Katherine Dailey

Matt McNeil

Randy Manner

On today's show
– Katherine Dailey, state government and policy reporter for "Michigan Advance
– Matt McNeil, host of “The Matt McNeil Show,” weekdays at 9:00 p.m. on WCPT
– Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner (Ret.), former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A)

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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On today's show &ndash; Katherine Dailey, state government and policy reporter for "<a href="https://michiganadvance.com/author/katherine-dailey/">Michigan Advance</a> &ndash; Matt McNeil, host of &ldquo;<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/the-matt-mcneil-show/">The Matt McNeil Show</a>,&rdquo; weekdays at 9:00 p.m. on WCPT &ndash; Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner (Ret.), former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member of <a href="https://www.nsl4a.org/">National Security Leaders for America</a> (NSL4A)
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>).
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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 | October 6, 2026

Joan Esposito is joined by Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder. He talks about Texas Democrats’ grassroots, bottom-up strategy as a way to capitalize on the midterm election and deliver an ambitious governing agenda.

Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Scudder said state Democrats recruited candidates for every state and federal office in Texas, opened offices in historically neglected areas, and built candidate services to support local campaigns.
- Republicans’ expected spending surge remains a concern, but Scudder argued that voters understand the consequences of Republican leadership and that down-ballot organizing is critical.
- He urged Democrats to act immediately and pursue expansive policies, including expanding Social Security, improving health care access, and building the best-funded public schools.
- He emphasized that winning is insufficient without visible results; Democrats must remain accountable to working-class voters and challenge corporate and wealthy interests.

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 Texas Democratic Party Chair <a href="https://www.texasdemocrats.org/party-officers">Kendall Scudder</a>. He talks about&nbsp;Texas Democrats&rsquo; grassroots, bottom-up strategy as a way to capitalize on the midterm election and deliver an ambitious governing agenda.
Here are a few key points from the conversation: - Scudder said state Democrats recruited candidates for every state and federal office in Texas, opened offices in historically neglected areas, and built candidate services to support local campaigns. - Republicans&rsquo; expected spending surge remains a concern, but Scudder argued that voters understand the consequences of Republican leadership and that down-ballot organizing is critical. - He urged Democrats to act immediately and pursue expansive policies, including expanding Social Security, improving health care access, and building the best-funded public schools. - He emphasized that winning is insufficient without visible results; Democrats must remain accountable to working-class voters and challenge corporate and wealthy interests.
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>).
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Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder: WCPT 820 Interview

Joan Esposito is joined by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and 2026 candidate for re-election in Missouri's 5th Congressional District.

Here are a few key points from the conversation.
- The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 2022 congressional map after Missouri courts and petitioners challenged later changes.
- The map is considered settled for the upcoming election; the state’s proposed map remains on the November ballot.
- Missouri voters collected 303,000 signatures to challenge the legislative map. 
- Cleaver described the Housing for the 21st Century Act as a bipartisan effort to reduce construction costs and delays.
- The law removes a federal chassis requirement for manufactured homes, allowing construction on foundations and potentially enabling multistory homes.
- Cities may receive additional Community Development Block Grant funding for reducing housing construction time and costs.
- The bill, reconfigured as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, became law after the president did not sign it within the required period.

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 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://cleaver.house.gov/">Rep. Emanuel Cleaver</a> (D-MO) and 2026 <a href="https://www.cleaver4congress.com/">candidate for re-election</a> in Missouri's 5th Congressional District.
Here are a few&nbsp;key points from the conversation. - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 2022 congressional map after Missouri courts and petitioners challenged later changes. - The map is considered settled for the upcoming election; the state&rsquo;s proposed map remains on the November ballot. - Missouri voters collected 303,000 signatures to challenge the legislative map.&nbsp; - Cleaver described the Housing for the 21st Century Act as a bipartisan effort to reduce construction costs and delays. - The law removes a federal chassis requirement for manufactured homes, allowing construction on foundations and potentially enabling multistory homes. - Cities may receive additional Community Development Block Grant funding for reducing housing construction time and costs. - The bill, reconfigured as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, became law after the president did not sign it within the required period.
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>).
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U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver: WCPT 820 Interview

Joan Esposito is joined by Julie Roginsky, author of the Salty Politics newsletter on Substack and co-founder of the nonprofit Lift Our Voices. The conversation focused on the midterm outlook, accountability for political leaders and Supreme Court justices, and women’s advocacy in politics.

Key quote: "I think like a lot of us, and I'm Gen X, we were people who understood there was only really one person in the back room who was going to be a woman. There was not much space made for women. During Gloria Steinem's generation, there were no women. During my generation, there was one woman or two women, and you had to kind of fight over that. And so I think I did not really appreciate how hard women had to work and the compromises that they made in order to become that one woman in the back room, in order to climb that ladder, and for 25 years, whenever I'd have women coming to me and saying, 'Oh, it's so hard in politics, and this man was so mean to me and I'm treated with such little respect,' the advice that I would give them would basically be to just suck it up and just say, 'Just keep your head down and work hard and power through and don't say anything because it's not going to help you.' I guess it was good advice as far as it went, but actually, in reality, it was terrible advice because what it did was create the sense of normalcy of women being mistreated at work and being abused and so on and so forth, and not really understanding that you had to make sure that women were supportive of each other and stood by each other. And no, shutting up and and and not saying anything is absolutely the wrong advice to give somebody. The right advice is speak up. Speak up." 

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 Julie Roginsky, author of the&nbsp;<a href="https://saltypolitics.substack.com/">Salty Politics</a> newsletter on Substack and co-founder of the nonprofit <a href="https://liftourvoices.org/">Lift Our Voices</a>.&nbsp;The conversation focused on the midterm outlook, accountability for political leaders and Supreme Court justices, and women&rsquo;s advocacy in politics.
Key quote: "I think like a lot of us, and I'm Gen X, we were people who understood there was only really one person in the back room who was going to be a woman. There was not much space made for women. During Gloria Steinem's generation, there were no women. During my generation, there was one woman or two women, and you had to kind of fight over that. And so I think I did not really appreciate how hard women had to work and the compromises that they made in order to become that one woman in the back room, in order to climb that ladder, and for 25 years, whenever I'd have women coming to me and saying, 'Oh, it's so hard in politics, and this man was so mean to me and I'm treated with such little respect,' the advice that I would give them would basically be to just suck it up and just say, 'Just keep your head down and work hard and power through and don't say anything because it's not going to help you.' I guess it was good advice as far as it went, but actually, in reality, it was terrible advice because what it did was create the sense of normalcy of women being mistreated at work and being abused and so on and so forth, and not really understanding that you had to make sure that women were supportive of each other and stood by each other. And no, shutting up and and and not saying anything is absolutely the wrong advice to give somebody. The right advice is speak up. Speak up."&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>).
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Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 6, 2026

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