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The Real Story with Jeanne Ives and Amy Jacobson

The Real Story with Jeanne Ives
Illinois
Chicago
Donald Trump
Illegal Immigration
Chicago Bears
Biden Administration
Iran
J.B. Pritzker
Illinois Politics
ICE
JB Pritzker
Trump Administration
Charlie Kirk
Mike Madigan
Pritzker
Kamala Harris
Safety Act
Turning Point USA
Democratic Party
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

It is time to look at the world of politics from a different perspective. The Real Story with Jeanne Ives and Amy Jacobson asks insightful questions of those influencing government and those impacted by government.

PublishesDailyEpisodes166Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsPolitics

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Recent Guests

Nicole Patrice
Illinois Medicaid whistleblower
State of Illinois (whistleblower)
Episode: Fauci's and Pritzker's Lies; Watchdog Wednesday - Remembering What They Did During COVID
Jeff Walter
Mayor of Elburn, Illinois; running for Congress in IL-11
Mayor of Elburn; Candidate for Congress
Episode: Unions Walk Out of Gotion; Fauci Diary Fallout with Mark Glennon; Jeff Walter Running for IL 11
Keith Dekau
Former mayor of Orland Park, Illinois
Former Mayor of Orland Park
Episode: Nightmare Bar Shut Down in Chicago; Government Going After Citizens with Keith Dekau; Watchdog Wednesday
Elizabeth Bauer
Candidate for House District 53
Campaign for Elizabeth Bauer
Episode: Toll Cost Transparency Bill - Rep. Marty McLaughlin; D214 Referendum Boondoggle
Bob Fioretti
Attorney; former alderman of Chicago; candidate for Illinois Attorney General
Fioretti for Illinois
Episode: Is JB Pritzker China's Favorite Governor?; Republican AG Candidate Bob Fioretti
Diante Johnson
Founder and president of Black Conservative Federation
Black Conservative Federation
Episode: WNBA Mean Girls - Jennifer Sey Weighs In; Diante Johnson Discusses Black-Only Graduations; FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY
Vicki Butrum
Resident of Kansas, Illinois, featured in a local water infrastructure segment
Citizen/Local resident
Episode: New IL Law Threatens Patient Safety - Dr. Carrie Mendoza; IL Company Now Partnering with Gotion
Carrie Mendoza
Medical doctor commenting on Illinois health policy
Physician
Episode: New IL Law Threatens Patient Safety - Dr. Carrie Mendoza; IL Company Now Partnering with Gotion
Steve Gorham
Executive director, Climate Science Coalition of America; author
Climate policy advocate
Episode: New IL Law Threatens Patient Safety - Dr. Carrie Mendoza; IL Company Now Partnering with Gotion

Hosts

Jeanne Ives
Host of The Real Story with Jeanne Ives and Amy Jacobson
Amy Jacobson
Host of The Real Story with Jeanne Ives and Amy Jacobson

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 32 ratings
  • Two old ladies

    Two old ladies complaining. They dislike everything and everyone.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Southsidewhitesoxfan
    United States6 months ago
  • Excellent show. Thanks!

    Great show by Ives

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dowup
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good series but poor recording/playback quality.

    This podcast series is on point and definitely look at the policies, failures and successes of government bodies in Illinois.

    The only issue I’ve encountered is that the recording quality has gotten poorer with almost each episode in recent weeks.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    My_Opinion_2
    United States4 years ago
  • Facts not Fiction

    Detailed inside info on politics and human stories behind the headlines. Never miss an episode in order to stay informed in your community. Great stuff.

    Detailed, sometimes granular, explanations of state and local policies and actions that are informative and allow people to formulate democratic actions plans to help their communities. This show is the enemy of the political machine and of political slight of hand.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mzaenger
    United States4 years ago
  • Jeanne is a smart cookie!

    Jeanne is a smart cookie!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    loudes13
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many value the show's willingness to challenge political narratives with data and watchdog-style reporting.
Some reviews note uneven audio quality but praise the factual take on Illinois politics.
Listeners appreciate the policy depth and real-world local impact discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fauci's and Pritzker's Lies; Watchdog Wednesday - Remembering What They Did During COVID
Q: What outcome are you hoping results from your decision to come forward?
Patrice hopes for greater transparency and honesty, accountability in state agencies, and better alignment between policy and oath-bound duties of public servants in Illinois.
Nightmare Bar Shut Down in Chicago; Government Going After Citizens with Keith Dekau; Watchdog Wednesday
Q: How does the First Amendment intersect with local government transparency when officials deploy settlements and paperwork to suppress dissent?
The guest argues that when government officials attempt to force settlements that suppress speech and require payment of others' fees, it signals an erosion of First Amendment rights and creates a chilling effect that discourages public accountability.
Nightmare Bar Shut Down in Chicago; Government Going After Citizens with Keith Dekau; Watchdog Wednesday
Q: What motivates the village to fund aggressive legal action against a critic and make the records public?
The guest explains that the village's legal actions appear driven by a combination of financial incentives for defense teams, a desire to deter criticism, and the strategic aim of protecting municipal decisions and contracts, even at the cost of taxpayer funds.
Alexi Giannoulias Attacks Jeanne on X; K-12 Indoctrination; CTU Hosts Marxists; Watchdog Wednesday
Q: What is your assessment of the CTU's relationship with activist groups and its impact on public schools?
Victoria Manning explains the concern about activist groups embedded in school infrastructure, the need for transparency around curriculum and who funds it, and advocates for parental involvement and school choice to counter perceived indoctrination.
New IL Law Threatens Patient Safety - Dr. Carrie Mendoza; IL Company Now Partnering with Gotion
Q: What is the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program change and why does it matter for safety?
The change bans certain drugs on the monitoring program, which could reduce safety signals and make it harder to detect unsafe prescribing patterns; Dr. Mendoza argues this could increase risk for patients who are prescribed high doses or multiple interacting medications, emphasizing the need for ongoing safety checks.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Real Story

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

A conservative-leaning political talk show that blends timely Illinois state and local government coverage with broader national policy debates. Episodes frequently center on state budgeting, education policy, governance transparency, and high-profile local issues (from Bears stadium discussions to district lawsuits), featuring guests ranging from lawmakers and attorneys to watchdogs and researchers. The format mixes interviews with quick-fire caller segments and watchdog-style reporting, delivering pointed perspectives and practical takeaways for listeners who want to understand how policies affect their communities and wallets. A notable strength is the ability to pair elected officials with policy experts and local leaders to illuminate ... more

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How many subscribers and views does The Real Story have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Real Story?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Real Story:

1. Chicago's Morning Answer with Dan Proft
2. The Shaun Thompson Show
3. Ruthless Podcast
4. Red Eye Radio
5. The Big Ben Show

How many episodes of The Real Story are there?

The Real Story launched 5 years ago and published 166 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 Real Story?

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 Real Story?

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What guests have appeared on The Real Story?

Recent guests on The Real Story include:

1. Nicole Patrice
2. Jeff Walter
3. Keith Dekau
4. Elizabeth Bauer
5. Bob Fioretti
6. Diante Johnson
7. Vicki Butrum
8. Carrie Mendoza

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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