The Crisis Cast

Time travel can be enlightening. During this trip through our show archives, we go back to the heals of the 2022 midterm elections. Paul Kendrick is the Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising, a grass roots grooming organization for Democrats.   Their mission is training candidates and their organizations to connect with working families. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom probe Paul on what Republicans did to prevent achieving the red wave and how Democrats intended to rebuild the blue wall.  We'll also predict where the next generation of compelling candidates might be hiding.  And more, importantly, the inherent crisis in teaching every day candidates how they can use their personal story to connect with voters. This conversation was originally released November 16, 2022.

Here's a conversation that is both predictive and reflective on the potency of debates. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin are in our chat room examine the stakes for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in what may be their only Presidential debate. We'll ask the question, "Is the Commission on Presidential Debates obsolete?" Plus, how often has a single debate changed the outcome of an election. You'll hear some enlightening history about Chicago's legendary Kennedy-Nixon debate. Former City News and Chicago Tribune journalist Jim Strong was the managing editor at WBBM-TV in 1960. Strong takes us behind the scenes to share more about the Nixon team's "makeup" misstep.

It's time to hear from a voice dedicated to writing Illinois' comeback story.

Austin Berg has lived all over the Land of Lincoln, and is one of our state's most compelling change agents. During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin get to the heart of how Austin engages action on governance issues, as VP of Marketing for the Illinois Policy Institute. Plus, you'll hear why public corruption has become a way of life in Illinois. 

Austin Berg is co-founder of Iron Light, a marketing agency helping purpose-driven brands change the world, and co-author of "The New Chicago Way: Lessons from Other Big Cities" by Southern Illinois University Press.

During any crisis, the "cool" heads prevail. In this episode we'll cover some Chicago's most daunting and outrageous challenges -- like an airport bulldozed in the middle of the night.

Forrest Claypool has held the highest leadership post at three of the most critical municipal institutions: the park district, the public schools, and the Chicago Transit Authority. Claypool is the author of The Daley Show: Inside The Transformative Reign of Chicago's Richard M. Daley. Thom Serafin goes behind the scenes at City Hall with Claypool, who served as Daley's Chief of Staff for two tenures.  This is a conversation about the unapologetic use of power, and an adept use of passion for the Windy City.

Lissa & Thom have a ton on their mind. What's the Fed's next move on interest rates? How much fear has been stoked by the jobs report? What's Governor Tim Walz all about?  That's a ton to process, but we'll cover it all in rapid fire. Plus, a Crisis Cast primer on the state of Illinois' L-G-D-F. Gather round for a Crisis Cast Whiteboard on the issues that will really drive votes this election season.

Here comes some rare enlightenment from two of Chicago's former police superintendents, in the same conversation.

Thom Serafin welcomes Eddie Johnson & Garry McCarthy to share what everyone is missing about reducing crime in Chicago. They also reveal the statistics on the ShotSpotter systems that get buried in politics. Plus, you'll hear a real time reaction to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.

In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin take us to Milwaukee and the floor of the RNC. Their guest is Richard Porter, a national committeeman for the Republican Party of Illinois.  Porter joined us moments after it was announced Ohio Senator J.D. Vance would be joining the Republican ticket as Donald Trump's running mate.

During this episode, you'll get a peak behind the curtain of the first of this summer's national political conventions. Plus, we learn more about the impact of the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

Lissa Druss is on assignment this week. Meanwhile, Thom Serafin digs into the trials and sentences of some key political figures like Mike Madigan and Ed Burke. Some of this lead straight to an intersection with the Chief Justice John Roberts' Supreme Court.

Once again, we welcome Ray Long investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune. The two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of “The House That Madigan Built” joins us in unraveling colliding cases.

The firestorm that has engulfed 2024's first Presidential debate is still burning. We needed a cool head in the room, to consider the aftermath of President Joe Biden's performance vs. former President Donald Trump. That calming voice, came in the form of the Chicago Tribune's Ray Long.   During this episode, Lissa & Thom work through the complications of an aging White House with a much-lauded journalist who knows the game of politics. J. R. R. Tolkien fans will enjoy this journey to Helm's Deep.