Chicago's Morning Answer with Dan Proft

0:30 - A day of terror

13:14 - Aussie Hanukkah Bondi Beach shooting

36:33 - Brown U shooting

54:25 - Assisted suicide

01:15:46 - Steven Bucci, visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, unpacks the ISIS killing of Americans in Syria, the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker bound for Cuba, and Nicolás Maduro’s strange—and telling—reaction to the tanker seizure at a rally in Venezuela.

01:34:22 - Ronald D. Vitiello, Senior DHS/CBP Advisor and former ICE leader, highlights the dangers of mass asylum under Biden — calling out a Democratic-run immigration system lacking integrity.

01:51:34 - Theodore Dalrymple, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor at City Journal, questions immigration, terrorism, and whether the BBC can still be trusted. Theodore is the author of many books, including Buried But Not Quite Dead: Forgotten Writers of Père Lachaise

02:10:18 - FBI veteran and Unabomber profiler James Fitzgerald on the chilling Reiner murders and the nationwide hunt for the Brown University shooter. James is also co-host the “Cold Red” podcast coldredpodcast.com

0:30 - Who's your white knight?

13:21 - Sports & Politics

33:12 - Finding the kids

59:31 - Race 2 Dinner for the low, low price of $5000 you can get identitarian absolution

01:06:22 - Will County State’s Attorney Jim Glasgow reflects on navigating the Safe-T Act and offers praise for Cook County’s Eileen O’Neill Burke.

01:37:06 - Paul Jacobs of Food for the Poor explains how your support brings food, water, and hope to children across Latin America and the Caribbean — join in this Christmas season of giving.

01:48:44 - Jessica Melugin, Director of the Center for Technology & Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, raises concerns about Trump’s AI Executive Order — but sees it moving in the right direction.

02:02:07 - Open Mic Friday!

0:30 - DHS.Gov/Wow

15:28 - Border/migrants/deportations

37:49 - BLM Brandon on Trump threats over CTA funding per lack of safety

55:14 - Dr. Jonathan Ellen, primary care pediatrician, epidemiologist, and former CEO of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, on Trump's move to slash the childhood vax schedule

01:11:39 - Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady, Markets Specialist for Market Day Report, says Trump may be bragging about the economy, but families are getting hammered by insurance premiums and grocery prices — and the administration needs to wake up to it. Check out Scott’s Market Day Report! – 10:30am CT to 1pm CT- and The Cow Guy Close – 1pm CT to 1:30pm CT – both at RFD-TV

01:29:02 - Daniel DePetris, fellow at Defense Priorities and syndicated foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune and Newsweek, breaks down the high-stakes Ukraine–Russia peace talks, the brewing U.S.–Venezuela showdown, and Trump’s new National Security Strategy. Follow Daniel on X @DanDePetris

01:46:27 - CAMPUS BEAT

02:08:59 - Jonathan Butcher of The Heritage Foundation engages with tough questions about his new book The Polarization Myth: America’s Surprising Consensus on Race, Schools, and Sex.

0:30 - Pritzker signs legislation barring ICE from within 1000 feet of courthouses

14:46 - City Budget

39:56 - Mid Terms

58:14 - Founder & Principal Broker for HealthInsuranceMentors.com, C Steven Tucker, previews the new GOP health care proposal

01:17:09 - Aussies ban social media access for teens

01:58:17 - Professor for the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Morgan Marietta, gives a key phrase that could decide the SCOTUS Birthright Citizenship case

02:22:30 - Noted economist Stephen Moore is surprised at low polling numbers because this economy is “smoking” Get more Steve @StephenMoore

0:30 - BLM Brandon shutdown

19:02 - Pritzker release...and JB knew too

37:13 - Dan's adds to his protest songs mixtape

59:32 - Crockett 

01:16:13 - In-depth History with Frank from Arlington Heights 

01:18:54 - CEO of Independent Women’s Voice and the president of Suasion Insights, Heather Higgins: The filibuster must fall to save the republic. Follow Heather on X @TheHRH

01:38:00 - Founder of Wirepoints, Mark Glennon, takes aim at WTTW’s Heather Cherone and other political activists posing as journalists — and their funders — asking bluntly, “What is wrong with you?” Check out Mark’s substack substack.com/@markglennon

01:52:43 - The Golden Age of Travel

02:12:07 - Host of the “The Hollywood in Toto Podcast ”, Christian Toto, on the Netflix/WB deal, the Kennedy Center Honors and his best movies of 2025. For podcast updates and more hollywoodintoto.com

0:30 - Ed Bambas

9:32 - Somali Maine State Rep. Mana Abdi on coming to America

32:20 - Europe has a problem

56:55 - Why Dan Proft is Single

01:13:04 - Visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation, Steven Bucci, challenges Don Jr.’s predictions about Trump’s next moves in Ukraine.

01:36:45 - Carissa Codel, morning anchor "Ozark's First" on Fox 49, reading viewer comments critical of her size

01:47:28 - Eddie Johnson, former CPD Superintendent, calls for the Safe-T Act’s repeal, insisting that “some people just need to be off the streets.”

02:06:37 - RealClearPolitics’ national political correspondent, Susan Crabtree, breaks down the arrest of the Jan 6 bombing suspect and calls it a win for Kash Patel and the FBI. Check out Susan’s newest book Fool’s Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All

0:30 - Narco boats

15:01 - CPS sexual abuse settlement

34:19 - Minnesota

01:16:20 - James A. Gagliano, retired FBI supervisory special agent and doctoral candidate in homeland security, defends the bureau’s handling of the J6 pipe bomber case — insisting it wasn’t botched, it was a cold case that needed fresh eyes. James also served as mayor of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York

01:36:40 - USMC LtCol. (ret.) Jonathan P. Myers breaks down the failures of the Afghanistan evacuation and Project Allies that he says set the stage for last week’s shooting of two National Guardsmen in D.C. LtCol Myers is also the author of American to the Corps: Iraq, Bosnia, Benghazi, Snowden: A Marine Corps Intelligence Officer’s Incredible Journey

01:52:41 - Founder and CIO of Perry International Capital Partners, Jim Perry, highlights how Trump’s five-point plan is unfolding — and why the economy is thriving as a result. For more on Perry International Capital Partners perrycapitalpartners.com

02:11:51 - Open Mic Friday!

0:30 - BLM Brandon offers waterworks in defense of corp head tax

14:14 - Omar on MN fraud: lack of guardrails

36:24 - More Batmans

53:52 - Adam B Coleman, founder of Wrong Speak Publishing, on the virtues of marriage and why the internet is toxic to men and women looking for love. Adam is also the author of   The Children We Left Behind: How Western Culture Rationalizes Family Separation & Ignores the Pain of Child Neglect

01:17:42 - Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, Rick Hess, sorts through the Department of Ed’s Big Breakup. Rick is also the author of Letters to a Young Education Reformer

01:36:41 - Trump from Oval Office on boat strikes: drugs via water down 91%...starting on land soon

01:51:27 - Anti-ICE ad sponsored by Women's March in Charlotte

02:12:35 - Former Congressman Dan Lipinski maps the road ahead for Trump’s trade agenda — and warns Democrats are pushing in the wrong direction.

0:30 - Eileen O'Neill Burke 1 year in 

17:34 - Trump Cabinet Meeting: on Somalians..."we don't want them in our country"

39:22 - Our Afghan "friends"

01:05:38 - Ken Burns documentary "The American Revolution" with Matt Walsh commentary 

01:20:12 - Noah Rothman, senior writer at National Review: The Problem with the Republican Party? All the Democrats. Noah has a new book coming out in spring ‘26!  Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence in America

01:40:11 - Noted economist Stephen Moore says Trump’s dream of scrapping the income tax is worth chasing — but argues those tariff dollars would be better spent slashing the payroll tax. Get more Steve @StephenMoore

01:55:33 - Christine Smith, Chief Investigation Officer at the Center for Client Safety, exposes the Hope Clinic’s push to dodge ASTC oversight in Granite City, IL — and what that means for women’s safety. For more on the Center for Client Safety centerforclientsafety.org

02:11:40 - Natalya Murakhver, co-founder of Restore Childhood, previews her new documentary  15 DAYS: The Real Story of America’s Pandemic School Closures. To learn more and watch the film 15daysfilm.com

0:30 - How is this race so close?

17:12 - Cook Co property taxes

37:03 - Trump on Somalia and other countries whose people "we don't need"

01:00:00 - Cutting ties with the (Boy) Scouts

01:17:13 - In-depth History with Frank from Arlington Heights

01:20:09 - Paul Jacobs of Food for the Poor on delivering food, water, and hope to vulnerable children across Latin America and the Caribbean. Give today and your donation will be matched x3!! For more info visit 560theanswer.com

01:36:15 - Founder of Wirepoints, Mark Glennon, reacts to plans for permanent guaranteed income: normalize government reliance while taxes explode? What could go wrong.. Check out Mark at substack.com/@markglennon

01:53:14 - Justin Logan, director of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute: Peace in Ukraine Is Going to Be Ugly. Trump Is Right to Pursue It. Follow Justin on X @JustinTLogan

02:09:08 - Best selling author Lionel Shriver on leaving the UK, immigration, and the  The ‘affordability’ delusion. Check out Lionel’s most recent novel  Mania: A Novel

0:30 - Trump announces passing of National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom on Thanksgiving

17:00 - Chad Robicheaux, Marine vet who served in Afghanistan...knew it would be a problem

39:48 - Wajahat Ali: blame all Afghan refugees then blame and deport all white men

01:02:46 - Campus Beat 

01:21:01 - Steven Bucci, visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, breaks down how immigration vetting actually works—and the inherent challenges that come with it.

01:41:39 - Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Howard Husock, dives into his new book The Projects: A New History of Public Housing

01:57:47 - President of the Center of the American Experiment and Powerline contributor John Hinderaker breaks down Trump’s immigration plans—and whether he can truly pull them off. Get John’s latest at powerlineblog.com

02:16:13 - Rafael Mangual, senior fellow and head of research for the Manhattan Institute’s Policing and Public Safety Initiative, makes the case for longer, more consistent sentencing for repeat offenders. Rafael is also the author of  Criminal (In)Justice: What the Push for Mass-Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong, and Who It Hurts Most

0:30 - Trump's turkey pardons…

16:06 - Pritzker willing to tweak SAFE-T Act

34:51 - Dan's Thanksgiving Tips

43:15 - Aftyn Behn: I don't want kids, I want power

54:16 - It’s a DOGE Eat DOGE World

01:13:35 - Pastor Corey Brooks—Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago and founder of Project H.O.O.D.—warns that America has strayed from its moral foundation and urges a renewed embrace of wholesome American values. Follow Corey on his Walk Across America @CoreyBBrooks on X and projecthood.org

01:31:09 - Economist Stephen Moore predicts another government shutdown amid the escalating battle over healthcare. Get more Steve @StephenMoore

01:50:50 - Daniel Patino, Radio Manager and On-Air Fundraiser for Food for the Poor, on bringing Thanksgiving hope to vulnerable children across Latin America and the Caribbean through food, clean water, and compassion.Give today at 560theanswer.com

02:08:00 - Open Mic Friday!

0:30 - Bethany MaGee

19:39 - 4 football players from Rogers HS in Newport facing charges for assaulting special needs boy

39:37 - Katie Couric and Jen Psaki complain about Trump getting softballs from DC press corps

58:18 - Joseph Moreno, former federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice and a US Army combat veteran, looks over the James Comey/Letitia James dismissals and the potential court martial of Mark Kelly

01:15:14 - In Depth History w/ Frank From Arlington Heights

01:17:44 - Bjorn Lomborg, president of the Copenhagen Consensus think tank: Innovation, not elimination, will solve the world’s climate woes. Check out Bjorn’s most recent book  Best Things First

01:33:00 - Founder of Wirepoints, Mark Glennon, compares Germany’s policy failures that are pushing cities into bankruptcy with Chicago’s even worse decisions — and the similar collapse they could trigger. Check out Mark at substack.com/@markglennon

01:51:23 - New ND mascot: gay sheep

02:08:30 - Tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Steve Kirsch explains why he believes COVID vaccine effectiveness was overstated and how “statistical mirages” shaped the public narrative. Follow Steve’s work kirschsubstack.com

0:30 - BLM on shootings by Chicago Theater Friday night

16:40 - How a City Dies

38:47 - MTG fare the well

01:02:39 - Trump/Mamdani meeting

01:22:40 - Visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation, Steven Bucci, on the proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan: “It smells like capitulation.”

01:44:42 - Chris Whalen, Chairman of Whalen Global Advisors and editor of The Institutional Risk Analyst, on the affordability crisis and where Bitcoin is headed. Check out Chris’ most recent book  Inflated: Money, Debt and the American Dream – 2nd Edition

02:03:07 - Former Chicago Police Lt. John Garrido on the weekend Loop shootings: the missing resource was the snap curfew ordinance the mayor vetoed. John is also President of the Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation – garridostrayrescue.org

02:21:29 - Joseph Bottum, visiting chair in conservative thought and policy at University of Colorado's Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization, on his look to see if college kids can read - “I want to weep for academia”

0:30 - BLM Brandon on CTA attack and "plan" to "make investments" improve transit security

31:28  - Dem vets, former intel officers calling on military to defy orders

57:27 - Retired Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel demands real action on CTA crime — more resources, more custody for repeat offenders: Put the same resources on the CTA that you had at the DNC. Follow Tom on X @ChiefWeitzel and check out his substack substack.com/@chieftomweitzelret

01:12:22 - Somali autism scam and others

01:34:23 - EdChoice President & CEO Robert Enlow: “Parental school choice is experiencing a renaissance like we’ve never seen” For more on EdChoice edchoice.org

01:49:04 - Jim Perry, Founder & CIO of Perry International Capital Partners, says investors need to pay attention: we’re in a period of serious disruption. For more on Perry International Capital Partners perrycapitalpartners.com

02:10:40 - Open Mic Friday!

0:30 - US Atty Andrew Boutros on federal charges against Lawrence Reed

35:54 - Lawrence Reed, the judges in CTA burned alive case

59:23 - Jim Iuorio, host of “The Futures Edge Podcast” and contributor to Wirepoints, isn’t buying Elon Musk’s dream of a world without work — or money. For podcast updates and more @jimiuorio

01:15:43 - Pope Leo

01:38:20 - Paul Jacobs of Food for the Poor on delivering food, water, and hope to vulnerable children across Latin America and the Caribbean. Give today at 560theanswer.com

01:52:08 - Lawndale homeowner Richard Townsell calls out Illinois’ broken property tax system, demanding transparency, consistency, and predictability

02:03:20 - 711 Clerk Stephanie in Oklahoma City

02:09:45 - Contributing Editor at National Review & Former Chief Asst. U.S. Attorney, Andrew McCarthy, on Comey’s trial and what’s next with the Epstein files  Follow Andy on X @AndrewCMcCarthy

0:30 - Women set on fire on blue line

13:09 - Mom and son attacked outside school by kids

37:38 - Van Jones at Forbes confab: black people will dominate with AI because they're the most innovative

58:37 - CAIR

01:21:50 - CAMPUS BEAT

01:33:45 - NYC candidate for mayor in ’21 & ’25 and founder/CEO of the Guardian Angels Curtis Sliwa: Andrew Cuomo was the spoiler, not me

01:44:46 - Noted economist Stephen Moore examines NYC and Seattle — and why voters made the choices they did. Get more Steve @StephenMoore

02:00:23 - CEO/President of Human Coalition, Jeff Bradford: We are committed to finding new and better ways to rescue children from abortion and provide compassionate care to women facing unexpected pregnancies. A gift of $130 will help reach 5 pregnant women who are seeking an abortion choose life for their babies - To give a gift, go to 560TheAnswer.com/human

02:15:13 - Senior Counsel at the Article III Project, Will Chamberlain, breaks down the Epstein files and explosive redistricting battles. For more on the Article III Project article3project.org

0:30 - Property Taxes

38:50 - Trump on release of Epstein files...all for it so we can get back to touting our successes

01:02:23 - GiGi Gianni, the driving force behind GiGi’s Playhouse, shares a heartfelt message about visibility, achievement, and belonging: “I deserve to be here.” Gigi was joined by her mother and founder of GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers - gigisplayhouse.org

01:19:49 - In-depth History with Frank from Arlington Heights 

01:22:38 - Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist practicing in New York, wonders Is ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ Real? Jonathan’s forthcoming book Therapy Nation will be out next year!

01:37:12 - Wirepoints founder Mark Glennon on Chicago’s property tax bills, which just posted their biggest jump in three decades. Check out more from Mark substack.com/@markglennon

01:52:57 - Ford needs mechanics

02:15:08 - Thomas Baker, retired FBI special agent and legal attaché, critiques the FBI’s handling of the Thomas Crooks investigation. Thomas is also the author of author of The Fall of the FBI: How a Once Great Agency Became a Threat to Democracy

0:30 - CTU spending

17:53 - Epstein

38:39 - Border/migrants/deportations

01:02:25 - Why Dan Proft is Single

01:22:35 - Visiting fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, Steven Bucci, on cartels and the unanswered questions about the Trump shooting in Butler, PA. 

01:43:01 - Paul Vallas, senior policy advisor at the Illinois Policy Institute and former CPS CEO and mayoral candidate, calls out Brandon Johnson’s budget — warning rising costs are driving people out. Paul also writes a weekly column for the Chicago Contrarian - keep up with Paul on X @PaulVallas 

01:59:50 - RealClearPolitics’ national political correspondent, Susan Crabtree, on LA's rebuild and California officials' incompetence as Palisades Residents Bemoan Fire Response. Susan is also co-author of  Fool’s Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All

02:19:47 - Sam Olson, ICE Chicago Field Office Director, responds to conflicting reports on the success of Operation Midway Blitz

0:30 - Catholic Bishops on Immigration 

01:00:33 - 15th Ward Alderman Ray Lopez explains his immigration amnesty proposal which he presented in a letter to President Trump. For more on Ray’s proposal and his work for the 15th ward @RaymondALopez

01:18:56 - Scott McKay, publisher of TheHayride.com & Senior Editor at The American Spectator: Obamacare is a time bomb intended to explode the private medical care system. Check out Scott’s new book Blockbusters, which is available at Amazon

01:40:30 - Catholic Bishops on Immigration

01:58:33 - Former NYC Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli: We don’t call Mamdani a communist as a knock — it’s who he is and what he stands for.

02:11:25 - Open Mic Friday!