Edwin Eisendrath
Verified
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Edwin Eisendrath
Minority Leader Mike Johnson? | HuffPost’s Jennifer Bendery Joins It's the Democracy, Stupid
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has been one of Donald Trump’s biggest allies in Washington. And with the midterms entering the home stretch, he’s seeing that relationship coming back to bite him, with polling showing there’s a blue wave coming and the House is primed to flip. Does he stick around? Jennifer Bendery has been covering the White House and Congress for years for HuffPost.
Two Desperate Dictators: The Trump-Putin Alliance Now Faces American Voters
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It's The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. Donald Trump is facing a crushing reckoning at the polls. He is desperate. Vladimir Putin does not have voters, but even Russians, as experienced as they are with pain, have limits. This week, the two dictators came to each other’s aid. Last Friday, the two spoke for an hour-and-a-half.
BREAKING: Kimberly Guilfoyle Resigns | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas LIVE
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia announced at her first press briefing this morning that Kimberly Guilfoyle had been asked to resign as ambassador to Greece following explosive reporting in the Wall Street Journal about her alleged corruption. While on air, Susan Demas and Edwin Eisendrath got word that Don Trump Jr.’s former girlfriend had indeed stepped down.
Can Democracy Survive After Trump? | It's the Democracy, Stupid with Brown University Professor Corey Brettschneider
At its founding, America’s Constitution was supposed to guide future generations in avoiding corruption and making sure the people hold the power. To the Founders, the system of checks and balances seemed unbreakable. Two hundred and fifty years later, Trump found a way to tear that all up and push the limits of the power that are vested to the President of the United States for his own personal gain. Can we rebuild in the wake of the mess of a madman?
Trump: 'Let Them Take Out Los Angeles' | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas LIVE
As another SCOTUS term begin and the midterms are less than 30 days away, the plague (yes ...THAT plague) is making news in Russia. Meanwhile, Trump calls for journalists to be arrested and for destroying Los Angeles and San Diego. Everything’s going great! Join Susan Demas and Edwin Eisendrath for all the latest. Articles I Thought We Were Losing America. I Was Wrong. Note from the Author: We shared this letter to a handful of our most active supporters and donors on Friday.
SCOTUS’ Terrible Track Record | The Nation’s Elie Mystal Joins It's The Democracy, Stupid
At the founding of the country, the Supreme Court was created as a check on the executive and legislative branches. Yet, in recent years, the far-right Supreme Court has cast aside its restraints on the presidency and has been a force against democracy. Elie Mystal is a longtime reporter who serves as Justice Correspondent for The Nation. He joins Edwin Eisendrath on It’s The Democracy, Stupid to offer ways the Supreme Court should be reigned in and be held accountable.
You Don't Get to Annihilate a Nation
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It's The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. “I have a big decision to make,” our President said at the United Nations last week. “Will a deal be made with Iran … or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic?” No, sir. The decision to wipe a culture off the map, to annihilate a people, is not yours to make. It is no decision at all.
Kash Patel Isn't Bad at His Job. He's Doing Exactly What He Was Hired to Do.
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It's The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. Kash Patel had a week. In Senate hearings, he had to admit to lowering the recruitment and hiring standards for the FBI. One of those standards? Bestiality. He dropped the prohibition on hiring candidates who committed bestiality.
Trump Nominee Dr. Heidi Overton & the War on Public Health | It's The Democracy, Stupid with Dr. Jessica Knurick
In the wake of the COVID pandemic, science skepticism continues to grow. And with Donald Trump and RFK Jr. using their posts to push anti-science and anti-vax policies, the problem is only growing. Dr. Jessica Knurick, a Registered Dietitian with a PhD in nutrition science who educates on nutrition, public health, and food policy, joins Edwin Eisendrath to talk about the work she does combatting the misinformation coming out of Washington. Articles What Really Happens to Your Political Donations?
Mainstream Media Stands Up to Trump (Finally) | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas LIVE
Trump threatened Iran again at the UN today. He's banned the media from the White House (certain networks he doesn't like, anyway). He's crashing the economy. I could go on. But the pushback has gotten louder, stronger, and more unified. White House reporters and their platforms are standing unified against his move. And pollsters are showing his approval dipping below 30% — that mythical line nobody thought he would ever breach. He only has himself to blame.
WCPT 820 Interview: Laura Belin of Bleeding Heartland - It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath (formerly The Big Picture)
It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath (formerly The Big Picture) From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, "The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath" is now "It • It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath | September 19, 2026
Working Families Party’s Maurice Mitchell Joins It's the Democracy, Stupid
For more families across the country, the American dream seems to be out of reach these days. But many feeling the economic pain have become more engaged in serving their communities. Maurice Mitchell, National Director with the Working Families Party, has been building a coalition of people who want to challenge the status quo and explains what keeps him going to Edwin Eisendrath on It’s The Democracy, Stupid. Articles What Really Happens to Your Political Donations?
SCOTUS Actually Slaps Down Trump | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas
On their weekly show, Edwin Eisendrath and Susan Demas don’t always cover a lot of good news. This week was no exception, as they discussed everything from the Saudi oil crisis to Trump’s allies threatening to shut down the Kennedy Center. But they did start out with some hope: On Monday, the Supreme Court blocked the Postal Service from imposing new restrictions on mail voting this November. And hey, today is National Voter Registration Day. Check out important resources here.
Bring It, Donald. We’ll Win — Even When You Cheat.
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It’s The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. How many of you have heard someone say, “Donald Trump is doing __________ (fill in the blank) and no one cares.” Or someone asks, “Why isn’t anyone stopping him?” I’ve heard a thousand variations of these complaints. And it isn’t just from Americans.
‘The Nerd Reich’ Author Gil Duran Joins It's The Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath
Imagine, if you will, a world in which democracy doesn't exist. Instead, the United States is broken up into a number states overseen by only a handful of technocrats calling the shots. It sounds like something out of a wild science fiction movie. Gil Duran, author of The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy, assures us, however, that it's very much a real idea that many Silicon Valley leaders believe in.
Russia, Russia, Russia. It ain’t a hoax. It never was.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska in August 2025. Today’s piece is a collaborative effort. Joe Walsh and Edwin Eisendrath talk every Thursday afternoon about the news, our country, and our future. If you’ve signed up for either of our Substacks you can join us. Last week, Joe reiterated his belief that Trump is a Russian asset. Edwin said he just didn’t know.
Public Diplomacy in the Trump Era: All Hate, All the Time
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It’s The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. The incessant tide of outrages from team Trump makes it easy to forget how damaging each has been. So, between now and the midterms, I’m going to revisit issues, trends and news events we need to remember.
Elon Helps the Far-Right Win in Germany | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas LIVE
What did you do over Labor Day? Donald Trump apparently spent it generating AI slop for his Human Printer, Natalie Harp, to throw up on Truth Social. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has been busy helping the far-right AfD party gain a foothold in Germany. And he’s planning to spend millions aiding Republicans in the November elections. Share What can we do? Tune in to this conversation with Susan Demas and Edwin Eisendrath. And let us know what we should talk about next in the comments.
Bring it, Donald. We’ll win even when you cheat.
Screen grab of ABC7 Chicago video of Chicago No Kings protest in October 2025. How many of you have heard someone say, “Donald Trump is doing__________ (fill in the blank) and no one cares.”Or someone ask, “why isn’t anyone stopping him?” I’ve heard a thousand variations of this complaint.And it isn’t just from Americans.My wife responded to a post on Bluesky saying that we stand with our Canadian friends. What she heard back was, “that’s not good enough.
Will ICE Killings Be Susan Collins’ Downfall? | SiriusXM’s Joe Sudbay Joins It’s the Democracy, Stupid It's The Democracy, Stupid
Donald Trump is doing everything he can possibly do to get Democrats elected in November. His polling is in the toilet on virtually every issue. The economy. Jobs. ICE. The war in Iran. On and on and on. Joe Sudbay, host of SiriusXM’s State of the States, joins Edwin Eisendrath to break down the current state of the country and the election, and whether Dems can get out of their own way and win. And as a native Mainer, Joe has plenty of … concerns about Susan Collins. Join our campaign
SCOTUS Blesses Trump’s Ballroom | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas LIVE
Turmoil continues to grow in the Trump administration, with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigning after clashing with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the handling of the Iran war and growing mismanagement at the Pentagon. Susan Demas and Edwin Eisendrath discuss the need for major structural reform amid Trump’s attacks on government institutions, the Supreme Court, and the media. They call for stronger congressional oversight, court reform, ethics rules, and accountability.
As Summer Fades, America Prepares to Take Back Our Future
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It’s The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. Summer is drawing to a close. Here in Chicago, that means the end of block parties, art fairs, and music festivals. Restaurants will begin closing their outdoor patios and putting away the tables and chairs that animated our sidewalks. The parks will become quiet.
You Live in a White Christian Nationalist Dual State | Unholy Ground with Edwin Eisendrath
Edwin Eisendrath recently wrote a piece on his incredible Substack about the “Dual State,” a phrase coined by scholar and lawyer Ernst Fraenkel, who had survived the early days of the Nazi regime and later fled to America. The idea — in ‘30s Germany — was that legal systems and government norms held out, by and large, but only for some people.
The Onion, Reborn | Ben Collins Joins Edwin Eisendrath on It's the Democracy, Stupid
Comedy and satire are fascist-killers. In a time when our media ecosystem is broken, when consolidation is eliminating diverse voices, Ben Collins and the Onion are winning. Collins is a former NBC News reporter on right-wing extremism. He joined Edwin Eisendrath to talk through the breakdown of traditional media and how independent voices can — and are — fighting back. Share
SCOTUS OKs Trump's Crackdown on Mail-In Voting | Susan Demas & Edwin Eisendrath LIVE
Trump’s Trade War continues as negotiations between the U.S. and Canada collapse with new tariffs in sight. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had some choice words for Trump, calling him a “loser” and inviting him to “kiss my ass.” In related news, President Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level yet, with just 33% of Americans approving of his performance, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. Susan J.
Memo to Hakeem Jeffries: Change Means Doing Things Differently
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It’s The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. Like millions of Americans, I am out here fighting for Democrats in elections across the country because they are, at this moment, the best hope for saving our democracy and rebuilding a government that works for every American.
Memo to Hakeem Jeffries: change means doing things differently
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner Like millions of Americans, I am out here fighting for Democrats in elections across the country because they are, at this moment, the best hope for saving our democracy and rebuilding a government that works for every American. I fully support a broad slate of candidates- even some with whom I disagree.
The Dual State: How Trump Is Using Ernst Fraenkel’s Playbook to Fracture the Law
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It's The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. Let me tell you about Ernst Fraenkel. Born in 1898 in Germany, Fraenkel grew up a proud German. He fought for the Kaiser in World War I. He later became a prominent lawyer. He was also Jewish, which meant he was banned from appearing in court in 1933, when the Nazis came to power.
The Next Generation’s Done Waiting | Run for Something’s Amanda Litman on It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath
As the general election quickly approaches, Edwin Eisendrath sat down with Amanda Litman, co-founder for Run for Something, to talk about the next generation of Democratic leaders and how they’re changing the way politics get done. Run for Something has helped nearly 1,700 young people to local office, with candidates focussed on the problems voters actually live with: housing, childcare, healthcare, schools, roads, and the general cost of living. But this is bigger than one election.
Republicans Still Can't Say No to Trump
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It's The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. No. It is a simple word. A common word. No. There was a time when Republicans used the word frequently. No, we will not hold hearings on an Obama nominee to the Supreme Court. No, we will not protect voting rights. No, we will not protect the environment.
Trump Throws in with North Korea | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas LIVE
Susan J. Demas and Edwin Eisendrath of It’s The Democracy, Stupidbroke down Donald Trump’s latest foreign policy chaos — from cozying up to North Korea and abandoning South Korea, to threatening to bomb our ally, Oman, to dragging America deeper into the war with Iran. Trump is recklessly reshuffling America’s alliances while Congress sits on the sidelines, refusing to do its job. And back home, the damage is just as ugly.
ICE Flights Are a Torture Device | It's The Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath & Gillian Brockell
This week on It’s the Democracy, Stupid, Edwin Eisendrath sits down with independent journalist Gillian Brockell, who’s reported for the Washington Post, to expose the hidden machinery behind Trump’s deportation crackdown. ICE is shuffling people between between detention centers, separating them from lawyers and families, and sending them on brutal flights to countries they’ve never called home. Taxpayer money is being wasted on Trump’s cruel anti-immigration agenda.
Dems Aren't Divided | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas LIVE
In the aftermath of Michigan’s Democratic primary, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing heavy racially motivated attacks from Republicans, highlighting broader concerns about Islamophobia in American politics.
Democrats Understand the Assignment
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It's The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. A couple of weeks ago, the National Republican Campaign Committee sent around a memo.
Scott MacFarlane: Fighting Back Against Misinformation | It's the Democracy, Stupid
Veteran journalist Scott MacFarlane of MeidasTouch Network sits down with Edwin Eisendrath to take on the biggest threat facing American democracy: The erosion of the truth. As Trump continues to attack journalism and misinformation floods every corner of public life, democracy can’t survive if facts become optional. In this new political climate, independent journalism stands as one of the last lines of defense against authoritarianism.
Republicans Save Trump (Again) | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas LIVE
With even GOP senators on their way out falling in line behind Todd Blanche, despite his hideous record, it’s clear the party has chosen Trump over the people. Today, Susan J. Demas and Edwin Eisendrath of It’s The Democracy, Stupiddiscussed the lengths Republicans will go to to appease Trump and what their obsequiousness says about the right-wing obsession with masculinity. Moving on to midterms, Michigan is a perfect snapshot of the Democratic Party’s divide.
If Countries Around the World Can Stand Up to Their Leaders, We Can, Too | It's The Democracy, Stupid
Around the globe, we’ve watched the lengths authoritarian leaders have gone through to maintain their power, from suppressing votes to quashing free speech. But what happens when the leader of the U.S. idolizes these dictatorships — and he seems to be telegraphing he’ll resort to similar methods to avoid accountability and remain in power?
America Has No President
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It’s The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. Teddy Roosevelt. Harry Truman. Dwight Eisenhower. They were not always popular. They certainly never wielded “unitary executive” authority. But they all tried to lead our big, complicated nation and faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress. Lyndon Johnson. Chester Arthur.
The Pentagon's Playing Games on Troop Casualties | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas
Trump’s failures can be felt by virtually every American. Rising prices at the grocery store and gas pump, food safety failures, and military families that won’t see their loved ones again because of Trump’s, ego-fueled, illegal war. The Trump administration’s willingness to underreport and downplay the deaths of Americans reflects a president who, in the words of Edwin Eisendrath, “doesn’t see the humanity of anyone.” In this episode, Susan J.
Our Elections Are Under Attack | It's The Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath & Mississippi Free Press' Donna Ladd
As we inch closer to the midterms this November, voting rights experts across the country are bracing for all sorts of schemes to suppress voter turnout, with potential interference from the federal government all the way down to county clerks. And in the wake of the Callais decision handed down from SCOTUS this past spring gutting the Voting Rights Act, folks in Mississippi have every right to be concerned.
Trump Is an Impossible Neighbor. Just Ask Canada.
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It's The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. Good neighbors make all the difference. They leave you in peace. They support you in need. They work with you to make the neighborhood better for you both. Canada is a good neighbor. The United States, under the unitary executive authority of Donald Trump, is not.
Is Mamdani going to arrest Netanyahu in NYC? | Susan Demas & Edwin Eisendrath LIVE
DOGE diarrhea is in the air as Elon Musk’s much hyped cost-cutting effort, which failed to reduce the federal deficit, also backfires in our daily lives. Now health agencies have been struggled to monitor a serious cyclospora outbreak across the country. And is Trump or any of his health advisors like Robert Kennedy, Jr. doing anything to help? Unless you’re a farm with a direct line to the Oval Office and some cash, don’t hold your breath.
Trump's Legacy Obsession & the GOP's Future | It's The Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath & The Guardian's David Smith
Edwin Eisendrath sits down with The Guardian’s Washington Bureau Chief, David Smith, on this edition of It’s The Democracy, Stupid to examine what covering Donald Trump’s America reveals about the health of American democracy, drawing on decades of reporting on authoritarian regimes around the world. While America isn’t there yet, many of the warning signs feel strikingly familiar, especially when it comes to attacks on democratic institutions and the normalization of political intimidation.
Time to Clear the Air
Edwin Eisendrath is the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Alderman who hosts It's The Democracy Stupid on Lincoln Square and a weekly radio show on WCPT820AM/ Heartland Signal. Subscribe to his Substack. Once again, we are masked. Six years ago, Donald Trump blamed China for a global pandemic and refused to take any responsibility for managing the outbreak when it reached our shores. More than a million Americans died.
ICE’s Rising Death Toll & Todd Blanche in Pole Position? | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas
Susan J. Demas and Edwin Eisendrath of It's the Democracy, Stupid examined a string of deadly ICE encounters and the protests that have followed. AOC has noted: as the ICE budget grows, so, too, does their death toll. Susan and Edwin also discussed how the Trump administration could use this unrest as justification for a larger security crackdown heading into the fall elections.
America on Its Back: The Total Collapse of Trump's Global Clout
Trump’s failures, lies, grift, greed, and narcissism, have at last drained the good will and respect that generations of Americans worked to build around the world. Our president is now openly mocked on the world stage, and our nation is humiliated. America isn’t back; it’s on its back, and Donald Trump and his Republican Party are to blame. Jimmy Carter was a good man, a president who loved America, and a leader who paid attention to detail.
Reporting on Trump's 250th Debacle in Real Time | It's the Democracy, Stupid with Firewalled Media's Laura Jedeed & Edwin Eisendrath
Throughout the week, we’ve dealt with the aftermath of Trump’s 250th Anniversary Celebration chaos, from the calls for evacuation as a severe storms rolled in prior to the festivities to the smoke show that was supposed to be a massive fireworks display. But what was it really like on the ground?
Democrats’ Pain in Maine | Edwin Eisendrath & Susan Demas
Today, Susan J. Demas and Edwin Eisendrath of It’s The Democracy, Stupid, discussed how Trump’s taxpayer-funded Fourth of July spectacle fell flat, while millions of Americans celebrated what actually matters: freedom, democracy, and the values that have defined our country for 250 years. “America celebrated the Fourth of July by turning its back on Donald Trump,” Eisendrath said.
America Celebrates its Birthday, while Trump Celebrates Himself
This week, our democracy turned 250 years old and celebrated with its back turned to its president. He couldn’t make himself relevant to our anniversary, even with his fireworks display or his Great American State Fair, because he has done nothing, at home or abroad, to further the cause of freedom. At home, Mr. Trump attacks the institutions that protect our freedoms and deploys his troops to round people up.
How Courts Have Constructed a 'Racial Fantasy World' | It's the Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath & Attorney Colette Holt
The racial structures that built this country — that this country was built upon, no less — didn't just suddenly disappear. And yet, the Supreme Court, the Justice Department, and just about every other federal and state structure controlled by Trump and Co. are working under the false perception that white America has given too much to Black and brown citizens. But it's even worse than that.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Edwin
Contact Edwin, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack