Episodes
Horace Nowell—Forgotten Chicago
Mayor Lightfoot and the city council have decided to demolish the Tribune’s Freedom Center printing press and replace it with a casino. Preservationist and rail-fan Horace Nowell explains what will be lost. It’s not exactly paving paradise—just destroying the soul of the city. Here’s the site for m…
Mick Dumke
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Oh, What A Week: The Great Mayoral Debate!
We've got a mayoral debate to review. But first...Ben has a few things to say about lawyers dumb enough to take on Donald Trump as a client. And then...the debate! Dr. D has all the clips from last night's televised debate that are worth hearing. Well, at least the clips in which one candidate insu…
Gregory Pratt—Relatively Normal Chicago
Ben binges on The Dropout. Now he’s obsessed with America’s love for liars. And Tribune city hall reporter Gregory Pratt returns to talk mayor’s race. Also his tweet about “relatively normal” voters. Somehow the conversation turns towards Mayor Rahm. Where else? See Privacy Policy at https://art1…
Hairston & Rodriguez—Live At The Promontory
On December 6, Ben & Maya took First Tuesdays to the Promontory nightclub in Hyde Park. Their guests were Alderwomen Leslie Hairston & Rossana Rodriguez and Joe Winston, director of the documentary: Punch 9 For Harold Washing...
"Mother Of MAGA" & Monroe Anderson
Proceeds from the Illinois gas tax are falling cause so many people are buying electric cars. What's Elon got to say about that? Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson has a lot to say about a lot of things. Including...the lunatics have taken over the asylum. If, by asylum, you mean congress. And, if, by …
Ken Mejia-Beal—Blue DuPage
Congressional January 6 committee accuses Trump of insurrection and urge feds to prosecute. Now MAGA has to figure out how to react. Ben riffs. And DuPage County Democratic Chair Ken Mejia-Beal returns. What's on his mind? Plenty. How did Dems win in DuPage County? What will Republicans try to do i…
Rickey Hendon—Tell Me Something Good
Mayor Lightfoot does something no other mayor could do—extend the Red Line south of 95th. Ben riffs. And political strategist Rickey Hendon returns! Talking Willie Wilson and the white vote; his feud with Ja’Mal Green; phonegate; his dance with death and more. Including his tribute to the mayor. S…
Oh, What a Week: "Mayor Lightfoot's Extracreditgate & JB Pritzker's I…
It's been quite a week. Starting with...Mayor Lightfoot's campaign offers extra credit for Chicago public school students who work on her campaign. Lots to unpack there. And a breakdown of JB Pritzker's second inauguration. And a few words about Pete Ricketts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c…
Brendan Shiller--Gamblin’ Man
Brendan Shiller spent 20 or so years on the front lines for criminal justice reform as a lawyer in Chicago. And then he said the hell with it--and moved to Vegas to make his career as a poker player. The son of former Alderwoman Helen Shiller, Brendan makes his Ben Joravsky Show debut, talking abou…
Manny Ramos--SBF’s Kind Of Town…
Manny Ramos--investigative reporter for the Illinois Answers Project--talks SBF & FTX. That is--Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX, his rogue crypto company. Or--how did this wheeler dealer, recently arrested for fraud, convince the ...
“Aunt Esther” and Monroe Anderson & Jim Coogan
In his waning moments as a state senator, Darren Bailey feels compelled to read from the Bible. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Jerrod Carmichael at Golden Globes. And Jim Coogan joins the conversation to talk MAGA congressional investigations, Biden’s missing documents, and various crimes of Trum…
David Faris—What’s Going On With…
Political scientist David Faris returns just in time to help us figure out what’s going on with…Elon Musk, Kevin McCarthy, and Kyrsten Sinema. Also, why did congressional Dems cave on the national security budget? And why are Republicans so determined to destroy Medicare and Social Security? See P…
Mario Smith—Chicago Born
Mario Smith—Promontory Box Office Manager and Lumpen radio talk show host—makes his debut. And he’s got a lot to say. Namely, defending Chicago’s honor from Ben’s harsh critique. Tough challenge. Don’t get him started on the topic of Herschel Walker. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy…
Kelly Garcia—“Ed Burke Quits!”
Alderman Ed Burke quits as his pals try to find nice things to say about him. Ben riffs. Reader political writer Kelly Garcia returns to discuss all things local politics. Including...Burke & Fred Hampton; Jesus "Chuy" Garcia...
Jim Coogan--The Trump Docket
Attorney Jim Coogan did some homework for the show. He went through clippings to put together a list of Trump's alleged crimes. Or the various crimes and investigations centered on Trump's misbehavior. It's a long list. And Jim takes us through each one. Starting with E. Jean Carroll's accusation t…
"AOC Goes Chicago" & Monroe Anderson Loves Watching MAGA Self Destruct
AOC is seen trolling MAGA. Ben riffs. And it's "popcorn and champagne" for Monroe Anderson as he gleefully analyzes Kevin McCarthy's pathetic attempts to beg MAGA to elect him speaker. For once Dems are disciplined and Republicans are falling apart. It couldn't happen to a viler bunch. Is there a d…
Helen Shiller—Radical Pragmatism
The reporters on the New York Times are on a one-day strike. Ben riffs. And former 46th ward Alderwoman Helen Shiller talks about her new book--Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win. It's about her life on the front lines of lefty and independent politics in Chicago since the 1970s. What a great conver…
Chris Scott—Winning The Chappelle Voter
Council Wars is always on my mind. Ben and Maya riff. And Chris Scott, Chief Political Officer for Democracy for America, has Georgia and the midterms on his mind. What went wrong, what went right. How should Democrats deal with overtly racist Republican tactics? And what to do about Ohio? Or—how t…
Mick Dumke: Who Killed Alderman Ben Lewis?
In 1963, 24th ward alderman Ben Lewis was executed--bullet to the back of his head--one late night in his West Side ward office. The case remains unsolved. Propublica reporter Mick Dumke has spent the better part of the last ...
Anderson & Joravsky—Together Again!
Senator Raphael Warnock wins in Georgia and Judge Doris Pryor gets confirmed by the senate. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson returns after being off a few weeks. He's got a lot on his mind, including...Warnock's win; Herschel Walker as the world's worst candidate; Barack Obama v. Bill Clinton; Trump'…
David Faris—MAGA Mascots
Political scientist David Faris on Tulsi Gabbard leaving the Democratic Party. Just like Andrew Yang left the party. And why Marianne Williamson never was in the party. Just think--all three were given a prime spot on the deb...
Michael Gerardi--The Ballad of An Indicted Alderman
JB Pritzker dodges a question about the mayoral election and Congressman Rodney Davis shows he's still scared of Trump. Ben riffs. And Michael Gerardi--the Neil Young of Chicago--returns. He sings one of his greatest hits: The Ballad of An Indicted Alderman. Then he talks politics. Including the fu…
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "DB’s Alibis & Petition Time"
The time has come for Ben & Dr. D to riff on a week’s worth of news, including…Darren Bailey’s feeble attempts to explain his loss. And Lightfoot v Garcia in the petition game. And Ed Burke stepping down. And more…much more. ...