Joan Esposito (Featured Interviews)

Joan is joined by Adav Noti, executive director at Campaign Legal Center. He discussed the major threats to American democracy, emphasizing the Trump administration's attempts to undermine election administration and voter registration. Noti highlighted the Campaign Legal Center's litigation against Elon Musk and DOGE for "taking actions that they simply have no legal authority to take." He also addressed the challenges in passing campaign finance reform, citing widespread public support but lack of political will. 

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 is joined by Annie Karni, author of “Mad House: How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, a Former Used Car Salesman, a Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man with Rats in His Walls Broke Congress.

The book details the dysfunction of the 118th Congress, highlighting the Republican majority's struggles in electing a speaker and passage of the fewest laws since the Great Depression. Key anecdotes include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's threats to oust Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer's efforts to persuade President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. 

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 Tim Murphy, national correspondent at Mother Jones, who discussed Maxwell Frost, the 28-year-old second-term congressman from Florida. Frost, known for his activism in gun control and racial justice, aims to bring protest politics into Congress. Murphy spent a full day with Frost, observing his busy schedule and his efforts to make his voice heard. Frost's unique background includes working for the ACLU and organizing political campaigns. Despite being young, he has gained respect from colleagues and has been active in various protests and initiatives. The conversation also touches on the potential for younger, more diverse leadership in politics.

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 is joined by Rick Smith, host of “The Rick Smith Show” on WCPT. Starting Monday, April 28th the show can be heard at 7:00 p.m. Central. 

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 is joined by comedian John Fugelsang promoting NOT The White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

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 is joined by Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, who discussed the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Illinois farmers, calling attention to the financial strain and uncertainty they face.

"There's a lot of fear out there," Frerichs told WCPT. "Some of them have faith that Trump will bail them out, like he did in his first term. What that means is that revenue coming in from tariffs just gets put right back into our farmers' pockets. And a lot of them [during the first Trump administration] were big, industrial farmers, large farmers; the average family farmer didn't turn out so well out there."

Frerichs also emphasized the need for Democrats to present clear alternatives and govern effectively where they have power.

"We're going to appoint people who actually have qualifications and not cronies," he told WCPT. "We are going to make sure we don't have conflicts of interest like this administration has all over. We as Democrats should be able to agree in some basic principles like that. But we also have Democrats who are elected to lead states and legislatures, and I think we need to provide examples of how we would govern, not just complaining what they're doing, but saying, this is the alternative. This is how we're going to grow jobs in America. Here's how we're going to educate people. Here's how we're going to restore our standing in the world. And if we have enough good examples of that, we'll regain some trust."

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 is joined by David Corn, Mother Jones’ Washington bureau chief, MSNBC analyst, and author. They discussed Corn's "Our Land" newsletter posts on authoritarianism and history. He highlighted historical examples like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, and Trump's executive order, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." Corn noted the fear among politicians like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and the potential for legal retaliation by the Trump administration against the president's critics, including Corn himself.

"I do think if you fear them, they win," Corn told WCPT. "I mean, the first thing that an authoritarian or that a bully does is try to scare you. They'd rather not throw a punch, because sometimes they can be hit back. Sometimes that punch might not land. Trump's a bully, and he rather would overcome and win with bluster first and with threats. That's not to say that he wouldn't try afterwards to make good on those threats, and he certainly is doing that in certain areas. But I think you have to just, at least initially, resist the urge to be scared of these people. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be prudent and take precautions, but I guess that means [to] not sort of let the fear dominate your decision making or determine your decision making."

Corn also discussed the impact of public protests and the vulnerability of Republican lawmakers who won their districts with narrow margins. 

(Photo credit: Mother Jones)

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 is joined by Nancy Rotering, mayor of Highland Park and founder of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic. She discussed the clinic's 10th anniversary and its work on immigration, housing, and domestic violence cases. The clinic has grown from a few attorneys and volunteers to 40 full-time employees, 24 licensed attorneys and social workers, and 200 pro bono attorneys. Rotering also highlighted the clinic's role in supporting the Highland Park community following the July 4, 2022 mass shooting.

The North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on May 3 at Independence Grove in Libertyville. The event’s title is "Recipe for Justice."

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 is joined by Jessica Chipkin, president and founder of Crate Free USA, and Marc Ayers, Illinois director for Humane World for Animals (formerly The Humane Society of the United States).  They discuss the April 17th event "The Business Case for a More Humane Food Supply Chain," which aims to engage college students in advocating for animal welfare.

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 is joined by author Nnedi Okorafor and Carey Cranston, president of the American Writers Museum. They talk about the April 22nd kickoff event for the AWM’s new exhibit and program initiative, "American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture," which examines the relationship between American writers and religion. This program is being held in partnership with Chicago Public Library. "American Prophets" opens November 2025.

Okorafor is the author of multiple award-winning and New York Times bestsellers, including "Death of the Author," the Binti trilogy, "Who Fears Death," and "Lagoon," currently in development at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. She has won every major prize in speculative fiction, including the World Fantasy, Nebula, and Eisner Awards; multiple Hugo Awards; and the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. Born in Cincinnati to Igbo Nigerian immigrant parents, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her daughter, Anyaugo.   
[Bio source: https://tinyurl.com/2p8x4d4a]

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.