The Mincing Rascals
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The Mincing Rascals 9.11.24: Harris-Trump debate recap
The Mincing Rascals
09/11/24 • -1 min
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week the Rascals break down the first (and only?) debate between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. What do the Rascals think were the major takeaways? Do the Rascals think there should be another debate before the election? We only have time for one local story this week and it’s a doozy! According to a Fox 32 report, a top mayoral aide used a derogatory term for police and talked openly about defunding and even abolition of police in a 2021 podcast. Austin and the crew get you up to speed on what this means for the Johnson administration.
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/6413152/6413152_2024-09-11-235652.64kmono.mp3Recent Posts
The Mincing Rascals
Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Sanctuary cities, trade war, Rahm Emanuel’s future
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more
John Williams, The Mincing Rascals Live at Winter’s Jazz Club
The Mincing Rascals
04/26/24 • -1 min
LIMITED TICKETS HAVE BEEN RELEASED!
Join John Williams and the cast of The Mincing Rascals at Winter’s Jazz Club (465 N. McClurg Ct.) on Wednesday, June 12 for a live taping of the podcast – plus Robert’s Pizza and jazz guitarist Andy Brown. Tickets are $42.75, inclusive of all fees.
Get tickets here.
Doors to Winter’s Jazz Club open at 5pm for happy hour in the lounge with 25% off all drinks. The podcast taping starts at 6pm. Around 7pm until 8pm, the audience will gather back in the lounge for a slice of Robert’s Pizza and live music from jazz guitarist Andy Brown.
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4714135/Event_Announcement_2024-04-26-154635.64kmono.mp3See the award-winning panel do their thing live – which is a witty, snappy, smart conversation filled with insight and humor about the day’s major news. The episode will be taped for playback on WGN Radio. Get tickets here. (A drink minimum purchase of $10 per person applies to all shows at Winter’s Jazz Club.)
About the Rascals cast:
John Williams is heard weekdays on WGN Radio from 10am to 2pm, including the Wintrust Business Lunch at noon. His “Mincing Rascals” podcast, featuring John and a roundtable of Chicago journalists discussing the big news stories of the day, is available at wgnradio.com, wherever podcasts are found and also airs most Saturday nights from 8-9pm.
Eric Zorn was long-time op-ed columnist for the Chicago Tribune who specialized in local news and politics, but also wrote widely about sports, arts and culture. After 41 years at the paper, he left in June 2021 and now writes The Picayune Sentinel, a Substack with nearly 12,000 subscribers. He and his wife, audio news and documentary editor Johanna Zorn, live on the city’s northwest side and have three adult children. On the side, he’s an old-time dance fiddler.
Jon Hansen is an Emmy-winning TV, radio and podcast host for WCIU-TV, WGN Radio, and Block Club Chicago. He is also the in-arena host for the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.
Austin Berg is the vice president of marketing at the Illinois Policy Institute and co-founder of Iron Light, an agency helping purpose-driven brands change the world. He is the co-author of the book The New Chicago Way: Lessons from Other Big Cities.
Brandon Pope is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist, host, podcaster, media critic and columnist, with experience covering a range of topics from politics to sports. Brandon is currently the host of ‘On The Block: Powered by Block Club Chicago’ on CW26, and the MAKING podcast series from WBEZ and NPR. He is president of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, where he focuses on shepherding the next generation of of journalists and raising money for scholarships. Brandon is also an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago.
Cate Plys is a former reporter and columnist for the Reader, Sun-Times and Tribune, focusing on city politics and after that just about anything. She covered City Council for ten years. Proudest moment: When Ald. Ed Burke requested the original drawing from one of her column’s cartoon illustrations, which depicted him in bed with Jesse Jackson Jr. Cate now writes the Chicago history website Roseland, Chicago:1972 on Substack. City affiliation: South Side. Go Sox!
Marj Halperin has decades of experience as an award-winning journalist, government reformer, campaign strategist, community activist, and PR consultant. Marj’s commentary has been featured on Canada’s national CTV network, Fox News Channel, Los Angeles Public Radio, progressive talk radio WCPT, and WGN-TV Morning News, where she served as a Democratic analyst for more than 10 years. An all-around expert at challenging authority, Marj leads the fledgling One Community Near South to give neighbors a stronger voice amid rapid development that often ignores the views and needs of residents.
About Andy Brown:
A New York native, Andy Brown is a guitarist based in Chicago who has been playing professionally for more than 25 years. Andy has worked at many of the area’s finest jazz venues with his own bands, as well as play...
03/07/24 • -1 min
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. This week, the Rascals start the pod talking about everyone’s favorite topic: recreational sex! The Supreme Court ruled that former president Trump cannot be removed from primary ballots. What do the Rascals make of this decision? This brings up a point that Eric has made in the Picayune Sentinel...where is the urgency of the judges? An appellate court sided with the Chicago Board of Elections in the case against the Bring Chicago Home referendum so the question on whether to allow the City Council to raise the city’s real estate transfer tax on high-end properties to fund homelessness will be counted. Austin breaks down the news. And where are the other Rascals on this ruling? Next, the Rascals talk about Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates’ comments about CTU / CPS contract negotiations. What stuck out the most to the Rascals? The Illinois State Senate voted to pass the plan for a ‘hybrid’ elected school board. Eric has been following closely and gives us the details. And finally, the Rascals talk about the movies they are rooting for at the Academy Awards this weekend.
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4502850/4502850_2024-03-07-004650.64kmono.mp3 More Mincing RascalsThe Mincing Rascals 12.27.23: 2023 Highlights
The Mincing Rascals
12/27/23 • -1 min
Happy Holidays to all of our loyal Mincing Rascals listeners! While the Rascals are enjoying some well-deserved holiday time with family and friends, we bring to you a Mincing Rascals “Best Of” episode. This podcast features John, Eric Zorn, Brandon Pope, Austin Berg and Jon Hansen discussing a variety of issues including the NASCAR race in Chicago, the migrant crisis, the end of cash bail in Illinois, and recent decisions by the Supreme Court. Enjoy the show and share with your friends!
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4472064/4472064_2023-12-19-232004.64kmono.mp3Recent Posts
The Mincing Rascals
Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Sanctuary cities, trade war, Rahm Emanuel’s future
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for more
04/02/25 • -1 min
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Brandon Pope, of WCIU, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute (sign up for his new Substack!), and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! The Rascals start off the podcast discussing yesterday’s election results. What were the big takeaways from the results in Wisconsin and Florida? President Trump earlier this week said he is open to serving a third term. Is this just another distraction? The White House Correspondents’ Association cancelled plans to feature comedian Amber Ruffin at its annual dinner. Was this a capitulation to the Trump administration? The CTU and CPS have reached a tentative deal on a new contract. Is this a big win for CTU? Mayor Johnson announced he’s picking Anthony Joel Quezada to fill the 35th Ward aldermanic vacancy. Why does Austin have an issue with the mayor handpicking a member of the City Council. President Trump announced new tariffs this afternoon. Do the Rascals believe this will help or hurt the economy? The Rascals close the podcast today with “The Big Beef!” What has been bothering the Rascals recently?
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7352823/7352823_2025-04-02-234323.64kmono.mp3Recent Posts
The Mincing Rascals
Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Sanctuary cities, trade war, Rahm Emanuel’s future
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for moreThe Mincing Rascals 4.24.24: Bears stadium, Dexter Reed lawsuit, Trump trial
The Mincing Rascals
04/25/24 • -1 min
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin. A lot of news to get to this week and the Rascals kick things off by discussing the Chicago Bears new stadium proposal. What were the big takeaways from today’s press conference? The family of Dexter Reed filed a federal civil rights lawsuit over his killing by Chicago police. What do the Rascals make of the lawsuit? Eric wonders why so little information is available about the shooting as the investigation continues. The criminal trial of former President Donald Trump rolls on and John wonders if the Rascals could be fair jurors. Also, is it fair that journalists are reporting that Trump has been nodding off in the court room?
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4693891/4693891_2024-04-25-000431.64kmono.mp3Recent Posts
The Mincing Rascals
Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Sanctuary cities, trade war, Rahm Emanuel’s future
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for moreThe Mincing Rascals 8.14.24: DNC in Chicago, CPS-CTU contract negotiations, Jordan Chiles bronze medal controversy
The Mincing Rascals
08/14/24 • -1 min
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals start the podcast discussing the upcoming DNC in Chicago. Are the Rascals optimistic about the DNC? Is there concern about the protesters? The Rascals break down all the storylines. Vice President Harris hasn’t had held a press conference or any one-on-one interviews since she jumped to the top of the Democratic ticket. Austin thinks she should stay away from the media, while Marj says that she should sit down reporters, but there is no urgency right now. Brandon says Harris could do non-traditional media and take advantage of the current excitement. And speaking of interviews, did the Rascals catch any of the conversation between Elon Musk and former president Trump? The Sun-Times is reporting that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is working to oust CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. The Rascals get us up to speed on the latest contract negotiations between CPS. And finally, the Olympics ended on Sunday, but controversy lingers on! US gymnast Jordan Chiles was stripped of her bronze medal because an appeal by Chiles’ coach came 4 seconds beyond the 1-minute time limit for scoring inquiries. So what now? Does Chiles keep the medal? Do both athletes get the bronze? Is Chiles out of luck? Where are the Rascals on this?
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/5739800/5739800_2024-08-14-235400.64kmono.mp3Recent Posts
The Mincing Rascals
Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Sanctuary cities, trade war, Rahm Emanuel’s future
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for moreRecent Posts
John Williams
Are your spending habits changing?
.cls-4{fill:#000;} ...The Mincing Rascals 5.1.24: College protests, Bears stadium proposal, Kristi Noem’s dog
The Mincing Rascals
05/02/24 • -1 min
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start today’s podcast talking about the pro-Palestinian protests that are happening on college campuses around the country. What do the Rascals make of the protests, and the impact they might have on the 2024 election? Marj wrote an Op-ed in the Tribune about the new Bears stadium proposal. The Rascals break down what else we need to know about the proposal. Also, what are the Rascals thoughts on Mayor Brandon Johnson being told to stay away from the funeral of slain CPD officer Luis Huesca? The Pritzker administration will expand coverage of weight-loss drugs for state government workers. Do the Rascals believe this is a good investment? South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem revealed that she killed her dog because it was behaving poorly during a hunting expedition. Do the Rascals believe this will end her political career? And finally, what’s the latest on the Trump trial?
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4785656/4785656_2024-05-02-000056.64kmono.mp3Recent Posts
The Mincing Rascals
Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Sanctuary cities, trade war, Rahm Emanuel’s future
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for moreThe Mincing Rascals 4.10.24: Dexter Reed shooting, Lightfoot Legacy, Dolton mayor controversy
The Mincing Rascals
04/11/24 • -1 min
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals start the show talking about COPA releasing the video of Dexter Reed being shot by Chicago Police after a traffic stop. What do the Rascals make of the video and the response by city officials? Also joining the podcast today is Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Gregory Pratt who discusses his new book, “The City Is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis.” And speaking of Lori Lightfoot, the Rascals discuss the former mayor being hired by the village of Dolton to investigate Mayor Tiffany Henyard. Former President Trump has shifted his stance on abortion, saying abortion restrictions should be up to the states. Marj shares here thoughts on Trump and Eric believes the GOP position on abortion puts Florida in play for Democrats in the November election. And the podcast ends with some reader fan mail!
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4611484/4611484_2024-04-11-003724.64kmono.mp3Recent Posts
The Mincing Rascals
Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Sanctuary cities, trade war, Rahm Emanuel’s future
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for moreThe Mincing Rascals 3.27.24: Cook County State’s Attorney race, Ald. Sigcho-Lopez flag controversy, Ronna McDaniel out at NBC
The Mincing Rascals
03/27/24 • -1 min
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals kick things off this week talking about the delay in getting final results in the Democratic primary race for Cook County State’s Attorney. Is the delay causing an erosion of trust in the electoral process? Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez is coming under fire from fellow alders after he made a speech outside of City Hall while standing in front of a burnt American flag during a protest of President Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza. What do the Rascals make of the uproar? And what do the Rascals find more concerning than the flag burning? Ronna McDaniel, former RNC Chair, was hired and then fired from NBC News after pushback from other NBC personalities. What do the Rascals think of NBC’s reversal? It’s March Madness time and Eric explains how he chooses teams to root for when he doesn’t have a connection to a team that is playing.
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4584462/4584462_2024-03-27-231502.64kmono.mp3Recent Posts
The Mincing Rascals
Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd}Sanctuary cities, trade war, Rahm Emanuel’s future
.cls-7{fill:#fff;fill-rule:evenodd} Click for moreShow more best episodes
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Mincing Rascals have?
The Mincing Rascals currently has 90 episodes available.
What topics does The Mincing Rascals cover?
The podcast is about Radio, News, Eric, The, Podcasts, Chicago, Steve and John.
What is the most popular episode on The Mincing Rascals?
The episode title 'The Mincing Rascals 7.10.24: Biden’s candidacy, fixing the Magnificent Mile, CPD Oath Keepers' is the most popular.
How often are episodes of The Mincing Rascals released?
Episodes of The Mincing Rascals are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of The Mincing Rascals?
The first episode of The Mincing Rascals was released on Jul 12, 2023.
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