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The Fran Spielman Show

Chicago Sun-Times

Join veteran City Hall reporter Fran Spielman as she interviews Chicago’s biggest movers and shakers. Each week, Fran sits down with a local leader, politician or policymaker to get the inside scoop on the latest news in Chicago.

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 46 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • September 9 · 46 min

    Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22nd)

    In an interview with Fran Spielman, Chicago Alderman Michael Rodriguez, chair of the City Council’s Committee on Workforce Development, announces he will not seek re-election in the 22nd Ward, citing a desire to be more present for his family while continuing as Democratic committeeperson and staying active in community organizing. He highlights accomplishments including the Fair Workweek ordinance, a paid leave policy, wage gains for tipped workers, and support for violence reduction efforts, noting violence declines in Chicago and Little Village.

  • August 20 · 1 hr 4 min

    Chicago lobbyist John Kelly on his mayoral run, crime, and city finances

    Fran Spielman interviews Chicago lobbyist and first-time candidate John Kelly about his run for mayor. Kelly says Chicago is in decline due to crime, high taxes, failing schools, and poor leadership, arguing residents don’t trust official crime stats and calling for restoring ShotSpotter, hiring 1,000 more police officers, shortening the police academy timeline, and cutting the mayor’s security detail to bolster CTA safety. He discusses firefighter concerns about equipment shortages and a need for more ambulances, suggesting budget reprioritization and possible private sponsorship.

  • August 13 · 1 hr 3 min

    U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley

    Fran Spielman interviews Congressman and mayoral candidate Mike Quigley, beginning with Cubs and hockey talk before turning to his Lake Michigan suit jump meant to highlight sewage control, shoreline restoration, and invasive-species threats. Quigley explains why he’s running for mayor now, citing fiscal, housing, public safety, and CPS crises, and argues the next mayor must make tough choices without worrying about reelection; he defends running for Congress and mayor concurrently and outlines fundraising and campaign plans.

  • August 2 · 42 min

    Alexi Giannoulias

    In an interview with Fran Spielman, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias explains why he is running simultaneously for re-election and for mayor of Chicago, arguing that money alone doesn’t win elections and that voters will judge records and vision. He touts modernizing the Secretary of State’s office by moving services online and eliminating DMV wait times, and criticizes Mayor Brandon Johnson for leadership turnover, credit downgrades, weak coalition-building with City Council and Springfield, and a failed property tax push. Giannoulias outlines priorities including improving public safety, adding 1,000 officers by 2030, bringing back ShotSpotter, streamlining city bureaucracy, centralizing procurement to save money, and pursuing revenue options such as a Springfield-enabled millionaires tax while opposing a corporate head tax.

  • July 23 · 39 min

    Chicago Housing Commissioner Lissette Castañeda and Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th)

    Fran Spielman interviews Chicago Housing Commissioner Lissette Castañeda and Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th) about competing renter-protection proposals as rents rise and landlord ownership becomes less transparent. Castañeda backs Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO), citing skyrocketing rents, corporate consolidation, and the need for a rental registry, expanded inspections and landlord services, just-cause protections to curb 10,000 annual no-fault evictions, and relocation assistance for certain no-fault displacements. Villegas supports an alternative packaged as the FAIR ordinance, agreeing on an annual registry but arguing PRO adds bureaucracy, creates unfunded mandates that will raise rents, and risks litigation; he emphasizes increasing housing supply, cutting red tape, and tiering obligations by landlord size.

  • July 17 · 51 min

    Joe Ferguson on Chicago’s parking meter transfer, budget shortfalls, CPS cuts, and pension risk

    Fran Spielman interviews Chicago Civic Federation president and former inspector general Joe Ferguson about the pending sale of Chicago Parking Meters LLC’s remaining 57 years to Stone Peak Partners, which City Council must authorize by Sept. 30. Ferguson says the city has limited leverage and should negotiate marginal contract improvements—especially reducing “true-up” reimbursements—rather than reject the transfer and risk lawsuits, financial damages, and reputational harm.

  • July 8 · 41 min

    Ald. Marty Quinn (13th)

    Fran Spielman interviews Ald. Marty Quinn of Chicago’s 13th Ward, who announces he will not seek re-election after four terms and 15 years on the City Council, citing the demands and unpredictability of ward service, sacrifices to family life, and readiness for new challenges with no job lined up. Quinn reflects on the council’s evolution from a seniority- and ward-focused body under Rahm Emanuel to a more legislative, independent, and coalition-driven council under Lightfoot and Johnson, including opposition to Johnson’s head tax and last year’s budget coalition.

  • June 24 · 47 min

    Matthew Brewer

    Fran Spielman interviews attorney Matthew Brewer, former interim CHA CEO and current board chair, who announces his first run for Chicago mayor and argues Brandon Johnson has made residents feel unseen, framed false either/or choices between business and communities, and failed at collaborative leadership amid agency vacancies and budget conflicts.

  • June 18 · 40 min

    Dr. Lisa Nee

    Fran Spielman interviews Dr. Lisa Nee, a Chicago-born cardiologist and MBA who is preparing to run for mayor to deny Brandon Johnson a second term, arguing voters want a non-insider with real-life experience. She recounts whistleblowing at the Hines VA over unread cardiac tests, facing retaliation while pregnant, and later helping secure bipartisan protections, while also battling breast cancer and returning to health.

  • June 11 · 57 min

    Susana Mendoza

    Fran Spielman interviews Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza about her renewed bid for Chicago mayor, revisiting her 2019 loss and associations with Ed Burke and Mike Madigan, which she says she condemned. Mendoza calls Mayor Brandon Johnson’s tenure a “blizzard of incompetence,” citing credit downgrades, heavy borrowing, TIF “raids,” staffing vacancies, and strained Springfield relations, and says she’d impose fiscal discipline, consider workforce reductions, stop using TIFs for operations, hire more police, restore ShotSpotter, and improve police-community trust.

  • June 4 · 34 min

    Emmanuel Andre, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety

    Fran Spielman interviews Emmanuel Andre, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s newly appointed deputy mayor for community safety, about preparing for Chicago’s summer public safety challenges as CPS ends the school year. Andre discusses fears about tragedies, cycles of revenge, and key dates like Juneteenth and July 4th, describing a “full-of-government” approach with CPD, OEMC, Streets and Sanitation, elected officials, and community violence intervention partners to plan for incidents and large youth gatherings such as a potential lakefront “teen takeover.”

  • May 29 · 53 min

    State Rep. Kam Buckner

    In the final days of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session, host Fran Spielman interviews State Rep. Kam Buckner about last-minute legislating, the $59 billion budget, and the House-passed Megaprojects Bill aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois by allowing negotiated property tax payments. Buckner discusses mayor–governor tensions, other pending bills on housing, school cell phones, hemp regulation, and revenue ideas, and calls for smarter responses to teen takeovers.

  • May 22 · 14 min

    Chicago Transportation Commissioner William Cheaks Jr.

    Fran Spielman interviews newly confirmed Chicago transportation commissioner William Cheaks Jr. about Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed EV-charging-only parking spaces pilot with Cheaks Jr. noting autonomous vehicles are not authorized in Chicago and saying demand is uncertain.

  • May 14 · 42 min

    Mayor Brandon Johnson

    Fran Spielman and WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel mark Brandon Johnson's three-year anniversary as Chicago mayor. Mayor Johnson discusses his family milestones and argues his administration has improved its messaging while citing a 60-year low in homicides, reopened public mental health clinics, increased downtown visitors, and stabilizing census trends. Pressed on CPS’s $732 million deficit and potential classroom cuts, he insists the State of Illinois must fully fund schools through progressive revenue such as a digital ad tax or billionaire/millionaire taxes, rejects school closures as repeating past failures.

  • May 8 · 52 min

    Zoning Committee Chair Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th)

    Fran Spielman interviews Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), the new chair of Chicago’s City Council Zoning Committee, about how the council ended a months-long zoning stalemate without Mayor Brandon Johnson’s backing after leadership turmoil and failed mayoral picks. Villegas says the council is acting more independently, criticizes the mayor’s “100% or nothing” approach, and emphasizes collaboration and incremental wins.

  • April 29 · 49 min

    FOP President John Catanzara

    Fran Spielman interviews Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara after Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew was fatally shot and his partner critically wounded at Swedish Hospital by Alphanso Talley, a suspect apprehended after a theft and assault who requested hospital transport.

  • April 17 · 58 min

    John Kass

    Fran Spielman reunites with longtime City Hall rival and friend John Kass to discuss his latest health crisis and rehabilitation after what she describes as his third stroke. He reviews earlier medical emergencies including a stroke during open-heart surgery and a near-fatal diabetes episode, and reflects on how smoking, weight, stress, and conflict at the Chicago Tribune may have contributed to his decline. The conversation also covers Chicago politics, crime, the decline of legacy media, and Kass’s staunch support for Donald Trump.

  • April 2 · 40 min

    Inspector General Deborah Witzburg

    Fran Spielman interviews retiring Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, who explains why she chose not to seek a second term, arguing watchdog credibility requires independence and that new legislation strengthening OIG protections made it the right time to pass the baton; she plans to remain in public service but won’t disclose her next role yet.

  • March 26 · 45 min

    Chicago’s acting CFO Steve Mahr: Bonds, budget tensions, and pension strategy

    Fran Spielman interviews Steve Mahr, Chicago’s newly appointed acting Chief Financial Officer, who shares his background in public service and public finance investment banking. They discuss Chicago’s recent budget stalemates, the rejection of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s corporate head tax, and warnings of a possible $160 million midyear shortfall, as well as the city’s decision to split the advanced pension payment due to delayed Cook County property taxes.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes