Episodes

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/priva...

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...

Sergio Vicente, host of The Fight Podcast, and Benji "the Bookie" Hall return for a great debate. Who should be on the NBA top 75 players of all time and who should be left off. Also, will the Bulls ever be able to beat the good teams? Yes, when Alex Caruso returns. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What a week's worth of news it was! Michael Joseph Madigan indicted! Mayor Lightfoot allegedly brags about having the "biggest dick in Chicago!" George W. Bush, of all people, comes to town to denounce invasions of sovereign countries. And Jeanne Ives backs Darren Bailey, the (not a) hog farmer, over Richard "Money Man" Irvin in the Republican governor primary. Ben & Dr. D riff big time! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...

The feds indict former House Speaker Michael Joseph Madigan on corruption charges. True to form, Ben is all over the map. And then state Rep Kelly Cassidy--who took a stand against Madigan long before it was fashionable--returns to talk about his legacy. Good and bad.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vincent E. Norment--owner of the Marijuana Hall of Fame--returns to consider the question: Is the NFL a racist organization, at least when it comes to the hiring Black coaches? Brian Flores, recently fired coach of the Miami Dolphins, says yes. Vincent and Ben talk about his discrimination lawsuit against the NFL. And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Arne Duncan announces he's not running for mayor. Now Mayor Lightfoot who had nothing but contempt for him can't love him enough. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson talks Biden's state of the union and then joins LeAlan Jones--former Green Party candidate for senate--for a great debate about Ukraine. Also, Monroe & LeAlan weigh in on Duncan's decision not to run. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben woke up to discover he'd been scooped by his scoop. That is, his interview with Alderwoman Sue Sadlowski Garza had generated lots of coverage after Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune writer, wrote about it. Next thing you know, Mike Flannery's on the line. Ben riffs. And then Gregory Pratt, himself, talks about Alderwoman Garza, Arne Duncan not running for mayor, and his ongoing series about Mayor Lightfoot's text. Did the mayor's sharp elbows scare Duncan out of running against her? 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.

On March 10, 2019, Nadia Milleron's 24-year-old daughter, Samya Rose Stumpo, was one of 157 passengers who died when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed on a flight from Adidas Ababa to Nairobi, Kenya. Nadia is waging a campaign to change Illinois law that will allow survivor's to sue Boeing, the manufacturer of the airplane that crashed, for punitive damages in wrongful death cases. It's a long and challenging struggle. 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 set off a twitter fight with his tweet about relaxing COVID mandates. It got ugly. You don't want to be the "main character" on Twitter. The politics of mask mandates and COVID are changing as we head toward November's election. David explains. Also, the South Carolina Democratic primary pits a progressive against a Manchin type. David's recommendation--vote left Democrats! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Riffing time! As Ben & Dr. D look back on the news. But first! Maya Dukmasova makes a surprise appearance to promote March 1 First Tuesdays. Then back to the news, including: MAGA's twisted, very twisted, adoration for Putin; Governor Pritzker endorses Anna Valencia over Alexi Giannoulias in the race for secretary of state; Dr. D throws his hat into the ring for 11th ward alderman, and Alderwoman Sue Sadlowski Garza reveals she's not supporting Mayor Lightfoot in 2023. See Privacy Policy at htt...

It's not swearing day. Ben explains. State Rep. Lakesia Collins returns to talk about what happened last week on the floor of the General Assembly when she dared to tell Republicans to, please, put on your masks. And Miles Kampf-Lassin, editor/writer from In These Times, talks all things Ukraine. Including the alliance of Trump & MAGA with Putin and against Biden. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In an obvious effort to boost ratings, Ben was hoping to be "canceled". Didn't quite work out that way. As he laments. Monroe Anderson returns. On the topic--backlash voting. Trump's love for Putin. Does Trump really endorse an invasion of Mexico, as he said on a podcast? Does MAGA? If MAGA hates lawlessness and loves property rights, why are they supporting the Canadian truckers? And pending war in the Ukraine. Plus, Ben & Monroe make a bet on Biden's Supreme Court nominee. See Privacy Policy ...

Singer, song-writer Peter Jericho makes his debut. Talking about growing up as the "African kid" in Chicago. And then going back to Cameroon, his native country. A man of two continents, he explains what he means by his lyric: "You used to laugh at our funny names, now you want to Wakanda everything." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rummana Hussain--Sun-Times editorial writer--returns to talk censorship. As we ask the question--if MAGA hates censorship so much how come they're always trying to censor other people. Also, a few words about white people who want to use the N word. And, pay attention to All of Us Are Dead. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Achy Obejas is a poet, translator, novelist, journalist, mother, baseball fan and now...repeat guest on our show! Today's conversation roams from protesting Canadian truckers to Joe Rogan to Free Speech to Achy's theory about "the proximity to Blackness" to the greatness of Roberto Clemente. And then it concludes with Achy's reading of her poem The President of Coca-Cola, a tribute to the great Ana Mendieta. 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 riff on the week's news. Including...a $20 million valentine that Ken Griffin gave to Richard Irvin. A man that most voter in Illinois had never heard of until Griffin, the richest man in the state, chose him to be our next governor. Funny how democracy works. Plus, Chicago news. And Ben badly flunks his hip-hip test. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben makes a confession for which he must apologize. And then WVON-AM talk-show host David Seaton returns and then he and Ben promptly disagree about almost everything. Including, the NFL, Brian Flores, the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Section-8, the Bears, Arlington Heights, Jennifer Lawrence and a few other things. They do agree that Sarah Palin is a phony. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aaron Rodgers whines that everyone's picking on him cause he's so anti-vax. Ben riffs. And Sam Holloway--firefighter and unapologetic leftist returns to talk liberty. Or--what MAGA means when they say liberty. Probably doesn't mean liberty for you. Also, the Democrats move right on COVID. As they generally do on just about any issue under pressure from Republicans. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.