Chicago Baseball Is Disappointing, but Can the Bears Save the Summer?

Windy City Sports Talk

1:15:36

In this episode, we welcome back David French, columnist for The New York Times , former constitutional attorney, and author of Divided We Fall . We discuss the current state of American democracy, the challenges of political division, and how we can engage in civil discourse despite deep ideological differences. David also shares a personal update on his family and reflects on the profound trials and growth that come with adversity. 📌 What We Discuss: ✔️ How David and his family navigated the challenges of a serious health crisis. ✔️ The rise of political polarization and the factors driving it. ✔️ Why distinguishing between “unwise, unethical, and unlawful” is crucial in analyzing political actions. ✔️ How consuming different perspectives (even opposing ones) helps in understanding political dynamics. ✔️ The role of Christian values in politics and how they are being redefined. ⏳ Episode Highlights 📍 [00:01:00] – David French’s background and his journey from litigation to journalism. 📍 [00:02:30] – Personal update: David shares his wife Nancy’s battle with cancer and their journey as a family. 📍 [00:06:00] – How to navigate personal trials while maintaining faith and resilience. 📍 [00:10:00] – The danger of political paranoia and the pitfalls of extreme polarization. 📍 [00:18:00] – The "friend-enemy" paradigm in American politics and its influence in Christian fundamentalism. 📍 [00:24:00] – Revisiting Divided We Fall : How America’s divisions have devolved since 2020. 📍 [00:40:00] – The categories and differences of unwise, unethical, and unlawful political actions. 📍 [00:55:00] – The balance between justice, kindness, and humility in political engagement. 📍 [01:00:00] – The After Party initiative: A Christian approach to politics focused on values rather than policy. 💬 Featured Quotes 🔹 "You don't know who you truly are until your values are tested." – David French 🔹 "If we focus on the relational, we can have better conversations even across deep differences." – Corey Nathan 🔹 "Justice, kindness, and humility—if you're missing one, you're doing it wrong." – David French 🔹 "The United States has a history of shifting without repenting. We just move on." – David French 📚 Resources Mentioned David French’s Writing: New York Times David’s Book: Divided We Fall The After Party Initiative – More Info Advisory Opinions Podcast (with Sarah Isgur & David French) – Listen Here 📣 Call to Action If you found this conversation insightful, please: ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/politicsandreligion ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion 🔗 Connect With Us on Social Media @coreysnathan: Bluesky LinkedIn Instagram Threads Facebook Substack David French: 🔗 Twitter | BlueSky | New York Times Our Sponsors Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com Prolux Autogroup: www.proluxautogroup.com or www.granadahillsairporttransportation.com Let’s keep talking politics and religion—with gentleness and respect. 🎙️💡…

about a year ago 1:08:25

MP3•Episode home

The White Sox are bad as expected. However, it's been frustrating to see the Cubs struggle as badly as they have. We talk about both disappointing baseball teams and what is ahead for them both as the season progresses. We also give our thoughts on the Bears' roster and upcoming schedule as we wait for training camp to start.

151 episodes

Chicago Baseball Is Disappointing, but Can the Bears Save the Summer?

Windy City Sports Talk

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

151 episodes

All episodes

1
Previewing the NFC North Ahead of the 2024 Season 57:27

38 weeks ago57:27

57:27

Don Kleppin joins the podcast for this episode. We preview the NFC North as we wait for training camp to start. Don (a Packer fan) gives us his thoughts on the Packers' roster. Don also gives his opinion on the roster the Bears have built around rookie QB Caleb Williams. We share some thoughts on the Lions and Vikings. Lastly, we give our way too early NFC North predictions.…

1
Chicago Baseball Is Disappointing, but Can the Bears Save the Summer? 1:08:25

40 weeks ago1:08:25

1:08:25

1
The Cubs and Bears Are Hopeful While the White Sox Hit Rock Bottom 57:44

50 weeks ago57:44

57:44

Baseball is back! The Cubs are off to a great start while the White Sox sink to the bottom very quickly. We talk about the early season woes the White Sox are facing with injuries and offensive production. Does this Cubs team remind you of the 2016 team? We are split on that answer. We also give our thoughts on the ridiculous criticism Caleb Williams is facing. Lastly, we ponder what the Bears should do with the #9 pick.…

1
Bears Free Agency Frenzy: Fields Traded and Offensive Talent Added 1:01:00

1 year ago1:01:00

1:01:00

We recap the eventful free agency period for the Bears. We spend a lot of time giving our thoughts on the Justin Fields trade and debate whether or not this was the best decision. We also give our thoughts on the other moves made this offseason. We then look ahead to the draft and start to give our record predictions for next season based off of the moves made so far.…

1
The 2024 Blackhawks: A Season Full of Adversity 59:43

1 year ago59:43

59:43

The Blackhawks have had a challenging 2024 season. The prospects are gaining valuable experience on the ice, but they are dealing with a lot of adversity as well. It's been a season full of injuries and some drama off the ice. It's been a lot of fun to watch Conor Bedard though. He is the future of the franchise and that's what helps us get through a tough season. We review everything that has happened so far this season and give our thoughts on the Blackhawks being quiet at the trade deadline.…

1
Debating the Future of Justin Fields and Pondering What's Next for the Bulls 1:06:52

1 year ago1:06:52

1:06:52

In this episode we debate Justin Fields vs. Caleb Williams. We also discuss some possible destinations for Fields should the Bears trade him. We talk about some other moves the Bears need to make this offseason. We give our thoughts on the Bulls standing pat at the trade deadline and talk about what this means for the future direction of this team.…

1
Recapping Super Bowl 58 and Looking at the Future of the NFC North 1:18:18

1 year ago1:18:18

1:18:18

We give our thoughts on the Super Bowl and we look towards the future by pondering what the NFC North might look like next year. We give our way to early predictions for the division as well.

1
When Will the Bears Stop Living in the Past? 1:07:28

1 year ago1:07:28

1:07:28

The Bears haven't won a Super Bowl in nearly 40 years. Yet, the organization does nothing but celebrate the past. The fans are getting tired of constantly talking about 1985 and all the great defensive players that have played for the team over the years. We want a legit QB. We want to watch a modern-day NFL offense. In today's episode we talk about why the Bears need to change their identity. We also give our thoughts on the stadium situation and what could be done to Soldier Field and the surrounding area.…

1
Chicago Baseball 2024: The Cubs Are on the Rise While the White Sox Begin to Fall 51:34

1 year ago51:34

51:34

In this episode, we begin to look at what the 2024 season will have in store for the White Sox and Cubs. We give our thoughts on whether or not the White Sox are about to go into a full rebuild. For the Cubs, we talk about the hiring of Craig Counsell and explain why the Cubs need to be more aggressive when it comes to adding more talent to their roster. Lastly, we give our thoughts on MLB free agency as a whole.…

1
The Bears Decide Not to Blow It All Up 51:26

1 year ago51:26

51:26

The podcast is back! There's not better time to return than now with the Bears deciding to make a few changes to their coaching staff for next season. Matt Eberflus is staying, Luke Getsy is out, and Justin Fields' future is still in question. In our return episode, we recap the season and give our thoughts on the decisions made on the coaching staff. We also give our takes on what the Bears should do in the offseason with Fields and the rest of the team.…

1
What to Make of The New Look Bulls 48:07

4 years ago48:07

48:07

Zach Keilman joins the podcast to discuss the eventful offseason the Bulls had while they reconstructed most of the roster. Zach and I discuss where Coby White stands with the team after the addition of 3 new point guards. We also talk about how big of a boost the offense gets with the acquisition of DeMar DeRozan. Zach and I also want to tell Zach LaVine to be patient on the new contract and focus on creating a highly competitive team with his new teammates. Lastly, Zach and I give our thoughts on whether or not the Bulls can compete for the playoffs this year in the Eastern Conference.…

1
Previewing the 2021 Bears With John Jurkovic 21:26

4 years ago21:26

21:26

ESPN 1000's very own John Jurkovic from "The Carmen and Jurko Show" joined the podcast today to talk about the upcoming NFL season. He shared this thoughts on the Bears' QB situation and he also expressed his concern for the defense. Since Jurko is a former player, I asked him about his thoughts on the NFL's first 17-game season and if he thought the players' disapproval of it is warranted.…

1
Previewing Madden 22 1:06:23

4 years ago1:06:23

1:06:23

Madden 22 comes out in a few days. EA has promised and promoted many changes and additions to the long-time franchise. Will they succeed or will it be another frustrating year for fans of the series? Zach Keilman returns to the podcast to preview the game with me. We also give our thoughts on the reviews that have already come out since the game’s trial edition released last week.…

1
The Golden Age is Over for the Cubs 34:55

4 years ago34:55

34:55

Well, the Cubs finally did it. They traded away the most lovable core the franchise has ever had. The Golden Age is over. Ryan Walsh joins the podcast to discuss the heartbreaking trade deadline. We recap the moves and discuss whether this should have happened. We look back on all the issues that basically led up to the breakup. We also discuss the future of the team now that Jed Hoyer is in charge, and we also discuss whether Willson Contreras should receive a contract extension to become the new leader in the locker room.…

1
The White Sox are Set Up to Win 41:59

4 years ago41:59

41:59

Drew Klawitter joins the shows and recap the eventful trade deadline the White Sox had. We discuss why we liked each of the moves the Sox made. We also talk about how the return of Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert also feel like major acquisitions. Drew and I also talk about how ridiculous it is that the White Sox are still disrespected and forgotten about among the rest of the MLB.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
The Blackhawks Are Fighting to Stay Relevant 37:25

4 years ago37:25

37:25

The Blackhawks had a very eventful offseason. It was also very surprising. I had to invite Brooke LoFurno back on for this episode since last time we talked we thought the Blackhawks were done being relevant for awhile. Well....we were wrong. The Blackhawks made a lot of big moves which included trading for a Hall of Fame goaltenders, a 2-time Stanley Cup Champion, and more. Brooke and I recap all the big moves the Blackhawks made and we give our thoughts on how this new, intriguing roster can perform this upcoming season.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
The Glory Days are All But Over for the Blackhawks 37:04

4 years ago37:04

37:04

Brook LoFurno joins the podcast today to talk about the Duncan Keith trade. We discuss some of our favorite memories of Keith’s 16-year career with the Blackhawks. With only 2 players remaining from the cup teams (Toews and Kane), we give our thoughts on if this is truly the end of the Blackhawks’ glory days. Lastly, we discuss what the team will look to do now with the draft and free agency quickly approaching.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
How Aggressive Should The Bulls Be This Offseason? 45:10

4 years ago45:10

45:10

Jon Zaghloul from Sports Talk Chicago and WCKG joins the podcast for the first time ever to discuss the upcoming offseason for the Bulls. Jon and I give our takes on what the Bulls should do with Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine. Jon and I explain why we both think the Bulls need to improve at Point Guard. Lastly, we talk about the kinds of players the team should target in both the draft and free agency.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
What is Next for the Blackhawks? 41:36

4 years ago41:36

41:36

Brooke LoFurno, Blackhawks contributor for The Hockey Writers, joins the show to share her final thoughts on the 2021 Blackhawks. Brooke and I then give our thoughts on which players GM Stan Bowman must re-sign and which areas the team needs to improve in later this summer in Free Agency. Lastly, Brooke and I discuss just how much an impact Jonathan Toews can provide to this team if he does return next season.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
What is Next for The Bears After a Great Draft? 38:10

4 years ago38:10

38:10

Legendary Chicago sports broadcaster George Ofman joins the podcast to recap the eventful draft the Bears had. After taking a look at the draft class, specifically Justin Fields, George and I talk about what's next for the team as they prepare for training camp and beyond.

Windy City Sports Talk

1
What to Make of the White Sox So Far 49:55

4 years ago49:55

49:55

My good friend Drew Klawitter joins the podcast to talk about the White Sox for the first time in the 2021 season. We review an eventful, yet sluggish start to the season. We give our thoughts on Tony La Russa's management style. We talk about Carlos Rodon's sudden resurgence and the current state of the pitching staff. Drew gives his take on how the Eloy Jimenez injury affects the team, but also explains how the emergence of Yermin Mercedes may help the team out long-term. Lastly, we give our thoughts on which team will challenge the Sox for the AL Central crown this season.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
The Blackhawks Are in Playoff Mode NOW 39:16

4 years ago39:16

39:16

Brooke LoFurno from TheHockeyWriters.com rejoins the show to talk about the Blackhawks' recent up and down play. We give our opinions on the recent trades GM Stan Bowman made. Brooke and I discuss what the Hawks need to do to reacquire the final playoff spot in the Central Division.

Windy City Sports Talk

1
April Fools Bears Fans! 1:02:37

4 years ago1:02:37

1:02:37

Today is April Fools' Day. What great time to talk about how every Bears fan was fooled into thinking that they would have Russell Wilson as their new QB! Zach Keilman joins the show today to talk about a rather disappointing offseason for the Bears so far. We also speculate what the Bears could do in the draft.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
Broadcaster Spotlight: George Ofman 1:07:14

4 years ago1:07:14

1:07:14

The legendary George Ofman joined the podcast today to discuss his podcast, "Tell Me a Story I Don't Know". He also talked about some of his greatest memories covering Chicago sports for 47 years. George and I discuss how the broadcast industry has evolved over the years. Lastly, I had to ask George to share his thoughts on the Bears' QB situation.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
Wait....The Blackhawks Are Playing Well? 44:02

4 years ago44:02

44:02

Believe it or not, the Blackhawks are exceeding my expectations so far this season. However, with plenty of work to do, can they sustain this success and make the playoffs? Joining me on this episode is Brooke LoFurno, she covers the Blackhawks for TheHockeyWriters.com. We give our analysis on the team's performance so far. The Blackhawks have a lot of new and young faces on the roster this year. Brooke and I pick our most impressive newcomers. We talk about Kevin Lankinen and his chances of becoming the #1 goalie. Lastly, we give our thoughts on if the Blackhawks can contend for a playoff spot and if that will prompt GM Stan Bowman to be active at the trade deadline in April.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
Evaluating the Ownership of the Cubs and Bears 44:10

4 years ago44:10

44:10

Ryan Walsh and I collaborate on this podcast as we evaualute the ownership families of the Cubs (the Ricketts) and Bears (the McCaskeys). We talk about what frustrates us the most about each family. We eventually make a determination on which one is the most infuriating. Ryan and I also talk about Jon Lester's legacy as a Cub and how much he meant to the franchise over the last 6 years.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
David Kaplan Talks About the Future of the Bears and Cubs 22:23

4 years ago22:23

22:23

ESPN 1000 and NBC Sports Chicago's very own David Kaplan joined the podcast today to give his thoughts on both the Bears and the Cubs. Kaplan explains why he was not a fan of the Bears' end of season press conference. He talks about what needs to be down in the offseason to make the team better now that Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy will be left in charge. Kaplan also gives his thoughts on the Yu Darvish trade and why he thinks more moves are coming. Lastly, he explains what the roster needs to look like in order for the Cubs to have a shot at contending in the NL Central.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
NHL and Blackhawks 2021 Outlook 1:22:47

4 years ago1:22:47

1:22:47

Josh Kesner comes on the podcast to share his thoughts on the uniquely designed 2021 NHL season. He also gives his outsider view on the Blackhawks who are about to start year 1 of their rebuild without some important players. Lastly, we talk about Corey Crawford's legacy.

Windy City Sports Talk

1
Are the Cubs About to Hit the Rebuild Button? 49:24

4 years ago49:24

49:24

Ryan Walsh and I discuss a very eventful Cubs' offseason so far. We debate whether or not the team is going into rebuild mode after trading You Darvish and Victor Caratini. We talk about some of the other players rumored to be on the trade block. Ryan and I give our true emotional thoughts on whether or not we believe these are the right moves for the Cubs to make as ownership claims they need to save money.…

Windy City Sports Talk

1
Should We View 2020 as a Success for the Bears? 53:38

4 years ago53:38