Podcast
The Chicago Way
Hosted by WGN Plus · EN
Mild mannered Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass and WGN Radio's Jeff Carlin explore the week in news, politics and other thngs done the Chicago Way in this WGN Plus podcast from WGN Radio in Chicago.
34episodes
Episodes
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Chicago Way w/John Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot
1w agoTap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (06/15/26): John Kass & Jeff Carlin are together to talk about the things we don’t talk about when violence happens, how Chicago Democrats let the Bears go to Indiana to save face, and why the Obama Presidential Center allegedly owes people money, already. Plus, Kasso remembers the first time meeting his former legman, Will ‘Old School’ Lee, covering a murder. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8453226/8453226_2026-06-15-214826.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} <article class="article-list__article" data-article-id="3058420" data-context="link_group" data-i...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016
2w agoTap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (06/08/26): John is off this week, celebrating his son’s wedding, so we bring you a reissue from January of 2016. The first episode, featuring John Kass, Will Lee, and Jeff Carlin, talking about a strange hat controversy at a local TV station, bizarre news stories on TV, Will’s amazing story about life on the South Side of Chicago, and Rahm Emanuel’s never-ending headache. Plus, John tells the story of the first time he was burned by a lying witness. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8438342/8438342_2026-06-08-162342.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} <article ...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: Does Mayor Brandon Johnson even want to run again?
3w agoTap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (05/31/26): Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin with questions about Chuy Garcia’s old school political tactics, whether or not Brandon Johnson has the heart to run for re-election, and why his fellow alders are finally getting behind his proposal to hold parents of violent teens accountable? Also, Ald. Lopez can’t explain why Mayor Brandon Johnson would give Pope Leo a Cubs hat, but Ray knows why he’s running for re-election in the 15th ward. Plus, Kasso wonders if Indiana should change the state slogan to ‘FAFO?’ https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8421703/8421703_2026-05-31-170803.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#fff;f...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: Summer is for the brave
4w agoTap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (05/26/26): John Kass & Jeff Carlin celebrate the bravery it takes to face violent warm summer nights in Chicago in the face of gang wars and ‘teen takeovers.’ Plus, Kasso has a ‘Happy’ pet peeve. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8411305/8411305_2026-05-26-215205.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} <!-- Next line is not the perfect/ideal way to control ...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: Don’t (bleep) with a pit bull’s reputation
May 18Tap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (05/18/26): John Kass & Jeff Carlin are joined by former (possibly, future?) candidate for Mayor of Chicago, head of the public school systems in Chicago, Philadelphia and the Louisiana Recovery School District, Paul Vallas to talk about recent attacks on him, who he thinks might be behind it, and what he aims to do about it. Plus, Kasso wonders if those in the know are ready for when the pit bull jumps the fence? https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8391532/8391532_2026-05-18-204732.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} <article class="article-list__article" data-article-id="305...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: Hopium and the well-dressed chili powder thief
May 11Tap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (05/11/26): John Kass & Jeff Carlin remember his late mother, Betty Kass, and as she would have wanted, move on to the ugly Obama Presidential Center building, Chicago alders wanting Walgreens to be criminally charged for closing stores, and Stephen Colbert smirking his way through a farce of an interview with former-President Obama. Plus, Kasso tells the story of the well-dressed chili powder thief. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8373531/8373531_2026-05-11-215631.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} <article class="article-list__article" data-article-id="3058420" data-con...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: ‘Tips’ for Mother’s Day
May 4Tap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (05/05/26): On this episode, revered Chicago restaurateur Jimmy Banakis joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to discuss how tipping became an american tradition and what it means to the industry. Plus, Kasso wonders if there is a trick to surviving Mother’s Day at a restaurant? https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8357043/8357043_2026-05-04-204743.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} ...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: A different time in D.C.
Apr 27Tap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (04/27/26): John Kass & Jeff Carlin tackle news of the week including a Chicago Police officer being killed in the line of duty, chaos at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and news former Mayor Richard M. Daley is recovering from a stroke. Plus, Kasso wonders if the Chicago Teachers’ Union take over of the Chicago Public Schools and City Hall can ever be corrected? https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8338261/8338261_2026-04-27-201501.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} <article class="article-list__article" data-article-id="3058420" data-context="link_group" data-i...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: On the hunt for politicization in U.S. intelligence
Apr 20Tap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (04/20/26): Nicholas S. Kass joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to talk about his latest piece, Keep the Kurds Out of the Iran War, in the American Conservative. Nick is John’s younger brother and served in the U.S. government for over 30 years at the White House/National Security Council, State Department, CIA, and until January of this year, was the acting chairman of the National Intelligence Council in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8292985/8292985_2026-04-19-213825.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – Episode #1 from January of 2016 .cls-7{fill:#ff...
Transcribe →Chicago Way w/John Kass: A time for reflection
Apr 13Tap to summarizeChicago Way w/John Kass (04/13/26): John Kass is back with Jeff Carlin to catch up on some big news from John’s brother Nick, our friend Sal Carmada, and a budding feud on JohnKassNews.com. Plus, Kasso urges everyone to take of your heart, your spiritual heart. Check out more from Kass at JohnKassNews.com or contact me at john@johnkassnews.com, or Facebook, or on X (Twitter). Tell your friends about us. Join the great adventure. Subscribe today! https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8228878/8228878_2026-04-13-171718.64kmono.mp3 Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin Download this episode here by using ‘Save As’ hereSubscribe to The Chicago Way Recent Posts The Chicago Way with John Kass Kass: What we don’t talk about says a lot .cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Kass: Reissue – ...
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