Joan Esposito (Featured Interviews)

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep-elect  LaKesha Womack , Democrat elected Tuesday to represent North Carolina’s 14th District, and  Anderson Clayton , chair of the  North Carolina Democratic Party . Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Womack said representatives should conduct town halls, listening sessions, and direct communicati...

Joan Esposito is joined for an Election Day interview by Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL).  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 ).   Follow us: Website: https://heartlandsignal.com WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820 Heartland Signal Facebook: https://www.facebook....

Joan Esposito is joined by David Schultz ,  distinguished university professor of political science and legal studies at Hamline University and an adjunct law professor at the University of St. Thomas . The interview examined the close Minnesota Senate race, campaign spending and polling, voter turnout, and money in politics. Here a few highlights from the conversation: - Schultz described Mi...

Joan Esposito is joined by Michael Jones , founder, publisher and national political correspondent for  Once Upon a Hill , and author of the  Congress Nerd newsletter.  The interview focused on congressional strategy, voter priorities, and possible Democratic leadership if the party wins control of Congress. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Jones said House Speaker...

Joan Esposito is joined by Leslie Martes , CEO of  Forward Majority . The interview focused on the stakes of state legislative elections and Forward Majority’s strategy to help Democrats gain power in state legislatures. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Martes said 21 seats across Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania could create four Democratic trifecta...

Joan Esposito is joined by Heartland Signal reporters  Elinor Epperson and Kori Skillman , making their WCPT debut with the weekly segment, Stories You Might Have Missed From Heartland Signal .  Here are few highlights from the conversation: - Elinor reported on energy policy in Michigan’s 4th District , including the pause in a rooftop-solar assistance program and a ballot measure...

Joan Esposito is joined by Andrew Grunwald , vice president of Political Strategy at  The States Project , and Melissa Walker , principal strategist, Giving Circles, at The States Project . The discussion focused on the influence of state legislatures and ways to support candidates and voters in close races. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Grunwald said The States Project i...

Joan Esposito is joined by Melissa Bean , Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th District of Illinois. The interview focused on Bean’s congressional race, voter turnout, and her priorities if elected.  Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Bean stressed that every vote matters, citing a past loss by 270 votes, and urged voters to make a specific plan to vote. - She de...

Joan Esposito is joined by Ron Roberts , host of " The Ron Show ," a political talk show now airing on Heartland Signal station WMLB Atlanta.  The conversation examined Georgia’s competitive midterm races and the factors shaping turnout and candidate support. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Roberts described Georgia as a purple swing state and said the close governor&...

Joan Esposito is joined by Congressman Jonathan Jackson , Democrat representing the 1st District of Illinois. The interview focused on Jackson's criticism of political attacks involving sexual violence and his concerns about election safety. Here are a few highlights from the conversation. - Jackson talked about an essay he wrote for Ms. Magazine, " A Nation That Weaponizes Childhood Trauma Has Lo...

Joan Esposito is joined by Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley , Democrat representing the 5th District of Illinois. The interview focused on threats against public officials and concerns about political use of federal power ahead of the midterm election. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Quigley described two suspicious mailings to his office, one containing powder; authoritie...

Joan Esposito is joined by Dr. Elicia John , behavioral scientist and assistant professor of marketing at American University in Washington, D.C., and Dr. Lez Trujillo Torres , consumer researcher and assistant professor of marketing at University of Illinois Chicago; together they have authored a recent study on the U.S. census. The discussion examined how race is constructed across contexts and...

Joan Esposito is joined by Nicole Foy , immigration reporter for ProPublica; she recently authored the investigative article, " We Found That More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days ." Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Foy said ProPublica has documented more than 500 U.S. citizens detained, includin...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Rickey Hendon is joined by Willie Wilson , 2027 candidate for Chicago mayor. The interview focused on Wilson’s positions on Chicago taxes, education, economic development, and more. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Wilson opposes the proposed head and delivery taxes, arguing that businesses pass costs on to consumers and that added costs can hu...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Rickey Hendon is joined by Pennie McCoach , president and business agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 308 , which represents rail workers for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).  The discussion focused on improving safety for CTA workers and riders, with dedicated transit police presented as a key solution. Here are a few highlights from the conv...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Carolyn Fiddler is joined by Heather Williams , president of the  Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC).  The interview focused on the DLCC's strategy and the stakes of state legislative elections. - Heather described strong Democratic momentum, including 31 seats flipped this cycle, while stressing that most voters have not yet voted and campaign...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Carolyn Fiddler is joined by Chris Mann , Democratic candidate for attorney general of Kansas. Mann discussed his priorities as a Democratic candidate and contrasted them with incumbent Kris Kobach’s record. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:  - Mann described his background as a police officer, prosecutor, and attorney representing victims of...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Carolyn Fiddler is joined by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Elllison , 2026 candidate for re-election .  The interview focused on Keith Ellison’s record as Minnesota attorney general, his priorities if re-elected, and election protection. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: - Ellison cited litigation over insulin pricing, SNAP benefits, feder...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Mike Nellis is joined by  Matthew Botvinick , world-renowned AI researcher and neuroscientist who is senior fellow at Yale Law School, a member of the technical staff at Anthropic, and author of " AI and Political Freedom: The Risk to Democracy and How to Respond " (2026).  Prof. Botvinick will be speaking in Chicago on November 11 as part of University Pres...

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Mike Nellis is joined by Melissa Toufanian , former State Department deputy assistant secretary who served on the communications team for the original Iran nuclear deal under President Obama, and now serves as managing director at  Navigator Research . Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT ( heartlandsi...

Joan Esposito is joined by Robert Pape , professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago specializing in international security affairs, and author of The Escalation Trap on Substack. His new book, " Our Own Worst Enemies: America in the Age of Violent Populism ," came out last month. Pape and Esposito discussed Ukraine’s military resilience, the risks of escalation, and a Korean...

Joan Esposito is joined by Jen Thompson , former Republican campaign manager, former counsel in the U.S. House and Senate, and author of " Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten " (2026).  The conversation examined midterm election expectations, changes in the Republican Party, and Thompson’s departure from GOP politics. Here are a few highlights  from the conversation:...

Joan Esposito is joined by John Bartman , fifth-generation Illinois soybean farmer and activist. 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 ).   Follow us: Website: https://heartlandsignal.com WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820 Heartland Signal Facebook: https://www.faceb...

Joan Esposito is joined by Laura Belin , publisher, editor, and reporter for  Bleeding Heartland , a community website focused on Iowa politics. 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 ).   Follow us: Website: https://heartlandsignal.com WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com...

Joan Esposito is joined by Joe Cunningham , former congressman who now serves as spokesperson for the  Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance . 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 ).   Follow us: Website: https://heartlandsignal.com WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820...