Chicago is suing the Trump administration again. In the Loop looks at that latest lawsuit and what voting to end the government shutdown could mean for senior Senator Dick Durbin’s political legacy. Plus, time for a retail reality check following a presidential post dissing Chicago’s shopping mecca, Michigan Avenue. In the Loop breaks down those stories with David Greising of the Better Government Association, Sophie Sherry of the Chicago Sun-Times and Mack Liederman of Block Club Chicago.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end Wednesday. The bill signed by President Trump provides back pay for federal employees and funds some federal agencies until September 2026. What it doesn’t do is extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Some can expect to see their insurance premiums rise to the point it's unaffordable to have health insurance. In the Loop sits down with Community Health CEO Stephanie Willding and UIC health policy professor Justin Markowski to hear how skyrocketing insurance premiums could impact the work of people providing healthcare.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Journalists of color are being laid off at alarming rates as DEI commitments waver. In the Loop digs in with local journalists about the how the erasure of Black perspectives in news impacts communities. Our panel today: Brandon Pope, president of the National Association of Black Journalists Chicago chapter, Natalie Moore, director of audio journalism programming at Northwestern University, and Morgan Elise Johnson, co-founder and publisher of The TriiBE.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Veterans gathered in cities across the country to protest federal immigration enforcement, cuts to SNAP and National Guard deployment in American cities. In the Loop hears from veterans about why they decided to protest and how what one veteran saw outside of the Broadview immigration processing center changed his perception of the government’s immigration enforcement actions. Our panel today: Brad Beaulieu, Navy veteran, and Arti Walker-Peddakotla, U.S. Army veteran and board member of About Face. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Groceries cost more than ever, and the high prices couldn’t come at a worse time. Nearly two million Illinois residents depend on SNAP benefits, which are now being cut as the government shutdown drags on. How are Chicago-area residents filling the gap, especially with holidays around the corner? In the Loop checks in with Chicago Sun-Times consumer investigations reporter Stephanie Zimmermann, Wicker Park resident Gale Hethcoat and Common Pantry executive director Margaret O’Conor. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history drags into day 38, affecting everything from air travel to SNAP benefits in Illinois. Democratic U.S. Congressman Chuy Garcia surprised constituents by announcing he won’t be running for reelection. And a federal judge issued a key ruling on use of force by federal agents. Plus, snow could be coming to the Chicago area this weekend. In the Loop breaks down those stories with WBEZ’s Alden Loury, Chicago Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel, Block Club Chicago’s Quinn Myers.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case brought to the high court by a Chicago-based toymaker who calls Trump’s broad use of tariffs illegal. To learn more about the impact of tariffs on businesses and get an update on the court hearing, In the Loop sat down with John Marshall Law School professor Steve Schwinn and Chicago Council on Global Affairs nonresident senior fellow on security and diplomacy Cécile Shea.

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

Immigration enforcement near schools has disrupted classes, resulting in a drop-off in student attendance and impacts on the mental health of students and teachers. In the Loop gets an update on efforts to keep students safe with Chicago Board of Education member Norma Rios-Sierra, former CPS history teacher Rebecca Martinez and clinical child psychologist Rebecca Ford-Paz. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Trump administration is reducing the number of refugees allowed to enter the U.S. each year from 125,000 to 7,500 and prioritizing the admission of white South Africans, or Akrifaners. In the Loop learns what this means for local refugees from Mohammed, who is waiting to be reunited with his family, and Sally Schulze, communications manager at RefugeeOne.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Crossing Borders Music has been using Western classical instruments to highlight human rights abuses. The group is highlighting federal immigration enforcement in the Chicago area with the hope that folks being detained inside the Broadview ICE processing facility hear the music and know that they are not alone. In the Loop talks with cellist and co-founder Tom Clowes and violist Wilfred Farquharson.For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.