Upstream Ideas

Is Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein a funny guy or weasel? How long has his time been up at the DOJ? Why won’t the fragile Republican majority act? Should Trump be cutting funds for the DOJ since it seems they’ve been doing more harm than good? Former Chief Asst. U.S. Attorney and Contributing Editor at National Review, Andy McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Spokeswoman for Six Flags Great America, Tess Clausen joins Dan and Amy to discuss all the spooks and thrills over at Fright Fest. After 6pm, all heck breaks loose and there’s no escaping. Enjoy all the rides and scares this season at Six Flags.

Why would a former Scalia clerk recklessly suggest one of Kavanaugh’s classmates is the true assailant? Why do Ford and her attorneys believe they are in charge of the Senate? Is the left trying to bring the kangaroo courts of college campuses into the Supreme Court nomination process? Why is it a rush to have the hearing this Monday since she submitted her complaint in July? Writer at National Review, David French joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Where was Ed Whelan’s judgment when he began accusing one of Kavanaugh’s former classmates of the alleged attack? What is Christine Ford’s list of demands to the committee? If she testifies, and the nomination is derailed, what are the political implications for November? How has the GOP lost the messaging on Trump's tax cuts? Senior Political Analyst for the Washington Examiner, Michael Barone joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Is she in? Out? Back under certain conditions? Should Senate Judiciary Republicans tell Ms. Blasey Ford it's Monday or never? Why would a credible individual on Capitol Hill allege someone else committed rape? Associate editor for Commentary Magazine, Noah Rothman joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

State Sen. Sam McCann, Conservative Party gubernatorial candidate, had some strong words for Gov. Rauner including calling him a failed governor and liar. How is it that Rauner claims he is a Madigan plant? Would he be in the race if weren't for Rauner’s social agenda? How much money has he spent on his race? What are his opinions on the Janus decision? Sen. McCann joins Dan and Amy to discuss the IL gubernatorial debate.

Should women be outraged at all white men? Are Democrats reiterating their talking points to move suburban women to the polls? Is this charade with the Kavanaugh accusations going to backfire on the Democrats? What more could Republicans have done to allow the accuser to tell her story? Mike Gallagher joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Where do we stand with the progress on North Korean denuclearization? Are we doing a good enough job of exposing countries like Russia and China for buying coal from North Korea? Is the trade skirmish with China affecting the progress with North Korea? Do Democrats know their cultural victories wouldn’t be possible without the help of the Courts? Former Pentagon official, Jed Babbin joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Is it still a trade skirmish with China as Trump extends tariffs on China to intermediate goods? Is Trump Picking winners and losers? What’s the end game? What would it take for Trump to back down? If China’s economy crashes, what are the consequences for the rest of the world? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Are the calls for an FBI investigation just another delay tactic for Senate Democrats? Will the vote go on tomorrow? Should Kavanaugh attend the hearing no matter if Ford shows up or not? Is this another example of the left exposing who they truly are? HotAir.com's Ed Morrissey joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

According to Gary McCarthy, Rahm and his corporate counsel engaged in a cover-up (on the civil side) of the Laquan McDonald case to suppress video, including a $5 million payout to family. So who really was responsible for the entire fiasco? What does he plan to do for police and fire pensions that are only funded at 20-25%? Is Rahm’s idea of borrowing more to pay off debt a good idea? Former CPD Superintendent and current mayoral candidate, Garry McCarthy joins Dan and Amy to discuss the Van Dyke trial and his candidacy.

Democratic Socialists' “It Girl” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez still can’t figure out where the $40 trillion needed for all her programs is going to come from. Is the reason healthcare and college are so expensive because they are subsidized by the government? Fox News Contributor, Juan Williams joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

If you thought the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing was a disgraceful circus, what should we expect for the next hearing? Should this hearing even be happening? What are the consequences if Kavanaugh doesn’t get confirmed? Would Republicans be retreating from one fight and setting themselves up for the next one? Senior Editor at TheFederalist.com, David Harsanyi joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

The Chicago mayoral field is taking form. Toni Preckwinkle and Bill Daley are in. Luis Gutierrez is out. And of course, numerous other candidates are still making a push. But does anyone offer a new vision for Chicago? On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes ask that question, and break down the field with expert analysis from longtime Chicago political reporter Charles Thomas. Proft and Hughes also take a look at a particular suburban legislative race where Mike Madigan is pouring tons of campaign cash. And they discuss how Illinois' out-of-control property taxes are hurting even the state's biggest companies.

Could JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon beat Trump? Is the return to law and order still a driving issue for the GOP in the midterms? Do sanctuary cities declare everyone else second class citizens? Why is keeping the violence in Chicago “contained” a sense of accomplishment? Former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and speaker at Freedom Summit joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

How's the Indiana GOP nominee for Senate fairing on the trail? Is this race a referendum on Trump or Joe Donnelly’s record? How has Trump’s trade policy affected Hoosier businesses? Mike Braun is currently leading in the polls, but how will he win over the undecideds? U.S. Senate candidate from Indiana, Mike Braun joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

So far this week, California has decided to begin eliminating fossil fuels, regulating the composition of corporate boards, and putting barbershops out of business. Should Illinois start following their lead? Is having six million jobs to fill but not enough workers a good problem to have in a booming economy? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss this plus rising incomes for families.

Honor Flight Chicago makes its 88th trip to DC today. It’s an opportunity to say thank you to our veterans for their dedicated service to our country. Who’s on the flight this year and what do the veterans experience? CEO of Honor Flight, Mary Pettinato joins Dan and Amy to discuss the special trip. For more info and how to donate visit honorflightchicago.org.

Is Obama breaking the norms of past presidents because Trump is rolling back everything he spent the last eight years doing? Do the Congressional Republicans lying to voters promising they would defund Planned Parenthood need to go home? What’s the real story behind the Red Hen incident involving Sarah Huckabee-Sanders and her family? Governor Mike Huckabee joins Dan and Amy to discuss Trump’s presidency and his upcoming visit to Chicago as keynote speaker at the benefit dinner for Aid for Women on October 3.

Why are we coddling the American mind? Is the big lie that college campuses are the beacon of the free marketplace of ideas? Is the future of higher education salvageable? Why are we setting up the current generation for failure? CEO of FIRE, Greg Lukianoff joins Dan and Amy to discuss.