Ready Set Gov
Summary: Give us 20 minutes and we’ll give you the past, present, and potential future of a crucial issue for the people of Illinois. From Rockford to Rogers Park, Centralia to Carbondale, our goal is to empower you with the best, nonpartisan, politics-free information so you can connect with your democracy with confidence. This podcast is a production of the Better Government Association's Policy & Civic Engagement department.
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- Artist: Better Government Association
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Podcasts:
Recorded live at BGA's 95th Anniversary Luncheon on October 16th, Andy Shaw's interview with Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt. Judy is the Anchor & Managing Editor of PBS News Hour and her husband Al Hunt is an opinion columnist at Bloomberg. In front of an audience of more than 700 BGA supporters, Andy, Judy and Al discussed trust and truth in news, the upcoming midterm elections, and the rise of female journalists.
Ex Chicago Police commander Jon Burge died on September 19th, 2019. We interview the reporter closest to the case, John Conroy, about how the Chicago PD's history of violence echoes to today and the trial of Jason Van Dyke.
Imagine paying your taxes with the click of a button, never having to wait in line at the DMV, and voting from the comfort of your own home. That's how Estonians do it. On this episode of Ready Set Gov, we talk to Anna Piperal, Managing Editor of e-Estonia, on all things digital government in Estonia.
On this episode of Ready Set Gov, we interview John Opdycke President of a New York nonprofit, Open Primaries. Illinois currently does not have open primaries, which rubs some voters the wrong way. John walks us through how Open Primaries can help voters elect officials that better reflect their views, rather than their party affiliations.
You've heard Illinois is in the midst of a public pension crisis, but do you know how we got here? Special guest Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan government finance think tank, walks us through the history of the problem and what our government can do to dig Illinois out of its pension hole.
On this episode of Ready Set Gov, we sit down with Geoff Nagle, President and CEO of the Erikson Institute, to talk about the critical importance of early childhood education, especially in the lives of kids who experience trauma and violence in their communities.
This special episode of Ready Set Gov was taped at BGA's annual awards dinner, Richard H. Driehaus Investigative Awards at City Winery. Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg gave a mesmerizing talk (with questions from Andy Shaw) about the risks he took in leaking the Vietnam war-era documents. Ellsberg said he had not seen a similar leak of that magnitude until Chelsea Manning. Ellsberg opined on denuclearization, the true definition of treason and the risks/rewards of talks between North and South Korea.
On this special episode of Ready Set Gov, we talk with Jeff Raines and Andy Kang about an important upcoming opportunity for Illinoisans to speak out against partisan gerrymandering. Learn how you can participate in this historic turning point for our state.
On this episode of Ready Set Gov, we explore the future of Illinois government with the help of Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside, who walks us through blockchain, cryptocurrency and the possible applications of new digital tools and practices in Illinois government.
On this episode of Ready Set Gov, Amara Enyia walks us through the difference between equality and equity and what public policy changes we need to make in Illinois to correct decades of unfair practices in everything from housing to education.
When DNAinfo Chicago, a neighborhood news site, announced it was closing its doors in October, many Chicago residents were upset. Former DNAinfo staffers Shamus Toomey, Jen Sabella, and Stephanie Lulay are bringing back hyperlocal coverage and connecting residents to local government by launching Block Club Chicago, a new nonprofit news site dedicated to covering Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Illinois' Primary Election is on March 20th. The BGA is your go-to resource for nonpartisan information on many of these races. We sat down with members of the BGA’s Policy Team to go over everything you need to know about the primary; from how to register, to who is running and what their priorities are. Don’t miss this special episode of Ready Set Gov!
The #MeToo movement now has touched both the political operation of House Speaker Michael Madigan and the Illinois Senate. Is this just the start of the moment and movement striking the halls of Illinois government? In this special podcast episode, we talk with Kerry Lester, a former state capitol reporter who is the author of "No, My Place," a collection of reflections from women of all ages, ethnicities and positions who share their experiences in dealing with sexual harassment in Illinois politics and government. What will it take to change the culture and make it clear to men and women in Illinois politics and government that #TimesUp? It will take more women standing up and the public humiliation of the perpetrator, not the victim to drive a change in culture in Illinois, Lester says.
Illinois has so many different ways to tax its citizens, it can be hard to keep up. Join us as we interview David Merriman, an Economic Policy Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago about the past, present and future of Illinois tax structure.
We talk about policing, violence, and justice in Chicago with Jamie Kalven, the first reporter on the Laquan McDonald shooting and founder of the Invisible Institute. Jamie recently refused to name a source in his reporting on the McDonald shooting. A judge quashed the subpoena before Kalven could be held in contempt of court.
