Eddie Arruza and guests discuss the bombshell twists in the sentencing of Dennis Hastert.

In a courtroom shocker, Scott Cross, the younger brother of former Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross, testified that Coach Hastert groped him on a massage table when he was 17 years old. The former speaker of the House agreed to a plea deal for illegal bank withdrawals and lying to authorities. However, U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin berated a motionless Hastert for molesting students when he was a teacher and wrestling coach, repeatedly calling him a “serial child molester.”

“If there’s a public shaming of the defendant because of the conduct he’s engaged in, so be it,” Judge Durkin said before sentencing Hastert to 15 months in prison, a $250,000 fine, mandatory sex-offender treatment and ordering him to never to contact his victims again.

In other news, could a long-awaited budget solution possibly come before the end of the spring legislative session? Tribune Publishing weighs a possible buyout offer by Gannett. And the Blackhawks front office has some tough personnel decisions to make after the season comes to an early – and heartbreaking – end.

Guests

Larry Yellen, FOX32 | @LarryYellen

David Greising, Reuters

Laura Washington, ABC 7 News / Chicago Sun-Times | @MediaDervish

Nancy Armour, USA Today | @nrarmour

The conversation continues in this week's web-exclusive video, as Arruza and guests take up the topic of the widespread misreporting that took place on Wednesday at Dennis Hastert's sentencing. Why did so many media outlets get it wrong? Our panel weighs in.