
The Ray Stevens Show - Thursday, January 8th 2026
1/08/2026 | 1h 38 mins.
The weekend is almost here but Ray and Nick are still working hard to cover the craziness exploding all over the globe. Sgt. Betsy Brantner-Smith joins The Ray Stevens Show to discuss the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis and her view of the difficult decision making that ICE officers have to deal with when faced with non-compliant protestors. As we enter a gubernatorial election year here in Illinois, Dylan Sharkey from the Illinois Policy Institute joins Ray Stevens to look at Gov. Pritzker's tenure in the position and how his policies have resulted in high taxes, massive debt, and an overall grim outlook for the state. And The Village of Bedford Park wants to find the best Ben Johnson look-alikes ahead of the big Bears game this Saturday. Bedford Park Co-Business Officer Adam Collopy joins Ray to talk about how they came up with the event and what the good, better, and best look-alikes will win.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protests rage in Minneapolis following fatal ICE shooting
1/08/2026 | 10 mins.
Sgt. Betsy Brantner-Smith joins The Ray Stevens Show to discuss the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis and her view of the difficult decision making that ICE officers have to deal with when faced with non-compliant protestors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the reign of Governor Pritzker has changed Illinois
1/08/2026 | 7 mins.
As we enter a gubernatorial election year here in Illinois, Dylan Sharkey from the Illinois Policy Institute joins Ray Stevens to look at Gov. Pritzker's tenure in the position and how his policies have resulted in high taxes, massive debt, and an overall grim outlook for the state. Read Dylan's analysis now at Illinois Policy Institute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bedford Park on the search for the good, the better, and the best Coach Johnson look-alikes
1/08/2026 | 6 mins.
The Village of Bedford Park wants to find the best Ben Johnson look-alikes ahead of the big Bears game this Saturday. Bedford Park Co-Business Officer Adam Collopy joins Ray to talk about how they came up with the event and what the good, better, and best look-alikes will win. The contest runs from 5-8 p.m. at the Wintrust Sports Complex at 5499 W. 65th Street.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Monique Yohanon: I’m a doctor. I shouldn’t receive better health care than patients.
1/07/2026 | 8 mins.
In her recent Washington Post op-ed, Monique Yohanan, MD, MPH—Senior Fellow for Health Policy at Independent Women— addresses the broken system, underscoring the critical need for price transparency. She joins Ray to talk about her experience receiving care as a healthcare professional and where she feels things can change to improve the quality of patient care. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.



The Ray Stevens Show