Joan Esposito is joined by former Illinois Congressman and political commentator Joe Walsh (pictured with Joan at last year's DNC in Chicago). 

Walsh discussed his transition from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, citing his belief that his former party poses a threat to democracy and the rule of law. Walsh highlighted the growing number of true Trump supporters in Congress and the backlash against Trump over the Epstein files, which many in his base expected to expose a deep-state conspiracy. Walsh criticized the Democratic Party for not embracing diverse voices, particularly those like New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, and emphasized the need for authenticity and boldness in political leadership. He also criticized current immigration policies as cruel and inhumane.

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 Bushra Amiwala, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 9th Congressional District.

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 Jessica Valenti, author of the book Abortion. Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win and the Substack newsletter “Abortion, Every Day with Jessica Valenti.”

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 Susan Rinkunas, independent journalist covering abortion, reproductive health, and politics; she is a contributing writer at Jezebel and a Democracy Docket contributor.

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.

Filling in for Joan Esposito, WCPT's Maggie O'Keefe talks to Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) about the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Duckworth called it a "big, beautiful betrayal," arguing that the legislation will "explode" the national debt by up to $4 trillion and negatively impact Illinois. 

"The cuts to Medicaid is going to mean that over 500,000 Illinoisans are going to lose health coverage," Duckworth told WCPT. "The cut to SNAP programs is going to mean about 472,000 Illinoisans are going to lose grocery assistance. And when I've spoken to the Grocery Association, when I've spoken to the Illinois Hospital Association, they both said that you are going to see hospitals shut down, especially those safety net hospitals that are often the last hospital standing in a tri-county area."

Duckworth also criticized the GOP's recently unveiled annual defense spending bill, pointing out that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act included $820 billion in defense spending, "and they want to up that to a trillion dollars. Listen, I am a pro-military kind of gal. I served 23 years in the Army, and I'm all for giving our troops the best equipment in the world. But bottom line: This increase in spending doesn't actually help the troops. They're not proposing spending money on, say, building better barracks or supporting our troops." Instead, Duckworth explained, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is "blowing through money" on costly deportation flights and deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles, "when there's already the Los Angeles Police Department there who could do the job."  

Duckworth emphasized the need for Democrats to regain majorities in Congress and win gubernatorial and attorney general races in the 2026 midterm election. "But it's also important to support our state legislators as well, because they're the ones on the ground who are going to have to clean up the mess that Donald Trump is making," she said. 

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 Jen Golbeck, professor, computer scientist, psychologist, “expert in the far-right, online extremism, AI, and bad things on the internet,” and author of the MAGAReport on Substack.

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 Sonia Suter and Naomi Cahn, co-authors of recent articles in Nonprofit Quarterly and The Conversation about the Supreme Court case Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. 

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 Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner (Ret.), former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A). 

Manner scrutinized President Donald Trump's claim that he OK'd Iran's recent retaliatory strike on a U.S. base. "It's a bunch of crap that any leader would say, oh, yeah, attack our positions; we're ready for you guys," he told WCPT. "That is criminal, if it was true. I just believe this is his ego talking, and I certainly hope nothing more, but it certainly should be investigated after he leaves the presidency."

The conversation also touched on the impact of the Trump administration's dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development and the importance of soft power. "It is a way for the United States to extend and influence others without, quite frankly, holding a gun to their head," Manner said. "The military is the strongest proponent of soft power because if we use hard power, that means soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines could be in harm's way and perhaps not go back home to their families. So that is a last resort, not the first resort."   

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 Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), who spoke about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that, minutes before, had narrowly passed the Senate 51-50. It now returns to the House for a vote. Jackson criticized the bill for raising the national debt, disproportionately benefiting the wealthy, and cutting essential programs like SNAP and Medicaid. He expressed concern about the impact of budget cuts on agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which forecasts storms, and highlighted the vulnerability of 16 million people who could lose health insurance on account of the legislation. Jackson said he remains hopeful that some Republicans will still oppose the bill, despite relentless pressure from Trump.  

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 Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, who discussed the organization's work to protect civil rights and democracy through litigation. Key efforts include blocking the administration's attempts to indiscriminately fire federal workers and challenging the U.S.-El Salvador agreement on a gulag prison. Perryman highlighted recent victories, such as halting the national funding freeze and preventing the decimation of the Department of Education. Despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that limited lower courts' power, Perryman emphasized that Democracy Forward continues to secure significant legal wins. The organization relies on donations to support its legal efforts.

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.