Monday, December 12 Lin's Bin about chopping down your own Christmas Tree.

Lin Brehmer returned from his medical sabbatical Monday morning and brought us a new Lin's Bin answering the question he received a lot while out, "How are you doing?"

Marty Lennartz remembers Bob Gelms former Music Director in the 70's and 80's for 93XRT after his passing on Sunday, October 2nd.

XRT's Annalisa talks with Bryan Ferry ahead of Roxy Music's North American tour.

Patrick Carney of The Black Keys joins Marty Lennartz to talk about the band's new album.

Lin Brehmer pays tribute to the late Charlie Watts

Lin Brehmer On Len Kasper Moving To The White Sox.

Lin Brehmer comments on Len Kasper's move from the Cubs to the White Sox.

How Will We Celebrate Thanksgiving?

Lin’s Bin

How will my favorite holiday compare to years gone by? A question from a listener helped me remember and helped me look to the future.

(Music is “Great Big God of Hands” by master guitarists Nathan Salzburg and James Elkington from the album Ambsace.)

Lin's Bin-Making A Statement

We were ready for the greatest summer ever. 

Here is Lin's Bin from Monday. I answer the question, "For whom does the bell toll?"

A Lin's Bin for baseball lovers in the absence of baseball.

Chris & Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes stop by our studio for a conversation with Lin Brehmer on their acoustic Brothers Of A Feather Tour, why the time was right to reunite, and more.

A sold out crowd was on hand to witness a wonderful night of music at Classic Cinemas Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove as Poi Dog Pondering got the audience up and dancing right from the very first note.

Here's Lin Brehmer's fantastic interview with Poi Dog Pondering's Frank Orrall as the two discuss the band's travels from Hawaii, to Austin, to Chicago, how Frank escaped danger from Hang Gliding, and much, much more!

After 28 years, Lin finally gets the chance to sleep in as he moves to middays this Monday beginning at 10 AM. Richard Milne will be taking over morning duties with his show starting at 5:30 AM.

Here's the sign off Lin played right before spinning Garland Jeffreys' "R.O.C.K." as his final track.

Chicago Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney joined Lin Brehmer & Marty Lennartz at the 2020 Cubs Convention to talk about the Marquee Network and share stories of his many years behind the scenes with the Cubs, including one time when Jeff Samardzija was nearly killed by Blue Man Group.

At the 2020 Cubs Convention, Lin Brehmer & Marty Lennartz had a chat with Chicago Cubs infielder David Bote about his time in the minor leagues, how his preparation has informed his clutch hitting, and why he chose the number 13.

At the 2020 Cubs Convention, Lin Brehmer & Marty Lennartz sat down with Cubs Radio 670 WSCR color analyst Ron Coomer to chat about who gave him his "Coom-Dawg" nickname, his thoughts on the Astros & Red Sox cheating scandals, and a whole lot more.

Lin Brehmer shares fond memories of watching Monty Python's Flying Circus alongside other red-eyed college students back in the 70's.

Welcome to the Linside Podcast: addressing the great podcast shortage in America, where today we speak with Jason Narducy (Split Single, Bob Mould, Superchunk) about the new rock and roll musical, Verboten. Verboten is based on the true story of Chicago’s own young punks. Written by Brett Neveu with music and lyrics by Jason Narducy. Info at TheHouseTheatre.com. We also talk about Dave Grohl, Sonic Highways, Steve Albini, Bob Mould, Mike Mills, Jon Wurster, Cubby Bear, Nora O’Connor, The Decemberists and the original members of Verboten.

The Bears open the 2019 football campaign against the Green Bay Packers. It’s a rivalry that goes all the way back to the birth of the NFL. An earnest listeners asked Lin, What do you have against Wisconsin and The Packers?

Lee Smith was inducted into the Hall of Fame and Lin Brehmer pays tribute to the dominant Cubs closer.

Just Jeff Garlin from The Goldbergs and Curb Your Enthusiasm stopping by to alphabetize the CDs ...

He’s got two shows at Park West Wednesday June 12 at 7 & 9:30pm for his Netflix special that’ll be releasing in the coming months.  Tickets available right here.

We catch up with Cage The Elephant frontman Matt Shultz ahead of the release of their new album Social Cues.

Ben Lovett & Ted Dwane from Mumford & Sons stopped by the XRT studios prior to their big show at the United Center to discuss their new album Delta, bringing an intimate feeling to a large stage, and their long relationship with Chicago.

The unseasonably warm weather hearkens to a summer evening under the stars on the beautiful lawn of Ravinia Festival. President & CEO Welz Kauffman called Frank E. Lee to give us a preview of what those nights will entail this year.

President & CEO of Ravinia Welz Kauffman Gives Frank E Lee A 2019 Preview

Today is International Women’s Day which recalls this piece I wrote and recorded for Lin’s Bin when a fellow asked me simply, Why are women crazy?

Hear which songs the longest-tenured member of Pink Floyd enjoys playing most, and his fond remembrances of the earliest days of the band in this exclusive conversation with Lin Brehmer.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster to catch Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets tour stop at the Chicago Theatre April 4th.

As the Rolling Stones' No Filter Tour was announced, Lin spoke with Keith Richards about his favorite songs to play on tour and his passion for the guitar.

Ahead of the No Filter Tour, Lin chatted with Mick Jagger about the early days of touring with the Rolling Stones and how he prepares to go out on the road.

Ahead of his Holiday Concert for the Kids tonight at Copernicus Center, Little Steven Van Zandt joined the XRT Morning Show to talk about his Disciples of Soul (latest album Soulfire Live! is out now), his Rock And Roll Forever Foundation, which provides free curriculum at teachrock.org, and more! 

When you go to Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul tonight at Copernicus Center, please bring a new, unwrapped book or toy for Chicago-area children who have to spend their holidays in local hospitals.

Congratulations to Patsy deVuono of Wilmette for being our Loyal Listener Of The Day!

We were ushered into a private room at City Winery Chicago. 40 XRT listeners had been selected at random to join Robert Plant and me for a very special and intimate conversation.

The album Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar had been released September 8, 2014 and this event took place October 1st.

In a wide-ranging interview, Robert talked expansively about the death of the music industry, the humiliations Led Zeppelin suffered at the Ambassador East and at The Checkerboard Lounge.

Led Zeppelin is our Friday Feature. Listen to this clip from 2014 and remember there was a time when even Robert Plant got no respect.

The Cubs sent longtime White Sox broadcaster Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson off by taking 2 of 3 from the upstart Sox on the South Side. 

Catch Len & Lin every Monday morning at 8:30, brought to you by Sloan Valve and Vienna Beef.

Drew Magary is a writer for GQ & Deadspin and is a noted music fan. His weekly Funbag & Jamboroo columns on Deadspin feature a song of the week and include artists like Bob Mould, Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, and more.

As someone who specializes in self-deprecation, Magary doesn't mind getting jabbed at for liking "dad rock" bands. Instead, it's something to embrace, especially in a time when rock isn't the dominant music genre. 

Magary digs on on why dad rock can be appreciated, proper concert etiquette, his notorious haters guide series, and finally offers his prediction for the Bears.

It was a wet few days in our nation's capitol, so the Cubs will try again to play baseball in DC on Thursday, just in time for Hurricane Florence's arrival. 

Catch Len & Lin every Monday morning at 8:30am, brought to you by Sloan Valve and Vienna Beef!

Ahead of his benefit concert with the Chicago Sinfonietta at House of Blues on Saturday, September 8th, Lin spoke with Todd Rundgren about his vast musical career.

The Cubs have won five straight at the sweltering confines as they continue to make their way towards postseason play.

Catch Len & Lin every Monday morning at 8:30, brought to you by Sloan Valve and Vienna Beef.

Aretha Franklin has died. She was 76. Lin Brehmer introduced the classic "Since You've Been Gone" this morning with some thoughts on her legacy.

What an ultimate walkoff grand slam for one David Bote! Down to his last strike and the Cubs last out, David Bote did what only a handful of major leaguers have done before. Catch it on Len & Lin, where baseball meets rock & roll. Every Monday morning at 8:30, brought to you by Sloan Valve & Vienna Beef.

We send our condolences to family and friends of Stan Mikita. Lin introduced the song, “Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day” with some thoughts on this Blackhawks legend.

Some unfortunate baserunning gaffes cost the Cubs against the lowly San Diego Padres, but thankfully, the Colorado Rockies were able to best the Milwaukee Brewers to leave the Cubs in sole possession of first place in the NL Central.

Dr. Diane M. Schecklong, Au. D., CCC-A is a clinical supervisor in Audiology at NIU. XRT Morning Show Producer Chris Cwiak spoke with her about protecting one’s hearing at Lollapalooza, the aftershows, and any other live music events in and around Chicago.

We touched on preventative methods to combat hearing loss such as distance from loudspeakers, active methods such as earplugs and rest, and the warning signs of hearing damage.  She also gave a cautionary tale about a 14 year old she treated following a concert.   

A legend among the extended family that is WXRT: Val Camiletti, Val of Val’s Halla Records in Oak Park, has passed away. Lin shared some memories on The XRT Morning Show.

The Cubs continued their winning ways by taking 3 of 5 from the Cardinals folloiwng the All-Star break. Catch Len Kasper & Lin Brehmer every Monday morning at 8:30a, brought to you by Sloan Valve & Vienna Beef.

A touch warm out at the ol' ballpark over the weekend, and it wasn't just the Cubs offense. Catch Len & Lin every Monday morning at 8:30a, brought to you by Sloan Valve & Vienna Beef.

The Cubs lose four straight to the Reds in Cincinnati for the first time in 35 years ahead of a test out west against the Dodgers. Len & Lin, where baseball meets rock n' roll every Monday morning at 8:30am is brought to you by Sloan Valve & Vienna Beef.

President Trump says Kim Jong Un's pledge to denuclearize must be total and verifiable. They've wrapped up a historic meeting in Singapore, in which Trump announced the US would suspend military exercises with South Korea. This was news to Seoul and good news for Pyongyang, which has long complained about the war games.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast ...

Catch Len & Lin every Monday morning at 8:30, where baseball meets rock n' roll. Brought to you by Sloan Valve & Vienna Beef!

Anthony Bourdain. 1956-2018. Like you, Lin Brehmer was a fan. And Bourdain was more than just another TV personality.

Pete Yorn discusses what he likes about Scarlett Johansson's voice and how she's evolved as a musician since their 2009 record Break Up.

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson are no strangers to one another. The two have been friends since 2001 and came together to record an album in 2009.

With the recent release of their EP Apart, we caught up with Yorn to discuss how this collaboration came about, what he likes about her voice, and how much she's grown as a musician since their first album.

If you could choose your super power, what would it be? Lin Brehmer dashed into a phone booth and emerged as... PARKING MAN. #linsbin 

Lin's Bin airs every Monday at 7:15am & 6:15pm. Ask Lin a question; if he selects your question, you receive a $50 gift card to City Winery Chicago!

Catch Len & Lin every Monday morning at 8:30, where baseball meets rock n' roll! Brought to you by Sloan Valve and Vienna Beef.

When David Byrne released his album "American Utopia", Lin realized he had first met the former lead singer of Talking Heads 40 years prior. But this was his first chance to interview one of the most creative and innovative characters in rock and roll.

Catch Len & Lin every Monday (or today after the holiday) morning at 8:30, brought to you by Sloan Valve & Vienna Beef!

CFD officials say 46-year-old Juan Bucio lost contact with his partner as they looked for a missing boater in the Chicago River at 26th and Ashland last night.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast ...

With Lindsey Buckingham and the rest of Fleetwood Mac offering mixed messages about his exit from the band, it's brought upon a familiar feeling for some. Here we go again!

But is it a bad thing? The latest episode of Inside The Archives looks at whether or not feuds can have a positive effect for bands and increase album & ticket sales. Marty Lennartz joins the show as we also discuss some of the most outlandish feuds in rock history.

If you're enjoying Inside The Archives, please subscribe and leave us a review!

No early exit for them ahead of the holiday weekend, unless the #NoCopAcademy coalition manages to block the Chicago City Council's vote this afternoon. It's filed a lawsuit claiming the Emanuel administration has violated the Open Meetings Act by failing to allow appropriate public comment.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports, and awesome Memorial Day weekend forecast ...

Chicago aldermen Sophia King and Brendan Reilly think so. Balbo was named for an Italian pilot who made the first transatlantic flight from Rome to Chicago; Italo Balbo was also a member of Italy's Fascist party who supported Benito Mussolii. Ida B. Wells was a Chicago journalist, suffragist and civil rights leader. Italian American leaders in Chicago defend Balbo's legacy and say another, more major road should honor Wells. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and sunny weather forecast.

Plus the rest of the day's news, including an obituary for writer Philip Roth, whose "The Plot Against America" is one of the scariest books ever written. Also, Lin is bad at math and says everything on the internet is true.

Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says two groups of people started fighting at a gas station at Belmont and California early this morning. It ended in gunfire and at least one death. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and foggy forecast.

Catch Len & Lin every Monday morning at 8:30, brought to you by Sloan Valve and Vienna Beef!

The memorable bookends of the XRT Irish Tour 2018 involve madrigal singers from a small college in Indiana. Listen to Lin’s story here.

Catch Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper & our best friend in the whole world, Lin Brehmer, every Monday morning at 8:30a. Baseball meets rock n roll, brought to you by Vienna Beef & Sloan!

Lin Brehmer knows a thing or two about songwriting. After all, he routinely introduces a track as "the greatest song ever written" before playing it on the radio. 

The latest episode of Inside The Archives digs deep into songwriting. What is it? What makes a great song? Why is the songwriter stereotyped as someone sitting in their kitchen with an acoustic guitar? Why isn't the blues associated with the image of a classic songwriter?

Plus, we get Lin's prediction on how the Cubs 2018 season will fare. 

Lin & Mary had an early guest help them announce our annual Taste of Chicago Concert taking place Saturday, July 14th; The Flaming Lips! Plus, hear Mayor Emanuel's spot-on Bill Clinton impersonation.

Chicago police are looking for the men who were arguing in a Northwest Side gangway and injured the little girl when they opened fire on each other. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and sunny weather forecast.

The state House will debate allowing patients to trade their opioid prescriptions for medical marijuana. Illinois senators approved the measure yesterday. Plus the rest of the day's news (a historic agreement on the Korean peninsula, Bill Cosby convicted), sports and springy weather forecast.

Chicago police are investigating after the Archdiocese discovered mass collections were lighter than usual ... and signs of trespassing at the Cathedral. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Justices will hear arguments on the Trump administration's third attempt at a travel ban on people from primarily Muslim-majority countries. Hawaii officials allege it's unconstitutional, and violates federal immigration law.

Jack White launched his 2018 tour last week with shows in Detroit and Milwaukee, which made Jack fans here in Chicago say, “Detroit and Milwaukee but not us?”

We just have to wait until August, to be touched by his Boarding House Reach when Jack headlines Lollapalooza, Marty Lennartz and XRT Digital Producer Marty Rosenbaum didn’t have the patience to wait.

They packed up the car and right after work on Friday and hit the highway to sit in rush hour traffic and make our way slowly up to Brewtown to see Jack play at The Eagles Club.

The trip gave them plenty of time to talk and the two preview and review one of the first shows of Jack White's lengthy tour.

There's so much serious stuff in the news today, but none more serious than this science story out of the Genesis Observatory in Hawaii. Plus a White Sox win,  the Cubs return to Cleveland for the first time since November, 2016, and a springy forecast.

Catch Len & Lin every Monday morning at 8:30am, brought to you by our friends at Sloan Valve and Vienna Beef! 

Police in Nashville are hunting for the central Illinois man who killed four people with an assault-style rifle at a restaurant ... the guy who developed the app used by Cambridge Analytica to scrape Facebook users' personal information for the Trump campaign says he's sorry ... there's a new royal baby in London ... and a numerologist with a shaky record says this is day of The Rapture - when the righteous will be lifted up to heaven. I'm sure it's all a coincidence. 

Students in Chicago and around the country are planning walkouts to mark the 19th anniversary of the deadly mass shooting at Columbine High School ... though school officials note some kids often walk out on 4-20 for other reasons. Speaking of which, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says he'll propose legalizing marijuana at the federal level. A new CBS News poll shows support for legalizing it is growing: more than 60% of Americans surveyed say pot should be legal, and even those who disagree support letting states decide.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather.

We of the concert-going community can appreciate the work it takes to make our favorite bands sound fantastic. How does it happen? It's not as simple as plug in your instruments and start playing. No no no, there's a lot more that goes into it!

On the latest episode of Inside The Archives we chat with XRT's Engineer Dominic Mendicino about the nuances of being a sound engineer, what factors go in to putting on a live show, and explaining the process for how XRT's famed BlueCross BlueShield Performance Stage was built.

If you've been curious on how a concert gets put together, this is a must listen episode!

We'll find out this morning whether Carver County, Minnesota prosecutors will charge anyone in the fentanyl overdose death of Prince. The Artist died two years ago at Paisley Park. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports, weather, and Lin's giving away tickets to see The Record Company at The Park Formerly Known As Wrigley (now Gallagher Way).

Len & Lin can be heard every Monday morning at 8:30. Baseball and rock n roll; where else, but 93XRT?

We preview the Regular Guy's review of the very creepy "A Quiet Place" and report on Northwestern University findings on the health benefits of being an early bird. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Ryan (R-Janesville, WI) was facing a potentially tough re-election race against one of two Democrats, Randy Bryce (Iron Stache) and school teacher Cathy Myers. Ryan's exit from the GOP primary leaves -- for now -- an avowed anti-Semite, Paul Nehlen, on the ballot. Plus the rest of the day's news (presidential Tweet storm, Yvonne Staples RIP), sports and a springy weather forecast.

April snow shut down Wrigley but not the White Sox's G-Rate yesterday. The Cubs will try again today. Plus the rest of the day's news, including Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg on Capitol Hill and President Trump complaining about the FBI raid on the office and home of his personal attorney.

Illinois public health officials say two deaths and 90 illnesses around Chicago and Peoria are tied to synthetic pot. It appears to laced with rat poison and is making users bleed out. I think on a day when we're featuring Led Zeppelin, we can agree that everyone should just skip the fake weed.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The White Sox host the Tigers in their home opener at the G-Rate/G-Spot/Sox Park this afternoon while the Cubs play a semi-home game in Milwaukee tonight, and the forecast is terrrrrrible.

Plus the rest of the day's news, including the newly-announced purchase by NYSE's parent of the Chicago Stock Exchange.

"Well, I don't know what will happen now; we've got some difficult days ahead. (Amen) But it really doesn't matter to me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. (Yeah) [Applause] And I don't mind. [Applause continues] Like anybody, I would like to live a long life–longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. (Yeah) And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. (Go ahead) And I've looked over (Yes sir), and I've seen the Promised Land. (Go ahead) I may not get there with you. (Go ahead) But I want you to know tonight (Yes), that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. [Applause] (Go ahead, Go ahead) And so I'm happy tonight; I'm not worried about anything; I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." [Applause]

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior on April 3, 1968 at Mason Temple in Memphis, TN. He was assassinated the next day.

Three men are accused of selling Spice, or K2, laced with rat poison out of their Lawndale convencience store. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Len Kasper joins Lin Brehmer for the first iteration of Len & Lin of the 2018 baseball. Len breaks down the Cubs weekend split in Miami and the two look forward to next week's Opening Day Live Broadcast from Yakzies!

Illinois Public Health officials say synthetic pot, also known as Spice or K2, is causing users to bleed out. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and chilly weather forecast.

There's a lot of gnarly news out there (Mayor Emanuel deposed in two wrongful death lawsuits, President Trump attacking Amazon) - so baseball fans are especially happy to hear the good news: Major League Baseball opens the 2018 regular season today. The Cubs are in Miami and the White Sox start in Kansas City.

Some Chicago aldermen are critical of Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson's decision to support an officer who shot and killed Quintonio LeGrier and Bettie Jones in 2015. Johnson disagrees with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which has determined Officer Robert Rialmo should be fired. The Sun Times quotes aldermen Roderick Sawyer and others who say the shooting was unjustified. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Bloomberg reports Tim Cook may roll out new Apple products for the educational market at Lane Tech on the North Side, even as CPS students are off for spring break. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The CEOs of the Social Network and Chicago-headquartered United Airlines are apologizing: Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg for the data breach of users' profile data to Cambridge Analytica, and United's Oscar Munoz for the recent death and mishandling of dogs in transit.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports (Go Loyola/Gryffindor!) and weather forecast ...

The two candidates spent a total of $120 million of their own money just on the primary. Republican Governor Bruce Rauner wins a tighter-than-expected challenge from Wheaton IL Rep. Jeanne Ives; Democratic voters have nominated J-B Pritzker over Daniel Biss, Chris Kennedy and three others.

Plus more election news, sports and the weather forecast.

We remind everyone to A) vote, and B) wear some pants today.

Plus the rest of the day's news including early word of a shooting at a Maryland high school, as well as sports and the blustery forecast.

Early voting is brisk here, even as Facebook is called on the carpet. The New York Times and The Observer report a developer took data from a personality quiz app, and gave Cambridge Analytica access to 50-million users' profiles. The firm used that data to develop voter-profiling techniques for the Trump campaign.

So anyway, get out and vote! Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and windy weather forecast.

Berrios faces a primary challenge on Tuesday; he complains the Harris School study is unfairly political. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports (Ramblers! DePaul!) and St. Patrick's Day forecast.

The next research project may be on the health consequences of this discovery at SUNY, and whether we need to also study beer. Lin and I volunteer!

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast ...

Thousands of kids are expected to demonstrate at 10 a.m. Chicago time. The national gun violence protest marks the one month anniversary of the mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports, weather and an obituary for physicist Stephen Hawking.

The president has named CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace the embattled Tillerson; Deputy Director Gina Haspel is nominated to lead the CIA. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Record Store Day holds a special place in our hearts here at XRT. When the list of releases was announced earlier this week, we had to record a podcast about it.

The latest episode of Inside The Archives chats with certified vinyl junkie Ryan Arnold about all things Record Store Day.  We touch on this year's releases, the pillars of communities record stores represent, vinyl's resurgence, and much more. 

... On Twitter, at least, say researchers from MIT. Plus the rest of the day's eyebrow-raising news, sports, and weather forecast.

Amazon executives say they're aware of the problem, which is that some Alexa-enabled device users report their devices are ignoring their commands and in some instances laughing at them. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports, weather and a shout-out to the winners of the Ring Lardner Awards.

Behind the scenes at hundreds of Chicago rock and roll events stands a giant. Jolly Roger. Lin Brehmer toasts him on the air for his 70^th birthday.

The CDC reports emergency room visits for opioid overdoses rose by 66% last year - the highest jump in the US. The city is suing opioid distributors for their role in the epidemic. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and chilly weather forecast.

Moby released his 15th studio album 'Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt' this past March and took some time out to speak with XRT about the album and inspiration that went into it.

In the spirit of the Day of the Dude, the 20th anniversary of the release of "The Big Lebowski," we present you with the 8 a.m. news which features developments on the president's Tweets, a former Trump campaign aide melting down over a subpoena from the Mueller team, and anti-Nazi protests at Michigan State ... what say you, Dude?

The Dude:
It's like what Lenin said... you look for the person who will benefit, and, uh, uh...

Donny:
I am the walrus.

The Dude:
You know what I'm trying to say...

Voting for the March 20th Illinois primary expands to more locations today through March 19, and we all know how civic participation is AWESOME. You can go to the Illinois Elections Board for more information.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather.

Lots of news today, but first we learn that it is THURSDAY not Friday and that Lin met Mary's mom's neighbor.

Plus Governor Rauner gets a bill to more strictly regulate Illinois gun dealers and Russia's Vladimir Putin is showing off new nuclear weapons that can strike Florida without interception. It's a small world, after all.

Dick's CEO says they'll stop selling assault-style rifles and high capacity magazines, and stop selling any guns to people under 21: “When we saw what happened in Parkland, we were so disturbed and upset. We love these kids and their rallying cry, 'enough is enough.'" The shooter at Stoneman Douglas High School bought at least one gun at a Dick's store.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The currently little-used floors 8 through 14 of the big department store formerly known as Marshall Field's will be turned into office space by a Toronto firm. Macy's keeps the Walnut Room and gets $30 million. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and balmy weather forecast.

New research indicates fresh produce, whole grains, and less red meat may help people avoid depression as they age. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and cheerful weather forecast.

Marty Lennartz has spoken with the likes of Keith Richards, Arcade Fire, Wilco, Florence & The Machine, Patti Smith, Jack White, and many more. His resume of interviews reads like the rock & roll hall of fame induction list.

We pick his mind and get his philosophies when it comes to interviewing. We also touch on his career highlights, favorite interviews, strange experiences, and what happens when an interview starts heading south.

We find a final XRT listener to go to spring training with us, Lin calls me a wacko, and I go ahead with the rest of the news because WTH it's Friday and you as an American citizen have the right to know what is going on.

High school students in the US and around the Chicago suburbs are staging demonstrations for stronger gun laws in the wake of last week's mass shooting at a Florida high school. President Trump is talking about arming specially-trained teachers, raising the age limit for buying weapons, and banning bump stocks.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports, and weather forecast.

You'll never guess who's been eliminated from the medal round! (Kidding: Canada lost to Great Britain. Plus the rest of the day's news, which is considerably more serious unless you're a curling fan.)

The latest news includes word of heavy rain and flooded roads in the south and southwest suburbs. Plus sports and the weather forecast.

The man charged in Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer's murder has been ordered held without bail. Cubs star Anthony Rizzo returned to his home in Florida to mourn with the victims of the mass shooting at his alma mater, Stoneman Douglas High School.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The latest on the suspected shooter at a high school in Florida, and on the charges filed in this week's murder of Chicago police commander Paul Bauer.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Police officials say a multiple felon is in custody after shooting Near North Side Police Commander Paul Bauer yesterday in the Loop. Bauer was 53 and a 31-year veteran of CPD. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Another Chicago skyscraper loses its signature namesake. What are we gonna call it now? Plus the rest of the day's news, including Olympic medals won in Pyeong Chang.

Look, we spent the weekend shoveling or waiting for planes. Let's talk about baseball and Pearl Jam coming to Wrigley Field (and the latest news, sports and weather forecast. Which is chilly.).

How do you explain what it was like to live through Beatlemania to people that didn't experience it? We looked no further than down the hallway as we spoke with Terri Hemmert on the topic.

Today, we discuss why The Beatles have been able to connect with music fans across generations in a way that other bands haven't been able to do.

Catholic church leaders are suggesting the faithful celebrate St. Valentine's Day this weekend or on Tuesday - Mardi Gras - rather than on February 14 -- which is Ash Wednesday.

Plus why we'll need to stock up on milk, bread & beer before tonight (STORMWATCH) and the rest of the day's news, sports and forecast.

It's a small, small world. So we celebrate the XRT Spring Training trip win by Jake of Dixon, IL -- Mary's family home. Plus the rest of the day's news, which includes word that DNA evidence shows early Brits were probably people of color. They turned paler later than previously thought. A small world, indeed.

Terri Hemmert shares her memories of the late John Mahoney and why he was a beloved Chicagoan.

The Oak Park resident didn't even start acting until his late-30s. John Mahoney was best known as Martin Crane on the TV show "Frasier," along with numerous appearances on the big screen and Chicago's stages. If you ever saw him act or met him in person, you know why the city's theater community is in mourning.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

We've been demoted from a "full" to "flawed" democracy in 2017 because of the decline in public trust in US institutions. Just a reminder, Gentle Reader, that the word democracy is from the Greek terms for "people" and "power." Let's exercise ours wisely.

Plus the rest of the day's news and frigid forecast.

NASA states it's the first time in 150 years we've had the trifecta: the moon this close to Earth (Super), the second full moon in a month (Blue) and a lunar eclipse making it look reddish (Blood). Also the latest on President Trump's first State of the Union address and the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

They say the new company will be independent and free from profit-making incentives and constraints. It's not clear how they'll do it, or if this would extend beyond employees at the three firms. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Congress approved the sanctions by a large margin last summer. They're meant to punish the Kremlin and those close to the Putin government for interfering with the 2016 election. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast ...

Inside The Archives host Marty Rosenbaum grew up in a world where The Beatles were already the greatest Rock & Roll band of all time. They had already changed the world. He speaks with Terri Hemmert to get a first hand perspective on what it was like to live through Beatlemania and how it impacted both her personal and professional life.

At least four times this month, two men held up people in the North Side neighborhoods. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

They're meeting in Washington, DC and protesting the Trump administration's demand that they hand over records showing whether the sanctuary cities are sharing information on immigrant detainees with federal immigration agents. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports, weather ... and Sir Elton John's plan to launch his farewell tour.

They're scrubbing out the Aurora high school; Roberto Clemente High School on the Northwest Side is open today after an electrical fire was put out in a sub-basement early this morning. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and slippery weather forecast ...

Democrats and moderate Republicans agreed to Senate majority leader McConnell's promise to get to immigration and the Dreamers in the near future. Plus the rest of the day's news, Oscar nominations, sports, weather forecast, and word of another David Byrne appearance in Chicago ...

Jason Isbell takes you inside the Grammy Awards and shares his experience attending the event alongside his wife Amanda Shires. This recording comes from a 2016 Live From Studio X session at Subterranean as Isbell had taken home Grammy Awards for his album 'Something More Than Free'.

Half of everyone earth didn't see any increase in wealth, according to the charity. Plus the latest on Day 3 of the US government shutdown, and the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Congress is on the clock to keep the government from shutting down at midnight. A short-term spending plan has moved through the Republican majority House but faces trouble in the Senate ... where Democrats are holding out for a restoration of DACA protections for immigrants brought to the US illegally as children. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and a balmy weather forecast ...

The tech giant plans a second American headquarters that would employ 20,000 people. We also learned this morning that Chicago's made the first cut for Amazon's second US campus. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Organizers plan to start in Grant Park and march to the Federal Plaza. A Cook County judge is ordering Illinois to expand its medical marijuana program to include more people in pain. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and chilly weather forecast.

Upholding the First Amendment with this morning's news as you slip and slide into work, plus some solid winter living advice for you and Terri Hemmert.

President Trump says he's not a racist; Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) maintains the president used racist terms to describe African nations last week as Trump rejected a bipartisan agreement on immigration and border security.

As Dr. King said, "Darkness can not drive out darkness; only light can do that."

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and wintry weather forecast.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Inside The Archives! We spoke with BIG BEAT host Jason Thomas on a wide range of topics including why he doesn't listen to many albums anymore, what he considers new music, how much autonomy he has with the show, his favorite music of 2017, and why he likes to play music you don't normally hear on XRT, but still has that XRT sound. We also discuss the transformation of 00's bands like The Killers, Muse, Arcade Fire, and St. Vincent and how they've carved out their own place in the musical canon. Plus, we break down the latest music festival announcements (hello again Jack White), the ever entertaining Gallagher brother feud and the prospects of an Oasis reunion, as well as the glorious return of David Byrne.

This quote referring to some African nations came from the President of the US in a meeting on immigration reform with Republican and Democratic senators. Those in the meeting confirmed it. The White House did not deny it. This morning, Trump tweeted that he used "tough" language, but not the language reported.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast. Bundle up, folks.

It's a major policy shift for Medicaid ... which provides health care to some of the nation's poorest people. The Trump administration is now opening a path for states to require work, job-training or educational requirements for adults. Ten states including Indiana and Wisconsin have asked for the option; it may be tried first in Kentucky.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and freaky weather forecast.

The day's news, sports & weather forecast ... and Lin & Mary mark the two-year anniversary of David Bowie's death.

Matt Nagy's main job will be to bring along Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Bears will introduce the former Kansas City offensive coordinator as their 16th head coach later today.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

You're not the only one wishing you could stretch out winter break just a tiny bit more. There's still plenty of news, sports and weather to contemplate in our jammies.

The company confirms that older models get slow with age -- a deliberate effort to keep older phones running longer as the battery wears down. A statement from Apple says lithium-ion batteries have a low charge as they age, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components. The company last year released a feature for iPhone 6, 6s and SE to help avoid such blackouts.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast ...

Kerry Wood joined Lin & Mary this morning and talked about the upcoming Woody's Winter Warm Up! The event is in its 7th year and benefits the Wood Family Foundation supporting the growth and development of youth in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood with their afterschool and summertime mentoring program. Wood also spills the beans on who the celebrity bartenders will be at this year's event. 

Facebook can alert you when a photo is uploaded -- even if you're not tagged -- thanks to a new facial recognition tool. It's intended to prevent impersonation, and is activated by users in the privacy settings. Facebook will not be using the facial recognition tool in Europe or Canada because of regulatory protections around personal data and privacy.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The $1.5 trillion package lowers taxes on corporations and many individuals, while repealing the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act, doubling the standard deduction, and limiting deductions on mortgages and state & local taxes. Opponents plan to demonstrate in Palatine later today.

Another protest is planned this evening in Chicago's Federal Plaza. Immigration rights activists are pressing Congress to approve a new Dream Act for young undocumented persons.

On Keith Richards’ 74^th birthday, I share this wondrous story. This is an epic tale. The night of Chuck Berry’s 60^th Birthday Concert at the old Fox Theater in St. Louis. The night when I finally met Keith Richards in the flesh.

Chicago police are investigating whether it was a case of mistaken identity. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast ... and it's Keith Richards' birthday.

The deadline to sign up for health insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act markets is late tonight. The pace of enrollment has been higher than last year ... even though the GOP tax bill would repeal the individual mandate to buy insurance, and the Trump administration cut the enrollment period.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Commissioners are expected to un-do the rules that would prevent big internet providers from making service pay-as-you-go -- meaning they could throttle internet speeds for smaller firms that can't pay them as much as bigger companies.

Also, Mayor Emanuel tells XRT he would vote "no" on the Cook County primary referendum on whether to legalize the recreational use of pot. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The pace of Arctic sea ice decline and ocean warming is faster than it's been in 15-hundred years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports the polar region is thawing faster than ever before, with no end in sight.
Two studies presented today to the American Geophysical Union suggest global warming tripled the risk that Hurricane Harvey would flood Houston and create record rainfall.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Some celebrate the military victory, while some of us just like the thought of casting a little more light into the world. Spark it up, my dudes.

Plus the day's news, sports and chilly weather forecast.

UPDATE: NYPD calls it a terrorist incident. Several people are injured, including a suspected would-be suicide bomber in the Port Authority transit hub near Times Square. He is in custody. Transit service is resuming.

Eater NYC reports star chef Mario Batali is stepping away from his restaurant empire after being disciplined for inappropriate behavior on the job. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Mayor Emanuel is defending his schools CEO; the CPS Inspector General reports Forrest Claypool lied repeatedly during an ethics investigation into the financial relationships between a big law firm and the district's top attorney. Three members of Congress have resigned this week and a fourth is under an ethics investigation for a wide range of sexual harassment allegations.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports & wintry weather forecast.

Both teams are on losing streaks - maybe it's an overreaction to the return of winter weather? Plus the day's news and chilly weather forecast ...

The women and some men ... some famous, some not ... who came out this year to expose the sexual harassment and assaults of some of the most powerful men in entertainment, politics and business ... as well as the journalists who told their stories are Time Magazine's Persons of the Year. Time made the announcement on NBC's Today Show - which just fired longtime host Matt Lauer over allegations of harassing and assaulting his colleagues.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and chilly forecast.

Hang on to your hat - the Chicago area's under a wind advisory until 6 p.m.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports, and forecast ...

Sure, your kid is going to let you add friends and delete messages. Sure, Facebook won't be collecting their data. It's going to be great.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and windy weather forecast ...

Elon Musk flipped the switch in Australia and has expressed interest in building Chicago's proposed high-speed rail line between O'Hare International Airport and the Loop. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports, weather ... and Lin & Mary discuss today's release of ONXRT Live From The Archives, Volume 19!

Disgraced "Today" Show host Matt Lauer is apologizing over sexual misconduct allegations that led to his sudden firing yesterday ... though he claims some of them are untrue or mischaracterized. Several women have come forward with allegations that Lauer sexually harassed, sexted, exposed himself and assaulted one until she fainted in his locked office while at NBC. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather.

Network chief Andy Lack's memo says it follows a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. Lack says while it's the first complaint filed against Lauer, they have reason to believe it's not the only incident. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Jay-Z, Arcade Fire, Lorde and Jason Isbell are among the artists up for Grammy Awards in January. Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Chicago) will reportedly announce today that he's not going to run for a 13th term ... setting off a round robin of politicians looking to fill his and each other's offices. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast ...

American retailers expect a lot of us to go shopping online today as we return to work from the the Thanksgiving weekend ... plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The City plans to sue US Steel over a pair of chemical spills in Lake Michigan. The Tribune reported that last month the US Steel plant in Portage kept its latest chromium spill a secret from federal regulators. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

A new survey suggests at least a third of us will walk into the kitchen and get very interested in mashing the potatoes rather than discuss politics with Uncle Hank. Plus the rest of the day's news (trigger warning: politics), sports and weather forecast.

Maybe we can live on Ross 128-B when it all goes down on Earth. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The CTA hasn't raised its base fare since 2009. Regional Transit Authority bosses say it's the only way to fill the CTA's budget deficit.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The American Heart Association and doctors' groups are lowering the threshold for hypertension, to encourage us to adopt healthier habits earlier. Plus the rest of the day's blood pressure-raising news, sports and weather forecast.

All the day's news, sports and weather forecast ... plus Brehmer is back and that means we're back at the normal operating level.

It's snowing along the lake and The Hawk is blowing chill winds into the area. Maybe they'll encourage certain gentlemen to keep it in their pants unless expressly invited. It's the day's news roundup, sports and weather forecast in one cool blast.

Is it fixed? No. Is sexual abuse being called out in Chicago, the Cook County Jail, Illinois government, and Hollywood? Yes.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

It'll be a non-binding referendum on legalizing pot for recreational use by adults in Illinois. Commissioner John Fritchey says it would raise millions and ease court backlogs. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Cardinal Blase Cupich says after Sunday's church shooting in Texas, it's time to get military-grade weapons out of the hands of civilians. Cupich is a that it's a money issue rather than a Second Amendment issue. The Cardinal has already banned guns from all Chicago archdiocese buildings.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

The 26 victims ranged in age from 5 to 72; the sheriff says the shooter is believed to have killed himself several miles away and his ex-in-laws occasionally attended the church. Police believe the man was using an A-R-15 semiautomatic rifle. Air Force officials report the shooter had been court martialed and given a bad conduct discharge for assaulting his wife and child.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast.

Scientists write in the federally-mandated National Climate Assessment that it's 'extremely likely' that human activity is the 'dominant cause' of average temperatures rising over the last 115 years. They conclude Americans are already experiencing the effects of climate change -- from the increase in heavy rainfall, coastal flooding, heat waves and Western fires.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and forecast ...

Cubs fans Lin & Mary congratulate Houston on its first championship and note the one year anniversary of the Cubs' historic victory.

Plus all the morning's news, sports and weather ... and a shout-out to the XRT Loyal Listener of the Day.

Security's been heightened in Chicago and in New York City ... after one man killed eight people and injured eleven by driving a truck onto a popular bike path in lower Manhattan yesterday. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports & weather capped by a discussion of Halloween candy leftovers. It's just that kind of show, folks. Thanks for listening!

A foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign is awaiting sentence in his North Side home after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI on his contacts with Russian nationals linked to the Kremlin during the election. Plus the rest of the day's spooky news, sports and weather forecast.

Trump's ex-campaign chair Paul Manafort and an associate are charged with a dozen felonies, including conspiracy against the US, conspiracy to launder money and making false statements. They're to appear in court at 12:30 Chicago time. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather ...

The US Coast Guard and EPA are investigating an oil spill in the South Branch, plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather ... including reports of a kitty on the field of Thursday Night Football. Meow-y Friday from Lin & Mary!

The experts say don't expect any big bombshells. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather ...

The sexual harassment allegations spread to the halls of Illinois power ... plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather.

Lin and Mary discuss the Red Hot Chili Peppers' love for the LA Dodgers, hazy memories of going to the Bucket 'o' Suds with Squeeze, and the day's news, sports and rainy weather.

Chicago police report more than a dozen ATMs downtown and on the North Side were equipped with skimmers so personal information could be stolen. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and rainy rainy weather.

Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper & Lin Brehmer tie a bow on another winning Cubs season with thoughts about last night's NLCS loss, World Series hangovers, the pinch-hitting skills of Mary Dixon, and, of course ... the healing powers of rock and roll.

Lin & Mary contemplate the Cubs' newly-found free time, after they lose the NLCS to the Dodgers in 5 games ... plus the day's news, sports and weather.

Lin played "Born To Run" and that got Mary thinking ... the Boss may just be the next guy to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

We'll hear more today about plans to set up a public-private research and innovation center in an unused patch of land east of the Chicago River and south of Roosevelt Rd. Plus the rest of the day's news, sports (CUBS WIN) and weather ...

The day's news, sports and weather - plus early word on the death of The Tragically Hip's Gordon Downie. His family and the band confirm he died last night at the age of 53. Downie and The Hip played a joyful and triumphant final tour last year, after revealing he'd been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. "Courage," indeed.

... it's good for you, and it might help you deal with the rest of this morning's news. Plus sports (same) and weather.

OK, so Len Kasper was on a plane to the NLCS in LA early this morning. Mary Dixon fills in with the baseball goodness.

The day's news includes the Cook County pop tax repeal, President Trump's plan to relax health care standards for small businesses, and a Cubs loss -- plus asteroid 2012 TC-4 will be flying by tonight.

Columbia College professor and photographer Dawoud Bey and the co-founder of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Rami Nashashibi win $625,000 over five years, no strings attached. Other honorees include writers, scientists, human rights activists and the musician Rhiannon Giddens.

Plus the day's news, sports and weather.

Cook County commissioners move this week to repeal the unpopular penny-per-ounce pop tax ... and THE CUBS WON GAME 3 OF THE NLDS.

Plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather forecast. Enjoy!

Prof. Richard Thaler says his work recognizes that economic agents are human, and that money decisions are not strictly rational. The Swedish Academy cites Thaler for his pioneering work in behavioral economics.

Plus the day's news, sports & weather ...

He did not keep his reservation during Lollapalooza, according to TMZ. The Tribune reports Chicago police are investigating.

The Las Vegas shootings have repercussions in Chicago and at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, plus the rest of the day's news, sports and weather.

Petty had been found unconscious at his Malibu home, where EMTs were able to find a pulse before rushing him to the UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, where he was put on life support.

LVMPD reports more than 50 people are dead and more than 400 have been taken to hospitals, after one man opened fire from a hotel room window on their open-air concert venue near the Vegas Strip.

CBS News has live updates here:

Lindsey Buckingham has led anything but a normal life. He tells Lin Brehmer what his daily life was like when Fleetwood Mac was at their biggest and the pressure he felt joining an already iconic band in this Live From Studio X interview from 2006.

Every winter, a few lucky music fans enter the Fourth Presbyterian Churchand bear witness to the beauty of Andrew Bird's Gezelligheid performances. The intimate concerts will return once again this year from December 11-14. 

Back in 2003, David Bowie released his 23rd studio album 'Reality'. The Thin White Duke discussed just that as he speaks with Lin Brehmer. Plus, Bowie gives insight into his old personas saying, "how can you be serious of it? How can you be serious of a guy who's half a dog with a red wig on his head?"

Robert Plant spoke with Lin Brehmer right before the release of his 2014 record 'Lullaby And The Ceaseless Roar' and discussed where his influences come from. For Plant, YouTube has been a great source of inspiration as its allowed him to easily connect with musicians from across the world. 

Dr. Diane M. Schecklong, Au. D., CCC-A is a clinical supervisor in Audiology at NIU. We spoke with her about protecting one’s hearing at Lollapalooza, the aftershows, and any other live music events in and around Chicago. We touched on preventative methods to combat hearing loss such as distance from loudspeakers, active methods such as earplugs and rest, and the warning signs of hearing damage.  She also gave a cautionary tale about a 14 year old she treated following a concert. 

The Cubs are ten games over .500 since the All Star break, picking up eight games in the standings, and now find themselves atop the NL Central after taking 2 of 3 from the Brewers in Milwaukee. The northsiders move up in class as they come back to Wrigley to face the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals. They'll do so with an improved bullpen courtesy of trading with Detroit for reliever Justin Wilson as well as backup catcher Alex Avila, who's no stranger to Chicago from his time on the Southside last season. It's trade deadline baseball, which means that the team as constituted now is likely to be the team that manager Joe Maddon rides the rest of the way.

On September 13th, Pete Townshend’s Classic Quadrophenia will make a stop at the Rosemont Theatre and feature Townshend, Billy Idol, Eddie Vedder, and Alfie Boe as “Jimmy”. Additionally, the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and Chicago Children’s

Proceeds from the concert will benefit Teen Cancer America.

Lin went on vacation to get the Cubs back on track, and boy did they! They've begun the second half of the season with the best record in baseball, and virtually every facet of their game has been on point. After dispatching the Cardinals, two games to one, they now face the White Sox for a home and home four-game set and then head 90 miles north to face the now second-place Brewers.

That's the way ya do it, Cubs. They swept the Orioles in Baltimore to begin the second half behind the strong seven innings of shutout ball of new acquisition Jose Quintana yesterday. Now they're off to Atlanta to face the surprising upstart Braves in their brand new ballpark. The Cubs will try to keep the momentum going and narrow the gap between them and the Brewers as we approach the dog days of the season.

Trade deadline activity exploded in our fair city when the White Sox sent ace Jose Quintana to the Cubs for four minor leaguers, including their top prospect (#8 overall), and their top pitching prospect. Besides being a top-10 pitcher, Quintana is under a very team-friendly contract that is controllable through 2020. In a nice turn of circumstance, that's about the year the Sox are projected to bring their now formidable farm system up to the majors to begin their run of contention. That's also the year a lot of the studs on the Cubs big team today will be up for new contracts, which perfectly demonstrates where each team is today and what each front office has achieved. The Cubs (who, we might remind some people, won the World Series last year) are built to win for the next few years. The White Sox are building for the future. Acquiring Quintana will be a boon for a rotation that's been struggling, and really, is there such a thing as too much pitching?

Lin has proven prescient with his choice of this season's Len & Lin theme song from Twin Peaks, "Keep It Together". The Cubs are two games under .500, the worst record at the All Star break by a World Series championship team that won 100+ games the year before. It's a tough thing to figure out, given how stacked with talent this team is. It could be fatigue from the long playoff runs the last two years, but Len notes that this was the best defensive club last year and it's struggling mightily this year. With the long layoff from baseball here at the break and the how the Cubs got shellacked by the Pirates going into it, Lin's going to take some time this week in a darkened room listening to sad records. After all, it only matches the sad record the Cubs have earned thus far this season.

If yesterday's hot weather tilt at Wrigley were an actual little league game as the score might suggest, one would have to reconsider taking the team out for ice cream following the drubbing the Cubs received at the hands of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. A 7-run third inning basically put the game out of reach for the Cubs, who saw Kyle Schwarber return from a stint in triple-A ball to find his swing. He wound up 0-4 at the dish with two strikeouts.

The All-Star break can't seem to come soon enough, as the Cubs seem to be experiencing a championship hangover. They're the first World Series champions in MLB history to see zero of their previous year's All-Stars return to the mid-summer classic, with closer Wade Davis being the token Cub making the trip to Miami. Kris Bryant also becomes the first reigning MVP to not make the All-Star roster, which could be a good thing. It'll allow him time to rest up and fully recover from the ankle he sprained last week.

A big mid-season test for the Cubs came via the 4-game Washington series over this past week. Well, a couple of big tests, as it turns out. The most obvious was being pitted against a dangerous Nationals team that was playing really good baseball, and doing it while a good portion of the team's core was either on the DL or working through things in the minors. And then some apparent intra-squad friction reared its head when now-former Cub catcher Miguel Montero lamented Jake Arrieta's deliberate delivery to the plate as the Nats tied a club record for stolen bases. The two insisted the row was no big deal and that they hashed things out privately, but going 0-31 in catching base runners stealing this year for a backup catcher, albeit with last year's postseason heroics, became too much for the Cubs front office to bear. And with that, none of last season's three catchers on the Opening Day roster for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs are with the team. That shouldn't remain so for long, with Kyle Schwarber looking better already down in triple-A ball. Following the return of Addison Russell, the Cubs can look forward to getting Schwarber back along with the injured Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist sometime soon. But, it wouldn't be the Cubs without Kris Bryant accidentally stepping on third base fielding a routine pop up and spraining his ankle in doing so. He's day to day, like we all are. After all, that's Cub.

Addison Russell's woes have been revealed to be caused by shoulder discomfort. Ultimately, that's a good thing, as it provides an explanation for why he's had a tough time at second. Injuries and underperformance have taken a toll on the Cubs, with Jason Heyward, Kyle Hendricks and Ben Zobrist taking recent trips to the DL and Kyle Schwarber working on his swing in triple-A. Things won't get any easier as they open up a four-game set in Washington, DC against a Nationals team that is firing on all cylinders.

Well, the Cubs have continued their streaky ways in Miami, where they were held to two hits the other night, and then exploded for eleven runs the next. Part of that inconsistency has been World Series hero Kyle Schwarber, who spent the entire 2016 season on the DL after blowing out his knee in the outfield in game three, surprrised everyone when he came off the DL in time for the World Series and proceeded to bat north of .400 after seeing basically no major league pitching that year. This season saw manager Joe Maddon start Schwarber in the leadoff position, and then drop him down to six in the lineup, with much the same result. The line of thinking is that having Kyle down in triple-A ball will allow him to get away from the sellout crowds of Wrigley and focus on simply putting his bat in order. By all accounts, he took the news of his temporary demotion very well. It just remains to be seen not if, but when he gets things right and is able to rejoin the big club.

Well, this whole Anthony Rizzo as leadoff hitter sure has borne fruit. Leadoff homeruns in his first two games, followed by a walk. He's been having himself the best stretch of his career, which really says something given how prolific he's been at the plate. Anthony's from Miami, so Len really hopes he's voted as the starting National League first baseman in the All Star game at Marlin's Park, a tall order given the field. The starting pitching has also held up of late, which makes everything surrounding it better. The Cubs are home for three games against the Padres and then it's off to the road until the Fourth of July.

The Cubs have tinkered with the lineup by batting Anthony Rizzo at the top of the order; they've moved some of their versatile players around, and just when you think they've got a handle on those problems, the bullpen blows a lead and the game. Meanwhile, the Cubs took a bunch of pitchers in the draft, and with the trade deadline on the horizon, Theo and company might make a move for more arms. They'll need to think about that with what appears to be Arrieta's impending free agency and John Lackey not getting any younger.

Lin welcomed in Chef Rick Bayless to congratulate him on another slew of awards and announce the 2017 WXRT & Supreme Lobster's Rockin' Lobster Bash, taking place August 30th at Uptown's Aragon Ballroom.  A bigger venue.  A bigger event.  The biggest chefs serving the best lobster and cocktails you'll have all year for the price.

The Cubs hit the road for 17 of their next 20 games, beginning with a swing out to New York to face the Mets and then the division rival Pirates. Both teams are under .500, but then again, the Cubs have hovered right around that mark themselves. They've been especially streaky of late, and managed to avoid a sweep at the hands of the NL-leading Colorado Rockies by salvaging the series finale. A lot of Cubs have been slumping of late, but seem like they could be turning it around. The season's still relatively young, and as Len Kasper reminds us: there are no must-wins at this point in the season.

The peaks and valleys of the baseball season are giving Cubs fans whiplash. They just got off an 0-6 roadtrip, which followed a 7-2 homestand, and then began this homestand by winning five in a row, and now have lost two straight to the Marlins and now the dangerous and underrated Colorado Rockies. On top of all that, star shortstop Addison Russell has been accused of domestic violence and has been out of the lineup as Major League Baseball investigates. Last season was surely a special spectacle, but for all the ups experienced last year, the Cubs have already gone through their fair share of travails. How the team weathers the storm is what will determine how well the fans are able to keep it together on this bumpy rollercoaster ride.

Well, the Cubs clearly needed some home cooking. After a 6-game skid, the Cubs managed to sweep division rival St. Louis. The bats came alive at Wrigley, with Kyle Schwarber hitting a dramatic go-ahead grand slam on Saturday. Len, Lin & JD all agreed that Wrigley was as loud as it's ever been for a regular season game following that Schwar-bomb. It's almost as important for fans to remember as it is for the players, that it's a very long season, full of peaks and valleys. Don't ride that rollercoaster.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Every weekday at 10am, my "second" day begins. Once I'm done herding cats for Lin and Mary on the XRT Morning Show, I help Terri out with the little she needs while prepping the next day's morning show. Getting to chat with her is a nice treat, but the off-the-air show that happens between Lin, Mary and Terri is gold. SO much knowledge between those three of so much, including music, that I just can't help but soak it all up like a little sponge.

Monday the 22nd of May presented a new wrinkle to my day, for I'd be accompanying Terri through the VIP entrance at Wrigley Field, joining a few of our XRT colleagues on the field before the game, and then surprising her with the news that she'd be throwing out the first pitch ahead of the ballgame between the Cubs and the San Francisco Giants. WSCR program director and all-around man who knows how to make things happen, Mitch Rosen let me know Friday afternoon that Terri would be doing the honors on Monday and wondered if we should tell her before the weekend. I thought that the surprise on Monday would probably make more of an impact, so we agreed to hold off on telling her the news. Terri, as you probably know, is a Cubs fan of the highest magnitude. So, elevating the excitement of being on the field at Wrigley during Giants batting practice would be hard to top in and of itself. When Mitch finally let her in on the secret we'd been holding for 72 hours, she was in stunned disbelief. Mitch assured her there were no shenanigans, and the reality finally sank in for Terri.

Just before I started shooting the video below, that singular voice of Cubs anthem singer Wayne Messmer drifted into my ear as he greeted Terri. She wheeled around in yet more astonishment at the day's events. "Terri, how've you been? It's been too long!" exclaimed Messmer. Terri agreed that it had indeed been too long and remarked at how great he sounded. It was like being at a reception on the oldest ballfield in the National League.

The Cubs have had a pretty nice wind-aided homestand thusfar. Saturday saw the rare dry rain-out against the Brewers, and Sunday saw a tweak to the lineup with Ben Zobrist leading off (with a homerun, of course) and Schwarber batting second. Kris Bryant tacked on two homers to his already gaudy offensive numbers. Ian Happ has been electric and will stay with the big club as Jason Heyward returns from the DL. We'll keep an eye on which direction the flags are pointing as the Cubs welcome in the San Francisco Giants for an NLDS rematch.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

His voice filled stadia the world over, but on more than one ocassion, Chris Cornell would humbly perform for us at the WXRT studios in rooms smaller than your living room. 

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

The Cubs are banged up, and their record reflects that. Luckily, the teams in the NL Central have been beating up on each other, so at this early juncture in the season, it's still anybody's division. More on that as the week progresses. Most importantly this week, there are some VIP packages available to this year's Hot Stove Cool Music concert benefiting The Foundation To Be Named Later... TWIN PEAKS! You may remember them from such XRT events as last year's Holiday Concert For The Kids at Thalia Hall, the 2016 Opening Day Live Broadcast, and this season's Len & Lin theme song! t

Everything you need to know to start your day.

The Cardinals have gotten as hot as the Cubs have gone cold. As you might imagine, this has caused some consternation among Cubs fans. Eddie Butler makes his Cubs debut Friday night, which usually doesn't bode well for opposing hitters. His appearance comes courtesy of Brian Anderson's placement on the disabled list. He can pitch his butt off, but if the defense doesn't tighten up, it won't matter. Addison Russell and Jason Heyward also join Anderson on the DL, so that helps to explain the sloppy defense of late.

Lin shares some advice he's heard from mothers over the year, among other things, for this special Mother's Day edition of Lin's Bin. Hear Lin's Bin at 7:15am & 6:15pm Mondays & Fridays.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Lin's teetering on the edge, even moreso than usual. It's been a somewhat trying start to the season, but yesterday's 18-inning affair yielded a whole bunch of new concerns for our twitchy morning man. Kyle Schwarber banged his knee into the brick wall as he went into the crowd to catch a foul ball. Javier Baez shanked a pitch off his leg and was seen hobbling around the field the rest of the game. Yankee closer Aroldis Chapman beaned Anthony Rizzo right in the wrist with a 99 mph fastball to bring in the tying run in the ninth inning. Addison Russell has apparently lost something on his throws from shortstop. And now they've run through the entire bullpen en route to a come from behind loss as they travel to the mile high city of Denver, where balls simply fly off bats. The potential for outright disaster is at hand, but Len is confident that even though things could look bleak, Arrieta's on the mound and anything can happen.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Earlier in the week, Len shared some stories about the Boston edition of the Hot Stove Cool Music concert benefiting Theo Epstein's Foundation To Be Named Later. The World Series trophy took a turn crowd surfing around the room. Theo literally went head over heels whilst jamming on guitar alongside Eddie Vedder and Len Kasper. In years past, Cheap Trick, the aforementioned Eddie Vedder, Liz Phair, Tom Morello and Smashing Pumpkins have participated. Who'll show up on June 2nd at Metro? Oh don't worry, this event always sells out, and quickly. Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 6th at noon, so get on it! For more information and tickets, visit: http://wxrt.cbslocal.com/2017/05/05/hot-stove-cool-music-tickets-lineup/

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Wrigley East, or as it's commonly known as, Fenway Park, was the scene for Kris Bryant's moon shot over the Green Monster in his very first Fenway at-bat. Unfortunately, the Cubs couldn't capitalize, taking only one of three from the Red Sox. Hot Stove Cool Music however, DID capitalize, with Len Kasper joining Eddie Vedder and Theo Epstein in renditions of Neil Young and The Who while raising over $750k for children's charities. Keep an eye in this section of 93xrt.com and an ear on WXRT for details on the Chicago edition of Hot Stove Cool Music coming soon!

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Elmhurst College President Troy VanAken stopped by the XRT Morning Show to share the news that Terri will receive an honorary degree from the college!

The Cubs helped to relieve some of the angst of their loyal fanbase by snapping a four-game skid with come-from-behind victories in their last two contests at home against the Brewers. As the Cubs head out on the road to face the Reds this weekend, they've still only lost one series all year: the sweep at Wrigley to the Pirates, whom they'll face off against at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. And the Pirates will have to attempt another sweep without star outfielder Starling Marte, who's serving an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing-drug policy.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to spark up your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

After taking two of three from their first three opponents, the Pittsburgh Pirates came into Wrigley and swept the defending World Series champs. The Cubs had their moments, though: they had plenty of baserunners and the bullpen made only a couple mistakes. A lack of timely hitting and solid relief pitching led to Pirate comebacks and find a bit of an early logjam in the NL Central with both the Bucs & Cubs mired at .500 while Cincinnati and the incoming Brewers atop the division.

The Cubs World Series celebration continued this week with the championship ring presentation Wednesday following the banner raising on Monday. The rings, 108 years in the making, spared no detail in celebrating the relief of the longest drought in professional sport. 108 diamonds encrust the mammoth piece of jewelry, with representations of the Wrigley Field marquee, player name and number, the 'W' flag, the final postseason series totals, and notably, a goat's head. The Cubs have now taken two of three from each of their first three opponents and look to do more against the Pittsburgh Pirates as they put the 2016 World Series championship celebrations in the rearview mirror.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

John Geils passed away yesterday at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy of influential rock and rhythm. Lin recollects first seeing him at a concert that the internet doesn't even remember.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

As another Cubs Opening Day is upon us, we are reminded everywhere we look around the ballpark that things are... well, different. There's a new plaza, The Park at Wrigley, that Lin helped christen before the game. The surrounding area is still very much a construction zone, but the ballpark is becoming nearer to the vision the Ricketts' ownership put forth upon purchasing the club. There's a new western entrance and exit. New offices are housed above what used to be the parking lot immediately adjacent to Wrigley on Clark. Gone are the concrete slabs around the exterior of the friendly confines, which now sports a new stucco look. The ceramic roof shingle ornamentation now stretches well beyond the facade at Clark and Addison. Gone are the baseline bullpens that allowed fans to interact with relieving pitching corps of both teams. They've been hidden away under the bleachers, viewable to the seats only via closed-circuit television. However, the bullpens feature a screen that allows relief pitchers to see out to the field of play, but not for outfielders to see in. Similarly, the outfield concourses now have one-way glass that allows fans to see into the bullpens, but not for relievers to be distracted by fans. But most notably, there are four new flagpoles situated on either side of the old centerfield scoreboard. And now, four new pennants flying at Wrigley Field: the 1907 & 1908 World Series banners, the 2016 National League Pennant, and of course, the 2016 World Series Championship banner.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

After the season opener in St. Louis saw Javy Baez lose a ball to a backstop with a white ad, we saw Stephen Piscotty get beaned for the cycle and a baseball magically stick to Yadier Molina's chest protector. Baseball's a strange game, and this certainly was a strange beginning to year one of the Chicago Cubs World Championship saga, but the Cubs'll take it, winning two of three down south. Now it's north to play the Brew Crew ahead of the home opening NLCS rematch against the Dodger and XRT's Opening Day live broadcast from YakZies where Len will join us in the flesh!

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Everything you need to know to start your day.

Opening Day 2017 arrived and the Chicago Cubs began their defense of the club's first World Series title in 108 years. St. Louis was the venue with former Cub Dexter Fowler batting leadoff as Jon Lester took the mound for another Opening Day start. It was a pitcher's duel with an odd play in which a white sign on the backstop obscured a groundball from Javier Baez's view and Yadier Molina became the first player in Major League Baseball history to be walked without having a single pitch thrown to him, per the new MLB intentional walk rules. The game nearly became a resumption of the magic of 2016 when Willson Contrearas popped a three-run homerun to tie the game in the 9th inning, but the Cardinals came storming back in a rainy finish to the game with a walkoff single.

Another baseball opening day is upon us. Lin shares some thoughts about the great American tradition.