apparently I've been in this job long enough that I saw a post saying the 21st is Sunday (happy Earth, Wind and Fire Day to all who celebrate) and my first reaction was "no it's not, we're only on the air during the week!"

pardon me being cliche here, but thumbs down sad to see Ebertfest go!

The hosts of the podcast Black, Brown & Bilingüe joined us today to talk about the state of DEI in education, and their new book on how teachers can use language to help students from all sorts of different cultural backgrounds make the most of their education.

For Emma, what could have been a simple dollars-and-cents decision was far more complicated. The choice before her: whether to accept a scholarship offering nearly free tuition to attend law school at Indiana University in her home state — or to pay $45,000 a year at the University of Minnesota.

SNAP-Ed programs have helped Americans on government food aid make the most of their grocery dollars, and make healthier choices. We talk about those programs being defunded, and what that means in Illinois communities that benefit from @extension.illinois.edu's work.

“News organizations should be as transparent as possible about how details… are being confirmed, both to increase accuracy in reporting and build trust with audiences in a breaking news environment.” Our full statement: www.transjournalists.org/tja-urges-ca...

Breaking news happening? Reminder: bsky.app/profile/onth...

Today's @21st.show took another look at ongoing changes to public health in America, and what they mean within and beyond our borders. We talk with Regina Rabinovich, former head of infectious diseases for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social of Brown University.

Talked to 23 people who suddenly have to pay huge tariffs or otherwise cannot get chainmail from Pakistan, yarn from France, retro computers from Japan, metal music from the Netherlands, DVDs from Germany, cosplay supplies, sunscreen, etc. www.404media.co/its-just-a-m...

NEWS: House Appropriations Committee Republicans released their spending bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. The legislation would prohibit taxpayer dollars for any type of gender-affirming care for transgender people. This would include programs like Medicaid

shout out to my colleague Emily Hays, whose Arden Cho interview is on NPR's front page right now! 🥳 (bottom right corner)

Illinois Pride Connect is a new resource for LGBTQ people in Illinois.

From gas station food to motels to unique landmarks, Journalist @rolandopujol.bsky.social discusses all aspects of road trips in new book.

Today: -Illinois recently launched a hotline providing legal advice to the state’s LGBTQ communities. We'll talk about it. -Plus, Rolando Pujol, known online as "The Retrologist." We'll talk about the best and weirdest of roadside Americana. That's live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

JUST IN: US appeals court rejects Trump bid to revive passport policy targeting transgender people reut.rs/3JNSPL6

is this what finally gets me to watch the movie

@brianmackey.com speaks to some of the 400 new Americans at a naturalization ceremony at the Illinois State Fair.

brb, gotta go meet people at the table-less bench-less picnic table

Coming up, a dive into Democratic politics in Illinois through the party’s biggest gathering of the year, around the State Fair in Springfield. Plus, nearly 400 people became American citizens at the Fair. We’ll hear some of their stories. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Our series of conversations with candidates looking to succeed Senator Dick Durbin kicks off with @ltgovstratton.illinois.gov.

Today, the first in a series of interviews with the people who want to be the next U.S. Senator from Illinois. First up, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. Share your questions for Stratton at [email protected]. Then join us live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

more on the history of quorum breaking:

I joined @lmcgaughy.bsky.social on the @21st.show this morning to talk about the Texas Dems coming to Illinois and what this (now nationwide) redistricting battle means for the future. She summed it up best: “We’re on the precipice of what could be a major change in American electoral politics.”

From today's @21st.show: many Texas House Democrats have come to Illinois to break quorum on an attempt by Texas Republicans to redraw state congressional maps. We talk about what's happening, and what's at stake, with @lmcgaughy.bsky.social and @vimiller.bsky.social.

Today: -Texas Democratic legislators are in Illinois to stop the Texas state House from passing a new Congressional map. We'll talk with @vimiller.bsky.social and @lmcgaughy.bsky.social. -Plus, revisiting our conversation with filmmaker Barbara Kopple. That's at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Ava Hudson, a trans woman, eagerly joined the short-staffed CTA to get the stability, benefits and hiring bonus that would pay for her independence and ongoing transition after years of scraping by. Instead, she found an environment that was not inclusive or supportive, records show.

From today's 21st Show: we speak in studio with Raphael Wahwassuck, member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's council, about Illinois transferring control of Shabbona Lake State Park to the tribe earlier this year.

Today's @21st.show was a deep dive into the effects of private equity on the American economy, and the lives of the people who feel those effects firsthand. We talk with @greenwell.bsky.social, author of "Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream."

We've got a good one today -- if you've got some time around 11 o'clock Central this morning, put on the livestream and join us!

From today's @21st.show: what's going on with rural heathcare in Illinois and beyond, and what's next for rural hospitals, with Medicare and Medicaid cuts on the horizon? We talk about it with @melanie-evans.bsky.social and leaders in Illinois rural healthcare.

Illinois and more than a dozen other states are suing the Trump administration, claiming it is unlawfully intimidating health care providers into stopping gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

"WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 1, 2025) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations" cpb.org/pressroom/Co...

A zoo in the Quad Cities is providing care and shelter to displaced animals from around the world. We talk about the Niabi Zoo's work with the Wildlife Confiscation Network.

From today's @21st.show: how does an arrest or time in jail stick with somebody years after the fact? We talk about it with Toy Beasley of @endppil.bsky.social and two members of the new organization Fully Free Blo-No about that, and efforts to change state law around criminal records.

Hello just wanted to say: Public media is a useful public good. It is a source of great local news at a time when local news is being decimated. Also, in my 10 years in public media, I can say people who work here do it because they believe in the mission of informing people. Just noting.

this is just *asking* for trouble

Rush University System for Health is the latest Illinois hospital system to scale back its gender-affirming care for minors, amid threats from the Trump administration against institutions that provide such care.

we're talking in a team meeting about starting a 21st Show Discord, and I have to say I'm irrationally excited about the idea

Hello. Trans Americans can update their passport gender markers again — while a court order forces the State Department to process new applications. The ACLU is advising folks to do this now, if you can! 🧵

the name Christine came from the classic "scrolling through baby names to find one I vibe with" it just stuck with me! runners-up: Emily: the "here's what we would've called you had you been AFAB" Crystal: sounded cool but didn't entirely feel right so there you are. no regrets seven years later

Today, a special show on the road: -What drives people to leave small towns and mid-size cities? We talk about that with some community members in Danville in east-central Illinois. -And we'll share scenes from the Balloons Over Vermilion festival. Join us at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

all dressed up, and somewhere to go (tomorrow, courtesy of the work of @josezepeda.21st.show, The 21st Show from Danville!)

From today's @21st.show: Illinois doctors sound off on changes to federal vaccine policies under RFK Jr. Our guests: -Dr. Vidya Sundareshan, SIU School of Medicine -Dr. Jennifer Seo, @idph.bsky.social -Dr. Tina Tan, physician at @luriechildrens.bsky.social and president of @idsainfo.bsky.social

From today's @21st.show: Illinois doctors sound off on changes to federal vaccine policies under RFK Jr. Our guests: -Dr. Vidya Sundareshan, SIU School of Medicine -Dr. Jennifer Seo, @idph.bsky.social -Dr. Tina Tan, physician at @luriechildrens.bsky.social and president of @idsainfo.bsky.social

*Christine looks up "rescission" for the 17th time today to see if there's been any movement on the public media funding cuts*

what a difference almost a decade can make

we're doing the pre-transition photos vs. now thing on Bluesky today apparently, so I guess I'll have a go (summer 2017 -- about a year before I figured things out -- vs. today)

biting each other's heads off over nuanced gently dissenting opinions is a phenomenal way to ensure the longevity of a social media platform

FINALLY

"oh hey, i finally heard from a friend i haven't talked to in ages- oh it's just another chatbot. damn it"