Episodes
Dave Glowacz—City Council Antics
There's a battle raging as the GOP's "right flank" challenges Kevin McCarthy's bid for speaker. Right flanks implies there's a left flank. Ben riffs. Devin Thompson, singer extraordinaire, talks about his upcoming concert. Dave Glowacz, of Inside Chicago Government, examines recent city council mee…
Anderson & Kaplan—Before It’s Too Late
Ben travels to a place he's never been on election night--MSNBC. He weighs in with what he saw. Monroe Anderson returns to say the "Red Wave" turned into a "pink trickle". What happened, MAGA? And Jacob Kaplan, executive director of the Cook County Democratic Party, examines the statewide election …
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "Mayoral Doughnuts"
Oh, what a week, indeed! Ben & Dr. D riff on the news, most of it out of Chicago. Starting with...Donoughtgate. Is Doughnutgate worse than Cinnamon Rollgate? Hmm, tough, tough question. And then it's on to the mayor's race, s...
Rummana Hussain: Told Ya’ So…
Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain asks the question. If women have a right not to wear hijabs, doesn't that also mean they have a right to wear them? Also, Rummana does a victory march on Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West. She hates to say I told you so, but...she told you so. And a wor…
David Faris—Waves Of Blue
The midterms were supposed to be a Red Wave, doing with votes what the insurrectionists couldn’t do on January 6–giving MAGA control of Congress. David Faris takes the deep dive on why that didn’t happen. How the pollsters and pundits minimized abortion rights. How the Democrats finally learned to …
Oh, What A [Past] Week: “Voters Speak & Chuy Chooses”
What a week of politics for Ben & Dr. D to riff about. The Red Wave turns into a Blue one, at least in Illinois. New York Dems are clueless. Give Speaker Welch credit—he knows how to play the mapmaking game. Congressman “Chuy...
Anderson & Balanoff—Political Junkies
Mayor Lightfoot & George Cardenas pull an Eddie Haskell. Ben explains. Shoutout to Gregory Pratt for another great scoop. And Clem Balanoff talks Jesus Garcia—he’s going to run for mayor. Monroe Anderson is skeptical. Then th...
Peter Cunningham—Naked City
It's official--Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia is running for mayor. Ben riffs by answering a question from V-Train. Also Peter Cunningham--political strategist, speech writer & rock `n roll guitarist--takes the deep dive on....
LeAlan Jones--Monday Morning Quarterback
Football coach/analyst LeAlan Jones has an unique take on the Chicago Bears. He thinks they're making smart moves that will bring them a Super Bowl Championship. He explains why he believes that and why the "experts" are so c...
Rosemary Feurer & Elliott Gorn--Radical Chicago
Historian Rosemary Feurer & Elliott Gorn talk Chicago's radical past. Particularly the successful effort to pay tribute to Mother Jones, the turn-of-the-last-century radical. Yes, radical. She didn't hide from it. Will Chicag...
Brandon Johnson—Mayoral Candidate
Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet tries to hold MAGA strategist Dan Proft to the same rules and standards real journalists must follow. Ben riffs. And Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson talks about running for mayor. He explains why he's the progressive candidate in the race. What it means to be…
Anderson & Coogan, At Law
The Bears make their first move toward convincing Arlington Heights residents to pay for their football stadium. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson returns to explain a few things about Chicago history that Mayor Lightfoot may not understand. Such as the Evans/Sawyer split that divided Black Chicago and ha…
Troy LaRaviere—Ego Maniacs
Elon Musk gets ready to fire hundreds of Twitter employees. Ben riffs. And Troy LaRaviere talks Musk, Trump & Ye. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pr...
Andrea Bunch & Alicia Hurtado—Abortion Reality
Singer/guitarist Andrea Bunch and activist Alicia Hurtado—of the Chicago Abortion Fund—talk about the fight for reproductive rights in the aftermath of the midterms. The fight is not over—even in Illinois where abortion is legal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priv…
Amisha Patel—Grassroots Chicago
After about 20 years as an organizer, Amisha Patel is taking a break--she's stepping down as executive director of the Grassroots Collaborative. She talks about the struggles to try and force Chicago mayors to do the right th...
Sean Dinces--Bulls Market
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson announces he’s running for mayor—will confused MAGA voters line up to support him? Ben riffs. Historian Sean Dinces, author of Bulls Market, talks about Chicago’s history of giving handouts to sports franchises. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priv…
Damien Perdue—The QAnon Deep Dive
Radio show host gives a primer on QAnon.
Micah Uetricht--Sorta Defending The Times
The British Prime Minister steps down. Ben apologizes for riffing on it. And Micah Uetricht, editor/writer for Jacobian, manages to defend the New York Times. Is Ben unfair to the Times? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-…
Rummana Hussain—Musk Capitalism
Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain talks capitalism. Specifically, Twitter employees getting fired because Elon Musk needs to use their salaries to pay back the money he borrowed to buy the company. Which he paid too much for. Crazy… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California…
First Tuesdays At The Nighthawk: Michilla Blaise & Ed Mullen
Ben & Maya host November's First Tuesday show at a new location--the Nighthawk on Kimball. On tap--the coming elections. Especially judicial. Especially the Supremes. No, not the Diana Ross Supremes. But the seven justices ...
Julie Hamos—It’s All About The Supremes
The Tribune reports that dozens of public officials are members of the Oath Keepers. Ben riffs. And former state Rep. Julie Hamos returns to talk about the upcoming elections to the Illinois Supreme Court. Specifically, why these should be top-of-the-ballot races as opposed to bottom-of-the-ballot …
Rummana Hussain—What’s In A Name?
More weather news--most of it bad. Ben riffs on the difference between Democrats and MAGA when it comes to each other's tragedies. And Rummana Hussain--Sun-Times columnist/editorial writer--asks the question: What's in a name? Particularly in the case of Nikki Haley. Rummana explains why she's on T…
Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor—Hate Week
Trump & Kanye unleash their hate. Ben riffs. Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor returns! And she's got a lot on her mind--Trump, Kanye, property tax, budgets, and the hate Chicago has for poor people. Also, a prediction about the mid...
Salim Muwakkil--The Creator’s Plan
Writer & radio show host Salim Muwakkil returns. At last! To talk Pharoah Sanders. And Kanye West. And is it time to panic? Nothing is left untouched. The phenomenal realm. The spiritual realm. Does the creator really have a ...