This week, Bill is joined by the outgoing Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. She talks about her 8 years in office. Is the legal system fairer now than it was when she took over as Cook County State's Attorney? She also took aim at the new Trump Administration for his pick of Matt Gaetz as Attorney General. The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talked about the Chicago City Council unanimously rejecting Brandon Johnson's $300 million property tax hike. They...

This week, Bill is joined by the former Inspector General for the City of Chicago, Joe Ferguson. He's currently the President of the Civic Federation. Ferguson reacts to Donald Trump being elected as President again and how that will effect Chicago and Illinois. He also talks City of Chicago politics, like the Mayor Johnson introducing a massive property tax increase. Is that even necessary? And what impact will the new elected school board have on CPS? The reporter roundtable with Heather...

This week, Bill is joined by Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Joe Mahr. You've heard of voter suppression but Joe wrote all about candidate suppression. What is candidate suppression? And find out how it's harder to get on the ballot in Illinois than it is in other states. The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Greg Hinz and Ray Long discussed Brandon Johnson's staff which saw another change this week. The Michael Madigan trial began this week. The man wrote...

Take 1 with Bill Cameron (09-09-2023) - An update on the big business that is the college sports industry.  University of Illinois Professor, Michael LeRoy talks with Bill Cameron about the good and the bad inside the college football industry.  The round-table with Ray Long, Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone and Dave Stewart discuss the possibility of a White Sox team sale and move.  Plus, the latest on the Mike Madigan trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Bill is joined by the President and CEO of the Better Government Association (BGA), David Greising. There's been a lot of drama at City Hall and Greising says Mayor Brandon Johnson is not handling it well at all. Also, what are the chances Mike Madigan is found innocent? The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Greg Hinz and Ray Long discusses all that drama at City Hall. The mayor lashed out at the media over asking him questions about his newly-appointed...

This week, Bill is joined the Democratic candidate for Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke. She's favored to beat the Republican candidate Bob Fioretti. He joined Bill a couple of weeks ago (https://omny.fm/shows/take-1-with-bill-cameron/take-1-with-bill-cameron-09-15-2024-bob-fioretti-r). O'Neill Burke talks about how she would be different from the outgoing Kim Foxx.  The reporter roundtable with Ray Long (the man who wrote the book on Mike Madigan), Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart...

This week, Bill is joined by Alisa Kaplan. She is the Executive Director of Reform for Illinois. How can Illinois solve their well-known corruption problem and what reforms need to be put in place to make that happen? The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Greg Hinz and Ray Long discuss Chicago's budget which will be put forth in October. And it's a bad-news budget for Mayor Brandon Johnson. Why does the mayor want the CEO of CPS, Pedro Martinez, to resign? Johnson and City Council...

With Ed Burke scheduled to head to prison on Monday, Bill went back into the archives to remember many of the Illinois politicians that have been busted for corruption since Bill's been covering politics in the state. From Otto Kerner to Rod Blagojevich, hear your favorite corrupt politicians from the last 50 years. The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Greg Hinz, Ray Long discussed Ed Burke going to prison, does this have significant meaning for politics in Illinois and Chicago? A...

This week, Bill is joined by Bob Fioretti, who is running as a Republican for Cook County State's Attorney against Democrat Eileen O'Neill Burke. Fioretti tells Bill why he should replace Kim Foxx, and what changes he would make to the office including prosecuting retail theft and carjackings. The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talked about the Presidential Debate on Tuesday. What roles do racism and misogyny play in the election? Brandon...

This week, Bill is joined by former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and former Chicago Mayoral Candidate Paul Vallas. They discuss the city's budget shortfalls including the budget for CPS and why the Chicago Teachers' Union is to blame for much Chicago's money issues. Vallas praised Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling for his handling at the Democratic National Convention. The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talked about whether the Chicago Bears might...

Forrest Claypool joins Bill Cameron to discuss his new book, The Daley Show: Inside the Transformative Reign of Chicago's Richard M. Daley.  They discuss several notable events that occurred during the mayoral era of Richard M. Daley.  The Reporter Round Table with Greg Hinz, Ray Long, Dave Stewart and Heather Cherone discussing the news of the week in politics, including Chicago Mayor Johnsons comments about the city's budget deficit.  Can the mayor keep his promise that he won't raise...

This week, Bill recaps the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. WLS reporters Scott Childers and Jonathan Bregman covered the DNC and gave their thoughts on the 4 days. From breakfast with the Illinois delegates to the speeches made at the United Center to the protests outside the UC.  The reporter roundtable with Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Heather Cherone broke down more of the DNC. Was this a good week for Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson? Did the police do a good job at...

Senator Dick Durbin joins Bill Cameron just before the 2024 Democratic National Convention begins in Chicago.  Safety and violence are discussed along with the future possibility of full democratic control of Congress and the White House.  The Round Table with Ray Long, Heather Cherone and David Stewart pickup on the convention conversation reflecting on the two previous events held in the city of Chicago and what happened there.  Bill closes his convention preview with words from Chicago's...

Sunday, August 11th is the 14th anniversary of the death of former Chicago Congressman Dan Rostenkowski.  Bill Cameron recalls his time covering Danny with his archive audio from this era in "Chicago Machine" politics. The second half of this episode has the full Reporter Round Table with Greg Hinz, Ray Long, Dave Stewart and Heather Cherone discussing the news of the week in politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Bill Cameron is joined by another Bill with a famous Chicago last name, Bill Daley. He's the son of Richard J. Daley and the brother of Richard M. Daley. Bill Daley himself worked in the Clinton and Obama Administrations. They talk about the crazy political times in America and the 2024 Presidential Election. Was picking Kamala Harris as the candidate the right choice? What are the chances that she picks J.B. Pritzker as her running mate? Daley remembers the 2000 Presidential...

This week, Bill is joined by Don Rose, a longtime political activist in Chicago who helped organize protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention and helped Jane Byrne get elected as Chicago's mayor in 1979. Rose talks about his reaction to Joe Biden stepping aside as POTUS candidate. They discuss the upcoming DNC in Chicago and what to expect from protestors; is there a chance what happened in 1968, happens in 2024? He talks about Brandon Johnson's first term as mayor and how he's...

This week, Bill is joined by Pat Brady, a moderate Republican who used to be the Chairman of the Illinois GOP. They preview the Republican National Convention which begins Monday. Brady discusses why Trump is so popular right now, and why Joe Biden is the opposite. Is it time Biden steps out of the race? Brady also correctly predicted that Kathy Salvi would become the new chair of the Illinois Republican Party. The vote on that happened on Friday. Also, why aren't Illinois Republicans talking...

This week, Bill is joined by Arne Duncan who is the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and the United States Secretary of Education in the Obama Administration. Duncan is also the founder and leader of the anti-violence organization, Chicago CRED. He and Bill talk about the problems of violence on the south and west sides and why it keeps continuing even though, with the help of Chicago CRED, is getting better. They also got into politics and Joe Biden's performance at the debate with...

This week, Bill wonders again why Chicago and Illinois politicians are so corrupt as Ed Burke will be sentenced on Monday. Hear Bill play some of the best explanations as to why politicians are always stealing. The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talked about how long they expect Ed Burke to be in prison. What does this mean for Mike Madigan's trial? And the leader of the Illinois Republican Party will be stepping down. Finally, hear Missouri...

This week, Bill talks with author and journalist Steven Brill whose new book, "The Death of Truth: How Social Media and the Internet Gave Snake Oil Salesmen and Demagogues the Weapons They Needed to Destroy Trust and Polarize the World--And What We Can Do" was just released. They discuss how hard it is to find the truth in news stories and what we can do to fight disinformation.  The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Greg Hinz talk about the argument...

This week, Bill is joined by 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins. He talks about Chicago preparing for the Democratic National Convention and if the city is ready for a safe and secure convention. Hopkins does not agree with the mayor's decision to get rid of ShotSpotter. Can the city afford to shovel all the sidewalks when there is significant snowfall? They discuss the Bears and White Sox wanting public funding for new stadiums. And what needs to be done about public transportation? The...

This week, Bill talks with the President and CEO of the Civic Federation, Joe Ferguson. He was also the inspector general for the City of Chicago from 2009 to 2021. They discuss Donald Trump being convicted of all 34 counts in New York. Also, what does Joe like and dislike about the Illinois budget that was passed this week? He also gives his thoughts on Brandon Johnson's first year and change as Chicago's mayor. The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talk about...

This week Bill dug into the ShotSpotter debate in the Chicago City Council. Brandon Johnson has said it's going away after the Democratic National Convention in August but the City Council voted this week to keep it by a 34-14 vote. And Northwestern President Michael Schill got grilled by MAGA Republicans on Capitol Hill over anti-Semitism on college campuses. The roundtable with Greg Hinz, Ray Long and Dave Stewart talked about the ShotSpotter debate as well as how Northwestern handled the...

This week Bill is joined by Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly. She represents Illinois's 2nd District which includes part of the south side of Chicago, much of the southern suburbs and into Central Illinois along the Indiana border. They discuss gun control, Joe Biden's chances of winning reelection this year and what she is trying to get done for the farmers in her district. The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talked about Brandon Johnson's...