politics Archives - Chicago Reader

1983 photo: Alderman Edward Vrdolyak standing, center gesturing during a meeting of the Chicago City Council with Mayor Harold Washington, as Alderman Edward M. Burke stands behind him.

Chaos theory

by Ben Joravsky February 7, 2023February 10, 2023

One of the more revealing scenes in City So Real—Steve James’s insightful documentary about Chicago politics, takes place in a Gold Coast penthouse. It’s 2019. And James, chronicling the last mayoral election, is filming a dinner party hosted by Christie Hefner. They’re talking politics and one of the guests—Norman Bobins, a retired banker—opines that no […]

News & Politics

Breaking tradition

by Kelly Garcia October 25, 2022October 26, 2022

Alderperson Matt Martin boldly tries to go where few have gone before.

Columns & Opinion

MAGA enablers

by Ben Joravsky August 3, 2022August 3, 2022

For over twenty years, my centrist friends have been giving me grief for presidential losses the Democrats have suffered. For example . . . Gore’s defeat in 2000, allegedly caused by lefties voting for Ralph Nader. Or Hillary Clinton’s in 2016, allegedly caused by lefties not voting at all. The centrist message to me went […]

Kenneth Griffin has generously contributed to politicians around the country.

News & Politics

The money-man

by Curtis Black May 4, 2022June 23, 2022

Billionaire Ken Griffin is Illinois’s biggest political benefactor. But what are his donations doing to democracy?

“Doing things in spite of your insecurities makes that thing all the more impressive. That's sort of my tagline because I think without risk success is not possible.” | Bushra Amiwala

Film

Bushra Amiwala is “The Voice” to inspire future leaders

by Ata Younan March 30, 2021August 18, 2021

A new ABC docuseries focuses on the young public official changing the face of Chicago politics.

News & Politics

For undocumented immigrants, the work doesn’t stop at the election

by Paco Alvarez and City Bureau December 21, 2020August 18, 2021

From voter outreach to working for their communities, undocumented immigrants across the Chicago area don’t let their immigration status get in the way of participating politically.