John Williams

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Now that the holidays are over, Lou gives us some deep cleaning tips to get your house back in order. Lou also answers all of your home improvement questions.

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].

Marge Sipla, Speed Jokes spirit animal, cataloger and Member of the Speed Jokes Committee, joins John Williams and the gang to give us her favorite Speed Jokes of December 2025! What was your favorite joke this month? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins John Williams to discuss investigations into state employees who improperly received PPP loans during the pandemic. The conversation also explores immigration enforcement, concerns over federal agents operating in Illinois communities, and recent court rulings involving the National Guard and the balance of power between state and federal government

Hector Corona, founder of City Kids Camp, joins John to thank all of the WGN listeners for an incredible year and shares optimism about next year!

Pastor Corey Brooks, Founder and Senior Pastor at New Beginnings Church of Chicago and the Founder and CEO of Project H.O.O.D, joins John Williams one last time in 2025 to talk about the progress he’s making in the effort to build his opportunity center on the South Side and why he’s walking across America to raise awareness and funds for his cause. You can donate to the effort here.

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, recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The group kicks things off with a wide-ranging discussion on American politics, President Trump’s recent actions, public perception of the economy, and why many voters feel disconnected discussions on the economy. John then answers a letter from a listener who is on the fence about continuing to listen to the program. 

The conversation turns to the power and limits of the presidency, with sharp analysis of executive authority, Supreme Court decisions, and the long-term implications of challenges to birthright citizenship. The panel also examines the political optics surrounding foreign policy, including Ukraine, Russia, and global power dynamics.

Closer to home, the group weighs in on Chicago politics, the future of the Bears, and whether a new stadium could finally take shape with shovels in the ground in 2026. The end of the episode features Red Light, Yellow Light, and Green Light recommendations from the panel. As always, the Rascals don’t shy away from tough conversations bringing humor, insight, and sharp perspective to another packed episode.

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

Author and historian Geoffrey C. Ward joins John Williams to talk about his new book “The American Revolution: An Intimate History” and his collaborations with filmmaker Ken Burns.