The Last Ward

Harvey tips the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis

While cameras focused on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget speech last week, a quieter but more consequential story unfolded just 25 miles south of…

Oct 19 • 

Austin Berg

37

Operation Midway Blitz and the dangers of belligerence

Midway Airport is home to a special plane.

Oct 12 • 

Austin Berg

31

8

September 2025

How Illinois suppresses voter turnout in Chicago and beyond

My testimony at the House Ethics and Elections Committee.

Sep 28 • 

Austin Berg

38

Chicago gets a taste of insolvency

Chicago's firefighter pension fund needed emergency lending to cut checks to retirees.

Sep 21 • 

Austin Berg

37

2

Chicago’s $80M grocery tax grab, and how to stop it

City Council members are back from August recess with two big questions on the table for their Sept.

Sep 14 • 

Austin Berg

58

5

With no city constitution, Chicago's mayor writes the rules

In a late Friday news dump, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the new alderman of the 27th Ward: Walter “Red” Burnett.

Sep 7 • 

Austin Berg

 and 

Micky Horstman

109

10

August 2025

How Brandon Johnson lost his longest political battle

The Chicago Board of Education handed the mayor a stunning defeat.

Aug 31 • 

Austin Berg

100

11

Disaster unionism and the Chicago Public Schools budget vote

Mayor Brandon Johnson and his chief political backer are working to create a crisis.

Aug 24 • 

Austin Berg

70

2

Inside Brandon Johnson’s shakedown of Chicago Public Schools

The mayor and his allies want $175M from the schools and a big loan to pay for it. But they’ve been blocked at every turn by more responsible actors …

Aug 17 • 

Austin Berg

93

1

Leaked video shows Brandon Johnson faced allegations of 'hiding' $8M in Chicago Teachers Union funds

“You think it’s worth me hiding $8 million from thousands of members? To put my own family at risk for that?"

Aug 10 • 

Austin Berg

61

8

Pritzker to city: Drop dead

The governor just pummeled Chicago with more than $11 billion in new pension liabilities at the worst possible time. Residents deserve answers.

Aug 3 • 

Austin Berg

55

26

July 2025

Leaked budget: Chicago Teachers Union plans to spend $4M on local races

The document outlines next year’s priorities for the top political spender in Chicago. But CTU money has become a double-edged sword.

Jul 27 • 

Austin Berg

21

3