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

Illinois Politics

Iran

ICE

J.B. Pritzker

Kamala Harris

Trump Administration

Charlie Kirk

Election Integrity

Mike Madigan

JB Pritzker

Pritzker

Democratic Party

Property Taxes

Safety Act

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.

31 ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	166	Founded	5 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	News CommentaryNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

Former Bears player Rev. Paul Blair on Liberty Pastors Training Camp; CPD Union Leader John Catanzara on the New Police Brutality Sculpture; FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Jul 2026 • 40 min • Popular

NGO Fraud, IL Schools Misuse of Tax Dollars with Open the Books and Justin Hegy

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9 Jul 2026 • 41 min • Most popular

Dem. State Rep. Carol Ammons Indicted; State Rep. Chris Miller on Raja's False Energy Op-Ed; Watchdog Wednesday: Harry Benton Resigns

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Jul 2026 • 41 min • Popular

SCOTUS to Weigh In on IL "Assault" Weapon Ban; All In Podcast Mentions Jeanne's X Post

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7 Jul 2026 • 41 min • Popular

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Recent Guests

Gabrielle Lyon

Chair of America 250 Illinois and Executive Director of Illinois Humanities

America 250 Illinois / Illinois Humanities

Episode: Brandon Johnson Follows Mamdani on Rent Control; The NOT Affordable Housing Plan; IL Celebrates America 250

John Guarido

Retired lieutenant from the Chicago Police Department, in charge of Guarido strays, rescue, and an advocate on public safety topics

Guarido Strays Rescue (as described)

Episode: Johnson's New Idea: Just Spend More Money For Violence Prevention; Discrimination Against the Heartland Institute

Donald Kendall

Director of the Emerging Issues Center at the Heartland Institute

Heartland Institute

Episode: Johnson's New Idea: Just Spend More Money For Violence Prevention; Discrimination Against the Heartland Institute

Mark Lennon

CEO and founder of WirePoints

WirePoints

Episode: Over 40% of Education Spending is For Pensions; Watchdog Wednesday

Tom Sudeikis

CEO of Freedom Square

Freedom Square

Episode: Making Up Words: Mayor Johnson Worries About Transfemicide? Meanwhile, Chicago Crime Climbs; Freedom Square In the House!

Chuck Barham

President of Freedom Square

Freedom Square

Episode: Making Up Words: Mayor Johnson Worries About Transfemicide? Meanwhile, Chicago Crime Climbs; Freedom Square In the House!

Florian Schemke

Chicago Contrarian

Episode: Making Up Words: Mayor Johnson Worries About Transfemicide? Meanwhile, Chicago Crime Climbs; Freedom Square In the House!

Tim Graham

Executive editor of News Busters (Media Research Center)

Media Research Center

Episode: The Worst of Obama Adulation; FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY

Marcia McClury

Chapter founder/leader for Moms of Liberty in Lake County, Illinois

Moms of Liberty

Episode: Deerfield 109 Complains About Costs to Defend Their Trans Policy; DOJ Challenges Evanston Reparations Plan

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 31 ratings

Two old ladies
Two old ladies complaining. They dislike everything and everyone.
Apple Podcasts
1
Southsidewhitesoxfan
United States5 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 States4 years ago

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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.

Apple Podcasts	#240	United States/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#126	Saudi Arabia/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Amy On the Scene of This Weekend's Shooting in Iowa; Chicago Contrarian Discusses Dismissal of Toledo Case; Pritzker Housing Program Dictatorship; Updates on Oswego 308 and CTU's May Day

Q: What are the implications of Pritzker's housing plan for local zoning and affordability?

The hosts discuss concerns that the plan could preempt local zoning, reduce housing affordability, and shift development to higher-density state-level decisions, with guests offering both skepticism and calls for deeper analysis.

Amy On the Scene of This Weekend's Shooting in Iowa; Chicago Contrarian Discusses Dismissal of Toledo Case; Pritzker Housing Program Dictatorship; Updates on Oswego 308 and CTU's May Day

Q: How is the Toledo case presented in the media, and what is the panel's critique of that coverage?

Florian critiques how some outlets memorialize Toledo with visuals that imply a martyr narrative while downplaying his gang association, arguing this shapes public perception and omits crucial context.

Amy On the Scene of This Weekend's Shooting in Iowa; Chicago Contrarian Discusses Dismissal of Toledo Case; Pritzker Housing Program Dictatorship; Updates on Oswego 308 and CTU's May Day

Q: What was it like reporting from the Iowa City scene and talking to witnesses?

The host and Ethan describe a chaotic aftermath with close-range gunfire, a rushed search for suspects, and the emotional impact of the event on bystanders, emphasizing the importance of firsthand accounts in understanding what happened.

Brandon Johnson Follows Mamdani on Rent Control; The NOT Affordable Housing Plan; IL Celebrates America 250

Q: What are the proposed changes in the Chicago rent control measures and how might they affect landlords and tenants?

The hosts explain that the ordinance would cap security deposits, ban certain fees, create a rental registry, require just-cause eviction protections, and impose relocation assistance and rent coverage for tenants, which landlords argue could drive costs up and reduce willingness to rent.

Deerfield 109 Complains About Costs to Defend Their Trans Policy; DOJ Challenges Evanston Reparations Plan

Q: What broader impact might this case have on other cities considering similar reparations?

If the lawsuit succeeds, it could pause or scrap similar race-based programs elsewhere, especially given federal involvement, and may lead to reevaluation of such policies across multiple jurisdictions.

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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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. The Dan Bongino Show
4. The Rubin Report
5. Ruthless Podcast

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?

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What guests have appeared on The Real Story?

Recent guests on The Real Story include:

1. Gabrielle Lyon
2. John Guarido
3. Donald Kendall
4. Mark Lennon
5. Tom Sudeikis
6. Chuck Barham
7. Florian Schemke
8. Tim Graham

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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