Episodes

Thursday July 18, 2019: Donald Trump's stupid rally. Lori Lightfoot's 5 locations for a Chicago casino. Chicago Reader music Writer Leor Galil talks this weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival and Union Man/Pension Guru Jeff Johnson talks casino law, Mayor Lightfoot, pensions and much more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 28, 2019: Dan Savage is an American author, media pundit, journalist, and LGBT community activist. He writes Savage Love, an internationally syndicated relationship and sex advice column See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Friday October 22, 2021. Ben & Dr. D riff on the news. But first, a "mystery guest" takes a much-deserved victory lap. Then it's down to the business of everything from Pritzker to Lightfoot to Johnny C to Mayor Rahm to Jussie Smollett to Hoosiers and so on and so forth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The verdict comes in just as we go on the air. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson & Lavonte Stewart break down the verdicts. And Monroe's theory--"Kyle Rittenhouse is the white OJ." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Republican Keith Pekau announces he's running for Congress in the 6th district. But he's afraid to take a stand on Paul Gosar. Ben riffs. And Anna Feuer talks about efforts to form a union at the Art Institute. Finally, attorney Jim Coogan, fro Dwyer & Coogan, returns to talk about the Rittenhouse trial. Listen to Ben struggle to be dispassionate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Former sports journalist Tom Shaer return to take the deep dive on Scottie Pippen & Michael Jordan. Specifically, just made the news, writing a book that rips Jordan. Why is Scottie so upset with MJ and does he have good reason? Tom spent a lot of time with the Bulls back in the day. And Ben? Well, he lives and breathes this stuff. He doesn't call them his beloved Bulls for nothing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-...

Political scientist David Faris explains the politics of inflation. Specifically, how Republicans will weaponize the issue over the next year. It won't be pretty. Especially, as centrists Dems, afraid of being called too liberal, abandon Biden's Build Back Better program. Also, an analysis of Virginia and New Jersey's governor's race. And a little good news, which you'll have to listen to hear... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p...

Thursday, July 11, 2019: That gator is still in the lagoon. Ed burke and his "burner" phones. "In These Times" Writer Miles Kampf-Lassin talks Gator-Gate and more. Jake Lewis of The Chicago Federation of Labor returns to talks Epstein and Janus. It's the Ben Joravsky Show debut of Ismael Cuevas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben & the Doctor riff on the week's news. And, oh, what a week it was. Obama meets with Pritzker. Republican candidates for governor fight for Kenny G's donations. Only in Chicago is it unfair to accuse Mayor Rahm of covering up video of Laquan McDonald's murder. And John Catanzara says you can't fire me, I quit. To run for mayor? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Shia Kapos writes a great column for POLITICO Illinois Playbook about Democratic double standards. Ben riffs. And Miles Kampf-Lassin, editor/writer from In These Times, returns to talk about Democratic Socialism. Specifically, India Walton's loss in Buffalo. Has the Republican propaganda turned America against Socialism like they turned it against "political correctness" "woke" and "liberal"? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priva...

When Ben booked political strategist Jason Lee to return to the show, they planned to talk about voter suppression in Texas, Georgia and other Republican states. And then Daunte Wright was shot in Minnesota and Chicago released the video of a police officer shooting Adam Toledo. And suddenly the conversation changed to policing, politics, Democratic inability to discuss crime and Republican eagerness to frighten white voters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

A post from Heidi Van Lier inspires Ben to riff about her father--the great Norm Van Lier. Then it's on to the political business of the day. Starting with Monroe Anderson and Ben talking about the exoneration of two men who spent years in prison after being falsely convicted of the murder of Malcolm X. Then South Bend councilmen Henry Davis Jr. returns to talk about criminal justice. In particular, the Kyle Rittenhouse case. And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...

Johnny Catanzara, president of the FOP, quits to run for mayor. Can't make this shit up. Also, Sam Holloway returns to talk politics from a lefty perspective. And Dave McCarver, Democratic chieftain from Lee County, explains what Dems must do to win in 2022. Hint: Don't make the same mistake you made in 2010, when you cowered. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Writer/activist Rebecca Sive talks about women in politics, the MAGA backlash and a few bright sides to Tuesday's elections. Also, a word or two about her latest book, Make Herstory Your Story . 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 returns to talk Jenna Ryan and the concept of internalized white privileged. Also, is the Tomahawk Chop a little too cultish? And while we're asking questions--how come entitled people in Chicago think they have the right to be entitled? And how about this? Rummana at a Bob Dylan concert? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Trump vs The Squad. That damn alligator is out of the lagoon. Election Lawyer Adolfo Mondragon gets candid. Co-Host of the Girl Talk Erika Wozniak on Trump and MORE and The South Side Political Know it Alls return to talk the news of the day, Alderman Carrie Austin and MORE! RIP--Jerry Brown. 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 a week’s worth of news. Including billionaire Ken “Kenny G” Griffin’s pledge to spend whatever it takes to defeat billionaire Governor Pritzker. Also, Chicago finally gets ready to build a casino. Guess who will pay for it, suckers? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Kyle Rittenhouse squeezes out a tear or two when he takes the stand. Ben riffs. Marc Sims talks Rittenhouse and crime. And Litesa Wallace--Democratic candidate for congress in the 17th district--returns to talk about her campaign. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben talks to Lenny Bruce! Ok, not really, Lenny Bruce. But Ronnie Marmo, the actor, who plays the great comedian in a one-man play that Marmo wrote called "I'm Not a Comedian...I'm Lenny Bruce." Marmo talks about Lenny's impact on other comics, cancel culture, Dave Chappelle, being an Italian actor playing a Jewish comedian and a lot of other things. You can see the play--directed by Joe Mantegna--at the Mercury Theater. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

Kyle Rittenhouse takes the stand. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks about the case against Trump and his insurrectionists. And Jacob Kaplan, executive director of the Cook County Democratic Party, talks politics. Specifically, what Dems should to offset MAGA's surge. And more... 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 returns to talk about Republican "moral panic" and how it's being used as a tool by Glenn Youngkin in his race against Terry McCauliffe for governor of Viriginia. The latest "moral panic" is critical race theory, which apparently scares otherwise moderate voters to vote MAGA. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Political strategist Laurie Glenn and Juanita Irizarry, executive director of Friends of the Parks, return to talk politics. And somehow the conversation turns to a spirited discourse on the irony of powers in Chicago. In which well-connected people use their influence to get appointed by the mayor to boards where they act powerless. Of course it makes no sense--it's Chicago. Plus, much more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri...

September 17, 2021--Ben & Dr. D have a lot to say about a week's worth of news. Especially, the attempts of politicians to fool the voters. Like a certain Republican "moderate" named Jesse Sullivan. And a certain Chicago alderman named Jim Gardiner. 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 a week's worth of news, starting with...Congressman Adam Kinzinger. Will he or won't he? Huh? You gotta listen. And the CEO of McDonald's had something to say about young victims of crime so he sent a text to Mayor Lightfoot? Huh? It seems when entitled people want to say something, they go to the top. Which is why they're entitled. Speaking of Avis LaVelle at the park district, texting Kim Foxx. And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priva...