In the Loop

College used to be a reliable path to a professional career. Now, facing an increase in layoffs and a difficult job market, some workers say it’s not enough. In The Loop learns more about why this is happening and what it means for both workers and the economy. We sat down with New York Times reporter Noam Scheiber, and Sarah Rand, a strategic communications consultant. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago Bears gear up for a freezing playoff game against L.A. Rams, while state politicians warm up to an Arlington Heights stadium. Former DePaul basketball players are accused in a gambling scandal. Chicago joins Illinois in a lawsuit against White House over federal immigration enforcement. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Jacoby Cochran, host of City Cast Chicago, A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune Cook County and Chicago government reporter and Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government and politics reporter.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Jan. 15 is the deadline to enroll in health insurance plans through the federal government’s ACA Marketplace at Healthcare.gov. But Illinois residents will have until Jan. 31 to enroll through the state’s marketplace Get Covered Illinois. It announced it will extend the deadline for Illinois residents to enroll in a plan as many are struggling to find one that’s within their budget after ACA subsidies expired at the end of 2025. For the latest on this extension and how Illinois residents can get support, In the Loop sits down with Galo Granda, Access Community Health Network patient benefit specialist and navigator, and Get Covered Illinois director Morgan Winters.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The multibillion-dollar project Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago’s South Side promises to be one of the largest private investments in the area. Backers of the project say it will be an economic boon for the area, creating jobs and affordable housing. But some residents are concerned about the economic and environmental impact the 128-acre park will have on the area. On today’s In the Loop, who benefits from the forthcoming Quantum campus? We ask our panel: John F. Zasadzinski, professor of physics, Illinois Institute of Technology; Samir Mayekar, associate vice president and managing director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; and Clifton Muhammad, member of the South Side Environmental Task Force. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In the Loop checks in with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for our monthly “Ask the Mayor” series and takes listener questions on the immigration crackdown, city budget, public safety, the Bears playoff victory and more. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Bookstore giant Barnes & Noble is opening new locations in downtown, Hyde Park, Oak Park and Skokie. As the chain continues to see growth since its change in leadership in 2019, some are concerned about the return of the big-box bookstore where small, independent bookstores already exist.In the Loop talks about the Barnes & Noble expansion in Chicago, its impact on local bookshops and how indie bookstores and large booksellers can coexist in the city. We speak with Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt, Volumes Bookcafe co-owner Rebecca George and Call & Response Books owner Courtney Bledsoe.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Ticket prices reach a record high for the Bears and Packers wild-card game, the city of Chicago adds a new surcharge for ride shares, and U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley announces plans to run for Chicago’s next mayor.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Melody Mercado, Block Club Chicago reporter, Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune city hall reporter and Sarah Karp, WBEZ education reporter.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

How many of this week’s top local headlines do you remember? We put our live studio audience in the hot seat for the high-stakes prize of some WBEZ swag. Plus: We’re dusting off our vocal pipes and learning to sing in harmony with Davin Youngs, the founder of Chicago Circle Singing. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Effective January 14, immigrants from seven Latin American and Caribbean countries who entered the U.S. with Family Reunification Parole after 2023 will have their legal status revoked and will have to leave the country. The Trump administration says it's going after fraud and lackluster vetting processes set forth when former President Biden streamlined this process. In the Loop learns what this latest termination of legal status means for immigrants in our area from Nicole Hallett, clinical professor of law and director of the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.