Chicago Contrarian, The Podcast

Newcomer Christian Maxwell declared for Congress in Illinois 1st District. Can she unseat Jonathan Jackson? Panelists with Contrarian quiz the aspiring GOP candidate ahead of the March 17 primary.

In a surprise decision, the Board of Education severed its contract with a search firm hired to vet candidates for the CEO of CPS. Six BOE members asserted the move was done to prevent Mayor Johnson from interfering with the search to replace Dr. Macquline King.

With speculation running wild, the White House intends to order ICE back to Chicago, Paul Vallas has ideas for the Trump Administration to do good for Chicago. Mayor Johnson has been coy on his reelection plans. At a City Club address, the mayor hinted at his intent to run for a second term. We'll discuss.

Superintendent of Police Larry Snelling's public comments on interfering with lawful police business. Jordan Powell writes of the impact of his words nationwide and his tenure leading CPD. Mayor Johnson issued an Executive Order last week, which led to SA Eileen O'Neill Burke denying her office supported his action.

Was Johnson lying? Probably. The recent OIG report on the CPS over the last year was repugnant. Given the depth of the problems at CPS described in the report, the schooling system needs a full investigation. Is Attorney General Kwame Raoul the man to carry out such an investigation?

A new federal program promises $1 billion in scholarship money is on the table for Illinois' schools. Will Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker take it to improve Chicago's schools? Mayor Johnson traveled to Washington, D.C. this week for a National Press Club event. His comments were only directed at

Trump. The mayor falsely claimed federal agents were directed by the White House to "shoot and kill." Will there be a fallout over the mayor's outrageous comment? Chicago is seven weeks out of the primary for Cook County Board president. We'll discuss.

An Inspector General report in early January detailed a wide range of improper conduct, perhaps criminal, among CPS employees. Will authorities finally take action? The CTU was finally exposed for filing misleading annual audit reports after an independent auditor concluded the union omitted the activities of two foundations under the union's supervision. Is the CTU's day of reckoning coming?

Are Chicago journalists biased? Chicago Contrarian says yes, and we crowned Heather Cherone the worst journalist for 2025.

Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot has launched her "ICE Accountability Project. How effective will her effort be and what is behind it? The trial of an alleged gang member charged with orchestrating an attempted assassination of ICE Commander Greg Bovino suffers a defeat. AFter a contentious budget debate, Mayor Johnson warns layoffs could come to city government by summer. Is this possible? We'll discuss.

A BOE meeting in late December, board members voted overwhelmingly to raise the levy limit to take in another $40M. Why was the levy limit raised after the CPS received $552M in TIF funds? Following the vote, BOE president Sean Harden fumed over leaks to media over the vote. An investigation was launched.

After federal agents fatally shot a woman interfering with immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, Mayor Johnson issued a brief video denouncing the incident and rebuking Trump.

Why is Johnson seemingly more concerned with violent incidents outside the city over which he presides as mayor? In an insightful essay, Patrick Dent profiles several progressive aldermen in the City Council and state lawmakers representing the city in the IGA.

The thread which binds them together, Dent says, is none have any real, meaningful accomplishments prior to taking office.

Chicago finally reaches a budget deal, but Mayor Johnson refuses to sign. Why is the mayor refusing to endorse a budget deal which gave him 98 percent of what he sought? Cook County Board of Review's Samantha Steele is at the center of another controversy.

Steele's challenger, Liz Nicholson has leveled the accusation Steele attempted to lure Nicholson to drop her bid in exchange for a County job. Nicholson has filed a complaint; Steele denies the charge. Who is telling the truth?

Cook County property taxes are outrageous. Complicating matters is the network applied to overhaul of the property tax system has been riddled with problems. Who is to blame? We'll discuss.

In a rebuke to Mayor Johnson, aldermen have passed a budget counterproposal without the Head Tax. Will Johnson veto the budget and shut down city government? Long-time County Board president Toni Preckwinkle released her first campaign video attacking Ald. Brendan Reilly as a MAGA Republican and Trump ally.

Will the charge dog Reilly? After a ghastly attack on the CTA, the Trump White House threatened to withhold federal aid until Chicago creates a safety plan for the city's public transit system. The CTA announced dozens of additional CPD will work CTA platforms and private security would be added. Is this sufficient to thwart a dangerous transit system? We will discuss.

Now stretching into its sixth week, the budget stalemate is dragging on. Which side will blink first? Will aldermen with a budget counterproposal cave and allow the mayor to prevail? Can aldermen avoid any defections to prevent the job-killing Head Tax? A federal judge has ruled Cook County's sale tax was unconstitutional.

Will Cook County now be on the hook for a massive settlement? The NAARPR held its annual convention in Chicago in November. The radicals, including Mayor Johnson, didn't hold back any inflammatory language. We;ll discuss.