John Williams
4,691 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★ - 154 ratingsThe John Williams Podcast from 720 WGN
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Episodes
Attorney General Kwame Raoul explains why he wants to halt the temporary restraining order against Illinois’ mask mandate
February 07, 2022 22:23Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins John Williams to talk about his reaction to Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow’s decision to roll back Governor Pritzker’s executive orders on masking at schools. Also joining John is Illinois Federation of Teachers president Dan Montgomery who shares his thoughts on the ruling and why he believes the decision is causing mass confusion […]
Should Gov. Pritzker freeze the state’s gas tax?
February 07, 2022 21:50Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald joins John to break down some stories that are making news this week including a teacher at Mother McAuley being fired for using a racial slur, University of Illinois at Chicago Law School professor Jason Kilborn using a redacted form of a racial slur on a final exam, […]
Should Governor Pritzker freeze the state’s gas tax?
February 07, 2022 21:50Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald joins John to break down some stories that are making news this week including a teacher at Mother McAuley being fired for using a racial slur, University of Illinois at Chicago Law School professor Jason Kilborn using a redacted form of a racial slur on a final exam, […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCXIV, 2.7.22
February 07, 2022 20:45John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Attorney General Kwame Raoul on the release of Jason Van Dyke: ‘We believed and we continue to believe that it was an illegal sentence’
February 04, 2022 21:56Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins John Williams to talk about former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke being released from prison after serving a little more than three years for the murder of Laquan McDonald.
Crisis communications expert Lissa Druss on Rocky Wirtz: ‘You cannot let your emotions get the better of you’
February 03, 2022 22:49WGN Radio Sports Director Dave Eanet and John Williams talk about the incident between reporters and Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz at a town hall event last night. John also talks with Crisis Communications Specialist Lissa Druss about how the interaction could have been better handled by the organization.
Crisis communications expert Lissa Druss on Rocky Wirtz outburst: ‘You cannot let your emotions get the better of you’
February 03, 2022 22:49WGN Radio Sports Director Dave Eanet and John Williams talk about the incident between reporters and Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz at a town hall event last night. John also talks with Lissa Druss, Crisis Communications Specialist, about how the interaction could have been better handled by the organization.
CTU President Jesse Sharkey explains why he won’t see re-election: ‘It’s time to make some space to let the next generation of people come and lead’
February 03, 2022 21:51Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey joins John Williams to talk about why he made the decision to step away from CTU leadership.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCXIII, 2.3.22
February 03, 2022 21:05John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
From the archives: The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore talks about covering ‘Snowmageddon’ 2011 from outside WGN Radio
February 03, 2022 20:04'This was like one of my top three snowstorms ever," Cantore told John Williams.
The Mincing Rascals 2.2.22: Vaccine mandate for city employees, Rep. Marie Newman under investigation, and a new marketing slogan for Chicago
February 03, 2022 01:03The Mincing Rascals are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald, Heather Cherone of WTTW, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute and Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago. The Rascals talk about the snow in Chicago area today and the anniversary of the 2011 Groundhog Day blizzard, the rash of antisemitic vandalism that appeared […]
Attorney Rich Lenkov: Brian Flores’ NFL lawsuit and the legality of unpaid labor
February 03, 2022 00:03Attorney Rich Lenkov, partner at Bryce Downey & Lenkov and host of “Legal Face-Off,” joins John Williams to talk about the legality of unpaid internships and to break down the discrimination lawsuit filed by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL and the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and the Miami Dolphins.
Did Whoopi Goldberg deserve to be suspended over her Holocaust remarks?
February 02, 2022 23:42John Williams and WGN’s Lisa Dent talk about the controversy surrounding Whoopi Goldberg being suspended from “The View” after she said that race was not a factor in the Holocaust.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCXII, 2.2.22
February 02, 2022 22:24John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin: ‘I think in the next week or two we’re going to be in a terrific place with far fewer new infections’
February 01, 2022 23:22Northwestern Medicine's Dr. Jeffrey Kopin answers John Williams' COVID-related questions.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCXI, 2.1.22
February 01, 2022 20:47John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Tax attorney Steven Leahy: What you need to know about your taxes if you use payment apps
January 31, 2022 23:39Jon Hansen, host of “Let’s Get Legal” and “Your Money Matters,” and tax attorney Steven Leahy join John to talk about tax implications if you use payment apps like Venmo or Cash App.
Who will succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court?
January 31, 2022 21:54Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald joins John to break down some stories that are making news this week including who might replace Justice Breyer on the Supreme Court, the rifle that was used by Kyle Rittenhouse in the Kenosha shootings being destroyed, and what’s next for the word game Wordle.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCX, 1.31.22
January 31, 2022 20:54John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
George Will: Should the Supreme Court reflect the diversity of the country?
January 28, 2022 21:16George Will, Washington Post columnist and Senior Contributor for NewsNation, joins John to talk about Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announcing his retirement and who might be President Biden’s nominee to replace him.
Debt relief attorney Rae Kaplan: Will President Biden cancel $50K of student loan debt?
January 27, 2022 22:47Attorney Rae Kaplan, of Kaplan Law Firm, joins John Williams to talk about 80 Democrats in Congress asking President Biden to cancel $50,000 in student loan debt, while President Biden says that he would be happy to sign a bill that would provide $10,000 in debt relief.
Your Hometown: Kie & Kate Couture
January 27, 2022 22:11Kati Kemph, owner of Kie & Kate in Elmhurst, joins John Williams and Lisa Dent to talk about her business, how they have managed business through the pandemic, the videos she does weekly on Instagram and Facebook, what kind of products they carry, and the advantages of being a smaller retailer.
Tampa Bay Rays radio voice Dave Wills: ‘I live in life’s candy store’
January 27, 2022 21:47The great Dave Wills, the play by play voice for the Tampa Bay Rays, joins John Williams to talk about growing up in Chicago, working for the Kane County Cougars and the Chicago White Sox, attending (and then coaching for) Elmhurst College, the work he did for Sports Phone, his pivot from coaching to broadcasting, […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCIX, 1.27.22
January 27, 2022 21:26John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
The Mincing Rascals 1.26.22: Justice Stephen Breyer retires, the race for Illinois governor, and NFL overtime rules
January 27, 2022 00:56The Mincing Rascals are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Chicago Tribune editor and writer Lisa Donovan. and Brandon Pope from WCIU. Today, the Rascals chat about Justice Stephen Breyer retiring from the Supreme Court, the possible replacements for Justice Breyer (and no, it won’t be […]
The Mincing Rascals 1.26.22: Justice Stephen Breyer to retire, the race for Illinois governor, and NFL overtime rules
January 27, 2022 00:56The Mincing Rascals are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Chicago Tribune editor and writer Lisa Donovan. and Brandon Pope from WCIU. Today, the Rascals chat about Justice Stephen Breyer retiring from the Supreme Court, the possible replacements for Justice Breyer (and no, it won’t be […]
Elder law attorney Kerry Peck: Why it’s important to get your estate planning done now
January 26, 2022 23:54Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to talk about how many families have been dealing with COVID, why it’s important to get estate planning done, the purpose of using Power of Attorney documents, and if there is a law that requires parents to leave assets to their children. Kerry also answers all of your elder […]
GOP gubernatorial candidate Jesse Sullivan on vaccine and mask mandates: ‘On day one I would end those. I think they’re un-American, they’re hurting our children’
January 26, 2022 23:46Jesse Sullivan, GOP candidate for Illinois governor, joins John to talk about why he wants to be the next governor of Illinois. Jesse Sullivan tells John a little bit about his family and education, how he plans to fix the Illinois pension crisis, why he supports term limits, his plan to combat crime, and if […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCVIII, 1.26.22
January 26, 2022 23:01John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Did CPS mislead parents when reporting COVID-19 cases in schools?
January 25, 2022 23:50Chicago Public Schools parent Jakob Ondrey joins John to talk about his work uncovering the discrepancy between CPS’s raw data on COVID infections and what parents and students see on the public dashboard.
Political Science Professor Dr. Joel Ostrow: What we should know about the tensions between Russia and Ukraine
January 25, 2022 23:15Dr. Joel Ostrow, Political Science Professor and Russia expert at Benedictine University, joins John to explain why Russia is amassing troops along the Ukrainian border, what these means for people around the world, why some politicians are siding with Russia in the conflict, and what should the U.S. do if Russia does invade Ukraine.
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin: Will we need a yearly COVID-19 vaccine?
January 25, 2022 22:45Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about an op-ed in the Tribune that suggests that we should pivot from urging vaccination to making COVID-19 medications readily available, his thoughts about CPS’ COVID-19 Dashboard, if we are going to see an omicron specific vaccine soon, when the […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCVII, 1.25.22
January 25, 2022 21:02John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Warm up with a great bowl of soup this winter
January 24, 2022 22:01Sarah Stegner, Chef and Co-owner, Prairie Grass Cafe, joins John Williams to talk about the great soup the restaurant is offering this January.
Should Major League Baseball adopt the use of robot umpires?
January 24, 2022 21:39Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald joins John to break down some stories that are making news this week including former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke being released from prison on February 3rd after serving more than three years for the murder of Laquan McDonald, and Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy introducing a […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCVI, 1.24.22
January 24, 2022 20:46John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Is getting a college degree worth the cost?
January 21, 2022 22:12John Williams, Bob Kessler and Kevin Powell talk about the value of a 4-year college degree. Do you really need to attend a university to achieve career success? John and crew are also joined by Tom Gimbel, founder and CEO of Chicago’s top staffing agency the LaSalle Network, who offers his take on the worth of […]
Block Club Chicago’s Kelly Bauer uncovers questionable testing practices at the Center for COVID Control
January 21, 2022 21:57Kelly Bauer, Breaking News Editor, Block Club Chicago, joins John Williams to talk about her work uncovering the questionable COVID-19 testing practices at the Center for COVID Control.
Attorney Rich Lenkov: Judges behaving badly, vaccine mandates, and a SCOTUS mask conflict
January 20, 2022 23:46Attorney Rich Lenkov, partner at Bryce Downey & Lenkov and host of “Legal Face-Off,” joins John Williams to talk about some legal stories making news this week including an Illinois judge being removed from the bench after making sexist comments about an attorney during a conversation in his courtroom, a judge berating a 72-year-old cancer […]
Attorney Rich Lenkov: Judges behaving badly, vaccine mandates and a SCOTUS mask conflict
January 20, 2022 23:46Attorney Rich Lenkov, partner at Bryce Downey & Lenkov and host of “Legal Face-Off,” joins John Williams to talk about some legal stories making news this week including an Illinois judge who made sexist comments about an attorney during a conversation in his courtroom being removed from the bench, a judge berating a 72-year-old cancer […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCV, 1.20.22
January 20, 2022 23:17John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Should Illinois voters have more power in the legislative process?
January 20, 2022 01:13Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorne Woods) joins John Williams to talk about a package of legislation that is being proposed by state Republicans that includes four Constitutional amendments that would give voters more power in the legislative process.
The Mincing Rascals 1.19.22: Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin tosses his hat into the GOP gubernatorial ring, Jason Van Dyke to be released from prison, and the Wordle craze
January 20, 2022 00:16The Mincing Rascals are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute and Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago. The Rascals talk about the rollout of free COVID tests, former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke being released from prison next month after spending more than three years […]
Navigating the Medicare maze
January 19, 2022 23:46Do you have Medicare questions? John Williams sat down with Saadia Selvie, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Zing Health, to help listeners navigate the Medicare maze. What costs and benefits are right for you? What exactly are Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D? What’s the difference between enrollment periods? Tune in and […]
Navigating the Medicare Maze
January 19, 2022 23:46Do you have Medicare questions? John Williams sat down with Saadia Selvie, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Zing Health, to help listeners navigate the Medicare maze. What costs and benefits are right for you? What exactly are Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D? What’s the difference between enrollment periods? Tune in and […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCIV, 1.19.22
January 19, 2022 23:18John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Do we finally know who betrayed Anne Frank?
January 18, 2022 22:27Retired FBI Special Agent Vince Pankoke joins John to talk about his tireless work investigating how Anne Frank and her family were discovered by Nazi authorities in the Netherlands. A book by Rosemary Sullivan based on the investigation, “The Betrayal of Anne Frank: a Cold Case Investigation” is out now.
Lou Manfredini: How to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder
January 18, 2022 22:11The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to talk about the best way to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder, some tips for home fire prevention, and why you should practice using your fire extinguisher.
Dr. Michael Bauer: Will we need another booster shot to fight omicron?
January 18, 2022 21:50Dr. Michael Bauer, Medical Director at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the importance of continuing to wear face coverings when appropriate, the good news coming out about the omicron variant in Illinois, why we still need to be vigilant as many states have not reached the peak of omicron, how effective a […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCIII, 1.18.22
January 18, 2022 21:35John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!