Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on How He Fought ICE’s Messaging War

Question Everything

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on How He Fought ICE’s Messaging War

Clean

Published on Jan 29, 2026, 4:00:00 AM
Total time: 00:43:47

Episode Description

As ICE agents have continued to threaten and kill people in Minneapolis and Minnesota’s governor and other state officials plead with the agency to leave, we share an interview with the governor of another state that was recently targeted by ICE: JB Pritzker of Illinois. 

In October, as ICE agents were descending on Chicago in “Operation Midway Blitz”, Ben Smith and Max Tani of the Mixed Signals podcast from Semafor spoke to Governor Pritzker about the novel communications tactics he was using to combat ICE’s incursion into his city. Eventually he was successful in stopping President Trump from sending in National Guard troops, and Border Patrol agents left the city.

It was an urgent and timely conversation with lots of significance as we watch a similar situation unfold daily in Minnesota.

Thanks to Semafor for letting us share this interview with you. Find all episodes of Mixed Signals here.  

Sign up for Semafor Media’s Sunday newsletter here

The hosts are on X: @semaforben, @maxwelltani

Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory.Please rate and review our show – on this very app that you’re in right now! And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.

More about Question Everything

Propagandist? Truth teller? Influencer? Question Everything unravels the contested work of journalists and the moral complexities surrounding the stories that impact us all.