Capitol Cast: Illinois

Races at the top of the Illinois ballot this year do not appear competitive, according to the latest campaign finance reports. Peter Hancock, Brenden Moore and Jerry Nowicki discuss that and other top stories of the week.

One Democratic member of the House has been forced to resign and another has come under federal indictment. Meanwhile, a federal appeals court upholds Illinois' assault weapon ban; the Trump administration threatens to prosecute state election officials; and a CNI analysis shows inequities remain in Illinois' school finance system. Peter Hancock, Hannah Meisel, Ben Szalinski and Jerry Nowicki discuss the week's major stories.

July 1 marked the start of a new fiscal year, and the full launch of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Teresa Ramos, secretary of the new agency, talks about the work leading up to the launch and how the new agency will serve Illinois families.

Maggie Daugherty discusses a story she cowrote with the Illinois Answers Project that explores the impact that legalized gambling has on people who suffer from gambling addiction. Brenden Moore discusses new consumer protection laws aimed at controlling junk fees and ticket scalping. And Ben Szalinski gives an update on other new laws taking effect at the start of the new state fiscal year on July 1.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed the $55.9 billion budget package for the upcoming fiscal year, along with a revenue package to help pay for it. Meanwhile, lawmakers failed to take action regulating data centers in Illinois, but controversy over those developments is now going away. And a federal lawsuit seeks to block the state's Medical Aid in Dying law from going into effect in September. Ben Szalinski, Jerry Nowicki, Nikoel Hytrek and Jenna Schweikert discuss those stories with host Peter Hancock.

The spring 2026 legislative session with lawmakers agreeing to deals on a budget and revenue package, but not a deal for the Chicago Bears. Peter Hancock Ben Szalinski and Jerry Nowicki analyze the highlights of the final few days.

Longtime U.S. Senator delivered a farewell speech to a joint session of the General Assembly, echoing Abraham Lincoln's warning about "a house divided." Meanwhile, Lawmakers continued working on a budget and a handful of other policy issues as the 2026 legislative session draws to a close. Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki analyze the week's developments.

A federal judge slammed the U.S. Attorney's office this week for its handling of prosecutions against the "Broadview Six" defendants. And lawmakers work to put together a budget package as the 2026 legislative session winds to a close.

Jerry Nowicki, Brenden Moore, Ben Szalinski, Nikoel Hytrek and Jenna Schweikert discuss the week's news, from data center and AI regulation to the budget and the Chicago Bears.

Budget negotiations have begun to take shape but there are serious divisions within the General Assembly over whether the state needs to control spending or raise additional revenue. Plus, a watchdog commission appointed by Gov. JB Pritzker to review Operation Midway Blitz has referred some federal immigration agents for possible prosecution.