Trump’s still their guy; Jack Smith alleges there was clear proof Trump committed crimes; Jeff Stein makes his Wednesday visit; Trump gestapo having hard impact on local businesses; Carnahan refusing to resign as Nissaw mayor; Hillman Township pettiness; fraud-related lawsuits.

Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30.

The Democrats (+4 Republicans) have forced a vote to keep your healthcare insurance premiums affordable. Kentucky special election results. PLUS Windy City Times Managing Editor Jake Wittich Reports:

Gay couple wins $104M in I-90 crash case

‘Dining Out’ traces a century of queer restaurants—starting in Chicago

The Equality for Every Family Act signed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

T-shirt fundraiser launches to support drag icon Joan Jett Blakk

Windy City Times has been the voice of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community since 1985. This year marks the news outlet’s 40th anniversary of uplifting queer stories, reporting with Pride and chronicling LGBTQ+ history. Visit WindyCityTimes.com/newsletters to sign up for the publication’s weekly LGBTQ+ news updates.

Local News:

Rural Ohio trans candidate nearly drops out of race after being targeted online, wins seat in Republican stronghold https://thebuckeyeflame.com/2025/12/15/amy-heutmaker-transgender-elected-official/

No, late director Rob Reiner’s son Nick is not transgender https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/12/17/no-late-director-rob-reiners-son-nick-is-not-transgender/

Florida city sets up rainbow bike racks after being forced to remove Pride crossings https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/12/17/st-petersburg-florida-pride-bike-racks-rainbow-crossings/

The Gaily Show is the only daily LGBTQ radio news and talk show in the U.S. Watch us on YouTube daily at 2pm. Catch us on the radio at 2pm CST on AM950 Radio (Minneapolis) or at 5am CST on WCPT 820 (Chicago). We cover news, politics, books, theatre, movies, and more in Minnesota, Chicago, Washington DC, Texas, and beyond! Follow us on Bluesky: @thegailyshow.org #thegailyshow

Joining Robert Pilot: New Native Theatre and Bob Blake Solar Bear with the Solar News and Sports #followers #highlights

Trump approval ratings; Coast Guard delists hate symbols; unemployment highest in years; Trump’s chief of staff goes on the record; Minnesota man targeted in crypto scam; meth seized; Patrick Coolican is back with Brett this week; the adventures of Jennifer Carnahan; arrest in south metro bomb threats; executive orders on gun violence.

Patrick Coolican returns for our weekly conversation with Brett about what’s happening in the Minnesota Reformer. Today they talk about ICE raids impacting immigrant businesses, a Trump administration investigation of Minnesota’s unemployment insurance program and a new Republican Party MN Governor poll. Find more about what they talked about at:

https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/16/karmel-mall-once-a-bustling-center-of-community-falls-silent/

https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/trump-admin-announces-target-review-of-minnesotas-unemployment-insurance-program/

https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/14/perennial-candidate-kendall-qualls-wins-minnesota-gop-gubernatorial-straw-poll/

Speedskater Conor McDermott Mostowy, who won bronze and silver medals at the US championships this fall, has his sights on the 2026 Olympics. He is our guest to talk about his recent medals, being an out athlete in speedskating, and his road to the 2026 Olympics. Support him here: http://www.gofundme.com/f/be-a-part-of-my-milan-2026-journey

AND, Joseph Lezza joins us to talk about the best holiday rom-coms, as well potential nominees for the hall of shame.

Joseph Lezza is a Pushcart-nominated writer who was once described as a “mid twink” by the Matt Bomer Twitter army. He is the author of the memoir I’m Never Fine: Scenes and Spasms on Loss (Vine Leaves Press), a finalist for the 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award and the 2021 Prize Americana in Prose. His work has been featured in, among others, Slate, Longreads, & The Massachusetts Review. https://www.josephlezza.com

Plus, we share about a new episode of our podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life that dropped today.

The Gaily Show is the only daily LGBTQ radio news and talk show in the U.S. Watch us on YouTube daily at 2pm. Catch us on the radio at 2pm CST on AM950 Radio (Minneapolis) or at 5am CST on WCPT 820 (Chicago). We cover news, politics, books, theatre, movies, and more in Minnesota, Chicago, Washington DC, Texas, and beyond! Follow us on Bluesky: @thegailyshow.org #thegailyshow

Joining Robert Pilot: Arvina Martin of Emerge WI and Wendy Pilot