https://simplecast.com The Takeaway with Alex The only weekly Chicago podcast explaining the news through approachable conversations with expert journalists. What we know, how we know it – and most importantly – why it matters. Alex Maragos sits down with the people who have a front row seat to the biggest stories in Chicago and beyond. Less flash, more facts. Less conflict, more context. Leaving something for the audience to remember – this is The Takeaway. 🎧 Subscribe now and stay ahead of the story. 2025 WMAQ, NBC Chicago en Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:00:13 +0000 https://www.nbcnews.com/ The Takeaway with Alex https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/00c81e60-45f9-4643-9fed-2184b2b6a3d3/92f83da0-aa3d-4cf2-9e08-b8e5245f552b/3000x3000/takeaway-20sq-20thumb-203000x3000.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://www.nbcnews.com/ episodic The only weekly Chicago podcast explaining the news through approachable conversations with expert journalists. What we know, how we know it – and most importantly – why it matters. Alex Maragos sits down with the people who have a front row seat to the biggest stories in Chicago and beyond. Less flash, more facts. Less conflict, more context. Leaving something for the audience to remember – this is The Takeaway. 🎧 Subscribe now and stay ahead of the story. NBC Chicago false https://feeds.simplecast.com/OtsoRZSp Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com 08eaf7ed-0594-472d-b1cb-e6042c4c337d Olympics 2026 behind the scenes: 100-DAY COUNTDOWN to Milan-Cortina! In 100 days, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will bring the best athletes in the world together in February 2026. Every member of Team USA has a unique story about how they got to the top of their sport, and it takes a team of people to bring those stories to the world. We close Season 1 of The Takeaway with Alex podcast with a conversation between Alex Maragos and Mike McGovern about how those Olympics stories are told. McGovern, a photojournalist, has covered four Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020) and Maragos has reported on two (Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024). Together, they will lead NBC Chicago’s coverage of the Olympic Games in Italy this winter. In this episode, they discuss some of their favorite Olympic memories, the extensive planning and collaboration that an Olympics assignment requires, and the ability to deal with the unpredictable stories that every Olympic Games provides. 


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]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ In 100 days, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will bring the best athletes in the world together in February 2026. Every member of Team USA has a unique story about how they got to the top of their sport, and it takes a team of people to bring those stories to the world. We close Season 1 of The Takeaway with Alex podcast with a conversation between Alex Maragos and Mike McGovern about how those Olympics stories are told. McGovern, a photojournalist, has covered four Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020) and Maragos has reported on two (Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024). Together, they will lead NBC Chicago’s coverage of the Olympic Games in Italy this winter. In this episode, they discuss some of their favorite Olympic memories, the extensive planning and collaboration that an Olympics assignment requires, and the ability to deal with the unpredictable stories that every Olympic Games provides. 


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]]> Olympics 2026 behind the scenes: 100-DAY COUNTDOWN to Milan-Cortina! Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:31:14 In 100 days, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will bring the best athletes in the world together in February 2026. Every member of Team USA has a unique story about how they got to the top of their sport, and it takes a team of people to bring those stories to the world. We close Season 1 of The Takeaway with Alex podcast with a conversation between Alex Maragos and Mike McGovern about how those Olympics stories are told. McGovern, a photojournalist, has covered four Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020) and Maragos has reported on two (Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024). Together, they will lead NBC Chicago’s coverage of the Olympic Games in Italy this winter. In this episode, they discuss some of their favorite Olympic memories, the extensive planning and collaboration that an Olympics assignment requires, and the ability to deal with the unpredictable stories that every Olympic Games provides. In 100 days, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will bring the best athletes in the world together in February 2026. Every member of Team USA has a unique story about how they got to the top of their sport, and it takes a team of people to bring those stories to the world. We close Season 1 of The Takeaway with Alex podcast with a conversation between Alex Maragos and Mike McGovern about how those Olympics stories are told. McGovern, a photojournalist, has covered four Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020) and Maragos has reported on two (Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024). Together, they will lead NBC Chicago’s coverage of the Olympic Games in Italy this winter. In this episode, they discuss some of their favorite Olympic memories, the extensive planning and collaboration that an Olympics assignment requires, and the ability to deal with the unpredictable stories that every Olympic Games provides. false full 35 a716179e-258c-43bb-b7a5-f62a2c1a3aef Bulls 2025 Season Preview: Adam Amin on Giddey, Coby, Matas, his favorite calls + DJ side hustle With the 2025-26 NBA season about to begin, Chicago Bulls TV play-by-play man Adam Amin takes us through the storylines for the Bulls this season. With a young core of Matas Buzelis, Coby White and Josh Giddey; Amin talks about the steps forward he hopes to see the team take at the United Center this year. The Bulls will just be one part of his very busy fall. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Amin takes us through a week of his life in the fall: the game prep, the travel, the meetings, the broadcast. Balancing baseball, football, basketball in the span of several months has its own challenges, but Amin says he loves the variety and the pressure of describing and detailing games to tens of millions of people every week. Adam also dives into his love of music, and his regular runs on the turntable as a professional DJ. He shares how it got started and has now turned into more than a hobby. 


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]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:08:14 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ With the 2025-26 NBA season about to begin, Chicago Bulls TV play-by-play man Adam Amin takes us through the storylines for the Bulls this season. With a young core of Matas Buzelis, Coby White and Josh Giddey; Amin talks about the steps forward he hopes to see the team take at the United Center this year. The Bulls will just be one part of his very busy fall. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Amin takes us through a week of his life in the fall: the game prep, the travel, the meetings, the broadcast. Balancing baseball, football, basketball in the span of several months has its own challenges, but Amin says he loves the variety and the pressure of describing and detailing games to tens of millions of people every week. Adam also dives into his love of music, and his regular runs on the turntable as a professional DJ. He shares how it got started and has now turned into more than a hobby. 


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]]> Bulls 2025 Season Preview: Adam Amin on Giddey, Coby, Matas, his favorite calls + DJ side hustle Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:39:53 With the 2025-26 NBA season about to begin, Chicago Bulls TV play-by-play man Adam Amin takes us through the storylines for the Bulls this season. With a young core of Matas Buzelis, Coby White and Josh Giddey; Amin talks about the steps forward he hopes to see the team take at the United Center this year. The Bulls will just be one part of his very busy fall. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Amin takes us through a week of his life in the fall: the game prep, the travel, the meetings, the broadcast. Balancing baseball, football, basketball in the span of several months has its own challenges, but Amin says he loves the variety and the pressure of describing and detailing games to tens of millions of people every week. Adam also dives into his love of music, and his regular runs on the turntable as a professional DJ. He shares how it got started and has now turned into more than a hobby. With the 2025-26 NBA season about to begin, Chicago Bulls TV play-by-play man Adam Amin takes us through the storylines for the Bulls this season. With a young core of Matas Buzelis, Coby White and Josh Giddey; Amin talks about the steps forward he hopes to see the team take at the United Center this year. The Bulls will just be one part of his very busy fall. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Amin takes us through a week of his life in the fall: the game prep, the travel, the meetings, the broadcast. Balancing baseball, football, basketball in the span of several months has its own challenges, but Amin says he loves the variety and the pressure of describing and detailing games to tens of millions of people every week. Adam also dives into his love of music, and his regular runs on the turntable as a professional DJ. He shares how it got started and has now turned into more than a hobby. false full 34 6c6a89fc-8e2f-4ad4-a12c-2cc624e25333 Why do we have Daylight Saving Time? Daylight Saving Time is an annual ritual that can be disorienting, confusing and controversial. With the time change coming up, The Takeaway with Alex sat down with Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes to dig into the law that’s been on the books for decades, how we arrived got this idea, and why people want to get rid of it. Daylight Saving Time has big effects beyond just adjusting our clocks, sleep and schedules. Kevin talks about what it does to traffic safety, energy use and how we think about our weather.


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]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2025 23:17:50 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Daylight Saving Time is an annual ritual that can be disorienting, confusing and controversial. With the time change coming up, The Takeaway with Alex sat down with Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes to dig into the law that’s been on the books for decades, how we arrived got this idea, and why people want to get rid of it. Daylight Saving Time has big effects beyond just adjusting our clocks, sleep and schedules. Kevin talks about what it does to traffic safety, energy use and how we think about our weather.


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]]> Why do we have Daylight Saving Time? Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:21:19 Daylight Saving Time is an annual ritual that can be disorienting, confusing and controversial. With the time change coming up, The Takeaway with Alex sat down with Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes to dig into the law that’s been on the books for decades, how we arrived got this idea, and why people want to get rid of it. Daylight Saving Time has big effects beyond just adjusting our clocks, sleep and schedules. Kevin talks about what it does to traffic safety, energy use and how we think about our weather. Daylight Saving Time is an annual ritual that can be disorienting, confusing and controversial. With the time change coming up, The Takeaway with Alex sat down with Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes to dig into the law that’s been on the books for decades, how we arrived got this idea, and why people want to get rid of it. Daylight Saving Time has big effects beyond just adjusting our clocks, sleep and schedules. Kevin talks about what it does to traffic safety, energy use and how we think about our weather. false full 33 2ccdb61f-c9e1-468b-ba01-79f70bb317f4 What can National Guard troops REALLY do in Chicago? From the earliest days of the United States, there has been a debate about where the power should lie: with the states or with a central U.S. government? Now, that debate is playing out in Chicago and the suburbs. As the Trump administration gears up to send in federal troops to bolster "Operation Midway Blitz" and its mass deportation program, state and local officials are fighting back. To help explain the legal and logistical possibilities of all of this, we're joined on the Takeaway this week by Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson and former general Richard Hayes who once served as the highest-ranking member of the Illinois National Guard. 


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]]> Sat, 4 Oct 2025 01:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ From the earliest days of the United States, there has been a debate about where the power should lie: with the states or with a central U.S. government? Now, that debate is playing out in Chicago and the suburbs. As the Trump administration gears up to send in federal troops to bolster "Operation Midway Blitz" and its mass deportation program, state and local officials are fighting back. To help explain the legal and logistical possibilities of all of this, we're joined on the Takeaway this week by Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson and former general Richard Hayes who once served as the highest-ranking member of the Illinois National Guard. 


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]]> What can National Guard troops REALLY do in Chicago? Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:29:32 From the earliest days of the United States, there has been a debate about where the power should lie: with the states or with a central U.S. government? Now, that debate is playing out in Chicago and the suburbs. As the Trump administration gears up to send in federal troops to bolster "Operation Midway Blitz" and its mass deportation program, state and local officials are fighting back. To help explain the legal and logistical possibilities of all of this, we're joined on the Takeaway this week by Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson and former general Richard Hayes who once served as the highest-ranking member of the Illinois National Guard. From the earliest days of the United States, there has been a debate about where the power should lie: with the states or with a central U.S. government? Now, that debate is playing out in Chicago and the suburbs. As the Trump administration gears up to send in federal troops to bolster "Operation Midway Blitz" and its mass deportation program, state and local officials are fighting back. To help explain the legal and logistical possibilities of all of this, we're joined on the Takeaway this week by Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson and former general Richard Hayes who once served as the highest-ranking member of the Illinois National Guard. false full 32 8bfad1cc-1b87-45c9-8532-a24130540c11 What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? Clues, cover-ups, new details For 50 years, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa has fascinated and frustrated the FBI and millions of Americans. The famous former head of the Teamsters Union was last seen July 30th, 1975 – and while the mob connections to Hoffa were clear, the lack of an equally clear cause and manner of death has led to thousands of theories and tips. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago’s Chuck Goudie takes us back to that summer day outside Detroit in 1975 to walk through the twists and turns of a story he’s covered from the beginning. Goudie also reveals what former FBI agents and mob figures are now telling him about how they think Hoffa's last moments were spent.


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]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2025 20:27:18 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ For 50 years, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa has fascinated and frustrated the FBI and millions of Americans. The famous former head of the Teamsters Union was last seen July 30th, 1975 – and while the mob connections to Hoffa were clear, the lack of an equally clear cause and manner of death has led to thousands of theories and tips. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago’s Chuck Goudie takes us back to that summer day outside Detroit in 1975 to walk through the twists and turns of a story he’s covered from the beginning. Goudie also reveals what former FBI agents and mob figures are now telling him about how they think Hoffa's last moments were spent.


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]]> What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? Clues, cover-ups, new details Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:25:34 For 50 years, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa has fascinated and frustrated the FBI and millions of Americans. The famous former head of the Teamsters Union was last seen July 30th, 1975 – and while the mob connections to Hoffa were clear, the lack of an equally clear cause and manner of death has led to thousands of theories and tips. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago’s Chuck Goudie takes us back to that summer day outside Detroit in 1975 to walk through the twists and turns of a story he’s covered from the beginning. Goudie also reveals what former FBI agents and mob figures are now telling him about how they think Hoffa's last moments were spent. For 50 years, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa has fascinated and frustrated the FBI and millions of Americans. The famous former head of the Teamsters Union was last seen July 30th, 1975 – and while the mob connections to Hoffa were clear, the lack of an equally clear cause and manner of death has led to thousands of theories and tips. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago’s Chuck Goudie takes us back to that summer day outside Detroit in 1975 to walk through the twists and turns of a story he’s covered from the beginning. Goudie also reveals what former FBI agents and mob figures are now telling him about how they think Hoffa's last moments were spent. false full 31 d4ceec47-5fab-4845-ab3c-ea9f41523046 What the Dallas Cowboys documentary DIDN'T show (ex-defensive coordinator tells all) The Netflix documentary, “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” chronicles the highs and lows of the 90’s Cowboys from the perspectives of those who lived it — and willed it into existence. Across eight episodes Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Barry Switzer and many others in the Cowboys universe describe what made that time and those teams so special. Often compared to “The Last Dance,” the seminal documentary on the power of the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, “America’s Team” shows how not just the Cowboys but the whole NFL evolved throughout the decade. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Dave Wannstedt, the Cowboys defensive coordinator for the ascent of that dynasty, shares more of his perspective, including some details about the Jerry Jones-Jimmy Johnson relationship that didn’t make it into the final cut of the series. 


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]]> Sun, 21 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ The Netflix documentary, “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” chronicles the highs and lows of the 90’s Cowboys from the perspectives of those who lived it — and willed it into existence. Across eight episodes Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Barry Switzer and many others in the Cowboys universe describe what made that time and those teams so special. Often compared to “The Last Dance,” the seminal documentary on the power of the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, “America’s Team” shows how not just the Cowboys but the whole NFL evolved throughout the decade. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Dave Wannstedt, the Cowboys defensive coordinator for the ascent of that dynasty, shares more of his perspective, including some details about the Jerry Jones-Jimmy Johnson relationship that didn’t make it into the final cut of the series. 


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]]> What the Dallas Cowboys documentary DIDN'T show (ex-defensive coordinator tells all) Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:36:59 The Netflix documentary, “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” chronicles the highs and lows of the 90’s Cowboys from the perspectives of those who lived it — and willed it into existence. Across eight episodes Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Barry Switzer and many others in the Cowboys universe describe what made that time and those teams so special. Often compared to “The Last Dance,” the seminal documentary on the power of the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, “America’s Team” shows how not just the Cowboys but the whole NFL evolved throughout the decade. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Dave Wannstedt, the Cowboys defensive coordinator for the ascent of that dynasty, shares more of his perspective, including some details about the Jerry Jones-Jimmy Johnson relationship that didn’t make it into the final cut of the series. The Netflix documentary, “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” chronicles the highs and lows of the 90’s Cowboys from the perspectives of those who lived it — and willed it into existence. Across eight episodes Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Barry Switzer and many others in the Cowboys universe describe what made that time and those teams so special. Often compared to “The Last Dance,” the seminal documentary on the power of the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, “America’s Team” shows how not just the Cowboys but the whole NFL evolved throughout the decade. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Dave Wannstedt, the Cowboys defensive coordinator for the ascent of that dynasty, shares more of his perspective, including some details about the Jerry Jones-Jimmy Johnson relationship that didn’t make it into the final cut of the series. false full 30 1572283a-0be5-4ab9-b560-2db2deb1c6e1 Charlie Kirk assassination: Shooter search, FBI updates, political beliefs, reactions Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah has led to a renewed conversation about political violence in the United States. The 31-year-old had millions of followers on social media, was very close with President Donald Trump and his son Don Jr., and had built Turning Point USA into the leading conservative organization for the digital age. He had strong views on many divisive political topics -- the 2ndAmendment, gender, immigration, religion in American life – and relished debating it all in public. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern describes how his upbringing in the Chicago suburbs shaped his views and his path to political stardom. She also talks about the reaction to the assassination from Democrats, and what the future of political discourse looks like with fear of continued violence.


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]]> Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah has led to a renewed conversation about political violence in the United States. The 31-year-old had millions of followers on social media, was very close with President Donald Trump and his son Don Jr., and had built Turning Point USA into the leading conservative organization for the digital age. He had strong views on many divisive political topics -- the 2ndAmendment, gender, immigration, religion in American life – and relished debating it all in public. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern describes how his upbringing in the Chicago suburbs shaped his views and his path to political stardom. She also talks about the reaction to the assassination from Democrats, and what the future of political discourse looks like with fear of continued violence.


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]]> Charlie Kirk assassination: Shooter search, FBI updates, political beliefs, reactions Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:16:00 Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah has led to a renewed conversation about political violence in the United States. The 31-year-old had millions of followers on social media, was very close with President Donald Trump and his son Don Jr., and had built Turning Point USA into the leading conservative organization for the digital age. He had strong views on many divisive political topics -- the 2nd Amendment, gender, immigration, religion in American life – and relished debating it all in public. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern describes how his upbringing in the Chicago suburbs shaped his views and his path to political stardom. She also talks about the reaction to the assassination from Democrats, and what the future of political discourse looks like with fear of continued violence. Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah has led to a renewed conversation about political violence in the United States. The 31-year-old had millions of followers on social media, was very close with President Donald Trump and his son Don Jr., and had built Turning Point USA into the leading conservative organization for the digital age. He had strong views on many divisive political topics -- the 2nd Amendment, gender, immigration, religion in American life – and relished debating it all in public. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern describes how his upbringing in the Chicago suburbs shaped his views and his path to political stardom. She also talks about the reaction to the assassination from Democrats, and what the future of political discourse looks like with fear of continued violence. false full 29 eab3aa6e-76a2-4527-9642-0d7282b8e5ab Bears Week 1: Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson, Vikings preview, win total The Chicago Bears come into the 2025 NFL season with a new coaching staff, new offensive line and new playmakers – but will it lead to more wins? Will Ben Johnson’s offense turn Caleb Williams into an elite quarterback? Heading into Week 1, these are just two of many questions fans have about what to expect from the 2025 team. The Bears finished the 2024 season with a 5-12 record, featuring a 10-game losing streak in the middle of the year. With so much to fix and so many new pieces on this team, former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt joined The Takeaway with Alex to discuss what he wants to see from the offense and defense, what real progress looks like for a team that finished 5-12 last year, and what will determine this season being a success or failure. Wannstedt, who spent six seasons on the sidelines for the Bears, breaks down how Johnson’s offense will help Williams in year two under center.


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]]> Wed, 3 Sep 2025 19:41:30 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ The Chicago Bears come into the 2025 NFL season with a new coaching staff, new offensive line and new playmakers – but will it lead to more wins? Will Ben Johnson’s offense turn Caleb Williams into an elite quarterback? Heading into Week 1, these are just two of many questions fans have about what to expect from the 2025 team. The Bears finished the 2024 season with a 5-12 record, featuring a 10-game losing streak in the middle of the year. With so much to fix and so many new pieces on this team, former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt joined The Takeaway with Alex to discuss what he wants to see from the offense and defense, what real progress looks like for a team that finished 5-12 last year, and what will determine this season being a success or failure. Wannstedt, who spent six seasons on the sidelines for the Bears, breaks down how Johnson’s offense will help Williams in year two under center.


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]]> Bears Week 1: Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson, Vikings preview, win total Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:18:51 The Chicago Bears come into the 2025 NFL season with a new coaching staff, new offensive line and new playmakers – but will it lead to more wins? Will Ben Johnson’s offense turn Caleb Williams into an elite quarterback? Heading into Week 1, these are just two of many questions fans have about what to expect from the 2025 team. The Bears finished the 2024 season with a 5-12 record, featuring a 10-game losing streak in the middle of the year. With so much to fix and so many new pieces on this team, former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt joined The Takeaway with Alex to discuss what he wants to see from the offense and defense, what real progress looks like for a team that finished 5-12 last year, and what will determine this season being a success or failure. Wannstedt, who spent six seasons on the sidelines for the Bears, breaks down how Johnson’s offense will help Williams in year two under center. The Chicago Bears come into the 2025 NFL season with a new coaching staff, new offensive line and new playmakers – but will it lead to more wins? Will Ben Johnson’s offense turn Caleb Williams into an elite quarterback? Heading into Week 1, these are just two of many questions fans have about what to expect from the 2025 team. The Bears finished the 2024 season with a 5-12 record, featuring a 10-game losing streak in the middle of the year. With so much to fix and so many new pieces on this team, former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt joined The Takeaway with Alex to discuss what he wants to see from the offense and defense, what real progress looks like for a team that finished 5-12 last year, and what will determine this season being a success or failure. Wannstedt, who spent six seasons on the sidelines for the Bears, breaks down how Johnson’s offense will help Williams in year two under center. false full 28 c2e2067d-91d6-44ed-be66-350f0e6d1969 Can Trump legally send the National Guard to Chicago? President Donald Trump's threat to send the National Guard to Chicago has Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other Democrats outraged in opposition. They say there are better ways to address the crime that the president hopes to solve. But is the move even legal? If troops hit the streets, what can they do? On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern and law professor Harold Krent dissect the legal and political angles of the president's plan. The president says the guard will help quickly cut down on Chicago's crime problems. Democrats dismiss the idea as authoritarian theater. Ahern also discusses how the issue animates Democrats and a path to a possible Pritzker presidential run in 2028. Krent also notes the differences and similarities to National Guard deployments in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles earlier this year. 


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]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ President Donald Trump's threat to send the National Guard to Chicago has Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other Democrats outraged in opposition. They say there are better ways to address the crime that the president hopes to solve. But is the move even legal? If troops hit the streets, what can they do? On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern and law professor Harold Krent dissect the legal and political angles of the president's plan. The president says the guard will help quickly cut down on Chicago's crime problems. Democrats dismiss the idea as authoritarian theater. Ahern also discusses how the issue animates Democrats and a path to a possible Pritzker presidential run in 2028. Krent also notes the differences and similarities to National Guard deployments in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles earlier this year. 


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]]> Can Trump legally send the National Guard to Chicago? Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:24:50 President Donald Trump's threat to send the National Guard to Chicago has Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other Democrats outraged in opposition. They say there are better ways to address the crime that the president hopes to solve. But is the move even legal? If troops hit the streets, what can they do? On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern and law professor Harold Krent dissect the legal and political angles of the president's plan. The president says the guard will help quickly cut down on Chicago's crime problems. Democrats dismiss the idea as authoritarian theater. Ahern also discusses how the issue animates Democrats and a path to a possible Pritzker presidential run in 2028. Krent also notes the differences and similarities to National Guard deployments in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles earlier this year. President Donald Trump's threat to send the National Guard to Chicago has Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other Democrats outraged in opposition. They say there are better ways to address the crime that the president hopes to solve. But is the move even legal? If troops hit the streets, what can they do? On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern and law professor Harold Krent dissect the legal and political angles of the president's plan. The president says the guard will help quickly cut down on Chicago's crime problems. Democrats dismiss the idea as authoritarian theater. Ahern also discusses how the issue animates Democrats and a path to a possible Pritzker presidential run in 2028. Krent also notes the differences and similarities to National Guard deployments in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles earlier this year. false full 27 2e1cec54-2061-41e6-96be-75e1aa03636e Dolton’s half-million-dollar superintendent Months after voting out former Mayor Tiffany Henyard, Dolton is looking for a new school superintendent. Kevin Nohelty was the highest paid school superintendent in the state of Illinois, making over $500,000. Then he suddenly retired, after Regina Waldroup started digging into Nohelty’s past performance as a school administrator. She found Nohelty had a pattern of alleged financial problems – both professionally and personally. She also found that in the years Nohelty has been in charge, Dolton School District 148 has gone from solid finances to now being on a “watch list,” the lowest financial rank the Illinois State Board of Education can give to a district. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Regina talks about Nohelty’s administrative record and what it means for taxpayers in the south suburbs.


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]]> Sat, 23 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Months after voting out former Mayor Tiffany Henyard, Dolton is looking for a new school superintendent. Kevin Nohelty was the highest paid school superintendent in the state of Illinois, making over $500,000. Then he suddenly retired, after Regina Waldroup started digging into Nohelty’s past performance as a school administrator. She found Nohelty had a pattern of alleged financial problems – both professionally and personally. She also found that in the years Nohelty has been in charge, Dolton School District 148 has gone from solid finances to now being on a “watch list,” the lowest financial rank the Illinois State Board of Education can give to a district. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Regina talks about Nohelty’s administrative record and what it means for taxpayers in the south suburbs.


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]]> Dolton’s half-million-dollar superintendent Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:12:59 Months after voting out former Mayor Tiffany Henyard, Dolton is looking for a new school superintendent. Kevin Nohelty was the highest paid school superintendent in the state of Illinois, making over $500,000. Then he suddenly retired, after Regina Waldroup started digging into Nohelty’s past performance as a school administrator. She found Nohelty had a pattern of alleged financial problems – both professionally and personally. She also found that in the years Nohelty has been in charge, Dolton School District 148 has gone from solid finances to now being on a “watch list,” the lowest financial rank the Illinois State Board of Education can give to a district. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Regina talks about Nohelty’s administrative record and what it means for taxpayers in the south suburbs. Months after voting out former Mayor Tiffany Henyard, Dolton is looking for a new school superintendent. Kevin Nohelty was the highest paid school superintendent in the state of Illinois, making over $500,000. Then he suddenly retired, after Regina Waldroup started digging into Nohelty’s past performance as a school administrator. She found Nohelty had a pattern of alleged financial problems – both professionally and personally. She also found that in the years Nohelty has been in charge, Dolton School District 148 has gone from solid finances to now being on a “watch list,” the lowest financial rank the Illinois State Board of Education can give to a district. In this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Regina talks about Nohelty’s administrative record and what it means for taxpayers in the south suburbs. false full 26 595d3d4f-f762-4fb7-baf3-533fd965600e Is 'Speedway Slammer' the new Alligator Alcatraz? “Alligator Alcatraz” and the “Speedway Slammer” are two of the Trump Administration’s newest ICE detention facilities. The buzzy titles may suggest similarity, but the sites are very different. Soon after the Department of Homeland Security announced the new facility in the Midwest, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle started digging into what the federal government has planned for the Indiana prison. Bennett joined The Takeaway with Alex to also explain what Indiana leaders say about the plan, how The Indianapolis Motor Speedway feels about the name, and how often the people whom ICE is detaining and deporting actually have criminal convictions.


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]]> Thu, 14 Aug 2025 23:27:50 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ “Alligator Alcatraz” and the “Speedway Slammer” are two of the Trump Administration’s newest ICE detention facilities. The buzzy titles may suggest similarity, but the sites are very different. Soon after the Department of Homeland Security announced the new facility in the Midwest, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle started digging into what the federal government has planned for the Indiana prison. Bennett joined The Takeaway with Alex to also explain what Indiana leaders say about the plan, how The Indianapolis Motor Speedway feels about the name, and how often the people whom ICE is detaining and deporting actually have criminal convictions.


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]]> Is 'Speedway Slammer' the new Alligator Alcatraz? Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:15:49 “Alligator Alcatraz” and the “Speedway Slammer” are two of the Trump Administration’s newest ICE detention facilities. The buzzy titles may suggest similarity, but the sites are very different. Soon after the Department of Homeland Security announced the new facility in the Midwest, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle started digging into what the federal government has planned for the Indiana prison. Bennett joined The Takeaway with Alex to also explain what Indiana leaders say about the plan, how The Indianapolis Motor Speedway feels about the name, and how often the people whom ICE is detaining and deporting actually have criminal convictions. “Alligator Alcatraz” and the “Speedway Slammer” are two of the Trump Administration’s newest ICE detention facilities. The buzzy titles may suggest similarity, but the sites are very different. Soon after the Department of Homeland Security announced the new facility in the Midwest, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle started digging into what the federal government has planned for the Indiana prison. Bennett joined The Takeaway with Alex to also explain what Indiana leaders say about the plan, how The Indianapolis Motor Speedway feels about the name, and how often the people whom ICE is detaining and deporting actually have criminal convictions. false full 25 f0f72c1c-013c-4e8c-bc1c-df16322fe307 Why Democrats fled Texas amid gerrymandering fight with Abbott, Trump & Republicans Texas Democratic lawmakers have left their state, saying Donald Trump and fellow Republicans are unfairly redistricting and gerrymandering Texas. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has welcomed over 30 Democrats with open arms, supporting their cause as he seeks a third term in office — with one eye possibly on a presidential run in 2028. NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern has covered all kinds of stories in her career, but hasn’t seen anything quite like this. In this conversation of The Takeaway with Alex, she explains why redistricting matters, what gerrymandering is, how Illinois could respond and why the effects of this story go far beyond Illinois and Texas. 
 


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]]> Thu, 7 Aug 2025 23:55:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Texas Democratic lawmakers have left their state, saying Donald Trump and fellow Republicans are unfairly redistricting and gerrymandering Texas. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has welcomed over 30 Democrats with open arms, supporting their cause as he seeks a third term in office — with one eye possibly on a presidential run in 2028. NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern has covered all kinds of stories in her career, but hasn’t seen anything quite like this. In this conversation of The Takeaway with Alex, she explains why redistricting matters, what gerrymandering is, how Illinois could respond and why the effects of this story go far beyond Illinois and Texas. 
 


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]]> Why Democrats fled Texas amid gerrymandering fight with Abbott, Trump & Republicans Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:19:48 Texas Democratic lawmakers have left their state, saying Donald Trump and fellow Republicans are unfairly redistricting and gerrymandering Texas. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has welcomed over 30 Democrats with open arms, supporting their cause as he seeks a third term in office — with one eye possibly on a presidential run in 2028. NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern has covered all kinds of stories in her career, but hasn’t seen anything quite like this. In this conversation of The Takeaway with Alex, she explains why redistricting matters, what gerrymandering is, how Illinois could respond and why the effects of this story go far beyond Illinois and Texas. Texas Democratic lawmakers have left their state, saying Donald Trump and fellow Republicans are unfairly redistricting and gerrymandering Texas. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has welcomed over 30 Democrats with open arms, supporting their cause as he seeks a third term in office — with one eye possibly on a presidential run in 2028. NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern has covered all kinds of stories in her career, but hasn’t seen anything quite like this. In this conversation of The Takeaway with Alex, she explains why redistricting matters, what gerrymandering is, how Illinois could respond and why the effects of this story go far beyond Illinois and Texas. false full 24 e063d544-8bea-4254-b254-986b286c4712 Is Chicago a safe haven against climate change? Meteorologist weighs in Will Chicago be a haven against climate change? Do climate safe zones really exist? Extreme storms, higher prices and uninsurable property make Chicago more attractive, but climate change can still make midwest storms, flooding and heat worse. NBC Climate Reporter Chase Cain joins The Takeaway with Alex to share how the Midwest must adapt, how just talking about climate change can actually make a difference, and how artificial intelligence has positives and negatives for the future of our planet. 


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]]> Mon, 4 Aug 2025 21:38:44 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Will Chicago be a haven against climate change? Do climate safe zones really exist? Extreme storms, higher prices and uninsurable property make Chicago more attractive, but climate change can still make midwest storms, flooding and heat worse. NBC Climate Reporter Chase Cain joins The Takeaway with Alex to share how the Midwest must adapt, how just talking about climate change can actually make a difference, and how artificial intelligence has positives and negatives for the future of our planet. 


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]]> Is Chicago a safe haven against climate change? Meteorologist weighs in Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:33:34 Will Chicago be a haven against climate change? Do climate safe zones really exist? Extreme storms, higher prices and uninsurable property make Chicago more attractive, but climate change can still make midwest storms, flooding and heat worse. NBC Climate Reporter Chase Cain joins The Takeaway with Alex to share how the Midwest must adapt, how just talking about climate change can actually make a difference, and how artificial intelligence has positives and negatives for the future of our planet. Will Chicago be a haven against climate change? Do climate safe zones really exist? Extreme storms, higher prices and uninsurable property make Chicago more attractive, but climate change can still make midwest storms, flooding and heat worse. NBC Climate Reporter Chase Cain joins The Takeaway with Alex to share how the Midwest must adapt, how just talking about climate change can actually make a difference, and how artificial intelligence has positives and negatives for the future of our planet. false full 23 0efd878a-8b77-4866-b0d1-a137306edb36 What happened to Emmett Till? Shocking details revealed decades later A 14-year-old Chicago boy named Emmett Till was abducted and lynched 70 years ago in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman named Carolyn Bryant in her family's grocery store. Till's death became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement after images circulated of an open casket funeral arranged by his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Over time, his story began to fade from view, until decades later, the 2020 murder of George Floyd reignited the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked new conversations about the 1955 lynching that once shocked the country. Journalist Marion Brooks created the Emmett Till: Then and Now documentary that reexplores Till's life and death through the lens of his loved ones -- including Wheeler Parker who was there the day Emmett died.


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]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ A 14-year-old Chicago boy named Emmett Till was abducted and lynched 70 years ago in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman named Carolyn Bryant in her family's grocery store. Till's death became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement after images circulated of an open casket funeral arranged by his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Over time, his story began to fade from view, until decades later, the 2020 murder of George Floyd reignited the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked new conversations about the 1955 lynching that once shocked the country. Journalist Marion Brooks created the Emmett Till: Then and Now documentary that reexplores Till's life and death through the lens of his loved ones -- including Wheeler Parker who was there the day Emmett died.


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]]> What happened to Emmett Till? Shocking details revealed decades later Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:29:12 A 14-year-old Chicago boy named Emmett Till was abducted and lynched 70 years ago in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman named Carolyn Bryant in her family's grocery store. Till's death became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement after images circulated of an open casket funeral arranged by his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Over time, his story began to fade from view, until decades later, the 2020 murder of George Floyd reignited the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked new conversations about the 1955 lynching that once shocked the country. Journalist Marion Brooks created the Emmett Till: Then and Now documentary that reexplores Till's life and death through the lens of his loved ones -- including Wheeler Parker who was there the day Emmett died. A 14-year-old Chicago boy named Emmett Till was abducted and lynched 70 years ago in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman named Carolyn Bryant in her family's grocery store. Till's death became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement after images circulated of an open casket funeral arranged by his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Over time, his story began to fade from view, until decades later, the 2020 murder of George Floyd reignited the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked new conversations about the 1955 lynching that once shocked the country. Journalist Marion Brooks created the Emmett Till: Then and Now documentary that reexplores Till's life and death through the lens of his loved ones -- including Wheeler Parker who was there the day Emmett died. false full 22 5660f0bf-3ba7-4533-933f-66b1ab064102 Taxpayers spend MILLIONS on empty Chicago lot migrants never used Taxpayers have spent over $3 million on an empty lot on Chicago’s south side meant for migrants that was never used. First proposed as a winter shelter for migrants that were bused to Chicago from the southern border, tests eventually showed the lot was contaminated with heavy metals. Three years after Chicago’s migrant crisis began, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle sits down on The Takeaway with Alex to walk through the missteps that led to millions of dollars being spent on the land, tents and site cleanup – with no shelter to show for it. With the flow of migrants significantly slowing in 2025, Haeberle also looks ahead to what effect the influx had on city and state finances, and Chicago neighborhoods already struggling with housing. With Donald Trump promising to end federal funding for sanctuary cities like Chicago and also deport millions of people, Haeberle also looks ahead to what the future might hold for migrants. 


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]]> Sat, 19 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Taxpayers have spent over $3 million on an empty lot on Chicago’s south side meant for migrants that was never used. First proposed as a winter shelter for migrants that were bused to Chicago from the southern border, tests eventually showed the lot was contaminated with heavy metals. Three years after Chicago’s migrant crisis began, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle sits down on The Takeaway with Alex to walk through the missteps that led to millions of dollars being spent on the land, tents and site cleanup – with no shelter to show for it. With the flow of migrants significantly slowing in 2025, Haeberle also looks ahead to what effect the influx had on city and state finances, and Chicago neighborhoods already struggling with housing. With Donald Trump promising to end federal funding for sanctuary cities like Chicago and also deport millions of people, Haeberle also looks ahead to what the future might hold for migrants. 


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]]> Taxpayers spend MILLIONS on empty Chicago lot migrants never used Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:18:31 Taxpayers have spent over $3 million on an empty lot on Chicago’s south side meant for migrants that was never used. First proposed as a winter shelter for migrants that were bused to Chicago from the southern border, tests eventually showed the lot was contaminated with heavy metals. Three years after Chicago’s migrant crisis began, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle sits down on The Takeaway with Alex to walk through the missteps that led to millions of dollars being spent on the land, tents and site cleanup – with no shelter to show for it. With the flow of migrants significantly slowing in 2025, Haeberle also looks ahead to what effect the influx had on city and state finances, and Chicago neighborhoods already struggling with housing. With Donald Trump promising to end federal funding for sanctuary cities like Chicago and also deport millions of people, Haeberle also looks ahead to what the future might hold for migrants. Taxpayers have spent over $3 million on an empty lot on Chicago’s south side meant for migrants that was never used. First proposed as a winter shelter for migrants that were bused to Chicago from the southern border, tests eventually showed the lot was contaminated with heavy metals. Three years after Chicago’s migrant crisis began, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle sits down on The Takeaway with Alex to walk through the missteps that led to millions of dollars being spent on the land, tents and site cleanup – with no shelter to show for it. With the flow of migrants significantly slowing in 2025, Haeberle also looks ahead to what effect the influx had on city and state finances, and Chicago neighborhoods already struggling with housing. With Donald Trump promising to end federal funding for sanctuary cities like Chicago and also deport millions of people, Haeberle also looks ahead to what the future might hold for migrants. false full 21 78976c1b-c0f5-4e1d-b17e-7b1ece1c2de1 Iconic movies with HIDDEN Chicago connections Chicago’s Hollywood history runs deep. Blockbusters like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Dark Knight and The Blues Brothers helped the world get to know our city. But did you know Chicago also has connections to Back to the Future, the Wizard of Oz and even The Great Gatsby? Host of NBC Chicago’s “Only in Chicago” series Lexi Sutter tells Alex Maragos the stories behind the famous scenes and sites. She also found a real police station that plays a fake police station on television, and describes what Chicago has to offer that few other show biz cities can match.


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]]> Sat, 12 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Chicago’s Hollywood history runs deep. Blockbusters like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Dark Knight and The Blues Brothers helped the world get to know our city. But did you know Chicago also has connections to Back to the Future, the Wizard of Oz and even The Great Gatsby? Host of NBC Chicago’s “Only in Chicago” series Lexi Sutter tells Alex Maragos the stories behind the famous scenes and sites. She also found a real police station that plays a fake police station on television, and describes what Chicago has to offer that few other show biz cities can match.


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]]> Iconic movies with HIDDEN Chicago connections Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:21:25 Chicago’s Hollywood history runs deep. Blockbusters like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Dark Knight and The Blues Brothers helped the world get to know our city. But did you know Chicago also has connections to Back to the Future, the Wizard of Oz and even The Great Gatsby? Host of NBC Chicago’s “Only in Chicago” series Lexi Sutter tells Alex Maragos the stories behind the famous scenes and sites. She also found a real police station that plays a fake police station on television, and describes what Chicago has to offer that few other show biz cities can match. Chicago’s Hollywood history runs deep. Blockbusters like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Dark Knight and The Blues Brothers helped the world get to know our city. But did you know Chicago also has connections to Back to the Future, the Wizard of Oz and even The Great Gatsby? Host of NBC Chicago’s “Only in Chicago” series Lexi Sutter tells Alex Maragos the stories behind the famous scenes and sites. She also found a real police station that plays a fake police station on television, and describes what Chicago has to offer that few other show biz cities can match. false full 20 766ad4d5-933d-457d-b930-c61ebe317e42 Guide to Chicago's music scene: Lollapalooza, hidden gems, artists to watch + MORE From big events like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Summer Smash to small street festivals across the city; Chicago’s summer soundtrack has lots of variety. With so many concerts to check out, two music critics give The Takeaway with Alex a guide to navigate the summer. Britt Julious of the Chicago Tribune and Selena Fragassi of the Chicago Sun-Times tell Alex Maragos about the shows they’re most excited to see this year, the festivals with great vibes, and their list of underhyped artists and venues in Chicago. Julious and Fragassi – who have seen over 1,000 concerts collectively – shared their excitement for the 2025 concert season by giving a list of who to look out for, how to master the many stages of Lolla (and the aftershows) and also predict who might be the next rising star to shoot out of Chicago’s music scene.


 


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]]> Wed, 2 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ From big events like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Summer Smash to small street festivals across the city; Chicago’s summer soundtrack has lots of variety. With so many concerts to check out, two music critics give The Takeaway with Alex a guide to navigate the summer. Britt Julious of the Chicago Tribune and Selena Fragassi of the Chicago Sun-Times tell Alex Maragos about the shows they’re most excited to see this year, the festivals with great vibes, and their list of underhyped artists and venues in Chicago. Julious and Fragassi – who have seen over 1,000 concerts collectively – shared their excitement for the 2025 concert season by giving a list of who to look out for, how to master the many stages of Lolla (and the aftershows) and also predict who might be the next rising star to shoot out of Chicago’s music scene.


 


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]]> Guide to Chicago's music scene: Lollapalooza, hidden gems, artists to watch + MORE Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:26:04 From big events like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Summer Smash to small street festivals across the city; Chicago’s summer soundtrack has lots of variety. With so many concerts to check out, two music critics give The Takeaway with Alex a guide to navigate the summer. Britt Julious of the Chicago Tribune and Selena Fragassi of the Chicago Sun-Times tell Alex Maragos about the shows they’re most excited to see this year, the festivals with great vibes, and their list of underhyped artists and venues in Chicago. Julious and Fragassi – who have seen over 1,000 concerts collectively – shared their excitement for the 2025 concert season by giving a list of who to look out for, how to master the many stages of Lolla (and the aftershows) and also predict who might be the next rising star to shoot out of Chicago’s music scene. From big events like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Summer Smash to small street festivals across the city; Chicago’s summer soundtrack has lots of variety. With so many concerts to check out, two music critics give The Takeaway with Alex a guide to navigate the summer. Britt Julious of the Chicago Tribune and Selena Fragassi of the Chicago Sun-Times tell Alex Maragos about the shows they’re most excited to see this year, the festivals with great vibes, and their list of underhyped artists and venues in Chicago. Julious and Fragassi – who have seen over 1,000 concerts collectively – shared their excitement for the 2025 concert season by giving a list of who to look out for, how to master the many stages of Lolla (and the aftershows) and also predict who might be the next rising star to shoot out of Chicago’s music scene. false full 19 a31cb07b-1dd8-42f1-8b12-fe469ef2a37c JB Pritzker running for third term as Illinois governor Governor J.B. Pritzker’s run for a third term will have ripple effects far beyond Illinois. With more Democrats looking for a leader, Pritzker's criticism of Donald Trump, MAGA politics, and the Republican Party will all have more power coming from a current governor, according to NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Ahern said the billionaire has shown several signals that higher office could be in his plans: more appearances with national media, regular speeches at Democratic Party events outside Illinois, and progressive posturing other Democrats have started to move away from. And there is his massive net worth – over $3 billion according to Forbes. Ahern said combine all of that, and it’s easy to see why Democrats have told her he could potentially be the next party leader. Ahern also dove into the potential perils a third term might bring; Pritzker will be forced to own more of Illinois’ problems, including a festering pension problem, a drop in federal funds, a transit fiscal cliff and a stagnating population and economy. 


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]]> Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:21:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Governor J.B. Pritzker’s run for a third term will have ripple effects far beyond Illinois. With more Democrats looking for a leader, Pritzker's criticism of Donald Trump, MAGA politics, and the Republican Party will all have more power coming from a current governor, according to NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Ahern said the billionaire has shown several signals that higher office could be in his plans: more appearances with national media, regular speeches at Democratic Party events outside Illinois, and progressive posturing other Democrats have started to move away from. And there is his massive net worth – over $3 billion according to Forbes. Ahern said combine all of that, and it’s easy to see why Democrats have told her he could potentially be the next party leader. Ahern also dove into the potential perils a third term might bring; Pritzker will be forced to own more of Illinois’ problems, including a festering pension problem, a drop in federal funds, a transit fiscal cliff and a stagnating population and economy. 


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]]> JB Pritzker running for third term as Illinois governor Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:16:43 Governor J.B. Pritzker’s run for a third term will have ripple effects far beyond Illinois. With more Democrats looking for a leader, Pritzker's criticism of Donald Trump, MAGA politics, and the Republican Party will all have more power coming from a current governor, according to NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Ahern said the billionaire has shown several signals that higher office could be in his plans: more appearances with national media, regular speeches at Democratic Party events outside Illinois, and progressive posturing other Democrats have started to move away from. And there is his massive net worth – over $3 billion according to Forbes. Ahern said combine all of that, and it’s easy to see why Democrats have told her he could potentially be the next party leader. Ahern also dove into the potential perils a third term might bring; Pritzker will be forced to own more of Illinois’ problems, including a festering pension problem, a drop in federal funds, a transit fiscal cliff and a stagnating population and economy. Governor J.B. Pritzker’s run for a third term will have ripple effects far beyond Illinois. With more Democrats looking for a leader, Pritzker's criticism of Donald Trump, MAGA politics, and the Republican Party will all have more power coming from a current governor, according to NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Ahern said the billionaire has shown several signals that higher office could be in his plans: more appearances with national media, regular speeches at Democratic Party events outside Illinois, and progressive posturing other Democrats have started to move away from. And there is his massive net worth – over $3 billion according to Forbes. Ahern said combine all of that, and it’s easy to see why Democrats have told her he could potentially be the next party leader. Ahern also dove into the potential perils a third term might bring; Pritzker will be forced to own more of Illinois’ problems, including a festering pension problem, a drop in federal funds, a transit fiscal cliff and a stagnating population and economy. false full 18 1cbf39d8-1cde-44c4-b06b-b67063a91553 BEST food in Chicago? Food critic talks underrated restaurants, deep dish pizza + MORE When you think of Chicago food, you may think of pizza or hot dogs, but there's so much more the city has to offer. Every dish in every restaurant has a story, and it takes people like Steve Dolinsky to share those stories with the world. With nicknames The Hungry Hound and The Food Guy, Dolinsky has traveled far and wide through Chicago, the suburbs and well beyond for 30 years to tell people where to eat and why to eat there. After chronicling the best meals and restaurants on TV, Dolinsky is headed to a new role — but not before he stopped by The Takeaway with Alex for a taste of some Superdawg, a deep dig on why he loves pizza and his picks to have your next meal in the best food city in the world. 


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]]> Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:34:26 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ When you think of Chicago food, you may think of pizza or hot dogs, but there's so much more the city has to offer. Every dish in every restaurant has a story, and it takes people like Steve Dolinsky to share those stories with the world. With nicknames The Hungry Hound and The Food Guy, Dolinsky has traveled far and wide through Chicago, the suburbs and well beyond for 30 years to tell people where to eat and why to eat there. After chronicling the best meals and restaurants on TV, Dolinsky is headed to a new role — but not before he stopped by The Takeaway with Alex for a taste of some Superdawg, a deep dig on why he loves pizza and his picks to have your next meal in the best food city in the world. 


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]]> BEST food in Chicago? Food critic talks underrated restaurants, deep dish pizza + MORE Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:26:06 When you think of Chicago food, you may think of pizza or hot dogs, but there's so much more the city has to offer. Every dish in every restaurant has a story, and it takes people like Steve Dolinsky to share those stories with the world. With nicknames The Hungry Hound and The Food Guy, Dolinsky has traveled far and wide through Chicago, the suburbs and well beyond for 30 years to tell people where to eat and why to eat there. After chronicling the best meals and restaurants on TV, Dolinsky is headed to a new role — but not before he stopped by The Takeaway with Alex for a taste of some Superdawg, a deep dig on why he loves pizza and his picks to have your next meal in the best food city in the world. When you think of Chicago food, you may think of pizza or hot dogs, but there's so much more the city has to offer. Every dish in every restaurant has a story, and it takes people like Steve Dolinsky to share those stories with the world. With nicknames The Hungry Hound and The Food Guy, Dolinsky has traveled far and wide through Chicago, the suburbs and well beyond for 30 years to tell people where to eat and why to eat there. After chronicling the best meals and restaurants on TV, Dolinsky is headed to a new role — but not before he stopped by The Takeaway with Alex for a taste of some Superdawg, a deep dig on why he loves pizza and his picks to have your next meal in the best food city in the world. false full 17 9af88473-f6b5-4346-8284-d3863d7d6551 Ishbia-Reinsdorf deal EXPLAINED: When will White Sox have a new owner? Jerry Reinsdorf has been controlling owner of the White Sox since 1981, but has agreed to sell the team to Justin Ishbia as early as 2029. On this episode of the Takeaway with Alex, The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg dives into this reporting on the White Sox succession plan. In February, Greenberg’s reporting foreshadowed the deal, and today he tells the story of how Ishbia was approached to take a bigger stake in the team and how the final agreement ultimately came together. Greenberg talks to Alex Maragos about what the ownership change means for the White Sox staying in the city, whether they move to a new stadium, and how it can get the White Sox back on the road to a championship. 


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]]> Fri, 6 Jun 2025 23:35:56 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Jerry Reinsdorf has been controlling owner of the White Sox since 1981, but has agreed to sell the team to Justin Ishbia as early as 2029. On this episode of the Takeaway with Alex, The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg dives into this reporting on the White Sox succession plan. In February, Greenberg’s reporting foreshadowed the deal, and today he tells the story of how Ishbia was approached to take a bigger stake in the team and how the final agreement ultimately came together. Greenberg talks to Alex Maragos about what the ownership change means for the White Sox staying in the city, whether they move to a new stadium, and how it can get the White Sox back on the road to a championship. 


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]]> Ishbia-Reinsdorf deal EXPLAINED: When will White Sox have a new owner? Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:20:31 Jerry Reinsdorf has been controlling owner of the White Sox since 1981, but has agreed to sell the team to Justin Ishbia as early as 2029. On this episode of the Takeaway with Alex, The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg dives into this reporting on the White Sox succession plan. In February, Greenberg’s reporting foreshadowed the deal, and today he tells the story of how Ishbia was approached to take a bigger stake in the team and how the final agreement ultimately came together. Greenberg talks to Alex Maragos about what the ownership change means for the White Sox staying in the city, whether they move to a new stadium, and how it can get the White Sox back on the road to a championship. Jerry Reinsdorf has been controlling owner of the White Sox since 1981, but has agreed to sell the team to Justin Ishbia as early as 2029. On this episode of the Takeaway with Alex, The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg dives into this reporting on the White Sox succession plan. In February, Greenberg’s reporting foreshadowed the deal, and today he tells the story of how Ishbia was approached to take a bigger stake in the team and how the final agreement ultimately came together. Greenberg talks to Alex Maragos about what the ownership change means for the White Sox staying in the city, whether they move to a new stadium, and how it can get the White Sox back on the road to a championship. false full 16 a56683c6-0da3-4020-8804-61c9c9ec7469 Who is Larry Hoover? Ex-Chicago gang leader's sentence commuted by Trump Who is Larry Hoover, and why did President Donald Trump commute sentence? He is one of America's most notorious criminals, with convictions ranging from murder to racketeering landing him behind bars for over 50 years. Now Hoover is one step closer to freedom, thanks to a commutation of his federal prison sentence by President Trump. From humble beginnings in Englewood, Hoover eventually ruled the streets of Chicago for decades as leader of the Gangster Disciples. His empire was built on guns and drugs, growing his group to be one of the biggest and most successful in the country. The commutation is a victory for family, friends and supporters including Chicago native Kanye West, who say Hoover is a changed man, genuinely sorry for his past and eager to do good in society. Others, including many in law enforcement, say Hoover's trail of addiction and destruction overrules his chance for mercy. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC 5's Chuck Goudie looks at Larry Hoover's past and future.


 


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]]> Thu, 29 May 2025 23:59:59 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Who is Larry Hoover, and why did President Donald Trump commute sentence? He is one of America's most notorious criminals, with convictions ranging from murder to racketeering landing him behind bars for over 50 years. Now Hoover is one step closer to freedom, thanks to a commutation of his federal prison sentence by President Trump. From humble beginnings in Englewood, Hoover eventually ruled the streets of Chicago for decades as leader of the Gangster Disciples. His empire was built on guns and drugs, growing his group to be one of the biggest and most successful in the country. The commutation is a victory for family, friends and supporters including Chicago native Kanye West, who say Hoover is a changed man, genuinely sorry for his past and eager to do good in society. Others, including many in law enforcement, say Hoover's trail of addiction and destruction overrules his chance for mercy. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC 5's Chuck Goudie looks at Larry Hoover's past and future.


 


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]]> Who is Larry Hoover? Ex-Chicago gang leader's sentence commuted by Trump Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:14:29 Who is Larry Hoover, and why did President Donald Trump commute sentence? He is one of America's most notorious criminals, with convictions ranging from murder to racketeering landing him behind bars for over 50 years. Now Hoover is one step closer to freedom, thanks to a commutation of his federal prison sentence by President Trump. From humble beginnings in Englewood, Hoover eventually ruled the streets of Chicago for decades as leader of the Gangster Disciples. His empire was built on guns and drugs, growing his group to be one of the biggest and most successful in the country. The commutation is a victory for family, friends and supporters including Chicago native Kanye West, who say Hoover is a changed man, genuinely sorry for his past and eager to do good in society. Others, including many in law enforcement, say Hoover's trail of addiction and destruction overrules his chance for mercy. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC 5's Chuck Goudie looks at Larry Hoover's past and future. Who is Larry Hoover, and why did President Donald Trump commute sentence? He is one of America's most notorious criminals, with convictions ranging from murder to racketeering landing him behind bars for over 50 years. Now Hoover is one step closer to freedom, thanks to a commutation of his federal prison sentence by President Trump. From humble beginnings in Englewood, Hoover eventually ruled the streets of Chicago for decades as leader of the Gangster Disciples. His empire was built on guns and drugs, growing his group to be one of the biggest and most successful in the country. The commutation is a victory for family, friends and supporters including Chicago native Kanye West, who say Hoover is a changed man, genuinely sorry for his past and eager to do good in society. Others, including many in law enforcement, say Hoover's trail of addiction and destruction overrules his chance for mercy. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC 5's Chuck Goudie looks at Larry Hoover's past and future. false full 15 fca8cc52-7a56-45ea-ae0c-4ff8fcecabcf Globetrotters: How a Chicago team changed basketball and helped win the Cold War Despite their name, the Harlem Globetrotters actually got their start in Chicago. It was an unlikely partnership between a young, 5’3” Jewish entrepreneur named Abe Saperstein and a collection of younger Black basketball players from the South Side. From barns to ballrooms to arenas filled to the brim, the Globetrotters brought basketball to towns that barely had any organized sports. Along the way, they showed the promise of Black talent and achievement in a country that largely treated them as second-class citizens. Persevering through discrimination, they won over crowds with a mix of tricks and talent – along the way changing the landscape of race relations and American sports. Marc Jacobs, author and former editor for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, tells the unlikely tale of Abe Saperstein rising from fledgling team founder to pioneer of modern entertainment. Through ingenuity, a few tall tales and plenty of courage, Saperstein took basketball around the world, proving the unifying power of sports to bring people together. 


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]]> Sat, 24 May 2025 02:49:17 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Despite their name, the Harlem Globetrotters actually got their start in Chicago. It was an unlikely partnership between a young, 5’3” Jewish entrepreneur named Abe Saperstein and a collection of younger Black basketball players from the South Side. From barns to ballrooms to arenas filled to the brim, the Globetrotters brought basketball to towns that barely had any organized sports. Along the way, they showed the promise of Black talent and achievement in a country that largely treated them as second-class citizens. Persevering through discrimination, they won over crowds with a mix of tricks and talent – along the way changing the landscape of race relations and American sports. Marc Jacobs, author and former editor for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, tells the unlikely tale of Abe Saperstein rising from fledgling team founder to pioneer of modern entertainment. Through ingenuity, a few tall tales and plenty of courage, Saperstein took basketball around the world, proving the unifying power of sports to bring people together. 


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]]> Globetrotters: How a Chicago team changed basketball and helped win the Cold War Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:25:28 Despite their name, the Harlem Globetrotters actually got their start in Chicago. It was an unlikely partnership between a young, 5’3” Jewish entrepreneur named Abe Saperstein and a collection of younger Black basketball players from the South Side. From barns to ballrooms to arenas filled to the brim, the Globetrotters brought basketball to towns that barely had any organized sports. Along the way, they showed the promise of Black talent and achievement in a country that largely treated them as second-class citizens. Persevering through discrimination, they won over crowds with a mix of tricks and talent – along the way changing the landscape of race relations and American sports. Marc Jacobs, author and former editor for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, tells the unlikely tale of Abe Saperstein rising from fledgling team founder to pioneer of modern entertainment. Through ingenuity, a few tall tales and plenty of courage, Saperstein took basketball around the world, proving the unifying power of sports to bring people together. Despite their name, the Harlem Globetrotters actually got their start in Chicago. It was an unlikely partnership between a young, 5’3” Jewish entrepreneur named Abe Saperstein and a collection of younger Black basketball players from the South Side. From barns to ballrooms to arenas filled to the brim, the Globetrotters brought basketball to towns that barely had any organized sports. Along the way, they showed the promise of Black talent and achievement in a country that largely treated them as second-class citizens. Persevering through discrimination, they won over crowds with a mix of tricks and talent – along the way changing the landscape of race relations and American sports. Marc Jacobs, author and former editor for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, tells the unlikely tale of Abe Saperstein rising from fledgling team founder to pioneer of modern entertainment. Through ingenuity, a few tall tales and plenty of courage, Saperstein took basketball around the world, proving the unifying power of sports to bring people together. false full 14 90d1b49d-90e8-4747-86b0-73708809e533 Who killed Chicago mob boss Sam 'Momo' Giancana? Who killed Momo? It’s one of the Chicago Outfit’s longest kept secrets — and we’re finally getting some answers. NBC 5 Investigative reporter Chuck Goudie joined the Takeaway to share how he dug up some truth about what really happened to former mob boss Sam Giancana. 
 


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]]> Sat, 17 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Who killed Momo? It’s one of the Chicago Outfit’s longest kept secrets — and we’re finally getting some answers. NBC 5 Investigative reporter Chuck Goudie joined the Takeaway to share how he dug up some truth about what really happened to former mob boss Sam Giancana. 
 


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]]> Who killed Chicago mob boss Sam 'Momo' Giancana? Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:21:50 Who killed Momo? It’s one of the Chicago Outfit’s longest kept secrets — and we’re finally getting some answers. NBC 5 Investigative reporter Chuck Goudie joined the Takeaway to share how he dug up some truth about what really happened to former mob boss Sam Giancana. Who killed Momo? It’s one of the Chicago Outfit’s longest kept secrets — and we’re finally getting some answers. NBC 5 Investigative reporter Chuck Goudie joined the Takeaway to share how he dug up some truth about what really happened to former mob boss Sam Giancana. false full 13 3f5d742f-8b0f-47d5-a8bb-f0a6ec812c41 Who is Pope Leo XIV? Who is Pope Leo XIV, and why did he choose that name? The former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Miguel H. Díaz joins the podcast this week to share his personal experiences with the new pope, and to shed light on some things we may not know about him. 
 


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]]> Fri, 9 May 2025 23:53:44 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Who is Pope Leo XIV, and why did he choose that name? The former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Miguel H. Díaz joins the podcast this week to share his personal experiences with the new pope, and to shed light on some things we may not know about him. 
 


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]]> Who is Pope Leo XIV? Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:24:56 Who is Pope Leo XIV, and why did he choose that name? The former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Miguel H. Díaz joins the podcast this week to share his personal experiences with the new pope, and to shed light on some things we may not know about him. Who is Pope Leo XIV, and why did he choose that name? The former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Miguel H. Díaz joins the podcast this week to share his personal experiences with the new pope, and to shed light on some things we may not know about him. false full 12 701bbb07-5769-4e4b-a6c3-6954b85c046f Conclave explained: Top candidates, white smoke, timeline With the papal conclave just days away, there are many questions surrounding the process of selecting the next pope. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern and Chuck Goudie break down everything from the voting process and the white smoke to the names of potential candidates. 
 


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]]> Fri, 2 May 2025 21:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ With the papal conclave just days away, there are many questions surrounding the process of selecting the next pope. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern and Chuck Goudie break down everything from the voting process and the white smoke to the names of potential candidates. 
 


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]]> Conclave explained: Top candidates, white smoke, timeline Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:23:23 With the papal conclave just days away, there are many questions surrounding the process of selecting the next pope. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern and Chuck Goudie break down everything from the voting process and the white smoke to the names of potential candidates. With the papal conclave just days away, there are many questions surrounding the process of selecting the next pope. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern and Chuck Goudie break down everything from the voting process and the white smoke to the names of potential candidates. false full 11 083c0a27-a61f-427e-bf0d-cb43f955f700 Why do people drink Malört? The story of the shot Chicago loves to hate It's a burn Chicago drinkers know all too well. Some love it, some hate it, and many just love to hate it. This week on the podcast, author Josh Noel breaks down the success and failure of Chicago's (least) favorite shot: Jeppson's Malört. 


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]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:59:51 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ It's a burn Chicago drinkers know all too well. Some love it, some hate it, and many just love to hate it. This week on the podcast, author Josh Noel breaks down the success and failure of Chicago's (least) favorite shot: Jeppson's Malört. 


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]]> Why do people drink Malört? The story of the shot Chicago loves to hate Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:26:34 It's a burn Chicago drinkers know all too well. Some love it, some hate it, and many just love to hate it. This week on the podcast, author Josh Noel breaks down the success and failure of Chicago's (least) favorite shot: Jeppson's Malört. It's a burn Chicago drinkers know all too well. Some love it, some hate it, and many just love to hate it. This week on the podcast, author Josh Noel breaks down the success and failure of Chicago's (least) favorite shot: Jeppson's Malört. true full 10 9387f765-c518-4798-a8cb-cbe14aeef154 What's next for the Catholic Church after Pope Francis' death? After the news of Pope Francis' death sent shockwaves through the Catholic community in Chicago and the world, many are left with one lingering question: what now? NBC Chicago's Mary Ann Ahern and Father Patrick McGrath of Old St. Patrick's Church reflect on the pope's legacy and discuss possibilities for the future of the Vatican. 
 


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]]> Tue, 22 Apr 2025 02:11:32 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde) https://www.nbcnews.com/ After the news of Pope Francis' death sent shockwaves through the Catholic community in Chicago and the world, many are left with one lingering question: what now? NBC Chicago's Mary Ann Ahern and Father Patrick McGrath of Old St. Patrick's Church reflect on the pope's legacy and discuss possibilities for the future of the Vatican. 
 


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]]> What's next for the Catholic Church after Pope Francis' death? Gabi Rodriguez, DS Shin, Lisa Balde 00:41:57 After the news of Pope Francis' death sent shockwaves through the Catholic community in Chicago and the world, many are left with one lingering question: what now? NBC Chicago's Mary Ann Ahern and Father Patrick McGrath of Old St. Patrick's Church reflect on the pope's legacy and discuss possibilities for the future of the Vatican. After the news of Pope Francis' death sent shockwaves through the Catholic community in Chicago and the world, many are left with one lingering question: what now? NBC Chicago's Mary Ann Ahern and Father Patrick McGrath of Old St. Patrick's Church reflect on the pope's legacy and discuss possibilities for the future of the Vatican. false full 9 71a6ad85-2fec-4d7f-8de6-648697d06a04 What happened to Karen Schepers? Cold case solved 42 years later Exactly 42 years after the disappearance of Karen Schepers, the Elgin detectives who cracked the 1983 cold case are speaking out about their experience -- including a podcast they started to attract new leads. Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian of the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit join the podcast this week to share the story of Karen Schepers, from the night she went missing to the moment her remains were pulled out of the Fox River just last month. 
 


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]]> Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:52 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Alex Maragos) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Exactly 42 years after the disappearance of Karen Schepers, the Elgin detectives who cracked the 1983 cold case are speaking out about their experience -- including a podcast they started to attract new leads. Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian of the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit join the podcast this week to share the story of Karen Schepers, from the night she went missing to the moment her remains were pulled out of the Fox River just last month. 
 


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]]> What happened to Karen Schepers? Cold case solved 42 years later Alex Maragos 00:34:53 Exactly 42 years after the disappearance of Karen Schepers, the Elgin detectives who cracked the 1983 cold case are speaking out about their experience -- including a podcast they started to attract new leads. Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian of the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit join the podcast this week to share the story of Karen Schepers, from the night she went missing to the moment her remains were pulled out of the Fox River just last month. Exactly 42 years after the disappearance of Karen Schepers, the Elgin detectives who cracked the 1983 cold case are speaking out about their experience -- including a podcast they started to attract new leads. Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian of the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit join the podcast this week to share the story of Karen Schepers, from the night she went missing to the moment her remains were pulled out of the Fox River just last month. false full 8 1dca0bc2-925c-4977-92c5-c5487822b3fa Mayor Brandon Johnson: Chicago migrant crisis, gift room controversy, who might run next? Now that we're exactly halfway through Brandon Johnson's first term as Chicago mayor, we're looking back at the last two years and ahead to what the next two might bring. Political experts Mary Ann Ahern and Rose Schmidt break down the mayor's approval ratings, his sanctuary city hearing, their time in the gift room, and what potential candidates may be looking to run against him next election.


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]]> Tue, 8 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Mary Ann Ahern, Alex Maragos, Rose Schmidt) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Now that we're exactly halfway through Brandon Johnson's first term as Chicago mayor, we're looking back at the last two years and ahead to what the next two might bring. Political experts Mary Ann Ahern and Rose Schmidt break down the mayor's approval ratings, his sanctuary city hearing, their time in the gift room, and what potential candidates may be looking to run against him next election.


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]]> Mayor Brandon Johnson: Chicago migrant crisis, gift room controversy, who might run next? Mary Ann Ahern, Alex Maragos, Rose Schmidt 00:37:08 Now that we're exactly halfway through Brandon Johnson's first term as Chicago mayor, we're looking back at the last two years and ahead to what the next two might bring. Political experts Mary Ann Ahern and Rose Schmidt break down the mayor's approval ratings, his sanctuary city hearing, their time in the gift room, and what potential candidates may be looking to run against him next election. Now that we're exactly halfway through Brandon Johnson's first term as Chicago mayor, we're looking back at the last two years and ahead to what the next two might bring. Political experts Mary Ann Ahern and Rose Schmidt break down the mayor's approval ratings, his sanctuary city hearing, their time in the gift room, and what potential candidates may be looking to run against him next election. false full 7 72674e21-f1e5-45f8-a417-86f08be00bb8 Why is there so much corruption in Illinois politics? A 'culture of corruption' has poisoned nearly every level of government in the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. From Mike Madigan, Rod Blagojevich and Ed Burke to lesser-known politicians with their own histories of egregious lies and theft, the list of names goes on. This week on the podcast, Chicago Tribune's Ray Long breaks down why corruption is so deeply embedded in Illinois politics and how it still exists today.  


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]]> Tue, 1 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Alex Maragos, Ray Long) https://www.nbcnews.com/ A 'culture of corruption' has poisoned nearly every level of government in the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. From Mike Madigan, Rod Blagojevich and Ed Burke to lesser-known politicians with their own histories of egregious lies and theft, the list of names goes on. This week on the podcast, Chicago Tribune's Ray Long breaks down why corruption is so deeply embedded in Illinois politics and how it still exists today.  


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]]> Why is there so much corruption in Illinois politics? Alex Maragos, Ray Long 00:28:59 A 'culture of corruption' has poisoned nearly every level of government in the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. From Mike Madigan, Rod Blagojevich and Ed Burke to lesser-known politicians with their own histories of egregious lies and theft, the list of names goes on. This week on the podcast, Chicago Tribune's Ray Long breaks down why corruption is so deeply embedded in Illinois politics and how it still exists today. A 'culture of corruption' has poisoned nearly every level of government in the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. From Mike Madigan, Rod Blagojevich and Ed Burke to lesser-known politicians with their own histories of egregious lies and theft, the list of names goes on. This week on the podcast, Chicago Tribune's Ray Long breaks down why corruption is so deeply embedded in Illinois politics and how it still exists today. false full 6 8a746fbf-51f4-4047-8bc7-a0ea6a3ba0dc JFK files: New details, Chicago mob ties, debunked myths Newly unredacted files on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy answer some questions and spark new ones. This week on the podcast, NBC 5 Investigative Reporter Chuck Goudie explains what the declassified documents mean, sheds light on Chicago murder plots against JFK, and debunks common myths and theories. 


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]]> Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Alex Maragos, Chuck Goudie) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Newly unredacted files on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy answer some questions and spark new ones. This week on the podcast, NBC 5 Investigative Reporter Chuck Goudie explains what the declassified documents mean, sheds light on Chicago murder plots against JFK, and debunks common myths and theories. 


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]]> JFK files: New details, Chicago mob ties, debunked myths Alex Maragos, Chuck Goudie 00:21:23 Newly unredacted files on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy answer some questions and spark new ones. This week on the podcast, NBC 5 Investigative Reporter Chuck Goudie explains what the declassified documents mean, sheds light on Chicago murder plots against JFK, and debunks common myths and theories. Newly unredacted files on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy answer some questions and spark new ones. This week on the podcast, NBC 5 Investigative Reporter Chuck Goudie explains what the declassified documents mean, sheds light on Chicago murder plots against JFK, and debunks common myths and theories. false full 5 32523aa3-0b8c-4cb8-8727-1d1bc5c0885f Are the Chicago Bears going to Arlington Heights? Will they? Won't they? For over a year, the Chicago Bears' decision to either stay at Soldier Field or move to Arlington Heights has been up in the air. NBC Sports Reporter Mike Berman and NBC Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle break down the latest on the team's ongoing stadium saga this week on the podcast.


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]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2025 19:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Alex Maragos, Bennett Haeberle, Mike Berman) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Will they? Won't they? For over a year, the Chicago Bears' decision to either stay at Soldier Field or move to Arlington Heights has been up in the air. NBC Sports Reporter Mike Berman and NBC Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle break down the latest on the team's ongoing stadium saga this week on the podcast.


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]]> Are the Chicago Bears going to Arlington Heights? Alex Maragos, Bennett Haeberle, Mike Berman 00:25:23 Will they? Won't they? For over a year, the Chicago Bears' decision to either stay at Soldier Field or move to Arlington Heights has been up in the air. NBC Sports Reporter Mike Berman and NBC Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle break down the latest on the team's ongoing stadium saga this week on the podcast. Will they? Won't they? For over a year, the Chicago Bears' decision to either stay at Soldier Field or move to Arlington Heights has been up in the air. NBC Sports Reporter Mike Berman and NBC Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle break down the latest on the team's ongoing stadium saga this week on the podcast. false full 4 04d0d4d7-5a7a-4b63-b409-cd5787a4b405 Why does Chicago dye its river green? Ahead of St. Patrick's Day 2025, excitement builds for Chicago's annual river dye event. But, how did this decades-old tradition start? Is the dye safe for the river? What's the best way to watch? NBC Chicago's Lexi Sutter has all these answers and more on the podcast this week. ☘️


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]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2025 19:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Alex Maragos, Lexi Sutter) https://www.nbcnews.com/ Ahead of St. Patrick's Day 2025, excitement builds for Chicago's annual river dye event. But, how did this decades-old tradition start? Is the dye safe for the river? What's the best way to watch? NBC Chicago's Lexi Sutter has all these answers and more on the podcast this week. ☘️


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]]> Why does Chicago dye its river green? Alex Maragos, Lexi Sutter 00:19:32 Ahead of St. Patrick's Day 2025, excitement builds for Chicago's annual river dye event. But, how did this decades-old tradition start? Is the dye safe for the river? What's the best way to watch? NBC Chicago's Lexi Sutter has all these answers and more on the podcast this week. ☘️ Ahead of St. Patrick's Day 2025, excitement builds for Chicago's annual river dye event. But, how did this decades-old tradition start? Is the dye safe for the river? What's the best way to watch? NBC Chicago's Lexi Sutter has all these answers and more on the podcast this week. ☘️ false full 3 b3142ac8-3d78-48bf-9bf8-c476f60804a2 Is JB Pritzker planning a run for president in 2028? While the Democratic Party scrambles for new leadership, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been taking big swings at President Trump's administration. Among the most recent was a call-out of Donald Trump and Elon Musk in Pritzker's State of the State address. What are the governor's motives, and could a presidential run be in his future? NBC 5's Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern is here to break it down on the podcast this week.


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]]> Tue, 4 Mar 2025 20:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Alex Maragos, Mary Ann Ahern) https://www.nbcnews.com/ While the Democratic Party scrambles for new leadership, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been taking big swings at President Trump's administration. Among the most recent was a call-out of Donald Trump and Elon Musk in Pritzker's State of the State address. What are the governor's motives, and could a presidential run be in his future? NBC 5's Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern is here to break it down on the podcast this week.


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]]> Is JB Pritzker planning a run for president in 2028? Alex Maragos, Mary Ann Ahern 00:22:47 While the Democratic Party scrambles for new leadership, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been taking big swings at President Trump's administration. Among the most recent was a call-out of Donald Trump and Elon Musk in Pritzker's State of the State address. What are the governor's motives, and could a presidential run be in his future? NBC 5's Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern is here to break it down on the podcast this week. While the Democratic Party scrambles for new leadership, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been taking big swings at President Trump's administration. Among the most recent was a call-out of Donald Trump and Elon Musk in Pritzker's State of the State address. What are the governor's motives, and could a presidential run be in his future? NBC 5's Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern is here to break it down on the podcast this week. false full 2 e55f0362-005a-424a-9c46-53a807c94a38 What's next for Mayor Tiffany Henyard after Dolton election? This week on the podcast, Regina Waldroup recaps what happened at Dolton's primary election for mayor. She describes what could be next for Tiffany Henyard, explains what Jason House's victory could mean for the village's future, and shares her personal connection to the story.


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]]> Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:00:00 +0000 Gabi.Rodriguez@nbcuni.com (Alex Maragos, Regina Waldroup) https://www.nbcnews.com/ This week on the podcast, Regina Waldroup recaps what happened at Dolton's primary election for mayor. She describes what could be next for Tiffany Henyard, explains what Jason House's victory could mean for the village's future, and shares her personal connection to the story.


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]]> What's next for Mayor Tiffany Henyard after Dolton election? Alex Maragos, Regina Waldroup 00:17:13 This week on the podcast, Regina Waldroup recaps what happened at Dolton's primary election for mayor. She describes what could be next for Tiffany Henyard, explains what Jason House's victory could mean for the village's future, and shares her personal connection to the story. This week on the podcast, Regina Waldroup recaps what happened at Dolton's primary election for mayor. She describes what could be next for Tiffany Henyard, explains what Jason House's victory could mean for the village's future, and shares her personal connection to the story. dolton, mayor, politics, illinois, tiffany henyard false full 1