Author: WBEZ Chicago

As the Democratic National Convention starts, journalists are on the ground to cover the news, both inside and outside the convention. But along with fears that protestors’ rights will be violated, advocates say press freedom is at stake this week. This isn’t just an issue for reporters. This is an issue for the public, who rely on journalists to report on the DNC accurately. Reset sat down with an advocate and journalist to learn more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Political conventions used to be the place where party faithfuls chose their nominee. But no longer. So why do we continue the tradition? And what purpose do they serve? Reset discusses as the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A lot of assumptions get made about Gen Zers: they’re always on their phone, they’re disengaged, they’re Tik Tok-obsessed. But young Chicagoans are breaking those stereotypes, and working to get their voices heard in the 2024 election – including at the Democratic National Convention. WBEZ reporter Lisa Kurian Philip spoke with college students who plan to be at the DNC to report, protest, or support. We hear from UIC student and activist Angel Naranjo on why he wants to be there, and what this coming election season means for him and his generation. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

PACKS frontwoman Madeline Link felt blessed to write about love that made her “feel wonderful — not deranged,” like relationships in her past. The 2024 album Melt the Honey explores partnership and life with crunchy guitars and loose rhythm sections. She joins Reset to talk about her love of South America, live music, and paper mache. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

What happened this week, Chicago? Well, the city is making final preparations for the Democratic National Convention, a judge dealt a blow to protest organizers, Riot Fest does an about-face, and a former school official is sentenced to prison for stealing nearly $1.5 million in chicken wings. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap, with Julie Bosman, Chicago bureau chief for The New York Times; Carrie Shepherd, Chicago reporter with AXIOS; and WBEZ state politics reporter Dave McKinney. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

If you ever find yourself strolling down Armitage Avenue in Logan Square, you may encounter a friendly beaver on a three-foot wide baby blue button, greeting you with a simple “Hello!” The button marks the entrance to the Busy Beaver Button Company and Museum, a spot in Logan Square that has archived 60,000 pin-back buttons. They’ve got everything from a “pre-button” celebrating George Washington’s inauguration to a heart-shaped button of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Reset sent two team members to the museum to find out what's so special about buttons. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

From the deep-dish-versus-tavern-style debate to the fierceness of defending ketchup-less hot dogs, Chicagoans have feelings about food. Is it giardiniera that unites us? Reset hears the case for why the spicy pickled condiment is one thing Chicagoans can agree on. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In 1971, a group of friends crowded around a dining room table in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood. They were putting together the first issue of the Chicago Reader, one of the first free alternative weekly newspapers in the country. With its origins beginning more than 50 years ago it would go on to become a model for alt-weeklies nationwide. Now, an effort is underway to create a coffee-table book showcasing this history. We sat down with Chris Haas, editor and designer of the upcoming book Free Chicago; Amber Nettles, associate publisher for the Chicago Reader; Kerry Reid, theatre editor for the Chicago Reader. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The busy summer travel season coincides with hurricane season, so travelers and airlines should brace for storm-related flight delays and cancellations. But that’s just one part of an almost never-ending chain reaction: more air travel (and its carbon emissions) contributes to severe weather, severe weather wreaks havoc on air travel, and so on and so on. Reset learns about this cycle, and what is being done to break it. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.