Episodes

Roosevelt University professor David Faris considers the question of the week…What’s more pathetic, CNN’s attempt to boost ratings by giving Trump an hour of prime time, or CNN’s attempt to convince us they did it for a larger public good? Also, a plea to Biden to invoke the 14th on debt ceiling. And the lies of George Santos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Attorney Adolfo Mondragon joins Ben to riff on the news of the week. So naturally they begin by talking about Jackie Brown, a movie that came out in the 90s. Then it’s on to Chicago’s search for a police chief, affirmative action, racism in sports and Benno Schmidt.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Theresa Runstedtler, a history professor at American University, talks about her latest book, Black Ball. It’s the story of basketball in the ‘70s, when it was transformed by Black players, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Oscar Robertson. Kermit Washington. Every step of the way, the NBA owners fought against allowing players to have more power, freedom and money. Nothing came easy. Nothing ever does…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben has got Oppenheimer fever. He can’t stop talking about the man and the movie and what it all means. Block Club reporter Mick Dumke returns to talk CHA and the billionaire. Mayor Johnson and Mayor Rahm—BFF? Harry Truman. Oppenheimer. And the NU hazing scandal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over 30 years ago, Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander wrote The Hundred Yard Lie, an expose of corruption and exploitation in college football. Well, with the recent hazing and racism scandal involving the football team at Northwestern University, he could add another chapter to his book. Ben and Rick run through the scandal in all of its sleaziness. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Montgomery brawl has political implications. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Montgomery, Fani Willis, Cheseboro memo, Ohio referendum and the latest lunacy from MAGA. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago gets ready to hire a police superintendent. Ben riffs. Newly elected fifth ward Alderman Desmon Yancy talks development. Specifically, what can be done to give ordinary South Shore residents the same sort of protections that billionaires get from the free market. Also, a word or two about the Kenwood connection. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Johnson ousts the old school board and names a new one. Ben riffs. And on the eve of his participation in the World Series of Poker, Brendan Shiller returns to talk politics and a whole bunch of other things. Including…imposter syndrome, the MAGA 6, and Mayor Johnson’s long game. Can the new mayor undo all the damage caused by his predecessors? Is poker a metaphor for politics? How Mayor Daley spent ten years before he got down to the business of selling off 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 a week’s worth of news so let’s talk about it with mark Wallace, podcaster and activist. Starting with…Ben cuts a deal with Mayor johnson. Say what? And Trump gets arraigned. And DeSantis rewrites the history of slavery. And it’s Lolla versus MJ. And more…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Northwestern University fires its football coach after details of the team's hazing scandal publicized. Ben riffs. Environmental justice activist Oscar Sanchez talks about running for alderman, serving on Mayor Johnson’s transition team and the cost of water. Then he says a thing or two about building a Bear's stadium on the south side. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know what we’re talking about. Trump indicted—again! Monroe and Ben take it from A to Z.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Candis Castillo, political director of SEIU Healthcare, hadn’t been on for awhile. But she makes up for lost time talking about police, asylum seekers, affirmative action, the MAGA 6, the difference between Republicans and Democrats and more. Welcome back, Candis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris breaks down the political ramifications of the latest rulings from the MAGA Six on the Supreme Court. Apparently it’s discriminatory for universities to want a diverse student body. But it’s ok to discriminate against gays. How out of touch are the justices with America? The answer to that question could determine the outcome of the 2024 elections. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Music writer Mark Guarino explains the roots of Jason Aldean’s controversial song, Try That In A Small Town. Does Aldean really hate Black people or is he pretending to in order to sell records and make more money? How is the song different than Merle Haggard’s Okie from Muskogee? And more. Mark knows as much or more about country music as anyone in Chicago as he just wrote a book called Country and Midwestern:: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago’s favorite gambler Brendan Shiller joins Ben to discuss a week’s worth of news. Including… Public education. Will north siders go to venues south of Roosevelt Road? UFOs. How to discern truth from lies. Should Mayor Johnson have said nice things about Mayor Rahm? Should the city raise the minimum wage for restaurant workers? And more…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sergio Vicente, host of the Fight podcast, analyzes the weird bravado coming from Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. They say they want to get into the ring and fight. What insecurities gnaw at the psyche of these billionaires that makes them want to such ridiculous talk trash? What doubts are they trying to cover up? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marie Collins l-Wright is an activist and longtime resident of the Southside and she’s got a big question for the Chicago Bears. Why don’t they build their stadium at 83rd and Lake Michigan. On the 400 or so acres of what used to be the South Works steel mill. Better yet, why won’t the powers that be in this city clean up the site? It’s only been in need of remediation for roughly 50 years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Biden announces memorial to Emmett Till as MAGA attempts to rewrite the history of slavery, Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks about the legacy of Till. And John Johnson. And Ebony . And Jet. And a trip he made to Mississippi with Curtis Mayfield in 1973. And then it’s on to Hunter Biden, Kevin McCarthy and the latest on Trump.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tribune City Hall reporter Gregory Pratt just finished his biography of the Mayor Lightfoot years and it’s a classic. Everything you want to know about Lightfoot but were afraid to ask. Listen here, if you want to know. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bas Hendra, host of Historical Homos, joins Ben to discuss the week that was. Including…insanity from MAGA Supremes. As Alito and Thomas see it, Helping Black people is bad, discriminating against gays is good. Also, a word about billionaires and the submersible. And more…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Teenagers party in Lakeview—Chicago loses its mind. Ben riffs. And political strategist Denali Dasgupta returns! Talking affirmative action, Supreme Court ruling against Harvard, Chicago’s attitude toward segregation, how Rocky feeds racial concepts and much more. That’s Rocky, the movie. As opposed to the squirrel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Terry Cosgrove makes his first visit to the show since retiring from Personal PAC, the reproductive rights organization. And, man, does he have a lot to say. Starting with...Ohio. The August referendum is a proxy fight for a bigger battle in November which is itself a proxy for 2024. You snooze, you lose Democrats. Cause MAGA is not playing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roosevelt University political science professor compares and contrasts three of the leading political lunatics of our time: Robert Kennedy Jr, Joe Manchin and, of course, Donald Trump. Each has his own distinct brand. The first two are essentially enablers for the third. And it all could have been avoided had Mitch McConnell not—well, let David tell the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Community organizer Dixon Romeo joins Ben for a week’s worth of news. Including…the city council’s conservative caucus. Is there one? The Obama Center community benefits agreement. Will it be adopted? The latest MAGA editorial in the Tribune. Does anyone read this drivel besides Ben? Northwestern hazing scandal? How can smart people be so dumb? And what’s it gonna be—Barbie or Oppenheimer? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.