On today's show:

– Ray Long, retired Chicago Tribune investigative reporter
– Yusef Jackson, newly appointed president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition
– Chef Lisa Counts of The Chopping Block

On today's show:
&ndash; Ray Long, retired Chicago Tribune investigative reporter &ndash; Yusef Jackson, newly appointed president and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rainbowpush.org/">Rainbow PUSH Coalition</a> &ndash; Chef Lisa Counts of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thechoppingblock.com/">The Chopping Block</a>

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central), a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics.  

A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.    

Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC.  Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). 

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central), a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics. &nbsp;
A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect &mdash; Democrats, of course. &nbsp; &nbsp;
Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC. &nbsp;Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).&nbsp;

Joan Esposito (Full Episodes)

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central) is a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics. A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.    

Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC.  Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). 

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central) is a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics. A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect &mdash; Democrats, of course. &nbsp; &nbsp;
Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC. &nbsp;Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).&nbsp;

Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive, April 17 2026

Ezra Levin

Eyck Freymann

Jane Kirtley

Rich Eberwein

On today's show:
– Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible
– Eyck Freymann, Hoover Institution fellow at Stanford University, where he directs the Allied Coordination Working Group, non-resident research fellow at the U.S. Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute, and author of the new book “Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China”
– Jane Kirtley, professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota and former executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
– Heartland Signal’s Rich Eberwein with three stories you might have missed from our digital newsroom

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

On today's show: &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://indivisible.org/ezra-levin-0">Ezra Levin</a>, co-executive director of&nbsp;<a href="https://indivisible.org/">Indivisible</a> &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eyckfreymann.com/">Eyck Freymann</a>,&nbsp;Hoover Institution fellow at Stanford University, where he directs the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hoover.org/research-teams/allied-coordination-working-group">Allied Coordination Working Group</a>, non-resident research fellow at the U.S. Naval War College&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://usnwc.edu/Research-and-Wargaming/Research-Centers/China-Maritime-Studies-Institute">China Maritime Studies Institute</a>, and author of the new book &ldquo;Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China&rdquo; &ndash; Jane Kirtley,&nbsp;<a href="https://law.umn.edu/profiles/jane-kirtley">professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota</a>&nbsp;and former executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press &ndash; Heartland Signal&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/authors/richard-eberwein/">Rich Eberwein</a>&nbsp;with three stories you might have missed from our digital newsroom
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | April 16, 2026

Joan Esposito is joined by Jane Kirtley, professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota and former executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

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

 

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Joan Esposito is joined by Jane Kirtley,&nbsp;<a href="https://law.umn.edu/profiles/jane-kirtley">professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota</a> and former executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive">heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive</a>).
&nbsp;
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WCPT 820 Interview: Jane Kirtley

Joan Esposito is joined by Eyck Freymann, Hoover Institution fellow at Stanford University, where he directs the Allied Coordination Working Group; non-resident research fellow at the U.S. Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute; and author of the new book “Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China.” (Photo credit: Rory Lewis)

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

 

Follow us:

Website: https://heartlandsignal.com

WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820

Heartland Signal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal

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

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

WCPT 820 X: https://x.com/WCPT820

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

Threads: threads.com/@heartlandsignal

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

Joan Esposito is joined by <a href="https://www.eyckfreymann.com/">Eyck Freymann</a>,&nbsp;Hoover Institution fellow at Stanford University, where he directs the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hoover.org/research-teams/allied-coordination-working-group">Allied Coordination Working Group</a>; non-resident research fellow at the U.S. Naval War College&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://usnwc.edu/Research-and-Wargaming/Research-Centers/China-Maritime-Studies-Institute">China Maritime Studies Institute</a>; and author of the new book &ldquo;Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China.&rdquo; (Photo credit: Rory Lewis)
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive">heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive</a>).
&nbsp;
Follow us:
Website:<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/"> https://heartlandsignal.com</a>
WCPT Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820"> https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820</a>
Heartland Signal Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal"> https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal</a>
Tiktok:<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc"> </a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal">https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal</a>&nbsp;
Heartland Signal X:<a href="https://x.com/HeartlandSignal"> https://x.com/HeartlandSignal</a>
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Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive, April 17 2026

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