According to AXIOS' Justin Kauffman, FOX 32 Chicago has hired a new political reporter, just in time for the upcoming midterm elections and next year's race for Chicago Mayor.

He is Brandon Pope, who most recently hosted "On The Block", a weekly collaboration of Block Club Chicago and 26 The U'z parent company Weigel Broadcasting.

Pope joins FOX 32 at a time of transition for the FOX-owned station. They recently said goodbye to political reporter Paris Schutz, along with anchors Dawn Hasbrouck, Roseanne Tellez, Sylvia Perez & Scott Schneider, sports anchor Lou Canellis & sports reporter/anchor Tina Nguyen. The station has also expanded its news programming & digital news presence in recent months.

Comments from FOX 32 V.P. of News Content Sean O'Heir as well as Pope expressing his excitement to telling his stories on multiple platforms can be found here:

https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/09/02/fox-32-hires-brandon-pope-political-reporter-wbez-wciu-schutz-nabj