Episodes

Mayor Johnson talks about visiting the border. Ben riffs. Activist, casting director, writer, director Pemon Rami talks Chicago history, Black activism, Sam Greenlee, The Spook Who Sat By The Door, Cooley High and all kinds of other things. Pemon is the author of newly published memoirs: When Black Was Golden. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Believe it or not, there was a time when the Republican Party wasn’t radiating hate for teachers. This was back in the 80s when a Republican Governor led the way for…oh, let Dan Montgomery tell the story. Dan is the president of Illinois Federation of Teachers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The city council entertains a proposal to prohibit residents from erecting little library book houses on the public way. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Trump trials, the left not voting for Biden, Pence dropping out and other things. Including…why did it take the friends in Friends so long to make a Black friend? Are there no Black people in New York City?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Faris breaks down a week’s worth of MAGA lunacy. Including…Matt Goetz leads his fellow dunderheads in a coup against Kevin McCarthy. The Republican presidential candidates have a debate in which they sorta declare war on the American worker. And President Biden goes Trump on the wall. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Tuesday October 3, Ben and Maya hosted First Tuesdays at the Haymarket House with 46th ward Alderwoman Angela Clay. On the agenda, all things politics including…asylum seekers, tent city, gentrification, property taxes, local schools, police, the future of Uptown, and finding her way as a first year alder. Also, how to handle challenging questions and the 35-second rule. Maya is, of corse, Maya Dukmasova, a reporter for Injustice Watch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Johnson released his budget, revealing he’s learned a trick or two about the TIF game. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks retaliatory culture—it’s as old as Romeo and Juliet. Steve Scalise versus Jim Jordan—who do you vote for? If you had no other choice. And Kevin Phillips dies. He’s the evil genius who wrote MAGA’s election playbook, 60 years before MAGA was a thing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rummana Hussain tries to explain to Ben why so many Chicagoans hate immigrants. Including people who are immigrants themselves. It’s hard for Ben to comprehend cause the hatred that motivates so many Chicagoans is incomprehensible. Rummana is a columnist and editorial writer for the Chicago Sun-Times.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times tries to take a strong stand against the Bears only to pull its pinch. Ben riffs. Attorney Jim Coogan tells you all you need to know about Donald Trump’s fraud trial in New York City. Including how 11,000 square feet is the same as 30,000 square feet in the Trump universe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Senate Democrats act helpless in face of MAGA Senator Vance delay tactics. Ben riffs. Striking UAW member Marcie Pedraza talks about the ongoing strike against the big three auto makers. Marcie is an electrician at the Ford plant on the far south side. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Candis Castillo covers it all, including…Tent city. Southerners going to Mexico to get abortions, cause MAGA has essentially outlawed it in their states. Trump and Biden in the senility competition. Also, a thing or two about aspirational voting. Candis is a political strategist and political director for SEIU Healthcare. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Catanzara has a new appreciation for Mayor Johnson now that city and police have tentatively agreed to a new contract. Ben riffs. Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez talks about what he likes and doesn’t like with the new contract. Then he talks immigration policy. Is Byron the diplomat and Ben the trouble maker? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Should the city give a handout to the Bears after that awful season opener? Ben riffs. CTU president Stacy Davis Gates talks about the fallout over revelations that her son is not attending a public school. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderman Andre Vasquez takes the deep dive on immigration in Chicago. Including tent city, Black Hispanic relations, Hispanic Hispanic relations, US foreign policy toward Venezuela, lefties trying to figure out their new role in the city. And more…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s that time of the week when Ben runs through recent news with the help of a friend—in this case, Mark Wallace. That includes…mayoral and aldermanic salaries. How Mayor Johnson is like Mayor Daley. Trump on trial. Mark’s bold prediction as Trump’s allies flip. Congressman Jordan loses—again. And red light cameras. Mark is a businessman, podcaster and activist/advocate. 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 pathetic—the Bears or Chicago’s leaders? Ben riffs. Dave Glowacz returns more council follies. Our civic leaders debate immigration. And then TIFs. Gotta laugh to keep from crying. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump, Bill Maher and Drew Barrymore take their “stands” on the ongoing labor strikes. They all “love” the workers but hate their unions. Ben riffs. Keith Kelleher explains the strategies, goals and challenges of the UAW strike against the big 3 car companies. Keith is the former president of SEIU Healthcare. So he knows a thing or two about unions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

North Siders reconsider the Lincoln Yard TIF deal. Or at least one north sider does. Ben riffs, and Monroe talks Biden in Israel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Faris was planning to talk about how the electoral college may be even more detrimental to Democrats, when…Ben asked about Rupert Murdoch, who’s stepping down as Boss of Fox. And with that David took off on a gloriously spontaneous riff. Then he gets back to electoral college. And has a thing or two to say about Hunter Biden and MAGA. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Block Club investigative reporter Mick Dumke gets into the nitty gritty of how Chicago’s pols and wheeler dealers cut their deals. Speaking of wheeler dealers, an update on former Mayor Rahm’s machinations to get what he wants. Whatever that may be. And more…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez takes the deep deep dive on last week’s city council vote on a resolution that endorses Israel right to essentially avenge slaughter with more slaughter. Rossana tried to amend the resolution so it’s more balanced and more compassionate to Palestinians who once again are under siege. In the end, she lost on a voice vote. The world has lost its mind. Why should the city council endorse this madness?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Old college friends from Northwestern University, Vinnie Iyer and Sridhar Pappu have been in the newspaper business since the 90s, largely covering sports. And they have a lot to say about their (no longer) beloved Northwestern Wildcats football team, the White Sox and the Bears. Sridhar is the author of the best-selling book, The Year of the Pitcher. And Vinnie covers pro football and hosts a fantasy-football podcast for the Sporting News.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rummana Hussain talks about bias in the coverage of the war in the Middle East. And why she’s having flashbacks to 9/11. Rummana is an editorial writer and columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political strategist Chris Scott helps Ben make sense out of this week’s news and newsmakers from Washington. Including…Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, MAGA house speaker ineptitude, Senator Menendez scandal, gerrymandering strategy and more. Chris is the co-founder of the Advance the Electorate PAC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tommy Tuberville, MAGA senator from Alabama, blocks Biden military nominees to force the administration to weaken its support for abortion rights. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson and Ben debate whether election lawyer Adolfo Mondragon, should file a ballot access case against Trump on the grounds that he clearly violated the 14th amendment. Then Adolfo weighs in. Hope your listening, Chris Christie.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.