PODCAST · news
The Mincing Rascals
by WGN Plus
John Williams and journalists from WGN Radio other Chicago media outlets discuss news of the week on The Mincing Rascals podcast from WGN Plus
Episodes
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The Mincing Rascals 10.14.26: New press secretary, midterm election, Chicago budget
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago,and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. This week the Rascals open the podcast…
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The Mincing Rascals 10.7.26: Sox fever, Trump ads, Cornell rape case, Christa Pike
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals begin the podcast with White Sox...
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The Mincing Rascals 9.30.26: AI meeting, parking meter deal, Jack Smith hearing, midterm election
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of the Steve Bertrand on Books podcast and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago. This week the podcast begins with…
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The Mincing Rascals 9.23.26: White House media ban, Pritzker weight loss, Chicago School Board election
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start...
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The Mincing Rascals 9.16.26: Medical aid in dying law, mail-in voting, parking meters
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of the Steve Bertrand on Books podcast and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. The...
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The Mincing Rascals 9.9.26: 9/11 anniversary, Lindsay Clancy, New Sox stadium
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of the Steve Bertrand on Books podcast and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals begin the...
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The Mincing Rascals 9.2.26: Flock cameras, Chicago crime, Lake Ontario, Mayor Johnson’s future
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972....
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The Mincing Rascals 8.26.26: Mail-in voting, trade war, O’Hare Flyer, RIP Dolly
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of the Steve Bertrand on Books podcast and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room (stay...
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The Mincing Rascals 8.19.26: CTU suing IPI, minimum wage, toll hike, Natalie Harp
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of the Steve Bertrand on Books podcast and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start the...
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The Mincing Rascals 8.12.26: Pope Hat night, Karoline Leavitt leaving, Trump plane swap, Wisconsin election
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack. The Rascals start the podcast this week talking...
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The Mincing Rascals 8.5.26: Chris Welch apology, rise of democratic socialists, Todd Blanche AG nomination
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start the podcast this...
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The Mincing Rascals 7.29.26: Dr. Fauci testimony, 2028 presidential race, school cellphone ban, city-owned grocery stores
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of...
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The Mincing Rascals 7.22.26: Chicago air quality, national anthem protocol, SAVE Act
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals begin the podcast...
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The Mincing Rascals 7.15.26: Ballot access rules, ICE bodycam requirements, the county succession movement
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg (on his birthday), Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack and Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago:...
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The Mincing Rascals 7.8.26: Mayoral race, Mitch McConnell health, World Cup controversy
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals begin the podcast…
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The Mincing Rascals 7.1.26: Supreme Court decisions, Chicago mayoral election, assault weapons ban, super-speeder law
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals kick off the podcast by…
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The Mincing Rascals 6.24.26: World Cup fever, SAVE Act, gun violence prevention
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of...
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The Mincing Rascals 6.17.26: Grant Park cross burning, UFC controversy, Obama Center opens
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start the...
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The Mincing Rascals 6.10.26: Trump on ‘Meet the Press,’ Graham Platner, Bears stadium location, ‘Broadview 6’ grand jury transcript
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel. The Rascals begin the podcast talking...
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The Mincing Rascals 6.3.26: Scott Pelley fired, Bears stadium saga, Mendoza running
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel. The Rascals kick off the...
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The Mincing Rascals 5.27.26: Anti-Weaponization Fund, Texas primary runoff, Broadview Six, CTU dues hike effort
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start...
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The Mincing Rascals 5.20.26: Pritzker v. Johnson, PCA v. Sox fan, Massie v. Trump
The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. This week, the Rascals start the...
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The Mincing Rascals 5.13.26: Attractions and distractions, the McStadium, gas prices, and the hantavirus
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel. The Rascals start with the attractions...
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The Mincing Rascals 5.6.26: Obama Center, Samantha Steele, Indiana election, Iran War
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. Today, the Rascals begin the podcast…
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The Mincing Rascals 4.29.26: SAFE-T Act, WHCD shooting, Comey indictment
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, and Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack. The Rascals start this week’s...
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The Mincing Rascals 4.22.26: State redistricting, millionaires tax, new Bears stadium
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of the ‘Steve Bertrand on Books‘ podcast, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start the podcast this week talking about Darren...
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The Mincing Rascals 4.15.26: Tipped wage veto, Trump v. Pope Leo, Door Dash Grandma
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room. This week, the Rascals start the…
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The Mincing Rascals 4.8.26: Trump rhetoric, Iran war ceasefire, Adam Toledo lawsuit
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. Today, the…
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The Mincing Rascals 4.1.26: Birthright citizenship, Sheridan Gorman, ABS
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, and Steve Bertrand, host of the ‘Steve Bertrand on Books‘ podcast. This week, the Rascals start the podcast discussing the Supreme Court...
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The Mincing Rascals 3.25.26: Sheridan Gorman murder, No Kings rally, City Hall firings
The Mincing Rascals this week are Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and Steve Bertrand, host of the...
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The Mincing Rascals 3.18.26: Election recap, Iran war, Markwayne Mullin testimony
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals kick off the podcast talking about the results of yesterday’s...
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The Mincing Rascals 3.11.26: Iran war, Uber ride options, AI and local news
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals start...
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The Mincing Rascals 3.4.26: Iran attack, Texas primary results, honoring Jesse Jackson, Amazon drones
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, political pundit Marj Halperin, and Steve Bertrand, host of the ‘Steve Bertrand on Books‘ podcast. This week, the Rascals start the podcast discussing the…
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The Mincing Rascals 2.25.26: SOTU recap, Stratton ad, ranked choice voting, Bears stadium
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week, the Rascals start things off by breaking down President Trump’s...
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The Mincing Rascals 2.18.26: Jesse Jackson, powerful Chicagoans, Colbert-FCC feud, Nancy Guthrie coverage
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and political pundit Marj Halperin! Today, the Rascals start the podcast talking about the death of civil…
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The Mincing Rascals 2.11.26: SAVE Act, ICE reforms, Epstein files, Super Bowl halftime show
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand, host of the ‘Steve Bertrand on Books‘...
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The Mincing Rascals 2.4.26: Senate race, government shutdown, Waymo, snowplow names
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals kick...
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The Mincing Rascals 1.28.26: Alex Pretti death, paywall-free news, millionaire tax
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals begin the podcast talking about…
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The Mincing Rascals 1.21.26: Bears loss, NIL, parking meter deal, Greenland, CTA safety
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room., and recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand. The Rascals kick off the podcast talking about the Bears losing…
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The Mincing Rascals 1.14.26: Bears victory, Ted Dabrowski ad, Greenland
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972....
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The Mincing Rascals 1.7.26: ICE shooting, Maduro capture, Chicago mayoral race
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals…
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The Mincing Rascals 12.30.25: U.S. and Chicago politics, Bears stadium progress in 2026
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The group kicks things off with a wide-ranging discussion on American politics, President Trump’s recent…
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The Mincing Rascals 12.23.25: The Trump Administration, 60 Minutes and Chicago Bears’ threat to relocate
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, recently retired newsman Steve Bertrand, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room. The Rascals open the podcast with Steve Bertrand’s return to the...
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The Mincing Rascals 12.17.25: Bovino returns, budget battle, Rob Reiner
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and the The Last Ward, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals begin the podcast talking about Border Patrol...
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The Mincing Rascals 12.11.25: Budget drama, robot delivery, Madigan seeks pardon
The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope’s Screening Room. The ‘kids table’ Rascals begin the...
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Mincing Rascals update from John Williams
John is on vacation, but provides an update on this week’s podcast recording.
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The Mincing Rascals 12.3.25: Northwestern deal, deadly boat strikes, Christkindlmarket capacity
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals start the podcast discussing Northwestern…
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The Mincing Rascals 11.24.25: Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns, sedition accusation, CTU audit, favorite Thanksgiving food
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward, and Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago. This week, the Rascals kick off the…
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The Mincing Rascals 11.19.25: Head tax defeat, Epstein files, Mobile ID, Word of the Year
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals start the podcast talking about Illinois launching...
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The Mincing Rascals 11.12.25: Bovino leaving, Epstein emails, government shutdown
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author the The Last Ward, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. The Rascals…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Mincing Rascals have?
The Mincing Rascals currently has 99 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Mincing Rascals about?
John Williams and journalists from WGN Radio other Chicago media outlets discuss news of the week on The Mincing Rascals podcast from WGN Plus
How often does The Mincing Rascals release new episodes?
The Mincing Rascals has 99 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Mincing Rascals?
You can listen to The Mincing Rascals on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Mincing Rascals?
The Mincing Rascals is created and hosted by WGN Plus.
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