Victor Ray

Ahmed Baba

Dan Friedman

Dean Baker

Listener calls

On this week's show
– Victor Ray, University of Iowa associate professor in the Departments of Sociology & Criminology and African American Studies and vice president of The American Sociological Association
– Ahmed Baba, independent journalist, political analyst, and founder of the best-selling Substack publication “Ahmed Baba News”
– Dan Friedman, senior reporter Mother Jones’ D.C. bureau, whose latest article is “Trump Begins Branding America’s 250th Anniversary as a Christian Celebration“
– Dean Baker, senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research

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; Victor Ray, University of Iowa <a href="https://sociology.uiowa.edu/people/victor-ray">associate professor</a>&nbsp;in the Departments of Sociology &amp; Criminology and African American Studies and vice president of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asanet.org/">The American Sociological Association</a> &ndash; Ahmed Baba, independent journalist, political analyst, and founder of the best-selling Substack publication &ldquo;<a href="https://www.ahmedbaba.news/">Ahmed Baba News</a>&rdquo; &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/author/dan-friedman/">Dan Friedman</a>, senior reporter Mother Jones&rsquo; D.C. bureau, whose latest article is &ldquo;<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/05/trump-maga-freedom250-christian/">Trump Begins Branding America&rsquo;s 250th Anniversary as a Christian Celebration</a>&ldquo; &ndash; Dean Baker, senior economist at the&nbsp;<a href="https://cepr.net/people/dean-baker/">Center for Economic and Policy Research</a>
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;
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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>.