Brandon Pope
Brandon Pope is an Emmy Award-winning journalist with more than a decade of experience covering the people, policies and institutions shaping Chicago and the Midwest.
Since 2012, he has covered politics at the local and national levels, reporting from Chicago and key battleground states including Michigan and Wisconsin. His work spans television, radio, digital and print, with reporting and commentary featured by the Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ, Block Club Chicago, Ebony Magazine and The Root. He got his start in South Bend, Indiana at WBND before jumping to the Chicago market in 2016.
In addition to politics, Pope has produced award-winning entertainment and sports journalism. He's a licensed film critic with the African American Film Critics Association. His coverage experience includes Hollywood red carpets, college football, the Indy 500, WNBA Finals and The Olympic Games.
Beyond the newsroom, Pope serves as president of the National Association of Black Journalists - Chicago Chapter , where he has championed the next generation of journalists, expanded professional development opportunities and helped raise hundreds of thousands for scholarships and community programming. Pope is also an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago, where he helps prepare emerging journalists for careers in a rapidly changing media industry.
An Ohio native with Indiana roots, Pope graduated from Ball State University with degrees in Journalism and Telecommunications. You can catch him talking all things politics, sports and pop culture.
The latest from Brandon Pope
Illinois Democrats weigh replacements after House speaker steps aside
Illinois House Democrats are considering potential replacements for Speaker Chris Welch as new details emerge about the concerns that led 26 lawmakers to demand a leadership change.
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch won't seek another term amid Democratic opposition
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris" Welch announced Thursday that he will not seek another term as speaker, ending a fight over whether he had enough support among House Democrats to keep the gavel.
Pritzker outlines third-term priorities following historic election win
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker discusses his historic third-term victory, Democratic wins, his national policy agenda and the 2028 presidential election in an exclusive FOX Chicago interview.
Chicago election officials address voting machine security concerns ahead of Election Day
Chicago election officials are addressing voting machine security concerns ahead of Election Day, explaining safeguards, daily accuracy testing and measures designed to protect voters' ballots.
Chicago school board election: Jessica Biggs lays out vision for CPS
Brandon Pope sat down with Jessica Biggs in the final days of her race against Hilario Dominguez and Victor Henderson, a contest that has drawn millions of dollars in outside spending supporting the former principal and current school board member.
Outside spending targets Hilario Dominguez in Chicago school board president race
The race for Chicago school board president is drawing big outside spending and tough questions.
Chicago mayoral race: Why some of the 15 candidates could be knocked off the ballot
Fifteen candidates are challenging Brandon Johnson for his job as Chicago mayor, but the field may not stay that crowded.
Chicago budget hearings begin with questions over corporate head tax, police misconduct costs
Chicago has a nearly half-billion-dollar bill for police misconduct cases, and City Hall wants to put it on the taxpayers’ credit cards.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson files for reelection amid political challenges
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson officially filed for reelection Friday, submitting 33,000 signatures as he faces low approval ratings, fundraising challenges and a crowded field of candidates.
Chicago mayor's 'Fair Share Budget' calls for increased spending, corporate tax
Mayor Brandon Johnson unveiled his proposed $17.6 billion budget Wednesday, outlining new spending, cost reductions and a corporate head tax to help close Chicago's nearly $900 million budget gap.