Illinois Public Media News

This year, demand to see Santa in-person has increased by 120%, but the Santa workforce is down 15%. We talked to the founder of Hire Santa about how the world of Santa performers is navigating a shortage, despite the high demand, while keeping performers and kids safe from COVID-19.

Today we explored the question of what it means to be Asian American. Specifically, whether it makes sense to have a single marker of identity for that broad group of people hailing from a huge portion of the Earth’s landmass and how they fit into a nation that has a longstanding binary along the poles of Black and white. We talked about it Jay Caspian Kang, who explores the topic in his new book, “The Loneliest Americans."

The early 1960s were a time of transition in American—especially in higher education—when universities were preparing for the tidal wave of Baby Boomers that would be flooding onto campus and also reckoning with growing calls for more freedom on campus, especially among young women. We spoke with the author of a book on the subject.

How did a drug found at farm supply stores become a risky and unproven treatment for COVID-19 that patients in some states demanded that their doctors give them? The 21st was joined by a health reporter who dug into the story. 

In December 2021, there was written evidence from former White House lawyers and the former chief of staff to then-President Donald J. Trump about attempting to use the military to overturn the results of the election and keep Trump in power. The 21st was joined by a political scientist and professor to tackle the question of why the U.S. has been characterized as a "backsliding democracy" and if it can be saved.