In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and evaluated November 2021 meetings of Chicago's City Council, mayor, and Police Board.

Andrea Kersten, interim chief administrator of the
Civilian Office of Police Accountability.
Source: City of Chicago.

The standard version of the episode features controversy over a mayoral appointment for the permanent head of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Dave and Ben listened to a slight drama that erupted at the Nov. 17 meeting of the full City Council—and Mayor Lori Lightfoot's reaction to that drama. Dave also played remarks from the proposed appointee, Andrea Kersten.

In the premium version of the episode, Dave played audio of the mayor's emotional reaction in a Nov. 17 press conference to remarks by 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett, who addressed the mayor's Executive Order No. 2021-3 (Establishment of Interagency Reentry Council).

Also in the premium version are excerpts from a Nov. 15 meeting of the council's finance committee, which met to consider a proposed settlement of a lawsuit over how the Chicago Police Department allocates cops in police districts. Dave explained the ramifications for police staffing citywide.

The premium episode also has City Council members talking about the decennial redrawing of ward boundaries. Dave played audio from a Nov. 18 meeting of the council's rules committee wherein aldermen questioned the creators of a new ward map drawn by the City Council's Latino Caucus.

Finally, the premium version highlights another departure of a top manager at the city's Office of Inspector General. Dave and Ben discussed what this might mean for accountability in city government.

Length 11.1 minutes standard, 58.8 minutes premium.

Correction: In the premium episode, Dave reported that Deputy Inspector General Deborah Witzburg resigned effective Dec. 12. Witzburg actually resigned effective Nov. 12.

Music: "Nightmare on ImaginationLand" by TommyMutiu

Standard audio:

Premium audio: