Episodes

Stacy Davis Gates--president of Chicago Teachers Union--returns to talk all things politics. Specifically, the Republican assault on Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The bizarre case of Richard Irvin. And Brittney Griner, locked in Putin's prison. And a word or two in defense of Isiah Thomas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The great Estelle Harris died. She played George Costanza's mother in Seinfeld. Ben riffs. And Dave Glowacz--from Inside Chicago Government--returns to review the last few meetings. Casinos. Rules. Mayoral control. It's hard not to be cynical in Chicago.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political strategist and podcast host Sameena Mustafa returns to discuss one of her latest projects--a study of political candidates who are women of color. Or, more to the point, the violence and anger they face from the left as well as MAGA. The question is--why are men threatened by women in power? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yesterday, Ben appealed to Len Goodman to do what he had to do to save the Reader. That appeal didn't work. So Ben tries again. And Monroe Anderson returns to talk masks, Trump judges, MAGA & Putin and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Willie Wilson announces he's running for mayor. But he won't say if he voted for Trump. Ben riffs. And political strategist Delmarie Cobb makes her long-awaited return to talk all things politics. Including, why she wants people to vote for David Moore. And how Republicans show their contempt for Black voters. And her appreciation for Senator Cory Booker. And how Republicans spin the media. And why the media should know better. And why she's so proud of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. And memories of Harold Washington on the 100th anniversary of his birth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben goes to California and gets a massage. What a story. And Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa--the dean of the council Democratic Progressives--returns and he's got a lot on his mind. Ward Map. Casino. Danny Solis. Elon Musk. Mayor's race. And who's got the biggest gas-giveaway card--Mayor Lightfoot or Willie Wilson?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On April 5, 2022, Ben & Maya returned to The Hideout for First Tuesdays. On topic--former House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, the good, the bad & the ugly. Out guests were two people who know a lot about the man people call Mad Dog. Political strategist Alaina Hampton was a campaign aide in the once mighty Madigan political operation. She left after Madigan basically looked the other at her allegations of sexual harrassment by another campaign aide. WBEZ reporter Dave McKinney has been covering t...

In These Times editor/writer Miles Kampf-Lassin returns and we start talking about Jeff Cramer's breakdown over the successful unionizing effort at the Amazon warehouse in New York and wind up talking capitalism. Specifically, why Jeff Bezos and his peers hate unions so much. And then the conversation moves to Biden & the child tax credit. Dem can be their own worse enemies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-...

Ben & Dr. D riff on a week's worth of news. Pritzker & Bailey & Irvin & Poor Jesse Sullivan. And then Dr. Dr makes the case for Willie Wilson. Ben is skeptical--to put it mildly. And much more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Podcaster Marc Sims returns and the conversation turns to Willie Wilson and Richard Irvin. Will Chicago voters elect Willie Wilson as their mayor because he give out free gas? As for Richard Irvin, he's the more or less centrist-like mayor of Aurora who's recast himself as a MAGA Republican to beat JB Pritker. In his latest commercial, Irvin says, "there's nothing the left fears more than Republicans who look me and think like us." What is he telling us? Marc & Ben riff. See Privacy Policy at h...

On Friday it will be the 100th anniversary of the birth of Harold Washington--the greatest mayor in the history of Chicago. To mark the event, there have been celebrations all over town. Ben riffs. And then Monroe Anderson and Josie Childs join the show to talk all things Harold Washington. Josie Childs is a longtime friend and aide to the late mayor. So she has some great stories to tell. Including a Washington secret. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host of The Fight Podcast, Sergio Vicente returns to discuss Colby Covington, the Trump-loving, MAGA flag-waving UFC fighter, who's trying to make a name for himself by baiting LeBron James with trash talk. Sergio explains what Covington's up to and why he's doing it and whether it works. Then the conversation turns to Will Smith & Chris Rocks at the Oscars. You don't want to miss the conversation... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c...

Anat Shenker-Osorio is a left-of-center political strategist who has spent many years studying messaging. That is--why certain messages resonate and others don't. Not surprising, she's determined that the right is more effective at the left at message. Why is that? She explains--with examples. She's the principal of ASO Communications and hosts her own podcast, Words to Win By.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 returns to talk Will Smith, Chris Rock, toxic masculinity and Tucker Carlson and then one thing leads to another and she explains the destructive side effects of the myth of the model minorities. And a word or two about Chris Rock's white producers joke at the Oscars. 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 busy week. Ben & Dr. D jump right in. Starting with...the mayor's favorite newspaper. Well, it's not a local one. Moving on to Richard Irvin's delicate dance with MAGA. Campaign commercials from Alexi. Too bad he's not running for best basketball player in Illinois politics. Casino games. And Alderman Lopez announces he's running for mayor. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Why is it that when Chicago does the right thing, it's generally for the wrong reason? Ben ponders that question. And then Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor makes her long-awaited return. And not a moment too soon. The conversation moves from Republicans attitude toward Black women to the war on crime to Arne Duncan to Lori Lightfoot to what people in Aurora say about Richard Irvin to a whole bunch of other things.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Monroe Anderson's birthday. Ben seeks some words to live by. And then another Chicago legend, Richard Steele--aka, The Real Deal--comes on to offer his advice. Then the topic turns to race. And Clarence & Ginni Thomas. And the upcoming mayoral election. And, wait, more birthday advice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Laurie Glenn & Juanita Irizarry return. And after a word or two or three about MAGA and the Brown-Jackson hearings, the talk turns to casinos. As in--it's crazy that Chicago would rely so much on the proceeds from a vice. Also, a word or two about how you must be doing something right if the Tribune's editorial squad criticizes you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

WBEZ reporter Linda Lutton--one of Chicago's great reporters--will be taking a year off. She stopped by to talk about some of her favorite stories. Or, at least, some of Ben's favorite Linda Lutton stories. Including her masterpiece about the "vandals" who put an extra s on the signs, thus turning Douglas into Douglass Park. Classic Chicago stories.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 Rummana Hussain returns and she's got a lot on her mind. The Ricketts family & Islamaphobia. Senator Ted Cruz and his racist behavior. Ketanje Brown Jackson staying cool under pressure. Why is it "okay" for white men to counter punch, but Black women have to hold their fire? And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Breaking news starts the show! Amazon warehouse workers in State Island vote union. Ben riffs. Then Michael Gerardi--Chicago's Neil Young--returns to play one of his latest songs: "Look Me In The Eye". Then it's time to riff on a week's worth of news, including the Democratic attack commercial on Richard Irvin and Irvin's MAGA response. And then Mayor Lightfoot steals a page from Willie Wilson on gas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want to know why people in Chicago are so cynical about politics? Maybe it's because their leaders say things everybody knows can't be true. Speaking of which...Ben riffs on Willie Wilson, Mayor Lightfoot and the rising cost of gasoline. And then election lawyer Adolfo Mondragon and Alderman Sigcho-Lopez talk about their "unsuccessful" against Danny Solis. It may not be so unsuccessful after all. Also, Sigcho-Lopez on the casino.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, deliver his MAGA-marching orders to Nick Sposato and other northwest side alderman--oppose Rob Martwick or else! Ben riffs. Also, Miles Kampf-Lassin, editor/writer from In These Times, returns to talk: Ukraine, War Criminals, Paul Volcker policies, Joe Manchin, Sarah Bloom Raskin and more. The man knows his stuff. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Republicans double down on their attempt to win in November by being tough on crime. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson and Professor Dick Simpson talk about the fragile state of democracy locally and nationally. The consensus--Chicago's in better shape than the rest of the country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.