Episodes

Police and Kyrie Irving form a curious anti-vax coalition. Ben riffs. Alderman Andre Vasquez and Frank Avellone talk about proposed anti-eviction ordinance. And Tom Tresser and Jonathan Peck talk TIFs. 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 take the deep dive on politics. Specifically, what's wrong with Democrats? Do they want to lose? Do they want to let MAGA take control of the world? In short, do they have a clue? 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 runs down all the madness. Including Ellen Pompeo having the nerve to cuss out Denzel Washington. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

June 14, 2019: Trump's interview with Fox and Friends, Trump's interview with ABC and Elizabeth Warren's latest plan. Another Alderman doing jail time? Sun Times Columnist mark brown takes the deep dive. D'Frantz Smart talks politics in sports and Host of the Fight Podcast Sergio Vicente gives us tips on how to fight Donald Trump (politically) 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 a fight between billionaires--Kenny G v. Governor Pritzker. Ben explains what Ken Griffin is really up to. Also, Mayor Lightfoot scapegoats Kim Foxx, again. DB comes in second to undecided in the latest Republican poll. And a word or two about the Bears, trying to soak taxpayers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts--of the Cubs owning Ricketts--goes to the border to keep people out. And it's not the Iowa border. Ben riffs. Marc Sims returns to talk crime and politics. And Adolfo Mondragon talks politics, crime and law. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

NBA great Isiah Thomas offers some advice to antivaxxers like Kyrie Irving. And Monroe Anderson talks Pence, filibuster and insurrectionists. And state Rep. Lakesia Collins returns to talk about CPS inadequate response to COVID, Kim Foxx v. Lightfoot, and criminal justice. Also, both guests think Ben is too hard on Obama. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Facebook melts down. Ben riffs. Or tries to. Marlon Chamberlain from Fully Free joins Lisa Soloman to talk restorative justice. And state Senator Robert Peters returns to discuss dog whistles, Ken Griffin. Bears looking for handouts and the hypocrisy of "free marketers". 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 riffs on the sleazy Cuomo brothers of New York City; Tucker Carlson and white replacement theory; and cancel culture as a political tool of people whose culture almost never gets cancelled. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Benji the Bookie returns and gets a little political about anti-vaxxers in the NBA. Then he gets down to the business of prognostication, regarding Ben's beloved Bulls. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

June 13, 2019: A Mayor Lightfoot city council meeting number 2 in review and TIF talk with Casey Toner of The Better Government Association. Union Man Ed Maher returns and it's the 10th Ward Alderwoman Sue Sadlowski Garza. 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 do their riffing thing. Including riffs on the Bears, WBEZ/Sun-Times, and our big scoop. Hint, we owe it all to Scott Waguespack, Dan Mihalopoulos and Linda Paul. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Crain's asks who's going to pay for a new Bears stadium in Arlington Heights. Ben answers. Chinyere Farr talks Reader fundraising. And Jacob & Dan, the Illinois Political Know it Alls, return to talk politics from Chicago to Springfield to D.C. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez returns to talk policing, budgets, mayoral fibbing and the different rules for mayoral allies and independents in the city council. Also, it looks as though former alderman Richard Mell is teaming up with former Governor Blago, his Trump-loving son-in-law, to run someone against her. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The Bears buy property in Arlington Heights. Ben says—good riddance. Monroe Anderson talks LeBron and vaccines. And south side activist Dixon Romeo talks Obama Center and gentrification. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben sets up shop in Cali. Nothing goes right. And Alderman Scott Waguespack, chair of the finance committee, talks budgets, mayors, Burke, Gardiner and why Mike Kelly had got to go. 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 the California recall election and the lunacy of hard-core anti-mandate Republicans. It's enough to make him almost optimistic about the future. Also, he riffs on France's upset over Australia, the U.S.A. and submarines. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

June 4, 2019: Trump in the U.K. and Burke pleads not guilty. Lightfoot's new School Board and where on earth will Chicago put a casino? Maya Dukmasova of The Chicago Reader weighs in on Burke vs Lightfoot and Anthony Clarke talks his Congressional race against Danny K. Davis. Chicago Sun-Times Business Writer David Roeder talks his latest work and helps answer the casino question. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-se...

Victoria Williams, CEO of ACC of Illinois, and Vincent E. Norment, owner of the Marijuana Hall of Fame, return to talk Bears. Victoria gives Vincent grief for not having enough faith in her beloved Bears. Vincent says Victoria has too much faith. Ben rants about the Bears not drafting Patrick Mahomes. And somehow they get around to talking about the upcoming game against the Browns. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-...

There's a week's worth of news for Ben & Dr. D to riff about. Including, Mayor Lightfoot's budget address, and her budget games, and a new candidate for assessor, and the love aldermen have for Mayor Rahm, and the love Chicagoans have for President Obama and much more. Including the latest Jesse "Sully" Sullivan news. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Words of wisdom about Nicki Minaj from an enlightened millennial. Andy Fox, from the city's office of Labor Standards, talks workers rights. And Dave Glowacz of Inside Chicago Politics returns for another segment of A City Council Synopsis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Historian Adam Carston talks about Mr. Kelly's the super cool Rush Street nightclub back in the `50s & `60s--when the small club drew Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, Barbra Streisand and other stars. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Word breaks that Mayor Rahm's made over $13 million since leaving office. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson on border security whipping Haitian refugees. Also, Miles Kampf-Lassin from In These Times talks about Biden's budget options and the cynical behavior of mainstream Dems. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Bill Horberg wins an Emmy! Ben pretends his show got one, too. And Nicole Cantello, president of the local EPA union, talks vaccine mandates. Also, Terry Cosgrove, CEO of Personal PAC, talks Texas abortion law. If Dems don't wake up, this could be the future... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .