Adam Klasfeld

Nicholas Grossman

Daniel Nichanian

Rev. Earle J. Fisher, Ph.D.

On this week's show
– Adam Klasfeld, founder and editor-in-chief of All Rise News
– Nicholas Grossman, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
– Daniel Nichanian, founder and editor-in-chief of Bolts
– Rev. Earle J. Fisher, Ph.D., senior pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, founder of  #UPTheVote901, and author of "The Rev. Albert Cleage Jr., and the Black Prophetic Tradition: A Reintroduction of The Black Messiah"

Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).   

 

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On this week's show &ndash; Adam Klasfeld, founder and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://www.allrisenews.com/">All Rise News</a> &ndash; Nicholas Grossman, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign &ndash; Daniel Nichanian, founder and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://boltsmag.org/authors/daniel-nichanian/">Bolts</a> &ndash; Rev.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/earle.fisher">Earle&nbsp;J.&nbsp;Fisher</a>, Ph.D., senior pastor of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AbyssinianMissionaryBaptistChurch/">Abyssinian Baptist Church</a>, founder of <a href="http://upthevote901.com/">&nbsp;#UPTheVote901</a>, and author of&nbsp;"The Rev. Albert Cleage Jr., and the Black Prophetic Tradition: A Reintroduction of The Black Messiah"
Catch &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the Democracy, Stupid&rdquo; Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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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.

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago,&nbsp;"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&nbsp;to be part of the conversation.
About Edwin Edwin Eisendrath served two terms in Chicago&rsquo;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.&nbsp;
Back in the 1990s Bill Clinton&rsquo;s campaign slogan, "It&rsquo;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&rsquo;s the democracy, stupid."
In addition to his radio show here on WCPT, Edwin has built a community around his political ideas on <a href="https://edwineisendrath.substack.com/p/i-love-american-democracy-but-love" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Substack</a>, hosts a weekly show on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincolnsquare.media/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Lincoln Square</a>, and is a frequent guest on political shows. He remains deeply involved in democracy work.
He is a proud Chicagoan, married to the journalist <a href="https://jenniferschulze.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Jennifer Schulze</a>.

It's the Democracy, Stupid Full Episodes

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.

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> 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&rsquo;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.&nbsp;
Back in the 1990s Bill Clinton&rsquo;s campaign slogan, "It&rsquo;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&rsquo;s the democracy, stupid."
In addition to his radio show here on WCPT, Edwin has built a community around his political ideas on <a href="https://edwineisendrath.substack.com/p/i-love-american-democracy-but-love" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Substack</a>, hosts a weekly show on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincolnsquare.media/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Lincoln Square</a>, and is a frequent guest on political shows. He remains deeply involved in democracy work.
He is a proud Chicagoan, married to the journalist <a href="https://jenniferschulze.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Jennifer Schulze</a>.

It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath (formerly The Big Picture)

It's the Democracy, Stupid | August 29, 2026

Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Nicholas Grossman, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Grossman, an expert in international relations, discussed the impact of Donald Trump's presidency on global institutions like the U.N. and NATO, arguing that their decline was ideologically driven rather than due to institutional failure. He highlighted the administration's policies, such as the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear power, as increasing global nuclear proliferation risks. Grossman also criticized the current U.S. relationship with Venezuela, describing it as extractive and corrupt. He emphasized the need for accountability and suggested that future Democratic control could set up investigations and oversight to address these issues.

Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).   





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Website: https://heartlandsignal.com

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Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Nicholas Grossman, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Grossman, an expert in international relations, discussed the impact of Donald Trump's presidency on global institutions like the U.N. and NATO, arguing that their decline was ideologically driven rather than due to institutional failure. He highlighted the administration's policies, such as the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear power, as increasing global nuclear proliferation risks. Grossman also criticized the current U.S. relationship with Venezuela, describing it as extractive and corrupt. He emphasized the need for accountability and suggested that future Democratic control could set up investigations and oversight to address these issues.
Catch &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the Democracy, Stupid&rdquo; Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
Follow us:
Website:<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/"> https://heartlandsignal.com</a>
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WCPT 820 Interview: Nicholas Grossman

Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Rev. Earle J. Fisher, Ph.D., senior pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, founder of  #UPTheVote901, and author of "The Rev. Albert Cleage Jr., and the Black Prophetic Tradition: A Reintroduction of The Black Messiah."

Fisher discussed the erosion of Black political rights and the impact of gerrymandering on Black voter representation. He emphasized the importance of robust voter engagement and community support, highlighting initiatives like #UpTheVote901. Fisher criticized the misuse of religious texts by white nationalists and called for a reclaiming of true Christian values. He stressed the need for long-term political organizing and community involvement to build equitable political power and counteract voter suppression efforts.

Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).   





Follow us:

Website: https://heartlandsignal.com

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Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal 

Heartland Signal X: https://x.com/HeartlandSignal

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartlandsignal

Threads: threads.com/@heartlandsignal

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartlandsignal

Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Rev. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/earle.fisher">Earle&nbsp;J.&nbsp;Fisher</a>, Ph.D., senior pastor of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AbyssinianMissionaryBaptistChurch/">Abyssinian Baptist Church</a>, founder of <a href="http://upthevote901.com/">&nbsp;#UPTheVote901</a>, and author of "The Rev. Albert Cleage Jr., and the Black Prophetic Tradition: A Reintroduction of The Black Messiah."
Fisher discussed the erosion of Black political rights and the impact of gerrymandering on Black voter representation. He emphasized the importance of robust voter engagement and community support, highlighting initiatives like #UpTheVote901. Fisher criticized the misuse of religious texts by white nationalists and called for a reclaiming of true Christian values. He stressed the need for long-term political organizing and community involvement to build equitable political power and counteract voter suppression efforts.
Catch &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the Democracy, Stupid&rdquo; Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
Follow us:
Website:<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/"> https://heartlandsignal.com</a>
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WCPT 820 Interview: Rev. Earle J. Fisher

Filling in for Edwin Eisendrath, Jill Wine-Banks is joined by Rachel E. VanLandingham, professor of law and associate dean for research at  Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel.

Here is a summary of the conversation:

Discriminatory Military Promotions
- Van Landingham discusses how Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is removing women and officers of color from promotion lists.
- Approximately 40 high-ranking military promotions have been blocked or delayed, with roughly half involving women or minorities.
- She argues these actions violate the 14th Amendment and undermine national security.

Military Leadership Purges
- The discussion covers the mass purge of senior officers, including the 2025 removal of General CQ Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- High-ranking female leaders like Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore have also been targeted.
-These removals are viewed as part of a broader effort to replace rule-of-law advocates with ideological allies.
- The speakers suggest these actions create a "chilling effect" where service members fear retribution for political views.

Testosterone Testing and Equality
- A new DOD policy requires mandatory testosterone testing for male soldiers, which raises equal protection concerns.
- The Talbott case is mentioned regarding the legality of denying hormone treatment to transgender service members.
- T discussion highlights the hypocrisy of offering treatment to cisgender males while restricting it for transgender personnel.
- The speakers argue that focusing on these culture-war issues distracts from actual combat readiness and lethality.

Logistical Failures in Iran War
- The conversation addresses mismanagement and poor logistical supplies during the ongoing Iran war support missions.
- Reports from the USS Abraham Lincoln indicate deteriorating conditions, including lack of clean water and food for service members.
- Service members have faced missile and drone attacks in locations like Kuwait and Jordan due to inadequate planning.
- The administration is criticized for prioritizing culture wars over the safety and well-being of those in harm's way.

Press Freedom at the Pentagon
- The publisher and ombudsman of Stars and Stripes have reportedly been fired, threatening the paper's editorial independence.
- Stars and Stripes was founded by General John J. Pershing to provide independent news to service members.
- Secretary Hegseth has faced litigation for attempting to restrict reporter access and control the military narrative.

Religious Curriculum in Schools
- A new Christian-centric curriculum is being introduced in military schools, potentially violating the First Amendment.
- The curriculum reportedly presents Islam as inherently violent while framing Western civilization through a Christian lens.
- VanLandingham notes that such curricula often lack scholarly rigor by omitting historical contexts, like the Crusades.
- This move is seen as part of a larger effort to align military education with a specific political and religious vision.

Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).   





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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartlandsignal

Threads: threads.com/@heartlandsignal

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Filling in for Edwin Eisendrath, Jill Wine-Banks is joined by Rachel E. VanLandingham, professor of law and associate dean for research at &nbsp;Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel.
Here is a summary of the conversation:
Discriminatory Military Promotions - Van Landingham discusses how Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is removing women and officers of color from promotion lists. - Approximately 40 high-ranking military promotions have been blocked or delayed, with roughly half involving women or minorities. - She argues these actions violate the 14th Amendment and undermine national security. Military Leadership Purges - The discussion covers the mass purge of senior officers, including the 2025 removal of General CQ Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. - High-ranking female leaders like Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore have also been targeted. -These removals are viewed as part of a broader effort to replace rule-of-law advocates with ideological allies. - The speakers suggest these actions create a "chilling effect" where service members fear retribution for political views. Testosterone Testing and Equality - A new DOD policy requires mandatory testosterone testing for male soldiers, which raises equal protection concerns. - The Talbott case is mentioned regarding the legality of denying hormone treatment to transgender service members. - T discussion highlights the hypocrisy of offering treatment to cisgender males while restricting it for transgender personnel. - The speakers argue that focusing on these culture-war issues distracts from actual combat readiness and lethality. Logistical Failures in Iran War - The conversation addresses mismanagement and poor logistical supplies during the ongoing Iran war support missions. - Reports from the USS Abraham Lincoln indicate deteriorating conditions, including lack of clean water and food for service members. - Service members have faced missile and drone attacks in locations like Kuwait and Jordan due to inadequate planning. - The administration is criticized for prioritizing culture wars over the safety and well-being of those in harm's way.
Press Freedom at the Pentagon - The publisher and ombudsman of Stars and Stripes have reportedly been fired, threatening the paper's editorial independence. - Stars and Stripes was founded by General John J. Pershing to provide independent news to service members. - Secretary Hegseth has faced litigation for attempting to restrict reporter access and control the military narrative.
Religious Curriculum in Schools - A new Christian-centric curriculum is being introduced in military schools, potentially violating the First Amendment. - The curriculum reportedly presents Islam as inherently violent while framing Western civilization through a Christian lens. - VanLandingham notes that such curricula often lack scholarly rigor by omitting historical contexts, like the Crusades. - This move is seen as part of a larger effort to align military education with a specific political and religious vision.
Catch &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the Democracy, Stupid&rdquo; Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
Follow us:
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It's the Democracy, Stupid | August 29, 2026

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It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath (formerly The Big Picture)

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