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Evan Barker talks about her book, Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative that traces her rise from working class roots to consulting on major Democratic campaigns. Her initial enthusiasm during the Obama era turns into disappointment and disillusionment as the party turns away from its working class roots to focus on cultural issues. She addresses all this as well as her vote in the 2024 presidential race and advice for Democrats to recapture working class voters. Evan had a front row seat to the political realignment shaping our politics and her book is the most important of this campaign season to understand what's going on. -
Rob Sand, Democratic candidate for Iowa Governor, talks about schools, the rising cancer rate in the state, government accountability & reform, data centers, economic growth, overcoming political polarization and much more.
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State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-16) talks about his role as lead negotiator for the state in keeping the Bears in Illinois, the latest on the talks, his diverse background and how it shapes his approach to key issues, the partisan divide in the nation and ideological divide in the Democratic party, actions taken by the legislature to address cost of living concerns, data centers and much more. Buckner, first elected in 2018, is a former aide to Sen, Dick Durbin and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landreiu, was governmental affairs advisor to the Chicago Cubs and is the lead budget negotiator in the Illinois House. -
Jeff Bloodworth, professor of American history at Gannon University, talks about his book, Losing the Center: The Decline of American Liberalism 1968-1992. The book examines the downfall of Democrats along ideological, racial, and class lines. Published in 2013, the book was prescient in seeing the rise of Trump and realignment of the two parties along class lines. -
Zach Lahn, Republican candidate for Iowa Governor, talks about his reasons for seeking office for the first time, cost of living concerns, education, jobs, water quality, agriculture, taking on big corporations, data centers and much more. -
The ordinance comes after months of complaints about these smaller motorized vehicles posing a safety risk as well as a noise nuisance to residents. If passed, the ordinance would allow law enforcement to impound vehicles and fine up to $750 for violations. -
Darren Bailey, Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, talks about the reasons for his candidacy, how he would address the skyrocketing cost of living, ethics reform, an Illinois DOGE, property tax reform, jobs and much more. He also discusses his decision to live in Chicago to help bridge the partisan and rural-urban divide. -
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Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-57) talks about the 2026 legislative session including property tax reform, criminal justice reform, water quality, education funding, health care and much more. -
Josh Kraushaar, editor in chief of Jewish Insider and Fox News Radio political analyst, talks about the impacts of the Ukraine and Iran wars on American politics, the fissures produced in both parties, the rise of anti-Semitism and hostility towards Israel in the Democratic party, reasons for the rise of anti-semitism among young people/Gen Z voters, and the role of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in more negative views towards Israel. -
A years-long lawsuit alleges that Deere & Company has been withholding vital repair and diagnostic services behind costly software subscriptions, which are sometimes only available at John Deere-certified dealers. The FTC and attorneys general of Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin filed a joint motion to resolve their lawsuit with a settlement agreement totaling nearly $100 million. WVIK spoke to a farmer and a right-to-repair advocate who caution claimants to read the fine print. -
The council passed an economic incentive agreement with developer Scout Capital Group, which is seeking to build a Texas Roadhouse next to I-74 and John Deere Road. The council also passed a first reading agreement selling city property, the former Catfish Charlie's, to Pretasky Roach Properties LLC.
