The John Howell Show Podcast

*UIC Law Professor Jason Kilborn shares how a test question regarding a hypothetical situation has put his professional reputation in shambles.

*Historian and former tech CEO Ron Gruner discusses his book that analyzes Presidents of the last century based on economic and policy accomplishments.

*Alderman Ray Lopez tells John why the $1.67 million Brickyard settlement is a bad precedent for the city to set.

*Andrea Darlas of the Museum of Broadcast Communications details their upcoming event with the stars of "Abbott Elementary"

*Plus, Dr. Danton Kostandarithes looks at the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and the crew talk about their favorite presidential portrayals in TV and movies.

After a long and intense debate, a city council committee authorized a $1.67 million dollar settlement to 5 people who were allegedly mistakenly taken from their car and roughed up by officers. This occurred at the Brickyard Mall in 2020 during the rampant rioting and looting. Alderman Ray Lopez joins John to share his thoughts.

University of Illinois at Chicago law professor Jason Kilborn has been put on leave for over a year because of a censored question on his final exam regarding a racial insult to an imaginary woman of color in a pretend civil case. Students became outraged at the redacted language alluded to in the question and notified the administration which resulted in the firestorm he's in now. Jason joins John to explain his side of the story.

*Grace Kinnicutt of Capitol News recaps a hectic day for the Illinois House as the mask mandate raged on for a second day.

*Journalist and historian Garrett M. Graff discusses some lesser-known Richard Nixon facts in his new book, "Watergate: A New History."

*NYU Constitutional Law Professor Richard Pildes shares how ranked-choice voting resulted in a big win for Alaska.

*Author David O. Stewart tells how George Washington became the dominant force in the creation of the United States of America.

*Plus, John details the escapades of another airline passenger that would never be allowed on Howell Air.

Alderman Matt O'Shea is hosting his 8th Annual Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast to support the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. It will be held at Saint John Fisher Kane Hall from 9-11am. The Alderman joins John with the details. For more information, please contact Alderman O'Shea at [email protected] or (773) 238 - 8766.

Illinois House Republicans and Democrats got into a heated argument this week over COVID-19 restrictions and masks. It resulted in several Republicans being escorted out of the chambers. The Center Square Associate Editor Greg Bishop was in Springfield and joins John Howell with the full story.

A bipartisan panel of lawmakers met to discuss Governor Pritzker's school mask mandate extension. They decided it was unlawful and unneeded. Pritzker doubled down on his executive order in a press conference after the decision was made. WCIA Springfield Bureau Chief Mark Maxwell joins John Howell to discuss.

Proxy voting is becoming a problem. Several politicians have been criticized for over using the option. Nancy Pelosi extended the option through March. EFB Advocacy Partner John Feehery joins John Howell to share his thoughts.

*Mark Brown of the Chicago Sun-Times tells John that Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson should know better than to play in a dirty sandbox.

*Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller shares why she fought to get February recognized as American Heart Month in the county.

*Steve Bernas of the BBB of Chicago & Northern IL helps you avoid scams surrounding tax season.

*Senior legal affairs reporter Joshua Gerstein tries to break down why Sarah Palin's libel case against the New York Times was thrown out of court.

*Plus, John presents a moral conundrum surrounding a family and their babysitter.

Sarah Palin filed a libel case against the New York Times over a 2017 editorial. The court threw out the case because her lawyers failed to produce enough evidence that the newspaper knew what it wrote about her was false. Politico Senior Legal Affairs Reporter Josh Gerstein breaks down the details of the case with John Howell.