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Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show

5 On It & Luis Medina talks Bears (Hour 3)

19 Feb 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What are the latest updates on the Bears' stadium saga?

0.031 - 21.178 Unknown

it has been a busy day in the saga known as the chase for the bears mythical new stadium and

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21.378 - 40.247 Leila Rahimi

Just to reset here, I'm Rahimi Harrison-Grody. We got the information from Matt Hill, who is Governor Pritzker's Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, that the Bears and the state of Illinois met for three hours yesterday. They requested the Bears did. The ILGA paused the hearing to make further tweaks to the bill.

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40.227 - 58.471 Leila Rahimi

And then he also added the statement, this morning we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois. The Bears issued a statement about Indiana, saying the passage of Senate Bill 27, which is the possible stadium development in Hammond, Indiana, the Bears said would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date.

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58.591 - 79.507 Leila Rahimi

We are committed to finish the remaining sites specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana. They went on to support the governor and the speaker and senators. And now there is this from Capital Facts, who is a very popular account that follows Illinois politics, reports on the state proceedings.

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Chapter 2: How is the state of Illinois responding to the Bears' stadium plans?

79.647 - 113.586 Leila Rahimi

And they have this update. Pritzker talks about bears. This is at eleven fifty nine. So just four minutes ago. They asked us not to move forward with the bill yesterday. Quote, now they're saying to us that that statement is not some confirmation that they're moving to Indiana, but rather that Indiana had asked them to say that. What are we doing? Wait, what are we doing? Say that one more time.

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114.646 - 141.406 Leila Rahimi

Who's this again? Capital Facts. C-A-P-I-T-O-L-F-A-X. They reported on state legislature for a long time in Springfield. Again, update. Pritzker talks about Bears. They asked us not to move forward with the bill yesterday. Now they're saying to us that that statement is not some confirmation that they're moving to Indiana, but rather that Indiana had asked them to say that.

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141.907 - 166.928 Leila Rahimi

Now, to be fair, Matt Hill's statement said, lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois, which is what the statement did. It did praise Indiana, and it did not say anything about Illinois. But according to this, they're saying to the state that that statement is not a confirmation, but that Indiana had asked them to say that?

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Chapter 3: What insights does Luis Medina provide about the Bears' future?

167.093 - 169.937 Luis Medina

Apparently, there's sound on this, so I can't wait to get it.

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169.977 - 170.478 Leila Rahimi

There's sound?

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171.138 - 188.722 Luis Medina

I'm looking at it. I'm going to send it to Ray, and we're going to get this turned around. If it is, I can't hear it, obviously, because I'm on the air with you, but he'll check it out for us. Let's get on with five on it, because I know we got some sound in that last question, so we got to be tidy on this.

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189.142 - 189.563 Leila Rahimi

Do we?

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190.665 - 190.745

Yes.

191.185 - 206.3 Unknown

Number one. Well, here's big question number one. After hearing what we just heard Layla read and after talking to Pat Quinn and Adam Hogue, what other questions do you have about the new developments on the Bears' push to build a new stadium?

206.74 - 216.234 Leila Rahimi

Who you crapping? Who's zooming who? Whose bluff are you calling? Whose car is parked next door?

Chapter 4: How does the Bears' situation compare to other teams' stadium issues?

216.434 - 225.229 Leila Rahimi

That's a country song at the end. But that's really what this is. There's a lot of questions being asked here, and there's not a lot of answers. There's concepts of a plan.

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229.533 - 249.296 Luis Medina

There's a concept of a plan. You know what I want to know? What is the actual plan? I want to know every detail about every pro-con list for going with the Illinois plan versus going with the Indiana plan. When I say the Illinois plan, I know it's not fully formed, but building on Arlington Heights... versus building in Hammond, Indiana.

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249.697 - 273.442 Luis Medina

I want to be able to, with a fine-tooth comb, go over all the details to understand what's better for the Bears, what's better for taxpayers in Illinois, what's better for taxpayers in Indiana, for that matter. I want to know every angle of this story. And While I do have stadium fatigue, I understand it is my job to understand the facts in this ordeal. Because that's what it's become.

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Chapter 5: What are the implications of the Bears' potential move to Indiana?

273.482 - 274.343 Luis Medina

It's become an ordeal.

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274.504 - 280.951 Leila Rahimi

The most fun part about this is our heater in the studio has been broken the entire morning. So I'm just sitting here shivering in confusion.

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281.272 - 284.275 Luis Medina

We've got the Bear Stadium news to keep us warm, Layla. That's all we need.

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284.335 - 294.047 Leila Rahimi

Somebody was offended by me singing the Yakety Sax song. Really, Layla? Really? If you're offended by that, I worry for your life.

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297.166 - 312.019 Unknown

Number two. ESPN released its final 2026 offseason grades for all 30 MLB teams. The Cubs received a B letter grade. Do you agree with this grade for the Cubs?

312.607 - 328.643 Leila Rahimi

I think I do because when it comes to the Cubs offseason, they did spend a ton of money for them. They were the second when you consider the Alex Bregman contract and the totality of their spending to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Chapter 6: What do fans think about the Bears' stadium situation?

328.743 - 347.325 Leila Rahimi

But unfortunately, that's because Kyle Tucker's contract gets deferred by the Dodgers. The evil empire stays evil. And while Bregman's bat is a wonderful addition, do I feel like they completely replaced the offense that they were missing? No. They also traded for Edward Cabrera, which should be part of this discussion.

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347.385 - 363.37 Leila Rahimi

But I don't necessarily know that they did enough offensively or moved enough pieces around. And then there was also the Shota Imanaga qualifying offer, which may have also resulted in the B. So I understand why it became a B. I would say B- because of the last thing you mentioned.

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364.432 - 373.495 Luis Medina

The Shota Imanaga qualifying offer and the way that that went down, They had to do the other stuff to make up for that to get above a C. And that's why they end up with a B-.

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373.575 - 389.34 Luis Medina

You could argue that their bullpen isn't quite as strong as it was last year, but we don't know what Craig Council and that pitching staff, Tommy Hodderby in the game, what magic will they work this year amongst aging relievers that you're not quite sure if they're going to make it through a full season. We do know that.

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389.32 - 399.393 Luis Medina

The bullpen that starts in Game 1 will not be the same bullpen that ends the regular season. What will the production look like for Matt Shaw in the various positions he's asked to play?

399.593 - 403.899 Leila Rahimi

Yeah, Matt Shaw's cruising around the diamond is pretty much what I understand.

403.919 - 405.881 Luis Medina

Pete Groh-Armstrong, first half, second half.

Chapter 7: What strategies are being discussed for the Bears' roster changes?

406.142 - 423.089 Luis Medina

What does the 2026 season look more like? So there's questions, and I think B- would have been my grade, but B is a fair grade overall because they did – do enough, I think, to say we are the frontrunners far and away to win the NL Central.

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423.369 - 426.596 Leila Rahimi

Or is it B for be aggressive? B-E aggressive.

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426.936 - 432.848 Luis Medina

B-E-A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E. Aggressive. B-E. Aggressive.

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433.891 - 437.518 Leila Rahimi

Even that has made more sense in the events of this morning.

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438.207 - 460.958 Unknown

number three this is five on it on 104.3 the score with leila rahimi and marshall harris here's question number three white socks manager will venable announced that munitaka morikami's cactus league debut will take place friday against the cubs at sloan park how seriously are the southsiders taking spring training well i think they're taking as seriously as they need to considering that

462.49 - 476.07 Luis Medina

World Baseball Classic is not that far away. And we know Japanese players are leaving earlier than the American players. So they want to see him and see what he can do. And if you go back to the last World Baseball Classic when he was launching, we're calling them moonshots now, right?

Chapter 8: How do the Bears' decisions impact their future performance?

476.49 - 477.712 Luis Medina

When he was launching moonshots.

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477.772 - 480.676 Unknown

Thanks, Governor Quinn. We want lots of moonshots.

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480.716 - 494.938 Luis Medina

Amazing. Appreciate that, Governor Pat Quinn. I think it's great to get as much out of him as you can before he has to leave for the World Baseball Classic because Japan, last I checked, they could probably be in it to win it and therefore in it for the long haul.

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498.183 - 521.086 Leila Rahimi

Well, I feel like they needed to develop Munotaka Murakami. They said they wanted to and develop is... That's probably a little bit loose of a term when you consider they just want him to see as much major league pitching as possible. Adjust to your new league. We've seen other people do it pretty easily for their adjustment time period, but I feel like this is a reps thing.

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521.266 - 540.719 Leila Rahimi

You know, just get him as many reps as he can possibly get facing major league pitching of any kind, not necessarily ones versus ones here. But I like that for him. I think for Munetaka Murakami, the more you see of that, the more you'll get used to it and the more of an accurate hitter for yourself that you will be. Knowing is half the battle.

540.999 - 556.504 Luis Medina

Murakami, now you know and knowing is half the battle. G.I. Joe. Murakami and the rest of the Japanese players, they leave a week from today. So you got seven days, well really six days to figure it out.

556.568 - 563.34 Leila Rahimi

Yeah, that World Baseball Classic does mess up the schedule a little bit, in a good way, but it does affect the schedule.

565.845 - 572.317 Unknown

Number four. CHSN's KC Johnson asked Bulls guard Josh Giddey about his playing status tonight.

572.597 - 577.446 Josh Giddey

Do you plan on being put out of prison tomorrow and play? Yep, I do. Back playing.

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