Episodes

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 Expressway. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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, Nina Turner and why Black voters don't vote for Bernie--among other things. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 payroll. Also, Dave Glowacz returns with audio bits from recent City Council meetings. Time for the deep dive on what your aldermen and mayor are up to. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-in...

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 bipartisanship in the age of MAGA. And more. You know, sometimes it helps to vent... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 newly elected 47th Ward Alderman (Ben's Alderman) Matt Martin discusses his victory. Download Thursday's Ben Joravsky Show! 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 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/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 Cosgrove of Personal PAC, on why he says Roe is gone. And what Democrats can do about it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 Ed Mullen explains the politics of electing Supreme Court justices in Illinois. Question: Did Democrats outfox themselves when it came to drawing the judicial maps? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-n...

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 and what to make of Eric Adams win in New York City. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 it all down. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 us about the new Sun-Times website and The Movie Man Chris Buddy chats about his latest film about blackjack dealers. Download Thursday's Ben Joravsky Show! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

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 approval of a police Oversight Board. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 news about Nancy Pelosi booting Jim Jordan off the January 6 congressional investigation committee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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 strategist Jason Lee on the Republican onslaught in Texas. And the fallacies of using pre-trial detentions to fight crime. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Alderwoman Maria Hadden--the pride and joy of Rogers Park--makes a long awaited return to act as a play-by-play analyst, breaking down the parliamentary maneuvers employed by Mayor Lightfoot over the last few council meetings to make sure she gets what she wants. Is the mayor playing within council rules? No. Is she being inconsistent in her rulings? Yes. Listen and learn about your democracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priv...

You'll be able to impress your friends with your knowledge of hoops after listening to Dan Mihalopoulos, passionate fan of all things Giannis; Michael Malcolm, astute student of all things basketball; and Benji "the Bookie", oddsmaker extraordinare, talk bball. Specifically, the NBA finals. Who's going to win and why? Also Benny J, the Bookieworm, is in on the discussion. Trying desperately to steer the conversation to his beloved Bulls. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...

May 10, 2019: Another Rahm farewell party and Ben can't stand it! More Illinois conservative pushback on recreational marijuana legalization, Election Lawyer Adolfo Mondragon returns to talk Ed Burke, Cubs vs White Sox and more AND the political power couple Kitty Kurth and Kevin Lampe discuss the 2020 POTUS election and Grandpa Joe. Download Friday's Ben Joravsky Show!! 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 the week's news. And, oh, what a week it was. Pritzker meets Biden as does Police Chief Brown. And some insane MAGA ravings about crime in Chicago. And the return of Mayor Pete. 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 .

News breaks that Senator Charles Schumer has proposed legislation to legalize marijuana across the country. Ben is skeptical that it will ever pass. Lisa Solomon from the Reader updates us on new social equity legislation. And podcaster Marc Sims returns to talk about race, crime and race and crime. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Richard Steele goes where no guest has gone—Ben’s attic. As he and Ben share the mic, riffing on the top stories of the week. Such as—Alderwoman Taylor and Mayor Lightfoot; Eric Adams; voting laws, players choking and 1971. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Maureen Dowd’s interview with Bernie Sanders is priceless in so many ways. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin of In These Times talks national politics. And state Rep. La Shawn Ford explains why Eric Adams is the right man at the right time to fight crime. Also, Rep. Ford says Ben is wrong about the Bears. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Political strategist Delmarie Cobb returns to talk Chicago and national politics. Asking among other things--what is it about Chicago that leads us to elect so many bossy mayors? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .