The Mincing Rascals

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John Williams and journalists from WGN Radio other Chicago media outlets discuss news of the week on The Mincing Rascals podcast from WGN Plus

WGN Plus


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 307 EPISODES

    4.5 from 382 ratings Listeners of The Mincing Rascals that love the show mention: wgn, differing viewpoints, illinois, regulars, panel, chicago, heather, eric, austin, steve, 13, john, national, apple, notes, local, politics, missing, events, available.


    Ivy Insights

    The Mincing Rascals podcast is a weekly show that I greatly look forward to. The hosts, including John Williams and his panel of knowledgeable individuals, bring a unique mix of expertise on topics ranging from the Chicago metro area to world events. They provide valuable insights and perspectives that keep me informed and engaged. However, one aspect that I do wish could be improved is the lack of diversity in the panel. It would be beneficial to hear from a wider range of voices representing the entire community. Despite this, I appreciate the excellent work they do in presenting various perspectives on timely topics and fostering respectful discussions among commentators.

    One of the best aspects of The Mincing Rascals podcast is the level of knowledge and expertise that each host brings to the table. They are well-informed about current events, both on a national and local level, which allows for insightful discussions and analysis. The panelists challenge each other in a respectful manner, creating a refreshing environment where different viewpoints are presented without animosity or aggression. This makes for an informative and entertaining listening experience that keeps me engaged throughout each episode.

    However, there are some aspects of the podcast that could be improved upon. One issue that stands out is the absence of certain regular panelists, which leads to less engaging episodes when substitutes are brought in. While John Williams, Eric Zorn, Heather Cherone, Austin Berg (and previously Steve Bertrand) make for an excellent quartet, when any two or more regulars are missing, the show can feel stale or lacking in comparison. This is not necessarily due to the abilities of the substitutes themselves but rather because they might not have developed the same chemistry or dynamic as the regular panelists. It can be disappointing when an episode falls flat due to this imbalance.

    In conclusion, despite its minor flaws, The Mincing Rascals podcast remains one of my favorites due to its informative nature and ability to present various perspectives on timely topics. The hosts are knowledgeable, respectful, and entertaining, making each episode a valuable and educational experience. While improvements in panel diversity and ensuring a consistent lineup of regulars would be appreciated, the overall quality of the show is commendable. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking an engaging podcast that covers national and local current events with depth and insight.



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    Latest episodes from The Mincing Rascals

    The Mincing Rascals 5.28.25: Chicago crime down, POTUS pardons, Harvard vs. Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025


    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, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! The Rascals start the podcast this week talking about violence being down over Memorial Day weekend and crime in general being down in Chicago. Are Mayor Johnson’s policies working? The […]

    The Mincing Rascals 5.21.25: DOJ investigation, ‘snap curfews,' Biden cancer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Brandon Pope, of WCIU, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! The Rascals start off the podcast talking about the Department of Justice looking into the hiring practices of Mayor Brandon Johnson. What do the Rascals make of the DOJ probe? The Chicago City […]

    The Mincing Rascals 5.14.25: Pope Leo XIV, Qatari jet, Biden's decline

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week, the Rascals start the podcast talking about their favorite story, meme, etc. about Pope Leo XIV. Are we pope’d out yet? As usual, plenty of news about the Trump administration this […]

    The Mincing Rascals 5.7.25: Senate race, George Ryan legacy, Alcatraz, movie tariffs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025


    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, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast discussing U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL 8) announcing that he’ll be running for the senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin. The Rascals break down the […]

    The Mincing Rascals 4.30.25: Durbin's successor, Trump 100 days, Amazon tariffs, plastic ban

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025


    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 (sign up for his new Substack!), longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast discussing the odds that Governor Pritzker becomes president, former governor Rod Blagojevich makes a run for Illinois senator, […]

    The Mincing Rascals 4.23.25: Durbin retiring, Pritzker's political future, economic turmoil

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025


    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 political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals start today’s podcast discussing Senator Dick Durbin announcing that he won’t seek another term. Who do the Rascals believe is […]

    The Mincing Rascals 4.16.25: Teen takeovers, homeschool bill, Kilmar Ábrego García

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Brandon Pope, of WCIU, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! The Rascals start the podcast talking about the City of Chicago not approving a $1.25 million settlement to the family of Dexter Reed, who was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop. […]

    The Mincing Rascals 4.9.25: Tariff reversal, ‘Hands Off' protest, driving exam age

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! The small but mighty group of Rascals start off the podcast talking about the markets and economy as the tariff wars run amok this week. Do the Rascals believe President Trump caved on his trade policy? […]

    The Mincing Rascals 4.2.25: Election recap, CTU-CPS deal, tariff announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025


    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? […]

    The Mincing Rascals 3.26.25: Signal chat leak, Chicago charter, voting rights

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025


    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 (sign up for his new Substack!), longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals start the podcast discussing The Atlantic publishing the contents of a Signal group chat of Trump […]

    The Mincing Rascals 3.19.25: Tesla protests, funding vote, Sun-Times buyouts

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025


    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, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week, the Rascals start the podcast by congratulating new dad Jon Hansen! Next, the Rascals discuss the first few months of the Trump administration. What are the biggest […]

    The Mincing Rascals 3.12.25: COVID anniversary, curfew debate, fur ban rejected

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals start this week’s podcast by sharing what they remember about the start of the COVID pandemic back in March of 2020. Woah, and all of sudden we are debating vaccine efficacy. […]

    The Mincing Rascals 3.5.25: Sanctuary cities hearing, trade war, Rahm Emanuel's political future

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025


    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 (sing up for his new Substack!), Brandon Pope, of WCIU, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals being this week’s show talking about the House hearing with the mayors of New York, Boston, Denver, and Chicago about their […]

    The Mincing Rascals 2.26.25: Mayor Johnson's approval rating, $830 million borrowing plan passes, school cell phone ban

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025


    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, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week, the Rascals start the podcast discussing the results of the election in Dolton where controversial Mayor Tiffany Henyard lost her reelection bid. Speaking of unpopular, the […]

    The Mincing Rascals 2.19.25: Federal government cuts, Illinois DOGE, Brandon Johnson borrowing plan

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Brandon Pope, of WCIU, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week, the Rascals kick off the podcast talking about President Trump blaming Ukraine for the war with Russia. What do the Rascals make of Trump’s statements? Today, Governor Pritzker delivered his 2025 […]

    The Mincing Rascals 2.12.25: Madigan verdict, Blagojevich pardon, Dexter Reed settlement

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Brandon Pope, of WCIU, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys. Woah, a lot of news already this week! The Rascals kick things off discussing the most important story of the week: The controversy surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show! […]

    The Mincing Rascals 2.5.25: DEI debate, public art controversy, Mayor Johnson's favorability

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Brandon Pope, of WCIU, political pundit Marj Halperin, and Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute. The Rascals kick off the podcast talking about the biggest national political stories of the week including President Trump blaming DEI for the D.C. plane crash, Elon Muck’s DOGE taking […]

    The Mincing Rascals 1.29.25: Funding freeze chaos, ICE raids, Madigan trial

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Brandon Pope, of WCIU, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute. This week, the Rascals start the podcast discussing the confusion over the Trump administration’s federal funding freeze. What were the big takeaways from the chaos that ensued this week? ICE agents came to […]

    The Mincing Rascals 1.22.25: Birthright citizenship, J6 pardons, controversial puppet display

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025


    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, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! The Rascals kick off the podcast discussing the first days of the Trump presidency. The news is coming fast and furious, but what stood out most to the Rascals? Members […]

    The Mincing Rascals 1.15.25: Driving test age, Trump inauguration, L.A. wildfires

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Brandon Pope, of WCIU, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week the Rascals debate the proposed legislation that aims to increase the age for seniors to retake driver’s test from 79 to 87. Where are the Rascals on this controversial […]

    The Mincing Rascals 1.8.25: Madigan testimony, Greenland, Meta fact-checking

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025


    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, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week the Rascals start the podcast talking about the seamless certification of the 2024 election. Wasn’t it nice to not have an insurrection this time around? On […]

    The Mincing Rascals 12.18.24: Drones, Chicago budget, Trump lawsuit

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week the Rascals kick off the show starting about the drones that have been flying over multiple states. What do the Rascals make of the story and the hysteria that it has created? […]

    The Mincing Rascals 12.11.24: Immigration, birthright citizenship, U.S. healthcare

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, and Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, This week, the Rascals start the show breaking down the Chicago visit from Tom Homan, President-elect Trump’s ‘border czar.’ Do the Rascals believe the new administration’s plan for mass deportation […]

    The Mincing Rascals 12.4.24: Madigan trial, Hunter Biden pardon, Pete Hegseth nomination

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024


    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 Mike Madigan trial. Why should people still be interested in the trial? Controversy continues to […]

    The Mincing Rascals 11.26.24: Trump charges dropped, Johnson office drama, Shopping Cart Theory

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin this special Tuesday holiday week episode of the podcast discussing The Shopping Cart Theory. Can you judge a person’s character if they […]

    The Mincing Rascals 11.20.24: Trump Cabinet, Chicago budget, Mayor Johnson's successor

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU! This week the Rascals kick off the podcast breaking down the nominees for President-elect Trump’s Cabinet. Do the Rascals believe these nominees will get confirmed? Next, the Rascals discuss […]

    The Mincing Rascals 11.13.24: Trump Cabinet picks, property tax hike proposal, Bears stadium plans

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week, our small but mighty Rascals start the podcast discussing last week’s election results and the flurry of nominees to fill President-elect Trump’s Cabinet. What do the Rascals make of these controversial choices? […]

    The Mincing Rascals 11.6.24: Takeaways from the 2024 election

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024


    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, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week the Rascals start the podcast breaking down the results of the presidential election. What were the surprises and the big takeaways? Locally, the Rascals discuss Chicago’s […]

    The Mincing Rascals 10.30.24: School board elections, property tax proposal, presidential endorsements

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast talking about the Chicago School Board elections. How are the Rascals handling their vote for the school board? Eric bemoans […]

    The Mincing Rascals 10.23.24: Rudy Giuliani forfeit assets, lower speed limit, Chicago school board

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024


    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! The Rascals start the podcast this week talking about former president Donald Trump and the multiple stories that detail why he is a threat to […]

    The Mincing Rascals 10.16.24: Trump tariffs, I-PASS sticker, Chicago school board

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals kick things off by breaking down former president Donald Trump’s interview with Bloomberg News at the Economic Club of Chicago. John and Eric were disappointed in the crowd’s […]

    The Mincing Rascals 10.9.24: Mayor Johnson school board, Hurricane Milton, controversial license plates

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week, the Rascals kick things off breaking down Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘flabbergasting’ and ‘maddening’ news conference on Monday where he announced new members of Chicago’s Board of Education. Another destructive hurricane is […]

    The Mincing Rascals 10.02.24: Vance-Waltz debate recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024


    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, political pundit Marj Halperin, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week the Rascals break down the debate between JD Vance and Tim Waltz. What do the Rascals think were the major takeaways? Plus, what are the most […]

    The Mincing Rascals 9.25.24: CPS-CTU rift, airport rankings, White Sox record

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024


    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, political pundit Marj Halperin and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week, the Rascals start the podcast discussing the ongoing rift between CPS and the CTU. Why does Mayor Johnson want CPS CEO Pedro Martinez to resign? Why is […]

    The Mincing Rascals 9.18.24: ShotSpotter's future, Jesse Jackson Jr. seeks pardon, Jussie Smollett

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! This week, the John-less Rascals mince about the ongoing misadventures that have surrounded Mayor Brandon Johnson’s tenure. ShotSpotter, budget issues, staff changes, CTU v. CPS, etc. How do the […]

    The Mincing Rascals 9.11.24: Harris-Trump debate recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024


    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 Mincing Rascals 9.4.24: Concealed carry decision, CTU contract, presidential polls

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024


    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, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week, the Rascals talk about a federal judge in Rockford ruling that Illinois' concealed carry law can't prohibit holders from having guns on public transportation. What do the Rascals think […]

    The Mincing Rascals 8.28.24: DNC recap, Gus Walz controversy, debate rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week, the Rascals start the podcast talking about Cate’s magnificent tie! And also, the DNC. How do the Rascals feel the city of Chicago handled the convention? What were the highlights? The […]

    The Mincing Rascals 8.21.24: 2024 DNC special

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024


    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, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week, the Rascals break down all things Democratic National Convention. What were the highlights, lowlights, and big political takeaways? The Rascals have you covered! Was there […]

    The Mincing Rascals 8.14.24: DNC in Chicago, CPS-CTU contract negotiations, Jordan Chiles bronze medal controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024


    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 […]

    The Mincing Rascals 8.7.24: VP choice, police accountability, Olympic boxing controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, 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! This week, the Rascals mince about Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota governor Tim Walz to be her running mate. […]

    The Mincing Rascals 7.31.24: Trump at NABJ, VP decision, Olympic opening ceremony controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024


    The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, 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! This week, the Rascals start the podcast recapping former president Donald Trump’s appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists […]

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