https://www.leighgiangreco.com/work daily 1.0 2026-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1562858358163-IBIYFWGV3O81C08NBJYJ/electionmood_web-1500x997.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1562865347968-MLRN72QJ7R0XU8G2LE1K/IMG_2170.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1562866196819-JC8373HWFBLDAYGNJCTN/IMG_2176.JPG Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1563049643657-U9WOV7MHRBBH0418ZM6W/nasa.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1569333201702-LYDJNYN8BZCVRH5S9R69/bei+bei.jpg Work - Experts Agree: DC’s Pandas Are Unlikely to Become Pawns in the US-China Trade War For Washingtonian, I spoke with experts about panda diplomacy and whether the Smithsonian National Zoo’s pandas will leave as a result of the trade war with China. Photo courtesy Smithsonian National Zoo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1589833901564-SZZK1XIPAANIILJUJW0D/Daniel+Zender.jpeg Work - How to Survive Quarantine, According to a Nun Growing up Catholic in Buffalo, New York, I often visited the Carmelite monastery after school. As a child, I wondered how the cloistered nuns lived in total isolation. As an adult living under the stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic, I found myself looking to the Carmelites once again for advice. Read more in my interview with two Carmelite nuns for Medium’s GEN Magazine. Illustration by Daniel Zender https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1582646105164-R4NI5Q59XFSJ8HSL3TCM/space+force.jpeg Work - Space Force’s Second-in-Command Explains What the Hell It Actually Does For Medium’s Gen Mag, I talked to the vice commander of the U.S. military’s newest branch about satellites, space junk and whether those new uniforms will include capes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1582651513592-KED5NB9HBCSBG1UPQH51/collins+politico.jpg Work - The Rise and Fall of Donald Trump's Mini-Me For Politico Magazine, I wrote about an indicted congressman from western New York who labeled his hometown paper as “the fake Buffalo News.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1639436481398-FF25PP8ZNCYUUXDMIUAZ/Milad.jpg Work - 'Born again in Buffalo' For Postindustrial Magazine, I wrote about the new hope that Afghan refugees find in Buffalo and how the influx of new immigrants has buoyed the beleaguered, Rust Belt city. Photos by Libby March https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1653338838424-P38VWHXCTG2WL2JITLAO/Fast+Company.jpg Work - How tech workers had an outsize role in shaping efforts to nix NDAs Thanks in part to efforts in Washington and California, other states are working on legislation to ban workplace nondisclosure agreement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1669754625330-WQ4C003PF7BLSOWQXA4E/npr+shot.png Work - Union sees headway on DEI goals at NPR but highlights ‘a lot more work to do’ A report by NPR’s Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union found that network management has fallen short of meeting a majority of the union’s demands for measures to address diversity, equity and inclusion at the network. In September 2020, the union’s DEI committee gave management a list of over a dozen demands focused on issues faced by employees of color. During NPR’s February board meeting, union members shared with management a progress report on those demands. Among their findings, a January survey of the union’s 500-plus members revealed that they see supporting and retaining employees of color as a crucial challenge for management. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1708309218805-9D3SY372F83BBAG8AHD3/IMG_1899.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1740073563967-VUP4RPAMNFOHELNNOG9H/matt+martin.JPG Work - State Agencies Often Resist Pedestrian Safety Fixes on Urban Roads Attempts to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety on busy state roads within urban areas often meet strong headwinds from state transportation departments, whose raison d’être is moving cars quickly and efficiently. Above: Alderman Matt Martin, who represents the 47th Ward in Chicago, points to the spot in a four-lane state road where a driver killed a local resident. Photo credit: Leigh Giangreco https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1740075389725-WVDHH9V9R463PJ0UQQAQ/IMG_8225.jpg Work - An Irish name isn't the instant clout-getter that it used to be for Chicago pols The pipes are playing for the old Irish machine. In December, the federal government nailed former Ald. Ed Burke after a jury found him guilty on 13 counts of racketeering, attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion and promoting bribery, official misconduct and extortion. Next up to bat at the Dirksen Federal Building is former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, whose corruption trial is delayed until October. Former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, the scion of Richard J. Daley, was sentenced in 2022 to four months in prison for tax fraud. The downfall of Irish politicians in Illinois could just as much be attributed to a change in demographics as the indictments — and, for some later, convictions — of those men. “The old Irish ward boss seems to be going by the wayside, but (for) cities, particularly Chicago, it’s the story of immigrants,” said Elmhurst University political science professor Connie Mixon, who also testified at Ed Burke’s trial last year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1740078813024-P30011JF68W941725CSQ/IMG_8241.jpg Work - Yes, chef: A Jeremy Allen White lookalike contest revs the engines for Chicagoans. You could see them all the way from Humboldt Boulevard. An army clad in white T-shirts and blue aprons lined up for inspection in front of a crowd of hundreds stretching across the big hill in Humboldt Park. The crowd was hungry and only one thing could satiate them: a hot chef. Specifically, the hot chef from FX’s series The Bear, as portrayed by the actor Jeremy Allen White. On November 16, over 60 Jeremy Allen White lookalikes and hundreds of spectators assembled in Humboldt Park for Chicago’s very own lookalike contest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1628043147458-WD8SK5IBIREJ5RHHV45B/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-07-30%2Bat%2B6.03.47%2BPM.jpg Work - How Chicago Taquerias Are Dealing With the Rising Cost of Meat Comfort foods, like tacos and pizzas, were supposedly immune to the effects of the pandemic as they’re carryout-friendly. Many new taquerias popped up across Chicago and the country as investors felt more confident in America’s appetite for tacos. But the rising costs of meat show no restaurant is safe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1740079520787-RUJTAYJXQNK82AAWTILF/IMG_8249+2.jpg Work - How to Protest Safely at the DNC Thousands are expected to march for a range of progressive causes at this year’s Democratic National Convention. We asked legal and medical experts how to stay safe and know your legal rights when protesting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1740081310949-WU64IF6IVKVUL5GSRSKP/IMG_8254.jpg Work - Forbes 30 Under 30 Local: Chicago I put together Forbes’ inaugural 30 Under 30 Local for Chicago. I found four judges for the competition, including the president of the MacArthur Foundation, and sought out dozens of candidates. The four-month process included background checks for the final 60 candidates and writing short biographies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1740425630411-JEZ6SKFNJFZ22KYF526C/IMG_8286.jpg Work - WBEZ's 2023 Summer Guide I helped put together WBEZ’s 2023 Summer Guide. I assembled a list of over 200 cultural events, workouts and neighborhood festivals throughout Chicago, complete with short descriptions of each event and accessibility options. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1562728344333-FNIE9Z214WVVVF9AR1QP/IMG_2154.JPG Work - Why is Joe Biden all over Tinder? How the former vice president became the Internet’s favorite wingman. I wrote about why Joe Biden is dominating online dating profiles for The Washington Post’s Style section. My piece went viral and got picked up by Sirius XM, People Magazine and Good Morning America Credit: The Washington Post illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1747413525593-MM1IAXN7GOXMQ560SVP4/IMG_9540.jpg Work - Chicago reacts to hometown Pope Leo: ‘Like the Cubs winning the World Series’ Residents – Catholic and non-Catholic – celebrate a ‘moment of joy’ as native son Robert Prevost becomes new pontiff https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1747413933996-GMQK95TENONNCROJ293Z/IMG_9544.jpg Work - “I Don’t Want to End Up in a Honduran Jail” Some travelers are canceling trips in response to Trump’s actions. Others are taking extreme precautions. I also discussed my story on Air Mail’s podcast, Morning Meeting, with editors Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1774830384765-SYV8MOV3W3HAK6VHW90G/IMG_8028.jpg Work - To a Resident on the Block, Jackson Was Simply a Friendly Neighbor I spoke with Chicagoans who gathered outside Rev. Jesse Jackson’s home in Hyde Park following the death of the civil rights leader. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1774830998612-ILNP1QCGGCY1LK7R7576/IMG_8033.jpg Work - Agents Tear Gas, Detain Demonstrators Outside Broadview ICE Facility During Friday Protest Federal agents shot me twice with pepper bullets while I covered protests at the ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, in September 2025. Photo credit Audrey Richardson https://www.leighgiangreco.com/beat-reporting daily 0.75 2019-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1563051461082-ZA3HXNL47UPYY3IEWDMG/f-35a.jpg beat reporting U.S. Air Force's F-35A fighter jet arrives for first Middle East deployment. Photo via dvidshub https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1563052345883-5W25STTBCOQEQL55TYKI/tcf.png beat reporting https://www.leighgiangreco.com/about daily 0.75 2023-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1580398240621-71ZDRZDOYYO3Y5JLFPQF/IMG_3863.jpg About https://www.leighgiangreco.com/theater daily 0.75 2019-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2543bc4229e8000135e151/1563049754839-60S3MGU0IOTWYLQJ2G2G/IMG_2178+%281%29.JPG Theater - theater Katie Kramer, Jeronique Bartley and Walter Riddle in Leigh Giangreco’s “Heartbreak Hitman” at the Capital Fringe Festival. Photo by Victoria Langton https://www.leighgiangreco.com/contact-leigh daily 0.75 2019-07-13