
Mild mannered Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass and WGN Radio's Jeff Carlin explore the week in news, politics and other thngs done the Chicago Way in this WGN Plus podcast from WGN Radio in Chicago.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 104 | Founded | 10 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | News | |||

Chicago Way w/John Kass (07/20/26): John Kass & Jeff Carlin take a look a the rise of “agenda journalism” in media, what happens when teachers focus on activism instead of education, and why California should be a cautionary take for Illinois. Plus, ... more
Chicago Way w/John Kass (07/13/26): John Kass & Jeff Carlin welcome retired Chief of Detectives for the Chicago Police Department, Gene Roy, to discuss how dishonorably the outgoing Supt. Larry Snelling was treated by Mayor Brandon Johnson, what it’s... more
Chicago Way w/John Kass (07/07/26): Happy Birthday America! Charles Lipson joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin for a look at who is pushing the narrative that the US is bad, why people can’t seem to agree on common sense anymore, and what is at risk if we ... more
Chicago Way w/John Kass (06/30/26): John Kass & Jeff Carlin are back this week to dive into what the current state of American culture means to the rest of the world, how failures that stack up when we elect/hire/listen to unqualified leaders, and a ... more
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Great pod, but I do miss John’s squeaky chair
We need more podcast-you make in packed-for the clueless people!!!
I stared with John Kass when he wrote for the Tribune. Truly great journalism that is sadly lost in today’s click bait, easy answers social media method of delivering news. I’m glad to still be able to catch his thought provoking content on this podcast. Keep it up John.
John Kass talks about nothing important.
Jk knows where the bodies are still walking!
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The show centers on Chicago politics, local governance, media dynamics, and national issues with sharp, sometimes provocative commentary. Regular hosts dissect power struggles, policy trade-offs, and cultural touchpoints through a Chicago lens, often featuring diverse guests from politics, journalism, law, and advocacy to illuminate how national events intersect with city life. Notable strengths include candid storytelling, strong editorial perspective, and a willingness to tackle sensitive topics like policing, free speech, and trust in media, all while weaving in personal anecdotes and local sponsorships that reinforce community ties. This mix can appeal to listeners who want principled, opinionated discourse grounded in real-world Chicag... more
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The Chicago Way launched 10 years ago and published 104 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on The Chicago Way include:
1. Molly Mustard
2. Kelly Ketchup
3. Ray Lopez
4. Nicholas S. Kass
5. Sal Carmada
6. James Jennings
7. Rafael Mangual
8. Tom Morrison
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