Daniel K Proft, radio show host of Chicago’s Morning Answer, said on Feb. 13 that a recent WBEZ report about immigration agents disrupting Chicago Public Schools was presented without irony by media outlets that had previously supported COVID-19 lockdowns.
The topic has drawn attention due to ongoing debates about the impact of both immigration enforcement and pandemic-era school closures on students. Proft posted his statement alongside a screenshot of the WBEZ Chicago article titled ‘No recess, lockdowns, less learning: How immigration agents disrupted CPS schools this fall.’ The commentary highlights media coverage of enforcement actions in schools after the promotion of pandemic policies that affected student well-being. Proft referenced the contrast with years-long lockdowns supported by those same outlets, according to his post on X.
“Presented without irony from the same media types who were credulous cheerleaders for COVIDian pols and their years-long lockdowns that demonstrably harmed kids’ social, emotional and intellectual development, irreparably in some cases,” Proft said.
Research has documented significant impacts from pandemic-related school closures. Children experienced an estimated 11 to 12 months of lost growth in executive functioning skills such as inhibitory control and attention during school closures, according to a December 2025 study published in PMC. Development stagnated between March 2020 and September 2021, with continued slower progress in subsequent years at 65 to 74 percent below pre-pandemic rates. The findings underscore long-term impacts on cognitive and social development from pandemic policies.
A national study released in February 2026 revealed a mixed legacy of the pandemic on early childhood development with troubling lost ground in core academic skills, particularly writing, according to research led by Professor Claudine Bowyer-Crane. The analysis tracked language, socioemotional, and educational progress for three years following initial lockdowns showing resilience in some areas but persistent deficits in others.
Global test score data indicates mathematics scores declined an average of 14 percent—roughly equivalent to seven months of learning—due to COVID-19 disruptions according to a January 2025 study. These losses compound social and emotional scars from isolation and remote learning limiting everyday economic activity and future earnings potential for affected students.
Proft has been the longest-running morning talk show host in the market since joining AM 560 The Answer in 2015. A graduate of Northwestern University and Loyola University School of Law, he previously ran as a Republican candidate for Illinois governor in 2010. He continues to address Illinois politics, education, and policy issues on air and through public appearances.
