Steven Crano, Corporate Communications Manager at Choose Chicago, joins John Williams to discuss the various NYE festivities in Chicago to bring in 2026!

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

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about her latest column and the stock market rallying to end the year. And, as always, she answers questions from listeners.

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

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to analyze year-end market trends, the so-called Santa Claus rally, inflation and unemployment pressures, consumer confidence, and what data suggests for 2026.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room. The Rascals open the podcast with Steve Bertrand’s return to the panel and have a candid discussion about what it’s like leaving the anchor desk and the growing difficulty of maintaining objectivity in covering the Trump Administration. From there, the group revisits the controversy over whether major networks should air presidential addresses without advance transcripts. Should broadcasters continue to carry speeches they can’t fact-check in real time? The conversation deepens with an intense breakdown of CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes segment on the U.S. sending Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison, raising alarms about journalistic independence. Shifting to local headlines, the Rascals examine the Chicago Bears’ threat to relocate to Northwest Indiana, debating stadium financing, public subsidies, and whether Bears fans would ultimately follow the team across state lines to Hammond. Would Chicago really stomach losing the Bears to Indiana? The Rascals also weigh in on Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw’s appearance at a Turning Point USA event and the risks athletes face when engaging in polarizing politics. Closing the episode is a discussion on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s newly passed city budget, including higher bag taxes, expanded gambling, ambulance debt collection, and whether Chicago is relying too heavily on nickel-and-dime revenue fixes instead of long-term solutions. Tune in to find out where the Rascals land on all these issues and more. 

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about a variety of topics including the challenges of winter in Chicago, the city’s budget issues, and the controversy surrounding CBS News pulling a 60 Minutes segment from broadcast.

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

Tim Novak, investigative reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times’ Watchdogs team, joins John Williams to answer questions on his latest article, co-written by fellow reporter Rob Herguth, about an Illinois campaign finance rule that allows former House Speaker Michael Madigan and ex-Ald. Edward Burke to legally convert millions in leftover campaign funds to personal use after paying income taxes, despite their convictions.

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