In the Loop

In 2014, President Barack Obama stepped up to the podium in the White House Briefing Room to update the country on the economy, foreign policy and more. But all anyone could seem to talk about was the president’s fashion choice for the day. The president, known for usually wearing a navy or gray suit, made a rare fashion divergence – one that was described as everything from hands “cool” to “unpresidential.” 

But where is that suit now? 

We hear about a veteran Sun-Times reporter’s cross-country mission to locate the infamous suit.

GUESTS: Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times special correspondent

Terrell Frazier, lead interviewer for the Obama Presidential Oral History

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

Mayhem breaks out in the Wrigley stands during the Crosstown Classic. Hundreds of union members rallied outside the Shedd Aquarium. Commutes are about to get pricer after the Illinois Tollway Board approved its first toll hike in nearly 15 years, and Gov. Pritzker signed a disaster proclamation to help areas hit by this summer’s record-breaking storms.

In the Loop breaks down those stories and more.

GUESTS: Becky Vevea, Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief

Shia Kapos, Politico reporter and author of Politico’s Illinois Playbook newsletter

Cheryl Raye-Stout, WBEZ sports contributor

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Getting a citizenship, asylum or a permanent residency case in front of a judge is a notoriously slow process. Now, the Trump administration is speeding it up with so-called “mega master” calendar hearings where dozens of people are asked to appear in immigration court on short notice. 

This means people have to scramble to find a lawyer, arrange childcare, and get the day off work, leaving many unable to attend their court hearing. But, if people fail to show up to court, it could mean an automatic deportation order.

The administration says it's a way to reduce the number of cases backlogged but some advocates call it a tactic to further the administration’s goal of mass deportations.

In the Loop sits down with an immigration reporter to get the latest and hears from an Illinois lawmaker calling for the end of the “mega master” court hearings.

GUESTS: Adriana Cardona-Maguigad, WBEZ Immigration reporter

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8)

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In The Loop is interviewing candidates for Chicago’s next mayor, and inviting listeners to join the conversation and ask their own questions. 

Today at the mic: U.S Representative Mike Quigley of Illinois’ 5th District.

Plus: WBEZ City Hall reporter Mariah Woelfel shares the ins and outs of the Chicago mayoral race so far.

GUESTS: U.S  Representative Mike Quigley of Illinois’ 5th District.

Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ City Hall reporter

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In Illinois, there are two categories of experts that can diagnose autism: psychologists and developmental physicians. But because openings with these experts are few and far between, families can be put on a waitlist that could last anywhere from months to years.

That is, until now. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act early July and it allows speech-language pathologists trained in autism diagnosis evaluation to diagnose the condition in children under age three enrolled in the state’s Early Intervention program.

In the Loop sits down with the lead researcher of the study and hears from two mothers of children with autism about navigating the process of getting a diagnosis. A 

GUESTS: Megan Roberts, professor, Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University

Kiana Spears, parent of a child who was diagnosed as part of the Reduce the Wait study

Debra Vines, CEO and founder, The Answer Inc.

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

Improv, short for improvisational theater, is often known for its comedic elements. But there’s another kind of improv where eliciting laughter from the audience isn’t the main goal. Dramatic improv explores the full spectrum of emotions, from the funny to the sad, to the furious! 

In the Loop learns more about dramatic improv, and what it can teach us about being human. 

GUESTS: Tony Rielage, artistic director and head instructor, Theatre Momentum
Stephanie Kilper, therapist and ensemble member of Theatre Momentum

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson moves to further regulate data centers, Governor J. B. Pritzker signs a law allowing rideshare drivers to unionize, while the shocking discovery of dozens of decomposing bodies at a South Side funeral home raises calls for more government oversight. 

We dig into those stories and more in our Weekly News Recap.

GUESTS: Nick Blumberg, WTTW News correspondent

Maxwell Evans, Block Club Chicago reporter  

Dan Mihalopoulos, WBEZ investigative reporter  

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

For decades, the South Side of Chicago didn’t have an operating trauma care center. This forced severely wounded people to drive to the West or North sides for care – their chances of survival reducing with every passing minute.   

After a successful community-organizing campaign, University of Chicago reopened its adult trauma care center in 2018. One of the doctors behind this vital community resource is Dr. Selwyn Rogers, the founding director of the center. Because of his work, countless lives were saved. 

Now, Dr. Rogers is out with a new book that chronicles his experiences in the trauma bay and provides critical analysis of America’s gun violence epidemic. 

In the Loop sits down with him to talk more about the lasting and rippling impacts of gun violence and what to do to make meaningful change.

GUEST: Dr. Selwyn Rogers, founding director, University of Chicago Medicine Trauma Center; author, Healing the Gun Violence Epidemic: Ending Violence, Rebuilding Communities,

and a Trauma Surgeon's Vision for Restoring Hope

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood crisis in the U.S. as supplies fall to its lowest levels since the pandemic. The impacts of the blood shortage are being felt in emergency rooms and trauma care as hospitals are being forced to manage dwindling reserves.

In the Loop hears from the head of the Illinois Red Cross and blood donation advocates about the impact of the blood crisis on hospitals, and what you can do to help.  

GUESTS: Kellie O’Connell, CEO of American Red Cross of Illinois

Dr. Ashlesha Patel, associate chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Cook County Health 

James Cappleman, former alderman of the 46th Ward, blood donation advocate

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

Illinois has joined a growing number of states that regulate the way social media companies can interact with minors. The Children's Online Social Media Safety Act aims to create guardrails for kids while still giving them an option to learn and connect with people through social media. 

In the Loop chats with experts about what families need to know about these new regulations and the potential privacy concerns of age verification.

GUESTS: Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World

Marshini Chetty, professor of computer science, University of Chicago

Mawa Iqbal, WBEZ senior statehouse reporter 

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.