chicago stories: Rod Blagojevich (2025)

In 2008, then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (known by the nickname “Blago”) made national news for all the wrong reasons. After he was arrested by federal authorities at his Ravenswood Manor home, stunning accusations emerged. Prosecutors said Blagojevich had tried to sell Barack Obama’s vacant senate seat, and that he had sought millions of dollars from people with state business in all sorts of other scenarios. Caught on hours of damning secret FBI phone recordings, Blagojevich became a household name. After eight years in federal prison, President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich’s prison sentence in 2020. The president then issued him a full pardon in 2025. Chicago Stories revisits the Blagojevich saga with analysis of one of the most scandalous political stories in recent American history – with Blagojevich telling his side of the story.

Producer/Director: Tania Lindsay

Associate Prodcer: Alicia Soller