Episodes

Not long before we started recording, news broke that Don Lemon has bee arrested by agents of Trump for the high crime of practicing journalism. Ben riffs. Media critic Jennifer Schulze talks journalism in the Trump era. The Lemon arrest. The Ellisons and Bari Weiss trash CBS News. And a shoutout to local journalists. Jennifer is a former television journalist who writes [Indistinct Chatter], a column on Substack.

The picture of an unarmed Minneapolis woman, standing in her doorway as ICE goons approach, brandishing their weapons tells you all you need to know. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin covers the state of the country. Including…wimpy Senate Dems. Also, who’s in charge of the White House—Trump Or Miller? And the power of ideology—“it’s a helluva drug.” Finally, a bball break from the all the world’s horror. Who’s Chicago’s greatest—MJ or D Rose? Miles is an editor and writer for In These Times.

The feds sorta tell the truth iabout the execution of Alex Pretti. Ben riffs. Nick Uniejewski returns to talk about his campaign in the Democratic primary against longtime incumbent state Senator Sara Feigenholtz. It’s the first time that district’s incumbent has had a primary challenge since—hold on—1972. Among other things, Nick talks about what the state can do to protect its residents from ICE.

Worried about upsetting Boss Donnie, the NRA waters down its response to the public execution of Alex Pretti by agents of ICE. Ben riffs. And as Mayor Rahm tries to bamboozle Democratic voters into nominating him as their presidential candidate, Nora Flanagan and Jarrett Dapier revisit Persepolisgate—when Mayor Rahm’s flunkies ordered teachers to remove Persepolis from the classroom. A blast from his past that Mayor Rahm will not be talking about on the campaign trail. Nora is a former CPS Engli...

Seven House Dems vote with Trump to fund ICE. Ben riffs. Joey Ruzevich explains why he’s challenging 6th district Congressman Sean Casten in the Democratic primary. He talks Gaza, health care, the limits of government approved protest and the choice voters face between “fighters versus folders.” Aside from being a candidate, Joey is a software engineer and former college basketball player. Yes, there’s basketball talk.

Posters for the Melania “documentary” show up in Hispanic neighborhoods hit hard by ICE. Ben riffs. Monroe talks Amazon deal with Melania, Trump’s senility in Davos and Indiana’s peculiar proposal to the Bears. And more…

Trying to stay sane in an age of madness, Ben turns to sports as an escape—it almost works. Ben riffs. Charles Henderson tackles the tough topics. Including…the devil’s deal military recruiters offer Hispanics. Sign up and we won’t deport your parents—maybe. Also Charles turns the table on Ben, asking him the “regret” question. Charles is an Army vet and peace activist.

MAGA ranchers in Colorado forgive Trump even after he kills their much-needed water project out of spite. Ben riffs. Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez explains why Chicago is a model for the Democrats to emulate—at least in her part of town on the northwest side. Also, the difference between the city council and the board of commissioners. And why she doesn’t support funding for a new Bears stadium, as much as she loves the team. Jessica represents the 8th district and is running for re-e...

In news of the weird, clueless ICE agents round up Native Americans on the grounds that they’re illegal aliens who have to be deported to the country they came from. Ben riffs. Heidi Henry gives an update on politics in the Heartland. Data center passes for development. A toxic radium site still not cleaned up. An out-of-touch Democratic Party. And on the positive side—Kevin Ryan got it right. Heidi is one of the founders of Illinois Valley Indivisible, a horse trainer and a proud leftie.

So much news to discuss, and so little time to discuss it. So Ben and Dr Dive get right down to it. Bears beat Packers. Indiana makes its move for the Bears. Packers fan Mike Quigley dips his toe into the mayoral waters. For mayor of Fond du Lac? No, Chicago. Yes, he loves Matt LaFleur but he wants to be mayor of Ben Johnson City. Will he take the plunge? As long as Mayors Daley or Rahm aren’t running, he just might. JB meets the media. And more…

MAGA Senator Lindsey Graham momentarily told the truth about Trump’s election lie—and he was under oath. Ben riffs. Kevin Ryan returns! Talks campaign spending reform, reining in Trump’s military powers, why some voters “hate” Democrats, why ICE should be abolished. Also, his thoughts on religion and politics. A Marine Corps veteran and school teacher, Kevin is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

On the eve of the NFL playoffs, Congressman Mike Quigley announces he plans to run for mayor of Chicago and he’s rooting for Green Bay to beat the Bears. Ben riffs. George and Alejandro Verdin—uncle and nephew—welcome Ben to Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. Where they sit at a back table in the El Tepeyac Cafe and talk all things politics. Including the rise of L.A.’s Chicano movement, the ICE invasion, and who is the godfather of Hispanic politics in Los Angeles. Hint, it’s not George, despit...

The new year was supposed to be better, so let’s hope it’s just a case of things always being darkest before the dawn. Ben riffs. David Faris on the murder by ICE of Renee Nicole Good, Venezuela lunacy, and the upcoming midterms. The sad statement of Trump’s regime—“people are eager to be told what to do by a strong man.” David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.

A few days after Stephen Miller says Trump can do what he wants cause “the real world” is “governed by force,” ICE shoots and kills Renee Nicole Good and then lies about what happened. Ben riffs. Denali Dasgupta returns to talk about Venezuela, Minnesota, the performance of power (as opposed to the exercise of power), and why Ben should stop watching state-run TV. Also, a few words about Zootopia 2 and corporate America. Denali is an activist in Chicago.

Stephen Miller—Trump’s Rasputin—says if Boss Donnie wants to take Greenland, he will take it and no one can stop him cause might is right and that’s how the real world works. Ben riffs. Sam Fuqua gives the state of the state—Colorado, that is. Meet Tina Peters, Jared Polis, and Lauren Boebert (well, you already know her). Hear about Trump’s might-is-right retaliation, pulling federal money for a water project, unless Colorado releases Peters from jail. Sam is a longtime newsman in Colorado.

After Trump kidnaps Maduro, the NYT takes a stand against swallowing government handouts. Ben riffs. Adolfo Mondragon runs through all of the justifications concocted by Trump’s operatives for the invasion and kidnapping. Drugs? Please. The Monroe Doctrine? Stop. Restoring democracy? Ha, ha, ha. Also, will MAGA fall in line even though they’re supposed to be against regime change wars? And what would George Carlin say? Let’s listen. Adolfo is a lawyer in Chicago and an expert on gangster movies....

The Sun-Times decides it’s a good idea to illustrate a front-page story about Chicago’s declining murder rate with a picture of police investigating a murder. Ben riffs. State Senator Graciela Guzman breaks down the significance of Mayor Mamdani’s inauguration. Including…Mandy Patinkin singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow. The Jadakiss shoutout. The pledge to govern as a Democratic Socialist. The Bernie Sanders torch pass. And why We Gonna Make It is her favorite song by Jadakiss. That’s the one t...

Seymour Hersh documentary shows how much has changed and how much has stayed the same over the last 60 years. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains how some rules of journalism are not written down. But reporters know enough to follow them just the same. Also, Tina Peters is MAGA’s Joan of Arc. What Jesse Jackson meant when he told Monroe—I want you to be my friend. And will the Bears move to Gary? Hint…no way.

A new year’s arrived, but Ben would rather talk about an old one—1963. So onto the show comes Peter Orner to discuss The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter, his latest novel. It tells the story of the death of Cookie Kupcinet, daughter of Kup, a legendary Sun-Times gossip columnist and TV host. Was it suicide or murder? What role, if any, did Sidney Korshak play? It’s also a tale about the complicity of “honorable” men in the corruption of Chicago. Great book. Listen to the show and run out to read it.

Marjorie Taylor Greene repents—sorta. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan talks law. The Tina Peters case in Colorado. Does Trump have the legal authority to pardon a convict who’s convicted in state court? And the Judge Hannah Dugan case in Wisconsin. Should Judge Dugan be punished for an act of civil disobedience against a violation of state rights? Finally, a few words about Jim’s beloved “hook ‘n ladder” Bears. Jim is managing partner of Coogan Gallagher.

The senate approves Trump’s $900 billion military budget—that’s billion with a B. Ben riffs. Dan Tully takes his stand against the Trump-Hegseth military agenda. The illegal war against Venezuela. And the politicization of the military, trying to turn our troops into soldiers for MAGA. Dan is a major in the Army Reserve and a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th congressional district.

Bari Weiss bows to Boss Donnie and takes 60 Minutes down with her. Ben riffs. Ishan Daya gives you the scoop on this year’s budget. The Head Tax the council shoulda passed versus the dumbass Debt Sale they did pass. The budge is as bad as a Tribune editorial, making the council the Tribune Caucus. Ishan is co-executive director for the Institute for the Public Good.

What better way to celebrate Christmas then with Muslims and Jews. Ben riffs. Almas and Rummana discuss Christmas from a non-practitioner’s perspective, Sean Combs, Epstein, Trump, Bubba, Bill Maher, MTG and her incredibly lame boyfriend and Mamdani. Rummana is, of course, a Sun-Times columnist and Almas is a private eye and “the forgotten Hussain sister.”

Sorry, Bears fans, but there’s only one Iceman in Chicago. Ben riffs. Ashonta Rice tells the tale of the bizarre election law that got her kicked off the ballot for not keeping her divorced husband’s name when she ran for office. Thus, a law that insults voters and demeans women. Heckuva job, Illinois lawmakers. Ashonta Rice is running for circuit court judge in Cook County.