Episodes

As befits one of the world's smartest analysts of movies, Sergio Mims has an opinion on just about everything film-related. On the heels of last week's show about the best records of `71, Sergio takes the deep dive on the great movies of 1971. From French Connection ("racist") to Clockwork Orange ("ahead of its time") to Shaft ("overrated"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Eric Zorn takes the buyout at the Tribune. Ben takes it from there. Monroe Anderson talks Trump, Putin, and Biden. And Troy LaRaviere, president of the Chicago's Principals Association, talks critical race theory, anti-vaxxers, Eric Adams and collective bargaining rights for principals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Mayor Lightfoot writes an email to staffers that’s straight out of The Shining. Or Pink Floyd. Ben riffs. Maya Dukmasova talks elected school board. And Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa covers all the local issues from Dusable Drive to mayoral mind games. Also, New York City mayor’s race. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

For the last 20 or so years, Mick Dumke--ace investigative reporter--has been telling anyone who would listen that the best year for popular music was 1971. And now with media outlets picking up on his theme--c'mon, Apple, don't act like you thought it up on your own--Ben convinced Mick to go on the record about the best records. It didn't take much convincing, folks. Ben & Mick geek out with their list. Listen to learn which one gives a shout out to The Carpenters. See Privacy Policy at https:/...

April 30, 2019. Bye bye Rosenstein and Biden's speech in Pittsburgh. Bye bye Rauner and our Chicago Reader Colleague Maya Dukmasova returns to talk politics. Ben's Green Party friend and Firefighter Sam Holloway joins us and we welcome Radio Host Doris Davenport. Download Tuesday'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 take the deep dive on the week’s news. Everything from re-opening to Michael J. Madigan to fraudulent Republicans to conniving politicians to everything! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben sort of weighs in on the mayoral race in NewYork City. Miles Porter on baseball & Miles Kampf-Lassin on national politics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Vice President Harris tells Guatemalan refugees "don't come" to the USA. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Trump. And political strategist Jason Lee returns to talk, among other things, about voter suppression in Texas and what the 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 .

Did Donald Trump wears his pants backwards? Ben breaks down the evidence. And Dave Glowacz returns for another Chicago City Council update from the May meeting. We play clips of the debate and riff on what it's all about. Everything you need to know about what's going on in Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

William Bike just wrote a great book called The Forgotten 1970 Cubs. It's about the Cubs team that's no longer forgotten, if for no other reason than William wrote a book about them. Get ready for the deep dive on Leo Durocher, Ernie Banks, Joe Pepitone, 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 .

June 6, 2019: More 2020 POTUS candidate madness! Ben's thoughts on Lori Lightfoot and the One Central city development deal. Former Sun-Times owner Edwin Eisendrath talks D-Day. President of The Chicago Federation of Labor talks fair work weeks and minimum wage in Illinois and Activist Anne Shaw joins us for a discussion on Asian-American politicians. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sun-Times columnist/editor Rummana Hussain returns for another rundown. She's got lots to say about Naomi Osaka, the press, bigotry against Muslims & Jews and all sorts of other stuff. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Governor Pritzker suggests he may not run for re-election. Chicago voters express their love for Mayor Lightfoot. Illinois Republicans cry like the hypocritical babies that they there are. Ben & Dr. D riff on these and other stories from the week that was. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The state senate takes a teeny-tiny step towards replacing the appointed school board with an elected one and corporate & editorial Chicago loses its collective mind. Ben riffs. Also, Grace Pai on the need to teach Asian-American history to grade schoolers. And Micah Uetricht--Jacobin editor--talks about Democratic Socialism and Chicago politics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The New York Times prophesized tough times for Democrats in New Mexico. And then Melanie Stansbury mopped the floor with her Republican opponent. Ben riffs on how the Times handled it. Also, Kina Collins talks about running against Congressman Danny K. Davis. She must be doing something right. No sooner had she announced her candidacy, then FOX TV ripped her as a dangerous radical, right up there with AOC. Finally, Josina Morita, candidate for Cook County Commissioner, talks, among other things,...

Democrats all over the country are saying they're tired and burnt out on politics. Poor babies. While Republicans are as fired up as ever. Ben riffs. And WVON talk show host David Seaton returns to talk everything from health care to voter suppression to Naomi Osaka. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Barbara Arnwine--president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition--discusses the challenges facing our democracy as Republican legislators pass voter-supression bills in states throughout the country. The Republicans are trying to discourage Blacks, Latinos, younger voters and women from voting in next year's midterm elections. Arnwine explains what can be done to stop the MAGA power move. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19...

Ben & Dr. D discuss the weeks news. That includes various bills in the General Assembly; Mayor Lightfoot's on-and-off-again proposal to limit liquor sales; and the mayor's beach reopening. Plus, so much more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The Republicans think they've embarrassed Bernie Sanders. Ben riffs. And Marc Sims returns to talk everything, including crime in Chicago. And Harish Patel on why we need to expand the earned income tax credit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben has some fun analyzing Mayor Lightfoot’s latest PSA. He loves those bits, ladies and gentlemen. And Monroe Anderson returns to talk about absolutely everything. Including anti-Semitism in America. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

It's the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. Ben riffs on the divisions in our country. Technologist Freddy Martinez, the activist who helped catalogue and promote the hacked emails of Mayor Lightfoot on, makes his debut on the show. He discusses hacking, redactions, transparency and why public officials keep secrets from the public. Finally, Vincent E. Norment, owner of the Marijuana Hall of Fame, on the legacy of George Floyd. On a lighter note--Vincent make his NBA predictions...

Activist/researcher Saqib Bhatti explains the efforts by activists to convince Mayor Lightfoot not to spend about $485 million in federal COVID relief on paying back the banks. Apparently, President Joe Biden is with the activists. At the moment. 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 the issues of the day. Including cancel culture from the right cancelling Sinead O'Connor and Emily Wilder. Also Israel and Palestine. And Mayor Lightfoot's decision to give preference to reporters of color. Mayor Lightfoot must be doing something right if she's got Tucker Carlson and Tulsi Gabbard mad at her. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...

So much weekly news to cover--much of it having to do with Mayor Lightfoot. Ben & Dr. D take the deep dive on the mayor's Lolla commercial, her decision to give Black reporters a priority over white ones, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Including yet another reference to ongoing saga of La Russagate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .