It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature for 2026! Are you trying to come up with some quick getaway ideas that are only a quick trip from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we take another trip north and visit with the always delightful Stephanie Klett, President and CEO, Visit Lake Geneva! Today, Stephanie shines a light on Lake Geneva’s beautiful ‘West End.’ Stephanie talks about the Lions Club Lobster Boil & Steak Fry in Williams Bay, some highlights in Fontana including The Abbey Resort, Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn, Fontana Home, and Four Brothers Chocolates, and the spectacular views at Geneve Inn & Oak & Oar in Linn.

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about the best way to choose eggs, her thoughts on gluten-free diets, what you need to do if you want to build muscle, how older people can benefit from lifting weights, and to answer all of your health and nutrition questions.

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

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals begin the podcast talking a bit about the new book, ‘Regime Change,’ and the smoke-filled air that has been hanging around Chicago. Do the Rascals think Canada should shoulder the blame for the wildfires that are impacting the United States? Next, the Rascals discuss the viral video that showed a Cubs fan slapping another person for not standing during the national anthem. The Rascals also talk about two independent candidates for the 4th Congressional District who failed to acquire enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García. The Rascals discuss the daunting signature requirement to appear on the ballot as well as the way García abruptly announced his retirement. What about the upcoming mayoral election? Is businessman and perennial candidate Willie Wilson going to run again? Out in New Jersey, a software error allowed 400 non-citizens to vote. Does this change anyone’s opinion on the SAVE America Act? And what’s going on with the war in Iran and how President Trump is framing the conflict? And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light! What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week?

Chicago native Curtis Granderson, TBS baseball analyst and former MLB All-Star, joins John Williams to talk about his lengthy professional baseball career, the upcoming MLW Wiffle Ball series returning to Curtis Granderson Stadium at UIC, the Youth Collector Clubs Initiative that amplifies collector educational efforts, his thoughts on this year’s Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, what he thinks of the newer rules to make the game move faster, and why he thinks it’s great for baseball that the White Sox are competitive again.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals! Bob joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says that you should still keep watering and if the humidity comes back, to keep an eye out for diseases.

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

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the viral video that shows a person at a Cubs game slapping the fan in front of him for not standing for the national anthem, if political candidates should run for multiple offices at the same time, the candidates lining up to become Chicago mayor, and why he’s frustrated with navigation apps.

Dr. Michael Bauer, Medical Director, Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, talks to John Williams about the latest on the cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US, the FDA approving a daily pill that could lower cholesterol level, and a new study that shows regular coffee consumption may be linked to a lower risk of stroke, diabetes and heart failure.

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