In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to audio from three meetings of the full Chicago City Council that took place just before Independence Day.

In the standard version of the episode, Dave played audio of the parliamentary scheme, and subsequent drama, that resulted in an unexpected, early adjournment of the June 23 meeting.

The drama unfolded around the confirmation of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's nominee to head the law department, Celia Meza, and a protest by two aldermen over the ongoing settlement of police misconduct toward Anjanette Young, the victim of a wrongful raid.

In the premium version of the episode, Dave presented audio of the pique that ensued when Mayor Lightfoot forced the approval of another appointment—that of Annette Nance-Holt as fire department commissioner—before adjournment of the June 23 meeting.

Also in the premium version, Dave played the June 23 finale, in which the mayor brought the meeting to a close over loud and fervent aldermanic objections.

The premium version also excerpts debate at the council's June 25 meeting (a continuation of the June 23 session), in which a mayoral ally bucked the mayor on her plan that'd cut aldermen's power over business licensing.

Finally, Dave played excerpts from a special July 2 council meeting in which aldermen quizzed police Superintendent David Brown about ongoing public safety challenges. In the audio, Brown and several aldermen differed on the pre-trial release of offenders.

Length 9 minutes standard, 51.7 premium.

Music: "Monsanto Fields II" by The Fucked Up Beat

Standard audio:

Premium audio: