Episodes
Mick Dumke—Beating the Real Machine
Mick Dumke tells the story of Fred Mitchell, who moved to Chicago from the south in the 1930s. He first joined and then took on the Daley Machine (that’s the real Mayor Daley, Richard J). Mitchell fought against segregation, police brutality, redlining and plantation politics. He died recently at t…
Alderwoman Nicole Lee—Don’t Hate the Players
Governor Pritzker comments on proposed Sox handout. Ben riffs. Alder Nicole Lee talks all things Sox stadium. Including…whether taxpayers can afford to subsidize Sox and Bears. How 78 impacts her ward. What to do with Sox park if Sox leave. Why we shouldn’t hate the players but the game. Say what? …
Graciela Guzman—A Win From the Left
Graciela Guzmán explains how she defeated the incumbent in last Tuesday's Democratic primary. Even though the incumbent had more campaign money. Some helpful advice for other lefty hopefuls. Graciela is now the Democratic nominee from the 20th senate district on the city’s northwest side. See Priv…
Rachel Hinton—"Oh, What-A-Week!"
It was Election Week in Illinois. Though you’d hardly know it as relatively few people voted. Rachel Hinton and Ben break down the results. Including…tough night for Iris Martinez and helping the homeless. Though those two things are unrelated. What do results in the state’s attorneys race say abou…
Monroe Anderson and "20 Percent"
Voter turnout for yesterday’s primary in Chicago was around 20 percent. Pathetic. Ben and Monroe don’t know whether to laugh, cry, cuss out the voters or all of the above. Monroe explains why the mainstream media enjoys bashing Mayor Johnson, and then it’s on to Trump and his anti-Jewish rhetori…
Tom Shaer and "Ballot Day"
It’s Election Day, but everyone wants to talk about Justin Fields being traded. Ben riffs. Tom Shaer exhorts Chicagoans to learn to read between the lines of news stories in general and about the Bears lakefront stadium plans in particular. He believes the Bears still want to build a stadium in Arl…
State Rep Kelly Cassidy—MAGA Trolls
A Cook County Judge bounced Trump from the Illinois ballot. Ben riffs. State Rep Kelly Cassidy talks about MAGA trolls. They wanted to scare her from endorsing Clayton Harris for state’s attorney. It didn’t work. She explains why she proudly endorsed Harris. Also, should Sox and Bears get a handout…
Mueze Bawany—Bears Trade Fields
One day before the bears traded Justin Fields, Mueze Bawany explained why it’s a really dumb idea to trade Justin Fields. And why it’s just one more reason the Bears should not get a handout for their proposed stadium—wherever they build. Mueze is a high school football coach and one of the city’s …
Rummana Hussain—In Defense of Jonathan Glazer
Rummana Hussain and Ben catch up on…President Biden and Muslim and Arab-American voters. Director Jonathan Glazer’s acceptance speech at the Oscars. The wimpy spouse in movies. And more…Rummana is a Sun-Times editorial writer and columnist. Her views are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art1…
Mark Wallace—"Oh, What A Week"
So much breaking news, so little time. Ben and Mark Wallace get right at it. Starting with…Fani Willis ruling in Georgia. Real estate settlement on broker fees. Bring Homs Chicago. The U.S Supreme Court’s gift to Trump. And the Illinois Supreme Court’s gift to Ed Burke. Mark is a Podcaster, activis…
Jim Coogan—Cohen’s Revenge
Jim Coogan dissects the $355 million ruling in New York City against Trump for business fraud. Who’s the victim, what was the crime. What Trump hopes to accomplish by attacking the judge. Then it’s on to the Stormy Daniels hush money case. AKA, Michael Cohen’s revenge. Jim is a trial lawyer in Chic…
"Home Analysis" and Alderman Matt Martin
The Civic Federation weighs in on Bring Chicago Home. Ben riffs. Alderman Matt Martin returns to talk the issues. Everything from Bring Chicago Home to TIFs to Mayor Johnson’s affordable housing proposal to Sox and Bears stadiums to dealing with crime. Matt is alderman of the 47th ward. See Priva…
Miles Kampf-Lassin—Union Busters
The Sox look for TIF money. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin explains the war on unions being waged by Amazon, Trader Joe’s, Musk and other powerful interests. They’re suing to dismantle the NLRB. In essence, repealing the New Deal. Also, the Teamsters play footsie with Trump, Miles is a writer/editor…
"Hyde Park Scoop” and Monroe Anderson
The Hyde Park Herald has a scoop—interviewing William Baude, the conservative U of C law professor who figured out that Trump was ineligible to run for prez cause he’s an insurrectionist. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson offers his theory about why the Illinois Supremes recused themselves on Burke, demon…
Patrick Wohl—Mulligan Beats Pullen
In 1992, a Republican challenged stood up for abortion rights. Yes, you read that right. A pro-choice Republican challenged a Right Winger in a Republican primary. And won! Okay, it took two tries after the first election ended in a tie. Yes, you read that right, too. See, what happened is…oh, just…
Steve Krafft—Border Open
Steve Krafft returns with the view from Arizona and the border. Kari Lake, Kyrsten Sinema, Ruben Gallego and the hypocrisy of Arizonans who rely on undocumented while contending there is a crisis, and a great debate with Ben about open borders. Also, a sense that Biden will prevail. Steve is a reti…
Anderson and Joravsky—In Memory of Joyce
Joyce Owens died last week. She was a brilliant artist, loving mother and wife, political junkie, and fabulous conversationalist. And Monroe’s wife for almost 40 years. Monroe pays tribute to Joyce. And then in her honor—cause that’s what she would have wanted—talks some politics. Rest in peace, Jo…
State Rep Mary Flowers—After All These Years
Speaker Chris Welch is supporting an opponent to longtime south side state representative Mary Flowers, who’s been in office since 1985. Rep Flowers tells her side of the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-…
David Faris—Perfectly Pointless
Super Tuesday has come and gone and David Faris asks—what do we have to show for it? Biden, Trump, Haley and a Supreme Court too afraid to confront the end of democracy. Oh, yes Kirsten Sinema won’t run for re-election. So all the news is not bad. David Faris is a political science professor at Roo…
"Oh, What-A-Week" with Pat Whalen
Mayor Johnson hires a new communications chief. And that gets Pat and Ben debating the difference between propaganda and information. Next thing you know, Ben is explaining the mayor’s new TIF program. And with that they’re off. Pat Whalen is a comedian and the host of his own live show. See Priv…
State's Attorney Kim Foxx—Shoutout to Fani
Dems are tired. Ben riffs. Kim Foxx takes the deep dive on MAGA’s counter attack against Fani Willis, the Fulton County Georgia prosecutor. Willis indicted Trump for essentially attempting a coup. Trump’s allies countered by examining her sex life. It would be funny if the stakes weren’t so high. K…
Denali Dasgupta—The Base
Mainstream Chicago hates the mayor’s “base”. Ben riffs. Speaking of riffs…Denali Dasgupta returns to riff on ShotSpotter, moral victories (as opposed to real ones), Jason Lee, America’s perverse attitude toward immigrants and New York politics post George Santos. Denali is a political activist. Se…
"It’s Free" and Monroe Anderson
Teachers get asked the how-we-gonna-pay-for-it question. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Mark Robinson. In short, why do white voters have so much love for Black candidates like Robinson and Herschel Walker? Which leads to a larger discussion about segregation in Chicago. See Privacy Policy at h…
Dr. Thaer Ahmad—Gaza Eyewitness
The Sun-Times runs a revealing story about how highways in Chicago were designed to lock Blacks away from whites. Ben riffs. Dr. Thaer Ahmad returns to talk about his 20 days working in a hospital in Gaza. Absolutely riveting testimony. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ…