Episodes

Alaska’s very own Sullivangate reminds one listener of the time Libertarians in Illinois considered nominating a man named Jesse White to run for Secretary of State. Ben riffs. Sheerine Alemzadeh talks about rape culture in politics and on campus—Ohio, Cornell, Maine and the White House. Sheerine is co-founder and co-director of Healing in Action and author of a new book, Survivor Genius. Her views are her own.

Anti-Johnson aldermen want to “chip away” at a $36b pension obligation with $75m—only in Chicago. Ben riffs. Mueze Bawany returns! Talking politics—Michigan, Ohio and Chicago’s school board. Also, a few words about the Bears & the Bulls. Hey, lefties, remember this name—Caleb Wilson. Mueze is a football coach, teacher, activist and socialist, though not necessarily in that order.

Trump’s Justice Department sues to overturn Alaska’s senate election, but only if the Democrat wins. Say what? Ben riffs. With less than two week’s before the election, David Faris explains who will win and why. A few words about MAGA’s gutter-racist campaign against El-Sayed and Ramaswamy’s I’m-with-the-rapist commercial in Ohio. And what’s going on in Montana? David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.

Ben & Dr D explore Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Chicago’s own City Hall. They break down the midterms. And find time to praise clam chowder, lobster and Stephen King. Also, a lesson in how Mayor Johnson crafts a budget, knowing the aldermen will never pass it cause they want him to look bad on the eve of his re-election campaign. Games people play…

Vance and Ramaswamy take the side of the indicted child molester in Ohio. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan talks about Trump’s version of “Justice.” Including…his lawsuit against the BBC. His pay to play with pardons. And concealing select parts of the Epstein Files. Give ‘em hell, Katie Phang. Jim is managing partner of Coogan Gallagher.

The greatest mathematicians in America confront their fears that AI is rendering them obsolete. Ben riffs. Mark Wallace returns to talk the midterms, undoing Trump’s damage and why he thinks Stephen A Smith is a moron. Also, a few words about the mayoral election. Mark hosts The People’s Show, a podcast based in Chicago.

Trump says: “Let them take out Los Angeles; let them take out San Diego.” Ben riffs. Monroe explains the essence of mainstream journalism as it’s practiced in America. “News is what’s happening in an editors backyard.” Also, Monroe sticks to his midterm election predictions.

Ben & Dr. D have much to say about so many things. Starting with…the Hegseth firing squad. The senate debates in Michigan, Georgia and Maine. Will the wave be blue? And the latest in the Chicago Mayoral Race. Hello, Phoenix and Atlanta!

Colorado must choose between funding schools or allowing climate-change fires to ravage the state. Ben riffs. Maya returns! That means the Injustice Watch Judicial Election Guide is out. Maya explains the choices voters will face in November’s judicial retention elections in Cook County. And she talks about her experiences covering domestic relations court. Also, what makes a good judge. Maya is an investigative reporter for Injustice Watch. Check out their voters guide!

President Obama endorses Abdul El-Sayed—finally. Ben riffs. Mick returns to talk Michigan politics and Chicago parking meters. Two of his—and Ben’s—favorite subjects. Mick is an editor/reporter for Block Club. And, among other things—Rummana Hussain’s husband.

Ben has an existential crisis—for once he may see eye to eye with a majority of voters. David Faris explains the situation. With just a few weeks before the elections, Dems are winning. And here’s why. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.

The Sox move on, the Cubs go home and Ben riffs about tribalism in Chicago. Ishan Daya and Jimmy Rothschild talk about the Institute for Public Good’s report on donations to mayoral candidates. Sure looks like the Mayors Daley/Rahm band is getting back together. Ishan is policy organizer for the Institute for Public Good. And Jimmy is an organizer for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs. Their views are their own.

Looks like MAGA’s still making it up as they roll along, as they accuse Jack Smith of perjury. Ben riffs. Rummana Hussain catches us up on everything. Including Trump, El-Sayed, Mayor Rahm, and Mamdani. Ben admits Rummana was right. Rummana is a columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own.

Twenty-nine aldermen take a stand against themselves. Say what? Ben riffs. Sarah Tang explains “categorical exclusion”—a policy weaponized by Trump to allow developers to do what they want without oversight. In this case, moving a railroad maintenance facility to Bridgeport, so a billionaire can build a new Sox stadium on the vacated land. Sarah is director for programs for the Coalition for a Better Chinese-American Community.

Bridgeport residents are refreshingly unafraid to say what they think about the proposal to replace Sox Park with a railroad maintenance facility. Ben riffs. Miles takes the deep dive on the high-tech fascists who want to end democracy and replace us with robots. Also, the difference between Trump and Vance. Finally, it wouldn’t be a Ben/Miles conversation without some Bulls talk. Miles is an editor/writer for In These Times. Do yourself a favor and read his latest essay—Tech Authoritarian Dooms...

Forty percent of voters still trust Trump on the economy even though the man’s clearly lost his mind. Ben riffs. Miranda Spivack makes her debut! A decorated investigative journalist, she talks about the secrets the government keeps from you about things they should be telling you. Like…chemicals in the drinking water. It’s government by NDA. It’s all in her latest book—Backroom Deals In Our Backyards. Which you should borrow from the library or buy.

One of the more obscure mayoral candidates comes up with an idea to win—bump Alexi G off the ballot for running for two offices at once. Ben riffs. The great guitar player Mike Allemana returns to talk jazz! He takes the Allemana Challenge. In this case, involving Charles Earland, Miles Davis and Aretha Franklin. Will Ben stump him again? Mike will be playing with Chico Freeman at the Jazz Showcase, Oct 1-4.

Anthropic warns the world that their product may destroy civilization as we know it—while racing to raise the billions needed for their I.P.O. Ben riffs. Daniel Biss takes us from A to Z on AI. Much of which is frightening. Also, what government can do about it, even when the president declares our concerns are a hoax. Daniel is the mayor of Evanston and the Democratic candidate for congress in the 9th district. The election is in November.

Want to know how much white northwest siders hate Mayor Johnson—just read one alderwoman’s campaign flyer. Ben riffs. Denali returns, talking trauma. How she survived a plane hijacking. Living through 9/11. The myth of 9/11 versus the reality. And the trauma of Furious. Why there’s an important distinction between the vigilantism of Furious and Dirty Harry. Denali is a researcher and former aldermanic candidate. The picture on my website is Denali, age 3, around the time of the hijacking.

Ben & Dr D welcome Atlanta & Phoenix to the fold. What’s up, Dominique & Tom Chambers! Then it’s down to business! Including…Trump endorses DB. DB says—Trump who? To which JB says—“Donny Trump, DB. You know, the unpopular president you adore. Don’t act like you don’t know him.” Also, Mayor Johnson announces—finally! And more…

Ben confronts, sorta, a grumpy old, white guy at the Jazz Festival. Oh, Chicago, why must you be the way you are? Meet Debby Pope, candidate for school board in district 2B on the north side. Think Bernie Sanders running for school board. Hear about her journey from Erasmus High School—in Brooklyn—to Chicago, where she was a public school teacher for many years.

In the category of—wow, that’s some really serious passive aggressive behavior, Congressman Bost blows Darren Bailey’s cover. Ben riffs. Alderwoman Nicole Lee tells you everything you need to know about the monstrosity of a proposal that would put a rail yard in Bridgeport and build a new Sox stadium in the west loop. One of the dumbest ideas since the parking meter deal. Speaking of which—Nicole explains the latest on that front. Nicole is the alderwoman of the 11th Ward, where Sox Park is loca...

The Hulu show Furious is Dirty Harry for liberal millennials. Ben riffs. David talks Furious, oligarchs, AI, MAGA’s midterm convention, Trump’s ongoing insanity, and the state of John Fetterman. Also, Trump’s latest promise to give us money. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.

With another Bears season upon us, Ben makes a pledge—if the Bears move to Indiana, he will call them the Hammond Bears. Forever and a day. Tim Shaer talks Bears and brings Ben back to earth—they ‘re aren’t moving to Hammond, people. But first, they get sidetracked on a tangent about Jerry Krause. Yes, two Boomers talking ancient sports history. Stick around for the great White Sox stadium debate. Tom is a former NBC sports anchor and host on The Score.