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].

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us about all the supplies you’ll want to have on hand and ready to go for Christmas week . Lou also answers all of your home improvement questions.

NewsNation Now anchor Connell McShane joins John Williams to break down reactions to President Trump’s latest speech and explain the administration’s move to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.

Brandon Ewing, Director, Community Retail Branches, BCU, joined John Williams on the Noon Business Lunch (in support of our Your Hometown spotlight of Long Grove) to talk about their credit union, the difference between a credit union and a bank, the various products they offer, the benefits of a credit union, who is eligible to become a member of BCU, and how they are a full service financial institution.

Long Grove’s nearest branch is in Lake Zurich, but you can find the closest one to you here.