Upstream Ideas

In focusing on issues involving Russia and North Korea, have we forgotten the threat posed by radical Islam? Is the FISA Court creating a problem due to use of bad information? Similarly, are we seeing a need for FBI reforms after clear politicization by heads of the agency? Can we be sure that North Korea is in fact denuclearizing, or have they found a way to fool U.S. Intelligence? Bill Gertz, Senior Editor for the Washington Free Beacon, discusses these topics and more with Dan and Amy.

Is Willie just doing his part since the city’s politicians are robbing people of their homes? Are people in Chicago not used to politicians doing good works with their own money rather than using other people’s money? Since when is the Chicago press corps so concerned about corrupting the wonderful legal and political system in the city? Chicago Mayoral Candidate, Willie Wilson joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Did the FISA warrant on Page represent an unprecedented attack on civil liberties? Did the released FISA warrant confirm that the FBI lied to obtain the warrant? Did the FBI go through four judges to avoid having to prove their case to the same judge? Why was Trump’s attorney Cohen making tapes of Trump in the first place? National Review columnist and former U.S. attorney, Andy McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Are protesters marching down Lake Shore Drive to get the attention in areas of the city that politicians actually care about? How do marches like this aid in changing out the political structure in Chicago? Everyone always claims the south and west sides need more funding, but how would more money reduce the violence? Reverend Gregory Livingston, from Coalition For A New Chicago, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

How is the leftist control of universities stunting the growth of constructive thought? What can be done about the current state of college universities? Should the wealthy pull their money together to fund a university to compete with the Ivy Leagues? Have conservative professors gone underground? Warren Treadgold, author of The University We Need, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Does Trump have legitimate reasons to revoke security clearances? Will the Russian Collusion investigation continue to come up empty? Is there any evidence of Trump or his inner circle having dirty dealings with the Russians? What are the potential consequences of a relationship between local newspapers and state governments? Juan Williams, Fox News contributor and The Hill columnist, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

When will the Mueller probe end? After months of blowing smoke, will Mueller ever present actual evidence against Trump? All Democrats have to do is prove they're not crazy and they can't even manage that. Andrew Klavan, screenwriter and essayist, joins Dan and Amy to discuss the recently released FISA warrant.

Is the Republican Party having trouble resonating with voters in Illinois? Is it even trying? How will the unpopularity of Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner in the Chicago Metropolitan Area affect the strategy of Republican candidates running for office? How can Trump clear up misconceptions about Russia? Congressman Peter Roskam joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Are Putin’s requests to be taken seriously? What is President Trump’s style when dealing with foreign powers? Is Putin’s track record being ignored? How much did Russia truly intervene in the 2016 Presidential Election? Ed Morrissey, Senior Editor at Hotair.com, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Is Trump leaning into the Putin controversy by inviting KGB Vlad to the White House? Is the Trump team still trying to figure out their message on the meeting with Putin? Should Congress revisit Brennan’s role in the Russian meddling saga? Who’s the next shining Democratic star to run for President? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Jason Van Dyke's trial date has been set to begin on September 5. Any chance of the trial being moved out of the state? Is there an incentive to plead the case out? Are both sides conscience of the backdrop of the trial in the Chicago’s mayoral election? Van Dyke’s attorney, Dan Herbert, joins Dan and Amy to preview the trial.

Why are socialist millennials striving to be baristas over moving up the corporate ladder? Is socialism the new face of the Democratic Party? Will the progressive, hateful rhetoric be stopped by the power of the golden rule? Dr. Everett Piper, author of Not a Day Care, reacts to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s ignorant and unenlightened interview and the repackaged liberation theology discourse.

Did it seem like Putin was the “top dog” to observers? Is the media’s portrayal of this meeting accurate? Does Trump trust Putin? What is Trump’s usual strategy when dealing with other leaders? Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

In a political climate that is increasingly sensitive, is Donald Trump’s unapologetic fearlessness of leftist media part of the act? How do Democrats take the colossal leap from believing Trump needs to rephrase his words to him being guilty of treason? Was Trump correct in questioning U.S. intelligence after the incompetence of the last administration? Dan and Amy discuss these questions and more with fellow radio host Mike Gallagher.

President Obama’s criticisms of the United States’ energy policy has been receiving heavy praise from the left. However, are the proposed solutions viable in the long-term or are they simply delusions to please the masses? How does the United States’ successful reduction of carbon emissions compare to the stagnant progress of the countries in the Paris Climate Accord? Is the left’s favor of solar and wind energy over nuclear energy the best strategy for the future of US energy policy? Chief Economist for CNN, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.