Episodes

AOC is seen trolling MAGA. Ben riffs. And it's "popcorn and champagne" for Monroe Anderson as he gleefully analyzes Kevin McCarthy's pathetic attempts to beg MAGA to elect him speaker. For once Dems are disciplined and Republicans are falling apart. It couldn't happen to a viler bunch. Is there a difference between MAGA and a cowardly Republican? Here's a suggestion--elect Trump as the speaker. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The reporters on the New York Times are on a one-day strike. Ben riffs. And former 46th ward Alderwoman Helen Shiller talks about her new book--Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win. It's about her life on the front lines of lefty and independent politics in Chicago since the 1970s. What a great conversation...Harold Washington, Richard Daley, the Jesus People and more. Does she have any regrets? You have to listen to find out... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Council Wars is always on my mind. Ben and Maya riff. And Chris Scott, Chief Political Officer for Democracy for America, has Georgia and the midterms on his mind. What went wrong, what went right. How should Democrats deal with overtly racist Republican tactics? And what to do about Ohio? Or—how to win the Dave Chappelle voter. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 year digging into the crime. His expose sheds light on ties between the Mob & the Machine in Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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's conviction; and MAGA propaganda. Or, why do Democrats believe MAGA trash talk? Also, a tribute to the great Sergio Mims. 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 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 debate stage leading up to the 2020 presidential. Why do Democrats love to hurt themselves? And then it's on to MAGA men...DeSantis, Leo, Walker & Jones. And more...10/15/22 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priv...

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 futility of the tax-the-rich messaging, the mixed message in the War on Drugs and a few thoughts on the Greatest Generation. Maybe they're not so great. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Washington. Then they turned around and cut their deal with Mayor Daley. We're talking about you, Luis Gutierrez. Will Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia be the first Latino mayor? And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Why is this city so determined to erase all the good things Harold Washington tried to do? Also, a confession from Ben & Delmarie about Daley. What's with Alderman Brian Hopkins going after Mayor Lightfoot? It's a prime example of the difference between transactional and re...

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 Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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-sell-my-info.

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 honest liar. Which really sums it up. And more... 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 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 Green, round two. Only now Green is also challenging Wilson. And Oscar & Felix are back--the characters in Mayor Lightfoot's latest commercial. Boomers swoon. And Chuy picks up $1 million contribution. And Ben has a thing or two to say about MAGA's bizarre reaction to Brittney...

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 go to prison for. A few words about DeSantis's COVID rewrite. And meet newly elected congressman George Santos--baby Trump in New York. And, of all things, some Riverview Reminiscence. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 drops the mic on Ben. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

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; Brandon Johnson mayoral candicacy; why the union's not a "kingmaker"; and what's the matter with Mayor Lightfoot. Hint--it's not her personality. Also, a word or two about the senatorial campaign in Georgia. There is not return to normal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 the way was Utah. So he offers a word or two or three about Black Lives Matter in Salt Lake City. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 the award-winning “Ghetto Life 101”. Newman recently died at age 43. Finally, a word or two or three about the mayor's race. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.