\u201cI moved to Chicago three years ago from Los Angeles to study comedy at Second City,\u201d Steinke says. \u201cBut another reason I picked Chicago is because, living in LA, I never wanted to leave my apartment, because getting anywhere was a drag because of traffic.\u201d By comparison, it\u2019s possible to live in Chicago without needing a car. At least, for now. Possible service cuts will hit riders hard.<\/p>\n
So how does the dire possibility of a greatly reduced transit system become transformed into satire that also provides a deeper understanding of the issues?<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the sketches is a timeline of how we got here,\u201d says Steinke. \u201cWhen you look at the history, you see that cars were more or less chosen for us by corporations.\u201d They were an important economic engine driving the post-war era, especially as suburban sprawl took hold. Locally, the building of the highways was integral to Richard J. Daley\u2019s tenure as mayor. These are just some of the signposts along the timeline devised by Steinke, and each is played by a different performer. \u201cI go down the line and talk with them and we go back and forth and riff, and they\u2019ll say something funny as they describe who they are and what role they played.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another sketch is modeled on \u201cWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?\u201d but is instead a version of \u201cWho Wants to Fund Illinois\u2019 Transit Budget?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the legislative session, everybody just seemed to throw up their hands,\u201d Steinke says. \u201cSo the state of Illinois is the contestant faced with all these funding options as multiple choice questions. One of the options is \u2018Pick anything.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"From](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CTC-L-TRANSIT-COMEDY-SHOW-01.jpg\")
From left: Joe Boersma and Zach Masso perform a game show sketch about transit funding in “Save Chicago Transit: The Comedy Show.” (Kyle Lucas)<\/p>\n
Guests include acting CTA president Nora Leerhsen and State Representative Mary Beth Canty this week, and State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado the following week. Canty and Delgado are \u201ctransitheads\u201d in Steinke\u2019s words. But I was surprised to see the CTA represented; Leerhsen may encounter questions that have nothing to do with the funding crisis, but pertain to other issues that have plagued the agency, from ghost buses to smoking on trains. Steinke isn\u2019t worried about things getting contentious, and it\u2019s not as if this will be the first time Leerhsen has interacted with members of the public, or heard these complaints.<\/p>\n
The guests are there to provide a \u201cplain-language recap of the 2025 legislative session and why a dedicated funding bill stalled,\u201d Steinke says. Plus explain misconceptions that block progress (for example, \u201cThis is just a city issue\u201d or \u201cDrivers won\u2019t be affected\u201d) as well as talk about \u201cconcrete next steps such as what reforms or revenue sources could realistically pass next session and what advocacy or constituent pressure would help.\u201d And finally, \u201cA sense of optimism and urgency: Why maintaining and expanding transit is critical for Chicago\u2019s economy, environment, and daily life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s guests included Better Streets Chicago executive director Kyle Lucas, who says he was asked \u201cthoughtful questions about how we got here, ways people can get involved, what we may lose if legislators don\u2019t get the job done \u2014 and perhaps most importantly, what we stand to gain if they do,\u201d and that the show \u201cmanages to explore power dynamics while keeping you laughing and poking fun at transit experiences we all have.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for her own experiences riding public transportation, Steinke says she\u2019s seen improvements in recent months. \u201cI\u2019ve noticed that stations are being swept and there\u2019s not three inches of bird doo-doo on the steps anymore. Things feel cleaner. So I feel optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n
From her lips to the legislature\u2019s ears.<\/p>\n