
Crain's Daily Gist
Business & Economics Podcasts
Get a head start on your workday with the stories that matter most. Listen to our roundup of essential Chicago headlines and analysis from Crain’s reporters and host Amy Guth.
Location:
United States
Description:
Get a head start on your workday with the stories that matter most. Listen to our roundup of essential Chicago headlines and analysis from Crain’s reporters and host Amy Guth.
Language:
English
Website:
https://www.chicagobusiness.com
Episodes
The biggest Mag Mile lease since 2015
4/10/2026
Crain’s reporter Rachel Herzog talks with host Amy Guth about local commercial real estate news, including the Candy Hall of Fame coming the Mag Mile.
Plus: Mayor Johnson reshuffles key safety and transportation posts amid staff churn, Madigan’s high-powered appeals team urges 7th Circuit to overturn speaker’s conviction, AbbVie suing feds over 340B provider audits and Quigley bill aims to speed up pipeline of new homes.
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Duration:00:27:02
Highland Park's biggest batch of new homes in decades
4/8/2026
Crain's residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to talk news from the local housing market, including the more than 200 for-sale homes coming to Highland Park’s long-empty Solo Cup factory site.
Plus: Proposed $55 million tax break for United Center’s 1901 Project hits a speed bump, Chicago startups eye long-awaited exits as IPO market warms up, Starbucks and 7-Eleven expansion planned for Chicago-based overnight oats maker and lawsuit against Evanston’s reparations program gets judge’s OK to move forward.
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Duration:00:36:39
Michelin-starred chefs want to open a neighborhood bar
4/7/2026
Crain's restaurants reporter Ally Marotti talks with host Amy Guth about the latest from Chicago's dining scene, including some notable openings, expansion plans for Mediterranean chain Roti and this year’s local James Beard Award finalists.
Plus: New DHS chief floats crackdown on sanctuary city airports, including O’Hare; Chicago options clearing hub fuels clash between Goldman, Citadel and retail brokers; investors pay $61 million for Lombard apartment complex and a hedge fund signs deal for new Chicago office at BMO Tower.
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Duration:00:20:23
What brought down West Suburban Medical Center
4/6/2026
Crain’s contributor Jon Asplund talks with host Amy Guth about the latest health care news, including West Suburban’s sudden closure and Walgreens’ private equity owner plans to double the pharmacy chain’s profits.
Plus: Downtown office vacancy sets another record while top space tightens, Chicago’s Madison Air seeks to raise $2.23B in IPO, fund founded by Pritzkers inks private credit deal for PLZ and downtown office vacancy sets another record while top space tightens and Court ruling could slash payouts in Illinois biometric privacy lawsuits.
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Duration:00:25:20
Johnson's struggle with CHA leadership
4/3/2026
Crain’s politics reporter Justin Laurence and host Amy Guth discuss the latest on the Bears stadium saga, with the park district pushing for a $630 million Museum Campus overhaul, and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s effort to oust the acting CHA leader.
Plus: ABA backs Jenner & Block in fight with Trump administration, CFTC sues Illinois and other states over prediction markets rules, Oak Park apartments trade for $23 million and United raising bag fees as fuel prices soar.
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Duration:00:29:09
Michael Jordan mansion museum plan spiked
4/1/2026
Crain’s residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to talk news from the local housing market, including the latest on the saga of the former Michael Jordan estate and relief for Chicago-area homebuyers that comes with a caveat.
Plus: Goodell presses Bears as Illinois, Indiana await stadium call; Rivian bike spinoff lands $1 billion valuation and DoorDash partnership; office landlord faces another hit in Evanston after Fulton Market setback; and Mondelez and Radio Flyer among 70 Illinois companies suing Trump for tariff refunds.
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Duration:00:39:53
AI's massive water usage raising alarms
3/31/2026
Plans for AI data centers are raising concerns about the long-term health of the Great Lakes region's most critical natural resource. Crain’s contributor Steve Hendershot discusses with host Amy Guth.
Plus: Government still dominates as largest employer in Chicago for 2026, university funding overhaul bill advances in House despite U of I opposition, Sofitel Chicago goes up for sale and three Chicago chefs named James Beard Award finalists
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Duration:00:28:47
Cook County property tax hikes outpace inflation
3/30/2026
Cook County property taxes have grown at more than double the inflation rate since 1995. Crain’s commercial real estate reporter Rachel Herzog discusses with host Amy Guth.
Plus: Jenner & Block fires back at Trump administration in executive order appeal, Chicago-based benefits administrator Alight risks NYSE delisting after stock plunges below $1, Trader Joe’s advances on possible Uptown store and public-private Illinois abortion fund gives out its first $1 million.
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Duration:00:20:56
Apartment landlords push to sell despite headwinds
3/27/2026
Crain’s reporter Rachel Herzog joins host Amy Guth to discuss the latest commercial real estate news, including a Streeterville mid-rise office building that could go residential as well as apartment towers hitting the market in River North, Gold Coast and Uptown.
Plus: JetBlue reportedly exploring sale to United; Ariel names new president as Hobson and Rogers relinquish parts of their portfolios; CME and Bank of Montreal team up to launch tokenized cash service; and West Suburban blames billing system failure as officials air frustration over closure.
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Duration:00:26:55
Ken Griffin isn't done selling Chicago portfolio yet
3/25/2026
Crain’s residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth about to talk the latest local housing news, including Ken Griffin’s last Chicago condo going back up for sale, a divisive push to preserve west Lakeview greystones and more.
Plus: Commercial landlords avoid penalties amid Cook County’s twice-delayed property tax sale, United Airlines warns of 20% fare hike to cope with oil surge, Mars to add 600 jobs and invest $100 million in Chicago operation and a South Loop developer lands $83 million construction loan for long-planned Riverline project.
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Duration:00:39:29
For Illinois, a huge congressional turnover
3/24/2026
Sen. Dick Durbin’s retirement will reduce Illinois’ clout in D.C. Crain’s reporter John Pletz discusses with host Amy Guth.
Plus: Supreme Court justices signal skepticism of post-Election Day mail ballot deadlines, including Illinois’; Fed’s Goolsbee says he could see circumstances for rate hike; Uber to invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian in robotaxi bet; and Uncommon Ground seeks new operator as longtime Wrigleyville restaurateurs plan to retire.
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Duration:00:26:53
Landlords show cautious optimism after Hynes' assessor win
3/23/2026
Some investors see Patrick Hynes' primary win over incumbent Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi as a chance to rebuild Chicago's real estate cred. Crain’s reporter Danny Ecker talks with host Amy Guth about the election news and the new City Council-approved downtown hotel surcharge.
Plus: CTA sues Trump administration over frozen Red Line extension funds; Johnson proposes $55 million tax break for Bulls, Blackhawks 1901 development; legal data firm Relativity confidentially files for IPO; and Illinois House approves bill giving regulators power to reject insurance rate hikes.
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Duration:00:24:54
Sox owner-to-be lines up possible stadium site
3/20/2026
Justin Ishbia is set to buy a massive South Loop rail yard for a potential White Sox stadium site. Crain’s reporters Danny Ecker and Justin Laurence discuss with host Amy Guth.
Plus: Amazon wants to eat Costco’s lunch in Chicago’s suburbs, United CEO games out "higher for longer" oil prices, Motorola rival ordered to pay $50 million fine for stealing trade secrets and Illinois high court finds employers could be on the hook for time worked outside normal hours
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Duration:00:32:47
The typical Chicago homeowner is getting older
3/18/2026
Crain’s residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin talks with host Amy Guth about news from the local housing market, including the rising age of the average homeowner in Chicago.
Plus: Justin Ishbia set to buy massive South Loop rail yard for potential White Sox stadium, a roundup of the state’s high-stakes primary night, BP’s union worker lockout plan and a New York investor pays $77 million for River North apartments.
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Duration:00:42:31
Blue Cross Illinois, Prime Healthcare locked in contract dispute
3/17/2026
Crain’s contributing reporter Jon Asplund joins host Amy Guth to discuss the latest local health care news, including Baxter's new CEO getting a cool $29.8 million pay package in 2025, eight Chicago-area hospitals that could soon exit Blue Cross's network and local surgical center rankings.
Plus: FAA seeks deeper-than-expected flight cuts at O’Hare, federal railroad agency eyes HQ move to LaSalle Street, Signature Bank acquired by New York-based Esquire for $348.4 million and Morningstar inks $5M tech partnership with U of I to secure talent pipeline.
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Duration:00:18:28
New restaurant options on Chicago riverfront
3/16/2026
With a new dining spot opening under Chicago Cut and Levy’s planning a major event space makeover, Crain's restaurants reporter Ally Marotti joins Amy Guth to talk the latest dining news around the riverfront.
Plus: Tech giants sue Chicago over social media tax, calling it unconstitutional; airline CEOs urge Congress to end shutdown standoff as TSA lines grow; developer Mike Reschke plans Burnham Center office-to-hotel conversion; and Trump tariffs have cost automakers at least $35 billion since 2025.
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Duration:00:22:31
Downtown apartment rents surge again
3/13/2026
Downtown Chicago apartment rents keep climbing as new supply lags. Crain’s commercial real estate reporter Rachel Herzog talks about the downtown rental outlook with host Amy Guth.
Plus: City Council budget coalition blocks local video gambling bans, Chicago urges FAA to rethink its plans to cut summer flying at O’Hare, CME and Cboe chiefs urge crackdown on fast-growing prediction markets and airlines brace for turmoil as fuel costs surge amid war in the Middle East.
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Duration:00:21:51
You missed your chance to rent Michael Jordan's old mansion
3/11/2026
Crain’s residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin and host Amy Guth talk the latest news from the local housing market, including the latest development in the saga of Michael Jordan's former Highland Park home.
Plus: As Bears eye Arlington Heights, a Soldier Field-area megaproject resurfaces; UChicago, U of I and Northwestern rally top tech schools to plant startup flag in San Francisco; West Loop apartments trade for $66 million as market headwinds persist; and Italian conglomerate buying offices near Fulton Market.
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Duration:00:39:45
How the Obama Center is already changing its environs
3/10/2026
As the Obama Center nears its opening this summer, signs of a changing neighborhood are emerging around it. Crain’s commercial real estate reporter Rachel Herzog discusses with host Amy Guth.
Plus: Banks take fight over Illinois credit card swipe-fee law to appeals court; biotherapy maker CSL plans $1.5 billion expansion near Kankakee; small cities are a big part of the O’Hare expansion that alarmed the FAA; and Ford’s CEO gifts Pope Leo an Explorer — built in Chicago by one of his former students.
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Duration:00:25:17
Nursing faces a demographic cliff
3/10/2026
Nursing schools are racing to stave off a looming workforce crisis. Meanwhile, the Illinois attorney general joined pushback from states and nurses against changes to federal student loans. Crain’s contributing reporter Jon Asplund joins host Amy Guth to talk the latest from teh health care beat.
Plus: Trump defends law firm exec orders in revived Jenner appeal, Obama Presidential Center sets June opening celebration, Saks Fifth Avenue leaving the Mag Mile and Sens. Durbin and Duckworth tell FAA O’Hare needs more air traffic controllers.
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Duration:00:21:27