Chicago Contrarian, The Podcast

City lawyers are recommending a $13,75M settlement for two men accused in a grisly double murder. Do two men Kim Foxx believed committed this crime deserve millions? A third alderman has decided to call it quits. How will this affect upcoming City Council elections? Chicago media delivered a blitz of coverage marking the anniversary of Operation Midway Blitz. Was it overdone, media bias or necessary coverage? We'll discuss.

In a lengthy discussion with host Jim Bosco, Comptroller Susana Mendoza sat for an interview on her campaign for mayor and her vision for Chicago.

A proposal to swap the Amtrack yard and build a new stadium for the Chicago White Sox is in the works. What is the impact on Bridgeport? Mayor Johnson announced an $882M budget deficit for FY 2027. Can the mayor pull a rabbit out of the hat to close this yawning deficit without raising property taxes or layoffs? Another mass shooting took place in Washington Park. Mayor Johnson's response was discouraging. We'll discuss.

The race for president of the Board of Education thinned this week as Jenny Custer dropped out. What are the implications of Custer leaving the contest? Mayor Johnson says he has a solution for Chicago's budget crisis. Johnson, thus far, has only blamed moderate Dem. aldermen. Another divorce record has been unsealed. In this instance, BOE candidate Victor Henderson is fighting allegations of abuse. We'll discuss.

Today, our host interviews John Kelly, lobbyist and candidate for mayor of Chicago.

A cartoon and criticism of the CTU has inspired the great minds at the union to strike back. The union filed a lawsuit against its arch-nemeses, IPI, Liberty Justice Center, and Austin Berg. Why? WIll this case go anywhere? Tolls will dramatically rise next year, due to Pritzker's tollway board. Is this necessary or another Pritzker tax? 25th Ward alderman, Byron Sigcho Lopez, faced scrutiny this week over the unsealing of his divorce records. The documents show his ex-wife leveled some pretty pervy charges. Should the bombastic alderman resign? We'll discuss.

After a surge of law enforcement on CTA trains, City Hall and the CTA rolled out a new pilot which includes CVIs and mental health experts on trains. The Chicago Bears held a press conference to update Chicago on its plans to build a stadium. Will the Bears leave? Countering their erstwhile friends, the CTU, the SEIU unveiled its endorsements and donations to BOE candidates. What will the SEIU's impact be on the elections?

As expected, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias entered the 2027 mayoral race. Behind him is $22M in campaign funds. What does Alexi bring to the race? A former CPS official has been nabbed in a PPP scandal. A NBC5 investigation has revealed the CTU's coveted "sustainable community school" model is a failure. We'll discuss.

In a wide-ranging interview, Chicago Flips Red co-founder and mayoral candidate Danielle Carter-Walters sits down with Contrarian's panel to discuss her campaign.

Mayor Brandon Johnson signed off on another Executive Order on gun violence. What is the mayor seeking to accomplish by setting "standards" for purchase rather than removing criminals from the streets?  In what could be a last hurrah for the CTU, the CPS budget was passed by an 11-7 vote. What is in or not in it? The AFT filed a lawsuit against Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Is there merit to the suit or is it the CTU using the AFT to blame Pappas for its budget shortfall? We'll discuss.

The CTU's bargaining unit was certified by the Chicago News Guild. Why would a union representing journalists form an alliance with the teacher's union? The Bombastic Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez was dismissed as an Independent candidate for the 4th congressional district race. Sigcho Lopez claims "democracy died" when he was tossed off the ballot. Was the ruling unfair or is BSL just facing rules his own party put into place? We'll discuss.

In a wide-ranging interview with Contrarian, former Superintendent of Police Eddie Johnson discusses crime, police recruitment, teen takeovers, political influence over policing in Chicago, and his career with the Chicago Police Departmen

A U of C poll reveals Mayor Johnson's dim reelection prospects. Which mayoral candidate is setting the world on fire? The CPS has laid off over 1,500 employees. Was this necessary? How will these layoffs impact the CPS budget? November Board of Education races are on the horizon. CTU will not have candidates in every race. Is the CTU facing its Waterloo? We'll discuss.

Another mass shooting took place over July 4. Mayor Johnson said the weekend death toll should bring joy. Does it? As Chicago faces another budget deficit, the mayor pointed fingers at aldermen for gutting his corporate "Head Tax." Johnson says their revolt last year is the cause for the gap. The movement for "survivors of police violence" finally broke ground on a memorial at Washington Park. Does Chicago need a shrine to alleged victims of CPD torture? We'll discuss.

In an unexpected move, Superintendent of Police Larry Snelling retired on Wednesday. Why now? What next? Who will lead CPD? Despite a massive federal crackdown, the Chicago Tribune reporting dredged up the Broadview Six in its article on the arrest of hundreds of criminals. Is this more agenda journalism? How has Governor JB Pritzker's equity agenda doing for Illinois? We'll discuss.

In response to a grim death toll over Father's Day and Juneteenth weekend, Left-wing clergy and community activists demanded an ordinance to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Is this a productive response to the plague of violence in Chicago? The CPS budget is, once again, in the headlines. Will CPS cut two weeks of classroom instruction to help fill a massive budget gap? Will Mayor Johnson throw the CTU another lifeline in TIF money? The mayoral field expanded this week when CHA board member Matt Brewer announced his intention to run for mayor. Is Brewer a serious candidate? Is Brewer just trying to settle a score with the mayor? We'll discuss.

The Grant Park cross burner is arrested. Merline Lu admitted to burning the cross in an interview with NBC 5's Chuck Goudie. What's next for Lu? Chicago's parking meter is back in the news. Can aldermen flex some muscle to stop the proposed sale? Is it worth the trouble? Though it is a milestone, Mayor Johnson's response to the news that Elon Musk had broken new ground in personal wealth seemed bitter. We'll discuss.

CPS CEO Dr. Macquline King appeared in front of the U.S. House to discuss CPD district policies conflicting with federal law. How did King perform? Elections for the BOE are underway. Who is running? What are the implications of the first fully elected board? The Broadway 6 case is back in the news. Did federal prosecutors really engage in misconduct? We'll discuss.

The Chicago Bears announced they will leave Chicago for Hammond, Indiana. What next? State Comptroller Susana Mendoza officially entered the race for mayor. How will her entry impact the 2027 race for City Hall? Charges were dropped against the Broadview Six protesters. We will examine the charges of "misconduct. "

Mayor Johnson traveled to Rome to meet the Pontiff. Immediately, the trip caused controversy. Why? In a major blow to the Chicago Teachers Union, the CORE caucus failed in its bid to raise $8.5M to fund elections. What is the impact on the November elections and the February 2027 mayoral race? Memorial Day weekend was a mess. While there were few homicides, numerous shootings took place and teen mob actions occurred. How did the mayor's safety plan work? We'll discuss.

Stacy Davis Gates picked a fight with Michael Sacks. Sacks fires back. Activists lose their court battle to have a special prosecutor in Midway Blitz. Was justice for illegal immigrants the goal? Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson have words over the loss of the Bears. We'll discuss.

A conversation with Don Tracy, GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate.

The Board of Ethics has fined former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas for illegal campaign contributions. Why now? CPS' budget woes return. Will CPS make the necessary cuts to stay afloat? The Cook County EM program is revealed to have no accounting for 248 criminals. This latest scandal over the program, how can EM survive? We'll discuss.

Former CPD and author Marty Preib joins our panel to discuss Chicago's exoneration industry.

16 months after leaving office, Kim Foxx returns to the headlines and for all the wrong reasons. In a stunning admission, Foxx admitted she believed two men freed by her office were actually guilty of a grisly crime. A Walgreens branch in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood is closing over a high loss rate and unsafe conditions. Ald. Will Hall calls it "corporate greed. " Is Hall right? Cook County Board of Review member Sam Steele was cleared of driving under the influence. How? We'll discuss.

In this episode of Chicago Contrarian, The Conversation, the panel welcomes Juan Rangal, civic activist and CEO of the Urban Center. In our conversation, we discuss a wide range of subjects, particularly the Urban Center's role in reviving Chicago and the upcoming Board of Education elections.

On Saturday, April 25, two CPD were shot at Swedish Hospital. One was killed; a second was gravely injured. What led to the shooting? What role does the Pre-Trial Fairness Act play in the shooting? WHat role do Cook County judges play? How did moderate Dems. respond to the shooting? We'll discuss.

CTU's day of civic action may have hit an obstacle. CPS parents are now threatening a lawsuit to prevent a "free" day. Mayor Johnson's coveted "millionaires' tax"failed to gain enough traction in the General Assembly. What will the Democrats and Chicago's progressives do next? In another attempt to kneecap SA Eileen O'Neill Burke, activists are now claiming EOB has been compromised in their effort to pursue legal action against federal agents lawfully enforcing immigration law. We'll discuss.

The battle over whether the CPS or CTU will prevail on May 1 intensified this week. Are students being used to front for CTU members' politics or is May 1 a civic exercise? Aldermen in the City Council fail to marshal sufficient support to override a mayoral veto on One Fair Wage. How many jobs will be lost in the next year? Homeless in Chicago parks may soon be allowed to remain indefinitely if the IGA is successful in HB 1492. We'll discuss.

AG candidate Bob Fioretti sits with Contrarian's panelists to discuss his campaign to unseat AG Kwame Raoul.

The family of Adam Toledo, an armed gang member shot dead by Police is suing over his death. Should Toledo's family receive a payout? The Chicago Teachers Union is sponsoring a "walkout" to protest Trump again. The union is calling for students to be excused from class if they choose to participate. The CTU is calling this a learning experience for "civic action." Is it a learning experience or is it another example over how the CTU politicizes schools and uses kids to front for the union's political causes? Nancy Andrade abruptly resigned from her job at City Hall, citing a "hostile" work environment in Mayor Brandon Johnson's City Hall. Is Johnson's administration crumbling apart? We'll discuss.

Mayoral candidate Liam Stanton joined host Jim Bosco, Paul Vallas, and the founder of Contrarian, Florian Sohnke, to discuss his candidacy. Mr. Stanton was asked a broad range of questions on problems confronting the Windy City

An expected report on CPD drew some odd conclusions, mainly over Police Districts' staffing levels. Is manpower properly distributed properly in Chicago? A recent study revealed Cook County taxes have risen at twice the rate of inflation. Is there any end in sight to unmanageable property taxes in Cook County? Unsurprisingly, Mayor Johnson is contending with another flop. With his choice of Walter Burnett given the axe by the CHA Board, Johnson has attempted to dismiss the CHA Board chair. Will the mayor succeed in his ploy to control the CHA? We'll discuss.

The shooting death of a Loyola student by an illegal alien has Chicago in an uproar. Will Gorman's murder finally provoke some real thought among progressives to change their stance on illegals in the city? After Ald. Samantha Nugent entered a proposal to freeze the third step for an increase to Chicago's minimum wage, Mayor Johnson vetoed the measure. What does this mean for the future of hospitality in Chicago? Will restaurants continue to close or will it rebound? After six stabbings in two weeks, CCSA Eileen O'Neill Burke unveiled a task force to help prosecute crime on the CTA. WHere is the mayor? We'll discuss

Primary elections took place on March 17. Who were the big winners and losers? Another contender to become CEO of the CPS has dropped from consideration. Who is left? What is the trouble with seating a CEO to lead the nation's fourth-largest school system? Mayor Johnson dismissed two key public safety aides on Thursday. Why was Garien Gatewood shown the exit? `What does this say about the future of City Hall's anti-crime strategy? We'll discuss.

Mayor Johnson's proposed ordinance creating "Democracy Zones" for elections goes bust. Why? Was the mayor protecting democracy and election integrity or was he attempting to create a path for illegals to vote? Unsurprisingly, the CTU has called for "No Work" day for May 1. The union is billing this as an activity to teach "civic engagement." Is this a learning experience for students or using students to front for the union's political causes? A "coalition" of activists, civil-rights lawyers, and community groups are demanding a judge appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged ICE crimes during "Midway Blitz." Is there an ulterior motive behind this request? We'll discuss.

Earlier this week, Mayor Johnson had "big news" for Chicago. While many were expecting a monumental political or economic development, Johnson had nothing. Is being ranked as the top relocation site for businesses meaningful when Chicago continues to lose businesses? As election day draws closer, we examine the Board of Review race between incumbent Samantha Steele and challenger Liz Nicholson. In the election for Cook County Board president, can Brendan Reilly unseat Toni Preckwinkle or will Toni's dirty gutter politics pull her across the finish line? We'll discuss.

Mayor Johnson flew to Washington, D.C. to offer a rebuttal to the SOTU address. Why? Johnson showed up at a protest to deliver an anti-Trump harangue. Who paid for the trip? Was this official city business? Desperate to deflect from the Tyler Technologies debacle, a nine-page letter rebuking County Treasurer Maria Pappas as a bully was released to media. What is behind the letter? With Preckwinkle on the hot seat, is this the Cook County Board president scrambling to save her reelection campaign? The CPS announced the ACERO Charter Network will lose students due to financial difficulty. What role did the CTU play in ACERO's demise? We'll discuss

After years of threats and months of back-and-forth discussions with state and city leaders, Chicago Bears' management announced the franchise would resettle in neighboring Indiana. Is Chicago going to be without a NFL franchise? Nearly six years ago, Lori Lightfoot capitulated to a mob and removed two statues of Christopher Columbus from Grant and Arrigo parks. The city announced neither would be returned and a figure of Mother Cabrini. Will Columbus ever reappear on Chicago public property again? Chicago magazine's annual Top 50 Most Powerful list was released. Is it accurate or is it a politicized list? We'll discuss.

Newcomer Christian Maxwell declared for Congress in Illinois 1st District. Can she unseat Jonathan Jackson? Panelists with Contrarian quiz the aspiring GOP candidate ahead of the March 17 primary.

In a surprise decision, the Board of Education severed its contract with a search firm hired to vet candidates for the CEO of CPS. Six BOE members asserted the move was done to prevent Mayor Johnson from interfering with the search to replace Dr. Macquline King. With speculation running wild, the White House intends to order ICE back to Chicago, Paul Vallas has ideas for the Trump Administration to do good for Chicago. Mayor Johnson has been coy on his reelection plans. At a City Club address, the mayor hinted at his intent to run for a second term. We'll discuss.

Superintendent of Police Larry Snelling's public comments on interfering with lawful police business. Jordan Powell writes of the impact of his words nationwide and his tenure leading CPD. Mayor Johnson issued an Executive Order last week, which led to SA Eileen O'Neill Burke denying her office supported his action. Was Johnson lying? Probably. The recent OIG report on the CPS over the last year was repugnant. Given the depth of the problems at CPS described in the report, the schooling system needs a full investigation. Is Attorney General Kwame Raoul the man to carry out such an investigation?

A new federal program promises $1 billion in scholarship money is on the table for Illinois' schools. Will Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker take it to improve Chicago's schools? Mayor Johnson traveled to Washington, D.C. this week for a National Press Club event. His comments were only directed at Trump. The mayor falsely claimed federal agents were directed by the White House to "shoot and kill." Will there be a fallout over the mayor's outrageous comment? Chicago is seven weeks out of the primary for Cook County Board president. We'll discuss.

An Inspector General report in early January detailed a wide range of improper conduct, perhaps criminal, among CPS employees. Will authorities finally take action? The CTU was finally exposed for filing misleading annual audit reports after an independent auditor concluded the union omitted the activities of two foundations under the union's supervision. Is the CTU's day of reckoning coming? Are Chicago journalists biased? Chicago Contrarian says yes, and we crowned Heather Cherone the worst journalist for 2025.

Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot has launched her "ICE Accountability Project. How effective will her effort be and what is behind it? The trial of an alleged gang member charged with orchestrating an  attempted assassination of ICE Commander Greg Bovino suffers a defeat. AFter a contentious budget debate, Mayor Johnson warns layoffs could come to city government by summer. Is this possible? We'll discuss.

A BOE meeting in late December, board members voted overwhelmingly to raise the levy limit to take in another $40M. Why was the levy limit raised after the CPS received $552M in TIF funds? Following the vote, BOE president Sean Harden fumed over leaks to media over the vote. An investigation was launched. After federal agents fatally shot a woman interfering with immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, Mayor Johnson issued a brief video denouncing the incident and rebuking Trump. Why is Johnson seemingly more concerned with violent incidents outside the city over which he presides as mayor? In an insightful essay, Patrick Dent profiles several progressive aldermen in the City Council and state lawmakers representing the city in the IGA. The thread which binds them together, Dent says, is none have any real, meaningful accomplishments prior to taking office.

Chicago finally reaches a budget deal, but Mayor Johnson refuses to sign. Why is the mayor refusing to endorse a budget deal which gave him 98 percent of what he sought? Cook County Board of Review's Samantha Steele is at the center of another controversy.  Steele's challenger, Liz Nicholson has leveled the accusation Steele attempted to lure Nicholson to drop her bid in exchange for a County job. Nicholson has filed a complaint; Steele denies the charge. Who is telling the truth? Cook County property taxes are outrageous. Complicating matters is the network applied to overhaul of the property tax system has been riddled with problems. Who is to blame? We'll discuss.

In a rebuke to Mayor Johnson, aldermen have passed a budget counterproposal without the Head Tax. Will Johnson veto the budget and shut down city government? Long-time County Board president Toni Preckwinkle released her first campaign video attacking Ald. Brendan Reilly as a MAGA Republican and Trump ally. Will the charge dog Reilly? After a ghastly attack on the CTA, the Trump White House threatened to withhold federal aid until Chicago creates a safety plan for the city's public transit system. The CTA announced dozens of additional CPD will work CTA platforms and private security would be added. Is this sufficient to thwart a dangerous transit system? We will discuss.

Now stretching into its sixth week, the budget stalemate is dragging on. Which side will blink first? Will aldermen with a budget counterproposal cave and allow the mayor to prevail? Can aldermen avoid any defections to prevent the job-killing Head Tax? A federal judge has ruled Cook County's sale tax was unconstitutional.  Will Cook County now be on the hook for a massive settlement? The NAARPR held its annual convention in Chicago in November. The radicals, including Mayor Johnson, didn't hold back any inflammatory language. We;ll discuss.

The embattled Chicago Teachers Union is facing new scrutiny. After five years of refusing to release the Audit Reports, the U. S. House Committee. The Education and the Workforce Committee is requesting that the CTU turn over the long-sought reports. The CTU has pledged to cooperate. Will the union comply with the House? It's been one year since Eileen O'Neill Burke took over as Cook County State's Attorney. We will discuss her record and progress over the last year.