Episodes
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. ...
Terry Cosgrove--Got ‘em On The Ropes
Terry Cosgrove--the outgoing president of Personal PAC--knows how to fight MAGA. Will Democrats listen? Dems being Dems, probably not--at least in New York. Terry breaks down the results of the midterms to explain why Democrats won in Illinois. Take note, Dems. See Privacy Policy at https://art19…
“Santos-ish” & Monroe Anderson
Congressman-elect George Santos distinguishes between “Jewish” and “Jew-ish”. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Santos, Trump taxes, Roy Cohn, why the breakdown at Midway Airport is sorta Reagan’s fault and more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https…
Wilfredo Cruz--Quest For A Political Voice
Columbia College sociology professor Wilfredo Cruz wrote the book on Latino politics in Chicago--literally! It's called Latinos in Chicago--Quest for a Political Voice. Wilfredo talks about the evolution of local Latino politics. So many Latino politicians got their start thanks to Harold Washingto…
Delmarie Cobb--Cut A Deal, USA!
With the mayor's race kicking up, it's a good time to check in with Delmarie Cobb, one of Chicago's smartest political strategists. And so we take the deep dive on things like...the mayoral legacies of Rahm, Daley & Harold's....
Mike & Gabi Allemana—In My Life
For Christmas, we thought we’d do a little something different. The great jazz guitarist, Mike Allemana, and his vocalist daughter, Gabby, visited the virtual studio to sing some songs and play guitar. And also talk about the year in music. Guess who beat who to the stage at Carnegie Hall? See Pri…
Chicago Legends—Conrad Worrill
On October 28 2019, the great Conrad Worrill came to the studio to talk about his life and legacy as a front-line activist going back to the ’60s. Conrad Worrill died June 3, 2020. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel…
Rummana Hussain—Honestly Lying
Sun-Times columnist/editorial writer Rummana Hussain & Ben talk Chappelle. As in Dave, riffing on Ye; the difference between billionaires and millionaires; Jewish people; Kyrie; and Donald Trump--whom Chappelle calls an hones...
Oh, What a [Past] Week: "Million-Dollar Chuy & Lori's New Ad"
Ben & Dr. D talk the week that was, but first...State Senator Rob Martwick promotes Tuesday's Mayoral Forum, which Ben is moderating. And then it's on to the week that was. Including...Rickey Hendon/Willie Wilson v. Ja'Mal Gr...
"Mayor NASCAR" & Monroe Anderson--“Which” Hunt
Mark Guarino's WBEZ/Sun-Times story exposes Mayor Lightfoot's NASCAR deal as a wreck. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson returns to push back on NASCAR--sorta. And then Monroe analyzes Trump and his crimes. Republicans cry "witch hunt". Monroe says it's actually a "which hunt"--as in which crime Trump will…
Alderman Andre Vasquez—Mic Drop
Property tax bill are coming out. Ben freaks out. And 40th ward Alderman Andre Vasquez talks about building coalitions, running for re-election, Harold Washington, rap battles, lefties going at each other's throats, budgets and a whole bunch of other stuff that is on his mind. Special bonus--he dro…
Miles Kampf-Lassin—Everything’s Local
In These Times editor/writer Miles Kampf-Lassin has a lot on his mind as he reviews the post-midterm political landscape. In particular…think local, lefties. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Stacy Davis Gates—No Time For Kingmakers
Some cronies of Mayor Rahm are kicking in money to elect what they call "workhorse aldermen" as opposed to "showhorse aldermen". Ben riffs. And Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, returns. She's got a lot on her mind, including...the aforementioned cronies of Mayor Rahm; Bra…
Enrique Limon—From There To Here
It’s Thanksgiving! Much love and thanks for all our friends & family. Enrique Limon, Reader editor, makes his debut. Describes his journey from a kid in Mexico to one of the top jobs in alternative journalism. One stop along ...
"Relatively Normal Chicagoans” and Monroe Anderson and LeAlan Jones
As Gregory Pratt points out, many people in Chicago aren't obsessively paying attention to the mayor's race. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Republicans and the Mark Meadows tweets. And journalist/activist LeAlan Jones talk about the life and legacy of Lloyd Newman--LeAlan's writing partner on the…
Angela Clay—Work To Do
Ben asks the question most are too afraid to pose…Do the millennials who are running Mayor Lightfoot’s re-election campaign realize they took a line from the Isley Brothers? And 46 ward aldermanic candidate Angela Clay talks Uptown politics then and now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr…
“Rose Garden Chuy” & Kelly Garcia
Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia hasn’t been elected mayor yet, and he’s already acting like an emperor. Ben riffs. And Reader writer Kelly Garcia talks FOIA law and aldermanic petition challenges and police district elections. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi…
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "Brandon Runs, Whalen Walks”
Brandon Johnson announces he’s running for mayor. Chuy Garcia continues to think about running for Mayor. Mayor Lightfoot sorta makes things up as she goes along. And Pat Whalen explains why everyone is feeling so much anxiety. Just some of a week’s worth of news discussed by Ben, Dr. D and Pat. S…
Rummana Hussain--Sundown State
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain talks MAGA's attitudes toward Black voters. Or what does it say about MAGA's attitude toward Black voters that MAGA thought Black voters would vote for Herschel Walker? Also, Alito and his MAGA comrades on the Supremes try to concoct a legal justification…
Carlos & Rossana--Rules Of Order
Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa & Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez take the deep dive on Bring Chicago Home. That's a proposal to put a binding referendum on the ballot asking voters if they support slapping a tax on the sale of wea...