

Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | August 11, 2026
On today's show – Joel Ostrow, professor of political science at Benedictine University, and Brian Endless, senior lecturer and director of African Studies and the African Diaspora at Loyola University Chicago Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Centr…

WCPT 820 Interview: Ray LaHood
RAY LAHOOD DEFENDS BIPARTISANSHIP; "COMPROMISE IS NOT A BAD WORD" Joan Esposito is joined by Ray LaHood, former Illinois congressman and former U.S. Transportation secretary. On August 27 he will participate in a City Club of Chicago event with Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, "Can Bipartis…

WCPT 820 Interview: Peter Giangreco, Democratic strategist
Joan Esposito is joined by Peter Giangreco, Democratic strategist and partner at The Strategy Group. Key topics/points: - the August 11 primary election in Minnesota, where U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar enjoys front-runner status for the Democratic nomination for governor - President Trump's obsession w…

WCPT 820 Interview: Carolyn Fiddler, state politics expert
Joan Esposito is joined by Carolyn Fiddler, state politics expert and author of the newsletter "This Week in Statehouse Action." Key points: - Unity among Democrats after contentious primaries in Michigan - AIPAC is not as invested in state politics as in national politics but still influences so…

Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | August 10, 2026
On today's show – Carolyn Fiddler, state politics expert and author of the newsletter “This Week in Statehouse Action“ – Ray LaHood, former Illinois congressman and former U.S. Transportation secretary; on August 27 he will participate in a City Club of Chicago event with Illinois Congresswoman Nik…

WCPT 820 Interview: Pat Quinn
Joan Esposito is joined by Pat Quinn, former governor of Illinois. He discussed his campaign advocating passage of a state constitutional amendment aimed at property tax relief. "This is what the people want," he said. Quinn spoke as well about the amicus brief he and a bipartisan group of former…

WCPT 820 Interview: Melissa Toufanian
Joan Esposito 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 is now managing director at Navigator Research. Three key takeaways: - 1 in 4 Trump Voters Regret 202…

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive | August 7, 2026
On today's show: – 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 – Chris Fitzsimon, host of the Stories from the States p…

WCPT 820 Interview: Lisa Graves
Joan Esposito is joined by Lisa Graves, expert on right-wing infrastructure, founder and executive director of True North Research, legal scholar, author of “Without Precedent: How Chief Justice Roberts and His Accomplices Rewrote the Constitution and Dismantled Our Rights" and the Substack column …

Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | August 6, 2026
On today's show: – Lisa Graves, expert on right-wing infrastructure, founder and executive director of True North Research, legal scholar, author of “Without Precedent: How Chief Justice Roberts and His Accomplices Rewrote the Constitution and Dismantled Our Rights” and the Substack column “Grave …