For more than 30 years Nick Kass was guiding intelligence at the highest levels of U.S. government -- from the Department of State to the CIA, and the White House. Nick's mantra is simple: question everything. Based in Bucharest, this Chicago native is now Senior Fellow for European Affairs at the Center for the National Interest. Thanks to Nick's life's journey full of questions -- he's in our chat room with a lifetime full of answers for Lissa & Thom.

Nick Kass is an award-winning analyst, reporter, and intelligence expert, and policy manager. Join this fascinating ride through diplomacy, from the global warnings inside President Eisenhower's farewell address to present-day Ukraine. This episode was originally released in October 2023.

"For god's sake, take cover!" Those are the five words that catapulted Bill Kurtis into his illustrious career in journalism. His reporting has quite literally saved lives. During this episode, Lissa & Thom unpack six decades of the news media evolution, as documented in Kurtis' book Whirlwind. This conversation takes you behind the scenes of Bill's work covering two legendary trials: the Chicago Seven and the Charles Manson murders. Plus, you'll hear why Kurtis thinks the current news climate is driving a new breed of brighter and bolder truth-telling journalists.

In this episode, we sit down with former Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to discuss the complexities of law enforcement in today's political climate. Eddie shares his insights on the challenges faced by police departments, the importance of communication between federal and local agencies, and the impact of political interference on public safety. Lissa, Thom, and former superintendent Johnson also walk through the timeline of a near tragic clash involving ICE agents last weekend on Chicago's southwest side.

There's a water shortage crisis brewing, and it's being driven by AI and other large water users like quantum computing. In this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin talk through a recent study from the Alliance for the Great Lakes that sounds an alarm over lack of planning.

Helena Volzer has been researching the foresight and regulatory actions needed to address the many ways we take our Lake Michigan water abundance for granted. Ms. Volzer is the Alliance for the Great Lakes Senior Source Water Policy Manager, and joins our chat room with some priceless guidance. You'll get a deep dive on the concept of consumptive water use, the importance of the Great Lakes Compact for sustainable water management, and the challenges posed by plastic pollution across the region.

Our leaders need better listening skills. That's the prescription from Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner. In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin drill down on who the Democrats believe are their most credible messengers.

Buckner represents the 26th Legislative District, and returns to the Crisis Cast to underscore why reconnecting with middle America is a huge priority for the Democratic Party. Plus, our discussion hits on the reason for Illinois' outmigration, the role of wealth in political representation, and the audacity of the Chicago Bears seeking public subsidies for their new stadium.