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Upstream Ideas

Upstream Ideas
"He who seeks to improve conditions must propagate a new mentality, not merely a new institution." — Ludwig von Mises Our aim at Upstream Ideas is to do just as Mises suggested by turning the dial on how you look at the political and policy issues facing Illinois, Chicago and our nation. We present new ideas that inform salient policy decisions, start new conversations and move beyond partisan politics all while challenging the status quo. Dan Proft along with distinguished guests and contributors lay out in-depth issues in a digestible way to better understand why conditions are what they are and how they could be improved. We produce content in a variety of formats including long-form interviews, multiple segment radio shows and mini-monologues. We arm you with new information and fresh perspectives with the goal of making Illinois and the United States of America a bit more free, a bit more just and a bit more civilized.
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Episodes

WIND: Madigan Financed Character Assassinations

Are Democrats in the suburbs voting for locally licensed Madigan roll call votes? How does Peter Breen fight off outrageous political attacks calling him “pro pedophile” and against funding rape kits? Why aren’t Illinois voters more skeptical? How will he reverse the exodus of people out of Illinois that Democrats deny is even happening? State Rep. and House Republican Floor Leader, Peter Breen joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Nov 01, 2018

WIND: Jobs Vs. Mobs

Are Republicans waiting for the jobs report to lock everything up? Are jobs and the economy still the number one issue? What about immigration? Does the oncoming caravan have Democrats on the defensive? Is Trump acting “presidential” leading up the midterms? How is Gillum, a Democratic-Socialist, even competing in Florida? What about pickups in Midwestern states? Senior editor at Hotair.com, Ed Morrissey joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Nov 01, 2018

WIND: Constitutional Law And Voter Fraud

Is voter fraud mythology to the left? Does the President have the power to revoke birthright citizenship by executive order? Does SCOTUS dicta dictate federal immigration policy and/or the means to change it? Georgetown law professor, Randy Barnett joins Dan and Amy to discuss and also shares his experience as an assistant Cook County State’s Attorney on election patrol when he had voter fraud committed right in front of him.

Nov 01, 2018

WIND: The Case Against Madigan Financed Suburban Democrats

Has the volume of mail financed by Madigan surpassed any other elections in the state's history? Is money going to be the difference maker in suburban races? Do Democrat and Independent voters still want to get rid of Madigan? What’s the number one concern from voters? Are voters connecting the dots that Trump has nothing to do with the policy proposals in Springfield? State Rep. Tom Morrison from Palatine joins Dan and Amy with his closing arguments for your vote.

Nov 01, 2018

WIND: Birthright Citizenship And The Constitution

What is the constitutional case against birthright citizenship according to the 14th Amendment? What was the primary purpose of the 14th Amendment? When was the last time the Supreme Court dealt with this issue? What’s the potential issue with Trump’s executive order despite the President having a wide range of power dealing with national security? Heritage Foundation legal analyst, Amy Swearer joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Nov 01, 2018

WIND: Congressman Randy Hultgren Vs. Liberal Lauren Underwood

Is this the first time Hultgren has faced this kind of challenge in a solidly Republican area? Did his opponent move to Illinois just to become a politician? What is his response to her attacks about healthcare? Are all of her millions in campaign donations coming from Hollywood? Will there be total dysfunction if the Democrats take over the House? Congressman Randy Hultgren from the 14th District joins Dan and Amy to discuss his closing arguments against his opponent.

Nov 01, 2018

WIND: Closing Arguments From Indiana GOP Senate Candidate Mike Braun

Is Trump going to get a deal done with China? What are the most important issues to Indiana voters? How will he use his business experience in the Senate? Does Joe Donnelly’s F rating from pro-life organizations and D from the NRA align with Hoosier voters? Is the migrant caravan bringing both Democrats and Republicans together on the need to secure our border? GOP Senate nominee from Indiana, Mike Braun joins Dan and Amy to discuss the campaign with one week to go until the election.

Nov 01, 2018

WIND: Fringe Candidate: Sean Casten

Why is Sean Casten doubling down on his hero, sex columnist, Dan Savage? Why would Casten buddy up with Madigan? Is Peter Roskam drained or invigorated with a week to go until the election? Is this Congressional race way beyond donkeys and elephants but how we view the world? Congressman from the 6th District, Peter Roskam joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Nov 01, 2018

ATC: Uncovering The Truth With James O'Keefe

How do average citizens hold the country's most powerful institutions, politicians and media outlets accountable? On this edition of Against the Current, Project Veritas Founder James O'Keefe talks to Dan Proft about his work to lift the curtain on the Left's most sacred cows.

Oct 29, 2018

ATC: An Election Preview With John Kass

Voters in the city of Chicago and across the state of Illinois have major decisions to make at the ballot box in coming months. Between Rauner and Pritzker, a wide open Chicago mayoral field and a fight for control of the Illinois General Assembly, which direction might the state go? On this edition of Against the Current, Dan Proft and Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass forecast the upcoming elections in Illinois, both the midterms in November and the mayoral election in February. Is it time f...

Oct 29, 2018

ATC: Police Policy And Politics With Sheriff David Clarke

What inspires a local Sheriff to get involved in national politics? Retired Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke talks to Dan Proft about his 15 years in electoral politics, his experience with Black Lives Matter, restoring peace, rehabilitating ex-offenders, and being a foot soldier for freedom on this episode of Against the Current.

Oct 29, 2018

WIND: Political Ruling Class Families

What binds all these politicos together? How did the Obama administration perfect the practice of “smash and grab?” What are the behind closed doors dealings of some of the potential 2020 presidential candidates? What was Tiny Dancer’s cut after leaving the Obama White House? "Clinton Cash" and "Secret Empires" author, Peter Schweizer joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 29, 2018

WIND: Anti Cop Rhetoric Heating Up In Florida Governor’s Race

Have the 2018 midterms returned to a law and order election? According to Democrat candidate for governor in Florida, Andrew Gillum thinks cops have already failed once they need to use a taser, baton, or their gun. What’s the new active shooter protocol? How much does social media factor into police investigations? Is there any more to be done with threats on social media? New York City Police Detective and President of the CMP Protective and Investigative Group, Thomas Ruskin joins Dan and Amy...

Oct 29, 2018

WIND: The Sequence Of Success

How do you tackle the most important and challenging aspect of K-12 reform: family. There are real rewards and consequences from the decisions children make, but do educators have the courage to tell them the truth? What are the factors that drive long term success for kids? Operator of Charter Schools, Ian Rowe joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 26, 2018

WIND: Manufactured Media Crises

Is the media looking for pretext to destroy Trump? Trump is telling the caravan to turn around and he's sending troops to the border for emphasis. How is this going to end? Why aren’t the migrants taking refuge in Mexico as offered? If Trump doesn’t take care of this will he lose the midterms? TheStream.org ’s John Zmirak joins Dan and Amy to discuss....

Oct 26, 2018

WIND: Media Pointing Fingers

How do anchors on CNN go from calls for civility to suspecting the alleged pipe bomber is definitely a Fox News viewer? Is it ridiculous to suggest that the current political discourse is responsible for an attempted terrorist attack? Have any Democrats been asked if the caravan should be allowed in? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 26, 2018

WIND: Hillary Clinton: The Republican’s Secret Weapon

Will more suburban women ultimately vote GOP than the pollsters think? Does the electorate believe Hillary Clinton is liability to the Democrats? Should you vote with your head or emotions? Is identity politics shaming finally coming to a head? Author and culture critic, Suzanne Venker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 26, 2018

WIND: Bomb Threats Leading To Cheap Political Points

Are talking heads jumping to conclusions to score political points in the ongoing pipe bomb investigation? How much forensic work is going on right now? How do you begin to narrow in on the bomber? Is there still a chance this could be domestic or international terrorism? Famed FBI Criminal Profiler, James Fitzgerald joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 26, 2018

WIND: Feminism Is Hurting Women

How has feminism helped undermine family life? Why is there a hypersexualization of children in schools? Why do feminists deny the differences between men and women? Is the #metoo movement a cry of despair from the anything goes culture feminism has created? Columnist and senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Mona Charen joins Dan and Amy to discuss how feminism lost touch with science.

Oct 26, 2018

WIND: When Will The Tariff War End?

Are Trump's tariffs stunting American growth? What say Caterpillar? Is government the means of transferring wealth or creating it? Why aren’t we trying to make steel in the U.S. as cheap as possible? Why is Trump listening to Peter Navarro? CNN Chief Economist, Steve Moore joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 24, 2018

WIND: Lack Of Diversity Of Thought

Is whiteness blackness and blackness whiteness? Why are “intellectuals” who categorize people according to color heralded as the great minds of our time even though they are harkening back to the days of Jim Crow? What is angry white man syndrome? Is the political discourse in this country so bad because of the single minded D.C. press corps? Brand ambassador at Jerusalem U, Chloe Simone Valdary joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 24, 2018

WIND: Redefining The Creepy Line

Do Google and Facebook have the power to shift votes to candidates they prefer? Will they have an effect on the upcoming midterms? Is it virtually impossible to separate yourself from Google? What is the creepiest thing that Facebook and Google does to their users? Documentarian, Matt Taylor joins Dan and Amy to explain how these media giants are undermining our republic.

Oct 24, 2018

WIND: “People Will Die”

Is environmentalists’ pushback on any EPA rollback- “people will die?” Is there even a sliver of truth to that? Is our 21st-century Nazi threat not getting to 100% renewable energy as hinted by Ocasio-Cortes? How has Germany’s CO2 emissions gone up despite spending $220 billion on green energy? Founder of JunkScience.com and a member of President Trump’s EPA transition team, Steve Milloy joins Dan and Amy to discuss....

Oct 23, 2018

WIND: October Surprise For Democrats

What are the issues impacting overall turnout? Is the gap beginning to close between Republicans who historically vote early and the Democrats? If there is a higher midterm turnout than in recent decades, who will it help? Does Trump’s approval rating impact the elections? Former Campaign Manager for Howard Dean, Joe Trippi joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 23, 2018

WIND: Safety And Security Messaging Heading Into The Midterms

Will “Beautiful” Ted win out against Beto O’Rourke, “a highly overrated guy?” Is Trump blowing smoke on promising more tax cuts? Are women across the country unhappy with Trump’s bluster but happy with his accomplishments from a policy perspective? Senior political correspondent for the Washington Examiner, David Drucker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 23, 2018

WIND: Chance The Rapper’s Mayoral Candidate: Amara Enyia

Should voters consider who should be the mayor rather than who could? How does Amara Enyia differ from the other progressive candidates in the mayoral race? How has celebrity support changed her campaign? Why does she think a public bank run by a bankrupt Chicago government could ever be a good idea? Mayoral candidate, Amara Enyia joins Dan and Amy to discuss her platform and high profile supporters like Chance the Rapper and Kanye West.

Oct 23, 2018

WIND: Capitalism In America

What does 21st-century capitalism look like? How did America become the world’s most powerful economy? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about the future of capitalism in America? Are tariffs always a mistake? Political Editor for The Economist and co-author of the new book “ Capitalism In America: A History ” with Alan Greenspan, Adrian Wooldridge joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 23, 2018

WIND: Republican Push In The Suburbs

Congressional candidate, Jitrenda Diganvker, has dealt with the financial hardships of having to close his business, to the tragic loss of his daughters in a car accident. Through that all, he is still proud to be an American and wants to serve the country that has brought him such great opportunities since he became a citizen in 2003. First time, Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 8th District, Jitendra “JD” Diganvker joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 23, 2018

WIND: Founding Fathers: Friends And Foes

Did John Adams and Thomas Jefferson spend most of their “friendship” hoping the other was dead? Were they together in the fight for independence but divided on everything else? Did they have a unifying hatred for Alexander Hamilton? Brown University Professor, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of “ Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson,” Gordon Wood joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 23, 2018

WIND: No Decision Made On Saudi Arabia’s Punishment

Are sanctions against the Saudis the next move in response to the Khashoggi murder investigation? Why does Lindsey Graham think it’s a good idea to call for regime change? What is Trump going to do about the Honduras caravan headed to the border? Is the GOP having an October comeback? Anchor of Special Report on Fox News, Bret Baier joins Dan and Amy to discuss.

Oct 19, 2018
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