WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 21st, 2025

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 21st, 2025

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from Democrats and Republicans vying for their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate, and what they see as the crucial issues will turn out voters to the primary polls.

Bishop also shares some of the back-and-forth over gerrymandering with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker responding to a push by former Obama cabinet officials urging for an amendment to the Illinois Constitution for a non-partisan commission to draw congressional and legislative maps, instead of politicians drawing the boundaries.

Finally, Bishop reviews just some of the 271 bills Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker acted upon in the last week, including measures impacting the courts, schools, digital currency regulation and more. Of all that, the governor vetoed two of them setting up possible action during veto session scheduled in October.

Watch the full program below. Subscribe to Illinois in Focus Daily with The Center Square on YouTube. You can also subscribe to the Illinois in Focus podcast to get the entire show uninterrupted.

Part 1

Part 2

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Consumer advocates, Illinois lawmakers target 'unnecessary' utility costs

Consumer advocates, Illinois lawmakers target ‘unnecessary’ utility costs

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Energy consumer advocates are urging support for legislation they say will save Illinoisans from paying for hidden...
Large taxpayer costs coming to Indiana or Illinois for new Bears stadium

Large taxpayer costs coming to Indiana or Illinois for new Bears stadium

By Jon Styf | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Lawmakers in both Indiana and Illinois continue to jockey for position as the Chicago Bears request a...
Trump's tariffs set to rise to 15% for some countries, Greer says

Trump’s tariffs set to rise to 15% for some countries, Greer says

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration signaled a possible climb in some U.S. tariffs above 10%, but provided few specifics. Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, said Wednesday...
Clintons to face questions from lawmakers this week over Epstein ties

Clintons to face questions from lawmakers this week over Epstein ties

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square After six months of stalling, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will appear before lawmakers for their depositions....
Auditor general nomination approved unanimously in Illinois

Auditor general nomination approved unanimously in Illinois

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers will soon have a new watchdog approved unanimously by the state Senate. Illinois Auditor General...
Supreme Court blocks ICE contractor immunity appeal

Supreme Court blocks ICE contractor immunity appeal

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled that prison contractors cannot immediately appeal a trial court's decision, despite several claims to federal immunity....
Report: Patchwork state food laws could raise grocery prices 12% nationwide

Report: Patchwork state food laws could raise grocery prices 12% nationwide

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Differing state laws banning certain food ingredients or requiring new warning labels could raise grocery prices by about 12% in affected states and, potentially, nationwide...
Trump calls out Minnesota in State of the Union, prompting Democrat protests

Trump calls out Minnesota in State of the Union, prompting Democrat protests

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota Democrats faced off against President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Throughout the nearly two-hour speech, Democrats like U.S....
Parents could gain access to school discipline evidence under proposed bill

Parents could gain access to school discipline evidence under proposed bill

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to...
State of the Union highlighted political fracture between Democrats, Trump

State of the Union highlighted political fracture between Democrats, Trump

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The State of the Union proved to be anything but unifying between President Donald Trump and Democrats, with many Democrats making their disdain for the...
Illinois Democrats dispute Trump statements during State of the Union

Illinois Democrats dispute Trump statements during State of the Union

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says President Donald Trump spewed lies and attempted to gaslight the American people during...
Illinois Quick Hits: State taxpayers to help restore historic Chicago hotel

Illinois Quick Hits: State taxpayers to help restore historic Chicago hotel

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says $21 million in state capital funds will unlock more than $83 million...
Trump moves ahead with tariff plans after Supreme Court ruling

Trump moves ahead with tariff plans after Supreme Court ruling

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled his tariffs illegal, President Donald Trump vowed to rebuild the protectionist measures and restore some of the highest import...
Illinois racial wealth gap among largest in country

Illinois racial wealth gap among largest in country

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois ranked the eighth-worst state in the country for its racial wealth gap, Democratic State...
Judge: Right to sue under IL biometrics law too important to end suit vs Meta

Judge: Right to sue under IL biometrics law too important to end suit vs Meta

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, can't use its user agreement to escape yet another potentially massive payout from a...