On this week's show: – George Packer, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/george-packer/">staff writer</a> at The Atlantic and author; his latest piece for The Atlantic is “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/minneapolis-ice-protests-democracy/685778/">What Should Americans Do Now?</a>” and his latest book is “<a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374614720/theemergency/">The Emergency: A Novel</a>” – James Santelle, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (2010 to 2015), and a 30-year veteran of the Department of Justice – Steve Held, co-publisher of <a href="https://unraveledpress.com/">Unraveled Press</a> – Betsy Hodges, former mayor of Minneapolis (2014-2018) and member of the Minneapolis City Council (2006-2014) 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: – George Packer, staff writer at The Atlantic and author; his latest piece for The Atlantic is “What Should Americans Do Now?” and his latest book is “The Emergency: A Novel” – James Santelle, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (2010 to 2015), and a 30-year veteran of the Department of Justice – Steve Held, co-publisher of Unraveled Press – Betsy Hodges, former mayor of Minneapolis (2014-2018) and member of the Minneapolis City Council (2006-2014) 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: –&nbsp;George Packer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/george-packer/" rel="noopener noreferrer">staff writer</a>&nbsp;at The Atlantic and author; his latest piece for The Atlantic is “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/minneapolis-ice-protests-democracy/685778/" rel="noopener noreferrer">What Should Americans Do Now?</a>” and his latest book is “<a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374614720/theemergency/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Emergency: A Novel</a>” – James Santelle, former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (2010 to 2015), and a 30-year veteran of the Department of Justice – Steve Held, co-publisher of&nbsp;<a href="https://unraveledpress.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unraveled Press</a> – Betsy Hodges, former mayor of Minneapolis (2014-2018) and member of the Minneapolis City Council (2006-2014) 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. 31, 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>.

News

Politics

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>.

Share It's the Democracy, Stupid | Jan. 31, 2026

Sign up to save your podcasts

It's the Democracy, Stupid | Jan. 31, 2026

It's the Democracy, Stupid | Jan. 31, 2026

More shows like It's the Democracy, Stupid Full Episodes

The Rachel Maddow Show

Pod Save America

The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

WCPT 820 Weekend

The MeidasTouch Podcast

#SistersInLaw

Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Joan Esposito (Featured Interviews)

Chew's Views with Richard Chew (Featured Interviews)

Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez (Full Episodes)

Joan Esposito (Full Episodes)

Out Chicago (Featured Interviews)

Chew's Views with Richard Chew (Full Episodes)

It's the Democracy, Stupid Featured Interviews

Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez (Featured Interviews)

Out Chicago (Full Episodes)