Illinois State Representative Charlie Meier joined the Prairie State Wire Podcast to discuss his ongoing fight to reform the state's Department of Human Services (DHS) and protect individuals with disabilities from neglect, abuse, and bureaucratic failure.

A fourth-generation farmer from Okawville and a lifelong resident of Illinois' 109th District, Meier didn't plan to enter politics—but his commitment to ensuring proper care for the state's most vulnerable citizens drew him into public service. Over the years, he has become one of the leading advocates for reforming the state's group home system and holding DHS accountable for systemic mismanagement.

• How Governor Pritzker and Illinois Democrats manipulated redistricting maps to entrench one-party control.
• The loss of fair representation for Republican and independent voters due to decades of political gerrymandering.
• The need for a nonpartisan redistricting commission and greater citizen involvement in local and state politics.

Rep. Brad Halbrook was our guest recently on the Prairie State Wire podcast to discuss the impact that the 2021 "Climate Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA)" is having in terms of unaffordable energy costs for all Illinois residents.

Illinois State Rep. Jed Davis of Illinois' 75th District joined us recently on the Prairie State Wire podcast to discuss how the Dept. of Children & Family Services (DCFS) has been allowing uncertified and unqualified interns to investigate families and remove children from their homes.

• Illinois' deep political challenges under Governor JB Pritzker's leadership and the state's culture of hypocrisy on issues like gerrymandering and crime.
• Why restoring trust in elections, empowering local voters, and strengthening faith in civic life are essential to saving Illinois.
• How faith, family, and local engagement can rebuild moral and political integrity across the state.

In this episode of the Prairie State Wire Podcast, Senior Fellow at the Illinois Policy Institute Paul Vallas joins the show for an in-depth conversation about three major challenges facing Chicago and Illinois.

Vallas breaks down what he sees as Mayor Brandon Johnson's political pandering to the black community — and how it's diverting attention from the real issues harming residents. He also discusses the lasting damage caused by COVID-era school closures, including setbacks in academic achievement, student mental health, and public safety, which he attributes to teachers union lobbying.

Finally, Vallas sheds light on Illinois' deepening pension crisis, warning that a recent move by State Senator Bob Martwick has added another $11 billion in taxpayer liabilities.

Andrew Chesney joined the podcast to discuss:

The rise and repeal of Illinois' Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarships and their impact on low-income families

How teachers unions drive Democratic opposition to school choice in Chicago and statewide

A new universal school choice tax credit opportunity and how citizens can mobilize to make it real

Andrew Chesney is an Illinois State Senator and former Freeport City Council member who also serves as the Stevenson County Republican Chairman. He has built his public-service reputation on cutting red tape, protecting taxpayers, and advancing parental rights in education. Chesney is a leading advocate for school choice and has been a vocal critic of union-driven policies he says trap children in failing schools and erode accountability.

The author of "Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre" attorney Patrick Wohl joins us on the Prairie State Wire podcast. Learn more about Patrick at: www.patrickwohl.com

Ed Bachrach and Ted Dabrowski joined the podcast to discuss:

• How Illinois' pension debt has spiraled into one of the worst in the nation

• The dangers of Governor Pritzker's proposed "pension sweetener" bill

• The long-term risks for taxpayers and future generations

Ed Bachrach is a retired businessman who returned to graduate school to earn a degree in public policy after his retirement. He co-authored The New Chicago Way: Lessons from Other Big Cities, a detailed analysis of Chicago's government structure and fiscal challenges.

Ted Dabrowski is the president of Wirepoints, a policy organization focused on exposing Illinois' financial and governance crises. He is a long-time policy activist who advocates for reforms to restore affordability, accountability, and opportunity in Illinois.

Sheila A. Weinberg joined the podcast to discuss:

• Why audited financials—not campaign talking points—must drive state budgets.

• Illinois' transparency failures, delayed reports, and pension shell games.

• How citizens can force accountability, including SEC complaints over misleading claims.

Sheila A. Weinberg is a Certified Public Accountant and the founder/CEO of Truth in Accounting, a nonprofit that grades state and city finances and publishes the Financial State of the States, Financial State of the Union, and Financial State of the Cities. She launched TIA after discovering Washington's "surplus" era still racked up debt and that Social Security, if booked like a corporate pension, was running massive deficits. Under her leadership, TIA developed a transparency score and the Data-Z platform, arming taxpayers and media with plain-English debt metrics like "Taxpayer Burden." Weinberg is a leading voice for honest, audited numbers so voters can make informed, fiscally conservative choices.