Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Oscars 2022: The Highs, The Lows and The Punchlines

Hollywood wrapped its biggest night of the year with a bang, with plenty of surprises, laughs and drama. From CODA winning Best Picture to the slap heard around the world, Reset recaps the highs and lows of the 94th Academy Awards with two film critics and a movie superfan. GUESTS: Michael Phillips, film critic at the Chicago Tribune Brandon Weiss, Music Box Theatre concessions Robert Daniels, freelance film critic with RogerEbert.com and the New York Times

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - 2022 Poised To Be Worst Year For Gay, Trans Rights in U.S.

With a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced across the country— the majority of which target trans people — 2022 is being called “the worst year for LGBTQ and trans people.” Reset talks through the recent deaths of two Chicago trans women and the violence their community faces on a regular basis. GUEST: Iggy V Ladden (they/them), licensed therapist, Founder of Chicago Therapy Collective Aster Gilbert (she/they), Manager of the Training & Public Education Institute, Center on Halstead

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - How Illinois Leaders Are Fighting Against Anti-Asian Hate Attacks

Since the start of the pandemic, the national coalition Stop AAPI Hate has tracked over 10,000 incidents of verbal harassment and physical assault against Asian people nationwide. Reset discusses the problem and solutions with Josina Morita, commissioner of the Illinois Asian American Caucus, and Grace Pai, executive director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - The Twists, Turns, And Lessons Learned After Pandemic Year 2

It’s been two years since Gov. JB Pritzker declared a statewide stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois. Since then, the pandemic has taken many twists and turns and has shaped our lives in countless ways. Reset reflects on the lessons we’ve learned and what we want to take us with moving forward. GUEST: Jonathan Malesic [ma-LESS-ik], author of The End of Burnout: Why Work Drains Us and How to Build Better Lives

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - A Preview Of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Nomination Hearings

The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson kick off Monday. Her nomination is being praised by Democrats and condemned by the GOP. Reset previews what to expect from the hearings for President Biden’s pick. GUEST: Steven Schwinn, Professor of Law, University of Illinois Chicago Law School; Co-Editor, Constitutional Law Prof Blog

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: March 18, 2022

Crime and policing dominated the local news cycle this week. The mayor’s vaccine deadline for Chicago Police came and went, and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx declined to press charges against the officers who shot and killed Adam Toledo and Anthony Alvarez last March. Plus, the city’s ward remapping may end up in the hands of the people. And former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson gives gas away for free, with lines around the block. GUESTS: Heather Cherone, political reporter for WTTW News Patrick Smith, WBEZ criminal justice reporter

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Dick Durbin Warns Of ‘Last-Minute Charges’ Against Biden’s SCOTUS

Illinois’ senior senator will have a front row seat to history being made, as Judge Jackson could soon be the nation’s first Black female Supreme Court Justice. But the Republican National Committee has called Jackson a radical, left wing activist. How will Sen. Durbin keep the hearings from turning into a bitter partisan process? The senator also shares his concerns over what’s next in Ukraine, and gives a look ahead to Democrats’ priorities for the midterms. Guest: Sen. Dick Durbin

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Police Won’t Face Charges For Killing Adam Toledo And Anthony Alvarez

Reset checks in with a police accountability expert following State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s decision not to file criminal charges against the officers who shot and killed 13 year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez. GUEST: Craig Futterman, Clinical Professor at University of Chicago Law School; founder of Civil Rights and Police Accountability Project of the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - How Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Could Impact Local Queer Youth

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill into law, which would limit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary schools. And now, similar measures are being introduced in at least seven other states. Reset uncovers the effects these restrictions could have on queer youth across the U.S. GUESTS: LaSaia Wade, founder and CEO of Brave Space Alliance Dr. Joseph Mello, political science professor at DePaul University