WGN Radio is proud to announce that the RTDNA Foundation and their 2026 First Amendment Awards has honored Steve Bertrand with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The foundation’s awards celebrate the efforts to promote responsible journalism and preserve the constitutionally guaranteed rights to do so. Past honorees include local reporters, network anchors, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and multiple U.S. Senators.

A cornerstone of the airwaves for four decades, Steve Bertrand retired from WGN Radio in November 2025. His tenure with the station began as an intern in the 1980s, eventually transitioning to anchoring the news in 1992. Over the years, Steve earned the confidence of listeners across Chicagoland, hosting various programs and anchoring news across every daypart of the station’s lineup.

A few of the notable stories Bertrand has covered over the past four decades include the death of Mayor Harold Washington, the Plainfield tornado of 1990, Al Gore’s decision not to concede on election night in 2000, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Steve may be retired, but his insights aren’t going anywhere—you can still catch him as a regular at the roundtable on The Mincing Rascals podcast.

Steve stands among a select group of industry leaders recognized this year:

The RTDNA Foundation, the 501(c)(3) educational arm of the Radio Television Digital News Association, is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethical journalism and fostering leadership in the newsroom. Through professional development, scholarships, and fellowships, the Foundation supports the global broadcast and digital news community by promoting diversity, protecting First Amendment rights, and helping journalists navigate the impact of technological change.

Steve joins John Williams to reflect on this award and the weight of being recognized by the RTDNA Foundation for his four-decade career.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel,  multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room., and recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand. The Rascals kick off the podcast talking about the Bears losing to the Rams in the playoffs and the controversy over the Sun-Times headline, “Good, Better, Bust,” the day after the loss. What do the Rascals think of the headline? Sticking to sports, what do the Rascals make of the transfer portal / NIL era in college sports? Next, the Rascals discuss Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson saying that he is not going to buy back its parking meters. The Rascals also break down the news coming out of the World Economic Forum in Davos. So, what’s going on with Greenland? And finally, the Rascals talk about the recent Op-ed from Paul Vallas about safety on the CTA. Oh, and Steve Bertrand gives a special shoutout for the Blackhawks honoring Jonathan Toews, and PCA and Caleb Williams making the rounds at a couple of recent sporting events.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign computer science professor Dr. Sheldon Jacobson joins John Williams to talk about the future of college athletics in the time of NIL and the transfer portal.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected].

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the latest on flu cases in Illinois, and a new study that concluded that there is no link between Tylenol/acetaminophen and autism.

Nicholas Grossman, Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois, joins John Williams to talk about President Trump’s continued interest in acquiring Greenland. Professor Grossman explains the relationship between Denmark and Greenland, what the island of Greenland is like, if China and Russia present a viable threat, if it’s possible for the U.S. to buy Greenland, and how he expects this standoff to end.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the controversy surrounding the Sun-Times headline after the Bears loss to the Rams, if the success of the Bears will impact the team’s desire to move, and President Trump’s attempt to acquire Greenland.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected].

NewsNation Now anchor Connell McShane joins John Williams to talk about the new food pyramid and how that will impact the cost of food, the popularity of President Trump’s immigration policies, and the debate over the ICE shooting of Renee Good.

Craig Bolanos, Co-founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to explain why he believes 2026 will be a good year for the market, the attacks on Fed independence, the streak of positive economic data, the importance of a diversified portfolio, and what he’s telling his clients right now. For more information, go to GetRetiredStayRetired.com.