Tim Hogan

Ray Long

Jodie Wiederkehr and Steve Hindi,

On today's show:
- Heartland Signal Executive Editor Tim Hogan
- Ray Long, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter, on the Mike Madigan trial
- Jodie Wiederkehr, founder and executive director of Chicago Alliance for Animals and host of "If Cage Walls Could Talk" on WCPT (Saturdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Central)
- Steve Hindi, president of Showing Animals Respect & Kindness(SHARK)

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: -&nbsp;<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Heartland Signal</a>&nbsp;Executive Editor Tim Hogan -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/author/ray-long/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Ray Long</a>, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter, on the Mike Madigan trial - Jodie Wiederkehr, founder and executive director of Chicago Alliance for Animals and host of "<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/if-cage-walls-could-talk/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">If Cage Walls Could Talk</a>" on WCPT (Saturdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Central) - Steve Hindi, president of&nbsp;<a href="https://sharkonline.org/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Showing Animals Respect &amp; Kindness</a>(SHARK)
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" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive</a>).

Here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT Chicago), a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago 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). 

Here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT Chicago</a>), a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago 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).

Joan Esposito (Full Episodes)

"Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT Chicago) is a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago 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). 

"Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT Chicago</a>) is a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago 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).

Joan Esposito Live, Local & Progressive

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive Jan. 31, 2025

Robert Rowland 

Suzanne Chod

Lauren Chou

Robert Rowland&nbsp;
Suzanne Chod
Lauren Chou

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive guest host William Muck Mar. 10 2025

Filling in for Joan Esposito, William Muck talked to Georgetown Professor of Law and Economics David Super, who discussed the Trump administration's actions in the legal sphere.

Super criticized the administration's attempts to dictate how universities conduct themselves, citing the letter recently sent to Georgetown Law by interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, demanding the school end all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts or risk a hiring freeze from his office. 

"It's absolutely outrageous that they're trying to leverage government power to tell a private university how to teach and what to teach," Super told WCPT. "Georgetown is a Jesuit institution. We follow the principles of the Jesuits, which require looking at everyone as a full human being and taking them as such. It's disappointing that they're so unwilling to accept that."

Evaluating the second Trump administration's actions writ large, Super said that "we absolutely are" entering a constitutional crisis, noting that checks and balances have been "the essence of constitutional law from the very beginning of our Constitution, and President Trump rejects that. He believes we need a strong president who can do whatever he wants and is largely unchecked by Congress in the courts." 

Super explained terms like "arbitrary and capricious" and impoundment and called attention to the administration's defiance of court orders. He also warned of the administration's attempts to eliminate neutral arbiters, like judge advocate generals in the military.

"Even more alarming than [Trump] firing the senior military lawyers was the stated reason for doing so, that they might object to things that the administration wants to do," Super said. "Well, that's exactly why we have judge advocate generals in the military, because the military has enormous power and we want some independent assurance that that will be handled lawfully and in accordance with our Constitution. So I found that quite chilling."  

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).

And find the Joan Esposito (Full Episodes) podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon.

Filling in for Joan Esposito, William Muck talked to Georgetown Professor of Law and Economics <a href="https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/david-a-super/">David Super</a>, who discussed the Trump administration's actions in the legal sphere.
Super criticized the administration's attempts to dictate how universities conduct themselves, citing the letter recently sent to Georgetown Law by interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, demanding the school end all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts or risk a hiring freeze from his office.&nbsp;
"It's absolutely outrageous that they're trying to leverage government power to tell a private university how to teach and what to teach," Super told WCPT. "Georgetown is a Jesuit institution. We follow the principles of the Jesuits, which require looking at everyone as a full human being and taking them as such. It's disappointing that they're so unwilling to accept that."
Evaluating the second Trump administration's actions writ large, Super said that "we absolutely are" entering a constitutional crisis, noting that checks and balances have been "the essence of constitutional law from the very beginning of our Constitution, and President Trump rejects that. He believes we need a strong president who can do whatever he wants and is largely unchecked by Congress in the courts."&nbsp;
Super explained terms like "arbitrary and capricious" and impoundment and called attention to the administration's defiance of court orders. He also warned of the administration's attempts to eliminate neutral arbiters, like judge advocate generals in the military.
"Even more alarming than [Trump] firing the senior military lawyers was the stated reason for doing so, that they might object to things that the administration wants to do," Super said. "Well, that's exactly why we have judge advocate generals in the military, because the military has enormous power and we want some independent assurance that that will be handled lawfully and in accordance with our Constitution. So I found that quite chilling."&nbsp;&nbsp;
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>).
And find the Joan Esposito (Full Episodes) podcast on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2yqdk3eg4GZzkuV3dxkrce">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/driving-it-home-full-episodes/id1772728749">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Joan-Esposito-(Full-Episodes)-p4553843/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-joan-esposito-full-episod-224680480/">iHeartRadio</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLquOHBYhhrLPSPl6zwW-_zH6q0Tng18S3">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3511174e-20b7-400f-badb-40862505c17a/joan-esposito-full-episodes">Amazon</a>.

WCPT 820 Interview: David Super of Georgetown Law

On Friday Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) joined WCPT's William Muck to discuss the far-reaching impact of Trump administration actions during the first seven weeks of President Donald Trump's second term in the White House.

"We're neck deep in a constitutional crisis," Casten told WCPT. "If we were to end the Trump administration tomorrow, it would probably take a decade to repair the damage," he said, citing potential leaks of intelligence to adversaries like Russia and China and the erosion of faith in the United States that our historic allies have already experienced.

Casten, who defeated incumbent Republican Peter Roskam in the 2018 midterms during the first Trump administration, said that he has spoken to House GOP colleagues who have privately revealed their opposition to certain Trump administration actions but told him they prefer to keep their heads down and not put their families at risk by voting against the president. "As a fellow member of Congress," Casten said, "I'm very sympathetic to that. At the same time, there is a sense of, if leadership is hard, maybe you're in the wrong line of work."

He added: "I think we have to elevate this conversation above partisanship as much as we can. We are in a moment where I think anybody in public office needs to be, for lack of a better word, Churchillian. We need to be making it very clear to the American people, this is the stakes of what's going on right now; this is the consequences of what happens if we don't fix it quickly. I make no promise that if we fight we will succeed. I need to be very clear-eyed about what the consequences and the potential costs of that fight are. But I can guarantee you that if we don't fight, we will lose this 250-year-old experiment."

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).

And find the Joan Esposito (Full Episodes) podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon.

On Friday Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) joined WCPT's William Muck to discuss the far-reaching impact of Trump administration actions during the first seven weeks of President Donald Trump's second term in the White House.
"We're neck deep in a constitutional crisis," Casten told WCPT. "If we were to end the Trump administration tomorrow, it would probably take a decade to repair the damage," he said, citing potential leaks of intelligence to adversaries like Russia and China and the erosion of faith in the United States that our historic allies have already experienced.
Casten, who defeated incumbent Republican Peter Roskam in the 2018 midterms during the first Trump administration, said that he has spoken to House GOP colleagues who have privately revealed their opposition to certain Trump administration actions but told him they prefer to keep their heads down and not put their families at risk by voting against the president. "As a fellow member of Congress," Casten said, "I'm very sympathetic to that. At the same time, there is a sense of, if leadership is hard, maybe you're in the wrong line of work."
He added: "I think we have to elevate this conversation above partisanship as much as we can. We are in a moment where I think anybody in public office needs to be, for lack of a better word, Churchillian. We need to be making it very clear to the American people, this is the stakes of what's going on right now; this is the consequences of what happens if we don't fix it quickly. I make no promise that if we fight we will succeed. I need to be very clear-eyed about what the consequences and the potential costs of that fight are. But I can guarantee you that if we don't fight, we will lose this 250-year-old experiment."
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>).
And find the Joan Esposito (Full Episodes) podcast on&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2yqdk3eg4GZzkuV3dxkrce">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/driving-it-home-full-episodes/id1772728749">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Joan-Esposito-(Full-Episodes)-p4553843/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-joan-esposito-full-episod-224680480/">iHeartRadio</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLquOHBYhhrLPSPl6zwW-_zH6q0Tng18S3">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3511174e-20b7-400f-badb-40862505c17a/joan-esposito-full-episodes">Amazon</a>.

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive Jan. 31, 2025

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