Episodes

MAGA has a curious inconsistency when it comes to gun-toting vigilantes. Ben riffs. Kina Collins talks about MAGA messaging. They stay on message even if what they say today contradicts what they said yesterday. Which gets into their contradictory attitudes toward Luigi Mangione and Kyle Rittenhouse. Which gets into the Democratic retreat on health care. And how Bernie would have defeated Trump. Finally, the Alderman Andre question. If we’re nice to Trump, will he be nice to us? Kina is a political activist from the west side. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderman Vasquez and the Sun-Times suggest that Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker are being too belligerent in their anti-Trump rhetoric. And that the way to keep Trump and Homan from locking up Chicagoans or cutting off aid to Chicago is to be super nice. Like Blago. Or Mayor Adams in NYC. Ben riffs. Monroe joins in the riffing. With the north side going more conservative--or at least anti-Johnson--former progressive aldermen will be moving right. To protect their incumbency. Also, the strange story of Luigi Mangione, who's accused of killing an insurance executive in NYC. He comes from a family of Trumpers. What to make of that?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump’s Border Czar comes to the northwest side, but he’s not talking about Chicago’s border with Skokie. Ben riffs. Dave Glowacz returns to discuss the absurdity of the ongoing budget spectacle. Which is more of a pageantry staged by aldermen and mayor to fool Chicagoans into thinking their city is honest about its financial books. Specifically, Dave analyzes police allotment. The city will be conducting a study to discover what they could already tell us. The joke’s on you, Chicago. Dave is a journalist who oversees the news website Inside Chicago Government.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In an effort to prove that Albert Einstein was correct when he said stupidity was infinite, Americans elect Trump. That’s how much they hate, fear or envy powerful Black women. Now they awake to realize they’ve turned the country over to lunatics. Jack White discusses. Shoutout to Kareem Abdul Jabbar for your wisdom. Jack is a writer and journalist. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just as we were set to record, word breaks. Bears fire Coach Eberflus. After he awakes from passing out, Ben riffs. Then Rummana Hussain explains why she couldn’t care less. Then the discussion turns to politics. Rummana sees a Trump flag in Lincolnwood. Are Trump voters stupid? Rummana is an editorial writer/columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Faris talks pardons. Including Hunter Biden and January 6 insurgents. And he offers advice to Democrats--stop the self-flagellation. It's embarrassing. And counter productive. A few words about Trump's nominees. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Slate and Newsweek. His views are his own.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Johnson and his Board of Ed think it’s a good idea to fire Pedro Martinez. Ben riffs. Marc Sims talks race and politics in Chicago. Also explains why mainstreamers have turned him against the mayor. “They control his narrative.” So true. Marc sorta defends north side liberals. Key word being sorta. Marc is host of the podcast, Just A Few Questions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The mainstreams rejoice over Mayor Rahm’s return from exile. Ben riffs. Monroe explains why mainstream journalists love Rahm so much. Sorry, Mayors Johnson and Lightfoot—you will never get that kind of love. Monroe defends President Biden’s Hunter pardon. Ben’s all over the map on that one. And a few words about the execution of Fred Hampton, which happened 55 years ago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The most popular movie in America is what you might call “politically correct”. Ben riffs. Alvin Tillery examines the Democratic outreach to Black voters. In short, Dems, you should consider a new strategy. Also, is the Democratic ceiling for white vote in prez elections at 45 percent? Will Marjorie Taylor Green be the first woman elected president? And more. Alvin is the co-founder and CEO of the 2040 Strategy Group, a Democratic polling and strategic communications firm. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sergio Vicente explains how the rise of Jake Paul is a metaphor for the age of Trump. An age of women-hating white guys, entitled brats. Don't get him started. Also, a few words about the Black vote. And was the Mike Tyson fight rigged? And could he, Sergio, beat Jake Paul, if he had a year to get back into prime fight shape? And then a little icing on the cake--the great LeBron-MJ debate. Sergio hosts The Fight podcast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In preparation of publication of his latest book on the assassination of Fred Hampton, Flint Taylor talks about the role of the FBI, and the police in the murder and the role of Mayor Richard J. Daley and the media in the coverup. Not the finest of moments for the Tribune, that's for sure. Everything you need to know about that day in infamy and its ongoing relevance. They just lied, lied, lied. Hampton was killed 55 years ago--on December 4, 1969 as he was sleeping in his apartment at 2337 W. Monroe right here in Chicago. A radical lawyer, Flint represented Hampton's family in 13 years of litigation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rami Faraj examines the vote out of Dearborn, Michigan. A city he once lived in. As he explains the difference between a Trump voter and an uncommitted Democrat on the issue of funding Israel’s slaughter in Gaza. Apparently, shut up and vote Democrat doesn’t work. Rami is an activist and teacher in Chicago. Stick around for the breaking news about Eberflus. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Thanksgiving. Time to give thanks…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Having had a great year turning the public against teachers and a lefty mayor, the mainstreams throw a party. Ben riffs. Monroe gives an eye-witness report of the shindig. Then it’s off to Trump. Why does Trump live putting a Black man in housing? And more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who’s more corrupt—Boris Epshteyn or Danny Solis. Ben riffs. Gil Villegas covers the bases. Are the current aldermen Jake Paul’s? Is there such a thing as the Latino vote? Why did Gallegos win and Kamala in Arizona? Is there really a crisis at the border or have we been gaslit by Donny? And is he running for mayor? Gil is alderman of the 36th ward.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dems swore they wouldn’t go back. But back they went—to 2016. David Faris tells you everything you need to know about what went down last Tuesday. While Ben tries to stay sane. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Slate and Newsweek. His views are his own.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meredith Shiner and Ben talk all things Trump II—the early days. We’d be laughing if the consequences weren’t so painful. Meredith is a political columnist for The New Republic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MAGA says they hate censorship but loves banning books. Ben riffs. Podcaster Mark Wallace predicts a day of reckoning for this country is just ahead. He predicts Mitch O’Connell will close out his career by doing something he’s never done before—the right thing. And he riffs on the myth of the “Black-Brown” coalition. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Breaking News—Illinois Supremes overturn Jussie conviction. Ben riffs. Peter Cunningham talks lessons learned from the election. As the show’s resident centrist—every lefty show needs one—he says the Dems lost the message battle. Ben says—any old white guy could have beat Trump. And they’re off. Also, Mayor Johnson budget talk. Are city council “independents” the Jake Pauls of local politics? Peter is a political strategist who once wrote speeches for Mayor Daley.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you want to know why Chicago’s aldermen are talking tough to Mayor Johnson, think Jake Paul challenging a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Ben riffs. Monroe talks local and national politics. Including Rahm, Trump, Gaetz, and the NFL. Will football ban players who do the Trump dance like they banned Colin Kaepernick? I think we all know the answer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Morning Joe goes down to Mar-a-Lago. Ben riffs. Ray Hanania explains why Trump won. Before admitting—you’re right, Ben, the women hating vote put Trump over the top. A few words about self hate as a force in politics. And Ray comes out for Mayor Johnson. So it’s now Ben and Ray and the Triibe as the only media folks in Chicago who don’t hate on the mayor. Also, Ray discovers TIFs. Ray is a columnist, communications strategist and longtime journalist.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rummana Hussain and Ben discuss the curious refusal of Americans, including leftists, to acknowledge that hatred of women, especially Black women, prompted millions of voters to vote for a criminal over Kamala Harris. It is a betrayal of Black women. Even if America refuses to admit that. Ben says a demented Joe Biden, running in all his f-bomb-dropping demented glory would have defeated Trump. Does Rummana go that far? Rummana is an editorial writer/columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Clearly, the abortion rights movement did not lead to a Democratic triumph. Ben riffs. Julie Lynn elaborates. Bottom line—the strategy of using state by state referendums to lead the charge benefitted Trump. Just like Julie said it would. And if voters think these referendums will protect abortion rights they are seriously misguided. Just like Julie told you. And it’s pointless to vote yes on abortion rights and then vote for a candidate who will take that right away. Just like Julie told you. Julie is a political activist and strategist with a specialty in the politics of abortion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Faris searches for the logic of the voters’s decision to elect Trump. And for Trump’s decision to nominate Gaetz, Baby Bobby, Hegseth and so on. Good luck, David. Oh, yes—David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Slate and Newsweek. His views are his own.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.