Rephonic
Artwork for Illinois in Focus

Illinois in Focus

The Center Square
Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker
Chicago
Donald Trump
JB Pritzker
Public Safety
Immigration Enforcement
Trump Administration
Second Amendment
National Guard
Illinois Gun Ban
ICE
Brandon Johnson
Gun Control
Michael Madigan
Texas
Republican Party
Migrant Sanctuary Policies
J.B. Pritzker
Charlie Kirk

The podcast bringing you the most important stories out of Illinois from TheCenterSquare.com. Join us as we dive into the top headlines and provide insightful commentary and analysis.

PublishesDailyEpisodes600Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Illinois in Focus

Latest Episodes

(The Center Square) -- State lawmakers expressed public, bipartisan concern again Wednesday over an Illinois commission's efforts to increase access to state contract money for businesses that are owned by racial minorities, women and people with dis... more

(The Center Square) – A federal appeals court heard oral arguments Thursday as judges consider former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s appeal of his conviction on 10 counts of public corruption.

The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals took... more

(The Center Square) - Fewer businesses that get diversity-related government priority in Illinois are getting contracts with the state, according to a new annual report from the agency, after a long-running computer problem thwarted efforts to increa... more

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says a Loyola University student would still be alive if Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker asked his administration to help stop crime. The president spoke at a Cabinet meeting ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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

Sam Adam Jr.
Chicago attorney, former attorney for Rod Blagojevich in the first corruption trial
Independent attorney in Chicago
Episode: Weekend Edition | Ex-Blago attorney: Quid pro quo is key to Madigan appeal
Jim Talabani
Center Square Illinois reporter
The Center Square
Episode: Weekend Edition | Fewer businesses of Illinois' diversity-preferred group got state contracts last year
Jim Talamanti
The Center Square reporter contributing to the Weekend Edition
The Center Square
Episode: Weekend Edition | Chicago police monitor Iran-U.S. conflict; public advised to be aware
Brad Cole
Illinois Municipal League President
Illinois Municipal League
Episode: Illinois in Focus Daily | March 5th, 2026 - State budget hearings begin as locals look to increase gas tax
Alexi Janoulius
Secretary of State of Illinois
Illinois Secretary of State
Episode: Illinois in Focus Daily | March 5th, 2026 - State budget hearings begin as locals look to increase gas tax
Rick Heidner
Republican candidate for Governor of Illinois
Episode: Illinois in Focus Daily | February 11th, 2026 - Pritzker's office sued over 'peacekeeper' pic and other Illinois headlines
Anthony DeLuca
State Representative from Chicago Heights
Illinois State Government
Episode: Illinois in Focus Daily | January 13th, 2026 - Migrant sanctuary Illinois sues Trump admin over immigration enforcement tactics
Alexis Giannullius
Illinois Secretary of State
Illinois State Government
Episode: Illinois in Focus Daily | January 13th, 2026 - Migrant sanctuary Illinois sues Trump admin over immigration enforcement tactics
Kwame Raoul
Attorney General of Illinois
Illinois State Government
Episode: Illinois in Focus Daily | January 12th, 2026 - With adverse audit opinions, Illinois sues Trump admin over frozen welfare funds

Host

Greg Bishop
Host focusing on Illinois state government, policy, and budget discussions. Frequently anchors Daily editions and weekend segments with concise reporting and analysis.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Great show

    Excellent show, great reporting, wish you had more content, would be nice to get two reports per week with all the happenings in The nonstop drama of Illinois politics.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Will4208
    United States3 years ago
  • That was the week that was!

    I love listening to the updates on what is happening in Illinois. They help keep me up to date on the weeks political activities. A great overview for a citizen who is looking for a succinct report! Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shipwreck Bill
    United States4 years ago
  • Fantastic Podcast!

    They are doing a great job of really understanding the current state of Illinois. My wife and appreciate hearing it from the center and not from the right or the left. Just facts and nothing more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kujo77
    United States4 years ago
  • Great source of rational debate

    I found this podcast on accident and have been enjoying its content immensely! Enjoy hearing rational viewpoints and debate on issues of the day. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pookeysmommy
    United States5 years ago
  • excellent

    This is just great IL content, great format with news up front followed by good discussion. Love this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    E Allie
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Shows are seen as a reliable and practical source for staying up-to-date on state government and economic issues.
Listeners appreciate balanced, nonpartisan tone and clear explanations of Illinois policy.
Quality of discussions with diverse viewpoints is noted, with emphasis on factual reporting over sensationalism.

Top News Podcasts

The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
The Tucker Carlson Show
The Tucker Carlson ShowTucker Carlson Network
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Ben Shapiro ShowThe Daily Wire
Pivot
PivotNew York Magazine

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Weekend Edition | Fewer businesses of Illinois' diversity-preferred group got state contracts last year
Q: Jim, what's going on with the commission?
Jim Talabani explains that the annual report shows a 9% decrease in contracts to minority-, women-, and disability-owned businesses, despite the commission's purpose to increase such contracts; lawmakers are demanding answers about budget and effectiveness.
Weekend Edition | Trump: Loyola student would be alive if Pritzker, Johnson asked for help
Q: Jim, what are the main legal and policy questions driving the sanctuary policy debate in Illinois right now?
The discussion centers on whether local sanctuary policies hinder cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, how proposed state measures could restrict detention operations or local cooperation, and how these policies intersect with budget priorities and public safety needs.
Weekend Edition | Chicago police monitor Iran-U.S. conflict; public advised to be aware
Q: What economic impacts are being observed in Illinois due to the Iran conflict?
Gas prices have risen as the conflict affects global oil markets, with Illinois seeing noticeable increases in regular gasoline prices and concerns about further rises if the conflict lasts.
Weekend Edition | Chicago police monitor Iran-U.S. conflict; public advised to be aware
Q: What is the current security posture in Chicago amid the Iran-U.S. conflict?
Police are maintaining heightened alert and monitoring key locations, with no actionable threat reported at the moment but continued vigilance in places like airports and transit hubs.
Illinois in Focus Daily | March 3rd, 2026 - DEI commissioner didn’t properly disclose $23K side job
Q: What do we know about the composition and budget of the Illinois Diversity Commission?
They have a $7 million budget, with a proposed decrease by the governor, and their spending has not delivered the expected results in increasing diversity contracting.

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 Illinois in Focus

What is Illinois in Focus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A brisk, Illinois-focused news and analysis show that prioritizes state government, budget battles, tax policy, and local politics, often tying national developments to Illinois developments. Episodes frequently open with concise headlines before digging into debates over spending, tax incentives, infrastructure projects like stadium deals, and the practical impacts on taxpayers and communities. A recurring strength is clear sourcing from state-focused outlets and politicians, with thoughtful discussions that aim to balance viewpoints and translate complex policy into actionable takeaways for listeners who work in business, government, or policy. A notable aspect is its cadence: up-to-date reporting paired with structured commentary, making... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Illinois in Focus?

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

How many listeners does Illinois in Focus get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Illinois in Focus, 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 Illinois in Focus?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Illinois in Focus, 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 Illinois in Focus have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Illinois in Focus 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 Illinois in Focus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Illinois in Focus:

1. Capitol Cast: Illinois
2. The Center Square Daily
3. Chicago's Morning Answer with Dan Proft
4. The Kyle Seraphin Show
5. The Ben Ferguson Podcast

How many episodes of Illinois in Focus are there?

Illinois in Focus launched 8 years ago and published 600 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 Illinois in Focus?

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 Illinois in Focus?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Illinois in Focus 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 Illinois in Focus?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Illinois in Focus. 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 Illinois in Focus?

Recent guests on Illinois in Focus include:

1. Sam Adam Jr.
2. Jim Talabani
3. Jim Talamanti
4. Brad Cole
5. Alexi Janoulius
6. Rick Heidner
7. Anthony DeLuca
8. Alexis Giannullius

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