Podcast
John Howell
Hosted by WLS-AM · EN
John Howell has been a daily presence on Chicago radio for 30 years. Arriving in 1988 to host mornings at WCKG, he spent the next 17 years at WUSN, followed by an 8 year run at WIND, and for the last 4 years at WLS AM890. In addition, John hosted a nationally syndicated weekend show for Westwood One Radio from 1998-2006. John grew up in Holland Michigan and graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He lives in Chicago’s northern suburbs with his wife Sarah, children Will and Penny, and an ever growing brood of canines.
“I’m very excited about hosting the new afternoon show at WLS AM890,” said Howell. “I intend on presenting Chicago with a quick paced, informative, honest and intelligent summery of the day’s biggest stories. An afternoon wrap of the day’s biggest events featuring prominent newsmakers, reporters, experts and stars. Of course, our town’s most colorful characters will also be welcome. In addition, I’m looking forward to (finally) golfing when the sun’s in the east.”
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
John Howell: Essential Cuts (6/16) - Boeing & Caterpillar Exits & Don't Fire La Russa
Jun 17, 202200:38:42Tap to summarize*Joe Cahill of Crain's Chicago Business worries that the exits of Boeing and Caterpillar could be a sign of things to come in Illinois. *Geoffrey Cubbage of the Better Government Association compares the power of the Chicago Inspector General to others in the country. *Rick Morrissey of the Sun-Times shares why he selfishly hopes that the White Sox won't fire Tony La Russa. *John looks at why Mike Pence was a heavy focus of the Jan. 6th hearings today. *Plus, Susanna Homan of PAWS Chicago stops by, and Gus Noble previews the 36th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games.
Transcribe →Inspector General Among the Strongest in the Nation
Jun 16, 202200:05:26Tap to summarizeChicago’s Inspector General Office is among the nation’s strongest, but lacks the power to publish reports. Policy Analyst for the Better Government Association, Geoffrey Cubbage, discusses the BGA's latest policy analysis of inspector generals across the country and how Chicago compares.
Transcribe →Three Is a Trend?
Jun 16, 202200:05:11Tap to summarizeTwo major corporations have decided to move out of Illinois in just about a month. Joe Cahill, Assistant Managing Editor and Columnist for Crain’s Chicago, joins John Howell to discuss why corporations are leaving the state.
Transcribe →John Howell: Essential Cuts (6/15) - The Ukraine Echo Chamber & The Fed's Historic Rate Hike
Jun 15, 202200:55:20Tap to summarize*Asia Times columnist David P. Goldman tells John that the echo chamber surrounding Ukraine is out of control. *Abe Scarr of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group says that Comed's $38 million payback to customers is not nearly enough. *Former Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks shares how the Jan. 6th hearings can deliver, and how they can still fail. *Mike Emanuel joins to discuss the fed's historic rate hike and the delays in the Jan. 6th hearings. *Plus, WLS Golf Commissioner Emeritus John Dempsey previews the US Open and gives his predictions on who will win.
Transcribe →Mike Emanuel on Interest Rate Hikes, Jan 6th Hearings, and the U.S. Open
Jun 15, 202200:09:38Tap to summarizeMike Emanuel, Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent, joins John Howell to discuss the week’s biggest stories.These include the historic rate hike, the Jan 6th hearings, Dr. Fauci’s Covid status, and their predictions for the US Open.
Transcribe →Proposed ComEd Payback is a “Teaspoon Out of the Ocean”
Jun 15, 202200:07:46Tap to summarizeJohn Howell is joined by Abe Scarr, Director of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group. They discuss ComEd’s proposed $38 million payback to customers, and how this pales in comparison to the profits from the scandal. This is all connected to the federal bribery scandal that led to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s indictment. Scarr says there could still be more done for Illinois citizens.
Transcribe →John Howell: Essential Cuts (6/14) - Dem Disappointed in Jan. 6th Hearings & Time to Cap the Ike?
Jun 14, 202200:50:36Tap to summarize*Mitchell Armentrout of the Chicago Sun-Times breaks down a poll showing that Ken Griffin's political donations aren't working. *Long-time Democrat Ted Van Dyke shares why he's been disappointed in the Jan. 6th hearings so far. *John A. Lawrence discusses how a lot of what we see in Washington now started with Watergate 50 years ago. *Audrey Wennink of the Metropolitan Planning Council takes a look at what it would take to cap the Eisenhower. *Plus, Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute says that Americans, not Ukraine should decide US policy.
Transcribe →Fifty Years Later, We Still See Watergate’s Effects on Washington
Jun 14, 202200:10:54Tap to summarizeJohn Howell is joined by John A. Lawrence, author of “The Class of ’74: Congress After Watergate and the Roots of Partisanship.” Fifty years out from Watergate, Lawrence discusses how it is still affecting Washington today. They talk about the changes in Congress and in the political parties themselves after Watergate took place.
Transcribe →Ken Griffin has Donated Millions to Irvin’s Campaign…Why Isn’t it Working?
Jun 14, 202200:08:05Tap to summarizeJohn Howell is joined by Mitchell Armentrout, reporter for the Chicago Sun Times. They discuss the current Illinois gubernatorial race and how Ken Griffin’s backing of Richard Irvin is not currently working. In fact, many voters remain undecided. The two discuss other candidates and the latest in political ads.
Transcribe →John Howell: Essential Cuts (6/13) - It's All About Madigan & The IL Secretary of State Race
Jun 14, 202200:46:59Tap to summarize*Chris Marquette of CQ Roll Call shares the biggest takeaways from today's Jan. 6th committee hearing. *Steve Daniels at Crain's Chicago details the latest developments in the ComEd bribery scheme. *Market Reporter Jacob Sonenshine discusses how much worse the market could get after it took a big hit today. *Jeremy Gorner of the Chicago Tribune breaks down the highly contested Democratic Secretary of State reace. *Plus, Chicago Journalism Hall-of-Famer Rick Kogan looks back at Chicago during the tenure of Mayor Richard J. Daley.
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