Episodes

As America votes, the polls tell the story. Sorta. Ben riffs. Kam Buckner offers his state of the union on this day of decision. Ben gets sentimental. Kam can relate. Our ancestors are talking to us. A word or two about gaslit north siders who have been brainwashed into hating Mayor Johnson. And then a word ot two about the leaderless Bears. Would they have destroyed Patrick Mahomes had they drafted him? Kam played Big 10 football—for Illinois. And is a state representative and proud Morgan Park High School graduate. 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 talks about how to pay Chicago’s school bills. The limitations of TIFs. Why Chicago needs Kamala to win. Property tax assistance. His fair election ordinance. And the need for safer crosswalks. Matt is the alderman of the 47th ward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New school board prez loves Mayor Johnson. Ben riffs. Delmarie Cobb addresses voter attitudes toward women. Will voters overcome their fears and elect a woman president? Flashbacks to Hillary. The Liz Cheney strategy. And a word or two about north side white liberals. They’re aghast! And they’re the first to abandon ship. Delmarie is a political strategist and communications expert. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With just a few days before the election, David Faris considers the possibility of American democracy turning into a dystopian horror show. Already you can see the billionaires making the same calculations. Like Jeff Bezos, trying to win over Trump by ordering the Post not to endorse Kamala. And then making up some gobbledygook justification. Call it anticipatory obedience. David also considers the other option, so not all is bleak. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Slate and Newsweek. His views are his own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Having already denigrated and hated on Blacks, Mexicans, Jews, and Haitians, MAGA turns in Puerto Ricans. Omar Torres-Kortright talks about Puerto Rico’s connection to the mainland. What MAGA is up to by hating on Puerto Ricans. How Puerto Rican voters will respond. And more. Omar is an activist and artist in Chicago, See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago wakes up to realize Mayor Johnson broke the property tax promise he should never have made. Ben riffs. Adolfo Mondragon talks about the psychology of voters supporting politicians who denigrate them. Also, the Don Rickles impact on MAGA. And the Musk ask—what will he want from Donny in exchange for giving MAGA so much money and love? Hint—hey, unions, you’re gonna get screwed. Plus a tribute to threat Fernando Valenzuela. Adolfo is a lawyer who knows election law like no one else. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tens of thousands of people turn out in Washington to hear Kamala. Ben riffs. Monroe chimes in. The talk turns to the gender gap. What’s a matter with men? Does Washington Post columnist Brian Broome have a point? And what will the world look like when we record next Wednesday’s show? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MAGA denigrates Puerto Ricans at Trump rally in New York. Ben riffs. Jacob Kaplan riffs. And then it's the deep dive on the presidential election. Including, though not limited to, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Nebraska. Yes, Nebraska. C'mon, rookies, you can learn from Jacob, one of the original Political Know-It-Alls. Also, senate and house races. Jacob trash talks New York Dems, just a bit. And Ben makes a bet about 2020 polls in Wisconsin only to discover that...Jacob is right and Ben is wrong. Hate when that happens. Jacob is executive director of the Cook County Democratic Party. The man knows his politics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Faris talks swing states. That is, the concept that only seven states matter in the presidential election and how everything else that follows is insane. As in the media's coverage of MAGA's reaction to hurricanes And the tribal identities of Blue versus Red. And...oh, just listen. Also, a look at senate races in Texas and Nebraska. Is Texas close enough to dream about? David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Newsweek and Slate. His views are his own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump sways to music in what was a bizarre campaign moment, even for Trump. Ben riffs. Pollster Jason McGrath tells you everything you need to know about the polls. They're guideposts, nothing more or less. Please don't hate the messenger even if you hate his message. And if you want to know who's going to win, consider this: At this point, it's essentially a tie. Jason is a partner with GBAO, a Democratic strategy group. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jeff Bezos spikes the Washington Post’s editorial endorsing Kamala Harris. Looks like Trump scared him off, just like he apparently scared Jamie Dimon. Rummana Hussain talks about the limitations of our so-called free press. Rummana is an editorial writer/columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jamie Dimon is afraid to endorse Kamala Harris. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin gives some last minute advice to the Dems. Not that they will listen. Also, imagine if the mainstreams covered corporate greed like they cover Mayor Johnson. Miles is an editor/writer for In These Times. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Obama channels Eminem—that’s how bad he wants to beat Trump. Ben riffs. Monroe on polls and predictions. And John Kelly calling Trump a fascist. Is Sean right? Everyone wants to be a swing voter. Just as everyone talks like a pundit. The Central Park 5 take it to court. Will Monroe channel Eminem? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With fascism at the gates, the feds start prosecuting Michael Madigan. Ben riffs. And Maya Dukmasova talks justice. Or at least judges. As she previews Injustice Watch’s guide to judges. A very entertaining and enlightening view of how judges got to the bench and what they did once they got there. Stick around for one of the funniest quotes of all time. Maya is a reporter for Injustice Watch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apparently having nothing better to do, the city council wages a revolt on behalf of ShotSpotter. Ben riffs. Denali Dasgupta talks about the aldermanic love for tech bros, technology, privatization and “magical thinking”. That is, the belief that a device peddled by a clever salesman will magically solve our problems. And speaking of strange obsessions, why do New York Times columnists think they’re so much smarter than Kamala Harris? Ben admits that listener Eric is right on the Trump assassination conspiracies. Finally, a few words about Alderman Reilly’s pager tweet. One more time—stop tweeting, people! Denali is a former former aldermanic candidate and one of Chicago’s great thinkers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Desperate to scare enough white voters to vote him back to the White House, Trump hates on Haitians. Lynn Toussaint gives a primer on Haiti, its history with the USA, what Trump is up to by making up lies about Haitians and other immigrants and more. Including, an answer to the Marvin Gaye question. Lynn is a lawyer and the president of the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti. Her views are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack White tries hard not to be gaslit by the madness of the closing days of the campaign. But it's hard not to when MAGA is calling on demonic spirits to defeat Kamala Harris. And the press is no help. And the polls are misleading. And we shouldn't trust the polls. But we're obsessed with them. And JD Vance is demonizing journalists. And they seem to be happy playing along. Jack is a former columnist and editor for Time Magazine, among other publications. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Polls show that voters prefer Kamala’s economic policies over Trump’s, provided they don’t know which is which. Ben riffs. Meredith Shiner explicates and annotates her recent essay on Ta’Nahesi Coates and the mainstream media. Also, a few words about Republican pundits giving advice to Democrats. Meredith is a columnist for The New Republic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kamala goes on FOX where she gets asked the deplorable question. Ben riffs. Ben Head makes a pitch for Operation Swing State. And then Laurie Glenn talks about the fragile state of democracy and civility on the eve of the election. It’s a scary time for sure. Laurie is a political and communications strategist. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Voters are feeling very transactional as Election Day approaches. Ben riffs. Monroe talks Trump’s visit to Chicago and offers his insights on the contradictory mindset of rich capitalists who’re voting MAGA even if MAGA policies hurt their businesses. Then he chides Ben for being too critical of Chicago voters. Producer Chris plays a recording of Amanda Richardson, the so-called Reverse Karen, from Springfield, Ohio. Also, an encouraging update on senate races in Texas and Nebraska. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

JD Vance whines because Margaret Brennan wanted him to tell the truth. Ben riffs. Curtis Lawrence talks journalism in the post-truth era, when Trump and Vance believe they should be able to say whatever they want. Even if they’re lying. Also, the Lu Palmer legacy. And the Abe Peck legacy. And reflections on the disappearance of great neighborhood high schools, like Harlan. A lifelong Chicagoan, Curtis is an editor, reporter, playwright and journalism professor, who’s worked at the Sun-Times, Block Club and other outlets. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack White explains how Trump leads the mainstream media around like they’re little puppy dogs. Mainly the Washington Post and the NYT. It got so bad Jack stopped reading both—cold turkey. Jack White knows a thing or two about the mainstreams. He was a writer for years for Time and the Post. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turns out the Bible’s Trump is hawking to his cultists are made in China. Ironies abound. Rummana Hussain and Ben discuss them all. Then it’s time for the deep dive into Chicago’s media—is the City Hall press corps as biased against Mayor Johnson as Ben was against Mayor Rahm? Rummana is an editorial writer and columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kim Collins analyzes President Obama’s vote-for-Kamala speech in Pittsburgh. Was he scolding Black men? Does scolding work? Have the Democrats overlooked their base? Then it’s on to Chicago where Mayor Johnson is battling just about everyone over the schools. Kina is a west side activist and former congressional candidate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.