Former Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley turns 82 on Wednesday, April 24th. Bill plays audio highlights of Daley's funniest and most memorable moments in office. The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Greg Hinz discussed the police officers that shot and killed Dexter Reed, did they follow correct protocol? There's a SCOTUS case that may be helping out Mike Madigan. Governor Pritzker called out the leadership at the CTA, is President Dorval Carter's job on the line? Protestors stopped traffic to O'Hare this week, are these protests making a difference or just ..read more

This week Bill is joined by Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Royal Pratt, whose new book, "The City Is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis", is out now. They discuss Lightfoot's rocky relationship with the media during her one term as Chicago Mayor. Pratt also talks about some of the reasons Lori Lightfoot didn't even make the runoff in the mayoral election in 2023. The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Heather Cherone talked about the release of the police-involved shooting that killed Dexter Reed. Heather talked about her ..read more

Illinois' senior Senator Dick Durbin is Bill's guest this week on Take 1. Durbin talks about Donald Trump, what Israel has to change in their war with Hamas and why updating O'Hare Airport is essential. He also discusses the Bears and White Sox potential new stadiums and whether they should be taxpayer-funded, and whether or not he will run for re-election in 2026. The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Ray Long, Dave Stewart and Greg Hinz. They talked about some surprising civility in Chicago politics this past week with Clayton Harris III conceding the race for Cook County State's Att ..read more

This week, Bill talks with sports reporter Cheryl Raye-Stout about Chicago's sports teams and why they are so bad right now. Cheryl is a little more optimistic about the Bears, Blackhawks and Cubs. Also, are the taxpayers willing to pay up to help the Bears and White Sox build new stadiums? The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Greg Hinz discussed some of the losses Chicago progressives have faced recently with Clayton Harris III looking like he will lose to Eileen O'Neill Burke and the Bring Chicago Home referendum failing. An overhaul of O'Hare was agreed t ..read more

Bill Cameron talks to Mike Quigley, the U.S. representative for Illinois's 5th congressional district.  Congressman Quigley updates us on world issues including the wars in Ukraine, and Gaza.  While election results from the primaries are not complete, the important contests are reviewed including the failure by Chicago Mayor, Brandon Johnson to tax property transfers over $1 million to generate funding for homeless assistance, The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Greg Hinz also cover the Illinois election.  While totals are not complete, the ..read more

Last week Bill talked with Clayton Harris III, this week he interviews Harris's opponent for the Democratic nomination for Cook County State's Attorney in the Illinois Primary, Eileen O'Neill Burke. She talks about why she is the best candidate for the position and swats away all of Harris's attacks on her. Eileen O'Neill Burke says she is a change away from Kim Foxx while Harris will be more of the same. The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Greg Hinz (Welcome back!) discuss why Ed Burke is still allowed to keep his law license even after being convicted of ..read more

This week Bill was joined by Clayton Harris III who is a Democrat running for Cook County State's Attorney in the Illinois Primary Election on March 19th. He is taking on Eileen O'Neill Burke, who will be Bill's next week on Take 1. Harris talked why he should be the one to replace Kim Foxx and accused O'Neill Burke of taking money from far right-wing groups. In the reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart and Ray Long, they discuss the President's State of the Union address. Why is Joe Biden so unpopular? Brandon Johnson has made a new hire to help him with media relations. They ..read more

This week Bill Cameron talks with former Chicago Mayoral candidate, Chicago Public Schools CEO, and Mayor Daley's Budget Director.  Vallas currently serves as an advisor to the Illinois Policy Institute.  It's been almost a year since Brandon Johnson defeated sitting Mayor, Lori Lightfoot and run-off candidate Vallas to take the 5th floor Mayor's office... Vallas comments on how he feels Johnson is doing in the position. The reporter round-table with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, and Ray Long discuss the reluctancy of Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker to use public financing for buildi ..read more

This week Bill Cameron talks with Patrick Wohl, author of the new book Down Ballot: How a Local Campaign Became a National Referendum on Abortion.  In the book, Patrick details a 1990, suburban Chicago race for the Republican Party nomination for state representative between Penny Pullen and Rosemary Mulligan which unexpectedly became a national proxy battle over abortion in the United States.  www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p087585 The reporter round-table with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Greg Hinz and Ray Long discuss the future of the Chicago Bears and the White Sox as ..read more

It was February 18th, 2018, that former President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of convicted former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. So Bill decided to go into his audio archives and play the best quotes from Blago's time as Illinois Governor. The reporter roundtable with Ray Long, Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone and Dave Stewart talked about the sentencing of Mike Madigan's longtime Chief of Staff Tim Mapes. Who knew a politician could go to prison for lying? They also discuss Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and how he is handling the migrant crisis and getting rid of Shotspotter. And will Fo ..read more