Episodes

Rummana Hussain returns to discuss, among other things, her new job, COVID protocols and who's right in the great debate between Eric Zorn & Amy Dickinson. Also, a word or two or three about Succession. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So much, so little time to talk about it! Ben & Dr. D riff away. Starting with...the anointment of Richard Irvin by Kenny G as governor. Leading many people to ask: Who's Richard Irvin and why does Kenny G have so much power? Also, Dr. D takes a stand on the great Shia/Maxwell debate: Are confederate flags a thing in southern Illinois? Ben reveals he's never ridden a tractor. And a riff or two on Lightfoot v. Ferguson. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic...

The Sun-Times and WBEZ hook up. Ben riffs. Anna Feuer--Art Institute employee--returns to talk about their sucessful union drive. Yes, Art Institute employees voted to join a union! And Ken Davis--legendary--radio journalist makes his long-awaited return to tell Ben to stop giving him, Ken, credit for inventing the WBEZ pledge drive. Ben continues to give him credit, anyway. Ben & Ken talk `Bez/Bright One. They offer a tribute to Les Grobstein. And they go where no one else dares--a discussion o...

Courtney Sauls is an actress & yogi. She plays Brooke in Dear White People, the Netflix series. She talks about the legacy of the late Sidney Poitier and what Ben can do to make good on his New Year's resolution to be more positive in 2022. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Microsoft buys Activism Blizzard for $70 billion. Obviously, capitalism has lost its mind. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson returns to talk Ukraine. And then South Bend, Indiana Councilman Henry Davis, Jr. joins the discussion about Blacks for Trump. Also, Coach Nick Saban weighs in for voting rights. Henry thinks Deion Sanders has something to do with it. And Monroe gives Henry advice regarding any plans he may have to run for mayor of South Bend. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and ...

The great Les Grobstein dies at age 69. Ben riffs. And Troy LaRaviere--president of the Chicago Principals Association--returns. The conversation starts with how MAGA uses Martin Luther King, moves on to Mayor Lightfoot's curious attitude toward COVID, and concludes with a powerful riff about the corporate interests who call the shots. Also, why principals need collective bargaining rights. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privac...

David Faris returns to analyze the bleak reality--it's been one year since the insurrection and Republicans are more determined than ever to make sure the next coup is successful. It's up to Democrats to save democracy. Also, a classic Farisian riff on Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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-no...

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 Priv...

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 http...

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.