Episodes

State Senator Rob Martwick has achieved the impossible. He's clearly hated by two people who hate each other--John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police--and Mayor Lightfoot. How did such an easy-going guy ach...

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock and Ben riffs. Just when you thought you've seen it all. And LeRoy Gordon, aka Roy Flash Gordon, retuns to give it all some perspective. The man's a former professional wrestler, so he knows a thing or two about the fine line between dramatic trash talk and violence. And…

School activists Cassie Creswell & Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth tell the only-in-Chicago story of Jones High School, located in the south Loop, who has a principal who allegedly lives in Missouri. What, CPS, you couldn't find someo...

David Faris returns to break down the latest on Ukraine, Putin, Biden, MAGA, NATO, China, COVID & more. As he & Ben come face to face with the depressing realization--there's always money for war. See Privacy Policy at https:...

Another week's worth of news for Ben & Dr. D to riff on. Where to start? How about some old news--Republicans latest efforts to scare voters into voting against JB. Then the secretary of state's race. Then Light My Fire. Ligh...

Two of Chicago's smartest movie minds--Sergio Mims from the Black Harvest Film Festival & Chris Buddy, director extraordinaire--join Ben to geek out over The Godfather. Can it really be 50 years? Favorite scenes. Why is it th...

Michael Flynn endorses Gary Rabine for governor. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson talks the Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings. And then LeAlan Jones--former Green Party candidate for senate--returns to discuss the war in Ukraine. Is there are any even glimmer of hope? Finally, the Chicago c…

Ben & Maya invite political strategists Wallace "Gator" Bradley & Mary Kay Norton to The Hideout for the March 1 version of First Tuesdays. Yes, we're back. The conversation--what do you got to do to get elected as a Cook County Judge? If you want to understand how the system works, you've got to l…

Shia Kapos runs a story about a new poll showing JB Pritzker in trouble. Ben riffs. And Maya Dukmasova, Injustice Watch reporter, returns to talk criminal justice. Also, Maya and Ben will be hosting Alaina Hampton & Dave McKi...

33rd Ward Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez talks about the need to stay compassionate, sane, focused and determined during difficult times. Also, a word or two or three about dealing with Mayor Lightfoot. Pushing for alternatives to the old ways of policing. And praise for Alderwoman Maria Hadd…

Former school CEO Janice Jackson says CTU can't get along. Ben riffs. And Dave Glowacz, ace reporter for Inside Chicago Government, returns with clips from recent City Council meetings. What's on the agenda, you ask? Good que...

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So much for Ben & Dr. D to riff on--so little time. So let's get to it...Willlie Wilson gives away gas, as opposed to cash. That wins the Dr.'s vote. Reefer sales fall. Good news for cookie man. John Catanzara auditions for a...

WBEZ reporter Dave McKinney returns to discuss two of the most powerful players in Illinois politics--Kenneth Griffin, who bankrolls the Republican Party, and Michael Joseph Madigan, who used to run the Democratic Party. They have more in common than you think, Dave breaks down his recent expose ab…

State Attorney Kim Foxx makes a tough decision. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Ukraine. And then...the great debate. As Adolfo Mondragon--lawyer extraordinaire--defends the sentencing of Jussie Smollett to 150 days in jail....

Mayor Lightfoot went on the Craig Dellimore Show, which is not really called the Craig Dellimore Show, and blamed everything on Ben. Well, not everything. But just the criticism Alderwoman Sue Sadlowski Garza aimed at Mayor Lightfoot. Ben riffs. And state Rep. Kam Buckner talks mayor's race. Will h…

Alderwoman Sue Sadlowski Garza covers a range of topics. Including the tragic murder of Amanda Calo, shot dead by her husband. Katie Garza, the alderwoman's daughter, joins the conversation to pay tribute to Amanda and ask listeners donate to a GoFundMe page for Amanda's two children. Then the top…

Roosevelt University Political Scientist David Faris takes us from A to Z on Putin's war against Ukraine. Putin's twisted logic, motivations and justifications--"it's not a violation of sovereignty, but a restoration of it." How best to confront him. The hypocrisy of Bush. The threat to the world. …

Wednesday, July 10, 2019: An Alligator in the Humboldt Park Lagoon? Confederate Railroad banned from the Illinois State Fair. Legendary Chicago journalist Monroe Anderson returns. Activist Sameena Mustafa is back and Jacobin Writer Micah Uetricht talks local and national politics. See Privacy Poli…

Just after Judge James Linn sentenced Jussie Smollett to five months in the County Jail, Ben & Rummana sat down two discuss. And why not. We've been updating Smollettgate as it unfolded almost from the moment it began in Janu...

Dems want to pretend Michael Madigan never existed. Ben riffs. Alderman David Moore returns to discuss his candidacy to replace Jesse White as Secretary of State. He's the only candidate in the race who openly declares he's n...

Jeff Jenkins is a juggler, activist, circus ring leader, and former aldermanic candidate--not necessarily in that order. He's also a passionate rescuer and trainer of dogs, particularly Pit bulls, who are bred to fight. He talks about saving and training "fight" dogs. There's much overlap between m…

Battle of the letters-to-editor in the Sun-Times. First, Kenneth Griffin, then a Sun-Times reader. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson & Sergio Mims, co-founder of the Black Harvest Festival, and the great debate. Is media unfair to M...

Sun-Times editorial writer/columnist Rummana Hussain & Ben take a diversion from the madness of the day to discus Kanye, Mama's Boys, David Yurman, Missoni (spelled correctly), and why white people have a hard time telling on...