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The Rundown | Chicago News

WBEZ Chicago
Chicago
Brandon Johnson
Father's Day
Chicago Sky
Illinois
Venezuelan Migrants
Unsung Heroes Of Uptown
Joe Biden
WOE, A Housecat's Story Of Despair
Xenophobia
Gun Violence
Air Quality
Lincoln Correctional Center
Wrigleyville Rooftops
Chicago School Board
Heatwave
Covid-19
Type 2 Diabetes
Juneteenth
Chicago Public Schools

In one bite-sized episode every weekday, we'll keep you informed, tickled, geeked, and pondering on Chicago's news, culture and people. Each episode starts with a quick news roundup from the WBEZ newsroom, followed by a deep-dive into one of the biggest or most curious stories from our city. The Rundown podcast is a one-stop-shop for all things Chicago.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1564Founded5 years ago
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Latest Episodes

A federal judge has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to allow clergy access to the immigration processing center in suburban Broadview on Ash Wednesday next week. Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly is criticizing longtime Cook County Board Pr... more

The Trump administration announced plans to revoke the landmark 2009 Endangerment Finding, which is the basis for federal regulation of climate pollution. A trove of evidence is out now related to December’s shooting of Marimar Martinez by a Border P... more

The lead attorney for the Chicago woman shot by a Border Patrol agent says newly released evidence shows that the feds are lying about the incident. After more than two years of public meetings, the Chicago Park District has unveiled its 2026 Grant P... more

2025 was a big year for Chicago’s tourism industry – the city’s official tourism bureau says hotel demand was up by more than 2%. The Art Institute of Chicago has acquired its first Norman Rockwell painting. The lineup for this year's Sueños Music Fe... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Amy Mendez
Chicago Public Schools employee discussing financial struggles and reliance on SNAP benefits.
Chicago Public Schools
Episode: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Ertharin Cousins
Works with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Episode: Thursday, February 5, 2026
David Byrne
Former frontman of the Talking Heads
Episode: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Dr. Shaka Rawl
Principal of Leo Catholic High School
Leo Catholic High School
Episode: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Marimar Martinez
A teacher's assistant from Chicago who survived a shooting by a Border Patrol agent while advocating against unjustified use of force during immigration enforcement.
Episode: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Brian Gill
Leader of policy work at the Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium
Episode: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
S. Yarberry
Trans poet and PhD student at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Episode: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Cliff Rome
Chef and entrepreneur overseeing food services at the Obama Center
Peaches Restaurant
Episode: Monday, February 2, 2026
Drew Durr
Co-artistic director of Manual Cinema
Manual Cinema
Episode: Thursday, January 29, 2026

Hosts

Alex Dagman
Host of the show, providing insights and leading discussions on local news and stories.
Lisa Labuz
Co-host contributing to the conversations and providing updates on Chicago's happenings.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 253 ratings
  • Audio issues?

    Love this podcast, but what’s up with the audio quality this week?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Katnpp
    United States5 months ago
  • Quick news you need

    Love to have a quick recap of things around Chicago twice a day. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wojciech D
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good info; inconsistent release timing

    The Rundown is a great resource akin to NYTimes’s The Headlines but with the Chicagoland area as the focus. My only complaint is that I can’t count on each morning’s episode coming out at or near a consistent time. I don’t mind a reasonable window (e.g. between 7a-7:30a) but the current system is not conducive to incorporating the show into my morning routine.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    KKrasinski
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great local news

    I’m so grateful to have this to keep up with what’s happening in Chicago!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCguy94
    United Statesa year ago
  • Perfect quick daily news update

    They do a great job of summarizing local Chicago & state-wide news in an easily digestible format.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    schistopatel
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Several reviews express a desire for more consistent release timings, indicating that the morning routine integration is important for the audience.
Many find the coverage relatable and relevant to their daily lives, especially regarding local culture and community issues.
Listeners appreciate the concise format, making it easy to stay updated with Chicago news in a short time.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#100
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#151
New Zealand/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#153
Ireland/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Q: How did he, Krishnamoorthi, respond to those attacks against him?
Krishnamoorthi defended his congressional record and called out Stratton for her funding sources.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Q: What was the big headline to you from the debate last night?
One big headline was how fiercely Stratton came on the offensive against Krishnamoorthi.
Friday, January 23, 2026
Q: What was the government's case against Espinoza Martinez?
The government initially accused him of being a high-ranking member of the Latin Kings and soliciting a hit on a Border Patrol commander, but later walked back those claims and faced difficulties in presenting sufficient evidence.
Friday, January 23, 2026
Q: What was the outcome of the Juan Espinoza Martinez case?
Juan Espinoza Martinez was acquitted of the charges against him, which included solicitation of murder.
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Q: What critical issue has been raised regarding Centurion Health?
Centurion Health has been accused of ignoring and misdiagnosing patients, leading to serious illness or death.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Rundown

What is The Rundown about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show presents short, digestible episodes focusing on the latest news, culture, and stories from Chicago. Episodes typically start with a brief roundup of key headlines from the city's current affairs, followed by an in-depth exploration of noteworthy or intriguing local issues. Themes often include politics, community events, social challenges, and celebrations of Chicago's vibrant culture and history. The unique blend of timely news with insightful storytelling makes it particularly appealing for listeners who want to stay informed about their city in a compact format. Additionally, the commitment to highlighting diverse perspectives and local voices offers a rich tapestry of experiences relevant to the broader Chicago community.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Rundown?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Rundown. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Rundown and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Rundown get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Rundown?

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How many subscribers and views does The Rundown have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Rundown has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Rundown?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rundown:

1. Up First from NPR
2. The Daily
3. Today, Explained
4. Consider This from NPR
5. The NPR Politics Podcast

How many episodes of The Rundown are there?

The Rundown launched 5 years ago and published 1564 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Rundown?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Rundown?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Rundown from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Rundown?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Rundown. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Rundown?

Recent guests on The Rundown include:

1. Amy Mendez
2. Ertharin Cousins
3. David Byrne
4. Dr. Shaka Rawl
5. Marimar Martinez
6. Brian Gill
7. S. Yarberry
8. Cliff Rome

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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