<![CDATA[Party Crashers, Chicago Style]]>Party Crashers, Chicago Style is a Chicago and Illinois politics show hosted by Megan Thuy, a Progressive New Media Strategist & commentator.

Chicago Style Politics: Weekly livestream with labor and human rights comms and policy strategist Andrew Herrera

Chicago Style Budget: Mini series that focuses on interviewing progressive policy makers, organizers, and commentators that break down the city’s 2027 budget through a progressive lense.

]]>https://partycrashers.showRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sun, 08 Nov 2026 13:40:37 GMTSun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:32 GMT60Party Crashers<p>Party Crashers, Chicago Style is a Chicago and Illinois politics show hosted by Megan Thuy, a Progressive New Media Strategist &amp; commentator.</p><p>Chicago Style Politics: Weekly livestream with labor and human rights comms and policy strategist Andrew Herrera </p><p>Chicago Style Budget: Mini series that focuses on interviewing progressive policy makers, organizers, and commentators that break down the city’s 2027 budget through a progressive lense.</p>episodicParty Crashersthemeganthuy@gmail.comyes<![CDATA[Midterm Results 2026: Abdul Wins, Anti-BDS Referendums Sweep IL, Dominguez Loses CPS Board President]]>Megan's favorite takeaway from the board race: https://www.instagram.com/p/DfVMmbdHXns/

The morning after the 2026 midterms, Megan Thuy, Andrew Herrera and Steve Tapas break down a Democratic sweep that ran straight through the Republicans’ own mid-cycle gerrymanders. Abdul El-Sayed takes Michigan, James Talarico takes Texas, and Chuck Schumer delivers a monotone victory lap for a win his candidates didn’t earn. Pritzker’s 200-item wish list for the new Congress barely mentions ICE, and Andrew lays out the three-way fight inside the Democratic Party over who gets to claim this mandate.

Back home, advisory referendums telling Springfield to repeal Illinois’s anti-BDS law passed by 60 to 70 percent in Oak Park, Champaign, Cunningham, Peoria, Normal and more, including an Oak Park question opponents fought hard to kill. Jessica Biggs beats CTU’s Hilario Dominguez for CPS school board president, and Andrew argues an unpaid, unstaffed board was built for capture by special interests. Plus Nabeela Syed flips IL Senate District 26 and rumors of moderate House Democrats circulating a letter against Speaker Chris Welch.

]]>https://www.instagram.com/p/DfVMmbdHXns/1437dca2-7654-408e-a396-00cdaa30de70Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:06:06 GMT<p>Megan's favorite takeaway from the board race: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DfVMmbdHXns/?dlrf=aWIwaDAzNHdlOTBo" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/p/DfVMmbdHXns/</a></p><p>The morning after the 2026 midterms, Megan Thuy, Andrew Herrera and Steve Tapas break down a Democratic sweep that ran straight through the Republicans’ own mid-cycle gerrymanders. Abdul El-Sayed takes Michigan, James Talarico takes Texas, and Chuck Schumer delivers a monotone victory lap for a win his candidates didn’t earn. Pritzker’s 200-item wish list for the new Congress barely mentions ICE, and Andrew lays out the three-way fight inside the Democratic Party over who gets to claim this mandate.</p><p>Back home, advisory referendums telling Springfield to repeal Illinois’s anti-BDS law passed by 60 to 70 percent in Oak Park, Champaign, Cunningham, Peoria, Normal and more, including an Oak Park question opponents fought hard to kill. Jessica Biggs beats CTU’s Hilario Dominguez for CPS school board president, and Andrew argues an unpaid, unstaffed board was built for capture by special interests. Plus Nabeela Syed flips IL Senate District 26 and rumors of moderate House Democrats circulating a letter against Speaker Chris Welch.</p>no00:54:2416Midterm Results 2026: Abdul Wins, Anti-BDS Referendums Sweep IL, Dominguez Loses CPS Board Presidentfull<![CDATA[BUDGET | Mayor Johnson's Parking Meter Plan Fails at City Hall + A Case for Head Tax w/ Ishan Daya]]>The Chicago City Council voted to allocate $75 million from parking meter resale towards pensions, creating a budget gap for Mayor Johnson's 2027 budget. This decision raises questions about how to fill the financial void through new taxes, fees, or service cuts.

Plus, more on the corporate head tax and police budget.

Guest: Ishan Daya with the Institute for Public Good.


]]>5526fbbf-d75f-4f48-8275-50654734320eMon, 02 Nov 2026 20:14:56 GMT<p>The Chicago City Council voted to allocate $75 million from parking meter resale towards pensions, creating a budget gap for Mayor Johnson's 2027 budget. This decision raises questions about how to fill the financial void through new taxes, fees, or service cuts.</p><p>Plus, more on the corporate head tax and police budget.</p><p>Guest: Ishan Daya with the Institute for Public Good.</p><p><br /></p>no00:31:5915BUDGET | Mayor Johnson's Parking Meter Plan Fails at City Hall + A Case for Head Tax w/ Ishan Dayafull<![CDATA[POLITICS | 10.29: Money, Charter Schools & Is an Elected Board Worth It? w/ Yesenia Lopez]]>Five days out from Chicago’s first fully elected school board election, CPS Board Member Yesenia Lopez (District 7B) joins Megan Thuy and Andrew Herrera. They talk about what the board actually does, who’s spending millions on an unpaid office, and why charter school interests care so much about who wins. Yesenia also explains what it’s like to represent 34 schools with no office, no budget and one chief of staff shared across all 21 board members.

Before Yesenia joins, Megan and Andrew cover:

  • why Andrew didn’t run in the 25th Ward
  • petition challenges in the Chicago mayor and alderman races
  • George Cardenas and his AI-built mayoral campaign website
  • the anti-BDS repeal advisory referendums on ballots in Oak Park and other Illinois communities

Andrew also asks whether the elected school board has delivered on its promise, and what Springfield should fix.

Early voting is open now. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

]]>https://www.yesenia4schools.com/6d6b56ed-c3c8-4c93-b5f3-839cd9b1db0fThu, 29 Oct 2026 20:48:14 GMT<p>Five days out from Chicago’s first fully elected school board election, CPS Board Member Yesenia Lopez (District 7B) joins Megan Thuy and Andrew Herrera. They talk about what the board actually does, who’s spending millions on an unpaid office, and why charter school interests care so much about who wins. Yesenia also explains what it’s like to represent 34 schools with no office, no budget and one chief of staff shared across all 21 board members.</p><p>Before Yesenia joins, Megan and Andrew cover:</p><ul><li>why Andrew didn’t run in the 25th Ward</li><li>petition challenges in the Chicago mayor and alderman races</li><li>George Cardenas and his AI-built mayoral campaign website</li><li>the anti-BDS repeal advisory referendums on ballots in Oak Park and other Illinois communities</li></ul><p>Andrew also asks whether the elected school board has delivered on its promise, and what Springfield should fix.</p><p>Early voting is open now. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.</p>yes00:59:1214POLITICS | 10.29: Money, Charter Schools & Is an Elected Board Worth It? w/ Yesenia Lopezfull<![CDATA[BUDGET BONUS | 10.7: Before We Got to the Budget — Stephanie Skora on 2027, DSA and Purity Politics]]>We spent 20 minutes not talking about the budget, so here it is uncut.

Stephanie Skora of the Girl, I Guess Progressive Voter Guide joins Megan to talk about the 2027 municipal races, now that petitions are in: 13 mayoral candidates and 11 unopposed alderpeople. Stephanie flags the races to watch, including two progressives vying to take on Ald. Jim Gardiner in the 45th, and South Side progressives Ald. Jeanette Taylor, Ald. William Hall and Ald. Julia Ramirez facing tough races. They also dig into Stephanie’s take on Chicago DSA and why Taylor’s endorsement fight matters.

The bigger conversation is about why infighting is a luxury. Stephanie and Megan compare organizing in Texas and downstate Illinois, where there’s no room for purity politics, with Chicago’s factional left. Stephanie also explains Girl, I Guess’s two litmus tests: Palestine at the federal level and policing at the local level.

Find Stephanie at girliguess.com and @stephanieskora, and join the Girl, I Guess voting group on Sway.

]]>f8f2301b-8fbe-47d6-81d6-71f7060e161bWed, 28 Oct 2026 18:12:44 GMT<p>We spent 20 minutes not talking about the budget, so here it is uncut.</p><p>Stephanie Skora of the Girl, I Guess Progressive Voter Guide joins Megan to talk about the 2027 municipal races, now that petitions are in: 13 mayoral candidates and 11 unopposed alderpeople. Stephanie flags the races to watch, including two progressives vying to take on Ald. Jim Gardiner in the 45th, and South Side progressives Ald. Jeanette Taylor, Ald. William Hall and Ald. Julia Ramirez facing tough races. They also dig into Stephanie’s take on Chicago DSA and why Taylor’s endorsement fight matters.</p><p>The bigger conversation is about why infighting is a luxury. Stephanie and Megan compare organizing in Texas and downstate Illinois, where there’s no room for purity politics, with Chicago’s factional left. Stephanie also explains Girl, I Guess’s two litmus tests: Palestine at the federal level and policing at the local level.</p><p>Find Stephanie at girliguess.com and @stephanieskora, and join the Girl, I Guess voting group on Sway.</p>yes00:23:28BUDGET BONUS | 10.7: Before We Got to the Budget — Stephanie Skora on 2027, DSA and Purity Politicsbonus<![CDATA[BUDGET | 10.27: Girl I Guess It's Budget Season ]]>This intro to Chicago Budget of 2027 features the one and only Stephanie Skora of the Girl I Guess Voting guide. Megan and Stephanie get into the complexities of Chicago's political landscape, the role of progressive voices, and the contentious budget allocations for policing. T

The conversation explores the complexities of taxation, community investment, and progressive governance in Chicago, the need for equitable tax contributions from wealthy individuals and corporations.

It also discusses the challenges faced by progressives in the city council and the importance of home rule in shaping local taxation policies.


Takeaways

  • Importance of independent voices
  • Challenges in progressive politics Police budget impacts city finances
  • Progressive taxation can fund reforms Equitable taxation is essential
  • Progressives need to unify on key issues


Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Launch
  • 02:56 The Role of Progressive Voices
  • 06:01 Navigating the Political Landscape
  • 08:55 Critique of Political Organizations
  • 12:00 Understanding the Budget and Policing
  • 15:01 Community Safety and Police Accountability
  • 17:59 The Future of Progressive Politics
  • 27:01 Budgeting for Police and Community Safety
  • 30:32 Political Dynamics and Police Control
  • 33:01 Progressive Politics and City Council Challenges
  • 34:41 Curbing Police Overtime and Misconduct
  • 37:01 Legislative Barriers to Budget Reform
  • 40:10 Structural Issues in City Budgeting
  • 41:37 Disagreements in Budget Proposals
  • 46:01 Corporate Taxation and Community Funding
  • 55:58 The Role of Corporations in Community Support
  • 56:05 Rethinking Taxation and Community Investment
  • 59:02 Progressive Unity and Governance in Chicago
  • 01:03:54 Understanding Home Rule and Taxation Challenges
  • 01:09:59 Analyzing the Budget Process and Community Needs
  • 01:17:00 The Need for Bold Legislative Risks
]]>https://www.sway.co/girliguess30ce4d4f-614e-408c-a28e-73d4d1b52383Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:10:44 GMT<p>This intro to Chicago Budget of 2027 features the one and only Stephanie Skora of the Girl I Guess Voting guide. Megan and Stephanie get into the complexities of Chicago's political landscape, the role of progressive voices, and the contentious budget allocations for policing. T</p><p>The conversation explores the complexities of taxation, community investment, and progressive governance in Chicago, the need for equitable tax contributions from wealthy individuals and corporations. </p><p>It also discusses the challenges faced by progressives in the city council and the importance of home rule in shaping local taxation policies.</p><p><br /></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Importance of independent voices</li><li>Challenges in progressive politics Police budget impacts city finances</li><li>Progressive taxation can fund reforms Equitable taxation is essential</li><li>Progressives need to unify on key issues</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction and Podcast Launch</li><li>02:56 The Role of Progressive Voices</li><li>06:01 Navigating the Political Landscape</li><li>08:55 Critique of Political Organizations</li><li>12:00 Understanding the Budget and Policing</li><li>15:01 Community Safety and Police Accountability</li><li>17:59 The Future of Progressive Politics</li><li>27:01 Budgeting for Police and Community Safety</li><li>30:32 Political Dynamics and Police Control</li><li>33:01 Progressive Politics and City Council Challenges</li><li>34:41 Curbing Police Overtime and Misconduct</li><li>37:01 Legislative Barriers to Budget Reform</li><li>40:10 Structural Issues in City Budgeting</li><li>41:37 Disagreements in Budget Proposals</li><li>46:01 Corporate Taxation and Community Funding</li><li>55:58 The Role of Corporations in Community Support</li><li>56:05 Rethinking Taxation and Community Investment</li><li>59:02 Progressive Unity and Governance in Chicago</li><li>01:03:54 Understanding Home Rule and Taxation Challenges</li><li>01:09:59 Analyzing the Budget Process and Community Needs</li><li>01:17:00 The Need for Bold Legislative Risks</li></ul>no01:03:3512BUDGET | 10.27: Girl I Guess It's Budget Season full<![CDATA[Anthony Driver Jr of SEIU: The Hotel Strike and Rideshare Drivers Unionizing in Chicago ]]>SEIU of IL's Anthony Driver joins Megan and Steve to talk Chicago Unions and Labor, and how to organize for the people.

]]>432e5347-3e9c-4295-8690-d27f82d1aaf2Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:51:01 GMT<p>SEIU of IL's Anthony Driver joins Megan and Steve to talk Chicago Unions and Labor, and how to organize for the people. </p>no01:02:2511Anthony Driver Jr of SEIU: The Hotel Strike and Rideshare Drivers Unionizing in Chicago full