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The Rundown | Chicago News

WBEZ Chicago
Chicago
Brandon Johnson
Chicago Sky
Father's Day
Venezuelan Migrants
Unsung Heroes Of Uptown
Joe Biden
WOE, A Housecat's Story Of Despair
Xenophobia
Gun Violence
Lincoln Correctional Center
Air Quality
Wrigleyville Rooftops
Chicago School Board
Heatwave
Covid-19
Juneteenth
Type 2 Diabetes
Chicago Public Schools
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Elementary School

In one bite-sized episode every weekday, we'll keep you informed, tickled, geeked, and pondering on Chicago's news, culture and people. Each episode starts with a quick news roundup from the WBEZ newsroom, followed by a deep-dive into one of the biggest or most curious stories from our city. The Rundown podcast is a one-stop-shop for all things Chicago.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1520Founded5 years ago
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Latest Episodes

WBEZ lost power at our studios at Navy Pier today and will return to its usual programming schedule as soon as we can. A group of alderpersons who oppose Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget have introduced their own revenue package. Chicagoans can... more

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is revising his proposed and controversial corporate head tax in hopes of shaking a budget stalemate loose. Illinois Gov.JB Pritzker signed into law protections from what he called “unjust actions” taken by federal immig... more

The prospect of a government shutdown over the city’s budget is growing bigger in the city of Chicago. Chicago voters will elect all 21 members of the school board next November but a new poll finds few realize this is happening. Chicago Cardinal Bla... more

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget team said that an alternative budget proposal from 26 alders who oppose the mayor’s spending plan is based on faulty projections and regressive fines. Indiana state House lawmakers have passed a new congressiona... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Courtney Kueppers
WBEZ reporter discussing holiday festivities in Chicago
WBEZ
Episode: Friday, December 5, 2025
Yesenia Diaz
Incarcerated artist who created artwork for the Pope
Episode: Monday, December 1, 2025
Kimberly Bares
President and CEO of the Magnificent Mile Association
Magnificent Mile Association
Episode: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
José Luis López
Owner of Los Candiles restaurant in Little Village
Los Candiles
Episode: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Melissa Quintana
Founder of the Hermosa, Belmont, Craig and Chamber of Commerce
Episode: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Jasmine Duckett
Tenants at Indian Trails Apartments, discussing poor living conditions
Episode: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Corey Lundeen
Attorney at the National Housing Law Project, discussing the ownership issues leading to tenant's suffering
National Housing Law Project
Episode: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Ellen Hengesbach
Representative from the Illinois Public Interest Research Group.
Illinois PERG
Episode: Monday, November 24, 2025
Vanessa Lopez
Audience engagement specialist at the Chicago Sun-Times.
Chicago Sun-Times
Episode: Monday, November 24, 2025

Hosts

Alex Dagman
Host of the show, providing insights and leading discussions on local news and stories.
Lisa Labuz
Co-host contributing to the conversations and providing updates on Chicago's happenings.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 252 ratings
  • Audio issues?

    Love this podcast, but what’s up with the audio quality this week?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Katnpp
    United States3 months ago
  • Quick news you need

    Love to have a quick recap of things around Chicago twice a day. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wojciech D
    United States9 months ago
  • Good info; inconsistent release timing

    The Rundown is a great resource akin to NYTimes’s The Headlines but with the Chicagoland area as the focus. My only complaint is that I can’t count on each morning’s episode coming out at or near a consistent time. I don’t mind a reasonable window (e.g. between 7a-7:30a) but the current system is not conducive to incorporating the show into my morning routine.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    KKrasinski
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great local news

    I’m so grateful to have this to keep up with what’s happening in Chicago!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCguy94
    United Statesa year ago
  • Perfect quick daily news update

    They do a great job of summarizing local Chicago & state-wide news in an easily digestible format.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    schistopatel
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Several reviews express a desire for more consistent release timings, indicating that the morning routine integration is important for the audience.
Many find the coverage relatable and relevant to their daily lives, especially regarding local culture and community issues.
Listeners appreciate the concise format, making it easy to stay updated with Chicago news in a short time.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#115
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#142
Ireland/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#161
Russia/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Thursday, December 4, 2025
Q: Do the numbers show any sign that attendance can start to improve now?
It remains unclear if attendance rates will improve, as ongoing concerns about ICE activity persist.
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Q: Why do you think the drop in attendance wasn't so drastic?
Community groups stepped up to support students and parents, organizing 'walking school buses' and providing safe transport options for kids.
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Q: What did you find about attendance rates during the enforcement period?
Attendance rates largely remained stable, but there were significant drops in attendance on specific days at predominantly Latino schools, which rebounded quickly afterwards.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Q: What about funding cuts? How much have funding cuts impacted the food supply at pantries this year?
Funding cuts significantly impacted food pantries, with federal cuts reducing budgets by $500 million, leading to a 13% decrease in food supplies for some organizations like Nourishing Hope.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Q: What are some of the reasons there is higher demand this season?
Several factors contribute to the heightened demand at food pantries, including rising grocery prices, a government shutdown affecting SNAP benefits, and an increase in layoffs leading to higher unemployment.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Rundown

What is The Rundown about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show presents short, digestible episodes focusing on the latest news, culture, and stories from Chicago. Episodes typically start with a brief roundup of key headlines from the city's current affairs, followed by an in-depth exploration of noteworthy or intriguing local issues. Themes often include politics, community events, social challenges, and celebrations of Chicago's vibrant culture and history. The unique blend of timely news with insightful storytelling makes it particularly appealing for listeners who want to stay informed about their city in a compact format. Additionally, the commitment to highlighting diverse perspectives and local voices offers a rich tapestry of experiences relevant to the broader Chicago community.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Rundown. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Rundown and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Rundown get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Rundown?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Rundown, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Rundown have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Rundown has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Rundown?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rundown:

1. City Cast Chicago
2. Curious City
3. Consider This from NPR
4. Up First from NPR
5. WBEZ News

How many episodes of The Rundown are there?

The Rundown launched 5 years ago and published 1520 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Rundown?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Rundown?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Rundown from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Rundown?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Rundown. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Rundown?

Recent guests on The Rundown include:

1. Courtney Kueppers
2. Yesenia Diaz
3. Kimberly Bares
4. José Luis López
5. Melissa Quintana
6. Jasmine Duckett
7. Corey Lundeen
8. Ellen Hengesbach

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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