Where does Governor Rauner stand 2.5 years in and what does Kristina Rasmussen's appointment as his new Chief of Staff mean for the rest of his tenure? The Governor has an opportunity to realign himself with the people of Illinois and against the Springfield royals who have decimated Illinois. Kristina has helped turn around the Illinois Policy Institute, can she do the same for the Governor's Office? Dan & Chicago Tribune editorial board member Kristen McQueary discussed Kristina Rasmussen's appointment as the Governor's new Chief of Staff.

ISIS has been pushed out of Mosel, what does that portend for the future of Iraq? Should we celebrate the Syrian ceasefire? Is Putin a liar? If the Left is so worried about meddling in US elections, why are they so uninterested in domestic voter fraud? Did Trump have a successful G20 summit substantively only to undermine it rhetorically? Dan & the Chicago Tribune's Kristen McQueary asked former Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.

A CNN "New Day" associate producer was caught by Project Veritas saying Trump is a "clown"  and the American voter is "stupid as sh*t." At least we can all agree that we wish Chris Cuomo would stop talking. Is Brian Stelter a ridiculous figure? Why does CNN keep making the media the story? Has the media lost their way? Dan and John Kass were joined by Frank Sesno, CNN’s former Washington Bureau Chief; currently Director of George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, and author of “ASK MORE: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change.”

The Chicago Tribune wrote that the 15 Republicans who voted for Madigan's tax hike will look like chumps. Does the 32% tax hike change Illinois' fiscal trajectory? Does Governor Rauner want his veto overridden? Does Speaker Madigan want to override the veto? Is Madigan the master of blackmail politics? Illinois State Representative for the 97th district Mark Batinick joined Dan and John Kass to argue for a principled path forward that protects Illinois families.

The "Fire the 15" campaign begins today to rid the General Assembly of the 15 Surrender Republicans who voted with Speaker Madigan and Democrats to pass a budget that included 32% permanent tax hike with no reforms. How much effort did the Governor put into corralling the 15 Surrender Republicans? Why does the IL Republican Party repeatedly fail to make their case and advance their vision, instead of just staking out the safest position? Is it time for a leadership change in the IL House Republican Caucus? State Representative Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) joins Dan Proft and Kristin McQueary to discuss.

President Trump's speech in Poland on the ties that bind the West received very good reviews. He continues today to the G20 Summitt and a meeting with Vladimir Putin. What can we expect from this trip? Putin smiles through his lies. What does Trump need to do to keep the meeting on track? For the benefit of Jim Acosta, what is the difference between a "journalist" and an "advocate?" Fox News Contributor Steve Cortes joins Dan Proft and Kristin McQueary to discuss.

In June, 222,000 jobs were created. Are we on the cusp of the "Seven Fat Years?" Could Illinois still be dropped to Junk Status despite passing a budget? And what does it mean for the state if a credit rating agency does drop Illinois to junk status? Fox Business Contributor, Scott Shellady joins Dan Proft and Kristin McQueary to rain on sunny jobs numbers.

What should the Trump administration do about the North Korea Regime? Should they drop tactical nuclear weapons on North Korea? What should we expect from Trump's meeting with Putin? Will Russia serve as an ally in Syria? Col. Cedric Leighton joined Dan & John Kass to discuss.

Is the criticism that the media has become a caricature of itself in the Trump Era accurate? To what extent has editor-driven, narrative-driven reporting infiltrated the D.C. Press Corp? What are the traditional journalistic standards for using anonymous sources? Have those standards changed in reaction to the candidacy and presidency of Donald Trump? Award-winning journalist and author of The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think and How You Vote, Sharyl Attkisson joins Dan Proft and John Kass (in for Amy Jacobson) to give a fascinating insider's view of how the media has changed.

What is the buzz in Springfield about Speaker Madigan and the override vote to confirm a permanent 32% income tax increase? What kind of game is Madigan playing by delaying the vote? Has he lost control of his caucus or does he want the downgrade? What's next for the 16 Republicans (15 House, 1 Senate) who voted for the Democrats' tax hike? Political Reporter for the Peoria Journal Star, Chris Kaergard joins Dan Proft and John Kass (in for Amy Jacobson) to discuss the three-dimensional chess game being played in Springfield.