Episodes

ProPublica writer Mick Dumke returns to discuss his latest blockbuster article. It's about the fall of a Black-owned bank. But it's really about the limits of capitalism. One thing leads to another and the topic turns to crime. And Mick confronts the irony of Mayor Daley's former aide--Arne Duncan--talking about Chicago's retaliation culture. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Thursday, August 8, 2019: Will Trump commute the sentence of Rod Blagojevich? Kim Foxx has her first State's Attorney's primary challenger. "In These Times" Writer Miles Kampf Lassin returns to talk Bernie and MORE. Jake Lewis of the Chicago Federation of Labor returns to worker's rights and Scabby the Rat. Chief of Staff for Alderwoman Sue Garza Ismael Cuevas talks the labor parade. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not...

Ben gets an early morning text from Alderman Ramirez-Rosa blasting liberals. Also, Ben concedes--he agrees with Trump on one thing. And Maya Dukmasova, Injustice Watch reporter, talks judicial elections. And Peter Cunningham--former aide to Mayor Daley--talks Arne Duncan, rethinking crime, and the CTU/CPS impasse. 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 run through the years top stories. But first DeMarvelous leads Ben on a trippy trip through the Metaverse. Is that Snoop Dogg I see? The biggest stories involve recent mayors, who have too much in common. Take me back to the Metaverse! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Chicago residents--or at least many of them--reveal they're not falling for the mayoral propaganda on her COVID fight with teachers. Ben says thank you. And Monroe Anderson on Biden's Voting Rights Speech. And Attorney Jim Coogan joins Monroe to address many of the political/legal issues of the day, including...Senator Paul v. Dr. Fauci; the Supremes consider Ted Cruz's grifter's rights lawsuit; and the Unite the Right verdict. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priva...

The teachers and Mayor Lightfoot "cut a deal". Ben riffs. Lot of love for teachers! And two of Chicago's greatest lefties--Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Loreen Targos return. Loreen--a scientist and political strategist--talks about the rightward drift of Dems, who are "normalizing Trump" on COVID. And Byron talks about dealing with the mayor in the age of COVID. Among other things. Oh, yes--they're married. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https...

Joshua Tepfer, attorney for the Exoneration Project, explains the case of Ronald Watts, a former Chicago police officer who allegedly ran a drug operation at the Ida B. Wells housing project for several years. If residents dared to protest, Watts and his partner would plant drugs on them and have them arrested. Over 100 convictions have since been vacated. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain closes out the year with her top 5 recommendations for 2021. Ben weighs in with a few of his obsessions. For a mediocre year, there was some good stuff in the universe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

It's riffing time! Ben & Dr. D review the week's top stories. Congressman Bobby Rush's legacy. Governor Pritzker & his Republican rivals. And the big story--Mayor Lightfoot's ceaseless fight with the Chicago Teachers Union. Oh, what a great city we would have if Mayor Lightfoot were as forgiving to the teachers as she was to Bobby Rush. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Liberals pound away at the Chicago Teachers Union. Ben briefly riffs. And then Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa--the dean of City Council socialists--dissects the neo-liberal hatred of teachers unions. And Miles Kampf-Lassin, In These Times editor, talks about some of the more regressive responses to January 6. Bottom line--MAGA invades the U.S. Capitol. And the Right responds with laws intended to beat up on the left. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at ...

Columnist Eric Zorn talks about getting COVID. And how "everyone will get COVID". And anti-vaxxers. And then throws a peace offering of sorts to Donald Trump. Also, a word or two about Dan Webb's report on Jussie Smollett and Kim Foxx. And a surprising revelation--at least it caught Ben by surprise--about his old bosses at the Chicago Tribune. Cheap, cheap, cheap. And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-m...

As CTU votes for virtual classrooms in face of COVID outbreak, Mayor Lightfoot's health commissioner says COVID's basically no worse than the flu. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson returns to talk January 6 anniversary. Also, writer/activist LeAlan Jones talks Congressman Bobby Rush and Black leadership in Chicago. And he explains why he thinks Stacy Davis Gates should run for Rush's seat. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...

Congressman Bobby Rush announces he's not running for re-election. Ben riffs. And Inside Chicago Government's Dave Glowacz starts the New Year right--with a City Council roundup. It includes council debate over police shootings, Anjeanette Young and open meetings. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Michael "Skeet" Horton, one of the great youth basketball coaches in Chicago, talks about his shoe deal with Skechers, his life in and around Cabrini-Green, and what keeps him in the game. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sergio Vicente, host of the Fight Podcast, returns to talk boxing, MMA & basketball. Ben criticizes the Paul brothers and Sergio--well, let's just say he doesn't back down. Plus, he has a word or two for the haters who doubt Ben's beloved and COVID-stricken Bulls. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In the middle of another COVID surge, over 20,000 people pack the United Center to watch the Bulls. Ben was one of them. Clearly, Mayor Lightfoot is not the only one sending out mixed messages about the pandemic. Ben riffs. And podcast host Marc Sims returns to talk about what's on his mind. In this case--the link between self hate and crime. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben crosses COVID country as he flies home from California. Did the guy coughing on Ben's neck given him COVID? It's very scary out there, folks. And Monroe Anderson & Sergio Mims tag team on all the news of the year. Including an extended take on the Rhode Island Republican who lost her one Black friend cause of CRT. Can the news get weirder? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Comedian & WCPT talk show host Scott Duff explains why it's best to find the humor in the madness. Either that or go insane. Plus, a few words about woke, Dave Chappelle and being the old guy on stage. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The Washington Post fact checker lists the biggest lies of 2021 as spread by our leaders, including the election was stolen, the vaccine doesn't work, the attempted Trump coup and other assorted MAGA whoppers. And then he throws in a lie from the Dems to prove that he's not partisan. David Faris & Ben analyzes the tactics behind the lies. And the false equivalency of pairing MAGA's ceaseless attempt to gaslight America with relatively minor Democratic exaggerations. See Privacy Policy at https:/...

With the Bulls strong start to the season, it's time for Miles & and Benji the Bookie to reassess their pre-season predictions. In the case of Miles--he looks wise. In Benji's case--let's just say he has some explaining to do. Especially regarding his criticism of Mr. DeRozan, who's playing like a hall of famer. Ben takes an opportunity to rip coaches who thinking coaching means yelling at their players. And much more basketball talk. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...

Tuesday, August 6, 2019: Pritzker signs more bills. Lightfoot wants more security for Lollapalooza. Another Chicago alligator story? Maya Dukmasova of The Chicago Reader returns. Margie Fritz-Birch of the Edgewater Historical Society and Mr. Bike Dave Glowacz is back. 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 editor/columnist, and Ben enjoy a Muslim/Jewish Christmas. And then it's down to business--COVID, MAGA, RIttenhouse and then, for good news, the Beatles. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

To pay tribute to the life and legacy of the great Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who died last week at the age of 91, Ben turned to William Brown, a director, actor and singer. Brown talks about falling in love with Sondheim's work years ago--when he was kid in West Virginia. He sings a song or two. And Ben does his best not to join in as that would be desecration. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

December 10,2021: It's that time of the week where Ben & Dr. D try to make sense of things that don't make sense. Like...the logic, or illogic, of the Republican candidates for governor. They don't actually have any ideas of how to fight crime. But they want to use crime to scare suburbanites into voting for them. Also, Mayor Lightfoot's texts. What do they say about Mayor Lightfoot? And, finally, the latest on Smollettgate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy ...