Representative Cheri Bustos is a Democrat representing Illinois’ 17th Congressional district, which includes parts of Peoria, Rockford and the Quad Cities. She spoke with Niala Boodhoo, host of The 21st, at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee offices in Washington, D.C. on Thursday morning.

On The 21st: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos is the fifth-ranking House Democrat and is in charge of making sure the party wins House elections across the country. We'll sit down with her at NPR headquarters in Washington D.C. And, we catch up with NPR host Scott Simon. Plus, around $300 million in funding from the National Science Foundation each year goes to academic researchers in Illinois. How did last month's shutdown affect not just operations but scientific research across the country? 

Representative Rodney Davis is a Republican from Illinois’ 13th Congressional district, which includes all or part of 14 counties across central and southwestern Illinois, including Champaign, Bloomington, and Springfield. We spoke to him from NPR headquarters in Washington D.C. 

The deadline to finalize an agreement over a southern border wall between the US and Mexico is fast approaching. And U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is one of the members of Congress trying to prevent another shutdown. We spoke with Senator Dick Durbin in his Washington D.C. office on Tuesday afternoon.

On The 21st: When it comes to religion in politics, Christian conservatives on the right have long held a deciding vote. But, a new wave of religious progressives are also getting out the vote. Plus, we speak with Rep. Rodney Davis, Republican Congressman representing Illinois’ 13th Congressional district. But first, the deadline to finalize an agreement over a southern border wall between the US and Mexico is fast approaching. We sit down with Senator Durbin, one of the members of Congress trying to prevent another shutdown. 

Republican Congressman Darin LaHood represents Illinois’ 18th Congressional district, which includes parts of Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, and stretches all the way west to the Missouri border. We spoke with Rep. LaHood in Washington D.C. at NPR. 

Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi represents Illinois’ 8th Congressional District which covers parts of Chicago’s West and Northwest suburbs including Schaumburg and Arlington Heights. With spoke with Rep. Krishnamoorthi at NPR in Washington D.C.    

On The 21st: Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and we’re broadcasting live from our nation’s capitol. We visit the Lincoln Memorial and President Lincoln’s Cottage. We also speak with members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation, the day after leaders from both parties agreed, in principle, on a deal to fund the government. We’ll talk with Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi, Sean Casten, and Darin LaHood on whether they’ll support this deal. 

Rep. Sean Casten is a Democratic Congressman from Illinois’ 6th district, which covers some of Chicago’s west and northwest suburbs, including Wheaton, St. Charles, and Downers Grove. We sat down with him at NPR on Tuesday morning in Washington D.C. 

On The 21st: Nearly a hundred years ago, the 18th amendment to the US constitution banned liquor. During that time, some anti-liquor advocates teamed up with the KKK to target Italian and French immigrants. Plus, 'Passive houses' are insulated eco-friendly homes which need almost no heat or air conditioning, and in the U.S., they started in Urbana. We also speak with the Rock River Valley Pantry about how the freezing weather affects people who need their services. But first, every day, 30 million students across the country get their lunch at school. But what happens when the school year ends? 

On The 21st: In the 1940s, the Montford Point Marines fought in World War II and were the first African-American marines. Today, some of those veterans live in Chicago, and for decades they’ve relied on a local veterans center that’s now at risk of closing. Plus, Chicagoan Brian Wallach was diagnosed with ALS more than a year ago, and he’s spending his time trying to raise 100 million dollars to help find a cure for future generations.

On the 21st: Eight years ago, Rod Blagojevich was sent to federal prison. Now, WBEZ is tackling the rise and fall of our state’s 40th governor in a podcast called Public Official A. Also, Illinois’ House Speaker Mike Madigan is being sued by a political opponent who says the Speaker put sham candidates on the ballot. We unpack this story with the Chicago Tribune’s Ray Long. Plus, the internet of today is massive, complicated, and, as researcher Victor Bahl says, almost taken for granted. We speak with Bahl as he gets ready at a research conference for U of I students. 

On the 21st: St. Elmo Brady got a scholarship to go to the University of Illinois in 1912—and four years later, he became the first African-American to earn a Ph.D in Chemistry. Plus, we revisit our conversation about how young evangelical Christians are hoping to move the needle on climate change. And, our interview with Illinois filmmaker Bing Liu, whose Rockford documentary 'Minding The Gap' has been nominated for an Academy Award.

On The 21st: 2017 saw some sizable federal tax code changes. This coming tax season will be the first since it’s taken effect, so what can Illinois taxpayers expect and prepare? Plus, most parents out there know how hard it can be to help children with their homework. A new program in Champaign called the 'Parent Lab” is helping tutor parents so that they have the right tools. Also, Governor Pritzker has signed eight executive orders since his term began three weeks ago. We’ll break down what’s new and what these orders say about Pritzker’s administration.