Budgets, Breakthroughs, and Good News

In this episode of Chicago Newsroom 2.0, guest co-hosts Dr. Suzet McKinney and Mark Ishaug break down the high-stakes debate surrounding Chicago’s 2026 budget, including the CPS property tax controversy and the fight for control of the City Council’s Zoning Committee. The conversation includes an in-depth interview with Aldermen Nicole Lee and Pat Dowell, key architects of the proposed budget, along with discussions on supporting first-generation college students and the Pullman Foundation’s transformative $10 million investment.