On today's show: – David Layman, former Providence, Rhode Island, news anchor, managing editor, and political commentator for RIPBS – Aaron Kleinman, head of research at <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Heartland Signal</a> – <a href="https://spencercritchley.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Spencer Critchley</a>, author of Patriots of Two Nations and host of the<a href="https://dastardlycleverness.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2"> Dastardly Cleverness in the Service of Good</a> podcast Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive">heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive</a>).See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

On today's show: – David Layman, former Providence, Rhode Island, news anchor, managing editor, and political commentator for RIPBS – Aaron Kleinman, head of research at Heartland Signal – Spencer Critchley, author of Patriots of Two Nations and host of the Dastardly Cleverness in the Service of Good podcast 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). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show: –&nbsp;David Layman, former Providence, Rhode Island, news anchor, managing editor, and political commentator for RIPBS – Aaron Kleinman, head of research at <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Heartland Signal</a> – <a href="https://spencercritchley.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spencer Critchley</a>, author of Patriots of Two Nations and host of the<a href="https://dastardlycleverness.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;Dastardly Cleverness in the Service of Good</a>&nbsp;podcast Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive" rel="noopener noreferrer">heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive</a>).See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="noopener noreferrer">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | February 18, 2026

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central), a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics. &nbsp;
A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect &mdash; Democrats, of course. &nbsp; &nbsp;
Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC. &nbsp;Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).&nbsp;

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Politics

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central), a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics.   A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.     Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC.  Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). 

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/" rel="noopener noreferrer">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central), a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics. &nbsp;
A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course. &nbsp; &nbsp;
Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC. &nbsp;Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).&nbsp;

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Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | February 18, 2026

Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | February 18, 2026

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