As we get ready to welcome 2017, we thought we’d take a few minutes to listen back to another tough year in Illinois government and politics. We heard Republicans struggling to reckon with Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy, Democrats and Republicans engaging in another year of war over the soul of Illinois policy, and a growing list of everyday people being crushed by the budget standoff. Here now are some of the voices that made news in 2016.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has been open to criticism in saying he will not defend Donald Trump, but not rescinding his endorsement following the controversy over a video tape of Trump advocating sexual assault recorded in 2005. But during a stop in Normal Thursday, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk said Ryan had done enough to distance himself from the GOP nominee.

On the 21st: We learned about what's driving the teacher shortage in the U.S. and talked with former Illinois teachers about the challenges they faced in the classroom. We also spoke with Illinois Senator Mark Kirk about his partnership with the Cuitzillo social club.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth says the country should lead an international coalition condemning the violence in Syria. She says if the country turns its back on victims like the 5-year old rescued from a partially destroyed apartment building in Aleppo, "we could potentially create a dialogue out there that America does not care about the victims of violence."

Earlier this week, when Republicans rallied at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, it was as though they were on that classic game show "Password," where no one was allowed say the name of their party's presidential nominee. Thursday, however, Democrats took the opposite tack, saying the name again and again.