Illinois Policy Unpacked

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, host Kristen Chandler speaks with Craig De Voto, research assistant professor at the Learning Sciences Research Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. De Voto unpacks how Illinois schools used federal ESSER funds distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic to address learning loss, what results those investments have produced, and what’s policy recommendations could address the impending education funding crisis. 

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, host Kristen Chandler speaks with Brian Gaines, Honorable W. Russell Arrington Professor in State Politics for the University of Illinois system. Gaines details his latest policy analysis exploring partisan preferences toward ranked choice voting, along with its potential impact to Illinois, the Republican and Democratic parties, and American voters.  

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Richard Funderburg, professor of public management and policy at the University of Illinois Springfield, and Paula Worthington, senior policy advisor at the Civic Federation and lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, discuss Illinois’ growing transit budget crisis. They examine ridership trends since the pandemic and explore both short and long-term policy solutions to ensure the sustainability of public transportation across the state.

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Mina Raj, assistant professor of kinesiology and community health at Illinois, stresses the importance of integrating caregivers into the healthcare system. She highlights how implementing the CARE Act benefits states, patients, caregivers, and health systems, while also outlining some solutions for policy improvement.

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Jeremy Riel, assistant professor of educational psychology at UIC, dives into the evolving AI policy landscape in Illinois. He highlights the goals of IGPA’s new science and technology working group, which he co-leads, and shares how his recent grant will empower educators and lawmakers to better navigate emerging technologies for the public good.

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Julian Rief, an associate professor of finance at the Gies College of Business at Illinois, unpacks his latest analysis on Illinois air pollution. We dive into how economists measure air pollution, what the data reveals about Illinois metro areas, and why there's reason for optimism. Whether you're a policy enthusiast or just curious about the air you breathe, this conversation offers insight and hope for a cleaner, healthier Illinois. 

This episode of the Illinois Policy Unpacked podcast is a special one. We sat down with our three Charles P. Wolff interns, (also affectionately known as "the Wolffs") Aparna Ramakrishnan, Cecilia Espinosa, and Lindsay Semmelman. This paid internship through the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois System is designed to expose undergraduate students to a variety of activities that occur within a busy public policy research institute. Join us as we discuss their favorite part of the internship, what their immediate future holds, and something they want older generations to know about Gen Z.

In this episode of the Illinois Policy Unpacked podcast, we meet Fred Wertheimer, the "dean of campaign finance reform," in Washington DC to discuss ongoing challenges in American political finance. Wertheimer has spent more than four decades working on democracy and governance issues, and is the Founder and President of Democracy 21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to strengthen U.S. democracy and promotes government integrity, accountability and transparency measures to accomplish its goals. Campaign finance reform remains a critical issue right now, as excessive and unregulated political spending erodes public trust and compromises the integrity of democratic elections. Join us at IGPA as we explore the historical context of U.S. campaign finance, why IGPA selected Wertheimer as this year's recipient of the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government, and strategies for young Americans to pursue a more equal union.

In this episode of the Illinois Policy Unpacked podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Coppess, an associate professor of agricultural policy at Illinois, to discuss the potential impact of recently proposed tariffs on Illinois farmers. With Illinois ranking as the nation’s third-largest agricultural exporter, changes in trade policy could have major consequences for corn, soybean, and pork producers. Join us at IGPA as we explore the historical context of agricultural tariffs, the political challenges trade groups face, and strategies for farmers to navigate an uncertain global market.