalism
37 mins; June 25, 2025
A Father's Day Special with Mayor Brandon Johnson, Rahm Emanuel, and Congressman Chuy Garcia
65 hours 3 mins; June 12, 2025
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling
31 mins; June 04, 2025
Chicago's 44th Ward: Challenges, Changes, and Collaborations with Alderman Bennett Lawson
44 mins; May 29, 2025
Navigating Tourism Challenges in Chicago with Choose Chicago's New CEO, Kristen Reynolds
42 mins; May 22, 2025
Hall of Fame right fielder and former Chicago Cub Andre Dawson
39 mins; May 15, 2025
Mayor Brandon Johnson: Reflections on two years in office
65 hours 50 mins; May 09, 2025
Challenges and Opportunities in Chicago's Development: A Conversation with Commissioner Ciere Boatright
41 mins; May 02, 2025
General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
39 mins; April 24, 2025
A Conversation with Filmmaker John Block
37 mins; April 10, 2025
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates on the new teachers' contract
43 mins; April 03, 2025
Jeffrey Haydon Ravinia Festival CEO discusses renovations and exciting summer lineup
35 mins; March 27, 2025
Outgoing Chicago Park District CEO Rosa Escareno
35 mins; March 20, 2025
Anthony Driver, President of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability
36 mins; March 11, 2025
Fran Spielman on 50 Years in Chicago media | The 300th episode
25 mins; March 06, 2025
Chicago Public Media CEO Melissa Bell
46 mins; February 28, 2025
Oscars Preview with Richard Roeper
33 mins; February 20, 2025
Inside Chicago Politics: A Candid Conversation with Dick Mell
40 mins; February 14, 2025
Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander | Super Bowl preview & remembering Virginia McCaskey
38 mins; February 06, 2025
Chicago's Response to Mass Deportation Efforts
36 mins; January 30, 2025
Investigative Legacy: A Conversation with Tim Novak
39 mins; January 24, 2025
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch Discusses State Challenges and Trump Era Strategies
36 mins; January 16, 2025
Chicago news year in review
39 mins; December 17, 2024
U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
37 mins; December 03, 2024
Balancing Chicago's Budget: A City Council Perspective with Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) & Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th)
35 mins; November 21, 2024
Kennedy Bartley, Chief of External Affairs
37 mins; November 14, 2024
Sun-Times reporters recap the 2024 election results
37 mins; November 08, 2024
Discussing Mayor Johnson's proposed Chicago budget | Ald. Anthony Beale (9th)
36 mins; October 31, 2024
Ald. Marty Quinn (13th)
26 mins; October 17, 2024
Chicago School Board Resignation and Budget Crisis Explained
37 mins; October 11, 2024
Jordan Abudayyeh, departing Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Strategic Media for Gov. JB Pritzker
37 mins; October 02, 2024
Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), Zoning Committee Chair, Vice-Mayor and City Council Dean
37 mins; September 26, 2024
Anthony Driver Jr. on Public Safety, Police Accountability, and Community Concerns
34 mins; September 19, 2024
Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd)
31 mins; September 12, 2024
City of Chicago Budget Director Annette Guzman
35 mins; September 05, 2024
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates
35 mins; August 29, 2024
Post-Democratic National Convention Analysis: Sun-Times reporters Tina Sfondeles & Mitchell Armentrout
37 mins; August 23, 2024
Former CPS CEO Forrest Claypool reflects on Richard M. Daley's legacy
40 mins; August 09, 2024
Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill
37 mins; July 30, 2024
Former United States Senator Carol Moseley Braun
31 mins; July 23, 2024
Analyzing the Republican National Convention
39 mins; July 19, 2024
Bill Daley | Former U.S. Commerce Secretary and former White House chief of staff
49 mins; July 12, 2024
Julie Giese, President of the NASCAR Chicago Street Course
29 mins; July 03, 2024
Pat Cleary, President of Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2
31 mins; June 27, 2024
Mickey Bergman International Hostage Negotiator
38 mins; June 20, 2024
Alan Woinski, CEO of Gaming U.S.A. Corporation
33 mins; June 13, 2024
Leslie Fox, former Executive Director of 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago
34 mins; May 31, 2024
Ralph Clark, CEO of SoundThinking, Inc., the company behind ShotSpotter
37 mins; May 21, 2024
Joe Ferguson, President of the Civic Federation
43 mins; May 16, 2024
Mayor Brandon Johnson
46 mins; May 10, 2024
FOP President John Catanzara
42 mins; April 30, 2024
New homes for the Bears and the White Sox? Sports business consultant Marc Ganis weighs in
39 mins; April 26, 2024
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates
45 mins; April 18, 2024
Gin Kilgore, acting executive director of Friends of the Parks
36 mins; April 05, 2024
Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th)
33 mins; March 28, 2024
Jeffrey Haydon, president and chief executive officer of the Ravinia Festival
31 mins; March 21, 2024
Primary election preview with Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles & WBEZ's Dave McKinney
35 mins; March 15, 2024
Ald. William Hall (6th)
38 mins; March 06, 2024
Let's talk Oscars 2024 with Richard Roeper
34 mins; February 29, 2024
Rob Karr, President and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association
33 mins; February 23, 2024
Former Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson
35 mins; February 15, 2024
Il. House Speaker Chris Welch
32 mins; February 08, 2024
David Goldenberg, Anti-Defamation League Midwest Regional Director
