In the Loop

Morning Shift talks to Democratic Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky as part of its series, "Our Representatives," which are conversations with the congressmen and congresswomen who represent the WBEZ-listening area in Washington.

Mayor Harold Washington’s untimely death on the day before Thanksgiving shocked the city. It also created confusion inside and outside City Hall, and served as a reminder of the racial tension at play in a city that had elected its first African American mayor four years before his death.

Mayor Harold Washington’s untimely death on the day before Thanksgiving shocked the city. It also created confusion inside and outside City Hall, and served as a reminder of the racial tension at play in a city that had elected its first African American mayor four years before his death.

In the latest installment of our series “Our Representatives” — where we try to check in with all 26 congressmen and congresswomen who represent the WBEZ-listening area in Washington. Morning Shift talks to Democratic Congressman Brad Schneider. He represents Illinois’s 10th district, including parts of Buffalo Grove, Waukegan, and Libertyville. The congressman discusses the race for his seat, taxes, and a controversial bipartisan caucus he’s taking part in to tackle health care.

In the latest installment of our series “Our Representatives” — where we try to check in with all 26 congressmen and congresswomen who represent the WBEZ-listening area in Washington. Morning Shift talks to Democratic Congressman Brad Schneider. He represents Illinois’s 10th district, including parts of Buffalo Grove, Waukegan, and Libertyville. The congressman discusses the race for his seat, taxes, and a controversial bipartisan caucus he’s taking part in to tackle health care.

Congressman Randy Hultgren’s district covers a wide range of interests — with rural, small towns in the northern part of the state to larger suburbs like Naperville and North Aurora.  The counties he represents carry political power; residents voted for the winner in the last four presidential elections. Democratic challengers for 2018 are coming forward so the Congressman has to align his policies and votes with constituents in order to retain his seat.  Morning Shift talks with the Congressman about how he plans to do that, and issues where he aligns with the Republican Party and where he splits.

Congressman Randy Hultgren’s district covers a wide range of interests — with rural, small towns in the northern part of the state to larger suburbs like Naperville and North Aurora.  The counties he represents carry political power; residents voted for the winner in the last four presidential elections. Democratic challengers for 2018 are coming forward so the Congressman has to align his policies and votes with constituents in order to retain his seat.  Morning Shift talks with the Congressman about how he plans to do that, and issues where he aligns with the Republican Party and where he splits.

For Congressman Danny Davis, the fight against gun violence in Chicago is very much on his agenda. His district covers neighborhoods with high homicide rates like Austin and East Garfield Park.  Last year, the gun violence hit Davis on a personal level. His grandson was shot and killed. Congressman Davis has proposed ways to decrease poverty saying it’s a direct path to why young people pick up guns in the first place. We talk to him about what he’s working to change in Chicago and get his thoughts on the tax bill that passed the House on Thursday. 

For Congressman Danny Davis, the fight against gun violence in Chicago is very much on his agenda. His district covers neighborhoods with high homicide rates like Austin and East Garfield Park.  Last year, the gun violence hit Davis on a personal level. His grandson was shot and killed. Congressman Davis has proposed ways to decrease poverty saying it’s a direct path to why young people pick up guns in the first place. We talk to him about what he’s working to change in Chicago and get his thoughts on the tax bill that passed the House on Thursday. 

Comedian John Hodgman might be mostly known as a regular correspondent on The Daily Show during the Jon Stewart era. He channeled part of his Daily Show personae into a series of books that spouted thousands of facts — all of them fake. Now, Hodgman has reached the point where he’s comfortable telling real stories in his new memoir, Vacationland. The comedian talked to Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia about why he decided to write about himself.