Upstream Ideas

House Speaker Mike Madigan has already poured more than $1 million dollars into legislative races this year in support of Democratic candidates and lawmakers. That money is being used to spread falsehoods and defend the status quo, but some conservative reformers are fighting back against the lies. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes talk to state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) and state rep candidate Tonia Khouri about how they are fighting the Democrats' false narratives this November and in the future. Proft and Hughes also offer election forecasting for the governor's race and the Chicago mayoral race.

Generous pensions and salaries encourage Illinois lawmakers to become career politicians at the expense of taxpayers. But a group of conservative reformers is now challenging candidates and lawmakers to set an example and reject their unaffordable pension. On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes talk to State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine), one of the leaders of the movement, about why it's important more representatives take this step. Proft and Hughes also talk about bad examples lawmakers set, as State Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) somehow avoids paying the extravagant property taxes his constituents pay. And with state and local election season continuing to ramp up, they look at some key fundraising numbers and potential political influencers down the road, including the Jason Van Dyke trial.

Will shutdown theater finally get up to the North Shore to protest a Gordon Lightfoot concert at Ravinia or a New Trier HS polo match? What does winning look like for the organizers of the protests? Why throw away public money when the streets are not safe and businesses don't want to come? Founder of Coalition for a New Chicago, Rev. Gregory Livingston joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Should there be concerns with the U.S. political system because of the entrenched politicians who occupy it? What is the future of American politics and civility? Retired U.S. Air Force General and prisoner of war in Vietnam, John Borling joins Dan and Amy to discuss the life of John McCain and the country’s uncertain future.

Should Trump have fired Comey and Rosenstein on day one? Why is the left still obsessed with trying to overturn the 2016 election results? Is the media showing its true colors defending Pope Francis and releasing a glowing piece about Bruce Ohr right before his hearing? Filmmaker, Dinesh D'Souza joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Ed Barry, volunteer for Open Heart Magic, joins Dan and Amy to share some of his tricks that he performs for children and their families in hospitals. They have a fundraiser at Bourbon Street on September 14th. Visit openheartmagic.org for more info and how to get your ticket.

What does Chuck Todd know that we don’t? Is Trump going to get involved in the operations of the FBI and DOJ if they don’t get their act together? Do Republicans have a better chance against energetic socialists or other moderate Democrats? Will Dems have anything more than their standard dog and donkey show in opposition to the Kavanaugh SCOTUS nomination next week? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Ikes Bites Dog Treats in Milwaukee employs adults who have aged out of special education programs and serves as a safety net to provide job training and work skills for our society’s most vulnerable. Development Director for the Eisenhower Center, David Ordan joins Dan and Amy to discuss the business model and the handmade treats enjoyed by dogs everywhere.

Does the city need a guilty verdict in the Van Dyke trial to avoid riots? Should they start educating the community and offering counseling now if once the facts are presented he will be acquitted? Former Chicago Police Officer, Brian Warner joins Dan and Amy to discuss the upcoming Jason Van Dyke trial and reflect on his own encounter where he had to fire his weapon.

Will the new NAFTA make trade great again? Why does free trade require thousands of pages of laws and regulations? Why do Democrats not want minorities to open businesses? Do licensing regulations not protect consumers but instead reduce competition and increase costs? CNN Chief Economist Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Former CPD officer Jason Van Dyke speaks for the first time since his shooting of Laquan McDonald and in advance of his murder trial. Are we going to get answers surrounding the reason for the 16 shots? What about the chatter of Van Dyke using racially charged language? Chicago FOP President, Kevin Graham joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Reuters suggests conservatives are the problem for escalating the war against Pope Francis in his mishandling of the sexual abuse of children. Really? Do Cardinal Cupich’s comments show how serious the Catholic Church is taking the sexual abuse scandal? What bigger agenda could the Church have than protecting the most vulnerable? Dr. Kurt Martens, Professor of Canon Law at Catholic University, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Should we be expecting another great season from the Huskies and a potential bowl game on the horizon? How are some of the local kids shaping up and how much do they recruit from Chicago? Their competitive schedule begins this weekend against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics at Northern Illinois University, Sean Frazier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Why are leaders in the Catholic Church acting like politicians in their handling of the abuse of children? Why were known abusers shuffled around? Should Pope Francis resign? Is the Catholic Church as an institution going to be able to regain the trust of their believers? Washington Examiner Reporter, Salena Zito joins Dan and Amy to discuss the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal and her personal connection to the situation in Pittsburgh.

Does the left not just disagree with Trump but see the need for him and his ideas to be destroyed? Does the extension of the Mueller investigation benefit Trump? Does the Trump winning, drive his opponents more and more crazy? Editor of The New Criterion and columnist for PJ Media, Roger Kimball joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Is the new NAFTA a success in game theory but not in free market economics? Is Trump a protectionist or using those threats to get to free trade agreements? What is the market looking for in renegotiations in NAFTA? CNBC Contributor, Jim Iuorio joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

I Have A Bean, a coffee company in Wheaton, has a mission to employ men and women who have been in prison. Illinois has the second highest recidivism rate in the nation, but I Have A Bean’s employees have a rate of less than 4%. Founder, Pete Leonard joins Dan and Amy to discuss where he came up with the idea and how his faith has shaped his new found mission.

Has the confusion of Trump’s payment to Stormy Daniels’ helped bring a discussion of current campaign finance laws to the forefront? Should the hush money be considered a campaign contribution? Is the law written narrowly enough to distinguish what money is used for influencing a campaign? Former FEC Chairman, Bradley Smith joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Should Pope Francis resign in the wake of the Vigano testimony? Why is Pope Francis not addressing the allegations directly? What did he know and when did he know it? Should conservative Catholics step up and call for a purge of the hierarchy of the Church before it’s too late? Mary FioRito, former top aide to Francis Cardinal George, joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

How should we remember John McCain? Can we separate his military service from his political career? When the left slanders Republicans is it just “politics"? Who and what can save Chicago? Is it a coincidence how everyone associated with Trump is getting shaken down while the Clintons continue to get a pass? Diamond and Silk join Dan and Amy to discuss.