Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive is a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago that focuses on national, state and city politics.  A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.

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Notable recent interviews: Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Michigan Sec. of State Jocelyn Benson, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Speaker of the Illinois House Emanuel “Chris” Welch, U.S.  Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), U.S. House Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Sean Casten (D-IL), Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Scott Peters (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Elisa Slotkin (D-MI), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), gun control activist David Hogg, former Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood, Ezra Levin of Indivisible, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Carol Moseley Braun, The Atlantic’s Tom Nichols, author and pundit Chris Matthews, CNN’s Manu Raju, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, “Anonymous” author Miles Taylor, author-pundit Molly-Jong Fast, author Jessica Valenti, Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson, 1/6 Capitol officers Michael Fanone andAquilino Gonell, progressive content creators Brooklyn Dad Defiant and Keith Edwards, Chair of the Texas Democratic Party Kendall Scudder, legal analysts Leah Litman, Barbara McQuade, and Jill Wine-Banks, Retired Army Major General Randy Manner, Maureen Dowd, Sandra Cisneros

About Joan
Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT’s afternoon show since 2019.  Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC.  Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

 

Featured Interviews

Joan is joined by Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, ahead of the May 1st day of “economic non-cooperation” that Indivisible is co-organizing.

 

Joan is joined by Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.

 

Joan is joined by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL).

 

Joan is joined by U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL).

 

Joan is joined by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL).

 

Joan is joined by David Hogg, gun control activist and former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.

 

Joan is joined by U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) for a conversation about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

 

Joan is joined by U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL).

 

Joan is joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

 

Joan talks to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN).

 

Joan is joined by Chris Matthews, former host of “Hardball with Chris Matthews” (now on Substack), and author of “Lessons from Bobby: Ten Reasons Robert F. Kennedy Still Matters.”

 

Joan is joined by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

 

Joan is joined by Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL).


Click here for all of Joan’s Featured Interviews.