Chicago is not a war zone. It's a community under siege, refusing to flinch. This week, Nora and Marcus talk with Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez about what happens when federal power turns local neighborhoods into testing grounds for fear, and how people fight back with tamale deliveries, neighborhood networks, and unapologetic solidarity. It's a raw, unfiltered look at what resistance actually means when the cameras leave: mutual aid, protest, and the daily act of refusing to look away. It's also a gentle nudge on the importance of keeping people "productively uncomfortable"—a mix of hope, humor, and a rallying cry for anyone wondering how to resist when democracy feels like it's on clearance. Spoiler: it starts on your block.

Mentioned in the episode:

Leaked messages expose Young Republicans' racist chat | Mother Jones on the Dual State Theory | 12 Years a Slave | No Kings Oct 18 | Apple pulls ICE tracking apps under government pressure | Chicago tamale vendor kidnapped | Rideshare drivers targeted at O'Hare | Chicago TV Producer arrested | Broadview resistance to ICE | Colorful Portland ICE protest met with state violence | 25th Ward | AP News: Using helicopters and chemical agents, immigration agents become increasingly aggressive in Chicago | Silverio Villegas Gonzalez murdered by ICE | Murder of Laquan McDonald | Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson | Chicago Executive Order: ICE Free Zone | 40% decrease in Illinois prison population | Chicago ceasefire resolution | Seattle Mariners on the brink of World Series | VICE: John Mayer and D'Angelo Backed by The Roots Is the Dream Performance You Didn't Know You Needed

ICE Resistance and Chicago Resources: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights | Mutual Aid Map | City Bureau: How to Get Help Amid ICE Raids in Chicago | Kelly Hayes - They Came for Our Neighbors. We Showed Up. | Look for the Helpers - Chicago | How to Start a Walking School Bus | Whistle Warriors - Printable resources and Meetups | Street Vendors Association of Chicago | Chicago Operation Buyout | Hands Off Chicago | Legal Resources and Assistance from TRP Immigrant Justice

More on Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez: ABC News: Chicago alderman on the immigration crackdown sweeping the Windy City | Sigcho-Lopez on Democracy Now!

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Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare | Readying to Rise

Music: No Tears for a Wolf · Ahamefule J. Oluo · Okanomodé. Used with permission.

Logo by Nikki Barron.

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