WGN - The Download with Justin Kaufmann Podcast

Justin recaps all the events surrounding the inauguration of President Donald Trump including President Trump’s speech, the protests in Washington D.C. and Chicago, the media’s coverage of the event, Dick Cheney’s cowboy hat, George W. Bush’s poncho trouble, Michelle Obama’s frown, the Trump’s first song at the inaugural ball and the great debate about the length of President Trump’s tie. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with Justin Kaufmann airs Monday through Friday from […]

Tony Award-winner and Chicago theater legend Dennis Zacek joins Justin to talk about his illustrious career, where his love of theater comes from, making the decision to leave his job at Loyola to pursue theater full-time, what Chicago theater was like in the mid-’70’s, developing an ensemble of writers at the Victory Gardens Theater, the challenges of dealing with creative talent, Donald Trump’s plan to cut funding for the arts and his new book, “The Zacek Tapes: Reflections About Theater, […]

Howard Learner, President and Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center joins Justin to talk about Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Environmental Protection Agency, Rick Perry, Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Energy and what we can expect from President Trump’s environmental policy moving forward. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with Justin Kaufmann airs Monday through Friday from 7 pm. to 11 pm […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the newspaper so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include Donald Trump’s inauguration concert rocking the Lincoln Memorial, Trump Cabinet hearings continuing on Capitol Hill, the news leaking that Trump’s first budget is eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts, thousands of women landing in D.C. to march on Washington, Chicago organizers having to move the local march due to the large crowds expected, the City of Chicago announcing […]

It’s Wednesday so that means Greg Flamm is here to talk about your junk on another episode of the “Swap Meet.” Do you have an old collectible that you think might be worth something? Do you want to have a piece of memorabilia appraised? Or do you just want to brag about something cool you have? Well, we like hearing all three! It’s the “Swap Meet,” a Chicago-centric version of “Antiques Roadshow” and “Let’s Make a Deal.” Follow Justin on […]

We have a great show for you tonight! On this evening’s episode of The Download, Justin chats with Merrill Edge Regional Executive Don McDonough about the surprising new trend in retirement, “Wild Chicago” host and Chicago television royalty Ben Hollis tells us about his career, his recent health scare and his upcoming show at the Skokie Theatre, The Daily Line’s Mike Fourcher and retired Chicago Police officer Richard Wooten talk about the panel assembled at Operation Push this evening to […]

The Chicago Tribune’s Tracy Swartz joins Justin to chat about the new season of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” starring Chicagoan Nick Viall. Tracy talks about the success and the appeal of the show, why some people continue to ridicule the show, Chicago’s big role in the series, the industry around the show and if she think Nick will ever find love. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with Justin Kaufmann airs Monday through Friday from […]

Ben Hollis, original “Wild Chicago” host and Chicago television royalty, joins Justin to talk about his amazing career, the health issues that he had to deal with over the last year, his recovery process after surgery, the spiritual revelation he had at the David Bowie exhibit at the MCA, when he knew he was back to functioning at a high level, how surgery has helped him become a better artist, how music saved his life and his show this weekend […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the newspaper so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include President Obama commuting the sentences of Chelsea Manning and Oscar Lopez Rivera, Donald Trump entering the White House with historically low approval ratings, Trump being sued by a former contestant on “The Apprentice,” the NFL reportedly telling Lady Gaga to avoid political talk at the Super Bowl, Vine shutting down for good, a new survey saying abortions have fallen […]

Margaret Hicks of Chicago Elevated joins Justin to recap her week living underground and exploring the Chicago Pedway. Margaret talks about why she decided to take this project on, what she learned about the Pedway that she didn’t already know, the community of people who use the Pedway, the parts of the Pedway that are unfamiliar to most people and what can be improved to the Pedway to truly make it the 78th neighborhood in Chicago. Follow Justin on Twitter […]