The 21st Show

Winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction didn't change how Daniel Kraus writes — just where. His next book has been written almost entirely on airplanes, and he says he's penciled in next summer to actually enjoy the win.

Harvesting is underway for farmers across Illinois, but high costs for diesel fuel and fertilizer is making this routine task more expensive than before. We spoke to an Illinois crop farmer about how he is preparing for expensive fuel and fertilizer prices ahead of the 2027 planting/harvest season.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has made a $25 national minimum wage part of her platform as Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Illinois public radio statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal talks about the topic amid Stratton and her Republican opponent Don Tracy's debate in Chicago on Tuesday night.

Tony Goldberg has traveled the globe investigating diseases that can move between animals and people. He talked with The 21st Show about his work, how cuts in federal funding have affected disease research, and why human behavior — more than science — may be the weakest link in preventing disease.

With just weeks until the Nov. 3 midterm elections, many people are worried about what could — and couldn't happen on Election Day. Amanda Carpenter of Protect Democracy says don't expect to immediately have results. States and local officials will need time to certify results.

The candidate forum between Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his Republican opponent Darren Bailey on Tuesday night got contentious at moments. Illinois public radio statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal reflects on how their performances fit into their broader campaigns.

Young Rob Prevost was obsessed with trucks, so it was that much more meaningful when his mom asked him to give a Christmas gift truck to a child who needed it more. As NPR's Scott Detrow and Daniel Burke tell the story, the pope eventually got a truck back.

Illinois voters will soon choose a successor to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, the Democratic nominee, sat down with us and says the U.S. Supreme Court needs to be held accountable, and will not vote to confirm any nominees put forward by President Trump.

Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL 12) defends the U.S.'s relationship with Israel, amid talk from people on both sides of the political spectrum who feel that the U.S. should at least look into what an allyship with Israel does for the U.S.

Bill Odenkirk’s new play asks whether we’re alone in the universe. Aliens are the subject of We Interrupt This Program, a play at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois. Actors include Bob Odenkirk and Jill Talley. There will also be an analysis with Avi Loeb and Ahmed Best.

Journalist Joshua Johnson, known for his work on 1A, NBC News Now and The Onion, talks to The 21st Show about the ongoing debate on journalism and if it still has objectivity and neutrality. To him, it's very much still alive.

James McBride is known for his writing, as well as his musicianship; however, he also spent time as a journalist. He spoke to The 21st Show about his time at Columbia's School of Journalism, and his experience working with journalists at The Washington Post and People Magazine.

Georgia Southern University history professor Bennett Parten talks to The 21st Show about Civil War Union General William Sherman and how even he had complex and racist views of slavery for his time, and was slow to the adoption of emancipation.

Composer and pianist Juri Seo The 21st Show on what drove her to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's School of Music.

Since 2002, there have been 11 confirmed sightings of mountain lions in Illinois, and 5 of those have occurred since 2022. Recent reports say there's sightings in Southern Illinois. We spoke with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources about the role of modern cameras and how they're helping.

Independent candidate for Illinois governor Collin Corbett joined The 21st Show to discuss what he thinks of the two-party system, and answers a listener question on ranked-choice voting.

@npr.org's Katherine Maher on The 21st Show discussing navigating the first full year without federal funding for public media.