Jop! This is

the Radio Atlantic. I'm Isaac Dauver.

This week all eyes in Washington were on the Senate, where the impeachment trial is playing out.

But on Thursday, I wasn't chasing down senators or presidential candidates.

I was a few blocks away from the White House at the Capitol Hilton, where the nation's mayors had gathered

for their annual conference.

More than any other race in recent memory, this election has shown that running a city,

even a small one like South Bend, can be a national platform.

Well, this week's interview is with the mayor of a big city.

America's third biggest, actually, and the political home of the last Democratic president.

Chicago has a new mayor, and many of you may not know her name yet, but that will probably

change.

Lori Lightfoot won the job in a landslide. On election night last year she carried every one of Chicago's 50 wards.

It was her first time running for hire office and that victory was a night of several firsts.

She became the first African American woman. And that victory was a night of several first.

She became the first African American woman to lead the city and the first openly gay

mayor of the city.

Today you did more than make history. You created a movement for change.

In a city defined by political dynasties and well-known political players, Lightfoot ran as an outsider, someone to fight corruption and reform the police.

With one exception, this vote was also the first time Chicago had an open mayoral race since the 1940s. So all that's to say, her

election is a big opportunity to remake one of America's largest cities.

So I want to get to know her better, understand where she's coming from and what motivates her, and what her perspective can tell us for beyond Chicago.

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