Here comes some rare enlightenment from two of Chicago's former police superintendents, in the same conversation. Thom Serafin welcomes Eddie Johnson & Garry McCarthy to share what everyone is missing about reducing crime in Chicago. They also reveal the statistics on the ShotSpotter systems that get buried in politics. Plus, you'll hear a real time reaction to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle ..read more

In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin take us to Milwaukee and the floor of the RNC. Their guest is Richard Porter, a national committeman for the Republican Party of Illinois.  Porter joined us moments after it was announced Ohio Senator J.D. Vance would be joining the Republican ticket as Donald Trump's running mate. During this episode, you'll get a peak behind the curtain of the first of this summer's national political conventions. Plus, we learn more about the impact of the assassination attempt on former President Trump ..read more

  Lissa Druss is on assignment this week. Meanwhile, Thom Serafin digs into the trials and sentences of some key political figures like Mike Madigan and Ed Burke. Some of this lead straight to an intersection with the Chief Justice John Roberts' Supreme Court. Once again, we welcome Ray Long investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune. The two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of “The House That Madigan Built” joins us in unraveling colliding cases ..read more

The firestorm that has engulfed 2024's first Presidential debate is still burning. We needed a cool head in the room, to consider the aftermath of President Joe Biden's performance vs. former President Donald Trump. That calming voice, came in the form of the Chicago Tribune's Ray Long.   During this episode, Lissa & Thom work through the complications of an aging White House with a much-lauded journalist who knows the game of politics. J. R. R. Tolkien fans will enjoy this journey to Helm's Deep ..read more

Severe and sudden loss is how Kelly Richmond Pope realized her inner strength.  As an educator and entrepreneur, she has uncovered the truths inside fiscal fraud.   Her day job is teaching accounting forensics at DePaul University - but she is also the award-winning director of the documentary All The Queen's Horses.  The film tells the story of the largest municipal embezzlement in U.S. history.   Plus, Kelly is CEO of Red Flag Mania, an interactive and immersive accounting game that incorporates real stories.  In this episode, Lissa & Thom learn the pai ..read more

The traditional broadcast world has endured a seismic shift or two – or ten. Steve Cochran has been in front of a microphone and up and down the dial for all of it. For more than three decades he's been a fixture on Chicago radio. That includes audio brands like WLUP, WMVP, WIND, WLS, and more than 16 years on WGN.    During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Cochran is quick to say that the companies with AM radio signals need to focus on being bigger than that. Plus, he talks about his lifelong pursuit to advocate against bullying. Lissa & Thom learn who inspired his passion to f ..read more

From retail politics to sitting on the judicial bench, Aurelia Pucinski's life in public service is brimming with wisdom. This Crisis Cast flashback offers a fascinating glimpse into our legal system from a discussion that took place just a week prior to the now infamous 2020 election. Judge Pucinski references her presence on the ballot, and her second term on the Illinois Appellate Court now expires in 2030.    During this episode, she underscores the critical requirements of each branch of government, and reveals a true crisis in the justice system. Lissa & Thom also probe the ..read more

Allen Lynch spent his childhood in Chicago's south suburbs with fond memories of walks to his grandmother's house in Roseland. Lynch was often bullied, and at age 18, to test his strength he enlisted in the U.S. Army. That was 1964, and one year later the United States had troops on the ground in Vietnam. In 1966, Sgt. Allen Lynch began a tour of service that would earn him the Medal of Honor.   During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom hear the experiences that led Sgt. Lynch to write the book "Zero to Hero" – he also shares wisdom on the future of military action, and wha ..read more

Two presidential debates between Joe Biden and Donald Trump are on the books. The first will be June 27th at CNN studios in Atlanta. It will have a unique nod to Chicago, because it will take place without an audience on a television set. That was the case in 1960, when WBBM-TV hosted John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon for the first-ever televised debate.   During this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin set the stage for this unique arrangement. Both the CNN debate and a 2nd debate in September on ABC are bypassing the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates. What's the s ..read more

The timing of this conversation left us pondering pathways to change.  It was the spring of 2021, and occurred during the days surrounding the verdict in the killing of George Floyd, and the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Chicagoan Adam Toledo.   Renowned civil rights attorney Sheila Bedi joined Lissa and Thom to discuss her work surrounding the Chicago Police consent decree.  In this eye-opening episode, Sheila shares her passion for teaching future lawyers and her drive to communicate the need for legal reform. Originally released 4/25/21 ..read more