Rephonic
Artwork for Chicago Tonight

Chicago Tonight

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes168Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Chicago Tonight

Latest Episodes

How a bill in Springfield could help the Bears move to Arlington Heights. And we examine the causes, impacts and solutions of flooding in Chicago.

Chicago police are using force more often. Now, the Illinois attorney general is calling for a full-scale review. And Chicago’s Cinco de Mayo Parade is canceled — a look at the impact.

Meet the new leader of Chicago City Council’s powerful Zoning Committee. And after Artemis II, what does NASA have planned next?

President Donald Trump faces backlash from religious leaders. And a local activist on his plans to live in every Chicago community.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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

Hector Escobar
President of Casa Puebla in the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce
Casa Puebla / Little Village community
Episode: April 22, 2026 - Full Show
Jake Connolly
Actor known for Stranger Things
Stranger Things (actor)
Episode: April 22, 2026 - Full Show
Hunter Miller
Public observing educator at the Adler Planetarium
Adler Planetarium
Episode: April 21, 2026 - Full Show
Charles Mudd
Principal attorney at Mudd Law, space law specialist
Mudd Law
Episode: April 21, 2026 - Full Show
Alison Strom
Professor of physics and astronomy at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Episode: April 21, 2026 - Full Show
Jamal Cole
CEO and founder of My Block, My Hood, My City
My Block, My Hood, My City
Episode: April 20, 2026 - Full Show
Reverend Violet Jonaker
Executive director, Rockford Urban Ministries
Rockford Urban Ministries
Episode: April 20, 2026 - Full Show
Father David Inchowskis
Jesuit priest and Loyola University Chicago doctoral student
Loyola University Chicago
Episode: April 20, 2026 - Full Show
Stan Chu-Ilo
Catholic priest and Catholic studies professor at DePaul University
DePaul University
Episode: April 20, 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 96 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 States5 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.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#178
South Korea/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

April 14, 2026 - Full Show
Q: What does it mean to you to be stepping into your father's shoes in this way?
Yusuf Jackson describes honoring his father's legacy while adapting Rainbow Push Coalition's mission for younger generations, emphasizing continued civil rights advocacy and economic empowerment.
April 6, 2026 - Full Show
Q: How will you work to preserve health care for Illinoisans amid federal attacks to many programs?
She emphasizes expanding access, lowering costs, fighting for Medicare for All, and highlighting her personal history as a caregiver to illustrate commitment to health equity and protecting vulnerable populations.
April 6, 2026 - Full Show
Q: You've billed yourself as the fighter, someone who can stand up to Donald Trump and his administration. Why do you think that message resonated with voters?
Stratton explains that Illinois voters want a check on the administration and accountability, feeling that Washington needs robust leadership to address healthcare, democracy, and cost-of-living concerns, while she frames her campaign as standing up for everyday people and pushing back against policy that harms them.
April 1, 2026 - Full Show
Q: Why are you interested in becoming Illinois' next Senator?
Tracy frames his run as a continuation of his business and legal experience, arguing he can bring citizen-focused leadership to solve everyday problems and reduce a sense of career politicians, while noting his long involvement in Republican campaigns.
April 8, 2026 - Full Show
Q: What is the order of succession if a president is removed under the 25th Amendment?
The vice president would assume the duties, followed by the speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate, with the process designed to prevent a coup while ensuring continuity of government.

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 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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Chicago Tonight, 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 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. Meet the Press
2. PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show
3. City Cast Chicago
4. This Week with George Stephanopoulos
5. Curious City

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.

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 Chicago Tonight?

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. Hector Escobar
2. Jake Connolly
3. Hunter Miller
4. Charles Mudd
5. Alison Strom
6. Jamal Cole
7. Reverend Violet Jonaker
8. Father David Inchowskis

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