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Chicago Tonight

WTTW News
Chicago
Trump Administration
Illinois
Chicago Police Department
ICE
Donald Trump
Chicago Public Schools
National Guard
Immigration Enforcement
SNAP
Operation Midway Blitz
Immigration
Cook County
Chicago Bears
Government Shutdown
Governor JB Pritzker
Consent Decree
Mayor Brandon Johnson
Affordable Care Act
Chicago Budget

News and public affairs TV series and website covering Chicago politics, education, entertainment, business, science and more.

PublishesDailyEpisodes168Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTV & Film

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Artwork for Chicago Tonight

Latest Episodes

Federal prosecutors drop all charges against Broadview demonstrators. And City Council delays a phaseout of the tipped minimum wage.

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Charges dropped against the “Broadview Six,” and no special prosecutor for ICE agents. Plus, reaction to President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Debate over the future of the tipped minimum wage in Chicago. And what’s our local readiness for Ebola?

An agreement is reached to delay the phaseout of Chicago’s tipped minimum wage. And prioritizing affordability and accessibility near public transit.

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Makayla Blaze
CPS board member for District 5B
Chicago Public Schools
Episode: May 20, 2026 - Full Show
Austin Berg
Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center
Illinois Policy Institute
Episode: May 20, 2026 - Full Show
Dr. Michael Lin
Infectious disease specialist, Rush University
Rush University
Episode: May 20, 2026 - Full Show
Dr. Larry Koziolik
Infectious disease specialist, Lurie Children's Hospital
Lurie Children's Hospital
Episode: May 20, 2026 - Full Show
Sam Ori
Executive Director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: May 18, 2026 - Full Show
Ken Foster
Professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University
Purdue University
Episode: May 18, 2026 - Full Show
Raymond Kuo
Vice President of Research for Geostrategy and Diplomacy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Episode: May 18, 2026 - Full Show
Patty Wetley
Explainers on piping plovers and Montrose Beach conservation
WTTW News
Episode: May 18, 2026 - Full Show
Robert Murphy
Professor of Medicine
Northwestern University
Episode: May 14, 2026 - Full Show

Hosts

Nick Blumberg
Host of Chicago Tonight and The Week in Review; provides political and local coverage with a Chicago-focused perspective.
Brandis Friedman
Host on assignment; widely involved in Chicago Tonight coverage with a focus on local politics and public affairs.
Brandice Friedman
Host of Chicago Tonight and WTTW News Special; frequent moderator for public affairs discussions.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 97 ratings
  • Unavailable

    Half the time I try to listen to this show it says “episode temporarily unavailable.” Somebody isn’t doing their job correctly.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Big D 7382
    United States5 years ago
  • wttw

    local news is great

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IanWare23
    United States5 years ago
  • A year later, I have the same issue

    Love the content, but episodes are not available for days sometimes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Linda☕️
    United States5 years ago
  • Black voices?

    I’ve been watching Chicago Tonight for probably 30 years. Now it’s called “Chicago Tonight Black Voices.” Whatever.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Spud8great
    United States6 years ago
  • Biased reporting

    Unfortunately this show leans strongly to the left or liberal point a view. If you’re a conservative/moderate this may not be the show for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TimBarry1
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate deep, multi-perspective analysis of national issues and local Chicago implications.
Some listeners perceive a left-leaning bias in coverage; others value the critical viewpoints.
Audience sometimes notes technical issues with episode availability.
The panel format and guest diversity are often highlighted as a strength.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

May 13, 2026 - Full Show
Q: So, RFK Jr., he's been openly critical of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, for a while stating that the drugs are harder to wean off of than heroin and partially to blame for mass shootings. Are these something that we should be looking at more critically?
The guest explains that research does not support those broad claims about SSRIs; they are well-studied, with side effects typical of most medications, and the focus should be on informed consent and nuanced understanding rather than sweeping judgments.
May 12, 2026 - Full Show
Q: What is the process for obtaining a certificate of innocence in Cook County?
A certificate of innocence follows a conviction being vacated and a post-conviction step; it involves presenting evidence at a hearing to persuade a judge that the person meets the burden of innocence, though there are disputes over what constitutes irrefutable evidence.
May 5, 2026 - Full Show
Q: Thank you all for joining us. This is an important topic, what are your thoughts on regulating social media?
The panel discusses targeted regulation focused on design features rather than content, arguing this can mitigate harms while preserving access and avoiding First Amendment overreach; emphasis on implementing guardrails with real enforcement teeth.
May 5, 2026 - Full Show
Q: Now, Jessica, what are some ways that social media can impact youth mental health, positively and negatively, you would say?
Jessica Schleider explains that while screen time alone isn't strongly correlated with mental health, how platforms are used and the architecture of the feeds (infinite scrolling, algorithmic recommendations) can significantly influence outcomes, with potential positives in access to mental health resources but negatives in addictive design features.
May 4, 2026 - Full Show
Q: What could be the effects of this ruling on the 2026 elections?
Experts anticipate more partisan redistricting and fewer minority-protected districts, as states may redraw maps with less judicial oversight and with race-conscious protections weakened or eliminated.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chicago Tonight

What is Chicago Tonight about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show routinely covers Chicago politics, local governance, public policy, and national affairs with a Chicago-centric lens. Recent episodes blend political analysis, investigations, and expert commentary on issues like homeland security oversight, immigration, public safety, energy policy, and major local developments such as the Bears relocation debate and budget challenges. A standout aspect is the panel format that brings journalists, academics, and practitioners together to dissect federal actions and their local consequences from multiple angles, often weaving human-interest perspectives into policy debates. The program is likely to appeal to decision-makers, advocates, and curious citizens who want clear, context-rich discussions ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Chicago Tonight?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Chicago Tonight. 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 Chicago Tonight and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Chicago Tonight get?

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What are the audience demographics for Chicago Tonight?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Chicago Tonight, 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 Chicago Tonight have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Chicago Tonight 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 Chicago Tonight?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Chicago Tonight:

1. Curious City
2. City Cast Chicago
3. PBS News Hour - Full Show
4. The NPR Politics Podcast
5. Sources & Methods

How many episodes of Chicago Tonight are there?

Chicago Tonight launched 18 years ago and published 168 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 Chicago Tonight?

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 Chicago Tonight?

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

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Chicago Tonight. 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 Chicago Tonight?

Recent guests on Chicago Tonight include:

1. Makayla Blaze
2. Austin Berg
3. Dr. Michael Lin
4. Dr. Larry Koziolik
5. Sam Ori
6. Ken Foster
7. Raymond Kuo
8. Patty Wetley

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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