The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Lou suggests that now is the time for the pre-fall HVAC tune-up and to get your chimney cleaned. Lou also shares his thoughts on mandatory service for young adults and when you should take Social Security.

Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.

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

Connell McShane, anchor of ‘NewsNation Live with Connell McShane,’ joins John Williams to talk about how much we should care about the national debt hitting $40 trillion and if we need to be paying attention to the story of President Trump’s aid, Natalie Harp.

 Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John to talk about the market volatility this week, the bond market and national debt awareness, why treasury yields are higher, the concern about the job market, what he thinks about the future of wage growth, what’s driving the stock market right now, and what investors need to know about building a durable portfolio.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Michael O’Brien, Chicago Sun-Times High School Sports Editor, joins John Williams to preview the 2026 high school football season. What are the big storylines for this season?

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about how 68% of people do not have optimism magnesium levels and what you can do to get your magnesium levels up. Dawn also stresses the importance of lunch. And as always, Dawn answers all of your health and nutrition questions.

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 head west to beautiful Princeton, Illinois and chat with Victoria Yepsen, Director of Tourism, City of Princeton! Victoria talks about how Princeton is an easy getaway for those in the Chicago, the charm and friendliness of the people that make up Princeton, the upcoming Bureau County Fair (that ends with a Demolition Derby!), why you shouldn’t miss the Homestead Festival in September, the unique, locally owned shops and restaurants, some of the other must-see attractions and why it’s the perfect escape from the city!

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 the  Steve Bertrand on Books podcast and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start the podcast talking about the CTU filing a defamation lawsuit against the Illinois Policy Institute (as well as our friend / Rascals contributor Austin Berg). What do the Rascals make of this lawsuit? Also on the local scene, Chicago mayoral candidate Alexi Giannoulias proposed a $22 minimum wage, Governor Pritzker donated a bunch of money to his re-election campaign, and Darren Bailey wants to make the tollway free. The Rascals break it all down. Also making local news this week, former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin filed a complaint with the Cook County inspector general accusing Treasurer Maria Pappas of intimidation and official misconduct after she sent him a series of profane tweets. Do the Rascals think that Pappas is a legitimate mayoral candidate? Nationally, a polling company folded after faking recent polls in Wisconsin and California. Do the Rascals think this is a big deal? In a speech this week, Senator Jon Ossoff mentioned President Trump aide Natalie Harp that has now put her in the media spotlight. Do we need to know more about Harp? And what about the rest of Ossoff’s speech? Is he a serious contender for the White House? The Rascals also wonder if President Trump would seriously consider using a nuclear bomb. On a lighter note, the Rascals end the show with red light, yellow light, green light! What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending or slightly recommending) this week?