Chicago and Illinois are at a crossroads.
Taxes are rising, families are leaving, schools are failing, and public safety is on the line.
The Illinois Policy Podcast goes beyond the headlines to bring you candid conversations with leaders, thinkers, and reformers who know what’s really happening in our state — and what it will take to change course.
Each episode delivers:
-Honest discussions about Chicago and Illinois politics
-Deep dives into education, crime, taxes, and budgets
-Stories from people directly impacted by policy decisions
-Solutions that can restore opportunity and prosperity
Hosted by the Illinois Policy Institute, this podcast is for anyone who loves Chicago and Illinois but knows our state deserves better.
🔔 Subscribe now for real talk about Illinois’ future.
Site
RSS
Apple
Données mises à jour le 23/07/2026
Classements récents
Dernières positions dans les classements Apple Podcasts et Spotify.
Liens partagés entre épisodes et podcasts
Liens présents dans les descriptions d'épisodes et autres podcasts les utilisant également.
Découvrez des podcasts liées à Illinois Policy Podcast. Explorez des podcasts avec des thèmes, sujets, et formats similaires. Ces similarités sont calculées grâce à des données tangibles, pas d'extrapolations !
Il n'y a pas de contenu associé à ce podcast.
Aucun lien partagé par ce podcast
Inside the Decline of Schools, Safety, and Finances in Chicago
mardi 23 septembre 2025 • Durée 45:47
Chicago is facing record outmigration, failing schools, and rising taxes.
In this debut episode, Paul Vallas—former Chicago Public Schools CEO and 2023 mayoral candidate—joins us to break down why families are leaving Chicago, how the Chicago Teachers Union controls city policymaking, the real state of crime and safety, and how things could have been different.
Listen now and subscribe to the Illinois Policy Podcast for honest conversations about Illinois’ future.
00:00 – Chicago’s Crisis: Crime, Taxes, Schools
00:41 – Welcome to the Illinois Policy Podcast
01:07 – Introducing Guest: Paul Vallas
01:25 – What Could Have Been Different?
02:03 – Chicago’s Public Safety Problem
03:17 – Housing & Development Failures
04:03 – Springfield: Missed Opportunities
06:00 – Teachers Union’s Grip on Chicago
07:19 – CPS Staffing & Spending Issues
09:22 – Why Families Are Leaving Chicago
12:03 – How Schools Were Reformed in the Past
14:01 – Local Control and Magnet Schools
15:52 – Lowering Education Standards
18:22 – Attacks on Testing & Accountability
20:03 – Charter and School Choice Options
22:16 – Failing “Sustainable Community Schools”
24:19 – How Unions Block Real Options for Families
25:13 – Public Safety: The Reality vs. Rhetoric
27:18 – Schools, COVID, and the Crime Spike
28:39 – How Prosecutors Changed Crime Trends
29:39 – Domestic Violence on the Rise
30:39 – Why Crime is Underreported
33:30 – Chicago as a “Sanctuary City for Criminals”
35:09 – Police Staffing and Crime Correlation
37:14 – CTA Safety and Ridership Decline
39:11 – Chicago’s Future Forecast
41:07 – The Three Financial Crises Facing the City
42:51 – Who Will Lead Chicago Next?
44:23 – Cook County Politics & Preckwinkle’s Influence
45:46 – Closing Thoughts with Paul Vallas
These three things could fix Illinois in 2023
mercredi 11 janvier 2023 • Durée 14:19
The new, 103rd Illinois General Assembly session starts today. What are the key issues incoming lawmakers should address? Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic research at the Illinois Policy Institute, recommends three solutions Illinois legislators could pursue to solve long-term problems and grow opportunity in Illinois.
The Chicago Teachers Union's war on school choice
mardi 3 janvier 2023 • Durée 08:09
The Chicago Teachers Union and other teachers' unions oppose Invest in Kids, a tax-credit scholarship program that allows underprivileged children to attend private schools of their choice. Why would teachers advocate against a program that helps low-income students? Mailee Smith, staff attorney and director of labor policy at Illinois Policy Institute, refutes opponents' false claims about the program and explains why the Illinois General Assembly should reinstitute Invest in Kids during its next session.
These new laws take effect in Illinois in 2023
mardi 20 décembre 2022 • Durée 12:14
The new year will bring new state laws, many of which passed before lawmakers and the public had time to review them. How will these complex laws change life in Illinois? Joe Tabor, director of policy research at Illinois Policy Institute, gives an overview of Illinois' new laws for 2023 from the controversial SAFE-T Act to a new constitutional amendment.
Why it's the perfect time for Illinois to embrace school choice
mercredi 14 décembre 2022 • Durée 23:11
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many Illinois parents to the concept and practice of school choice. What is school choice and why has it become such a politicized issue? Nathan Hoffman, director of state policy and legislative strategy for the American Federation for Children, joins us to discuss the benefits of school choice and why Illinois should extend Invest in Kids, a state tax-credit and school-choice scholarship program.
How small businesses led Illinois' recovery from covid
mercredi 7 décembre 2022 • Durée 11:31
Both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses led Illinois' job growth. What policies can the state adopt to further encourage small-business growth and promote economic vitality in Illinois? Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic research at the Illinois Policy Institute, shares his recommendations on today's episode
Why you should run for school board in Illinois
mardi 29 novembre 2022 • Durée 10:57
The consolidated election will give voters a chance to elect their local school board members, who influence spending on property tax bills and make other important decisions regarding education. While the election isn’t until April 4, 2023, petitions to run for school board are due Dec. 19. Director of Labor Policy Mailee Smith explains why local elections are so important. She breaks down what to know if you want to get active in local school board races.
Election Day 101: Understanding the Illinois ballot
mardi 8 novembre 2022 • Durée 15:25
Voting polls have opened for the Nov. 8 general election and Illinois residents can cast their in-person votes at locations statewide. What's at stake for Illinois? Bryce Hill explains what voters need to know about everything from Amendment 1 to the gubernatorial race to how many candidates are running for Statehouse office.
How the 'workers' rights amendment' hurts 93% of Illinois workers
mercredi 2 novembre 2022 • Durée 12:35
With only a few days left until Election Day, Illinois' government unions continue to tout Amendment 1, a proposed constitutional amendment at the top of the Nov. 8 ballot. Amendment 1's chief sponsor admitted the amendment cannot protect all Illinois workers -- so why are proponents still saying it can? Mailee Smith, director of labor policy at Illinois Policy Institute, explains why Amendment 1 is a "legal trick" that would hurt more workers than it would help if it passes.
Debunking the myths behind Illinois' "workers' rights amendment"
mercredi 26 octobre 2022 • Durée 15:13
Many misleading narratives surround Amendment 1, the proposed constitutional amendment at the top of the Nov. 8 ballot that proponents disingenuously call a "Workers Rights Amendment." Mailee Smith, director of labor policy at Illinois Policy Institute, identifies the top Amendment 1 myths that have spread during election season in this week's episode of The Policy Shop.