Joan Esposito (Featured Interviews)

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Rickey Hendon is joined by Willie Wilson, 2027 candidate for Chicago mayor.

The interview focused on Wilson’s positions on Chicago taxes, education, economic development, and more. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Wilson opposes the proposed head and delivery taxes, arguing that businesses pass costs on to consumers and that added costs can hurt affordability and jobs.
- H...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Rickey Hendon is joined by Pennie McCoach, president and business agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 308, which represents rail workers for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). 

The discussion focused on improving safety for CTA workers and riders, with dedicated transit police presented as a key solution. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- McCoach said three tra...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Carolyn Fiddler is joined by Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). 

The interview focused on the DLCC's strategy and the stakes of state legislative elections.
- Heather described strong Democratic momentum, including 31 seats flipped this cycle, while stressing that most voters have not yet voted and campaigns need continued community-level o...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Carolyn Fiddler is joined by Chris Mann, Democratic candidate for attorney general of Kansas.

Mann discussed his priorities as a Democratic candidate and contrasted them with incumbent Kris Kobach’s record. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: 
- Mann described his background as a police officer, prosecutor, and attorney representing victims of drunk driving. He cited the Kans...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Carolyn Fiddler is joined by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Elllison, 2026 candidate for re-election. 

The interview focused on Keith Ellison’s record as Minnesota attorney general, his priorities if re-elected, and election protection. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Ellison cited litigation over insulin pricing, SNAP benefits, federal immigration enforcement, and Jo...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Mike Nellis is joined by Matthew Botvinick, world-renowned AI researcher and neuroscientist who is senior fellow at Yale Law School, a member of the technical staff at Anthropic, and author of "AI and Political Freedom: The Risk to Democracy and How to Respond" (2026). 

Prof. Botvinick will be speaking in Chicago on November 11 as part of University Press Week.
The author event will be cal...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Mike Nellis is joined by Melissa Toufanian, former State Department deputy assistant secretary who served on the communications team for the original Iran nuclear deal under President Obama, and now serves as managing director at Navigator Research.

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressiv...

Joan Esposito is joined by Robert Pape, professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago specializing in international security affairs, and author of The Escalation Trap on Substack. His new book, "Our Own Worst Enemies: America in the Age of Violent Populism," came out last month.

Pape and Esposito discussed Ukraine’s military resilience, the risks of escalation, and a Korean-style armistice as a possible path to...

Joan Esposito is joined by Jen Thompson, former Republican campaign manager, former counsel in the U.S. House and Senate, and author of "Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten" (2026). 

The conversation examined midterm election expectations, changes in the Republican Party, and Thompson’s departure from GOP politics. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Thompson agreed that predictions o...

Joan Esposito is joined by John Bartman, fifth-generation Illinois soybean farmer and activist. The discussion focused on the economic pressures facing Illinois farmers and Bartman’s views on farming practices and policy. 

Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Fuel, equipment, seed, rent, taxes, and fertilizer create substantial costs; harvest income often arrives only once a year.
- Bartman said ...

Joan Esposito is joined by Laura Belin, publisher, editor, and reporter for Bleeding Heartland, a community website focused on Iowa politics. Belin discussed Iowa’s political landscape and the competitiveness of its upcoming elections.

Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Iowa has open races for Senate and governor, and Belin sees three of the state’s four U.S. House seats as competitive, with Demo...

Joan Esposito is joined by Joe Cunningham, former congressman who now serves as spokesperson for the Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance.

The interview focused on lowering prescription drug costs and discussed South Carolina’s upcoming election. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Cunningham argued that the most-favored-nation policy could bring U.S. prescription prices closer to those in other developed cou...

John Stoehr, editor and publisher of The Editorial Board, "a newsletter about politics in plain English for normal people and the common good." The conversation explored Stoehr's views on political media, democratic values, and concentrated wealth.

Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Stoehr said political coverage often prioritizes conflict and the horse race over concerns about President Trump’s behav...

Joan Esposito is joined by political scientist and "World Discord Podcast" co-host Joel Ostrow. The discussion focused on Ukraine’s urgent needs, the effects of reduced U.S. support, and possible political responses.

Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Ostrow said Ukraine’s access to U.S.-funded satellite tracking and intelligence had been restricted, reducing its ability to detect incoming missil...

Joan Esposito is joined by John Parker, co-host of “The Gaily Show,” weeknights at 10:00 Central on WCPT, along with Jim Pounds, executive producer and co-host of “The Gaily Show.”

The discussion covered Minnesota election races, voter concerns, and uncertainty about polling ahead of election day.
- Parker described Democratic candidate Brian Cohn’s race in a district south of the Twin Cities as a p...

Joan Esposito is joined by Carolyn Fiddler, state politics expert and author of the newsletter “This Week in Statehouse Action.

The discussion assessed state and federal election dynamics, with emphasis on potential Democratic gains. Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Fiddler said Democrats could gain trifectas in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Arizona, though outcomes remain uncertain, e...

Joan Esposito is joined by Willie Wilson, 2027 candidate for Chicago mayor. Wilson discussed his campaign, emphasizing business-oriented governance, lower taxes, workforce development, and neighborhood investment.

Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Wilson said Chicago needs an independent businessperson who can balance budgets and is not controlled by special-interest groups.
- He opposes a head tax,...

Joan Esposito is joined by Ira Shapiro, co-author of "Betrayed: America Didn't Vote for This."

The discussion examined concerns about the Trump administration’s impact on elections, constitutional governance, foreign policy, and domestic institutions. Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Shapiro said pro-democracy groups and lawyers are preparing for GOP attempts to challenge or invalidate election results.

Joan Esposito is joined by Michael Hawthorne, Pulitzer-finalist investigative reporter who focuses on the environment and public health for the Chicago Tribune. 

The discussion examined the environmental and public health risks of plastic pollution, the limits of recycling, and policy options for reducing plastic waste. Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Illinois now recognizes nurdles, small pre-production ...