Stories by Rhyan Zuercher

David Axelrod has had a long and storied career as a political consultant. His new memoir, Believer: My Forty Years in Politics covers not just his time working for President Obama in the White House, but also delves into his personal struggle in dealing with his father's death, his early career, and family life. Axelrod joins us to discuss his work and political musings.

A new play at Steppenwolf Theatre has sparked a heated conversation -- precisely what the creators wanted. Based on the 2010 graffiti "bombing" of the then-relatively new Modern Wing of The Art Institute of Chicago, This Is Modern Art tells the story of the graffiti crew that carried out the event, but it also poses questions about the creation of art and who qualifies as an artist. 

We share what you had to say about last week's elections, Teach For America's recruiting troubles, and Pullman Historic District's designation as a national park in tonight's viewer feedback.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the rating on the city of Chicago’s $8.3 billion in general obligation debt to Baa2 from Baa1 on Friday, Feb. 27. 

The Obama Library and the city's beleaguered credit rating take center stage in the mayoral race, as a new poll shows Rahm Emanuel and Jesús "Chuy" García are in a dead heat.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett announced this morning that the district will, in fact, administer the PARCC test to all required grades, rather than 10 percent of schools as previously planned. We have the details.

White Sox great Minnie Miñoso, Chicago's first black major league player, died this Sunday. Professor Adrian Burgos Jr., who specializes in Latin American studies and baseball at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, joins us to discuss Miñoso's legacy.

An artist revered in her home country of Colombia has made a strong impression on the international art world. We visit the MCA Chicago for the opening of Doris Salcedo's first-ever retrospective. 

A new poll concludes that Mayor Rahm Emanuel is "very likely" even with challenger Jesús "Chuy" García. The poll, conducted by Ogden & Fry, shows Emanuel up 43 percent to 38.5 percent, with 18.6 percent undecided.

Community residents liked what they heard about plans to improve the lakefront along the Morgan Shoal on the city’s south side.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists delve further into the mayoral race and the upcoming runoff election. 

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García will join us on Tuesday, March 31, one week before the runoff election.

Enjoy a weekend of culture, comedy, cold beers, and even colder waters. Chicago Tonight has your weekend picks.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel will face Jesús "Chuy" García in an April 7 runoff election after securing only 45 percent of the vote on Election Day to García's 34 percent. The mayor joins us.

A new poll commissioned by the Obama Foundation says a large majority of residents support the Presidential Library in a south side park. Does that mean Chicago is the winner in the library sweepstakes? We have the details.

Recruiting college graduates into the popular teaching corps Teach For America isn't as easy as it used to be. We talk with them about what the organization thinks is causing the slowdown.

Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin talks about the Pullman Historic District's designation as a national monument.

Author Steve Levine had fly-on-the-wall access for two years to "the battery guys" at Argonne National Laboratory -- America's team in an international competition to build a battery that will change the world. Levine joins us to talk about his new book, The Powerhouse.

Mayoral candidate Jesús "Chuy" García's strong showing has forced an unprecedented runoff election against incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Proco "Joe" Moreno won 50.9 percent of the vote in the 1st Ward in Tuesday's election, but his challenger Anne Shaw won’t concede until all the absentee ballots are counted. Ald. Nick Sposato won 54 percent of the vote in the 38th Ward; and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa won 67 percent in the 35th Ward and was the only candidate to oust an incumbent. The three winning aldermen join us.

Voters in more than a third of Chicago’s 50 wards will head to the polls again in April. In Tuesday’s election, no clear winner emerged in 19 races for alderman across the city. 

The people have spoken as incumbent candidate Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García will face off again April 7 in a runoff vote.