Joan Esposito (Featured Interviews)

Joan Esposito is joined by Haley Cohen Gilliland, director of the Yale Journalism Initiative and author of A Flower Traveled in My Blood.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Jon Marshall, associate professor in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern and author of “Clash: Presidents and the Press in Times of Crisis.”

Marshall discussed the evolving media landscape, highlighting the impact of "a polarized news media environment that we have now and the power of right-wing talk radio and websites and social media," in sustaining Donald Trump's political viability. Marshall criticized mainstream media for not providing sufficient context in their reporting, emphasizing the need for journalists to frame events within larger threats to democracy. He praised smaller, nonprofit journalism groups for their investigative work and urged support for local news outlets. Marshall also noted the challenges of independent journalism in the face of corporate media biases and the potential of new media ventures like Mehdi Hasan's project, Zeteo. 

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Illinois Democratic State Rep. La Shawn Ford, candidate for Congress in the 7th District of Illinois. He has represented the 8th House District in Illinois since 2007 and is vying to replace retiring 15-term Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) in Congress. 

"He gave me the endorsement of a lifetime when he said it's an honor of a lifetime to endorse LaShawn for Congress of United States of America," Ford told WCPT, referring to Davis's July 31st West Side press conference where he announced his retirement and endorsed Ford. Davis called Ford “young, energetic, and super ready.”

Ford also discussed his efforts with the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force and his commitment to health care reform, particularly health insurance affordability. He stressed his accessibility and responsiveness to constituents and said he aims to continue Davis's legacy in protecting Social Security, Medicaid, and child welfare.

"I can assure him that the fight that he's had, I will bring it to Washington, with his support, and so he could continue to fight, and I'll be in Washington and I'll be fighting, and he'll be a great mentor, so that we can continue to protect the dignity of all Americans," Ford said.  

The Democratic primary is March 17.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.

Scudder discussed the ongoing effort of Democratic Texas state legislators to block passage of a Republican congressional map designed to give the GOP five additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms. By leaving the state, the Texas lawmakers, many of whom have come to Illinois, have denied quorum to the Republican-controlled chamber and brought the legislature's 30-day special session to a halt.

“For a decade,” Scudder told Esposito, “Democrats have been campaigning saying that we are the great defenders of democracy, and today is the day for us to act like it. You don't get to do that for 10 years, and then, when a moment like this happens, cower and walk away.”

The legislators, who are paid a base salary of just $7,200 annually and face $500-a-day fines for leaving the state during session, are seeking financial support through a redistricting defense fund (visit https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tdp_redistricting).

“They all have other jobs, they have families, and they are away from all of those things,” Scudder said. “They still have mortgages. Their mortgages don't get to break quorum. . . . But they know that this attempt to steal members of Congress from the electorate so that the president can avoid accountability for trying to privatize Social Security, gouging Medicare and Medicaid, passing the largest tax increase on working families in our lifetime [is] unconscionable.”

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Hal Sparks, host of “The Hal Sparks Radio Program” on WCPT.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Orie Givens, vice president of communications for the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund & LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, who discussed the organization's efforts to support LGBTQ candidates and elected officials. The Victory Fund assists around 200 candidates nationwide and supports over 1,300 LGBTQ elected officials through training, fellowships, and conferences. Givens highlighted the challenges faced by international LGBTQ officials due to U.S. immigration policies and the impact the current political climate is having on LGBTQ rights. Despite these challenges, the organization remains committed to fostering equal representation and resilience within the LGBTQ community. Givens emphasized the importance of supporting LGBTQ candidates and engaging in local politics to advance LGBTQ rights.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Tom Haugh, owner of PTI Securities and co-host of the financial talk show “Stocks and Jocks.”

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Stephanie Zimmermann, award-winning watchdogs and consumer investigations reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Zimmermann discussed her eight-month study on grocery prices. She tracked 35 common items at four stores: Jewel, Mariano's, Target, and Walmart. Prices increased for most items, she said, with a $11 total shopping basket increase at Jewel and Mariano's. Specific items like ground beef, Tropicana orange juice, and Coca-Cola saw significant price hikes. Zimmermann attributed some increases to corporate greed, noting a 28 percent rise in prices from 2019 to 2024, and highlighted the impact of tariffs on imported goods. She also provided tips for saving on groceries, such as using store apps and private-label items.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Jordan Wood, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate running to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. 

"I was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine, which is in the central part of the state, to a very working-class family," Wood told WCPT. "My father's a pastor, my mom a teacher, and when I was born my mom had to leave the workforce to provide childcare for my twin brother and I. I remember [her] having to go back to the workforce when I was in elementary school because the church my dad served at the time couldn't afford to provide the family with healthcare anymore because of skyrocketing costs. I started work at 16 in construction, for one of my best friend's dad's company. I worked through high school and college. I was only able to go to college because my family was eligible for need-based student loans. And I was also in second grade when Susan Collins was first elected to the US Senate.

"And these problems that so drove the cost of affordability for my family growing up -- in the past 30 years that Susan Collins has been our senator, they haven't just persisted for the working poor and working people; they have gotten out of control and worse. And they are, I believe, at the core of why our democracy and the future of our country is so at threat is that working people are losing trust and faith in the idea that if you work hard and you play by the rules and you treat people well, no matter your background, where you come from, you can achieve the future that you want in this country. And I think that is all at risk right now, and it's because we have not had elected officials that have delivered on solving these problems. And I think it's important we have people in Congress who come from these backgrounds and have lived through these experiences and understand why they must be priority."

Wood criticized Collins' consistent party-line voting and lack of courage on key issues.

"It's a routine we're used to," he said, "where Susan Collins, when she's given permission by party leadership to vote a certain way because her vote is not needed, then that's what she does. But when we need her to stand up for our state, to stand up for our democracy and the rule of law, when we need to be courageous, she's not there. And the slogan that we launched this campaign with, "Maine needs courage, not concern," is really at the heart of the frustration that that so many Mainers feel about her her time in the Senate."

Wood also spoke about his background in politics, which includes a stint as chief of staff to former Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA). He stepped down from that position in order to form the group democracyFIRST, "which was at its core," he noted, "designed to make sure we don't have another January 6, to make sure that we that we combat and stand up and reject this this movement aligned with Trump that was trying to take over offices overseeing election certification at the county and state level in Arizona and Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania .And we helped elect Democrats and Republicans to these offices who were publicly committed to denounce political violence and uphold election results when all the votes were counted." 

He added: "Within a couple years of working in in politics and advocacy, [I] could recognize that that the power that corporations and the wealthy were having over our political system were not just eroding trust in Washington, in our government and politicians by voters, but it was also just preventing us from getting anything done." 

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Kylie Cheung, staff writer for the Abortion, Every Day Substack newsletter and author of Coercion: Surviving and Resisting Abortion Bans.

The book explores the impact of the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision and resulting state-level abortion bans. In the interview Cheung highlighted the rise in maternal and infant mortality rates, sepsis cases, and the physical and emotional toll anti-abortion policies have on women, particularly marginalized groups. She emphasized the political violence inherent in abortion bans and the broader implications for gender-based violence. She also addressed the role of crisis pregnancy centers in exploiting vulnerable individuals, often immigrant women. 

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.