Episodes

At age 70, having made more money than he can ever spend, Bill Gates decides to take a stand against unbridled capitalism. Ben riffs. Maggie Wunderly explains what Democrats have to do to win in purplish suburban districts. Also, vote blue no matter who should be a two-way street. Maggie is a co-founder of Illinois Progressives, who are holding a fundraiser on September 13 in Aurora.

Another day, another scandal in Trump land. Ben riffs. David Faris catches us up on the latest political news. Including a riff or two on “reactionary Centrists” in the Democratic Party. Who are convinced that the only way to win back Congress is to abandon all principles and wage war on voters most likely to vote for them. Also, a few words on polls and the senate elections. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.

NBC 5 asks Mayor Brandon Johnson if he plans to run for re-election. His response...was interesting. Plus! Ben and Dr D talk about the 2026 Illinois State Fair. JB’s latest commercial. Alexi G’s movie double. And more…

Meta dips into petty cash to get rid of a nasty legal headache. Ben riffs. Mike Allemana tells you everything you need to know about this year’s Chicago Jazz Fest. Get ready for riffs on George Freeman, Ahmad Jamal, Cannonball Adderley, Robert Glasper, Paquito D’Rivera, Robert Irving, Miles Davis, Darryl Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater and more. Mike is one of the world’s best guitar players. Check out his shows at the Jazz Fest, The Jazz Showcase, the Green Mill and other venues.

The political news out of Michigan is promising—at least at one man’s house. Ben riffs. Peter Cunningham returns! Finally. And he’s got a lot to say about the Democratic message in the stretch run to November. On everything from abortion to guns to climate change to Israel and more. Peter is a political strategist and speechwriter who worked for Mayor Daley and President Obama.

Former 2019 Mayoral Candidates Troy LaRaviere and Willie Wilson join us in studio. Originally posted March 5, 2019. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So many lessons to be learned from Francesca Hong’s Thanksgiving Tweet. Ben riffs. Rachel Hinton returns with the latest on the book backup at the Chicago Public Library. What does it say about Chicago that its leaders won’t adequately fund the public libraries? Also, mayor race updates. And a few words about Pope Hat night at Sox Park. Rachel is an investigative reporter at Block Club.

Plus - Ben talks Wisconsin's (moderate) Democratic gubernatorial candidate. The latest claims involving Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch. Willie Wilson also running for Mayor. And a word or two or three about a bunch of other stuff.

Dems rejoice over David Crowley’s win in yesterday’s Democratic primary. Ben riffs. Kelly Cassidy on Speaker Welch, Harry Benton, Michael Madigan and sexual harassment in the General Assembly. Somethings never change. Also, a few words about data centers. And Kelly updates Ben’s Helen Shiller Theory about Chicago politics. Kelly represents the 14th district on the north side.

MAGA has fallen head over heels in love with Sophie Cunningham and apparently Sophie Cunningham has decided to return the favor. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan talks Trump “Justice.” Jeanine Pirro bails on the reflecting-pool case. Todd Blanche’s confirmation as AG. And the prosecution of a cop in California for secretly recording the racist conversations of his fellow officers. Jim is managing partner of Coogan Gallagher.

Centrist Democrats pledge to defeat Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed—hey, Dems, what happened to vote blue no matter who? Ben riffs. Miles adds his thoughts—many centrists would rather defeat progressives than defeat Trump. So much for the resistance. A few words about congressional candidate Will Lawrence. Finally, Ben and Miles are overjoyed by the prospects of Chicago’s other Caleb—Wilson of the Bulls. Miles is an editor and writer for In These Times.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks the truth about Trump’s nonstop racism. Ben riffs. Gave Wilkins & Torrence Stagger, podcasters extraordinaire, talk LeBron, Bulls, Kwai, Ballmer and other issues of the NBA. Ben says Caleb Wilson reminds him of another Bulls rookie from 1984. The others say—hmm? Gave and Torrence co-host The New Twenty Four, aka TNTF.

Lefties win big in Michigan’s Democratic primaries. Ben tries not to gloat. Laurie Glenn tells Dems what’s wrong with their party. Also, what’s wrong with bullies in the workplace. Why guys who think they’re big power players aren’t so big after all. And the difference between diverting from a question and reframing a question. Laurie is CEO of Thinkinc, a communications and political strategy operation.

It must be election time—lefties are suddenly discovering the Black vote. Ben riffs. Delmarie Cobb talks Michigan Democratic primary. And Alexi G’s explanation for why he’s running for two offices at once. And she makes another pitch for a south side Bears stadium and third airport. Delmarie is a political strategist in Chicago.

Data center lovers scoff at NIMBY to justify putting one in somebody else’s backyard. Ben riffs. Grey Lucas goes A to Z on the Quantum Center that the state’s building on the old steel yard at 87th and the lake. Starting with…what is a quantum center? Why put it there as opposed to anywhere else in the universe? Will it bring with it a data center? And more. Grey is an investigative reporter whose work on the quantum center is in the Chicago Reader.

Ben and Dr D offer all the news that’s fit to discuss. Including…Mayor Rahm talking tough to Mayor Mamdani. Or did he? Also, the ins and outs of gathering 12,500 “good” signatures to make the ballot for mayor. And, is Alexi G a soft mid-range jump shooter, or can he bang with the tough cats inside the paint? Say what? Translated from bball jargon—will he run away from a mayoral campaign against scrappy opponents like Maria Pappas?

Dr. Fauci decides it’s a good idea not to answer Rand Paul’s questions about COVID. Ben riffs. Journalistic legends and longtime friends Monroe and Jack cover all the issues. Including Fauci, Paul, Trump’s war in Iran, White House journalists dinner, Al Sharpton, Johnny Cochran and The Odyssey. Monroe is—well, everyone knows Monroe. Jack was a writer and editor for Time.

NYT reporters call Trump’s election-theft conspiracies what they are—tenacious lies Ben riffs. Robert Vargas separates truth from fiction in the matter of crime. If crime in Chicago has gone down during Mayor Johnson’s tenure, why do so many people think it’s gone up? Ben says it’s cause Chicagoans have been brainwashed. Robert says it’s more nuanced than that. Robert is a sociology professor at the University of Chicago. His views are his own.

Eric Zorn sets Ben straight on Alexi Gin-OO-lee-us. Ben riffs. Meet Cliff Johnson, Democratic candidate for the first congressional district in Mississippi. He explains why Mississippi is inching toward being Democrat. So it’s closer to Georgia than Tennessee, politically speaking. A few words about John Grisham, Oprah and Elvis and where they come from. Cliff is a longtime civil rights lawyer and director of the MacArthur Justice Center in Mississippi.

A “moderate” beats a “centrist” in Arizona—clearly, Dems have identity issues. Ben riffs. And Governor Pritzker returns. Talking everything from his re-election campaign to his presidential ambitions to his views on Israel to Trump’s war on Blue States. You can’t cave, you have to fight. A few words about the Bears stadium and data centers and more. Governor Pritzker is, of course, the governor of Illinois.

No sooner does the World Cup end, then they’re scheming to make even more money at the next one. Serena returns to summarize the highs and lows of the tournament. Among the lows—anything that has to do with Trump or Infantino. Among the highs—Mexico’s game against England. Also, the Balogun red card scandal explained. Intent does not matter, America. Serena is a student of the game. See you next year, Serena, for the women’s World Cup.

Always broke schools lay off 760 or so teachers as aldermen whine about not giving enough property tax handouts to rich people. Ben riffs. Marj Halpern tells you what you need to know about plans to develop the south loop. Including…the Chicago Fire soccer stadium, a possible new stadium for the White Sox and, say what for existing Sox Park? Bottom line—could be another parking meter deal in the making. Marj is co-founder of One Community Near South and a longtime writer and political strategist...

Michael Cohen and Trump break up to make up—again. Ben riffs. David figures out where Cohen—and Lindsey Graham—fit in the pantheon of fools who flock to Trump. Selling their souls for what? Money? Power? Access? A pat on the head from the boss? Updates on Trump’s war in Iran. And the congressional vote on funding Israel. “The party is dedicated to a policy its base despises.” David is a political science professor at Roosevelt university and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.

Amidst the local news, Ben & Dr D offer a few words about Trump’s latest lunacy—his prime time televised oration about election fraud, a problem he made up. Alexi G sorta announces his campaign for mayor by releasing commercial promoting his re-election campaign for Secretary of State. Say what? Also, should a background in corporate America qualify someone to be mayor? And more Caleb Wilson updates.