Episodes

Ben didn’t get invited to Barack Obama 60th. He riffs. Monroe Anderson didn’t get invited either. He talks COVID, infrastructure and budget reconciliation. And former alderman Bob Fioretti talks redistricting. See Privacy Pol...

Chicago never seemed so divided. Ben riffs. Maya Dukmasova talks about her latest masterpiece for the Reader. And Public Defender Sharone Mitchell talks criminal justice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca...

In These Times writer/editor Miles Kampf-Lassin returns to talk politics. Including conspiracy theories, Tucker Carlson, and other malevolent forces. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain returns for another rundown. On the agenda--the MAGA reaction to critical race theory, Megyn Kelly's defense of the insurrectionists, and whether Ben's wrong for not being impressed ...

April 18, 2019: The redacted Mueller report has been released! Smollet-Gate continues and Toni talks after her election loss. Investigative Journalist Mick Dumke takes the deep dive with Ben, Union Man Ed Maher talks healthca...

The experts weigh in on the first week of free agency. Benji the Bookie says the Bulls blew it by signing Demar Derozen. Miles said it's to early to say for certain, but he loves Lonzo Ball. And Ben predicts--what else--a cha...

Ben and Dr. "not a doctor" D riff on a week's worth of news. Including great thoughts on Jimmy Dore, Mayor Lightfoot, Governor Pritzker, Governor Cuomo, Lollapalightfoot, Dr. Arwady, Blago and much much more. See Privacy Poli...

Reporters writing stories about Park District looking the other way at evidence of sexual harrassment of lifeguards. Ben asks himself--would this happen if Harold Washington were mayor. And Jimmy Dore, comedian and podcast ho...

Former Tribune transportation reporter Mary Wisniewski returns to discuss Car Culture. She's writing a book about our addiction to all things cars. Also, a history lesson about the successful fight against the Crosstown Expre...

Senator Rand Paul sends out a fundraising letter saying you don't need the COVID vaccine. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson returns with talk-show host Mark Wallace to talk Harold Washington, Tim Evans, Eugene Sawyer, Lori Lightfoot...

Former Governor Blagojevich wants the right to run for office. Ben riffs. And Sox/Cubs experts Jim Coogan & Miles Porter return to discuss the Cubs trades. Do they know what they're doing? Or are they mindlessly paring the pa...

Political science professor David Faris returns to talk all things politics. Including what to make of people who won't get the vaccine even if it means death. Also, the culture of the confederacy. And the fallacy of bipartis...

April 11, 2021: Lori Lightfoot goes to Springfield! Mayor Rahm's farewell speech, Ben and Sun-Times Writer Tommy Mac Tom McNamee debate Rahm and MORE! Chicago Federation of Labor's Jake Lewis talks state politics AND the newl...

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain returns to discuss, among other things, Boomers. Posing the question--if they're so great, how come they elected Trump? And much, much more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com...

Oh What a Week it Was: "LollapaLightfoot" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Does MAGA really believe the stupid things it says? Or is it just trolling liberals? And is MAGA an it? Ben discusses. Jen Walling from the Illinois Environmental Council returns to discuss the Clean Energy Bill. Also, Terry ...

Ben happened to be outside the Brooklyn federal courthouse when Thomas Barrack, Trump's crony, was arraigned. He gives his report. Monroe Anderson riffs on day one of congressional hearings on January 6. And election laywer E...

Stacy Davis Gates--vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union--returns to talk about all the issues of the day. Including--Mayor Lightfoot's temperment, Toni Preckwinkle's handling of the SEIU strike, how to deal with crime...

How should corporations handle employee controversies and sexual harassment scandals? Definitely not the way ESPN, the Post and Chicago’s hockey team have handled theirs. Political strategist Joanna Klonsky returns to break i...

Trump vs Pelosi rages on! Do Illinois Trump supporters support Pritzker's fair tax plan? Political Scientist Jim Lewis talks Lightfoot and the mayoral runoff, Chicago Sun-Times Director of Digital Operations Brian Ernst tells...

The Washington Post says liberals are too mean to MAGA. Ben riffs. Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara in the need for affordable housing. And Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa returns to talk about what it took to win city council...

Environmentalist and podcaster Mike Nowak returns to talk about the detrimental impact of climate change on Lake Michigan. We take the lake for granted--to our detriment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca...

COVID cases rising but Lollapalooza is still in. Ben discusses. Rod Wilson, executive director of the Lugenia Burns Hope Center, talks about elected school board politics in Chicago. And Monroe Anderson returns with breaking ...

JB Pritzker announces he’s running for re-election. Ben ponders the frightening alternative. Dian Palmer, president of SEIU Local 73, and negotiator Larry Alcoff, on negotiating with Toni Preckwinkle. Also, political strategi...