Episodes
Monroe Anderson & Derrick Blakely--Old School
State Rep. Theresa Mah makes a power play against the mayor. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson returns to talk Earth, Wind & Fire? Derrick Blakely, retired CBS anchorman, makes his debut. The talk starts with Ginny Thomas, goes ...
April Preyar--Shut Up, Lawyer Up!
Governor Ron DeSantis, looking to out MAGA Trump & Abbott, flies immigrants to Martha's Vineyard. Ben riffs. And criminal defense lawyer April Preyar returns to talk about "The Purge". Which is not really a purge but a nasty ...
David Faris--Fighting Back
.Political scientist David Faris returns with a confession. He's enjoying watching the desperation of MAGA as the Democrats pick up ground heading into November's midterms. They overplayed their hand on abortion. They've lost all credibility on documentgate. They're argument against student aid rel…
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "Flip-flops, Crime & A Visit From Mr. Bike!"
Ben and Producer Chris Schrage riff on a week's worth of news. Starting with...the remarkable flip-flop of Don Bolduc, MAGA candidate for senator in New Hampshire, who miraculously realized that Biden won the election after all. Also, the curious case of various CEOs discovering crime in Chicago af…
Catherine Adel West--Sara's Lives
Catherine Adel West makes her debut to talk about her latest novel, The Two Lives of Sara. It tells the story of a young woman and her infant son, who flee Chicago for Memphis in the early 1960s. They wind up living in boarding house run by Mama Sugar. And that's about all we'll say, cause we don't…
State Senator Robert Peters--Safe T Fear
State Senator Robert Peters returns to talk about the latest election atrocity from MAGA. TV commercials and mailings intended to whip up votes for Darren Bailey--the Republican candidate for governor--by scaring the hell out of white people. Haven't seen anything this blatantly racist since the "B…
Aaron Cohen--Jazz Crusaders
Writer Aaron Cohen returns to talk about the greatest music ever made--soul, r & b and jazz from the `60s and `70. Specifically, he talks about the book he's writing with Ramsey Lewis. His upcoming show with Ava Cherry, who s...
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "Queen Elizabeth's Kind of Town" and Specia…
September 9, 2022: Time's come for Ben & Dr. D to riff on a week's worth of news. So, let's start with a news item from...1959? That's when Queen Elizabeth spent 14 hours in Chicago. Also, reflections on more aldermen steppi...
Vinnie Iyer--The Smartest Man In Football
.Sporting News football beat writer Vinnie Iyer makes his debut. The man knows as much, or more, about pro football than anyone in the business. As he's super smart--he was on Jeopardy, people!-- and he's been covering this beat for 20 something years. He reviews the upcoming season with thoughts o…
Best of Ben--Maya Dukmasova, David Roeder & Ken Mejia-Beal
September 17, 2019: Mayor Lightfoot cracks down on vaping. Maya Dukmasova of The Chicago Reader returns to talk cancel culture. Sun-Times Writer David Roeder weighs in on his latest work. 42nd District State Rep candidate Ken Mejia-Beal makes his Benny J Show debut! See Privacy Policy at https://…
Rummana Hussain--Sydney's Trump Party
Sun-Times editorial writer/columnist Rummana Hussain returns just in time to take the deep dive on "Sweeneygate". Pretty sure, we're the only people calling it that. It's when the famous TV actress threw a make-60-great again party for her mother. Turns out every white family in America has a littl…
Joshua Tepfer & Matt Topic
Sarah Palin loses to Mary Peltola in Alaska. Ben riffs. And attorneys Joshua Tepfer & Matt Topic return to talk about he Ronald Watts case. Also known as--Chicago mayors doing the wrong thing. Watts is the corrupt cop who man...
"Sarver Sale" & Monroe Anderson and Mark Wallace
Robert Sarver announces he's selling the Phoenix Suns & Mercury in part because of "our current unforgiving climate". Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson and Mark Wallace return to examine just three of the lawsuits Donald Trump i...
Gregory Pratt & Miles Kampf Lassin
Another day another alderperson announces they're not running for re-election. In this case, it's Alderwoman Sue Sadlowski Garza. Ben riffs. Tribune political reporter Gregory Pratt returns to talk alderpeople leaving. Why? What does it bode for the future? And Miles Kampf Lassin, editor/writer for…
Manny Ramos--Spinners, Drifters and Drag Racers in Chicago
Sun-Times writer Manny Ramos returns! This time he's talking about his excellent coverage of the underground drag-racing scene in Chicago. (Shout out to photographer Ashlee Rezin for her incredible photos featured in the story!) He explains who does the racing, where they come from and why they do…
Oh, What A [Past] Week "Where ya' goin', Aldermen?"
It's time for the weekly update of what's going on. And Ben & Dr. D riff away. Today's theme--say it ain't so, aldermen. A bunch are choosing not to run for office. Why? Job too hard? Not enough appreciation? Mayor too mean...
LeAlan Jones and Kevin Lamm--Bears v. Packers
LeAlan Jones and Kevin Lamm are best known for their politics--LeAlan as a Green Party senatorial candidate and Kevin as a Democratic Party strategist. But in their other lives they are football fanatics who know the game iside and out. On the eve of tonight's Bears/Packers showdown, they do battle…
Jim Coogan--What In The World Is A Special Master?
Alderman Raymond Lopez proposes cutting city council by half. Ben riffs. And attorney Jim Coogan returns to break down Trump's legal strategy. What's the method to his madness? What's a "special master" and why does Trump want one? Why does Trump feel compelled to take documents out of the White Ho…
Allison Jordan--Confronting The Demons
Writer, producer, agent, and promoter Allison Jordan is the host of Brain Truth, a podcast dedicated to getting people to be honest about the mental trauma that impacts their lives. To many people, especially in the Black community, are in denial. "I ain't claiming it" being too common a refrain. …
"Hellhole Darren" and Monroe Anderson & Aaron Cohen
MAGA gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey has been calling Chicago a hell hole. Now, he's moved here. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson returns to explain the behavior of Robert Sarver, the billionaire owner of the Phoenix Suns basketball team who thinks it's okay to use the N word. And writer Aaron…
Mueze Bawany--Up Against The Machine
Millennials have been calling for new blood in the Democratic Party. Well, meet Mueze Bawany, 35-year-old Chicago Public School high school English teacher and basketball coach who's running for alderman of the 50th ward. He's up against incumbent Alderwoman Debra Silverstein who knows a thing or a…
"Ramsey Lewis, RIP" and Brian Costin on "Corporate Welfare" for the B…
The great Ramsey Lewis died at age 87. Ben riffs. And Brian Costin from American Prosperity for Illinois joins to talk Bears stadium handout. Yes, American Prosperity is a Koch Brothers organization. And Brian is conservative. And he used to work for the Rauner administration. And so on and so fort…
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "DB, JB & LL"
Ben & Dr. D riff on a week's worth of news. Starting with...mayoral politics. Mayor Lightfoot calls Paul Vallas a Republican. Vallas says not fair. Then Darren Bailey jumps into the mayor's race--sorta. That gets Ben explaini...
Henry Davis, Jr.--Indiana Injustice
President Biden offers student debt relief. Everyone starts complaining. Ben riffs. And South Bend councilman Henry Davis, Jr returns. He talks about police dealing with mental health crises. And Indiana ‘s upcoming senate race. Can Dems win? And who’s worse—Indiana, Chicago or Michigan when it co…