The Policy Shop

A weekly podcast tackling Illinois' most important issues.

Ep. 51: What’s holding back Illinois’ jobs recovery?

Most of the nation has recovered from the pandemic economic downturn, but Illinois hasn’t: the state is still missing nearly 89,000 jobs compared to February 2020. Bryce Hill joins the Policy Shop to talk about what’s affecting Illinois’ job market and hindering its labor force. This week’s Policy Shop is by Director of Fiscal and...

Ep. 50: Why so many parents are leaving Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Public Schools students and families returned for the 2022-23 school year. But with record low enrollment, one-third of those schools will be half-empty. Mailee Smith joins the Policy Shop to share why militant tactics from the Chicago Teachers Union have led to higher CPS costs, lower enrollment and lower test scores. This week’s Policy...

Ep. 49: More union money floods Illinois politics

Illinois unions members give hundreds of dollars a year to union dues. But most of that money is spent on politics – not representing workers’ interests or protecting them. Mailee Smith follows the money. She joins the Policy Shop to show where government union money goes and why Amendment 1 would harm all Illinoisans. This...

Ep. 48: The housing market goes bust

After a few years of homes flying off the market, signs are indicating the market is starting to cool. Is a housing bubble going to burst? Bryce Hill joins the Policy Shop to discuss what’s going on in Illinois’ housing world, how prices fair today and what to expect next. This week’s Policy Shop is...

Ep. 47: Are we in a recession?

Recession is the buzzword of the week as the economy begins to cool. So, are we in a recession or not? And what does that mean for Illinois? Bryce Hill joins the Policy Shop to talk about the state and national economic picture. Learn more by subscribing to the Policy Shop newsletter at illin.is/newsletter. This...

Ep. 46: Pritzker for president?

Speculation is brewing that Gov. Pritzker is testing the waters for a presidential run. What would a Pritzker presidency look like? Let his Illinois record serve as a guide. Austin Berg joins the Policy Shop to talk through Pritzker’s failures on budget, tax and economic policy. Learn more by subscribing to the Policy Shop newsletter...

Ep. 45: The truth about Pritzker and Lightfoot’s economic record

Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot are out on national and international tours, respectfully, touting their recent economic wins. But Illinoisans left at home face a dire jobs market: 1 in 6 jobs lost during COVID are still missing in Chicago and Illinois. Bryce Hill joins the Policy Shop to discuss the state’s economy and what...

Newsletter: The Simple Math of Pension Reform

This edition of The Policy Shop is written by Adam Schuster, vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute. The numbers don’t lie. Our recent polling shows 61% of Illinois voters want pension reform. A big factor? Taxpayers contribute 84 cents of every dollar public pensioners receive in retirement. Our elected leaders in Illinois seem...