On this week's show: – <a href="https://laurajedeed.com/">Laura Jedeed</a>, investigative and features journalist who focuses on the American conservative movement and far right; Slate recently published her article “<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/ice-recruitment-minneapolis-shooting.html">You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof</a>” – <a href="https://davidpepper.com/">David Pepper</a>, lawyer, political activist, author (of fiction and nonfiction), and former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, and 2026 candidate for lieutenant governor of Ohio – <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/j-patrick-coolican/">J. Patrick Coolican</a>, editor-in-chief of the <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a> – Joe Walsh, former Republican congressman from Illinois and host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-contract-with-joe-walsh/id1590913798">The Social Contract with Joe Walsh</a> Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).   See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

On this week's show: – Laura Jedeed, investigative and features journalist who focuses on the American conservative movement and far right; Slate recently published her article “You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof” – David Pepper, lawyer, political activist, author (of fiction and nonfiction), and former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, and 2026 candidate for lieutenant governor of Ohio – J. Patrick Coolican, editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Reformer – Joe Walsh, former Republican congressman from Illinois and host of The Social Contract with Joe Walsh Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's show: – <a href="https://laurajedeed.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Laura Jedeed</a>, investigative and features journalist who focuses on the American conservative movement and far right; Slate recently published her article “<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/ice-recruitment-minneapolis-shooting.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof</a>” – <a href="https://davidpepper.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">David Pepper</a>, lawyer, political activist, author (of fiction and nonfiction), and former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, and 2026 candidate for lieutenant governor of Ohio – <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/j-patrick-coolican/" rel="noopener noreferrer">J. Patrick Coolican</a>, editor-in-chief of the <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Minnesota Reformer</a> – Joe Walsh, former Republican congressman from Illinois and host of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-contract-with-joe-walsh/id1590913798" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Social Contract with Joe Walsh</a> Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin). &nbsp; See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="noopener noreferrer">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

It's the Democracy, Stupid | Jan. 17, 2026

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago,&nbsp;"The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath" is now "It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath."
Each week Edwin and his guests get specific about politics, government, campaigns, and the kind of country all this work is meant to build.
Join us live every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central&nbsp;to be part of the conversation.
About Edwin Edwin Eisendrath served two terms in Chicago&rsquo;s City Council before being appointed Midwest Region Director of HUD by President Bill Clinton. He was subsequently appointed Federal Receiver in charge of the takeover and turnaround of the Chicago Housing Authority.
Off the campaign trail, Edwin has worked in higher education and as a consultant to universities here and around the world. After the 2016 election cycle he knew he had to focus back home. He brought business and labor leaders together to rescue the Chicago Sun-Times and its subsidiary, the Chicago Reader. He ran the company as its CEO until both publications were saved.&nbsp;
Back in the 1990s Bill Clinton&rsquo;s campaign slogan, "It&rsquo;s the economy, stupid," captured the biggest concern of the era. Today American democracy itself is under attack. So Edwin launched an effort called, "It&rsquo;s the democracy, stupid."
In addition to his radio show here on WCPT, Edwin has built a community around his political ideas on <a href="https://edwineisendrath.substack.com/p/i-love-american-democracy-but-love" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Substack</a>, hosts a weekly show on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincolnsquare.media/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Lincoln Square</a>, and is a frequent guest on political shows. He remains deeply involved in democracy work.
He is a proud Chicagoan, married to the journalist <a href="https://jenniferschulze.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Jennifer Schulze</a>.

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From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, "The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath" is now "It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath." Each week Edwin and his guests get specific about politics, government, campaigns, and the kind of country all this work is meant to build. Join us live every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central to be part of the conversation. About Edwin Edwin Eisendrath served two terms in Chicago’s City Council before being appointed Midwest Region Director of HUD by President Bill Clinton. He was subsequently appointed Federal Receiver in charge of the takeover and turnaround of the Chicago Housing Authority. Off the campaign trail, Edwin has worked in higher education and as a consultant to universities here and around the world. After the 2016 election cycle he knew he had to focus back home. He brought business and labor leaders together to rescue the Chicago Sun-Times and its subsidiary, the Chicago Reader. He ran the company as its CEO until both publications were saved.  Back in the 1990s Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan, "It’s the economy, stupid," captured the biggest concern of the era. Today American democracy itself is under attack. So Edwin launched an effort called, "It’s the democracy, stupid." In addition to his radio show here on WCPT, Edwin has built a community around his political ideas on Substack, hosts a weekly show on Lincoln Square, and is a frequent guest on political shows. He remains deeply involved in democracy work. He is a proud Chicagoan, married to the journalist Jennifer Schulze.

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/" rel="noopener noreferrer">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago,&nbsp;"The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath" is now "It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath."
Each week Edwin and his guests get specific about politics, government, campaigns, and the kind of country all this work is meant to build.
Join us live every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central&nbsp;to be part of the conversation.
About Edwin Edwin Eisendrath served two terms in Chicago’s City Council before being appointed Midwest Region Director of HUD by President Bill Clinton. He was subsequently appointed Federal Receiver in charge of the takeover and turnaround of the Chicago Housing Authority.
Off the campaign trail, Edwin has worked in higher education and as a consultant to universities here and around the world. After the 2016 election cycle he knew he had to focus back home. He brought business and labor leaders together to rescue the Chicago Sun-Times and its subsidiary, the Chicago Reader. He ran the company as its CEO until both publications were saved.&nbsp;
Back in the 1990s Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan, "It’s the economy, stupid," captured the biggest concern of the era. Today American democracy itself is under attack. So Edwin launched an effort called, "It’s the democracy, stupid."
In addition to his radio show here on WCPT, Edwin has built a community around his political ideas on <a href="https://edwineisendrath.substack.com/p/i-love-american-democracy-but-love" rel="noopener noreferrer">Substack</a>, hosts a weekly show on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincolnsquare.media/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lincoln Square</a>, and is a frequent guest on political shows. He remains deeply involved in democracy work.
He is a proud Chicagoan, married to the journalist <a href="https://jenniferschulze.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jennifer Schulze</a>.

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It's the Democracy, Stupid | Jan. 17, 2026

It's the Democracy, Stupid | Jan. 17, 2026

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