Fox 32 hires Brandon Pope as new political reporter
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Journalist Brandon Pope. Photo: Courtesy of Brandon Pope
Fox 32 has landed a new political reporter: Veteran Chicago journalist Brandon Pope takes over just as the midterms and mayoral election get underway.
Why it matters: Pope joins the TV political beat at a consequential moment, with competitive midterms followed closely by Chicago's 2027 mayoral election.
Details: Pope, who co-hosted WCIU's "On the Block" until it was canceled in 2025, has covered politics locally and nationally and worked for the Chicago Sun-Times, Block Club Chicago, Ebony Magazine and The Root.
- He also hosted the popular WBEZ podcast "Making" from 2022-2024.
- The Emmy Award-winning journalist also serves as president of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.
What they're saying: "Chicago politics has plenty of power players. I want to focus on the people impacted by them," Pope tells Axios. "I'm excited to join FOX 32 Chicago and bring curiosity, accountability and a people-first approach to one of the most fascinating political cities in America."
- "Brandon brings a deep understanding of Chicago, a strong command of the political landscape and a real ability to connect policy decisions to the people they affect," Fox Chicago's VP of News Content & Programming Sean O'Heir said in a statement.
Context: Pope replaces Paris Schutz, who left Fox 32 earlier this spring for NBC 5. The station is in the midst of a talent overhaul, replacing departed anchors like Dawn Hasbrouck, Scott Schneider, Roseanne Tellez and Sylvia Perez with new faces while expanding its digital news presence.
- Just recently, the station moved its "Chicago Live" streaming show to broadcast TV, airing it between 1-4pm Monday through Friday.
Zoom out: Pope says Fox 32's multiplatform approach was part of the draw.
- "What excites me most about Fox Chicago is their commitment to telling stories on multiple platforms, especially streaming and podcasting," he says. "It's a perfect fit for a jack-of-all-trades journalist like me."
The bottom line: Pope brings a familiar Chicago media face — and a multiplatform résumé — to the city's TV political beat.