WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Friday Aug. 15th, 2025
August 15, 2025/
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop talks with gun rights advocate Todd Vandermyde about the latest filing from the state defending Illinois’ gun ban in the federal appeals court. Read the filing here.
Bishop also provides highlights from Republican Day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, from stage speeches and off-stage conversations with candidates and elected officials.
Finally, Bishop shares the latest back and forth in the debate over congressional maps as Texas Democrats may be heading back to the Lone Star State to face off with Republicans looking to give the GOP more seats in Congress.
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
Latest News Stories
Illinois quick hits: Get Covered Illinois premiums to spike
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Get Covered Illinois premiums to spike The Get Covered Illinois division of the Illinois Department of Insurance says Illinoisans enrolling in...
Colorado boosts WIC, food pantries amid D.C. stalemate
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Editor's note: This story was updated Friday evening since its initial publication earlier in the day. Colorado is moving forward with stop-gap funding for food...
Aldermen oppose Chicago mayor’s ‘punishing’ head tax proposal
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (THE CENTer SQUAre) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he wants corporations to pay more in taxes, but with some city...
Critics slam Mamdani’s policies, push for free markets
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s rise to become the mayor of New York City, researchers and policy analysts are slamming his policies and calling...
Estimated power demand will outstrip supply by 2032
By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The impact on electricity demand from a growing number of data centers is a recurring point...
WATCH: Justice Kennedy talks about ‘Life, Law & Liberty’
By Dave MasonThe Center Square It’s important to understand what the framers of the U.S. Constitution wrote and intended, but the U.S. Supreme Court’s work goes beyond that, according to...
WA congressman urges Senate to confirm Trump DOJ nominee ahead of Dec. 4 deadline
By Tim ClouserThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., sent a letter on Wednesday urging the Senate to confirm Pete Serrano as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of...
Judge who blocked Trump was major Democrat player as trial lawyer
By Daniel Fisher | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The federal judge who ordered President Trump to continue paying food-stamp benefits owes his fortune to cigarettes and Democratic political ties forged...
Arizona recommends measles vaccine during outbreak
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Arizona is recommending vaccinations to combat the state's worst measles outbreak since the 1990s. The latest update this week showed the state has 111 cases...
Govt. shutdown leads to over 800 flights cancelled, number growing
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As the government shutdown drags into its 38th day and forced flight reductions begin taking effect, the number of daily flight cancellations Americans are experiencing...
Illinois approves $1.5B transit package, funding for long-delayed projects
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers approved a $1.5 billion transit package, including long-delayed Moline-to-Chicago rail, hailed by Democrats as...
Supreme Court allows Trump to withhold partial SNAP payment
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Supreme Court said Friday that the Trump administration could withhold a partial payment for the federal food benefits program amid the longest-ever government shutdown....
Illinois quick hits: State EPA looks to fund EV charging stations; Tax Foundation says mayor’s proposal would hinder employment;
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square State EPA looks to fund EV charging stations The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging...
Congressional Perks: Committees, caucuses cost $50 million since 2019
By Arthur KaneThe Center Square Since 2019, partisan and special interest caucuses and coalitions in the U.S. House spent at least $50 million for staff, food, travel and other expenses,...
Federal Lobbyists Brief Will County on Government Shutdown, Warn of SNAP and TSA Disruptions
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Legislative Committee for November 4, 2025 Article Summary: Will County’s federal lobbyists reported that the ongoing government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, is...