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Illinois in Focus

America's Talking Networkwww.americastalking.com
The podcast bringing you the most important stories out of Illinois from TheCenterSquare.com. Join us as we dive into the top headlines and provide insightful commentary and analysis.
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Episodes

Illinois in Focus Daily | June 17th, 2025 - Prison Looms for Illinois’ Former ‘Man in Charge’ Madigan

(The Center Square) – Although former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was expected to pay a $2.5 million fine quickly, his time in prison won’t begin until at least October. Judge John Robert Blakey ordered Madigan to immediately pay the $2.5 million, which was the maximum statutory fine the judge was allowed to impose. Madigan’s 90-month prison sentence is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. on Oct. 13. The ex-speaker’s defense attorneys suggested in court last Friday they would file a motion t...

Jun 17, 202559 minEp. 540

Weekend Edition | Pritzker Says He’s Willing to Be Arrested Defending Sanctuary Policies

(The Center Square) – In defending the state’s migrant sanctuary policies, Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’d rather be arrested than to have Illinois residents arrested improperly. Joining the governors of New York and Minnesota Thursday in front of the U.S. House Oversight Committee, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Florida, asked the three governors for their response to threats of being arrested for allegedly impeding federal immigration enforcement with migrant sanctuary policies. New York Gov. Kathy H...

Jun 14, 202524 minEp. 538

Illinois in Focus Daily | June 10th, 2025 - IL Gun Ban Challengers File Final Briefs in Federal Appeals Court Case

Greg Bishop reviews the latest filings in the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in the case challenging Illinois' gun laws. Follow the links to the separate briefs: Barnette: https://www.thecentersquare.com/tncms/asset/editorial/a871ecda-f114-4df5-a5ba-b141b14bef1d/ Langley: https://www.thecentersquare.com/tncms/asset/editorial/1c475803-2d23-4675-ad8d-b81b99c4c868/ Harrel: https://www.thecentersquare.com/tncms/asset/editorial/9cd718ad-87f6-435f-b7d7-e998f95f801e/ FFL IL: https://www.thecente...

Jun 10, 202544 minEp. 535

Illinois in Focus Daily | June 9th, 2025 - Senate Candidate on la Immigration Riots, Illinois’ Sanctuary Status and the ‘Big Beautiful Bill'

Greg Bishop talks live with Dr. Pamela Denise Long who is running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to fill the seat being vacated by Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield. Long discusses the latest in the debate around immigration enforcement and use of the National Guard in California, Illinois' migrant sanctuary status and President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill." Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f5...

Jun 09, 202543 minEp. 534

Weekend Edition | Republicans Ask Court to Find Illinois’ Budget Violated Three Readings Rule

(The Center Square) – Several Republican state legislators say they will be irreparably harmed if a court doesn’t stop the state from enacting the recently approved Illinois state budget. They filed a lawsuit in Sangamon County Circuit Court laying out how the final language of the 3,300 page budget bill was filed with just 30 hours before the legislature was set to adjourn. The legislators argue they needed between 70 to 119 hours. State Sen. Andrew Chesney explains the Three Readings Rule is b...

Jun 06, 202524 minEp. 533

Illinois in Focus Daily | June 3rd, 2025 - Federal Appeals Court Sides With Cook County, Illinois, in Challenge to Gun Bans

Greg Bishop looks at the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court deciding to deny taking up the challenge to Maryland's gun ban, leaving open the door to a challenge to Cook County and Illinois' gun ban. This as Illinois legislators pass more measures impacting gun owners. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...

Jun 03, 202537 minEp. 530

Weekend Edition | Some Question Pritzker’s Tax ‘Veto’ Pledge, Say Trump Should Cut Funding

(The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers still don’t know how much of their money will be spent by the state of Illinois next fiscal year or whether they’ll be charged higher taxes to pay for it. Saturday is the deadline for legislators to approve the annual spending plan that begins July 1. Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker explained what he would veto if it’s included. “I've been opposed to any taxes. They're broad based, or that would affect working families in this budget,” Pritzker told reporte...

May 30, 202524 minEp. 527

Weekend Edition | Gov. Pritzker Says ‘Funding Is There’ for Budget

When legislators return to the Illinois State Capitol Tuesday, they’ll have just 11 days before the deadline to pass an annual plan on how to spend taxpayers’ money. Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed his budget of nearly $55 billion in February. If approved, that’d be the most expensive spending plan in state history. Despite revenue projections coming in lower than anticipated, Pritzker said last week they already plan a tight budget. “I’m just saying, you know, we’ll get there,” Pritzker said at an ...

May 24, 202524 minEp. 522

Illinois in Focus Daily | May 23rd, 2025 - ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill to Impact Illinois’ Non-citizen Health Care Subsides, State and Local Taxes

Greg Bishop shares some of the reaction from Illinois legislators to the passage by the U.S. House of President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" bill and how it will impact taxpayer subsidies for non-citizen health care subsidies and the state and local tax deduction for high tax states like Illinois. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx...

May 23, 202525 minEp. 523

Illinois in Focus Daily | May 20th, 2025 - As IL GOP Slams Possible Tax Hikes, Pritzker Says ‘Funding Is There’ for Budget

(The Center Square) – When legislators return to the Illinois State Capitol Tuesday, they’ll have just 11 days before the deadline to pass an annual plan on how to spend taxpayers’ money. Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed his budget of nearly $55 billion in February. If approved, that’d be the most expensive spending plan in state history. Despite revenue projections coming in lower than anticipated, Pritzker said last week they already plan a tight budget. “I’m just saying, you know, we’ll get there,...

May 20, 202532 minEp. 519

Weekend Edition | IL House Republicans Call Out $1B for NGOs, Plan Their Own Budget Proposal

(The Center Square) – Illinois Republicans say there is more than $1 billion of Illinois taxpayer funds going to non-government organizations with little oversight and accountability. Among the spending some members of the Illinois House Republicans highlighted was more than $14 million going to the Indo American Center. State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said that’s just a drop in the bucket. “Today, we’re turning our attention to a staggering amount of taxpayer money, over $1 billion tha...

May 17, 202524 minEp. 517

Illinois in Focus Daily | May 12th, 2025 - IL Statehouse Recognizes New Pope, Discusses Cannabis Odor, Hears Pushback Against Tax Increases

Greg Bishop reviews some of the happenings out of the Illinois Statehouse late last week, including a discussion about the smell of raw cannabis being grounds for a vehicle search and pushback against more proposed tax increases. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx

May 12, 202539 minEp. 513

Weekend Edition | Noem’s Illinois Visit Sparks Debate Over State’s Migrant Sanctuary Laws

(The Center Square) – A visit to Springfield Wednesday by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is sparking debate over Illinois’ migrant sanctuary policies. Noem flew into Springfield’s airport and then went to a Springfield DHS processing center to talk with federal agents and two non-citizens being processed. The motorcade then stopped in a residential area of Springfield near downtown, where she stood with family of Illinoisans who lost lives allegedly at the hands of il...

May 10, 202524 minEp. 512
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