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The Chicago Way

WGN Plus
Chicago
Brandon Johnson
Donald Trump
Chicago Teachers Union
Nikki Haley
Kim Fox
WGN Radio
Crime
Florida's Voice
Corporate Media
President Joe Biden
Crime In Chicago
Politics
Democratic Party
Venezuela
Republican Party
Illinois
The Snowflakes' Revolt
Disinvestment
Englewood

Mild mannered Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass and WGN Radio's Jeff Carlin explore the week in news, politics and other thngs done the Chicago Way in this WGN Plus podcast from WGN Radio in Chicago.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes104Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The Chicago Way

Latest Episodes

Chicago Way w/John Kass (02/02/26): RealClear Politics’ Tom Bevan is here to discuss how we got ourselves to tenuous climate in American politics, what we can learn from his Princeton senior thesis, and why Don Lemon is going to be okay, even if he t... more

Chicago Way w/John Kass (01/26/26): Retired police chief Tom Weitzel (Riverside) joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to talk about his work with Awake Illinois to stop SB2820 (Introduced by Sen. Laura Fine [D-Glenview]) from being passed. SB2820 would ban ... more

Chicago Way w/John Kass (01/19/26): To mark the tragic anniversary of his daughter’s death, Glenview native Joe Abraham joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to talk about his gut-wrenching experience losing his daughter Katie when she was killed in a hit-an... more

Chicago Way w/John Kass (01/12/26): Thom Serafin, long-time political strategist, Communicator in Chief of Serafin & Associates, & newly collaborating with Mercury Illinois, joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin with some much needed perspective on who are t... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Joe Abraham
Father of Katie Abraham, who tragically lost his daughter in an accident caused by an illegal immigrant.
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: Still no compassion from the media or politicians for a father’s loss
Pastor Corey Brooks
Founder of Project Hood, activist in Chicago
Project Hood
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: Why Pastor Brooks has zero confidence in Mayor Johnson
Thomas Weitzel
Retired police chief with 37 years in law enforcement
Riverside, Illinois Police Department
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: Retired police chief talks SAFE-T Act reforms, Reed case
Jim Barker
Chief Operating Officer of Kribi Coffee Company
Kribi Coffee
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: A Thanksgiving need for a warm cup of Midwestern common sense
Beth Haritzi
VP of Business Development at Kribi Coffee
Kribi Coffee
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: A Thanksgiving need for a warm cup of Midwestern common sense
James R. Brown
Retired Cook County Circuit Court judge
Cook County Court
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: A retired judge on how a bad apple can spoil the bunch
Robert Milan
Former Cook County prosecutor
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: Over 50 shot this weekend, but we don’t need help
Joe Abram
A father sharing his story about the tragic death of his daughter
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: When IL Dems play Russian roulette with our children
Brendan Reilly
Alderman of Chicago
City of Chicago
Episode: Chicago Way w/John Kass: Ald. Reilly leading the way for ‘closet moderates’ against Preckwinkle

Hosts

John Kass
Mild mannered Chicago Tribune columnist, editor and commentator known for his sharp critiques of local governance and social issues, involving humor and personal anecdotes.
Jeff Carlin
Executive producer at WGN Radio and co-host, bringing insights into local news and political dynamics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Bless his heart

    Great pod, but I do miss John’s squeaky chair

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Southsidewhitesoxfan
    United Statesa month ago
  • Go Chicago Way

    We need more podcast-you make in packed-for the clueless people!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Natural News
    United States5 months ago
  • Refreshing in today’s climate

    I stared with John Kass when he wrote for the Tribune. Truly great journalism that is sadly lost in today’s click bait, easy answers social media method of delivering news. I’m glad to still be able to catch his thought provoking content on this podcast. Keep it up John.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fan419
    United States6 months ago
  • Old and washed up

    John Kass talks about nothing important.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Southsidewhitesoxfan
    United States10 months ago
  • The best!

    Jk knows where the bodies are still walking!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JAWtree
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews express concerns over perceived shifts in focus or quality of content in recent episodes.
Listeners appreciate the candid and unfiltered discussions on local political issues.
The podcast is praised for providing thought-provoking content and engaging conversations with knowledgeable guests.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Chicago Way w/John Kass: Why Pastor Brooks has zero confidence in Mayor Johnson
Q: Why do you think there is a lack of communication between you and the current mayor compared to Mayor Daley?
I believe it's because they're scared of me, as I speak against many of their policies and ideas.
Chicago Way w/John Kass: Why Pastor Brooks has zero confidence in Mayor Johnson
Q: What are you learning from news people about their perceptions of Chicago?
They're always asking me about the violence in Chicago and how people are dealing with ICE being in Chicago.
Chicago Way w/John Kass: Revolutionary times
Q: How will that affect the presidential race of 2028?
I think there are a couple different scenarios that play out.
Chicago Way w/John Kass: Revolutionary times
Q: Jeff, are we living in revolutionary times?
Yes, we are beyond the pale on that now; everything seems to be compressed more.
Chicago Way w/John Kass: Illinois voters have a clear choice for their future
Q: How do you deal with the Combine cheerleaders of the Chicago Tribune?
Dabrowski acknowledges that he won't convert certain media figures, but he sees an opportunity with more reasoned media engagement.

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 Chicago Way

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

The podcast provides a sharp and engaging exploration of news and political issues specific to Chicago, infused with personal anecdotes and humor from its hosts. Discussions often revolve around local governance, crime rates, and socio-political dynamics, while addressing pressing social issues that resonate with the community. The hosts invite various guests, including political figures and experts, who share unique insights on the complexities of Chicago's culture, democracy, and public safety. This podcast stands out for its candid commentary on contentious topics, making it particularly appealing to listeners who appreciate unfiltered discussions about local and national affairs.

Listeners are likely to find the conversational tone rel... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Chicago Way?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Chicago Way:

1. RealClearPolitics Podcast
2. Federalist Radio Hour
3. The Hugh Hewitt Show: Highly Concentrated
4. Pod Force One
5. Ruthless Podcast

How many episodes of The Chicago Way are there?

The Chicago Way launched 10 years ago and published 104 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Chicago Way?

Recent guests on The Chicago Way include:

1. Joe Abraham
2. Pastor Corey Brooks
3. Thomas Weitzel
4. Jim Barker
5. Beth Haritzi
6. James R. Brown
7. Robert Milan
8. Joe Abram

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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