Crossing Party Lines: Chicagoland

The Next Generation of News: Who Can We Trust?
When the fairness and accuracy of news outlets is being questioned, a wave of new sources is emerging claiming to deliver more balanced unbiased coverage. Some see hope in these new sources, while others wonder if true neutrality is even possible.

At this meeting—featuring a show-and-tell by Crossing Party Lines Founder, Lisa Swallow—we’ll explore the landscape of these news sources, how they differ from traditional outlets, and what role they might play in shaping the way we stay informed.

We’ll ask questions such as:

• What do you think makes a news source trustworthy?
• How can we tell the difference between nonpartisan reporting and subtle bias?
• In what ways could new news platforms change how Americans consume information?
• Should the goal be unbiased reporting—or simply more transparency about bias?

This will be an opportunity to explore our expectations of the media and how new sources might impact our understanding of the world.

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news! Follow us on:

• Instagram @crossingpartylines
• Twitter @crosspartylines
• Facebook @crossingpartylines

What Do You Want from AI? Smarter Tech, Better Lives?

Artificial Intelligence is showing up everywhere—from the way we search for information to how businesses, schools, and even governments operate. Some see AI as an exciting tool that can make life easier, while others worry about its risks, fairness, and long-term impact?

At this meeting, we’ll explore how AI is shaping our world today and what we want from it in the future.

We’ll ask questions such as:

• What do you want AI to do for you?
• What do you like or not like about current uses of AI?
• What can we do to prevent harm??(Avoid influence) from the influence of AI?
• Does AI affect how we process information and approach problems? How so?
• What trade offs do you see happening due to AI?
• How should we balance innovation with concerns about privacy, jobs, and fairness?

This will be an opportunity to share hopes, concerns, and visions for how AI can (or should) serve people and society.

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news! Follow us on:

• Instagram @crossingpartylines
• Twitter @crosspartylines
• Facebook @crossingpartylines

What the Heck Is Health Care, Anyway?

From doctor visits and prescriptions to insurance plans and public policy, “health care” means very different things to different people. Some see it as a basic human right, while others view it as a service shaped by market forces. The debate often gets tangled in definitions, costs, and expectations.

At this conversation, we’ll unpack what health care really means in the U.S. today, how people experience it, and what we want it to look like in the future.

• What do you want from our healthcare system?
• When you hear the word health care, what comes to mind first?
• Should health care be treated more like a public good, a private service, or something in between?
• How do you think cost, access, and quality should be balanced in our health care system?
• If you could reshape health care in the U.S., what would you want it to look like?

This will be an opportunity to explore different perspectives on healthcare and the values that guide our views of it.

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news! Follow us on:

• Instagram @crossingpartylines
• Twitter @crosspartylines
• Facebook @crossingpartylines