In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

Ever since Donald Trump won the election earlier this month, many of the marginalized groups he targeted during his campaign have wondered what his presidency will mean for them. One group, in particular, is using this time to organize. The Council of American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, says it’s beefing up its legal team, promoting self-defense classes and encouraging Muslim Americans to learn their rights in the face of a Trump presidency. During his campaign, Trump vowed to ban all Muslims from entering the United States, promised to spy on mosques and said he would consider requiring a Muslim registry in America. More recently, his stance on these issues has blurred a bit, but many Muslim Americans are still preparing for the worst.  Morning Shift talks to Hoda Katebi, communications director of CAIR-Chicago, about how she and her organization are preparing for the next four years.  

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday took to Twitter to condemn people who burn the American flag, an issue that hasn't been in the spotlight of national politics for some time. In 140 characters or less, Trump has used Twitter to rally supporters or enrage critics, making headlines along the way. During the weekend, Trump used Twitter to claim millions of people voted illegally but offered no evidence. So what should the media do when covering an incoming president who wields a Twitter account that generates some controversy? To help answer that question and more, Morning Shift talks to NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik.

What do fast food cooks, baggage handlers, Uber drivers and hospital workers have in common? They’re all protesting for higher wages Tuesday in Chicago as part of the nationwide Fight for $15 campaign. The action kicks off in the early morning at a McDonald’s in West Town before moving to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in River North and finally to O’Hare International Airport where hundreds of baggage handlers, cabin cleaners, janitors, wheelchair attendants and other airport workers will strike in favor of a $15 an hour wage and union rights.  Morning Shift talks to SEIU president Mary Kay Henry about Tuesday’s strike, the impact of the four-year-old Fight for $15 movement and the future of the labor movement under a Donald J. Trump administration. 

Critics of identity politics says it distracts from a broader conversation to voters; proponents say identity politics are civil rights. As Democrats look to the future, who will they attempt to appeal to? Morning Shift talks to Slate columnist Michelle Goldberg on why she thinks the Democratic Party shouldn’t be so quick to turn away from identity politics.

We speak with WBEZ Northwest Indiana reporter Michael Puente and vice presidential historian Joel Goldstein, author of The White House Vice Presidency: The Path To Significance, Mondale to Biden, about what could be in store for Mike Pence when he returns to Washington as Vice President.

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump called climate change a hoax, but since being elected, he has changed his tune somewhat. For climate scientists, that’s a good sign. But there are still plenty of red flags they say.  Morning Shift talks to Brenda Ekwurzel, senior climate scientists and head of climate science for the Climate and Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists about different executive actions President Trump could take and what impact they would have on climate change and climate science.

Fans of the hit series Gilmore Girls most likely spent their Thanksgiving weekend binge-watching their favorite show and reconnecting with Lorelai and Rory. Thanks to Netflix, the series got a reboot after nine years of being off the air. From 200 Luke’s Diner pop-ups around the country to viewers dressing up as their favorite characters, the show’s fandom is strong and, in fact, is what made the showrunners confident in reviving the Stars Hollow world with a four-part series released last Friday on Netflix. Speaking of fans, the Morning Shift talks to Kevin Porter, ultimate fan of the series and host of the podcast Gilmore Guys. 

Morning Shift revisits musician Ben Harper's in-studio performance from earlier this year. The three-time Grammy award winner delivered a series of acoustic songs, ranging from searing to tender, and talked about everything from police shootings to working on an album with his mom. 

Thanksgiving is over and some refrigerators are probably stuffed with leftovers. Turkey sandwiches could be on the menu for the next week, but why not get a little more creative? Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia talks with WBEZ food and health reporter Monica Eng and Louisa Chu, a trained chef who reports on food and dining for the Chicago Tribune, about what to do with your Thanksgiving leftovers. Eng and Chu also host the podcast Chewing.

Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia spoke with listeners earlier this week about their strategies for surviving this post-election Thanksgiving with relatives whose political views may not align with their own. We got some great calls from around the city and suburbs, so we decided to check back in with some of those listeners to see how things unfolded. Among those listeners is Irving Park resident Fred, a conservative-leaning Chicago police officer who has a boatload of liberal family members.