Rephonic
Artwork for The Rundown

The Rundown | Chicago News

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1488Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Rundown

Latest Episodes

Federal immigration enforcement disrupted schools across Chicago’s North and near Northwest Side today with at least eight schools cancelling activities or keeping students inside after reports of agents in the area. A new investigation from the Sun-... more

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order he says will demand justice as deportation efforts continue in the Chicago area. Federal immigration agents faced off with protesters outside a discount mall in Little Village. Illinois gubernatoria... more

Opening statements began today in the murder trial of a former sheriff’s deputy charged with killing Springfield-resident Sonya Massey last year. Lawyers for Gangster Disciple co-founder Larry Hoover are seeking clemency from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzke... more

Workers from the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office in Chicago have started receiving furlough notices amid the government shutdown. Chicago budget hearings are underway and part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposal to close the deficit... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Gil Kurlickowski
Former Customs and Border Protection Commissioner
Episode: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Dan Mihalopoulos
WBEZ investigative reporter
WBEZ
Episode: Monday October 20, 2025
Marc Arcetta
Victim in the smash and grab incident
Episode: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Antonio Ross
Former principal at Chicago's Hyde Park Academy
Episode: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Kellan MacMiller
Peacekeeper allegedly involved in a violent robbery
Episode: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Devon Horton
Former Chicago high school principal facing federal corruption charges
Episode: Thursday, October 9, 2025
April Perry
US District Judge overseeing the National Guard deployment case
Episode: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Elizabeth McGovern
Actress known for her role in Downton Abbey and playwright
Episode: Monday, October 6, 2025
Cristobal Cavazos
Leader of the Casa DuPage Workers Center, dedicated to immigrant rights
Casa DuPage
Episode: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Hosts

Lisa Labuz
Host of The Rundown
Michael Puente
Host of The Rundown
Aracely Gomez-Saldana
Host of The Rundown

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 249 ratings
  • Audio issues?

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Katnpp
    United States2 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 States7 months 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 States9 months 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 States9 months 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.

There is a good balance of news coverage and impactful local stories.
Listeners appreciate the concise format that fits into their busy routines.
The podcast offers insightful and engaging content that resonates with current events in Chicago.
The focus on community and cultural issues is highlighted as a significant strength of the series.
Some listeners have noted inconsistencies in release timing, which affects their routine.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#80
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#51
Ireland/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#241
Russia/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Q: What will the city do if the social media tax faces legal challenges?
He expresses confidence in the Department of Law's ability to defend the tax as a legitimate amusement tax.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Q: What rationale do you have for the 50 cent per user social media tax?
Johnson describes it as a necessary update to the amusement tax, reflecting the revenues of big tech companies.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Q: What are your thoughts on the new corporate head tax included in your budget?
Mayor Brandon Johnson acknowledges pushback from the business community and argues for shared sacrifice to balance the budget.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Q: Does it feel different to tour in 2025 than it did before?
Tim responded that it feels more electric now, as audiences seek comfort and solidarity amidst the rise in political authoritarianism.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Q: What did you want to change about your approach to this album?
Joe mentioned wanting to learn from the producer Catherine Marks and her unique experience, signifying a shift in their creative dynamics for the new album.

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?

This podcast presents a daily snapshot of the most relevant and engaging news stories from Chicago, blending a brief news roundup with a more in-depth exploration of significant local narratives. Topics range from cultural stories to political developments, with a strong focus on civic issues, community events, and the challenges faced by residents. The approach aims to make complex subjects accessible and engaging, catering to listeners seeking to stay informed about their city and its diverse community.

What makes this audio series particularly appealing is its concise format, structured to fit into busy lifestyles. The inclusion of various perspectives and emphasis on local culture allows listeners to not only keep up with the news but ... more

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Rundown, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Rundown?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Rundown, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. City Cast Chicago
2. Curious City
3. Consider This from NPR
4. Up First from NPR
5. The Daily

How many episodes of The Rundown are there?

The Rundown launched 5 years ago and published 1488 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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. Gil Kurlickowski
2. Dan Mihalopoulos
3. Marc Arcetta
4. Antonio Ross
5. Kellan MacMiller
6. Devon Horton
7. April Perry
8. Elizabeth McGovern

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days