U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, elder statesmen of opposing parties, did something Tuesday night that, nowadays, may seem unusual in politics.

They agreed. The two came together at Braden Auditorium at Illinois State University for a question-and-answer session moderated by WGLT's Charlie Schlenker, in the first of a series of Democracy Dialogues. The program was the first in a series of Democracy Dialogues throughout 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, elder statesmen of opposing parties, did something Tuesday night that, nowadays, may seem unusual in politics.
They agreed. The two came together at Braden Auditorium at Illinois State University for a question-and-answer session moderated by WGLT's Charlie Schlenker, in the first of a series of Democracy Dialogues. The program was the first in a series of Democracy Dialogues throughout 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Sound Ideas is WGLT's signature local news series. Every weekday, WGLT reporters go beyond soundbites for deeper conversations with newsmakers, musicians, artists, and anyone with a story to share. New episodes air throughout the day on WGLT.

Sound Ideas is WGLT's signature local news series. Every weekday, WGLT reporters go beyond soundbites for deeper conversations with newsmakers, musicians, artists, and anyone with a story to share. New episodes air throughout the day on WGLT.

WGLT's Sound Ideas

WGLT's Sound Ideas is our flagship news program. Every weekday, WGLT reporters go beyond soundbites for deeper conversations with newsmakers, musicians, artists, and anyone with a story to share. This 30-minute newsmagazine is produced Monday through Friday. You can also subscribe to the Sound Ideas - Full Episodes podcast.

WGLT's Sound Ideas is our flagship news program. Every weekday, WGLT reporters go beyond soundbites for deeper conversations with newsmakers, musicians, artists, and anyone with a story to share. This 30-minute newsmagazine is produced Monday through Friday. You can also subscribe to the Sound Ideas - Full Episodes podcast.

Sen. Durbin, Ray LaHood find common ground on perils, solutions to preserving democracy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/090e86c6-4ab6-4873-b560-afff01256522/clips/41993fce-bf00-4337-b04b-b3f500e3300a/transcript