In the Loop

Chicago has a “strong mayor” system, and during the pandemic, Mayor Lightfoot gained additional emergency powers. Things work differently in Phoenix, Ariz., which operates under a “weak mayor” or “council-manager” system. Reset examines the benefits and drawbacks of how things work in Phoenix, and what lessons Chicago can learn with David Swindell, associate professor and director for the Center for Urban Innovation at Arizona State University and Rick Naimark, former deputy city manager at Phoenix City Council.

In May, COVID-19 public health and national emergency declarations will end. That means hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents could lose access to Medicaid starting this summer. Resets speaks with healthcare experts Samantha Olds Frey and Jeff McInnes to learn more.

Unprecedented turnover among alderpersons, new ward boundaries and — possibly — a new mayoral administration could usher in a major sea change in how the Chicago City Council does business. Reset explores the challenges and opportunities for the legislative body after the Feb. 28 election with Alex Nitkin, Better Government Association reporter, Erin Hegarty, city hall reporter for The Daily Line, Jamie Nesbitt Golden, Bronzeville reporter for Block Club Chicago and Joe Ferguson, former City of Chicago Inspector General.

With the municipal election next week, Reset is revisiting our “Re-Imagine Chicago” series. What is the history of Chicago’s aldermanic system, and how does it impact residents and the city’s ability to get things done? Reset discusses with Chicago History Museum curator Julius L. Jones, 20th Ward Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor and 22nd Ward Alderman Michael Rodriguez.

Spoken word poetry got its own Grammy category this year and J. Ivy’s album, The Poet Who Sat By The Door, makes him the first to win. Reset chats with the Chicago-born artist about his journey, from being assigned poetry homework to writing his latest album.

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Turkey-Syria border region Monday, just weeks after a two other major quakes devastated the region. Reset hears from humanitarian advocates Amina Demir, COO at Zakat Foundation and Dr. Zaher Sahloul, president and co-founder of MedGlobal, about how to best support their recovery efforts.

With the municipal election next week, Reset is revisiting our “Re-Imagine Chicago” series. Is Chicago's City Council set up to best serve its residents? The "strong mayor" form of government has its pros and cons, but what could a better system look like? Reset explores that question with Dick Simpson, professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, former aldermen of the 44th ward (1971-1979), Helen Shiller, former alderman of the 46th ward (1987-2011), and Will Howell, director of University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government at the Harris School of Public Policy.

Rebecca Makkai pulls from her own life to explore the country’s problematic obsession with true crime in her new novel. Reset talks with her about the intersection of cancel culture, systemic racism and the fetishization of the missing white woman in I Have Some Questions For You.