It's the Democracy, Stupid Full Episodes

On this week's show: – Seth Cotlar , professor of history at Willamette University –  John Nichols , national affairs correspondent for  The Nation – Mark Jacob of Stop the Presses , “a weekly newsletter about how right-wing extremism has exploited the weaknesses in American journalism, and what we can do about it” – Dean Baker, senior economist at the...

On this week's show Professor Joel Ostrow fills in for Edwin Eisendrath, and his guests are – Scott Sakiyama, Oak Park attorney who was detained temporarily by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Oct. 20 near his child’s elementary school after trying to warn the community about ICE presence in the area – Juan Garcia, founder of  Kalpulli Across Borders – ...

On this week's show – Michael Tomasky,  editor of The New Republic  and author of five books, including his latest, “ The Middle Out: The Rise of Progressive Economics and a Return to Shared Prosperity ” – Adam Klasfeld, editor-in-chief of  All Rise News – Dan Froomkin, editor of  Press Watch – Norman Eisen, executive chair and co-founder of&...

On this week's show: – Will Bunch , Philadelphia Inquirer national opinion columnist – Chris Geidner, author of The Law Dork newsletter  on Substack – 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...

On this week's show: – Lavora Barnes, political director of  Democracy Defenders Fund  and former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party –  Melissa Sanchez , investigative reporter at ProPublica, covering immigration –  Bobby Kogan , senior director of Federal Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress –  Rachel Leingang , Midwest politi...

On this week's show Turi Ryder fills in for Edwin and her guests are: –  Danielle Perry of the  Greater Chicago Food Depository – Greg Hinz  o f  Crain’s Chicago Business – Rami Gabriel and Karim Nagi of the music duo  The Arab Blues – Monica Shapiro, one of the real-life inspirations for Seinfeld’s Elaine Benes –  Mike T...

On this week's show Rick Smith fills in for Edwin Eisendrath and his guests are: – Matias Vernengo , professor of economics at Bucknell University –   Paul Wende, business manager, financial secretary, treasurer of  Ironworkers Local 63 – Richard Chew, host of " Chew's Views " on WCPT Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m....

On this week's show: – Tara McGowan, founder and publisher of  COURIER Newsroom – Chris Gaba, health care data analyst, blogger and founder of  ACASignups.net – Nissa Rhee, co-founder and executive director of  Borderless Magazine , a nonprofit, nonpartisan news outlet covering immigration and immigrant communities in Chicago –  Michael Mann , ...

On this week's show: – Jill Wine-Banks , legal analyst, former general counsel of the U.S. Army, author of  The Watergate Girl,  co-host of #SistersInLaw  and host of Just The Facts with Jill Wine-Banks – Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter and author of the Lori Lightfoot biography “The City is Up for Grabs” – David Nir, publish...

On this week's show: – Jaime Harrison, former chair of the Democratic Party –  David DeWitt , Ohio Capital Journal editor-in-chief and opinion columnist –  Tim Dickinson , senior writer and editor for  The Contrarian – Skye Perryman, president and CEO of  Democracy Forward Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p...

Edwin Eisendrath talks about changing the name of "The Big Picture" to "It's the Democracy, Stupid." Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's show: – Chris Armitage, author of  The Existentialist Republic  newsletter on Substack –  Eric Garcia , Washington bureau chief at The Independent – Deb Houry, former Chief Medical Officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who resigned in protest last August – Devin Remiker, new chair of the  Democratic Party of Wisconsin...

On this week's show: – Charlotte Clymer, activist and the writer of  Charlotte’s Web Thoughts , a bestselling Substack blog on politics, religion, foreign policy, and culture –  Rep. Jonathan Jackson  (D-IL) – Rita Hart, chair of the  Iowa Democratic Party – Robert Weiner, Voting Rights Project director at the  Lawyers’ Committ...

On this week's show: –  Clara Jeffery , editor-in-chief of Mother Jones –  Curtis Hertel , chair of the Michigan Democratic Party – G. Elliott Morris, data-driven journalist, pollster, author of the Substack newsletter “ Strength In Numbers ” and the book “ Strength in Numbers: How Polls Work and Why We Need Them ” –  Amy Max...

On this week's show: – Dave Roberts, publisher of Volts , a newsletter about clean energy and politics –  Tom Nichols , staff writer at The Atlantic; his latest piece is “ The Commander in Chief Is Not Okay ” – Kiera Butler, national correspondent at Mother Jones; her latest piece is  Tech Moguls Want to Build a Crypto Paradise on a Native American Reservati...

On this week's show: – Matt Caffrey, senior director of Grassroots Community Organizing at  Swing Left – Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the  American Immigration Council – Richard Tofel, former president of  ProPublica  and author of the  Second Rough Draft newsletter  on Substack –  Lisa Graves , award-winning investig...

On this week's show: – Ellen L. Weintraub, commissioner and four-time chair of the U.S. Federal Election Commission (2002-2025), currently a senior fellow at  End Citizens United –  Bobby Kogan , senior director of Federal Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress –  Rep. Sean Casten  (D-IL) – Elizabeth Jacobs, professor emerita of Epid...

On this week's show: – Simon Rosenberg, Democratic strategist and author of the Hopium Chronicles   – Amanda Marcotte, senior writer at  Salon.com –  Jill Wine-Banks , legal analyst, former general counsel of the U.S. Army, author of  The Watergate Girl,  co-host of   #SistersInLaw  and host of  Just The Facts with Jill Wine-Banks &nda...

On this week's show: –  Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL)   –  Samantha Tarazi, chief executive officer of  Voting Rights Lab –  Radley Balko, award-winning journalist and publisher of “ The Watch ” on Substack –  Shaughnessy Naughton , president of 314 Action Catch “The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath&rdquo...

On this week's show: –  Anne Applebaum, staff writer at  The Atlantic  and author of six critically acclaimed books, including “ Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World ” –  Jen Bendery, senior politics reporter for  HuffPost –  Jill Lawrence , award-winning journalist, opinion writer and author –  Will Stancil...

Filling in for Edwin Eisendrath, Patti Vasquez is joined by: – Dr. Kathy Tynus, internist at Alivio Health Services – Vicci Rodgers, AFS Intercultural volunteer – Warren Hawk Preis of Source Solar Catch “The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/the-big-picture).    See omnystud...

On this week's show: –   Lisa Graves , founder and executive director of  True North Research , a national investigative watchdog group that works with journalists and other researchers to shine a bright light on the dark money fueling regressive agendas targeting vital institutions in our republic –  Michelle Regalado Deatrick , chair and founder,  DNC Council on t...

On this week's show: –  Will Bunch , Philadelphia Inquirer national opinion columnist – State  Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer  (D-TX) – Bill Scher, politics editor at  The Washington Monthly –  Dean Baker , co-founder and senior economist,  Center for Economic and Policy Research Catch “The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath” S...

On this week's show: –   Samuel Bagenstos , the Frank G. Millard Professor of Law at the University of Michigan; he specializes in civil rights, labor and employment law, health law, and governance –   Joe Walsh, former Illinois congressman, former Republican candidate for president, and host of the podcast “ The Social Contract With Joe Walsh ” –   Mel...

On this week's show Professors William Muck and Joel Ostrow fill in for Edwin and their guests are: – Reed Bible, former supervisory special agent for U.S. Homeland Security – Rima Ziuraitas, certified TACMED instructor and medic in Ukraine – Kathy Tholin, chair,  Indivisible Chicago Catch “The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p...