The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and the The Last Ward, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals kick off the podcast breaking down the ICE activities throughout the Chicago area over the last week. What do the Rascals think are the biggest things we need to be paying attention to? Austin says if you can find a tamale vendor who had been convicted of a homicide, he will give you $1000. At the request of the Trump administration, Facebook suspended a popular Chicago ICE-sighting group. Marj calls this action, ‘sinister.’ Should social media companies be able to silence civil disobedience. The ‘No Kings’ protests are planned across the U.S. on Saturday. John thinks these protests are going to be the biggest we’ve seen. Mayor Johnson will outline his 2026 budget. The Rascals break down Johnson’s plan to close a $1.15 billion budget shortfall including a head tax proposal. And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light! What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week?

The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and the The Last Ward, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room. The Rascals begin the podcast talking about the Cook County Sheriff’s Office stepping up enforcement for illegally riding on expressway shoulders. The Rascals offer their suggestions on what the punishment should be for illegally driving on the shoulder. The Texas National Guard arrived in the Chicago area this week. What is the most concerning aspect of this move by the Trump administration? And where do we go from here? Jesse Jackson Jr. is launching bid to return to Congress after serving 30 months in prison for campaign finance fraud. Do the Rascals think he has a chance to win the race? Today, Rolling Stone released their ‘Best Songs of the 21st century’ list. The Rascals debate the choices. And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light. What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week?

The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and The Last Ward, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals start the show this week talking about federal agents marching through downtown Chicago. Is there a long-term goal that the Trump administration is hoping to achieve by bringing these federal agents to the city? President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke in front of military officials yesterday. What were the Rascals major takeaways from the rally? Next, the government shutdown after Congress failed to reach a funding deal. Who is to blame? Does anybody really care? Also, the Rascals talk about the future of the Democratic party. Who will lead the party through these next few years and into 2028? And finally, it’s time for the red light, yellow light, green light. What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week?

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast talking about Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late night after a brief suspension. What did the Rascals take away from Kimmel’s monologue? Next, the Rascals discuss the Trump administration linking autism to the use of Tylenol during pregnancy. Today, there was a fatal shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas. And new information is coming out about the fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Franklin Park. The Rascals react to the incidents. Alderman Timmy Knudsen is proposing an ordinance that would allow restaurants to decide if they want to allow dogs. Where are the Rascals on this? Are they in favor of this ordinance? And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light! What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the show this week talking about Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appearance with Bob Sirott this morning. The Rascals break down Mayor Johnson’s job performance so far. Next, the Rascals talk about Governor JB Pritzker denying that he ever called Republicans, ‘Nazis.’ People have been losing their jobs over comments made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death. The Rascals discuss the administration’s effort to crack down on ‘hate speech.’ And what have we learned about Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of Kirk? And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light. What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week? BONUS: In case you missed it, Bob Sirott’s interview with Mayor Johnson follows the podcast.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and The Last Ward, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week the Rascals address the breaking news that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah Valley University in Utah. The Rascals share their initial thoughts. Next, the Rascals discuss ‘Operation Midway Blitz,’ the Trump administration’s effort to ramp up federal immigration raids. The Rascals break down the latest immigration enforcement operations. This week, Chicago city crews cleared a homeless encampment in Legion Park. The Rascals discuss what should be done with these encampments and the unhoused people living in these conditions. Late last Friday, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the new alderman of the 27th Ward would be Walter “Red” Burnett, the son of former 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett. Austin says Chicago is the only major city where the mayor directly appoints members of the City Council. Austin explains why this is anti-democratic. In other local news, downtown Alderman Brendan Reilly announced he would challenge Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Do the Rascals think Reilly has a chance to oust Preckwinkle? It looks like Darren Bailey will take on Gov. JB Pritzker again in the 2026 Illinois governor race. How are the Rascals feeling about Bailey’s attempt to unseat Pritzker? Okay, attraction / distraction: Epstein birthday book. And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light. What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week?

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, Publisher of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! The Rascals kick off the podcast talking about the the level of crime in Chicago and if the problem merits the deployment of the National Guard. Where are the Rascals on Chicago violence, the National Guard, the messaging by Democrats, and how Chicago crime is perceived by those outside of Chicago? JB Pritzker has recently lost some weight (some might say in preparation for a run for president) and declined to answer when he was asked if he’s using weight loss drugs. Do the Rascals find anything wrong with his answer? Last week, there was a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school. Was the gender identity of the shooting suspect needed to tell the story? President Trump said that he’ll give Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom. What are the Rascals thoughts on this? And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light! What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week?

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute and The Last Ward, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast talking about President Trump possibly sending the National Guard to Chicago to combat crime. Do the Rascals think deploying the National Guard to the streets of Chicago is a good way to deter violence? Austin wrote a piece for City Journal that suggests state leaders should change the law to allow municipalities to enter Chapter 9 bankruptcy to clean up the city’s finances. Do the rest of the Rascals think bankruptcy is a viable option? Marj recently wrote an opinion piece in Crain’s about a new Chicago Fire stadium at the 78, and explains why she still has some reservations about the project. There were a lot of distractions this week from the Trump administration including the ban on flag burning, Fed governor removal, the Cracker Barrel logo controversy, etc. The Rascals break them all down. And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light. What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week?

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute and The Last Ward, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals begin the podcast with a fascinating discussion about the future of journalism and Substack. The Rascals then mince about Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips announcing he’s taking a buyout from the paper. Do the Rascals think the city needs a local movie critic? There was a Tribune editorial about the dangers of driving on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Should we put speed cameras (or even AI) on DLSD to catch speeders? Austin gets us up to speed on a critical budget vote scheduled for Chicago Public Schools later this month. Last Friday, President Trump met with Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace deal with Ukraine. And then earlier this week President Trump met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders to discuss how the war Russia-Ukraine war might be resolved. What were the major takeaways? Also this week, President Trump said the Smithsonian focuses too much on ‘how bad slavery was.’ Is this all just a distraction? California Governor Gavin Newsom has been trolling President Trump on social media. Do the Rascals think this mockery is effective and what does it mean for Newsom’s political future?

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast talking about the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office declining to file charges against the Chicago police officers who fired dozens of shots at Dexter Reed. Do the Rascals agree with the decision by State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s office. The Rascals also catch us up on the latest movements of the Texas legislators who came to Illinois to avoid voting on a GOP-favored map. And what about the responses to the redistricting debate from Governor JB Pritzker and California Governor Gavin Newsom? This week, Mayor Brandon Johnson said that if the Bears move to the suburbs, they should be called the Arlington Heights Bears. What do the Rascals make of those comments? Mayor Brandon Johnson’s chief financial officer, says Illinois’ regressive tax structure is ‘crime of the century’ that needs to be solved. The Rascals break it down. New York City is proposing a 15mph speed limit on e-bikes. Do the Rascals think Chicago should propose the same limit? The Trump administration will begin a review of current and planned exhibitions at the Smithsonian so that they align with President Trump’s vision. The Rascals have thoughts. Also this week, President Donald Trump said he was nominating economist E.J. Antoni as the new Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner. The Rascals explain why the find this nomination very troubling. And finally, it’s time for red light, yellow light, green light! What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week.