Sasha-Ann Simons Will Depart WBEZ In November

The longtime host will present her final broadcast of In the Loop on November 6, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Remote Work

A professional condenser microphone on a boom arm in a dark, acoustically treated radio studio. — Sasha-Ann Simons, host of WBEZ's "In the Loop," will step down from her role in November 2026, ending her five-year tenure with Chicago Public Media. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Chicago Public Media announced that host Sasha-Ann Simons will depart from WBEZ this fall. Her final episode of the program In the Loop is scheduled for November 6, 2026.

Why it matters

The departure marks a significant leadership change for the station's flagship morning programming. Listeners in Chicago will await updates on the future host of the weekday morning show.

The program currently airs on weekday mornings at 9 a.m. Chicago Public Media has yet to confirm a successor for the role.

The players

Sasha-Ann Simons

She is a broadcast host who has led multiple programs at WBEZ since 2020.

Chicago Public Media

This is the parent organization that operates WBEZ and manages its programming slate.

Brandon Johnson

He is the Mayor of Chicago who participated in a monthly interview series with the departing host.

The details

Sasha-Ann Simons joined WBEZ in December 2020 and initially served as the host of Reset. She later transitioned to lead In the Loop in September 2025 and conducted a monthly interview series with Mayor Brandon Johnson.

December 2020: Simons joined WBEZ.
September 2025: Simons became the host of In the Loop.
October 9, 2026: Chicago Public Media announced the departure.
November 6, 2026: The final broadcast date for Simons.

Market Landscape

This transition reflects the broader trend of leadership changes within regional public media organizations. It positions Chicago Public Media to reshape its morning broadcast identity in a competitive media environment.

Listeners can continue to access In the Loop during its regular weekday morning time slot at 9 a.m. Future scheduling and host updates will be managed directly by the station.

The takeaway

Radio listeners should look for station announcements in the coming weeks to identify the new voice of the program. Transitions in host lineups are standard, and listeners often find that new hosts bring fresh perspectives to local political coverage.

What happens next

Chicago Public Media is expected to announce details regarding the appointment of both interim and permanent hosts for In the Loop following the November 6, 2026 departure.