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 achieve this distinction? Apparently, by daring to disagree with Catanzara & Lightfoot on separate matters. Martwick explains. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 then ace attorney Jim Coogan returns to talk about the sins of Donald Trump and his confederates. A federal judge says Trump's attempt to subvert the 2020 presidential election is "likely criminal". Jim explains the context, where the case against Trump is going and Trump's attempt to divert attention by suing Hillary Clinton. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 someone closer to home? They also consider the age-old questions: Why do the leaders of Chicago public schools dislike parent, hate democracy, and adore powerful mayors. Also, a word or two or three about efforts in Mississippi to fire a teacher for introducing his students to th...

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

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. Light My Fire? Yes, Light My Fire. Then Casinogate in Chicago. Then the new alderwoman of the 11th. The Daleys love her. This city can't get enough of the Daleys. And a word or two about Eric Adams and Kyrie Irving. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California ...

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 the greatest? What is its legacy? Back stories. Flaws--Sonny missed the punch! And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 casino. Is there a worse way to raise money for pensions?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 listen to the experts. Maya, reporter for Injustice Watch, gets the discussion going with the all-important first question...

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 McKinney at the next First Tuesdays. The topic? Michael Joseph Madigan. That's Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 Hadden and Deborah Witzburg, candidate for Inspector General.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 question! Police, Jesse White & TIFs. Though this being Chicago, they talk about TIFs without mentioning TIFs. Strange city. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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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 mayoral run by trying to bully Alderman Nick Sposato. Chicago loves bullies so it might win Catanzara votes. MAGA must decide whether they'll sell out by going for the candidate with the big-bucks backers. And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali...

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 about Griffin's company's holdings in gun manufacture companies. And he talks about corruption indictment against Madigan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Monroe & Ben take the other position. Look out, everybody... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 he run against Lightfoot? The Sun-Times positions him as a leading candidate. Also, Buckner talks about crime and Dems, CTU, and taking down that dastardly Trump sign. And other things...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 topic turns to politics. Asked if she's supporting Mayor Lightfoot's re-election, Alderwoman Garza says no. Then explains why she's breaking from her former ally.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Would appeasement have worked? And more...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

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 January, 2019. Was the sentence fair? Should Smollett have received any jail time? Was this a reality show we were watching? Did Smollett use Kim Foxx? If Smollett is doing time for lying, why isn't Donald Trump in jail? And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privac...

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 not using the office as a stepping stone to higher office. He lays out his agenda. And Peter "PC" Cunningham, the brains behind Daley, Duncan & Rahm returns to talk why Arne Duncan is not running for mayor. Why it's hard to have a legitimate conversation about crime. Police r...

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 man's cruelty to dogs and his cruelty to other humans.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Mayor Lightfoot? Is the left wrong on NATO? Are we on the verge of WW III? And a few thoughts about The Godfather. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 one Indian-American woman from another. And, of course, the Kardashians. Resulting in one of the most blatant Manplaining moments in the history of podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-...