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Inside Chicago Government

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Rating
★★★★★
4.8
from
20 reviews
Categories
Country
United States
This podcast has
377 episodes
Language
English
Explicit
No
Date created
2008/01/24
Latest episode
2026/10/05
Average duration
19 min.
Release period
89 days

Description

Hear government insiders, activists, and journalists dive deep into the dark corners of Chicago government--driving shadowy deeds into the light. If you want to hear voices--voices that clue you to the backstage actors that affect our city--listen closely, because we're Chi!

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Check latest episodes from Inside Chicago Government podcast


10/4/26: "Express train to O'Hare: We've heard this before"
2026/10/05
In an archival discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben tracked plans to provide high-speed airport trains for elite travelers. Length 11.3 minutes.
1/2/26: "Red Line exceptions, plus: We NITA transit redo"
2026/01/02
In an audio interview, transit professional Britton Budd gives insights into challenges with CTA's Red Line Extension, and creation of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority. Length 27.3 minutes.
12/23/24: "Police workforce study: opacity, budget tricks, and clout"
2024/12/24
In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben probed Ben probed Dave's ongoing investigation into police workforce allocation. In the standard and premium versions, Dave and Ben discussed typical budget tactics used in Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed 2025 budget; the past and future challenges of police workforce data; and the "clots of clout" that could frustrate efforts to deploy police personnel effectively. (For the premium version, which includes audio from quoted sources, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 47.7 minutes.
9/11/24: "Cook County Assessor on Loop buildings: TIF tax gift makes a diff"
2024/09/13
In an audio excerpt, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi revealed the impact of tax-increment financing on the sinking property assessments of Loop office buildings. Length 4.5 minutes.
4/28/24: "Sigcho-Lopez protest invests colleagues' blitzkrieg"
2024/04/28
Fifteen City Council members called a special April 1 meeting to oust Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez as housing committee chair. In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben analyzed the raucous gathering. (Subscribers can find the full-length version at chigov.com.) Length 52.1 minutes.
3/1/24: "Chief cop-watcher and top cop spar at Police Board meeting"
2024/03/01
In this audio from a public meeting of the Chicago Police Board on Feb 22 2024, a clash took place between the heads of the Chicago Police Dept. and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Length 31.2 minutes.
2/3/24: "Top cop strongly defends Shotspotter at public meeting"
2024/02/04
In this audio piece, Chicago Police Dept. Superintendent Larry Snelling lent support to the controversial Shotspotter system--which Mayor Brandon Johnson has opposed. The top cop's remarks came at a January 13, 2024 public meeting of Chicago's Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability. Length 17.5 minutes.
12/28/23: "Chicago Police sergeant: district station crumbling, flooding, and unhealthy for years"
2023/12/28
In this audio piece, a Chicago Police Dept. sergeant revealed unsafe and unhealthy conditions at the 11th District police station on the West Side. Length 9.1 minutes.
12/4/23: "November council: sorrow, censure, and referenda"
2023/12/05
In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben evaluated meetings of the Chicago City Council that took place in November of 2023. In the standard version, council members reacted to 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack's move to censure 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa. In the premium version: One alderman claims, explicitly, what Rosa did to intimidate her; Rosa's act of contrition; controversy around two proposals for referenda to be put before voters in March; and the raucous rules committee meeting. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 11.3 minutes.
10/6/23: "Sept. City Council takes shelter, chance on finance"
2023/10/06
In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben probed audio from several meetings of the Chicago City Council in September, 2023. In the standard version, Mayor Brandon Johnson and aldermen introduced a measure to use real estate transfer taxes for housing the unhoused. In the premium version: aldermen discussed tax-increment financing to buy a building intended as a migrant shelter; a controversy around Mayor Johnson's pick for city comptroller; and why and how the the Sept. 13 full-council "phantom" meeting took place. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 10.3 minutes.
8/7/23: Police Consent Decree: toeing the line, or dragging their feet?
2023/08/07
In audio from a June 2, 2023 public meeting, lawyers from the city of Chicago and the American Civil Liberties Union clashed on the pace of police reforms mandated by the 2019 Consent Decree. Length 23.2 minutes.
7/11/23: "Police staffing called out by community commission and mayor's transition report"
2023/07/11
In this audio piece, a public safety commission member questioned police workforce allocation--a matter also highlighted in a report by Mayor Brandon Johnson's transition team. Length 6.8 minutes.
6/21/23: "Community stakeholders challenge police use-of-force training"
2023/06/22
In this audio piece, members of Chicago’s Use of Force Community Working Group criticized use-of-force training by the Chicago Police Department. Length 8.5 minutes.
6/14/23: "May mayoral debut: dodge 'em, and maybe mayhem"
2023/06/15
In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben probed audio from 2023's May 24 and May 31 meetings of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen reacted on May 24 to Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed slate of 20 council committees and their associated chairs. In the premium version: finance committee chair Ald. Scott Waguespack's May 24 concession speech; rancor at the May 31 meeting caused by the administration's proposed funding of migrant support; and how members of the public were barred from the May 24 meeting. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 11.4 minutes.
5/12/23: "Former inspector general: the rise and fall of training handbook for aldermen"
2023/05/12
In an audio interview, former Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson described an effort to formalize the training of new aldermen, and gave insights into why it failed. In the standard version, Ferguson described how the idea of an aldermanic handbook came to him. In the premium version, Ferguson explained how the handbook came together, why it fell apart, and how some of the fundamental challenges of city governance could be addressed by comprehensive, formalized aldermanic training. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 6.5 minutes.

Podcast reviews

Read Inside Chicago Government podcast reviews


4.8 out of 5
20 reviews
★☆☆☆☆
csi09 2022/06/02
Just a commercial for premium
This brief podcast is a description and preview of all the things you won’t hear, unless you pay for their premium.
★★★★★
Best voices on the radio 2018/12/19
The best!
Ben and Dr. D: the two best voices on the radio! I listen to The Benny J show every chance I get. It’s the best source for local Chicago politics- rel...
★★★★★
Diggy124568 2016/11/11
Great insiders look into Chicago politics
An excellent resource to understand the inner working of Chicago politics. These guys have a great rapport!
★★★★★
DL Wicker Park 2016/06/29
Chicago News
Chicago news generally serves the elites so it is great to have Ben give us all the low down.
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