Episodes

Washington Post columnist Kevin Blackistone returns to talk about the effort to save The Chicago Reporter, a publication dedicated to improving race relations. Also, Kevin & Ben riff on the saga of Kwame Brown's fight against trash talking bullies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor goes toe to toe with Mayor Lightfoot. Ben riffs on it. Monroe Anderson & Miles Kampf-Lassin tag team on conversation about voting rights, NYC mayors race, lefty outreach to Black voters and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Obama cautions Dems to take what they can get on voting rights—which is nothing if they follow his advice. Ben riffs. Dennis Kosuth from the nurses union on a pending strike. And Alderman Raymond Lopez returns to talk crime, police oversight and the politics of dealing with Mayor Lightfoot. 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 cover all the national news. Manchin, Sinema, AOC and more. Where are we going and what should Democrats do. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 7, 2019: Mitch McConnell, the Mueller Report and Illinois gets closer to recreational marijuana legalization. Chicago Reader Writer Maya Dukmasova and our dear friend Marc Sims returns AND it's all things Trump's legal woes with Ace Attorney Jim Coogan of Dwyer and Coogan. 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 run through the week’s madness. That includes Mayor Lightfoot’s Jack Nicholson imitation, Bears make like Jackie Gleason, Dusable drive gate 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.

Chicago takes a step toward school board democracy and the Sears Tower gets so scared, it jumps into the lake. Ben explains. And Laurie Glenn and Juanita Irizarry return to talk about Dusable Drive, elected school board, the buyouts at the Tribune and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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://art1...