
The Mincing Rascals
News & Politics Podcasts
John Williams and journalists from WGN Radio other Chicago media outlets discuss news of the week on The Mincing Rascals podcast from WGN Plus
Location:
United States
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
John Williams and journalists from WGN Radio other Chicago media outlets discuss news of the week on The Mincing Rascals podcast from WGN Plus
Language:
English
Episodes
The Mincing Rascals 2.4.26: Senate race, government shutdown, Waymo, snowplow names
2/4/2026
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals kick off the podcast talking about JB Pritzker donating $5 million to Juliana Stratton’s senate campaign? Is this anything? […]
Duration:00:59:18
The Mincing Rascals 1.28.26: Alex Pretti death, paywall-free news, millionaire tax
1/28/2026
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast talking about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minnesota over the weekend. […]
Duration:01:16:20
The Mincing Rascals 1.21.26: Bears loss, NIL, parking meter deal, Greenland, CTA safety
1/21/2026
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room., and recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand. The Rascals kick off the podcast talking about the Bears losing to the Rams in the playoffs and the controversy over the Sun-Times headline, “Good, Better, […]
Duration:00:57:12
The Mincing Rascals 1.14.26: Bears victory, Ted Dabrowski ad, Greenland
1/14/2026
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals start the podcast talking about the Chicago Bears beating the Green Bay […]
Duration:01:07:43
The Mincing Rascals 1.7.26: ICE shooting, Maduro capture, Chicago mayoral race
1/7/2026
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast this week talking about the ICE shooting in Minneapolis that left […]
Duration:01:06:33
The Mincing Rascals 12.30.25: U.S. and Chicago politics, Bears stadium progress in 2026
12/30/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The group kicks things off with a wide-ranging discussion on American politics, President Trump’s recent actions, public perception of the economy, and why many voters feel disconnected discussions on […]
Duration:01:06:07
The Mincing Rascals 12.17.25: the Trump Administration, 60 Minutes and Chicago Bears’ threat to relocate
12/23/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room. The Rascals open the podcast with Steve Bertrand’s return to the panel and have a candid discussion about what it’s like leaving the anchor desk […]
Duration:01:03:06
The Mincing Rascals 12.17.25: Bovino returns, budget battle, Rob Reiner
12/17/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and the The Last Ward, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals begin the podcast talking about Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino returning to the Chicago area. The Rascals unpack the latest immigration enforcement […]
Duration:01:12:53
The Mincing Rascals 12.11.25: Budget drama, robot delivery, Madigan seeks pardon
12/11/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room. The ‘kids table’ Rascals begin the podcast by breaking down the last drama surrounding the Chicago budget. Will there […]
Duration:00:49:34
Mincing Rascals update from John Williams
12/10/2025
John is on vacation, but provides an update on this week’s podcast recording.
Duration:00:00:39
The Mincing Rascals 12.3.25: Northwestern deal, deadly boat strikes, Christkindlmarket capacity
12/3/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals start the podcast discussing Northwestern University paying $75 million to the federal government over the next three years to to get federal funding […]
Duration:01:07:36
The Mincing Rascals 11.24.25: Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns, sedition accusation, CTU audit, favorite Thanksgiving food
11/24/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward, and Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago. This week, the Rascals kick off the podcast with ‘News or Noise.’ What are the news stories that are […]
Duration:00:53:30
The Mincing Rascals 11.19.25: Head tax defeat, Epstein files, Mobile ID, Word of the Year
11/19/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals start the podcast talking about Illinois launching Mobile ID for iPhones. Are the Rascals on board with the new technology feature? Next, Mayor […]
Duration:00:58:19
The Mincing Rascals 11.12.25: Bovino leaving, Epstein emails, government shutdown
11/12/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author the The Last Ward, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. The Rascals begin the podcast talking about ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ leaving Chicago. The Rascals discuss the government’s immigration […]
Duration:01:00:57
The Mincing Rascals 11.5.25: Mamdani wins, Garcia exits, immigration enforcement
11/5/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author the The Last Ward, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. The Rascals begin the podcast breaking down the top stories from yesterday’s elections across the country. Are we […]
Duration:01:11:11
The Mincing Rascals 10.29.25: Immigration raids, Illinois redistricting, Sean Grayson guilty
10/29/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals start this week’s show talking about Border Patrol and ICE conducting immigration raids throughout the Chicago area and a judge ordering Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino […]
Duration:01:13:55
Mincing Rascals 10.17.25: Live from Tangled Roots Brewing Company in Ottawa!
10/20/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and The Last Ward, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and political pundit Marj Halperin! Today, the podcast comes to you from the Tangled Roots Brewing Company in […]
Duration:01:00:16
The Mincing Rascals 10.15.25: ICE in Chicago, ‘No Kings’ protests, Mayor Johnson’s budget battle
10/15/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and the The Last Ward, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals kick off the podcast breaking down the ICE activities throughout the Chicago area over the last week. What do the Rascals think are […]
Duration:01:10:45
The Mincing Rascals 10.8.25: Texas National Guard arrives, Jesse Jackson Jr. running for Congress, shoulder driving clampdown
10/8/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and the The Last Ward, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room. The Rascals begin the podcast talking about the Cook County Sheriff’s Office stepping up enforcement for illegally […]
Duration:00:54:28
The Mincing Rascals 10.1.25: Troops in Chicago, ICE raids, government shutdown
10/1/2025
The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and The Last Ward, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals start the show this week talking about federal agents marching through downtown Chicago. Is there a long-term goal that the Trump […]
Duration:00:56:49