The Trump administration is continuing to ramp up pressure on Iran — with what’s said to be the biggest buildup of American naval power in the region in decades. Last summer, the president claimed a “spectacular military success” after bombing nuclear sites there, but last week, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, went on Fox News and said the country was “probably a week away from having industrial-grade, bomb-making material.” What is the truth here? What is happening in Iran? Did the ayatollah really order the killing of more than 36,000 people? And ultimately, are we going to war with Iran?

Two candidates vying for the GOP nomination in the 1L-13 congressional race discuss many issues surrounding domestic policy including the economy, healthcare, ICE agents, and a potential national ban on abortion at the IL-13 Republican Candidate Forum sponsored by Illinois Public Media, the Champaign County NAACP, and the League of Women Voters.

Steve Botsford is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race. He’s worked in the world of finance and in government. Botsford shares his views on reforming ICE, Medicare for All, and how AI should be regulated by the government.

Jesse Jackson was one of the last living connections to the Civil Rights era of the mid-20th century. He died last week at the age of 84 in Chicago. Despite his national prominence, he was also involved in causes in Illinois. A panel of Illinois-based Black leaders discuss their personal connections with Jackson and his role in the Civil Rights movement and in politics.

How did Evangelical Christians come to not only vote for Donald Trump, but embrace him as a heroic figure? Historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez says it was a long time in coming, and that Trump is not a betrayal of evangelical values, but a fulfilment of them. We’ll talk with Du Mez ahead of delivering the annual Thulin Lecture this week in Urbana.

If you are among the tens of millions of people who caught Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, you might’ve noticed a moment when the jumbotron featured a toad. Turns out it’s the Puerto Rican Crested Toad, which is native to the island and an endangered species. It’s also the subject of conservation efforts at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington. We’ll talk with them about their work on Bad Bunny’s favorite amphibian.

You might’ve heard of doulas — usually women who support other women in getting through the process of childbirth. But there are also doulas whose work focuses on the opposite end of our lifespans. They’re called death or end-of-life doulas. We’ll talk with two of them about their work. Darnell Lamont Walker is based in Georgia and Michigan; his new book is Never Can Say Goodbye: The Life of a Death Doula and the Art of a Peaceful End. Kim Burgess was a nurse practitioner before becoming nn end-of-life doula. She's with Comforting Transitions in O'Fallon, Illinois.

The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Governor JB Pritzker addressed a variety of topics in his 2026 State of the State Address. Two policy experts share their takeaways and analysis of the speech.

Governor JB Pritzker is delivering his annual State of the State address in which he plans to share his vision for taxes and spending in government. It comes after an intense year in which Illinois saw the Trump administration make multiple attempts to cut funding for programs in blue states.