The Policy Shop

The Policy Shop


Latest Episodes

Ep. 47: Are we in a recession?
August 02, 2022

Recession is the buzzword of the week as the economy begins to cool. So, are we in a recession or no? And what does that mean for Illinois? Director of Fiscal and Economic Research Bryce Hill joins the Policy Shop to talk about the state and national econ

Ep. 46: Pritzker for president? w/ Austin Berg
July 26, 2022

Speculation is brewing that Gov. Pritzker is testing the waters for a presidential run. What would a Pritzker presidency look like? Let his Illinois record serve as a guide. Austin Berg joins the Policy Shop to talk through Pritzker’s failures on budget,

Ep. 45: The truth about Pritzker and Lightfoot's economic record with Bryce Hill
July 19, 2022

Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot are out on national and international tours, respectfully, touting their recent economic wins. But Illinoisans left at home face a dire jobs market: 1 in 6 jobs lost during COVID are still missing in Chicago and Illinois.

Ep. 44: How Amendment 1 would raise your property taxes with Austin Berg
July 05, 2022

Voters will decide the fate of Amendment 1 on Nov. 8; the first time Illinoisans have an opportunity to vote against rising property taxes. Austin Berg joins the Policy Shop to explain why Amendment 1 would cause homeowners to experience a $2,000 property

Ep. 43: Why 3 major companies just fled Illinois with Matt Paprocki
June 28, 2022

It was a bad month for big businesses in Illinois as Boeing, Caterpillar and Citadel announced they're moving their headquarters out of Chicago. Illinois Policy Institute President Matt Paprocki joins the Policy Shop to discuss what these businesses' depa

Ep. 42: Make your vote count with Jim Long
June 22, 2022

Voting is the most important action a citizen can take to ensure his or her voice is heard in government. Increased voter turnout is good for our communities - locally and statewide. Jim Long joins the Policy Shop to explain a new initiative that will inc

Ep. 41: Stay & Fight for Illinois with Matt Paprocki
June 14, 2022

Illinois has seen hundreds of thousands of residents move away in recent years. Maybe you’ve even wondered whether you should move, too. But nothing is permanent, and Illinois’ people problem is something we can fix. Matt Paprocki joins the Policy Shop to

Ep. 40: What happened after unions locked students out of schools? with Amy Korte
June 08, 2022

New numbers on public school enrollment show the more school districts kept students from the classroom and in-person learning, the more those schools saw enrollment decline. Amy Korte joins the Policy Shop to walk through what the numbers show about Illi

Ep. 39: The truth about Illinois' population with Bryce Hill
June 01, 2022

What's the deal with Illinois' population? Are we gaining residents like Gov. Pritzker has recently said or are we losing residents, as has been reported for seven straight years? Bryce Hill joins the Policy Shop to break down the Census Bureau releases a

Ep. 38: The hidden tax: Why inflation is (still) soaring with Bryce Hill
May 23, 2022

Inflation is hitting record highs across the nation and higher prices are affecting everyone, everywhere in the country. In Illinois, we face unique challenges, such as multiple layers of taxation that already makes gas costlier than neighboring states. T