Episodes

  • Florian Sohnke: Building Chicago’s Conservative Voice—Media, Schools, and the Fight for Urban Renewal

    Florian Sohnke: Building Chicago’s Conservative Voice—Media, Schools, and the Fight for Urban Renewal
    Jun 25 2025
    Florian Sohnke joined the podcast to discuss:
    • The origins and mission of the Chicago Contrarian as a conservative media outlet
    • The deep challenges facing Chicago: public finances, failing schools, and public transit
    • The growing but often overlooked conservative constituency in a deeply blue city
    Florian Sohnke is a freelance writer, editor, and speechwriter who founded the Chicago Contrarian five years ago to provide a consistent conservative voice in a city dominated by progressive politics. Under his leadership, the Contrarian has grown to over 20,000 monthly readers and 50,000 followers on social media, offering sharp commentary and policy solutions for Chicago’s most pressing problems. Sohnke has become a key figure in Chicago’s conservative media movement, championing fiscal responsibility, education reform, and the revival of urban Republicanism.
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    15 mins
  • Shannon Adcock on Woke Schools, Homeschool Battles, and Fighting Back

    Shannon Adcock on Woke Schools, Homeschool Battles, and Fighting Back
    Jun 11 2025
    Shannon Adcock joined the podcast to discuss:
    • How school lockdowns during COVID-19 prompted her political involvement and the founding of Awake Illinois
    • The group’s recent federal civil rights complaints over gender ideology in Illinois public schools
    • Rising attacks on homeschooling and the fight to protect parental rights in education
    Shannon Adcock is a Naperville mom and founder of Awake Illinois, a grassroots organization focused on parental rights, educational transparency, and ethical governance. A former school board candidate, Adcock began organizing in 2021 after witnessing what she saw as growing influence from teacher unions and radical ideologies in K–12 education. Awake Illinois now leads advocacy efforts across the state, including federal complaints and grassroots campaigns to oppose progressive education policies.
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    16 mins
  • Marsha McClary: Parental Rights and Education Reform in Illinois

    Marsha McClary: Parental Rights and Education Reform in Illinois
    May 28 2025
    Marsha McClary of Moms for Liberty joined the podcast to discuss:
    • Parental rights and educational choice
    • Men in women’s spaces
    • How gender confusion harms kids
    Marsha McClary is chair of the Moms for Liberty of Lake County Chapter. Moms for Liberty nationally is the largest parental rights organization in the United States with over 130,000 members across 48 states. She resides in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with her family of 7. Marsha is passionate about ensuring future generations in the United States have outstanding educational opportunities.
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    18 mins
  • IL State Rep. Jed Davis (R-IL-75): How to reduce the Illinois state budget by $44 billion

    IL State Rep. Jed Davis (R-IL-75): How to reduce the Illinois state budget by $44 billion
    May 14 2025
    Illinois State Rep. Jed Davis (R-IL-75) joined the podcast to discuss:
    • The effect of Illinois' $50+ billion budget and how it affects the average Illinois resident
    • Reining in the state budget
    • Dav’s 16 page report detailing how the budget could be reduced to $44 billion, starting with energy policies
    Davis is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 75th District, elected in 2022. Raised in Lisbon, Illinois, Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Valparaiso University and worked in engineering and development before entering politics. He previously served as Chair of the Zoning and Planning Commission and as a Trustee of the Newark Village Board, and he led Parkview Christian Academy’s Board of Directors from 2010 to 2023. Davis lives in Newark with his wife, Melissa, and their four children.
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    19 mins
  • IL State Rep. Blaine Wilhour on Gov. Pritzker, IL homeschooling bill, and IL’s status as a sanctuary state

    IL State Rep. Blaine Wilhour on Gov. Pritzker, IL homeschooling bill, and IL’s status as a sanctuary state
    Apr 30 2025
    Illinois State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-IL-110) joined the Prairie State Wire Podcast to discuss:
    • Gov. JB Pritzker’s performance and the governor’s aspirations to higher office
    • Legislative attempts to hamstring homeschooling and other educational options
    • Illinois' status as a sanctuary state and what Wilhour thinks needs to be done to align with national immigration policy
    Rep. Blaine Wilhour is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 110th District. He was first elected in 2018. Prior to serving in the legislature, Wilhour worked in agriculture and construction and served on the Fayette County Board. He is a veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard. His district includes parts of Effingham, Fayette, and Marion counties.
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    19 mins
  • Jeanne Ives on Illinois' Government Mismanagement

    Jeanne Ives on Illinois' Government Mismanagement
    Apr 16 2025
    Former IL State Rep. Jeanne Ives joined the Prairie State Wire Podcast to discuss;
    • Why Illinois is a bad example of how state government should be run
    • What the chief challenges are facing Illinois voters (pensions, taxes, corruption)
    • What people can do to take action in electing better officials
    Ives served three terms in the Illinois House of Representatives for the 42nd district from 2013 to 2019. She ran in the Republican primary for Illinois Governor in 2018, narrowly losing to incumbent Bruce Rauner. In 2020, Ives was the Republican nominee for Illinois's 6th congressional district. Currently, she hosts "The Real Story with Jeanne Ives," a radio show airing live on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 pm on AM 560 The Answer in Chicago. The program features interviews with influential figures discussing political and governmental issues. Episodes are also available on platforms like Apple Podcasts.
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    20 mins
  • State Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-IL-52) on the Illinois budget, illegal aliens, and parental rights

    State Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-IL-52) on the Illinois budget, illegal aliens, and parental rights
    Sep 25 2024
    State Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-IL-52) joined the Prairie STate Wire Podcast to discuss:
    • Illinois issues & getting spending under control
    • The illegal alien crisis and the growing strain on social services
    • Parental rights and abuse of authority under "COVID"
    (edited)
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    16 mins
  • Dan Proft Discusses Illinois Primary Election Results

    Dan Proft Discusses Illinois Primary Election Results
    Apr 24 2024

    Dan Proft joined the Prairie State Wire Podcast to discuss the Cook County State’s Attorney race and the Madigan corruption trial.Proft is the host of “Chicago’s Morning Answer” weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on AM 560 Chicago. A former Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, Proft attended Northwestern University and received his J.D. from Loyola University-Chicago.
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    19 mins