8 episodes
The Madigan Rule Better Government Association
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- News
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4.3 • 21 Ratings
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“The Madigan Rule” is a BGA podcast that takes listeners inside the story of how Speaker Mike Madigan ran Illinois--for good and for ill. Hosted by Justin Kaufmann, a veteran radio host who covered Madigan, Kaufmann talks with people who witnessed Madigan’s exercise of power: governors, lawmakers, journalists and politicos. They feared him and revered him and had no choice but to reckon with his rules. It’s the Madigan Rule: a podcast about Illinois’ most powerful politician, featuring those who knew him well.
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Patterns and Practices: 5
One of the biggest public corruption investigations in Illinois history continues. Madigan says he did nothing wrong, but he is out of politics and his political machine destroyed. We dive into the investigation, the resignations and the end of the Madigan era. Has the game changed, or do Springfield’s new power players still follow the Madigan Rule?
Featuring exclusive interviews with former governor Jim Edgar, along with state Representative La Shawn Ford, former state Senator Heather Steans, as well as journalists Tony Arnold, Mick Dumke, Ray Long, and Hanna Meisel all of whom covered Madigan. Former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady is also a guest in the final episode.
Also featured is BGA editor David Kidwell, who co-led reporting for a Chicago Tribune series “The Madigan Rules,” beginning in 2010. The name of the BGA podcast was inspired by the Tribune series title. -
What Comes Up…: 4
During five decades leading state government, Mike Madigan engineered stirring victories and suffered painful losses. From patronage to pensions, ethical conflicts to sexual harassment--and ultimately, a federal investigation that brought him down.
In the fourth installment of the BGA’s limited series podcast “The Madigan Rule,” host Justin Kaufmann looks into Micheal J. Madigan’s political legacy featuring conversations with former Governors Pat Quinn and Bruce Rauner, State Representative Kelly Cassidy (14th), Former State Representative Ken Dunkin (5th), State Representative La Shawn Ford (8th), State Representative Will Guzzardi (39th), Alaina Hampton, Dave McKinney, John Chase, Pat Brady, Ray Long and Amanda Vinicky. -
What Comes Up... Trailer
During five decades leading state government, Mike Madigan engineered stirring victories and suffered painful losses. From patronage to pensions, ethical conflicts to sexual harassment--and ultimately, a federal investigation that brought him down.
In the fourth installment of the BGA’s limited series podcast “The Madigan Rule,” host Justin Kaufmann looks into Micheal J. Madigan’s political legacy featuring conversations with former Governors Pat Quinn and Bruce Rauner, State Representative Kelly Cassidy (14th), Former State Representative Ken Dunkin (5th), State Representative La Shawn Ford (8th), State Representative Will Guzzardi (39th), Alaina Hampton, Dave McKinney, John Chase, Pat Brady, Ray Long and Amanda Vinicky. -
Power Over Policy: 3
How did Madigan survive so long in Illinois politics? How did busted budgets and a slurry of scandal leave him untouched?
History’s longest-serving statehouse speaker, Madigan will be remembered less for the policies he enacted than for the power he extracted. In this episode of BGA’s “The Madigan Rule” host Justin Kaufmann explore Mike Madigan’s political acumen and the infamous showdown with Governor Bruce Rauner.
With special guests former Illnois Governor Bruce Rauner, Former State Senator Heather Steans (7th), Former State Representative Ken Dunkin (5th), State Representative Will Guzzardi (39th), John Tillman, Pat Brady and John Chase. -
Power Over Policy Trailer
How did Madigan survive so long in Illinois politics? How did busted budgets and a slurry of scandal leave him untouched?
History’s longest-serving statehouse speaker, Madigan will be remembered less for the policies he enacted than for the power he extracted. In this episode of BGA’s “The Madigan Rule” host Justin Kaufmann explores Mike Madigan’s political acumen and the infamous showdown with Governor Bruce Rauner. -
Magic Mike: 2
If the 13th Ward on Chicago’s Southwest Side was Madigan’s political base, then Springfield was his political playground. In Springfield the machinery of state government grinds quietly, conveying wealth and power in equal measure.
Featuring conversations with former governors Jim Edgar, Pat Quinn and George Ryan along with State Representative Will Guzzardi (39th), Amanda Vinicky, Ray Long, Rick Pearson and David McKinney, this episode explores how Madigan came to control the machinery of state government--and came to rule for half a century.
Customer Reviews
Great Primer on Insider Politics
Mike Madigan is a Chicago story but Chicago is an American story. Mitch McConnell is in the same mold: a pragmatic insider who amasses power by mastering the institutional mechanisms that control government. What is lost is democracy and this podcast does a good job of pointing out how Madigan wielded power, how the main focus of his strategy was maintaining that power, and how the entire project completely neglected the fundamental mandate of democratic leadership. Most Illinoisans never heard Mike Madigan speak even a short paragraph. The
Most basic and hallowed fundamentals of democratic leadership were irrelevant: engaging the citizenry in a policy discourse that clarifies issues and tradeoffs, publicly arguing the merits of his positions, building public understanding of the processes of democracy— Madigan did not even pay minimal lip service to such ideas. The ossification of democracy in Illinois is now mirrored at the national level. Those seeking a return to public, deliberative democracy must understand what they are up against. Behold Michael Madigan, the ideal typical model of what we must vanquish.