Episodes

It’s the night after the debate and a week after endorsements so a lot to catch up on. Rachel Joravsky joins Ben to review the news, including…the NYT’s pathetic coverage of Chicago’s mayoral election. The Vallas fundraising edge. And a deep dive on Fox and Tucker and the insurrection. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben offers advice to mayoral candidate Jesus Garcia, not that he asked for it or would ever take it. Then Democratic Socialist activist Sean Estelle talks about getting kicked out of the City Council for…well, it’s not really certain why they got kicked out. Probably had something to do with opposing Mayor Lightfoot’s proposed Com Ed agreement. Apparently, it’s now illegal for the public to criticize the mayor during the public comment portion of a council meeting. Also, a few words about what’s at stake with the Com Ed agreement. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cassie Creswell, a member of Illinois Families For Public Schools, tells you everything you need to know about vouchers. That is, using public tax dollars to pay for private school tuition. Who wants them. Who profits from them. And how they will impact public schools. They're coming to Illinois. Actually, they're already here. And they will expand in Chicago, if Paul Vallas is elected mayor.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The smartest brains in Chicago give advice to Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas in advance of tonight’s mayoral debate. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson and Kina Collins, former congressional candidate, talk mayoral politics. Including…Defund as a Republican talking point. Willie Wilson & Jesse White’s Vallas endorsement. And then it’s on to national politics. Fox & MAGA and DeSantis v. Trump. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pr...

Mayor Lightfoot goes after Brandon Johnson. Ben riffs. And Dave Glowacz returns for another segment of Sounds of the Council. Ben & Dave analyze the council’s recent debate on TIFs and Com Ed. Hear your alders in action. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Paul Vallas is "surging" in the polls. Ben riffs. And former congressional candidate and gun-control advocate Kina Collins returns to take the deep dive on the mayor's race. Including answering the Marc Sims question about whether there are too many Black candidates. Also, she has a few words about the generational divide in politics. Something she knows about having run against Congressman Danny Davis. Finally, a discussion about Governor Pritzker's aldermanic endorsements. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Activist, singer/songwriter Michael Burton sings a song about the long struggle to make Chicago an equitable and affordable place to live. Joining him on lead guitar is Josh Goldman. Enjoy the songs…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rummana Hussain--Sun-Times editorial writer/columnist--considers the question: Are millennial journalists more courageous than Boomer ones? Ben says yes. Rummana says, it's complicated. Also, a few words about her recent trip to India. And the word on Nikki Haley's campaign for president. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a week of news to discuss and you can guess what the main topic is…the mayoral election. Joining Ben to beak it down is Rachel Hinton, reporter for the Illinois Answers Project. Topics…how did Lightfoot lose, the endorsement chess game, policing strategies going forward, and key aldermanic races.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderman Matt Martin (47th) discusses ethics in Chicago. More specifically, his attempts to chair the city council’s ethics committee. Also, why it’s prudent, practical and ethical for the council to hold off on approving the Com Ed deal. And which mayoral candidates are doing well in his north side ward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political scientist David Faris has a lot of questions on his mind. Will Republicans oust Trump from their party? Well, we know they won't. But can they devise a nice way to encourage him to move aside so he won't destroy the party? Not sure about that either. Can they find a place for George Santos, a brazen liar? Why not, they already found one for Trump. Which begs this question: who's the bigger liar, Santos or Trump? Depends what you mean by liar. And a few words about the 2024 senate race in Arizona--Ruben Gallego v. Kari Lake v. Kyrsten Sinema. You heard it hear first, folks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Lightfoot comes in third, misses the mayoral runoff. Ben riffs. And veteran journalists Monroe Anderson and Derrick Blakely break down Tuesday’s election results. Why did Lightfoot disrespect Willie Wilson? Can Brandon Johnson win? What happened to Chuy? Why do white people love Paul Vallas so much? And more…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Lightfoot rips the city council for asking for more time to consider her Com Ed deal. Ben riffs. And Emma Tai, executive director of the United Working Families, returns to talk aldermanic and mayoral politics. Specifically, is Chicago ready for democracy? And what she means when she says: “I play to win!”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis eliminates Advanced Placement African-American history cause he's afraid the truth will upset white children. That's just one of the issues Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain discusses. Also, a word or two or three about President Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, and MAGA's using Martin Luther King Jr., or at least one phrase from one speech, as a weapon to destroy all the things he believed in.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben & Dr. D have gambling on their mind as they take a look back on the week that was. Specifically, why does Chicago think it's a good idea to fund government with a casino? And, how did Sam Bankman-Fried convince the Lightfoot administration to take FTX money to run a program intended to teach lessons about finance to low-income people? And why did Congressman Garcia take campaign contributions from FTX? And what will relatively normal people in Chicago think of the mayor's latest commercial? ...

Vincent E. Norment & Victoria Williams—the pride and joy of Englewood—return to talk Bball. Specifically. Ben’s beloved Bulls. Stumbling into the all-star break with six straight losses, it looked bleak for the Bulls. Then they signed the energy man, Patrick Beverly (Marshall High , ‘06) and suddenly things are looking up. Also, a few words above KD & Kyrie & LeBron. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Comedian Pat Whalen joins Ben to talk about the week that was. Which includes…the Vallas surge. The Axe is back. Campaign signs. Madigan’s and Burke’s aldermanic candidates. Why MAGA is so happy. Hint, Vallas speaks to them. And a few words about the Sunday morning talk shows. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Block Club investigative reporter Mick Dumke stops by to pick up the conversation on politics that he and Ben have been having since about 2005. Join them for the deep dive into the mayoral and aldermanic elections. Could Chicago actually replace autocracy with democracy? The safe bet is on autocracy when it comes to Chicago. People just love their Bosses.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wisconsin gets ready for an all-important Supreme Court election. Ben riffs. In These Times editor Miles Kampf-Lassin deconstructs “strategy voting” in the mayor’s race and Paul Vallas’ thoughts on CRT. Also, the CTU gamble. And he makes a prediction yiu can take to Vegas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Lightfoot celebrates the opening of the police & fire training academy. Ben riffs. And Denali Dasgupta, 39th ward aldermanic candidate, makes her debut. Talking budgets, property taxes, TIFs, public safety, and why her 17-year-old son wants to be a police officer. She’s a rarity for Chicago politics. Super smart and funny. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The mayor wants city to consider Com Edison deal in the midst of an election campaign. Ben riffs. And state Rep. & mayoral Kam Buckner weighs in on all the issues. Including…Com Ed deal, police community relations, education, school CEOs and funding the Bears. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

A new poll and a taxing proposal by Brandon Johnson. Ben riffs on the latest news from the mayor's race. And state Rep. Bob Morgan talks gun control. Specifically, the bill he sponsored in the wake of last summer's shootings in Highland Park. The resistance he faced. The compromises he made. The final vote. The opposition in the aftermath. And the evolving attitude about Americans on the issue of guns. The dynamic, he says, is changing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been a wacky week. So Ben turned to a comedian to help explain it—Rachel Joravsky. Hmm, that last name is familiar. Ben and Rach riff on the news, including…the anti-Vallas strategy. Fox personalities reveal what they think of MAGA. Abortion insanity. And a word or two about Tunney & Vallas & DeSantis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Columnist/political scientist David Faris talks about the latest bit of insanity from MAGA--gas stove panic. Also, an analysis of Speaker Kevin McCarthy's precarious hold on MAGA in congress. David offers advice for Dems and asks—what were security documents doing in Biden's garage? And more...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.