Episodes

A post from Heidi Van Lier inspires Ben to riff about her father--the great Norm Van Lier. Then it's on to the political business of the day. Starting with Monroe Anderson and Ben talking about the exoneration of two men who ...

Johnny Catanzara, president of the FOP, quits to run for mayor. Can't make this shit up. Also, Sam Holloway returns to talk politics from a lefty perspective. And Dave McCarver, Democratic chieftain from Lee County, explains ...

Writer/activist Rebecca Sive talks about women in politics, the MAGA backlash and a few bright sides to Tuesday's elections. Also, a word or two about her latest book, Make Herstory Your Story . See Privacy Policy at https://...

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain returns to talk Jenna Ryan and the concept of internalized white privileged. Also, is the Tomahawk Chop a little too cultish? And while we're asking questions--how come entitled peop...

Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Trump vs The Squad. That damn alligator is out of the lagoon. Election Lawyer Adolfo Mondragon gets candid. Co-Host of the Girl Talk Erika Wozniak on Trump and MORE and The South Side Political Know it...

Ben & Dr. D riff on a week’s worth of news. Including billionaire Ken “Kenny G” Griffin’s pledge to spend whatever it takes to defeat billionaire Governor Pritzker. Also, Chicago finally gets ready to build a casino. Guess wh...

Kyle Rittenhouse squeezes out a tear or two when he takes the stand. Ben riffs. Marc Sims talks Rittenhouse and crime. And Litesa Wallace--Democratic candidate for congress in the 17th district--returns to talk about her camp...

Ben talks to Lenny Bruce! Ok, not really, Lenny Bruce. But Ronnie Marmo, the actor, who plays the great comedian in a one-man play that Marmo wrote called "I'm Not a Comedian...I'm Lenny Bruce." Marmo talks about Lenny's impa...

Kyle Rittenhouse takes the stand. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks about the case against Trump and his insurrectionists. And Jacob Kaplan, executive director of the Cook County Democratic Party, talks politics. Specifically,...

Political scientist David Faris returns to talk about Republican "moral panic" and how it's being used as a tool by Glenn Youngkin in his race against Terry McCauliffe for governor of Viriginia. The latest "moral panic" is cr...

Political strategist Laurie Glenn and Juanita Irizarry, executive director of Friends of the Parks, return to talk politics. And somehow the conversation turns to a spirited discourse on the irony of powers in Chicago. In whi...

September 17, 2021--Ben & Dr. D have a lot to say about a week's worth of news. Especially, the attempts of politicians to fool the voters. Like a certain Republican "moderate" named Jesse Sullivan. And a certain Chicago alde...

Ben & Dr. D riff on a week's worth of news, starting with...Congressman Adam Kinzinger. Will he or won't he? Huh? You gotta listen. And the CEO of McDonald's had something to say about young victims of crime so he sent a text...

Aaron Rodgers takes a page from Bill Clinton's "depends what the meaning of is is" to convince people think he'd been vaccinated, when he wasn't. Ben riffs. And Sarah Bingaman, Indivisible activist from MAGA-land, talks about...

The Reader through a virtual party, featuring Kim Hunt, executive director of Pride Action Tank, Stacy Davis Gates, Alderwoman Rodriguez and Benny J. And we talked about the future of progressive politics in Chicago. Needless...

MAGA wins in Virginia and almost in New Jersey. Democrats panic. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks about what went wrong for Dems and what they have to do to change course. And legendary Chicago activist Jitu Brown makes his p...

MAGA takes its stand in Kenosha & Virginia, hoping to acquit Kyle Rittenhouse of murder and elect a Trumpster as governor. Dems look helpless. Ben riffs. And political strategist Andrew Ellison makes his debut to take the dee...

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain returns to talk, among other things,Squid Games. Let the great debate begin. Also, was Katie Couric helping or hurting RBG by hiding her comments about Colin Kaepernick?. And, finall...

Tuesday, July 2, 2019: Trump's stupid parade. The Illinois gas and cigarette tax. Maya Dukmasova of The Chicago Reader talks last week's debates. Gardening Guru and radio host Mike Nowak talks politics and parks. Preservation...

It's week-summarizing time. With Dr. D in Alton, Atiba Buchanan--WVON talk show host--returns to engage Ben in a series of great debates. Topics include--congressional remap. White guy wins $10 million discrimination lawsuit....

The City Council passes Mayor Lightfoot's budget. Ben riffs. Also, an apology to Johnny C. Sorta. And Miles Kampf-Lassin, writer/editor for In These Times, returns to talk about, among other things, taxing the rich. It's popu...

House Speaker Chris Welch returns to talk legislative maps, Ken Griffin, Lightfoot & Foxx and Bears. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-in...

The Chicago Blackhawks hockey team finally fess up to covering up allegations of sexual assault during the 2010 playoffs. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson & Sergio Mims talk Kyle Rittenhouse trial, mask mandates, Chicago Reader...

The Sun-Times isn't delivered, Johnny C defies Queen Lori, and parental notification. Ben riffs on all. And Dave Glowacz, ace reporter for Inside Chicago Government, returns for another City Council Synopsis. Featuring Inspec...