In the Loop

It’s that time of year again: coughs, sniffles and a whole lot of people feeling achy and run down. Chicago is among several US cities experiencing a surge in influenza cases, and a new strain of influenza called subclade K or “super K” is partly to blame. On today’s In the Loop, we talk with experts about how to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Our panel today: Dr. Brian Borah, medical director for the Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Program at the Chicago Department of Public Health; and Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, emergency physician at Rush. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Producer: Meha Ahmad, Lynnea DomienikEditor: Micah YasonAfter seizing the Venezuelan president and his wife, President Donald Trump says the United States plans to "run" the country for an unspecified amount of time, zeroing in on advancing American oil interests there.Illinois leaders are raising major concerns and questions about the U.S. strike, and calling for a push to “take back” the power of Congress. We check in with U.S. congress members from Illinois, Robin Kelly and Mike Quigley. Plus, we get insight from national security expert Robert Pape from UChicago on what comes next in Venezuela and how this could affect Chicago. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

According to GoFundMe’s end-of-year report, campaigns to fund basic necessities like housing, utilities and groceries are on the rise after quadrupling in 2024. In the Loop gets insight on how we got here, how this impact is felt locally, and local efforts to close gaps through mutual aid efforts and policy shifts. Dion Dawson, founder, executive director Dion’s Chicago Dream and Bob Palmer, Policy Director Housing Action Illinois and Rep. Brad Schneider, 10th District sat down with host Sasha-Ann Simons. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Are you an adventurous eater? Or are you married to your classic “go-tos?” How about some recs for the best places to get a bite with a twist? A trio of journalists behind a new guide from WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times review their favorite plates and treats on In the Loop.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

As their winning season heats up, the Chicago Bears make another play for an Indiana stadium. Lakeview neighbors replace presents for needy families collected by a local bar that was burglarized. Local public transit gets an overhaul. Meanwhile, Chicago is one step closer to an alternate budget proposed by alders. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with WTTW News correspondent Nick Blumberg, Block Club Chicago reporter Mack Liederman and WBEZ city politics reporter Mariah Woelfel.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 city budget, its looming deadline and more. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Despite the federal government cutting tax credits for clean energy, Illinois continues to invest in grants for residents, municipalities and organizations to make the switch to solar energy. In the Loop hears from Senyo Ador, co-founder of the local green energy company Sesenergi Eco Solutions Enterprise and our sustainability contributor Karen Weigert.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago’s museums and cultural institutions are as much a part of the fabric of the city as Wrigley Field or the lakefront. And they’ve been around a long time. Some are more than a century old. So why are museum workers organizing now, seemingly en masse? And what could it mean for the visitor experience? In the Loop talks with Chicago Sun-Times arts and culture reporter Erica Thompson, Anders Lindall of AFSCME Council 31 and Adler Planetarium employee Lileas Maier.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Today, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City Council kicked off a series of high-profile budget meetings, and the clock is ticking for them to pass the 2026 budget. The major sticking point continues to be whether the corporate head tax as a revenue stream should be included in the proposal. A new WBEZ data analysis digs into the claim that it’s a job killer, showing little connection between job trends in the city and an earlier version of the tax, which was repealed in 2014. We get more info from Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city politics reporter; Amy Qin, WBEZ data reporter; and Bob Bruno, director of the labor education program at the School for Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago’s budget showdown continues, Indiana’s legislature bucks Trump redistricting trend, and ICE agents were out in force in west suburban Elgin.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Tom Schuba, Chicago Sun-Times watchdog reporter; Monica Eng, Axios reporter; David Greising, Better Government Association president. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.