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On Background: WBEZ’s Politics Podcast

On Background is WBEZ Chicago’s weekly political podcast. Each week, our top-notch team of political reporters brings you the backstory on the week’s big story. We’ll take you inside the back rooms of Chicago and Illinois government to explain the story, and why it matters.

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About

On Background is WBEZ Chicago’s weekly political podcast. Each week, our top-notch team of political reporters brings you the backstory on the week’s big story. We’ll take you inside the back rooms of Chicago and Illinois government to explain the story, and why it matters.

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Recent

  • Who Is Lori Lightfoot?

    Lori Lightfoot was catapulted into the spotlight in the fallout from Laquan McDonald’s murder. But before that, she was hardly a household name in Chicago. WBEZ’s Claudia Morell zooms in on three …

    Listen — 15:26

  • Who Is Toni Preckwinkle?

    There are a lot of ways people describe Toni Preckwinkle. Progressive pioneer. Party boss. Prickly county board president. But the image of her in the race to become Chicago’s next mayor doesn’t …

    Listen — 17:36

  • COMING SOON: Who are Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle?

    There have been so many soundbites and headlines about the remaining two candidates for Chicago Mayor. But maybe you find yourself still wondering: Who exactly are these people?This week we’re …

    Listen — 1:26

  • The Politics of Chicago’s Lincoln Yards

    The plans to build a mini-city along the North Branch of the Chicago River have been winding their way through the byzantine City Council process for the last year. The $6 billion project, known as …

    Listen — 20:53

  • Illinois’ Bad Bet On Video Gambling

    A decade ago, Illinois politicians legalized video gambling in hopes of generated much-needed money for the state. But like so many stories in Illinois, this one didn’t turn out to be that simple. …

    Listen — 23:02

  • The Results Show

    It was an election for the history books. With no incumbent on the ballot and 14 candidates for mayor, just a third of all registered voters in Chicago cast ballots this week and the results are in. …

    Listen — 21:06

  • The Final Countdown: Chicago Election Extravaganza!

    It’s the final countdown! Chicago’s municipal elections are next Tuesday. Voters will get to pick from 14 candidates to be the next mayor and pick someone to represent their neighborhood too. This …

    Listen — 23:55

  • Do Endorsements Matter?

    Newspapers, unions, and even celebrities are throwing their weight — and in some cases, money — behind their choice for Chicago’s next mayor. This week, the WBEZ politics team digs in to a …

    Listen — 13:17

  • Help! I don’t know who to vote for!

    How the heck is a Chicago voter supposed to make sense of a mayor’s race with 14 candidates? Well, you’ve got about two weeks to figure that out. So WBEZ has cooked up a nifty way to help you choose …

    Listen — 22:38