Joan Esposito (Featured Interviews)

Joan Esposito is joined by Rich Logis, founder of Leaving MAGA. He has a new memoir out, "One Betrayal Too Many: Why I Left MAGA." Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by retired Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner, former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A).  Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Joe Walsh, former Republican congressman from Illinois turned Democratic activist, and host of The Social Contract with Joe Walsh. Also find Joe on Substack. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Terry Savage, syndicated personal finance columnist and author. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Patrick Hanley, Democratic candidate for Illinois state Senate, District 9. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Doris Davenport is joined by Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and 2026 candidate for re-election. She won the Illinois Democratic primary race on Tuesday, defeating challenger Brendan Reilly.  Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filling for Joan Esposito, Doris Davenport is joined by former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Doris Davenport is joined by Elise Gould, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Bill Scher, politics editor at Washington Monthly. His latest articles are "Crypto, AI, and AIPAC Are Corrupting Democratic Primaries" and "The Problem with Making ‘Affordability’ The Problem." Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the day after the Illinois Democratic primary election, Joan Esposito is joined by Peter Giangreco, Democratic strategist, partner at The Strategy Group. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speaking from Margaret Croke Election Night headquarters, WCPT's Patti Vasquez and Joan Esposito are joined by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.  Listen to WCPT's full Election Night coverage: https://omny.fm/shows/joan-esposito-live-local-progressive/wcpts-primary-election-night-special-coverage-march-17-2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Robin Kelly Election Night headquarters, WCPT's Whitney Randall is joined by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), candidate for U.S. Senate, who had just conceded defeat in the primary election. Joan Esposito and Patti Vasquez are WCPT's studio anchors.  Listen to WCPT's full Election Night coverage: https://omny.fm/shows/joan-esposito-live-local-progressive/wcpts-primary-election-night-special-coverage-march-17-2026.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Juliana Stratton Election Night headquarters, WCPT's Ellen Miller is joined by Dovile Cather, Juliana Stratton campaign manager, shortly after Stratton was declared the winner of the U.S. Senate primary in Illinois. Joan Esposito and Patti Vasquez are WCPT's studio anchors.  Listen to WCPT's full Election Night coverage: https://omny.fm/shows/joan-esposito-live-local-progressive/wcpts-primary-election-night-special-coverage-march-17-2026.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Professor Loren D. Lybarger, Ph.D., Ohio University religious studies specialist focusing on Islam and comparative religions. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito and USA Today columnist Rex Huppke are joined by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Chad Peace, founder and president of IVC Media LLC (a nonpartisan digital consulting firm) and a partner at the law firm of Peace & Shea LLP. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Illinois State Sen. Robert Peters, 2026 candidate for Congress in the 2nd District of Illinois. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Bill Scher, politics editor of The Washington Monthly. His latest article is “Cocky Iran Hawks Forget the History of Blowback.” Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Aaron Kleinman, head of research at Heartland Signal. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Mina Bloom, investigative reporter for Block Club Chicago. Her latest article is "Why Is The Cook County State’s Attorney Prosecuting Nonviolent ICE Protesters?" Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL). Budzinski represents the 13th District of Illinois and is running for re-election. She faces a March 17 primary challenge from Democrat Dylan Blaha.  Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Donna Miller, candidate for Congress in the 2nd District of Illinois. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Marj Halperin, Democratic analyst heard on The Mincing Rascals podcast and organizer with Indivisible Chicago and One Community Near South. She talks about next week's Illinois primary, her recent op-ed on ranked choice voting, campaign finance, and her work with Yes You Canvass, Indivisible Chicago's Canvassing School. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, independent candidate for Congress in the 4th District of Illinois. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Fritz Kaegi, Cook County assessor and Democratic candidate for re-election. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Mike Nellis, Democratic strategist and host of “Endless Urgency with Mike Nellis. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Robert Pape, professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago specializing in international security affairs. Foreign Affairs just published his article, "Why Escalation Favors Iran: America and Israel May Have Bitten Off More Than They Can Chew." He also recently launched "The Escalation Trap" on Substack. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Jen Golbeck, professor, computer scientist, psychologist, “expert in the far-right, online extremism, AI, and bad things on the internet,” and author of the MAGAReport on Substack. Her latest MAGAReport article is "The MAGA Evolution on Iran." Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Morgan Chilson, senior reporter for the Kansas Reflector. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Andrew Miller, senior fellow, National Security and International Policy, at the Center for American Progress, and former senior official at the Department of State and the National Security Council. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Christopher Armitage, author, veteran, former law enforcement officer, activist, policy adviser, and publisher of The Existentialist Republic on Substack. His latest articles include "The Regime Just Entered Its Most Dangerous Phase: Welcome to the Autocratic Flood Zone."  Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party. He talks about the March 3 Texas Democratic Party primary. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Brian Endless, senior lecturer and director of African Studies and the African Diaspora at Loyola University Chicago. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner (Ret.), former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A). Catch "Chew's Views with Richard Chew” weekdays from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/chews-views).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Tom Villanova, retired president of the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council, ahead of the Southland Friends of Labor 17th Annual Jobs Breakfast, Monday, March 2, at Sprinkler Fitters Local 281, in Alsip, Illinois. Learn more: https://www.southlandfriendsoflabor.com. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Mayra Macias, independent candidate for 4th Congressional District of Illinois, where she is vying to replace Rep. Jesús Chuy Garcia, who is retiring. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Pat Hynes, 2026 candidate for Cook County assessor. The Democratic primary is March 17.  Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Margaret Croke, Illinois state representative and 2026 candidate for Illinois comptroller. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Jonathan Alter, contributing editor of the Washington Monthly, former senior editor and columnist at Newsweek, filmmaker, journalist, political analyst, and the publisher of the Substack “Old Goats with Jonathan Alter.“ His latest pieces for Washington Monthly are “After Censoring CBS, Trump Will Go For CNN” and “The Worst President Ever.” Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joan Esposito is joined by Lydia Tkaczuk, president of the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago, and Oleh John Skubiak, president of Pobratymy Foundation (one of the largest charitable foundations devoted to the development of Ukrainian scouting) and member/sponsor of the Ukrainian National Museum. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joan Esposito is joined by Tamar Jacoby, Kiev-based director of the New Ukraine Project at the Progressive Policy Institute and contributor to Washington Monthly; her latest article is “Ukraine: Requiem for a Citizen Soldier.” Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joan Esposito is joined by U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus. Quigley announced last week that he would not attend tonight's State of the Union address; he talks about that as well.  Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Kendall Scudder, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.  The Democratic primary election is Tuesday, March 3.  Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim, candidate for Illinois comptroller. Early voting is underway and the primary election is Tuesday, March 17. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Max Bever, director of Public Information for the Chicago Board of Elections. Early voting is underway and the primary election is March 17.  Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Margaret Donovan, attorney at Koskoff Koskoff and Bieder, visiting clinical lecturer in law at Yale Law School, former assistant United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, Army veteran and former captain in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by David Hogg, gun control activist and former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. He is the keynote speaker at the DuPage Democrats 2026 Gala, Sunday, February 22nd. Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joan Esposito is joined by Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner (Ret.), former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member ofNational Security Leaders for America (NSL4A). Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.