It's the Democracy, Stupid (formerly "The Big Picture") Featured Interviews
From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, "The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath" is now "It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath." Each week Edwin and his guests get specific about politics, government, campaigns, and the kind of country all this work is meant to build. Join us live every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central to be part of the conversation. About Edwin Edwin Eisendrath served two terms in Chicago’s City Council before being appointed Midwest Region Director of HUD by President Bill Clinton. He was subsequently appointed Federal Receiver in charge of the takeover and turnaround of the Chicago Housing Authority. Off the campaign trail, Edwin has worked in higher education and as a consultant to universities here and around the world. After the 2016 election cycle he knew he had to focus back home. He brought business and labor leaders together to rescue the Chicago Sun-Times and its subsidiary, the Chicago Reader. He ran the company as its CEO until both publications were saved. Back in the 1990s Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan, "It’s the economy, stupid," captured the biggest concern of the era. Today American democracy itself is under attack. So Edwin launched an effort called, "It’s the democracy, stupid." In addition to his radio show here on WCPT, Edwin has built a community around his political ideas on Substack, hosts a weekly show on Lincoln Square, and is a frequent guest on political shows. He remains deeply involved in democracy work. He is a proud Chicagoan, married to the journalist Jennifer Schulze.
Episodes
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Dr. John P. Holdren, professor of Environmental Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, former science adviser to President Obama, and Senate-confirmed director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during both Obama terms.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/progr...
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by David Roberts of the Volts newsletter and podcast, which focus on the technology, politics, and policy of decarbonization.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Mike Nellis, Democratic strategist and host of “Endless Urgency with Mike Nellis.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Holly McCall, editor of Tennessee Lookout, a news outlet covering Tennessee politics and government.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Bill Scher, politics editor of the Washington Monthly; his latest article is “Three Takeaways from the Taylor Rehmet Texas Shocker.”
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Betsy Hodges, former mayor of Minneapolis (2014-2018) and member of the Minneapolis City Council (2006-2014).
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by James Santelle, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (2010 to 2015), and a 30-year veteran of the Department of Justice.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by George Packer, staff writer at The Atlantic and author. His latest piece for The Atlantic is “What Should Americans Do Now?” and his latest book is “The Emergency: A Novel.”
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Elizaveta Gaufman, assistant professor of Russian Discourse and Politics at the University of Groningen (in The Netherlands), and author of the 2023 book “Everyday Foreign Policy: Performing and Consuming the Russian Nation.”
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio....
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by David Nir, publisher of The Downballot.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath talks to Joe Walsh, former Republican congressman from Illinois and host of The Social Contract with Joe Walsh.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by David Pepper, lawyer, political activist, author (of fiction and nonfiction), former member of Cincinnati City Council, former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, and newly announced candidate for Ohio lieutenant governor.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
Edwin Eisendreath is joined by Laura Jedeed, investigative and features journalist who focuses on the American conservative movement and far right; Slate recently published her article "You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof."
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omny...
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Elizabeth Jacobs, professor emerita of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and a founding member of the public health advocacy group Defend Public Health.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Don Moynihan, professor of Public Policy at the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Filling in for Edwin Eisendrath, Joel Ostrow is joined by Peter Shane, the Jacob E. Davis and Jacob E. Davis II Chair in Law Emeritus at the Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, and distinguished scholar in residence at NYU School of Law; his latest piece for Washington Monthly is “How the Roberts Court Indulges Trump’s Constitutional Workarounds.”
Catch “It’s t...
Filling in for Edwin Eisendrath, Joel Ostrow is joined by Geoffrey R. Stone, the Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Filling in for Edwin Eisendrath, Joel Ostrow is joined by Scott Sakiyama, Oak Park attorney who was detained temporarily by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Oct. 20 near his child’s elementary school after trying to warn the community about ICE presence in the area.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See ...
Filling in for Edwin Eisendrath, Joel Ostrow is joined by Rima Ziuraitas, certified TACMED instructor and medic in Ukraine.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Norman Eisen, executive chair and co-founder of Democracy Defenders Fund.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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