Joan is joined by David Corn, Mother Jones’ Washington bureau chief, MSNBC analyst, and author. They discussed Corn's "Our Land" newsletter posts on authoritarianism and history. He highlighted historical examples like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, and Trump's executive order, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." Corn noted the fear among politicians like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and the potential for legal retaliation by the Trump administration against the president's critics, including Corn himself.

"I do think if you fear them, they win," Corn told WCPT. "I mean, the first thing that an authoritarian or that a bully does is try to scare you. They'd rather not throw a punch, because sometimes they can be hit back. Sometimes that punch might not land. Trump's a bully, and he rather would overcome and win with bluster first and with threats. That's not to say that he wouldn't try afterwards to make good on those threats, and he certainly is doing that in certain areas. But I think you have to just, at least initially, resist the urge to be scared of these people. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be prudent and take precautions, but I guess that means [to] not sort of let the fear dominate your decision making or determine your decision making."

Corn also discussed the impact of public protests and the vulnerability of Republican lawmakers who won their districts with narrow margins. 

(Photo credit: Mother Jones)

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.

Joan is joined by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/author/david-corn/">David Corn</a>, Mother Jones&rsquo; Washington bureau chief, MSNBC analyst, and author. They discussed Corn's <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/topics/our-land/">"Our Land"&nbsp;newsletter</a><a href="https://www.motherjones.com/topics/our-land/"></a> posts&nbsp;on <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/11/trump-democracy-authoritarianism-finland-colombia-sri-lanka-poland/">authoritarianism</a> and <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/04/donald-trump-war-on-history-restoring-truth-sanity-propaganda-racism/">history</a>. He highlighted historical examples like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, and Trump's <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/restoring-truth-and-sanity-to-american-history/">executive order</a>, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." Corn noted the fear among politicians like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and the potential for legal retaliation by the Trump administration against the president's critics, including Corn himself.
"I do think if you fear them, they win," Corn told WCPT. "I mean, the first thing that an authoritarian or that a bully does is try to scare you. They'd rather not throw a punch, because sometimes they can be hit back. Sometimes that punch might not land. Trump's a bully, and he rather would overcome and win with bluster first and with threats. That's not to say that he wouldn't try afterwards to make good on those threats, and he certainly is doing that in certain areas. But I think you have to just, at least initially, resist the urge to be scared of these people. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be prudent and take precautions, but I guess that means [to] not sort of let the fear dominate your decision making or determine your decision making."
Corn also discussed the impact of public protests and the vulnerability of Republican lawmakers who won their districts with narrow margins.&nbsp;
(Photo credit: Mother Jones)
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>.

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).

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