Episodes

President Biden is thinking of reaching out to former President Trump for help in urging MAGA to get a COVID shot. Ben wonders what price Trump will make Biden pay. Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker must be feeling the political heat cause he’s eager to reopen the state. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderman Matt Martin ran on a platform of finding new and more progressive sources of raising money for the city. Half way through his first term, he's learned it's easier said than done, especially in a pandemic. He also explains the intricacies of respectfully disagreeing with sharp-elbowed Chicago politicians. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan Mihalopoulos, WBEZ reporter, returns to talk all things politics. Does the Machine still exist post-Madigan? And what was Republican state representative Chris Miller doing at Trump’s January 6 rally? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Biden can’t win over MAGA no matter how he tries. And Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain returns for her weekly rundown, covering everything from Oprah & The Royals to Tucker Carlson. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ace reporter for the Sun-Times, Manny Ramos is the grandson of Manuel Ramos, a leader of the Young Lords. In the late `60s, Manuel Ramos was emerging as a Puerto Rican political leader, building an Black-Brown alliance with Fred Hampton. Then he was killed, shot by an off-duty police officer. He was 20-years-old. Manny talks about the impact his grandfather's death had on him, his father and his family. It's a follow up to his Sun-Times essay--Remembering a Young Lord. See Privacy Policy at htt...

Ben gets his shot! Let the good times roll. Also, Ben and Dr. D take the deep dive on latest poll about Pritzker. It's a Republican poll so its belongs in the category of fiction. And Adolfo Mondragon, election lawyer, returns to talk about his case against former Alderman Danny Solis. He wants to the courts to rule against politicians using campaign money to pay criminal defense lawyers. The case could impact Michael Madigan and Alderman Ed Burke. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privac...

Inside Chicago Government's Dave Glowacz returns to break down the latest City Council meetings. He runs through the latest parliamentary maneuvering that resulted in Aldermen Ray "RayLo" Lopez and Ed Burke, of all people, challening Mayor Lightfoot on police spending. It's almost comical to watch Burke try to play the role of council "reformer". Listen and you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about "laying it on the table". See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...

There's a proposal to let do-gooders draw new ward boundaries. Ben must decide whether to join that bandwagon. And it's the long-awaited return of David Seaton--co-host of the WVON radio talk show, Buchanan & Seaton. Ben and David take the deep dive on Biden, Republicans, filibusters and then, in an unexpected twist, Eddie Murphy. What are the three greatest Eddie Murphy movies? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

Vincent E. Norment, owner of the Marijuana Hall of Fame, returns to talk about George Floyd’s legacy and the latest on the booming legal reefer industry. Also, he has a little encouraging news for 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.

Ben talks about the MAGA monster returning to destroy voting rights in Georgia. And fans at baseball but not basketball games? More COVID mixed messages out of Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Weiss is a lefty commentator in California, who's specializes in snide & snarky (but truthful) postings about MAGA. Including, though not limited to--Trump, Limbaugh, Cruz & McConnell. Facebook has kicked him off at least six seven times--it's hard to keep up. Put it this way--he's been kicked off more than Trump. Worse than Trump? Weiss explains his political views and discusses the limits of free speech on Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy ...

The Know It Alls return to discuss, among other things, the election of Congresswoman Robin Kelly as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party. Also, a sad day in Know-It-All Land, as Dan P. flunks an trivia contest. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sub-Times editor-columnist Rummana Hussain tries to make sense out of MAGA’s new found love for Dr. Seuss. Also, she addresses the question: Is Andrew Cuomo the sleaziest pol in America? Finally, lots of live for zombies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MAGA "champions" Dr. Seuss, a man whose culture they probably would be canceling, if he were still alive. Anything to divert attention from their opposition to hiking the minimum wage or passing a stimulus bill. Also, Ben imagines he's CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news--our computer's are working. Bad news--Ben flunks his Chicago trivia test. He makes up for it by taking the deep dive on Robin Kelly's victory as chair of Illinois Democratic Party. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben talks with Bill Horberg, aka Chicago Bill. He's the executive producer of The Queen's Gambit, a television miniseries released on Netflix. We're rebroadcasting this gem--where he explains how the series was made--cause we're so proud of his accomplishments! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez talks about Mayor Lightfoot’s bias against activists and elected officials of the leftist persuasion. Also, the mayor’s interesting clarification about who she dropped the F-bomb on. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben reflects on 40 years of living in Chicago and covering Chicago characters. Is there a prototypical Chicagoan? Political strategist Joanna Klonsky returns for another Creep Report. An analysis of powerful me behaving badly. In this case--New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Congressman Madison Cawthorn. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Illinois General Assembly is poised to debate and vote on a bill to eliminate the requirement that parents be notified of their daughters' plans to get an abortion. Personnel PAC's Terry Cosgrove, state Rep. Anna Moeller and attorney Melissa Widen explain why it's important to do away with parental notification. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Ben Joravsky Show has been a podcast for two years. So Dr. D though it would be fun to have a few of our favorite guests show up on google meeting to surprise Ben and celebrate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sub-rimes editor Rummana Hussain discusses the myth of objectivity, the bigotry of Marjorie Taylor Greene and the Train to Busan, 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.

The Democrats have a chance to raise the minimum wage. It's a long-shot chance. But it involves rebelling against the Senate parliamentarian. Will they do it? Ben discusses. Also, it's the second year anniversary of the podcast. Let the party begin! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's a movement by MAGA in California to oust Governor Gavin Newsome. Ben debates whether he'd join it. Also, the Mayor drops the F-bomb on an alderman. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Monroe Anderson returns to talk Biden and Trump. And one thing leads to another and we talk about Justice Thomas and his curious attitudes about race. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.