*Dan Petrella of the Chicago Tribune recaps a hearing where the IL GOP questioned the ISP on how it handled the Highland Park shooter. *John tries to find the truth regarding the spat between Liz Cheney and Harriet Hageman regarding Cheney's concession speech. *Producer Bret shares the details on the Deshaun Watson suspension settlement that was reached between the NFL and the NFLPA. *A caller emphatically answers John's question of the day regarding a Proco 'Joe' Moreno wanting to run for City Council. *Plus, WLS City Hall Reporter checks in after Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair.

 A magistrate judge in Florida is hearing arguments on whether or not to unseal the Mar-a-Lago affidavit. John Howell speaks with Brad Garrett, ABC News Crime & Terrorism Analyst, about what this would potentially mean for Trump and how the process would work. 

John Howell speaks with Alderman Brian Hopkins from Chicago’s Second Ward. There have been many issues on Lake Michigan’s Playpen. This includes a tragic incident from last weekend where a woman had to have both legs amputated, as well as multiple deaths. The Alderman discusses what he believes needs to be done to tighten safety measures in the area. They also speak about unregulated CBD shops in the city and how they are confusing cannabis customers. 

*Ramblin' Ray Stevens calls in to reminisce with John about a White Sox legend who let a small child down. *ABC News Correspondent Justin Finch looks at Mike Pence's comments claiming he'd consider testifying before the Jan. 6th committee. *Greg Peerbolte of the Old Joliet Prison tells you what you can expect to see at Blues Brothers Con this weekend. *Kevin Schmidt of The Daily Herald has the details on Naperville's gun ordinance that bans the sale of certain high-powered rifles. *Plus, WLS City Hall Reporter Mallory Vor Broker gives the latest from the Illinois State Fair.

John Howell is joined by ABC News Correspondent, Alex Stone, who is in Jackson, Wyoming. Liz Cheney lost the primary last night and spoke in her concession speech about next steps. Stone talks about the reactions down in Wyoming last night to the speech and the news, as well as what we believe Cheney will do next. 

John Howell speaks with Steve Chirico, Mayor of Naperville. Naperville just passed an ordinance to ban the sale of certain high-powered rifles and high-capacity magazines. Mayor Chirico discusses the thought that went into proposing this ban and how he believes it will impact the community. 

John Howell speaks with Elliot Ackerman, Author of “THE FIFTH ACT: America’s End in Afghanistan.” It’s been almost a year since American troops withdrew from Afghanistan, and Ackerman talks about our history with the country as well as what has happened since. 

*Dr. Jonathan Zimmerman joins the program to discuss Salman Rushdie and the defense of hate speech.  *John Feehery speaks about Democrats and the "dead cat bounce." *Steve Bernas joins the show to talk about fraud happening in the rental market & other things to watch out for.  *Stephen Moore comments on the American Dream.  *Ted McClelland answers the question: is Darren Bailey helping or hurting the IL GOP? 

John Howell is joined by Paul Lisnek, WGN-TV Political Reporter & Political Analyst and Host of the “Behind the Curtain” Podcast. Darren Bailey and his running mate are in trouble (yet again) for their social media posts- Lisnek and Howell discuss how social media has affected politics as a whole. 

Rob Johnson, in for John Howell, speaks with Doug Cummings, personal safety consultant. After yesterday’s shooting at Six Flags in Gurnee, we once again think about what we should do if we ever experience a similar event. Cummings reviews what to do if you hear gunshots, as well as how to address safety plans with our children without panicking them. 

Rob Johnson, in for John Howell, is joined by Jacob Infante, Lead NFL draft analyst and Bears writer for Windy City Gridiron. Infante was at the Bears’ preseason opening game against the Chiefs. They talk about the Bears’ outlook for the season, rookie players to watch, and the state of Soldier Field. 

Pete McMurray, in for John Howell, speaks with Alderman Brendan Reilly live in-studio. They recap this year’s Lollapalooza, the police stats afterwards, and the renewal of the Lolla contract. Alderman Reilly also gives his thoughts on the NASCAR deal, the mayor’s budget proposal, and more. 

*ABC News Crime & Terrorism Analyst Brad Garrett discusses the threats of violence that have erupted since the Mar-a-Lago raid. *Dr. Sophie Bjork-James at Vanderbilt University shares who joins hate groups on social media and how they attract young men. *Robert Channick of the Chicago Tribune takes a deep dive into the history of Bally's after they submit their casino application. *Plus, Playwright Will Allan tells John about his new show "Campaigns, Inc." opening tonight at the Timeline Theater.

John Howell is joined by Paris Schutz, “Chicago Tonight” Co-Anchor and Correspondent. A marina was approved for Navy Pier several years ago, but it still has not been built. Schutz joins the show to discuss why they are experiencing roadblocks and what the marina would mean for the Pier and the city. 

John Howell speaks with Dr. Robert Alexander, Director of the Institute for Civics and Public Policy at Ohio Northern University. Dr. Alexander speaks about faithless electors and why it’s far past time to modify the electoral system and eliminate this possibility. They also discuss the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022.  

*John wonders if Mayor Lightfoot's talk to the rank and file of the Chicago Police will have any effect on their perception of her. *Zach Hunter, Executive Director of Keep Country First introduces their 'pro-democracy candidate recruitment program. *Community Organizer Ana Solano describes the issues that her community has with Riot Fest after a contentious meeting. *Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent Mike Emanuel shares the White House reaction to the Mar-a-Lago raid. *Plus, Walls Street Journal Personal Tech Reporter Dalvin Brown offers some hacks to help you navigate customer service issues.

John Howell speaks with Alderman Brian Hopkins from Chicago’s 2nd Ward. They discuss how the Aldermen were blindsided by the NASCAR deal, and how he feels the Aldermen are being left out of that and more important decisions around the city. 

Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University and former Governor of Indiana, joins the John Howell program. They speak about an opinion piece Daniels wrote for the Washington Post, asserting that we need to insist on more politeness in such a nasty era. 

*Chicago Sun-Times architecture critic Lee Bay says that Lori Lightfoot needs to slow down and find the correct way to fix Soldier Field. *John talks with the listeners to find out what they think about the search warrant executed at Mar-a-Lago. *Danny Heitman of the BR Advocate shares his touching story of David McCullough after the famous author and historian's passing. *Sports Columnist Rick Telander tells John that Aaron Rodgers' ayahuasca trips to Peru may have truly help the Green Bay QB. *Plus, Doug Bandow of the CATO Institute claims that Nancy Pelosi may have put us on a path to war with China.

John Howell speaks with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who just returned from his trip to Taiwan with Speaker Pelosi. He discusses why he attended the five country excursion, why he believes it was beneficial to stop in Taiwan, and how the trip went over all. He discusses why he feels it's in our national interest to keep the peace in places like Taiwan and Ukraine.  

John Howell is joined by Jeremy Stahl, Senior Editor for Slate. Stahl makes his case for why he does not believe Trump will run again in 2024. 

*Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Jonathan Bernstein takes a look at Wisconsin to point out how the GOP has a recruiting problem. *ABC News Correspondent Andy Field breaks down the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. *Keith Naughton of Silent Majority Strategies discusses the tough decision that Merrick Garland has in relation to Trump. *Dr. Robert Renteria tells John about his books and curriculum designed to empower youths to avoid violence, delinquency, and gangs. *Plus, national political reporter Salena Zito talks John Fetterman's messaging and shares her thoughts on the raid of Mar-a-Lago.

A nationwide shortage of Carbon Dioxide is starting to affect the beer market. John Howell speaks with Derricke Dennis, ABC News Correspondent, New York. Dennis has the very latest, including other items that are manufactured with Carbon Dioxide which may be affected. 

John Howell speaks with Mack Liederman, General Assignment Reporter for Block Club Chicago. Chicago Public Schools are experiencing a bus driver shortage, leaving parents and schools scrambling for solutions. Liederman speaks about the shortage, how CPS is trying to rectify the problem, and how this has affected students. 

-Ron Onesti, President of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, joins to discuss their proposed plan to return and protect the Christopher Columbus statues in Chicago.  -Jay Tcath, Executive Vice President at the Jewish United Fund, calls in to discuss an interactive public art display about gun violence at their office in the Loop.  -ABC News Legal Analyst, Royal Oakes, has the very latest on Alex Jones’ legal proceedings.  -Jason Nathanson has the scoop on the new Brad Pitt flick, “Bullet Train,” and why “Batgirl” was shelved $90 million into the movie. 

John Howell is joined by David Greising, President and CEO of the Better Government Association. They discuss Darren Bailey and J.B. Pritzker’s very different views on Chicago, and what this means for both the city and their campaigns. 

John Howell is joined by Charles Lipson, Peter B. Ritzma Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University of Chicago. Professor Lipson’s latest piece describes the decline and fall of the classic newspaper. We read differently now, most notably due to the internet. 

*ABC News Correspondent Jay O'Brien breaks down the Brittney Griner verdict and where things stand moving forward. *John shares two stories regarding the 2nd Amendment that had incredibly different results. *Jeff Greenfield of POLITICO Magazine tells John that the November midterms could bring a couple surprises. *Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns condemns the man who has repeatedly defaced a  Pride-painted fire hydrant with Nazi symbols. *Plus, Jaime Guerrero of the Beer & BBQ Challenge previews what will be the final installment of the massive fundraising event.

John Howell speaks with Brad Garrett, ABC News Crime & Terrorism Analyst. The US State Department is concerned about violence against Americans abroad after the Zawarhi killing. Garrett speaks about the reason for these cautions and how we can be careful overseas. 

John Howell speaks with Congressman Sean Casten from Illinois’ 6th Congressional District. Congressman Casten insists that gun violence prevention bills need to be passed now. One proposal included is a gun buy-back program. They also talk about the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. 

John Howell speaks with the Chicago Tribune’s Ray Long, investigative reporter who broke the story about Mike Madigan. He’s the author of “The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer.” Madigan’s racketeering trial continues to get pushed back, but his pension payments, it seems, continue to balloon. Long has the latest.

*97th District State Rep. Mark Batinick discusses his proposed legislation to allot speed camera revenues toward police and fire pensions. *Dan Hinkel of the Better Government Association tells John that the city's claims about its anti-violence programs are overblown. *John looks at how both Darren Bailey and Paul Vallas are being forced to answer for some unforced political errors. *David Siders at POLITICO shares his biggest takeaways from yesterday's primaries, including the abortion vote in Kansas. *Plus, Mike Emanuel stops by for his weekly visit to discuss Kyrsten Sinema, DC rumors, and a little bit golf.

John Howell is joined by Brian Costin, Deputy State Director at Americans for Prosperity. The organization would like Arlington Heights to ban subsidies for a Chicago Bears redevelopment of the race track. Taxpayers, they say, already pay enough taxes without this additional burden. 

John Howell speaks with Leslie Recht, President of the Grant Park Advisory Council. The council and Aldermen city-wide are disappointed in the exclusion of local Aldermen in Lollapalooza and NASCAR negotiations. The alderpersons have several requests for clauses they’d like added into these deals. 

*ABC News Correspondent Jay O'Brien provides an update on Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan, including a surprise Republican supporter. *John and Producer Bret parse through Deshaun Watson suspension, wondering if it was for the best that the Bears passed on the troubled QB. *Steve Bernas of the Better Business Bureau shares how you can avoid ticket fraud if you're heading the Elton John concert. *Mike Shoreman discusses how he is raising money for mental health awareness by paddleboarding across all the Great Lakes. *Plus, world renowned civil litigator Ken McCallion previews his forthcoming book, "Saving the World One Case at a Time."

Darren Bailey has encountered a few roadblocks recently. ULine, one of his biggest supporters in the primaries, is not happy with his campaign team. Also, some very controversial statements Bailey made have come out regarding the Holocaust and abortion.  

*ACLU of Illinois attorney Rebecca Glenberg discusses the evolving situation at the recently vandalized Lake in the Hills bakery. *Colby Hall of Mediaite looks at the rift that is continuing to grow between Fox News and Donald Trump. *Stephen Moore tries to determine when the live-and-let-live left become the party that wants to abolish everything. *Daniel DePetris at Defense Priorities tells John that for better or worse, we are seeing the consequences of sanctioning Russia. *Plus, Carl Cannon of RealClearPolitics breaks down their new poll showing that Americans are tired of billionaires.

JB Pritzker and other Democratic gubernatorial candidates are buying TV ads in an attempt to hand-pick their GOP opponents. Steve Chapman of Creators Syndicate tells John how this strategy could hurt Democrats come November.

*Greg Hinz compares Lori Lightfoot to one of her predecessors with how she seemingly unilaterally pushed the NASCAR deal through. *Jeff Agrest of the Sun-Times sat down with Olin Kreutz, who finally discussed his firing from CHGO. *Ally Marotti of Crain's Chicago tells John how several of Chicago's fine-dining restaurants are moving out to the burbs. *ABC News Correspondent Dave Packer says that you can expect consumer prices to continue to climb in the coming weeks. *Plus, Pat Etherington of Davey's warns about the Japanese beetle that has been causing havoc in the Chicago area.

Jason Nathanson, ABC News Entertainment Correspondent, joins the John Howell Show. Will Smith put out another video about the incident between himself and Chris Rock at the Oscars. Nathanson and Howell discuss the possible reasons this statement is coming now, how the public has responded, and what they’d do in Chris Rock’s situation. 

John Howell is joined by Sir John Dempsey, WLS Golf Commissioner Emeritus and former News Director. They catch up on the latest golf news, Lollapalooza bands, and the afternoon show’s golf outing this morning. Kim Gordon, it turns out, has the best swing of them all. 

John Howell is joined by Bob McCoppin, Chicago Tribune reporter focusing on news and trends in suburbs and especially on the legalization of marijuana. He has the numbers: Marijuana sales and tax revenues jumped 50% in the last year. 

*Bill Scher joins the show to plead with Joe Biden to not run for a second term, noting that they rarely go well. *5th District Congressman Mike Quigley recaps his trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Vladimir Zelensky. *Chicago Sun-Times reporter Brett Chase shares how two CPS teachers escaped termination for their General Iron protests. *Mark Konkol of the Patch breaks down how speed cameras targets poor neighborhoods that pay too much and receive too little. *Plus, John says to be wary if you win Friday's Mega Millions. He tells tales of past winners who have lost it all.

John Howell speaks with Dr. Christopher Mooney, Professor of State Politics at the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Mooney discusses Darren Bailey’s strategies in this gubernatorial election. Is avoiding Donald Trump the right move? 

*Lauren O'Neil of Q101 previews Lollapalooza, and tells John whether the festival is still worth it for the fans and the city.*John Pletz of Crain's Chicago breaks down Google's surprise purchase of the Thompson Center.*Personal Security Consultant shares tips to keep yourself safe if you attend Lolla or any other major public gathering.*John wonders if all political candidates should be forced to take a competency test before running for office.*Plus, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay previews his upcoming event that will feature his nearly $100 million memorabilia collection. 

John Howell is joined once again by Mike Emanuel, Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent. They discuss some of this week’s biggest stories out of Washington, including Biden’s case of Covid, the Respect for Marriage Act, and inflation. 

John Howell is joined by Robert Reed, Veteran Chicago journalist and current contributor to Chicago magazine. They discuss the plan to revitalize the Magnificent Mile and the Water Tower Place, as these former “hotspot” destinations have gone downhill in recent years. Some of these plans include diversifying the retail options, adding in different business types, and even expanding sidewalks. 

*State politics reporter Dave McKinney discusses how Chicago's push to host the 2024 DNC is shrouded by an internal party rift. *Scott Shackford of Reason presents some of the new details regarding the quick release of Congressman Lee Zeldin's attacker. *Sports Marketing Expert Marc Ganis shares his thoughts on Mayor Lightfoot's hail Mary attempt to keep the Bears in Chicago. *Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression tells John why cancelling Dave Chapelle is not a 'win' for free speech. *William Kristol of The Bulwark wonders what politician can both defend and reform our democracy at the same time.

John Howell chats about the rise in sales for cheap beer and tobacco brands among sky high inflation. People are not giving up their vices, but they are switching to cheaper alternatives. 

John Howell speaks with Dave McKinney, State Politics reporter at WBEZ. They speak about the Illinois Democrats’ bid for the 2024 DNC. They also look back at the 1996 DNC, which was held in Chicago.