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  • La Shawn K. Ford on Crime, Cannabis, and the Healthcare Squeeze

    La Shawn K. Ford on Crime, Cannabis, and the Healthcare Squeeze
    Feb 20 2026
    In this episode of Chicago State of Mind on the CNW Network, host Cheryl Mainor sits down with Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, candidate for Congress in the 7th District, to talk about what it really means to fight for overlooked communities. Ford traces his journey from CPS teacher and union member on Chicago’s West Side to nearly 20 years in Springfield, explaining how school inequities, the crack era, and the 1994 crime bill pushed him into public service. He breaks down his signature work on criminal record sealing, HIV testing reform, and cannabis social equity licensing—and why he believes those laws can help end “permanent punishment” and build generational wealth in Black and Brown neighborhoods. The conversation then turns to today’s healthcare crisis, from Medicare Advantage and Medicaid redeterminations to skyrocketing premiums and deductibles, and why Ford says the current system leaves seniors, small business owners, and working families exposed. If you care about justice, health, and economic dignity on Chicago’s West Side and beyond, this episode is essential listening.
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    59 Min.
  • Richard Boykin on Faith, Grit, and a New Deal for Chicago’s 7th District

    Richard Boykin on Faith, Grit, and a New Deal for Chicago’s 7th District
    Feb 20 2026
    In this powerful episode of CNW, host Cheryl Mainor sits down with attorney and former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, now a candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 7th District, to talk faith, resilience, and what it takes to lead when communities feel left behind. From growing up in Englewood on food stamps to becoming an attorney and policymaker, Boykin shares the personal story behind his public life, including near academic failure, the mentors who pulled him through law school, and why he refuses to quit on Chicago’s West and South Sides. He lays out an urgent agenda to reverse cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP, expand Obamacare subsidies, tackle life expectancy and wealth gaps, bring grocery stores and real economic development to long‑ignored neighborhoods, and connect downtown’s prosperity with entrepreneurs in communities like Austin, Lawndale, and Maywood. If you care about equity, opportunity, and what real leadership should sound like in the era of Project 2025 and President Trump, this conversation is a must‑listen.
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    1 Std. und 4 Min.
  • Welcome to Chicago State of Mind!

    Welcome to Chicago State of Mind!
    Jan 23 2026
    Chicago State of Mind is a conversation-driven podcast from the CNW Network that goes beyond the headlines to explore the stories, values, and inner motivations of the people shaping Chicago. Hosted by Chicago News Weekly, the show features honest, reflective conversations with leaders and everyday Chicagoans about family, faith, service, resilience, and what it really means to call this city home.
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    1 Min.
  • First, But Not the Last: Juliana Stratton’s Journey in Chicago Politics

    First, But Not the Last: Juliana Stratton’s Journey in Chicago Politics
    Jan 23 2026
    In the premiere episode of Chicago State of Mind, host Cheryl Mainor sits down with Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton—not just as an elected official, but as a Chicagoan, daughter, wife, and mother. Together, they talk about growing up on the South Side, the lessons of service and community she learned from her parents, and what it really looks like to balance public life with family, faith, and motherhood. Stratton reflects on making history as the first Black Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, the power of representation, and how Chicago’s unique mix of grit, joy, and hope shapes her leadership and her voice.
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    33 Min.