From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 (https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/) in Chicago, "The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath" is now "It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath."
Each week Edwin and his guests get specific about politics, government, campaigns, and the kind of country all this work is meant to build.
Join us live every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central to be part of the conversation.
About Edwin
Edwin Eisendrath served two terms in Chicago’s City Council before being appointed Midwest Region Director of HUD by President Bill Clinton. He was subsequently appointed Federal Receiver in charge of the takeover and turnaround of the Chicago Housing Authority.
Off the campaign trail, Edwin has worked in higher education and as a consultant to universities here and around the world. After the 2016 election cycle he knew he had to focus back home. He brought business and labor leaders together to rescue the Chicago Sun-Times and its subsidiary, the Chicago Reader. He ran the company as its CEO until both publications were saved.
Back in the 1990s Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan, "It’s the economy, stupid," captured the biggest concern of the era. Today American democracy itself is under attack. So Edwin launched an effort called, "It’s the democracy, stupid."
In addition to his radio show here on WCPT, Edwin has built a community around his political ideas on Substack (https://edwineisendrath.substack.com/p/i-love-american-democracy-but-love), hosts a weekly show on Lincoln Square (https://www.lincolnsquare.media/), and is a frequent guest on political shows. He remains deeply involved in democracy work.
He is a proud Chicagoan, married to the journalist Jennifer Schulze (https://jenniferschulze.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search).
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by G. Elliott Morris, data-driven journalist, pollster, author of the Substack newsletter “Strength In Numbers (https://www.gelliottmorris.com/)” and the book “Strength in Numbers: How Polls Work and Why We Need Them (https://wwnorton.com/books/strength-in-numbers).”
In the interview polling and election forecasts were discussed as useful but inherently uncertain measures of public opinion and electoral outcomes. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Morris emphasized that polls help explain public attitudes beyond the horse race, while typical election polling error remains about three percentage points.
- Aggregating polls reduces individual-poll error, but shared nonresponse bias can affect the average; the direction of polling error cannot be reliably predicted.
- Morris described a broad anti-incumbent mood, tied to economic concerns and dissatisfaction with government priorities and policies.
- The U.S. House is forecast strongly toward Democratic control; the Senate is more competitive, with polling error potentially changing the outcome.
- Morris and Eisendrath also discussed growing public dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court and skepticism that the forces behind the current Republican Party will disappear when Donald Trump leaves office.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
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18 Oct 2026
Jay Kuo of Human Rights Campaign: WCPT 820 Interview
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Jay Kuo, two-time Tony-winning co-producer and composer; CEO and founder of The Social Edge (a social media and digital publishing company based in New York City); author of The Status Kuo (https://statuskuo.substack.com/) Substack newsletter; and member of the board of directors for the Human Rights Campaign (https://www.hrc.org/) (HRC).
The interview examined election integrity, accountability, and the reforms Democrats may pursue if they gain power. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Kuo said challenges to mail ballots and claims about noncitizen voters could suppress turnout and undermine trust in election results.
- He urged early voting and said Democrats should aim to establish a clear lead before late-arriving ballots are counted. He is more cautious about the U.S. Senate than the House.
- Kuo argued that a future Democratic Congress should investigate corruption, including the conduct of Trump associates and corporate enablers, and raise the costs of cooperating with corrupt actors.
- He said opposition lawmakers have limited governing power and should make the case for replacing the party in power.
- He supports institutional reforms, including expanding the Supreme Court and reconsidering the filibuster, arguing that Republicans have already departed from established norms.
- He said Democrats should use electoral momentum for accountability and a progressive agenda while recognizing limits if they do not control the presidency and both chambers.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
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18 Oct 2026
Juliet Jeske of Decoding Fox News: WCPT 820 Interview
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Juliet Jeske, founder of Decoding Fox News (https://decodingfoxnews.substack.com/), a crowd-funded media project. The conversation examined Jeske's monitoring of Fox News and how its coverage is shifting amid political and audience pressures.
Here are a few highlights from the conversation:
- Fox News has reduced diner segments and voter panels, while remaining critical of the war and increasingly featuring nonpolitical subjects such as UFOs and crime.
- The network remains dominant in cable news but is losing viewers ages 25–54; coverage of political events has also become less extensive.
- Jeske described the network as struggling to address the gas crisis, the Iran war, and Trump’s relationship with Russia, while showing renewed support for Trump ahead of the midterms.
- Coverage of Ukraine remains divided, including on-air disagreement over responsibility for the war.
- In addition to her Decoding Fox News project, Jeske also creates “Trump without Trump” clips, replacing Trump’s voice and obscuring his face while preserving his words accurately.
- She described building the project through research, a grant, and later audience-funded support.
Catch “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/edwin).
Follow us:
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Who has been a guest on The Big Picture With Edwin Eisendrath
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Audrey Francis
Tomás Kloosterman
John Nichols
Tom Bonier
Bobby Kogan
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
62
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact The Big Picture With Edwin Eisendrath
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about The Big Picture With Edwin Eisendrath
Who hosts The Big Picture With Edwin Eisendrath?
Edwin Eisendrath host the show. Published by WCPT 820.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does The Big Picture With Edwin Eisendrath take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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