Upstream Ideas: Recent Episodes
Upstream Ideas
"He who seeks to improve conditions must propagate a new mentality, not merely a new institution." — Ludwig von Mises
Our aim at Upstream Ideas is to do just as Mises suggested by turning the dial on how you look at the political and policy issues facing Illinois, Chicago and our nation. We present new ideas that inform salient policy decisions, start new conversations and move beyond partisan politics all while challenging the status quo.
Dan Proft along with distinguished guests and contributors lay out in-depth issues in a digestible way to better understand why conditions are what they are and how they could be improved. We produce content in a variety of formats including long-form interviews, multiple segment radio shows and mini-monologues. We arm you with new information and fresh perspectives with the goal of making Illinois and the United States of America a bit more free, a bit more just and a bit more civilized.
How can New York and Illinois bring people back? Lower their taxes. Why are “pro-business groups” in Chicago advocating for more taxes? Where are the “adults” in the room telling Democrats the catastrophic effects of eliminating all fossil fuels? Chief Economist for CNN, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What is the Democrats’ message heading into 2020? Is the field of candidates who aren’t parents show how out of touch they are with reality? Is Trump willing to shut down government again to move forward with border security talks? Senior Contributor at American Greatness, Julie Kelly joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Could you give up the big five? Which one of the social networks would you miss most? Would you feel disconnected from your friends and family? Does it actually change the way you interact with your spouse or children? Is there the beginnings of a backlash against the internet? Journalist at Gizmodo, Kashmir Hill joins Dan and Amy to discuss her experience in giving up the big five social networking platforms.
What has been the impact of Illinois’ economic death spiral on churches? Does the clergy have an obligation to educate their parishioners on what the political ruling class is doing or would they rather throw in with them? Senior pastor at Christ Church, Mike Woodruff joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the SOTU the political equivalent of the Oscars? Was Trump wise to not get as heated as he does in his rally speeches? Should we be optimistic about another meeting with Kim Jong Un? Is infanticide no longer a fringe topic amongst mainstream Democrats? Can Biden resist a presidential run? Weekend editor at Hotair.com, Jazz Shaw joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Did President Trump correctly highlight the class divide on illegal immigration between cheap labor for the elites and votes for the “open borders” left? Is it too hard to for anyone in the political class to give credit when due to the other side? Washington Examiner reporter, Salena Zito joins Dan and Amy to recap President Trump’s SOTU.
How are schools celebrating Black History Month? Are students learning the inspirational stories of Frederick Douglass, Dr. Martin Luther King, or Bob Woodson? No. Instead, administrators are espousing the intellectually dishonest ideas from black lives matter groups. Are any parents willing to suggest alternative viewpoints to the cultural marxists running their children’s curriculum? Dan and Amy discuss.
What is the importance of the subpoenas to Trump’s inauguration committee? Was the arrest of Roger Stone excessive? Would it be wise for Trump to use the SOTU to declare a national emergency or should he simply restate his proposed compromise and let the Feb. 15 clock run? Contributing editor at National Review, Andy McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How close are Israeli scientists to a cure for cancer? Does it sound too good to be true? Where has technology and innovation taken us thus far in treating cancer? Northwestern University Hospital oncologist, Dr. Eric Donnelly joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is coal miners’ “blackface” consistent with the racially offensive blackface? Should the restaurant owner in question clarify the meaning of a photo with coal miners with soot on their face so people don’t get offended? Should the greater good be the standard for acceptable artistic expression? U.S. Air Force veteran turned poet and essayist, Rashaad Thomas joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are conservative judges having trouble surpassing the new thresholds regarding their faith to get their Senate confirmations? How long will Gov. Northam last and how did the racially offensive yearbook photos not get found during the campaign? Are there second chances for some but not for all? Should the President invoke emergency powers to fund the wall? Georgetown Law professor, Randy Barnett joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is building a border wall driven from common sense policy rather than political ideology? Are the only people claiming the border wall will be ineffective are the political pundits and politicians who have never visited the border? Is the humanitarian crisis caused by America’s bad asylum laws filled with loopholes? Former Customs and Borders Protection Chief, Mark Morgan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Operation Support Our Troops is sending out their 2 millionth pound box of care packages to troops serving overseas. It started as a small operation and 16 years later they are still providing troops with the support and resources they deserve. Executive Director of Operation Support Our Troops America, Bill Rickert joins Dan and Amy to discuss the organization’s milestone and how you can get involved.
Is removing any impediments to kill a child born alive the newest push on the Liberal policy agenda? Does anyone still believe Democrats preaching “safe, legal and rare?” Is a bioethics professor at Princeton being the only honest one from the infanticide left saying that the world would be a better place if we killed infants with disabilities in hopes of gaining a healthier infant in society? Dan and Amy discuss the latest push for not only abortion on demand but infanticide.
Is Howard Schultz derailing the enthusiasm from far left candidates entering the race? What’s the over/under on 20 candidates in the primary? Is it a race to see who can make the government the biggest and most expensive? Is a border wall/barrier/fencing deal still possible before Tuesday's SOTU? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is there reason to be optimistic about economic growth in 2019? Do the January numbers prove how “non-essential” federal employees really didn’t matter to the economy? Is Brexit important to America’s growth? How much will the UK save if they leave the European Union? Is there anything more important for the economy than the trade deal with China? Fox Business Contributor, Scott "The Cow Guy" Shellady joins Dan and Amy to discuss the January jobs report.
13th Ward Alderman Candidate, David Krupa officially filed a federal civil suit against Madigan and mini-me Marty Quinn. Where are law enforcement agencies at with the case? What is Krupa hoping to gain from the suit? Are ward residents aware of what’s going on? Krupa joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are the Burke Four (Chico, Daley, Mendoza, Preckwinkle) just status quo opportunists who joined the race after Rahm announced he wasn’t running? How can we expect change from a corrupt system? Is the Chicago media to blame for covering up corruption in City Hall and impeding entrepreneurs? Are things put in affidavits not there by accident? Chicago Tribune columnist, John Kass joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Have the Chicago Police gathered any meaningful evidence that corroborates “Empire” star’s Jussie Smollett’s alleged homophobic and racially targeted attack? Why did the mainstream dive head first into the story without any clear evidence? Did something happen to Smolett but maybe not what he alleges? Former CPD and licensed PI, Paul Huebl joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Would more background checks limit the number of guns on the streets in the first place? Is disarming officers in schools in Baltimore a productive idea? Should there be less focus on rare mass shootings and more on the vast majority of gun violence that we have good data on how to prevent? Deputy Managing Editor at National Review, Robert VerBruggen joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will Trump get a deal on border security funding before next week's SOTU? Are Democrats going to Pelosi pushing for a deal? Has Trump been given the green light from Republicans to invoke emergency powers to fund the wall? Are other Democrats coming out against Kamala Harris’ plan to eliminate the private insurance market? Does the conclusion of the Vegas shooting that provided no answers show that government doesn’t have the power to control evil acts? Senior editor at HotAir.com, Ed Morrissey joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What has been going on at mega churches like Harvest Bible Chapel and Willow Creek in the Chicagoland area? How have they been creating cultures of dread and fear? Why are their elders living the lifestyles of the rich and famous on backs of their congruents? Veteran radio host, Julie Roys joins Dan and Amy to discuss her special “Church In Crisis” on Chicago WYLL 1160 AM at 6:00pm.
Are Democrats not even pretending you can keep your healthcare if you like it anymore? Why do they want to restrict people’s choices in healthcare and education? If Howard Schultz runs for president, doe he guarantee Trump a second term? Who needs $50 million anyway? WSJ Columnist and CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Did Trump not cave but fold temporarily? Are we properly estimating the President? Why is the media ignoring Pelosi’s low approval ratings? Why are Republicans afraid to make their case and instead respond to hysteria? Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Freddy Gray joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What has been the response from the far left in regards to what is happening in Venezuela? Are “all options on the table?” Is there any disgust or worry about the rise of anti-semitism amongst the newly elected Democrat-Socialist stars? Is social justice neither social nor just? Associate Editor for Commentary Magazine, Noah Rothman joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are Republicans going to stand with Trump through another shutdown? How do Trump and some Senate Republicans go into 2020 after not delivering on a wall? Has Trump done anything to expand his base? Will Democrats scare voters back into the arms of Trump? Washington Post columnist, George Will joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How much would each taxpayer in Chicago need to send to city hall to break even? $36,000. That isn’t even including Chicago Public Schools or Park District's costs and debts. Is the city running out of backs to put the city’s pension debt on? Are politicians and mayoral candidates coming up with different schemes to kick the can down the road instead of fixing the problem now? Founder of Truth in Accounting, Sheila Weinberg joins Dan and Amy to discuss their latest "State of the Cities" report.
Will there finally be a reckoning for those in power in Chicago? Are all of the political lords going to start turning on each other? What will it take to change the political culture in the city and state? Dan and Amy discuss the latest Sun Times' story reporting on FBI tapes of Madigan and Danny Solis’ unique interests and habits while alderman.
How did a 10 year old prove Tom Brady cheated in deflate gate and win his science fair? Does he not hate Brady but just dislike him? How has he dealt with his new found fame? What are his Super Bowl predictions? Millcreek Elementary science fair winner, Ace Davis joins Dan and Amy to discuss. Visit his website at ace-davis.com
Should Howard Schultz be taken seriously as an independent candidate for President? Is it a competition to be the biggest identity politics’ candidate amongst the Democrats? Can Trump recover from the partial shutdown? Will his reelection be put in jeopardy if he doesn’t get the wall? Editor of the New Criterion, Roger Kimball joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Can anyone engage in political commentary without fear of making one misstep and being destroyed over social media? Do journalists blame the nature of the news cycle and social media instead of evaluating themselves? Why did Trump cave on border wall funding and reopen the government? When will Trump start surrounding himself with the best people? Columnist for National Review, John Fund joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What did NATO Secretary General have to say of Trump’s impact on the security of western nations? Is it instructive to see what countries are trying to make sure the Venezuelans remain poor and oppressed? How can Trump change the conversation about border security to repair his reputation after the shutdown? President of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Cliff May joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How does the Catholic Church reform itself externally and internally after the Covington Catholic incident? Msgr. Pat Hamborough of St. Mark's in St. Louis, the priest you saw being accosted by the Black Hebrews over the weekend that started the chain reaction of events at the Lincoln Memorial, joins Dan and Amy with a first-person account of what the Covington Catholic School boys did.
What questions would you ask Chicago's mayoral candidates? Can the almost 100,000 voters in Chicago who identify as Republican make a difference in the race? Which candidates are interested in system change compared to those just wanting the title, profile, and future riches? Chairman of the Chicago NW Side GOP, Matt Podgorski joins Dan and Amy for a preview of tomorrow’s mayoral forum hosted at St. Monica’s parish on the city’s Northwest Side with Dan Proft as a moderator.
What was the difference between the media's coverage of the Covington Catholic High school boys compared to the other high school kids who were celebrated as activists? Are reporters trying to blame social media rather than their rush to judgement to smear these kids? President of the National Association of Scholars, Peter Wood joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are pro-lifers no longer welcome at Wheaton College? Why aren’t College Republicans able to express themselves and their perspective the same way a few members of the faculty and student government are able to? What’s the argument against the importance of “black lives matter” inside and outside of the womb? Founder of the Radiance Foundation, Ryan Bomberger joins Dan and Amy to discuss his experience at Wheaton College.
What is fundamentally wrong with the structure of Chicago’s city government? Should the City Council be reduced? Why do other cities have constitutions but not Chicago? What business principles could be applied to city government? Authors of "The New Chicago Way," Ed Bachrach and Austin Berg join Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is it a mistake to consider amnesty or benefits for people here illegally until the border is completely secured? Would it be constitutional for Trump to declare a national emergency to fund the wall and reopen government? What does the unprecedented response from the Mueller team say about the credibility of the Buzzfeed story? Senior legal fellow for The Heritage Foundation, Hans Von Spakovsky joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What can get done to restore British sovereignty as the people voted? Did it ever occurred to those in power that electorate would vote to leave the EU? Will there be any sort of compromised exit? What are the long term trends for the EU whether Britain exits or not? Member of European Parliament, Daniel Hannan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
The media reported Nathan Phillips as a Native American elder as well as a Vietnam veteran. But now the record shows he never served in Vietnam. Is this another example of the media’s complete lack of interest in context? Retired U.S. Navy Seal, Don Shipley joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What's next for the UK and their status in the EU? What are the implications for the U.S. economy? Will there be another referendum voted on by the public? Where’s the energy, pro or against Brexit? Director of policy and research at Open Europe, Stephen Booth joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why don’t schools have the same protections as venues such as concerts or airports? Did political correctness bring about the tragedy in Parkland? Did a social experiment gone bad cost lives? Will the recent suspension of the Broward County Sheriff change anything? Andrew Pollack whose daughter was murdered in the Parkland school shooting joins Dan and Amy to discuss how he has been trying to right this wrong.
Can everyone see the compromise to reopen the government except for the bases on both sides? Why were people on the center/right in a hurry to prove that they aren’t racist to the Democrat press corps and condemn the Covington students before all the information came out? Screenwriter and podcaster, Andrew Klavan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Did the President offer a fair compromise over the weekend? Are Senate Democrats satisfied with the status quo and lack of border security because it benefits them politically? How long should we expect the shutdown to last until someone gives? U.S. Senator from Indiana, Mike Braun joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Van Dyke’s defense team satisfied with the sentence? Did the Judge make the right call? How big of a role did racial politics play in this case? What were the mayoral candidates responses and how do they think they are going to make police/community relations better? Jason Van Dyke’s defense attorney, Dan Herbert joins Dan and Amy to discuss the sentencing.
Should Trump end the pity parties for federal employees and use his “RIF” power to limit the scope of government as Republicans have been promising for decades? What federal agencies are in need of some downsizing? Is Gen Z not going to be the cavalry for conservatism? Editor and publisher at The American Thinker, Thomas Lifson joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why was everyone ready to destroy high school kids wearing MAGA hats over an edited video on social media? Is the anti-semitism from women’s march organizers too much for the DNC but not too much for Johnnie Walker? Are corporate cultural marxists a bigger threat than government? Are any offers going to be accepted on border wall funding from the Democrats? Editor of National Review, Rich Lowry joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should we believe TSA's tales of shutdown woe and hysterics from the D.C. press corps? If government workers are guaranteed their back pay why not just show up? Will airports be able to continue to operate at a certain level? Senior editor and publisher of Jetwhine.com, Robert Mark joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is it becoming more abundantly clear that the hard left has an anti semitism problem? Is Beto’s light dimming? How do the Buzzfeed reports line up with Cohen’s statements in his plea deal? National Review Columnist, David French joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What is the difference between Pelosi's "Power Play" and Trump's "Low Road"? How much longer until things get any better with border security talks and reopening the government? Where will Trump deliver his SOTU? What does Trump’s rising Latino voter approval rating mean? Should we believe Buzzfeed or wait for Mueller’s report? Senior Political correspondent at the Washington Examiner, David Drucker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why do Chicagoans keep electing the same people over and over with no results? How many of the candidates in the race have no ties or stake in the political machine? The youngest candidate in the race for Mayor, John Kozlar joins Dan and Amy to make his case.
Is it clear that the Democrats don’t care about the “morality” of the wall but just don’t want to give Trump a political win? Is Trump frustrated and believes he’s losing the fight behind the scenes? Do the Democrats have anything more than resistance and obstruction? CNN political commentator, Steve Cortes joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
If racism was the principle cause of black children failing in school then why are they still failing even when the schools are run by other blacks? Are poor blacks seen as a commodity by middle class blacks? Is the growing intolerance of religion on the left breaking down the moral structure once strong in the black community? Founder and President of the Woodson Center, Bob Woodson joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Preckwinkle the biggest target in the mayor’s race? Is there still a need for 50 aldermen? Who are the rich people that the teacher’s union is demanding money from? The potential gambling and marijuana revenue won’t be here in time for the first few city budgets of the next mayor so how are they going to balance the budget? Chicago Tribune Editorial board member, Kristen McQueary joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the construction of Obamaland stealing public lands from taxpayers? Where else could it be built in the city? Protect Our Parks President, Herb Caplan joins Dan and Amy with an update on their lawsuit.
Does being a man on the left give license for bad behavior? Was the Gillette ad focused on stirring hatred? Where should young men look for instruction instead of a virtue signaling shaving company? Executive Director of Touchstone Magazine, Doug Johnson joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will corporate earnings leave us bullish or bearish? Are low unemployment and earnings making it hard to go into a recession? Will the shutdown reduce growth to 0%? Are things that exploded in price "coincidentally" have government as the major purchaser? Fox Business contributor, Scott "The Cow Guy" Shellady joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What kind of evidence did the FBI have to open the investigation on Trump and his alleged ties as “spy” for the Russia? Do Democrats and “Never Trumpers” view disagreeable policy decisions as impeachable offenses? Is the Democratic presidential primary going to create animosity within the party? Is it time to abolish the TSA? Senior editor for the Federalist.com, David Harsanyi joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are U.S. troops put in harm’s way to protect the flow of oil? Is there truly a free market for oil? Do Republicans have ways to go in winning urban centers? Former two term mayor of Indianapolis, Greg Ballard joins Dan and Amy to discuss his new book.
Did the NYT story about Trump’s relationship with Russia expose the unchecked power at the FBI? Is Brexit cancelled? When are Bolton and Trump going to come to an agreement on how to withdraw from Syria? Was Pompeo’s speech in Cairo the best in Trump’s presidency so far? Former U.S. Undersecretary of Defense, Jed Babbin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Can elevating stories of real people and real families affected by illegal immigrant crime change people’s hearts and minds about the wall? Right now the conversation is about the wall, but what about the detrimental effects of sanctuary city policies? Founder of Advocates for victims of illegal alien crime, Brian McCann joins Dan and Amy to share the tragic story of his brother’s murder by an illegal immigrant and how he got away with it.
Is school choice the pathway to opportunity for those in underprivileged communities? Is the educational establishment the worst enemy of black people? Is there plenty of money out there but in the wrong hands as Mayor De Blasio claims? Professor of economics at George Mason University, Walter Williams joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will Dorothy Brown make it on the ballot despite Preckwinkle’s challenge? How is Brown going to transform the education system? How is the city going to get the revenue for the $40 billion worth of unfunded pension liabilities? Is she still the target of any federal investigations? Cook County Circuit Court Clerk and mayoral candidate, Dorothy Brown joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Who has more “human pain” according to Trump? Does Trump have the right to declare a national emergency as he says he does? Why aren’t Democrats seizing on the opportunity to get what they want out of an immigration reform bill? Are there more indictments to come or the full Mueller report in the near future? Anchor of Special Report, Bret Baier joins Dan to discuss.
If CNN's Jim Acosta doesn't see migrants trying to get into the country, do they really exist? Is the wall an integral aspect of the multi layered approach for border security? How many Americans have to die at the hands of illegal immigrants for Democrats to call it a crisis? Obama's Customs and Border Patrol Chief, Mark Morgan joins Dan to discuss.
Is government the biggest threat on the internet? Is the hysteria over social media giants overblown? Is it more important to be morally right than technically correct? Is there anyone who reaches the degree of purity to host the Oscars? Dickinson College professor, Crispin Sartwell joins Dan to discuss.
Has trust been completely eroded in academia? Is there a dominant moral orthodoxy on campus that encourages no dissent? Portland State University professor, Peter Boghossian joins Dan to discuss his run in with defying the academic class.
Should candidates like Mendoza and Preckwinkle have some self respect and get out of the mayor's race? How do we get to a better, less segregated city? What should we do about the taxes running people out of the city? Should each department be audited every few months to keep people honest? Willie Wilson, the only successful entrepreneur in the race, joins Dan and Amy to discuss his 2019 mayoral candidacy.
Do Mayor DeBlasio and New Yorkers understand “free healthcare” translates to taxpayer funded? Will Trump play his final card and declare a national emergency to get his border wall funding? Is anyone buying the Democrats' concern about fiscal responsibility? Mike Gallagher joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should Trump be swayed by the Democrats asking to open the government and then continue negotiations? How can Trump and Republicans best make the compassionate, humane argument for the wall against the Democrats and hysterics from mainstream media? Congressman Sean Duffy from Wisconsin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
If there’s no military solution in Syria, then what are American troops doing there? Is it time for America to be more on the offense against islamofascism? Why are the new icons of the women’s movement being represented by grotesquely anti-semitic Democratic congresswomen? President of American Islamic Forum for Democracy, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Would Chicago still be a Trump free zone under a potential Mayor Chico? Does he think his friend, Ed Burke, should step down? Is bad behavior of alderman enabled by the way the City Council is set up? What does Chico want to do to raise revenue but lower property taxes? How does he intend on rooting out the systemic abuse at CPS? Mayoral candidate, Gery Chico joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Can Ocasio-Cortez fool all Americans with a tax hike despite claiming she only wants higher taxes on those “at the tippy top?” How do America’s tax rates compare to European models that liberals cling to? Is the trade war with China irreparably harming manufacturing and need to come to an end? Is Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, “down with AOC?” Norquist joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is there anything any candidates in Chicago have to offer besides gambling, drugs, and big government? How does Paul Vallas plan on capping property taxes? Should everyone associated with Burke step out of the Mayor’s race? Would Vallas rather expose the entire crony closed network or send another Chicago politician off to jail? Mayoral candidate, Paul Vallas joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Ocasio-Cortez and her plan to tax the “rich” at almost 70% make her sound more like an activist than a serious policymaker? Is there any research on how high tax rates affect how people choose their careers? Do “Democratic-Socialists look at people as just revenue agents for the state? Will 2019 be a year of slower growth? CNBC contributor and columnist at AEI, Jim Pethokoukis joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Was Alderman Burke extorting business owners just for his love of the city? Should Burke and Munoz who is accused of domestic violence by his wife be bounced from City Council? How many more businesses and jobs would there be if it wasn’t for the corrupt culture in Chicago? Who is being shut out of the government in Chicago? Mayoral candidate and state representative, LaShawn Ford joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why not just reopen the fraction of the government currently furloughed and continue negotiating on border security funding? Does either side have an incentive to give in? New Democrat congresswoman like Ocasio-Cortez and Talib generate headlines but are they representative of the party at large? Does the longer the shutdown go on the more leverage Trump gains? Is anyone going to challenge the president in a 2020 primary? Editor of Washington Free Beacon, Matthew Continetti joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is being the “world’s police” always at the U.S.’ benefit? What have we achieved since 9/11? Is Trump giving Mueller reasons to continue to pursue the Russian collusion probe? Will Mueller be seen as a collaborator with the radical left if they use his report as a basis for impeachment? Former prosecutor and contributing editor at National Review, Andy McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Trey Gowdy right in his assessment that he’s more troubled about what Comey never knew rather than what he can no longer recall? If the Special Counsel was as focused on the other side as they're focused on Trump, would there be more action? Is Trump’s principled realism foreign policy approach at odds with Congress? Will Christie become chief of staff even though he put Jared Kushner’s father in jail? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will House GOP members stand behind Trump's border wall funding or bust position? Will Senate Democrats play ball? Is Nancy Pelosi unable to cut a deal with Trump because she’ll otherwise lose her race for Speaker? What’s the big deal with a government shutdown anyway? Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy joins Dan and Kristen McQueary to discuss.
Has society lost the ability to have a moral fact-based dialogue? Why have those in academia dumbed down education and turned learning into the propagation of opinions rather than a search for the truth? Have helicopter parents set their kids up for failure? Oklahoma Wesleyan University President, Dr. Everett Piper, joins Dan and Kristen McQueary to discuss.
Is Google engaging in more than just civic participation and entered the world of politics? Are Google and Facebook self-aware of their perception and trying to rebuild trust with users and particularly conservatives? "The Creepy Line" documentary director, Matt Taylor joins Dan and Kristen McQueary to discuss.
Is it finally score one for Trump and Kudlow as China moves to lower auto tariffs? Should we still be holding out hope for a free trade agreement? How impactful was the arrest of the Chinese executive in Canada? Are the U.S. and China no longer a friendly rivalry? Chief Economist for CNN, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss tariffs and his sit down with the President yesterday.
Has DePaul freshman, David Krupa, already provided more public service than Madigan and Quinn have in their combined 55 years in office? What does who Krupa supported for president have to do with the validity of the signatures on his petitions? Candidate for 13th Ward Alderman, David Krupa joins Dan and Amy to discuss the obstacles he’s faced to even get on the ballot against the Chicago Democratic machine.
Is Trump his own chief of staff? How much credit does General Kelly deserve? Is Comey getting away with too much in the public view? Is it time for Trump to have a national address to tout his accomplishments and discuss what needs to be done the next two years? What does Trump need to do or say to expand his base? How does the Left use their dominance in popular culture as a weapon against their political opponents? Podcaster and Hollywood screenwriter, Andrew Klavan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
If Andrew McCarthy is right and Trump gets indicted, then what happens? Would the Southern District of New York have to get sign off from the Justice Department to get an indictment? What will William Barr’s perspective be on this? Does Comey have selective amnesia when it comes to certain investigations he was in charge of while head of the FBI? Former Chief Asst. U.S. Attorney and Contributing Editor at National Review, Andrew McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Was Trump’s hush money a political contribution per the statute despite what Cohen is alleging? Will Trump be unable to have a trial to clear himself and continue to have the issue cloud over his presidency? Are politically ambitious prosecutors overrunning the normal relationship between the FEC and Department of Justice? Former FEC Commissioner, Bradley Smith joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should the goal be to get China to say yes to anything? How did the stock market react to the G20 Summit? Rather than sweeping differences under the rug, why is Trump airing the dirty laundry in our relationship with China? Will Trump force China to change their business model? Is the Chinese government on shakier ground than typically considered? CNBC contributor, Jim Iuorio joins Dan and Amy to discuss the economic impact of the China agreement.
Michael Goodwin joins Dan and Amy to recap his interview with President Trump. How does President Trump see the Mueller investigation ending? What is his frame of mind? Is Trump furious, and if so at who? What was President Trump referring to when he told Goodwin and his colleagues "I’m a counter-puncher and I will hit them so hard they’d never been hit like that.” After two and a half years of investigation, do we have any evidence against President Trump or his campaign? New York Post Columnist and Fox News Contributor, Michael Goodwin joins Dan and Amy.
Has the economy been growing organically or only doing well at the moment due to a bunch of temporary juicing? Have deregulation and the tax cuts done enough to propel the economy? Is the current trade war not looking so easy to win? How important is the outcome of Brexit in the UK and protests in Paris for the global economy? Does junk science breed junk economics? CNBC Contributor and AEI columnist James Pethokoukis joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What should Republicans do amidst a potential government shutdown over border wall funding and a non negotiable Nancy Pelosi? Who are possible replacements for John Kelly as chief of staff? Have the “social justice” followers on the left and the hardcore “Trumpers” on the right’s movements taken a theocratic turn? Associate Editor for Commentary Magazine, Noah Rothman joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What is the difference between process crimes and comparing and contrasting them with respect to the Mueller investigation and Ken Starr’s investigation of Clinton? Will Trump be indicted regarding campaign finance laws? Should there be concerns of a culture of “give me the man and I’ll give you the crime” happening in the FBI? Should Trump’s AG pick, William Barr, dive deep into the IG report surrounding the Hillary Clinton investigation and FISA abuses? Former U.S. Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Was Bush 41 the most truly prepared person to be president? Did he have quite possibly the best national security/foreign policy team in American history? Speaking of foreign policy, how did Trump fare over the weekend at the G20 Summit with a new NAFTA agreement and temporary truce in the trade war with China? Former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, Jed Babbin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What are the stark differences between the way the Bush 41 treated his secret service detail compared to the Clintons or Al Gore? Politics aside, is it hard to argue against the legacy of Bush 41's humanity and decency as a leader? How have the media standards changed since his presidency compared to the scam artists posing as journalists today? New York Times bestselling author, Ronald Kessler joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What should the EPA do to ease the minds of Dupage County residents who have unanswered questions and don’t know if the air they’re breathing is safe? Are the suits being filed by Dupage County and Lisa Madigan’s office against Sterigenics have any merit? Is the typical backyard grill more dangerous than the chemicals being used at Sterigenics? Environmental adviser to the Heartland Institute, Rich Trzupek joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is China desperate for a trade deal? Does the U.S. have to step up and help our own companies combat cyber attacks and protect their intellectual property? Is a potential trade deal between the U.S. and China need to be focused on saving American workers and jobs rather than saving face for the leaders in China? Is China helping us in North Korea? President of the Population Research Institute and expert on China, Steven Mosher joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Trump doing as well as he can in dealing with the caravan at the border? Would President Obama have let the caravans in with open arms? What do Republicans have to do politically and strategically to gain back once Republican strongholds? Why doesn’t Trump get more credit for being tougher than Obama in dealing with Russia? National Review columnist and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Victor Davis Hanson joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are the trial lawyers prepping for another community forum with updates from the EPA in Willowbrook tonight? Was the Sterigenics scare a political hit job by the EPA? Did the EPA release their worst case assumptions rather than actual proven data models? Founder of JunkScience.com and a member of President Trump’s EPA transition team, Steve Milloy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Obama admitting he was great for Wall Street but not so much for working families? Did we fail him? Will identity politics be wielded as a weapon in the Democratic presidential primary? Is a Trump pardon for Manafort on the table? Is a government shutdown the only way to advance Trump’s policy agenda? Could securing the border and making illegal immigration more difficult lead to more rational policy discussions? National Review columnist, David French joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
The EPA admits it had no evidence to support its Sterigenics scare, but that won't stop the Left's witch hunt. Is the Chicago press corps or any politicians going to apologize or correct the record for creating hysteria of a cancer scare in those communities? Why did they target that company in that district right before an election? Dan and Amy discuss the continuing Sterigenics controversy.
Kudlow says Trump is still committed to zero tariff, zero subsidy, zero non-tariff barrier world. But how long is that going to take? If the U.S. doesn’t use tariffs as leverage with China, how else are we going to be able to change their behavior? Is the media sensationalizing the GM layoffs, but forgetting about the surplus of other blue collar jobs that have been added? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How does Trump’s principled realism approach to foreign policy translate? Is Trump’s approach of “kill em' with kindness” tactic with Putin not working in light of Russia’s threat on Ukraine? Wouldn’t the “America first” policy be to pull out of Afghanistan? Is there any policy talks to be had at the Summit this weekend or is it nothing more than a photo op for world leaders? Former Foreign Service Officer for the State Department and author of “America First: Understanding the Trump Doctrine,” Danny Toma joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What’s the political landscape looking like now that it’s settled? Is it bold for Trump to compare himself to Reagan after only serving two years in office? Would it be difficult for any Democrats to cut a deal with Trump and anger their base? Was it not presidential but predictable of Trump to threaten to pull subsidies to GM because of their layoffs? Is a government shutdown the only leverage Trump has for border wall funding? Senior Editor at Hotair.com, Ed Morrissey joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are the Left’s cries against the use of tear gas at the border falling on deaf ears in lieu of providing their policy solution and an assessment of the implications? Were the vast majority of confrontations at the border with adult males despite the women and children narrative pushed by the media? Did Obama’s broad asylum policy create a detrimental precedent? How many more caravans are on the way? Executive Director at The Center for Immigration Studies, Mark Krikorian joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Do you ever have to apologize if you’re a government bureaucrat or a member of the Chicago press corps for false reporting? The EPA says they may have mistested the air samples from Sterigenics that Democrat politicians seized upon to berate Rauner and other Republican candidates. Do the residents in the western suburbs deserve an apology for the political fear mongering of a cancer scare? Dan and Amy discuss new reports coming from the EPA regarding Sterigenics.
Is Pakistan the achilles heel for the U.S. in our continuing military presence in Afghanistan? Will Trump confront Putin this weekend at the G20 Summit about the continued threat Russia poses on Ukraine? Will Trump’s trade war with China lead to electoral consequences in 2020? Is the showdown at the border another issue neglected by previous presidents that Trump is willing to take on? Fox & Friends Weekend Host, Pete Hegseth joins Dan and Amy to discuss these topics and the launch of Fox Nation.
Are Trump's tariffs in part responsible for GM's layoffs? What are the odds of Trump remedying the problem with our trade partners? Is the Chinese experiment beginning to fail? Why is Illinois in the place it’s in? A Forest Park part time superintendent is making $425k/yr. How do we remedy that? CNN political commentator, Steve Cortes joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Dershowitz predicts the Mueller report will be devastating (politically) to Trump. What is Mueller’s job in the first place? Will there be enough evidence to charge or will he be forced to put the files to bed? What more is there for Mueller to do? House Judiciary committee subpoenaed Comey and Lynch, but why agree when the Democrats are about to take over? Former Chief U.S. Attorney and Columnist at National Review, Andy McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Who bears the responsibility for the chaos on the border? Is this just the beginning of mass caravans if the U.S. doesn’t act? Should Trump defy the court and force the Democrats to impeach him for keeping migrants from storming the border? Is the Mexican government helping at all? Editor at Stream.org, John Zmirak joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should mass shootings be treated as a public health crisis? Should there be interviews with family members in order for someone to purchase a gun? Would getting rid of “gun free zones” help prevent mass shootings? Is it time for family and friends to step up and intervene if they know someone has a chance of being violent? Should we expect Democrats in the House to move on gun control even though they haven’t in the past? President of the Crime Prevention Research Center, John Lott Jr. joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Larry Kudlow correct that talks of a recession are nonsense? Does Trump’s rhetoric play a part in the market’s ups and downs? Are we in a “cold war” with China and will it ever end? When will conservative leaders pushback against billionaire hedge fund managers for impugning capitalism? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Did Trump make the right decision on Saudi Arabia and strike the right notes in delivering it? What steps should the U.S. take in addition to the sanctions Trump has already put on Saudi Arabia to try and push for serious reform? Would anyone in the DC press corps pay attention to the Khashoggi story if he wasn’t a contributor to the Washington Post? President of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Cliff May joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Does the media pick and choose the stories they report on to adhere to their critical narrative of Trump? Is there a media blackout on the Avenatti charges? Where’s the healthy skepticism across the board? Where are the civil liberties groups taking a principled stand against government abuses? Investigative reporter, Sharyl Attkisson joins Dan and Amy to discuss these topics and her suit against the FBI and DOJ.
What should President Trump do with Saudi Arabia? Is the U.S. being cautious in hopes of not inciting a revolution in an already unstable region? Should the U.S. believe the state run media in North Korea boasting about their successful tests of an unspecified tactical weapon? CNN Military analyst, Colonel Cedric Leighton joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the reinstatement of Acosta's press pass actually a victory for Trump? Is the acting Attorney General Whitaker’s position on the Mueller investigation shared by many, including the President? Is it time to wrap it up? George Mason University Law Professor, FH Buckley joins Dan and Amy to discuss these topics and Justice Scalia’s legacy.
If the Left has only hate to offer, what should conservatives offer in response? Is the need for liberalism becoming obsolete? Does America not give itself enough credit for its moral evolution? Are school choice programs giving Republicans an advantage in governors’ races in states like Florida and Arizona? Author and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Shelby Steele joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
If Brenda Snipes’ fraudulent practices in Broward County have been known, how has she stayed in office? Should Governor-elect Ron DeSantis remove her from office? Why are the deadlines being extended in Florida? Should we be expecting more of these antics in the 2020 presidential election? Research director at the Government Accountability Institute and author of “Fraud: How the Left Plans to Steal the Next Election,” Eric Eggers joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why did Fox file an amicus brief on behalf of CNN in their lawsuit against the White House? Is Trump forcing journalists to reveal their true selves as narcissists? Is the caravan “make believe” or a serious threat? Will Trump get funding for a border wall? When are they going to officially call the elections in Florida and will there be any consequences for officials in Broward County? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will Broward County have a credible machine recount done by today's deadline? Does Trump help his case with fact free claims to the Daily Caller about voter fraud? Is there some real revolt happening in the Democratic Party as they prepare to vote for leadership? Senior Political correspondent at the WashingtonExaminer.com, David Drucker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Have Democratic socialists finally cracked the code and figured out we can all live forever care-free on the backs of the billionaires? Are Democrats going to kill good criminal justice reform to not make Trump look reasonable? Do failed states offer billions in subsidies to Amazon solely for the photo op while eliminating other home grown businesses? American for Tax Reform President, Grover Norquist joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
In the spirit of bipartisanship, should Trump pardon Michael Avenatti for all his crimes? Has feminism become mistakenly synonymous with a movement that is good for women? Does feminism simply reward women for their service to the state? Is Planned Parenthood already prepping for a post Roe v. Wade world? Screenwriter for the Gosnell movie, Andrew Klavan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are kickbacks with foreign nations bribery but otherwise known as lobbying in the U.S? How did Greece overspend on healthcare and what are the lessons to be learned? Why are there so few prosecutions for drug reps who bribe foreign countries to use their product? What is the human cost? LA Times national correspondent and author of “Kickback: Exposing the Global Corporate Bribery Network,” David Montero joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why did New England states have to turn to Russia to meet their energy needs even though the U.S. has more energy than any other country in the world? How can the Democrats say they care about the middle class while actively destroying middle class jobs? Are state governments giving out billions of dollars in subsidies to Amazon going to benefit in the long run? Do Illinoisans know all their taxes aren’t going to services but paying for someone else’s pension? CNN Chief economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should acting AG Matt Whitaker recuse himself from oversight of the Mueller investigation? Should there be any concerns about his political ideology distracting him from his job? Why weren’t the Democrats concerned about politics in the senior leadership in the FBI when it was their guys? Would it be wise to get an AG appointed and confirmed as soon as possible? A former colleague of Whitaker and former U.S. Attorney, Bud Cummins joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why did Republicans turn to Sinema over McSally in Arizona? McSally gracefully conceded, when will Gillum, Nelson, and Abrams do the same? Is vast right-wing conspiracy theorist Hillary for sure entering the race for 2020? Associate Editor at Commentary magazine, Noah Rothman joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is there any country more nationalist than France? Is Macron trying to position himself as leader of the EU as the other European countries are falling apart? Is Nielsen on her way out of Homeland Security? What is Trump to do with the Saudis taking orders from MBS to murder Khashoggi? Anything likely to come out of the G20 Summit at the end of the month? Former U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, Jed Babbin joins Dan and Amy to discuss
Did Democrats take over the house due to their demagoguery? Is Obamacare a slow walking government takeover of health insurance? Is the left trying to steal the election in Florida and having people question the integrity of our elections? Are white women selling out their gender? The First Ladies of Punditry, Diamond and Silk join Dan and John Kass to discuss.
What does a House Speaker Pelosi and new Democratic governors mean for second amendment rights? Could any of the recent mass shootings have been preventable with any laws not already on the books? Are red flag laws turning people into civilian police? How did Mayor Daley run John Lott out of town? Crime Prevention Research Center President John Lott Jr. joins Dan and John Kass to discuss.
How do you provide a taste of home for the troops? Send them pizza! Kent Evans joins Dan and John Kass to discuss his organization that he took over from his father that sends pizzas overseas and provides pizza for veterans here in the U.S. Go to www.sgtpizza.org to find out how you can get involved.
Do most Americans agree we shouldn’t have open borders? Will Trump’s legal executive action on immigration reveal the impartiality of the judicial branch who will most likely file an injunction on his action? Is the media misrepresenting Whittaker’s views on the Mueller investigation? Should Chris Christie be the next AG? National Review Columnist, Andy McCarthy joins Dan and Scott Shellady to discuss.
What will it take for both sides of the extremes to quit doxxing and stalking elected officials and TV personalities like Tucker Carlson? Is Trump still looking to take executive action on immigration? Is there a 2000 redux happening in Florida? Any new names floating around for the new Attorney General position? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Scott Shellady to discuss.
What has the Trump Administration done to protect religious liberty? Is the Thomas More Society worried about being targeted at the state level because of their non profit status and their advocacy for the defense of life and religious liberty that is currently at odds with the current Democrat leaders in power in Illinois? Are they prepared to battle the next four years? Thomas More Society President, Tom Brejcha joins Dan and Scott Shellady to discuss.
Was 2018 the year of Republican women? Is the election of Trump in 2020 much more likely since the Democrats took over the house? Should Trump be worried about states he won in 2016 that have voted in Democrat governors? Was Jeff Sessions treated unfairly by Trump? Host of the Larry Elder Show, Larry Elder joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Did poor Jim Acosta from CNN get his WH credentials removed just for simply asking a question? Is the grandstanding and exaggeration of the republic at risk from the DC press corps sitting well with the American people? Is Trump called a divisive character because he won't surrender to the left? CNN contributor, Steve Cortes joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Staying up to date on another tragic event in Thousand Oaks, CA after a deadly mass shooting. Once they get the shooter’s identity, where does the investigation lead them? Does Jeff Sessions’ resignation and a new acting AG change the trajectory of the Mueller investigation? Former FBI Assistant Director, Ron Hosko joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the loss of the House the beginning of the end for the Trump presidency? Does this set Trump up well in 2020 to run against the party of Nancy Pelosi? Will this force Republicans to act more fiscally conservative? Did the economy save Republicans from a total beatdown? Chief economist for CNN, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will Ocasio-Cortes be the leading influence of the Democrats in the House or will that be Nancy Pelosi? Did Democrats win the majority by running middle of the road moderates? Is there going to be conflicting pressures for the Democrats? Editor of Washington Free Beacon, Matthew Continetti joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What’s the new realignment in American politics? Will Democrats focus on legislation or bringing down Trump? How does Trump win the midwestern states heading into 2020? How important was the Ohio governor’s race? Is Trump going to soften his tone? Washington Examiner reporter, Salena Zito joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Where is the Trump Administration making strides in the healthcare market? Who’s lying and who’s telling the truth about pre-existing conditions? How is Scott Walker in Wisconsin lowering premiums? Where is the country going to come up with the $34 trillion for “Medicare for all?” Founder of healthinsurancementors.com, C. Steven Tucker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is school choice on top of the ballot to even the playing field in any states? Can people differentiate between opinion host Sean Hannity and the “journalist” in Michigan bad mouthing GOP Senate candidate John James before she hung up the phone? If Republicans are just “fear mongering” about the caravan then why are Democrats running from the issue? Fox News contributor, Juan Williams joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What does the shameless coverage of the Pittsburgh shooting and pinning the blame on Trump but silent on Democrats’ relationship with Louis Farrakhan say about the D.C. press corps? Will the legislative success we’ve experienced the first two years of Trump’s presidency come to an end if the Democrats take over the House? Editor at the New Criterion, Roger Kimball joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
If Madigan’s character assassinations of suburban Republicans are so ridiculous then why do they keep running it? Why are these races so important to Madigan? Is a vote for a Democrat a vote for more taxes and an expansion of Madigan’s power? State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) joins Dan and Amy to set the record straight.
Should Trump be pushing the accomplishments of the economy on the campaign trail? Why is the wage growth so widely unreported and touted? Will the good economic times continue to roll or are we on the brink of a recession? CNBC contributor, Jim Iuorio joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should our national security and the way our leaders handle and define our enemies push voters to go out and vote Republican? Should we be encouraged by the Trump administration’s serious pressure on Iran? Is Trump making the right call sending troops to the border to counter the caravan? President of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Cliff May joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Does Gov. Walker have the unique capability to run on his successful record? Why are some of these races so close like Walker’s at the state level and the Senate race in Arizona? Why are Democrats running on healthcare after they broke it? Is it possible for Trump to campaign on the great economy and tough immigration reform? Wisconsin Congressman, Sean Duffy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Trump right to call the caravan an invasion? Why wave the flag of the country that you don’t want to go back to? If the left thinks America is so bad then why would they encourage people to come? Would it be for wise for Trump to address all the ways illegal immigrants are coming to the U.S. including those from Central Europe overstaying their visas? Historian and National Review columnist, Victor Davis Hanson joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will the good jobs report before the midterm elections move the needle at all? Will the rally continue? Is the economy finally bringing people off the sidelines into the workforce? How can Democrats run against Republicans in this booming economy? Fox Business Contributor, Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Do voters understand when politicians and property tax appeals lawyers like Martwick get their clients’ property taxes reduced the burden falls on the rest of homeowners? Is that why Martwick says he “hates the idea of lowering property taxes?” Want to change things in Chicago and Illinois? Maybe stop electing Democrat crime family property tax appeals attorneys like Robert Martwick. Ammie Kessem, Chicago Police Sergeant, and candidate for State Rep. in the 19th District, joins Dan and Amy to discuss what distinguishes herself from her opponent.
Can Conservatives defeat the identity politics of the Left with facts and logic? On this episode of Against The Current, City Journal Contributing Editor and best-selling author Heather Mac Donald joins Dan Proft to talk about diversity, categories of victimhood, indoctrination in education, and the social justice mafia.
Should there be a travel ban on white guys as suggested by CNN’s Don Lemon? What is the left’s moral inconsistency and hypocrisy on race? Is there a hate crisis in American culture that is affecting all races? Woodson Center founder, Bob Woodson joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are Democrats in the suburbs voting for locally licensed Madigan roll call votes? How does Peter Breen fight off outrageous political attacks calling him “pro pedophile” and against funding rape kits? Why aren’t Illinois voters more skeptical? How will he reverse the exodus of people out of Illinois that Democrats deny is even happening? State Rep. and House Republican Floor Leader, Peter Breen joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are Republicans waiting for the jobs report to lock everything up? Are jobs and the economy still the number one issue? What about immigration? Does the oncoming caravan have Democrats on the defensive? Is Trump acting “presidential” leading up the midterms? How is Gillum, a Democratic-Socialist, even competing in Florida? What about pickups in Midwestern states? Senior editor at Hotair.com, Ed Morrissey joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is voter fraud mythology to the left? Does the President have the power to revoke birthright citizenship by executive order? Does SCOTUS dicta dictate federal immigration policy and/or the means to change it? Georgetown law professor, Randy Barnett joins Dan and Amy to discuss and also shares his experience as an assistant Cook County State’s Attorney on election patrol when he had voter fraud committed right in front of him.
Has the volume of mail financed by Madigan surpassed any other elections in the state's history? Is money going to be the difference maker in suburban races? Do Democrat and Independent voters still want to get rid of Madigan? What’s the number one concern from voters? Are voters connecting the dots that Trump has nothing to do with the policy proposals in Springfield? State Rep. Tom Morrison from Palatine joins Dan and Amy with his closing arguments for your vote.
What is the constitutional case against birthright citizenship according to the 14th Amendment? What was the primary purpose of the 14th Amendment? When was the last time the Supreme Court dealt with this issue? What’s the potential issue with Trump’s executive order despite the President having a wide range of power dealing with national security? Heritage Foundation legal analyst, Amy Swearer joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is this the first time Hultgren has faced this kind of challenge in a solidly Republican area? Did his opponent move to Illinois just to become a politician? What is his response to her attacks about healthcare? Are all of her millions in campaign donations coming from Hollywood? Will there be total dysfunction if the Democrats take over the House? Congressman Randy Hultgren from the 14th District joins Dan and Amy to discuss his closing arguments against his opponent.
Is Trump going to get a deal done with China? What are the most important issues to Indiana voters? How will he use his business experience in the Senate? Does Joe Donnelly’s F rating from pro-life organizations and D from the NRA align with Hoosier voters? Is the migrant caravan bringing both Democrats and Republicans together on the need to secure our border? GOP Senate nominee from Indiana, Mike Braun joins Dan and Amy to discuss the campaign with one week to go until the election.
Why is Sean Casten doubling down on his hero, sex columnist, Dan Savage? Why would Casten buddy up with Madigan? Is Peter Roskam drained or invigorated with a week to go until the election? Is this Congressional race way beyond donkeys and elephants but how we view the world? Congressman from the 6th District, Peter Roskam joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How do average citizens hold the country's most powerful institutions, politicians and media outlets accountable? On this edition of Against the Current, Project Veritas Founder James O'Keefe talks to Dan Proft about his work to lift the curtain on the Left's most sacred cows.
Voters in the city of Chicago and across the state of Illinois have major decisions to make at the ballot box in coming months. Between Rauner and Pritzker, a wide open Chicago mayoral field and a fight for control of the Illinois General Assembly, which direction might the state go? On this edition of Against the Current, Dan Proft and Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass forecast the upcoming elections in Illinois, both the midterms in November and the mayoral election in February. Is it time for conservatives to forgive and come back to Bruce Rauner? Do any of the current Chicago mayoral candidates inspire confidence for the future of the city? Why hasn't a center right candidate jumped in the field? And will it be a blue wave or red wave – or something in between – on Nov. 6? All this and more is discussed in the most in-depth conversation available for Illinoisans this election season.
What inspires a local Sheriff to get involved in national politics? Retired Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke talks to Dan Proft about his 15 years in electoral politics, his experience with Black Lives Matter, restoring peace, rehabilitating ex-offenders, and being a foot soldier for freedom on this episode of Against the Current.
What binds all these politicos together? How did the Obama administration perfect the practice of “smash and grab?” What are the behind closed doors dealings of some of the potential 2020 presidential candidates? What was Tiny Dancer’s cut after leaving the Obama White House? "Clinton Cash" and "Secret Empires" author, Peter Schweizer joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Have the 2018 midterms returned to a law and order election? According to Democrat candidate for governor in Florida, Andrew Gillum thinks cops have already failed once they need to use a taser, baton, or their gun. What’s the new active shooter protocol? How much does social media factor into police investigations? Is there any more to be done with threats on social media? New York City Police Detective and President of the CMP Protective and Investigative Group, Thomas Ruskin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How do you tackle the most important and challenging aspect of K-12 reform: family. There are real rewards and consequences from the decisions children make, but do educators have the courage to tell them the truth? What are the factors that drive long term success for kids? Operator of Charter Schools, Ian Rowe joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the media looking for pretext to destroy Trump? Trump is telling the caravan to turn around and he's sending troops to the border for emphasis. How is this going to end? Why aren’t the migrants taking refuge in Mexico as offered? If Trump doesn’t take care of this will he lose the midterms? TheStream.org’s John Zmirak joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How do anchors on CNN go from calls for civility to suspecting the alleged pipe bomber is definitely a Fox News viewer? Is it ridiculous to suggest that the current political discourse is responsible for an attempted terrorist attack? Have any Democrats been asked if the caravan should be allowed in? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will more suburban women ultimately vote GOP than the pollsters think? Does the electorate believe Hillary Clinton is liability to the Democrats? Should you vote with your head or emotions? Is identity politics shaming finally coming to a head? Author and culture critic, Suzanne Venker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are talking heads jumping to conclusions to score political points in the ongoing pipe bomb investigation? How much forensic work is going on right now? How do you begin to narrow in on the bomber? Is there still a chance this could be domestic or international terrorism? Famed FBI Criminal Profiler, James Fitzgerald joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How has feminism helped undermine family life? Why is there a hypersexualization of children in schools? Why do feminists deny the differences between men and women? Is the #metoo movement a cry of despair from the anything goes culture feminism has created? Columnist and senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Mona Charen joins Dan and Amy to discuss how feminism lost touch with science.
Are Trump's tariffs stunting American growth? What say Caterpillar? Is government the means of transferring wealth or creating it? Why aren’t we trying to make steel in the U.S. as cheap as possible? Why is Trump listening to Peter Navarro? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is whiteness blackness and blackness whiteness? Why are “intellectuals” who categorize people according to color heralded as the great minds of our time even though they are harkening back to the days of Jim Crow? What is angry white man syndrome? Is the political discourse in this country so bad because of the single minded D.C. press corps? Brand ambassador at Jerusalem U, Chloe Simone Valdary joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Do Google and Facebook have the power to shift votes to candidates they prefer? Will they have an effect on the upcoming midterms? Is it virtually impossible to separate yourself from Google? What is the creepiest thing that Facebook and Google does to their users? Documentarian, Matt Taylor joins Dan and Amy to explain how these media giants are undermining our republic.
Is environmentalists’ pushback on any EPA rollback- “people will die?” Is there even a sliver of truth to that? Is our 21st-century Nazi threat not getting to 100% renewable energy as hinted by Ocasio-Cortes? How has Germany’s CO2 emissions gone up despite spending $220 billion on green energy? Founder of JunkScience.com and a member of President Trump’s EPA transition team, Steve Milloy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What are the issues impacting overall turnout? Is the gap beginning to close between Republicans who historically vote early and the Democrats? If there is a higher midterm turnout than in recent decades, who will it help? Does Trump’s approval rating impact the elections? Former Campaign Manager for Howard Dean, Joe Trippi joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Will “Beautiful” Ted win out against Beto O’Rourke, “a highly overrated guy?” Is Trump blowing smoke on promising more tax cuts? Are women across the country unhappy with Trump’s bluster but happy with his accomplishments from a policy perspective? Senior political correspondent for the Washington Examiner, David Drucker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should voters consider who should be the mayor rather than who could? How does Amara Enyia differ from the other progressive candidates in the mayoral race? How has celebrity support changed her campaign? Why does she think a public bank run by a bankrupt Chicago government could ever be a good idea? Mayoral candidate, Amara Enyia joins Dan and Amy to discuss her platform and high profile supporters like Chance the Rapper and Kanye West.
What does 21st-century capitalism look like? How did America become the world’s most powerful economy? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about the future of capitalism in America? Are tariffs always a mistake? Political Editor for The Economist and co-author of the new book “Capitalism In America: A History” with Alan Greenspan, Adrian Wooldridge joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Congressional candidate, Jitrenda Diganvker, has dealt with the financial hardships of having to close his business, to the tragic loss of his daughters in a car accident. Through that all, he is still proud to be an American and wants to serve the country that has brought him such great opportunities since he became a citizen in 2003. First time, Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 8th District, Jitendra “JD” Diganvker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Did John Adams and Thomas Jefferson spend most of their “friendship” hoping the other was dead? Were they together in the fight for independence but divided on everything else? Did they have a unifying hatred for Alexander Hamilton? Brown University Professor, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of “Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson,” Gordon Wood joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are sanctions against the Saudis the next move in response to the Khashoggi murder investigation? Why does Lindsey Graham think it’s a good idea to call for regime change? What is Trump going to do about the Honduras caravan headed to the border? Is the GOP having an October comeback? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Who’s worse: university professors or administrators? Why are students taught to be fragile and that their ideas should go unchallenged? Are educators teaching the importance of free speech? What colleges and universities actually promote free expression? President of Fund for American Studies Foundation, Roger Ream joins Dan and Amy to discuss in studio.
Why is IL Conservative Party candidate for governor, State Sen. Sam McCann, sending out mailers attacking conservative legislators? Is McCann doing Madigan’s bidding trying to take out suburban Republicans? Does he want another Madigan supermajority? Does he still have a path to victory? Candidate for governor, Sam McCann joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the media ignoring the Gosnell movie because they don’t want to confront the horrors of abortion? How were all the reports and complaints from the clinic ignored? How is identity politics used to drive people apart? What does it mean to be a writer? Gosnell screenwriter, Andrew Klavan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How are mayoral candidates supposed to navigate the racial/identity politics of Chicago? Are the Democrats in the City cannibalizing themselves due to identity politics? Is there a chance to shrink city government without raising property taxes? Are Chicagoans paying for the sins for politicians? Is more revenue from dope and gambling the path to prosperity in Chicago? Mayoral candidate, Paul Vallas joins Dan and Amy to discuss his financial plan.
What stands out in Reagan’s life before his presidency? How did Reagan’s dream of becoming a sports broadcaster lead to his acting career? What is his relevance in today’s society? Bob Spitz joins Dan and Amy discuss his new book, “REAGAN: An American Journey.”
Should the Trump administration make policy decisions on rumors or verifiable facts as Trump calls for Turkey's alleged tapes of Khashoggi's torture and murder? Is Trump playing good cop/bad cop on foreign policy matters? Should Congress get involved? What is there to anticipate from the Mueller report? What’s the appropriate role for a special counsel? Heritage Foundation's Lt. Col. Jim Carafano joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Would cutting off arms sales to Saudi Arabia hurt the U.S.? Is there more at play in the Khashoggi murder than him writing unfavorable pieces on the Saudi royal family? How does the resistance feel about their funds going into Trump’s pockets? Why are some media outlets letting Warren win the news cycle? Are Senate Republican nominees benefitting from the Democrats’ mishaps? Associate editor at Commentary Magazine, Noah Rothman joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How does Northridge Prep prepare young men to not only be sound academically but build their character to be good husbands and friends? Do they use any Ipads or laptops in the classroom? How involved is the whole family? How does the all male staff serve as role models for the students? Headmaster for Northridge Preparatory School, Niall Fagan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What was once seen as a retail giant, is now filing for bankruptcy. Did Sears try to adapt to the modern market or did their decline happen too quickly? What about the future of malls? Should the Fed continue raising rates? CNBC Contributor, Jim Iuorio joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is there more backstory we should be exploring regarding the Khashoggi disappearance/murder? What about his ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and Bin Laden? What should be the U.S.’ response to the Saudi’s for their involvement? Former Trump aide, Sebastian Gorka joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Was Pastor Brunson’s prayer with President Trump a refreshing expression of faith rarely seen in today’s politics? Is there a fear of growing cynicism in the country? Why are cases of sexual assault seen as a public relations issue? Why are men and women on the left suggesting men should “take one for the team” and not fight back when they’re falsely accused of sexual assault? President of The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Dr. Russell Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Illinois' high property taxes are crushing middle and lower income earners. But the problem is even creeping into affluent areas, too, and more and more homeowners are looking for an exit and seeing their home values destroyed – like, say, NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Wirepoints' President Ted Dabrowski discuss how the state's high property taxes are affecting all homeowners – rich, poor, middle class, famous and not. And they discuss the political status quo that wants to keep it this way.
Is there such a thing as too much law? Are there two systems of justice depending where you land on the political spectrum? Can democracy also die in a fully lit courtroom? Foundation Professor at George Mason University’s Scalia School of Law, FH Buckley joins Dan to discuss.
Are you planning on “movin’ out” of Illinois? There’s a new song for you to listen to while packing up. Tim O’Donnell from West Chicago joins Dan in studio to debut his new hit single, “Movin’ Out,” an Illinois inspired parody.
Despite the market downturn is it still good to be us? Are liberals still not getting in the market because of their dislike of Trump? Is the social media part of the tech sector going to take a hit? Is it worse for the stock market to go up for no reason but better to go down for a few good reasons? Fox Business Contributor, Scott "The Cow Guy" Shellady joins Dan and Kristen McQueary to discuss the market pullback.
Does the left’s treatment of Kanye expose how they really feel about people who don’t think like them? Is the right to defend yourself and your property the key to all other rights? Are people’s views on gun control reflective of their views of freedom in general? Senior editor at TheFederalist.com, David Harsanyi joins Dan and Shaun to discuss.
Was it a good move for the White House to have Melania do an open ended interview with ABC? Are there too many factions within the Republican Party? Is there an appetite in the party for limiting the size and scope of government? Has the argument against socialism for Republicans become less of a fiscal argument but a cultural one? Senior political correspondent at the Washington Examiner, David Drucker joins Dan and Shaun to discuss.
Is Rauner going to drag down all Republicans on the ballot? Is he closing the gap at all? Were all Rauner’s political defeats self-inflicted wounds? Did Rauner discount what he was up against and then decide to surrender instead of fight? Dan and Kristen McQueary discuss the future of Illinois and the governor’s race.
Will #MeToo encourage more false allegations? If men are "toxic" then why shouldn't women be able to falsely accuse them since they're intrinsically bad? What about teaching your children about the presumption of innocence? Are women led to believe the pains of regret are equal to rape? Why are campuses obsessed with teaching students to see themselves as victims? Contributing editor at City Journal, Heather MacDonald joins Dan and Kristen McQueary to discuss.
Will Trump’s supporters out live his presidency and continue supporting Republicans? Will the country be recognizable if the Socialist Democrats are able to take over? Did people gravitate to the right after the Kavanaugh hearings? Are white women gender traitors? Diamond Silk join Dan and Shaun to discuss these topics and their new movie “Dummycrats” in theaters October 15.
Political rhetoric nationally is heated, divisive and becoming personal. But it's happening locally, too – from the vandalism of a Republican Party office in Rockford to a state senator accosting a constituent in the north shore. Why is it getting to that point? On this installment of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Illinois Policy writer Joe Kaiser discuss intensifying political rhetoric and how it doesn't get to the core of policy issues. They also discuss the continued distorted political attacks from House Speaker Mike Madigan's political operation, lying about conservative reform candidates' records.
Illinoisans pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation. How much is that burden motivating them to vote out the offending pols in the 2018 Midterms? Upstream Ideas went to Glen Ellyn to see if voters could Follow the Logic.
How the state’s political culture impacted voters faith in politicians? How has machine politics affected the way in which political messages are received? Upstream Ideas asked voters in Elmhurst to Follow the Logic.
Has Nikki Haley been one of the few stars in the Trump administration? How was her tenure in the hotbed of anti-Americanism otherwise known as the UN? Who has the diplomatic chops to replace her? After the Kavanaugh hearing, who is going to want to go through a nomination process? Former Pentagon official, Jed Babbin joins Dan and Lauren Cohn to discuss.
How do voters encapsulate the IL gubernatorial race? What do the candidates mean when they say “middle class”? Does JB not want to take a position on anything while Rauner has taken different positions on every issue? Would JB be prosecuted if there was a serious Attorney General? Dan and Lauren Cohn discuss the Illinois governor’s race.
Is it time for climate change scientists to dictate the way we run our economy? How is the United Nations going to be able to change the global temperature? Is it inhumane to deny fossil fuels to impoverished people all over the world? Was last week the best economic week in Trump’s presidency? Chief Economist for CNN, Steve Moore joins Dan and Lauren Cohn to discuss.
Are the Kavanaugh hearings affecting state and local races? Is Susana Mendoza trying to win one election to only vacate it and run for another? Despite what’s happened to the state, why are Republicans still losing ground in the suburbs? How can Republicans get voters to connect the dots to understand a vote for any Democrat is a vote for Madigan? Candidate for state Comptroller, Darlene Senger joins Dan and Lauren Cohn to discuss.
In the four years between the MacDonald shooting and Van Dyke’s conviction, there have been 2,500 murders, and more than 11,000 people shot and wounded in Chicago. What's the future of policing in Chicago? What about Trump’s idea to reinstate stop and frisk? Did Tiny Dancer buy the silence of black Alderman in exchange for campaign cash payoffs during his election runoff? Chicago FOP President, Kevin Graham joins Dan and Amy to discuss the Van Dyke verdict.
Should Republicans be allowed to celebrate the Kavanaugh confirmation? Is the U.S. at risk of being governed by five lawyers? Are leftist elites shrieking because they are afraid of democracy? If the Democrats take over the House, will they spend the full two years trying to impeach Trump? Should there be investigations into those who may have testified untruthfully in the Kavanaugh hearings? Writer and editor at stream.org, John Zmirak joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Have shrill Democratic Socialists ensured "The Great Revolt" continues through November 6? How has Republican enthusiasm changed since the Kavanaugh hearings? Should Republicans consider pursuing perjury charges against those who testified under oath? Has Russia been messing with the 2018 elections yet? Is there a bigger divide in Washington than amongst “typical” voters? Reporter at the WashingtonExaminer.com, Salena Zito joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are Democrats turning their Blue Wave into a Red Riptide? Did the Democrats manage to fire up the Republican base and attract independents with their hysterical antics? What about Scott Walker’s hard road ahead for governor? Are Republicans taking the same approach as Trump and no longer letting themselves get walked on by the left? Congressman Sean Duffy from Wisconsin’s 7th District joins Dan and Amy to discuss the potential red wall in November.
Did the end of the Van Dyke trial mark a new beginning for Chicago? Will the implications of this case extend beyond Chicago? How did the jury conclude that none of the 16 shots were lawful? Could Van Dyke face as few as six years? Kane County State’s Attorney and special prosecutor in the Van Dyke trial, Joe McMahon joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Does the defense regret putting Van Dyke on the stand? Will the verdict lead to the Ferguson effect in Chicago? Are police officers now security guards? How does Van Dyke explain why no other officers fired their weapons on the scene? Van Dyke’s Defense Attorney, Dan Herbert joins Dan and Amy to discuss the verdict.
Will the Kavanaugh confirmation be good for economic liberty? Was this a watershed moment for the Republican Party? Did Democrats not only tolerate but cheer on mob rule? If more Republicans win their elections should we be prepared for a second round of tax cuts? Did the Janus decision affect the Democratic Party’s fundraising by force? President for Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
The U.S. is finally starting to see decent wage growth and higher participation rate, but what’s the down side? Is the last time we bragged about unemployment the time we went into a recession and let inflation get out of control? Is the new NAFTA the same as old NAFTA? Does Trump want tariffs to inflict punishment on China or help the U.S.? Are we headed toward a free trade market? CNBC Contributor, Jim Pethokoukis joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Sen. Coons right, will Kavanaugh be confirmed? Was Flake’s call for the extended investigation actually helpful to the cause? Did the Senators want the FBI to do their jobs for them? Did the Democrats’ antics finally solidify support for Trump? Is this the worst moment in American politics? Do the Democrats have any sense of the precedence they have set? Senior Political Columnist for WashingtonExaminer.com, Tim Carney joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How should the performance of the the DC press corps be assessed over their handling of the Kavanaugh confirmation? Is there any distinction from the media and the Democratic Party? Do we have to remember that the media is more powerful than any of the branches of government? Founder of Project Veritas, James O’Keefe joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Were the jobs numbers just okay? Is inflation going to affect interest rates? Should we be celebrating the lowest unemployment rate since 1969? Are the spiraling premium costs burdening Americans and their employers? Did Obama’s ramming through of the healthcare bill begin the divisiveness of politics that we’re experiencing today? Fox Business Contributor, Scott "The Cow Guy" Shellady joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What does Kavanaugh’s freshman roommate have to say about him and his drinking? Will Senators vote based on feelings or the facts and evidence? Did Kavanaugh’s testimony full of righteous anger ensure his nomination? Did the Democrats help unite the Republican Party? Co-Founder of TheFederalist.com, Sean Davis joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the Democrats’ reasoning for voting against Kavanaugh no longer about assault or excessive drinking, but his temperament? Is common sense lost to those in the media and academia? Why should we discount everyone who has known Kavanaugh for 40 years but give consideration to 600 lawyers that were against him at the outset? Was the Kavanaugh hearing a dress rehearsal for potential Trump impeachment proceedings? CNN Contributor, Steve Cortes joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Trump willing to take potential legal action against the New York Times most recent hit piece about his taxes? Do CNN anchors know the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion? Where is the interest in fraudulent accounting by the government? Republicans gave Democrats the week they wanted for the FBI Kavanaugh investigation. Now what? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are ads filled with sexual innuendos the new hip, cool way to reach millenials to go out and vote? Is it revenge of the Exes Day in the Kavanaugh saga? Does Lindsey Graham need to do more talking and Trump need to do less? Why isn’t the FBI sitting down with Dr. Ford? Senior Editor for HotAir.com and columnist for The Week, Ed Morrissey joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the U.S. headed for a serious trade war? What does the national jobs picture look like moving forward? The noise around economic news can sometimes make it difficult to keep up, but Scott "the Cow Guy" Shellady – trader and Fox Business analyst – constantly has his eye on market trends. On this installment of "Against the Current," Dan Proft and Shellady explore a range of pressing economic issues – from trade and fiscal policy, to forecasting the health of manufacturing, agriculture and other sectors. Does innovation always help economic growth? Does the Trump administration inspire much confidence for free market advocates? Proft and Shellady answer all these questions and more in an in-depth look at the current state of the economy.
Democrats have run the city of Chicago for the last 100 years, and the state of Illinois for most of the last 50. But the results for taxpayers aren't there. Will anyone in the state Democratic Party ranks be willing to break away from the party bosses and the machine, and call for more reform-minded policies? On this edition of Against the Current, Dan Proft asks that question to state Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, who genuinely wants to see the city's impoverished neighbors turned around, but with what policy initiatives? Proft and Ford discuss and debate property taxes, entrepreneurship and education, among a range of other topics for how to improve both the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois as a whole.
Should the FBI be conducting an extensive interview with Dr. Ford herself? Famed FBI criminal profiler, James Fitzgerald joins Dan and Amy to present some of the questions he would ask her: Had she been assaulted before or after this alleged attack? What’s her memory of the time? Questions like: Who was the president? What were some of the movies she saw that summer?
Are the Democrats going to rue the day they asked for the FBI investigation? If the left can do this to Kavanaugh, can’t they do this to anyone? Does the progressive left see themselves as the only ones worthy of power? Should this be a wake-up call to all the beltway establishment Republicans? Editor of The New Criterion and columnist for PJ Media, Roger Kimball joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Chicago the worst governed big city in the country? How can the City incentivize people to invest in low-income areas if they are unsafe? Is Vallas suggesting taking advantage of the tax incentives in the Trump tax bill? Why aren’t we scaling already proven successful models? Can he promise to cap property taxes if elected? Chicago mayoral candidate, Paul Vallas joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Maxine Waters' harassment protocol has been adopted by one Socialist IL politician, State Sen. Dan Biss. Why do IL politicians think they can do whatever they want and get away with it? Is this how they treat anyone who gets in their way in continuing to bankrupt the state? Was he emboldened by comments from Maxine Waters or still mad he didn’t win the Democratic gubernatorial race? President of Wirepoints.com, Ted Dabrowski joins Dan and Amy to discuss his confrontation with Biss at a local Panera.
Why are all men responsible for the bad actions of a few? Are accusers and the accused deemed credible dependent on their politics? Are the Republicans right to concede to the left and extend the process? What will be the new demands from Democrats after the investigation is completed this week? Columnist for National Review, John Fund joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Where does the FBI play in the circus? Should the White House outsource the investigation to Fusion GPS? Does the FBI investigation give the undecideds something to hang their decision on? What about Rachel Mitchell’s performance? Should White Republican men be able to ask questions? Former FBI Assistant Director, Ron Hosko joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Do even those in the center politically know we need control over our borders? Is it controversial to propose merit based immigration? What should be the GOP's strategy to peel off Latino voters in key Senate races? National Review editor, Reihan Salam joins Dan and Amy to discuss his new book on immigration policy, "Melting Pot or Civil War?"
Will the midterms now be a referendum on impeaching Trump and Kavanaugh? Was Ford ever given a hard question? Was she sincere but had no evidence to back up her emotional testimony? What does the number and quality of women who rallied to Kavanaugh’s defense show about his character? Was this a clarifying cultural moment? NY Post columnist, Michael Goodwin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What is the standard of analysis that should be used to inform the Kavanaugh confirmation vote? It's not a criminal trial but shouldn’t the principles that inform our justice system be the norms applied to a confirmation hearing in assessing uncorroborated allegations? Who will win greatest identity politics hustler? What level of outrage will Kavanaugh convey? Washington Free Beacon Editor, Matthew Continetti joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the economic impact of tariffs the only tax the DC press corps cares about? Where’s the fair and complete analysis of the tax cuts? What about the impact of tax hikes on personal, corporate, and capital? Why is Trump still misunderstanding the meaning of trade deficits? CNBC Contributor, Jim Iuorio joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
What makes Trump different than the typical president? Does Trump’s capacity for concern allow him to say what he’s really thinking? Why do things get under his skin so easily yet he’s also able to pick himself up quickly? How did the death of his brother affect him? Clinical professor and author of “Trump On The Couch,” Dr. Justin Frank joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Mike Madigan is once again pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into legislative races in support of Democrats, paying for false attacks on Republican opponents. But this time, a group of conservative reformers – including both sitting stat reps and new candidates – are fighting back. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes hear from state Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard and one of the conservative reform leaders in Springfield, about how he and a coalition of lawmakers and candidates are standing up Madigan's deceitful campaign tactics. Proft and Hughes also tackle some of the most pressing new issues in the city of Chicago, including the disastrous Chicago firefighters' pension fund and the entrance of Bill Daley in the mayoral race.
Are FBI reports worth anything accord to Joe Biden? Will Democrats be able to focus on Ford instead of themselves? Since when does the Constitution ask for the FBI’s advise and consent on SCOTUS nominees? How can Trump keep Rosenstein on his team if he can’t trust him? Writer and columnist for the Washington Examiner, David Freddoso joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Was anyone laughing when Trump stated America is governed by Americans? Why is the left insulted by America First? What about Trump’s trade talk portion of the address? Has anyone received more federal/state money than Elon Musk? Chief Economist for CNN, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should we be open minded to Dr. Ford’s story and allegations? Are the Democrats showing their hypocrisy by dismissing Keith Ellison’s accusers? Should everyone right or left be aware of the tactics of the left and vote Republican in November? Diamond and Silk join Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why are any efforts to try and secure elections met with cries of racism and oppression? Why aren’t elections as secure as they can be? Is voter fraud the easiest crime to get away with? How much power do social media and internet giants like Google and Facebook have on elections? Research director at the Government Accountability Institute, Eric Eggers joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein a funny guy or weasel? How long has his time been up at the DOJ? Why won’t the fragile Republican majority act? Should Trump be cutting funds for the DOJ since it seems they’ve been doing more harm than good? Former Chief Asst. U.S. Attorney and Contributing Editor at National Review, Andy McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Spokeswoman for Six Flags Great America, Tess Clausen joins Dan and Amy to discuss all the spooks and thrills over at Fright Fest. After 6pm, all heck breaks loose and there’s no escaping. Enjoy all the rides and scares this season at Six Flags.
Why would a former Scalia clerk recklessly suggest one of Kavanaugh’s classmates is the true assailant? Why do Ford and her attorneys believe they are in charge of the Senate? Is the left trying to bring the kangaroo courts of college campuses into the Supreme Court nomination process? Why is it a rush to have the hearing this Monday since she submitted her complaint in July? Writer at National Review, David French joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Where was Ed Whelan’s judgment when he began accusing one of Kavanaugh’s former classmates of the alleged attack? What is Christine Ford’s list of demands to the committee? If she testifies, and the nomination is derailed, what are the political implications for November? How has the GOP lost the messaging on Trump's tax cuts? Senior Political Analyst for the Washington Examiner, Michael Barone joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is she in? Out? Back under certain conditions? Should Senate Judiciary Republicans tell Ms. Blasey Ford it's Monday or never? Why would a credible individual on Capitol Hill allege someone else committed rape? Associate editor for Commentary Magazine, Noah Rothman joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
State Sen. Sam McCann, Conservative Party gubernatorial candidate, had some strong words for Gov. Rauner including calling him a failed governor and liar. How is it that Rauner claims he is a Madigan plant? Would he be in the race if weren't for Rauner’s social agenda? How much money has he spent on his race? What are his opinions on the Janus decision? Sen. McCann joins Dan and Amy to discuss the IL gubernatorial debate.
Should women be outraged at all white men? Are Democrats reiterating their talking points to move suburban women to the polls? Is this charade with the Kavanaugh accusations going to backfire on the Democrats? What more could Republicans have done to allow the accuser to tell her story? Mike Gallagher joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Where do we stand with the progress on North Korean denuclearization? Are we doing a good enough job of exposing countries like Russia and China for buying coal from North Korea? Is the trade skirmish with China affecting the progress with North Korea? Do Democrats know their cultural victories wouldn’t be possible without the help of the Courts? Former Pentagon official, Jed Babbin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is it still a trade skirmish with China as Trump extends tariffs on China to intermediate goods? Is Trump Picking winners and losers? What’s the end game? What would it take for Trump to back down? If China’s economy crashes, what are the consequences for the rest of the world? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Are the calls for an FBI investigation just another delay tactic for Senate Democrats? Will the vote go on tomorrow? Should Kavanaugh attend the hearing no matter if Ford shows up or not? Is this another example of the left exposing who they truly are? HotAir.com's Ed Morrissey joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
According to Gary McCarthy, Rahm and his corporate counsel engaged in a cover-up (on the civil side) of the Laquan McDonald case to suppress video, including a $5 million payout to family. So who really was responsible for the entire fiasco? What does he plan to do for police and fire pensions that are only funded at 20-25%? Is Rahm’s idea of borrowing more to pay off debt a good idea? Former CPD Superintendent and current mayoral candidate, Garry McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss the Van Dyke trial and his candidacy.
Democratic Socialists' “It Girl” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez still can’t figure out where the $40 trillion needed for all her programs is going to come from. Is the reason healthcare and college are so expensive because they are subsidized by the government? Fox News Contributor, Juan Williams joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
If you thought the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing was a disgraceful circus, what should we expect for the next hearing? Should this hearing even be happening? What are the consequences if Kavanaugh doesn’t get confirmed? Would Republicans be retreating from one fight and setting themselves up for the next one? Senior Editor at TheFederalist.com, David Harsanyi joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
The Chicago mayoral field is taking form. Toni Preckwinkle and Bill Daley are in. Luis Gutierrez is out. And of course, numerous other candidates are still making a push. But does anyone offer a new vision for Chicago? On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes ask that question, and break down the field with expert analysis from longtime Chicago political reporter Charles Thomas. Proft and Hughes also take a look at a particular suburban legislative race where Mike Madigan is pouring tons of campaign cash. And they discuss how Illinois' out-of-control property taxes are hurting even the state's biggest companies.
Could JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon beat Trump? Is the return to law and order still a driving issue for the GOP in the midterms? Do sanctuary cities declare everyone else second class citizens? Why is keeping the violence in Chicago “contained” a sense of accomplishment? Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and speaker at Freedom Summit joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How's the Indiana GOP nominee for Senate fairing on the trail? Is this race a referendum on Trump or Joe Donnelly’s record? How has Trump’s trade policy affected Hoosier businesses? Mike Braun is currently leading in the polls, but how will he win over the undecideds? U.S. Senate candidate from Indiana, Mike Braun joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
So far this week, California has decided to begin eliminating fossil fuels, regulating the composition of corporate boards, and putting barbershops out of business. Should Illinois start following their lead? Is having six million jobs to fill but not enough workers a good problem to have in a booming economy? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss this plus rising incomes for families.
Honor Flight Chicago makes its 88th trip to DC today. It’s an opportunity to say thank you to our veterans for their dedicated service to our country. Who’s on the flight this year and what do the veterans experience? CEO of Honor Flight, Mary Pettinato joins Dan and Amy to discuss the special trip. For more info and how to donate visit honorflightchicago.org.
Is Obama breaking the norms of past presidents because Trump is rolling back everything he spent the last eight years doing? Do the Congressional Republicans lying to voters promising they would defund Planned Parenthood need to go home? What’s the real story behind the Red Hen incident involving Sarah Huckabee-Sanders and her family? Governor Mike Huckabee joins Dan and Amy to discuss Trump’s presidency and his upcoming visit to Chicago as keynote speaker at the benefit dinner for Aid for Women on October 3.
Why are we coddling the American mind? Is the big lie that college campuses are the beacon of the free marketplace of ideas? Is the future of higher education salvageable? Why are we setting up the current generation for failure? CEO of FIRE, Greg Lukianoff joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Tucker Carlson sparked a renewal of the diversity debate with much flack from those on the left. Does the left’s favorite saying “diversity is our strength” mean anything more than mindless tribalism? Why does diversity need to be given oversight by the federal government if it’s our “strength?” Why should non-behavioral characteristics define us? Isn’t categorizing people by gender, race, religion, etc. fanning the flames even more? Dan and Amy discuss what truly holds America together.
How did Kavanaugh perform in the circus like atmosphere during his confirmation hearing? Does it make sense to hold these hearings anymore? Is Sasse’s frustration with the Republican Party and the Trump White House shared amongst his colleagues? Why is Obama taking credit for the economic success we are experiencing now? Columnist for Bloomberg View and senior editor for National Review, Ramesh Ponnuru joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
With illegal border crossings up, should Trump work around Congress and scramble the military to build The Wall? Does the GOP have subpar Senate candidates? How has Chuck Todd become the ringmaster of politics in the beltway? Would the NYT have granted anonymity to an Obama White House staffer criticizing the then President? Senior Political Columnist for the Washington Examiner, Tim Carney joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Does the Woodward book provide any balance or context? What are the clues in the anonymous op-ed that makes the author sound disgruntled and dishonest? Is the focus on foreign affairs a hint that it could be someone in the State Department? Ronald Kessler, who had more access to Trump and the White House than Woodward ever had, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
After a disastrous seven years in office, Rahm Emanuel stunned the Chicago political world when he announced he wasn't going to run for re-election. But looking ahead now, what – and who – is next for the city? On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes take a prospective look at the Chicago mayoral race, from both political and policy perspectives. They also reflect on Emanuel's damaging two terms, and how other politicians are reacting to his departure.
Former Chicago Bear, Desmond Clark has had his fair share of ups and downs. From growing up in a single parenthood household and witnessing things a young kid shouldn’t have to, to his successful 12 year career in the NFL, Desmond Clark’s journey serves as an inspirational example of what a solid work ethic and good head on your shoulders can create. On this edition of Against the Current with Dan Proft, Desmond Clark shares a cautionary tale of how he was scammed out of $750k, his mission to steer young professional athletes on a path of financial prosperity, his new book on how you create success, and most importantly his role as a father.
Is the imagination the only place where socialism and the banning of fossil fuels works? Was sports a once unifying tradition for all Americans now becoming increasingly more divisive? Is the commentariat and those in the beltway losing sight of why Trump won? Is Trump too obsessed with finding the anonymous op-ed writer? Essayist and Hollywood screenwriter, Andrew Klavan joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Who is Cardinal Cupich’s curious house guest? Has there been a culture of cover-up for decades in the Church? How can the integrity of the leadership in the Church be restored? Catholic Women's Forum Director, Mary Rice Hasson joins Dan and Amy to discuss why lay people need to step up.
Is the release of the anonymous op-ed a signal that the Mueller investigation has nothing on Trump? Will Mueller release a report with no prosecutable crimes but not flattering details about the President and others that he surrounded himself with? Is Trump out of line suggesting an investigation into who wrote the anonymous op-ed? Former Chief Asst. U.S. Attorney and Contributing Editor at National Review, Andrew McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is Rahm’s parting gift to Chicago laying on more debt to our children and grandchildren? Is it excessive to have officers report every time they take their gun out of the holster? Is the violence in Chicago “contained” like Superintendent Johnson claims? Does Dr. Willie Wilson have enough money to hand out to stay in the Chicago mayor's race? Dr. Wilson joins Dan to discuss.
Is the author of the anonymous op-ed already working out their exit strategy? Was there anything new that hasn’t already been reported on written in the piece? Is it true that the more people try to “gotcha” the President, the more he’s been able to turn it on them? Is the country tired of the constant political controversy? Anchor of Special Report, Bret Baier joins Dan to discuss.
Despite Chicago’s potential new mayor’s opposition to self employment, how is the rest of the country doing? Good job numbers, decent wage gains, but what is needed to really set the economy off? Has there been too much easy money from the Fed? What will be the impact of the unwinding of this? Fox Business Network Contributor, Scott "The Cow Guy" Shellady joins Dan to discuss.
Does the anonymous op-ed prove there are people who believe more in the preservation of the political class than the agenda of the people? Is silence and prayer the remedy to the Church’s sexual abuse scandal as suggested by Pope Francis? Is it hard to be optimistic about the possibility of having an even worse mayor in Chicago and governor in Illinois? CNN Contributor, Steve Cortes joins Dan to discuss.
Is the SCOTUS hearing overshadowing the social media giants’ testimonies and their alleged censorship of conservatives? Was the anonymous op-ed written to appeal to NYT editorial board? Doesn’t it sound like it could be the preface to Woodward’s book? Should Republicans reconsider the prospects of a blue wave in November? Senior Editor for HotAir.com, Ed Morrissey joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Who wrote the anonymous op-ed? Who stands to benefit the most? How about Simon & Schuster? Why are policy differences with Trump treated like the sinking of the Titanic? Is the cabinet really trying to remove the president from office? If the author were truly concerned wouldn’t they announce it publicly and resign? Editor of Washington Free Beacon, Matthew Continetti joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Cardinal Cupich says the abuse scandal is not about sex. Why is Cupich acting like a politician? What was Cupich’s response to the criticisms of his interview on NBC that he had read to all the churches in the diocese? Dan and Amy are joined by the object of Cardinal Cupich's convenient ire, NBC-5 reporter Mary Ann Ahern.
Why wasn’t Kudlow the chief economist right off the bat? What kind of journalism is saying Woodward is unimpeachable in his new book about Trump? Is Trump winning on trade? Will Canada be making concessions in the next week? Is the Illinois solution for the pension debt to issue more debt? Chief Economist for CNN, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Unlike Daley, did Rahm getting pushed out by the city and not the political insiders? Is Rahm looking to cut a deal with someone he can endorse? Did he accomplish anything? Does the political machine still have the same power they once held? Where’s the Republican Party? Chicago Tribune columnist, John Kass joins Dan and Amy to discuss the curtains closing on Mayor Emanuel and to share his take on the city’s mayoral race.
“If you didn’t have the guts to run for mayor of Chicago when Rahm was in office, what will make the public believe that you have the guts to make tough decisions to move the city forward.” Is it a new day in Chicago or same old day with a new face? Does the city need a problem solver rather than another politician? Paul Vallas joins Dan and Amy to make the case that it’s him you should want.
There were important exchanges between Kavanaugh and Senators on guns, abortion, administrative state, executive power in between the histrionics. Are vast right wing conspiracy groups influencing the Supreme Court? Is there a confusion of what judges are supposed to do and what the public thinks they do? Listen to Civics 101 by Ben Sasse. Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Tom Jipping joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
House Speaker Mike Madigan has already poured more than $1 million dollars into legislative races this year in support of Democratic candidates and lawmakers. That money is being used to spread falsehoods and defend the status quo, but some conservative reformers are fighting back against the lies. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes talk to state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) and state rep candidate Tonia Khouri about how they are fighting the Democrats' false narratives this November and in the future. Proft and Hughes also offer election forecasting for the governor's race and the Chicago mayoral race.
Generous pensions and salaries encourage Illinois lawmakers to become career politicians at the expense of taxpayers. But a group of conservative reformers is now challenging candidates and lawmakers to set an example and reject their unaffordable pension. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes talk to State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine), one of the leaders of the movement, about why it's important more representatives take this step. Proft and Hughes also talk about bad examples lawmakers set, as State Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) somehow avoids paying the extravagant property taxes his constituents pay. And with state and local election season continuing to ramp up, they look at some key fundraising numbers and potential political influencers down the road, including the Jason Van Dyke trial.
Will shutdown theater finally get up to the North Shore to protest a Gordon Lightfoot concert at Ravinia or a New Trier HS polo match? What does winning look like for the organizers of the protests? Why throw away public money when the streets are not safe and businesses don't want to come? Founder of Coalition for a New Chicago, Rev. Gregory Livingston joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should there be concerns with the U.S. political system because of the entrenched politicians who occupy it? What is the future of American politics and civility? Retired U.S. Air Force General and prisoner of war in Vietnam, John Borling joins Dan and Amy to discuss the life of John McCain and the country’s uncertain future.
Should Trump have fired Comey and Rosenstein on day one? Why is the left still obsessed with trying to overturn the 2016 election results? Is the media showing its true colors defending Pope Francis and releasing a glowing piece about Bruce Ohr right before his hearing? Filmmaker, Dinesh D'Souza joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Ed Barry, volunteer for Open Heart Magic, joins Dan and Amy to share some of his tricks that he performs for children and their families in hospitals. They have a fundraiser at Bourbon Street on September 14th. Visit openheartmagic.org for more info and how to get your ticket.
What does Chuck Todd know that we don’t? Is Trump going to get involved in the operations of the FBI and DOJ if they don’t get their act together? Do Republicans have a better chance against energetic socialists or other moderate Democrats? Will Dems have anything more than their standard dog and donkey show in opposition to the Kavanaugh SCOTUS nomination next week? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Ikes Bites Dog Treats in Milwaukee employs adults who have aged out of special education programs and serves as a safety net to provide job training and work skills for our society’s most vulnerable. Development Director for the Eisenhower Center, David Ordan joins Dan and Amy to discuss the business model and the handmade treats enjoyed by dogs everywhere.
Does the city need a guilty verdict in the Van Dyke trial to avoid riots? Should they start educating the community and offering counseling now if once the facts are presented he will be acquitted? Former Chicago Police Officer, Brian Warner joins Dan and Amy to discuss the upcoming Jason Van Dyke trial and reflect on his own encounter where he had to fire his weapon.
Will the new NAFTA make trade great again? Why does free trade require thousands of pages of laws and regulations? Why do Democrats not want minorities to open businesses? Do licensing regulations not protect consumers but instead reduce competition and increase costs? CNN Chief Economist Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Former CPD officer Jason Van Dyke speaks for the first time since his shooting of Laquan McDonald and in advance of his murder trial. Are we going to get answers surrounding the reason for the 16 shots? What about the chatter of Van Dyke using racially charged language? Chicago FOP President, Kevin Graham joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Reuters suggests conservatives are the problem for escalating the war against Pope Francis in his mishandling of the sexual abuse of children. Really? Do Cardinal Cupich’s comments show how serious the Catholic Church is taking the sexual abuse scandal? What bigger agenda could the Church have than protecting the most vulnerable? Dr. Kurt Martens, Professor of Canon Law at Catholic University, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should we be expecting another great season from the Huskies and a potential bowl game on the horizon? How are some of the local kids shaping up and how much do they recruit from Chicago? Their competitive schedule begins this weekend against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics at Northern Illinois University, Sean Frazier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Why are leaders in the Catholic Church acting like politicians in their handling of the abuse of children? Why were known abusers shuffled around? Should Pope Francis resign? Is the Catholic Church as an institution going to be able to regain the trust of their believers? Washington Examiner Reporter, Salena Zito joins Dan and Amy to discuss the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal and her personal connection to the situation in Pittsburgh.
Does the left not just disagree with Trump but see the need for him and his ideas to be destroyed? Does the extension of the Mueller investigation benefit Trump? Does the Trump winning, drive his opponents more and more crazy? Editor of The New Criterion and columnist for PJ Media, Roger Kimball joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Is the new NAFTA a success in game theory but not in free market economics? Is Trump a protectionist or using those threats to get to free trade agreements? What is the market looking for in renegotiations in NAFTA? CNBC Contributor, Jim Iuorio joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
I Have A Bean, a coffee company in Wheaton, has a mission to employ men and women who have been in prison. Illinois has the second highest recidivism rate in the nation, but I Have A Bean’s employees have a rate of less than 4%. Founder, Pete Leonard joins Dan and Amy to discuss where he came up with the idea and how his faith has shaped his new found mission.
Has the confusion of Trump’s payment to Stormy Daniels’ helped bring a discussion of current campaign finance laws to the forefront? Should the hush money be considered a campaign contribution? Is the law written narrowly enough to distinguish what money is used for influencing a campaign? Former FEC Chairman, Bradley Smith joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
Should Pope Francis resign in the wake of the Vigano testimony? Why is Pope Francis not addressing the allegations directly? What did he know and when did he know it? Should conservative Catholics step up and call for a purge of the hierarchy of the Church before it’s too late? Mary FioRito, former top aide to Francis Cardinal George, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.
How should we remember John McCain? Can we separate his military service from his political career? When the left slanders Republicans is it just “politics"? Who and what can save Chicago? Is it a coincidence how everyone associated with Trump is getting shaken down while the Clintons continue to get a pass? Diamond and Silk join Dan and Amy to discuss.