Upstream Ideas

More and more of Springfield's culture of harassment and indecency are being exposed, most recently with a scandal surrounding a now-former Republican state rep. What steps should be done to clean up the culture? Can they be done? On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes talk about the issue with state Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, who has led on the issue of changing the culture in Springfield. They also talk to state rep candidate Dwight Kay on how he plans to provide property tax relief to homeowners in his district and statewide if elected. Proft and Hughes also discuss the very same property tax issue in Kane County, where homeowners are saddled with paying for exorbitant and unsustainable pension promises.

In 2018, every congressional district in every state across the country will see a tax cut thanks to tax reform at the federal level. But policy choices by state and local politicians could offer an opposite reality for taxpayers in Illinois. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes discuss federal tax reform and Illinois' confiscatory property taxes with analysis from Heritage Foundation Policy Analyst Adam Michel and Illinois state representative candidate Ken Idstein. Proft and Hughes also discuss the busy week in Chicago politics, which included controversy with Gov. Bruce Rauner and Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, as well as new plans for another march against gun violence.

With just months to go before the 2018 midterm elections – and a Chicago mayoral election shortly thereafter in 2019 – campaign season is in full swing across Illinois. Where do things stand for Bruce Rauner and J.B. Pritzker? For Rahm Emanuel? On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Member Kristen McQueary break down how several policy issues could impact the governor's race in November as well as the Chicago mayoral election in February. Chief among them: Rauner's betrayal of social conservatives on publicly-funded abortion, the health of city and state pensions and the ever-increasing property tax burden Illinoisans face.

Last year, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law a bill that forced taxpayers to pay for elective abortions in Illinois. The results so far? A 274 percent increase in taxpayer-funded abortions in the state. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes talk about how damaging this law could end up being, with insight from state Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard, who is challenging the law both in the legislature and in court. Proft and Hughes also continue to follow the corruption case against Inspector General Frank Mautino, and get analysis from Liberty Justice Center Attorney Jeff Schwab on why the case is stalled. And why is the Illinois GOP surrendering Cook County and Chicago – even though the area of the state is in desperate need of new leadership? Proft and Hughes offer their thoughts on Republicans' failure to compete.

Illinois homeowners face some of the highest property taxes in the nation. What's driving them to unaffordable levels? An unaffordable pension system. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski discuss the soaring property taxes in the collar counties and the extravagant pension payments behind them. They also discuss the uptick in violence in Chicago and what could be done to curb it.

Will the radical left feminists’ cure for what ails men: apologies, self-loathing, transitioning, work out? In order to be pro-woman, do you have to be a left-wing Democrat? Why is modern feminism wrong for women, men and children? Is it based on a belief in a permanent war of the sexes? Columnist and author Mona Charen joins Dan and Amy to discuss her new book, “Sex Matters.”

Should we be concerned about a man with no flying experience being able to take off in a plane with no one stopping him at a Seattle airport? Could he have learned how to take off and fly the plane from a video game? If he wasn’t in communication with ground control, why didn’t they make sure the plane didn’t take off? Senior editor at Flying magazine and publisher of Jetwhine.com, Robert Mark joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Are even the most conservative voters in Indiana rejecting the Republican political establishment? Is it the beginning of an era of successful outsiders sticking their neck out into the political arena? How will businessman Mike Braun from Indiana position himself against Schumer puppet, Sen. Joe Donnelly, and align himself with the Trump agenda? GOP Candidate for U.S. Senate, Mike Braun joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Why are only 17% of murders in Chicago solved? Why did Tiny Dancer close down the detective bureaus in the most dangerous parts of the city? Does Chicago have to incorporate a new approach to prevent crime? Is political correctness interfering with the work of police officers? President of the Crime Prevention Research Center, John Lott Jr. joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

You won’t have to worry about funeral costs under Ocasio-Cortez's socialized healthcare plan but will your coverage be threatened? The GOP is campaigning against socialist health care proposals but what’s their free market solution? Will Trump's personality do what Obama's policy choices did: turn majorities in to minorities? Columnist for Bloomberg View and senior editor for National Review, Ramesh Ponnuru joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Is Space Force going to become the 6th branch of the military? Is there a race against Russia and China to get this done? What are some of the ideas for a logo design? CNN Military Analyst, Colonel Cedric Leighton joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

For the first seven months of Donald Trump's presidency, Sean Spicer was the administration's spokesman, fielding questions and comments from an often hostile media. Now that his time as White House Press Secretary has passed, he's had time to reflect. Does he have any regrets? What does he make of Trump's relationship with the media? And with the American people generally? On this edition of Against the Current, Dan Proft asks Spicer those questions and more, reflecting on his time as chief spokesman for the Trump administration. Proft and Spicer also look forward: Are Republicans in trouble in 2018? Is the GOP experiencing an ideological change under Trump? Answers to these questions and much more analysis in this can't miss ATC.

What should we be doing about the violence in Chicago that we’re not doing? Is there a community-wide discussion about taking care of your household? Are too many felons returning to their communities with no opportunities to be reintegrated into society? Do residents of the south and west sides want help from the National Guard? State Rep. LaShawn Ford from the Austin neighborhood joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Law enforcement raided an Islamofascist compound in New Mexico where children were being trained to be killers. Where’s the media covering this? Is the GOP making a mistake in pushing off border security until after the midterms? Founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Are the sanctions and policies pursued by the Trump Administration against Putin tough enough? Is the worry with Russia distracting us from the spying going on by the Chinese? Has Mueller gotten enough time already to pursue any charges in his investigation? Where is equal justice under the law for top law enforcement agency officials admittingly lying under oath? National Review columnist, Victor Davis Hanson joins Dan and Amy to discuss.