Episodes

Columnist Eric Zorn reveals he and his family have COVID. Ben riffs---and immediately books Eric for the show. And political strategist Delmarie Cobb returns. Among the topics--Black anti-vaxxers v. white ones. What motivates...

Achy Obejas is a poet, translator, novelist, journalist, and political junkie. She's also a friend of Ben from way back when. They start out talking about Boomerang , her latest collection of poetry. And wind up taking the de...

Obviously, the country as a whole has decided to take a page from the NBA and keep on rolling in the face of the latest COVID outbreak. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson describes a pending civil war. And jazz professor/trumpet play...

Monkeys blindly avenge dogs. Ben riffs. And Miles Kampf-Lassin, editor/writer from In These Times, returns with much on his mind. The "learned helplessness" of Dems. COVID as wedge issue against Trump. Manchin the Republican....

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain and Ben explain why they're not jumping for joy with the guilty verdict for Jussie Smollett. A word or two about reportorial rivalries, the mayor's texts and the rampant hate of the ...

Friday August 2, 2019: Ben riffs on the latest TIF deal. Lori Lightfoot and Lollapalooza. Pritzker signs another bill. The Rummana Rundown with Sun-Times Editor Rummana Hussain. Ace Attorney Jim Coogan unpacks Trump's legal w...

So much news, so little time. Ben & Dr. D take the deep dive on the news of the week, including Ken "Kenny G" Griffin showing his dissatisfaction with MAGA. Hey, AGA, if you take the man's money, you got to dance to his tune....

MAGA loves Elon Musk, the world's richest man. Even though Elon Musk doesn't give a hoot about MAGA. Ben riffs. And Alejandra Cancino, investigative reporter for the BGA, talks about her excellent expose about the city's plan...

Attorney Matt Topic has earned a reputation as the man who makes Chicago's mayors reveal the truth. How does he do that? By suing the city. Did you really think mayors would tell the truth unless someone made them? In particu...

The headline in the BGA newsletter says it all. "Cabrini-Green Residents Were Promised 2,500 Construction Jobs. They got 40." As promises broken by Chicago mayors, this one may be the champ. Ben riffs. And shoutout to Alejand...

Some of the wealthiest men in Chicago come before the City Council looking for help making even more money than they already have. Ben riffs. Also, updates from special correspondents Eric Zorn and Linda "not married to Billy...

David Faris explains how the three Trumpsters on the Supreme Court are joining forces with justices Thomas and Alito to eradicate Roe and eventually, if they have their way, outlaw abortions in America. How did we get here an...

Wednesday, July 24, 2019: Mueller Testimony, Mueller Testimony and Mueller Testimony talk with Legendary Chicago Journalist Monroe Anderson and Professor/Author David Faris. Wednesday's city council meeting spells more bad ne...

Ben roots for Jussie's acquittal. And gets kicked out of the columnist club. He riffs. And Miles Kampf-Lassin from In These Times, returns. Topics...Is the adoration of wealth more powerful than looking out for each other? Wh...

There are some things to be thankful for, even when the political news is awful. Ben riffs. And Michael Gerardi, the man the critics call Chicago's Neil Young, makes his debut. Talking about surviving the madness of the times...

At last night's First Tuesdays show at the Hideout, people were asking Ben was he serious about apologizing to Jussie Smollett. Ben responds. Also, Monroe Anderson talks Jussie, John Thompson and segregation. And Peter Goldma...

Jussie Smollett takes the stand. What if he was telling the truth all along? Ben riffs. And Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa--the dean of council Democratic Socialists--takes us to the "map room". In short, everything you need to...

Vincent E. Norment, owner of the Marijuana Hall of Fame, and Victoria Williams, CEO of ACC of Illinois, return to break it down. Sports, that is. Chicago sports, to be exact. Should the Bears fire Matt Nagy? Is Justin Fields ...

It's news riffing time for Ben & Dr. D--aka, Demarvelous Dennis. And, a mystery guest with J.B. updates. Then it's down to business. Congressman Rodney Davis makes a decision. Mayor Lightfoot goes to Washington. The city coun...

The headlines in today's papers could be the same headlines from two years ago. Ben riffs. Maya Dukmasova & Adolfo Mondragon, election law attorney, discuss the ward map battle in city council. Question of the day: Where are ...

Senator Durbin throws a party for Illinois congressman. And Republican Rodney Davis shows up to talk some trash. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Supreme Court and Roe. Look who's suddenly criticizing Plessey. And Ken Mejia-B...

The Jussie Smollettage trial begins. Ben riffs. And Dave Glowacz, of Inside Chicago Government, returns to break down the latest City Council meetings. Topics include ward redistricting, policing and Alderman Walter Burnett's...

Publisher, activist, civil rights leader, Bennett Johnson has seen it all in his 90-something years of life. Best of friends with Mayor Harold Washington (going back to their days in college). Associate of Muhammad Ali. Good ...

As Rummana and Ben start to review the day's issues, the story breaks from Kenosha--Kyle Rittenhouse acquitted. Apparently, murder is now legal in the state of Wisconsin. As hard as it is to discuss, we discuss. From there it...