Whet Moser

What did Illinois's senator and the Senate Majority Whip say about Social Security, Medicare, and entitlement cuts with regards to a grand bargain? It depends on who you ask. Read more

Finding trends in Chicago crime is always tricky, but one thing seems clear over the past couple decades: murder victims are much more likely to be found outdoors instead of indoors, and in the public way instead of in a residence. Read more

State representative Lou Lang thinks his years-long battle to legalize medical marijuana in Illinois is finally within reach in the House. Meanwhile, a similar bill is likely to be proposed in the Indiana legislature, with the support of the head of that state's police force. Read more

A look at where Chicagoans live, based on the industries they work in, reveals some patterns: managers cluster from the Loop up through Lincoln Park; public administrators group in Mt. Greenwood and Ashburn; and construction and manufacturing workers can be found on the northwest and southwest sides. Read more

An animated map shows where jobs are distributed in Chicago—and how that distribution changed from the run-up to the economic collapse to its aftermath. The difference between 2008 and 2009 is stark. Read more

His incumbency was a huge advantage (and as with many incumbents, may have played a role in his ethical lapses), and his focus on building a Chicago machine while bringing federal aid was a cornerstone. But Jackson was also one of the most reliably progressive votes in the House—to an extent that cost him on the national level. Read more

The late mayor on "a crisis of leadership in Chicago"; reflecting on the first half of his first term; and discussing the legacy of Richard J. Daley, whose long reign overshadowed Washington's brief but critical tenure. Read more