John Howell

One of the country's largest music festivals, Lollapalooza is back tomorrow! With over 170 artists, though, it can be hard to decide which artists to see. Thankfully Q101's Lauren O'Neil has been to Lolla every year since 2012 and has you covered on how to get the most out of your festival experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Fox desk to the WLS airwaves, Mike Emanuel is back with John Howell! He's got details about the legal background between Trump and the judge overseeing (one of) his trial(s). Does it constitute a conflict of interest? They dive into everything, including some of the former president's other legal troubles, Biden in space, and DeSantis's high-profile debate request. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Robert Herguth from the Sun-times brings us another chapter in the story of the Illinois Gaming Board and a Cicero diner’s gaming license.  • Bret Gogoel, WLS Defacto Sports Director, joins the show to discuss the MLB trading deadline and what the Cubs and Sox chose to do.  • Jay O’Brien shares what we know regarding the closed door testimony of Devon Archer yesterday afternoon. • Steve Bernas, President & CEO of BBB of Chicago & Northern IL, discusses music festival scams and other things to look out for as Summer wraps up.  • Plus, John Howell and Kim Gordon discuss the Trump indictment and Jack Smith’s statement on the matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid the Trump indictment, it's easy to forget that Devon Archer, a former associate of Hunter Biden, delivered closed-door testimony to the House Oversight Committee just yesterday. Back with John Howell to jog our memories and share updates on the case is Jay O'Brien with ABC News Washington. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a (not so) shocking turn of events, there's a bit of corruption again in the Illinois and the Chicagoland area. This time, the Illinois Gaming Board failed to look into testimony delivered by an alleged mobster before approving a gaming license for his Cicero diner. Breaking it all down in the Sun-Times and with John Howell is Robert Herguth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Ed Kilgore, longtime political observer and New York Magazine columnist, asks if DeSantis’ reboot will be more like McCain’s or Bush’s. • John takes a look at Ed Sheeran’s time in Chicago, both at Soldier Field and at the Weiner Circle.  • Derricke Dennis shares reports that there may be a possible Covid-19 resurgence in New York City.  • Russell Lissau from the Daily Herald examines the Illinois budget halfway through the year.  • Plus, Alex Stone has the details on Lori Vallow Daybell’s sentencing today and why some coined her the “Doomsday Mother.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just ahead of election season, Russell Lissau of The Daily Herald has taken a look at funding numbers from the first half of the year for each of Illinois's two major parties. He's found that IL Democrats hold slightly more than the state's GOP. What does this mean for state politics and election outcomes? He joins John Howell to let us know. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Devon Archer, a former business partner of Hunter Biden, delivered a closed-door testimony in front of the House Oversight Committee. It's impossible to know exactly what he said, but ABC News Washington's Jay O'Brien joins John Howell to explain what his appearance means and how House Democrats have characterized his testimony. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Dan Mihalopoulos from WBEZ has the details of PPP fraud in Cook County and the Chicago Park District. • Bill Cameron, Host of Take 1, joins John to preview this weekend’s episode and his conversation with Senator Tammy Duckworth. • Andy Field from ABC covers everything Congress left to do after their August recess. • Plus, Jason Nathanson looks at this weekend in movies, both in theaters and on the home screen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson was the latest stop in the Bears' mayor meeting marathon, but are there any new signs that they'll stay? Joining John Howell with all the details is Greg Hinz, politics reporter and columnist for Crain's Chicago Business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world's most famous people get made into cards, statues, and even...bobbleheads! Now Jack Smith, DOJ special counsel and the US's most talked-about lawyer, has his own tiny-necked, big-headed statuette. John Howell is joined by Phil Sklar, CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, to talk about what makes someone especially fit for becoming a bobblehead.  https://www.bobbleheadhall.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Brad Garrett, ABC News Crime & Terrorism Analyst, unpacks the Hunter Biden investigation from an investigator’s point of view.  • Colby Hall, founding editor of Mediaite, has the details on Rudy Giuliani’s court filing.  • Bob Chiarito discusses his piece in the Sun-times about Jason Aldean’s song “Small Town.” • Plus, Keith Naughton from The Hill says how Mr. Nice Guy Tim Scott could win the GOP Nom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If history has taught us anything, it's that nice guys usually finish last. But why, then, is Senator Tim Scott avoiding negativity in the GOP primary? If he wants to boost his poll numbers, Mr. Nice Guy might need a name change. Keith Naughton, opinion contributor for The Hill, joins John Howell to explain what Sen. Scott would need to do in order to improve his political outlook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Followill joins John Howell to talk about everything from the Mavericks to Minneapolis. Of course, as a play-by-play announcer for MLS Season Pass, he tells John about everything to expect in the Chicago Fire's upcoming Leagues Cup match against the Minneapolis United. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Attorney Kaivan Shroff, Senior Advisor for the Institute for Education, explains the ins and outs of plea deals and how this applies to Hunter Biden’s day in court. • Carl Cannon, Washington bureau chief for RealClearPolitics, introduces us to “The 1735 Project” about changes in media. • Alex Stone from ABC has the latest on the massive heat waves across the country. • Plus, Chef John Rudolph from Hoyt’s American Tavern joins John in studio with some treats, and a Judge from Evanston has rejected the request to limit discussion of the NU football stadium plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arlington Heights, Naperville, Waukegan, and even Rockford have floated the idea of becoming the next home to the Chicago Bears. Now, Richton Park, just over thirty minutes from city center, has signaled their interest in hosting the team. Mayor Rick Reinbold joins John Howell to explain why they'd be a good fit, where they're at in the negotiations, and just how likely it is Richton Park will be selected. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hunter Biden has plead not guilty to federal tax charges in Wilmington, Delaware after a judge rejected a plea deal that seemed all but final. Now what? Steven Portnoy of ABC News Washington joins John Howell to take a closer look. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Em Nguyen has the details of Biden’s historic Emmett Till proclamation. • David Roeder from the Sun-times explains why landlords in the city are in hot water. • Bret Gogoel, WLS Defacto Sports Director, discusses the potential changes (or lack of changes) on the Cubs and Sox as the season of trading begins. • Plus, Rick Kogan from the Tribune takes us back to the days of Mike Royko and beer tasting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Alex Nitkin from the Illinois Answers Project put it, Mayor Johnson has few progressive options for finding revenue. Nitkin joins John Howell to explain what a city income tax would look like and why it seems like an increasingly attractive revenue stream to the new mayor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a stunning blockbuster, breaking box-office records and earning critical acclaim, and now critics have begun looking beyond the box to see what Barbie says about the battle between masculinity and femininity. Regular POLITICO contributor Joanna Weiss joins John Howell to dive into Barbie's world and read between the lines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.