In the Loop

Forget Shakespeare — why not study the literary genius of a one Joanne Kathleen Rowling instead, go on a book worm’s dream pilgrimage to Platform 9 and 3 quarters, and get college credit for it at the same time?  DePaul University’s English Department announced a new program for that will have at least one pop culture fandom signing up faster than you can say “butterbeer”: a Harry Potter study abroad program set for the spring, where students will not only study the series and its cultural significance, but also spend two weeks in the U.K. on a fandom pilgrimage. Morning Shift talks to the professors (and Potterheads) behind the program, Paul Booth and Rebecca Johns-Trissler, about the curriculum and what prospective students can expect as they climb aboard the Hogwarts Express. 

It’s been a year since the 2016 election — when Republicans won the presidency and maintained control of both the House and Senate. But it’s been a bumpy road for both the Republican Party and President Donald Trump. Yesterday, we heard from our Democratic panel about the future of their party and what they think the next steps should be to regain a stronger foothold among voters. Today, we’ll hear from our panel of Republicans: former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party Pat Brady, former Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, and Susan Wynn Bence, president of the Illinois Federation of Republican Women. We’ll also go to the phones to hear from listeners on the party’s direction, and what issues still need to be addressed.

It’s been a year since the 2016 election — when Republicans won the presidency and maintained control of both the House and Senate. But it’s been a bumpy road for both the Republican Party and President Donald Trump. Yesterday, we heard from our Democratic panel about the future of their party and what they think the next steps should be to regain a stronger foothold among voters. Today, we’ll hear from our panel of Republicans: former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party Pat Brady, former Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, and Susan Wynn Bence, president of the Illinois Federation of Republican Women. We’ll also go to the phones to hear from listeners on the party’s direction, and what issues still need to be addressed.

It’s been a year since the 2016 election — when Republicans won the presidency and maintained control of both the House and Senate. But it’s been a bumpy road for both the Republican Party and President Donald Trump. Yesterday, we heard from our Democratic panel about the future of their party and what they think the next steps should be to regain a stronger foothold among voters. Today, we’ll hear from our panel of Republicans: former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party Pat Brady, former Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, and Susan Wynn Bence, president of the Illinois Federation of Republican Women. We’ll also go to the phones to hear from listeners on the party’s direction, and what issues still need to be addressed.

It’s Election Day — at least for one-third of the country. And it’s also the anniversary of Election Day 2016, when Donald Trump won the presidency and Republicans gained seats in both the House and Senate. Democrats failed to recapture either chamber in Congress and have had the last year to rethink their strategy. In a two-day panel, Morning Shift looks at the state of both the Democrat and Republican parties and what it’ll take for the parties to get their political houses in order.  Today, we start with our panel of Democrats: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL 17th district), Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward), Commissioner Jesus Chuy Garcia, and political strategist Kitty Kurth. We’ll also go to the phones to hear from listeners on what they think the party should do to gain more footing, and what issues they’d like the Dems to focus on going forward. 

It’s Election Day — at least for one-third of the country. And it’s also the anniversary of Election Day 2016, when Donald Trump won the presidency and Republicans gained seats in both the House and Senate. Democrats failed to recapture either chamber in Congress and have had the last year to rethink their strategy. In a two-day panel, Morning Shift looks at the state of both the Democrat and Republican parties and what it’ll take for the parties to get their political houses in order.  Today, we start with our panel of Democrats: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL 17th district), Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward), Commissioner Jesus Chuy Garcia, and political strategist Kitty Kurth. We’ll also go to the phones to hear from listeners on what they think the party should do to gain more footing, and what issues they’d like the Dems to focus on going forward. 

In our series Our Representatives, Morning Shift is reaching out to all 26 Congressmen and women that represent the people in the WBEZ listening area in Washington. Today, we talk with Illinois Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly of Illinois’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes parts of Chicago’s South Side and south suburbs as well as Kankakee. 

In our series Our Representatives, Morning Shift is reaching out to all 26 Congressmen and women that represent the people in the WBEZ listening area in Washington. Today, we talk with Illinois Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly of Illinois’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes parts of Chicago’s South Side and south suburbs as well as Kankakee. 

We continue our series Our Representatives, talking to the congressmen, congresswomen and senators who represent you, the people in WBEZ’s listening area.  Today we head to Northwest Indiana to talk with Democratic Congressman Peter Visclosky, one of the longest serving member in the House of Representatives.

We continue our series Our Representatives, talking to the congressmen, congresswomen and senators who represent you, the people in WBEZ’s listening area.  Today we head to Northwest Indiana to talk with Democratic Congressman Peter Visclosky, one of the longest serving member in the House of Representatives.