Best Block Club Chicago Podcasts (2026)

1
The Stories We Loved In 2025! 25:13

Play Pause

5d ago25:13

25:13

Some of reporters, editors, and staff weigh in on the stories they loved in 2025. Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve …

1
Chicago Under Siege -- How Operation Midway Blitz Changed Our City 28:41

7d ago28:41

28:41

Midway Blitz’s aim was to “target” undocumented immigrants with serious criminal histories — “the worst of the worst,” Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said when announcing the initiative in early September. Yet, neighbors saw immigration agents detain day laborers, construction and landscaping workers …

1
Jay Rosen on the Digital Revolution That Wasn’t 41:31

8d ago41:31

41:31

In 2006, Jay Rosen, the media scholar, published his influential article “The People Formerly Known as the Audience.” His medium was as important as his message. Although the essay would later appear in media-studies textbooks, it was first published on his blog, a form invented in the late 1990s that seemed, in Rosen’s words, to give everyone thei…

1
Fraud Cases Are Skyrocketing -- How AARP Is Fighting Back With You 21:14

12d ago21:14

21:14

In the 1940s, a retired principal named Ethel Percy Andrus, learned that a former colleague of hers had been forced to live in a chicken coop because she couldn’t afford housing or medical care. That moment started her on mission to help retired people in the country. And eventually led to the start of AARP. On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, s…

1
After Budget Battle Ends, A New Question Emerges - Who Runs Chicago? 21:02

14d ago21:02

21:02

Mayor Brandon Johnson said Tuesday he will not veto the so-called alternative budget that passed the City Council over the weekend, despite weeks of sharply criticizing parts of the spending plan as unbalanced and harmful to working Chicagoans. The announcement comes one week before a year-end deadline to pass a balanced 2026 budget. If Johnson had…

1
Ben Smith Isn’t Afraid of the Future 36:34

14d ago36:34

36:34

It has been called “the last good day on the internet”: on February 26, 2015, Americans flocked online to watch fugitive llamas in Arizona evade their captors on a live broadcast, shortly before an ambiguously colored dress—blue and black to some, white and gold to others—was uploaded online. At BuzzFeed, which sent the dress to unprecedented level…

1
Chicago's Flu Season Is Here -- Is It Too Late To Protect Yourself? 23:40

19d ago23:40

23:40

On today’s podcast, sponsored by Rush, epidemiologist Dr. Michael Lin on what we’re in for this flu season, and if it’s too late to protect yourself. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Dr. Michael Lin More on Rush HERE Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to …

1
How Silicon Valley Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Oligarchs 59:08

21d ago59:08

59:08

When Natalia Antelava cofounded Coda Story, in early 2016, to cover democratic backsliding around the globe, she wasn’t expecting the tech industry to be such a big part of the story. It wasn’t only that autocratic regimes were benefiting from compliant Silicon Valley companies. By launching a new media organization, Antelava also discovered how en…

1
Through the eyes of student journalists: Chicago-area reactions to federal immigration activity 19:06

22d ago19:06

19:06

The unprecedented federal immigration activity in Chicago this fall posed unique challenges for student newspapers in the area. Editors at The Daily Northwestern, Chicago Maroon and Loyola Phoenix sat down and talked about community responses they’ve witnessed and reported about. Read the full story here: https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/12/14/au…

1
Through the eyes of student journalists: Community reactions to federal immigration activity across Chicago 19:06

23d ago19:06

19:06

The unprecedented federal immigration activity in Chicago this fall posed unique challenges for student newspapers in the area. Editors at The Daily Northwestern, Chicago Maroon and Loyola Phoenix sat down and talked about community responses they’ve witnessed and reported about.By The Daily Northwestern

1
Is Chicago Closing In On A Government Shutdown? 18:24

26d ago18:24

18:24

A group of 27 alderpeople introduced a set of alternative budget proposals to City Council that would scrap a corporate head tax. Mayor Brandon Johnson has doubled down on his support of the idea. Are we headed toward a government shutdown? Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Quinn Myers Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE…

1
The Future of Journalism After Gaza 53:28

26d ago53:28

53:28

Examining an ongoing crisis for press freedom—and how to manage security risks going forward. For Journalism 2050’s inaugural live event, Emily Bell and Heather Chaplin are joined by Azmat Khan, the director of Columbia’s Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism, and Anya Schiffrin, a professor at the Columbia School of International and Publ…

1
‘Lying Constantly’ - How The Feds Used Propaganda During Midway Blitz 26:07

28d ago26:07

26:07

Homeland Security has sought to reshape violent encounters into triumphant narratives — even as judges, journalists and experts said the agency has repeatedly distorted facts, misled the public and attacked those who challenged its story. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Patrick Filbin Read More Here BECOME A BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO SUBSCRIBER Want to donat…

1
Financial Crimes Have Become 'The New Wave' In Chicago -- What to Know 22:13

1M ago22:13

22:13

Today's podcast is a field trip to the Chase Bank South Shore Community Center at 6650 S. Stony Island Ave. The branch was established to be a place for all neighbors to gather nearly five years ago. Today we attend a forum on fraud prevention, and see how neighbors are buying into the community center, and learning important tips to avoid scammers…

1
He Started His Own Postal Service Delivering And Reading Mail For Free 19:31

1M ago19:31

19:31

A whimsical yet very serious public art project by Logan Square artist Charlie Dean is gaining traction as an alternative to a paid postal service, designed to be used for monumental conversations or difficult news that need softening. Host - Iridian Fierro Guest - Charlie Dean Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Wh…

1
The Ultimate Guide To Shopping Local In Chicago For The 2025 Holidays 21:22

1M ago21:22

21:22

Block Club reporters are putting the spotlight on small, locally owned businesses, which are offering everything from jewelry to toys, books, self-care items, clothing and more during the holidays. THE ENTIRE GIFT GUIDE Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization ded…

1
Douglas Rushkoff on Being the Intellectual Dominatrix of Billionaire Tech Bros 1:05:25

1M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

In 1992, a writer named Douglas Rushkoff signed a contract for Cyberia, his book about the internet subcultures of the West Coast. The next year, his publisher canceled it, according to Rushkoff’s recollection, on the grounds that “by the time the book came out the Internet was going to be over.” (He later found a different publisher, and the book …

1
Hop On The Bears Bandwagon! They May Be Good (Or Might Kinda Suck) UPDATE: THEY'RE GOOD 21:15

1M ago21:15

21:15

The Bears are 8-3. If you haven't been paying too much attention, now would be a great time to hop on the Bears bandwagon. But guard your heart. They might not be as good as their record suggests. Mark Carman from the CHGO Bears Podcast and WGN Radio breaks it all down. Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chi…

1
Journalism 2050 - Trailer 1:19

1M ago1:19

1:19

Emily Bell and Heather Chaplin speak with the smartest minds in media to discuss the roots of today's crisis in journalism, from democracy's decline to the rise of AI, and to explore the uncertain future of journalism in the digital age. This series is brought to you by the Tow Center for Digital Journalism and Columbia Journalism Review, with help…

1
Breast Cancer Diagnoses Are Up -- But More Women Are Surviving Than Ever 21:12

2M ago21:12

21:12

On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush, Dr. Dipti Gupta on what women, and men, should know about breast cancer, and how Rush is trying to reach all communities in our city. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Dr. Dipti Gupta More on Rush Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3)…

1
“This Budget Is A Disaster” -- The Committee That Told The Mayor 'No' 17:26

2M ago17:26

17:26

The City Council’s finance committee on Monday voted against Mayor Brandon Johnson’s latest 2026 budget proposal, throwing what some alderpeople have characterized as an already-strained negotiations process into further uncertainty. After a few hours of debate over a proposed corporate head tax as well as borrowing plans and other issues, the fina…

1
What’s New at NU: Extensive construction disrupts students across campus 3:40

2M ago3:40

3:40

What’s New at NU: In this episode, The Daily reports on the extensive construction across campus and how it has affected students.Read the full article here: https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/17/lateststories/whats-new-at-nu-extensive-construction-disrupts-students-across-campus/By The Daily Northwestern

1
The Weekly: The Legacy Business Alliance preserves Evanston storefronts, Northwestern Mock Trial celebrates its 40th anniversary, and the first snow of the quarter on campus 8:27

2M ago8:27

8:27

What does the Legacy Business Alliance do to support Evanston businesses? How did Northwestern Mock Trial celebrate its 40th anniversary? Why was Northwestern’s campus full of snowmen on Monday? The Daily answers these questions and recaps other top stories from the last week.Read the full article here: https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/17/late…

1
No, Groupon Isn't Dead. It's Still Based In Chicago And Growing Again. 25:44

2M ago25:44

25:44

The Groupon story is personal to many Chicagoans. The company at one point was located in the former Montgomery Ward Warehouse along the banks of the Chicago river. On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Groupon, we turn the page to the next chapter - Mike Tepeli from Groupon on what’s next for this still Chicago-based company, and we …

1
It Was A Celebrity Hangout. It Closed. Workers Say They Weren't Paid 23:42

2M ago23:42

23:42

A once high-profile Italian restaurant in Fulton Market is facing legal and financial troubles, with records showing more than $400,000 in unpaid rent, vendor bills, taxes and wages, even as its owner tries for a comeback. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Melody Mercado Read More Here For More On Chase for Business, Coaching For Impact, Click HERE Want…

1
The Weekly: Evanston Business Reactions to ICE, IL-09 Primary ballot, healthcare switch for Northwestern employees 7:08

2M ago7:08

7:08

How are local businesses reacting to recent ICE presence in Evanston? Who put themselves on the ballot for the Illinois District 9 spring primary? How do Northwestern employees feel about a change in health care administrators? The Daily answers these questions and recaps other top stories from the last week.Read the full story here:…

1
What’s New at NU: Block Museum Student Association brings Chitra Ganesh’s work to the Block Museum 5:26

2M ago5:26

5:26

What’s New at NU: In this episode, The Daily reports on the recent Acquisition of Chitra Ganesh’s work by Block Student Associates, and the reception at the museum this past Wednesday to celebrate the collaboration.Read the full story here: https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/09/audio/whats-new-at-nu-block-museum-student-association-brings-chitra…

1
The Rink On 87th Has Been A Haven For 50 Years 21:45

2M ago21:45

21:45

The Rink, 1122 E. 87th St., has been a haven for South Side skaters for 50 years. As one skater says as he rolls by, “Everybody’s welcome. No one is invited.” This year, owners and married couple Curtis and Ramona Pouncy hosted a glow-in-the-dark mural contest in honor of The Rink’s 50th anniversary. Artists were asked to create an image that captu…

1
What Would Happen If Chicago Got Nuked? 20:51

2M ago20:51

20:51

In “A House of Dynamite,” the U.S. nuclear defense apparatus is caught off-guard by a single intercontinental ballistic missile, which is fired from an unknown point of origin and is headed toward Chicago. What do experts say would happen if this played out in real life? Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Clint Worthington Read Clint's Story Here Check o…

1
What’s New at NU: Northwestern Professor Galland Teaches “Democracy in Crisis” Seminar 8:06

2M ago8:06

8:06

The Daily sat down for a Q&A with political science Prof. Anna Galland, who teaches a seminar titled “U.S. Democracy in Crisis: Perspectives on the Path.” Outside Northwestern, she works as an independent organizer and consultant. She was previously the executive director of MoveOn, a digitally connected organizing group devoted to progressive issu…

1
Can Judges Curb ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz? 21:05

2M ago21:05

21:05

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis took the unusual step of ordering Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino to appear in court every day to report on “use of force incidents” after a series of tear gassings in Chicago neighborhoods flouted her past orders. On Wednesday, less than two hours before Bovino — the head of Trump’s Chicago immigration…

1
Why Are Chicago Men So Afraid To Go To The Doctor? 22:20

2M ago22:20

22:20

65% of men say they avoid seeking medical attention as long as possible Only 3 in 5 men go for their annual physical. And in Chicago, men are 10% less likely to have a primary care provider compared to women. And die 6 years earlier than women on average. On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush, doctor Zachary Glaser from Rush Univ…

1
Everything Evanston: You scream, I scream, we all scream for Evanston Scream Club 3:58

2M ago3:58

3:58

In this episode, The Daily reports on Evanston Scream Club. The organization, which began in June of last year, started in Chicago and spread across the country in the following months. Its members discuss the community-building and stress release benefits of joining the club, and its founders explain how it began. Read the full article here: https…

1
What's Up With The Obama Presidential Center? 17:14

2M ago17:14

17:14

With the Obama Presidential Center set to open next year, Maxwell Evans joins the podcast to discuss the long journey for the center, how neighbors feel as it nears completion, and if people really think it looks kind of ugly. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Maxwell Evans Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are …

1
Margaret Sullivan Takes a New Look at Journalism Ethics 28:07

2M ago28:07

28:07

This summer, Margaret Sullivan, the executive director of the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia Journalism School, and her colleague Julie Gerstein published a series of essays in CJR exploring what a new generation of journalism ethics might look like, as the media industry evolves. “It is conventional wisdom amon…

1
Everything Evanston: Farmers’ Market draws community from Evanston and abroad 4:26

3M ago4:26

4:26

In this episode, The Daily reports on the Evanston Farmers’ Market following its 50th anniversary in July. Vendors have long drawn from their home states and international roots to bring food items and other products to local residents.Read the full story here: https://dailynorthwestern.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=308385&action=edit…

1
A Chicago Teen Had Just Returned From Chemo -- Then ICE Arrested Her Dad 19:49

3M ago19:49

19:49

When 16-year-old Ofelia Torres’ father called from the Broadview ICE facility to say he had been taken by four masked federal immigration agents, the teen’s mother was at home helping drain the small IV port that keeps Ofelia nourished and alive during Stage 4, while the teenager showed her cousins how the small medical contraption worked. For almo…

1
Meet The ICE Resistance -- Cameras, Whistles, And Neighborhood Rapid Response Teams 28:35

3M ago28:35

28:35

Hundreds of people showed up Tuesday night at events across the Northwest and West sides to assemble whistle kits that Chicagoans can use to alert neighbors when immigration enforcement agents are nearby. The events came as Chicagoans are increasingly looking for ways to peacefully resist federal operations Midway Blitz and At Large, immigration en…

1
The Weekly: ICE protesters on I-94 overpass, NU's yearly security update, award-winning student film 12:04

3M ago12:04

12:04

What did we learn from Northwestern’s yearly security update? Who were the protestors on the I-94 overpass? What’s the story behind the award-winning student documentary Hey Hugo? The Daily answers these questions and recaps other top stories from the last week. Read the full story here: https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/10/12/audio/the-weekly-ice…

1
Chicago’s Block Club Is Ready for ICE 25:26

3M ago25:26

25:26

On Thursday, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring federal agents from using riot control measures like tear gas to disperse journalists seeking to cover protests outside the Broadview ICE processing center, near Chicago. The order was the result of a lawsuit filed earlier in the week by several Chicago news organizations and…

1
Judge Blocks Trump’s National Guard Push Into Chicago -- For Now 21:09

3M ago21:09

21:09

A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order Thursday against National Guard Troops mobilized this week in Illinois against the will of state and local officials. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney Judge Partially Blocks Trump’s National Guard Mobilization To Chicago Judge Rules Feds Can’t Pepper-Spray, Tear-G…

1
The Most Chicago Thing That's Ever Happened To Me Was _____ 20:51

3M ago20:51

20:51

Live from Saturday's Block Club Chicago Block Party at Half Acre, we wanted to know the most Chicago thing that's ever happened to you! Thank you all for coming to the event! Hosts - Jon Hansen, Iridian Fierro Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to …