Show overview
Capitol Cast: Illinois has been publishing since 2019, and across the 7 years since has built a catalogue of 342 episodes. That works out to roughly 110 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 13 min and 23 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language News show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 26 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2024, with 84 episodes published. Published by Capitol News Illinois.
From the publisher
Your trusted source for news and analysis of Illinois state government
Latest Episodes
View all 342 episodesEnd of session roundup
Durbin bids farewell as session draws to a close
Prosecutorial misconduct and budget negotiations
Lots to do with 2 weeks to go
Budget talks taking shape
SCOTUS ruling thwarts redistricting amendment
Chicago Bears megaprojects bill: False start or first down?
Legislative halftime
Vote-a-thon in the House; Pritzker talks to Sharpton
Property taxes take center stage
A report by the Cook County treasurer's office set off a statewide debate this week about who's to blame for Illinois' high property tax rate and what, if anything, state lawmakers can do to provide some relief. Peter Hancock, Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski discuss what options are on the table.
Committees clear the decks
Dozens of bills advanced in the Illinois House this week as lawmakers worked to meet a deadline for most nonbudget legislation to pass out of committees. Peter Hancock talks with Brenden Moore, Ben Szalinski and Jenna Schweikert about some of the most significant bills that moved forward.
Election roundup
Peter Hancock, Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski analyze the results of the March 17 primary elections in Illinois.
Primary election preview
Peter Hancock talks with CNI reporters Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski to analyze the Illinois primaries for U.S. Senate, governor and comptroller. Those and other races will be decided in the March 17 primary elections.
An interview with Gov. JB Pritzker
Gov. JB Pritzker speaks with CNI reporters Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski on a wide range of topics, from the state of the Illinois economy to his legislative agenda and the future of the Chicago Bears.
A push to keep the Bears
Illinois lawmakers are considering a new proposal aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois. Organizations are now lining up to secure funding in the FY 2027 budget as the legislative session gets into full swing. And University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen discusses higher education funding and what U of I hopes lawmakers will tackle this session.
State of the State '26
State of the State '26 by Capitol News Illinois
Election '26 - James Mendrick
DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick discusses his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor with CNI reporters Peter Hancock and Ben Szalinski.
Election '26 - Rick Heidner
Illinois businessman Rick Heidner, a Republican candidate for governor, discusses his campaign with CNI reporters Ben Szalinski and Brenden Moore. The interview is part of CNI's Election '26 podcast series focusing on major party candidates for statewide office in the Marchf 17 primaries.
Election '26 - Darren Bailey
Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey speaks with CNI reporters Ben Szalinski and Brenden Moore about his campaign. Bailey is a farmer from Xenia and a former state senator who was also the GOP nominee for governor in 2022.
Election '26 - Ted Dabrowski
Ted Dabrowski, a former researcher for the online news outlet Wirepoints, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. He speaks with Capitol News Illinois reporters Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski as part of CNI's Election '26 podcast series.