The Prairie State Wire Podcast

Award-winning author and Discovery Institute Center on Human Exceptionalism Chair Wesley J. Smith joined the Prairie State Wire podcast to discuss the expanding push for assisted suicide. Smith explained why advocates rely on euphemistic language to obscure the true implications of euthanasia policies.

He identified the ill, disabled, and elderly as the most vulnerable to this messaging and argued that society has a moral obligation to protect them. The conversation also examined shifting bioethics and warned against cultural trends that attempt to judge whose lives are considered "worthwhile" and whose are not.

• How litigation costs against cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are spiraling out of control and fueling budget crises.
• Why weak leadership and "settle-first" policies have encouraged a wave of frivolous lawsuits.
• How state-level laws and mismanagement make municipalities easy targets for trial lawyers at taxpayers' expense.

In this episode of the Prairie State Wire podcast, host Bryan Hyde sits down with Matt Wigginton, the newly elected mayor of Peoria Heights. Wigginton explains his decision to veto a proposed local grocery tax after Illinois repealed the statewide version, arguing that taxing essentials would hit his community's struggling families the hardest.

He shares the economic history of Peoria Heights, concerns about creating a food desert, and how keeping groceries tax-free could help attract new stores. Wigginton also reflects on being one of the few municipal leaders in Illinois to reject the tax, the feedback he's received from residents and peers, and why he believes real relief starts at the local level.

Laurie Parman on raising Illinois' educational standardsIn this episode of the Prairie State Wire podcast, host Bryan Hyde talks with Laurie Parman, a retired educator with 30 years of experience and a mission to raise educational standards in Illinois by improving literacy and rooting out the distracting ideological agendas and wasteful spending. Laurie discusses her experiences during her three decades in the classroom and what stirred her passion to reach the students considered "unreachable" by other educators.

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.