August 12, 2025/

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Tuesday Aug. 12th, 2025
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop delves into the back and forth between President Donald Trump and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker over public safety, presidential politics and no-cash bail.
Bishop also shares concerns raised by the National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director Noah Finley about Senate Bill 1976 now on the governor’s desk. Finley says if the measure becomes law, Illinois could fall further behind the rest of the nation in economic growth.
Watch the full program below. Subscribe to Illinois in Focus Daily with The Center Square on YouTube. You can also subscribe to the Illinois in Focus podcast to get the entire show uninterrupted.
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