Episodes

A deranged Trump blames Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner for getting murdered. Ben riffs. Pedro Lira reports from Texas. Will Republicans pick up 5 congressional seats through gerrymandering? Or will their machinations wo...

As we prepare to record, word breaks of senseless slaughter at a Chanukah festival in Australia. Ben riffs. State Representative Kam Buckner joins him. Ensuing topics include Hoosier redistricting, head tax v property tax, tr...

A federal grand jury says sorry, Donnie when it comes to prosecuting Letitia James. Ben riffs. And Maya returns! To talk about her epic profile of Cook County Judge Timothy Evans, one of the most important local politicians i...

Michael Madigan goes Blago—pleading with Trump for mercy. Ben riffs. Monroe considers the case of Mamdani. When should Dems defer to Trump? Should Mayor Johnson be more like Mamdani? And what to make about Trump’s hate of Som...

Trump ends the War on Drugs for those who kiss his ass. Ben riffs. Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle takes us from A to Z on recent US policy toward Honduras. Starting with the coup of 2009 and continuing to Trump’s commutation of Juan O...

MAGA weighs in on bombing boats and killing people in the Caribbean. Ben riffs. Sarah Bingaman—Western Illinois’s voice of the people—returns to describe the challenge of building a Democratic base in rural Illinois. You have...

A NYT headline about Obamacare is absurd even by NYT standards. Ben riffs. David Faris defends the voters, sorta. As he covers Trump’s gas guzzling energy policy and Trump’s get rid of healthcare policy. Also, a few words abo...

Ben & Dr D decide it’s time to tell you what you need to know. Including…what gas station in Springfield squeezes the most money from the suckers who play video gambling. Hint…it’s not Quick ‘n Easy. There’s got to be a bette...

Want Boss Donnie to do whatever you want him to do? It’s easy. Just call him—Your excellency. Ben riffs. Laurie Glenn does not hold back—extended riffs on this age of hate and madness and the need to stand strong. Hear that, ...

The “reformers” tag team with the Bright One to keep TIF money out of our schools. Ben riffs. Mueze Bawany delivers his takes on Mayors Mamdani and Johnson. Why Trump likes one but not the other. Hint…it’s cause one is a “mod...

It’s one battle after another in the fight against fascism. Ben riffs. Paul Nolley talks about running for Congress against MAGA man Darrin LaHood. The issues are jobs, health care and SNAP. Just like in Chicago. It’s time De...

Bubba and Donnie share Epstein’s love. Ben riffs. Joshua Smyser-De Leon talks everything Bad Bunny. Who he is. Why he’s great. His role in Puerto Rican politics. Where he fits on the Mt Rushmore of Puerto Rican musicians. And...

The Trump administration tries to figure out its stance on whether swastikas are bad. Ben riffs. Pat Whalen explains how everything in contemporary politics is like a scene from One Battle After Another. Oh, yes—Happy Thanksg...

A Thanksgiving thanks, Chicago for standing strong. Ben riffs Michael Horton returns to talk about growing up around Cabrini and playing and coaching basketball and confronting and overcoming demons. No pun intended. Skeet’s ...

The country that elected Trump also elected Obama—how is that possible? Ben riffs. Denali Dasgupta adds her thoughts. “We don’t live there anymore.” The there in that sentence being America in the age of Obama. Denali tells y...

What’s the news across the nation? Ben and Dr D offer this…Congress rebukes Chuy, Brad Schneider weighs in, El Dragon breaks the Bubbagate story and Governor Pritzker has a busy week, dropping $25M on his re-election campaign...

If you can overlook the pain and cruelty Trump’s inflicting on the people he hates, life in MAGA America is absurdly, darkly and perversely funny. Sorta. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson—America’s foremost authority on white pe...

The city council makes its big stand defending rich people. Sigh. Ben riffs. Miguel Alvelo-Rivera explains why he’s running for state representative, why we need progressive taxation and why he still has faith in the people. ...

Mark Epstein clarifies—the bubba Trump blew was not Bill Clinton. Got that, America? Ben riffs. Steve Krafft returns with an update from swing-state land, aka, Arizona. Hear the latest on Democrats chances to oust MAGA. Right...

MTG talks big, then capitulates to Trump. Ben riffs. Mick Dumke offers up some Bible lessons and then takes off on Trump’s propaganda blitz. Bovino’s Rambo shtick. Pritzker’s mixed message to resisters. And a few words of lov...

Epstein’s emails confirm what we already suspected about Trump. Ben riffs. Evanston’s Mayor Daniel Biss covers almost every topic. Including…why he’s running for Congress, as opposed to staying on as mayor. What he thinks abo...

One little snowfall and suddenly ICE is leaving Chicago for warmer climes. Ben riffs. Kalman Resnick explains the legal fight he’s waging on behalf of Chicagoans swept off the street by ICE’s masked and armed goon squad. Incl...

Dems cave to Trump—or did they? Ben riffs. Charles Henderson talks about the struggle to convince people to vote Democrat, knowing that push come to shove the Dems will let them down. Also…Trump’s VA cuts. Are boomers worthle...

Trump appeals a judge’s SNAP ruling. Ben riffs. David Faris gives the good and bad news from Tuesday’s elections. The good news—America hate Trump. The bad news—he’s still in charge. Also, envy as a political force. Americans...